Mundorum Explicatio or, The Explanation of an Hieroglyphical Figure: Wherein are couched the Mysteries of the External, Internal, and Eternal Worlds, shewing the true progress of a Soul from the Court of Jerusalem; from the Adamical fallen state to the Regenerate and Angelical. Being A Sacred Poem, written by S. P. [i.e. Samuel Pordage] |
 |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
 | Mundorum Explicatio |  |
Seest thou those mighty Herds, these are
The Souls of Men, who did these natures bear
When they were on the Earth. Yond' herd of Swine
Were greedy Gluttons, who with Beer, and Wine
And all the dainties that the Earth did yield
Four times a day their greedy paunches fill'd:
Their belly was their God, such natures then
They had, which here they have and shall retain.
Yond' herd of Goats were lustful persons: those
Grim Currs were such who ever would oppose
Love's Reign, and Kingdom, snappish, greedy: and
Such as were lawless Lords: that grim-look'd band
Of Lions: Those rough Beares were such, who still
Dispoyl'd their Neighbours: such who rob, and pill
With subtilty, those wilely Foxes were:
Such as were envious speckled Toads now are:
Th' Avaritious Tigers, Monsters, Doggs; too long
'Twill be for to rehearse that numerous throng,
But crawling wormes, Vipers, all ugly Creatures
Are such who once exactly bore their natures
In humane shapes, which now these forms retain
And in this guise for ever shall remain.
The Souls of Men, who did these natures bear
When they were on the Earth. Yond' herd of Swine
Were greedy Gluttons, who with Beer, and Wine
105
Four times a day their greedy paunches fill'd:
Their belly was their God, such natures then
They had, which here they have and shall retain.
Yond' herd of Goats were lustful persons: those
Grim Currs were such who ever would oppose
Love's Reign, and Kingdom, snappish, greedy: and
Such as were lawless Lords: that grim-look'd band
Of Lions: Those rough Beares were such, who still
Dispoyl'd their Neighbours: such who rob, and pill
With subtilty, those wilely Foxes were:
Such as were envious speckled Toads now are:
Th' Avaritious Tigers, Monsters, Doggs; too long
'Twill be for to rehearse that numerous throng,
But crawling wormes, Vipers, all ugly Creatures
Are such who once exactly bore their natures
In humane shapes, which now these forms retain
And in this guise for ever shall remain.
This said they passe along: Their way they take
Directly now unto the Stygian Lake.
The Pool appears in sight, an horrid stink
Invades his nostrils, e'r he gains the brink,
Like fætid sut mixt with sulphurian fumes:
The slow-pac't Water moves with Icy scumms,
Upon its surface; than the brumal snow
Far colder 'tis: upon its banks did grow
Taxi with sable leaves: darker than ink
Or blackest pitch the water was, the brink
Dy'd was with sable hew: the froery scum
Left black impressions on the bank: a fume
More dark than Night in curling clouds arose:
The strongest poyson that on Earth's Orbs grows
Is not by the tenth part so strong as that
Cold-icy stream: thousand of Souls there sat
Shivering for cold, when strait a Troop appears
Of horrid Devils, with long flagging Eares
Down to their shoulders, saucer eyes, and lips
Of mighty magnitude, like souced tripes
Hung lower than their chins: their snaky haires
Hung over their comuted fronts: like Beares
Their feet, and armes were; their cruented pawes
Were arm'd with bristles, and advanced clawes:
With these they gripe those naked Souls, then on
Their shoulders hoyst them, and away they run.
Come let us follow: these the torments are
The damn'd for ever, and for ever bear,
In this same place, thus said the guiding Fiend:
With hasty steps, as fast as they, they wend,
When presently they are arriv'd upon
The burning Banks of fiery Plegeton.
In here they souse them: Crys, and shrecks they make,
But hard-heart Devils can no pity take:
Over, and over here they plunge them, then
To cold-stream'd Styx they bear them back agen,
And thus by turns these torments, with delight
They give, without a moment of respite.
Swifter than Tygris, or Danubus, this
Tartarean River runs, far hotter is
Than boyling Liquor; here it bubbles, Fumes
Which turn to Flame, flow from its Sulph'ry wombs:
The banks are lick'd by Living flames, from out.
Of gapeing chincks both fire, and brimstone spout.
Directly now unto the Stygian Lake.
The Pool appears in sight, an horrid stink
Invades his nostrils, e'r he gains the brink,
Like fætid sut mixt with sulphurian fumes:
The slow-pac't Water moves with Icy scumms,
Upon its surface; than the brumal snow
Far colder 'tis: upon its banks did grow
Taxi with sable leaves: darker than ink
Or blackest pitch the water was, the brink
Dy'd was with sable hew: the froery scum
Left black impressions on the bank: a fume
More dark than Night in curling clouds arose:
The strongest poyson that on Earth's Orbs grows
Is not by the tenth part so strong as that
Cold-icy stream: thousand of Souls there sat
Shivering for cold, when strait a Troop appears
Of horrid Devils, with long flagging Eares
Down to their shoulders, saucer eyes, and lips
Of mighty magnitude, like souced tripes
Hung lower than their chins: their snaky haires
Hung over their comuted fronts: like Beares
106
Were arm'd with bristles, and advanced clawes:
With these they gripe those naked Souls, then on
Their shoulders hoyst them, and away they run.
