SKIA NUKTOS[Greek]. The Shadovv of Night Cantaining Two Poeticall Hymnes, Deuised by G. C. [i.e. George Chapman] |
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Hymnus in Noctem.
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 | SKIA NUKTOS[Greek]. The Shadovv of Night |  |
Hymnus in Noctem.
Great
Goddesse to whose throne in Cynthian fires,
This earthlie Alter endlesse fumes exspires,
Therefore, in fumes of sighes and fires of griefe,
To fearefull chances thou sendst bold reliefe,
Happie, thrise happie Type, and nurse of death;
VVho breathlesse, feedes on nothing but our breath,
In whom must vertue and her issue liue,
Or dye for euer, now let humor giue
Seas to mine eyes, that I may quicklie weepe
The shipwracke of the world: or let soft sleepe
(Binding my sences) lose my working soule,
That in her highest pitch, she may controule
The court of skill, compact of misterie,
VVanting but franchisement and memorie
To reach all secrets: then in blisfull trance,
Raise her (deare Night to that perseuerance,
That in my torture, she all earths may sing,
And force to tremble in her trumpeting
Heauens christall temples: in her powrs implant
Skill of my griefs, and she can nothing want.
This earthlie Alter endlesse fumes exspires,
Therefore, in fumes of sighes and fires of griefe,
To fearefull chances thou sendst bold reliefe,
Happie, thrise happie Type, and nurse of death;
VVho breathlesse, feedes on nothing but our breath,
In whom must vertue and her issue liue,
Or dye for euer, now let humor giue
Seas to mine eyes, that I may quicklie weepe
The shipwracke of the world: or let soft sleepe
(Binding my sences) lose my working soule,
That in her highest pitch, she may controule
The court of skill, compact of misterie,
VVanting but franchisement and memorie
To reach all secrets: then in blisfull trance,
Raise her (deare Night to that perseuerance,
That in my torture, she all earths may sing,
And force to tremble in her trumpeting
Heauens christall temples: in her powrs implant
Skill of my griefs, and she can nothing want.
Then like fierce bolts, well rammd with heate & cold
In Ioues Artillerie, my words vnfold,
To breake the labyrinth of euerie eare,
And make ech frighted soule come forth and heare,
Let them breake harts, as well as yeelding ayre,
That all mens bosoms (pierst with no affaires,
But gaine of riches) may be lanced wide,
And with the threates of vertue terrified.
In Ioues Artillerie, my words vnfold,
And make ech frighted soule come forth and heare,
Let them breake harts, as well as yeelding ayre,
That all mens bosoms (pierst with no affaires,
But gaine of riches) may be lanced wide,
And with the threates of vertue terrified.
Sorrowes deare soueraigne, and the queene of rest,
That when vnlight some, vast, and indigest
The formelesse matter of this world did lye,
Fildst euery place with thy Diuinitie,
VVhy did thy absolute and endlesse sway,
Licence heauens torch, the scepter of the Day,
Distinguisht intercession to thy throne,
That long before, all matchlesse rulde alone?
VVhy letst thou order, orderlesse disperse,
The fighting parents of this vniuerse?
VVhen earth, the ayre, and sea, in fire remaind,
VVhen fire, the sea, and earth, the ayre containd,
VVhen ayre, the earth, and fire, the sea enclosde,
VVhen sea, fire, ayre, in earth were indisposde,
Nothing, as now, remainde so out of kinde,
All things in grosse, were finer then refinde,
Substance was sound within, and had no being,
Now forme giues being; all our essence seeming,
Chaos had soule without a bodie then,
Now bodies liue without the soules of men,
Lumps being digested; monsters, in our pride.
That when vnlight some, vast, and indigest
The formelesse matter of this world did lye,
Fildst euery place with thy Diuinitie,
VVhy did thy absolute and endlesse sway,
Licence heauens torch, the scepter of the Day,
Distinguisht intercession to thy throne,
That long before, all matchlesse rulde alone?
