Du Bartas His Divine Weekes And Workes with A Compleate Collectio[n] of all the other most delight-full Workes: Translated and written by yt famous Philomusus: Iosvah Sylvester |
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| 2. | THE SECOND DAY OF THE FIRST WEEK. |
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19
THE SECOND DAY OF THE FIRST WEEK.
The Argvment.
Lewd Poets checkt: Our Poets chast Intents:Heav'ns Curtain spread: th'all forming Elements;
Their number, nature, vse and Domination,
Content, excesse, continuance, situation:
Aire's triple Regions; and their Temper's change:
Windes, Exhalations, and all Metors strange;
Th'effects, the vse (apply'd to Conscience):
Mans Reason non-plust in some Accidents:
Of Prodigies: of th'Elementall Flame:
Heav'ns ten fold Orbs: Waters aboue the same.
Those learned Spirits, whose wits applied wrong,
With wanton Charms of their inchanting song,
Make of an olde, foul, franticke Hecuba,
A wondrous fresh, faire, wittie Helena:
Of lewd Faustina (that loose Emperess)
A chaste Lucretia, loathing wantonness:
Of a blinde Bowe-Boy, of a Dwarf, a Bastard,
No petty Godling, but the Gods great Master;
On thankless furrowes of a fruitless sand
Their seed and labour lose, with heedless hand;
And (pitching Nets, to catch I little wott
What fume of Fame that seems them to besott)
Resemble Spiders, that with curious pain
Weaue idle Webs, and labour still in vain.
With wanton Charms of their inchanting song,
Make of an olde, foul, franticke Hecuba,
A wondrous fresh, faire, wittie Helena:
Of lewd Faustina (that loose Emperess)
A chaste Lucretia, loathing wantonness:
Of a blinde Bowe-Boy, of a Dwarf, a Bastard,
No petty Godling, but the Gods great Master;
On thankless furrowes of a fruitless sand
Their seed and labour lose, with heedless hand;
And (pitching Nets, to catch I little wott
What fume of Fame that seems them to besott)
Resemble Spiders, that with curious pain
Weaue idle Webs, and labour still in vain.
But (though then Time we haue no deerer Treasure)
Loss should I wail their miss-expence of leasure,
If their sweet Muse, with too-well spoken Spell,
Drew not their Readers with themselues to Hell.
For, vnder th'hony of their learned Works
A hatefull draught of deadly poyson lurks:
Whereof (alas) Young spirits quaffe so deep,
That drunk with Loue, their Reason fals asleep;
And such a habit their fond Fancy gets,
That their ill stomack still loues euill meats.
Loss should I wail their miss-expence of leasure,
If their sweet Muse, with too-well spoken Spell,
Drew not their Readers with themselues to Hell.
20
A hatefull draught of deadly poyson lurks:
Whereof (alas) Young spirits quaffe so deep,
That drunk with Loue, their Reason fals asleep;
And such a habit their fond Fancy gets,
That their ill stomack still loues euill meats.
Th'inchanting force of their sweet Eloquence
Hurls headlong down their tender Audience,
Aye (childe-like) sliding, in a foolish strife,
On th'Icie down-Hils of this slippery Life.
Hurls headlong down their tender Audience,
Aye (childe-like) sliding, in a foolish strife,
On th'Icie down-Hils of this slippery Life.
The Songs their Phœbus doth so sweet inspire,
Are euen the Bellowes whence they blowe the fire
Of raging Lust (before) whose wanton flashes
A tender brest rak't-vp in shamefac't ashes.
Are euen the Bellowes whence they blowe the fire
Of raging Lust (before) whose wanton flashes
A tender brest rak't-vp in shamefac't ashes.
Therefore, for my part I haue vow'd to Heav'n
Such wit and learning as my God hath giv'n;
To write, to th'honour of my Maker dread,
Verse that a Virgine without blush may read.
Such wit and learning as my God hath giv'n;
To write, to th'honour of my Maker dread,
Verse that a Virgine without blush may read.
Cleare Source of Learning, soule of th'Vniuerse
(Sith thou art pleas'd to chuse mine humble Verse
To sing thy Praises) make my Pen distill
Celestiall Nectar, and this Volume fill
With th'Amalthean Horn; that it may haue
Some correspondence to a Theam so graue:
Rid thou my passage, and make cleare my way
From all incumbers: shine vpon This Day;
That guided safely by thy sacred Light,
My Rendez-vous I may attaine yer night.
(Sith thou art pleas'd to chuse mine humble Verse
To sing thy Praises) make my Pen distill
Celestiall Nectar, and this Volume fill
With th'Amalthean Horn; that it may haue
Some correspondence to a Theam so graue:
Rid thou my passage, and make cleare my way
From all incumbers: shine vpon This Day;
That guided safely by thy sacred Light,
My Rendez-vous I may attaine yer night.
Which is the Firmamēt mentioned by Moses in the 1. Ch. of Gen. V. 6. 7. 8. Comprehending the Heauens, & all the Elementary Region. Of the foure Elements, simple in themselues: wherof al things subiect to our sense, are composed.
Th'infinite finite, that great moundless Mound,
I meane that Chaos, that self-iarring Mass,
Which in a moment made of Nothing was;
Was the rich Matter and the Matrix, whence
The Heav'ns should issue, and the Elements.
Now th'Elements twin-twins (two Sons, two Daughters)
To wit, the Fire, the Aire; the Earth, and Waters
Are not compounded: but, of them is all
Compounded first, that in our sense can fall:
Whether their qualities, in euery portion
Of euery thing, infuse them with proportion:
Whether in all, their substance they confound,
And so but one thing of their foure compound:
As in a Venice Glass, before our eyne,
We see the water intermix with wine:
Or, in our stomack, as our drink and food
Doe mingle, after to conuert to blood.
This in a Fire-brand may we see, whose Fire
Doth in his Flame toward's natiue Heav'n aspire,
His Aire in smoak; in ashes fals his Earth,
And at his knots his Water wheezes forth.
Euen such a War our Bodies peace maintains.
For, in our Flesh, our Bodie's Earth remains:
Our vitall spirits, our Fire and Aire possess:
And, last, our Water in our humours rests.
Nay, ther's no Part in all this Bulk of ours,
Where each of these not intermix their powers;
Though't be apparent (and I needs must grant)
That aye some one is most Predominant.
The pure red part, amid the Mass of Blood,
The Sanguine Aire commands: the clutted mud,
Sunk down in Lees, Earths Melancholy showes:
The pale thin, humor, that on th'out-side flowes,
Is watery Phlegme: and the light froathy scum,
Bubbling aboue, hath Fiery Cholers room.
To wit, the Fire, the Aire; the Earth, and Waters
Are not compounded: but, of them is all
Compounded first, that in our sense can fall:
Whether their qualities, in euery portion
Of euery thing, infuse them with proportion:
Whether in all, their substance they confound,
And so but one thing of their foure compound:
As in a Venice Glass, before our eyne,
We see the water intermix with wine:
Or, in our stomack, as our drink and food
Doe mingle, after to conuert to blood.
This in a Fire-brand may we see, whose Fire
Doth in his Flame toward's natiue Heav'n aspire,
21
And at his knots his Water wheezes forth.
Euen such a War our Bodies peace maintains.
For, in our Flesh, our Bodie's Earth remains:
Our vitall spirits, our Fire and Aire possess:
And, last, our Water in our humours rests.
Nay, ther's no Part in all this Bulk of ours,
Where each of these not intermix their powers;
Though't be apparent (and I needs must grant)
That aye some one is most Predominant.
The pure red part, amid the Mass of Blood,
The Sanguine Aire commands: the clutted mud,
Sunk down in Lees, Earths Melancholy showes:
The pale thin, humor, that on th'out-side flowes,
Is watery Phlegme: and the light froathy scum,
Bubbling aboue, hath Fiery Cholers room.
Not, that at all times, one same Element
In one same Body hath the Regiment:
But, by turns raigning, each his subiects drawes
After his Lore: for, still New Lords new Lawes;
As sans respect how Rich or Noble-born,
Each Citizen rules and obayes, by turn,
In chart'red Towns; which seem, in little space,
Changing their Ruler, euen to change their face
(For, as Chameleons vary with their obiect,
So Princes manners do transform the Subiect):
So th'Element in Wine predomining,
It hot, and cold, and moist, and dry doth bring;
By's perfect or imperfect force (at length)
Inforcing it to change the taste and strength:
So that it doth Grapes sharp-green iuice transfer
To Must, Must t'Wine, and Wine to Vineger.
In one same Body hath the Regiment:
But, by turns raigning, each his subiects drawes
After his Lore: for, still New Lords new Lawes;
As sans respect how Rich or Noble-born,
Each Citizen rules and obayes, by turn,
In chart'red Towns; which seem, in little space,
Changing their Ruler, euen to change their face
(For, as Chameleons vary with their obiect,
So Princes manners do transform the Subiect):
So th'Element in Wine predomining,
It hot, and cold, and moist, and dry doth bring;
By's perfect or imperfect force (at length)
Inforcing it to change the taste and strength:
So that it doth Grapes sharp-green iuice transfer
To Must, Must t'Wine, and Wine to Vineger.
As while a Monarch, to teach others aw,
Subiects his owne selfs-Greatness to his Law,
He ruleth fearless: and his Kingdoms flourish
In happy Peace (and Peace doth Plenty nourish);
But if (fell Tyrant) his keen sword be euer
Vniustly drawn, if he be sated neuer
With Subiects blood; needs must his Rage (at last)
Destroy his State, and lay his Countrie waste:
So (or much like) the while one Element
Ouer the rest hath modest Gouernment;
While, in proportion (though vnequall yet)
With Soueraign Humours Subiect Humours fit,
The Bodie's sound; and in the very face
Retains the Form of beauty and of grace:
But if (like that inhumane Emperour
Who wisht, all People vnderneath his Power
Had but one head, that he might butcher so
All th'Empires Subiects at one only blowe)
It, Tyrannizing, seek to wrack the rest,
It ruines soon the Prouince it possest;
Where soon appears, through his proud vsurpation,
Both outward change, and inward alteration.
Subiects his owne selfs-Greatness to his Law,
He ruleth fearless: and his Kingdoms flourish
In happy Peace (and Peace doth Plenty nourish);
But if (fell Tyrant) his keen sword be euer
Vniustly drawn, if he be sated neuer
With Subiects blood; needs must his Rage (at last)
Destroy his State, and lay his Countrie waste:
So (or much like) the while one Element
Ouer the rest hath modest Gouernment;
While, in proportion (though vnequall yet)
With Soueraign Humours Subiect Humours fit,
The Bodie's sound; and in the very face
Retains the Form of beauty and of grace:
But if (like that inhumane Emperour
Who wisht, all People vnderneath his Power
22
All th'Empires Subiects at one only blowe)
It, Tyrannizing, seek to wrack the rest,
It ruines soon the Prouince it possest;
Where soon appears, through his proud vsurpation,
Both outward change, and inward alteration.
So, too-much Moist, which (vnconcoct within)
The Liuer spreads betwixt the flesh and skin,
Puffs vp the Patient, stops the pipes and pores
Of Excrements: yea, double bais the dores
Of his short breath, and slowly-swiftly curst,
In midd'st of Water makes him euer thirst:
Nor giues man Rest, nor Respite, till his bones
Be raked vp in a cold heap of stones.
The Liuer spreads betwixt the flesh and skin,
Puffs vp the Patient, stops the pipes and pores
Of Excrements: yea, double bais the dores
Of his short breath, and slowly-swiftly curst,
In midd'st of Water makes him euer thirst:
Nor giues man Rest, nor Respite, till his bones
Be raked vp in a cold heap of stones.
So too-much Drought a lingring Ague drawes,
Which seeming pain-less, yet much pain doth cause,
Robbing the nerues of might, of ioy the heart,
Of mirth the face, of moisture euery part
(Much like a Candle fed with it owne humour,
By little and little it owne selfs consumer)
Nor giues man Rest, nor Respite, till his bones
Be raked vp in a cold heap of stones.
Which seeming pain-less, yet much pain doth cause,
Robbing the nerues of might, of ioy the heart,
Of mirth the face, of moisture euery part
(Much like a Candle fed with it owne humour,
By little and little it owne selfs consumer)
Nor giues man Rest, nor Respite, till his bones
Be raked vp in a cold heap of stones.
So, too-much Heat doth bring a burning Feuer,
Which spurrs our Pulse, and furrs our Palat euer;
And on the tables of our troubled brain,
Fantastickly with various pensill vain
Doth counterfait as many Forms, or moe
Then euer Nature, Art, or Chance could showe:
Nor giues man Rest, nor Respite till his bones
Be raked vp in a cold heap of stones.
Which spurrs our Pulse, and furrs our Palat euer;
And on the tables of our troubled brain,
Fantastickly with various pensill vain
Doth counterfait as many Forms, or moe
Then euer Nature, Art, or Chance could showe:
Nor giues man Rest, nor Respite till his bones
Be raked vp in a cold heap of stones.
So, too-much Cold couers with hoary Fleece
The head of Age, his flesh diminishes,
Withers his face, hollowes his rheumy eyes,
And makes himselfe euen his owne selfe despise;
While through his marrow euery where it enters,
Quenching his natiue heat with endless Winters:
Nor giues man Rest, nor Respite, till his bones
Be raked vp in a cold heap of stones.
The head of Age, his flesh diminishes,
Withers his face, hollowes his rheumy eyes,
And makes himselfe euen his owne selfe despise;
While through his marrow euery where it enters,
Quenching his natiue heat with endless Winters:
Nor giues man Rest, nor Respite, till his bones
Be raked vp in a cold heap of stones.
Yet think not, that this Too-too-Much, remises
Ought into nought: it but the Form disguises
In hundred fashions, and the Substances
Inly, or outly, neither win nor leese.
For, all that's made, is made of the First Matter
Which in th'old Nothing made the All-Creator.
All, that dissolues, resolues into the same.
