THREE POEMS Relating to the late Dreadful DESTRUCTION OF THE City of London BY FIRE: Septemb. 1666.
ENTITULED,
- I. Conflagratio Londinensis.
- II. Londini quod Reliquum.
- III. Actio in Londini Incendiarios.
All by the same Hand.
The First of which was before extant; but in this Second Edition very much amended, with large Additions.
The other Two are wholly New.
LONDON, Printed for Sa: Gellibrand, Nov. 20. 1667.
Conflagration Londinensis Poetice Depicta.
THE Conflagration OF LONDON: POETICALLY DESCRIBED, Both in LATIN and ENGLISH.
Ʋt Pictura, Poesis. Horat. Art. Poet.
The Second Edition, with large Additions.
LONDON, Printed for Sa: Gellibrand, 1667.
Ad Virum Nobilissim. Doctissimum{que} JACOBƲM LANGHAM, E{que} Aur. Authoris Hendecasyllabon, ne vacaret Pagella, insertum.
EN, rursum variae, (vides, Jacobe)
Censurae expositum novum Poetam.
Nam sunt, quos juvat esse me Poetam:
Sunt, queis displicet esse me Poetam:
Est, qui pernegat esse me Poetam; &
Mirum est omnibus esse me Poetam.
Cui parti faveat, rogas, Jacobe,
Distinctus variis notis Poeta?
Gratum est, si faveant boni Poetae.
Parvum est, quod blaterant mali Poetae.
Certe, sum invidia minor Poeta: &
Miror me fore taliter Poetam.
Sed sunt, queis Genius favet Poesi:
Sunt queis ingenium dedit Poesin.
Ʋt sunt & quos favor inserit Poetis.
Et quos Materies facit Poetas.
Me, si (Langhame) judices Poetam,
Extremis numerato cum Poetis.
The Conflagration of LONDON Poetically Delineated; Directed to the most Noble and Deserving Citizen, Sir John Langham, Knight and Baronet.
Poetry's Painting, Horat.
WHat ayls the Poet? What unwonted Fire
Thus on a suddain doth his brest inspire?
'Tis Thine, O London. From thy Funeral Ʋrn
Those Flames take birth, that do thy Poet burn.
Aetna is my Parnassus; and a Cup
Of liquid Fire, Vesuvius belcheth up,
My Sacred Spring. To give these Passions vent,
I need no other Muse then th' Argument.
Your Favour, Sir, my Muse and I implore;
(Friend to the Poet, to the Muses more:)
'Tis your Concern. Those Neighbour-flames I sing,
That Divine Mercy to remembrance bring,
Which those small Reliques, where a part you have,
So lately snatcht from a great City's Grave.
Long had the Pest with an infectious breath
From emptied Houses throng'd the Gates of Death.
The Bed-man's Tumbrill no distinction made:
Where once their Dirt, chief Citizens were lay'd.
The Sexton oft the Grave himself did fill,
He digg'd for others; oft the Weekly Bill
Swell'd with its Makers; oft it did betide,
That who lay'd out his Friend, lay by his side:
When (th' barking Starr twice lodg'd) 'twas hop'd withall
A second Autumn would not prove a Fall.
But, trusted Hope, like Bankrupts, doth compound.
For ere the long contagious ayre grew sound,
And from th' excess of Pestilential heat,
London's Pulse did to healthful measure beat,
A far more doleful Fever her befalls.
A Fatal Fire conceiv'd in private Walls,
Nurs'd by Contempt, at last grows past Arrest;
Defies all Aides, and scorns to be supprest.
'Twas in the dotage of th' expiring Night,
When Sols shrill Bird proclaim'd th' approaching Light,
And th' Eastern Starres began to shrink away,
Before the gloryes of the mounting Day:
When th' wakeful Bell-man from the City's eyes
Chas'd tempting sleep with his affrighting cryes.
All leave their beds before the earliest Lark,
Groping their clothes first, then their way, i'th' dark.
Each door's unlockt, and in the clamorous street,
Distracted Crowds, and doubtful tydings meet.
Till, 'twixt the Sun and Flame, a Sacred Day
(London's sad Lords-Day) broke; The Heavenly Ray
Straiu'd through the waving blaze, upon each Spire
Of th' adverse Pyramids pourtray'd the Fire.
God's Bellows blow the Coals, and ev'ry where
Toss wanton Fire-halls dancing in the Air.
The liquid Pitch in flaming clouds doth rowle,
(The draught of Heaven shriveli'd to a scrowle)
And clammy Lightnings in strange Figure, falls,
Like sparks, from beaten Links at Funeralls.
The scared Citizens, with trembling, gaze
To watch the downfall of the hovering blaze:
Till, where least fear'd, it lights; and fatal showres
Through Chimney-tops into their dwellings powres.
Buckets, and Pumps they now for service press:
The service hot, and dubious the success:
They drain the Thames, and from the broken Lead
Divert the streams which private dwellings fed.
Each street a Brook becomes, each dam a Pond;
Cask knockt o'th' Head, and noblest Juyces tunn'd
Not for these Ʋses, now to these assign'd:
The sober stream with sprightful Nectar joyn'd,
Great Engines on the thirsty flame did shed,
But what the one did quench, the other fed:
For th' unctuous Liquors with the Foe conspire,
And drunken Vulcan vomits fiercer fire.
Who dwelt together, now together burn;
And Houses mix'd, to mixed Ashes turn.
What was the Nurse of Trade, becomes its Fate;
And Neighbourhood doth now depopulate:
The Flame's augmented by the Houses crowd,
Its Hunger still encreasing with its Food.
The Mower strikes not more destructive strokes,
When from the field he polls her golden lockes;
Then doth the flaming Sythe deal fatal blowes,
Whiles streets on swathes its keener fury throwes.
Now, Water's useless: and the next intent
Is, by great Ruines, greater to prevent.
By Hooks and Mines, next Houses levell'd lye,
In hope the Flames may for meer Hunger dye:
But all in vain. Those Ruines prove a Stile
O're which the Fire strides to the standing Pile.
Yea, where its actual contact is deni'de,
Like Mischiefs from inflamed Aire betide.
Here ruinous cracks, there doleful shriekes do sound,
And those that danger should unite, confound.
That hostile Ships possess'd the River, and
Pour'd French and Dutch in numerous Hoasts on Land;
And vaunting Romanists in armed Troopes
Were ready to go forth, and meet their Hopes;
(Terrors, in th' Issue, vain) mean while, became
(Nurs'd by reports) as fatal as the Flame.
False fears suggested, common aydes distract:
Whiles each his Cabin voids, the Vessel's wrackt.
Nothing but flight now any comfort yeelds;
As if mens hearts were sunk into their heels:
Who stayes behind, is thought resolv'd to dye;
And none trusts ought above him, but the skye.
So have I seen, when with a fatal spade
The Gard'ner doth an Emmet-hill invade,
How soon the laden crowd is scatter'd wide,
And the black Troopes their narrow paths do hide.
Their brood and wealth is all dispers'd abroad;
Though none can tell where to discharge his load,
Yet all consent to flye their ruinous cell,
And seek new homes where they may safer dwell.
Thus scatter'd Citizens trudg up and down,
Some charg'd with others Goods, some with their own.
Each hinders other, and obstructs his way:
Ʋseless the most, except (perhaps) they pray.
Th' uncertain crowd with various motion reeles,
And following feet oppress preceding heeles.
The poor man's burden's light, as is his foot;
The rich man's load his slower pace doth suit.
The Porter makes his Markets in the wrack,
A Friend or Foe, as he bestows his Pack.
And happy now's the mean estate! The higher
Affords but richer prey to Thieves and Fire.
The rates of Portage with the danger rise,
Sometimes half-value's thought but equal Price:
And sometimes half's too short; Justice gives odds
To him that stakes a Life against my Goods.
The Country is deserted round about,
Some love brings in, some fear; to some (no doubt)
The motive's gain, no matter how it rises,
The greatest Hurryes yeeld the richest prizes.
Each Rode grows warm with Travellers, and they
Again reflected warmth feel from their way.
Some thought it (though) worth many a weary pace,
To see, whiles ought remain'd, what London was.
But stay, my Muse. A thousand Tongues to shew
The City's Hurryes, would be found too few.
For, as in Shipwrack, when through yawning chinks
The batter'd Vessel floods of water drinks:
One stares, another's pale, a third doth spill
His tears into the Brine he is to swill:
A fourth leaps over-board, and for his life
Bestirres his Arms; on top-sayle percht, a fifth
With's weight the leaning Vessel overbears:
A broken Plank another freights, and steers;
Yea, oft the same plank divers seek to stride,
Till, whose boat it shall be, by battel's try'de.
So far'd it here. The fright, in all the same,
Appear'd in various shapes. In one, the flame
Beheld, congeals his blood to Ice; and then
As 'tis felt nearer, thaws that Ice agen.
Another, on four legs escapes, his eye
Turn'd back, for fear the flame should swifter flye.
A third, betwixt two counsels holds the scales;
Fear swayes the beam, and then the worst prevails.
Others, mistake their way, amaz'd, and run
Into the danger that they seek to shun.
And some, that spent by long diseases were,
For their cure stand obliged to their fear:
To flye, or dye, was now their choice; that, made 'um
To use their limbs, and then they felt, they had'um.
For close, a naked Tribe appears, (though glad
Their lives are safe with loss of all they had)
Great Instances, how little Nature needs,
And, How much too much our Excesses feeds!
An hedg with Hangings by Arachne spun,
From twig to twig, keeps off the mid-day Sun.
From rain, a sheet on cords extended, shields;
Next Bank a safe, though homely Chimney, yields,
Where, a course loaf on coals dispersed, broyles;
And a small pipkin the slight dinner boyles.
The Table, Turf; the Cellar, is a Pool;
A stone, by turns, a Bolster, and a Stool.
The Babe, once lapp'd in Silks, now lyes in Rags;
On the green floore the sorry Cradle wags:
The Mother, in a Nurses posture, by,
Charms him asleep with a sad Lullaby:
Kind Robin answers her with mournful Tones,
And the shrill Eccho doubles th' Infant-moans:
Now range the flames, like Travellers in Peace.
Where success hopeless is, endeavours cease.
The Battel's given for lost: and former checks
The Victor into hotter Vengeance vex.
O'reflowing eyes their flaming-Homes bewail;
But Tears cannot, where Flouds would not avail.
So th' helpless Bird about her plund'red Nest
Chatters, and flutters; fain she would arrest
Her Fate; but over-match't, takes the next Tree,
And there bemoans the wrack she's forc'd to see.
Some crowd the Tops of Steeples, thence to take
Their last farwel of (what they must forsake)
Dear LONDON: but soon glutted with the sight,
Kiss the kind Turrets, and bid 'um Good night,
Here Caesar comes, with Buckets in His eyes,
And Father in His heart. Come, come, he cryes,
Let's make one onset more. The scatter'd Troupes
At his word rally, and retrieve their Hopes.
The Rebel-Flames, they say, felt CHARLES was there;
And sneaking back, grew tamer then they were.
So that, no doubt, were Fates to be defeated
By man, the City's Fate had been retreated.
But Loyalty befriends the Flames. Their own
Dangers neglected, thine affrights. Alone,
Alone, dear Sir, let's fall, they cry'd aloud,
And hazard not three Kingdoms in a croud.
Long may King CHARLES survive his Cityes Fate,
His Life, and all our Hopes bear equal Date.
Flames can't undo us, whiles the King's secure:
He lost, though sav'd from flames, we must be poor.
Thus did the pious Trojan venture rather
All's Treasure to the City's wrack, then's Father!
His Subjects Love forc'd Caesar to withdraw,
More griev'd to leave the Loyalty he saw.
Next, Princely YORK, with sweat and dirt besmear'd,
(More glorious thus, then in his Robes) appear'd.
He, Neptune-like, his watry Realm doth raise,
And's Noble Arm the spit-floud Engine swayes:
That baffled, next his Thundring-Cannons spewe
An armed blaze, with Flames, Flames to subdue.
But whom the conquer'd Dutch and French did flie,
These Foes ('twas out of's Element) defie.
All Help at last grows helpless, but the Last.
That too, they try. To Churches, now in hast
Some flye for shelter, ne're were there before;
Others, to mourn they ne're shall see 'um more.
The flames even them, with th' owners leave, surprise,
Nor was't then Sacriledg, but Sacrifice.
That reverend Fabrick which the World admir'd,
Amongst a crowd of lesser note is fir'd.
Its Cloud-surmounting Steeple flam'd so high,
That threaten'd Heavens ne're fear'd a flame so nigh.
Yea, some beholders thought 'twas more then fear'd,
Whilst falling-sparks like falling-starres appear'd.
The Fates themselves burnt Monuments entomb'd.
Their Alabaster melts, and (what's presum'd
Beyond Art's Power) Marble's fusile grown;
The sacred Reliques of the dead are thrown
Out of their Tombs; and by a means unthought,
Are, with their Tombs, from Dust to Ashes brought.
[At Building Pauls] in the late Proverbs sense,
Henceforth, I doubt, may Prophesie commence.
And after-times for what of it they know,
Shall more to th' Pencil, then the Trowel owe.
Oft, unawares, doth man's presaging mind
Sent future Harms! sure, Dugdale, that inclin'd
Thy too Prophetick Genius to prevent
The Fate of that illustrious Monument,
Which, what it was, (sith 'twas not long to be)
Had scarce been long knowable, but for Thee.
Write Dugdale, with thy Founders, Pauls, and more;
Immortal made by him, by none, before.
