ΚΟΣΜΟΒΡΕΦΙΑ, OR THE INFANCY OF THE WORLD: With an Appendix of Gods resting day, Ed [...]n Garden; Mans Happiness before, Misery after, his Fall.

Whereunto is added, The Praise of Nothing; Divine Ejaculations; The four Ages of the world; The Birth of Christ;

Also a Century of Historical Appli­cations; With a Taste of Poetical FICTIONS.

Written some years since by N. B. then of Eaton School;

And now published at the request of his Friends.

London, Printed for Robert Crofts, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Crown in Chancery Lane, under Sergea [...]ts Inn, 1658.

Basilius Seluciensis:

Deus cùm res creatas in morem scalae adaptaverit, per cas sui amantibus, ascensum ad se extruxit.
Sermone p [...]imo.

Basilius Magnus:

Deus fecit mundum: ut bonus, utilem: ut sapiens, pulcherimum: ut poten [...], maximum.

Si haec didicerimus, nos ipsos agnoscemus, D [...]um cognoscemus, conditorem adorabimus, Domino serviemus, patrem glorificabimus, nutri­cium diligemus, benefactorem reverebimur, autho­rem praesentis et futurae v [...]tae colere nunquam desi­nemus. In Hexametr [...].

Augustinus.

Interrogavi molem mundi, dic mihi, esne tu deus meus? et respon [...]it voce forti: Non sum Deus tuus, sed per ipsum ego sum: quem quaer [...]s in me, ipse fecit te et me, et cum quaere supra te et supra me.

In solil [...]qūijs.
Pro. 16. 4.The Lord hath made all things for himself.
Pro. 3. 19. The Lord by wisdome hath founded the Earth, by understanding hath he established the Heavens.
Psal. 8, 1. O Lord our God, how excellent &c.

To the Right Honorable, FRANCIS ROUS, Esq; Provost of Eaton Coll. and one of the Council to his High­ness the Lord Protector: N. B. wisheth encrease of grace, and peace, in Christ here; and everlast­ing glory hereafter.

Right HONOƲRABLE,

JT is now six years compleat, since I was through your favour, removed from my late reverend fathers side; and plac'd in that Famous, and flourishing School of Eaton: from whence, after somc continu­ance there, haveing not the happiness (nor was I alone) to be transplanted elsewhere, in a Colledg of the same foundation: whi­ther want of learning, or somewhat else, as much (what if I say more?) look'd upon [Page] by many now adays, or both, were impe­diments? I shall not now stand to deter­mine; but sure I am, though I could be so forward as the best, yet was I as ardently desirous after knowledg as the most, and happily, I may truely say of others, what I should blush to say of my self; that in them was verified that of the Poet Juve­nal,

Haud facile emergunt quorum virtutibus obstat
Res angusta domi.
Can vertue be advanc'd? now, vertue's poor;
Thou bring'st nought (freind) goe get thee out of door.

Neither doth it now repent me of going into that Labyrinth, though I could not get out by the same clue: for I confess it hath much bettered my knowledg, in the finding out many difficult intricacies in the most useful tongues. And that I might not be ungrateful unto you by whome I have profited, I thought it not amiss (espe­cialy [Page] knowing you to be affected with Po­etry) to present you, for a new-years gift, these first fruits gathered at play-times there; they being the recreative condi­ments to my Philological Studies; hum­bly craving your Honors acceptance of them: And although they are not so fair, nor so ripe for your sake as I could wish them, yet are they as good as the third Lustrum of mine age was then able to produce, which I hope may render them the more pardonable, if they taste harsh and untoothsome. I cannot but say they are too mean to stand in competition with so great a favour; yet I conceive they may serve as well as the best, to testifie my un­willingness to stifle your name in the Ri­ver Lethe, or to rake up the glowing em­bers of the encourageing bounty of my honorable Maecenas, in the ashes of Obli­vion: My Muse therefore haveing no­thing else, leaves these leafes with you [Page] as a concise Epitomie of the volumi­nous thankfulness own you by

Canterb. Dec. 29. 1656.
Sir,
Your Honours obliged servant, and dayly Oratour. NICH: BILLINGSLY.

To the Candid Reader,

Gentle Reader,

I Little thought when first I composed these few lines, that they should ever appeare in publique view; but thy kind entertainment of my first Pilgrim that adventured a­broad into the world, hath emboldned me (my friends likewise, whome I have cause to honor) very much encouraging me thereunto, to thrust upon thee this second also, which how well thou wilt use I know not, for that I must stand to thy courtesie; But I tell thee this beforehand, thou must not expect here any strong lines, high tow'ri [...] fancies, and soaring inventions, which were (when I penned this) inconsistent with my boyish years. If the natures of Wells, [Page] Rivers, Fountains, Springs, Trees, Plants, Flowers, Birdes, Beasts, Fishes, Starrs &c. delight thee to know, thou hast them here set down as well as I could, and I wish they were better for thy sake then they are: although, I must needs say, I colected them for mine owne pleasure and profit: For the first I found no better remedy to rouse my selfe out of my dumpish malencholy (to which I was naturaly enclined) then a fit of Poetry. For the second I conceived that my digesting into a little roome what I found scatered here and there in divers Authors, touching this subject (which is so exceeding compre­hensive) might be advantageous to my me­mory in the retaining of the several Species of things created, and that so my soul might rise up to a higher pitch, in admiring at the All creators glory. Thus (Reader) dost thou see how I aymed at mine owne ends in scribling this Tractate. Now my desire is thou maist find the same ends in reading [Page] of it, that the Lyricks words might be made good in me;

Aut prodesse volunt &c.

To profit or delight, Poets take care;
Or to doe both at once, delighted are,
Thy freind to serve thee if thou pleasest. N. B.
…

The Worlds Creation, sung by Mr. Nicholas Billingsly, at fifteen years of Age.

PEace to Du Bartas Ghost: no murthers here,
Or should we touch our deare dead Sylvester
Would vocal bloud out murther murther cry,
With witnesses in gules, 'gainst Billingsl [...]?
No, no great souls, your weeks all yeares out-run,
And like your world wait on C [...]nflag [...]ation.
At first divinest love with brooding wings
Made warme the worlds great egg, in which all things
Like Atomes slept untill th' Eternal one
Old nothing wakened to perfection.
Since when some wits at Mose [...] bush took light,
Enough to blind the dim▪ey▪d Stagyrite:
And by their numbers taught Philosophy;
How, when began the worlds E [...]iphanic.
Amongst the r [...]st our friend not past fifteen,
Who from his girdle upward's, epicene;
Apollo-like, without a beard, nor can
His doubtful chin betray him to be man.
This Cockrel-muse betimes in his owne morn,
Hath clap'd his wings, and sung the World is born.
Wl: Iacob. [...]

To my friend the Author of this Book cui Titulus est Κοσμοβρεφία

Non sat erat legisse semel, bis terque libellum,
Ipse quater legi, lectus & usque iuvat.
Dull Panigericks are not worth a rush,
Good wine will sell without an Ivy bush;
A well compacted Poem will invite
Each Readers pallate, whet the appetite:
A comely feature needs no paint, and where
Bright Sol doth shine, we need no Tapers there.
Then take this Nothing naked as it is,
A Metaphisick, Hymne, or Genesis:
Du Bartus first, (let Bartas have his due)
Imparted to us what Sylvester knew.
My learned friend well mounted, ergo bolder,
Vpon Du Bartas and Sylvester's shoulder,
Did (Janus like) look backward and before
And saw as much as all the rest, or more:
Nay pregnant he, before his glass had run
Full fifteen winters, was the Muses Son;
Of nothing, he could something then indite,
To non-plus him that was the Stagyrite.
O cursed Heriticks! who dare to tell
A race of men, before the first man fell:
Read but this Book thou wilt beleeve as soon,
Phantastick world's created in the Moon.
Edvardus Browne Cantuar. Reg. Scho. Archi-didasc.
Januar. 1. 5656.

[...]— —

God, the most great and mighty Architect,
Did all of nought, but his owne love, erect;
And by the pleasure of hi [...] free good will,
With wonderous works the heaven and earth did fill
And on each creature in this Ʋniverse,
Did strange and sundry natural gifts disperse:
His boundless power, the dead from ground can raise
And out of Sucklings mouths doth perfect praise:
VVisedome he gives to men of elder yeares,
And it in very young ones oft appear [...]:
VVitness the Author of this worthy Book,
VVho at his age of fifteen undertook
This his industrious and painful task,
Gods wonders great in nature to unmasque:
VVherein the reader may his soul delight
Of God himself in haveing some sweet sight:
VVhich should the heart to be set on him move,
For his great goodness, wisdome, power and love.
By R. Cr. Reg. Scho. Cantuar. Hipo didasc.

Amic [...] suo Authore amore nec non affinitate conjunctissimo.

Ternis rem grandem verbis, includere dictus
Unus erat Patrum; sit tria verba liber:
Seria mira bonis ponis graviter que libelum
Musa dat; exiguum nec sale mole carens.
Tho: Wotton.

To my Son (in Law) upon his Poem.

A Silly Ass for some disaster,
Reprov'd the madness of his Master:
And shall not I speak now in season,
Who am a man endued with reason;
Especially when God appears
So merciful to tender years;
In that he would his praise be sung
By one that was exceeding young;
To teach us how to bless his name,
Who all-things did of nothing frame:
My prayers shall still to God be sent,
To bless his little instrument.
Iohn Stodder.

To my deare Brother the Author of this Book called [...].

VVHat write so well as this, and but fifteen?
How ripe art thou in wit? in years how green?
In the Aurora of thine age, betimes,
How expert art thou in composing Rhimes?
My Muse (alas!) scarce ever could aspire
To make a verse; Apollo and his Lyre
Are strangers to me; on the forked hill
I never slumbred; never bath'd my Quill
In Hipocrene: but haveing read thy Book
Of the Worlds birth, my Pen in hand I took,
And went to write, indeed, I could not chuse
But make a verse, inspired by thy Muse.
I well remember what a deal a doe
I ma [...]e to fumble out a verse or two.
VVhen on Apollo, and the triple Trine,
I only did reply for Discipline;
VVorth's in thy Book, and what care I who know it,
Love wings my Muse; 'tis love makes me a Poet▪
John Billingsly.

To my good friend Mr. Nicholas Billingsly in Honor of this work, penned by him about the fifteenth yeare of his age.

GOd that did all things out of Nothing raise,
And hath from mouths of Babes ordain'd his praises
When thou wast nothing but a suckling Muse.
The Chaos of a man, he did infuse
His grace so in thy heart, that thou in verse
Didst portray out his glorious universe:
To sing his praises, he did make thy Pen
Distil celestcal Nectar: yea, and when
Thou wert a stripling he did then adorne
Thy fruitful head with th' Amalthean horn.
Thou like another Grand-seir, to each creature
Hast given a name according to its Nature:
Of Trees, Plants, Stones, their secret mysteries
Of Beasts, and Birds thou writest plaine Histories:
Whiles others af thine Age mispent their times
In toys and pastimes, thou in sacred Rhimes
Applid'st thy self to celebrate the praise
Of God that first hath lent unto thee days:
And if such fruit thy tender buds bring forth,
In riper age admir'd shall be thy worth.
Jo: Swan. Cleric.
Ian: 20. 1656.

To my friend the Author, on his Poem intituled [...],

WHen I survey thy well-composed piece
I stand amaz'd at thy rare Artifice
Thy curious Pencil guided by a hand
More skilful then Apelles could command,
Hath, to the gre [...]test Artists emulation,
A stately Landskip of the Worlds Creation,
Drawn to the life: my friend each polish'd line
Is guilded o're with eloquence divine:
VVhich feeds with loftier Ayers, juditious ears
Then those causd by the motion of the Spheres.
I'le only aedd, by way of approbation,
Thy serious work's an heavenly Recreation,
Francis Taylor.
Cant. Jan. 1. 1656.

To his very loving friend, M [...]. Nicholas Billingsly, on his acurate Poem.

ATomes, say some, by chance together thrown
The world was made of: sure had they but known
Of this its nobler birth, not one would dare
To say that chance could make it half so fair.
Here Epicurus who i [...]s Picture drew,
[...]n lines like his opinion seldome true,
In this composed piece, might at one sight
Have seen to set both verse and judgment right▪
Thus Sir, takeing the blot from Poetrie,
In this you make both it and truth agree.
D. R. Col. Mert

In amici sui opus exquisitum Κοσμοβρεφίαν.

[...]
[...]
[...]
[...].
[...],
[...].
[...];
[...].
Jo: Cox. E Coll. Mer [...]▪ O [...]on nuper Et [...]nens [...]▪

In Amici sui meri [...]isim [...]: Nicholas Billingsly amaenam Κοσμοβρεφίας Synopsin Carmen Enco­miasticon, Januar. 16. 1657.

In nova fert animus Lector? novus iste libellus
Mira quidem dictu, sed nova sacra tenet.
Protulit ex nihilo divina potentia cuncta:
Infantem Mundum, Musa tenella canit;
Musa diu la [...]itans haec, Etonensis Alumni,
Proripit in lucem; dant tria lustra senem.
Accipias lectu dignissima carmina; fructus
Si ribi; & Authori laus; honor atque D [...]o.

On the same:

Those various Species which thine eye may look
Vpon i'th' Volumne of the worlds gr [...]at Book,
Six days was Midwife too; and then God ceas'd
From working, yet from working doth not rest:
For he it is supporteth all things still,
By the Eternal purpose of his will.
My friend (kind Reader) sends thee nothing less
Then all-things pressing, from the sweating Press:
A worke, some years agoe by him compil'd,
At fitfteen years of age, a very child:
The Muses nurst him on Parnassus tops,
And fil'd his Quill with Heleconian drops;
Which if thou mind, I make no question of it
But thou wilt find pleasure co-chaind with profit.
Tho. Carter. Cleric.

In Amici sui meritò Charissimi Mundi Cuna­bula siue Κοσμοβρεφίαν.

Carmine si molli vafrum traducere Ulyssem,
Divorum{que} Ortua, truculenta{que} Cesaris arma
Dicere Apollineis dignentur frondibus altis:
Ab Jove principium prima{que} ab origine Mundi,
Rerum primatias versu diducere causas,
Quae laus? quod decus est aeterno marmore dignum?
Scivimus Iliadas angusta in nuce coarctus;
Ast hic in parvo cernendus Cortice Mundus;
Omnia nempe tuo Serventur clausa libello;
At nè cuique nihil justè videretur abesse,
Et nihil extremum merito superadditur ipsum;
Talia si scribas aevo miranda Minori,
Q [...]anta suis tandem seris speremus ab annis.
Jo. VVind Interi. Templi alumnus et nuper in Coll: VVad: Comm [...]ns.

Deo Ter Opt. Max.

OH from thy Radient Throne above
Look down on me, Great God of love:
With sacred Light my Soul infuse,
And wing, for flight, mine unfledg'd Muse,
That she may like the morning Lark
Mount up and sing: Lord I'me a spark;
But if thy Bellows please to blow
Me up, Oh then I needs must glow.
My God to me a Being gave,
To use those little gifts I have;
Oh may I then to after days
Make known my All-Creators praise;
As by instinct the Loadstone draws
The iron, as the Amber, straws;
So let thy grace mine heart attract,
Dear Lord! O make me have respect
To all thy righteous Laws, begin
To purge out all my dross: my Tinn
Remove far from me; Oh inflame
My frozen Spirit, to praise thy Name.
Let Heaven fill me to the brim
Above the world, Oh may I swim.
And (as it were) my soul divorce
From Transient joys: Oh steer my course
According to thy compass: Guid
My reeling Pinace, make the Tide
Tranquil, and let the milder gale
Of thy sweet Spirit, stuff my Sail,
Ʋntil I safely am arriven
At the desired Haven, Heaven;
Where I shall see the God of nature,
And always praise the worlds Creator.

The Worlds Infancy.

The Argument.
God begins the Worlds Creation,
Light from out of darkness brings.
Giving wondrous Operation,
To Wells, Rivers, Fountaixs, Springs.

SECT. I.

GOd, when besides himself there nothing was;
But a rude Chaos, a confused Mass,
Of things disordered; all together hurl'd,
Did by his providence ordaine the world.
And first his, power, and coelestial might,
Cleare light extracted, from the shades of night,
Then did he spread a glorious Curtain out,
Spangled with Starrs, and glory round about,
Embost with pearl, embroydered with gold,
With Chrysolits, and Carbuncles enrould.
O work to be admir'd; what pen? what story!
Can point▪ can blazon the Almighties glory.
I wanting Eagles eyes, am over-daz'd,
With too great light and winking stand amaz'd,
Thus, thus, heav'ns Architect by's word of power,
Ed [...]ficated the ae [...]herial Tower,
The Mass he dissipating, drew from thence,
The Center of the va [...] Circumference,
The so [...]id substance altogether clung,
And by g'ome [...]rica proportion hung,
In figure of a Sp [...]aer; this naked globe
He circumvested in a sea greene robe,
The Elements, Earth, Water, Ayer, and Fire,
Took each their station, Vu [...]can did aspire
To the sublimest Orb, Jove next in power
Predomi [...]ates: next him, the watry Bower,
Of curl'd-hair Neptune stands and last of all
Doth drossie Vesta to the bottome fall:
V [...]sta's inthron'd, Vesta that doth adorne,
Her breasts wi [...]h flowers, and her lap with corne,
Vesta si [...]k [...] down beneath her brothers sway
Being of more solidity then they▪
The dry▪ and humid, heavy, and the light,
Soft▪ hard, b'ing opposites doe disunite.
Wet things with wet, cold things cōmix with cold,
Hot things with hot, do correspondence hold.
From the Seas raging Tyranny, the Land
Is kept (Oh pow'r) with slipp'ry walls of sand.
Had the Sea leave to rāge beyond its bound
Earth' [...] Fabrick would (undoubtedly) be drown'd;
But the Almighties force of arms asswage
Th'impetuous threats of her imperious rage:
The Sea (now mild) engirds the earth abou [...],
And like a Snake goes wriggling in and out:
The M [...]rine Empress lib'rally bestows
Her store, and into divers Channels flows.
A River in the late world brought to light
Runs all the day, and resteth all the night.
Conspicuous silver waved Euphrates,
P [...]yes tribute to the domineering seas,
The streams of Tanais, transparent Po
And clear Erid'nus, from the Ocean go.
The rive [...] Erax, and the swift Meander,
Whose winding Mazes in and out doe wander,
(Much like the Lab'rinth of faire Rosamond
Or that Daedalian frame which did abscond
The monstrous Minotaur, in former dayes
So intricate for their retorted wayes)
Niphates bringing Tigers up and Phasis
Fall on and Court with amorous embraces
The fair Queen Glance; nimble-footed Rhene
Whose earth-dividing course both run between
The Belgians, and the Germans, hath its motion
From Phorbas, Phorbas Kingling of the Ocean.
The Amazonian Thermodontin brooks,
And Oax also to the Ocean looks.
The river Jordan is a stream compounded
Of Jor and Dan, by curs'd Asphaltis bounded.
Gold-sanded Tagus, and the bow-string Tybur,
Yellow Pactolus, and Cantabrian Iber,
Take from the Seas their rise, the flowing Ganges,
With wandring current through the orient ranges
Septemfluous Nilus, and Armenian Tigris,
Libanian Jordan, Aquitanian Ligris,
Arcadian Ladon, and the Thuscian Arne,
The Thracian Stroymon, the Campanian Sarne,
Rhone, Incest, Lister, and the Marsyan tydes,
Flow from, and to, the swelling Oceans sides:
Caucasian Indus, which receiveth plenty
Of pleasant rivers wanting one of twenty.
And what doth Simois? and what Matrona,
But waite and tend upon the Queen Diona?
All rivers in the world, or smal or mighty
Derive their lineage, from great Amphitrite,
Hence comes our British Severn, Wye, Lugg, Um­ber
And thousands too innumerous for number.
But stay my Muse thou hadst almost forgot
The Kentish Medway one of greatest note
Next to that famous navigable Thames
Whose breasts are silv'red with compounded streams
Which bear up floating houses, what a train
Of lusty watermen doth Thames maintaine?
Who though with rapid force they'r backwards hurl'd
Yet are they often forwards in the world.
Great London is the Bow, the Thames the string
The Boats are arrows which about do spring
The Streams Sabbatical do rest and stay.
In observation of the Sabbath day.
Add here the German Savenire Pouhont,
And med'cinable Spa in great account
For its effecting strange unheard of things,
Unparalel'd by none unless the springs
Of Tunbridg famous in our Kentish county,
For casting up their subterraneous bounty,
Which relishing of Iron, and sulph'ry veines
Cures well nigh all infirmities and paines,
Nay lengthens life causing the fates t'unspin
Lifes drawn out thred, hath any got the spleen?
The dropsie? the vertigo? or the stone?
These waters will yield remedy alone.
Suppose th'art Lunatick, or Planet struck,
Hear's that will help thee, if thou hast the luck
To come and take it, is it thine endeavour
To be rid of the Collick or the feavour,
Or the Obstructions of the Mesentery,
Reines, Melt, and liver? wouldest thou fain be merry
And freed from Melancholy? if you pleas [...]
To use these waters, doubtless, you'l have ease;
Gouts Ischyatica's, the French-mans pox,
And what flows from Pandora's opened box
These Springs resist, and for your comfort here
Green sickness, Maids, a remedy is neere.
And you, disheartned Sarahs, do but come
And drink, and you'l have an enlarged wombe.
In brief, to cure all maladies, there dwells
A Soveraign vertue in these Tunbridge Wells.
Nor must I leave those Bristoll Baths which are
For their effects so wonderful, so rare.
All Aches Cramps, Convulsions▪ (and what not?)
Dy in those waters naturaly hot.
Well, I cou [...]d wish those Authors of disorders
T [...]o much encreased in those B [...]istoll borders
I mean that frantick self-afflicting crew
Of trembling Quakers, with their Captain too
Tongue-bored Nailor, branded in the forehead
W [...]th B for blasphemy, were in those torrid
And [...]lding Currents forc'd to stand awhile
My Ge [...]ius tells me they'd at last recoyle
[...] fond conceits, and soon be a forsaking
Their censuring others, and give over Quaking.
The ub'rous fountains and each conduit brings
Its store of water from their bubbling springs,
Of Neptune's stock Acidalus came down,
Yielding her store, to the Baeotian Town.
So Aganippe is a sacred fountaine,
U [...]'d by the Ladies of the by-fork'd mountaine,
And Arethusa, whose mellifluous wombe
Is sweet, nay sweeter then the hony-combe.
What should I speak of th' Hippocrenian Well?
And what shall I of the Clitorian tell?
The first wherof the Muses haunt a brook
The hoofe of winged Pegasus hath strook
The other Fount, (it seems to me divine,)
Can make men sober when ore took with wine,
The Well Telpissa, is so cold so chill
That it Tyresia, (as they say) did kill,
Th' Ammonian Fount, is cold and hot by turns
Cold in the day, and in the night it burns.
'Tis said the sportfull Eleusinian spring,
Will dance when shepherds are disposed to sing,
Clarean a Well (for it there needs no strife,)
Doth lengthen eloquence, but shortens life,
Sweet Helicon's a consecrated Well.
To th'Muses, in it do the Muses dwell.
Phineus, a Well, is wholsome in the day
To drink, but hurtful in the night (men say)
The fount Cabura yields a fragrant smell,
The well Halcyon, danceth very well,
Cilician Cydnus, cures the gout. the spring
Leucoges eye sight to the blinde doth bring,
Cyzices quencheth hot Idalian fire,
A draught of Lycus causeth life t'expire.
All things doe in the gulf of Sylla sink.
The Stream Anyger, casts a loathsom stink:
Azanium is a Well which doth incline,
Bacchus his Genial Friends to loath all wine.
Athamas water setteth wood on fire
Making the kindled flames for to aspire.
There are a number more which he that looks
Shall find set down in Learned Authors Books,
My Muse hath touch'd the chiefest she hath read,
And tir'd with search, discretion calls to bed.
The Argument.
God doth in a lib'ral measure,
Furnish these inferiour Bowers
With a large unsumm'd up treasure,
Of Trees, and Fruits, Plants and Flowers.

