Divine poems Containing The History of Ionah. Ester. Iob. Sampson. Sions Sonets. Elegies. Written and newly augmented, by Fra: Quarles |
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 | Divine poems |  |
Thus, when the great Embassadour of Heaven
Had done that sacred service, which was given,
And trusted to his faithfull charge, he spred
His ayre-dividing pinions, and fled:
But now, th'affrighted woman apprehends
The strangenesse of the Message; recommends
Both it, and him, that did it, to her feares;
The newes was welcome to her gratefull eares,
But what the newesman was did so encrease
Her doubts, that her strange hopes could finde no peace;
For when her hopes would build a Tower of joy,
O, then her feares would shake it, and destroy
The maine foundation; what her hopes in vaine
Did raise, her feares would ruinate againe:
One while, she thought; It was an Angel sent;
And then her feares would teach her to repent
That frighfull thought; but whē she deeply waigh'd
The joyfull message, then her thoughts obay'd
Her first conceit; Distracted, with confusion,
Sometimes she fear'd it was a false delusion,
Suggested in her too beleeving eares;
Sometimes she doubts it was a Dreame, that beares
No waight but in a slumber; till at last,
Her feet, advised by her thoughts, made haste
Vnto her husband; in whose eares she brake
This minde-perplexing secret thus, and spake;
Sir,
Had done that sacred service, which was given,
And trusted to his faithfull charge, he spred
His ayre-dividing pinions, and fled:
But now, th'affrighted woman apprehends
The strangenesse of the Message; recommends
Both it, and him, that did it, to her feares;
The newes was welcome to her gratefull eares,
But what the newesman was did so encrease
Her doubts, that her strange hopes could finde no peace;
For when her hopes would build a Tower of joy,
O, then her feares would shake it, and destroy
The maine foundation; what her hopes in vaine
Did raise, her feares would ruinate againe:
One while, she thought; It was an Angel sent;
And then her feares would teach her to repent
That frighfull thought; but whē she deeply waigh'd
The joyfull message, then her thoughts obay'd
Her first conceit; Distracted, with confusion,
Sometimes she fear'd it was a false delusion,
273
Sometimes she doubts it was a Dreame, that beares
No waight but in a slumber; till at last,
Her feet, advised by her thoughts, made haste
Vnto her husband; in whose eares she brake
This minde-perplexing secret thus, and spake;
Sir,
As my discursive thoughts did lately muse
On those great blessings, wherewith heaven doth use
To crowne his children, here; among the rest,
Me thoughts no one could make a wife more blest,
And crowne her youth, her age with greater measure
Of true content, than the unprized treasure
Of her chaste wombe: but as my thoughts were bent
Upon this subject, being in our Tent,
And none but I, appear'd before mine eyes
A man of God: His habit, and his guise
Was such as holy Prophets use to weare,
But in his dreadfull lookes there did appeare
Something that made me tremble; Jn his eye
Mildnesse was mixt with awfull Majesty;
Strange was his language, and I could not chuse
But feare the man, although J lik'd his newes;
On those great blessings, wherewith heaven doth use
To crowne his children, here; among the rest,
Me thoughts no one could make a wife more blest,
And crowne her youth, her age with greater measure
Of true content, than the unprized treasure
Of her chaste wombe: but as my thoughts were bent
Upon this subject, being in our Tent,
And none but I, appear'd before mine eyes
A man of God: His habit, and his guise
Was such as holy Prophets use to weare,
But in his dreadfull lookes there did appeare
Something that made me tremble; Jn his eye
Mildnesse was mixt with awfull Majesty;
Strange was his language, and I could not chuse
But feare the man, although J lik'd his newes;
Woman (said he) Cheare up, and doe not feare;
I have no Vials, nor no Iudgements here;
My hand hath no Commission, to enquire
Into thy sinnes; nor am I clad in fire:
I come to bring thee tydings of such things,!
As have their warrant from the King of Kings;
Thou shalt conceive, and when thy time is come,
Thou shalt enjoy the blessings of thy wombe;
Before the space of twice five months be runne,
Thou shalt become the parent of a Sonne;
Till then, take heed, thou neither drinke, nor eate
Wines, or strong drinke, or Law-forbidden meate,
For when this promis'd child shall see the light,
Thou shalt be mother to a Nazarite.
I have no Vials, nor no Iudgements here;
My hand hath no Commission, to enquire
Into thy sinnes; nor am I clad in fire:
I come to bring thee tydings of such things,!
As have their warrant from the King of Kings;
Thou shalt conceive, and when thy time is come,
Thou shalt enjoy the blessings of thy wombe;
Before the space of twice five months be runne,
Thou shalt become the parent of a Sonne;
Till then, take heed, thou neither drinke, nor eate
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For when this promis'd child shall see the light,
Thou shalt be mother to a Nazarite.
While thus he spake, I trembled: Horrid feare
Vsurpt my quivering heart; Onely mine eare
Was pleas'd to be the vessell of such newes,
Which Heaven make good; and give me strength to use
My better Faith: The holy Prophets name
I was affraid t'enquire, or whence he came.
Vsurpt my quivering heart; Onely mine eare
Was pleas'd to be the vessell of such newes,
Which Heaven make good; and give me strength to use
My better Faith: The holy Prophets name
I was affraid t'enquire, or whence he came.
| Divine poems | |