Bethlehems beauty, Londons charity, and the cities glory. A panegyrical poem on that magnificent structure, lately erected in Moorfields, vulgarly called New Bedlam. Humbly addrest to the honourable master, governours, and other noble benefactors of that splendid and most useful hospital.

Bethlehems beauty, Londons charity, and the cities glory. A panegyrical poem on that magnificent structure, lately erected in Moorfields, vulgarly called New Bedlam. Humbly addrest to the honourable master, governours, and other noble benefactors of that splendid and most useful hospital.

Table of contents

BETHLEHEMS BEAUTY, LONDONS CHARITY, AND THE CITIES GLORY. A Panegyrical Poem on that Magnificent Structure, lately Erected in Moorfields, vulgarly called New-Bedlam. Humbly Addrest to the Honourable Master, Governours, and other Noble Benefactors of that Splendid and most useful Hospital.

§

[Page]

BETHLEHEMS BEAUTY, LONDONS CHARITY, AND THE CITIES GLORY.
A Panegyrical Poem on that Magnificent Structure, lately Erected in Moorfields, vulgarly called New-Bedlam.
Humbly Addrest to the Honourable Master, Governours, and other Noble Benefactors of that Splendid and most useful Hospital.

§

Licensed

September 16. 1676.

Roger L'Strange.

STory no more shall Antient Fabricks boast,

The mould'ring Pyramids on Egypts coast;

Sol's vast Colossus, or those mighty Things

Which with Mortality upbraided Kings:

All these could but vain Ostentation yield,

Whilst we for Ʋse and Charity do Build.

When LONDON did in Funeral Ashes lie

But Ten years since, The Grief of every Eye,

VVhere Desolation Triumph'd in each Street,

Trampling our Stately'st Structures under Feet.

VVho durst Predict, or hope so soon to see

Her thus Rebuilt, with greater Majestie?

Houses! whose height and strength seem to Conspire,

To o'retop Thunder, and defiance Fire;

The Sun beholds not a more Brave Exchange,

Nor spacious Streets that in like order Range;

VVhose lofty Fronts harmoniously Advance,

As if (like Thebs) their Building were a Dance:

Her Publick Halls as Pallaces appear,

And out-vie Princes Courts somtimes for Chear:

Her Sacred Temples in a Decent State,

Teach us with Awe and Reverence to wait

There on our Glorious Maker, at once free

From profane Filth, and gawdy Pageantree;

Nor doubt I, Aged Pauls! Thy Reverend Pile

To see Restor'd, The Glory of our Isle,

And for Rare Works, as well as Faith, become

Superior far to Peters Fane at Rome.

But to speak these Glories, needs an abler Muse,

Ours only dares a Suburb Wonder chuse:

BEDLAM! That shall a lasting Witness be

Of this great Cities generous Piety:

Magnificent Foundation! such as shows

The greatness of their Souls by whom it Rose;

So Brave, so Neat, so Sweet it does appear,

Makes one Half-Madd to be a Lodger there;

And those poor Souls, whose Crazed Brains advance

Their Roving Fancies to'th Extravagance

Of being Princes, needs must think it True,

VVhen they shall such a Towering Pallace View.

Since, Strangers that Survey the Galleries,

Find the Vast Length wearies their Travelling eyes;

And some cry-out, "If such a Place befits

"Madmen, Henceforth who'le Study to be Wits?

A hundred Rooms in curious order stand

Each with its Bed and Furniture at hand.

Th' Approaching Air, in every gentle Breeze,

Is Fan'd and Winnow'd through the neighbouring Trees,

And comes so Pure, the Spirits to Refine,

As if th' wise Governours had a Designe

That should alone, without Physick Restore

Those whom Gross Vapours discompos'd before;

But this Conceit is stifled by their Care,

The best of Arts Assistance to prepare,

VVhat e're Galenick or Hermetick Skill

Offers in Natures Aid, is ready still.

Convenient Diet's liberally bestow'd,

And all meet Helps from time to time Allow'd:

Though many here their Reason do Regain,

Yet none has ever Reason to Complain.

Here that mischeivous Hagg, black Melancholly,

Mother of Discontent, and Nurse of Folly

Circe's Transforming Magick strangely Apes,

And changes Men into a Thousand shapes,

Some Raving Wild, and some like Statues fixt,

Democritus with Heraclitus mixt.

One Fancies still his Cruel Mistress by,

To'ther upbraids her Friends Inconstancy,

He, Weaves Straw-Bracelets, which he calls her Hair,

And She, o'th' Wall writes Letters to her Dear,

Th' only True Lovers, now adays are here.

One still makes Almanacks, and those as True,

I dare engage, as most that Print them, do.

Another Rails at Rome, with as much Sense

As some abroad for Conventicle Pence.

Thus do fond Love, wild Zeal, fierce jealousie,

Immod'rate Studies, pinching Poverty,

All Clubb to People this sad Colony.

VVhat Objects then more claim our Charity,

Than these that know not their own Misery;

And where such poor Distracted Souls are fed,

How fitly is it call'd, The House of Bread.

Thrice Noble Patriots, you have made it so,

Immortal Thanks we to your Bounty owe,

VVhose Liberal Hands and Contributions raise

This Mighty Work, which the next Age must praise,

Ours only can Admire; may Heaven bless

Your Brave Designs with suitable Success.

May every Wretch comes here his Sense obtain,

To pay your Costs with Grateful Pray'rs again,

That when full Ripe with Honour, and with Years,

Your happy Dissolution day appears.

Perfuming Earth with your Exemplar Fames,

Th' Eternal Book may Register your Names,

Free Citizens o'th' New Jerusalem,

To Raign with Him was Born in Bethlehem.

§

§

LONDON, Printed for Thomas Sear in Sweethins Ally near the Royal Exchange, 1676.

Information about this book

Title statement

Bethlehems beauty, Londons charity, and the cities glory. A panegyrical poem on that magnificent structure, lately erected in Moorfields, vulgarly called New Bedlam. Humbly addrest to the honourable master, governours, and other noble benefactors of that splendid and most useful hospital.

Edition statement

1676

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

B01565

ID [STC]

Wing B2081

ID [STC]

Interim Tract Supplement Guide C.20.f.2[106]

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99886914

ID [PROQUEST]

ocm99886914

ID [VID]

181433

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. B01565)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 181433)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books; Tract supplement ; A1:1[107])

Source

— Bethlehems beauty, Londons charity, and the cities glory. A panegyrical poem on that magnificent structure, lately erected in Moorfields, vulgarly called New Bedlam. Humbly addrest to the honourable master, governours, and other noble benefactors of that splendid and most useful hospital.,

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.).

Printed for Thomas Sear [i.e. Sare] in Sweethins Ally near the Royal Exchange,. London, :: 1676.. ("Licensed September 16. 1676. Roger L'Strange.") (Spelling of printer's name from Wing CD-ROM, 1996.) (Verse: "Story no more shall antient fabricks boast,".) (Reproduction of original in the British Library.)

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