Come let us follow: these the torments are
The damn'd for ever, and for ever bear,
In this same place, thus said the guiding Fiend:
With hasty steps, as fast as they, they wend,
When presently they are arriv'd upon
The burning Banks of fiery Plegeton.
In here they souse them: Crys, and shrecks they make,
But hard-heart Devils can no pity take:
Over, and over here they plunge them, then
To cold-stream'd Styx they bear them back agen,
And thus by turns these torments, with delight
They give, without a moment of respite.
Swifter than Tygris, or Danubus, this
Tartarean River runs, far hotter is
Than boyling Liquor; here it bubbles, Fumes
Which turn to Flame, flow from its Sulph'ry wombs:
The banks are lick'd by Living flames, from out.
Of gapeing chincks both fire, and brimstone spout.
This seen they further passe; not far from this
Was Tartarus, within his huge Abysse,
He look'd, and saw nothing but horrid, dark,
Obnigrous clouds: heard Wolves, and Dogges to bark,
Lions, and Tygers roar; men shreech, and wail,
Others Blaspheme, and others Curse, and rail
'Gainst Heav'n, a strange confused noyse: He smelt
Most horrid stinks: and cold damp vapours felt.
Srait wayes huge fires appear'd below, whereby
He might the Souls tormented there descry:
All sorts of torments that you can devise
With all the plagues, and all the Miseries
You can imagin he inflicted saw,
Upon those miserable Souls below.
Some torn with wheels, some with hot Tongs, their tongues
Pul'd out; and some with scalding flames their Lungs
Wash'd were, and others in the fire hung
From whence they into frozen Rivers flung
Were by and by: and others whip't with steel:
Others on Gridirons brent, whilst others feel
The smart of Salt, and Vineger, which laid
Is on their tender flesh, be'ing newly flead:
With divers other sorts of torments: then
From this deep pit of Hell they farther wen.
Was Tartarus, within his huge Abysse,
He look'd, and saw nothing but horrid, dark,
Obnigrous clouds: heard Wolves, and Dogges to bark,
Lions, and Tygers roar; men shreech, and wail,
Others Blaspheme, and others Curse, and rail
'Gainst Heav'n, a strange confused noyse: He smelt
Most horrid stinks: and cold damp vapours felt.
Srait wayes huge fires appear'd below, whereby
He might the Souls tormented there descry:
All sorts of torments that you can devise
With all the plagues, and all the Miseries
You can imagin he inflicted saw,
Upon those miserable Souls below.
Some torn with wheels, some with hot Tongs, their tongues
Pul'd out; and some with scalding flames their Lungs
Wash'd were, and others in the fire hung
From whence they into frozen Rivers flung
107
Others on Gridirons brent, whilst others feel
The smart of Salt, and Vineger, which laid
Is on their tender flesh, be'ing newly flead:
With divers other sorts of torments: then
From this deep pit of Hell they farther wen.
Now far they were not gon from Tartarus
When in this sort spake Hel's mystagagus.
Whilest we proceed t'our Kingdoms Centre, where
Our mighty King his Court doth keep, declare
I will, our Kingdom's first original,
When we came first into this fiery Ball;
For do not think that ignorant we be
Of our beginning, and high pedegree,
Or that we have no memory of what
We once enjoy'd: no more then Souls forget
What they in Earth have done, when they come here,
For all their deeds Eternal forms do bear
Which here remain; and which torments them more
Than in cold Styx for to be plunged o're:
Ah! Could but Souls in Lethe drenched be,
How little would they feel of misery!
But this a favour is which now I shew,
And should be granted unto none but you.
When in this sort spake Hel's mystagagus.
Whilest we proceed t'our Kingdoms Centre, where
Our mighty King his Court doth keep, declare
I will, our Kingdom's first original,
When we came first into this fiery Ball;
For do not think that ignorant we be
Of our beginning, and high pedegree,
Or that we have no memory of what
We once enjoy'd: no more then Souls forget
What they in Earth have done, when they come here,
For all their deeds Eternal forms do bear
Which here remain; and which torments them more
Than in cold Styx for to be plunged o're:
Ah! Could but Souls in Lethe drenched be,
How little would they feel of misery!
But this a favour is which now I shew,
And should be granted unto none but you.
Know then there is a God, and this although
We tremble at it, we assur'dly know;
Yet that there's none we oftentimes suggest
Unto the misbelieving Atheist.
This God, or mighty Power which all Worlds fill,
Unsearchable he is, we to his Will
Obedient are, he fills our World, his Might
And Power 's as great here as in th' Orb of Light:
By it this World consists, and it shall be
Thou't had beginning, to Æternity.
'Tis not against this Power that we tear,
And rend, and fight, and so opposing are,
Ne'r to be reconcil'd: Our foe is Love,
The second Principle 'gainst that we move
In Wrath, and bitternesse, and natural
It is for us to fight against that Ball.
As fire cann't but tend upwards, so cann't we
But to that Orb perpetual Enmity
Bear: That to us has an Antipathy.
Think not that God in Wrath did us create,
Or that for damned Souls he made this state,
For to torment them in: He did not Will
That there a Hell should be: or any ill.
Thus then it came. God from Æternity
Did generate two Principles, which be
Contrary to each other. God alone
Cannot (but by these Principles) be known.