Since first the Lord of Nothing made This Frame,
Nought's made of nought; and nothing turns to nothing:
Things birth, or death, change but their formall clothing:
Their forms do vanish, but their bodies bide;
Now thick, now thin, now round, now short, now side.
Ought into nought: it but the Form disguises
In hundred fashions, and the Substances
Inly, or outly, neither win nor leese.
For, all that's made, is made of the First Matter
Which in th'old Nothing made the All-Creator.
All, that dissolues, resolues into the same.
Since first the Lord of Nothing made This Frame,
Nought's made of nought; and nothing turns to nothing:
Things birth, or death, change but their formall clothing:
23
Now thick, now thin, now round, now short, now side.
For, if of Nothing any thing could spring,
Th'Earth without seed should wheat and barly bring:
Pure Mayden-woombs desired Babes should bear:
All things, at all times, should grow euery where.
The Hart in Water should it selfe ingender;
The Whale on Land; in Aire the Lambling tender:
Th'Ocean should yeeld the Pine and Cornell Tree;
On Hazels Acornes, Nuts on Oaks should be:
And breaking Natures set and sacred vse,
The Doues would Eagles, Eagles Doues, produce.
Th'Earth without seed should wheat and barly bring:
Pure Mayden-woombs desired Babes should bear:
All things, at all times, should grow euery where.
The Hart in Water should it selfe ingender;
The Whale on Land; in Aire the Lambling tender:
Th'Ocean should yeeld the Pine and Cornell Tree;
On Hazels Acornes, Nuts on Oaks should be:
And breaking Natures set and sacred vse,
The Doues would Eagles, Eagles Doues, produce.
If of themselues things took their thriuing, then
Slowe-growing Babes should instantly be Men:
Then in the Forests should huge boughes be seen
Born with the bodies of vnplanted Treen:
Then should the sucking Elephant support
Vpon his shoulders a well-manned Fort;
And the new foaled Colt, couragious,
Should neigh for Battail, like Bucephalus.
Slowe-growing Babes should instantly be Men:
Then in the Forests should huge boughes be seen
Born with the bodies of vnplanted Treen:
Then should the sucking Elephant support
Vpon his shoulders a well-manned Fort;
And the new foaled Colt, couragious,
Should neigh for Battail, like Bucephalus.
Contrariwise, if ought to nought did fall;
All, that is felt or seen within this All,
Still losing somwhat of it selfe, at length
Would come to Nothing: If Death's fatall strength
Could altogether Substances destroy,
Things then should vanish even as soon as dy.
In time the mighty Mountains tops be bated;
But, with their fall, the neighbour Vales are fatted;
And what, when Trent or Auon ouer-flowe,
They reaue one field, they on the next bestowe:
Loue-burning Heav'n many sweet Deaws doth drop
In his deer Spouses faire and fruitfull lap;
Which after she restores, straining those showrs
Through th'hidden pores of pleasant plants and flowrs.
All, that is felt or seen within this All,
Still losing somwhat of it selfe, at length
Would come to Nothing: If Death's fatall strength
Could altogether Substances destroy,
Things then should vanish even as soon as dy.
In time the mighty Mountains tops be bated;
But, with their fall, the neighbour Vales are fatted;
And what, when Trent or Auon ouer-flowe,
They reaue one field, they on the next bestowe:
Loue-burning Heav'n many sweet Deaws doth drop
In his deer Spouses faire and fruitfull lap;
Which after she restores, straining those showrs
Through th'hidden pores of pleasant plants and flowrs.
Whoso hath seen, how one warm lump of wax
(Without increasing, or decreasing) takes
A hundred figures; well may iudge of all
Th'incessant Changes of this neather Ball.
The Worlds owne Matter is the waxen Lump,
Which, vn-self-changing, takes all kind of stamp:
The Form's the Seal; Heav'ns gratious Emperour
(The liuing God)'s the great Lord Chancellour;
Who at his pleasure setting day and night
His great Broad Seales, and Priuy Signets right
Vpon the Mass so vast and variable,
Makes the same Lump, now base, now honourable.
(Without increasing, or decreasing) takes
A hundred figures; well may iudge of all
Th'incessant Changes of this neather Ball.
The Worlds owne Matter is the waxen Lump,
Which, vn-self-changing, takes all kind of stamp:
The Form's the Seal; Heav'ns gratious Emperour
(The liuing God)'s the great Lord Chancellour;
Who at his pleasure setting day and night
His great Broad Seales, and Priuy Signets right
Vpon the Mass so vast and variable,
Makes the same Lump, now base, now honourable.
Heer's nothing constant: nothing still doth stay:
For, Birth and Death haue still successiue sway.
Heer one thing springs not, till another die:
Onely the Matter liues immortallie
(Th'Almighties Table, body of this All,
Of change-full Chances common Arcenall,
All like it selfe, all in it selfe contained,
Which by Times Flight hath neither lost nor gained)
Change-less in Essence; changeable in face,
Much more then Proteus, or the subtill race
Of rouing Polypes, who (to rob the more)
Transform them howrly on the wauing shore:
Much like the French (or like our selues, their Apes)
Who with strange habit do disguise their shapes;
Who louing nouels, full of affectation,
Receiue the Manners of each other Nation;
And scarcely shift they shirts so oft, as change
Fantastick Fashions of their garments strange:
Or like a Laïs, whose inconstant loue
Doth euery day a thousand times remoue;
Who's scarce vnfolded from one Youths embraces;
Yer in her thought another she embraces;
And the new pleasure of her wanton Fire
Stirs in her, still, another new desire:
Because the Matter, wounded deep in heart
With various Loue (yet, on the selfe same part,
Incapable, in the same time, at once
To take all figures) by successions,
Form after Form receiues: so that one face
Anothers faces features doth deface.
For, Birth and Death haue still successiue sway.
24
Onely the Matter liues immortallie
(Th'Almighties Table, body of this All,
Of change-full Chances common Arcenall,
All like it selfe, all in it selfe contained,
Which by Times Flight hath neither lost nor gained)
Change-less in Essence; changeable in face,
Much more then Proteus, or the subtill race
Of rouing Polypes, who (to rob the more)
Transform them howrly on the wauing shore:
Much like the French (or like our selues, their Apes)
Who with strange habit do disguise their shapes;
Who louing nouels, full of affectation,
Receiue the Manners of each other Nation;
And scarcely shift they shirts so oft, as change
Fantastick Fashions of their garments strange:
Or like a Laïs, whose inconstant loue
Doth euery day a thousand times remoue;
Who's scarce vnfolded from one Youths embraces;
Yer in her thought another she embraces;
And the new pleasure of her wanton Fire
Stirs in her, still, another new desire:
Because the Matter, wounded deep in heart
With various Loue (yet, on the selfe same part,
Incapable, in the same time, at once
To take all figures) by successions,
Form after Form receiues: so that one face
Anothers faces features doth deface.
Now the chiefe Motiue of these Accidents,
Is the dire discord of our Elements;
Truce-hating Twins, where Brother eateth Brother
By turns, and turn them one into another,
Like Ice and Water that beget each other;
And still the Daughter bringeth-forth the Mother.
But each of these hauing two qualities
(One bearing Rule, another that obayes)
Those, whose effects do wholly contradict,
Longer and stronger striue in their Conflict.
The hot-dry Fire to cold-moist Water turns not;
The cold-dry Earth, to hot-moist Aire, returns not,
Returns not eas'ly: for (still opposite)
With tooth and nail as deadly foes they fight.
But Aire turne Water, Earth may Fierize;
Because in one part they do symbolize;
And so, in combate they haue less to doo;
For, 't's easier far, to conquer one then two.
Is the dire discord of our Elements;
Truce-hating Twins, where Brother eateth Brother
By turns, and turn them one into another,
Like Ice and Water that beget each other;
And still the Daughter bringeth-forth the Mother.
But each of these hauing two qualities
(One bearing Rule, another that obayes)
Those, whose effects do wholly contradict,
Longer and stronger striue in their Conflict.
The hot-dry Fire to cold-moist Water turns not;
The cold-dry Earth, to hot-moist Aire, returns not,
Returns not eas'ly: for (still opposite)
With tooth and nail as deadly foes they fight.
But Aire turne Water, Earth may Fierize;
Because in one part they do symbolize;
And so, in combate they haue less to doo;
For, 't's easier far, to conquer one then two.
Sith then the knot of sacred Mariage,
Which ioynes the Elements, from age to age
Brings forth the Worlds Babes: sith their Enmities,
With fell diuorce, kill whatsoeuer dies:
And sith, but changing their degree and place,
They frame the various Forms, wherewith the face
Of this fair World is so imbellished
[As six sweet Notes, curiously varied
In skilfull Musick, make a hundred kindes
Of Heav'nly sounds, that rauish hardest mindes;
And with Division (of a choice deuice)
The Hearers soules out at their ears intice:
Or, as of twice-twelue Letters, thus transpos'd,
This World of Words, is variously compos'd;
And of these Words, in diuers order sowen,
This sacred Volume that you read, is growen
(Through gracious succour of th'Eternall Deity)
Rich in dicourse, with infinite Variety]
It was not cause-less, that so carefully.
God did diuide their common Signory;
Assigning each a fit confined Sitting,
Their quantity and quality befitting.
Which ioynes the Elements, from age to age
25
With fell diuorce, kill whatsoeuer dies:
And sith, but changing their degree and place,
They frame the various Forms, wherewith the face
Of this fair World is so imbellished
[As six sweet Notes, curiously varied
In skilfull Musick, make a hundred kindes
Of Heav'nly sounds, that rauish hardest mindes;
And with Division (of a choice deuice)
The Hearers soules out at their ears intice:
Or, as of twice-twelue Letters, thus transpos'd,
This World of Words, is variously compos'd;
And of these Words, in diuers order sowen,
This sacred Volume that you read, is growen
(Through gracious succour of th'Eternall Deity)
Rich in dicourse, with infinite Variety]
It was not cause-less, that so carefully.
God did diuide their common Signory;
Assigning each a fit confined Sitting,
Their quantity and quality befitting.
Whoso (somtime) hath seen rich Ingots tride,
When forc't by Fire their treasures they diuide
(How fair and softly Gold to Gold doth pass,
Siluer seeks Siluer, Brass consorts with Brass;
And the whole Lump, of parts vnequall, seuers
It self apart, in white, red, yellow Rivers)
May vnderstand how, when the Mouth Diuine
Op'ned (to each his proper Place t'assigne)
Fire flew to Fire, Water to Water slid,
Aire clung to Aire, and Earth with Earth abid.
When forc't by Fire their treasures they diuide
(How fair and softly Gold to Gold doth pass,
Siluer seeks Siluer, Brass consorts with Brass;
And the whole Lump, of parts vnequall, seuers
It self apart, in white, red, yellow Rivers)
May vnderstand how, when the Mouth Diuine
Op'ned (to each his proper Place t'assigne)
Fire flew to Fire, Water to Water slid,
Aire clung to Aire, and Earth with Earth abid.
Earth, as the Lees, and heauy dross of All
(After his kinde) did to the bottom fall:
Contrariwise, the light and nimble Fire
Did through the crannies of th'old Heap aspire
Vnto the top; and by his nature, light
No less then hot, mounted in sparks vpright:
As, when we see Aurora, passing gay,
With Opals paint the Seeling of Cathay,
Sad Flouds do fume; and the celestiall Tapers,
Through Earths thin pores, in th'Aire exhale their vapors.
(After his kinde) did to the bottom fall:
Contrariwise, the light and nimble Fire
Did through the crannies of th'old Heap aspire
Vnto the top; and by his nature, light
No less then hot, mounted in sparks vpright:
As, when we see Aurora, passing gay,
With Opals paint the Seeling of Cathay,
Sad Flouds do fume; and the celestiall Tapers,
Through Earths thin pores, in th'Aire exhale their vapors.
But, lest the Fire (which all the rest imbraces)
Being too neer, should burn the Earth to ashes;
As chosen Vmpires, the great All-Creator
Between these Foes placed the Aire and Water:
For, one suffiz'd not their stern strife to end.
Water, as Cozen did the Earth befriend:
Aire, for his Kinsman Fire, as firmly deals:
But both, vniting their diuided zeals,
Took vp the matter, and appeas'd the brall;
Which doubt-less else had discreated All.
Th'Aire lodg'd aloft, the Water vnder it,
Not casually, but so disposed fit
By him, who (Nature in her kinde to keep)
Kept due proportion in his Workmanship;
And, in this Store-house of his Wonders treasure,
Observ'd in all things number, waight and measure.
For, had the Water next the Fire been plac't,
Fire, seeming then more wrongd and more disgrac't,
Would suddenly haue left his Adversary,
And set vpon the Vmpire (more contrary).
But all the Links of th'holy Chain, which tethers
The many Members of the World togethers,
Are such, as none but onely He can break them,
Who at the first did (of meer nothing) make them.
Water, as arm'd with moisture and with cold
The cold-dry Earth with her one hand doth hold;
With th'other th'Aire: The Aire, as moist and warm,
Holds Fire with one; Water with th'other arm:
As Country-Maidens, in the Month of May,
Merrily sporting on a Holy-day,
And lusty dancing of a huely Round
About the May-pole, by the Bag-pipes sound;
Hold hand in hand, so that the first is fast
(By means of those between) vnto the last.
Being too neer, should burn the Earth to ashes;
As chosen Vmpires, the great All-Creator
Between these Foes placed the Aire and Water:
For, one suffiz'd not their stern strife to end.
Water, as Cozen did the Earth befriend:
Aire, for his Kinsman Fire, as firmly deals:
But both, vniting their diuided zeals,
26
Which doubt-less else had discreated All.
Th'Aire lodg'd aloft, the Water vnder it,
Not casually, but so disposed fit
By him, who (Nature in her kinde to keep)
Kept due proportion in his Workmanship;
And, in this Store-house of his Wonders treasure,
Observ'd in all things number, waight and measure.
