Poems by John Hall.

Poems by John Hall.

Table of contents

Title page

§

To his truly noble, and worthily honoured friend THOMAS STANLEY Esquire.

The Preface.

Corrigenda

To the young Authour upon his incomparable veine in Satyre and Love-sonnets.

To his friend Mr. J. H. upon his Poems.

A Genethliacon to the Infant Muse of his dearest Friend.

To the honoured Authour Mr. Hall on his Poems.

Vati faelix Auspicium.

To his honour'd friend Mr. J. H.

To his admired friend Mr. Jo. Hall

To the no lesse knowing then ingenious, Mr. Hall on his ignorant Detractors.

POEMS. The first Book.

A Satyre.

Upon T. R. a very little man but excellently Learned.

A Sea Dialogue.

Upon the Kings Great Porter.

A Burning-glasse.

The Call.

An Eunuch.

The Lure.

The Morning-star.

Platonick love.

To the Deformed X. R.

Julia weeping.

To my honoured Noble friend THOMAS STANLEY Esquire, on his Poems.

To Mr. S. S.

The Christall

A Rapture.

To Mr. Stanley after his return from France.

An Epicurean Ode

On M. W. the great eater.

The Antipathy A Pastorall

Song.

Home Travell.

Upon Samuel Ward D. D. the Lady Margarets Professour in Cambridge.

To the precious Memory of Master William Fenner.

On a Gentleman and his Wife, who dyed both within a very few dayes.

Of Beauty.

The Epitome.

Armilla nigra.

To Mr. Stanley.

On Doctor. Bambrigg, Mr. of Christs.

Upon Mr. Robert Wiseman, Son to Sir Richard Wiseman, Essex.

Johanni Arrowsmythio, Coll. Sti. Joh. Praefecto.

To his Tutor, Master Pawson. An Ode.

To an Old Wife talking to him.

The Recantation.

2

Title page

A Dirthyramb.

The Ermine.

§

§

On an Houre-glasse.

An Ode.

Hymnus.

Selfe.

Anteros.

A Hymne.

§

An Epitaph.

A Pastoroll Hymne.

An Ode.

§

§

[Page]

POEMS By JOHN HALL.

NAZIANZ.

[...],

[...]—

CAMBRIDGE, Printed by Roger Daniel Printer to the Universitie, 1646. For J. Rothwell at the Sun in Pauls Church-yard.

§

§

[Page]

olim Majora Aetatis Suae 19 1646

W. Marshall sculpsit.

[Page]

[...]

To his truly noble, and worthily honoured friend THOMAS STANLEY Esquire.

[Page]

[Page]

My dearest friend,

SInce it is the hard fortune of these glow-worms to see day, I wish they might have passed your examination; for I know you to be a severe Critick in Poetry, aswell as in Philology, and the Sciences: But since others importunities, and mine own pressing occasions, have denied it, I must present them loaden with their own blemishes, that being fitter Objects of Pardon, they may draw in pardoning, more demonstrations of your Candor, and adde to my Engagements, could they receive Augmentation. I will not commit a Rape upon your modesty by any praises, though Truth her self might be your Panegyrist, and yet continue naked; give me onely leave to tell you from mine own experience, that Love is more then a mere [Page] Sympathy: for admiration did first attract my thoughts to you, and after fix them; though it were onely your innate sweetnesse that received them with an undeserved entertainment. Sir What I was first endebted to you at Durham I endeavour to acquit in part here at Cambridge: for the Totall, though it be rather above my ability, then desires, yet should I hate the thought of a Generall discharge, let me onely beg of you that these Cherrystones may draw from you your own Pearls, which cannot but break themselves a day through that darknesse to which you now confine them. Let us once see Fancy triumph in the spoyls of the richest Learning, there will many (no doubt) presse to follow the Chariot, yet shall none be more forward then

Sir,

Your most affectionately devoted servant J. HALL

St. JOHNS Jan. 6. 1646.

The Preface.

[Page]

JUstice it self cannot deny me liberty of speech before sentence, if Injustice have not past it already, whether by declining the doome from me as the mere Vizard and Hand of another, or censuring (more severely) all my life spent in these Holy dayes, and my best flames on such Wild-fires.

I could never scrue my judgement up to that Rigour, as suppose those too familiar with Poetry, that onely courted her by some chast Salutes; twere injurous to that Nymph, which will onely be woed by high spirits, and to high spirits in stooping to so inferiour an Object; thus much I have ever observed, that those that slighted other Matrons, and made her their wife, had never the Assistance of any Portion, and she seldome proved fruitfull without cooperation of good seed, and strong influences.

For mine own part since I am forc'd to shoot out these blooms, I might justly fear chill winds abroad; but that I hope they will hasten the destruction of such unripe fruit: neither am I solicitous how they savour, for I intend no more, and these I give over as already distasted, let me onely say thus much to direct your Charity, that a [Page] Mushrome though but an excrescency, well drest is no poyson, but a Salad; and dancing though censur'd as unbecoming, and perhaps unlawfull, is no other but the most Regular kind of walking, and that teaches the body a most decent Carriage. But such sinnes as these are veniall in youth; especially if expiated with timely abjurement; for follies continued till old age, do aggrandize and become horrid, whereas a seasonable intermission, puts them among those pittiable lapses that attend mortality.

For the faults of the presse, they may easily be pass'd over by your Candor, some more notorious, which I casually observe in the perusall, be pleas'd to take notice of.

J. H.

Corrigenda

Page 1 l. 8 for, Rhithmes r. reams p. 18 l. 12 for, tythes r. titles, p. 41 l. 9 for, this Ulysses, r. this young Ulysses, p. 45 l. 1 for, Antipathus r. Antipathy. p. 48 l. 12 for, active r. ectype, ibid. l. 6. for, just r. vast, ibid. l. 12. for, as could, as can.

To the young Authour upon his incomparable veine in Satyre and Love-sonnets.

[Page]

YOung Monster! born with teeth! that thus canst bite

So deep, canst wound all sorts at ten and eight.

Fierce Scythian Brat! young Tamerlan! the Gods

Great scourge, that kickst all men like skulls and clods!

Rough creature, born for terrour! whose stern look

Few strings and muscles mov'd is a whole book

Of biting Satyrs! who did thee beget?

Or with what pictures was the curtains set?

John of the Wildernesse? the bayry child?

The hispid This bite? or what Satyr wild

That thou thus satyrizest? Storm of wit

That fall'st on all thou meetst, and all dost meet!

Singest like lightening the Reverend furre

Of ancient Sages. Mak'st a fearfull stirre

With my young Maister and his Paedagog,

And pull'st by th' eares the Lads beloved Dog.

Then hast thy finger in Potato pies

That make the dull Grammarian to rise.

Anon advancing thy Satyrick Flail

Sweepst down the Wine-glasses and cups of ale.

[Page]Nor yet art spent, Thy manly rage affords

New coyle against young wenches and old words,

Gainst Jos. and Tycho that stings down the spheares,

Like Will with th' wisp sitst on moyst Asses eares.

And now stept in, most quick and dexterous,

Boldly by th' elbow jogst Maurolycus,

Causing him in his curious numbrings loose

Himself. Tak'st Galilaeo by the nose.

Another stroke makes the dry bones, O sinne!

Of lean Geometry rattle in her skinne.

New rage transforms thee to a Pig, that roots

In Jury-land or crumps Arabick roots.

Or els made Corn cutter, Thou loutest low

And tak'st old Madam Eva by the toe.

Anon thy officious phansie at vandon sent

Becomes a Chamberlain, waits on Wood of Kent.

Sr much good do 't you, then the table throws

Into his mouth his stomacks mouth to close.

Another while the well drench'd smoaky Jew,

That stands in his own spaul above the shooe,

She twitcheth by the Cloak and thred bare plush,

Nor beats his moist black beard into a blush.

Mad soul! Tyrannick wit! that thus dost scourge

All Mortalls and with their own follies urge.

[Page]Thou 'rt young; therefore as Infant, Innocent,

Without regret of conscience all are rent

By thy rough knotted whip. But if such blows

Thy younger years can give; when Age bestows

Much firmer strength, sure thy Satyrick rods

May awe the Heavens and discipline the gods.

And now, I ween, we wisely well have shown

What Hatred, Wrath, and Indignation

Can do in thy great parts. How melting Love

That other youthfull heat thou dost improve

With phansies queint and gay expressions pat,

More florid then a Lanspresado's hat;

That province to some fresher pens we leave

Dear Lad! and kindly now we take our leave.

Onely one word. Sith we so highly raise

Thy wrathfull wit; take this compendious praise.

Thy Love and Wrath seem equall good to me,

For both thy Wrath and Love right Satyrs be.

Thus may we twitch thee now, young Whelp! but when

Thy paw's be grown who'll dare to touch thee then?

H. MORE Fell. of Chr. Coll.

To his friend Mr. J. H. upon his Poems.

[Page]

MAy thine own verse (the envy, and the glory

Of gowned Gentry) still enrich thy story;

Flame out, bright spark, and let them clearly see

What's not impossible for them to bee;

Go on, and make the bankrupt World to know

How much to thy judicious pen they ow,

By whose Gigantick parts is clearly shown

That Natures wombe is not yet feeble grown.

Thy lines pardon the Presse for all the rhythmes,

That have committed bin in sencelesse times;

When Pegasus made hackney founder'd grows,

Wishing himself turn'd loose to graze in prose.

Will. Dillingham Fell. Emman.

A Genethliacon to the Infant Muse of his dearest Friend.

[Page]

DAme Nature long projecting, how

Shee might a New-years-gift bestow

Of greatest worth; at length did chuse

To give the World an early Muse,

Shee felt Perfection in her womb

Struggling to get a larger room,

And could not chuse but give it breath

Though by procuring her own death,

She would not her full time out tarry,

Left bringing forth she might miscarry;

Therefore she rather rips her womb,

Thence gives this rich Depositum.

Nor need we this Abortive fold

In a Lambskin, to keep't from cold:

We need not cry; 'Las spare it yet;

'Tis an untimely tender wit:

Let envy spatter what it can,

This Embryon will prove a man.

Thus thy luxuriant Laurel-sprout

As soon as 't hath its bead put out,

Or'e tops old standers! Thus thy Bayes

Vie greennesse with thy tender dayes.

Will. Harington Fell. of G. & C. Coll.

To the honoured Authour Mr. Hall on his Poems.

[Page]

DO'st mean to spoil thy self? do knotty arts

And pale fac'd study fit the silken parts

Of Gentle-men? or can'st thou stretch thy ears

To hear the holy accents of the sphears

From their own volumes? wilt thou let thy hand

Tempt their strange measures in religious sand?