These generate he did Æternally,
Both in, and by himself, a mysterie
Not to be comprehended. Neither tho
Is God; yet he's the Root from whence they flow:
This Principle in which we make abode
Is call'd the first: An ang'ry, zealous God
And full of Wrath, Vengeance, and Ire, here
To mortal Men, and us he doth appear.
In th' other Principle of Love, and Light,
To men he doth appear quite opposite:
The nature of our Principle is this,
It full of raging, anxious prickling is,
An harsh, sowr, tart, fell, eager essence, and
Of bitternesse, and stinging full; we stand
In this. The other Principle is quite
An other nature, to this opposite,
We know no more of that: this I can tell
That accidentally is the cause of Hell.
We tremble at it, we assur'dly know;
Yet that there's none we oftentimes suggest
Unto the misbelieving Atheist.
This God, or mighty Power which all Worlds fill,
Unsearchable he is, we to his Will
Obedient are, he fills our World, his Might
And Power 's as great here as in th' Orb of Light:
By it this World consists, and it shall be
Thou't had beginning, to Æternity.
'Tis not against this Power that we tear,
And rend, and fight, and so opposing are,
Ne'r to be reconcil'd: Our foe is Love,
The second Principle 'gainst that we move
In Wrath, and bitternesse, and natural
It is for us to fight against that Ball.
108
But to that Orb perpetual Enmity
Bear: That to us has an Antipathy.
Think not that God in Wrath did us create,
Or that for damned Souls he made this state,
For to torment them in: He did not Will
That there a Hell should be: or any ill.
Thus then it came. God from Æternity
Did generate two Principles, which be
Contrary to each other. God alone
Cannot (but by these Principles) be known.
These generate he did Æternally,
Both in, and by himself, a mysterie
Not to be comprehended. Neither tho
Is God; yet he's the Root from whence they flow:
This Principle in which we make abode
Is call'd the first: An ang'ry, zealous God
And full of Wrath, Vengeance, and Ire, here
To mortal Men, and us he doth appear.
In th' other Principle of Love, and Light,
To men he doth appear quite opposite:
The nature of our Principle is this,
It full of raging, anxious prickling is,
An harsh, sowr, tart, fell, eager essence, and
Of bitternesse, and stinging full; we stand
In this. The other Principle is quite
An other nature, to this opposite,
We know no more of that: this I can tell
That accidentally is the cause of Hell.
109
Proceeding still they now were come upon
The entrance to Hel's inmost Region;
A vast huge Globe of sad dark glowing Fire
He saw, and in it thousand Devils, nigher
He fears to go: which seen thus said the Fiend,
What now? affraid? what is the matter Friend;
You do forget you have no body on
Your Spirit's here, and Spirits cannot burn.
With this you must be cloath'd; in this we dwell,
And so must you: This is the fire of Hell.
Which never can go out: don't you admire
What fuel 'tis maintains so great a fire?
Come, e'r we farther go I will explain
Its cause, and nature in a word, or twain.
The entrance to Hel's inmost Region;
A vast huge Globe of sad dark glowing Fire
He saw, and in it thousand Devils, nigher
He fears to go: which seen thus said the Fiend,
What now? affraid? what is the matter Friend;
You do forget you have no body on
Your Spirit's here, and Spirits cannot burn.
With this you must be cloath'd; in this we dwell,
And so must you: This is the fire of Hell.
Which never can go out: don't you admire
What fuel 'tis maintains so great a fire?
Come, e'r we farther go I will explain
Its cause, and nature in a word, or twain.
This Principle of Wrath, of which I spake
Ev'n now, God ne'r intended to awake,
For it recluded was; he did not will
It should be open, nor that so much ill
Should happen. Now before your lower Sphear
Had birth, or being, we created were:
Our mighty Prince, King Lucifer was then
Created of such stuff, as Souls of Men
Created are, and we his servants true,
Cœlestial Forms, at that time did indue.
Our Prince more bright, than your light-giving Sun
In glorious Rayes of Heavn'ly Light out-shon
All other Angels, sat upon the Throne
Of God, and like a God himself did reign.
Out of both Principles compos'd we were,
As Man's Soul is; and other Angels are:
The first recluded was, and we were made
I'th second, there we should for aye have stay'd:
But our brave Prince (I must commend him for't)
Did bravely Lord it in a Kingly sort
Over the heart of God; that meeknesse scorn'd,
Did higher flye, and his high Spirit turn'd
Into the fiery property; that Rage
And fiery flash which Love could not asswage
He there begat. We as our Master did,
Raged as he; and so defiance bid
To Love, and Meeknesse, and those Angels that
With no aspiring Spirits kept their state.
Thus we deserted with our Prince that Throne
Of Light, and Love, and gain'd this fiery one,
Where we are potent, and with that strong might
'Gainst Michael our adversary fight.
Now those bright Rayes which our brave Prince had on
Before with courage high he left that Throne,
As scorning to adorn his Princely grace
With ought that did belong unto that place,
He left behind; with that fine form which he
There had: now in the fiery property
We other forms have got, which we can change
Into all sorts of shapes, and Figures strange.
In that great rage, and burning of the Wrath,
This Fire you see we live in then hurst forth,
Which from our selves proceeds, and which is made
By that strong enmity which doth invade
Us, 'gainst the adverse Orb of Light: and know
This Fire doth from bitter harshnesse grow;
As when you rub your flint upon a wheel
Which turneth round, and is compos'd of Steel,
You see from bitter grating Fires proceed,
So our harsh grating Spirits Fire breed,
Which is the same you see; This is the pain
That we, and all the damned in remain,
For all those torments that I shew'd you were
But Images, the better to declare
The nature of this one, and yet alass
This doth all them a thousand times surpasse.