For, had the Water next the Fire been plac't,
Fire, seeming then more wrongd and more disgrac't,
Would suddenly haue left his Adversary,
And set vpon the Vmpire (more contrary).
But all the Links of th'holy Chain, which tethers
The many Members of the World togethers,
Are such, as none but onely He can break them,
Who at the first did (of meer nothing) make them.
Water, as arm'd with moisture and with cold
The cold-dry Earth with her one hand doth hold;
With th'other th'Aire: The Aire, as moist and warm,
Holds Fire with one; Water with th'other arm:
As Country-Maidens, in the Month of May,
Merrily sporting on a Holy-day,
And lusty dancing of a huely Round
About the May-pole, by the Bag-pipes sound;
Hold hand in hand, so that the first is fast
(By means of those between) vnto the last.
For, sith 'tis so, that the dry Element
Not onely yeelds her owne Babes nourishment,
But with the milk of her aboundant brests,
Doth also feed th'Aires nimble winged guests,
And also all th'innumerable Legions
Of greedy mouthes that haunt the Briny Regions
(So that th'Earth's Mother, or else Nurse of all
That run, or flee, or swim, or slide, or crawl)
'Twas meet, it should be it self's Counterpoize,
To stand still firm against the roaring noise
Of wrackfull Neptune, and the wrathfull blasts
Of parching South, and pinching Boreas:
'T was meet, her sad-flowe body to digest
Farther from Heav'n than any of the rest:
Lest, of Heav'ns Course th'Eternall swift Careers,
Rushing against her with their whirling Sphears,
Should her transport as swift and violent,
As ay they do their neighbour Element.
Not onely yeelds her owne Babes nourishment,
But with the milk of her aboundant brests,
Doth also feed th'Aires nimble winged guests,
And also all th'innumerable Legions
Of greedy mouthes that haunt the Briny Regions
(So that th'Earth's Mother, or else Nurse of all
That run, or flee, or swim, or slide, or crawl)
'Twas meet, it should be it self's Counterpoize,
To stand still firm against the roaring noise
Of wrackfull Neptune, and the wrathfull blasts
Of parching South, and pinching Boreas:
'T was meet, her sad-flowe body to digest
Farther from Heav'n than any of the rest:
Lest, of Heav'ns Course th'Eternall swift Careers,
Rushing against her with their whirling Sphears,
Should her transport as swift and violent,
As ay they do their neighbour Element.
And sith on th'other side th'harmonious Course
Of Heav'ns bright Torches is th'immortall source
Of earthly life: and sith all alterations
(Almost) are caus'd by their quick agitations
In all the World, God could not place so fit
Our Mother Earth, as in the midst of it.
For, all the Stars reflect their liuely rayes
On Fire and Aire, and Water, diuers wayes;
Dispersing, so, their powerfull influence
On, in, and through these various Elements:
But, on the Earth, they all in one concurr,
And all vnite their seuerall force in her;
As in a Wheele, which with a long deep rut
His turning passage in the durt doth cut,
The distant spoaks neerer and neerer gather,
And in the Naue vnite their points together.
Of Heav'ns bright Torches is th'immortall source
Of earthly life: and sith all alterations
(Almost) are caus'd by their quick agitations
27
Our Mother Earth, as in the midst of it.
For, all the Stars reflect their liuely rayes
On Fire and Aire, and Water, diuers wayes;
Dispersing, so, their powerfull influence
On, in, and through these various Elements:
But, on the Earth, they all in one concurr,
And all vnite their seuerall force in her;
As in a Wheele, which with a long deep rut
His turning passage in the durt doth cut,
The distant spoaks neerer and neerer gather,
And in the Naue vnite their points together.
As the bright Sun shines through the smoothest Glasse,
The turning Planets influence doth passe
Without impeachment through the glist'ring Tent
Of the tralucing Fiery Element,
Th'Aires triple Regions, the transparent Water;
But not the firm Base of this faire Theater.
And therefore rightly may we call those Trines
(Fire, Aire and Water) but Heav'ns Concubines:
For, neuer Sun, nor Moon, nor Stars inioy
The loue of these, but onely by the way,
As passing by: whereas incessantly
The lusty Heav'n with Earth doth company;
And with a fruitfull seed, which lends All life,
With-childes, each-moment, his owne lawfull wife;
And with her louely Babes, in form and nature
So diuers, decks this beautifull Theater.
The turning Planets influence doth passe
Without impeachment through the glist'ring Tent
Of the tralucing Fiery Element,
Th'Aires triple Regions, the transparent Water;
But not the firm Base of this faire Theater.
And therefore rightly may we call those Trines
(Fire, Aire and Water) but Heav'ns Concubines:
For, neuer Sun, nor Moon, nor Stars inioy
The loue of these, but onely by the way,
As passing by: whereas incessantly
The lusty Heav'n with Earth doth company;
And with a fruitfull seed, which lends All life,
With-childes, each-moment, his owne lawfull wife;
And with her louely Babes, in form and nature
So diuers, decks this beautifull Theater.
The Water, lighter then the Earthy Masse,
Heauier then Aire, betwixt them both hath place;
The better so with a moist-colde, to temper
Th'ones ouer-driness, th'others hot distemper.
Heauier then Aire, betwixt them both hath place;
The better so with a moist-colde, to temper
Th'ones ouer-driness, th'others hot distemper.
But, my sweet Muse, whither so fast away?
Soft, soft, my Darling: draw not dry To-Day
Castalian Springs; defer the Cirque and Seat,
The power and praise of Sea and Earth as yet:
Do not anticipate the Worlds Beginning;
But, till To-Morrow leaue the enter-blinning
Of Rocky Mounts, and rouling Waues so wide.
For, euen To Morrow will the Lord diuide,
With the right hand of his Omnipotence,
These yet confus'd and mingled Elements;
And liberally the shaggy Earth adorn
With Woods, and Buds of fruits, of flowers and corn.
'Tis time, my Loue, 'tis time, mine onely Care,
To hie vs hence, and mount vs in the Aire:
'Tist me (or neuer) now my dearest Minion,
To imp strong farcels in thy sacred pinion;
That lightly born vpon thy Virgin back,
Safe through the VVelkin I my course may take:
Com, com, my Ioy, lend me thy lilly shoulder;
That thereon raised, I may reach the bolder
(Before the rest of my deer Country-men,
Of better wit, but worse-applied pen.)
At that green Laurel, which the niggard Skies
So long haue hidden from my longing eies.
Soft, soft, my Darling: draw not dry To-Day
Castalian Springs; defer the Cirque and Seat,
The power and praise of Sea and Earth as yet:
Do not anticipate the Worlds Beginning;
But, till To-Morrow leaue the enter-blinning
Of Rocky Mounts, and rouling Waues so wide.
For, euen To Morrow will the Lord diuide,
With the right hand of his Omnipotence,
These yet confus'd and mingled Elements;
And liberally the shaggy Earth adorn
With Woods, and Buds of fruits, of flowers and corn.
'Tis time, my Loue, 'tis time, mine onely Care,
To hie vs hence, and mount vs in the Aire:
'Tist me (or neuer) now my dearest Minion,
To imp strong farcels in thy sacred pinion;
28
Safe through the VVelkin I my course may take:
Com, com, my Ioy, lend me thy lilly shoulder;
That thereon raised, I may reach the bolder
(Before the rest of my deer Country-men,
Of better wit, but worse-applied pen.)
At that green Laurel, which the niggard Skies
So long haue hidden from my longing eies.
Th'Aire (hoste of Mists, the bounding Tennis-ball,
That stormy Tempests toss and play withall;
Of winged Clouds the wide inconstant House,
Th'vnsettled kingdom of swift Æolus,
Great VVare-house of the VVindes, whose traffick giues
Motion of life to ev'ry thing that liues)
Is not throughout all one: our Elder Sages
Haue fitly parted it into three Stages.
VVhereof, because the Highest still is driv'n
VVith violence of the First-mouing Heav'n,
From East to West; and, from the West returning,
To th'honored Cradle of the rosiall Morning,
And also seated next the Fiery vault;
It, by the learned, very hot is thought.
That stormy Tempests toss and play withall;
Of winged Clouds the wide inconstant House,
Th'vnsettled kingdom of swift Æolus,
Great VVare-house of the VVindes, whose traffick giues
Motion of life to ev'ry thing that liues)
Is not throughout all one: our Elder Sages
Haue fitly parted it into three Stages.
VVhereof, because the Highest still is driv'n
VVith violence of the First-mouing Heav'n,
From East to West; and, from the West returning,
To th'honored Cradle of the rosiall Morning,
And also seated next the Fiery vault;
It, by the learned, very hot is thought.
That, which we touch, with times doth variate,
Now hot, now cold, and sometimes temperate;
Warm-temp'red showrs it sendeth in the Spring:
In Autumn likewise, but more varying:
In Winter time, continuall cold and chill:
In Summer season, hot and soultry still:
For then, the Fields, scorched with flames, reflect
The sparkling rayes of thousand Stars aspect;
And chiefly Phœbus, to whose arrows bright
Our Globy Grandame serues for But and White.
Now hot, now cold, and sometimes temperate;
Warm-temp'red showrs it sendeth in the Spring:
In Autumn likewise, but more varying:
In Winter time, continuall cold and chill:
In Summer season, hot and soultry still:
For then, the Fields, scorched with flames, reflect
The sparkling rayes of thousand Stars aspect;
And chiefly Phœbus, to whose arrows bright
Our Globy Grandame serues for But and White.
But now, because the Middle Region's set
Far from the Fiery feelings flagrant heat,
And also from the warm reuerberation
Which aye the Earth reflects in diuers fashion;
That Circle shiuers with eternall colde.
For, into Hail how should the Water molde,
Euen when the Summer hath gilt Ceres Gowne,
Except those Climes with Ycicles were sowen?
Far from the Fiery feelings flagrant heat,
And also from the warm reuerberation
Which aye the Earth reflects in diuers fashion;
That Circle shiuers with eternall colde.
For, into Hail how should the Water molde,
Euen when the Summer hath gilt Ceres Gowne,
Except those Climes with Ycicles were sowen?
So soon as Sol, leauing the gentle Twins,
With Cancer or thirst-panting Leo Inns,
The mid-most Aire redoubleth all his Frosts;
Being desieged by two mighty Hoasts
Of Heat, more fierce 'gainst his Cold force then euer,
Cals from all quarters his chill troops together,
T'incounter them with his vnited Powr,
Which then dispersed, hath far greater powr:
As Christian Armies, from the Frontiers far,
And out of fear of Turks outrageous War,
March in disorder, and become (disperts)
As many Squadrons as were Souldiers yerst;
So that somtimes th'vntrained Multitude
With bats and boawes hath beat them and subdu'd:
But, if they once perceiue, or vnderstand
The Moony Standards of proud Ottoman
To be approaching, and the Sulph'ry thunder
Where with he brought both Rhodes and Belgrade vnder;
They soon vnite, and in a narrow place
Intrench themselues; their courage growes apace,
Their heart's on fire; and Circumcised Powrs,
By their approach, double the strength of ours.
With Cancer or thirst-panting Leo Inns,
The mid-most Aire redoubleth all his Frosts;
Being desieged by two mighty Hoasts
Of Heat, more fierce 'gainst his Cold force then euer,
Cals from all quarters his chill troops together,
T'incounter them with his vnited Powr,
Which then dispersed, hath far greater powr:
29
And out of fear of Turks outrageous War,
March in disorder, and become (disperts)
As many Squadrons as were Souldiers yerst;
So that somtimes th'vntrained Multitude
With bats and boawes hath beat them and subdu'd:
But, if they once perceiue, or vnderstand
The Moony Standards of proud Ottoman
To be approaching, and the Sulph'ry thunder
Where with he brought both Rhodes and Belgrade vnder;
They soon vnite, and in a narrow place
Intrench themselues; their courage growes apace,
Their heart's on fire; and Circumcised Powrs,
By their approach, double the strength of ours.
'Tis (doubt-less) this
Antiperistasis
(Bear with the word. I hold it not amiss
T'adopt sometimes such strangers for our vse,
When Reason and Necessity induce:
As namely, where our natiue Phrase doth want
A Word so force-full and significant)
VVhich makes the Fire seem to our sense and reason
Hotter in Winter then in Sommer season:
Tis it which causeth the cold frozen Scythia
Too-often kist by th'husband of Orithya,
To bring forth people, whose still hungry brest
(Winter or Sommer) can more meat digest
Then those lean staruelings which the Sun doth broil
Vpon the hot sands of the Libyan soyl:
And that our selues, happily seated faire,
Whose spongy lungs draw sweet and holesom Aire,
Hide in our stomacks a more liuely heat,
While bi-front Ianus frosty frowns do threat,
Then when bright Phœbus, leauing swarty Chus,
Mounts on our Zenith, to reflect on vs.
(Bear with the word. I hold it not amiss
T'adopt sometimes such strangers for our vse,
When Reason and Necessity induce:
As namely, where our natiue Phrase doth want
A Word so force-full and significant)
VVhich makes the Fire seem to our sense and reason
Hotter in Winter then in Sommer season:
Tis it which causeth the cold frozen Scythia
Too-often kist by th'husband of Orithya,
To bring forth people, whose still hungry brest
(Winter or Sommer) can more meat digest
Then those lean staruelings which the Sun doth broil
Vpon the hot sands of the Libyan soyl:
And that our selues, happily seated faire,
Whose spongy lungs draw sweet and holesom Aire,
Hide in our stomacks a more liuely heat,
While bi-front Ianus frosty frowns do threat,
Then when bright Phœbus, leauing swarty Chus,
Mounts on our Zenith, to reflect on vs.
Th'Almighties hand did this Partition form;
To th'end that Mist, Comets, and Winde, and Storm,
Deaw, drizling Showrs, Hail, slippery Ice, and Snowe,
In the three Regions of the Aire might growe:
VVhereof some, pointed th'Earth to fertilize,
Others to punish our impieties,
Might daily graue in hardest hearts the loue
And fear of him, who Raignes in Heav'n aboue.