SECT. 2.

AS soon as Gods all pow'rful hand had laid
The worlds foundation, to the earth he said,
Lay by thy mournful weeds, unite thy powers,
And make a garland of the choysest flowers,
Embost with Gems, and Diamonds; then crowne
Thy front, and put on an Embroider'd gown,
Nay and the more thy glory for to grace,
With liveliest colours beautifie thy face.
Put one thy Periwig, all fruits, plums, pears,
Shall hang like Iewels, dangling in thine ears.
With that arose this new proclaimed Queen,
Her Ebon mantle turn'd a galant green,
Befring'd with flowers; the Gorget that she wore
Was lac'd with Flora's pride, bestarched ore
With Deaws, and rory mists, her hand did hold
A royal Scepter made of burnish'd gold.
Rich Gems, rare Iewels, pretious stones are set
Up charily in her wombs Cabinet.
This stately Empress don's her dangling T [...]sses,
And makes no more ado but tricks and dr [...]sses
Her wanton bosome with delightful flowers,
'Gainst Ioves descending in his silver showers.
The heav'ns as braclets, her pure hands bedeck
The stars are Beads which goe about her neck,
Her lilly neck so that fair Ʋenus seeks
Her heav'n-stol'n beauty in her earthly cheeks,
Wild Ash trees from earths swelling matrice spring
The river Sallowes, fens forth Alders bring
The Mirtle loves the shore, Vines doe enfold
Their arms on hils, the Yew tree haunts the cold,
The fruitfull Almond from earths wombe doth come
The sweet-scent Aromatick Balsamum;
The box-tree ever green, the tow'ring Cedar,
The stately Pine, which doth in height succeed her
The lovely Chery-trees sanguineous sap,
Is nourished in Demegorgon's lap,
The warr us'd Cornell, and the M [...]st-ful Beach,
The fun'ral Cypress, and the velvet Peach,
The Ambrosiack Cinamon, the Figg,
The P [...]mpkin and the aged Oke (so big)
The Iuniper which yields a fragrant smell,
And Sea green Willows on the earth do dwell.
The Daphnean Lawrel tree, which doth not dread
The thund' [...]ets voyce, whose hair-abounding head
Is never bald; but doth for ever flourish,
Springs from the earth, it is the earth doth norish
The never fading Palms; the beautious Firre
Streight as an arrow; and the red'lent Myrrhe,
The broad branch'd Plane-tree, with his spacious leaves
The wanton Jvy which adhers and cleavs
To other Arbors, groweth ev'ry where,
The downy Popl [...]r, The Piram'dal Peare,
The Melt-tree, Weapons Needles Thred, affords
Clothes-Honey, Sugar, Balm, Wine, Parchment, Cords
The Vine suporting Eim, the pearly Plum,
The balefull P [...]ch-tree, sweating forth its gum.
The fulsome Bullace, and the prickly Holly,
The furr'd coat Chestnut, and the shrub Trifolly,
The golden Orange, and the plush-coate Quince,
Which ord'red well yields Marm'let for a Prince,
The shad [...]e Linden, Goosberries and Wardens,
The Mulb'ry Raspb'ry, Strawb'ry, grow in gardens
All these and many more come from the earth
Earth gives them nutriment as well as birth,
The earth, mother of all things; suckles all
Her vegetative ofsprings, great and small
At Gods command Dame Tellus deck'd her bowers
With verdent hearbs, and Odorif'rous Flowers,
Of sundry vertues, and of sundry hew,
Some green, some red, some yellow, white, some blew.
Here doth the Cardu's-Benedictus grow,
Both to the plague and stone a deadly foe:
Here jaundis-cureing, Horehound, which is good
Against the Asthma; heer is Southern-wood
Good against Feavours; here the Worm-wood eases
All Surfeits, drunk'ness, Cholerick Diseases.
Cough-chasing, Rocket, Rue-expelling vapors,
Which dim the sight; the pallat-pleasing Capers
Helping the Spleen; sweet-scenting Marjoram
Is here; and there the Bawm of Abraham;
Here grows the Beet; yonder the Daffadill;
And there the fragrant spreading Cammomill;
Here is Mint, Centory, and Columbine,
And there the Cowslip and the Eglantine;
See here is Ey-bright, Annis, Cummin, Carry,
Dittander there, behold the hearb Cost-mary,
Here is Germander, Melilot also,
And Harts-tongue, Harts-horn, Harts-ease, there do grow
Roots white and red, and chockly, Artycocks,
Here maidens hair is, alias, Venus locks,
Here thriveth Hyssop, Lavender, and Sorrel,
Yonder the Night-shade, called Pety-morel,
Here Palma-Christi doth it self expand,
There Peneroyal, royaly doth stand.
Here groweth Parsly, yonder sprouteth Tansy;
And here the Lovage, yon' the Lovers Pansy.
Her's drowsie Popy, there are Dasies blowing,
And sweet Angelica is yonder growing:
Here Cic'ry springs, there Fumitory thrives,
Staves-aker lives here, that the Lowse unlives.
Here's sovr'aine Rhubarb, yonder is sweet Basil,
There Fullers hearb, known by the name of Thasil,
Yonder spread Mandrakes, the neglected Nettle,
There doth its foot in Tellus bosom settle.
Here's Sav'ry, Savery, and Helebore,
(Of which they say Anticyras hath store)
Parsnips, and Turneps, and Potatoes too,
Coleworts, and Cabbage, and the Radish doe
Rise from the ground; Elicampane, the Rape,
And all plants els have from the earth their shape
All sorts of grain Wheat, Barley, Oates, and Poder
Whose sap-less stalks the stall-fed Ox do fodder.
Burrage, and Bugloss, Fennel, Water-cresses,
Dame Tellus with all these her bosom dresses,
Now walk we (Reader) into Flora's Bowers,
For recreation; here are curious flowers,
To make fine Posies with; here here behold
The purple Violet, and Marigold.
Seest how these variegated beds do show
As many coulors as the Rainy Bow?
Here's choyce of Pinks, & banks of Damask Roses
Their sight doth pleas our eys, their smel, our noses
The cleer fac'd Lilly smiles, so here great store
Of Gil' flowers, Tulips, and—but what need more
In vaine alas! in vaine I goe about
To reckon all the branches which doe sprout
From out Methymna; the Hyblean Bees,
And yellow sands, neere the Pactolian Seas,
Are not so numerous, the starrs give place
(If numbred) to the Demegorgon's race,
'Tis night, and Titan his refulgent beams
Doth hide their glory in the Western streams
The third day left a universal shade,
And heaven was pleased with the works he made.
The Argument.
God doth the Canopy of heaven,
With sparkling glittering Gems inlay.
The twelve signes, and planets seaven.
Strange effects, the Milky way.

SECT. 3.

THe morrow after, when the light be purl'd
The yearly mantle of the new-made world;
Heav'ns hand, still nilling to be idle, gilded
The earths fair seeling, he before had builded.
Starrs are heav'ns Scutchions, thick as Argus eyes
They hang, and twinckle in the marble skies
Of great or lesser magnitudes, each one
Shine like the Iacynth and the Iasper stone.
But farr more glorious, yea they go beyond
The fy'ry Carbuncle, the Diamond,
And golden Crisolit, their beauty shines
So bright, nay brighter, then the wealthy Mines
Of hot Arabia, or Pactolean Seas,
The tailes of Peacocks, are but toys to these,
The purple Amethist, the Hesphesite,
And costly O pall's nothing neere so bright;
Earths rarest Iewells, mayn't with them compare,
The costliest Gems are not so rich as they're:
These pearls which garnish the aetherial story,
Are lively emblems of their makers glory.
These glittring Sphaeres, about the axle roul
Which joyns to th' Arctick and Antarctick Pole:
This part cold Boreas, and the North starr sees:
Hot Auster, vieweth the Antipodes.
The Ursa Major, and the Minor too,
Their backs turn'd to it, round the North Pole go:
The Dragon, which did keepe through watchful­ness
The golden Apples of th' Hesperides
Much like the windings of a river flowes,
His widened mouth like a Charybdis showes.
Herc'les beneath him kneels, next whom the Crown
Of Ariadne, on the earth shines down.
Here Snake-engirted Serpentarius stands,
Squeezing the bending Snake in's griping hands,
Under him Scorpio exporrected lies:
There Libra's beame, turnes in the Azure skies.
Arctophylax here drives his waine; in's groyne
The radiant lustre of a lamp doth shine;
He treads on Virgo who a sheafe doth beare,
Next whom appeareth Berenices haire,
The great Bears hind feet, on the Lion tread,
Cancer and Gemini with his doub e head
Are next, and neere to Leda's egg hatch'd twins
Auriga holds strong wine; close by him shines
The rainy starr of the Olenian Goate;
Iove's nurses next Aix and Aelice note.
Here prostrate on the floor, behold a Bull,
Whose sublime horns with Starrs are beautifull:
The brood-hen or the rainy Hyades
See there, (some call them the Atlantides)
The taile of Cynosure the little Beare
Points at the widened Arms of Cepheus there,
Whose sad wife Cassiopea next complains
For her Andromeda, bound fast in chaines:
Next winged Pegasus on high doth mount
Whose hoof struck whilom th' Heliconian Fount;
And just before the Dwarf in fetters bound
[...] or Triangulus is found.
Two fishes, linked by their tailes ly forth,
One Southward, and the other tow'rds the North,
A sword in Perseus right hand out is spread,
In's left the snaky haird Medusa'es head.
He sits among the Pleiad's, his wing'd shoes.
Most sweetly there the Lyre of Merc'ry goes.
The Armiger of love, spreads here her wings,
And there the Swan that her owne El'gy sings.
See where swift Pegasus his mouth is plac'd,
There Joves Cup-bearer Ganimede is grac'd;
Beneath whom doth arise the Capricorn,
There Sagitarius doth the Heav'ns adorn,
His winged dart flies from his boysterous string
Betwixt the Eagles. and the Vulters wing.
The Dolphin last of all swims in the North,
Which sav'd Arion, in the Sea cast forth.
(Sweet Jesu! beare me to the Port of Sion,
Be thou my Dolphin I'le be thy Arion.
Orion mounteth▪ nigh the Southerne Pole,
With golden belt begyrt; his left-foot sole:
He gently dippeth in the silver streams
Of swift Erid'nus; next the Dog-starr gleams,
Whose yelping frights the Hare; there swims the Whale.
Pegasian Argo next is under saile,
Which bore the Argonauts, and Peers of Greece,
Together with the Colchian golden fleece.
The Southern Garland, called Ixion's wheele,
Lies under horned Sagittarius heele.
Yonder is the Thuribulum divine;
There doth the Kid; and here the Centaur shine.
In folds, the truc'lent Hydra lies, enrould,
On whome stands Corvus, and a cup of gold
The Crater of the Powers: in the skies
By th'egg-hatch'd breth'ren, litle Procyon lies.
See there the embroyred Bauldrick, and the starrs
Thereon engrav'd, Supine Astronomers.
The Ram, Bull, Twins, Crab, Lion, Virgo, Scale,
Scorp, Archer, Capri. Aquar. Pisces, call:
The Ram, the Bull, the Twins, shew in the Spring
Crab, Leo, Virgo, doe the Sumer bring.
Scale, Scorpion, Archer, gather corne together,
Goate Gan'med, Pisces, rise in winters weather.
Six Springs, and Harvests Aequinoctials share,
Summer and winter's Solstice six declare.
Seav'n wandring Planets, you may here see soon,
Saturne, Iove, Mars, Sol, Ʋenus, Merc'ry, Moon.
From these alone, from these aetherial flames
The Seav'n days of the weeke derive their nam's,
God placed in the Firmament of heaven
These pilgrim-planets, all in number Seaven
They and the golden Bauldricks thrice four pow­ers,
Have influence in these bodies of ours:
They rule the Head, Neck, Arms, & Brest compleat.
Back, Bely, Reins, Secrets, Thighs, Knees, Legs, Feet,
Ther's many thousand nameless glittring globe,
Here inter-woven in this spangled Robe.
And in Earth's Tester, all with starrs set round
The Lactea via of Jehova's found:
This way doth lead to the Tribunal Throne
Of thund'ring Iove, this is the way alone
Conducts to bliss, if thou wilt enter in
Thy milk-white conscience must be free from sin:
The way doth ly direct, thou canst not miss:
¶ A pure white conscience is the way to bliss,
The Argument.
The Creation of the Sun
And the Moon in full Carier,
They alternately doe run
Ʋnto either Hemisphere.

SECT. 4.

When heavens great builder had about enrould
This Marble Gallery, with studs of gold;
He made the greater, and the lesser light
Alternately to rule the Day and Night;
Illustrious Phaebus his refulgent face,
The upper and the lower world doth grace,
With equal splendor; his irradient beams
Refresheth all things; his ignivomous teams
Run restless races; his all-quickning power
Gives life and breath to every plant and flower;
Unto our sight it ev'dently appears,
His revolution makes up days and years:
He circulates in twice twelve howers time
The Universe, spends half in this our clime,
And when his Chariots rapid wheels are whirl'd
Into the Climates of th'inferiour world;
He on the lower Hemisphere displayes
His Rosy light and bright refu [...]gent rayes,
Then pale-fac'd Phaebe riseth to fulfill
Her nightly course, ascending up the hill
Of the renoun'd Olympus, joys to spred
The glittring glory of her new-made head,
Silv'ring the world in her nocturnal race,
She reigns as Empress in her brothers place
And emulates his rayes, (although more dim)
What light she hath is all deriv'd from him;
She ev'ry month doth wax and wane and shew
Now Semicircled like a half bent bow:
But when Sol doth against her full face shine,
Earth interpoz'd in the Eccliptick line;
Her round cheeks are Ecclips'd, her masked face
Admits the glory of its borrowed grace,
She wears a Cypress hood and overshrouds
Her shamfac'd count'nance, in the gloomy clouds.
This Nights fair Lady, by her influence brings
Admir'd effects to sublunary things.
O sacred prudence, ev'ry day nay houer
Sets forth the greatness of th' Almighties power,
His pow'r fils all things, if I tow'r the skies
I do behold it in those twinkling eyes.
Doe not I see it in the burnish'd Sun,
And Moon, which round about their Circle run?
And if from heav'n I to the earth descend,
Are not his wonders there without an end
Nay saile I out into the boundless Seas
Gods goodness meets me; goe I where I please
His mercies find me; if I take the wings
Of fair Aurora, if I search the springs
Of his abundant grace; and if I [...]oul
Even from the Arctick to th'Antarctick Pole.
His favours doe prevent me; Sea and Land
Enrich'd are by the All-creators hand.
Dive I to the sulphureous pitt of hell,
There, there th' eternall doth in Iustice dwell
Look here, look there, nay turne I where I will
I see Gods greatness and his goodness still.
No Gods with him may equalized be;
Where is there such another God as he?
I stand amaz'd, on his stupendious name,
O with what words may I express the same▪
And now the Major-General of day,
(Whose eye doth all things in the world survay)
Hastens his Chariot to th' Hesperian streams,
Un-yokes his horses hides his blewing beams
In Thetis bosom; by the western Seas
He setting, riseth to th' Antipodes.
The sable Curtains of thick darkness spread
To give us notice Sol is gone to bed:
Night harnisseth her Stallions, and doth crown
Her head with popy; in a mourning gown
She widdow-like appears; a leaden mace
Her sleepy hand engrasps, her steps deface
The Chrystal-brow of day, and out she spreads
The spangled Orb of heaven, about the beds
Of ev'ry thing that draweth breath she closes
All eyes and leavs them to their sweet reposes:
All things doe sleep, the Lady of the night
Entring her brothers place, borrows his light;
Pale Luna rising from the Orient streams
Of Thetis brandisheth her trembling beams:
Th' Olimphick Tow'r sh' ambitiously aspires
Concomitated with her sister fires.
The perfect colours of all earthly things
Are hid with dim-ey'd darkness sable wings:
The fourth day left a universal shade,
And heaven was pleased with the works he made.
The Argument.
God replenisheth the waters
With innumberd living creatures,
Giving to them divers natures,
Properties, and several features.

SECT. 5.

WHen rosy-fac'd Aurora did unfold
Her dappled Curtains, fring'd with burn­ish'd gold,
And rudie Titan from his saffron bed
Rowzed the glory of his early head:
God spake the word, and fishes small and mighty
Furnish'd the Courts of Sea-green Amphitrite;
The family of Neptune soon amounted
To a great number more then can be counted.
Some of these wat'ry Citizens doe love,
Salt habitations; others fresh approve.
Nature hath given to these new formed creatures,
Diversities of natures, names, and features.
The Sturgeon loves to swim against the stream;
These live in ponds, the Perch, the Roch, & Bream,
The retrograding, Crab the Canther chast,
The Cephalus find in the Sea repast,
He hides his head then thinks himself secure,
The crafty Barble first unhooks the Lure.
"Great Neptune's Sea Clark cal'd the Calamary,
"About him doth his Pen and Penknife carry.
The lowzy Arica feeds upon flesh,
The Lamp'ry, Salmon live in waters fresh.
The tongueless Carp, doth in the fish pond dwell
The eyeless Cockle walketh from his shel.
The Musick charmed Dolphin, feried ore
Sea coast Arion to the wish▪d for shore.
The fish Plagusia swimeth one her sides,
The Remora resisteth winds and tides.
Large Oars stu [...]'d sails, and cleaving to a ship
Strongly and straingly stops it, if you rip
Thorn'd-foot Echinus, and him water give,
He'l reunite his parts dis-joyn'd and live.
The wide-mouth'd Labrax ever loves to yawn:
She Pearl-fish, alwayes leagueth with the Prawne.
Are you a hungry go and catch a Conger
What fish is larger then the Whale or longer?
His monstrous bulk doth like an Island seem,
Around enclosed in a watery stream.
The gilden Spirlings in cold winters weather,
Ly round (to keep them warm) in bals together.
The wing'd Voligo 'bove the water flies;
His head between his feet and belly lyes,
The Wolf-fishc aught, ploughs with his taile the sand,
And hiding there, escapes the fishers hand.
From Margarus our Margerites doe come:
The Meryx [Cow like] chews the cud say some.
When the Milvago 'bove the waves doth fly,
Tempests and stormes give o're immediatly.
The Musculus (making his fins his Oars)
Ushers the Whale from rockie shelves & shores.
Ears to the belly of the Oysters joyne;
The Oxyringus eyes most brightly shine.
The Muscle and the speckled Leopard:
The Peacock swimmeth like the heaven bestarr'd
Pediculus the Dolphins parasite,
Doth in the food, the Dolphin gets, delight.
The bleating Sea calfe, hath an hairy hide.
The fraud'lent Manifeet loves paciride.
Th'adultrous Sargus, the Sea grunting-hog,
The Turbet the Caerulian speckled frog.
The Scarus much delights to ruminate
The Scolopender swal'wing hook and baite
Vomits his bowels? having los'd the hook
It slips them in againe and is not took.
The Stockfish is a fish that wil not boyl
Unless you beat it with a stick a while
The bane-tooth'd Cuttle nigh destructions brink
Absconds her body with effused ink,
Which while it dazleth the poore fishers eyes
From the surprizer then escapes the prize.
The water's scale-backt golden-coated Ape,
Is like the earths in colour and in shape.
The Star-fish, by a natural instinct
Burneth what e're it toucheth; would you think't?
Tis said the Cramp fish will benum the hands
Of him that fisheth, and a distance stands.
The Lampreys life within her taile doth ly:
From Purple-fishes comes our purple dy.
Nature doth the Amphibious Sea-calfe give,
By water and by land full leave to live,
She breeds upon the land and by degrees
Her young sh' accustoms to the briny Seas.
A thousand colours (if't be true) 'tis strange
(As in Hyena's) in her eyes doe range.
The Sea grape squezed in the Vintage press,
Of Wine will take away the irksomeness.
The skin of Pompilous makes many a thong
Of a great value ever-during strong.
Th' Adult'rous Sargus changing mates behorns
The pates of Hee-Goats which before had horns.
Th' Vranoscop, alwayes his eyes round balls
Bands (as it were) against th' aetherial walls.
Lexus a fish is enemy to man,
And man to him, both are each others bane.
And thou Thymalus, left almost behind,
What fish more precious then thy noble kind?
Can any thing in sweetness thee excell?
Yields any odour a more fragrant smell?
Above all fishes thou deserv'st the Palme,
In that thou breathest like Arabian balme.
The wry-mouth'd Plais, the Whiting, & the Mack­rel:
The slippry Eel, the Lobster, and the Cackrel
Making the eater laxative; the Trout,
The Herring King of fish, the Flownder, Pout,
The Wraith, the Gudgeon, and the boneless Seal,
And more there are, whose names I must conceal;
A world of Paper, and a Sea of Ink,
Would scarce suffice to hold them all I think.
But ah! what do we? we must hast to th'shore
The winds do rise, the waves begin to roar:
Let's tack about, and strive the land to gain,
Enough of roaming on the foaming main.
Hark! Cliô hark! behold the warbling Quire,
Call thee to play upon thine Iv'ry Lyre.
The Argument.
Heer there is a winged nation
Wandring in the feilds and groves,
All of one kind keep, their fashion,
God his fifth days work approves.

SECT. 5.