Spirits alasse! though sensible, cann't feel
Material Fire, or jerkes from whips of Steel;
Nor water-torments; 'tis an aking smart,
Most cruel, sowr, eager, fierce, and tart,
Astringent, cold, attracting, harsh desire
Which breeds a piercing, prickling, stinging fire;
Which turns to rage, and enmity, and that
Stirs up the prickling, if it groweth flat,
So feeds with fuel: like a turning wheel
It still runs round: These are the pains we feel.
Suppose that one who has a strong desire,
Which burneth in him, and he's all on fire
For to ascend a Mountain made of Glasse,
The which he knows impossible: alasse!
He yet to do it strives; and yet despairs,
He has no hope, and yet desires, nor dares
To think he can; yet trys, he sees 'tis vain
Yet he desires, and yet he cann't refrain:
Again he tries, he cannot set his feet
But down he slides; this anguish doth beget,
That rage, and fury; then desire again
Renews the anguish, Anguish rage, that pain
Begets, and thus himself his torment breeds:
So here our torment from our selves proceeds,
The which Eternal is. The damned Crue
And we our torments daily thus renew,
A strong desire we do here retain
(The which is mix'd with Anguish, Grief, and pain)
After the Heart of God, not that we would
Possesse it, or dwell in it if we could,
We cann't have such a thought; for we no lesse
Than enmity eternally possesse
Against what we desire: we still despair,
We cannot hope, yet still desiring are,
And what doth breed in us the greater wo,
Is 'cause that to Æternity we know.
It so continue must: anguish, and smart,
A stinging, prickling, akeing, sowr, tart,
And horrid Grief torments us, then again
Desire breeds Anguish, Anguish breeds our pain;
And thus (though't cannot be exprest) we feel
Æternal Wrath, like to a turning Wheel
Which ever moves: And this to you I tell
The damned feel: These are the pains of Hell.
Ev'n now, God ne'r intended to awake,
For it recluded was; he did not will
It should be open, nor that so much ill
Should happen. Now before your lower Sphear
Had birth, or being, we created were:
Our mighty Prince, King Lucifer was then
Created of such stuff, as Souls of Men
Created are, and we his servants true,
Cœlestial Forms, at that time did indue.
Our Prince more bright, than your light-giving Sun
In glorious Rayes of Heavn'ly Light out-shon
All other Angels, sat upon the Throne
Of God, and like a God himself did reign.
Out of both Principles compos'd we were,
As Man's Soul is; and other Angels are:
The first recluded was, and we were made
I'th second, there we should for aye have stay'd:
But our brave Prince (I must commend him for't)
Did bravely Lord it in a Kingly sort
Over the heart of God; that meeknesse scorn'd,
Did higher flye, and his high Spirit turn'd
Into the fiery property; that Rage
And fiery flash which Love could not asswage
He there begat. We as our Master did,
Raged as he; and so defiance bid
110
With no aspiring Spirits kept their state.
Thus we deserted with our Prince that Throne
Of Light, and Love, and gain'd this fiery one,
Where we are potent, and with that strong might
'Gainst Michael our adversary fight.
Now those bright Rayes which our brave Prince had on
Before with courage high he left that Throne,
As scorning to adorn his Princely grace
With ought that did belong unto that place,
He left behind; with that fine form which he
There had: now in the fiery property
We other forms have got, which we can change
Into all sorts of shapes, and Figures strange.
In that great rage, and burning of the Wrath,
This Fire you see we live in then hurst forth,
Which from our selves proceeds, and which is made
By that strong enmity which doth invade
Us, 'gainst the adverse Orb of Light: and know
This Fire doth from bitter harshnesse grow;
As when you rub your flint upon a wheel
Which turneth round, and is compos'd of Steel,
You see from bitter grating Fires proceed,
So our harsh grating Spirits Fire breed,
Which is the same you see; This is the pain
That we, and all the damned in remain,
For all those torments that I shew'd you were
But Images, the better to declare
The nature of this one, and yet alass
This doth all them a thousand times surpasse.
Spirits alasse! though sensible, cann't feel
Material Fire, or jerkes from whips of Steel;
Nor water-torments; 'tis an aking smart,
Most cruel, sowr, eager, fierce, and tart,
Astringent, cold, attracting, harsh desire
Which breeds a piercing, prickling, stinging fire;
Which turns to rage, and enmity, and that
Stirs up the prickling, if it groweth flat,
So feeds with fuel: like a turning wheel
It still runs round: These are the pains we feel.
111
Which burneth in him, and he's all on fire
For to ascend a Mountain made of Glasse,
The which he knows impossible: alasse!