To th'end that Mist, Comets, and Winde, and Storm,
Deaw, drizling Showrs, Hail, slippery Ice, and Snowe,
In the three Regions of the Aire might growe:
VVhereof some, pointed th'Earth to fertilize,
Others to punish our impieties,
Might daily graue in hardest hearts the loue
And fear of him, who Raignes in Heav'n aboue.
For, as a little end of burning wax,
By th'emptiness, or of it selfe attracts
In Cupping-glasses, through the scotched skin
Behinde the Poule, superfluous humours thin,
Which fuming from the braine did thence descend
Vpon the sight, and much the same offend:
So the swift Coach-man, whose bright flaming hair
Doth euery Day gild either Hemisphear,
Two sorts of vapours by his heat exhales
From floating Deeps, and from the flowry Dales:
Th'one somwhat hot, but heauy, moist, and thick;
The other, light, dry, burning, pure, and quick;
Which, through the Welkin roaming all the yeare,
Make the World diuers to it selfe appear.
By th'emptiness, or of it selfe attracts
In Cupping-glasses, through the scotched skin
Behinde the Poule, superfluous humours thin,
Which fuming from the braine did thence descend
Vpon the sight, and much the same offend:
30
Doth euery Day gild either Hemisphear,
Two sorts of vapours by his heat exhales
From floating Deeps, and from the flowry Dales:
Th'one somwhat hot, but heauy, moist, and thick;
The other, light, dry, burning, pure, and quick;
Which, through the Welkin roaming all the yeare,
Make the World diuers to it selfe appear.
Now, if a vapour be so thin that it
Cannot to Water be transformed fit,
And that with Cold-lym'd wings, it houer neer
The flowry Mantle of our Mother deer;
Our Aire growes dusky; and moist drowsie Mist
Vpon the Fields doth for a time persist.
Cannot to Water be transformed fit,
And that with Cold-lym'd wings, it houer neer
The flowry Mantle of our Mother deer;
Our Aire growes dusky; and moist drowsie Mist
Vpon the Fields doth for a time persist.
And if this vapour fair and softly sty,
Not to the cold Stage of the middle Sky,
But 'boue the Clouds, it turneth (in a trice)
In April, Deaw; in Ianuary, Ice.
Not to the cold Stage of the middle Sky,
But 'boue the Clouds, it turneth (in a trice)
In April, Deaw; in Ianuary, Ice.
But, if the Vapour brauely can aduenture
Vp to th'eternall seat of shivering Winter,
The small thin humour by the Cold is prest
Into a Cloud; which wanders East and West
Vpon the Winde's wings, till in drops of Rain
It fall into his Grandames lap again:
VVhether som boistrous winde, with stormy puff
Ioustling the Clouds with mutuall counter-buff,
Do break their brittle sides, and make them shatter
In drizling Showres their swift distilling water:
As when a wanton heedless Page (perhaps)
Rashly together two full glasses claps;
Both being broken, suddenly they pour
Both their brew'd liquors on the dusty flour.
VVhether some milder gale, with sighing breath
Shaking their Tent, their tears disseuereth:
As after rain another rain doth drop
In shady Forests from their shaggy top,
When through their green boughs, whiffing Winds do whirl
VVith wanton pufs their wauing locks to curl.
Or whether th'vpper Clouds moist heaviness
Doth with his waight an vnder Cloud oppress,
And so one humour doth another crush,
Till to the ground their liquid pearles do gush:
As the more clusters of ripe grapes we pack
In Vintage-time vpon the hurdles back;
At's pearced bottom the more fuming liquor
Runns in the scummy Fat, and fals the thicker.
Vp to th'eternall seat of shivering Winter,
The small thin humour by the Cold is prest
Into a Cloud; which wanders East and West
Vpon the Winde's wings, till in drops of Rain
It fall into his Grandames lap again:
VVhether som boistrous winde, with stormy puff
Ioustling the Clouds with mutuall counter-buff,
Do break their brittle sides, and make them shatter
In drizling Showres their swift distilling water:
As when a wanton heedless Page (perhaps)
Rashly together two full glasses claps;
Both being broken, suddenly they pour
Both their brew'd liquors on the dusty flour.
VVhether some milder gale, with sighing breath
Shaking their Tent, their tears disseuereth:
As after rain another rain doth drop
In shady Forests from their shaggy top,
When through their green boughs, whiffing Winds do whirl
VVith wanton pufs their wauing locks to curl.
Or whether th'vpper Clouds moist heaviness
Doth with his waight an vnder Cloud oppress,
And so one humour doth another crush,
Till to the ground their liquid pearles do gush:
As the more clusters of ripe grapes we pack
In Vintage-time vpon the hurdles back;
At's pearced bottom the more fuming liquor
Runns in the scummy Fat, and fals the thicker.
Then, many Heav'n-floods in our Floods do lose-am;
Nought's seen but Showres: the Heav'ns sad sable bosom
Seems all in tears to melt; and Earths green bed
VVith stinking Frogs is somtimes couered:
Either, because the floating Cloud doth fold
VVithin it selfe both moist, dry, hot, and cold,
Whence all things heer are made: or else for that
The actiue windes, sweeping this dusty Flat,
Somtimes in th'aire som fruitfull dust doo heap:
VVhence these new-formed vgly creatures leap:
As on the edges of som standing Lake
VVhich neighbour Mountains with their gutters make,
The foamy slime, it selfe transformeth oft
To green half-Tadpoles, playing there aloft,
Half-made, half-vnmade; round about the Flood,
Half-dead, half-liuing; half a frog, half-mud.
Nought's seen but Showres: the Heav'ns sad sable bosom
31
VVith stinking Frogs is somtimes couered:
Either, because the floating Cloud doth fold
VVithin it selfe both moist, dry, hot, and cold,
Whence all things heer are made: or else for that
The actiue windes, sweeping this dusty Flat,
Somtimes in th'aire som fruitfull dust doo heap:
VVhence these new-formed vgly creatures leap:
As on the edges of som standing Lake
VVhich neighbour Mountains with their gutters make,
The foamy slime, it selfe transformeth oft
To green half-Tadpoles, playing there aloft,
Half-made, half-vnmade; round about the Flood,
Half-dead, half-liuing; half a frog, half-mud.
Somtimes it happens, that the force of Cold
Freezes the whole Cloud: then we may behold
In siluer Flakes a heav'nly Wooll to fall;
Then, Fields seem grass-less, Forests leafe-less all,
The World's all white; and, through the heaps of Snowe,
The highest Stag can scarce his armour showe.
Freezes the whole Cloud: then we may behold
In siluer Flakes a heav'nly Wooll to fall;
Then, Fields seem grass-less, Forests leafe-less all,
The World's all white; and, through the heaps of Snowe,
The highest Stag can scarce his armour showe.
Somtimes befals, that, when by secret powr,
The Cloud's new-chang'd into a dropping showr,
Th'excessiue cold of the mid-Aire (anon)
Candies-it all in bels of Icy-stone:
Whose violent storms somtimes (alas!) doo proin,
Without a knife, our Orchard and our Vine;
Reap without sickle, beat down Birds and Cattle,
Disgrace our Woods, and make our Roofs to rattle.
The Cloud's new-chang'd into a dropping showr,
Th'excessiue cold of the mid-Aire (anon)
Candies-it all in bels of Icy-stone:
Whose violent storms somtimes (alas!) doo proin,
Without a knife, our Orchard and our Vine;
Reap without sickle, beat down Birds and Cattle,
Disgrace our Woods, and make our Roofs to rattle.
If Heav'ns bright Torches, from Earth's kidneys, sup
Som somwhat dry and heatfull Vapours vp,
Th'ambitious lightning of their nimble Fire
Would suddenly neer th'Azure Cirques aspire:
But scarce so soon their fuming crest hath raught,
Or toucht the Coldness of the middle Vault,
And felt what force their mortall Enemy
In Garrison keeps there continually;
When down again, towards their Dam they bear,
Holp by the waight which they haue drawn from her:
But in the instant, to their aid arriues
Another new heat, which their heart reuiues,
Re-arms their hand, and hauing staied their flight,
Better resolv'd brings them again to fight.
Som somwhat dry and heatfull Vapours vp,
Th'ambitious lightning of their nimble Fire
Would suddenly neer th'Azure Cirques aspire:
But scarce so soon their fuming crest hath raught,
Or toucht the Coldness of the middle Vault,
And felt what force their mortall Enemy
In Garrison keeps there continually;
When down again, towards their Dam they bear,
Holp by the waight which they haue drawn from her:
But in the instant, to their aid arriues
Another new heat, which their heart reuiues,
Re-arms their hand, and hauing staied their flight,
Better resolv'd brings them again to fight.
Well fortifi'd then by these fresh supplies,
More brauely they renew their enterprize:
And one-while th'vpper hand (with honour) getting,
Another-while disgracefully retreating,
Our lower Aire they tosse in sundry sort,
As weak or strong their matter doth comport.
This lasts not long; because the heat and cold,
Equall in force and fortune, equall bold
In these assaults; to end this sudden brall,
Th'one stops their mountiong, th'other stayes their fall.
So that this vapour, neuer resting stound,
Stands neuer still, but makes his motion round,
Posteth from Pole to Pole, and flies amain
From Spain to India, and from Inde to Spain.
More brauely they renew their enterprize:
And one-while th'vpper hand (with honour) getting,
Another-while disgracefully retreating,
Our lower Aire they tosse in sundry sort,
As weak or strong their matter doth comport.
32
Equall in force and fortune, equall bold
In these assaults; to end this sudden brall,
Th'one stops their mountiong, th'other stayes their fall.
So that this vapour, neuer resting stound,
Stands neuer still, but makes his motion round,
Posteth from Pole to Pole, and flies amain
From Spain to India, and from Inde to Spain.
But though these blustring spirits seem alwaies blow'n
By the same spirit, and of like Vapour grow'n;
Yet, from their birth-place, take they diuersly
A diuers name and diuers quality.
Feeling the fower Windes, that with diuers blast,
From the fower corners of the World doo haste;
In their effects I find fower Temp'raments,
Foure Times, foure Ages, and foure Elements.
Th'East-winde, in working, follows properly
Fire, Choler, Summer, and soft Infancy:
That, which dries vp wilde Affrick with his wing,
Resembles Aire, Blood, Youth, and liuely Spring:
That, which blowes moistly from the Western stage,
Like Water, Phlegme, Winter, and heauy Age:
That, which comes shiv'ring from cold Climates solely,
Earth, withered Eld, Autumn, and Melancholy.
Not, but that Men haue long yer this found-out
More then these four Windes, East, West, North, and South:
Those that (at Sea) to see both Poles are wont,
Vpon their Compass two and thirty count,
Though they be infinite, as are the places
Whence the Heav'n-fanning Exhalation passes:
But wheresoeuer their quick course they bend,
As on their Chiefs, all on these Foure depend.
By the same spirit, and of like Vapour grow'n;
Yet, from their birth-place, take they diuersly
A diuers name and diuers quality.
Feeling the fower Windes, that with diuers blast,
From the fower corners of the World doo haste;
In their effects I find fower Temp'raments,
Foure Times, foure Ages, and foure Elements.
Th'East-winde, in working, follows properly
Fire, Choler, Summer, and soft Infancy:
That, which dries vp wilde Affrick with his wing,
Resembles Aire, Blood, Youth, and liuely Spring:
That, which blowes moistly from the Western stage,
Like Water, Phlegme, Winter, and heauy Age:
That, which comes shiv'ring from cold Climates solely,
Earth, withered Eld, Autumn, and Melancholy.
Not, but that Men haue long yer this found-out
More then these four Windes, East, West, North, and South:
Those that (at Sea) to see both Poles are wont,
Vpon their Compass two and thirty count,
Though they be infinite, as are the places
Whence the Heav'n-fanning Exhalation passes:
But wheresoeuer their quick course they bend,
As on their Chiefs, all on these Foure depend.
One while, with whisking broom they brush and sweep
The cloudy Curtains of Heav'ns stages steep:
Anon, with hotter sighes they dry the Ground,
Late by Electra and her sisters drownd.
Anon refresh they, with a temp'rate blowing,
The soultry Aier; vnder the Dog-starre glowing:
On Trees anon they ripe the Plum and Pear,
In cods the Poulse, the Corn within the ear:
Anon, from North to South, from East to West
VVith ceas less wings they driue a Ship addrest:
And somtimes whirling, on an open Hill,
The round-flat Runner in a roaring Mill,
In flowry motes they grind the purest grain,
Which late they ripened on the fruitfull Plain.
The cloudy Curtains of Heav'ns stages steep:
Anon, with hotter sighes they dry the Ground,
Late by Electra and her sisters drownd.
Anon refresh they, with a temp'rate blowing,
The soultry Aier; vnder the Dog-starre glowing:
On Trees anon they ripe the Plum and Pear,
In cods the Poulse, the Corn within the ear:
Anon, from North to South, from East to West
VVith ceas less wings they driue a Ship addrest:
And somtimes whirling, on an open Hill,
The round-flat Runner in a roaring Mill,
In flowry motes they grind the purest grain,
Which late they ripened on the fruitfull Plain.
If th'Exhalation hot and oyly proue,
And yet (as feeble) giueth place aboue
To th'Airy Regions euer-lasting Frost,
Incessantly th'apt tinding fume is tost
Till it inflame: then like a Squib it falls,
Or fire-wingd shaft, or sulph'ry Powder Balls.
And yet (as feeble) giueth place aboue
33
Incessantly th'apt tinding fume is tost
Till it inflame: then like a Squib it falls,
Or fire-wingd shaft, or sulph'ry Powder Balls.
But if this kinde of Exhalation tour
Aboue the walls of Winters icy bowr,
'T inflameth also; and anon becoms
A new strange Star, presaging woful dooms:
And, for this Fier hath more fewell in't
Then had the first, 'tis not so quickly spent:
Whether the Heav'ns incessant agitation,
Into a Star transforming th'Exhalation,
Kindle the same: like as a coal, that winkt
On a sticks end (and seemed quite extinct)
Tost in the dark with an industrious hand,
To light the night, becoms a fier-brand:
Or whether th'vpper Fire doo fire the same;
As lighted Candles doo th'vnlight inflame.