VVhy letst thou order, orderlesse disperse,
The fighting parents of this vniuerse?
VVhen earth, the ayre, and sea, in fire remaind,
VVhen fire, the sea, and earth, the ayre containd,
VVhen ayre, the earth, and fire, the sea enclosde,
VVhen sea, fire, ayre, in earth were indisposde,
Nothing, as now, remainde so out of kinde,
All things in grosse, were finer then refinde,
Substance was sound within, and had no being,
Now forme giues being; all our essence seeming,
Chaos had soule without a bodie then,
Now bodies liue without the soules of men,
Lumps being digested; monsters, in our pride.
And as a wealthie fount, that hils did hide,
Let forth by labor of industrious hands,
Powres out her treasure through the fruitefull strands,
Seemely diuided to a hunderd streames,
VVhose bewties shed such profitable beames,
And make such Orphean Musicke in their courses,
That Citties follow their enchanting forces,
VVho running farre, at length ech powres her hart
Into the bosome of the gulfie desart,
As much confounded there, and indigest,
As in the chaos of the hills comprest:
So all things now (extract out of the prime)
Are turnd to chaos, and confound the time.
Let forth by labor of industrious hands,
Powres out her treasure through the fruitefull strands,
Seemely diuided to a hunderd streames,
VVhose bewties shed such profitable beames,
That Citties follow their enchanting forces,
VVho running farre, at length ech powres her hart
Into the bosome of the gulfie desart,
As much confounded there, and indigest,
As in the chaos of the hills comprest:
So all things now (extract out of the prime)
Are turnd to chaos, and confound the time.
A stepdame Night of minde about vs clings,
VVho broodes beneath her hell obscuring wings,
VVorlds of confusion, where the soule defamde,
The bodie had bene better neuer framde,
Beneath thy soft, and peace-full couert then,
(Most sacred mother both of Gods and men)
Treasures vnknowne, and more vnprisde did dwell;
But in the blind borne shadow of this hell,
This horrid stepdame, blindnesse of the minde,
Nought worth the sight, no sight, but worse then blind,
A Gorgon that with brasse, and snakie brows,
(Most harlot-like) her naked secrets shows:
For in th' expansure, and distinct attire,
Of light, and darcknesse, of the sea, and fire,
Of ayre, and earth, and all, all these create,
First set and rulde, in most harmonious state,
Disiunction showes, in all things now amisse,
By that first order, what confusion is:
Religious curb, that manadgd men in bounds,
Of publique wellfare, lothing priuate grounds,
(Now cast away, by selfe lou's paramores)
All are transformd to Calydonian bores,
That kill our bleeding vines, displow our fields,
Rend groues in peeces; all things nature yeelds
Supplanting: tumbling vp in hills of dearth,
The fruitefull disposition of the earth,
Ruine creates men: all to slaughter bent,
Like enuie, fed with others famishment.
VVho broodes beneath her hell obscuring wings,
VVorlds of confusion, where the soule defamde,
The bodie had bene better neuer framde,
Beneath thy soft, and peace-full couert then,
(Most sacred mother both of Gods and men)
Treasures vnknowne, and more vnprisde did dwell;
But in the blind borne shadow of this hell,
This horrid stepdame, blindnesse of the minde,
Nought worth the sight, no sight, but worse then blind,
A Gorgon that with brasse, and snakie brows,
(Most harlot-like) her naked secrets shows:
For in th' expansure, and distinct attire,
Of light, and darcknesse, of the sea, and fire,
Of ayre, and earth, and all, all these create,
First set and rulde, in most harmonious state,
Disiunction showes, in all things now amisse,
By that first order, what confusion is:
Religious curb, that manadgd men in bounds,
Of publique wellfare, lothing priuate grounds,
(Now cast away, by selfe lou's paramores)
All are transformd to Calydonian bores,
That kill our bleeding vines, displow our fields,
Rend groues in peeces; all things nature yeelds
The fruitefull disposition of the earth,
Ruine creates men: all to slaughter bent,
Like enuie, fed with others famishment.