He yet to do it strives; and yet despairs,
He has no hope, and yet desires, nor dares
To think he can; yet trys, he sees 'tis vain
Yet he desires, and yet he cann't refrain:
Again he tries, he cannot set his feet
But down he slides; this anguish doth beget,
That rage, and fury; then desire again
Renews the anguish, Anguish rage, that pain
Begets, and thus himself his torment breeds:
So here our torment from our selves proceeds,
The which Eternal is. The damned Crue
And we our torments daily thus renew,
A strong desire we do here retain
(The which is mix'd with Anguish, Grief, and pain)
After the Heart of God, not that we would
Possesse it, or dwell in it if we could,
We cann't have such a thought; for we no lesse
Than enmity eternally possesse
Against what we desire: we still despair,
We cannot hope, yet still desiring are,
And what doth breed in us the greater wo,
Is 'cause that to Æternity we know.
It so continue must: anguish, and smart,
A stinging, prickling, akeing, sowr, tart,
And horrid Grief torments us, then again
Desire breeds Anguish, Anguish breeds our pain;
And thus (though't cannot be exprest) we feel
Æternal Wrath, like to a turning Wheel
Which ever moves: And this to you I tell
The damned feel: These are the pains of Hell.
Our Prince, and we after the World was made,
Burn'd with a strong desire to invade
That new-made Orb; the which we could not do
Untill our Cunning Adam overthrew:
Then we our Forces sent. What myriads we
Have gain'd to us your eyes shall witnesse be,
For 'tis our nature to gain what we can,
We love the noble Company of Man,
If not, why should we labour so? we were
Created of the substance your souls are,
And you like us may if you will become,
Here's entertainment, and enough of room.
You see how well I love you, that I dare
Hel's pains and secrets, freely thus declare,
You may be sure that I would ne'r do thus,
Did I not you esteem as one of us.
And you'd confirmed be e'r you return;
When that yo'ar enter'd where that fire doth burne,
You'l understand what 'tis: you then in part
As we do, Wrath and enmity exert
Will 'gainst the Orb of Love. Nor what I tell
Think strange; would you of our own Principle
Have us be ignorant? or not to know
From whence we came? how enmity did grow
Betwix'd the second Principle, and us?
Forget our former seats? you'd make us thus
Like to you Mortals; who by sicknesse what
Before, or Age in Youth, they 'ave don forget.
We know more then you think we do, alltho
We it to Mortals very seldom show;
Come let us stay no longer, you shall see
Hel's pomp, and 's mighty Stygian Majesty.
Burn'd with a strong desire to invade
That new-made Orb; the which we could not do
Untill our Cunning Adam overthrew:
Then we our Forces sent. What myriads we
Have gain'd to us your eyes shall witnesse be,
112
We love the noble Company of Man,
If not, why should we labour so? we were
Created of the substance your souls are,
And you like us may if you will become,
Here's entertainment, and enough of room.
You see how well I love you, that I dare
Hel's pains and secrets, freely thus declare,
You may be sure that I would ne'r do thus,
Did I not you esteem as one of us.
And you'd confirmed be e'r you return;
When that yo'ar enter'd where that fire doth burne,
You'l understand what 'tis: you then in part
As we do, Wrath and enmity exert
Will 'gainst the Orb of Love. Nor what I tell
Think strange; would you of our own Principle
Have us be ignorant? or not to know
From whence we came? how enmity did grow
Betwix'd the second Principle, and us?
Forget our former seats? you'd make us thus
Like to you Mortals; who by sicknesse what
Before, or Age in Youth, they 'ave don forget.
We know more then you think we do, alltho
We it to Mortals very seldom show;
Come let us stay no longer, you shall see
Hel's pomp, and 's mighty Stygian Majesty.
This said, they both together go: No flame
Or lighter blaze, from that dark fire came,
But 'twas like a dark-glowing Coal, or like
A d'outed Candle, with a glowing week.
Here enter'd, now he feels an enmity
Against Love's Kingdom, and the Deity:
He sees the Devils, smells Sulphurian stinks,
Hears them blaspheme; himself a Devil thinks;
Does as they do. Thousands at first do meet
Him in most horrid shapes, with cloven feet,
With Dragons tailes, and looks: hard scaly hides
Long-tusked teeth, jawes gaping far, and wide,
These usher them along: He also saw
Millions of Souls, who in such shapes did draw
Hel's fœtid ayr (a blast whereof would choke
The earthly Globe) their mouths spat fire, and smoak,
Their faces black as ink, comuted some,
And very few retain'd an humane form;
And those that did were bunch-back'd, crooked, lam'd,
One ey'd, deformed, and more ugly seem'd
Than those with other shapes; but now he met
The greater Princes in their order set.
Or lighter blaze, from that dark fire came,
But 'twas like a dark-glowing Coal, or like
A d'outed Candle, with a glowing week.
Here enter'd, now he feels an enmity
Against Love's Kingdom, and the Deity:
He sees the Devils, smells Sulphurian stinks,
Hears them blaspheme; himself a Devil thinks;
Does as they do. Thousands at first do meet
Him in most horrid shapes, with cloven feet,
With Dragons tailes, and looks: hard scaly hides
Long-tusked teeth, jawes gaping far, and wide,
These usher them along: He also saw
Millions of Souls, who in such shapes did draw
113
The earthly Globe) their mouths spat fire, and smoak,
Their faces black as ink, comuted some,
And very few retain'd an humane form;
And those that did were bunch-back'd, crooked, lam'd,
One ey'd, deformed, and more ugly seem'd
Than those with other shapes; but now he met
The greater Princes in their order set.
Who'd think that Hell should there retain the Form
Of every thing that doth this World adorn?
Why not? if Heav'n the purer forms of these
Things uncorrupted bear; the Species
Impure, and corrupted, may not Hell
With as much reason think you hold aswell?