With sacred flames, a learned blaze doth rise;
(For Twins. they say, Twin-fates do oft surprise)
The Labours of the teeming Press and Brain,
(An off-spring Ages can't restore again)
One Hour destroyes. St. Faith's betrusted Cell,
(For publique Faith it was) turn'd Infidel.
So Phoebus ne're for Phaethorn did mourn,
As now he did. The Sisters Nine did burn
Their Golden Tresses in the richer Fire;
Minerva did her Court in blacks attire.
Tear-flouds foul'd Helicon; your Poets Wit
Runs muddy (Sir) with this short sip of it.
The common Wrack the Royal Change doth share,
Babel of Tongues; the Ʋniverses Fayre;
Where both Poles daily met, and what within
The spacious distance of the Poles is seen:
The Kingdoms Marble Chronicle. To Thee
(Great Prince) it shew'd thy Royal Pedigree,
For three times Nine Descents. Thy Next, the Best,
Dislodg'd by Rebels, by Thee, repossest:
Now, with the Church He hugg'd, in Ruines lies,
But hopes, by Second CHARLES, a Second Rise.
By Him, You stood, His Name's and Vertue's Heir;
The Make-Peace Act Your gracious Hand did bear,
Draught of that Mind which in Your Royal Brest
The Image of th' Eternal Mind exprest;
In whom, Oblivion Vertue is, and who
(As You) by Pardons Treason doth subdue.
For Rebels, whom despair with Courage arms,
A safe Retreat into subjection charms.
Whence, though the Marble, and the Paint be not,
CHARLES living, th' Amnesty 'll ne're be forgot.
Gresham the Kings survives. The grateful Flame
The Founder spar'd, that would not spare the Frame.
The Watry Region scapes not. Conquering Flames
Owe a Revenge unto their Foe the Thames.
Scullers and Oars now, Westward Ho! all cri'de,
Nor had they leasure to expect a Tide.
From the Lee-shoare the Ships in hast retire,
The Wind was thought a milder Foe, then Fire.
The River shrinks, and from the threatning Heats,
Now to the Spring, now to the Sea retreats.
An Envoy-wave dispatcht to Thetis-Court,
Implores her help; which granted, to the Port
She marcht; but when she saw the Flames, she fled,
And under water hid her frighted Head.
Whiles heated Waves thus on themselves recoyle,
The Deep, without a Metaphor, doth boyle.
The scaly Troupes scarce safe at bottom were,
The daring Foes chas'd and attaqu'd 'em there.
The Fishermen ne're made so strange a draught;
'Tis thought, the Fish were par-boyl'd that they caught.
Four dayes did Phoebus set, but made no Night,
A brighter Blaze supply'd his baffled Light.
And all that while the City wak'd: What sense
Of weakness call'd for, Danger frighted thence.
Till the fifth Sun, ascending from the East,
With joy beheld the Emulous Fire supprest.
Whether because the Suburbs, where it stay'd,
Were less with crowded Buildings over-lay'd:
Or their Brick Edifices stopt it there:
Or, that the Flames so spread, more feeble were:
(As Boggs hash'd into Gutters, soon are dry'd:)
Or, that the Wind had spit out's Lungs, and dy'd:
Is doubted. Out of doubt, At God's Arrest
The all-devouring Fires themselves confest
Conquer'd, submitting to receive again
Their former (now too long rejected) Chaine.
The Fire is out. But dismal marks are seen,
To tell succeeding Ages where't hath been.
The Fate of old Troy did New-Troy betide,
Its doubtful Pedigree's thus justifi'd.
The City-now is the once-City's Tomb,
A Sceleton of fleshless Bones become.
Its Venerable Ruines have the Name
Of what it was, but little else the same.
As in Kings Monuments, their Ashes bear
Titles, and Scutcheons which the Kings did wear.
Its greatest part without the Walls bestow'd,
London's not now within, but gone abroad.
Grief cramps my heart; nor doth my Muse suffice
To the last Act of London's Tragedies.
Let those impregnate Fancies, which the view
Of that Disaster fill'd, this Theme pursue.
Meer Fame, I know, dull Notions must infuse;
Yet wish not such a sight t' enrich my Muse.
In brief, (for tir'd Accountants close with Greats)
Know, Churches, Publique Halls, and Princely Seats,
Schools, Hospitals; and what brave Piles soe're
Por State or Ʋse our Ancestors did reare,
Lye raz'd; with what was rais'd by later Times,
To eternize their Vertues, or their Crimes.
All Europe mourns at London's Funerals.
Yea, our suspected Foes, (if true or false,
Day 'll bring to light) like solemn grief declare.
We, (sith we wish 'em innocent) not dare
To charge 'em with a Guilt they thus disclaim.
And yet, if Time shall hidden fraud proclaim,
Resolve to lash 'em. Our just Muse bestows
Bayes on the valiant, Rods on treacherous Foes.
Conflagratio LONDINENSIS Poetice Depicta; Patricioque, Nobilissimo, Doctissimoque, JACOBOAE LANGHAM, Eq. Aur. Inscripta.
Ut Pictura Poesis, Horat.
HAec nova quae rabies Vati? Quis ca minis aestus
Jamdudum insueta populatur pectora flamma?
Nempe tua (Urbs nostrae quondam celeberrima Gentis)
Funera deflentes, cognato carpimur Igne.
Aetna mihi Parnassus, & hausto plena Vesevo
Mens furit, & totis incendia mista medullis
Concipit: In Musam mihi sufficit Argumentum:
Tu modo, (Vir dilecte mihi, dilecte Camoenis)
Ʋs{que} fave, dum magna absolvimus ausa minores.
Nam tua res agitur. Tot proxima Busta canentes
Te monitum officii volumus, parvas{que} furentis
Relliquias Ignis, (tantae tantilla ruinae
Fragmenta) aeterno dignas ut Numine grates
Reddatis; vobis, quo, flamma, jubente, pepercit.
Nupera tabifici saevam inclementia Coeli
Ediderat stragem; densato funere totas
Exhausit Libitina Domos, plaustro{que} gementi
Miscuit aggestam nullo discrimine Turbam:
Saepe aliud fuerat quae susceptura cadaver,
Praeripuit vespillo scrobem; numerum{que} cadentum
Aedituus referens, mox additus ipse relato est:
Et sua compositis Pollinctor funera junxit.
Pomifer alter adest Autumnus, & altera diram
Effudit saniem latrante Canicula rictu.
Cum spes afflictis blanditur credula rebus;
Nec dum tota tamen (lethali noxia tabo)
Desaevit Pestis; nec dum redeunte salute
Absumptum sensit, sanato sidere, virus:
Cum lassata novam cumulata strage ruinam
Urbs patitur. Parvus, contemptu{que} auctior, Ignis
Grassatur late; vastam{que} per omnia cladem
Spargit, inaccesso Bacchatus ubi{que} furore.
Nox fuit, a medii declivis tramite Coeli,
Praedixit{que} sono lucem Phoebeïus Ales,
Et clarum sparsura Diem Titania lampas
Jam matutini minuebat sidera Mundi:
Intonuit eum voce Vigil, somnum{que} trementi
Excussit placidum fera [...]is Nuncius Ʋrbi:
Mollibus estratis raptim projecta levantur
Corpora, & in tenebris palpantur tegmina coecis:
Limina mox reserant pavidi, tectis{que} relictis,
Quilibet ambiguum captat per compita Murmur.
Jam{que} dies oritur, festa celebranda quiete.
Triste micat cum Sole jubar: simul aurea miscent
Lumina, & Eoa pariter vibrantur ab ora;
Culmina{que} ambiguo splendore adversa coruscant.
Quinetiam accensos animavit follibus Ignes
Eurus, in aethereo volvens Incendia Coelo.
Ʋndi{que} sul phurcae librantur in Acre Nubes,
Huc, illuc, vento raptae, cusu{que} minaces.
Et, veluti flagrante Polo, per inane rotantur
Lampades, in varias sparso fervore figuras,
Pinguia longinque jaculantes fulgura Tractu;
Deinde cadunt, summis{que} ardent fastigia tectis,
Irriguis{que} simul perfundunt Ignibus aedes,
Flamma tenax piceis quascun{que} amplectitur Ulnis.
Dum tamen est undis visus superabilis Hostis,
Flumine certatum est; Ʋbertim affunditur Humor;
Hauritur situlis Thamisis; caeduntur ubique,
Qui privata prius subierunt Tecta, canales:
Vicatim ruit Unda, objecto{que} aggere stagnat.
Quinetiam, effractis vacuantur Dolia fundis,
Egeritur{que} liquor non hos servatus in usus.
Sobria Nympha fluit generoso mista Lyaeo;
Pugnantes{que} simul jaculatur Machina fluctus,
Extinctura sitim Vulcani; at victa Lyaeo
Nympha fuit donec nimio perfusus Jaccho
Ebrius evomuit duplicatos Mulciber Ignes.
Jam{que} ardent junctae vicinis aestibus aedes.
Exitio est habitare simul; commercia Vitae
Mutua quod dederat, spargit contagia Fati.
Nam{que} novi augentur conferta strage furores,
Congesta{que} fames Vulcani crescit ab offa.
Ʋt{que} simul densas presternit Messor aristas,
Auratis{que} comis spoliatum nudat agellum:
Sic acies vastam rutilans demessuit Urbem,
Faecundam flammae segetem, qua densior ulla
Haud fuit in Terris Phoebo sub utro{que} locatis.
Flumineam dum spernit Opem Vulcanius Hostis,
Hic uncis, illinc nitrato pulvere, Cives
Proxima grassanti subvertunt tecta ruinae,
Praeripiunt{que} avidis obnoxia pabula Flammis.
Incassum. Prostrata etenim per rudera scandens
Ignea Tempestas, distantes contigit aedes.
Quin, ne{que} jam contactu opus est; longe{que} remota
Aestibus assiduis ignitus corripit Aer.
Cuncta fragore strepunt, circumsonat undi{que} Terror.
Armatas acies, infesta{que} signa moveri
Creditum, & hostili Thamisin fervere tumultu;
Et ruere ad Portas permistis Gallica Belgis
Agmina, & auxiliis Papales addere Turmas.
Ignoto quaecun{que} volant Authore, timentur
Pro veris; nutrit{que} sonos vox publica inanes,
Hinc oritur clamor discors: falsi{que} pavores
Dissociant junctas ad certa pericula vires.
Dum sibi quis{que} cavet, cumulantur publica damna.
Diripit ipsa suos in condita turba Penates:
Et, (velut in pedibus restet spes una salutis,)
Direptam fugiunt, quaqua patet exitus, urbem,
Vix ausi quicquam nisi aperto credere Coelo.
Haud aliter Fossor, terram versante ligone,
Si Formicarum fortasse invaserit aedes;
Densa cohors hinc, inde, humeris discurrit onustis,
Et nigra angustos abscondunt agmina calles:
Momento egeritur faetus{que} & parva supellex,
Quo tamen incertum est; Unum hoc commune videtur
Consilium Genti, temerata relinquere Tecta,
Eversa{que} novas patria sibi quaerere sedes.
Maesta per intactas palatur Turba plateas,
Sarcinulis onerata suis pars, pars alienis.
Impediunt alios alii, numero{que} retardant
Auxilia, & solo prodest pars maxima voto.
Truditur hic veniente prior, trudit{que} priorem,
In{que} vicem confusa cohors urgetur, & urget.
Hic, velox parvo properat sub pondere pauper;
Praegrandi tardus nimium gemit ille sub auro.
Bajulus in partem praedae discurrit, & ipsas
Queis venit auxilio, velut Hostis, diripit aedes.
Esse in opem quando{que} juvat! Quo quis{que} minora
Possidet, hoc minor est flammae furum{que} rapina.
Nec non, Vecturae pretium, crescente periclo,
Crescit; & (in spolium intentus) sua Portitor ipse
Pondera, cum Dominis pacto partitur iniquo.
Justa tamen quando{que} petit, discrimina vitae
Qui subit, & semesa rapit sua praemia flammis.
Rustica & oppidulis concurrit Turba relictis.
Semita nulla vacat; proper antibus addidit alas
Aut amor, aut metus, aut lucris devota cupido
Turpibus; omnis equis & curribus orbita fervet:
Multis causa viae est, stantem vidisse, suis{que}
Qualis erit quondam, monstrare nepotibus urbem.
Ast ego quid nitor complecti singula Versu?
Non, si mille mihi linguae sint, ora{que} possem
Distractae innumeros Ʋrbis memorare Tumultus.
Nam, veluti concussa bibit cum Nerea pinus,
Fracta{que} dissiliunt jactatae membra carinae;
Hic stupet, hic pallet, fletu madet alter inani
Sorbendum{que} salem lacrimarum flumine miscet;
Naufragium facit ill [...] sibi, vitam{que} lacertis
Committit; summi{que} alter carchesia mali
Scandit, & acclivem subvertit pondere puppim;
Est etiam, aequato Tabulam qui corpore librat,
Remigio{que} suae sulcat freta caerula dextrae;
Saepe etiam a multis asser conscenditur idem,
Et de communi miscentur praelia cymba:
Hic Timor unus erat, Facies non una Timoris.
Frigidus huic glacie sanguis concrescit inerti,
Nec nisi vicinae tepet ad contagia flammae;
Hic binis quadrupes baculis fugit, at{que} relictum,
Ne prendat veritus tardantem, respicit Ignem,
Ambiguo trepidat dum pensat singula motu
Alter, & incertum praeponens tuta recusat.