Summon thy lungs, and with an angry breath

Ravell the curious dust, and throw't beneath

Thy braver feet, 'tis too too low, go hence

And see the sphears with blest intelligence

Moving at tennis; Go and steep thy brain

In fluent Nectar: or go vie a strain

In goatish courtship; that (indeed) were good

Currently noble. Nothing taint's the bloud

Like this (base) study; Hence ye arts, be gone

Ye brats, which serious superstition

Brings to the thred-bare parent—

But thou, brave youth, with prudent skill hast taught

Thy purged ear to hear, yet not be caught

With these fond Sirens. Thy green thoughts may vie

With hoary wisdome: thy clear soul can spie

The mines of knowledge, can as quickly store

[Page]It self, and dive to the retired Or,

Thou like that Eater (whom thy happy song

Shall cause to eat up time himself) with strong

And sprightly heat, thou can'st each art digest

In the vast stomach of thy knowing brest.

And when severer thoughts at length shall please

T' unbend themselves, then with such strains as these

Thou court'st each witty Goddesse, and do'st tie

Thy purer ease in their festivity.

[...] Ja. Windet M. A. Reginal.

Vati faelix Auspicium.

SIcut multiplices varians Luscinia voces

Fit tandem mortis Praefica laeta suae,

Enthea sic tua sunt modulamina, Die Poeta,

At, quò funus avi flebile, vita tibi.

R. Marshall S. I. C.

To his honour'd friend Mr. J. H.

[Page]

FRuites that arise in hast, do soon,

Once nipt by piercing blasts, fall down;

Thy youth such sudden blooms did give

As may even Scythyan frosts survive,

And (manger Tempests) still be seen

Like youthfull Ivie clad in Green.

T. Smithsby St. J. C. Gent.

To his admired friend Mr. Jo. Hall

VVElcome (bright Sunne) into our Hemisphere

Now thou art risen we all disappear

As smallest sparks. Mount higher yet and make

All Arts and sciences thy Zodiake:

I should desire to be thy Mercury,

Could I (though but unseen) keep pace with thee.

Edw. Holland St. Johns Coll. Gent.

To the no lesse knowing then ingenious, Mr. Hall on his ignorant Detractors.

[Page]

THou need'st no nose-lesse monuments display

Or Ear-cropp'd Images: leave that by-way

To those who are contented to be known

By their fore-fathers Virtues, not their own:

Those who scarce other worth acknowledge will

Then what each Taylor puts into his hill,

Such plumed Estrages, 'tis hard to say

Whether the feathers or the Head out-weigh:

Thou scorn'st these cheats, thy works purchase thee more

Then they can swappe there Heritages for,

A name (I mean) 'mongst those who do advance

Learning as much as they hugge Ignorance.

Thou was a Nestor in thine Infancy,

Should they live Nestor's years they'd Infants die.

When e're they learn, what thou could'st teach at Tenne,

The world in Charity shall call them Men.

Thy Dwarf and Gyant may fit emblems be

Of what proportion is 'twixt them and thee.

[Page]Could'st thou bedwarfe thy soul, thou might'st descend

Perhaps to please these Gallants, and so blend

Words with them now and then, and make a noise

'Bout some Gay-nothing, or themselves: such Toyes

Could'st thou like, they would Thee; till then expect

Poems from them as soon as not-neglect.

If they commend one verse which thou hast writ,

That Verse shall be 'mongst thy Errata's set.

Jo. Pawson Fell. of St. Johns Coll.

POEMS. The first Book.

[Page]

A Satyre.

PRay let m' alone, what do you think can I

Be still, while Pamphlets thus like hailstons fly

About mine eares? when every other day

Such huge Gigantick volumes doth display,

As great Knockfergus self could hardly bear,

Though he can on his knee th' ale standard rear,

To see such Paper-tyrants reign, who presse

Whole harmlesse [...] to death, which nere the lesse

Are dogd by worser fates, Tobacco can

Calcine them soon to dust, the dripping-pan

[...]ack them to th' dung hill, if they Groc'ry meet

They do the office of a winding sheet:

How better were it for you to remain

(Poore Quires) in ancient raggs, then thus sustain

[Page]Such antick forms of tortures, then to lie

In sweating Tubs, and thus unpittyed fry,

Y' are Common-drudges of the world, if 't chance

A Pedant mend his shoes, you must advance

To Francforth Mart, and there demurely stand

Cloath'd in old sustian raggs, and shake the hand

With every greasie Dutchman, who perhaps

Puts ye 'ith' selfesame pocket with his scraps;

Or if you into some blind Convent fly

Y' are inquisition'd straight for heresie,

Unlesse your dareing Frontispice can tell

News of a Relick, or brave Miracle;

Then are you entertaind, and deskt up by

Our Ladies Psalter and the Rosary;

There to remain, till that their wisdomes please

To let you loose among the Novices,

But if you light at Court, unlesse you can

Audaciously claw some yong Nobleman,

Admire the choycest Beauties of the Court,

Abuse the country Parson, and make sport,

Chalke out set forms of Complements, and tell

Which Fashions on which bodyes might do well,

[Page]No surer paints my Lady, then you shall

Into disgrace irrevocably fall,

But if you melt in oyly lines, and swell

With amorous deep expressions, and can tell

Quaint tales of Lust, and make Antiquity

A patron of black Patches, and deny

That perrucks are unlawfull, and be saint

Old Jesabel for shewing how to paint,

Then th' art my Golden book, then maist thou lie

Adornd with plush or some embrodery

Upon her Ladyships own Couch, where ne're

A book that tasts Religion dare appear:

Thus must ye wretched shreds comply and bend

To every humour, or your constant friend

The Stationer will never give you room,

Y' are younger brothers welcomest from home,

Yet to speak truely 'tis your just deserts

To run such various hazards and such thwarts,

Suppose ye that the world is peopled now

With Cocknies or old women, that allow

Canon to every fable; that can soon

Perswade themselves the Asse drunk up the Moon,

[Page]That Fairies pinch the peccant maids, that pies

Do ever love to pick at witches eyes,

That mounsieur Tom-thumb on a pins-point lay,

That Pictrees feed the Divel nine times a day,

Yet such authentick stories do appear

In no worse Garb then folio, and still bear

No meaner badge then Aristotles name,

Or else descent from reverend Plinie claime;

One in a humour gives great Homer th' lie,

And pleases to annihilate poore Troy;

Another scourges Virgil, cause 'tis said

His fiction is not in due order laid:

This will create a monster, this will raise

A ne're found mountain, this will poure out seas,

This great Camillus to a reckoning calls

For giving so much money to the Gauls,

This counts how much the state of Egypt made

Of frogs that in the flime of Nilus laid,

We'l not disgest these gudgeons, th' world is now

At age, if 't do not towards dotage grow,

That starch't out beard that sits in th' Porph'ry chaire

And but for's crown's light headed, cannot erre,

[Page] Barthius has read all books, Jos. Scaliger

Proportiond lately the Diameter

Unto the circle Galileo's found,

Though not drunk, thinking that the earth ran round;

Tycho has tumbled down the orbs, and now

Fine tenuous aire doth in there places grow;

Maurolycus at length has cast it even

How many pulses journey 'tis to heaven,

A world of such knacks know we, think ye then

Sooner to peep out then be kikt from men;

Whether ye gallop in light rithmes, or chose

Gently to amble in a york-shire prose;

Whether ye bring some indigested news

From Spanish Surgeons, or Italian stews;

Whether ye fiercely raise some false Alarm,

And in a rage the Janizaries arm;

Whether ye reinforce old times, and con

What kind of stuff Adam's first suit was on;

Whether Ev's toes had cornes; or whether he

Did cut his beard spadwise or like a T:

Such brokage as is this will never do 't

We must have matter and good words to boot,

[Page]And yet how seldome meet they? most our rithmes

Rally in tunes but speak no sense like chimes:

Grave deep discourses full as ragged be

As are their Authours doublets, you'l not see

A word creep in, that cannot quickly show

A Genealogy to th' ark of Noah,

Or at the least pleads not prescription

From that great Cradle of Confusion:

What Pamphlet is there, where some Arabick

Scour's not the coast? from whence you may not pick

Some Chinese Character or Mystick spell,

Whereon the Criticks for an age may dwell,

Where there's some sentence to be understood

As hard to find as where old Athens stood:

Why do we live, why do our pulses beat?

To spend our bravest flames our noblest heat

On such poore triflles? to enlarge the day

By gloomy lamps, yet for no other prey

Then a Moatheaten Radix, or to know

The fashion of Deucalion's mothers shooe,

It will not quit the cost, that men should spend

Themselves, time, money to no other end;

[Page]That people should with such a deal of pains

Buy knowing nothing, and wisemens disdains:

But to prevent this, the more Politick sort

Of parents will to handycrafts resort,

If they observe their children do produce

Some flashings of a mounting genius,

Then must they with all diligence invade

Some rising calling or some gainfull trade,

But if it chance they have one leaden soul

Born for to number eggs he must to school,

Especiall' if some patron will engage

Th' advowson of a neighbouring vicarage;

Strange hedly Medly! who would make his swine

Turn Grey-hounds, or hunt foxes with his kine?

Who would employ his Sadle-nagg to come

And hold a trencher in the Dining-roome?

Who would engage Sr James that knows not what

His Cassock's made of, in affairs of state?

Or pluck a Richeleiu from the Helm to try

Conclusions to still Children when they cry?

Who would employ a Countrey-schoolmaster

To Construe to his boyes some new found star?

[Page]Poore leaden creatures yet shap'd out to rule,

Perpetuall Dictatours in a School,

Nor do you want your rods, though onely fed

With scraps of Tully and course barly bread;

Great threadbare Princes, which like Chess-kings brave

No longer then your Maisters give you leave,

Whose large dominions in some brew-house lies,

Asses commands o're you, you over boyes;

Who still possesse the Lodgings next the leads,

And cheat your Ladyes of their waiting maids,

Who if some lowly carriage do befriend

May grace the table at the lower end,

Upon condition that ye fairly rise

At the first entrance of th' Potato pies,

And while his Lordship for discourse doth call

You do not let one dram of Latin fall;

But tell how bravely your young Master swears

Which dogs best like his fancie, and what ears;

How much he undervalues learning, and

sTakes pleasure in a Sparrow-hauk well mand;

How oft he bears his foot-boy, and will dare

To gallop when no serving man is near;

[Page]How he black berries from the bushes caught

When antidoted with a mornings-draught;

How rather then he'l construe Greek he'l chose

To english Ovids Arte into prose:

Such talk is for his Lordships palate, he

Takes much delight in such like trumpery,

But still remember ye forbear to presse

Unseasonably some morall sentences,

Take head by all means how rough Seneca

Sally into your talk, that man they say

Rails against drinking healths, and merits hate

As sure as Ornis mockt a Graduate;

What a grand ornament our Gentry would

Soon loose, if every rug-gown might be bold

To rail at such Heroick feats? pray who

Could honour's Mistris health, if this did grow

Once out of fashion? 'las fine Idols they

Ere since poore Cheapside Crosse in rubbidge lay,

Ere since the Play-houses did want their prease,

And Players lay asleep like Dormouses,

Have suffred too too much, be not so sowre

With tender beauties they had once some power,

[Page]Take that away what do you leave them? what?

To Marshall fancies in a youngsters hat.