Yea sure the Devils cloath themselves in all
Shapes may: excepting the Angelical;
As Angels cannot take a Devils hew,
So cannot Devils Angels shapes indue;
Both may an humane form; for sure he that
A soul can, may a body agitate.
Of every thing that doth this World adorn?
Why not? if Heav'n the purer forms of these
Things uncorrupted bear; the Species
Impure, and corrupted, may not Hell
With as much reason think you hold aswell?
Yea sure the Devils cloath themselves in all
Shapes may: excepting the Angelical;
As Angels cannot take a Devils hew,
So cannot Devils Angels shapes indue;
Both may an humane form; for sure he that
A soul can, may a body agitate.
Thus then in brief the shew of Hell was: when
With this fell rabble in that fiery den,
A while he marched had; A troop he met
Of many millions in their order set
Under their several Princes: on each side
Making a lane, they do themselves divide.
Some they were mounted upon Elephants,
Some upon Camels; and some vast Gyants
Stood on their feet, whose heads like waving Trees
To shrubs: did shadow those that to their Knees
Scarce reach'd. Some others in their Chariots were;
And prauncing steeds do other Captains bear.
Some upon Wolves, some upon Asses ride,
Some Lions, Tygers, Whales, and Bears bestride:
All sorts of Instruments, they bear. Some horn
Their shining fronts, like yellow brasse adorn,
Some heads like Dragons, some like Mastives bear:
With hispid mantles of dark pitchy hair.
Some hide their sooty hides; others are in
A Dragons scaly Coat: a Lions skin,
Others indue: some from their mouthes a stink
Of smoak, and brimstone send: some soot, and ink
Spew: some spit Toads, and Spiders, others flakes
Of fire; and some instead of Hair have Snakes
Dangling about their eares, and twisting round
Their necks, depend their tailes unto the ground.
Such kind of forms all bear. He still doth passe
Thorow this mighty Troop: conducted was
By all the chief, untill at last he came
Where seates a kind of Theatre did frame.
With this fell rabble in that fiery den,
A while he marched had; A troop he met
Of many millions in their order set
Under their several Princes: on each side
Making a lane, they do themselves divide.
Some they were mounted upon Elephants,
Some upon Camels; and some vast Gyants
Stood on their feet, whose heads like waving Trees
To shrubs: did shadow those that to their Knees
Scarce reach'd. Some others in their Chariots were;
And prauncing steeds do other Captains bear.
Some upon Wolves, some upon Asses ride,
Some Lions, Tygers, Whales, and Bears bestride:
All sorts of Instruments, they bear. Some horn
Their shining fronts, like yellow brasse adorn,
Some heads like Dragons, some like Mastives bear:
With hispid mantles of dark pitchy hair.
Some hide their sooty hides; others are in
A Dragons scaly Coat: a Lions skin,
114
Of smoak, and brimstone send: some soot, and ink
Spew: some spit Toads, and Spiders, others flakes
Of fire; and some instead of Hair have Snakes
Dangling about their eares, and twisting round
Their necks, depend their tailes unto the ground.
Such kind of forms all bear. He still doth passe
Thorow this mighty Troop: conducted was
By all the chief, untill at last he came
Where seates a kind of Theatre did frame.
At th' upper end great Lucifer he saw,
(Whose frown keeps the Tartarean troops in awe)
Ston an Ebon Throne, more black than Jet,
And round about him Hel's great Princes set,
According to their ranks. Great Lucifer
A sable Crown upon his head did bear,
One hand a Scepter held, the other bore
A hissing Snake, upon his back he wore
Nothing but griesly hair, more black than Night,
Under his supercilious brow a Light
Like burning coals came from his saucer eyes:
His rugged cheeks like Rephean Rocks did rise,
With dented Vallies: every time he spoke
From's hellish mouth came clouds of pitchy smoak,
Which intermixed were with flakes of fire.
His breast beset with hair as stiffe as wire,
Bore two great duggs, from whence like spring-lets fell
Ereban Nectar, or the milk of Hell,
More black than pitch, and bitterer then soot
It was, from whence unto h's cloven foot
He was beset with hair, a shaggy Beast
Thus sat in state to entertain his guest.
Behind his Throne Hel's Armes were plac'd which were
A Dragon guils, with wings erect i'th' ayr,
A wreathed tail, his mouth flames proper yield,
Holding a Banner, in a sable Field.
Earth's solid Globe was on the other part
Pourtrai'd; where stood grim Griesly Death, his Dart
Piercing a tender Lamb, who yields his breath
And Life, unto the cruel stroke of Death,
His Banner broke in twain: hard by was seen
An humane Form: triumphing over him
With a great Mace, an horned Devil stood:
Upon the Earth a mighty Dragon trod,
Bearing a sable Flag, display'd on high,
In which was fairly written VICTORY
This was to shew his triumph over Man,
And Love's fair Orb, in this fame Stygian
Realm, and to shew them that here he reigns alone,
None but himself there sits upon the Throne.