Nec desunt, quibus ipse metus pars magna perieli est,
Aneipites{que} errore viae, seducit in aestus,
Sunt quo{que} queis longo tardantur corpora Morbo,
Qui{que} gravi sua membra trahunt languentia nisu;
Fit medicina Timor, cunctis{que} potentior Herbis
Restituit lapsas tanto in discrimine vires.
Deni{que} spectantur, quos nudos flamma remisit;
(Grata cohors, anima minuens sua damna recepta)
Optima, quantillo poterit natura foveri
Exempla, & quanto nimium est quo luxus abundat.
Excludit sepes solem spinosa; domum{que}
Aulaeis ornat subitam silvestris Arachne.
Funiculis lodix rapido praetenditur Imbri:
Aggere in acclivi tutum fumante camino,
Versatur, prunis nimium ferventibus ustus
Panis; & in modica lixantur prandia Testa;
Sternitur in mensam Tumulus; dat pocula stagnum;
Sella, lapis, nisi cum premitur cervice cubante, est.
Fasciat & laceris lactentia viscera pannis
Mater, & in viridi disponit cespite cunas:
Assidet ipsa, genu suffulta & calce reducto,
Invitat{que} leves lugubri carmine somnos;
Dum pius humanis complorans casibus Ales
Concinit, & teneris vagitibus assonat Echo.
Jam data pax Igni: Nullo prohibente, vagatur.
Desperata salus conatus reddit inertes.
Auxilium omne malis lassum succumbit; & aestus
Repressi toties, nec victi, saevior Ira est.
Spectant attoniti sua Tecta ruentia Cives;
Et fundunt lacrimas, lacrimis nec posse domari
Spes est, diluvium quos vix extingueret, Ignes.
Sic, puero rapiente tuos, Philomela, Penates,
Qua licet, accedens plausis innoxia pennis,
Subsultim{que} premens vicinoe vimin a quercus,
Voce strepis, sed voce nequis tua sistere Damna,
Est quoque, qui moesto scandit fastigia gressu,
Templorum; extremum visu fruiturus amatae
Dum liceat, patriae; plenus{que} deinde videndo,
Ultima culminibus descendens oscula figit.
Subsidio mox Coesar adest, operam{que} remissam
Excitat; ut{que} Patrem Patriae (poscente periclo)
Induerat totis, exuto Rege, medullis:
Sic monitis, precibus, lacrimis, cessantibus instat,
Ignis uti Carolum sentiret adesse rebellis.
Nec dubium, humanis si posset viribus ultra
Obsisti Fatis, habitura ibi Fata regressum.
Immemor ipsa sui, tua jam (Rex chare) pericla
Ʋrbs metuit. Quoties dubiae committere Turbae,
Dilectum vetuere caput; folis{que} perire
Ʋt per Te liceat, petierunt, Carole, Cives!
Vive diu, dixere, Parens, nostris{que} superstes
Funeribus, superes Pylii tria saecla Tyranni;
Cede modo, & nostris spem Regni subtrahe Fatis.
Te salvo, Columen Rerum, nos nulla ruina
Funditus evertet; Tibi si quis casus iniquus
Obtigerit, flamma quamvis parcente, ruemus.
Sic pius eduxit, Troja flagrante, Parentem
Aeneas, animam{que} opibus tot praetulit Unam!
Victa est Majestas Pietate; dolens{que} recedit,
Et magis inde dolens ubi sic se vidit amari.
Tu simul, Eboracensis, ades, sudore, luto{que}
Sordidus, at Tyrio minus aspectabilis Ostro:
Poscis aquas, iterum{que} cies, (tua Regna) profundum:
Undivoma at{que} tua contorta est Machina Dextra.
Te{que} salutares, Bombarda armata jubente,
Evomuit flammas, discussit & Ignibus Ignes.
Quas timuere tamen Batavi, Galli{que} feroces,
Non timet Ignipotens accensas Mulciber Iras.
Ultima Plebs tandem sensit conanima frustra
Intendi; & votis Numen (quae sola supersunt)
Sollicitat; votis sed inexorabile Numen.
Dum delubra petunt, ardent delubra; nec ipsis
Sacrilega Omnipotens incendia depulit Aris.
Te{que} stupor Mundi, Moles Paulina, tuam{que}
Pyramidem, summo ferientem Vertice Nubes,
Corripiunt Ignes avidi, & Coelo inde minantur;
Nec timuere unquam propriores sidera flammas.
Quinetiam, similes referunt labentibus astris
Culmine ab excelso visas cecidisse favillas.
Ipsa{que} succensis tumulantur Fata sepulchris:
Effluit in flammas Alabastrum; ipsum{que} (quod Arte
Posse negant fieri) fit casu fusile Marmor.
Quinetiam, excelso delapsa cacumine moles
Corpora nudavit Tumulis expressa; suis quae
Cum Tumulis fiunt, jam, plusquam nomine, Busta.
Jamduduw reparanda Domus, jam tota ruinis
Succumbis, nullo deinceps reparabilis aevo.
Sed nec Tota peris, quam postera sentiet aetas
Dugdaliis nuper descriptam vivere chartis.
O, quoties praesaga mali mens nostra faturi est,
Nec tamen agnoscit! Certe haec te, Dugdale, Vates
Praemonuit, memori sculptam mandare Tabellae
Illustrem hanc Aedem, quae (tam cito nulla futura)
Qualis erat, post hac, nisi per Te, ignota futura est.
Divisam Famam cum Fundatore, proinde
Tu Descriptor habes; nisi quod tua Gloria major,
Qui facis aeternam, quam struxerat ille caducam.
Nec non, (fertur enim sociari Fata Gemellis)
Augentur sacri doctis Ardoribus Ignes.
Immumeros{que} simul cerebri praeli{que} labores,
(Aetatum prolem) in cineres brevis Hora resolvit.
Gaza fuit, penso coutra pretiosior Auro,
Deposita ad sanctae Fidei; sed (rara reperta est
Publica, sancta Fides) inimicis prodita Flammis.
Te Phaethonteis minus indoluisse ruinis
Phoebe, ferunt; scisso{que} rogos auxere sorores
Crine novem; atrata funus sectante Minerva.
Turbatur lacrimis Helicon; non pura Poetae
Vena exinde fluit caenoso e fonte bibenti.
In partem trahitur Regalis Bursa ruinae,
Linguarum Babel, & Mundi Mercatus; utrum{que}
Quotidie complexa Polum, quod{que} inter utrum{que} est:
Marmoreum Regni Chronicon; serie{que} vetusta
Exhibuit nuper Proavos tibi (CAROLE) Reges.
Optimus a Dextris steterat Tibi. Sede revulsum
Restituisse redux Pietas tua gestit avita,
Et reduci charis Ecclesia fulsit in Ʋlnis.
Nunc jacet, expectat{que} iterum, Te dante, reponi:
Proximus Ipse Patri fueras; quem Nominis Haeres
Exprimis & virtute pari. Diploma tenebat
Pacificum pacata Manus: Mentem{que} benignam
Exhibuit, Menti similem per cuncta meanti,
Subjectum cui mira tenet Clementia Mundum.
Haec quo{que} laus Vestra est; Non vi domuisse rebelles,
Sed sceleri temere admisso praebendo receptum.
Frustra igitur, Vulcane furens, in Marmore saevis,
Dum manet, (& maneat) quem Muta expressit Imago,
Et retinet CAROLUS descriptam in Marmore Mentem.
Septem habuit supra bis denos Nobilis Ordo
Septrigeros, flammae praedam; dum Regibus ipsis
Ʋnicus a grato stat Conditor Igne superstes.
Sed ne{que} grassantem prohibent humentia Regna.
Nam{que} memor Pugnae pergit victricibus Armis
Mulciber in Portus, inimicis{que} imminet Undis.
Omnia confestim solvunt retinacula Puppes
Permissae Ventis: Ea visa est lenior Ira.
Decrescit Thamisis, motu{que} reciproca, Fontes
Nunc petit, Oceanum versus nunc territa tendit,
Nuncius Aequoream fluctus praemissus ad Aulam
Sollicitat Thetin; a fundo Thetis excitat imo
Auxilia; & montes praeruptos volvit aquarum;
Sed simulac vidit majores Fluctibus Ignes,
Consternata suis fugiens Caput abdidit Undis.
Aestuat interea, quo non assueverat, aestu
Flumen; & ima petens (vix imo tuta profundo)
Squamigera insolitos miratur Turba calores.
Retia{que} in tepido Piscator gurgite tendens
Educit tepido tepefactum gurgite Piscem.
Quatriduum sine Nocte agitur; Nam sole fugato,
Prorogat us{que} diem, superat{que} Vicarius Ardor.
Quatriduum insomnes per agunt; suasere soporem
Exhaustae lassis Vires, vetuere pericla.
Quintus ubi Eois Titan emerserat undis,
Aemula jam tandem visa est decrescere Flamma.
Seu, quoniam media quo longius itur ab Urbe,
Rarior occurrit, spatio{que} remotior aedes;
Coctilis & paries surgit, non commodus Igni.
Sive, (quod in sulcos divisis accidit undis)
Sparsus in extremas partes elanguit aestus:
Sive Euri furor, exhausto pulmone, resedit:
Sive aliud, (Coelo certe miserante) repressit
Vulcani rabiem; se tandem fassa domari
Induit excussas vastatrix flamma catenas.
Magna tamen tantae remanent vestigia stragis
Ʋs{que} vel ad seros forsan mansura Nepotes.
Troja nova est jam Troja vetus; dum{que} Omina replet
Nominis, & tantae Fatis aequata Parenti,
Occidit; inde fidem dubiis natalibus addit.
Urbs Augusta sibi incubuit, sibi facta sepulchrum;
Carnibus ossa exuta jacent, sceleton{que} venusti
Corporis ostentant, ipsa venerabile Clade.
Et velut in Tumulis cassorum Iumine Regum
Nil quod erat, praeter cineres, & Nomina restat:
Nomen habent cineres; Urbs vix reperitur in Urbe:
Exulat (heu!) exclusa suis pars maxima muris.
Plura loqui dolor ipse vetat ne{que} sufficit ultra
Melpomene aequalem mihi tanta ad funera versum.
Vos, quibus ista oculis subjecta sidelibus, alta
Mente reposta sedet, Musam{que} impregnat Imago,
Scribite. Nam{que} audita mihi non visa canenti
(Nec vellem vidisse tamen) sterilescat oportet
Ingenium, specie nequaquam compare fultum.
Nec mihi propositum est Numerum superantia damna
Exigere ad numeros, (generatim dicere lasso
Sufficiat:) Fumant Musaea, Palatia, Templa,
Hospitia; & quicquid sumptu spectabile, & usu
Antiqua extruxit Pietas, & quicquid avitis
Magnifici adjecit Pietas Luxusve Nepotum.
Indolet interea nostris Europa ruinis.
Quin & suspectus tanti modo criminis Hostis
Ingemit, aut saltem cupit ingemuisse videri.
Nos, ne{que} quae voluisse negant, objecta probamus:
Sed ne{que} (si volvenda Dies, quae vera tenebris
Eruit, indiciis fraudem nudabit apertis)
Parcemus; cumulare simul benefacta parati
Laudibus, & malefacta Notis proscindere Justis.
The AUTHOR to the GRAVER. Ʋpon occasion of a Draught expressing London in Flames, designed to have been prefixed as a Frontispice to the Poem; but forborn upon second thoughts.
HOld Graver, hold! In vain thou dost engage
To crowd the Book into the Title-page.
Thy Plate too much beneath thy Project falls.
For, though it shew us Flames, and tottering Walls,
If that be all, thy Title thou'lt bely:
None takes the Scene to be the Tragedy.
No; Londons Flames should so be set to view,
That those who see, in part may feel 'em too;
And even those that cannot see, may find
Th' eye's not th' onely Glass that burns the mind.
Say then; canst thou express the shriekes and cryes,
That rent the Clouds, and pierc'd the melting Skies?
Can thy Descriptions accent Babels Voyces,
Or give due Ecchoes to confused Noyses?
Canst thou express the bawlings of a Croud,
Wherein none's heard, 'cause every one is loud?
Or the Extortions, Thefts, and cozening feats
Of Porters, Carters, Water-men, and Cheats?
Canst thou describe the sounds of tuneless Bells,
Whose awkward Musick tolls their Steeples Knells?
The cracks of tumbling Houses, and the greeting
Of tottering Roofs, and battering Cannons meeting?
Canst thou to view present the hissing steams
Of melted Metals check'd with cooling streams?
Or draw the medley of compounded smells,
Forc'd, some from fragrant, some from nasty Cells?
Canst reach the Horrors of distracted minds,
Where ghastly fear with woful grief combines?
Grief, which expression from amazement borrows,
Whiles Tears are stifled by profounder sorrows.
Or th' Hurrey which distemper'd Fancies fills,
Where Thought stabs Thought, and Project, Project kills?
Where what to save, 's in doubt, till all be lost,
And slow Resolves by speedy Fates are crost?
Canst draw the Misers Passions, while he lags
In midst of Flames, hugging his darling Bags;
Whom, loath to lose, and loath to give, divide,
Neer sacrific'd to what he deifi'd?
Or a just Love 'twixt equal Children parted,
Where one must be preferr'd, th' other deserted?
Or, whiles both Goods and Childrens danger scares,
The Mothers bowels, and the Fathers cares?
Or labouring throws, and Births precipitate,
Where the Fright's Midwife, and the Nurse is Fate?
If none of these within thy Picture come,
Confess it short, and give the Poet room.