And well so too, since feathers were cashier'd

The Ribbands have been to some office reard,

Tis hard to meet a Lanspresado, where

Some ells of favours do not straight appear

Plasterd and dawbed o're and garnished

As feathers on a Southern-hacneys head,

Which if but ty'd together might at least

Trace Alexanders Conquests o're the East,

Or stitch't into a web, supply anew

With annuary cloakes the wandring Jew,

So learnd an age we live in, all are now

Turn'd poets, since their heads with fancyes glow,

'Las Poets! yes! O beat me witnesse all

Short-winded ballads, or what ere may fall

Within the verge of three half quarters, say

Produce we not more poems in a day,

(By this account) then waves on waves do break

Or Countrey Justices false English speak;

Suppose dame Julia's Messet thinkes it meet

To droop or hold up one of 'ts hinder feet,

[Page]What swarms of sonnets rise? how every wit

Capers on such an accident, to fit

Words to her faireships grief? but if by fate

Some long presumptuous s [...] do boldly grate

Don Hugo's dublet ther's a stirre as though

Nile should his ancient limits overflow,

Or some curst Treason would blow up the state

As sure as Gamesters use to lie too late:

But if some fortune cogge them into Love,

In what a fifteenth sphear then do they move?

Not the least tittle of a word is set

That is not flanck't with a stout Epithet,

What rocks of Diamonds presently arise

In the soft Quagmires of two squinting eyes?

How teeth Discolour'd and half rotten bee

Transformed into Pearl or Ivory?

How every word's changd to a finest note?

And Jndian gummes are planted in her throat,

Speak in good earnest, are they not worse then boyes

Of foure year old, to dote on painted toyes?

Yet O how frequent! most our Sages shake

Off there old furres, and needs will Laurels take,

[Page]That it will be no wonder to rehearse

The crabdest of Geometry in verse,

Or from the dust of knotty Suarez see

A strange production of some poetry:

But stay too lavish muse, where run you, stay,

Take head your tongue bite not your eares away:

Besides y' have other businesse, and you might

More fitly far with teares then gall endight.

[Page]

Upon T. R. a very little man but excellently Learned.

MAkes Nature maps? since that in thee

Sh' has drawn an University,

Or strives she in so small a peece

To summe the Arts and Sciences?

Once she writ onely Texthand, when

She scribled Giants and no men:

But now in her decrepit yeares

She dashes Dwarfs in Characters,

And makes one single farthing bear

The Creed, Commandments and Lords-prayer:

Would she turn Art and imitate

Monte-regio's flying gnat?

Would she the Golden Legend shut

Within the Cloyster of a nut?

Or else a musket bullet rear

Into a vast and mighty sphear?

Or pen an Eagle in the Caul

Of a slender Nightingall?

[Page]Or shew she Pigmies can create

Not too little but too great?

How comes it that she thus Converts

So small a totum and great parts?

Strives she now to turn awry

The quick scent of Philosophie?

How, so little matter can

So monstrous big a form contain,

What shall we call (it would be known)

This Gyant and this Dwarf in one?

His age is blab'd by silver haires,

His limbs still cry out want of years,

So small a body in a Cage

May choose a spatious Hermitage,

So great a Soul doth fret and fume

At th' narrow world for want of room,

Strange Conjunction! here is grown

A Molehill and the Alpes in one,

In th' self same action we may call

Nature both thrift and Prodigall.

[Page]

A Sea Dialogue.

Palurus.

MY Antinetta though thou be

More white, then fome wherewith a wave

Broke in his wrath besmears the sea;

Yet art thou harder then this cave.

Antinetta.

Though thou be fairer then the light,

Which doubting Pilots onely mind

That they may steere there course aright,

Yet art thou lighter then the wind:

Palurus.

And shall I not be chang'd? when thou

Hast fraught Medorus with thy heart,

And as a-long the sands we go

To gather shells, do's take his part?

Antinetta.

What shall not I congeal to see

Doris the Ballast of thine arms?

(Which have so oft encompass'd me)

Now pinion'd by her faithlesse charms;

[Page]

Palurus.

What if I henceforth shall disdain

The golden tressed Doris love?

And Antinetta serve again,

And in that service constant prove?

Antinetta.

Though mighty Neptune cannot stand

Before Medorus, and thou be

Restlesse as whirle-pool's, false as sand;

Yet will I live and die with thee,

Palurus.

Nay live, and lest one single death

Should wrack thee, take this life of mine,

Antinetta.

Thou but exchanged with that breath,

Thy Antinetta's soul for thine.

Chorus.

How powerfull 's love! which like a flame

That sever'd, reunites more close!

Or like a broken limb in frame

That ever after firmer grows.

[Page]

Upon the Kings Great Porter.

SIr, or great Grandsire, whose Vast bulk may be

A burying place for all your Pedegree:

Thou moving Colosse, for whose goodly face

The Rhyne can hardly make a Looking-glasse;

What piles of victualls had thou need to chew,

Ten Woods or Marrets throats were not enew:

Dwarf was he whose wifes bracelet fit his thumb,

It would not on thy little finger came:

If Jove in getting Hercules spent three

Nights, he might spend fifteen in getting thee:

What name or title suits thy greatnesse, Thou,

Aldiboronifuscophonio?

When Gyants warr'd with Jove hadst thou been one,

Where others oaks, thou wouldst have mountains thrown;

Wer'st thou but sick what help could ere be wrought,

Unlesse Physicians posted down thy throat;

Were thou to die and Xerxes living, hee

Would not pare Athos for to cover thee;

Were thou t' embalme the Surgeons needs must scale

Thy body, as when Labourers dig a whale:

[Page]Great Sir, a people kneaded up in one,

Wee'l weigh thee by Ship-burdens not by th' stone;

What tempests mightst thou raise, what whirle-winds, when

Thou breaths, thou great Leviathan of men:

Bend but thine eye, a Countreyman would swear

A Regiment of Spaniards quartered there:

Smooth but thy brow they 'l say there were a plain

T' act York and Lancaster once o're again!

That pocket Pistoll of the Queens might be

Thy pocket Pistoll, sans Hyperbole;

Abstain from Garrisons, since thou may eat

The Turks or Mogulls tit [...] at a bit:

Plant some new Land, which ne're will empty be

If she enjoy her Savages in thee:

Get from amongst us since we onely can

Appear like skulls marcht o're by Tamberlane.

[Page]

A Burning-glasse.

STrange Chimistry! can dust and sand produce

So pure a body and Diaphanous;

Strange kind of Courtship! that the amorous Sun

T' imbrace a Min'rall twists his rayes in one,

Talk of the heav'ns mockt by a sphear, alas

The Sun it self 's here in a piece of glasse:

Let Magnets drag base iron, this alone

Can to her icie bosome winne the Sun;

Witches may cheat us of his light a while,

But this can him even of himself beguile:

In Heaven he staggers to both Tropicks, here

He keeps fixt residence all times of th' year,

Here 's a perpetuall Solstice, here he lies

Not on a bed of water but of ice;

How well by this himself abridge, he might

Redeem the Scythians from their lingring night?

Well by this glassie proxey might he roule

Beyond th' Ecliptick, and warm either pole;

Had but Prometheus bin so wise, h' had ne're

Scal'd heaven to light his torch, but lighted here;

[Page]Had Archimedes once but known this use

H' had burnt Marcellus from proud Syracuse;

Had Vesta's maids of honour this but seen,

Their Ladys fire had ne're extinguisht been;

Hells Engines might have finisht their designe

Of powder (but that heav'n did Countermine)

Had they but thought of this; th' Egyptians may

Well hatch their eggs without the midwife clay;

Why do not puling Lovers this devise

For a fit Emblem of their Mistres eyes?

They call them Diamonds, and say th' have been

Reduc'd by them to ashes all within;

But they'l assum't, and ever hence 'twill passe

A Mistris eye is but Loves Burning-glasse.

[Page]

The Call.

Romira, stay,

And run not thus like a young Roe away,

No enemie

Pursues thee (foolish girle) tis onely I,

I'le keep off harms,

If thou'l be pleas'd to garrison mine arms;

What dost thou fear

I'le turn a Traitour? may these Roses here

To palenesse shred,

And Lilies stand disguised in new Red,

If that I lay

A snare, wherein thou wouldst not gladly stay;

See fee the Sunne

Does slowly to his azure Lodging run,

Come sit but here

And presently hee'l quit our Hempisphere,

So still among

Lovers, time is too short or else too long;

Here will we spin

[Page]Legends for them that have Love Martyrs been,

Here on this plain

Wee'l talk Narcissus to a flour again;

Come here, and chose

On which of these proud plats thou would repose,

Here maist thou shame

The rusty Violets, with the Crimson flame

Of either cheek,

And Primroses white as thy fingers seek,

Nay, thou maist prove

That mans most Noble Passion is to Love.

An Eunuch.

THou Newter Gender! whom a gown

Can make a woman, Breeches none:

Created one thing, made another,

Not a Sister, scarce a Brother:

Jack of both sides, that may beare

Or a distaff or a spear,

If thy fortunes thither call,

[Page]Be the Gran Signor's generall,

Or if thou fancie not that trade,

Turn th' Sultana's Chamber-maid;

A Medall where grim Mars turnd right

Proves a smiling Aphrodite;

How doth Nature quible either

He, or she, Boy, Girle, or neither;

Thou may serve great Jove in stead

Of Hebe both and Ganymed,

A face both stern and mild, checkes bare

That still do onely promise haire,

Old Cybele the first in all

This humane predicamentall Scale,

Why would she choose her Priests to be

Such Individuums as ye?

Such Insecta's, added on

To Creatures by substraction,

In whom Nature claims no part,

Ye onely being words of Art.

[Page]

The Lure.

1

FArewell, nay prethee turn again,

Rather then loose thee, I'le arraigne

My self before thee, thou (most fair) shall be

Thy self the Judge,

I'le never grudge

A law ordain'd by thee.

2

Pray do but see, how every Rose

A sanguine visage doth disclose,

O see what Aromatick gusts they breath,

Come here, we'le sit

And learn to knit

Them up into a wreath.

3

With that wreath Crowned shalt thou be,

Not grac't by it, but it by thee,

Then shall the fawning Zephirs wait to heare

What thou shalt say,

And softly play,

While new's to me they beare.

[Page]

4

See how they revelling appear

Within the windings of thy hair,

See how they steal the choycest odors from

The balmy spring,

That they may bring

Them to thee, when they come.

5

Look how the Daffidills arise

Cheer'd by the influence of thine eyes,

And others emulating them deny

They cannot strain

To bloom again,

Where such strong beams do fly.

6

Be not ungratefull, but lie down

Since for thy sake so brisk they're grown,

And such a Downy carpet have bespred,

That pure delight

Is freshly dight

And trickt in white and red.

[Page]

7

Be Conquerd by such charms there shall

Not alwayes such enticements fall,

What know we whether that rich spring of light

Will stanch his streams

Of Golden beams,

Ere the approach of Night.