(Whose frown keeps the Tartarean troops in awe)
Ston an Ebon Throne, more black than Jet,
And round about him Hel's great Princes set,
According to their ranks. Great Lucifer
A sable Crown upon his head did bear,
One hand a Scepter held, the other bore
A hissing Snake, upon his back he wore
Nothing but griesly hair, more black than Night,
Under his supercilious brow a Light
Like burning coals came from his saucer eyes:
His rugged cheeks like Rephean Rocks did rise,
With dented Vallies: every time he spoke
From's hellish mouth came clouds of pitchy smoak,
Which intermixed were with flakes of fire.
His breast beset with hair as stiffe as wire,
Bore two great duggs, from whence like spring-lets fell
Ereban Nectar, or the milk of Hell,
More black than pitch, and bitterer then soot
It was, from whence unto h's cloven foot
He was beset with hair, a shaggy Beast
Thus sat in state to entertain his guest.
Behind his Throne Hel's Armes were plac'd which were
A Dragon guils, with wings erect i'th' ayr,
A wreathed tail, his mouth flames proper yield,
Holding a Banner, in a sable Field.
Earth's solid Globe was on the other part
Pourtrai'd; where stood grim Griesly Death, his Dart
Piercing a tender Lamb, who yields his breath
And Life, unto the cruel stroke of Death,
115
An humane Form: triumphing over him
With a great Mace, an horned Devil stood:
Upon the Earth a mighty Dragon trod,
Bearing a sable Flag, display'd on high,
In which was fairly written VICTORY
This was to shew his triumph over Man,
And Love's fair Orb, in this fame Stygian
Realm, and to shew them that here he reigns alone,
None but himself there sits upon the Throne.
On's right hand set, of that dark Region
The potent Princes, every one a Throne
Possess'd: Balzebub, Sathan, Asmodel,
Miriri, Mammon, Ast'roth, Belial,
With thousands more Commanding Dæmons, who
In strange, and various shapes appear'd in view.
On's left hand sat Prince Pride, in's face Disdain
Pourtrayed was; big were his looks, his Train
Hung lower than his Feet; a Peacocks plume
Shaded his hory Crest; with strong perfume
His 'brodered Gown did smell; pendants did deck
His flagging Eares, black Chaines præcing'd his neck:
Finer than all the rest he was, one hand
On's side was plac'd, a flaming hellish brand
The other held. Next him sat Envy, who
Did garments speck'd with swelling Toads indue:
A meagre Face he had, and hollow Eyes,
Lean jawes, thin neck, and spiney armes, and thighs:
His Head anguiferous, a poyson strong
Continually drop'd from his spungy Tongue,
At's feet Detraction sat his servitour,
With Enmity, who for his service bore
Two mighty Scorpions. Avarice was next
Who held his pawes continually convext,
With Clawes like iron teeth; a swinish Face
He had; no Ornaments but hair did grace
His hellish Corpse. Next furious fiery Wrath
Quick flames, and fiery darts sat belching forth,
His hands were arm'd with steel; a Dragon's hide
A crosse his shoulders with live Snakes was ty'd:
A Lions foce he had. Next goatish Lust
Sat in a Throne all over-spread with dust,
A stinking smell he had, the skins of Goats
Were ty'd about him in the stead of Coats:
The down of Sparrows want of hair supply'd
Upon his scalp; his eyes on every side
Still rowl'd about. Tun-belly'd Drunkennesse
Sat next; his ugly shape a Tongue expresse
Cannot: not's horrid brother Gluttony,
With thousands more, whom the man's Sp'rit descry
Did in their Pomp: Amaz'd almost to see
So many Princes, 'bout Hel's Majesty
He nearer drew; when the great Prince of Hell
Shaking his driety locks these words did yell
Forth from his pitchy mouth; black smoak, and flame
From's cursed throat with's words together came.
The potent Princes, every one a Throne
Possess'd: Balzebub, Sathan, Asmodel,
Miriri, Mammon, Ast'roth, Belial,
With thousands more Commanding Dæmons, who
In strange, and various shapes appear'd in view.
On's left hand sat Prince Pride, in's face Disdain
Pourtrayed was; big were his looks, his Train
Hung lower than his Feet; a Peacocks plume
Shaded his hory Crest; with strong perfume
His 'brodered Gown did smell; pendants did deck
His flagging Eares, black Chaines præcing'd his neck:
Finer than all the rest he was, one hand
On's side was plac'd, a flaming hellish brand
The other held. Next him sat Envy, who
Did garments speck'd with swelling Toads indue:
A meagre Face he had, and hollow Eyes,
Lean jawes, thin neck, and spiney armes, and thighs:
His Head anguiferous, a poyson strong
Continually drop'd from his spungy Tongue,
At's feet Detraction sat his servitour,
With Enmity, who for his service bore
Two mighty Scorpions. Avarice was next
Who held his pawes continually convext,
With Clawes like iron teeth; a swinish Face
He had; no Ornaments but hair did grace
His hellish Corpse. Next furious fiery Wrath
Quick flames, and fiery darts sat belching forth,
His hands were arm'd with steel; a Dragon's hide
A crosse his shoulders with live Snakes was ty'd:
116
Sat in a Throne all over-spread with dust,
A stinking smell he had, the skins of Goats
Were ty'd about him in the stead of Coats:
The down of Sparrows want of hair supply'd
Upon his scalp; his eyes on every side
Still rowl'd about. Tun-belly'd Drunkennesse
Sat next; his ugly shape a Tongue expresse
Cannot: not's horrid brother Gluttony,
With thousands more, whom the man's Sp'rit descry
Did in their Pomp: Amaz'd almost to see
So many Princes, 'bout Hel's Majesty
He nearer drew; when the great Prince of Hell
Shaking his driety locks these words did yell
Forth from his pitchy mouth; black smoak, and flame
From's cursed throat with's words together came.