Now on the feather'd fowls bestow thine eyes,
(Kind reader) and observe their properties.
Mark how they fly and cut the flitting ayer,
These clap their wings, and those do quite contrair
Some run upon the ground, and some alway
Do leap from bough to bough from spray to spray,
These are delighted in the shadie gtove;
Whilst others in the open champion rove.
Some chuse to fly on high, and some as low,
And some do fly as swift as others go.
These hop about, while others love to sing
The praises of their everlasting King:
Some desarts haunt, some take a pride to shew
Their 'pinions colour'd like the rainy bow.
The silvan Choristers in various notes.
Send out sweet Carrols from their mus' call throats
The warbling Philomel her Sonnets sings,
So shril that at the sound each forrest [...]ings.
The milk-white Swan the river swims along,
Dying, sings sweetest, her Elegious song.
The pretty Linne [...], and the whistling Thrush,
And Mavis chaunt in ev'ry thorny bush
Eare▪charming Ditties, and in ample st [...]ry
Devulge the greatness of their makers glory.
Nature to speak the Cissa doth inveigle
'Tis strange to think how the Majestick Eagle
The Armiger of Iove, with percing eye
Dares to coufront the Sun's coruscancy.
Amongst these aiery Cittizens we find
The Cipphos tost with ev'ry gust of wind
The gaggling-Goose, the G [...]ssing, & the Gander;
The brood-hen clucking, to and fro do wander:
Th' indulgent Stork most gratefuly doth feed
His aged parents, in their time of need:
He b [...]oods and carries them; the kissing Dove
Always lives single, having lost her love:
Th' Hedg Sparrow norisheth the Cucko's eggs.
The bird Apodes useth not his leggs.
Hast thou the Iaundice? Icterus but eye,
And thou'lt recover but the bird will dy.
The stately Cock, with his elated Crest
Comes stalking on, new rowzed from his rest,
His taile advanc'd, with a clear voyce he crows,
He daunts the Lion and the light foreshowes,
Fair weather followes when the Cranes soar high
Fowl weather followes when a pace they fly.
The greedy Corm'rant seeing storms before,
With clam'rous noise doth hasten to the shore.
The Cat fac'd melancholy Owl doth hollow
The swift wing'd lofty winding garr'lous swallow
Sings as she flyes; this Herauld of the spring,
From frozen winter flyes with speedy wing.
The great Bee backward flyes, the Black-Bird loves
To lead a solitary life in groves.
The Chough's fair body is about enroul'd
With plumes of silver, mixt with plums of gold.
The gnat-devouring Bat suckles her brood,
And shreds (for she hath teeth) her gotten food.
The prattling Parrot with his opned beak
In human language takes a pride to speak.
The Pel'can [...]ares her breast her young ones slayn;
And with her blood reviveth them againe.
The chat'ring Py foretelling guests are neere.
The chirping Sparrowes under house eves are.
The scent-strong Vulter in his flight most slow,
Loves Carrion touching not what mortals sow;
Five hundred miles doth putred Carrion smell
(If all be true Historians do tell)
The inauspicious Crow, th' unluckie Kite.
The witless Woodcock, and the simple Snite:
The long-neck'd hern, the wadling duck, & widge­on
The gold-finch, bull-finch, chaffinch & the pidgeon
The Lapwing, Wagtail, Feildfare, and the Stare.
The pleasant Phesant and the Partridg rare.
The Kestrel, Martin, Puet and the Plover,
The Rook, the Titmouse, up and down do hover.
The Robin-red-breast flyeth too and fro,
The Red-shank, Red-start and the Red-tail too.
The rav'nous Raven and the pratling Iay,
Proud of his borrowed plums, his plums so gay.
The Iron eating Corp'sent Estrich runs
As swift as doth a horse, Spinturus shuns
No sacred place, for she a burning cole
Hath from the Alters very often stole.
The envious Peacock hideth out of spight
His med'cinable dung from humane sight:
Treads softly like a theif, but from his throat
Yels out a horible Tartarian note;
A pride he takes in flinging up his head,
And doth abroad his starie spangles spread.
The Bee with laden thighs doth whom return
With prudent art doth tare the hony-comb
With flowry Tyhme (oh admirable thing!)
So loud a humming voyce, so stiff a sting.
Plant-wasting Locusts which without wings fly,
The Moth, the Hornet, Butterfly, and Fly?
The golden coloured Cantharides
Are stiled infects; I may add to these
Th' industrious Silk-worme which of Thisbian rine
And leaves; for nobles silken-sleeves doth twine.
Next in my way the Indian Griffin flyes,
With's snow-white wings; his fierce and fiery eyes
Ev'n dazle mine; four feet he doth not lack
A purp [...]e belly and a cole black back;
His hindmost part is fashion'd like a Lion,
His unked talents tare what he doth fly on.
And lastly, although last of all, not least
Th' Arabian Phenix passeth all the rest:
The rarest bird that under heaven flyes,
Glory's enthroned in her sparkling eyes.
A golden collar goeth round her neck:
A Purple colour doth her body deck;
A goodly taile she bears: a plumy crown
Upon her head appears; a scarlet down
Adornes her back: search throughout ev'ry clime
You'l find one only living at one time.
Six hundred years she lives then being old
Builds her a nest, a nest she doth infold
With fragrant Cassia, Cinamon, and Myr [...]h,
And such l [...]ke Aromatick sprigs, t'interr
Her self therin; she makes hir selfe an Urn
And fi'ry Titan with his rayes doth burne
(His rags reflecting on her lab'ring wings)
The crazy Phenix; from whose ashes springs
A little worme crawling in fun'ral spices,
And from that worme another Phenix rises.
When God created had all winged creatures
Divers for natures, discrepant in features,
And gave them power with their nimble wings
To soar alof [...], above terestrial thin [...]s:
The fifth day left a universal shade,
And heav'n was pleased with the works he made.
The Argument.
Go [...] cre [...]ts beasts great and small,
And appoi [...]ts their habitation,
On the earth, earth feeds them all
All affords us admiration.

SECT. 7.

NOw radient Sol his morning beams displaies
Gilding the mountaines with his pregnant raies.
Th' Almighty God, he, who alone is able
T' accomplish all things; furnisheth the Table
Of earths fair parlour, with a sumptuous feast,
Against the coming of some Lordly guest.
The earth, the d [...]m of all things, forth doth bring
Millions of creatures, ev'ry creeping thing
The earth doth suckle, 'tis the earth doth breed
A world of hungry animals to feed
On her provisions, ev'ry kind of beast
Draws life (as well the greatest as the least)
From her exub'rant breast; seest how the Fawns
Do skip and frisk about the lovely Lawns.
The keen-tusk'd salvage Macedonian Bore:
The greedy Wolf (t' whom Lambs are an ey-sore)
The yoke-fit heifer, and the ubr'ous Cow,
The horse, true drudg, to the laborious plough
The slow pac'd burden-bearing long-ear'd Ass
And bastard Mules do crop the tender grass.
The gen'rous Spaniel, and the faithfull Dog,
The belly-grunting mire-delighting hog.
The Leopard famous for his speckled coat.
The tim'rous Coney and the browsing Goat.
The stinking Pole-Cat, and the mouzing Cat,
Which sees as well by night as day the Rat
That corn-devouring creature, and the Mouse.
That haunts the corners of the statliest house,
The Beaver much esteemed for his skin
Must needs among the traine be railed in.
The Armadilio besieged round
With shells like armour, undermines the ground.
Alternately his sex Hyaena changes,
His eyes assume all colours which as strange is;
Such Dogs as on his shadow light grow dumb:
His feet stick fast whoever sees him come;
Calling the shepherds from their thatched bowers,
He slayes them, and their sl [...]utered Corps devours.
The shagie Bear doth fashion out her yong,
By licking them all over with her tongue.
The q [...]ick-eyed Linx, his back bespeckled all
Can with hi [...] sight impeirce the thickest wall.
The suck-egg Weasil, and the harkning Hare,
(Which l [...]tters ev'ry month through out the yeare,)
The hounds d [...]ceiveth by her winding flight,
Rest [...] all day (if not ra [...]s'd) and tun's all night,
In p [...]ace [...]ull warrens, here are fleecy fl [...]cks
O [...] bleating sheep, there lurks the subtil Fox
Loathsome for smell. the little eyeless Moles,
And theevish Pict's lie hid in secret holes.
The bob-taild Squi [...]rel doth a storme foresee,
Seeming to be as weather-wise as we;
The buff whose firm impenetrable skin
Made into sheilds no shafts can enter in.
The truc'lent P [...]nther, and the direfull Tiger,
Devou [...] their captives with undaunted vigor,
The by-corn'd Girass doth the desarts like,
His n [...]ck' [...] as long as is a martial Pike.
The Salamander liveth in the flame,
It's extream coldness putteth out the same,
Th' egg-hatcht Cham [...]lion by the ayer is f [...]d
And turne t'all colours except white and red.
The rough Baboone, and E [...]heop an Ape,
Imitate man are most like men in shape.
'Tis fabled that the Naiades do make
With their loud roarings ev'n th' earth to qkuae.
The thorn-arm'd hedg-hog; for his various amell,
The Ortus famous; and the bunch-backt Camel.
Slow pac'd Ignatus unto these I'le put
It sings six notes fa, sol, la, mi, re, ut.
The scaly Dragon, and the furr'd-coat Ermin,
Locusts, and Catterpilers, such like verm [...]n.
The double-headed Amphisben [...], and
Innum'rous insects creep upon the land,
The ven'mous Viper doth her b [...]ood devour,
Again the brood, inclosed in the bower
Of their dams wombe; impatient of delay
Break through their sides and so their dams do sl [...]y.
The hoarse-resounding Grashoppers in thicke [...]s
Do sing abroad; as doth at home the Cricke [...]
Earth breeds all rep [...]ils ev'ry kinde of forme
The Glow, the Palmer, and the Canker-worme,
The Toad, (the earths unprofi [...]able clog.)
The hissing Serpent and the croaking Frog.
The saffron-hating Crocodile will run
On those that fly▪ but the pursuers shun.
The dreadful Basilisk baneful eye doth slay
Whom e're it looks upon, his breath (they say)
H [...]s poysnous breath, will taint, nay mor [...], unlock
The firmest Marbl [...], and obdurest rock.
The horny-nos'd Rhinoceros will whet
His horne [...]'re on the Elephant he set.
The Lion next upon the stage I'le bring,
Of men the terror, of all beasts the king.
He cometh ramping, with his eyes bright shining,
Most bravely minded, yet to preys inclining:
The Crowing Cock, the rattling Carr, and fire,
Do terrifie this beast, this beast so dire,
This formidable beast is mild to those
Who doe submit, but cruel to his foes:
Gratefull to those his benefactots are;
Humble to those that humbleness declare.
The Elephant next claimeth excellence,
This beast comes nearest unto humane sense;
He knows his country speech, he's us'd in warrs,
He worshipeth the Sun, the Moon, the Starrs:
The greatest of all beasts the earth doth hold,
He's proud of trappings wrought with burnish'd gold
Adores the King, his most ambitious spirit
Aspires to glory, glory to inherit.
But oh! who can sufficiently declare
Gods works, the which so full of wonder are!
And now for to conclude earth doth produce
All beasts, and ev'ry creeping thing for use;
After their sev'rall kinds on earth they trade
And God was pleased with the works he made.
The Argument.
God a living soul sublime
Breath's in man compos'd of slime,
Of a rib he framing woman,
Gives her for a help unto man.

SECT. 8.

GOd having made the world, and all therin,
To frame a little world▪ did now begin;
This little world is man, he formed last,
Of the four elements the Proto-plast.
The great, almighty, everlasting God
Created Adam of a ruddy clod.
God, was the true Prometheus, did inspire
His earthly-nostrils with coelestial fire.
Man like himself he made in sacred feature,
And under his command brought ev'ry creature.
This little world is in the great world plac'd,
And with the title of a King is grac'd.
This Micro-cosm instal'd by God alone
Of the great world obtaines the royal throne,
The King of Kings gave to his regal hand
The juri [...]diction bot [...] of Sea and Land.
What things soever any eye can see
Within the furnish'd world his subjects be:
What birds soever in the ayer have motion,
What fish s [...]ever glidea along the Ocean,
What beasts soever on the hills do feed,
Wh [...]t e're the melancholy desarts breed,
What fruits soever on the eorth remaine,
Are tributary to mans Lordly reigne.
Man is the emblem of a divine nature,
And lively picture of his live creator.
All creatures pore on earth mans sublime face
Behold's his maker, he is fil'd with grace
And divine beauty, their terrestrial m [...]nd
Mind earthly things▪ man, only man's, enclin'd
To heav'nly wisdome, his infused spirit
Is most ambitious glory to inherit.
Mans understanding and heroick sense
Above all other hath preheminence.
A nat'ral sense, beasts have as well as we,
They touch, they tast, they feele, they heare, they see,
Man's head is term'd the understanding's thrown,
The intelectual pow'rs meet there in one.
There madam Reason is enthron'd, her grace
Reignes like an Empress in the highest place.
My lady Will, resideth in the brain;
The Judgment there, there doth Minerva raigne,
Light of the Micro-cosm our eyes are, wee
The glory of the Lord by them doe see.
Three humours do belong unto our eyn,
The White, the Viteral, and the Christaline,
Six Coates, as many Musckles arteries,
Tendons, and Nerves attend upon our eyes,
May not our eyes bee very well d [...]fin'd
The Looking-glass of Nature, and the minde.
Our eyes are twinckling Lamps, what is our sight?
But [...]ristall-Casements for to let in light,
The Optick sinews, or the Optick strings,
Dr [...]w in the sight of sublunary things.
The eyes, our anger, and our love, do shew,
Strike fire in hatred, and in love they glow,
One while they sparkle with Idalian fire,
One while they glance; ano [...]her while admire!
They bolt in boldness, and in reverence sinke,
They smile in laughter, and in greife they winke:
In love they flatter, and in wrath seeme froward,
They shew [...]he glad, the sad, the bold, the coward,
They well can put a difference betweene
Such objects as are either foule or clean.
Our cy-lids like Appentices prevent
A world of dangers, which are incident
Unto our eyes, our eyes bright shining balls
Are Bull-wark'd round about with fleshly walls.
Man's nose is like a sink by which the braine
Doth purge it self of phlegm, the nose doth drain
All slimy Excrements, and doth convay
Them (never to returne again) away.
By it we breath and smel; 'tis that doth grace
The man, and wonderously become the face.
The ay'r doth in the nose the smelling stop
Which else from out the nose would forthwith drop
Our ears the minds informers do go round
With winding mazes, evr'y kind of sound
They can distinguish, at the shril, the flat,
The acute, the gentle, and the aspirate.
The ear's the dainty'st sence, it doth descry
Base jarring Musick, from pure harmony:
By these we move the brain, the brain by these
Is rid of chol'rick superfluities.
It is by these we (as it were) discern
And let in knowledg, 'tis by these we learn
All kinds of noise we'r taught to know th'rough these
Mechanick Arts, and learned Siences.
¶ God gave one mouth, two ears, two eyes, that we
Might little speak, though much we hear, and see,
The mouth, the stomack's portal is, and by it
We unto nature let in nat'ral diet.
Two folding doores of corral do convene
Lest in the teeth deform'ty should be seen
Our Iv'ry Teeth the feeling sence have got,
Can tell you what is cold, and what is hot,
They are the bull-warks of the tongue (to tame
Th' unruly member), tis by them we frame
And fashion out our words; foreteeth, and hind
We use; they shred our food, and these do grind:
Our teeth are busie Cooks (which without questi­on)
Makes our food ready for the first digestion.
Our tongue and pallat by their tasting power
Distinguish ev'ry relish sweet from soure.
It is our tongue that's vocal, on our tongue
The Lutes and Vials of our speech are hung:
What thing soe graceful to a man as hair?
How sliek! how comly does it show! how faire!
The pillar of our head's, the neck; neere kin
Unto the nether lip's, the dimpling chin.
The greatest strength that man enjoys, consists
Most in his shoulders, in his arms, and fists;
How necessary are our hands, our hands
Are handmaids to the body; man commands
All kind of things by them, nature imparts
Unto our hands, the Mastership of arts.
With pliant joynts our fingers are upheav'd
Apt to receive and k [...]ep the things receiv'd.
The servants of the mind they are, and do
What is her pleasure to command them to:
The left hand (u [...]experienc'd) stands and serves
The right hand b'ing a skilfull artist carves:
Nerves joine our bones, our bones do represent
The timber of our fleshly Tennement.
The main-spporting pi [...]lar of the frame
Is cal'd the c [...]ine, the chine doth prop the fame
Our thighs are plac'd beneath our hips and fl [...]nk
N [...]xt Hams, the Calfs, below the knees the, shank,
And in the Lesk, but just below the groine,
(O shame to name!) our privities do joyne.
Our feet are useful dangers for to baulk,
One while to stand another while to walk.
They are the bodies moving ground-work, all
The f [...]brick (were it not for them) would fall.
M [...]ns outward parts are shown, I' [...]e now begin
To rip him up, and see what is within.
His lungs, like bellows, are they which receive
Contracted ayer, and the same regives;
They puff up, at their taking air in,
And shrink when they do let it out again,
The pory lungs doth with it's spungie fan
Refrigerate the heart: The heart of man
Is made Triangular, the heart doth give
L [...]fe to each part, without it none can live.
Th' hearts motion doth our bodies motion breed,
The vital spirits from the heart proceed;
She, she the conduit of our blood convays
Her Crimson bounty thorough cleare blew-wayes.
She mitigates the coldness of the spleen,
And in the bodie regulates as Queen;
If not by her, whence do our pulses beat,
From her we do derive our nat'ral heat.
She is the center of the bodie, whence
All creatures draw their lives circumference.
This pearle absconded in a C [...]sket lies,
Is the first living, and the last that dies.
Man's stomack is a pot, wherein the m [...]at
Is reco [...]cocted, he before did eat.
The Mesaraick veins suck and deliver
The Chile of what we eat through pipes, to th' liver.
The belly is a buttery, wherein
(Within the cupbo [...]d of th [...] bowels skin)
The grosser offals, that the stomack leaues
Of its digestion adhers and cleav [...]s.
Wh [...]re t [...]ey rem [...]ine, un [...]il dame-nature pl [...]ase
For to exonerate such filthy lees.
When God h [...]d framed man with wondrous art,
He after made his soul the nobler part;
He did his dross with sacred fire refine
And breath'd in him a soul. a soul divine.
A soul immortal; death with all its power,
Nor Satan [...] fiery darts can't it devour.
God to the soul eternal essence gave,
It had b [...]ginning, but no end shall have.
Wit, Understanding, Memory, and Will,
The pa [...]lace of the soul inhabit still:
How circular, how speedy is hir motion?
She [...]oundeth in a trice the Heav'n, Earth, Ocean:
She scal [...]s heav'ns tower with her E [...]gles wings;
Finds out th'obst [...]uce Originals of things;
As [...]aine, hail, snow, ice, winds, nor doth she won­der
At fl [...]sh of lightning, nor at claps of thunder.
When thus his Image, man, the Lord had made
Each way compleat, within himself he said
It is not good, nor doth it please me well
That man alone without an ayd doth dwell:
I'le therefore make him one, his joy, his c [...]ear,
His D [...]ve, his solace, his beloved dear.
With that the Lord, whose actions are so deep
Past finding out, cast Adam fast a sleep;
Seal'd up his eyes, and from his fruitless side
Took ou [...] a rib, and of that rib a Bride
He fashion'd out; and did so nea [...]ly dearn
The cl [...]ft, that none the opening might discerne.
T [...]e w [...]man made, God gave her unto man,
And he (aw [...]ke out of his sleep) began
T'express his joy unpar [...]lelled favour;
I have an helper, the Almighty gave her
To be my wife; Lo two, are made of one,
Flesh of my flesh, and of my b [...]ne the bone.
And since the Lord from out my sides did frame her
She shall be woman, woman will I name her.
(Nor is' [...] a wonder why he call'd her so;
For unto MAN at last, she prov'd a WOE.)
For this cause shall a man his parents leave,
And to his wife, his deare, adhere, and cleave.
So they were naked seeking no redress,
Nor did they blush, at this their nakedness.
The sixth day left a universal shade,
And heav'n was pleased with the works he made.

An Appendix

  • Of
    • God's resting day.
    • Eden garden.
    • Man's
      • happiness before his fall.
      • misery after his fall.
The Argument.
Six dayes expir'd, the seaventh day
God rests, and doth his works survay.
Eden is pl [...]nted, man in Eden
May tast all fruits, but one forbiden,

SECT. 9.

When the great Architect had furnish'd all
The upper Regions; and the lower Ball,
He ceased from his works, and sanctifi'd
Unto himself, for ever to abide.
The seaventh day his glory it invested,
And from h [...]s workes, his workes so great, he rested.
The Lord of sabboths, hath this sabboth blest,
As a [...]rue Type of that eternal rest.
Ke [...]t in hav'ns blis ull Kingdome, to the praise
Of him that is the ancientest of dayes.
By his examples, he would have us doe
The like, and rest from wordly I bour too.
This day of rest; our Saviour will come in
Unto our souls, if we let out our sin.
He sets wide ope, the port [...]ls, of his ears;
To entertaine, (a [...]guests,) our praise, our prayers.
This day is Gods, on let us then adore him,
And in his reverence, fall downe before him;
That so we may here after be posses'd
Of that true Sabboth, that eternal rest,
Prepar'd for saints▪ and joyfull R [...]quiem [...] sing,
Before our great, and everl [...]sting K [...]g.
Six dayes are freely ours, bu [...] one, in seaven,
Is chaleng'd as a holy-day, by heaven;
And yet how little of that day we spend
Upon th [...] servic [...] of so great a freind!
Alas! a [...]as! how apt are we to think▪
That God beholds not, and his eyes do wink
A [...] our negl [...]cts; but patience ab [...]s'd
Turnes fury: ah! can, can we be excus'd,
That thus transgress? no we have cause to feare,
T'his leeden fe [...]t, Gods iron hands are neare.
Within the radient borders of the East,
Where early Titan as a welcome guest
Findes entertainment, God a garden planted
For Man's sole use, wherin there nothing wanted
To make it truly glorious, in it, he
The worlds abrig'd Epitomie might see;
Unfathom'd love spontaneously bestowing
A paradise with milk and honey flowing:
Upon a man, an animated Clod
Must n [...]eds advance [...]he goodness o [...] our God.
Here is the true Elizium indeed,
Whose choyce variety of objects seed
The greedy eye; seest here a divers hieu,
Crimson, Carnation, Green, and joyfu [...]l blew.
This soyle bears fruit, all seasons in the yeare,
You c [...]nnot name the thing, but what is there.
See here coole A [...]bors, mark how bubbling Brooks
Do g [...]ntly glide along in winding nooks:
Here' [...] speckled ammel beautifies the ground:
And heav'n se [...]t Manna, ev'ry morn is found.
Th [...] [...]re [...]ty birds (by nature taught) doe sing
M [...]lodious n [...]t [...]s, to their mellifluou [...] King.
How fr [...]grantly li [...]e-breathing Z [...]phyr blowes
H [...]s [...]wee [...]-heart Flora, g [...]n'rously bestrowes
The smiling Earth, with oderiferous flowers,
'Gainst Adam's wedding; pearly-dropping show­ers
Enrich the grass; withou [...] the help of ploughs
Tellus partu [...]iates; on the laden bou [...]hs
The m [...]llow fruits do dangle, and do stand
Ambit [...]ous (as [...]t were) to kiss the hand.
O what a lovely lustre doth adron
The balmy ai [...]! the Ama [...]thean horn
Is giv'n to Adam (not to Hercules)
Gemifluous Phi [...]on, golden Eu [...]hra [...]es
Silver-wav'd Hiddekel, Christal-ey'd [...]i [...]on,
Water this heav'nly earth, this earthly Sion.
Cloath'd are the Trees in g [...]een; the stately P [...]ne,
And tow'ring Cedar, lovingly combine,
A Bow'r with bending arches to compose:
The shame fac'd Lilly, and the red-cheek'd Rose,
Strive for priority: how all things smile
And e'ne luxuriate! Oh delightf [...]l soile!
Amongst the trees wherewith th' Eternal grac'd
This prime plantation, in the midst he plac'd
Two speciall t [...]ees (both inordain'd for food,
But seals the one of life, of knowledg good
And evil was the second; to th' intent
That Adam's life should not be idly spent
Trine-une Jehovah did his steps direct
To this blest Bow'r, and spake to this effect.
Of all the trees that in the O [...]chard be
I set them for thy use, one only tree
S [...]all be my rent; that tree thou shalt not tast,
Which in the center of the garden's plac'd
The rest are freely thine, by my permission,
Rent-free: but yet on an imply'd condition:
What I injoyne be studious to fulfill,
Touch not the tree of knowledg, good, and ill;
For by my sacred majesty, I vow,
And by my venerable name, if thou
Break but thy Lease, "thy v [...]ry lips that shall
"Let in this fruit, shal let in death withal.
But if thou please me well, this tree shal be
A sacred pledg between thy God, and thee.
My Vice-Roy shalt thou be, thy seed I'le bless,
Thy seed for ever shal the land possess.
Be thou obsequious thou shalt finde me mild,
I'le be thy father, thou shalt be my child.
He said no mo [...]e: Adam did: hen express
His loyal duty, and his thankfulness.
Glorious, and great, who hast insta [...]'d me K [...]ng
Of th [...]s vast Orb, and Lord of ev'y thing
Within its larg dementions: Gratious Lord
Thou gav'st me all, nay of thine owne accord.
Ah Lord! what merrit? what desarts in me
(To claime such hig [...]-bred f [...]vours could [...]t thou see)
O bounteous love! oh love that is extended
Beyond al bounds! O love uncomprehanded!
Ah! shall thy mercyes overflow my banks?
And shall I ebb, in the returnes of thanks?
Thou giv'st me life, and rare enjoyments too,
To tell them out is more then I can do.
And shall I not acknowledg thee? ah! sure
No senseless stone can e're be so obdure.
Take partial thanks, for as for to express
Love to the life I cannot, I confess:
Accept my mite, to praise I will persever
Thine holy name, for ever, and for ever
Ah! far be it from me to countermind
What thou prohibit'st▪ shall th [...] lib'ral hand
Heap blessings on me? thou afford'st me all,
Thy selfe reserv'st but one, and shall I fail
To keep from thee thy right? shall my transgression
Displease the Land-lord of my free possession.
O no, I will obey, one onley Tree
Shall put no varience 'twixt my God and me.
Should I attempt so foul a fact, I were not
Worthy to live; might then [...]ods j [...]stice spare not
To vulnerate my soul, Oh might I feele
Th' imprinted strakes of his revengeful steele.
Great God! Oh may I rather cease to be,
Then live t'offend, so good a God as thee?
The Sun shall sooner cease, for to display
On tender plants, his bright enlivning R [...]y:
Sooner shall sun-burnt India grow cold,
And Icy Zealand hot, and heav'ns grow old.
E're I from my first principles retreat,
And disobey my God, so good, so great.
Thus Adam liv'd in favour with the Lord,
Enjoying all the joyes earth could afford.
On while he walks along the bordred Alleys,
Now up the hillocks, down anon, the valleys,
And now by whisp'ring Brooks, takes sweet repo­ses
On beds of L [...]llies, and anon on Roses.
The Argument.
The Devill in the Serpent's forme
Tempteth to sin the woman first:
She man; so done, the Lord doth storme,
The Serpent, Eve, and Adam's cur'st.