8

How know we whether't shall not be

The last to either thee or me,

He can at will his ancient brightnesse gain,

But thou and I

When we shall die

Shall still in dust remain,

9

Come prethee come wee'l now essay

To piece the scantnesse of the day,

Wee'l pluck the wheels from th' Chariot of the sun

That he may give

Us time to live

Till that our scene be done;

[Page]

10

W' are in the blossome of our age,

Let us dance o're, not tread the stage,

Though fear and sorrow strive to pull us back,

And still present

Doubts of content,

They shall not make us slack:

11

Wee'l suffer viperous thoughts and cares

To follow after silver hairs,

Let's not anticipate them long before,

When they begin

To enter in

Each Minute they'l grow more,

12

No, no, Romira see this brook

How 't would its posting course revoke

Ere it shall in the Ocean mingled lie,

And what I pray

May cause this stay?

But to attest our joy;

[Page]

13

Far be't from lust, such wildfire ne're

Shall dare to lurk or kindle here,

Diviner flames shall in our fanties [...]oule,

Which not depresse

To earthlinesse,

But elevate the Soul.

14

Then shall aggrandia'd love confesse

That souls can mingle substances,

That hearts can eas'ly counter-changed be,

Or at the least

Can alter breasts,

When breasts themselves agree.

[Page]

The Morning-star.

STill Herald of the morn, whose ray

Being Page, and Usher to the day,

Doth mourn behind the Sun, before him play;

Who sets a golden Signall, e're

The bat retire, the lark appear,

The early Cocks cry comfort, Scrich Oules fear.

Who winkst while Lovers plight their troth,

Then falls asleep, while they are loth

To part without a more ingaging Oath:

Steal in a Message to the eyes

Of Julia, tell her that she lies

Too long, thy Lord the Sun will quickly rise.

Yet is it midnight still with me,

Nay worse, unlesse that kinder she

[...]mile Day, and in my Zenith seated be.

But if she will Obliquely runne,

I needs a Calenture must shunne,

And like an Ethiopian hate my Sunne.

[Page]

Platonick love.

COme (Dearest Julia) thou and I

Will knit us in so strickt a tie,

As shall with greater pow'r engage

Then feeble charms of marriage;

We will be friends, our thoughts shall go▪

Without impeachment, too and fro,

The same desires shall elevate

Our mingled souls, the self-same hate

Shall cause Aversion, we will beare

One Sympathising hope and fear,

And for to move more close, wee'l frame

Our triumphs and our teares the same;

Yet will we ne're so grossely dare

As our ignobler selves shall share,

Let men desire, like those above

Unmatter'd forms, wee'l onely love;

And teach the ruder world to shame

When heat encreaseth to a flame:

Love's like a landskap which doth stand

Smooth at a distance, rough at hand;

Or like a fire which from afarre

Doth gently warm, consumes when near.

[Page]

To the Deformed X. R.

AS Scriveners sometime delight to see

Their basest writing, Nature has in thee

Essai'd how much she can transgresse at once

Apelles draughts, Durers proportions;

And for to make a jest and try a wit

Has not (a woman) in thy forehead writ,

But scribl'd so, and gon so far about

Indagine would never smell the out,

But might exclaim, here onely riddles be

And Heteroclites in Physiognomie;

But as the Mystick Hebrew backward lies,

And Algebra's gest by absurdities,

So must we spell thee, for who would suppose

That globous piece of wanescot were a nose,

That crockt &c's were wrinkles, and

Five Napers bones glued to a wrest, an hand;

Egyptian Antiquaries might survay

Here Hieroglyphicks time hath worn away,

And wonder at an English face more od

And antick, then was ere a Memphian God,

[Page]Eras'd with more strange letters then might scare

A raw and unexperienc'd Conjurer,

And tawny Africk blush to see her fry

Of Monsters in one skin so kenneled lie:

Thou maist without a guard her deserts passe

When savages but look upon thy face.

Were but some Pict now living, he would soon

Deem thee a fragment of his Nation;

And wiser Ethiopians infer

From thee, that sable's not the onely fair;

Thou Privative of Beauty, whose one eye

Doth question Metaphysick veritie;

Whose many crosse aspects may prove anon

Foulnesse, more then a mere negation,

Blast one place still, and never dare t'escape

Abroad out of thy mother darknesse lap,

Least that thou make the world affraid, and be

Even hated by thy nurse deformity.

[Page]

Julia weeping.

I

FAirest, when thine eyes did poure

A Christall shower,

I was perswaded that some stone

Had liquid grown;

And thus amazed, sure thought I

When stones are moist some rain is nigh.

2

Why weep'st thou? cause thou cannot be

More hard to mee?

So Lionesses pitty, so

Do Tygres too:

So doth that Bird, which when she's fed

On all the man, pines or'e the Head.

3

Yet I'le make better Omens till

Event beguile,

Those pearly droppes in time shall be

A precious sea;

And thou shall like thy Corall prove,

Soft under water, hard above.

[Page]

To my honoured Noble friend THOMAS STANLEY Esquire, on his Poems.

WHo would commend thee (friend!) & thinks 't may be

Performed by a faint Hyperbole

Might also call thee but a man, or dare

To praise thy Mistris with the term of Faire.

But I, the choisest of whose knowledge is

My knowing thee, cannot so grossely misse.

Since thou art set so high, no words can give

An equall character, but negative.

Substract the earth, and basenesse of this age,

Admit no wildfire in Poetick rage,

Cast out of learning whatsoever 's vain,

Let Ignorance no more haunt Noblemen,

Nor humour Travellers, Let wits be free

From over-weening, and the rest is Thee.

Thee noble soul! whose early flights are farre

Sublimer then old Eagles soarings are,

Who light'st Love's dying Torch with purer fire,

And breath'st new life into the Teian Lyre,

That Lov's best Secretaries that are past,

Liv'd they, might learn to love, and yet be chast.

Nay, Vestalls might as well such sonnets hear,

[Page]As keep their Vows and thy Black Riband wear;

So chast is all, that though in each line lie

More Amorettoe's then in Doris eye;

Yet so they're charm'd, that look'd upon they prove

Harmlesse as Chariessa's nightly love:

So powerfull is that tongue, that hand, that can

Make soft Jonickes turn grave Lydian;

How oft this heavy leaden Saturnine

And never elevated soul of mine,

Hath been pluck'd up by thee? and forc'd away

Enlarged from her still adhering clay!

How every line still pleas'd, when that was o're

I canceld it, and prais'd the other more!

That if thou writ'st but on, my thoughts shall be

Almost engulf'd in an infinity.

But dearest friend, what law's power ever gave

To make ones own free firstborn babe his slave,

Nay Manumise it, for what else wilt be

To strangle, but deny it liberty.

Once lend the World a day of thine, and fright

The trembling still-born children of the night.

That at the last, we undeceiv'd may see

Theirs were but Fancies, thine is Poetrey.

Sweet Swan of silver Thames! but onely she

Sings not till death, thou in thy Infancy.

[Page]

To Mr. S. S.

AS he obtaines such an enchanted skin

That Bullets cast aright could ne're get in,

Even so thou Monsieur temperd hast thy name

That to dispraise the most is yet no shame;

To curse is to befriend, who like a Jew

Art both a Vagabond and mony'd too;

Who feed'st on Hebrew rootes, and like a tare

Unbid, unwelcome thrivest every where;

Who mak'st all letters be thy Gutturall,

And brings the Conjugations to Kall;

Who though thou live by Grammer-rules, we see

Thou break'st all Canons of Moralitie;

And as far as that thread-bare Cloke of thine

Is out of Fashion, do'st from man decline;

And com'st as near a wit, as doth a Rat

Match in procerity Mount Ararat;

And art as fit to be a brewers Punck,

As Sumerburn is valiant when hee's drunk.

[Page]

The Christall

THis Christall here

That shines so clear,

And carri's in its womb a little day;

Once hammerd will appear

Impure as dust, as dark as clay.

Even such will prove

Thy face (my love!)

When age shall soyl the lustre of thine ey's,

And all that Red remove

That on thy spicy lip now ly's;

Nor can a hand

Again command,

By any art, these ruins into frame,

But they will severd stand

And ne're compose the former same:

Such is the case

(Love!) of thy face,

Both desperate, in this you disagree,

Thy beauty needs must passe,

It (of it self) will constant be.

[Page]

A Rapture.

COme Julia, come! let's once disbody, what,

Strait matter ties to this and not to that,

Wee'l disingage, our bloodlesse form shall fly

Beyond the reach of Earth, where ne're an eye

That peeps through Spectacles of flesh, shall know

Where we intend, or what we mean to do;

From all Contagion of the fl [...]sh remov'd

Wee'l sit in Judgement, on those Paires that lov'd

In old and latter times, then will we tear

Their Chaplets that did act by slavish fear,

Who cherisht causelesse griefs, and did deny

Cupids prerogative by doubt or sigh;

But they that mov'd by confidence, and clos'd

In one refining flame, and never los'd

Their thoughts on Earth, but bravely did aspire

Unto their proper Element of fier,

To these wee'l judge that happinesse to be

The witnesses of our felicitie.

Thus wee'l like Angels move, nor will we bind

In words the copious Language of our mind,

[Page]Such as we know not to conceive, much lesse

Without destroying in their birth, expresse:

Thus will we live and ('t may be) cast an eye

How far Elisium doth beneath us lie,

What need we care though milkie Currents run

Among the silken meadows, though the Sun

Doth still preserve by's ever waking ray

A never discontinued spring or day.

That Sun, though all his heat be to it brought

Cannot exhale the vapour of a thought.

No no my Goddesse, yet will thou and I

Devested of all flesh so folded lie,

That ne're a body'd nothing shall perceive

How we unite, how we together cleave;

Nor think this while our featherd minutes may

Fall under measure, time it self can stay

T' attend on pleasures, for what else would be

But tedious Durance in Eternitie.

[Page]

To Mr. Stanley after his return from France.

BEwitched Senses do you lie

And cast some shadow o're mine eye,

Or do I noble Stanley see,

What! may I trust you, is it he?

Confesse and yet be graduall,

Lest suddain joy so heavy fall

Upon my soul, and sink unto

A deeper Agony of woe:

Tis he, tis he, we are no more

A barb'rous Nation, he brought o're

As much Humanity, as may

Well Civilize America;

More Learning then might Athens raise

To Glory in her proudest dayes.

With reason might the boyling main

Be calm, and hoary Neptune chain

Those winds that might disturbers be

Whiles our Apollo was at sea;

And made her for all knowledge stand

[Page]In competition with the land:

Had but the curteous Delphins heard

One note of his, they would have dar'd

To quit the waters, to enjoy

In banishment such melody;

And had the Mimick Proteus known

H' had left his ugly herd, and grown

A curious Siren, to betray

This Ulysses to some stay;

But juster fates denied, nor would

Another Land that Genius hold.

As could, beyond all wonder hurld,

Fathom the Intellectuall world:

But whither runne I, I intend

To welcome onely, not commend;

But that thy virtues render it

No private, but a Publick debt.

