Mel Heliconium :: :: University of Virginia Library

That arch-Thief Satan, Pyrate of mankinde,
Had rob'd us of Gods grace, had spoil'd the minde,
And flung us in the sea of misery,
In which we must have dyed eternally:
Ev'n as those Theeves who had conspir'd to 'ntomb
Arion in old Glaucus glassy womb;
Who by his Harp from that salt grave was saved,
And on the Dolphins scaly back received:
On which, as on a horse triumphing rides,
And with his musick charms the windes and tides.
The sea-Nymphs are amaz'd to hear such noise,
And with unusuall dancings shew their joyes.
Stern Neptunes Trident doth the waves appease,
And Tritons blew horse tramples on the seas;
Thetis stands still and hears, the fishes skip
To hear this Song, to see this living ship.

The Dolphin was the ship, the pilot, and
The compasse too, that brought him to the land.
If this was true, t'was strange, sure this I know,
That Satan out of Paradise did throw
Adam unto a briny sea of cares,
Which had more dangers then his head had hairs.
The breath of Gods just indignation
Did raise the billows of this Ocean,
Which with a night of clouds obscur'd the sky,
And did involve with mists heavens brightest eye.
This incontrolled storm did rore and rage,
And nothing could the wrath thereof asswage,
Untill that storm was heard which calm'd the seas,
Unmask'd the Sun, and did the windes appease.
The Gentile Princes, who before were wilde,
Are by this musick charm'd, & made more milde.
Sions new Song hath caus'd great Potentates
Submit to Christ their crowns, their wealth, their states.
They yeeld their backs to him, him they support
In his sea-tossed members to their port.
And as Arion did the fish bestride,
Which through the main was both his ship and guide:
So Christ supports us to our wish'd for shore,
He's Winde, and Star, Card, Pilot, Ship, and Oare.
Or else the Church the Dolphin is; the Gale
Gods Word; the World's the Sea on which we sail:
Who through this Sea would passe, and come to land,
Must use this Gale, and on this Dolphin stand.