And what makes men without the parts of men,
Or in their manhoods, lesse then childeren,
But manlesse natures? all this world was namde
A world of him, for whom it first was framde,
(VVho (like a tender Cheurill,) shruncke with fire)
Of base ambition, and of selfe-desire,
His armes into his shoulders crept for feare
Bountie should vse them; and fierce rape forbeare,
His legges into his greedie belly runne,
The charge of hospitalitie to shunne)
In him the world is to a lump reuerst,
That shruncke from forme, that was by forme disperst,
And in nought more then thanklesse auarice,
Not rendring vertue her deserued price:
Kinde Amalthæa was transferd by Ioue,
Into his sparckling pauement, for her loue,
Though but a Goate, and giuing him her milke,
Basenesse is flintie; gentrie soft as silke,
In heauens she liues, and rules a liuing signe
In humane bodies: yet not so diuine,
That she can worke her kindnesse in our harts.
Or in their manhoods, lesse then childeren,
But manlesse natures? all this world was namde
A world of him, for whom it first was framde,
(VVho (like a tender Cheurill,) shruncke with fire)
Of base ambition, and of selfe-desire,
His armes into his shoulders crept for feare
Bountie should vse them; and fierce rape forbeare,
His legges into his greedie belly runne,
The charge of hospitalitie to shunne)
In him the world is to a lump reuerst,
That shruncke from forme, that was by forme disperst,
And in nought more then thanklesse auarice,
Not rendring vertue her deserued price:
Kinde Amalthæa was transferd by Ioue,
Into his sparckling pauement, for her loue,
Though but a Goate, and giuing him her milke,
Basenesse is flintie; gentrie soft as silke,
In heauens she liues, and rules a liuing signe
In humane bodies: yet not so diuine,
That she can worke her kindnesse in our harts.
The sencelesse Argiue ship, for her deserts,
Bearing to Colchos, and for bringing backe,
The hardie Argonauts, secure of wracke,
The fautor and the God of gratitude,
VVould not from number of the starres exclude.
A thousand such examples could I cite,
To damne stone-pesants, that like Typhons fight
Against their Maker, and contend to be
Of kings, the abiect slaues of drudgerie.
Proud of that thraldome: loue the kindest lest,
And hate, not to be hated of the best.
Bearing to Colchos, and for bringing backe,
The hardie Argonauts, secure of wracke,
The fautor and the God of gratitude,
VVould not from number of the starres exclude.
A thousand such examples could I cite,
To damne stone-pesants, that like Typhons fight
Of kings, the abiect slaues of drudgerie.
Proud of that thraldome: loue the kindest lest,
And hate, not to be hated of the best.
If then we frame mans figure by his mind,
And that at first, his fashion was assignd,
Erection in such God-like excellence
For his soules sake, and her intelligence:
She so degenerate, and growne deprest,
Content to share affections with a beast,
The shape wherewith he should be now indude,
Must beare no signe of mans similitude.
Therefore Promethean Poets with the coles
Of their most geniale, more-then-humane soules
In liuing verse, created men like these,
VVith shapes of Centaurs, Harpie, Lapithes,
That they in prime of erudition,
VVhen almost sauage vulgar men were growne,
Seeing them selues in those Pierean founts,
Might mend their mindes, asham'd of such accounts.
So when ye heare, the sweetest Muses sonne,
VVith heauenly rapture of his Musicke, wonne
Rockes, forrests, floods, and winds to leaue their course
In his attendance: it bewrayes the force
His wisedome had, to draw men growne so rude
To ciuill loue of Art, and Fortitude,
And not for teaching others insolence,
Had he his date-exceeding excellence
VVith soueraigne Poets, but for vse applyed,
And in his proper actes exemplified.