[Page]

An Epicurean Ode

SInce that this thing we call the world

By chance on Atomes is begot,

Which though in dayly motions hurld,

Yet weary not,

How doth it prove

Thou art so fair and I in Love?

Since that the soul doth onely lie

Immers'd in matter, chaind in sense,

How ran Romira thou and I

With both dispence?

And thus ascend

In higher flights then wings can lend.

Since man's but pasted up of Earth,

And ne're was cradled in the skies,

What Terra Lemnia gave thee birth?

What Diamond eyes?

Or thou alone

To tell what others were, came down?

[Page]

On M. W. the great eater.

SIr much good do't ye; were your table but

Pie-crust or cheese, you might your stomack sh [...]

After your slice of beef, what dare you try

Your force on an Ell-square of pudding-pie?

Perhaps 't may be a tast, three such as you

Unbreakfasted might sterve Seraglio:

When Hanniball scal'd th' Alpes, hadst thou been there

Thy beef had drunk up all his Vineger:

Well mightst thou be of guard to Henry th' eight,

Since thou canst like a pigeon eat thy weight:

Full wise was nature that would not bestow

These Tusks of thine into a double row;

What womb could ere contain thee, thou canst shut

A pond or Aviary in a Gut.

Had not thy mother born thee toothlesse, thou

Hadst eaten Viper-like a passage through;

Had he that wish'd the Cranes long neck to eat,

Put in thy stomack too 't had been compleat.

Thou Noah's Ark, dead sea, thou Golgotha,

Monster, beyond all them of Africa!

[Page]Beasts prey on beasts, fisher to fishes fall,

Great birds feed on the lesser, thou on all:

Hath there been no mistake, why may 't not be

When Curtius leap't the Gulf, 'twas into thee.

Now wee'l believe that man of Chica could

Make pills of arrows, and the Boy that would

Chew onely stones, nor can we think it vain

That Boranetho eat up th' neighbouring plain.

Poore Erisicthon, that could onely feast

On one poore Girle in severall dishes drest,

Thou hast devour'd as many sheep, as may

Cloath all the pasture in Arcadia.

Yet O how temperate, that ne're goes on

So farre as to approach repletion!

Thou breathing Cauldron, whose digestive heat

Might boyl the whole provision of the Fleet!

Say grace as long as meales, and if thou please,

Break fast with Ilands and drink healths with seas.

[Page]

The Antipathy A Pastorall

Tetricezza

SOoner the olive shall provoke

To amorous clasp's this sturdy oke,

And doves in league with eagles be,

Ere I will glance a smile on thee.

Amelius

Sooner, yond dustish mulberry

In her old white shall cloathed be,

And lizards with fierce asps combine,

Ere I will twist my soul with thine.

Tetricezza

Yet art thou in my judgement farre

Fairer then a rising starre,

And might deserve even Dian's love

But shalt not Tetricezza move.

Amelius

And thou art sweeter then the doun

Of damast-roses yet unblown,

And Phoebus might thy bridegroom be,

Yet shalt thou never conquer me,

[Page]

Tetricezza

Why meet we then, when either's mind

Or com's compelled, or stay's behind?

Amelius

Just as two boughs together tyed

Let loose again do stand more wide.

Song.

DIstill not poyson in mine eares

Aereall Sirens! nor unty

These sable fetters, yonder sphears

Dance to a silent Harmony.

Could I but follow where you lead

Dis-robed of Earth and plum'd by Air,

Then I my Tenuous self might spread,

As quick as Fancie every-where.

But Ile make sallies now and then,

Thus can my unconfined eye

Take journey and return again.

Yet on her Christall couch still lie.

[Page]

Home Travell.

VVHat need I travell, since I may

More choiser wonders here survay?

What need I Tire for purple seek

When I may find it in a cheek?

Or sack the Eastern shores, there lies

More precious Diamonds in her eyes?

What need I dig Peru for Oare

When every hair of her yields more?

Or toile for Gummes in India

Since she can breath more rich then they?

Or ranfack Africk, there will be

On either hand more Ivory?

But look within, all Vertues that

Each nation would appropriate,

And with the glory of them rest,

Are in this map at large exprest;

That who would travell here might know

The little world in Folio.

[Page]

Upon Samuel Ward D. D. the Lady Margarets Professour in Cambridge.

WEre't not piacular to weep for thee

The world might put on mourning, and yet be

Below just grief, stupendous Man who told

By just endowments that she grew not old.

But thine own hands have rais'd a monument

Farre greater then thy self, which shall be spent

When error conquers truth, and time shall be

No more, but swallow'd by Eternitie;

But when shall sullen darknesse fly away,

And thine own [...]ct [...]e Brownrigge give it day.

Or when shall ravish'd Europe understand,

How much she lost by thee, and by it gaind;

How well thou guardedst truth, how swift to close

With whatsoever Champion durst oppose;

Bear witnesse Dort, when Error could produce

The strength of reason and Arminius.

How did he loose their knots, how break their snares,

How meet their minings, how pluck up their cares.

[Page]How did his calmer voice speake thunder? how

His soft affections holy fury growe?

That had but Hell and Tyrants any roome,

There wanted nothing of a Martyrdome;

But Providence said no, and did consent

That oyle of time should not be spilt, but spent,

Nay, as the greatest flame doth ever fly

From failing Lamps, should'st in most glory die;

And as the Phenix when she doth prepare

To be her own both murderer and heire,

Makes richest spice her tombe and cradle be,

To quit and reassume mortality,

Even so thou (Seraph) spent thy minutes all,

In preparation for thy funerall,

And rais'd so great a pile, death could aspire

No greater honour hen to put to fire:

That thus the flame might lend us light below,

But the sweet breathing smoake still upward goe.

[Page]

To the precious Memory of Master William Fenner.

HOw brittle's wretched man? no sooner death

Scales up his eyes, and stops his panting breath,

But th' hungry grave devours him, and he must

Returne againe unto his mother dust;

So fraile a thing he is, so doth he passe,

That nothing can Remaine but that he was.

But thou (Triumphant Soule) art elevate

By thy vast merits 'bove the common fate;

Those sacred pearles thy selfe dig'd from among

Thy fiery thoughts, and polish't with thy tongue,

By thee a second life, that times to come

May say that Rochford had a Chrysostome,

Whose Life told out in Minutes, seem'd to be

Nothing but one continued Homilie,

So even was thy Conscience, such a flame

Rais'd thy affections, that thou soone became

Too good for Earth; so waking was thy brest,

That Night could never grant a truce to Rest,

[Page]But now thou Rests for ever drunke with joyes

That never spend, yet ever new arise.

Yet let thy Name still breath new odors, and

'Mong those Angelik Spirits numbred stand,

While we below stand gazing up and see

Th'hast chang'd thy Room, but not thy Company.

On a Gentleman and his Wife, who dyed both within a very few dayes.

THrice happy Paire, who had and have

Living one Bed, now dead one Grave:

Whose love being equall, neither could

A life unequall wish to hold,

But left a Question whether one

Did follow 'cause her Mate was gone,

Or th'other went before to stay

Till that his fellow came away,

So that one pious teare now must

Besprinkle either Parents dust,

And two great sorrowes joyntly Runne

And close into a larger one,

Or rather turne to joy, to see

The Buriall but the Wedding be.

[Page]

Of Beauty.

WHat doe I here, what's Beauty? lasse

How doth it passe?

As flowers assoone as smelled at

Evaporate,

Even so this shaddow, ere our eyes

Can view it, flies.

2

What's colour? 'lasse the sullen Night

Can it affright;

A Rose can more Vermilion speake,

Then any cheeke;

A richer white on Lillies stands,

Then any hands.

3

Then what's that worth, when any Flower

Is worth far more?

How constant's that which needs must die

When day doth fly?

Glow-wormes can lend some petty light,

To gloomy night.

[Page]

4

And what's proportion? wee descry

That in a flie;

And what's a lip? tis in the test,

Red clay at best.

And what's an Eye? an Eaglets are

More strong by farre.

5

Who can that specious nothing heed,

Which flies exceed?

Who would his frequent kisses lay

On painted clay?

Wh'ould not if eyes affection move

Young Eaglets love?

6

Is Beauty thus? then who would lie

Love-sicke and die?

And's wretched selfe annihilate

For knowes not what?

And with such sweat and care invade

A very shade?

[Page]

7

Even he that knowes not to possesse

True Happinesse,

But has some strong desires to try

What's misery,

And longs for teares, oh He will prove

One fit for Love.

The Epitome.

As in a cave

Where darkenesse justies out the day,

But yet doth give

Some small admission to one feeble ray,

Some of all species doe distinctly play.

2

Just even thou

Whom wonder hath not fully cleer'd,

Thy selfe dost shew,

That in thy little Chaos all's enspheard,

And though abridg'd, yet in full greatnesse rear'd.

[Page]

Armilla nigra.

ATrati Proceres, quos ram divina coercet

Copula, caeruleo nunc exaequata Georg I

Garterio, atque olim longe anteferenda, nec ulla

Interitura die, si quid praesagia vatum,

Si quid mollis amor valet, o dignissima Coelo

Pectora, sic vestris faelicia facta Ruinis,

Et flammis majora, novo succrescite honori,

Et durate diu, donec sese ultimus optet

Censeri numero Scytha, & ambitiosior Indus

Gestiat armilla vestra fulgere, relictis

Torquibus, & tenerae vultu constante puellae

Militiam subeant talem, cupiantque teneri

His manicis, & virgineas dediscere flammas,

Vestalique cadat Reverentia debita vittae.

At tu, Sol juvenum, soli cessure Maroni

Propter mille annos, vatum decus, ardue cunctae

Inscitiae Domitor, quem felix Anglia jactat

Et Galli stupuere, tuis en talia surgunt

Auspiciis, Tu tam grandis praeludia facti

Ordiris, tantasque jubes viviscere curas,

[Page]Hinc summus tibi surgit honos, hinc gloria quae non

Aut cadet, aut vult temporibus metirier ullis,

At cum se fragilis mundi ruitura resolvet

Machina, & armillis faelicia brachia deerunt,

Ipsa polo sese infinuet, candentibus astris

Accedens nova flamma, altae vicina Coronae.

To Mr. Stanley.

STarres in their rising little show,

And send forth trembling flames; but thou

At first appearance dost display

A bright and unobscured day:

Such as shall feare no night, nor shall

Thy setting be Heliacall,

But grow up to a Sun and take

A Lawrell for thy Zodiac;

That all which henceforth shall arise,

May onely be thy Parely's.

[Page]

On Doctor. Bambrigg, Mr. of Christs.

WEre but this Marble vocall, there

Such an Elogium would appeare

As might, though truth did dictate, move

Distrust in either Faith or Love;

As ample knowledge as could rest

Inshrined in a mortals brest,

Which ne'rethelesse did open lie,

Uncovered by humility,

A heart which piety had chose,

To be her Altar, whence arose

Such smoaking Sacrifices, that

We here can onely wonder at;

A honey tongue that could dispence,

Torrents of sacred eloquence,

And yet how far inferiour stand

Unto a learned curious hand?