Poetry is an Intellectual Mint,
That stamps a Picture with a spirit in't;
Whose secret Magick Senses want supplyes,
And makes Spectators where it finds no Eyes.
Thus that old Bard doth in his Iliad draw
Battels to th' life, 'tis said, he never saw:
And makes those Hector and Achilles see,
Whose outward Organs are as blind as He.
'Tis sacred Flame, whose subtil Influence
Can melt the Soul, and never scorch the Sence.
'Tis the Minds Microscope, that helps the Eye
To the least insect-thought's Anatomy:
That secret'st motions through their symptomes traces;
And renders Souls as visible as Faces.
This, this. can Londons Fate most lively shew,
That paints its inside-Flames, and outside, too.
And such an Artist, London, wish I thee;
And next, would wishing do't, That I were He.
Which, Graver, though I'm not, my Draught of thine
Hath th' odds, which better Poems have of mine.
Barr Emulation then, and try thy Art;
The Poets Zany is the Graver's part.
Thy Preface-Lines, I grant, may somewhat do
To stead the Stationer, and Poem too.
For oft the Book's turn'd for the Baby-Letter,
And sorry Cuts helps Ballads off the better.
In Legends too, some say, (nor is't deny'd)
Some are by th' painted Saints best edify'd:
For Lyes in Picture, with their Art delight,
Which, told for Truth, the Hearers Faith affright.
Yea, perhaps, thou may'st wiser Readers draw,
To greet a Muse, till now, they never saw.
For 'tis the Bush, that leads us to the Wine;
And men know where the Sight is, by the Sign.
On therefore, but with my advice comply,
And thus thy Scene fit to the Tragedy.
Conceit Troy's Flames, and those that Nero made,
To symbolize with the sad Tune he play'd:
Or those he caus'd, whose
Brennus
Name did Burning bear,When Jove and Rome to Geese obliged were.
With those that laid Jerusalem in dust:
And those of Foreign Vulcans, tan'e on Trust
From Travellers; t' impregnate thy Design,
And make thy Fancy more resemble mine.
Then from some ghostly Father get a Spell,
To view the Cave, they say, joyns next to Hell:
From that Original thy Fancy fill,
(For that's pure Fancy) and then try thy skill.
Or, lastly, antedate the general Fire
In thought, and thy Invention thence inspire.
Thus arm'd, take Londons situation right,
And spread a Mantle o're 't of blackest Night.
Take Lights and Shades from its Blaze: Lookers on
Were satisfi'd, it might supply the Sun.
Next, place in stead of th' often-changing Dame,
A black Cloud, big with sheets of Oyly Flame;
Ruffled by Eurus, puffing out o'th' East
Aetnean Vapours from's incensed Breast.
Let them drop melted Starres, toss'd up and down
To scatter ruines through the scared Town.
Out of the Skies, (to shew from whence it came)
Stretch out an Hand arm'd with a Rod of Flame.
Bound with a Scrowle, which let this Motto fill,
England amend, his hand is stretcht out still.
Let Flames, on march, a mile in front appear,
Brought up with Ruines smothering in the Rear:
I'th' Van, express me Pauls, as yet entire,
But let its Roof run from th' approaching Fire.
Some dwellings charg'd by scouting Heats, let smoak;
And others, stand forlorn t'expect the shock.
On top of some, thick Crowds with Buckets arm
For Charge; but flying at the first Alarm.
Let ruining Hooks others exposed shake;
And gaping Chasmes let Warlike Engines make.
Express me Roofs blown up into the Aire;
And Flames they flye beneath let meet 'em there.
Next, draw a reeking Thames, and Barges flying
With singed Sayles, and stifled Fishes dying.
This done, a Jesuit place in view o'th' whole,
At Faux's bo-peep in some sneaking hole,
Laughing in's sleeve: and let this be the Mot,
Ha! this hits better then the Powder-plot.
Then on the top of Pauls let be exprest,
A melting Phoenix in a flaming Nest.
Hope will expound the Emblem; though I fear
Few hope, 'twill soon be verified there.
Lastly, If any nook remain unfill'd,
(He's loath an whole Page for his Face be spill'd)
The Poet in a Cypress-wreath insert;
(The Lawrel is a badg of a Desert,
Which he pretends not to: besides, he wears
An heart more suiting to an Age of Tears:)
Pale, like the City's Ashes, make his Looks,
(Too many wear its Fires:) by, let his Books
(Jeremy's Threnes, Salvian, Gildas, and
The Tristia of the banish'd Poet) stand:
Let his Eyes drop into his Ink, and thence
Supply his Quill, and mingle with his sense.
But ne're ask, Who He is: Find any He
That's such an one, and let him stand for Me.
FINIS.
LONDINI quod RELIQƲƲM.
OR, LONDONS REMAINS: IN LATIN and ENGLISH.
LONDON, Printed for Sa: Gellibrand, 1667.
The Stationer to the Reader.
THat the Author of these Poems sends them forth without his Name or Face, or Commendatory Verses of his Friends, (all which are usually affixed to those mens Essayes who desire to be known to the World, under the Character of Ingenioso's;) is not because he knows any cause to be ashamed of them; but because he is of a Profession to which Poetry is commonly thought, (though not, by any sober Persons, an unlawful or disparaging, yet) no accumulative or honorifick accession: And upon that account indeed, he is willing (with the known Painter) rather to hear the worlds censures behind the Curtain, than either to tempt the petulancy of the envious, or discourage the Liberty of the Ingenuous Critick, by a publick owning these recreative products of his fancy; which as it ows its first Birth to the potent Impression of the late dismal Conflagration, and present doleful Ruines of this Famous City; so desires to spend its last Breath in Congratulating its Restitution. After which, if he can by any means get himself rid of this Itch of versifying, (a disease, in common experience, not so easily cured as caught,) he resolves for the future, to be known only by the more proper Issues of his Function, which he may Father with more confidence.
LONDINI quod RELIQƲƲM.
Ad virum Doctissimum, eundcm{que} Amicissimum, GƲILIELMƲM LANGHAM, M. D.
PIcta parentali Londini funera Versu
Qui legis, & tepido proluis Imbre genas:
Parce, precor, lacrimis, abstersa{que} sordibus ora
Exhilara; Phaebo laeta jubente cano.
Collige Relliquias, nudata{que} carnibus ossa
Dixerat, & gremio conde, Thalia, tuo;
Faecundos cineres ut nostris condimus Ʋlnis,
Haeres ipsa sibi queis reparatur Avis:
Nam{que} suis, Me Vate, itidem nova Troja resurget
E Tumulis, Versu mox celebranda tuo.
Paret; at incensam lustrans dum circuit Urbem,
Ardet, & alterno claudicat inde Pede.
Sed sua solantur mancam spectacula Musam;
At{que} ait, haec nostri Carminis instar habent.
Imparibus{que} manent dum Tecta immista ruinis,
Impare item Versu par fuit illa cani.
Tu tamen interea, Soboles Phoebea, faveto,
Qui morbos succis, dira{que} fata fugas;
Leniter & medica tractes mea vulnera Dextra;
At{que} Machaonia, qua potes, Arte juves:
Sic captiva tuos ornet Libitina Triumphos,
Dum sequitur Currus funere rapta Salus.
ERrabunda premens quas noverat ante Plateas,
Quaerit Virgo oculis pristina signa suis.
Dum nusquam apparent, (ne sit suspecta rogando,
Ficta{que} ab irata crimina plebe luat;)
Qua videt, (& per cuncta videt) discurrere Cives,
Jungitur, & mistis devia miscet Iter;
Observans{que} simul sparsas per compita voces,
Ignotos populi discit ab ore locos.
Haec, aiunt, PAULINA fuit venerabilis Aedes,
Nec toto moles celsior Orbe fuit.
Tecta coronabant Parias laqueata columnas;
Pensile & immenso fornice Culmen erat.
Area longa Domum summam commisit, & imam;
Clivus & in plana est surgere visus humo.
Ʋltima{que} in gracilem coierunt Marmora conum,
Arte aciem a longe decipiente rudem.
Porticus occiduos capiebat splendida Soles,
Ʋnde rubens tota fulsit in aede jubar.
Materiam ingenio vicit sculptura sagaci;
Et celebre impositis Regibus auxit opus.
Sed simulac fuerat nimiis fervoribus ustum,
Dissiliens rimas undi{que} Marmor agit.
Impositae{que} ruunt dum vasto pondere moles,
Nativas repetunt vi penetrante, domos.
Quae{que} manent, rapido nutant erosa calore,
Exesas rupes ut maris Unda cavat:
Et veluti saeva quercum caedente dolabra,
Assula ab impacto Vulnere multa cadit.
Haec fuerant, alii, FIDEI Penetralia, dicunt,
Fornicibus lapsis est tumulata Fides.
Et periere simul doctae concredita Turbae
Pignora, fatali prodita Praeda rogo.
Ʋnde ambusta, (Velut Cumeae Oracla Sibyllae)
Sparsa procul Ventis Pagina docta fuit.
Ista Ruina tegit Pluteos, ubi scripta Vetusta
Versavit tremula Turba minuta manu.
Prostabant istis Musarum scrinia Cellis:
Ars alibi in pretio non fuit ulla magis.
Sacra Ʋlnis fragmenta fovet, (sua Damna) Thalia;
Dixit & in nostro prima cubate sinu.
Dum tamen indulget grato pia Musa labori,
Colligit & Gremio rudera digna suo:
Integer effossis visus restare ruinis
Praesul, ab exequiis cui tria saecia fluunt.
Integer & maneas; neque sit crudelior ipso
Turba tibi Tumulo, Pontificalis, ait.
Dum Discerpta illi venerando Busta profanant;
Ecce! Reformatis tuta Sepulcra manent.
Constitit, & simul in vicinas lumina clades
Volvens, indiciis condolitura suis:
HOSPITIUM, CHRISTI fuerat cui Nomen honori,
Nudato horrendum vertice, prima videt.
Nobilis, hic, uni Paulinae cesserat Aedes:
Mole prior Pauli, nulla nitore fuit.
Ornarat{que} Scholam largis proventibus auctam
Munifica Civis plurimus altus ope.
Vidit: & ut surgant, dixit, tua Maenia, Christe,
Tu pia prolifico Rudera conde sinu.
Contiguam ut vidit servatam ex Ignibus Aedem,
In risum maerens temperat ora levem;
Et mutilis, inquit, merito, Vulcane, favebas,
Fabula si claudos dat tibi vera pedes.
Vestra prope astiterant Phoebi Collegia proles:
Nec poterant statui commodiore Loco.
Nam{que} Patris nostri vicum apte clauserat Amen,
Praevia & ad Medicos jusserat ire prece.
Ignifluas sed sensit Amen, ne{que} finiit Iras,
Nulla{que} erat tanto par Medicina malo.
Surgite, ait, nostri sacraria surgite Phoebi,
Et junctam rursus sentiat aeger opem.
Proxima erant quondam speciosi culmina Templi,
Nomina Structores SANCTA SEPULCHRA dabant.
Omne tamen Sanctum communia Fata profanant,
Tu{que} Sepulta Domus Nominis Omen habes.
Ʋna, ferunt, Campana manet, quae morte luenti
Crimina, in extremis officiosa fuit.
Et maneas, inquit, flammis{que} erepta, reposcas
Authores tantae qui modo stragis erant.
OCCIDUAM hinc cupidis URBEM perlustrat Ocellis,
Exultat{que} simul Culmina nota videt.
Gratulor & Vobis, nostrae miracula Gentis,
Dixit, ab insano non temerata Rogo.
Agnosco Petri Cathedram, Regum{que} Sepulchra,
Fassa{que} Mortales Marmora maesta Deos.
Atria{que} augusti consultis clara Senatus:
Qua{que} sonant rauci Jurgia docta Fori.
Caesaream agnosco sedem, cui Nobilis Aula
A Domino splendet nobilitata suo.
Tutum & ait, Dominum celebris tibi gratulor Aula,
Tutam & te Domino gratulor Aula tuo.
Conversae, occurrit discors sibi Nomine Vicus,
Re, carus nimium, Nomine vilis erat.
Cui, (nisi cum magnos celebrabant Vina triumphos)
Limpida ab aurato Fonte fluebat aqua.
Discito Justitiam (flamma dictante) Platea,
Dixit, & e nostro fota resurge sinu.
Vicinam spectans obliquo lumine Portam,
Fixa super palis ossa manere videt,
Inferias Carolo caesas: ne{que} Flamma volebat
Destitui exemplis Crimina tanta suis.
Musa, manete, inquit, saeclis documenta futuris,
Et longas Regum Manibus esse Manus.
Respexit pariter quae nomine nota SIONIS
Atria sunt tristi semicremata Rogo.
Gratulor & vobis, dixit, (mea Cura) Libelli,
Relliquiae stragis pars quotacun{que} manet.
Biblia sed cum sint Thecis exuta, precamur,
Auspiciis surgas Bibliotheca novis.
Cella etiam hic periit peragrato dives Hymetto,
Florilega in{que} favum mel cumularat Avis.
Infelix{que} (inquit) Volucris, gentilia Fata
Agnosco: Flammis diripiuntur APES.
Sed moris meminisse tamen, Vulcane, decebat;
Ardet Apis flamma, Mella manere solent.
Quin, melius, praeter morem, Dea, (Mulciber inquit,)
Nectare direpto sedula vivit Apis:
Vivit Apis, totam{que} iterum praedabitur Hyblam,
Congeret in{que} novas mox nova Mella Domos.