SECT. ult.

Proud Lucifer, through vain ambition strove
To equalize himselfe with God above:
But of his pow'r Angelic [...]l bereaven,
He tumbled head-long down the courts of heaven:
From a bright Pallace to a sulph'ry Cell,
Made Monarch of (the land of darkness) Hell.
Thus strip'd of all his quondam pleasures, he
Greatly envieth man's felicity:
Man is his eye-sore, man's supernal state
The Object is of his insernal hate:
He finding opertunity, began
Sl [...]ly to worke, the overthrow of man:
His guil [...]s and wiles he palliates, and is
Turn'd int' a snake, strange Metamorphosis!
His toyles he spreads, and covertly he waits
To catch poore Adam, by his golden baits:
And's plot the better to acom [...]lish, he
G [...]es wriggling up on the forbiden tree:
Assaults the woman, with his baited gin,
And thus he drawes the sily woman in.
Serpent.
Great Emp [...]ess of the world: I humbly sue
To be resolved of a doubt, which you
Can satisfie me in: have you indeede
Your apetite restrain'd? what many't you feed
One evr'y pleasant fruit? why so? doth God
Limit your p [...]w'r? if so, 'tis very odd.
Eve.
Of all the trees that scited are in Eden,
There is but one, no more th [...]n one forbiden.
The tree thou se [...]st, there in the middle plac'd.
We m [...]st▪ on paine of death, not touch, nor tast.
That God reserv's unto himselfe, for what
I know not, but 'tis death to tast of that.
Serpent.
P [...]sh, P [...]sh you shall not dye, deaths bended Bow
Shall never harme you; you shal never know
[Page 61]
What doth belong to death; death cannot slay you,
You are immortal; feare not death I pray yo [...];
Touch, take, and tast, (beleive m [...]) and your eyes
Shall straight be op'ned; you will be as wise
As he that made you; be but rul'd, and ye
As Gods, both knowing good and ill shall be.
Feare not, (faire Lady) eat, I as a freind
Advise you not for any Private end,
Or self-resp [...]ct; you shall be deifi'd:
Ambitious Jove, no equals can abide.
Coy woman tast, behold their beautiful,
And cherry cheeks, coy woman doe but pull.
Cannot those mellow-delicates, invite
Your wat'ring palate, to an appetite?
Methinkes they should, taste, and you shall have skil,
To know the diference 'twixt good, and ill.
Why draw'st thou back? To the possessed Snake,
The cre [...]'lous woman this reply did make.
Eve.
Wisest of beasts, all that you sp [...]ak is true,
You counsel for the best, all thanks be due,
For your great love your love wh [...]ch doth transcend
All mer [...]it of mine, thanks to my loyal freind:
My life's to small to hazard for your ease,
Freind I could give't, your speeches doe so please.
[Page 62]
This fruit is marv'lous pleasing to the eye;
And questionless, 'tis to the tast: I'le try.
And eat thereof and give my husband Adam.
Serpent.
They bow to serve you, at your pleasure, Madam.
Eve.
Ah! how delitious is this fruit, how sweet!
A finer Apple I did never eat.
Husband, my love, come sit thee down by me,
And taste the vertue of this sov'raigne Tree.
Say, say my love, did e're thine eye behold
A Tree so fair, so rare as this; be bold,
As was thy Eve; and venter on't; for why?
Come what come will, thou'lt fare no worse then I.
Ah! hadst thou knowne my dearest what a bliss
Attends the eating, thou hadst eat e're this.
What? frownes my Adam? wilt thou not draw nearer,
And taste my love, then whom my life's not dearer
For Eves sake eat, and know both good and ill.
Adam:
Seeing thou invit'st me eat, my joy, I will.
Ah! wee have sin'd in medling with this Tree,
This cursed Tree; Oh whither shall we flee?
[Page 63]
Undone! undone! we know not what to do,
What course to take, Oh whither shall we goe?
Lo we are naked, and we must confess
Asham'd we are, of this our [...]akedness,
And blush to think on't, were not we of late
All cloth'd in glory? but where's now our state?
What have we got by our presumptious pride?
But shame, which if we could, faine would we hid [...].
Strange change! we have exchang'd, sad thing to tel,
God for an apple, and a heav'n for hell.
My conscience tells me what a gracious God
We have offended; now methinks his rod
He shakes in fury, now methinks his ire
Threatens to burn us, with consuming fire:
What thinkest thou, may not these leaves hard by
Make aprons wife, for naked thee, and I:
Quick, let's these broad Fig-leaves together sew,
And hide the shame, we are asham'd to shew.
Experience tels us that the things which tend
To greater bliss, prove dang'rous in the end.
The fruit that's pleasing, is not alwayes sound;
Untoothsome Clerus is in hony found.
That man-betraying Scorpion, did bring
Hony in's mouth, but in his tail a sting.
The fruit that seemed best, prov'd worst of all:
Sweet in the mouth, but in digestion gall.
Eve.
[Page 49]
Hark! hark! methinks I hear (too true I feare)
A thundring voyce come rounding in mine eare.
I' me sure I hear't. I prithee Adam cease
Thy querulous complaints, peace, husband peace.
Ah me! vile wretch, ' [...]is God, undon! undon!
We have transgress'd, 'tis therfore time to run;
Let's hide us in the Woods I feare, I feare,
That he will catch us, naked, as wee are.
A poor defence God-wot, what brazen Tower
Can keep us safe from his all-ba [...]'ring power.
¶ Such as doe strive, by hiding of their sin,
To shut God out, do let the Devil in.
The case is ours: the more we would conceale
Our sins, alas! the more we them reveal.
What place can us secure? where can we lie
Absconded from his all-beholding eye?
Dye, dye wee must, no wayes of our contriving
Can save us harmeless? can wee gaine by str [...]ving?
Are our bones Brazil, or our flesh of S [...]eel?
Can wee imagine that we shal not feele,
The worst of his displeasure? dare we stand
In opposition to th' Almighties hand?
Or rather shal we with submissive tears
Beg hard for pardon, w'have a W [...]lfe by th' ears.
[Page 65]
The bellows, of our sins, have blowne the coales
Of flaming vengeance to devour our souls.
Adam.
P [...]ace, peace, I heare him too; he thunders now,
Where art thou Adam, tell me, where art thou.
Adam.
Great God! thy voyce, thy dreadful voyce, I heard
Rush in the garden, and I was affray'd:
It was my shameful nakedness, did move
Me to seek shelter in this shadie grove.
God.
Naked? who told thee thou we [...]'t naked? hast
Thou eat the fruit, forbidden thee to taste.
Gods mercyes Adam having thus [...]bus'd,
Accus'd the woman, but himself excus'd.
Adam.
All-glorious Lord, shee whom thou gav'st me, gave
The fruit unto me, and I eaten have.
God.
Nefandious woman, ah! what hast thou done,
That thus my awful presence thou dost shun?
Eve.
[Page 66]
Lord, I confess that my offence is great;
The Serpent tempted me, and I did eat;
The Rhet'rick of his tongue, did so delight
Mine eares, that I obey'd mine appetite.
Thus did his Oratorious delusion
Lead me along, unto my sad confusion.
The Serpent's curse.
Because thou hast fallitiously deceiv'd
The silly woman; thou shalt be bereav'd
Of future happiness; thou, thou, the worst
Of all the beasts: shalt not be least acurs'd,
Dust shalt thou eat, and since thou hast done so,
For ever shalt thou on thy belly go,
Abhor'd of all; moreover I'le disperse
Debate, and variance 'twixt thy seed, and hers.
Her seed shall bruise thy head: And poysnous thine
Shall bruise her heele, and round her heele entwine.
Eves curse.
And thou, nefarious bride, who hast betray'd
Thy husbands trust, and wickedly obey'd
The Serpents words; I will inflict on thee
As bad a curse, as any curse can be.
In paine bring forth thou shalt; greifs shall encum­ber
Thy tortur'd soul; thy torments shal out number
The minutes of thy life; ten thousand woes
Shall plague thy spirit; and thrice as many throes
Shall rack thy body, this disast'rous chance
Shall cling to thee till thy deliverance.
With all submission: thou, vile creature, thou,
Thy servile neck, shalt to thine husband bow:
He, shall rule over thee, and thou shalt stand
As loyable, to his severer hand.
Adam's Curse.
Apostatized wretch, because thou hast
Giv'n audience to thy wife, to boldly taste
The bitter sweets of this reserved Tree,
From which (on paine of death,) I warned thee.
Curs'd be the earth, and all her smiling pleasures,
Her gratefull plenty and exub'rant Treasures:
Curs'd for thy sake, b' earth's amiable face,
Let thorns, and thistles, grow in ev'ry place.
And thou, for this abominable deed,
Shalt feed on hearbs; I'le make thee get thy bread,
With a laborious hand: thy sweetned meat
Must now have sower sauce: thy toylsome sweat
Shall stand in furrowes, on thy bubling brow,
Earning thy living at the pai [...]efull plough.
Thus shalt thou live; till death the thred divide
Of thy fraile life, thy sorrowes shall abide.
A number of diseases shall attend
Thy loathed life; sins off-spring, death, shall send
His Harbingers abroad, which shall anoy thee,
And never leave thee, till they quite destroy thee.
The never missing dart of death shall slay
The bri [...]tle Casket of thy soul, and lay
Thy earth-ta'ne body in an earthly urne;
For dust thou art and shalt to dust returne.
Be gone; base Caitiffe, from this garden, flee,
Such rare enjoyments sha'nt belong to thee.
Be gone: be gone: no longer shalt thou please
Thy del'cate palate with such ca [...]es as these:
Worse fare shall serve thy turne: with ploughs goe wound
Thy native soile goe dig, and delve the ground.
1 Tim, 1, 17.‘ [...],’
To the reverend, his …

To the reverend, his much Honored Freind, Mr FRANCIS TAILOUR Anagr. AL VAIN FOR C(H)RIST.
With Paul ALL VAINE FOR C(H)RIST you doe account. So shall you to the heigth of glory mount.

Honored SIR,
THe Series of your favours did invite
Mine unfleg'd Muse, to take a sudaine flight,
On Peg'sus wings, 'twas that which did infuse
A quickning life into my dying Muse.
Can Helicon want lucid streames! can I
Be dry of matter, you Mecenas by?
I hate to be ungratef [...]ll, if I should
Not make a verse the Rocks and Mountains would:
The s [...]questration of two hours time
From serious Studies, I imploy'd in Rhime.
Yet Nothing went about, with what I drew
From Nothing, Nothing, I present to you.
Dress'd in a rude, yet in a sober, stile,
Hoping you will at my endeavours smile.
You hate (as wel as I) these dang'rous times,
To cast your eyes on vaine and wanton Rhimes.
And I could gladly spend my flitting dayes
In penning Sonnets to my makers praise.
To your protecting wings I therefore fly
For shelter: ah! but when my serious eye
Darts on your worth, and on my selfe looks down,
I feare the wrath of a condemning frown.
Juditious Sir, if that you please t' affect
These embrio-lines 'tis more then I expect.
But yet, I know your candour wil excuse,
Since 'tis an ev'ning, not a morning muse.
I crave not praise, but pardon. I have got
Mountaines of praise if you disdaine me not.
O may you live unto grand Nestor's day
With silver age, and honor cown'd: so prayes
Your humble servant, whose unbou [...]d d [...]sire
Is Phenix like, to burne in duties fire:
Whose life's too smal to hazard for your ease,
Sir, I am yours, command me when you please.
N B.
Wickham-brooks June 5, 1657.
The Praise of Nothing:
The prince of Poets, wrot of Frogs, and Mice:
Ʋirgil of Gnats: and Henisius of Lice:
Witty Erasmus, Folly's praise did write
And Drayton, did upon Madge-Owle endite.
On Hazle-Nuts smooth Ovid versifies:
And some do treat of Maggots, and of flies.
One hath such stateliness t' a bald-pate given,
That there is scarce an haire 'twixt it and heav'n.
This lauds brave Bag-Puddings: whilst he composes
The admirable honour of Red-Noses,
And such poore petty things, and shall no story
Be penn'd in honour of great Nothings glory
Shal shee, from whence all things a being have,
Lye dead, and buried, in oblivious grave?
My muse shall praise her, though she can't comp [...]le
Fine silken words, nor in ornated stile
Blazon great Nothing, for shee seemes to be
A Theam, more fit for Hom [...]r, then for me.
I ma [...]'l to her, men did not Temples fr [...]me,
Like that at Ephesus, to Dianas name.
Had I a world of eloquence I know
Twere scarce enough all nothings worth to sh [...]w
I stand astun'd, (not knowing what does ail me)
Mine eyes doe dazle, and my thoughts e'ne faile me.
For to conceive her seenless parts, and Name,
My words are wan [...]ing to express the sam [...].
I'le summon her t'appeare in her owne praise;
(Though tongueless) yet imagine that shew saies
Upon a stage, amidst a gazing throng
Of glad Spectators, this triumphall song.
Kinde auditors, be pleased to encline
Your willing ears, to this poore speech of mine.
Although that All-things in my place doe stan
Mine age (as right) may claime the upper hand.
Is't fit the Daughter, should her duty smother,
And yeild no rev'rence t'her decripit Mother?
Does it become her well? ought shee to owe
No more respect? is this a seemly shew?
Where is her storgie 'what, doth she not minde
The empty wombe that bare her? oh unkinde!
Ney had it been a freind, that should deceive me
An ordinary freind, it ne're had greev'd me:
But that my childe, mine owne deare childe, should seem
To own me not is more then most ext [...]eam.
Had I a mother, I should judge all honor,
And love, too little to bestow upon her.
She's grown so burlie, and I am so small,
That I can hardly be discern'd at all.
The black spot on a beane, a Flea, a Fly,
An Ant, a Nitt is not so small as I.
All little things are pretty, and the taller
Are more deform'd, then me ther's nothing smaller.
Small as I am, yet of my shapeless feature
God fram'd the world; and what (but God) is greater.
No father had I, neither did I come
From out the Closet of a mothers wombe.
I was, and was not, substance have I none,
No flesh, no blood, no sinewes, nerves, nor bone.
Nor can I justly stiled be trub-hody,
For I have neither hinder parts nor body.
I'me clo [...]th'd in emptiness, transparent cloathing
As thin as Aire; I doe repast on Nothing,
Chamelion like; and as a vestal Nun
So chast am I, all company I shun.
I lead a solitary life, for where
The least thing is, be sure I am not there.
Could you but try me, you would lighter finde.
Then Ce [...]phus tost with ev' [...]y gust of winde.
I liv'd (though dead) from all eternity,
What was there (can you tell) but God and I?
Out of meere love hath not th' Eternal fram'd
All things of me that are, unnam'd, are nam'd?
Goe ask the starrie gal'ties if they be
Deriv'd of any but of God and me,
By us those Squtchions, thick as Argus eyes
Hang out and twinckle in the Marble Skies.
Even as bright Phebe's borrow'd raies do shine
By Titan, Titan does by Gods, and mine.
Ask but the earth, if she did ever crown
Her front, and put on an embroidred gown,
'Bout her grose waste, if ever she did ware
Such fruits, like pendant-Iewells in her eares?
If the blew heav'ns like braclets did her deck,
Or starrs, like beads, encompassed her neck
Before I was: ask her and if her Globe
Was circumvested, with a Sea-green Robe.
Ask her all this, and if that she denies
Apparent truth; in flat and plaine, shee lies.
Teli her from me, from me arise her Bowers:
I fill'd her lapp, with oderiferous flowers.
The warr-us'd Cornel, and the Mast-full Beach,
The fun'rel Cypress, and the velvet Peach,
The downy Poplar, the piramidal Pear
The tow'ring Cedar and call Pine did rear
Their heads from me: from me, a golden tindge
Ceres receiv'd: a Jasper colour'd frindge
Embellished the Meddows, Pastures, Land,
All diapar'd with spangled Dazies stand.
All Birds, B [...]asts, F [...]shes, rarest gems rich m [...]nes,
From out my fruitful loyn [...]s, derive their lines.
I'me Alpha, and Omega; from me springs
Both the begining, and the end, of things.
When the rebellious world, for sin was drown'd
Then only Noah's Arke and I was found.
When flashing fire, and stifeling B [...]imstone, rain'd
On Sodom, and Gomorah, I remaind.
Rome's Capitol, and Troy's Palladium,
Carthag, and Athens, are to nothing come.
Where's Thebs brag, of her hundred gates but late­ly?
The Tow'rs of Babilon? where be the stately
Long Obelisks? the Piramid's? where's now
Mausolus Tombe? can any tell me how
The Temple builded to Diana's shrine
Doth stand? did they not all to me resigne.
Say where is Pharo's Tow'r? can you behold
Jove's simelachre, rich for burnish'd gold?
Gold-pav'd Jerus'lem is, alas! bereft
Of all her pompe, and she hath no [...]hing left?
Nothing is left, that is for some thing good;
Grass growes where brave Dae [...]al [...]an buildings stood
Nay heavens shall melt, the universall frame
Return to nothing, from the whence it came;
Is Hercules alive; can he be glorious
Sudbu'd by me? Th [...]nk you that the victorious
Undaunted Caesar, and great Pompey too,
Two thunder-bolts of War, exploits can do?
Now they are dead? could the great Alexander
Who weep'd, in that he could not be commander
Of many worlds? could his brave acts and glory
Keep him from being Nothing? could the hoary
Age of grand Nestor save him from the Urne,
When dust he was, and must to dust returne.
Blind Homer, solid Virgil, none sets eye on
Wise Cato's gone, the Dolphin caryd Arion;
Stout Hector, am'rous Paris, Troy-bane Helleu,
Subtile Ʋlisses, are to Nothing fell in.
Where is Amp [...]ion, at whose Musicks sound
The Theban walls were raised from the ground?
The eared Oakes, shall never any more
Dance after Orpheus pipes as heretofore.
Caonean Doves, in the Dodonian grove,
Shall ever cease more Oracles to move.
Who wil beleeve that William once againe
Can conquer Saxons? he and all his men
Alas! where are they? are they not return'd
From whence they came, and into nothing spurn'd?
Where's bloody Mary, and Elizabeth,
Of blessed memory, but kil'd by death.
Where's now pacif'cal lames, misguided Charles?
How many worthies, Nobles, B [...]rons, Earles,
Lords, Knights & Gentle-men were there, that have
Took full possession of the gaping grave.
What are the rich but dust, as well as they
That beg? Death is a debt which all must pay.
Can Essex l [...]ad an Army, when to Leed
His body is confin'd; Vantrump is dead,
And the Armodo sunk, and its designe
Was cross'd in eighty eight, and thirty nyne.
All things of nothing made, to nothing tend,
And what hath a beginning must have end.
In time of dearth, there's nothing to be found
But sapless stalks, upon the fruitless ground,
Nothing but singults, mixt with hearty tears
Can scale the fortress, of th' Almighties eares,
Nothing so mercifull as God, he moans
Repentant sinners, when he hear's their gaoans.
Nothing but grace, conducteth unto glory,
Then which there's nothing more untrans [...]tory.
More could I say, but the descending Sun
Takes off my Pen, with Nothing I have done.

Iam desine tibia versus.

Divine Ejaculations.