Aboue the walls of Winters icy bowr,
'T inflameth also; and anon becoms
A new strange Star, presaging woful dooms:
And, for this Fier hath more fewell in't
Then had the first, 'tis not so quickly spent:
Whether the Heav'ns incessant agitation,
Into a Star transforming th'Exhalation,
Kindle the same: like as a coal, that winkt
On a sticks end (and seemed quite extinct)
Tost in the dark with an industrious hand,
To light the night, becoms a fier-brand:
Or whether th'vpper Fire doo fire the same;
As lighted Candles doo th'vnlight inflame.
According as the vapour's thick or rare,
Euen or vn-euen, long or large, round or square,
Such are the Forms it in the Aire resembles:
At sight whereof, th'amazed Vulgar trembles.
Heer, in the night appears a flaming Spire;
There a fierce Dragon folded all in fire;
Heer, a bright Comet; there, a burning Beam;
Heer, flying Launces; there, a fiery Stream:
Heer seems a horned Goat, enuiron'd round
With fiery flakes, about the Aire to bound.
There, with long bloudy haire, a Blazing Star
Threatens the World with Famin, Plague and War:
To Princes, death: to Kingdoms, many crosses:
To all Estates, ineuitable Losses:
To Heard-men, Rot: to Plough-men, hap-lesse Seasons:
To Saylers, Storms: to Cities, ciuill Treasons.
Euen or vn-euen, long or large, round or square,
Such are the Forms it in the Aire resembles:
At sight whereof, th'amazed Vulgar trembles.
Heer, in the night appears a flaming Spire;
There a fierce Dragon folded all in fire;
Heer, a bright Comet; there, a burning Beam;
Heer, flying Launces; there, a fiery Stream:
Heer seems a horned Goat, enuiron'd round
With fiery flakes, about the Aire to bound.
There, with long bloudy haire, a Blazing Star
Threatens the World with Famin, Plague and War:
To Princes, death: to Kingdoms, many crosses:
To all Estates, ineuitable Losses:
To Heard-men, Rot: to Plough-men, hap-lesse Seasons:
To Saylers, Storms: to Cities, ciuill Treasons.
But hark: what hear I in the Heav'ns? me thinks
The VVorlds wall shakes, and his Foundation shrinks:
It seems euen now that horrible Persephone,
Loosing Meger', Alecto and Tysiphone,
VVeary of raigning in black Erebus,
Transports her Hell between the Heav'n and vs.
The VVorlds wall shakes, and his Foundation shrinks:
It seems euen now that horrible Persephone,
Loosing Meger', Alecto and Tysiphone,
VVeary of raigning in black Erebus,
Transports her Hell between the Heav'n and vs.
'Tis held, I knowe, that when a Vapour moist
As well from Fresh as from Salt water's hoist
In the same instant with hot-Exhalations,
In th'Airy Regions secondary stations;
The Fiery Fume, besieged with the Croud
And keen-cold thicknes of that dampish Cloud,
Strengthens his strength; and with redoubled Volleys
Of ioyned Heat, on the Cold Leagher sallies.
As well from Fresh as from Salt water's hoist
In the same instant with hot-Exhalations,
In th'Airy Regions secondary stations;
The Fiery Fume, besieged with the Croud
And keen-cold thicknes of that dampish Cloud,
Strengthens his strength; and with redoubled Volleys
Of ioyned Heat, on the Cold Leagher sallies.
34
Like as a Lion, very late exil'd,
From's natiue Forrests; spet-at and reuil'd,
Mockt, moov'd, and troubled with a thousand toyes,
By wanton children, idle girles and boyes;
With hideous roaring doth his Prison fill,
In's narrow Cloistre ramping wildely, still,
Runs to and fro; and furious, lesse doth long
For liberty, than to reuenge his wrong:
This Fire, desirous to break forth again
From's cloudy Ward, cannot it selfe refrain;
But, without resting, loud it grones and grumbles,
It roules and roares, and round-round-round it rumbles,
Till (hauing rent the lower side in sunder)
With sulph'ry flash it haue shot-down his thunder:
Though, willing to vnite, in these alarms,
To's Brothers Forces, his own fainting arms;
And th'hottest Circle of the World to gaine,
To issue vp-ward, oft it striues in vaine:
But, 'tis there fronted with a Trench so large,
And such an Hoast, that though it often charge,
On this and that side, the Cold Camp about,
With his Hot Skirmish; yet still, still the stout
Victorious Foe repelleth ev'ry push;
So that (despairing) with a furious rush
(Forgetting honour) it is fain to fly
By the back-door, with blushing infamy.
From's natiue Forrests; spet-at and reuil'd,
Mockt, moov'd, and troubled with a thousand toyes,
By wanton children, idle girles and boyes;
With hideous roaring doth his Prison fill,
In's narrow Cloistre ramping wildely, still,
Runs to and fro; and furious, lesse doth long
For liberty, than to reuenge his wrong:
This Fire, desirous to break forth again
From's cloudy Ward, cannot it selfe refrain;
But, without resting, loud it grones and grumbles,
It roules and roares, and round-round-round it rumbles,
Till (hauing rent the lower side in sunder)
With sulph'ry flash it haue shot-down his thunder:
Though, willing to vnite, in these alarms,
To's Brothers Forces, his own fainting arms;
And th'hottest Circle of the World to gaine,
To issue vp-ward, oft it striues in vaine:
But, 'tis there fronted with a Trench so large,
And such an Hoast, that though it often charge,
On this and that side, the Cold Camp about,
With his Hot Skirmish; yet still, still the stout
Victorious Foe repelleth ev'ry push;
So that (despairing) with a furious rush
(Forgetting honour) it is fain to fly
By the back-door, with blushing infamy.
Then th'Ocean boyls for fear: the Fish doo deem
The Sea too shallow to safe-shelter them:
The Earth doth shake; the Shepheard in the field
In hollow Rocks himself can hardly shield:
Th'affrighted Heav'ns open; and, in the vale
Of Acheron, grim Plutoe's self looks pale:
Th'Aire flames with Fire: for, the loud-roaring Thunder
(Renting the Cloud, that it includes, asunder)
Sends forth those Flashes which so blear our sight:
As wakefull Students, in the Winters night
Against the steel glauncing with stony knocks,
Strike sodain sparks into their Tinder-box.
The Sea too shallow to safe-shelter them:
The Earth doth shake; the Shepheard in the field
In hollow Rocks himself can hardly shield:
Th'affrighted Heav'ns open; and, in the vale
Of Acheron, grim Plutoe's self looks pale:
Th'Aire flames with Fire: for, the loud-roaring Thunder
(Renting the Cloud, that it includes, asunder)
Sends forth those Flashes which so blear our sight:
As wakefull Students, in the Winters night
Against the steel glauncing with stony knocks,
Strike sodain sparks into their Tinder-box.
Moreouer, Lightning of a fume is fram'd:
Through't selfs hot-drinesse, euermore inflam'd:
Whose powr (past credit) without razing skin,
Can bruiz to powder all our bones within:
Can melt the Gold that greedy Mizers hoord
In barred Cofers, and not burn the boord:
Can break the blade, and neuer singe the sheath:
Can scorch an infant in the Womb to death;
And neuer blemish, in one sort or other,
Flesh, bone, or sinew of th'amazed Mother:
Consume the shooes, and neuer hurt the feet:
Empty a Cask, and yet not perish it.
My younger eyes haue often seen a Dame,
To whom the flash of Heav'ns fantastick flame
Did else no harm, saue (in a moment's space)
With windy Rasor shaue a secret place.
Through't selfs hot-drinesse, euermore inflam'd:
Whose powr (past credit) without razing skin,
Can bruiz to powder all our bones within:
Can melt the Gold that greedy Mizers hoord
In barred Cofers, and not burn the boord:
Can break the blade, and neuer singe the sheath:
Can scorch an infant in the Womb to death;
And neuer blemish, in one sort or other,
Flesh, bone, or sinew of th'amazed Mother:
35
Empty a Cask, and yet not perish it.
My younger eyes haue often seen a Dame,
To whom the flash of Heav'ns fantastick flame
Did else no harm, saue (in a moment's space)
With windy Rasor shaue a secret place.
Shall I omit a hundred Prodigies
Oft seen in forehead of the frowning Skies?
Somtimes a Fiery Circle doth appeare,
Proceeding from the beautious beams and clear
Of Sun and Moon, and other Stars aspect,
Down-looking on a thick-round Cloud direct;
When, not of force to thrust their rayes through-out-it,
In a round Crown they cast them round about-it:
Like as (almost) a burning candle, put
Into a Closet with the door close shut;
Not able through the boords to send his light,
Out at the edges round about shines bright.
Oft seen in forehead of the frowning Skies?
Somtimes a Fiery Circle doth appeare,
Proceeding from the beautious beams and clear
Of Sun and Moon, and other Stars aspect,
Down-looking on a thick-round Cloud direct;
When, not of force to thrust their rayes through-out-it,
In a round Crown they cast them round about-it:
Like as (almost) a burning candle, put
Into a Closet with the door close shut;
Not able through the boords to send his light,
Out at the edges round about shines bright.
But, in's declining, when Sols countenance
Direct vpon a wat'rish Cloud doth glance
(A wat'rish Cloud, which cannot easily
Hold any longer her moist Tympany)
On the moist Cloud he limns his lightsom front;
And with a gawdy Pencill paints vpon't
A blew-green-gilt Bowe bended ouer vs:
For, th'aduerse Cloud, which first receiueth thus
Apollo's raies, the same direct repells
On the next Cloud, and with his gold it mells
Her various colours: Like as when the Sun
At a bay-window peepeth in vpon
A boawl of water, his bright beams aspect
With trembling lustre it doth far reflect
Against th'high feeling of the lightsom Hall,
With stately Fret-work ouer-crusted all.
Direct vpon a wat'rish Cloud doth glance
(A wat'rish Cloud, which cannot easily
Hold any longer her moist Tympany)
On the moist Cloud he limns his lightsom front;
And with a gawdy Pencill paints vpon't
A blew-green-gilt Bowe bended ouer vs:
For, th'aduerse Cloud, which first receiueth thus
Apollo's raies, the same direct repells
On the next Cloud, and with his gold it mells
Her various colours: Like as when the Sun
At a bay-window peepeth in vpon
A boawl of water, his bright beams aspect
With trembling lustre it doth far reflect
Against th'high feeling of the lightsom Hall,
With stately Fret-work ouer-crusted all.
On th'other side, if the Cloud side-long sit,
And not beneath, or iustly opposite
To Sun and Moon; then either of them forms
With strong aspect double or trebble Forms
Vpon the same. The Vulgars then affright
To see at once three Chariots of the Light;
And, in the VVelkin on Nights gloomy Throne,
To see at once more shining Moons then one.
And not beneath, or iustly opposite
To Sun and Moon; then either of them forms
With strong aspect double or trebble Forms
Vpon the same. The Vulgars then affright
To see at once three Chariots of the Light;
And, in the VVelkin on Nights gloomy Throne,
To see at once more shining Moons then one.
But, O fond Mortals! wherefore doo yee striue
VVith reach of Sense, Gods wonders to retriue?
VVhat proud desire (rather, what Furie's drift?)
Boldens you god-less, all Gods works to sift?
I'le not deny, but that a learned man
May yeeld some Reason (if he list to scan)
Of all that moues vnder Heav'ns hollow Cope;
But, not so sound as can all scruple stop:
And though he could, yet should we euermore,
Praysing these tools, extoll His fingers more
Who works with them, and many-waies doth giue
To deadest things (instantly) soules, to liue.
VVith reach of Sense, Gods wonders to retriue?
VVhat proud desire (rather, what Furie's drift?)
Boldens you god-less, all Gods works to sift?
I'le not deny, but that a learned man
May yeeld some Reason (if he list to scan)
36
But, not so sound as can all scruple stop:
And though he could, yet should we euermore,
Praysing these tools, extoll His fingers more
Who works with them, and many-waies doth giue
To deadest things (instantly) soules, to liue.
Me thinks I hear, when I doo hear it thunder,
The voice that brings Swains vp, and Cæsars vnder:
By that Towr-tearing stroak, I vnderstand
Th'vndaunted strength of the Diuine right hand:
When I behold the Lightning in the Skies,
Me thinks I see th'Almighties glorious Eies:
When I perceiue it rain-down timely showrs,
Me thinks the Lord his horn of Plenty pours:
When from the Clouds excessiue Water spins,
Me thinks God weeps for our vnwept-for sins:
And when in Heav'n I see the Rain-boaw bent,
I hold it for a Pledge and Argument,
That neuer more shall Vniuersall Floods
Presume to mount ouer the tops of VVoods
VVhich hoary Atlas in the Clouds doth hide,
Or on the Crowns of Caucasus doo ride:
But, aboue all, my pearced soule inclines,
VVhen th'angry Heav'ns threat with prodigious Signes;
VVhen Natures order doth reuerse and change,
Prepost'rously into disorder strange.
The voice that brings Swains vp, and Cæsars vnder:
By that Towr-tearing stroak, I vnderstand
Th'vndaunted strength of the Diuine right hand:
When I behold the Lightning in the Skies,
Me thinks I see th'Almighties glorious Eies:
When I perceiue it rain-down timely showrs,
Me thinks the Lord his horn of Plenty pours:
When from the Clouds excessiue Water spins,
Me thinks God weeps for our vnwept-for sins:
And when in Heav'n I see the Rain-boaw bent,
I hold it for a Pledge and Argument,
That neuer more shall Vniuersall Floods
Presume to mount ouer the tops of VVoods
VVhich hoary Atlas in the Clouds doth hide,
Or on the Crowns of Caucasus doo ride:
But, aboue all, my pearced soule inclines,
VVhen th'angry Heav'ns threat with prodigious Signes;
VVhen Natures order doth reuerse and change,
Prepost'rously into disorder strange.