And that at first, his fashion was assignd,
Erection in such God-like excellence
For his soules sake, and her intelligence:
She so degenerate, and growne deprest,
Content to share affections with a beast,
The shape wherewith he should be now indude,
Must beare no signe of mans similitude.
Therefore Promethean Poets with the coles
Of their most geniale, more-then-humane soules
In liuing verse, created men like these,
VVith shapes of Centaurs, Harpie, Lapithes,
That they in prime of erudition,
VVhen almost sauage vulgar men were growne,
Seeing them selues in those Pierean founts,
Might mend their mindes, asham'd of such accounts.
So when ye heare, the sweetest Muses sonne,
VVith heauenly rapture of his Musicke, wonne
Rockes, forrests, floods, and winds to leaue their course
In his attendance: it bewrayes the force
His wisedome had, to draw men growne so rude
To ciuill loue of Art, and Fortitude,
And not for teaching others insolence,
Had he his date-exceeding excellence
VVith soueraigne Poets, but for vse applyed,
And in his proper actes exemplified.
And that in calming the infernall kinde,
To wit, the perturbations of his minde,
And bringing his Eurydice from hell,
(VVhich Iustice signifies) is proued well.
But if in rights obseruance any man
Looke backe, with boldnesse lesse then Orphean,
Soone falls he to the hell from whence he rose:
The fiction then would temprature dispose,
In all the tender motiues of the minde,
To make man worthie his hel-danting kinde.
The golden chaine of Homers high deuice
Ambition is, or cursed auarice,
VVhich all Gods haling being tyed to Ioue,
Him from his setled height could neuer moue:
Intending this, that though that powrefull chaine
Of most Herculean vigor to constraine
Men from true vertue, or their pristine states
Attempt a man that manlesse changes hates,
And is enobled with a deathlesse loue
Of things eternall, dignified aboue:
Nothing shall stirre him from adorning still
This shape with vertue, and his powre with will.
To wit, the perturbations of his minde,
(VVhich Iustice signifies) is proued well.
But if in rights obseruance any man
Looke backe, with boldnesse lesse then Orphean,
Soone falls he to the hell from whence he rose:
The fiction then would temprature dispose,
In all the tender motiues of the minde,
To make man worthie his hel-danting kinde.
The golden chaine of Homers high deuice
Ambition is, or cursed auarice,
VVhich all Gods haling being tyed to Ioue,
Him from his setled height could neuer moue:
Intending this, that though that powrefull chaine
Of most Herculean vigor to constraine
Men from true vertue, or their pristine states
Attempt a man that manlesse changes hates,
And is enobled with a deathlesse loue
Of things eternall, dignified aboue:
Nothing shall stirre him from adorning still
This shape with vertue, and his powre with will.
But as rude painters that contend to show
Beasts, foules or fish, all artlesse to bestow
On euery side his natiue counterfet,
Aboue his head, his name had neede to set:
So men that will be men, in more then face,
(As in their foreheads) should in actions place
More perfect characters, to proue they be
No mockers of their first nobilitie:
Else may they easly passe for beasts or foules:
Soules praise our shapes, and not our shapes our soules.
Beasts, foules or fish, all artlesse to bestow
On euery side his natiue counterfet,
Aboue his head, his name had neede to set:
So men that will be men, in more then face,
(As in their foreheads) should in actions place
More perfect characters, to proue they be
No mockers of their first nobilitie:
Else may they easly passe for beasts or foules:
Soules praise our shapes, and not our shapes our soules.
And as when Chloris paints th' ennamild meads,
A flocke of shepherds to the bagpipe treads
Rude rurall dances with their countrey loues:
Some a farre off obseruing their remoues,
Turnes, and returnes, quicke footing, sodaine stands,
Reelings aside, od actions with their hands;
Now backe, now forwards, now lockt arme in arme,
Not hearing musicke, thinke it is a charme,
That like loose froes at Bacchanalean feasts,
Makes them seeme franticke in their barraine iestes.