At simulac Critices collecta Volumina Sacrae
Percipit infausto comperiisse Favo;
Ingemit, & nostri haec fuerant pars Magna laboris,,
Inquit, & immensi Causa doloris erunt.
Infelix Bustum, periit quo tota Vetustas,
At{que} antiqua novum rudera Funus habent!
Caetera ut admittam saeclis reparanda futuris
Damna, parem cumulum saecula nulla dabunt.
Haud procul, excelsis olim PRAETORIA pinnis
Surgebant; Pario Marmore fulsit opus.
Alta duo Aetnei servabant Atria Fratres,
Praetexta{que} frequens splenduit Aula Toga.
Hic populo Augustus reddebat Jura Senatus,
Et sua Praetori sella curulis erat.
Sed ne{que} Vulcanum Juris reverentia cepit,
Tuta satellitio nec fuit Aula suo.
Vidit, & exurgas, dixit, speciosior Aula,
At{que} frequens solita Curia lite strepat.
Qua numerosa olim doctis pulsantibus aera
Suaviter ad varias sunt modulata notas.
Qua{que} repercussos inverso Turris ab ARCU
Vibrarat quondam Musica Turba sonos:
(Subditus his Vulcanus erat, nam{que} aere jubente,
In tota prunas condidit Ʋrbe cinis)
Nunc elingue jacet quondam vocale Metallum,
Ludibrium{que} Rogis Arcus inermis habet.
Neve impune feras, (inquit) tu Mulciber ipse
Mox alias Voces, altera Tela dabis.
Pergit & ad notam REGALI NOMINE BURSAM,
Et flammae Victor, Greshame, dixit, Ave.
Hausit Opus fateor, (gemitu{que} haec Verba profundo
Protulit) augustum, magnificum{que}, Rogus.
Restituent tamen haec, nisi fallimur Atria fratres,
Et strepet in pinnis vestra Cicada novis.
Te quo{que} quam celebrant condente, Vicaria Bursa,
Interea in laudes visitur us{que} tuas.
Viderat hic quondam REGALIA MARMORA Virgo,
Quae meminit numeris sic cecinisse suis.
Tu dubio Haeredi, CONFESSOR, Regna relinquis.
Te violata premit, proxime HAROLDE, fides.
Anglia deinde patet VICTORI, at clausa cadenti est
Neustria. RUFE, feras dum petis, ipse peris.
Musa dedit Sceptrum HENRICO, Muraena Sepulchrum.
Crux & Amor STEPHANO pulchra Matilda fuit.
HENRICO Rosamunda placet formosa Secundo.
Corde Leo, ast Agni signa, RICARDE, geris.
Infensum rapuit Monachi vindicta JOHANNEM.
HENRICE in Proceres, Tertie, Bella geris.
Paruit, EDVARDO, conjunctis Cambria Scotis,
Primo. At saeva subis Fata, SECUNDE, veru.
Illustrem{que} Periscelidem, tu, TERTIE, tollis,
Privata{que} alter, morte, RICARDE, cadis.
Rapta serunt Bella HENRICO Diademata quarto.
Paret Victori Gallia, QUINTE, tibi.
Excussit regnata jugum Lutetia SEXTI.
Regna, bis EDVARDUS, subdita, quartus habet.
Rex Titulo QUINTUS fuerat: quo, tertie, caeso,
Rex Titulo vacuus, Sceptra, RICARDE, rapis.
Tu, mistis, HENRICE, Rosis tibi, Septime, firmas
Imperia. OCTAVO. Papa, jubente, fugit.
Praepropera EDVARDO Pietas & Funera Sexto.
Innocuo rubuit sanguine saeva SOROR.
Virginitas, Pietas, Pax, Copia, gloria ELISAE.
Pax, Pietas, Artes, docte JACOBE, tua.
Martyrii titulo tu solus, CAROLE, fulges.
Clementis Titulum CAROLUS alter habet.
Sparfa tot in cumulos Regum fragmenta Thalia,
Manca{que} membra simul, trunca{que} Sceptra videns,
Vestra, ait, hac (Reges) referuntur Imagine Fata,
Ficta{que} par Vobis Marmora funus habent.
Fata tamen CAROLO sint segnia: sana senectus
Obrepat lento, lento abitura Pede:
Post{que} suos alio reparatos Marmore Patres,
Sera ipsum ad Patres colligat hora suos.
Et fallant nova vaniloquos ostenta Prophetas;
Et lapsus mendax Omen habeto Lapis:
Exactus{que} Anno Numerus ter sextus in uno,
Anti-Monarchistis somnia falsa probet.
Pergere & ad Thamisin, (dilecta{que} flumina Musis
Saepe canunt Vates) sollicitavit Amor.
Hic refluas Moles augusta repercutit Undas,
At{que} duplex solido Fornice Ripa coit.
Summum etiam Pontem fastigia celsa coronant,
Despicit at{que} frequens inde habitator Aquas.
Sed fremit injectas subterflua lympha catenas,
Et gemit obstructas fluctibus esse vias.
Audisti; & vindex adero, (Vulcane) gementi,
Dixisti; & rupto fornice lympha flues.
Parte tamen labefactata, Te, (Mulciber) ajunt
Extemplo incepti paenituisse tui.
Nam timuisse ferunt ne surgeret unda soluta,
Et Thamisis Dominae libera ferret opem.
Musa videt; Celebres{que} premant tua flumina Moles,
Inquit, & us{que} fremens despiciatur Aqua.
Tu quoque, queis prudens Iras, Vulcane, premebas,
Invitus deinceps discito fraena pati.
Astiterat Tabulata Domus, multo unde labore
Flumineam in calices Antlia duxit Aquam.
Docta per anfractus varios ascendere Nympha
Daedaleis solita est Tecta subire viis.
Mulciber, at rapidis succumbas Machina flammis,
Dixerat, in clades ingeniosa meas.
Musa, gemens periisse suas ubi percipit Artes,
Inquit, & artifici Machina surge Manu.
Prospicit hinc notum deterso abdomine Vicum,
Ʋnde fuit tanti Fons & Origo mali.
Dixit, & aeternis damnatus surge Cloacis
Viculus, infamis nomina Cladis habens.
Hinc conspecta manet Castelli Regia Moles.
Arx est tuta Loco, tutior Arce Locus.
Julius haec fertur struxisse Palatia Caesar,
Obtineat siquam Fabula prisca fidem.
In latus omne patens TURRIS circumspicit Ʋndas,
Cogit & Ignivomis in sua Jura Minis.
Omnimoda hic Mavortis erat congesta supellex,
Quae{que} tegunt homines Arma, quibus{que} premunt.
Hic quo{que} signantur Titulis & Imagine Regum
Mortales animos quae Magis Arma domant.
Praesidio tutam Carolus sibi fecerat Arcem:
Praesidio at fuerat tutior illa Dei.
Sed tremuit merito tanto obvallata calore,
Cui satis ad Clades una Favilla foret:
Et nisi divino superesset munere sospes,
Flagrassent uno Regna Britanna foco.
In sua dum reduces vertit vestigia plantas,
Spargit & hinc lacrimas, spargit & inde preces.
Conspicit Aurificum flammis arsisse Tabernas,
Nomine ubi Italico nota Platea fuit.
Qua{que} dedit Gramen perituro Nomina Vico,
Non superest tantis Herba minuta focis:
Gratia sive dedit grato sua Nomina vico,
Nunc superest tantis Gratia nulla Rogis.
Angulus at juxta restat de funere raptus,
In quo (LANGHAMIDAE) portio vestra fuit.
Eminet alta Domus, quae tantis obsita flammis
Nuper erat, plusquam Voce, PROPINQUA CRUCI.
Magna Domus, minor at Domino, cui copia Menti
Suppetit, & magnas Mens magis ornat opes.
Larga manus memores solita est fecisse merendo;
Et sensere Scholae, sensit Egenus opem.
Importuna, videns, vix pressit Gaudia Músa:
Dum grave diducto Carmen ab ore sonat.
Discite, quam valeant flammas benefacta fopire,
Rursus in Authorem juffa redire suum.
Hic quo{que} GRESHAMICIS TITULIS COLLEGIA fulgent.
Proxima{que} infames non tetigere Rogi.
Non minus haec Helicone suo dilexit Apollo
Atria, & Aonii Turba novena chori.
Omnimoda e celsis sonat hic Doctrina Cathedris;
Dotatas{que} Artes qui profitentur, habent.
Philosophi hic Regnant, & Reges Philosophantur,
(Unica enim tantis syllaba danda Viris)
Qui Reges socios Tituli splendoribus aequant,
Sed faciunt Titulis splendidiora suis.
Vapulat hic veteris jurata in verba Magistri
Credulitas, facili tramite docta sequi.
Hic celata diu Natura Arcana fatetur;
Velatum{que} nihil quod tueatur, habet.
Hic formidandam cataphracti Pulicis Hastam
Qui videt in Tubulo, vulnera magna timet:
Quos{que} leves ictus compuncta cuticula sentit,
Majores dubitat sensibus esse suis.
Squameus & Capitis spectantes Incola terret,
Nata nec ista putant Corpore Monstra suo:
Dum{que} unco tenuis prensatur Crinis ab ungue,
Creditur Herculea Clava tremenda manu.
Parva loquor. Magnum est, paret quod sensibus aether,
At{que} oculis, Mentes quae latuere, patent.
Tu lustrata, novis nunc, Cynthia, rupibus albes,
Et maria agnoscis qua modo Dumus eras.
In{que} tuo maculae spectantur, Cynthie, vultu.
Falcifer at{que} Ansas queis teneare, geris.
Tu, quoque, Mars, tu blanda Venus, tu{que} aliger Hermes,
Cum{que} Satellitio Jupiter Ipse tuo;
Panditis insolita in tenui spectacula Vitro:
Nec sunt Astra minus Pulice nota levi.
Tu que, animo cui Vota Orbem fecere Minorem,
Hic fieres animi compos, (Avare) tui:
Si modo quae ignotos patefecit vitrea Mundos
Machina, ad hos Mundos & docuisset Iter.
Quid? quod in Exiguis trutinatur Lancibus Aer,
Vertitur & pluma justa Statera levi?
Regna quod Imperiis parent Neptunia doctis,
Et fluit ad Leges mobilis unda Novas?
Certa quod immensi capitur Mensura profundi,
Et vacuum posthac Nomen Abyssus erit?
Quod situla in salso, quaqua patet, aequore mersa,
Excluso hauritur dulcior Ʋnda Sale?
Quod mutare Vices Anni quo{que} Tempora cogunt,
Friget & aestiva mista Lagena nive?
Quod liquefacta novos acquirit Terra fluores,
In{que} novas moles consolidantur Aquae?
Quod vibrante fugax motu dum praeterit Hora,
Pendula Sole Dies certius aera secant?
Mox quo{que} Marmorea lapidescent Robora crusta,
Occludent{que} suas Ignibus Arte vias.
O utinam Petris ita loricata fuissent,
Materiam flammis quae modo Ligna dabant!
Staret adhuc forsan, ne{que} nostrae flenda Camoenae
Urbs fuerat rapidis Esca vorata Rogis.
Tu quo{que} quae versas cecinisti Musa figuras,
Materia hic dives nobiliore fores.
Hic exhausta tumet peregrino sanguine Vena,
Transmissae{que} Animae non sua Membra fovent,
Mox effoeta novo calefient corpora succo,
Et refluet celeri pulsa Juventa pede.
Prima{que} praecipitem accerset lanugo senectam,
Induet & canas, Arte jubente, nives.
Integer in{que} suum Pylades transibit Orestem,
Nec Pyladi frustra nomen Orestis erit.
Forsan & ambiguo dum ludunt Corpore Mentes,
Eludent docto ferrea Fata dolo.
Quin & Pastori latrans famulabitur Agnus,
Balantes{que} metent pascua laeta Canes.
Hinniet, & fremitu sibi praelia poscet Asellus,
Et Sonipes raucos proferet ore sonos.
In{que} Hominem dum grata Jovi transfunditur Ales,
Mox laeves Artus insita Pluma teget;
Et tibi; quas frustra tentavit sutilis Ala,
Icare, donabit propria penna vias.
Denique, mille colunt celebrem Miracula sedem,
Quae non sunt Elegis concipienda meis.
Restat: at afflatos vultu confessa calores
Discolor a foedo redditur Igne Domus.
Vidit: & hac una minuis tot crimina Laude,
Musa ait; & veniam Lemnie, habeto meam.
Caetera ut invisit tantae invidiosa ruinae
Fragmina, & e Magna quod super Urbe fuit.
Plurima tacta videt flammis lambentibus, aegre
Erepta insano semicremata Rogo;
Integra pauca, (Hosti pariter praedanda relicta)
Nunc Dominis cumulant lucra, recepta, suis.
Sed nolite, monet, nimio conducta locari;
Ne nova vos, pressis Fratribus, Ira premat,
Non vobis rapidus fecit stipendia fervor;
Sed Domino Obsequium praestitit ille suo.
Quae{que} alios nunc Fata premunt, & vestra fuissent,
Si paribus meritis par quo{que} poena foret.
Vos quoque, quae subeunt trepidantes Rudera Cives,
Murorum{que} graves mole tumente Minae;
Auspiciis Coeli & CAROLI surgetis: Erit{que}
Nobilior Damnis Urbs rediviva suis.
FINIS.
LONDONS REMAINS
Made English: And Dedicated (with some small difference from the Latin) to the most Ingenious, and every way hopeful young Lady, Mrs. MARY LANGHAM.
ALL you whose Cheeks my LONDONS Obsequies
Once drenched from your watry Eyes,
Now drain those floated Grounds, and damme their Spring;
I better News from Phoebus bring.