1.
MY God which art a brazen wall,
A Bul-warke of consuming fire,
Guard me and let my foe-men fall,
Who; causleslly my fall conspire.
Oh let thy favour be my sheild,
So shall my soul maintaine the field.
2.
Oh thou which giv'st thine Angels charge,
To guide thy servants in their warrs,
Do thou protect me, and enlarge
My streightned heart, to sound thy praise,
If with thy favour, thou surround me,
No hell-borne mallice shall confound me.
3.
Thou which thy children from [...]he fire,
And D [...]niel from the Lions Den,
Hast freed? Oh free me from the ire
Of bloody and malitious men.
Thy grace can chase an hoast of evils,
And Legions of infernal Devils.
4,
When dang'rous waves on me did roul,
By thy right hand, I sav'd have been:
Thou heard'st the pantings of my soul.
And when I knock'd did'st let me in.
Thy court of mercy; nay thine ears,
Were prone to heare my silent tears:
5.
Although the tot'ring heav'ns quiver,
And earth her loosned limbs doe shake,
Yet hast thou promis'd to deliver,
Who, thee their hope, and Anchor, make.
And thou to thine a gratious God,
Abscond'st them from thy flaming rod.
6.
Thou from the chambers of the earth,
From gates of hell, and shades of death,
Hast power to save, and givest birth.
Unto a body-bannish'd breath.
O let thy quickning grace shine in
My breethless soul, when dead to sin.
7.
When as the clouds of thy displeasure
(Portending stormes) together gather,
Oh let thy fury know a measure,
Remember th' art a loving Father.
Though I'me a disobedient child,
Make me as good as thou art milde.
8.
In wisdome thou chastizest thine,
And in the furnace of affliction,
Their drossie souls thou dost refine;
And by thy Judgments, stamp conviction.
If thy corrections thou dost lengthen,
Accordingly be pleas'd to strengthen.
9.
Will he persist in wrath? and never
Admit of thoughts of mercy? can
The Lord abandon his for ever?
O [...] no, for he is God, not man.
He vows, (and will his vows performe)
His fury shall not alwayes storme.
10.
O happy he whom God corrects,
Therefore his chastening do [...] not shun;
The Lord afflicts whom he affects,
As doth a father, his lov'd Son.
Nor doth he alwayes fury like,
For he doth stroke, as well as strike.
11.
Who would not willingly endure
A minutes time [...], little paine;
If after that he might be sure
Ten thousand years of cas [...] to gaine?
Afflictions light, and transitory,
Yeild an eternal weight of glory.
12.
Cleanse me from soul infecting sin,
And purely purg away my dross,
O do thou take from me my Tin;
(And make me joy in such a loss,)
O Lord my crooked wayes reforme,
And be my pilot in a storme.
13.
If thou affliction please to send
To try my frailties, and weak graces;
Make me look up, and learne to mend,
That thou mayest hugg me with embraces.
"The Law is rough, the Gospell calm,
"Be that the Launce, and this the Balm.
14.
Whither thy favour thou display,
Or dost with flaming fury glow;
O let me with the faithfull say,
I doe by good experience know,
All things shall worke for good to those
Who God affect, whome God hath chose:
15.
As my affliction Lord abounds
So let m [...] consolation,
Pour Balsam in my bleeding wounds,
And hide m' in thy pavilion.
Although I [...]ail yet I shall stand
Supported by thy helping hand.
16.
Great God! though my offences urge
Thy heavie hand, yet Lord refraine,
My Saviour's blood hath power to purge
My sca [...]let sins, though dy'd in graine.
One drop can scour, and make them full
As bright as snow, as white as wooll.
17.
Thy [...]rowning Justice stormes doe bring,
But thy cleare mercyes them doe stop:
I'le be content with a wet spring,
So I may have a joyfull crop.
Comforts will troops of greif destroy,
Who sow in teares shall reap in joy
18.
My God, my Rock, my Sheild, my Tower,
My health, my strength, deliver me,
From those three foes, that would devour,
Ah! I shall fall unheld by thee.
Thou only hast the power to quell
Pernitious foes, Sin, Death, and Hell,
19.
Thou Lord wilt lay no more on me
When my weak back can bear no longer
Either my burthen light shall be,
Or else my feeble faith grow stronger.
O let my well, prepared breast
With what thou send'st contented rest.
20.
The judgments of the Lord are just;
Why should his judgments then dismay me?
I in my God will put my trust,
Although my God should please to slay me.
O Lord before thee do I stand,
As clay within the potters hand.
21.
In time of want, grant I may live
By faith, and on thy promise seed;
Thou, Lord more ready art to give,
Then I to ask, when I do need.
O heav'nly Father, make it still
My meat, [...]nd drink, to do thy will.
22.
O may I first thy Kingdome seek,
And righteousness which flowes from thee▪
(So shall I be confirm'd though we [...]k.)
And other things shall added be.
Ah Lord! shall I presume to trust
Thee for a Kingdome, not [...] crust.
23.
In poverty [...] [...]ho [...] my w [...]lth,
May I fear thee, and esche will,
It shall be [...] my n [...]vil [...] he [...]lth;
And my dry [...] with marrow [...]ll▪
In thee it lies for to res [...]es [...]
The fainting spirit, and trembling fresh:
24.
O Lord, uphold [...] in my w [...]ll,
For ah! my [...]ee [...] are [...] stumbl [...];
Chain thou my tongue [...] sinfull [...],
In all conditions make [...]e humble?
O give me gr [...]e [...]o must i [...] thee,
So shall, it them goe well with me.

The Birth of CHRIST.

To be propitious to him, while he sings,
The mean'st of Poets oraves the best of Kings.
GReat God of lights, be pleased to infuse
Celestial light, into mine infant Muse.
Be thou to me an unseal'd fountaine, whence
I may suck joyfull streames; transport my sense,
Above this Mole-hill earth, doe thou distill
Into the concave of my trembling Quill,
Those lucid drops of divine Oratory,
From thy full Lembick, to set out the story
Of thy Son's condiscention. I shall stray,
If thou assist not, O be thou my way.
Lord I am weak at best, direct my youth,
That I may nothing write, but what is truth.
O teach thou me though tender, and unripe,
To play upon this slender Oaten pipe:
Soe tune it Lord that I may breath upon it
And sound thy praises, in a lasting Sonner.
I care not for (so thou but guid my Quill)
Swet Helecon, nor yet Parnasus hill.
Make me an instrument to sing thy praise
I crave a crowne of glory, not of Bayes.
It was the time when in the morning ruddy
The thrice three sisters flock'd into my study,
And having play'd upon their Ivr'y Lyre
Such Rapsodies as Phebus did inspire.
One of the nine (the other held their tongue)
Caliope stood up and thus she sung.
(The rest gave audience, by my desk I sit,
And what she spake in Characters I writ.)
All you whose teare-bedewed eyes espy
The ill shap'd visage of your sins, draw nigh,
Mark! and consider what the Lord hath done,
To save lost sinners he hath sent his Son.
And you whose eyes could never yet let fall
A teare in earnest for your sins; come all,
Come, and in heart-proceeding tears behave you,
And doe not doubt, a Christ is borne to save you.
"How can your frozen gutters chuse but run,
"That feel the warmth of such a glorious Sun.
Now Rosy-f [...]c'd Aurora does unfold
Her purple Curtains, all b [...]fring'd with gold.
And from the pillow of his saffron bed,
Don-Phebus rouze [...]h his refulgent head.
He newly leaving th' Oriental streames
O [...] Thitis, brandisheth her trembling beams,
Lo now bright Phospher doth abroad display
His early fulgor. ush'ring in the day
Of welcome joy: Now is the golden morn,
Wherein the Saviour of the world is born.
Borne, and of whom? a virgin, what is stranger?
Where, in a Stable? and in what, a manger?
O wond'rous meekness I he that might be born
In a rich pallace, thought it not a scorn
To rest upon a Cratch, and lay him down
On locks of straw, and not on beds of down
This child of glory (with his locks of Amber)
Grac'd a poore stabl [...], not a princely chamber.
His Mother in her travail had of Lawn
No sheets; no vallents, nor no curtains drawn.
Nor could she there (as she deserv'd) behold
Brave Tapstry-hangings, all enrich'd with gold?
No Scarle [...] blankets did enwrap her child,
Unspotted, holy, harmless, undefil'd;
O object of delight! how amiable
Are thy rare vertues! and how vile the stable
In which they are inclos'd! there art thou lain,
Thou whom the heav'n of heav'ns cannot contain.
O groundless depths of thy humilitie!
What? room for swearers, and no room for the [...]
For to be entertain'd? ah! had'st thou bin
As bad as they, thou might'st have had an Inn.
Foxes have holes, and ev'ry bird their nest,
But Christ had not whereon his head might rest.
Bles't Son if God, oh! how hast thou debas'd
Thy glorious self, [...]h! why would'st thou be plac'd
In such a homely bow'r; was't not that we
Might by thy pattern learn humility?
Art thou advanc'd unto the highest pitch
Of fortune? be not proud, Christ was not rich.
Art thou involv'd in gulfs of Povertie?
Remember Christ was poore as well as thee.
He's poore without, but all enrich'd within,
Like other men in all things, saving sin.
Our mediator, and our advocate,
Is born but meanly, not in regal state.
And all for sinners, oh! th' abounding love
Of a sweet Saviour! he that was above
Angels in glory; and might still inherit
Investest honor, bears an humble spirit,
And to b' as low, as low can be, hath chose;
The inundation of his love o're flowes,
Our thoughts conceptions thou dost expand
Pure love; ah! what deserve we at thy hand
But fire and brimstone? ah! what moves thee thus
Dear Lord! what goodness dost thou find in us?
Lord! what is man, that thou should'st mindfull be
To save from torment, such awretch as he.
Towards froward sinners he his [...]avour turn [...]s;
Oh! how our God in his affection burnes.
O love un par [...]lel'd! uncom [...]rehend [...]d!
Great God! [...]h! whither is thy love extended!
Cheare up poor sin- [...]ick soul; [...]rt thou op [...]rest,
And heavy laden, Christ will give thee rest?
Rouz thee from sinfull sleep, ere break of day,
Mark w [...]at the Ang [...]l did to th' Shepards say?
He [...]aies to thee f [...]ar not; lo now I bring
Tidings of joy; for unto you a King
A S [...]iour is born, is bo [...]ne to day,
Where princel, David did the scepter sway:
The wise-men see, conducted by a star
A Sun-shine, brighter then the Sun by farr.
O may we all unanimously run
To view the rising of so clear a Sun.
Lord let us not with Herod and the Jews,
Hearing thy birth be troubled at the news.
But joy in th [...] thou comest to restore
And save us sinners, who were lost before.
This, this is he concerning whome 'twas said
The wom [...]ns seed shall break the Serpents head.
This, this is he, whose raies cast such a fire,
As should enflame our amorous desire.
Who can behold so sweet a babe as this is,
And not embrace him whith a thousand kisses!
Before his sight, the purest Lamp seems dim,
And light is darkness, if compar'd to him.
If he but shew the Sun-shi [...]e of his eye
We doe revive, i [...] he withdraw we dye.
W [...] by the splend [...]ur of his rayes, have bin
Freed from the darksome dungeon of sin.
Lo [...]d how inscrutable! oh how profound
A [...]e thy way [...]! oh! how deeply are we bound
T [...] praise, and please thee, and [...]o be enclin'd
To love▪ thee with our souls, our strength, & mind!
Shine Sun of glory, let thy beams divine
Revive our spirits, Shine, Sun of glory shine.
Life of our s [...]uls, mo [...]e glorious to behold
Then fruitfull Ophir's best refined gold;
Do thou me in thy lovely armes embrace,
And help me varnish thy atracting grace,
With sacred Rhetorick; if on my tongue
The Lutes, and Vials of the Angels, hung,
Those Sonnets I could sound in endless dayes,
Would not be correspondent to thy praise.
O let thy lips, in a diviner story
Declare thy graces, and divulge thy glory
As Angels did, glory be to thee still,
Peace on the earth, and unto men, good will.
Be glad my soul whilst all the world records,
With one cosent: Salvation is the Lord's.
Th' eternal God, hath sent his onely Son
To dye for us; we by his loss are won.
To Ela's note let us our voyces raise,
And touch our Organs on their [...]owder keyer,
To us, is b [...]n, to us, i [...] sent from heaven,
The Lord of [...]fe; to us a Son is given.
To us, that are [...] lesser then the least▪
Of mercies, this great mercy i [...] exprest.
With th [...] Cal [...]iope spreads out her wings,
And [...]ck (as did the rest) a way she springs.
Then for the present, rapture [...] lef [...] nay head,
Inventio [...] vanish'd, and my [...]ncy [...].

In Natalim Christi.
Acrosticon.

Mens digesta cupit claruM resonare triumphuM
Vulnifico exemit ChristVs nos Ditis ab ictV
Numine dexter, ades spleNdescat pectore lumeN
Divinum Deus; [...]r [...] Diet [...] [...]bar ill [...]D
Icta chelys, mutil I feriat laque [...]ri [...] Cae [...]I
Sol petit Antipodas aul [...] Stellantis AlumnuS
Alloquitur pecudum PAstor [...], p [...]ndit e [...]altA
Lux micat, en! mundi [...]sa Lvator, Justitiae SoL
Virginis è gremio exeritVr, ( [...]irabile dictV
Amgelicis concuss A [...]remunt [...]
Terra Choros agitaT; Nympha cū Tethyde saltanT
Ore Chaos gemit hOrrendo; reparabilis EcchO
Rugit, et auratus s [...] R [...]pitu confunditur aeth [...]R
Iam soboles divina De [...], pro crimin [...] [...] I
Excelsà astrigeri [...]o E [...]li delab [...]r are E
Sumit et humanaS, indu [...]us corpore formaS
Vita Salus, mihi sis LaVs, Gloria [...]ulcit JesV
Sic meo plectra tuas, re Son [...]at pector [...] LaudeS
[...]
[...]

A Hymne in Commemoration of the Gun-powder Treason.

NOw the grisly God of Hell,
With his [...]onsters, fierce and fell,
Which in pitchy Cev [...]rns dwell
Enter into consultation:
And the Devil's Imp [...] th [...] [Pope,]
And the Catholicks which grope
In the dark [...], doe greatly hope
For to see our desolation.
E're our Queen Elizabet [...]
Had resign'd her latest [...]
Men and Devils undern [...]
Met to hatch a horrid treason.
Garnet moves the King of Spaine
To invade: King James his reigne
New begun makes him refrain
That designe b'ing rul'd by reason.
Seditious Catesby he recit [...]s
To Winter, what he had as lights,
From Parsons and the J [...]sui [...],
On which the Powder-plo [...] was grounded.
These Ca [...]almes with their c [...]mplices
(Foes to vertue, [...] to [...])
Swear to hide [...]e [...]n [...]prizes
Which sh [...]ll be to them propounded.
Powd [...]r-Barreis thirty six;
(Billet-wood and faggot sticks
For to colour it) they fix,
In a Cellar that was voyd.
This conspir'd to overthrow
King and Kingdome at a blow,
What to do they faine would know,
Faux a villaine they employ'd.
A letter sent to th' Lord Mounteagle,
To discontent did him inveigle,
The King, like a Majestick Eagle,
Saw with his ju [...]men [...]s peircing eye;
And [...] [...]he [...] [...]and
( [...] the word [...] ha [...] wisely scan'd)
The [...] c [...]u [...]d not understand,
The [...] sense he did disery.
The King commands, they search about,
For to remove suspitious doubt;
At last they find the traytor out,
With a dark lanthorn in his h [...]nd.
The plo [...]'s reveal'd, and al their aims
His gratious goodness God proclaime [...],
In saving thus our soveraine James
And all the Nobles of the land,
Oh what for us the Lord hath wrought,
He, he hath rescu'd us, and brought
All our foes fond atempts to nought?
Bloody mindes have bloody ends.
In the secret-hidden snare,
Which for us they did prepare,
They themselves intangled are;
Powder plotters powder rends.
They that did our deaths conspire,
And did very much desire
We might dance in shets of fir [...],
Their plots found out, they fled our coasts.
Some of them did a halter stretch,
Guy Faux▪ a brazen-faced wretch,
Had's head er [...]cted on a cratch:
Glory be to the Lord of Hoasts.
Thrice blessed be this day, may not
Th [...] unaccomplish'd Powder-plot,
By any Christians be forgot.
O joyfull joyfull holy day!
Let Bells in ev'ry Steeple ring,
And ev'ry sort of people sing,
And boyes their squibs and crackers fling,
And bone-fires bea [...]ny light display.
Let all of us with one accord
Extoll and magnifie the Lord;
Who to this Island did afford
So great, so straing deliverance!
O sing we all waies to his prayse,
Sweet Sonnets Hymnes and Lirick-Layes,
Who doth preserve his Church alwaies,
Praise God my soul, his praise advance.

GENETHLIACON, OR A Birth-song, in honor of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ his coming into the World.

1.
FRom the skies Night slideth down;
Cloathed in a sable gown;
And her drowsie head doth crown,
With a Poppy Coronet:
Muffling up her scar-crow face;
Holding forth a Leeden Mace;
Thus she o're the world doth trace;
With bright Sentinells beset.
2.
Now the Magi from a farr
From the Eastern borders are
Lead by th' lustre of a Starr,
To the place where Jesus lay:
They, soon e're they him behold,
Present presents manifold,
Myrrhe and frankincense, and gold,
And in praises spend the day.
3.
And it hapned thus, that near
Unto Bethlehem, there were
Faithfull Shepherds, who with care
Tended on their fleecy fold:
Least that their flock-leading Rams,
And the pretty baing Lambs,
Should be whoried with their dams,
For the Foxes were too bold.
4.
Suddenly, a glorious light,
Chas'd away the purblinde night;
And from Heav'n an Angel bright
To the Shepheards did appear;
W [...]hile their fleecy people graz'd,
At this prodigy they gaz'd,
And no little were amaz'd,
For their hearts did shake with fear.
5.
From the bosom of a cloud,
Heavens Herald did unshroud,
This Embassy out aloud,
Fear nor shepheards; Lo this morn.
The glad tidings which I bring,
Shall give you just cause to sing,
For to you, to you, a King,
And a blessed Saviour's born:
6.
There, where princly David sway'd
He which the worlds ground-work laid,
Born is of a Mother-Maid,
And involv'd in swad'ling clouts:
Ever after shall all nations,
In succeeding generations,
Fill the heav'ns with acclamations,
And the earth with joyfull shouts.
7.
He which is inestemable,
And to doe all things is able,
Is inclos'd within a stable,
Cradled in a silly manger:
Where the stalled Ox hath fed,
There your Saviour lays h [...]s head,
And a lock of straw's his bed,
Go Swains, entertain the strang
8.
When the Angel held his tongue,
An heav'nly Hoast of Angels sung,
(That the valted Regions rung)
For they warb'led out most shrill,
This harmonious mellody:
Glory be to God on high,
Peace unto the earth be nigh,
And unto mankind good will.
9.
Praised be Gods holy name,
Let the world his praise proclaime,
Happy time, wherein we came
For to tend upon our fold:
We are now redeem'd from hell,
We that from our maker sell,
We, curs'd we, that did rebell,
Was there better news e're told.
10.
Pretious Balm from Gilead springs,
Unto us a Saviour brings,
Healing in his balmy wings;
Unto us a Son is given.
We will carol songs of praise,
Eucha [...]ists, and Roud-delaie [...],
On her Ho-boies all our daies.
To the Emperour of heaven.
11.
What we with our ears have heard,
Hath unto our eyes appear'd,
And shall be abroad decalr'd,
By our mouths. O blessed birth!
O! what God for us hath done,
He hath sent his only Son,
By whose loss we shall be won!
Here is cause indeed of mir [...]h.
12.
Glory be to thee the Lord,
Who according to thy word,
Such rich mercy dost afford,
As is treasured up in Jesus,
O how doth our joy abound,
May' [...] in ev'ry corner sound,
We are lost, but shall be found,
We are pain'd, but Christ will ease us!
Soul.
A Saviour is born;
And is he born for me?
Me; what? for me forlorn?
O love beyond degree!
Christ.
These sides shall feel the spear;
Blood shall my sides run down:
Soul, I the cross will bear;
And thou shalt wear the crown.
Soul.
Though the dull earth aspire,
And sprightly flames descend:
Yet shall my heart my Lyre,
Praise thee without AN END

The four Ages of the World.

1 The Golden Age.

TIme was (and pitty that it flew away)
When peacefull Saturn did the Septer sway
Of heaven and earth, there was no need of Laws,
Nor jangling Lawyers. to pro [...]ogue a cause;
The riggid Plough, earths bowels need not tear,
The earth untill'd spontaneously did bear
Fecundious witnesses: no Lab'rours toil
Need dress the Vineyards, or manure the soile,
Plump Baccus to full bowls of sparkling Nectar
Invites each p [...]ssenger; fair Flora deck'd her
With her embroidred Robes, sets open wide
Her flower-furnishd shop; with painted pride
Makes every month to swell, her golden trammels
Hold each beholding eye, she richly enamels
The smiling meads, Zephyrus ever calm
Bathes her in kisses of Arabian balm.
On lovely-check'd Pomana's curled Tresses,
Hang lovely ornaments; Bright Ceres dresses
The naked a'er with her locks, which sborn
Like Hidra sprout againe; the ripned corn
Prick up their golden ears, listning unto
Soft wisp'ring Zephyrus his language, who
Tenders his humble service, and do [...]h stand
Ambitious to defend them, and command
Blastings to come not neer; their thanks to shew
Their humble heads, the gratefull corn-feilds bow.
All things were plenty: Terminus no bound
As yet assign'd, unto the common ground:
The world was but one field; each man content
Enjoy'd those lauish gifts dame Nature sent.
The yoke was stranger to the idle Bull:
The sheep went cloathed in her naturall wooll,
The Taratant'ra Trump, nor rumbling Drum.
Nor Sword nor Helmite in the world was come.
Mars had no Sons, tway-faced Jannus kept
His temple barr'd while ev'ry motion sl [...]pt
On slumb'ring feather beds of peace and quiet:
Green hearbs, and accorns was their cheifest dy [...]t
Rivers of Nector flow'd in liquid gold,
Hyblcan Honey-merchants were enroul'd.
'Twas alwaies spring, O what hirmonious notes
The Birds did warble from their mus'call throates:
Rocking the windes asl [...]ep, their charming Song
Entic'd the silver streams to da [...]ce along.
Men rude and voyd of Arts no Citye [...] build,
Contented with such houses woods did yeild.
The hollow of the hands were cups at first,
Water was Nectar, to allay their thirst. &c.

2 The Silver Age.

Saturn b'ing banish'd his supposed throne,
(Seldom comes better when the old one's gone)
Dayes Halcionian ceas'd, the Silver Age
With beardless Jove, came mounting on th [...] stage.
Jove did contract the pleasures of the Spring,
And the year into four Quarters bring.
Gray Winter sbiv'ring comes, and sheets of Snow
Upon this universal Bed doth strow.
The waies are chain'd, Glaz'd are the silver floods;
White Periwigs adorn the bald-pate woods.
Extreamity of weather now compells
Men to build houses, and procure them cells:
Thick shrubs and barks of Trees they joyn together
And make some briero's against wind weather.
The earth displeas'd at this mutation, breeds
The downie Thistle, and such usless weeds.
No Wheat is reaped, nor no Barley mown,
But what by the industrious hand is sown.
The yoaked Oxen groane, the lab'our [...] brows
Rain sweaty showers down: the boyst'rous ploughs
Because until'd, earth would no longer bear
For very madness do her bowels tear.

3 The Brazen Age.

THe golden and the silver age is gone,
Next by succession, comes a brazen one.
Man's nature now is grown more fierce, and cruel,
The fire of warr, is nourish'd by the fuell
Of quarelsome debate, and such like crimes
As Titan ne're beheld. Reciduous times!

4 The Iron Age.

The last, and worst of all, the Iron Age,
Acts its last part; who with unbridled rage▪
Sly fraud, hid witchery, hostile deceit,
Hearr-gnawing envy, and pestif' [...]ous hate;
Claw-back de [...]raction, clu [...]ch-fist Avarice,
Loathed Oppression, and what ever vice
Can well be thought on; gather to a head,
And through the hospitable world doe spread.

Monumentum Exequiale OR Lasting sorrow for the death of the Reve­rend, Pious, and Eminently-learned, Mr Tho Horn, late School-master of Eaton Colledg.