Let all the VVits, that euer suckt the breast
Of sacred Pallas, in one VVit be prest,
And let him tell me (if at least he can
By rule of Nature, or meer reach of man)
A sound and certain reason of the Cream,
The VVooll and Flesh that from the Clouds did stream:
Let him declare what cause could erst beget,
Amid the Aire, those drizzling showrs of VVheat,
VVhich in Carinthia twice were seen to shed;
VVhereof that people made them store of Bread.
Of sacred Pallas, in one VVit be prest,
And let him tell me (if at least he can
By rule of Nature, or meer reach of man)
A sound and certain reason of the Cream,
The VVooll and Flesh that from the Clouds did stream:
Let him declare what cause could erst beget,
Amid the Aire, those drizzling showrs of VVheat,
VVhich in Carinthia twice were seen to shed;
VVhereof that people made them store of Bread.
God, the great God of Heav'n, somtimes delights
From top to toe to alter Natures Rites;
That his strange Works, to Nature contrary,
May before-runners of som misery.
The drops of Fire which weeping Heav'n did showr
Vpon Lucania, when Rome sent the Flowr
Of Italy, into the wealthy Clime
VVhich Euphrates fats with his fruitfull slime;
Presag'd, that Parthians should, the next year, tame
The proud Lucanians, and nigh quench their Name.
The clash of Arms, and clang of Trumpets heard
High in the Aire, when valiant Romans warr'd
Victoriously, on the (now-Canton'd) Suisses,
Cymbrians, and Almans, hewing all in pecces;
'Gainst Epicures profane assertions, showe
That 'tis not Fortune guides this World belowe.
Thou that beheld'st from Heav'n, with triple Flashes,
Cursed Olympius smitten all to ashes,
For Blasphemies 'gainst th'One Eternall-Three;
Dai'st thou yet belch against the Trinitie?
Dar'st thou, profane, spet in the face of God,
Who for blasphemers hath so sharp a rod?
From top to toe to alter Natures Rites;
That his strange Works, to Nature contrary,
May before-runners of som misery.
The drops of Fire which weeping Heav'n did showr
Vpon Lucania, when Rome sent the Flowr
Of Italy, into the wealthy Clime
VVhich Euphrates fats with his fruitfull slime;
Presag'd, that Parthians should, the next year, tame
The proud Lucanians, and nigh quench their Name.
The clash of Arms, and clang of Trumpets heard
High in the Aire, when valiant Romans warr'd
37
Cymbrians, and Almans, hewing all in pecces;
'Gainst Epicures profane assertions, showe
That 'tis not Fortune guides this World belowe.
Thou that beheld'st from Heav'n, with triple Flashes,
Cursed Olympius smitten all to ashes,
For Blasphemies 'gainst th'One Eternall-Three;
Dai'st thou yet belch against the Trinitie?
Dar'st thou, profane, spet in the face of God,
Who for blasphemers hath so sharp a rod?
Iewes (no more Iewes, no more of Abr'ham Sons;
But Turks, Tartarians, Scythians, Lestrigons)
Say what you thought; what thought you, when so long
A flaming Sword ouer your Temple hung;
But that the Lord would with a mighty arme
The righteous vengeance of his wrath performe
On you, and yours? that what the Plague did leaue,
Th'infatiate gorge of Famine should bereaue?
And what the Plague and Famine both did spare,
Should be clean gleaned by the hand of War?
That sucking Infants, crying for the teat,
Self-cruell Mothers should vnkindly eat?
And that (yer long) the share and coultar should
Rub off their rust vpon your Roofs of gold?
And all, because you (cursed) crucifi'd
The Lord of life, who for our ransom dy'd.
But Turks, Tartarians, Scythians, Lestrigons)
Say what you thought; what thought you, when so long
A flaming Sword ouer your Temple hung;
But that the Lord would with a mighty arme
The righteous vengeance of his wrath performe
On you, and yours? that what the Plague did leaue,
Th'infatiate gorge of Famine should bereaue?
And what the Plague and Famine both did spare,
Should be clean gleaned by the hand of War?
That sucking Infants, crying for the teat,
Self-cruell Mothers should vnkindly eat?
And that (yer long) the share and coultar should
Rub off their rust vpon your Roofs of gold?
And all, because you (cursed) crucifi'd
The Lord of life, who for our ransom dy'd.
The ruddy Fountain that with blood did flowe:
Th'huge Fiery Rock the thundring Heav'ns did throwe
Into Liguria: and the bloody Crosses
Seen on mens garments, seem'd with open voyces
To cry aloud, that the Turk's swarming hoast
Should pitch his proud Moons on the Genoan coast.
Th'huge Fiery Rock the thundring Heav'ns did throwe
Into Liguria: and the bloody Crosses
Seen on mens garments, seem'd with open voyces
To cry aloud, that the Turk's swarming hoast
Should pitch his proud Moons on the Genoan coast.
O Frantick France! why dost not Thou make vse
Of Strangefull Signes, whereby the Heav'ns induce
Thee to repentance? Canst thou tear-less gaze
(Euen night by night) on that prodigious Blaze,
That hairy Comet, that long streaming Star,
Which threatens Earth with Famine, Plague, and War
(Th'Almighty's Trident, and three-forked fire
Wherewith he strikes vs in his greatest Ire)?
But what (alas!) can Heauens bare threatnings vrge?
Sith all the sharp Rods which so hourely scourge
Thy sens-less back, cannot so much as wrest
One single sigh from thy obdurate brest?
Thou drink'st thine own blood, thine own flesh thou eatest,
In what most harmes thee thy delight is greatest.
O sens-les Folk, sick of a Lethargy,
Who to the death despise your Remedy!
Like froward Iades that for no striking stur,
But wax more restif still the more we spur:
The more your wounds, more your secureness growes,
Eat with afflictions, as an Asse with blowes:
And as the sledge hardens with strokes the steel;
So, the more beaten, still the less ye feel.
Of Strangefull Signes, whereby the Heav'ns induce
Thee to repentance? Canst thou tear-less gaze
(Euen night by night) on that prodigious Blaze,
That hairy Comet, that long streaming Star,
Which threatens Earth with Famine, Plague, and War
(Th'Almighty's Trident, and three-forked fire
Wherewith he strikes vs in his greatest Ire)?
But what (alas!) can Heauens bare threatnings vrge?
Sith all the sharp Rods which so hourely scourge
Thy sens-less back, cannot so much as wrest
One single sigh from thy obdurate brest?
Thou drink'st thine own blood, thine own flesh thou eatest,
In what most harmes thee thy delight is greatest.
O sens-les Folk, sick of a Lethargy,
Who to the death despise your Remedy!
38
But wax more restif still the more we spur:
The more your wounds, more your secureness growes,
Eat with afflictions, as an Asse with blowes:
And as the sledge hardens with strokes the steel;
So, the more beaten, still the less ye feel.
Upon like consideration the Translator sharply citeth England; and to rouze her from her present security proposeth feareful examples of her own troublous changes, and other terrible chastisements.
Thy visitation, as thou hadst it not?
Thou hast seen signes, and thou hast felt the rod
Of the revenging wrathfull hand of God.
The frowning Heav'ns in fearfull Sightes fore-spoke
Thy Roman, Saxon, Dane, and Norman Toak:
And since (alas!) vnkinder wounds then those,
The Ciuill rents of thy diuided Rose:
And, last of all, the raging Wolues of Rome,
Tearing thy limbs (Christs Lambs) in Martyrdome.
Besides Great Plagues, and grievous Dearths, which (yerst)
Haue oft the Sinnews of thy strength reuerst.
But thou, more faulty, more forgetfull art
Then Boyes that fear but while they feel the smart:
All this is past; and Thou, past feare if it,
In Peace and Plenty, as a Queen doost sit,
Of Rods forgetfull, and for Rest ingratefull
(That sottish dulness: this, a sin most hatefull)
Ingratefull to thy God, who all hath sent;
And thy late Queen, his sacred instrument,
By whose pure hand, he hath more blessed Thine,
Then yerst his owne Choyce-planted Hebrew Vine:
From whence he look't for Grapes (as now from thee);
That bore him Crabs: Thou worse (if worse may be):
That was destroy'd, the wilde Boar entred in.
England beware: Like punishment, like sin.
Then Boyes that fear but while they feel the smart:
All this is past; and Thou, past feare if it,
In Peace and Plenty, as a Queen doost sit,
Of Rods forgetfull, and for Rest ingratefull
(That sottish dulness: this, a sin most hatefull)
Ingratefull to thy God, who all hath sent;
And thy late Queen, his sacred instrument,
By whose pure hand, he hath more blessed Thine,
Then yerst his owne Choyce-planted Hebrew Vine:
From whence he look't for Grapes (as now from thee);
That bore him Crabs: Thou worse (if worse may be):
That was destroy'd, the wilde Boar entred in.
England beware: Like punishment, like sin.
But, O! what boots, or what auailes my song
To this deaf Adder, that hath slept so long,
Snorting so loud on pillowes of Security,
Dread-less of danger, drowned in Impurity;
Whose Senses all, all ouer-grow'n with Fat,
Haue left no door for Fear to enter at?
Yet once again (deer Countrie) must I call:
England repent; Fall, to preuent thy Fall.
Though thou be blinde, thy wakefull watchmen see
Heav'ns Irefull vengeance hanging over thee
In fearfull Signes, threatning a thousand Woes
To thy Sinn's Deluge, which all over-flowes.
To this deaf Adder, that hath slept so long,
Snorting so loud on pillowes of Security,
Dread-less of danger, drowned in Impurity;
Whose Senses all, all ouer-grow'n with Fat,
Haue left no door for Fear to enter at?
Yet once again (deer Countrie) must I call:
England repent; Fall, to preuent thy Fall.
Though thou be blinde, thy wakefull watchmen see
Heav'ns Irefull vengeance hanging over thee
In fearfull Signes, threatning a thousand Woes
To thy Sinn's Deluge, which all over-flowes.
Thine vncontrold, bold, open Athëism:
Close Idol-seruice: Cloaked Hypocrism:
Common Blaspheming of Gods Name, in Oaths:
Vsuall Profaning of his Sabbaoths:
Thy blind, dumb, Idol-shepheards, choakt with steeples,
That fleece thy Flocks, and do not feed thy Peoples:
Strife-full Ambition, Florentizing States:
Bribes and Affection swaying Magistrates:
Wealth's mercy-less Wrong, Vsury, Extortion:
Poore's Idleness, repining at their Portion:
Thy Drunken Surfets; and Excess in Diet:
Thy Sensuall wallowing in Lascivious Riot:
Thy huft, puft, painted, curld, purld, Wanton Pride
(The Baud to Lust, and to all Sinns beside)
These are thy Sinnes: These are the Signes of Ruin,
To every State that doth the same pursue-in:
Such, cost the Iewes and Asians Desolation,
Now turned Turks, that were the Holy Nation.
Happy who take by others dangers warning:
All that is writ, is written for our learning:
So preach thy prophets: But, who heeds their cry:
Or who beleeues? Then much less hope haue I.
Wherefore (Deer Bartas) hauing warned them;
From this Digression, turn we to our Theam.
Close Idol-seruice: Cloaked Hypocrism:
Common Blaspheming of Gods Name, in Oaths:
Vsuall Profaning of his Sabbaoths:
39
That fleece thy Flocks, and do not feed thy Peoples:
Strife-full Ambition, Florentizing States:
Bribes and Affection swaying Magistrates:
Wealth's mercy-less Wrong, Vsury, Extortion:
Poore's Idleness, repining at their Portion:
Thy Drunken Surfets; and Excess in Diet:
Thy Sensuall wallowing in Lascivious Riot:
Thy huft, puft, painted, curld, purld, Wanton Pride
(The Baud to Lust, and to all Sinns beside)
These are thy Sinnes: These are the Signes of Ruin,
To every State that doth the same pursue-in:
Such, cost the Iewes and Asians Desolation,
Now turned Turks, that were the Holy Nation.
Happy who take by others dangers warning:
All that is writ, is written for our learning:
So preach thy prophets: But, who heeds their cry:
Or who beleeues? Then much less hope haue I.
Wherefore (Deer Bartas) hauing warned them;
From this Digression, turn we to our Theam.
As our All-welcom Soveraign (Englands solace,
Heav'ns care, Earths comfort) in his stately Palace,
Hath next His Person, Princes of his Realms
Next him in blood, extract from Royall Stems;
Next those, the Nobles; next, the Magistrates
That serue him truly in their seuerall States;
As more more or less their diuers Dignitie
Coms neer the Greatness of his Maiestie:
So, next the Heav'ns, God marshall'd th'Element
Which seconds them in swift bright Ornament:
And then the rest, according as of kin
To th'Azure Sphears, or th'Erring Fires they bin.
Heav'ns care, Earths comfort) in his stately Palace,
Hath next His Person, Princes of his Realms
Next him in blood, extract from Royall Stems;
Next those, the Nobles; next, the Magistrates
That serue him truly in their seuerall States;
As more more or less their diuers Dignitie
Coms neer the Greatness of his Maiestie:
So, next the Heav'ns, God marshall'd th'Element
Which seconds them in swift bright Ornament:
And then the rest, according as of kin
To th'Azure Sphears, or th'Erring Fires they bin.
Yet som (more crediting their eyes, then Reason)
From's proper place this Essence doo disseisin;
And vainely striue (after their Fancies sway)
To cut the World's best Element away,
The nimble, light, bright-flaming, heatfull Fire,
Fountain of life, Smith, Founder, Purifier,
Cook, Surgeon, Soldier, Gunner, Alchymist,
The source of Motion: briefly, what not is't?
Apt for all, acting all; whose arms embrace,
Vnder Heav'ns arms, this Vniuersall Mass.