Dear Muse, said he, walk the sad Round, and turn
Thy tender Bosome to an Ʋrn;
Hide there the Sacred Dust: so we repair
The Bird that to himself is Heir.
And so shall LONDON from its Ruines spring,
And thou shalt its Good-morrow sing.
The Muse obey'd; but walking burnt her foot;
(Her limping Verse to that impute:)
Sad was the sight; yet this I like, said she,
Poem and Subject both agree:
For, me thinks, whiles unequal Lines I payre,
Like House and Ruine matcht they are.
Her Round perform'd, (sweet Madam) straight, to you
She crawles, with her Remarks, as due.
Your Vertue first, Relation, next, she knows,
Concern you in the Cityes Woes:
And since she's told, [A Ladyes Hand doth Cures]
She hopes that Influence from Yours.
ENtring the City once exactly known,
Thalia found her marks were gone:
Whence, loath to ask her Way, for fear of danger,
('Twas death then to be thought a stranger,)
Silent, she joyn'd her self to every throng,
And bade her ears supply her Tongue.
In dumb Procession thus my Muse did pass;
And common Chat her Tutor was.
This was, said some, PAƲLS Reverend Edifice;
The World did not its like comprise.
A Carved Roof its Marble Pillars crown'd,
And these to that, vast Arches bound.
It's monstrous length to the unlearned sight
The Floor, and Cieling did unite.
Pillars remote, approach'd, which parted, nigh;
And each step up-hill seem'd to lye.
A Noble Porch suck'd in the Western Ray,
And through th' whole House did it display.
Whose richer Art made the Materials vile;
And with Two Princes crown'd the Pile.
But, so intense was the surrounding Flame,
The Marble gap'd, and loos'd the Frame.
The Roof, fail'd by its Propps, forc'd into th' Earth,
To seek the Place that gave it Birth.
Now nought remains but Ruines rudely torn,
Like Cliffs which fretting Waves have worn.
Chipp'd, like the rough-hew'd Oak, when th' Axe doth pare
Its Trunk to an uneven Square.
These Vaults (said others) do St. Faith comprise:
False Faith! write on her, Here she lies.
Rich Pawns the Letter'd Tribe did there depose,
But a deceitful Guardian chose.
Like Sybylls Leaves, the scorched Learning fell,
Scatter'd by Winds too farre to tell.
There; trembling Boyes rubb'd out their Authors sense
On studious Thumbs, then suck'd it thence.
The Muses in those Shops were woo'd and wonne;
But Money made the Match come on.
This learn'd; of all the Sacred Reliques, part
She grasp'd, and laid 'em next her Heart.
Thus, whiles she spends her charitable pains
On Sacred, mixt with Learn'd Remains:
Uncas'd, a Prelate, (on the Marbles Trust)
The Third Age since, sent Dust to Dust,
Entire appears; and so, if Rome, (said She)
Permit, entire remains for me.
Whiles its Devotion plunders Tombs, 'tis seen,
Protestant Faith's their safest Skreen.
Here my Muse made a stand, her weeping Eye
Sent round the Neighbour-Coast a Spye:
Where, like a Wood devested of its Lopps,
First CHRIST-CHƲRCH shew'd its naked Topps.
This Church, next PAƲLS was fam'd; PAƲLS the more wide;
But this with it for Neatness vi'd.
And many poor Boyes from its School had grown
To th' Honour of the Purple Gown.
May thy Celestial Patrons tender Care,
(Said She) advance thy quick Repaire.
The bordering Hospital when safe She view'd,
Her sad Face to a smile she skrew'd,
And said, Lame Forgeman, if the Tale be true,
This Mercy was thy Brethrens due.
PHYSICIANS COLLEDG next, its Seat did Fit,
Whether by Chance there plac'd, or Wit.
It stood at Amen, Pater-noster's close;
For he needs pray that takes a Dose.
A cureless Causon did the Colledg spend;
Nor did Amen its Furyes end.
Apollo's Council-house, said she, arise:
Dark Cases need a Clubb of Eyes.
A lofty Pile, (now humbled) next appears,
Once Christ'ned'twas SAINT SEPƲLCHERS:
Which since it felt the all-interring Flame,
The Saint lost, kept its empty Name.
They tell us hereof One unmelted Bell,
That toll'd Condemned Felons Knell.
This Rumour heard, hang still, said she, to do
That Work for LONDONS FAƲXES too.
Thus, Westward plac'd, She view'd the WESTERN TOWN
Glad by its Tops it might be known:
And, (Englands Gloryes) I congratulate
To you, (She said) your better Fate.
There stands Saint Peter's Shrine: Next, that, wherein
What denies Princes Gods, is seen.
And there's the House where wisest Heads decreed,
And th' HALL where nimblest Tongues are fee'd.
And there's WHITEHALL, a Noble Pile, although
Its Royal Owner much below.
I joy you both, (may both Joyes lasting be)
Of Thee, thy Master, of thy Master, Thee.
Her Face once turn'd, she now beholds an Heap,
Where stood a Street, misnamed CHEAP.
Here once a glorious Aqueduct did shine,
Where Triumphs Water turn'd to Wine.
May Fire refine, and teach thee too, She cryes,
As statelier, so more honest rise.
On the next Gate, unhappy Limbs there stood,
That expiated Charles His Blood.
The Flames themselves were loath, that after-Times
Should lose the Vengeance of such Crimes.
This seen; Sad Reliques, teach the World, (She sings)
Long-handed are the Ghosts of Kings.
To SION-COLLEGE next She turns her Eyes;
Which, part-burnt, part-escap'd, She spyes.
Dear Books, (said She) your dangers were my cares:
And now my Joy exceeds my fears.
Glad you are safe; I gladder should become,
Your House re-built, and you at home.
Here flam'd an Hive the Muses Bird had fraught
With Honey from Hymettus brought.
Poor Bird! (said She) this Fate attends thy Name,
For BEES oft plund'red are with Flame.
But, Vulcan, yet, me-thinks, you Custom broke,
For th' Honey sav'd, the Bees we smoke.
Yea, rather, thank me, Madam, (answer'd Hee)
That took your Hive, and drove your Bee.
Your Bee preserv'd, will spread his buzzing wing,
And to New Hives all Hybla bring.
Within this Hive, of all the Wealth She lost,
The Sacred Criticks stung her most.
Dear Births, (said She) of my once-teeming Throwes,
Now Parents of my lasting Woes!
Ʋnhappy Flame, in which devoured lye
Th' Ashes of all Antiquity!
No other Losse disdaineth Times repair:
But This, is Times and my despair.
Next GƲILD-HALL, once, on Marble Pillars stood,
Pillars, too proud of such a Load.
Two armed Giants were its constant Guard,
Whiles thither peaceful Gowns repair'd.
Here, a grave Senate Causes did debate,
Which the Lord Mayor adjudg'd in State.
But lawless Flames adjourn'd the Court from thence,
'Gainst which its Guards were no defence.
But, Rise, (said She) more stately from thine Ʋrn,
And may the banisht Court return.
The next advance unto her mind did bring
The Charms of an harmonious Ring.
The bended BOW shot thence reflected sounds,
Made up of Musicks best Compounds.
Its Courfeu-Bell once flames in order kept;
And rak'd up Fire till morning slept.
The Bow disarm'd, in vain now scar'd the Flame,
And the shrill Metal dumb became.
Yet Vulcan, triumph not, (said She) for thou
Shalt rearm the disarmed Bow.
Her next Advance the ROYAL CHANGE presents;
Where GRESHAM thus She complements.
Haile, Flames Surviver; though thy Noble Pile
Be burnt, (said She, and wept the while)
Thy Grashopper, (turn'd Cricket now) shall sing
A welcome to its second spring.
Mean while, this to thy Memory is due,
For one Change meant, thou built'st us two.
The ROYAL STATƲES miss'd; her Memory,
Their Chronicle did thus supply.
First, the CONFESSOR left a doubtful Crown,
Which HAROLD snatch'd, and soon laid down,
The NORMANS prize: whom dead, his Caen deny'd.
For th' Hart, the Hunter, RƲFƲS, dy'd.
To Beauclerk HENRY Lampreys fatal were.
Th' Emp'ress, was STEPHENS Love, and Fear.
Fair Rosamund did Second HENRY charm.
And LION-HEART, the Lamb did Arm.
To JOHN, the Monk a deadly Wassaile clears.
Third HENRY's Barons prov'd his Peers.
First EDWARD, first the Welsh and Scot did quell.
Spitted to death Next EDWARD fell.
Third EDWARD, first the Noble Garter ty'd.
Ʋn-crown'd, the Second RICHARD dy'd.
Fourth HENRY's Arms piec'd up his Titles Crack.
The FIFTH pay'd France her Conquest back.
Sixth HENRY once lost France, and England twice.
Both Losses were Fourth EDWARD's rise.
Fifth EDWARD was a King; but for his Crown
His Ʋncle DICK pay'd him in Down.
The Seventh HENRY weds the Rival Rose.
The EIGHTH, Romes Rival Power o'rethrows.
Sixth EDWARD early ripe, did early rot.
A bloody Reign did MARY blot.
Peace, Plenty, Piety, the VIRGIN fames.
Religion, Peace, and LEARNING, JAMES.
A Martyrs Name First CHARLES alone doth bear.
May [Merciful] the SECOND wear.
The dreadful Wrack now all together flings;
Crowns, Scepters, and the Trunks of Kings.
And, like your Statues, Kings, said She, you must
Once mingled be with common Dust.
But, Heavens, CHARLES his Fate delay! may slow
Arrive his Age, and slower go.
May he his Fathers in new Marble case:
And late with's Fathers take his place.
And you, who dream't o'th' Fall of Kings, at last
Grow wise, now Sixty-Six is past.
Come off (at least) like Oracles; and say,
Your Credit's sav'd; These Kings are they.
Muses love streams. Whence prompted by Loves Fires,
How fares the Thames! mine, next enquires.
On Arched Stone a Noble Frame here stood
To wed Two Towns, and check the Flood.
Its lofty Tops with Princely Buildings crown'd,
'Midst Waves stood as on solid Ground.
But oft the roaring Tydes assay'd, in vain,
To break the Adamantine Chain.
This Vulcan heard, and, Grieved Floods, (said He)
Your Liberty receive from Me.
Which Word in part made good; it since appears,
He took new Counsels from his Fears.
For doubted 'twas, th' enlarged Stream might swell,
And for its Soveraigns sake, rebel.
This learn'd: Fond Waves, wear still your Noble Chain,
Your Pride (said She) and not your Pain.
And may thy Furyes now by Fear repell'd,
(Vulcan) henceforth by force be quelld.
Near by, the River hal'd by Engines force
Beyond the Level of its source,
And branch'd by secret Labyrinths abroad,
In private Kitchins was bestow'd.
Pernicious Engine for my ruine fram'd,
Burn thou, (said Vulcan) and it flam'd.
Dear Engine, (said the Muse) be thy repair,
Thy skilful Artists second Care.
The next place view'd, was, where the Flame began,
From empty'd Tripes call'd Pudding-Lane.
And ne're (said She) to greater Honour rise,
Thou Source of Londons Tragedies.
The Royal TOWER next escap'd she spi'd,
By Art and Site joynt-fortifi'd.
The first of Caesars, (if you credit Storyes)
Added this Pile to's Brittish Gloryes.
The dreadful Terror of its Thund'ring Flames,
Gives Law to the surrounding Thames.
Here, Mars his Storehouse yeilds all sorts of Arms,
Both to repel and threaten Harms.
Here too, Kings Names and Faces authorize
Arms us'd for greater Victories.
A Royal Guard this Pile in safety kept:
He, it, and them, who never slept.
The siege of Flames this Fort did justly scare,
Which one small spark had toss'd i'th' aire.
And, but that Heaven interpos'd to save,
That spot had been Three Kingdoms Grave.
Whiles from these Sights the Muse returns, and here
Scatters a pray'r, and there a Tear.
In Goldsmiths Street, known by th' Italian Name,
She saw the dreadful Prints of Flame.
And that which GRACES some, some GRASSES, call,
(No matter which) now's none at all.
Its Grace, this Ruine shews, but mortal was;
And wither'd, like its Embleme, Grass.
At th' other end, a Nook there was repriev'd,
In which the LANGHAMS Seat surviv'd.
Once CROSSBT's twas; and thence the Name, although
That Name ne're match'd it so, as Now.
A Noble Seat of a more Noble Lord,
Where Mind doth with his Wealth accord.
This great, that generous, Friends by bounty made;
Those pay'd him Pray'rs, Pray'rs ruine stay'd.
Scarce could the Muse forbear ill-timed Joyes,
But could not this instructing Voyce;
Good Works quench Fires, whiles they ascend, (like rain)
In our needs to descend again.
Nigh, GRESHAM-COLLEGE stood; and (which is more)
Yet stands, though Ruine knock'd at door.
Apollo and the Nine, oft here resort;
And Helicon's the thinner Court.
Here learned Lectures on all Themes are read;
And Arts endow'd, Professors wed.
Philosophers here govern Earth and Skies;
And Kings Themselves Philosophize.
The Fellowship a Royal Title wears:
But things beyond their Title, dares.
Old Masters here are school'd again; and must
Now learn by Trial, not by Trust.
Here, Natures Cabinet is expos'd to sight;
And all her Shop held up to light.
Here, in a Tube, the armed Flea doth bear
Deaths on the point of's dreadful Spear:
And he that feels it, (whiles he sees it such)
Believes his Eye before his Touch.
