Mel Heliconium or, Poeticall Honey, Gathered out of The Weeds of Parnassus ... By Alexander Rosse |
 | I. |
| II. |
 | III. |
CADMUS and HARMONIA.
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| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
 | CHAP. III. C Mel Heliconium |  |
CADMUS and HARMONIA.
68
Behold that Prince which once with Majestie
Invested was, whose throne was far more high
Then is the starry Cabinet
That over this low Globe is set.
Yet was content to leave that state, and throw
Himself upon his footstool here below.
He stept down from his lofty throne
To seek his Sister that was gone.
And whilst he sought her, he rear'd up the wall
Of that great City which shall never fall,
And then the Dragon, he did wound
And all his toothbread sonnes confound:
He did those glassie springs of life discover
Which drill the flowers, and pleasant meads run over,
In his pure heart all graces met,
And beauty in his face was set.
But yet this all-commanding King was deem'd
A worm, no man, and as a Snake esteem'd.
Men hide their faces from this King,
Whose face makes men and Angels sing.
Though men despis'd him, yet he was received
Into these joys which cannot be conceived;
By all the winged companies,
Whose dwelling is above the skies.
O thou who guides the heavens as with rain,
And dwels in light which no man can attain,
Vouchsafe to look from those high Towers,
On these low Cottages of ours.
Seek out my soul which hath forsaken thee
To follow after lying vanity,
Tread down the Dragon and his brood.
For they have still my soul withstood.
Invested was, whose throne was far more high
Then is the starry Cabinet
That over this low Globe is set.
Yet was content to leave that state, and throw
Himself upon his footstool here below.
He stept down from his lofty throne
To seek his Sister that was gone.
And whilst he sought her, he rear'd up the wall
Of that great City which shall never fall,
And then the Dragon, he did wound
And all his toothbread sonnes confound:
He did those glassie springs of life discover
Which drill the flowers, and pleasant meads run over,
In his pure heart all graces met,
And beauty in his face was set.
But yet this all-commanding King was deem'd
A worm, no man, and as a Snake esteem'd.
Men hide their faces from this King,
Whose face makes men and Angels sing.
Though men despis'd him, yet he was received
Into these joys which cannot be conceived;
By all the winged companies,
Whose dwelling is above the skies.
O thou who guides the heavens as with rain,
And dwels in light which no man can attain,
Vouchsafe to look from those high Towers,
On these low Cottages of ours.
Seek out my soul which hath forsaken thee
To follow after lying vanity,
Tread down the Dragon and his brood.
For they have still my soul withstood.
69
The Picture of a King.
He is of noble pedegree,His wife is called Harmony;
The chiefest Gods in their best state,
His Nuptials do celebrate.
Jove that shakes heaven with his brows
Unto the King presents this Spouse;
Whose Father is the god of war,
Whose Mother is the morning star.
Minerva brings her golden chain,
And Ceres makes them rich with grain;
Joves daughters, with their beardlesse King,
From Helicon their musick bring;
Each one with flowers and Laurels crown'd,
And Arca's harp doth sweetly sound.
The gods all in their best array,
With dances crown this wedding day.
Thus honour, wealth, and pleasure wait,
Where such a King doth rule the State;
He by Minerva's help can wound
The Dragon, and his brood confound:
That under him we freely may
Drink of that fountain in the way.
But yet he hath the Dragons jaws,
To tear all those that break his Laws;
Thus in his life this King is blest,
And in his death in peace shall rest.
Now if there be above the ground,
A Prince so perfect to be found,
He's either in King Arthurs chair,
Or else he doth reside no where.
| CHAP. III. C Mel Heliconium | |