The Times' Whistle Or A Newe Daunce of Seuen Satires, and other Poems: Compiled by R. C., Gent. [i.e. Richard Corbett]. Now First Edited from Ms. Y. 8. 3. in the Library of Canterbury Cathedral: With introduction, notes, and glossary, By J. M. Cowper |
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Ternarius numerus perfectissimus. |
 | The Times' Whistle |  |
Ternarius numerus perfectissimus.
Of all the numbers arithmeticall,
The number three is heald for principall,
As well in naturall philosophy
As supernaturall theologie.
Philosophers, in causes naturall,
Holde that all thinges have their originall
From three chief causes, or principia,
And therfor say tria sunt omnia,
From three all essence & existence growe,
Materia, forma, & privatio.
The body three dimensions doth include,
And they are these, length, bredth, profunditude.
In mathematique bodies three thinges please,
their punctum, linea, superficies.
The soule, that breath of life, we threefold call,
Vegitive, sensitive, & rationall.
Time doth his three divisive partes endure,
That which is past, the present, & future.
There are three graces; ther be vertues three,
Theologicall, faith, hope, & charity.
The father of the faithfull, Abraham,
Receivde three Angels which vnto him came.
From the fierce flames of Nebuchadnezar
God was the three childrens Deliverer.
Ionah, whose flight Godes mandat had opposde,
In the whales belly three dayes was enclosde.
Christ, to give man a new regenerate birth,
Was three dayes in the bowels of the earth;
When he from death & hell a Victour rose,
Did three times visible himselfe disclose
To his disciples; thrice bad Peter keepe
And nourish well his flock of lambs & sheepe.
Thrice was let downe to Peter in a dreame
A sheet, with beastes, birdes, creeping things vncleane,
And he thrice bidden eat, denide consent,
Whilest three men sought him, from Cornelius sent.
The heavenly kingdome, that celestiall bower,
A leaven is, hid in three peckes of flower.
Lastly, but principallie, above all
The Diety in Persons three we call;
This Trinity it is indeed alone
Which gives this number best perfection.
The number three is heald for principall,
As well in naturall philosophy
As supernaturall theologie.
Philosophers, in causes naturall,
Holde that all thinges have their originall
From three chief causes, or principia,
And therfor say tria sunt omnia,
From three all essence & existence growe,
Materia, forma, & privatio.
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And they are these, length, bredth, profunditude.
In mathematique bodies three thinges please,
their punctum, linea, superficies.
The soule, that breath of life, we threefold call,
Vegitive, sensitive, & rationall.
Time doth his three divisive partes endure,
That which is past, the present, & future.
There are three graces; ther be vertues three,
Theologicall, faith, hope, & charity.
The father of the faithfull, Abraham,
Receivde three Angels which vnto him came.
From the fierce flames of Nebuchadnezar
God was the three childrens Deliverer.
Ionah, whose flight Godes mandat had opposde,
In the whales belly three dayes was enclosde.
Christ, to give man a new regenerate birth,
Was three dayes in the bowels of the earth;
When he from death & hell a Victour rose,
Did three times visible himselfe disclose
To his disciples; thrice bad Peter keepe
And nourish well his flock of lambs & sheepe.
Thrice was let downe to Peter in a dreame
A sheet, with beastes, birdes, creeping things vncleane,
And he thrice bidden eat, denide consent,
Whilest three men sought him, from Cornelius sent.
The heavenly kingdome, that celestiall bower,
A leaven is, hid in three peckes of flower.
Lastly, but principallie, above all
The Diety in Persons three we call;
This Trinity it is indeed alone
Which gives this number best perfection.
Thrice happy is that man, with ioy shall see
This Perfect Number, this Thrice Glorious Three.
This Perfect Number, this Thrice Glorious Three.
| The Times' Whistle | |