From's proper place this Essence doo disseisin;
And vainely striue (after their Fancies sway)
To cut the World's best Element away,
The nimble, light, bright-flaming, heatfull Fire,
Fountain of life, Smith, Founder, Purifier,
Cook, Surgeon, Soldier, Gunner, Alchymist,
The source of Motion: briefly, what not is't?
Apt for all, acting all; whose arms embrace,
Vnder Heav'ns arms, this Vniuersall Mass.
For, if (say they) the Fire were lodg'd between
The Heav'ns and vs, it would by night be seen;
Sith then, so far-off (as in Meads we pass)
We see least Glow-worms glister in the grass:
Bosides, how should we through the Fiery Tent,
Perceiue the bright eyes of the Firmament?
Sith heer the soundest and the sharpest ey
Can nothing through our Candle-flames descry.
The Heav'ns and vs, it would by night be seen;
Sith then, so far-off (as in Meads we pass)
We see least Glow-worms glister in the grass:
Bosides, how should we through the Fiery Tent,
Perceiue the bright eyes of the Firmament?
40
Can nothing through our Candle-flames descry.
O! hard-beleeuing Wits! if Zephyrus
And Austers sighes were neuer felt of vs,
You would suppose the space between Earth's Ball,
And Heav'ns bright Arches, void and empty all:
And then no more you would the Aire allow
For Element, then th'hot-bright Flamer now.
And Austers sighes were neuer felt of vs,
You would suppose the space between Earth's Ball,
And Heav'ns bright Arches, void and empty all:
And then no more you would the Aire allow
For Element, then th'hot-bright Flamer now.
Now ev'n as far as Phœbus light excels
The light of Lamps, and every Taper els
Wherewith we vse to lengthen th'After-noon
Which Capricorn duckes in the Sea too soon;
So far in pureness th'Elementall Flame
Excels the Fire that for our vse we frame.
For, ours is nothing but a dusky light,
Grofs, thick, and smoaky, enemy to sight:
But, that aboue (for, being neither blent
With fumy mixture of gross nourishment,
Nor tost with winds, but far from vs) coms neer
It's neighbour Heav'n, in nature pure and cleer.
The light of Lamps, and every Taper els
Wherewith we vse to lengthen th'After-noon
Which Capricorn duckes in the Sea too soon;
So far in pureness th'Elementall Flame
Excels the Fire that for our vse we frame.
For, ours is nothing but a dusky light,
Grofs, thick, and smoaky, enemy to sight:
But, that aboue (for, being neither blent
With fumy mixture of gross nourishment,
Nor tost with winds, but far from vs) coms neer
It's neighbour Heav'n, in nature pure and cleer.
But, of what substance shall I, after-thee
(O matchless Master) make Heav'ns Canapey?
Vncertain, heer my resolutions rock
And waver, like th'inconstant Weather-Cock;
Which, on a Towr turning with every blast,
Changeth his Master, and his place as fast.
Learned Lycæum, now awhile, I walk-in:
Then th'Academian sacred Shades I stalk-in.
(O matchless Master) make Heav'ns Canapey?
Vncertain, heer my resolutions rock
And waver, like th'inconstant Weather-Cock;
Which, on a Towr turning with every blast,
Changeth his Master, and his place as fast.
Learned Lycæum, now awhile, I walk-in:
Then th'Academian sacred Shades I stalk-in.
Treading the way that Aristotle went,
I doo depriue the heav'ns of Element,
And mixture too; and think, th'omnipotence
Of God did make them of a Quint-Essence;
Sith of the Elements, two still erect
Their motion vp; two euer down direct:
But the Heav'ns course, not wandring vp nor down,
Continually turns onely roundly round.
The Elements haue no eternall race,
But settle ay in their assigned place:
But th'azure Circle, without taking breath,
His certain course for euer gallopeth;
It keeps one pase, and mov'd with waight-less waights,
It neuer takes fresh horse, nor neuer baits.
I doo depriue the heav'ns of Element,
And mixture too; and think, th'omnipotence
Of God did make them of a Quint-Essence;
Sith of the Elements, two still erect
Their motion vp; two euer down direct:
But the Heav'ns course, not wandring vp nor down,
Continually turns onely roundly round.
The Elements haue no eternall race,
But settle ay in their assigned place:
But th'azure Circle, without taking breath,
His certain course for euer gallopeth;
It keeps one pase, and mov'd with waight-less waights,
It neuer takes fresh horse, nor neuer baits.
Things that consist of th'Elements vniting,
Are euer tost with an intestin fighting;
Whence, springs (in time) their life and their deceasing,
Their diuers change, their waxing and decreasing:
So that, of all that is, or may be seen
With mortall eyes, vnder Nights horned Queeen,
Nothing retaineth the same form and face,
Hardly the half of half an howers space.
But, the Heav'ns feel not fates impartiall rigour:
Years add not to their stature nor their vigour:
Vse wears them not; but their green-ever Age
Is all in all still like their Pupillage.
Are euer tost with an intestin fighting;
Whence, springs (in time) their life and their deceasing,
Their diuers change, their waxing and decreasing:
So that, of all that is, or may be seen
With mortall eyes, vnder Nights horned Queeen,
41
Hardly the half of half an howers space.
But, the Heav'ns feel not fates impartiall rigour:
Years add not to their stature nor their vigour:
Vse wears them not; but their green-ever Age
Is all in all still like their Pupillage.
Then suddenly, turnd studious Platonist,
I hold, the Heav'ns of Elements consist:
Tis Earth, whose firm parts make their Lamps apparent,
Their bodies fast; Aire makes them all transparent:
Fire makes their restless circles pure, and cleer,
Hot, lightsome, light, and quick in their career:
And Water, noynting with cold-moist the brims
Of th'enter-kissing turning Globes extreams,
Tempers the heat (caus'd by their rapid turning)
Which else would set all th'elements a-burning.
I hold, the Heav'ns of Elements consist:
Tis Earth, whose firm parts make their Lamps apparent,
Their bodies fast; Aire makes them all transparent:
Fire makes their restless circles pure, and cleer,
Hot, lightsome, light, and quick in their career:
And Water, noynting with cold-moist the brims
Of th'enter-kissing turning Globes extreams,
Tempers the heat (caus'd by their rapid turning)
Which else would set all th'elements a-burning.
Not, that I doo compare or match the Matter
Whence I compose th'All-compassing Theater,
To those gross Elements which heer belowe
Our hand and eye doth touch and see and knowe:
'T's all fair, all pure; a sacred harmony
Those bodies bindes in end less Vnity:
That Aier's not flitting, nor that Water floating,
Nor Fire inflaming, nor Earth dully doating:
Nor one to other aught offensiue neither,
But (to conclude) Celestiall altogether.
Whence I compose th'All-compassing Theater,
To those gross Elements which heer belowe
Our hand and eye doth touch and see and knowe:
'T's all fair, all pure; a sacred harmony
Those bodies bindes in end less Vnity:
That Aier's not flitting, nor that Water floating,
Nor Fire inflaming, nor Earth dully doating:
Nor one to other aught offensiue neither,
But (to conclude) Celestiall altogether.
See, see the rage of humane Arrogance:
See how far dares man's erring Ignorance,
That with vnbridled tongue (as if it oft
Had try'd he mettle of that vpper Loft)
Dares, without proof or without reason yeelded,
Tell of what timber God his Palace builded.
But, in these doubts much rather rest had I,
Then with mine error draw my Reader wry;
Till a Saint Paul doo re-descend from Heav'n,
Or till my self (this sinfull roab be reav'n,
This rebell Flesh, whose counterpoize oppresses
My pilgrim Soule, and euer it depresses)
Shall see the beauties of that Blessed Place:
If (then) I ought shall see, saue Gods bright Face.
See how far dares man's erring Ignorance,
That with vnbridled tongue (as if it oft
Had try'd he mettle of that vpper Loft)
Dares, without proof or without reason yeelded,
Tell of what timber God his Palace builded.
But, in these doubts much rather rest had I,
Then with mine error draw my Reader wry;
Till a Saint Paul doo re-descend from Heav'n,
Or till my self (this sinfull roab be reav'n,
This rebell Flesh, whose counterpoize oppresses
My pilgrim Soule, and euer it depresses)
Shall see the beauties of that Blessed Place:
If (then) I ought shall see, saue Gods bright Face.
But ev'n as many (or more) quarrels cumber
Th'old Heathen Schools about the Heav'ns number.
One holds but one; making the Worlds Eyes shine
Through the thin-thickness of that Crystall line
(As through the Oceans cleer and liquid Flood
The slippery Fishes vp and down doo scud.)
Another, iudging certain by his eye,
And (seeing Seav'n bright Lamps, moov'd diuersly,
Turn this and that way: and, on th'other side,
That all the rest of the Heav'ns twinkling pride
Keep all one course; ingeniously, he varies
The Heav'ns rich building into eight round Stories.
Others, amid the Starriest Orbe perceiuing
A triple cadence, and withall conceiuing
That but one naturall course one body goes,
Count nine, some ten, not numbring yet (with those)
Th'empyreall Palace, where th'eternall Treasures
Of Nectar flowe, where ever-lasting Pleasures
Are heaped-vp, where an immortall May
In bliss-full beauties flourisheth for ay,
Where Life still liues, where God his Sises holds
Enuiron'd round with Seraphins, and Soules
Bought with his precious blood, whose glorious Flight
Yerst mounted Earth aboue the Heav'ns bright.
Nor shall my faint and humble Muse presume
So high a Song and Subiect to assume.
Th'old Heathen Schools about the Heav'ns number.
One holds but one; making the Worlds Eyes shine
Through the thin-thickness of that Crystall line
(As through the Oceans cleer and liquid Flood
The slippery Fishes vp and down doo scud.)
Another, iudging certain by his eye,
And (seeing Seav'n bright Lamps, moov'd diuersly,
42
That all the rest of the Heav'ns twinkling pride
Keep all one course; ingeniously, he varies
The Heav'ns rich building into eight round Stories.
Others, amid the Starriest Orbe perceiuing
A triple cadence, and withall conceiuing
That but one naturall course one body goes,
Count nine, some ten, not numbring yet (with those)
Th'empyreall Palace, where th'eternall Treasures
Of Nectar flowe, where ever-lasting Pleasures
Are heaped-vp, where an immortall May
In bliss-full beauties flourisheth for ay,
Where Life still liues, where God his Sises holds
Enuiron'd round with Seraphins, and Soules
Bought with his precious blood, whose glorious Flight
Yerst mounted Earth aboue the Heav'ns bright.
Nor shall my faint and humble Muse presume
So high a Song and Subiect to assume.
O fair, fiue-double Round, Sloath's Foe apparent,
Life of the World, Dayes, Months, and Years owne Parent;
Thine owne selfs modell, never shifting place,
And yet thy pure wings with so swift a pase
Fly ouer vs, that but our Thought alone
Can (as thy babe) pursue thy motion:
Infinite finite: free from growth and grief,
Discord and death; dance-louer; to be brief,
Still like thy self, all thine owne in thee all,
Transparent, cleer, light; law of this lowe Ball:
Which in thy wide bout, bound-less all doost bound,
And claspest all, vnder, or in thy Round;
Throne of th'Almighty, I would faine rehearse
Thy various Dances in this very Verse,
If it were time, and but my bounded Song
Doubteth to make this Second-Day too-long.
For, notwithstanding, yet another day
I fear som Critick will not stick to say,
My babbling Muse did fail with euery gale,
And mingled yarn to length her web withall.
Life of the World, Dayes, Months, and Years owne Parent;
Thine owne selfs modell, never shifting place,
And yet thy pure wings with so swift a pase
Fly ouer vs, that but our Thought alone
Can (as thy babe) pursue thy motion:
Infinite finite: free from growth and grief,
Discord and death; dance-louer; to be brief,
Still like thy self, all thine owne in thee all,
Transparent, cleer, light; law of this lowe Ball:
Which in thy wide bout, bound-less all doost bound,
And claspest all, vnder, or in thy Round;
Throne of th'Almighty, I would faine rehearse
Thy various Dances in this very Verse,
If it were time, and but my bounded Song
Doubteth to make this Second-Day too-long.
For, notwithstanding, yet another day
I fear som Critick will not stick to say,
My babbling Muse did fail with euery gale,
And mingled yarn to length her web withall.
But knowe, what e'r thou be, that heer I gather
Iustly so many of Gods works together,
Because by th'Orbe of th'ample Firmament
(Which round This-Day th'Eternal Finger pent
Between the lower Waters and the higher)
I mean the Heav'ns, the Aire, and th'vpper Fire,
Which separate the Oceans waters salt,
From those which God pour'd o'r th'Ethereall Vault.
Iustly so many of Gods works together,
Because by th'Orbe of th'ample Firmament
(Which round This-Day th'Eternal Finger pent
Between the lower Waters and the higher)
I mean the Heav'ns, the Aire, and th'vpper Fire,
Which separate the Oceans waters salt,
From those which God pour'd o'r th'Ethereall Vault.
Yet haue I not so little seen and sought
The Volums, which our Age hath chiefest thought,
But that I know how suttly greatest Clarks
Presume to argue in their learned Works,
T' o'r-whelm these Floods, this Crystall to deface,
And dry this Ocean, which doth all imbrace.
The Volums, which our Age hath chiefest thought,
43
Presume to argue in their learned Works,
T' o'r-whelm these Floods, this Crystall to deface,
And dry this Ocean, which doth all imbrace.
But as the beauty of a modest Dame,
Who, well-content with Natures comly Frame,
And natiue Fair (as it is freely giv'n)
In fit proportion by the hand of Heav'n)
Doth not, with painting, prank, nor set-it out
With helps of Art, sufficient Fair without;
Is more praise-worthy, then the wanton glance,
Th'affected gait, th'alluring countenance,
The Mart of Pride, the Periwigs and painting,
Whence Courtisans refresh their beauties fainting:
So doe I more the sacred Tongue esteem
(Though plaine and rurall it do rather seem,
Then schoold Athenian; and Diuinitie,
For onely varnish, haue but Verity)
Then all the golden Wit-pride of Humanity,
Wherewith men burnish their erroneous vanity.