That 'tis no wonder if this stone

Because it cannot speake, doth groane;

For could mortality assent,

These ashes might prove eloquent.

[...]

[Page]

Upon Mr. Robert Wiseman, Son to Sir Richard Wiseman, Essex.

BUt that we weigh our happinesse by thine

We could not (precious Soule) from teares decline,

Although the Muses Silver streame would be

Too poore by farre to drop an Elegie;

But thats below thee, since thy vertues are

The spices that Embalme thee, thou art farre

More Richly laid, and shalt more long remaine

Still mummifi'd within the hearts of men,

Then if to list thee in the Rolls of Fame

Each marble spoke thy shape, all brasse thy name.

Sleepe sacred ashes that did once containe

This Jewell, and shalt once, and e're, againe

Sleep undisturb'd; envy can only raise

Her selfe at living, hate graspe lower preyes;

We'le not defioure you, let us only prye

What Treasures in ye did involved lie,

So young, so learned and so wise, O here's

Example, Wisdom's not the Childe of yeares.

[Page]So rich and yet so pious! O tis well

Devotion is not coffin'd in a Cell,

Nor choak'd by wealth; wealth hated harmelesse proves,

And only knowes to mischiefe him that loves.

So faire and yet so chaste! Lust is not ever

Youths constant Sorcresse, but doth sometime sever

To looke on morall vertues; there'le appeare

The Courtier twisted with th' Philosopher:

Nor were they on spruce Apothegmes spent

Begot twixt Idlenesse and Discontent,

But acted to the life and unconstrain'd,

The Sisters sweetly walking hand in hand,

And so entirely twisted that alone

None could be view'd, all were together one;

As twinckling Spangles that together lie,

Joyne forces and make up one Galaxie;

As various Gums dissolving in one fire

Together in one fragrant fume expire.

Sleep then triumphant Soule, thy funeralls

For admiration and not mourning calls.

[Page]

Johanni Arrowsmythio, Coll. Sti. Joh. Praefecto.

DIvina Syren, c [...]gne caelestis, tuba

Evangelizans, Nectaris flumen meri,

Jubar salutis, praeco faederis novi,

Jam sic redîsti! teque in amplexus pios

Iterum dedisti! murmure ut vario fremit

Togata pubes, gaudia exprimens nova,

Quod patre tanto jam beatur, quod nutric

Sol tam refulgens, & coquit messes suas.

Sic saepe redeas, te licet retrahant tuae

Lac gestientes uberis mamillae oves,

Et te Senatus flagitet, cujus cluit

Pars magna; nostros sed fovere palmites

Desiste nunquam, vinitor dignissime,

Donec racemis pullulent usquam novis;

Duc hos tenellos in scientiae abdita,

Et esto morum dulcium felix faber.

[Page]

To his Tutor, Master Pawson. An Ode.

1

Come come away,

And snatch me from these shades to purer day,

Though Nature lie

Reserv'd, she cannot scape thy peircing eye.

I'le in her bosome stand,

Led by thy cunning hand,

And plainely see

Her Treasurie;

Though all my light be but a glimpse of thine,

Yet with that light, I will o'relooke

Her hardly open'd Booke,

Which to a read is easie, to understand divine.

2

Come let us run

And give the world a girdle with the Sun,

For so we shall

Take a full view of this enamel'd ball,

[Page]Both where it may be seen

Clad in a constant green,

And where it lies

Crusted with Ice,

Wher't swells with Mountaines, and shrinkes downe to Vales,

Where it permits the usurping Sea

To rove with liberty,

And where it pants with drouth, and of all liquor failes.

3

And as we goe,

Wee'l minde these atoms that crawle too and fro,

There may we see

One both be Souldier and Artillery,

Another whose defence

Is onely innocence,

One swift as winde

Or flying Hinde,

Another slow as is a mounting stone;

Some that love Earth, some scorne to dwell

Vpon't, but seem to tell

Those that deny there is a Heaven they know of one.

[Page]

4

Nor all this while

Shall there escape us ere a braving pile,

Nor ruine that

Wasts what it has to tell its former state.

Yet shall we ne're discry

Where bounds of Kingdomes lie,

But see them gone

As flights new flowne,

And loose themselves in their owne breadth, just as

Circlings upon the water, one

Growes great to be undone,

Or as lines in the sand which as they're drawn do passe.

5

But objects here

Cloy in the very taste. O let us teare

A passage through

That fleeting vault above; there may we know

Some rosie Brethren stray

To a set Battalia,

[...]

[Page]And others scout

Still round about,

Fix't in their courses, and uncertaine too;

But clammy matter doth deny

A cleere discovery,

Which those that are inhabitants may solely know.

6

Then let's away

And journey thither, what should cause our stay?

Wee'l not be hur'ld

Asleep by drowfie potions of the world.

Let not wealth tutor out

Our spirits with her gout,

Nor anger pull

With cramps the Soule;

But fairely disingag'd wee'l upward flie,

Till that occurring joy affright

Even with it's very weight,

And point the haven where we may securely lie.

[Page]

To an Old Wife talking to him.

PEace Beldam ugly, thou'lt not finde

M' ears bottles for enchanted wind,

That breath of thine can onely raise

New stormes and discompose the Seas,

It may (assisted by thy clatter)

A Pigmaean army scatter,

Or move without the smallest streame,

Loretto's Chappell once againe,

And blow St. Goodrick while he prayes

And knowes not what it is he saies,

And helpes false Latin with a hem

From Finckly to Jerusalem,

Or in th' Pacifique Sea supply

The winde that Nature doth deny.

What dost thou thinke I can retaine

All this and sprout it out againe?

As a surcharged Whale doth spew

Old Rivers to receive in new,

Thou art deceiv'd, even Aeol's Cave

That can all other blasts receive,

[Page]Would be too small to let in thine:

How then the narrow eares of mine?

Defect of Organs may me cause

By chance to pillorize an Asse:

Yet should I shake his eares, they'd be

Though long, too streight to hearken thee.

Yet if thou hast a mind to heare

How high thy voices merits are,

Attend the Cham, and when h'as din'd

Skreek Princes leave that have a minde,

Or serve the States, thou'lt usefull come

And have the pay of every drum,

Or trudge to Ʋtreckt, there outrun

Dame Skurmans score of tongues, with one.

But pray be still, O now I feare

There may be Torments for the eare,

O let me when I chance to die

In Vulcans Anvile buried lie,

Rather then heare thy tongue once knell,

That Tom a Lincolne and Bow-bell.

[Page]

The Recantation.

NOw sound I a retreat, now I'le no more

Run all those devious pathes I ran before,

I will no more range sullen groves, to lie

Entombed in a shade, nor basely flie

The deare society of light, to give

My Thoughts their birth in darkenesse, I'le not live

Such deaths againe, such dampy mists no more

Shall dare to draw an ugly skreen before

My clearer fancy: I'le not deifie

A failing beauty, Idolize an eye.

Farewell, farewell poore joyes, let not my hearse

Beare witnesse I was ever mad in verse,

Or plaid the foole in wit; no, I'le not have

Such Theams encrease the mourning at my graven.

Such thoughts I loath, and cannot now resent,

Who ever gloried in his excrement?

Now I will raze those Characters I wrote

So fairely from my selfe, now will I not

Suffer that Pyramid love rais'd within

My soule, to stand the witnesse of her sinne.

[Page]Nor will I ravish nature to dispose

A violated and profaned Rose,

Vpon a varnisht cheeke, nor Lillies feare

Into a Iandise, to be set where nere

White was discover'd; no,—stay I'le no more

Adde new guilt to the old repented for,

To name a sinn's to sinne; nor dare to breake

Jests of my vices on anothers backe,

But with some searching humours festred lie

A Renegado to all Poetry.

And must we now shake hands deare madnesse, now

After so long acquaintance? did I vow

To sacrifice unto thee what was brought,

As surplusage of a severer thought,

And breake my word? yes, from this very day

My fancy only shall on Marchpan play;

Now I'le turne Polititian, and see

How usefull Onions are in Drapery,

Feast dunces that miscall the Arts, and dance

With all the World a Galliard Ignorance.

FINIS.

2

2

[Page]

§

THE SECOND BOOKE OF Divine Poems. BY J. H.

Saepe quidem in galea nidos fecere Columbae.

LONDON. Printed by E.G. for J. Rothwell. 1647.

[Page]

[Page]

A Dirthyramb.

STill creeping, still degenerous soule

On Earth so wallowing still in mire?

Still to the Center dost thou roule,

When up to Heaven thou shouldst aspire?

Did not thy Jailour flesh deny

The freedome for to feed thine owne insatiate eye;

How might thou let it surfet here

On choicest glories, how it might

Thick flowing globes of splendor beare,

And triumph in its native light,

How t'would hereafter sleep disdaine!

The glorious Sun of righteousnesse uprise againe,

O who so stupid that would not

Resolve to Atoms, for to play

'Mong th' golden streamers he shall shut,

While he prolongs one endlesse day?

How small three evenings darkenesse be,

Compared once with measurelesse Eternity?

See how the joyous Clouds make way,

[Page]And put a ruddy brightnesse on,

How they their silken fleeces lay,

For him to mount to Heaven upon,

Where he may in full glory shine,

Whose presence made before a Heaven of Palestine.

That lovely brow that was before

Drown'd in a flood of Crimson sweat,

Is now with brightnesse guilded ore,

And all with burnisht flames beset;

Him, whom his drowsy Sonnes did leave

Sleeplesse, Aeriall Legions triumph to receive;

This innocent Columbine, he,

That was the marke of rage before,

O cannot now admired be,

But still admired, still needs more;

Who would not stand amaz'd to see,

Fraile flesh become the garment of Divinity?

Appeare no more proud Olivet

In tawney olives, from this time

Be all with purple vines beset;

The sprig of Jesse from thee did climbe

Up to the Skies, and spread those boughs,

[Page]Whereon lifes grapes, those Paradisean clusters growes.

Why stare you curious gazers so,

No Eye can reach his Journeys end,

Hee'l pierce the rouling Concave through,

And that expanded Fabrick rend,

Then hee's at home, he was before

A Pilgrime, while he footed this round nothing ore.

If then his nimble feet could make,

A pavement of the quivering streame,

And cause those powerfull Spirits quake,

That feare not any thing but him:

Now can and will he turne to joyes

Your feares, and or disarme or turne your enemies.

He is not lost though wafted hence,

He's with you (darlings of his love)

Hee's the supreame Intelligence

That all the little Orbs will move,

He is the head, it cannot be

Members can perish, where ther's such a head as he.

A head compos'd of Majesty,

Wer't not by mercy all possest,

From which such charming glances fly,

[Page]As striking vengeance can arrest,

From which such powerfull frowns arise,

As can strike palsies in the Earth, and headach in the Skies.

What did you thinke he could remaine

Disguis'd in such an inch of land?

That convex cannot him containe,

Though spun out by his owne right hand.

What did you thinke that though he lay,

Enterr'd a while, the Earth might swallow such a prey?