Here, he that views the Native of his Head,
Disclaims the Monster that he bred:
And from th' Hair-Clubb his Armed Paw doth wield,
The place in which it grew, doth shield.
But, these are small things. It's much, that the Skye
Where Thought ne're pierc'd, admits the Eye.
White Rocks, the Moon, a second Albion make;
And that's a Sea, which was a Brake.
Sol's face now, Ladyes, Beauty-patches wears,
And Saturn's like a Pot with Ears.
Yea, Jove, and's Guard, and Heavens King-at-Arms,
Warr's God, and Venus with her Charms;
Each, in a narrow Glass strange sights displays:
And Starres are known, as well as Flea's.
Yea, Thou, whose greater Mind th' old World outgrew,
Might'st here each Night descry a New:
Though that would grieve thee too, except the way
To th' New Worlds were as known as They.
'Tis much, that Ayre it self in Scales is weigh'd;
And Scales by smallest Atomes sway'd.
That lawless Seas new Laws of Motion know,
And by learn'd Measures ebb and flow.
That the Ocean's rendred fathomable, and
Abysse, for a meer Name doth stand.
That from the Briny Pond new Buckets fill'd,
Excluding salt, fresh water yield.
That Summer-snow (the year inverted) cooles
Th' offensive heat of flaming Bowles.
That Water's harden'd to an Earthy Mass,
And Earth dissolves to what It was.
That Time more sure doth by vibration run,
And Pendulum-Watches set the Sun.
Yea, shortly, Timber shall the Fire repell,
When crusted with a Marble shell.
What pity 'twas, th' Invention came too late
These Ruines to anticipate!
For then had LONDON been Flame-proof; nor had
My Muses subject been so sad.
He too, that sung chang'd shapes, might hence enrich
His Muse, without a God or Witch.
Here, empty'd Veins with blood adopted swell,
And Souls in Foreign Bodies dwell.
Whence young juyce shortly wither'd Limbs shall fill,
And Time remount the passed Hill.
Yea, hastned Age shall Childhoods Neighbour grow,
And on the downy Chin shall snow.
Pylades shall into his Friend be tunn'd,
And he himself to him refun'd:
So that, when one must dye, the Fates shall be
Puzled t' unriddle which is He.
Yea, barking Lambs their flatt'ring Tayles shall rear,
And bleating Dogs their Pastures shear.
The neighing-Asse shall at the Drumme rejoyce,
And hoarse shall be the Horses Voyce.
Tapp th' Eagle into Man, and 'tis presum'd
Smooth Ganymed will soon be plum'd:
And Icarus with native Wings shall flye,
Where borrow'd Plumes in vain did try.
In summe. A thousand Wonders here do dwell,
Too great for my poor verse to tell.
The College stands, but in its visage bears
The marks that justifie its fears.
This seen; I thank thee, Vulcan, (said the Muse)
This Pleads thy former Pranks excuse.
Hence, all the envy'd Fragments that remain,
Her searching Eye doth entertain.
Some lick'd by scorching Flames, discolour'd were;
Where Ruine only wrote, [How near!]
Others entire, (though once alike resign'd)
Their Lords, restor'd with profit, find.
But make not others Losse, your Gains, (She says)
Oppression, Mercy ill repays.
The Flames from you received not their Pay,
But Heavens Commission did obey.
And had a like Desert, like rigour found,
Your Topps alike had kiss'd the Ground.
And you too, ragged Walls, which men walk under
Possess'd at once with fear and wonder;
Rise to GOD's Honour, and the KING's; and grow
More glorious by your Overthrow.
FINIS.
ACTIO IN LONDINI INCENDIARIOS. Ad virum Nobiliss. Doctiss. Dominum JUSTINIANUM ISHAM, Baronettum.
QUI tua LONDINƲM, deflevit funera, inique
Carpitur, in Satyram quod non desiverit, aestus:
Displicet & nimio tanquam moderamine peccet,
Quod lugubre truci non saevit verbere Carmen.
Parcite sed moesto, Censores, parcite Vati,
Tempora si justo dedit illibata dolori;
At{que} immaturae sprevit solatia poenae.
Sed ne{que} nostra calent plebeio corda furore;
Nec frustra caecos bacchando perdimus Ictus;
Dum petimus vacuos ignoto ex Hoste Triumphos.
Non Manes, Huberte, tuos (cui justa fatenti,
Sive reus fueris, sive immemorabile Nomen
Rapturus tenebris assumpto Crimine, mendax,
Furca dedit lethum) nostra dignabimur ira.
Tu{que} referre vicem nocturno Brandaris Igne
Credita, & incensis furiata navalibus Haga:
Et Tu, quae nostros vetuisti animosa triumphos
Gallia; debetis mihi (vulgo Judice) paenas.
Quin potius, (si justa fremat, si vera loquatur
Suspicio) debete Deo, debete futuris
Temporibus, Menti tandem debete reversae.
Vapulat ipse sibi, qui nullo vindice peccat.
Vos certe, (O nimium ventura in clade sagaces,
At{que} importune grassante in strage minaces,
Papicolae) non pauca gravant deprensa reatus
Indicia, haud dubie saevam prodentia Romam.
Scilicet, Haereticos ferro flamma{que} petendos,
(Cuncta vetent Regni licet, hospitiique, tori{que}
Jura, vel ipsa quibus fiuht commercia Mundo)
Stat Capitolini sententia fixa Tonantis.
Talia dant Coelum: scelerum quaecun{que} Repertor
Horreret, faciunt Latiales crimina Divos.
Sunt quoque, queis haerent Mariani in mentibus Ignes,
Nuper & horrisono distentae pulvere Cellae,
Misturae Patres una Reges{que} ruina.
Sensimus, ah! quoties, flagrantem Matris amorem
ROMANAE? At grates meritis persolvere dignas
Non Operis nostri est. Solvet, qui justa repensat.
Majus opus moveo. Brevibus, dubiis{que} relictis
Syrtibus, Aonides, Pelago date vela patenti.
Et certum sulcate salum: Cynosura carinae
Fida dabit rectos optata ad littora cursus.
Tu modo, cui fulgent aeterna tempora lauro,
Arbiter insignis Romani Carminis, aequus
Respicias veterum a longe vestigia Vatum
Servantem, placidis{que} imple mea lintea ventis.
Tu{que} simul, Pater Omnipotens, rutilantia torquens
Fulmina, & in laceris crepitantes nubibus ignes;
Omnia, quo mandante, novos Elementa furores
Concipiunt, fractis{que} simul bacchantia claustris
Qua data porta, ruunt, & rupta repagula caleant;
Alme doce, quibus haec debentur Funera causis,
Certa{que} sollicito reddas Oraculi Vati.
Quo mage nam tantae stragis non cernitur Author,
Hac mage certa tuae cernuntur vulnera Dextrae:
Quo{que} magis rarus dignas Te concipis Iras,
Dum veniae facilis lentis fervoribus ardes,
Languida{que} invita contorques spicula Dextra;
Hoc magis, extortas absolvit crimine paenas,
Imputat at{que} suas sibimet Gens conscia clades.
Fallor? an audita sentit prece, corda moveri
Caelitus, illapso perfusus Numine Vates;
Nostra{que} non nostro praecordia flamine turgent,
Eructant{que} graves gravido de pectore voces?
Audiat ergo, suis quaqua Orbi avellitur undis,
Et tremat haud vanum secura Britannia Carmen.
Nam{que} suis Gens tota Deum stimulavit in Iras
Flagitiis; scelerum{que} strues immanibus ausis
Crevit, & injecta geminavit Pelion Ossa,
Subjecit{que} audax stipulas, flammas{que} poposcit.
Donec in immensum cumulo surgente, favillas
Subdidit, & flatu commotas pavit anhelo
Astripotons, corropta ingens dum silva jaceret
Tectorum; cellas{que} ignotis panderet Astris.
Sola sed ut pereas, non digna es sola perire
LONDINƲM: paribus Nemesis si debita causis,
Arderet, paribus flagraret tota ruinis
Anglia, & aequalis traheret contagia Fati.
Nupera nam{que} simul saevas furialis Enyo
Sparsit per tria Regna faces, tinctae{que} cruore
Cognato rubuere manus: vicisse nocendo
Ambitionis erat; quaesita{que} gloria Bellis
Quae nullis olim fuerant decoranda Triumphis.
Tu quo{que} funestis accedis Pompa Trophaeis
CAROLE, quem fecit Belli fortuna nocentem,
Et vinci Tibi Crimen erat: Ludibria Juris
Infracta virtute subis; saevae{que} securi
Aspersit maculam Regalis purpura Venae.
Heu! scelus exemplis majus: labesque, labor{que}
Historiae; Fidei Tortura; aeterna Cothurni
Materies; toto Atridas pulsura Theatro,
Quae{que} Thyesteis Solem extinxere Mycenis!
Nec totum est in Patre nefas. Expellitur insons
Progenies; rapitur Sceptrum; Regalia Jura
Privatis, & sacra simul Patrimonia cedunt:
Dum perit, in varios decies divisa Magistros
Libertas, tanti fuerat quae causa furoris.
Anxia sed, metuens{que} sui, nova regna Tyrannis
Legibus in rigidi speciem formarat honesti
[Page 5] Immodicis, iras{que} pia tardaverat Arte
Ʋltrices; aliquis{que} malo fuit usus in illo.
At simul assertos Fasces, & Sceptra redempta
Servitio, sensit Domino cessisse reverso;
Excussa est Gens tota sibi: germana Furoris
Libertas rapitur, laxis{que} Licentia vinclis
Invadit populum pariter vix justa ferentem
Gaudia, & immodici miscet confinia laeti.
Ridentes patimur Furias: ulciscitur Arma
Luxuria, & molli Bellum luit Anglia Pace.
Qualiter excusso cum saevit laesa Magistro
Immanis Lybies turrito Bellua dorso;
Impositi nutant trepido cum milite muri,
Totum frendet Ebur, versatur tortile Rostrum
Haurit & objectas Acies, discrimine nullo
Proturbans nigris mistos popularibus Hostes:
Taliter effractis Vesana Licentia loris
Qua vitio, qua vindicta, fremit, aestuat, ardet;
Successu{que} tumens, foedo omnia calce profanat
Jura; nec agnoscit spreti discrimina sancti.
Aethera{que} incestat spumis, mundi{que} Parenti
Tota oggrunnit Hara turpis Grex incola coeni.
Terra Atheis foecunda sumus: dum{que} omnia sparsis
Seminibus, sorti{que} damus, coelumque, solumque;
Numen, nec Fortuna facit: nam{que} exulat Orbe,
Fit{que} Atomis minor ipse suis qui condidit Orbem.
Qui timet, ille Deum fingit sibi. Tolle Timorem,
Nulla Timenda manent: tetrica mox Lege solutus
Omne scelus tutus perages, perjuria{que} ipsa
Admittes, pulso contempti vindice sacri.
Ingenii est violare Deum. Obbrutescimus illa
Concedunt nobis qua bruta animalia parte,
Ingrati; & coelo coeli scintilla rebellat.
Non aliter lacera fertur pugnasse Parente,
Cum peteret Bello pubes Titania Divos.
Evulso hic armatur Atho; rotat ille lacerto
Parnassum; Rhodopen laxata fundit habena
Alter, & in pluvias truncatum dissipat Hebrum;
Aetna volat, manibus{que} simul fabricata Cyclopum
Tela, Jovi nocitura suo; nativa{que} in Ignes
Naptha fluit, volucri{que} imitatur fulgura flamma.
Adde, quod haec odiis aetas urgendo priorum
Crimina, in Extremum rapitur violenter iniqum.
Ficta parens. Scelerum Pietas, praetensa{que} Causis
Numina disparibus, (quosvis suadente furores
Relligione, novis cumulat dum commoda sectis)
Nupera Tartareis foedabant Tempora Monstris.
Redditur hinc suspecta Orbi, fictae{que} reatum
Vera timet; dum Larva Boni quia displicet, ipsa
Horretur Facies; & aperto flagrat iniquo,
Ne subeat Mundus suspecti crimen Honesti.
Unde verecundo Virtus perfusa pudore
Exuviis tegitur vitii; & contenta latere,
Ambit securam tenebrarum in carcere vitam:
Vel, si forte suo patefiat prodita zelo,
Sentiat aut turpes aliunde objecta cachinnos;
Induit immeritos, timide defensa, rubores,
Suppositam{que} fovet vitiosa modestia culpam.
Aestuat interea Furiis Gens Impia nudis:
Nec tegitur furtis, aliove invita patescit
Indicio, accersens testes audacia Soles.
Numinis & si quem, aut Legum Reverentia fraenat,
Aut pudor ingenuos defendit crimine mores;
Si quis voce monet, vita{que} redarguit; ultro
Intentant odia, & bello bacchantur aperto.
Talis ab acclivi descendens vertice Torrens,
Ebrius epotis nivibus quas fundit ab altis
Ver Haemi Taurive jugis, at{que} auctior Imbre,
Discutit objectas Moles, & gurgite vasto
Saxa rotat, volvit{que} trabes, scopulis{que} minatur
Spumeus, illisa{que} sonat circumfluus unda.
Heu saeclum immersum vitiis, cui lethifer omne
Immisit Serpens Barathrum; cui Lerna profana
Ebullit sanie, multa{que} repullulat Hydra
Incestans diris praecordia faeta venenis!
Prima peregrinos imita ta Superbia luxus,
Exuit antiquos queis floruit Anglia, Mores.
