Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Who in the world with busie reason pries,
Searching the seed of things, and there descries
With what defect labours th' Eclipsed Moon,
What cause commands a palenesse in the Sun,
Whence ruddy Comets with their fatall hair,
VVhence winds do slow, and what the Motions are
That shake the bowels of the trembling Earth,

VVhat strikes the lightning forth, whence clouds give birth
To horrid thunders, and doth also know
VVhat light lends lustre to the painted Bow:
If ought of truth his soule doth understand,
Let him resolve a question I'le demand.

There is a stone which we the load-stone stile,
Of colour ugly, dark, obscure, and vile:
It never deck'd the sleiked locks of Kings,
No Ornament, no gorgeous Tire it brings
To virgins beauteous necks, it never shone
A splendent buckle in their maiden Zone:
But only hear the wonders I will tell,
Of this black Peeble, and 'twill then excel
All bracelets, and what e're the diving Moore
'Mongst the red weeds seeks for i'th Eastern shore:
From Iron first it lives, Iron it eats,
But that sweet feast it knows no other meats;
Thence she renews her strength, vigor is sent
Through all her nerves by that hard nourishment,
VVithout that food she dies, a famine num's
Her meager joynts, a thirst her veins consumes.
Mars that frights Cities with his bloody sphears,
And Venus that releases humane fears,
Do both together in one Temple shine,
Both joyntly honour'd in a common shrine;
But different Statues, Mars a steel put on,
And Venus figure was Magnetique stone.
To them (as is the custome every yeer)
The Priest doth celebrate a Nuptiall there.
The torch the Quire doth lead, the threshold's green
VTith hallowed Mirtles, and the beds are seen
To smell with rosie flowers, the Geniall sheet
Spread over with a purple Coverlet.

But here (O strange!) the statues seem'd to move,
And Cytheria runs to catch her Love:
And like their former joyes in heaven possest,
With wanton heat clings to her Mars's brest;
There hangs a gratefull burden: then she throws
Her arms about his helmet, to inclose
Her Love in amorous Gives, lest he get our,
Her live embraces chain him round about.
He stird'd with love, breath'd gently through his veins,
Is drawn by unseen links, and secret chains,
To meet his spoused Gem; the ayr doth wed
The steel unto the stone thus strangely led
The deities their stoln delights replay'd,
And onely Nature was the bridall-maid.
What heat in these two metals did inspire
Such mutuall league? what concords powerfull fire
Contracted their hard minds? the stone doth move
With amorous heat, the steel doth learn to love.
So Venus oft the god of War withstood,
And gives him milder looks; when hot with blood
He rages to the fight, fierce with desire,
And with drawn points whets up his active ire;
She dares go forth alone, and boldly meet
His foaming steeds, and with a winning greet
The tumour of his high swoln brest asswage,
Tempring with gentle flames his violent rage.
Peace courts his soule, the fight he disavows,
And his red plumes he now to kisses bows.

Ah cruell boy, large thy dominions be,
The gods and all their thunders yeeld to thee,
Great jove to leave his heaven thou canst constrain,
And midst the brinish waves to Love again.
Now the cold Rocks thou strik'st, the senselesse stone,

Thy weapon feels; a lustfull heat doth run
Through veins of flint; the steel thy power can tame,
And rigid Marble must admit thy flame.