That very dying did restore

Banisht life to rotting men,

And fetcht back breath that fled before,

Into their nostrils once againe,

That very death gave life to all,

And t' all mankind recovery of their Fathers fall.

Suppose yee that the fatall tree,

That happiest worst of punshiments,

Did punish such a sinlesse he,

Or shame him that was excellence?

No no, the crime doth ever state

The punishment, and he sinne could not act, but hate.

Thought yee that streame did flow in vaine

[Page]That issued from his opend side?

Your soules were foule, yet every staine

By these pure drops were purified.

He was he freely prodigall

To spend all's blood for some, when some might have sav'd all.

Harke, harke, what melody, what choice

Of sweetest Aires, of charming sounds!

Heaven seemes all turn'd into a voice;

Heare what loud shreeking joy rebounds,

The very Windes now whistle joy

And make Hosannas of the former crucifie.

The Ermine.

THe Ermine rather chose to die

A Martyr of its purity,

Then that one uncouth soile should staine

It's hitherto preserved skin,

And thus resolv'd she thinkes it good

To write her whitenesse in her blood.

But I had rather die, then e're

Continue from my foulenesse cleere;

[Page]Nay I suppose by that I live

That onely doth destruction give;

Mad-man I am, I turne mine Eye

On every side, but what doth lie

Within I can no better finde,

Then if I ever had been blind.

Is this the reason thou dost claime

Thy sole prerogative, to frame

Engines againe thy selfe? O fly

Thy selfe as greatest enemy,

And thinke thou sometimes life wilt get

By a secure contemning it.

§

Jude. 14.15.

The Lord commeth with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement upon all.

I Heare and tremble! Lord, what shall I doe

T' avoid thy anger, whether shall I goe?

What, shall I scale the Mountaines? 'las they be

Farre lesse then Atoms if compar'd with thee.

What, shall I strive to get my selfe a Tombe,

Within the greedy Oceans swelling Wombe?

[Page]Shall I dive into Rockes? where shall I flie

The sure discovery of thy peircing Eye?

Alas I know not; though with many a teare

In Hell they mone thy absence, thou art there;

Thou art on Earth and well observest all

The actions acted on this massie Ball;

And when thou look'st on mine, what can I say?

I dare not stand, nor can I run away.

Thine eyes are pure and cannot looke upon

(And what else Lord am I?) Corruption.

Thou hatest sinnes, and if thou once begin

To cast me in the Scales, I all am sinne;

Thou still continu'st one, O Lord; I range

In various formes of crimes and love my change.

Lord thou that mad'st me, bid'st I should present

My Heart unto thee; O see how 'tis rent,

By various Monsters; see how fastly held,

How stubornely they doe deny to yeild.

How shall I stand, when that thou shalt be hurl'd

On Cloudes, in robes of fire to Judge the world,

Usher'd with golden Legions, in thine Eye

Carrying an all-enraged Majesty;

[Page]That shall the Earth into a Palsie stroke,

And make the Clouds sigh out themselves in smoake,

How can I stand? yes Lord I may although

Thou beest the Judge, thou art a party too;

Thou sufferest for these faults, for which thou shall

Arraigne me Lord, thou sufferest for them all,

They are not mine at all, these wounds of thine

That on thy glorious side so brightly shine,

Seal'd me a pardon, in those wounds th'are hid

And in that side of thine th'are buried.

Lord smile againe upon us; which what grace

Doth mercy sit enthroniz'd on thy face!

How did that scarlet sweat become thee when

That sweat did wash away the filth of men?

How did those peevish thornes adorne thy brow?

Each thorne more richly then a Gem did glow?

Yet by those thornes (Lord how thy love abounds!)

Are we poore wormes made capable of Crownes.

Come so to Judgement Lord; th' Apostles shall

No more into their drowsy slumber fall,

But stand and hearken how the Judge shall say

Come come my Lambes to Ioy, come come away.

§

[Page]

Gen. 24. ver. 63.

Quò egressus Isaac ad meditandum in agro, &c.

Juvenis beate, magne tot Regum parens,

Faecunde tot patrum pater,

Tot Nationum origo, tot vatum fides,

Tot Antesignane Heroum,

Sicne is in agros jam renidentes novis

Et aureis florum stolis?

Sic, sic recessum quaeris? & turbam fugis?

Sic totus in teipsum redis?

Ut nullus oculus sancta spectet otia,

Nulla auris insidias locet.

Dum tu (suäve!) pectus effundis tuum

In caelici patris sinum,

Dum cor sacratis aestuans amoribus

Ebullit impletum Deo,

Dum Lachrymarum gemmeae scatebrae ruunt,

Per molle vernantes genas,

Dum misceatur dulce Planctuum melos

Ardentibus suspiriis,

[Page]Dum dum (invidenda solitudo!) mens suis

Jam libere è gyariis meat,

Linquensque terras, templa perrumpit poli,

Se luce perfundens novâ;

Sic ipse vivam, sic mihi occulti dies

O effiuant, solus siem,

Sic me praehendat luce palpitans novâ

Praeco diei Phosphorus,

Sic me praehendat luce candens ultimâ

Et noctis index Hesperus:

Non ipse curem vana vulgi murmura,

Non irritos rumusculos,

Sim mi' beatus! Nymphacae caelestis meum

Non abnuat Consortium.

Divinus illo flammat in vultu pudor,

Divina stat modestia;

Hinc hinc, pudica pallidas umbras amat

Et antra Musca vivida,

Ubi me loquelis melleis, suadâ merâ,

Formosa mulceat dea,

Ubi in me inundans nectaris torrens fluat,

Ex ore prosiliens sacra,

[Page]Quantum haec voluptas! quanta! quanta gaudia!

Quis non? quis invideat mihi?

Dum sic edaces exulant curae, nigra

Fugiunt doloris agmina,

Dum mî voluptas, ipsa per se amabilis

Nullisque ficta officiis,

Mi mille Veneres mille mostret Gratias,

Mî mille dat Cupidines.

Sic mî juventae blanda marcescat rosa,

O sic senecta palleat.

Sic sic nivales vestiant cani caput,

Sic hora fugiat ultima;

Non ipse vanas horream mortis minas,

Sed tela sustineam libens;

Securus illuc evolare, quò mea

Semper perennem gaudia,

Redintegrare Paeanas possim novos

Inter triumphantium greges;

O mî appropinquet sic dies novissimus

Natalis adveniet mihi [...]

[Page]

On an Houre-glasse.

MY Life is measur'd by this glasse, this glasse

By all those little Sands that thorough passe.

See how they presse, see how they strive, which shall

With greatest speed and greatest quicknesse fall.

See how they raise a little Mount, and then

With their owne weight doe levell it agen.

But when th' have all got thorough, they give o're

Their nimble sliding downe, and move no more.

Just such is man whose houres still forward run,

Being almost finisht ere they are begun;

So perfect nothings, such light blasts are we,

That ere w'are ought at all, we cease to be.

Do what we will, our hasty minutes fly,

And while we sleep, what do we else but die?

How transient are our Joyes, how short their day!

They creepe on towards us, but flie away.

How stinging are our sorrowes! where they gaine

But the least footing, there they will remaine.

How groundlesse are our hopes, how they deceive

Our childish thoughts, and onely sorrow leave!

[Page]How reall are our feares! they blast us still,

Still rend us, still with gnawing passions fill;

How senselesse are our wishes, yet how great!

With what toile we pursue them, with what sweat!

Yet most times for our hurts, so small we see,

Like Children crying for some Mercurie.

This gapes for Marriage, yet his fickle head

Knows not what cares waite on a Marriage bed.

This vowes Virginity, yet knowes not what

Lonenesse, griefe, discontent, attends that state.

Desires of wealth anothers wishes hold,

And yet how many have been choak't with Gold?

This onely hunts fot honour, yet who shall

Ascend the higher, shall more wretched fall.

This thirsts for knowledge, yet how is it bought

With many a sleeplesse night and racking thought?

This needs will travell, yet how dangers lay

Most secret Ambuscado's in the way?

These triumph in their Beauty, though it shall

Like a pluck't Rose or fading Lillie fall.

Another boasts strong armes, 'las Giants have

By silly Dwarfes been drag'd d unto their grave.

[Page]These ruffle in rich filke, though ne're so gay,

A well plum'd Peacock is more gay then they.

Poore man, what art! a Tennis ball of Errour,

A Ship of Glasse toss'd in a Sea of terrour,

Issuing in blood and sorrow from the wombe,

Crauling in teares and mourning to the tombe,

How slippery are thy pathes, how sure thy fall,

How art thou Nothing when th'art most of all!

An Ode.

1

DEscend O Lord

Into this gloomy heart of mine,

And once afford

A glimpse of that great Light of thine,

The Sunne doth never here

To shine on basest dunghills once forbeare.

2

What though I be

Nothing but high corruption?

Let me have thee

And at thy presence 'twill be gon,

[Page]Darkenesse dare never stand

In competition while the Suns at hand.

3

And though my sinnes

Be an unnumbred number, yet

When thou begins

To looke on Christ, do then forget

I help'd to cause his griefe.

If so, Lord from it grant me some reliefe.

4

All thou demands

Is that small peice of me, my heart;

Lo here it stands

Thine wholly, I'le reserve no part;

Let the three corners be

(Since nought else can) fil'd with one triple thee.

5

Set up a Throne,

Admit no rivall of thy power,

Be thou alone

(I'le onely feare thee) Emperour,

And though thy limits may

Seeme small, Heaven onely is as large as they.

[Page]

6

And if by chance

The Old-oft-conquer'd Enemy

New stirrs advance,

Looke but upon him and hee'l fly,

The smallest checke of thine

Will do't, so cannot all the power that's mine.

7

Thy Kingdome is

More then ten thousand worlds, each heart

A Province is;

Keepe residence in mine, 'tis part

Of those huge Realmes; I'le be

Thy slave, and by this meanes gaine libertie,

8

Such as all Earth

Ne're could so much as fancy yet,

Nor can give birth

To thoughts enough to fathom it,

No no, nor can blest I

When I injoy it, know what I enjoy.

[Page]

9

Then give me this

I aske for, though I know not what

(O Lord) it is:

But what's of greatest price give that,

Or plainely bold to be

In begging, Lord, I pray thee give me thee.

Hymnus.

UT se perpetuo rotat

Aether, quàm fluidis ruit

Semper pendulis orbibus,

Quàm dulces variat vices!

Nunc serae tenebrae ruunt,

Nunc lucis jubar aureum,

Nunc flores Zephyri erigunt

Languentes Aquilonibus;

Jam jam vellera nubium

Quiddam caeruleum rubent,

Jam quid caeruleum albicant;

Jam flammam croceam evomit

[Page]Phaebus, sed modo debilem:

Jam molles abigit nives,

Flores parturiens novos,

Jam se proripit, & gelu

Sistit non rapidas aquas.

Tu cuncta haec peragis Deus,

Te clamant Deus, omnia

Fecisti ex nihilo, & modo

Servas ne in nihilum ruant.