Oh I am drown'd in grief, a Borean blast
Hath torn my tackling, tumbled down my mast
My Anchor's lost, my Cable is undone,
And I, poore I, upon the quick-sands run:
Could I command the gold in India shines,
Arabian Mountaines, and American Mines,
What e're beaths from Pancha [...]a's spicy woods,
What costly Gems enrich Idaspes floods:
All would I give to him that could impart
The least of ease to my corroded heart.
Stormes have their calmes, flowings their ebs, but I
Am the Charybdi [...] of perpiexity
Ah me! ah me! Melpomene lament▪
This common loss, till all thy tears be spent.
Lock not thy thoughts in silence: cloath thy mind
In aiery garments: while the blust'ring wind
Of greif, doth agitate thy yeilding breast,
Oh how canst thou expect a minuts rest!
Groan thunder then: salute the deaf [...]ed skies
With integrated sobs: let thy swoln eyes
Be Islands, circled with a Sea of tears:
And in thy Readers hospitable ears
Lodge thy lamenting sounds: that they may flow
As well as thee: and empty out their woe.
What strange confused fragor's this proclaimes
That Helicon's disturb'd? the Thespian dames
Send to the groaning air, their hideous shreiks,
Contunde their brests, and lacerate their cheeks
With Adamantine palms, like Beldams tear
Their Amber-locks, the Musick that I heare
Are Bag-pipe sighs and loud O ganick moanes
Mov'd by the weights of grief, see, see the stones
Ev'n m [...]lt away in tears: the Chappel's hung
In mourning vestments: ev'ry eye and tongue
Rings, rings, elegious Sonnets out, the Pewes
Are drench'd in briny puddles. ah! what dewes
Fall from the glazed pictures. how the Leed
Doth seem to run abroad now he is dead!
Greif, Aqua-fortis lik [...], corrodes the barrs,
And in his ashes rakes up glitt'ring stars:
The earth is proud (O honorable thing!)
To wear so rich a jewel in her Ring,
And we, sad we, his Pupils, run about
His Tombe, and weep untill our eyes be out:
Why weep we so? alas! our pearly tears
Can only deck his Herse, not in his ears
Drop an enliv'ning power; let's then condole
Our folly in lamenting him, whose soul
Calcined soul, quitting this earth is flown
Into the bosom of the Trine in One:
Where we will leave him, still to be possess'st
Of heav'nly glory, and eternal rest.
‘Vivit post funera virtus.’

His Epitaph:

Tender hearts bedew your eyes,
Here, beneath this Marble lies
One was spir'tually discerned,
Meek, wise, pious, vertuous, learned;
And whose understanding parts
Stor'd up all the lib'rall Arts.
He distilled wholsome truths,
On your hearts, Etonian youths;
Rouze your Muses to his praise,
Never dying pillars raise.

Terra Pilae fimilis.

MEmphis conticeat Pyramidum decus;
Chaldoei, sileant et Babiloniae;
Ʋrbem coctilbus maenibus inclytam;
Nec fanum Trivia tollat honoribus
Vulgus mirificis: non variabile
Mansoli tumulum Cares in aëre
Pe [...]dentem vacuo, nive superbiant:
Sublimem statuam mitis Apollinis
Laudabunt alii: jactitat et labor
Thebas centifores: et Pharos insula
Miratur: merito dignus honoribus
Rerum nonne opifex tergeminus Deus?
Cujus mirabili terra potentia
Perpinguis vaeno pendet in a [...]re
Libra [...]am remanens ponderibus suis?
Tellurem in speciem conglomerat pilae
Ne non sideribus circuit aureis.

Vita Principis censura.

Principe plebs minor est, minor est ut numine princeps
Principis illa subest legibus, ille Dei.
Saxa gravem Chalybem post se Borealia ducunt,
Regis amat nutus aemula turba sequi.
Non magis agnus ovem sequitur, levis arbutus Austrum
Nec magis à vitreis os simulatur aquis.
Reg [...] hilari gaudet, flet si rorantur Ocelli,
Quod tulit, illa tulit, quod facit, illudagit.
Ejus deliciae plebis sunt sola voluptas,
Arbitrio vulgus statque caditque suo.

Tertullus Apolos.

Gratiae dulces, lepidaeque voces,
Sermo facundus, locuplesque vena,
Et lepos blandus domini beata
Munera celfi.
Suada, non castis animis inhaerens
Clara, persuasit mala perpetrare,
Profit ast vera pietate Suada
Concatinata.

In Equum quendam atate consumptum hand veloci pede promoventem Hexasticon

Non ego sum Trojanus equus, nec inutile lignum,
Sed postis gradiens cum gravitate tamen:
Qui velit insideat, liceat recreare; quid obstat?
Nam bis millenis ictibus ire queam
Ipse mihi dominoque salus, en! astra relucent
Sublatus: in gremio Marspiter ipse meo.

Englished thus:

I am no Trojan Horse, nor fruitless stock,
To tell the truth I'me a grave-walking block.
Any, that will, may [...]ide me for their pleasure,
Two thousand stripes may make me go by leasure:
I mind mine own, and Masters health, lo: Stars
My sides reflect: I brood the God of warrs.

Or thus

I am no Art-made Horse, nor wood th [...]t's waste,
But a staid foot-pace, making no great hast.
For recreation sake thou mayest (why not?)
Com ride me: blowes enough may make me tro [...].
Well fare my self, and rider, in these sides
Starrs shine: Oh! in my lap Gradivus hides.

Inanis jactatio per hypotypofin.

Bacchus ad arma vocat socios; sic unus et alter
Obstrepit illius (reboant cellaria) potu:
Nos erimus bello fortes, pia turba sororum
Tartareis oritur a locis, crinita Megara
Invida Tisyphone, nec non insignis Alecto
(Crinibus in nodum contortis more Sycambri)
Ignibus accensis adsunt sonuere flagello.
Ibimus illaesi, metuenda per agmina fortes
Contra pugnaces animos conjungere dextras,
Num metuent? manibus pedibus{que} conabimur om­nes
Debellare hostes, nostris adversa potestas
Viribus inferior, quàm despicabilis illa est!
Flenda cruorifluis lace [...]ari terga flagellis
Vidimus, en! humerósque premi sub pondere lass [...]s
Tamburlanus ego video mihi, [...]ùque tricorpor
Geryon, simulachra Jovis, Solisque colossus
Postica Equus Cacipars antica virfuit ecce
Est lupus in fabula, tuque es Antaeus arena,
Tu lapides Turnus jacias, tu Monychus Ornos
Hic Brontes Steropésque simul nudusque Pyrach­mon
Fulmina discutiant contortuplicantia bombis
Telum, clava tridens insignia framea thyrsis
Sint Jovis Alcidis, Neptuni, Martis, Iacchi.
Talia praeteria et dimittit fulgura pelvis,
Adjuvet ignovomis flamis nos Ae [...]na chimera;
Ʋesbius et Lipare strigens, Peta Crinon & Alpes
Supp [...]ditant niveas pilas sic Sisyphus ingens
Increpat, et Stentor furibundo litigat ore,
N [...]c mora pugnator Corribantes araque pulsant
Dumque tube resonant victoria nulla potita est.

Querimonia de Solario.

Absconde Titan purpureae facis
Flaminas et obfusca nitidum jubar,
Solarium hand luce fruatur,
Abbrevians celerisque lusus.
Non pullulabant tot nova guttura
Lerne Chelidro, quot mala protulit
S [...]larū hujus manch nator
Fallere tempor a non sinentis
Non visceribus Colchis inhospita
Tum triste tulit virus in abditis:
Horae advocant duri [...] fugaces
Innocuos pueros libellis.
Eheu! rapaces (phro lachrimabile!)
Labuntur horae, Bosphoreos sinus.
Mercat [...]r horrescit Charibdim
Cyaneas trabe Scyllam [...]t atram.
Vuip [...]m dolosam mittis ovis fugi [...]
Caute eolumbe morsibus anguium
Servantur, inprovisa at hora
Japeti genus omne fallit.

Humilitas Triumphans, Seu de Regina Suecorum, coronam sibi abrogante.

VIrtus munditiis culta suis nitit
Excellens, Pario est marmore purior:
Haec est ad superos strata rosis via:
Felix qui po [...]uit dulcia temnere
Contentus minimis lucra divitiis.
Thebanum Historiae laudibus evehunt
Cratem, qui liquidum proijcit in mare
Numorum cumulum non minimum se qui
Anfractus Sophiae, c [...]straque Palladis.
Quis non Phocionem tollat honoribus
Claris [...]ximium, munera Persica
Peleo à juvene allataque spreverat?
Agros Democritus deseruit suos
Dives, fecit eos publica pascua:
Expers muneribus Scipio publicis
Pr [...]vatim usque diem vixit ad ultimum.
Horum perspicua est [...]n pietas virum!
At multo his superat faemina nobilis,
Regina indomita, et Gloria, Laus, Honor
Suecorum; capi [...]i deposuit suo
Iunctos Laureoles▪ & Diademata
Dat consanguineo: non juvat aureis
Ostantaré suum stemma palatiis,
Gaudet nec animos stringere in hosticas
Junctis in cuneos Quadrupedantibus
Turmas et valido milite consequi
Victorum innumeris nomina mortibus:
Nec calcat variis classibus aequora.
Non vestis Tyrio mur [...]ce tingitur
Auri nec poculis, vinaque Lesbia
Scintillant: cumulos despicit aureos.
Contenta haec proprijs usibus aggerat
Quantum sufficiat copiarumque opum.

In Hortos.

Laudabunt alij Lucani, et Adonidis hortos,
Alcinoi, fulvos Hesperidumque trium.
Sunt quibus, unum opus est patulis radiantia ramis
Aurea carminibus pomasonare suis.
Oxoniae, omnigenis herbis at nobilis hortus
Nos juvat, Hippocriti Pharmaca cuncta f [...]rus
Aspice plantam humil [...]m pudibunda dat oscula terra
Coutrahit et ramos tactilis herbae suos.
Hic viridi recubare queas sub tegmine buxi,
Fessaque floriferis sternere membera toris.
Clara viri ingenui Waddhamia maenia et hortis
Archimedeum cui c [...]dit ingenium.
Parte tripartitus pelvis m [...]dia effluit amnis
Virginis en niveae pro [...]uit unda genas.
Pictaque festivos tellus expirat odores,
Et florum partu visicolore tumet.
Aeolus insequitur ventos, hic orbe resedent
Vertibili, glauco veste recinctus [...]rat.

Eucharasticon, in pluviam post solennes preces feliciter donatam.

Anno 1653.
IAm scelus Angliacum pulsaverat ostia coeli
Horrentes strepitus imbibit aure Deus:
Nec mora, non parvas dignas Jove concipit iras
Dent ait hi poenas quas meruere pati.
Sol calet et subito viridantia pascua flavos
Induerant vultus, et decus omne fugit.
Moesta Cor [...]s imbres sitibundo gutture flagra
Nullaque cael [...]sti rore madescit humus
Angiica gens, liquido lachrimarum fonte resedit
Abluat ut sordes voce rogatque Deum.
Tum D [...]us a [...]nuerat, reserat cava viscera nubis
Telluris siccas proluit unda g [...]n [...]s.
Quae nova jam rerum facies? laetantur agclli,
Gau [...]et et effuso Nectare terra madens.
Laetantur pccudes, et onusti floribus horti
Purpureis rident; ridet et alma Ceres.
Largius en! niveae tondent nova gramina vaccae
Et referunt mulctris ubera tenta suis.
Lucifer Eoâ sulget laetissimus arce,
Et Veneris sparso purpurat igne genas.
Dulcis odoratae Zephyrus dat basia Florae,
Et tr [...]mulos ramulos mitior aura quatit.
Nocte sub humenti Nymp [...]ae, Satirique bicornes
Exercent agiles laeta per arva choros:
T [...]mpora su [...]ilibus gaudent redimire corollis,
Lampsa [...]io carpunt Lilia grata Deo.
Aspice laeti [...]ijs laetentur ut omnia miris
Festivos ducat laeta Thalia sonos.
Noster Io Paean, sint carmina sancta canamus
Gloria in excelsis pax sit, et alma solo.
Imbremque pluviamque polo deducis ab alto,
Nostraque muneribus vota minora tuis.

De Arietis ante Electionem Etonensem (pro more) venatione.

ARgolici juvenes Colchi frigentis ab oris
Auratum vellus surr [...]spuisse ferunt.
Ecce schole teneri nos Etonensts alumni,
Corniger herbiferis vir gregis adstat agris;
Currite vos juvenes, madefactos sanguine fustes
Portate invicti, vellieris usus eat.
Casta Diana'juvet, si non superare potestis
Vos nemorum Dive, vos Driadumque chori.
Quid fugis? ah demens frustra vitare laboras
Lethiferum vulnas, mors properata venit.
Turba juvenilis coeunt, mortemque minantur,
Captus non bumili vindice caesus cris.
Succumbens ari [...]s non uno est verbere victus
Herculeis ictus fustibus ecce cadit.
Corpus panicea sandapila jam coquus abdat
Convivi vivis condite Sarcophagis.

Quaerimonia Etonensium de spe fere frustraneâ.

Suggere moerorem ludi Etonensis Alumnis
Melpomine tristes tristia verba decent.
Quisque suos casus lachrymarum gurgite plangat.
Induat atratam nostra Thalia togam
Solvimur in rivulos, moesti rorantur Oeelli
Flumine suspirij pectora nostra tument?
Cura facit canos nos (heu!) juvenilibus annis,
Collapsts macies errat ubique genis.
Navita contrarijs ventis et fluctibus actus,
Tandem exoptatam puppe retinget humum,
Cogimur (heu!) longum duros sufferre labores,
Atque evadendi copia nulla datur.
Si causam rogites, Regina pecunia desit
Nobis, O solum pondera pondus habent!
Olim si terras moerens Astraea reliquit
Certus sum n [...]stro non reditura solo.
Nummatis juvenes Academica dona beatunt
Cum nihil atulerit nudus am [...]cus eat
Aurum si saliat laeva de parte mamiliae
Nil saliat, satis est, crimina pauper habet.
Saxa trahunt post terga sequens Magnetica ferum
Capreoli sanguis durum Adamanta domat.
O utinam traberent regalia tecta pot [...]nti
Nos dextra, et socii mollia corda ferant!

An Acrostick Elegy upon the death of the late Reverend, and Famons Divine,

Mr.

Is he then dead? hoVv soon pays he his dEbt?
Oh were it not (If God saw good) As yet;
Surely this sa—Cred man, is gone to Take
Eternity by th' hand; hE means t—O make
Perp [...]tual hap—Piness his Couch, oN which
He may secu-Rely lye, in glory riCh.
Sound were his wOrds, his life & conversatiOn
Yeilded a fragrant fVme; his contemp Lation
Most heav'nly was; On earth (unparaLel'd
Others in gift—Sand graces he excEll'd:
Now grieving for This loss, poor Eton Dyes,
Discharging volleys Of sad Ele—Gies;
Saies she, alas! For me he spent his brEath,
He dies, yet lives; Virtue surviveth death,

In obitum Dom. THO: WEAVER: M. A. Etonensis Coll. Socij: Acrostico-Epicedium.

Tertres Pierides TexToris funera flerunT
Hoc facimus pueri, CHorusōis clamitat, ah, aH
Omnes deflemus n—Ostro Textore peremptO
Me miserū miserum{que} ChoruM! dum flemus ademptuM
Actionae socium▪ p—Atrem{que} gemente querelA
Singult{us} potius, quā verSus edimus apto—S
Victa jacet gravitas Vveaveri condita vultV
Vincitur a fatis virt Vs (miserabile dictV
Ecce jacet, simul ecc Ejacet gens musica MusaE
Alliciunt cantus, cal Amos{que} dolente MinervA
Vixit ut Hippolit—Vscaelebs, sine conjugis usV
Extinctos cineres▪—En! Divae templa MinervaE
Respiciunt, animus peRcaeli sidera ferta—R

On Ambition.

AMbition is a Gyant, which aspires
No higher then the heavens; it desires
Reach at priority, she scorns to be
O'retop'd, nay more, she will not, no not she:
Honor 's her aime, 'tis honor is the thing
That mounts her thoughts imp'd to an Eagles wing
She climbs on Pelion, if that will not doe,
On Pelion's back, she'll through mount Ossa too:
Why not? sayes she, why may not I inherit
What others have, since my transcending merrit
Eclipses thei [...]s? what e're it cost me, I
By right, or wrong, will get priority.
I am no mungrel brat, but freely born
To no mean fortunes, slavery I scorn:
Be he a King, or whatsoe're he be
I have as much right to be rich as he.
I'le rout out all the black-coats, if I can,
The greatest Clerk is not the wisest man:
Of such new light my spirit hath discerning,
As they cannot attaine for all their learning.
My fingers itch to pull the Clergy down,
And strike the Sarrs with my advanced crown.
A wise forecast! but what if men doe wonder
At yong designes? know there's a God of thunder,
Can crush your Giant-like assaults; his power
Weakens the proud; remember Babels Tower.
Ambious Phaeton his fond desire
Ruin'd himselfe, and set the world on fire.
Icarus flyes, but Icarus his wings
Are cing'd, and cold, and head-long ruin brings.
Aspiring Pharo perished through pride.
And Bellisarius beg'd before he dy'd.
Nebucadnezar striving to be full
Of honor is become a belowing Bull.
VVhile the Philosopher his eyes did pitch
Vp to the Starrs, he fell into a dich.
Claudius would be a God, yet doth he dread
The voyce of thunder underneath his bed,
Strange kind of Diety! his head he hides,
Vanting Sosostrates in's Chariot rides,
Drawn by those Kings he to subjection brought.
So highly of himself King Hero thought,
He would be brother to the Sun and King
Of Kings: proud Soppho learn'd the Birds to sing,
The great god Sappho for to rule alone
Constantine drave his mother from her throne.
Brave blades! but what, save Monuments of shame,
Left they behind? our Levellers which claim
An interest in other mens estates.
Shall, notwithstanding their projecting pates,
Be c [...]ushed in the shell; and their intrusion
Upon themselves, not others bring confusion:
And though a [...] goverment they lowdly baul,
Both civil, and Eclesiasticall;
Blow Pauls down at a breath they may as soon
As work their overthrough: Dogs at the Moon
May bark, but canno [...] bite; The curstest Cow
Hath shortest horns; Their stouter hearts shall bow
Our upstart Zealots, and aspiring Elves,
Striking at learning, shall strike down themselves.

EVCharIstICon, In PsaLMos IessaeI natI sVaVIsonos, FranCIsCo RoVs Generoso (Etonae PraesVLe) Paraphraste nVper eXCVsos. Ao MCCCCCLLXVVVVVVVIIIIIIII.

Enl nova prela ferunt cultu limata Britanna
Carmina fatidici nobile Regis opus.
Dulcis Apollineas Spiras Francisee Camenas
Suecing at nive as Laurea serta comas.
*" Sacro [...] finis cursu, Philomela Poema;
Finibus Angliacis sit sine fine sonus.

* Ana Franciscus Rousius, gramma.

* Ana Sacro [...] finis cursu. gramma.

[...]
[...].
[...]
[...]:
[...].
[...].

Anna FRANCIS ROVSE, gramma.

Anna RISE CAR OF SVN. gramma.

RISE CAR OF SVN, convey thy purer light
Into our souls, so shall they know no Night.
IS Nestor then reviv'd? was ever Realm
So blest as this, had ever any Helme
So wise a Steersman? dost thou ask what Bee
Drew Honey from the Fathers? this is he.
Here's Davia's spirit iust, each Psalme, each line
Seemes no Translation, but genuine.
My soul take this Sybilla's golden branch
To clear thy way so shalt thou safely lanch
Through troublous Seas. Grave Sir (in whose rare mind
The Sept'agint resides) when you refin'd
The drossie English Psalms, upon your tongue
The Angels sacred Lutes and Vials hung.
I see a Phenix; whensoe're I look
Vpon your [...]are inesteemeable book;
If mercy by a golden chaine e're drew
His hearers by the ears, w'are drawn by you.
Your Colledg-crowning gifts, content us more
Then richest Jewels on the Indian shore.
Will the Majestick Eagle stoop so low
As look upon poor sily fly [...]s? although
The Eagle will not, yet you shine upon us.
Bestowing Hony-dropin [...] favou [...] on us.
Your flouds, we see doe ove [...]flow the banks
Of our deserts, and can we ebb in thanks?
Scarce Atlas back is b [...]g enough to bear
Your goodness fi [...]am [...]t: supose there were
No Sun to gild ou [...] Hem [...]phe [...], wee quite
Should not be blind, t [...]y psalm▪book is our light.
Why gild I gold? The m [...]r [...] I doe endeavour
T'aproach your worth, I'm [...] further of then ever.
Go on blest Sir, your Honorable [...]ame
Shall alwaies stretch, the vocal cheeks of fame.
FINIS.
A CENTURIE OF HISTO …

A CENTURIE OF HISTORICAL APPLICATIONS, With a Taste of Poetical Fictions: Being the fruits of some spare Hours.

BY N.B. E.C.A.

LONDON.

Printed for Robert Crofts, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Crown in Chancery Lane, under Sergeants Inne, 1658.

To his Honored Ʋncle, Mr Iohn Wooton one of the Com­missioners for the County of Hereford.

SIR,

Benefits bestowed oblige the receiver, thanks returned engage the giver: by the first I am made hopeless of requital: by the second you will be the more encourag­ed to continue your benevolence. To sup­press the rememberance of favours is impi­ous, Ingratum dixeris, omnia dixeris; & to express them as I should is more then I can doe, and I know is more then you expect. Indeede though words (as it is in the Pro­verbe) will butter no Parsnips, yet I con­fess a verbal acknowledgment is somthing, and a partiall satisfaction better then none at all. This hath encouraged me to send you (as a test of my real thank fulness) these [Page 134] unfledgd birds; hatched (to say the truth) in the dark, and brought to light when I could see none (scalding Rheums and Di­stilations for a great while togeather over­clouding mine eye-sight) which may ren­der their blemishes, wants, and imperfecti­ons, a little the more pardonable and ex­cusable, with the judicious; such a one I as­sure my self you are, and therefore my humble Muse falling flat at the feet of your clemency, craves so much favour at your hands, that you would please to ho­nor this tender Fry of hers, so far as to brood them under the wings of your pro­tection; she bringing you them as a smal present-from, Sir,

Aug. 12. 1657.
Your dutiful and most obliged kinsman NIC. BILLINGSLY.

To the Reader.

Reader,

VVhoever thou art, I here present thee with a Gallimawfery, a Moretum, a Hodge-podge, a Compound of many Simples; how well it will relish with thy pallate I can­not tell: if thou likest it well and good, if not, there is I hope no harme done: I have no more to say to thee, only this; I bid thee farewel, re­solving to remaine

Thine, as thou deservest. N. B.