Ambigui hinc Maribus cultus, mentem{que} professae
Munditiae imbellem: speculis impenditur aetas,
Quam poscunt Musae, quam poscit mascula virtus:
Labitur & nullo Tempus reparabile censu,
Dum coma solerti docilis crispata labore
Cogitur artifici lascivos pectine in orbes;
Et sordet maculis facies distincta virilis,
Fingitur in{que} modum teneri medicamine Sexus.
Semiviro{que} Viros pariter mentitur amictu
Foemina, & illicitos proclivior excitat Ignes.
Ingenio{que} procax scurris audacia Certat;
Provocat & salibus rifus, plausus{que} Theatri
Ambit, in immunda non ficta protervia Scena.
At{que} insuspecti spernens consortia sexus,
Cum dubia vitanda cupit commercia fama.
Hic lusus choreae{que} placent, ultro{que} petitae
Saepe suburbanae maribus comitantibus umbrae.
Istis ingenuae studiis celebrantur; & istis
Plus omni fugitur metuenda infamia probro,
Rusticitas; produnt agrestes altera Mores;
Et bene moratam faciunt quaecun{que} puellam,
Projecti totidem sunt Argumenta pudoris.
Nec dapibus tam pulsa Fames, quam pasta libido est
Immodicis; pretio{que} Gulae servitur, & Arte,
Ex quo frugales infecit Gallia mensas,
Et compilatum patinis immiscuit Orbem.
Unde furit rursus medicato fota veneno,
Faeda{que} prostratas reparat Lascivia vires.
Tu quo{que} Gentili vitio, Germania, nostris
Accedis Titulis: & quae non vinceris Armis,
Victa jaces cyathis, Patera spumante triumphat
Ebrietas; instat{que} scyphis, leges{que} bibendi
Constituit petulans, & magno Nomine firmat.
Hinc detrectandi pudor est, ardor{que} vicissim
Ʋrgendi; donec mersa ratione, furores
Concipuunt, foedis{que} calent praecordia flammis.
Haud secus illuvie squalent cum rura Canopi,
Hauferit immodicum si glebae spongia Nilum;
Abdita Sole tepent genitalia semina limi,
Et coenosa novis animantur gramina Monstris.
Est quo{que} jurati vacuis sermonibus addens
Nomina magna Dei. Nec pulsat densius aedes
Cum resilit crepitante repulsus verbere grando,
Et repetunt coelum solidatae frigore Guttae:
Nec gemit alternis quae tunditur ictibus incus
Crebrius, ad numerum cum tollit brachia Cyclops,
Versat & ignitum dentato forcipe ferrum:
Quam strepit, ingratis{que} obtundit vocibus aures,
Lingua procax spreto dicens convitia coelo.
Scilicet, his culti facundia germinat oris
Floribus; & tali pensantur pondere verba!
Adde, quod in Scena lasciva licentia regnat.
Obscoenis ubi scurra jocis ridenda propinat
Sacra; movet{que} leves dum personata cachinnos
Relligio, a mittit veros labefacta timores.
Proh lenocinium scelerum, quae perditus Actor
Aut discit fingendo, aut fingere discit ab usu!
Spect anti{que} labat Virtus; plausu{que} recepta
Turpia congeneres formant immitamina Mores.
Hinc trahit illicitas acuit{que} Cupido sagittas;
Hinc scortis foecunda seges; fervet{que} lupanar
Saeva charybdis opum, nullis{que} explenda vorago
Naufragiis; mala lucra comes quia punit egestas.
Hoc tyrocinio formatur ad Arma juventus?
Frangitur, (heu!) stupris virtus; vexilla, tubae{que}
Mollescunt, luxus{que} truces effoeminat Enses.
Hinc merito insultant Hostes, facilis{que} volenti
Cuivis praeda sumus, nec habet victoria Laudem.
O conclamatam Gentem, cui languida torpent.
Viscera; pressa salit ne{que} docto pollice Vena;
At{que} extincta jacent rediturae semina vitae!
Condonanda tamen Solis nocitura Libido
Innuptis. Atrox & detestabile c [...]imen
Conjugii violatus Honos, tedae{que} jugalis
Obtentu, vetitos celans Hymenaeus amores.
Consensu Thalami calcantur Jura; favent{que}
Conjurata suis genialia foedera probris.
Nec placet esse imitando malos. Exempla creantur
Quae superent Sodomae luxus, & stupra Gomorrhae.
O bene, coelestes quod nondum sensimus Ignes!
Anglia, parce Deo, flammae{que} agnosce minori.
Debueras non passa pati: Vindicta Tonantis
Intra exempla stetit, justos{que} coercuit aestus.
Dum Te vicerunt Poena, quos Crimine vincis,
Da lucro, meritum quas sic praeponderat, Iras.
Vos quoque, coelesti fulgentes lumine Mystae,
Poscimus obnixe Veniam, dum probra Verendae
Foeda Tribus, meritis exercet Musa flagellis,
Justa{que} poscenti praebet spectacula Mundo
Vos certe, O sancta Patres Pietate probati,
Coelica qui pura firmatis dogmata vita,
Et toto premitis Christi vestigia gressu;
Nulla inscripta meo Maculabit pagina Versu.
At vos, O quali (divinae turpia Sectae
Propudia) insecter Calamo! Non si mihi totis
Bulliat in venis quo fictum devovet Ibin
Battiades virus; Soceri vel Sanguine tinctus
Spartani Vatis chartas sulcaret Jambus;
In vos pro meritis satis excandesceret Ira.
Pro foedos scelerum Praecones, tristia saecli
Portenta, & cunctis famam minuentia Monstris?
Quinetiam ipse stupet vinci Dominator Averni
A vobis; sese{que} dolet minus esse nocentem.
Quam pudet, expositum pueris titubante Ministrum
Poplite, & incerto nutantem incedere gressu!
Quam male conveniunt, niveos cum tingit amictus
Ebrietate rubens at{que} ipsis concolor uvis
Nasus, & impressis facies distincta racemis:
Ructus & hesterni sacris permistus Jacchi!
Alea sin damnosa juvat, si Ganea turpis
Presbyterum; si multa remissis otia chartis
Induxere situm; nemorum si praeda sagaces
Exercet Catulos; ferrata calce superbus
Si foditur sonipes, properat dum carcere pulso
Ad metam, socios{que} cupit praevertere cursu;
Pignore si posito cristatus dimicat Ales,
Et strepit in Cavea quam poscunt Pulpita, lingua;
Forsitan & ritu teritur jurata profano
Coelica Majestas: Magno peccatur ubi{que}
Exemplo, & tali nil non Authore levatur.
Displicet & multis furor irrequietus habendi:
Cum mersus Mundo licitatur Templa Sacerdos,
Et (sacra stimulante fame) de glutit, hiat{que}
Poscendi rabies; at{que} infinita vorago
Crescit ab ingestis, cumulo{que} capacior ipsa est.
Spernitur & cuicun{que} sacer quam postulat Ordo
Despicitur gravitas: sive affectata jocandi
Mimica Libertas verborum pondera frangit;
Sive levis geritur vestitus; Taenia amictu
Dum fluit immodica, aut cincinnis Clericus ambit
Pendentem ex humeris alieni crinis honorem;
Et muliebre decus sparsum cervice virili,
Funditur in ventos, & molles spirat odores.
Hinc stupor at{que} odium populis, dum sustinet audax
Contemptum Mundi, & Patriae coelestis amorem
Ingerere, & vita pudefiunt dicta negante.
Poscitur hinc ejecta Cohors, populi{que} favore
Regnat, inoffensa peragit dum Munia vita.
Templa{que} nudantur Turbis, dum (Lege vetante)
Privatos augent Pastorum Scandala caetus.
Publicus & fugitur Cultus; sordescere Ritus
Incipiunt; toti{que} labat reverentia Clero:
Dum{que} suos praefert Morum probitate Magistros,
Imputat invidiae Vulgus discrimina Honorum.
Sed neque divisis justa est occasio Turmis,
Hinc, quasi pollutos, sacrorum temnere Fontes;
Et Coelo missas, Corvo fortasse Ministro,
Incusare dapes. Insana est Nausea, saevam
Quae praefert tolerare Famem, quam velle salubrem
Illota famulante manu, quae traditur, Escam.
Discite item, quorum produnt fastidia Morbum,
Posse vel in nitida misceri Lance venena;
Noxia{que} auratis hauriri toxica vasis.
Et suspecta minus, laedunt magis. Impia certe
(Ut cun{que} impurus cumulet sibi damna Sacerdos)
Plus alios tangunt, infami dogmata vita.
Privato{que} (malo si quis Pastore gravatur)
Quod multis noceat, redimendum est Schisma perielo.
Schisma, Anglis Faecunda lues, & pronuba dirae
Haereseos! Centum, Te procurante, seruntur
(Grammatici indulgete) Fides. Te{que} Arjete, vasto
Dissilit (ah!) Templi Paries concussus hiatu.
Hei mihi! quas strages animarum prodidit Aetas
Infelix; omnes dum palabundus oberrat
In partes Christi Grex unicus, at{que} rapaci
Dente minax, sparso Lupus insidiatur ovili!
Hic fugit, assuetos geminet quod Fistula Cantus;
Carpere quod genibus poscatur pabula flexis;
Lintea quod tergo gestet velamina Pastor,
Candida & infami distinguat vellera Signo.
Tingendos illi subducunt Fontibus Agnos,
In{que} vicem sese petulanter Gurgite mergunt.
Sunt, qui Ductores Gregis ad suffragia poscunt;
Et de diversis permiscent Bella Magistris.
Nempe, istis Corydon, illis praefertur Alexis,
His tu, (Mopse) places, aliis arridet Amyntas;
Alter amat neutrum, & pars multo maxima, nullum;
Libera sed mavult Campi commercia, & ipsis
Succenset Stabulis, & Crates transilit omnes:
Donec Romuleas, multis erroribus acta,
Cogitur in caulas; & vanos ipsa Timores
Quos fugit imprudens, vitando certius implet.
Hosne Deo fructus, hos gratae mentis honores
Redditis Angligenae; quos sacra Voce profundis
Saltibus implicitos secura in Pascua duxit?
Quos rexit Dux ipse Pedo, quos cespite laeto
Impletos, liquido recreavit Fonte benignus;
Arcuit & vigili funesta pericula Cura?
Siccine apud memores tanti stat gratia facti?
Siccine post sparsas foecundo semine glebas
Speranti infelix Domino mentitur agellus?
Quem{que} magis tumidis decuit flavescere aristis,
Horrea{que} immensa turgentia rumpere Messe,
Triste refert lolium, vel inanes Campus avenas?
Et miramur adhac, cur tanto ferveat aestu
Ignis, & excidio speciosae gestiat Ʋrbis,
Dum summa exuperat victrix fastigia Teda?
Miramur, volucres agitari turbine flammas,
Sparsa{que} in obliquos dominari Incendia gyros,
Omnia dum in nostras conspirant flamina clades!
Quin potius miranda Dei Clementia, in uno
Quae stetit excidio. Gratis Altaria donis
Ornanda, & dulces adolendi Thuris honores;
Mista{que} cum gemitu fundenda precantia verba,
Tandem ut pacata dignetur fronte Britannos
Respicere; & saevos rursus mollire furores.
Quid juvat obscuros tantum infestare Querelis
Authores Cladum? Nostra haec Incendia, Cives,
Crimina sparserunt: Nos saevo alimenta calori
Praebuimus: paucos{que} licet furiosa popelli
Suspicio exagitet sontes, (si vera fatemur)
Nulla ministerio tristi Manus abfuit. Omnes
Arguimur, quae conquerimur, fecisse merendo.
Haec Olim, certe, funesta piacula Coelo
Anglia debebas; nec adhuc aequalia pendis.
Lapsa{que} ni redimas meliori crimina fructu,
Consumptas frustra poenis speraveris iras.
Quin agite, O rerum quibus est commissa Potestas;
Tu{que} simul, juncto jam, CAROLE Magne, Senatu
Fortior, & triplici firmatis foedere Sceptris,
Surgite magnanimi, & prohibete Penatibus Ignes.
In tenues Ʋrbs una jacet resoluta favillas:
A reliquis arcete Faces. Par Causa furores
Expertis dabit us{que} pares, nisi justa furentes
Comprimat immistos Catilinis poena Cethegos.
Publica quos poscit stragis vindicta Ministros,
Potrahite e tenebris; Vestros absolvite Fasces.
Nec liceat cuiquam, nobis impune nocendo,
Ʋltores scelerum pariter fecisse nocentes.
Saltem agnoscamus, Leges in Pace timendas
Nolebant quas Bella pati: justo{que} docete
Supplicio, Patriae metuendam Vindicis Iram.
Quae{que} Deum simul infensum scelerata dederunt
Flagitia, Exemplis minuat conjuncta Potestas.
Aethereas prohibete minas, ne Numine laeso
Saeviat ulterius summi vindicta Tonantis.
Ante focos delicta cadant; hac caede luatur
Quicquid ab irato metuit Gens impia Coelo.
Lustrandae poenis Ʋrbes, ipsis{que} litandum
Prodigiis scelerum. Sic, sic, placabitis Aras.
Quinetiam, his tandem auspiciis AƲGƲSTA resurget
Clarior; & levibus mutatis Marmore lignis,
Firmior; inscribens Titulis nova Maenia vestris.
Nostra{que} Pestis adhuc quae tristi lurida Tabo,
Sanguine Mars, nigro Carbone Incendia signant;
Aurea venturis fulgebunt Tempora Fastis.
FINIS.