Si [...]tu contineas manum,

Labescant simul omnia;

Tellus, non animalibus

Praebens hospitium suis,

Sordebit nimiis aquis;

Ipsum nec mare noverit

Fluctus sistere fervidos,

Turbabuntur & omnia

Ni tu cuncta manu poti,

Ta cuncta officio tenes.

[Page]

Selfe.

1

TRaitor selfe, why do I try

Thee, my bitterst Enemy?

What can I beare

Alas more deare

Then is this Center of my selfe my heart?

Yet all those traines that blow me up lie there

Hid in so small a part.

2

How many back-bones nourisht have

Crawling Serpents in the grave?

I am alive,

Yet life doe give

To Myriads of Adders in my breast,

Which doe not there consume, but grow and thrive,

And undisturbed rest.

3

Still gnawing where they first were bred,

Consuming where they're nourished,

Endeavouring still

Even him to kill

[Page]That gives them life, and looses of his blisse

To entertaine them: that tyrannicke Ill

So radicated is.

4

Most fatall men what can we have

To trust? our bosomes will deceive;

The cleerest thought

To witnesse brought,

Will speake against us and condemne us too,

Yea and they all are knowne. O how we ought

To sift them through!

5

Yet what's our diligence even all

Those sands to number that do fall

Chac'd by the winde?

Nay we may finde

A mighty difference; who would suppose

This little thing so fruitfull were and blind

As it's owne ruine showes?

[Page]

Anteros.

FRowne on me shades, and let not day

Swell in a needle-pointed ray

To make discoveries; wrap me here

In folds of night, and doe not feare

The Suns approach, so shall I finde

A greater light possesse my minde;

O do not (Children of the Spring)

Hither your charming Odours bring,

Nor with your painted smiles devise

To captivate my wandring eyes,

Th' have stray'd too much, but now begin

Wholly t' employ themselves within.

What doe I now on Earth? O why

Do not these Members upward flie,

And force a roome among the Starres,

And there my greatned selfe disperse

As wide as thought? what do I here

Spread on soft downe of Roses? there

That spangled curtaine which so wide

Dilates it's lustre, shall me hide.

[Page]Mount up low thoughts and see what sweet

Reposance Heaven can beget;

Could yee the least compliance frame

How should I all become one flame,

And melt in purest fires? O how

My warmed Heart would sweetly glow,

And waste those dreggs of Earth that stay

Glew'd to it, then it might away,

And still ascend, till that it stood

Within the Center of all good;

There prest, not overwhelm'd with joyes,

Under it's burthen fresh arise;

There might it lose it selfe and then

With losing finde it selfe againe;

There might it triumph and yet be

Still in a blest captivitie.

There might it—O why doe I speake

Whose humble thoughts are far too weake,

To apprehend small notions? nay

Angels are non-plus'd, though the day

Breakes clearer on them, and they run

In Apogees more neer the Sunne.

[Page]But oh! what pulls me? how I shall

In the least moment headlong fall;

Now I'm on Earth againe not dight,

As formerly in springing light,

The selfe same objects please, that I

Did even now, as base deny:

Now what a powerfull influence

Ha's Beauty on my slavish sense,

How rob I Nature that I may

Her wealth upon my cheeke display,

How doth the Giant Honour seeme

Well statur'd in my fond esteeme;

And Gold that bane of men, I call

Not poisonous now but cordiall:

Since that the Worlds great Eye the Sunne

Ha's not disdain'd to mak't his owne;

Now every passion swayes, and I

Tamely admit their Tyranny;

Only with numerous sighings say,

The basest thing is breathing clay.

But sure these vapours will not e're

Draw Curtaines o're my Hemisphere.

[Page]Let it cleere up, and welcome day

It's lustre once againe display.

Thou (O my Sunne) a while maist lie

As intercepted from mine eye,

But Love shall fright those clouds, and thou

Into my purged eyes shalt flow,

Which (melted by my inward fires,

Which shall be blowne by strong desires)

Consuming into teares, shall feele

Each teare into a Pearle congeale,

And every Pearle shall be a stemme

In my Celestiall Diadem.

A Hymne.

THou mighty Subject of my humble Song,

Whom ev'ry thing speakes, though it cannot speake;

Whom all things Eccho, though without a tongue;

And int' expressions of thy glory breake.

Who out of nothing this vast fabricke brought;

And still preserv'st it least it fall againe,

[Page]And be reduc'd into it's ancient nought,

But may its vigour primitive retaine.

Who out of Atoms shap'd thine Image, Man,

And all to Crowne him with Supremacy

Over his Fellow-creatures, nay and than

Didst in him raise a flame that cannot die.

Whose purer fire should animate that drosse

That renders him but equall to the beast,

And make him, though materiate and grosse,

Not lesse then those that in no bodies rest,

Nay Lord above them, they did first of all

Turne Renegadoes to thy Majesty,

And in their mine did involue his fall,

That caus'd him under thy displeasure lie.

There did he loose his snowy Innocence,

His undepraved will, then did he fall

Down from the Tower of knowledge, nay from thence

Dated the losse of his, Heaven, thee, and all.

[Page]

So wert thou pleas'd to let thy anger lay

Cloudes of displeasure 'twixt poore man [...]d thee,

That Mercy might send forth a milky my,

To tell, that ne'rethelesse thou would'st agree.

Though man in sinning still new guilt should adde,

It never could expugne thy patience;

Thine, who not ever any passion had,

But can forgive, as well as see offence.

Yet though our hearts petrificated were,

And all our blood curdled to ruddy Ice,

Yet caused'st thou thy Law be graven there,

And set a Guardian or't, that never dies.

But we eras'd that Sculpture, then thou wrote

In Tables, what thou hadst in stone before;

Yet were we not unto obedience brought,

But rather slackned our performance more:

Dead to all goodnesse and engulf'd in sinne,

Benummed by our owne corruptions,

[Page]That we were onely drown'd, not render'd cleane,

By th' streames that cover'd all the Earth at once.

Wandring without the least ability

To tread, or Eyes to see our safest way,

While fiery vengeance at our heeles did fly,

Ready to strike when thou the word should'st say.

Yet didst thou disappoint her, thy Sons blood

Suppli'd our want of Oceans of teares.

The Authour thought fit this should not perish, though other occasions suffer him onely to present it in the habit of a Fragment.

§

Ecclesiastes. 1.3.

What profiteth a Man of all his labour which he taketh under the Sun?

1

EVen as the wandring Traveller doth stray,

Led from his way

By a false fire, whose Flame to cheated sight

Doth lead aright,

[Page]All paths are footed over, but that one

Which should be gone;

Even so my foolish wishes are in chace

Of ev'ry thing, but what they should embrace.

2

We laugh at children, that can when they please

A bubble raise,

And, when their fond ambition sated is,

Againe dismisse

The fleeting toy into its former Aire.

What doe we here

But act such Tricks? yet thus we differ, they

Destroy, so do not we, wee sweat, they play.

3

Ambitions towrings do some gallants keepe

From calmer sleepe,

Yet when their thoughts the most possessed are,

They grope but Aire,

And when they're highest, in an instant fade

Into a shade,

Or like a stone, that more forc'd upwards, shall

With greater violence to'ts Center fall.

[Page]

4

Another whose conceptions onely dreame

Monsters of fame,

The vaine applause of other Mad-men buyes

With his owne sighes,

Yet his enlarged name shall never craule

Over this Ball,

But soone consume; thus doth a Trumpets sound

Rush bravely on a little, then's not found;

5

But we as soone may tell how often shapes

Are chang'd by Apes,

As know how oft mans childish thoughts do vary

And still miscarry,

So a weake Eye in twilight thinkes it sees

New species,

While it sees nought; so men in dreames conceive,

Of Sceptets, till that waking undeceive.

[Page]

An Epitaph.

WHen that my daies are spent, (nor do

I know

Whether the Sun will er'e immise

Light to mine eyes)

Me thinkes a pious teare needs must

Offer some violence to my dust.

Dust, ravel'd in the Aire will fly

Up high,

Mingled with water 'twill retire

Into the mire.

Why should my ashes not be free

When nature gave them liberty?

But when I go, I must them leave

In grave.

No Flouds can make my marble so

As moist to grow.

Then spare your labour, since your dew

Cannot from ashes, Flowers renew.

[Page]

A Pastoroll Hymne.

HAppy Choristers of Aire,

who by your nimble flight draw neare

His throne, whose wondrous story

And unconfined glory

Your notes still Caroll, whom your sound

And whom your plumy pipes rebound.

Yet do the lazy Snailes no lesse

The greatnesse of our Lord confesse,

And those whom weight hath chain'd

And to the Earth restrain'd,

Their ruder voices do as well,

Yea and the speechlesse Fishes tell.

Great Lord, from whom each Tree receaves,

Then paies againe as rent, his leaves;

Thou dost in purple set,

The Rose and Violet,

And giu'st the sickly Lilly white,

Yet in them all, thy name dost write.

[Page]

An Ode.

1

LOrd send thine hand

Unto my rescue, or I shall

Into mine owne ambushments fall,

Which ready stand

To d' execution, all

Lay'd by selfe-love, O what

Love of our selves is that

That breeds such uproares in our better state!

2

I thinke I passe

A Meadow guilt with crimson showr's,

Of the most rich and beauteous Flowers,

Yet thou alas!

Espi'st what under lowres;

Taste them, they're poyson, lay

Thy selfe to rest, there stray

Whole knots of Snakes that solely waite for prey.

[Page]

3

To dreame of flight

Is more then madnesse; there will be

Either some strong necessity,

Or else delight

To chaine us, would we flee.

Thus do I wandring goe,

And cannot Poisons know

From wholesome Simples that beside them grow.

4

Blind that I am,

That do not see before mine eyes

These gazing dangers that arise

Ever the same,

Or in Varieties

Farre worse, how shall I scape?

Or whether shall I leape?

Or with what comfort solace my hard hap?

[Page]

5

Thou who alone

Canst give assistance, send me aid,

Else shall I in those depths be laid

And quickly throwne,

Whereof I am affraid;

Thou who canst stop the Sea

In her mid-rage, stop me;

Lest from my selfe my owne selfe-ruine bee.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

Poems by John Hall.

Hall, John, 1627-1656.

Edition statement

1647

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A86824

ID [STC]

Wing H355

ID [STC]

Thomason E1166_1*

ID [STC]

ESTC R202359

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99862681

ID [PROQUEST]

99862681

ID [VID]

114851

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A86824)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 114851)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 166:E1166[1*])

Source

— Poems by John Hall., Hall, John, 1627-1656., Marshall, William, fl. 1617-1650, engraver..

Extent

[16], 104 p., plate : port.

Printed by [E.G., London, and] Roger Daniel printer to the Universitie, 1646. For J. Rothwell at the Sun in Pauls Church-yard [London,. Cambridge :: 1647]. ("The second booke of divine poems" has separate title page with imprint "London. Printed by E.G. for J. Rothwell. 1647."; pagination and register are continuous.) (The portrait of Hall is signed: W. Marshall sculpsit.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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