Historicall Applications,

1.
Tis pretty sport to see the Cobtines stride
Vpon a Hobby-horses back, and ride.
Insip [...]d Ideots! O prepostrous deeds!
Steeds doe not carry them, they carry Steeds.
Pleasures are Reeds, which yeild us infant play;
Reader, we ride on Reeds as well as they.
2.
The Alc'ran sayes, (which who will may beleeve)
The Moon descended into Mahomet's sleeve:
'Tis strange! yet God doth his loves lamp impart
T'a more coarcted room, what's that? the heart.
O may the lustre of those rayes divine
Be alwaies sparkling in this heart of mine!
That I, inlightned by thy light may see,
Great God! more clearly to discover thee.
3:
The Tibaren's affix unto the Cross
Those they love best; triumphing in their loss.
But we to part with darling fins are sorry:
Though we may gaine thereby a crown of glory.
4.
Th' Arabians instead of worser wood
Feed Corm'rant Vulcans jawes with fragrant spices
But ah! we chuse what's bad, refuse what's good,
Offend the Lord of life with loathsome vices.
My soul when zeal to kindle prayer begins.
Cast out the filthy rubish of thy sins.
5:
Chimerians think there is no Sun,
Because it is debar'd their sight:
The dark'ned soul doth groping run,
If God absent his glorious light,
Lord turne, with thy corruscant rayes,
My darksom nights to lightsome dayes.
6.
At the Cape of good hope the rib-made Sex
With chaines of greasie tripes adorne their necks.
Ev'n so those sins which in our eyes seem faire,
In Gods, which are most pu [...]e, deformed are.
What God abhors that mostly doth arride us,
Disgrace we grace, and in our shame we pride us.
7.
Amongst the Series (O had we less store)
Is neither Theif, nor Murtherer, nor Whore.
8.
If glass-wall'd Baumgar be a Court for Cats,
Small entertainment's there for Mice, or Rats,
Those noted theeves; 'tis dang'rous for a Mouse
To seek for shelter in a Mouzer's house.
For [...]warn'd (they say) fore-arm'd, if that I were
A Mouse, I'le warrant you I'de ne're come there.
9.
Pheniceans slay their only sons t'asswage
And mitigate their angry Demon's rage;
They their Directo's do fall down before.
Such love Gods well who sensless ones adore.
10.
The Pegusi, to stave off further evill,
Throw meat behind their backs to feed the Divel
And think such puppy-dogs as come and eat
Are the Devil's Caterers to bring him mear,
Lord! when I offer up to thee my prayers,
Let me behind my back cast mundane cares
Fill thou my soul with grace and on mine ill
The Devil may feed and surfeit if he will.
11.
Ʋulcan they say is lame, and reason good;
For fire cannot go forward without wood.
12.
The Turks rewards to their tormentors bring,
Esteem the whip, O 'tis [...] pious thing.
Lord when thou scourgest let not me repine▪
But kiss the Rod, because the Rod is thine.
Give me to know that my [...]ffences urge,
That so with patience I may bear thy scorge:
And if thou please to stroke, or please to strik [...],
O may I love both equaly al [...]ke.
13.
In Turky the Adulterers head is drest
With the full paunch of a new slaught'red beast;
And so, in pomp, is carried up and down,
Through [...]he throng'd streets of the admiting town.
As wholsome laws with us are instituted,
But ah! so strictly are not executed.
Why mayn't an A [...]or the Adulterers laud,
Be a front-mark, as well as B for Baud?
Would all our Letchers, and each light-skirt Trull
Were ship'd for Turkey, or the great Mogull.
Or else wayes vsed heer theire lusts to t [...]me
So as to make them be asham'd of shame.
14.
Men-e [...]ting Lestrigons all men will blame
But ah! Oppressors do the very same:
They grind the faces of the poor, and put
In bags the chinck squeez'd from the hungry gut:
They rob the Spittle, lab'ri [...]g most of all
To raise themselves by their untimely fall.
But let such know goods so unjustly got
Shall prove a curse, and in their purse shall rot.
15.
Midas his wish obtaines, his touch behold
A fruitfull Alchimy turne all to gold.
In tract of time that man may have, which be [...]rs
Midas his wealth, Midas his Asses e [...]rs.
How fond are our desires! we wish [...]'enjoy
The things which do within a moment cloy.
Rash Midas wish'd, but Midas did not think
T'except from Generals his meat and drinke.
Midas may say experiencedly,
More hard to fill the belly then the eye.
Gold buyeth all things, but were all things gold,
Food would be wanting, and our comfort cold.
Art thou a muck-worme? go take Midas store;
Midas was but an Ass and thou no more.
16.
Least they pollute pure water in Batenter,
To wash their hands the people wont t'adventure:
Lord I am worse then they; my soul forbears
To purge her foulness with repentant tears.
17.
The wound-restoring Balm is said to grow
Within the fruitfull vale of Jericho:
Nor will it set its foot on ev'ry ground:
Ev'n so in ev'ry heart grace is not found.
That Balm for sin-sick souls, the Lord doth plant it
Jn humble vales, when lofty Mountaines want it.
Lord plant thy grace in my hearts bord'red ally
To beat such fruits make me a lowly vally:
Let Gileads Balm my sin-sick soul recover,
And over me thy Balmy pinions hover:
The grace of true repentance pour thou in
Into my soul, and that will eat out sin.
18.
The mouth-less Attom [...]s by the aicr do [...] live,
And scent of odors; Lord be pleas'd to give
Thy quickning spirit and loves fragranci [...],
Unto my soul that I may live to thee.
19.
Best in the night the Owl-ey'd Albans see;
And in the day of grace how blind are we!
20.
Our love to God is cold and hot by turns,
Now cole as Alps, anon like E [...]na burns.
21.
A wonder Epimenides hath bin
To many, who have longer slept in sin.
22.
Cyrus knew, by their names, his Souldiers all,
To mind his owne, Corvinus could not call;
Thy names in all thine attributes make known,
To m [...], dear Lord, though I forget mine owne.
23.
Dice, Bal [...]s, and Chess, first to the I [...]dians came in;
Occasion'd by a body-pining f [...]mine:
Th'Inhabitants finding no other way
Lay open to redress, did fall to play
Their empty belly [...] to beguil; for easing
Our saturated bodies, games are pleasing.
24.
None, can in all felicity abound,
Vntoothsom Clerus is in hony found.
25.
Th' Esseni, neither lust nor money know,
I'me sure, with us, ther [...]s none can say, tis so.
Heathens are chast, content where are you come,
You'l find it otherwise in Christendome.
26.
The Persians affect a temp'rate Diet,
Hate what the Parthians love, excess, and Ryot
Though bodies meanly fare, let the full bowls.
Of thy Nectarean word fill full our soules.
27.
In Turky, fools, and Lunaticks are deemd
The onely saints and who so much esteemed?
And here in England, som account for holy.
Fanatick Quakers, and the sons of Fo [...]ly:
28.
The Barb'rous Issedon's, their dead devo'ur
Their drinking boul [...] are skulls all gilded o're.
So are our natures most inclind unto.
T [...]e things which lest th [...]y should delight to do.
29.
Closs sinners, their offences cloke with night.
And like the Blattae hate the till-tale Light.
30.
Gods favoure shins on us but we ('tis pitty)
Are like the blind-eyd Chalc [...]donian citty.
We take no notice, what our God hath done,
But shut our eyes, and say there is no Sun.
31.
An Ape resembles man, some men and Apes
In gesture are alike as well as shapes.
Nay our Pragmaticks m [...]ny a task do set,
Un followd by the busy marmoset.
32.
Christ is our Esculapius, when to sin.
We l [...]veless are he quickens us agin.
33.
Lord grant this boon (what e're thou else denyst)
I may ha [...]e faith to build my self in Christ.
So shall the lofty structures I shall raise
Ge [...] more then C [...]esiphon or Philon's, Praise.
Di [...]nas fane, and Athens Arsenall.
Are slep'd in ruin, mine shall [...]ver fall.
34.
Christ's the true A [...]las, his vnshrinking shoulders
Are our off [...]nces Firmamen [...]s vpholders.
35
Sweet Jesus land me at th [...] banks of Sion.
Be thou m [...] Dolphin I will be Arion,
To sound thy praises on my warbling Lyer
In emulatioh of that heavenly Quire.
And Caroll sonnets, sonnets [...] whose sound
The Hills may eccho, and the Dales rebound.
36.
Gainst Satans grand assaults, Lord make my brest▪
Impenetrable as the Halcyons nest.
And when the Arrows of Temptation fly.
Against me, Oh! [...]e pleas'd to put them by;
O may it not be said his fi'ry dart
Hath got the better of my yeilding heart.
When he malli [...]iously takes aim to throw
His venom'd shafts from his lowd sownding Bow;
Ah me! O may they (falling on the ground)
Make no Impression, nor no rag [...]ed wound▪
37.
Not long before great Julius Cesar's death,
A sheep (having no heart) was found drew breath.
But Hipocrites, and those that flatter do,
Have, like the Pamphlagonian Partridg, two.
38.
We wisely can avoyd Bosphorean shelvs.
While on the Rocks of sin we split our selves.
39.
Lord grant that I a Dedalus may be,
To build a stately edifice to thee:
The heigh [...] of my Ambition is to fram [...]
Within my heart a mon'ment of thy name.
40.
Like the Saguntian Child from th' [...]arth we come,
And shall return into our mothers womb.
O [...] fleshly walls, and bony [...]imber must
Turn out their Tenant, th [...]n return t [...] dust
Our breath is Gods, if he but take away
The breath he lent us what are we but clay?
Clay at the best, our matter and their forms
Wh [...]n dead, are thorough fares for crawling worms
41
What was't a clock, Pompilius would know,
A [...]d dy [...]s▪ with me why may it not be so?
Bef [...]re thy g [...]im-fac'd messeger thou send,
O mak [...] me wise to know my latter end.
Dea [...]h stays [...]or no [...]e, may I be ready still
Prepared, and then come he when he will.
42.
Wit [...] poysnous sins, let us not h [...]ste our [...]ate,
Last we, Domi [...]ius-like, repent too late.
43.
Many have dy'd with grief, but over joy
Did Sophocles and Panacrete destroy.
Dangers enwrapd in every sudden passion;
It often puts the sens [...]s out of fashion
Then moderate thy joy, and when grief wounds
Thy soul, besure to lim [...] i [...] with hounds.
Observe a mean, and let thy footsteps be
In the mid-road, avoyd Obliquitie.
44.
Iove's bird to th'Wren will not be reconcil'd,
Because he's Regulus, a Kingling stild:
Let Soveraignty be kep'd, then the [...]'s no odds,
There must be no pluralitie of Gods.
Our God comands it so, nay jealous he
Will have no rivalls, to the fourth degree
He'le soundly punish, the successive race
Of Polytheists who bow to Idolls base:
But as for thousands, that observe his ways,
Mercy shall them encompass all their days.
45.
All the day long Gymnosophists will stand
(Admired patiencel) in the scalding Sand.
On their alternate legs, and glare upon
With eys, vnapt to wink, the scorching Sun.
O Sun of God teach us t'apply this story,
And make vs constant to behold thy glory.
46.
Lord tune my heart turn griefs to songs of praise
And troublous Nights to Halcyonian dayes.
47.
If thou my sins Shouldst number by my hair
Lord make my head (like the Myconian's) bare.
48.
The swallowing down an hair? how poor a thing!
And yet to prove an instrument to bring.
Death to the Roman Fabius. may not wee.
Depart as soon, who are as frail as he?
Dangers Vnsen [...] for oftentimes do skip.
Betwixt the sparkling cup, and vpper lip.
49.
Lord grant that as the Heliotrop Apollo.
My heart the Sun of rightiousness may follow.
50.
Lord raise up holy fear in me to flee
From sin as creatures do the Linden-tree.
51.
The Heathen Brachmens do contemn and scorn
The fear of death, with hopes to be reborn.
Small is that Christians faith who dreads to dye,
When life is promis'd; and eternity!
Happy that soul which dyeth unto sin,
And unto righteousness is born agin.
This death's a pregnant wombe, regeneration
First-born to life, and heir unto salvation.
Death is the Turn-key, for to let thee in
The gate of life if thou be dead to sin.
So live to dye, that thou maiest dye to live;
And wear the crown God shall the faithfull give.
52.
God angles, Souls unwilling to be took,
Glanis like, bite the bait, leave bare the hook.
53.
The Ch [...]nois dreaming that they shall be born.
To heav'n up by their locks, will not be shorn:
Is hea'vens hand short'ned? can th'almighty save not
If he you [...] length'ned hair to hold by have not?
Rebellious Abs'lom wore the like, yer he
Was not caught up to heaven, but to a Tree.
Although vpon the ground you traile your haire,
Heav'ns high; short may you come, of coming there,
God cant' a Glorious throne advance thy soul
Although th' hast not an heir upon thy poul
If to the eyes of God my heart seem faire,
What care I for such excrements as hair
54.
The Nabatheans so n [...]glect their dead
That their Kings are in dunghils buried
Lord make me faithfull to the death, that I,
May weare a crown of life if that I dye;
To live to thee I would not wish to have
A fair inscription, on a gawdy grave
If so my soul unto her mak [...]r fly
It makes no matter where my body ly.
55.
At Bemavis sick people like to dy
All night, before an idle Idoll ly:
Fond people! think you that that sensless stones
Can ease your sorrows, or regard your mones?
My soul, when sick, [...]cq [...]in [...] the grand physitan
Of heav'n and earth, with thy deplor'd condition
B [...]g hard for mercy at the thron of grace.
And he'le give audience, and and at length embr [...]ce
Thee in his circling arms. Oh who'd not cr [...]ue
Vpon such easy terms, but ask and have
Nay, he is readier to giue by farr.
Then thou to ask, Oh his indulgent care!
Ask but in faith besure thou shalt reciue,
Thou canst not crave the thing he can not give
Fear not if God but undertake the cure,
Soon done, as [...]aid, of health thou shalt be sure
Can heav'n be false? hath he not promised rest,
Unto th [...] heavy laden, and opprest?
Mans help is vain, God is a Help indeed,
I wish no better help in time of need.
56.
The Hirpian witches, with uncindged soles
On mount Soracte walk on burning coal [...];
So those that in security excell,
Walk as it were amidest the flames of hell
57.
Ther's difference in climes, D [...]cembers thunder
Is not to the Italian a wonder.
Lord when so'ere thy thundring judgments rattle.
About mine eares let me prepare [...]' embattle
Against my sins, not count thy voice a crime.
N [...]r sent in an unseasonable time.
58
The Marsian Bears do fashion out their young,
By licking rhem all over with their tongue,
And we with Bears in this one thing agree,
We put a gloss on our deformitie.
59.
Aeschyl was killed by a Tortise-shell,
Which from the tallons of an Ea [...]le fell;
His fate foretold, into the op [...]n ay' [...]
He gets; Gods judgments find us ev'ry where.
60.
I read man only laughs, and sheddeth tears,
And wanteth power alone to shake his ears:
But sure I am, when discontent is bred,
He needs must shake his ears that shakes his head.
61.
Dame Martia was her infants living Tombe,
When lightning killed it within her wombe
Before sins come into their birth 'twere well
If God would crush the Hydra in the shell.
62.
Great Judah's Lion is as mild to those
Who do submit. as furious to his foes.
Sampson, that knockt so many to the ground,
Within the carkase of a Lion found
Sweet combs of Honey: the tender Spouse doth s [...]
In Christ, the fruits of the mellifluous Bee.
His love is ve [...]y pleasing to her taste,
He, he alone is his deare-hearts repaste.
He is the Bee, the Honey, and the Hive,
To active souls; the Drones away must drive.
63.
If wisdome lies in beards, a Goate would be
Plato, full out as wise, as grave, as thee.
64.
Th' Antaei into woolves transformed were,
And Ants tur [...]'d men, at Ae [...]c [...]s his prayer.
If so, no mar'l they'r bloudily encl [...]nd,
And these laborious. Cat after kinde.
65.
L [...]mpido was both daughter, wife, and mother,
Unto a King; Queen Ann [...] was such another.
Is not the Church the daughter of the High'st?
Is not the Church the [...]ender spouse of Christ?
Is not the Church the Mother of us all?
None dare deny't, I hope nor never shall.
But are we kings? God and his Son I know
Are Kings, and gre [...]t ones to, the Kings below.
Are mean too them and but subordina [...]e.
But wher's our crown? we reign with Christ in state
Thus then to God, to Christ to Saints (no other)
The Church a Daughter is, a wife, a mother.
66.
Kissing at first came in, that men might know
If their wives drank Temetum wine or no
To find her out, the jealous husband sip [...]
The reaking sent from the good womans lips
Thus 'tis with us for sinister intents
We vse a cloake of courtly compliments
67.
Diomedean birds, have teeth to bite
Yet fawning looks, such is a parasite.
Friend me no friends, for if thou go bout
To bite at me would all thy teeth were out.
68.
The Gymeco-cratumens, are born [...]
The Object of im [...]erious womens scorn [...]
Obeying husbands and comanding w [...]ues
Both equally do lead vnnat'rall lives.
I doubt not but ther's many could [...]fford
To wear the breeches would you s [...]y the word;
We [...]'t not for shame, Ile lay a brace of groats
More breeches would be worn, and fewer coats
Give shrowes the reines, if men will be such fools,
How purely will they scold, they need no schools,
To Learn them, or to traine them vp there [...]o.
No that (God knows) they naturally can do
Their tongu [...]s run gl [...]b, and clutter out as thick
As any hops th [...]ir dwelish Rhetorick.
Such as will not believe this sex can prate
Go vex the Oyster wiues at Billing's gate
69
No males belong unto the modest Chainy,
Some females are so Chast that they love many
They hate and love you in a trice, the while
They'l frown upon you in their hearts they smile
And when their tongues do bid you not come neer
You may conclude your presence then doth cheer
O how they love to work contrary still,
Thrust off, pull on, unwill the things they will;
Now hard, anon, as pliable as war;
A faire Encomium for th'unconstant sex.
70.
Great men are multipl [...]'d, but good men are
As is the D [...]ephanis exceeding rare;
Were there as many men as good as great
Virtue would more advance, and vice retreat.
71.
The g [...]gling of a goose, how poor a thing?
And yet so strange deliverance to bring
The Roman Capitol: oft great events
Are brought about by weakest instruments.
[...]n Sampson's hand the Jaw-bone of an Ass
Did slaughter thousands; purp'ling o're the grass.
The Rock yeilds water smot with Moses rod;
The smalest means prevails, if blest by God.
72.
The Shrimp only for food waits one the Nacre,
So we to serve our turnes do serve our maker.
How servile are we? we affection bear
To God not so much out of love as feare.
73.
Like Quails, and Roe-bucks we love poyson, that
Which most we should avoyd doth make us fat.
Sin is a cut-throat, yet it is our will.
To count him friendliest, when he means to kill.
74.
I would not wish, so I be fair within,
For Chios earth to beautifie my skin.
While ceruss'd faces unto sin allure,
May my chast soul b'unseperably pure:
I care not how the world esteem of mee,
So I be lovely onely vnto thee,
Nothing can make me fine I must confess.
O Saviour but thy robes of righteousness.
75.
Our hearts all vice, as Amphitane gold draws,
The Load-stone iron, as the Amber strawes.
76.
A chillis-like god which inflicts the wound.
In justice, can in mercy make it sound.
The law is as a lance to cut the bile,
The gosple pours in balme an healing oile.
O may that make me sensible of sin.
And this revive, when I to sink begin.
78.
I Tortoise-like, wish neither Te [...]th nor Tonge.
Rather then haue them instruments of wrong.
Abusive language may I alwayes shun,
By their lewd bab'lings many are undone.
Silence is laudable; my judgment's such,
Better to have no tongue, then one too much.
79.
We like L [...]ertes, and Augeas, Kings,
Who dung'd their grounds, minde only earthly things.
W [...] pore still downwards, and are groveling still
Below, like muke-wormes, ne're looke up the hill,
The pleasant Sion; let the things of heaven
Or sink, or swim, t [...]ey'r left at six and seaven.
May I, who Christianity profess,
Minde God and heaven more, and trifles less.
80.
To three M's the Philosopher assignes
Th'earths rich [...]s, Mettals, Minerals, and Mines▪
81.
Poor Cincimatus, he which held the plough
So lately, is become dictator now.
Fortune on Peasants sometimes casts renown,
Raises the humble, kicks the lofty down.
Joy is the consequent of dull-brow'd sorrow,
A subject now, may be a King to morrow.
The active spirits of our age do climbe
By gradual steps to dignities sublime:
I speak in rev'rence to his Highness, who
By Martial Valour hath attain'd unto
The pow'r now in his hands, whom God doth bless
With matchless and unparralel'd success:
The Honor [...]ble title of a King,
How modestly refus'd he? under's wing
We are protected from the boyling rage
Of home-bred foes in this rebellious Age
Blessed be God, that under our own vine,
We have the liberty to sup, and dine.
82.
Support my faith with thy confirming hand,
So shall it firme, like unmov'd Milo, stand.
If thou withdraw and leave me but an hour
Unto my selfe, how feeble is my power.
But by thy sinewy arme, great God upheld,
The day is mine, my foe-men needs must yeild.
83.
Christ's our Nepenthe, enemy to sadness
Dispersing sorrow; and reversing gladness.
Art thou, my soul, at any time cast down?
O think on him; and thou wilt smile, not frown;
Drink in, by faith, the Julips of his bloud,
Oh that's a Cordial, thou wilt say 'tis good,
O what can more refocilate the soul,
Then streaming merits in a lib'ral boul.
84.
The Prognean swallow, the cold country leaves,
Hasts to a warmer one: a false friend cleaves,
Fast in the Summer of prosperity.
Let adverse Winter come, then farewell he.
85.
God's word, like to Sybilla's golden branch
Can make us through all difficulties lance.
Soul t [...]k [...] it with thee, when thou wouldst oppose
The storming fury of thy spiritual foes,
As sin, and death: nay it hath power to quell
The Divel, and drive him to the gates of hell.
86.
On the pure Elements, four things live sole,
Chamelion, Herring, Salamander, Mole.
Tobacc [...]nists, Pot-Leaches, Lechers, Misers,
Of Ayr, and Water, Fire, and Earth are prizers.
The fi [...]st makes the Tobacco pipe his dugg,
And sucks the smoak of the burnt Indian drugg.
The second, he, for his part, c [...]nnot live
Without full flaggons: And the third doth grieve
If any step between and stop the flame
Of his lust [...]oward [...] an alluring Dame;
Whores are his hackneys, he is alwaies dull,
But wh [...]n he's sporting with his pamp' [...]ed Trull.
As for the fourth, the M [...]ser to be sure,
Were't not for gold he could not long endure.
S [...] then this one, and that another likes;
Wedded to that their own opinion strikes.
87.
The Indian women, in a foolish spite,
Will black their teeth because that dogs be white:
As for the sparkish gallants of our Nation,
They'r French-mens Apes in each fantastik fashion.
88.
Wouldst thou repair thy memory? I think
Thou may'st, if thou'l [...] look Mneme fount, then drink.
89.
Zisca commands his skin be made a drum,
That the Bohemians still might overcome.
Who, while he lives, is over sin victorious,
After his death he shall not be in-glorious.
90.
Malice inflicts on men more dang'rous wounds
Then Porc'pines quills on the pursuing hounds.
How sedulous are some to purchase woe
For other men, what will not malice doe?
91.
The ebbs and flows of, Egipts plowman, Nile,
Do make a barren, or a fruitfull soile:
Grace is this river, and the more it flows
The more good fruit; if less, the lesser grows.
92.
Panthers have crabbed looks though speckled skins,
And fairest out-sides joyne to fowlest sins.
93.
Anaxarete, whilst on the Rack he hung,
Did in the Tyrants face spit out his tongue.
To have no tongue it is the lesser evill,
Then to recant by't, and so please the Divel.
94.
Soul, though the flames should for a while subdue thee
Like the Pyrrhean grove, God can renew thee.
95.
Le [...]t I be like the Hirecinyan wood,
Lord lop my sins, and in the roome graft good.
Since the Creation that was never lop'd,
Till renovation we do stand untop'd.
Lord if thou hew us, hew us not in ire,
Nor make us bundles for eternal fire
To feed upon: our names are in thy rouls,
And wilt thou cast out our immortal souls.
96.
Taprobans, (not respecting persons) fling
To merc'less Tygers their offending King.
How happy were we if we could command
Our head-sins, go, to the Arch-Tyrants land.
97.
The B [...]udmes fight unarm'd, the Sword, the Spear,
They are the only weapons that they bear:
Right Combatants of Mars they scorn to throw
Cowardly Arrowes from the springing Bow.
My life a warfare is, Lord, let thy word
Thy d [...]eadful word, be as a two-edgd Sword
To wound mine en'mies, O be thou my S [...]ear,
And it an Hoast besiege me I'le not fear.
98.
Hold water in their mouths, forceing their wives
The men of Burami lead quiet lives.
A better way then this there may be found
For both their ease, as this I shall propound.
It argues wisdome when the wife doth scold,
And clap her fists, the prudent husband hold
His passion in, and when the husband chides,
A wise wife her unruly member hides
'Twixt double doors: this well observ'd infrindges
No Nuptial love, but keps them on their hindges.
99.
Ignatius Leiola, the first Jesuite
As ever I did read of, did delight
In giggling laughter, and why did he so?
His teeth (it may be yellow) for to shew:
A Jesuite I would not wish to be,
Unless mine actions with my name agree:
Laughter is Cou [...]en-Germane unto folly,
Better is the extream of Malencholly:
To too much Mirth it is not safe to leane;
Nor too much Grief: There is a golden mean.
O grant, dear Lord, I may be alwayes glad
In thee, my God, or make me alwaies sad:
If I must needs be p [...]oud, p [...]rmit not me
To pride in any thing, great God, but thee;
Unfold my lips, for to agn [...]ze my sin;
Let me be foul w [...]thout, so, fair within.
100.
The Alc'ran tels us ther's a Bird nam'd Ziz,
(I think more fabulous then true it is)
So large, that when his wings abro [...]d are hurl'd
They hide the Sun and darken all rhe world,
Thou [...]h li [...]le credit unto this be due
Yet shall it's application be true.
Sin is this monstrous bird, which doth obscu [...]c
God's Sun-like face: 'tis sin that doth immure
Our souls from saith, 'tis sin that puts a skreen
And walls of seperation between
God and the soul; 'tis sin that hath the power
To cloath, in shades, this Micro-cosm of our:
Thou which from darkness didst deduce the day,
Banish such mists, let thy coruscant ray
Break through the clouds of my opposing sin;
That so thou maiest enlighten me within.