Who, well-content with Natures comly Frame,
And natiue Fair (as it is freely giv'n)
In fit proportion by the hand of Heav'n)
Doth not, with painting, prank, nor set-it out
With helps of Art, sufficient Fair without;
Is more praise-worthy, then the wanton glance,
Th'affected gait, th'alluring countenance,
The Mart of Pride, the Periwigs and painting,
Whence Courtisans refresh their beauties fainting:
So doe I more the sacred Tongue esteem
(Though plaine and rurall it do rather seem,
Then schoold Athenian; and Diuinitie,
For onely varnish, haue but Verity)
Then all the golden Wit-pride of Humanity,
Wherewith men burnish their erroneous vanity.
I'l rather giue a thousand times thely
To mine owne Reason, then but once defy
The sacred voice of th'ever-lasting Spirit,
Which doth so often and so loud averr-it,
That God, aboue the shining Firmament,
I wot not, I, what kinde of Waters pent:
VVhether, that pure, super-celestiall Water,
With our inferiour haue no likely nature:
VVhether, turnd Vapour, it hath round embow'd
Heav'ns highest stage in a transparent Cloud:
Or whether (as they say) a Crystall case
Do (round about) the Heav'nly Orb embrace.
To mine owne Reason, then but once defy
The sacred voice of th'ever-lasting Spirit,
Which doth so often and so loud averr-it,
That God, aboue the shining Firmament,
I wot not, I, what kinde of Waters pent:
VVhether, that pure, super-celestiall Water,
With our inferiour haue no likely nature:
VVhether, turnd Vapour, it hath round embow'd
Heav'ns highest stage in a transparent Cloud:
Or whether (as they say) a Crystall case
Do (round about) the Heav'nly Orb embrace.
But, with coniectures wherefore striue I thus?
Can doubtful proofs the certainty discuss?
I see not, why Mans reason should withstand,
Or not beleeue, that He whose powrfull hand
Bay'd-vp the Red-Sea with a double Wall,
That Israels Hoast might scape Egyptian thrall,
Could prop as sure so many waues on high
Aboue the Heav'ns Star-spangled Canapy.
Can doubtful proofs the certainty discuss?
I see not, why Mans reason should withstand,
Or not beleeue, that He whose powrfull hand
Bay'd-vp the Red-Sea with a double Wall,
That Israels Hoast might scape Egyptian thrall,
Could prop as sure so many waues on high
Aboue the Heav'ns Star-spangled Canapy.
See we not hanging in the Clouds each howr
So many Seas, still threatning down to pour,
Supported onely by th'Aire's agitation
(Selfly too weak for the least waight's foundation)?
See wee not also, that this Sea belowe,
Which round about our Earthly Globe doth flowe,
Remaines still round; and maugre all the surly
Æolian Slaues, and Water's hurly burly,
Dares not (to levell her proud liquid Heap)
Neuer so little past her limits leap?
Why then beleeue we not, that vpper Sphear
May (without falling) such an Ocean bear?
So many Seas, still threatning down to pour,
Supported onely by th'Aire's agitation
(Selfly too weak for the least waight's foundation)?
See wee not also, that this Sea belowe,
Which round about our Earthly Globe doth flowe,
Remaines still round; and maugre all the surly
Æolian Slaues, and Water's hurly burly,
44
Neuer so little past her limits leap?
Why then beleeue we not, that vpper Sphear
May (without falling) such an Ocean bear?
Vncircumcised! O hard hearts! at least
Lett's think that God those Waters doth digest
In that steep place: for, if that Nature heer
Can form firm Pearl and Crystall shining cleer
Of liquid substance; let's beleeue it rather
Much more in God (the Heav'ns and Nature's Father)
Let vs much more, much more lett's peiz and ponder
Th'Almighties Works, and at his Wisedom wonder:
Let vs obserue, and boldly-weigh it well,
That this proud Palace where we rule and dwell
(Though built with match-less Art) had fall'n long since,
Had't not been seel'd-round with moist Elements.
For, like as (in Man's Little-World) the Brain
Doth highest place of all our Frame retain,
And tempers with it's moistfull coldness so
Th'excessiue heat of other parts belowe:
Th'eternall Builder of this Beautious Frame
To enter-mingle meetly Frost with Flame,
And cool the great heat of the Great-World's Torches,
This-Day spred Water over Heav'ns bright Arches.
Lett's think that God those Waters doth digest
In that steep place: for, if that Nature heer
Can form firm Pearl and Crystall shining cleer
Of liquid substance; let's beleeue it rather
Much more in God (the Heav'ns and Nature's Father)
Let vs much more, much more lett's peiz and ponder
Th'Almighties Works, and at his Wisedom wonder:
Let vs obserue, and boldly-weigh it well,
That this proud Palace where we rule and dwell
(Though built with match-less Art) had fall'n long since,
Had't not been seel'd-round with moist Elements.
For, like as (in Man's Little-World) the Brain
Doth highest place of all our Frame retain,
And tempers with it's moistfull coldness so
Th'excessiue heat of other parts belowe:
Th'eternall Builder of this Beautious Frame
To enter-mingle meetly Frost with Flame,
And cool the great heat of the Great-World's Torches,
This-Day spred Water over Heav'ns bright Arches.
These Seas (say they) leagu'd with the Seas belowe,
Hiding the highest of the Mountains tho,
Had drown'd the whole World; had not Noah builded
A holy Vessell, where his house was shielded:
Where, by direction of the King of Kings,
He sav'd a seed-pair of all liuing things.
No sooner shipt, but instantly the Lord
Downe to th'Æolean dungeon him bestirr'd,
There muzzled close Cloud-chasing Boreas,
And let loose Auster, and his lowring race,
Who soon set forward with a dropping wing;
Vpon their beard for euery hair a spring,
A night of Clouds muffled their brows about,
Their wattled locks gusht all in Riuers out;
And both their hands, wringing thick Clouds asunder,
Send forth fierce lightning, tempest, rain, and thunder.
Brooks, Lakes, and Floods, Rivers and foaming Torrents
Suddenly swell; and their confused Currents,
Losing their old bounds, break a neerer way
To run at random with their spoils to Sea.
Th'Earth shakes for fear, and (sweating doth consume her,
And in her veins leaues not a drop of humour.
And thou thy self, O Heav'n, didst set wide ope
(Through all the Marches in thy spacious cope)
All thy large sluces, thy vast Seas to shed
In sudden spouts on thy proud Sisters head;
Whose aw-less, law-less, shame-less life abhord,
Only delighted to despight the Lord.
Hiding the highest of the Mountains tho,
Had drown'd the whole World; had not Noah builded
A holy Vessell, where his house was shielded:
Where, by direction of the King of Kings,
He sav'd a seed-pair of all liuing things.
No sooner shipt, but instantly the Lord
Downe to th'Æolean dungeon him bestirr'd,
There muzzled close Cloud-chasing Boreas,
And let loose Auster, and his lowring race,
Who soon set forward with a dropping wing;
Vpon their beard for euery hair a spring,
A night of Clouds muffled their brows about,
Their wattled locks gusht all in Riuers out;
And both their hands, wringing thick Clouds asunder,
Send forth fierce lightning, tempest, rain, and thunder.
Brooks, Lakes, and Floods, Rivers and foaming Torrents
Suddenly swell; and their confused Currents,
Losing their old bounds, break a neerer way
To run at random with their spoils to Sea.
Th'Earth shakes for fear, and (sweating doth consume her,
And in her veins leaues not a drop of humour.
And thou thy self, O Heav'n, didst set wide ope
(Through all the Marches in thy spacious cope)
45
In sudden spouts on thy proud Sisters head;
Whose aw-less, law-less, shame-less life abhord,
Only delighted to despight the Lord.
Th'Earth shrinks and sinks; now th'Ocean hath no shore:
Now Rivers run to serue the Sea no more;
Themselues are Sea: the many sundry Streams,
Of sundry names (deriv'd from sundry Realms)
Make now but one great Sea: the World it self
Is nothing now but a great standing Gulf,
Whose swelling surges strive to mix their Water
With th'other Waues about this roued Theater.
The Sturgeon, coasting over Castles, muses
(Vnder the Sea) to see so many houses.
The Indian Manat, and the Mullet float
O'r Mountain tops, where yerst the bearded Goat
Did bound and brouz: the crooked Dolphin scuds
O'r th'highest branches of the hugest Woods.
Nought boots the Tigre, or the Hart or Horse,
Or Hare, or Grey-hound, their swift speedy course;
For, seeking Land, the more they strain and breath them,
The more (alas) it shrinks and sinks beneath them.
The Otter, Tortoise, and fell Crocodile,
VVhich did enioy a double house yer-while,
Must be content with only water now.
The Wolf and Lamb, Lions and Bucks, do rowe
Vpon the Waters, side by side, suspectless.
The Glead and Swallow, labouring long (effect-less)
'Gainst certain death, with wearied wings fall down
(For want of Pearch) and with the rest do drown.
Now Rivers run to serue the Sea no more;
Themselues are Sea: the many sundry Streams,
Of sundry names (deriv'd from sundry Realms)
Make now but one great Sea: the World it self
Is nothing now but a great standing Gulf,
Whose swelling surges strive to mix their Water
With th'other Waues about this roued Theater.
The Sturgeon, coasting over Castles, muses
(Vnder the Sea) to see so many houses.
The Indian Manat, and the Mullet float
O'r Mountain tops, where yerst the bearded Goat
Did bound and brouz: the crooked Dolphin scuds
O'r th'highest branches of the hugest Woods.
Nought boots the Tigre, or the Hart or Horse,
Or Hare, or Grey-hound, their swift speedy course;
For, seeking Land, the more they strain and breath them,
The more (alas) it shrinks and sinks beneath them.
The Otter, Tortoise, and fell Crocodile,
VVhich did enioy a double house yer-while,
Must be content with only water now.
The Wolf and Lamb, Lions and Bucks, do rowe
Vpon the Waters, side by side, suspectless.
The Glead and Swallow, labouring long (effect-less)
'Gainst certain death, with wearied wings fall down
(For want of Pearch) and with the rest do drown.
And, for mankinde, imagine som get vp
To som high Mountains over-hanging top;
Som to a Towr, some to a Cedar tree,
Whence round about a World of deaths they see:
But wheresoever their pale fears aspire
For hope of safety, th'Ocean surgeth higher;
And still-still mounting as they still do mount,
When they cease mounting, doth them soon surmount.
One therefore ventures on a Plank to rowe,
One in a Chest, another in a Trough:
Another, yet half-sleeping, scarce perceives
How's bed and breath, the Flood at once bereaves;
Another, labouring with his feet and hands,
Awhile the fury of the Flood withstands
(Which by his side hath newly droun'd his Mother,
His Wife, his Son, his Sister, Sire, and Brother):
But, tyr'd and spent, weary and wanting strength,
He needs must yeeld (too) to the Seas at length;
All, all must die then: but
th'impartiall Maids,
Who wont to vse so sundry tools for aids,
In execution of their fatall slaughters,
Had only now the furious foaming Waters.
To som high Mountains over-hanging top;
Som to a Towr, some to a Cedar tree,
Whence round about a World of deaths they see:
But wheresoever their pale fears aspire
For hope of safety, th'Ocean surgeth higher;
And still-still mounting as they still do mount,
When they cease mounting, doth them soon surmount.
One therefore ventures on a Plank to rowe,
One in a Chest, another in a Trough:
Another, yet half-sleeping, scarce perceives
How's bed and breath, the Flood at once bereaves;
Another, labouring with his feet and hands,
Awhile the fury of the Flood withstands
(Which by his side hath newly droun'd his Mother,
His Wife, his Son, his Sister, Sire, and Brother):
But, tyr'd and spent, weary and wanting strength,
He needs must yeeld (too) to the Seas at length;
46
Who wont to vse so sundry tools for aids,
In execution of their fatall slaughters,
Had only now the furious foaming Waters.
Safely, the while, the sacred Ship did float
On the proud shoulders of that boundless-Moat,
Though mast-less, oar-less, and from Harbour far;
For God was both her Steers-man and her Star.
Thrice fifty dayes that Vniuersall Flood
Wasted the World; which then the Lord thought good
To re-erect, in his Compassion great.
No sooner sounds he to the Seas retrait,
But instantly waue into waue did sink
With sudden speed, all Riuers gan to shrink;
Th'Ocean retires him to his wonted prison;
The Woods are seen; the Mountain tops are risen
Out of their slimy Bed: the Fields increase
And spread apace; so fast the waters cease.
And (briefly th'only thundring hand of God
Now Earth to Heav'n, Heav'n vnto Earth re-show'd;
That he again Panchaian Fumes might see
Sacred on Altars to his Maiesty.
On the proud shoulders of that boundless-Moat,
Though mast-less, oar-less, and from Harbour far;
For God was both her Steers-man and her Star.
Thrice fifty dayes that Vniuersall Flood
Wasted the World; which then the Lord thought good
To re-erect, in his Compassion great.
No sooner sounds he to the Seas retrait,
But instantly waue into waue did sink
With sudden speed, all Riuers gan to shrink;
Th'Ocean retires him to his wonted prison;
The Woods are seen; the Mountain tops are risen
Out of their slimy Bed: the Fields increase
And spread apace; so fast the waters cease.
And (briefly th'only thundring hand of God
Now Earth to Heav'n, Heav'n vnto Earth re-show'd;
That he again Panchaian Fumes might see
Sacred on Altars to his Maiesty.
Lord, sith 't hath pleas'd thee likewise, in our Age,
To saue thy Ship from Tyrants stormy rage,
Increase in Number (Lord) thy little Flock;
But more in Faith, to build on thee, the Rock.
To saue thy Ship from Tyrants stormy rage,
Increase in Number (Lord) thy little Flock;
But more in Faith, to build on thee, the Rock.
So Morne and Euen the second Day conclude,
And God perceiu'd that all his works were good.
And God perceiu'd that all his works were good.
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