Welcom my Son unto these glowing parts,
I have considered thy great deserts,
For which I did permit that thou might'st see,
My Kingdom's Glory, and my Majesty.
Here is a Throne, and here a Crown lies by
For thee, when it shall be thy destiny
To leave the prison of thy Soul: I do
In the mean time my power confirm on you;
Thou shalt my great Magitian be, and show
Strange uncoth Wonders in the Orb below.
Hau—Let this blast imbue thy fetid Soul,
Accept my power, and let none controul
Thy might, and force. Go to the Tree of Death,
Eat of the fruit, and so confirm my Breath:
Chuse what thou pleasest, there is choice, nay all
If thou canst use them in the earthly Ball,
For our great Glory. Our great Mysteries
When thou hast eaten, thou wilt better prize:
VVhen thou shalt be confirm'd: Love then shall flye,
None in thy Heart shall ever reign but I.
This said, he nodded to the Prince that brought
Him thither, who conceiv'd his Princes thought:
Doing obeysance both withdrew: and strait
Towards the Tree of Death they ambulate.
I have considered thy great deserts,
For which I did permit that thou might'st see,
My Kingdom's Glory, and my Majesty.
Here is a Throne, and here a Crown lies by
For thee, when it shall be thy destiny
To leave the prison of thy Soul: I do
In the mean time my power confirm on you;
Thou shalt my great Magitian be, and show
Strange uncoth Wonders in the Orb below.
Hau—Let this blast imbue thy fetid Soul,
Accept my power, and let none controul
Thy might, and force. Go to the Tree of Death,
Eat of the fruit, and so confirm my Breath:
Chuse what thou pleasest, there is choice, nay all
If thou canst use them in the earthly Ball,
For our great Glory. Our great Mysteries
When thou hast eaten, thou wilt better prize:
VVhen thou shalt be confirm'd: Love then shall flye,
None in thy Heart shall ever reign but I.
This said, he nodded to the Prince that brought
Him thither, who conceiv'd his Princes thought:
Doing obeysance both withdrew: and strait
Towards the Tree of Death they ambulate.
117
A narrow Vale they enter, where, nor Tree
Nor spire of grasse, or any herb he see
Could: on each side huge cloudy Rocks mount up,
Which hanging over almost kisse a top.
A thick, dark shadow, on the ground they cast;
From hollow crannies comes a fœtid blast,
Which 'mongst the windings frames a murmuring voice,
And getting out an horrid hissing noyse
Doth make: Thorow the midst a pitchy stream
(The which from Styx and other Rivers came)
Runs; this they follow till they saw it shoot
Its sooty waters, at the very Root
Of the mortiferous Tree; in there it fell
Conveighing thither all the dregs of Hell.
By which that Tree is nourished: He now
Lifts up his eyes, and that strange Tree doth view.
The trunck more hard than solid steel, for mosse,
With filthy spawn of Toads inclosed was,
Poyson of Asps instead of shining gum,
Thorow the bark from every limb did come.
Thrice fifty Cubits scarce could close about
Its mighty bole: on every limb stretch'd out
Hung crawling Vipers, sucking with delight
The juyce of Henbanc, and of Aconite
From off the leaves, which gave a filthy stink,
And were more black than Pitch, or blackest ink.
An horrid blast arising from the ground
Concusse the leaves, which make a dryery sound
In their forc't Kissing: Bitterer then soot
Mixed with Gall, and Wormwood's juyce, the fruit
Was, which thick sparsed here, and there did grow,
In sundry colours on each sable bow.
A while he views this Tree: Hel's horrid Fiend
From's smoaky throat at last these words doth send.
Nor spire of grasse, or any herb he see
Could: on each side huge cloudy Rocks mount up,
Which hanging over almost kisse a top.
A thick, dark shadow, on the ground they cast;
From hollow crannies comes a fœtid blast,
Which 'mongst the windings frames a murmuring voice,
And getting out an horrid hissing noyse
Doth make: Thorow the midst a pitchy stream
(The which from Styx and other Rivers came)
Runs; this they follow till they saw it shoot
Its sooty waters, at the very Root
Of the mortiferous Tree; in there it fell
Conveighing thither all the dregs of Hell.
By which that Tree is nourished: He now
Lifts up his eyes, and that strange Tree doth view.
The trunck more hard than solid steel, for mosse,
With filthy spawn of Toads inclosed was,
Poyson of Asps instead of shining gum,
Thorow the bark from every limb did come.
Thrice fifty Cubits scarce could close about
Its mighty bole: on every limb stretch'd out
Hung crawling Vipers, sucking with delight
The juyce of Henbanc, and of Aconite
From off the leaves, which gave a filthy stink,
And were more black than Pitch, or blackest ink.
An horrid blast arising from the ground
Concusse the leaves, which make a dryery sound
In their forc't Kissing: Bitterer then soot
Mixed with Gall, and Wormwood's juyce, the fruit
Was, which thick sparsed here, and there did grow,
In sundry colours on each sable bow.
A while he views this Tree: Hel's horrid Fiend
From's smoaky throat at last these words doth send.
| Mundorum Explicatio | |