Poetical Fictions.

1. On Jupiter.
IN Creta, Jupiter was born, of Ops;
And Saturn nourished on Ida's tops,
By the self-gelding Corribants, who plaid
So loudly on their brazen drums, and made
Such [...]inkling sounds, and such obsteperous noise,
That Saturn might not heare his infants voyce:
The cheated god (thinks to secure his throne)
Instead of Jupiter, devours a stone,
Who was, no sooner grown to mans estate,
But seeing how his father did await
To drink his bloud, tumbles him headlong down,
And he himself usurps the Regal Crown:
The conquered god in Latium hides for shame,
The land of Latium hence derives her name.
2 On Apollo.
Latona's son in fioating Delos born,
Vast Cyclops flew, his god-head lost, forlorn
Wanting employment sits him down to keep
Thessal [...]an Admetus fleecy sheep;
Mercury gave to him his Harp; the Speare,
Lyre, Buckler, on his Image painted were.
The Muses father, Poets chiefest power,
Au [...]hor of Musick in the upper Bower;
Sol was he call'd, Bacchus in earth, in hell
Known by the name Apollo, he could tell
Things long before they were, he first did know
The Ar [...] of Phisick, from his radiant bow
His golden-footed messengers doth send
Whose rapid force sing to their journeys end;
In love with Hi [...]cynth, and Daphne, he
Turnes him into a Flower, her a Tree.
The Lawrell, Ol [...]ve, and the Juniper,
Unto Apollo consec [...]ated were;
The Princely Cock, the Herauld of the day,
The griping Goshauk▪ greedy of his prey,
The silver Swan, and Crow, which can divine,
Is off'red up unto Apollo's shrine.
4 On Bacchus.
Jove's thigh-borne, Ivy crowned B [...]cchus nurst
By Juno and the Nymphs, invented first
The use of wine, and over all the world
He rides, fell Tigers and fierce Linces whirld
His Chariots rapid wheels, he did subdu [...]
Innu [...]erable Nations, and embrew
His hands in tawny Indians bloud, he taught
The Art to buy and sell, the first that sought
Triumphall honour, he his Temples bound
With Regal Diadems, and triumphs sound.
The browsing G [...]at, and slugish Ass are proud
For to be stiled his, see what a crowd
Of wanton Satyrs, and Sileni, comes,
Rending the ayer with their Kettl [...]-drums;
Loud b [...]llowing sounds, the Menedes his Priests
His Orgis, and his Bacchanalian feasts,
With such vociferations celebrate,
As would tire Fabius for to relate
Their mad confused fragors: seem to mix
The burning Axle with the frigid Styx.
5 On Mercury.
GReat Atlas Nephew, Jove and Maias son,
Th' embassador of heavenly powers puts on
His Stag-like feet, and golden head, his wings,
Quits the bright Court: with him along he brings
His snake-ingitted-soporiferous Rod,
Because that men should know he is a god,
Addicted much to exercise and motion
Swims swiftly thorough the aerial Ocean:
No sennuy force could weapons swifter fling
From Scythian bows, or Balearick string,
Then he doth scud along: Merchants to trade
Instructeth how, tells Theeves for to evade
As he (a theevish god) by slight of Art
Was wont, when he did steale Apollo's dart;
He quickly took (and was as quickly gone)
Neptune's Mace, Ʋ [...]lcan's tongs, & golden Zone
Of rose-cheek'd Ʋenus, king Admetus drove
And would have rob'd the bolts from thund'ring Jove
VVhat e're he saw he made, what could there be
Secur'd from his light-finger'd Dietie?
This active nimble god from heaven came,
VVas Author, first, of the Palestrick game;
The use of the shrill sounding Lute out found,
And on mount Caucasus, Prometheus bound,
Hundred-eyd Argus in a conflict slew,
Freed captive Mars, and on a golden clue
Let downe by pulleys, from his fluent tongue,
The eares of his atentive hearers hung.
Cylenius, in Egypt worship'd is,
In the shape of Dog-headed Anubis;
Of him and Venus, an Hermaphrodite
Of either sex was born, then from the sight
Of the prodigious Gvants, having fled,
He in t'a Stork was Metamorphosed.
6 On Mars.
THe war-like god, great Jove, and Juno's son
Caused the seed of discontent to run
Throughout the hospitable world, fierc [...] anger
With flaming eyes, a strange confused clangor,
Deafning the heav'ns, mad fury, pallid fear,
Rageing oppression, jarring discord were
His sad concomitants; with bloudy rod,
Bellona waits upon this impious god,
Vnto this all-devouring Diety:
In Lemnoe men were sacrifiz'd, the Py
That cheating bird, the watchful Dog, & brood—
—Destroying Vulture, the stout Cock, and bloud—
—Carowsing Wolfe, (true combatants of Mars)
Were dedicated to the god of warrs.
The Romans brag that they derive their line
From him, make him their patron, and assigne
To him his Salij, and do dedicate
The years first Month, oh what inver'rate hate
Beares he to Pallas? for his missile darts
At Iove-born wisdome fly, and lib'ral Arts
Him Vulcan with his spouse a bed espies,
And (angry) in a net doth them surprize:
Keeps them close p [...]is'ner from captivitie.
Till N [...]ptune by intrea [...]ies set them free.
7 On Ʋulcan.
The sooty god of Iove and Iuno sprung,
For his deformity from heaven flung,
Fell down into the Island Lemnos, with
The fall grew lame; made of the gods the Smith:
There sets up trade. On sulphry Aetn [...]e's top,
And L [...]para sometimes he sets up shop;
Where, with the one- [...]yd mo [...]strous Cyclopes,
Broontes, Pyrachmon▪ and huge Steropes,
Iove's thunder armour for the gods he made
Against those Gyants which would heaven invade:
To him the Lion, te [...]ri lest of beasts
Was consecrated; in his honor feasts,
And sacrifices, celebrated were
Called Protervia, what meat they spare
They burne: Gentiles with blazing torches run
And when the wick is spent their race is done.
At Juno's suit he made Aenea's shield,
At Thetis did Pelides armour yeild,
The potent Queen of riches and the air
He chaineth fast unto a golden chaire;
His wife and Msrs he in adultry found,
And them in Adamantine fetters bound.
8 On Cibele.
Cibele, mother of the Gods call'd Ops,
From helpful wealth, and Vesta fair with crops
Of golden eared-labour-crowning crown,
She cloaths the fields; and doth her lap adorn
With verdent grass, choice hearbs, green trees, sweet flowrs
Wife was she to the antient'st of all powers:
This antique Matron weares a branched gown,
And beares, upon her head, a Tower-like crown;
Her right hand helds a Mace, her left a Key;
To her, as Emblems of fertilitie,
The teeming Sow is sacrific'd, then comes
(Beating their brazen hollow-sounding drums)
A traine of self-dissected Coribants,
And round about the street for money dance,
To please their great Cybele, she that found
Out rural pipes, and first did Cymbals sound.
9 On Juno.
The sceptred Queen of heaven, to thundring Iove
Sister, and wife of marriage doth approve
Goddess of riches, ever counted mild
And helpful unto woman great with child;
Saturne, and Ops, her parents; she was bred
Up by the Flowrs, and by the Sea-Nymphs fed.
Faire Iris, Ledeas twins, and Nymphs twice seaven
Fidelious service, to the Qu [...]en of heaven,
Duly performe, and dayly waite upon her,
Respecting her according to her honour;
In a rich Charriot, stately to b [...]hold,
Of beaten silver and of burnish'd gold,
A yoke of yellow Lyons draw her round
Her vast dominions; spangled star pa [...]'d ground.
The taile-proud Peacock, and the vigilant Goose,
And ravenous Raven's sacred to her use:
Her parties, to be married, off'rings bring,
And do the gall behind the Altars fl [...]ng:
Her Temple open-roofed was, to enter
Therein, no whore by N [...]ma's law might venture.
Her co [...]djutor, who is wont to tye men
To females, known is by the name of Hymen.
This hand a Torch, and that a red vaile holds,
Therewith she modest blushing Brides enfolds;
Iuno did shed her milke, rather then she
A nurse unto feirce Herculee would be:
Thence Lillius had their Alablaster look,
From thence▪ the milkie way its whiteness took:
This hand holds a Pomgranate, there doth stand
A [...]uckow on her other sceptered hand.
10. On Ʋenus.
LOv [...]s Goddess, thrice more radient then the morne
Of Cetus test [...]cles, and Sea froth born,
Wi [...]h Rosy Chaplets her fair Templ [...]'s boun'd,
And sometimes with the peaceful Mir [...]le crown'd;
Light Torches bears, and needle-pointed A [...]rows,
Prodromes of love, a yoke of lecherous Sparrows
Sometimes do draw her Charriots, now she loves
To couple silver Sw [...]ns, then spotless Doves;
Facundious Merc'ry, and the bounteous Graces,
Perswasive Pytho, in their several places,
W [...]ite on her honour; who was said to saile
To flow'ry Paphos, in a shell, a vaile
Of sorrow-boading Cyperus she wore,
When she Bore-k [...]l'd Adonis did deplore.
Sometimes a wanton Goate she rides upon,
And doth house-carrying tongueless snails tread on,
Mars into Seas of wantonness did st [...]ere her,
And reeling Bacchus was her Armour-bearer.
Paris assign'd unto the Queen of love,
The golden Apple which fall from above:
Iuno prevails not though she proffers treasure,
Pallas her gifts are slighted, it is pleasure
Load-stone to vice, attracts the wanton eye
Of injuditious Paris, wit may lie
And starve, for him rich Iuno is neglected;
And Vinus, who but Venus, is respected?
Hellen is rap'd, he H [...]llen doth enjoy,
A ten years warr ends in the fall of Troy:
O d [...]re effects of love! by Vulcan's jaws
Troy was devour'd, but H [...]llen was the cause.
11 On Mix [...]rva.
JOve's brain-bred girle, the president of warr
Princess of peace drawn in a fiery Carr,
To her the Owl (To shew her clear discerning
Of obstruse secrets) sacred was of learning.
Of Arts of wisdome, she inven [...]'ress was;
Her Target (Egis call'd) though smooth as glass,
Did beare a Snake-hair'd Gorgon's head, thereon
Who ever look'd was turn'd into a stone;
She on a Dragon treads, gripes in her hand
A Crow a Cock doth on her Helmet stand;
A long Cloake (Peplum cal'd) she us'd to wear,
And in the air wave her glit'ring Spear;
Terrour and feare her waiting maids stood by her,
Tutor'd by her, Prometheus stole fire,
From Titan's burning Chariot, by which thing,
He many Arts did to perfection bring:
Her heav'n-sent Image, the Paladium
Was by the vestal Virgins kept at Rome:
The Trojans loosing, this their City, lost,
Which in a Sea of stormy warrs was tos'd?
Olives to her were sacred, for she found
The use of Oyl, her the Athenians crown'd
With decent Chaplets, made of Olive leavs;
Her new-sound use of wooll, she spins, and weaves,
A golden lamp to her was dedicated,
At her March feasts the Mistresses awaited
Upon their serving Maids, as Masters tended
Upon their Men, till the Saturnal's ended.
Jove's thunder she could use, and had the power
To raise a storme, and qualifie a shower.
Her heavenly seat is next to Jupiter,
She went up into Diomedes Carr,
In Orcus pi [...]chy Helmet hid (so sly)
That she was undiscern'd, by Mars his eye:
Palas, Arachne turn'd into a Spider,
Ambition loves no equals live beside her.
12. On Diana.
Apollo's sister daughter unto Jove,
And fair La [...]ona, loves in woods to rove;
And on the swelling hills: from her sure bow
Her Arrows (messengers of death) doth throw,
At swift-foot Dears, and tim' [...]ous Hares, which hast
For life, but meet with death; Diana chast
Goddess of d [...]ncing, unto virgins mild:
Propitious unto women great with child:
An eye of watchfulness, this Goddess sets,
Over the Fishers and the Hunters nets.
The dancing Satyrs. Syl [...]an Dryades,
Nymphs▪ Ham [...]dryades, and Orades.
Do in her figh [...] delight; in Heaven, Earth, Hell,
Luna▪ D [...]na, Proserpine, do dwell;
One and the same, Triform'd, and Trivis nam'd.
Because, where three waies m [...]t there she was fam'd
This winged Godness easily restra [...]ns
Fierce Lion [...] force, and speck'led Leopards reines:
The all-united force of milk-white Stags,
Through Marble plains her silver Chariot drags;
Because, with hornes, she looketh beautifull,
Men sac [...]ifized unto her a Bull;
Nay more (while they Diana did invoke)
With humane fl [...]sh her frequent Altars smoke.
13 On Ceres and Proserpine,
Corne crowned Ceres Saturne and faire Ops
Faire Off-spring smiles, upon her gold [...]n crops
Holds wealthy Plutus, who at her command
Scatters his bounty with a liberal hand.
Plenty and Hony-mouthed peace remaine
Linck'd fast together by a silken chaine
None to her sacrifice at any time
Could ent'rance find, if conscious of a crime
Faire Venu [...], Iuno and Minerus to;
Did on a certaine time a Maying goe,
Proserpine bare them company, who while
Shee gathered Popy, with a pleasing toil
Tricking her bosome, with delightfull flowres
Grim Pluto whirld her to his pitchy Bowres
For his Tartarian Chariots, Cerb [...]ous sings
And fell Erynnis Scorpions have nor stings,
Ixions wheele stood still, Promtheus heart
Feeles no corroding Vipers, Flouds impart
Theire liquor unto thirsty Tantalus,
The stone affordeth rest to Sisyphus:
The lab'ring Belides have leave to play
And solemnize this ioyfull marrage day
Now Ceres mother takes a flaming Pine
And sorrowing seeketh for her Proserpine
And kindly entertained by Celeus
Taught them how [...]o sow corne; Triptolemus
His Son by day, with milk, by night with fire,
She nourished; while Celius did enquire
Too curiously in this, him Ceres slew.
Triptol'mus Chariot winged Dragons drew,
Circling the world Triptolemus to men
First taught the use of Corn; from Dis, his den
Proserpine could not redelivered be
Because she, of a fare Pomgranate tree
(Which did in Pluto's Oachard grow) did taste;
Yet she obtain'd such savour, at the l [...]st,
As to continue (after she was found)
Six months above, as many under ground;
Halfe a yeare here, as long assign'd to dwell
Black Pluto's Queen, in the low Countries, Hell:
Witches to Hecate, their Goddess, come;
Unto her offred are the Hecatombe.
To shew th' unconstancy of wealth and store,
Halfe moones upon their shoes the Romans wore.
14 On Pluto.
Saturne's three sons shar'd his estate, heav'n fell
To Iove, to Neptu [...]e Sea; to Pluto H [...]ll.
And all earth's golden entrails appertains,
His triple-headed Ceberus bound in chains
Of Adamant, holding a bunch of keys,
Before the pitchy Pallace kennel'd lies;
Horrible for his snakey hares, keeps cent'ry
To guard hell's Monarch; Sybil in this entry
(Which with a vig'lant eye he us'd to ke [...]p)
D [...]d by her wisdome, lul him fast asl [...]ep;
Thence Herc'les drag'd him, light doth make him spue,
And of his foame the poys'nous Wolf-bane grew;
The raiging Futies, the life-measuring Fates,
Rapacious Harpies, waite within the gates
Of gr [...]sly Dis, with Fun'rall Cypres crown'd,
Who, galloping on his black Steeds, is found
By fraud' [...]ent Cheaters, cursed Perjurers,
Oppressors, Lyars, and Extortioners:
But very slowly halteth from his den,
To honest, godly, conscionable men.
He cometh creeping when he wealth doth bring,
Departing, fli [...]teth with an Eagles wing.
Who e're put on Pluto his Helme [...], he,
Became invisible, and from danger free:
With this same Helme [...] coverd, Wisdomes Queen
Fought against Troy, and was, by Mars unseen.
How Pluto ravished his Proserpine,
I lately told and shall not tel't again.
15 On Charon.
The squalid son of Erebus and Night
Old, but not weak, most terrible for sight;
Vigorous, furious, coveteous, and sad,
With greasy, sordid, ragged garments clad:
In his old rotten, feeble, brittle wherry,
Mens souls to the Elizium he doth ferry,
Over the scalding Lakes of Phlegethon:
Mournful Cocytus, joyless Acheron,
Hateful Styx, (by which the Gods did sweare)
Obl [...]vion; causing Lethe, for his fare,
Each Passenger a half-penny must carry
In his s [...]ut mouth, or else for passage tarry:
None but the dead t'his boat admitted be,
Yet was Eneas, for his pietie,
Took in alive; Herc [...]le [...] en [...]ance found,
Theseus by strength, Or [...]us by's musicks sound;
Alive, and with no fa [...] these Champions come,
Into the pitchy Realms of Bara [...]hrum.
16 On Mines, Eacus, Rhadamanthus,
Iust Min [...]s, husband to the beautiful
Pasiphas, who intirely lov'd a Bull:
Into a wooden Cow, which he did frame.
Her, D [...]d'lus puts, the Minotaur thence came.
No sooner was this known to Minos, but
He Dedaelus and his Son Icarus shut
With that same M [...]n-Bull Monster fed with men)
Within his self-m [...]de Labyrinth, and then
H [...]veing obtain'd the savour of a clue
Of threed, they made evasion, and flew
From Cretae's Isle, with Artificial plumes,
While unadvised Icarus presumes
Too high a fl [...]ght, his wax [...]n wings did melt,
And straightway fail'd, when they no sooner f [...]l [...]
The [...]corch [...]ng f [...]rce of Titan's fiery beames
He fell and christned the Icarian streames.
Theseus the man-d [...]stroying Monster slew,
And scap'd, help'd out by Ariadne's clue.
[...]ove his three Sons to be hell's judges sent,
Who in their way (by him directed) went
Thorough a flow'ry Meadow, which was thought
The field of truth, poor naked souls were brought
To these impartial Judges, who were strict
In dealing righteous judgment, and t' inflict
Deserved punishment upon▪ offenders,
Furies, and evill Genii, their atenders,
With thund'ring whips of steell are ready still,
To execute these righteous Judges will,
On conscious souls; as bloudy murtherers,
Adulterers, hollow-hearted fl [...]t [...]rers,
Claw bac'd detractors, glozing Sycophants,
He which hath store of guilt no torment wants.
Aeacus, Rhadamonthus, sit by one
Another lovingly, Minos alone.
Wh [...]n as Aegina was unpeopl'd then
At Eacus prayers, Iove turn'd the Ants to men;
His timely Orizons deliver'd Greece,
From the devouring plague, which did encrease,
And feast it self on fl [...]sh, carowsing bowls
Of the infected bloud of dying souls.
17 Eumenides.
THe snake-hair'd furies, born of Night and Dis.
Eumen'des nam'd by an Antiphrasis;
In heaven Dirae and in earth they be
Call'd Harpiae, and in hell the Furiae,
She Stygian Dogs of Pluto; Alecto
With bloudy-burning Pine, runs too and fro;
Envious Megaera riseth from her chair,
And with her poysnous breath infects the air;
The surnace of her mouth (beseig'd with fire)
Contagious vapors casts her whip of wir [...]
M [...]d drunk with bloud, makes such a dreadful soun [...]
As though the heauen, & earth, it would confound
Spightful Tes [...]peone with Scorpions stings
Offenders, and her horrour-boding wings
She stearnly shakes, and makes the guilty [...]e [...]l
Th' imprinted strokes of her revengful steel.
These sisters, dredful for their brazen feet;
Snake-hairs, loud-sounding scourges have their se [...]t
With Apollo's sacred Temple porch,
Dismaly tining their infestuous Torch;
Worship'd they were, that they no hurt might doe,
Who into their Achaian Temple goe,
Guilty of murther, incest, theft, or acted.
Much like enormities, d [...]d grow distracted
18 On the Harpies, Stryges, and Lamiae.
Aello, Celero, and Ocypete,
The names of [...]he rapac [...]ous Harpies be;
Who did, the me [...]t upon b [...]nd Phen [...]us table
Pollute, and then devour (as runs the Fable)
Their flat' [...]ing coun [...]enance, and maiden fac [...],
Do seem to promise and p [...]rtend embraces;
Their Dragons tails, and tallons of an Eagle,
Threat ruine unto those whom they inveagle.
When as tra'luce [...]t Phebe doth appear,
The Striges and the Lamie domineere,
Suck childrens bloud, with Hecat [...]an charmes,
Hurt C [...]tle, therefore from such noxious harmes
They Carne to protect them doe invoke,
And with their sacrifices Altars smoke.
19 On Chimera.
Three shap'd Chimera, that much hurt had done,
At last was killed by Belerophon,
A Lions head he had, his gulf-like throate
Breaths fire, the belly of a wanton goate
No [...] wanting was to him, and least he faile
Of spight, he had the poys'nous Dragons taile.
20 On the Fates.
TH' inexorable Parce, borne of Hell,
And night, three Sisters were assign'd to dwell
Within a pitchy cavern, nature bindes
Their souls in peacefull union: Cloth [...] windes
Flax on the D [...]staffe, and the thred of life
Is spun by Lachesis, the fatal knife
Of Atropos divideth it in twain,
Which done it cannot be conjoyn'd againe.
The Series of things, Jupiter's scribes
Will not divert, no, for a world of bribes:
Cresus his store, the wealth that Midas treasur'd,
Cannot prorogue the life that they have measur'd:
Th'intreats of virtue, nor the threats of vice,
Melts them to mercy; neither prayer nor price
Wring out compassion, no fire can thaw
Their frozen hearts, nor can affliction draw
Their thoughts to pitty, they regard no m [...]nes,
Nor thunder of ingemenated groanes.
Noe stormy sighs, nor silent-pleading tears,
Can force the rocky portals of their ears;
They'r cloath'd in white, haveing their temples crown'd
An Adamantine distaffe held, which round
The spacious orb encircled, their extent
And solid stableness, thereby was meant.
By these three Fates is understood, by some,
Time past, time present, an [...] the time ro come.
FINIS.

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