And being clusterd in a shapelesse croude,
VVith much lesse admiration are allowd.
So our first excellence, so much abusd,
And we (without the harmonie was vsd,
VVhen Saturnes golden scepter stroke the strings
Of Ciuill gouernement) make all our doings
Sauour of rudenesse, and obscuritie,
And in our formes shew more deformitie,
Then if we still were wrapt, and smoothered
In that confusion, out of which we fled.
A flocke of shepherds to the bagpipe treads
Some a farre off obseruing their remoues,
Turnes, and returnes, quicke footing, sodaine stands,
Reelings aside, od actions with their hands;
Now backe, now forwards, now lockt arme in arme,
Not hearing musicke, thinke it is a charme,
That like loose froes at Bacchanalean feasts,
Makes them seeme franticke in their barraine iestes.
And being clusterd in a shapelesse croude,
VVith much lesse admiration are allowd.
So our first excellence, so much abusd,
And we (without the harmonie was vsd,
VVhen Saturnes golden scepter stroke the strings
Of Ciuill gouernement) make all our doings
Sauour of rudenesse, and obscuritie,
And in our formes shew more deformitie,
Then if we still were wrapt, and smoothered
In that confusion, out of which we fled.
And as when hosts of starres attend thy flight,
(Day of deepe students, most contentfull night)
The morning (mounted on the Muses stead)
Vshers the sonne from Vulcans golden bed,
And then from forth their sundrie roofes of rest,
All sorts of men, to sorted taskes addrest,
Spreade this inferiour element: and yeeld
Labour his due: the souldier to the field,
States-men to counsell, Iudges to their pleas,
Merchants to commerce, mariners to seas:
All beasts, and birds, the groues and forrests range,
To fill all corners of this round Exchange,
Till thou (deare Night, ô goddesse of most worth)
Letst thy sweet seas of golden humor forth
And Eagle like dost with thy starrie wings,
Beate in the foules, and beasts to Somnus lodgings,
And haughtie Day to the infernall deepe,
Proclaiming scilence studie, ease, and sleepe.
All things before thy forces put in rout,
Retiring where the morning fir'd them out.
(Day of deepe students, most contentfull night)
The morning (mounted on the Muses stead)
Vshers the sonne from Vulcans golden bed,
And then from forth their sundrie roofes of rest,
All sorts of men, to sorted taskes addrest,
Spreade this inferiour element: and yeeld
Labour his due: the souldier to the field,
States-men to counsell, Iudges to their pleas,
Merchants to commerce, mariners to seas:
All beasts, and birds, the groues and forrests range,
To fill all corners of this round Exchange,
Till thou (deare Night, ô goddesse of most worth)
Letst thy sweet seas of golden humor forth
Beate in the foules, and beasts to Somnus lodgings,
And haughtie Day to the infernall deepe,
Proclaiming scilence studie, ease, and sleepe.
All things before thy forces put in rout,
Retiring where the morning fir'd them out.
So to the chaos of our first descent,
(All dayes of honor, and of vertue spent)
VVe basely make retrait, and are no lesse
Then huge impolisht heapes of filthinesse.
Mens faces glitter, and their hearts are blacke,
But thou (great Mistresse of heauens gloomie racke)
Art blacke in face, and glitterst in thy heart.
There is thy glorie, riches, force, and Art;
Opposed earth, beates blacke and blewe thy face,
And often doth thy heart it selfe deface,
For spite that to thy vertue-famed traine,
All the choise worthies that did euer raigne
In eldest age, were still preferd by Ioue,
Esteeming that due honor to his loue.
There shine they: not to sea-men guides alone,
But sacred presidents to euerie one.
There fixt for euer, where the Day is driuen,
Almost foure hundred times a yeare from heauen.
In hell then let her sit, and neuer rise,
Till Morns leaue blushing at her cruelties.
(All dayes of honor, and of vertue spent)
VVe basely make retrait, and are no lesse
Then huge impolisht heapes of filthinesse.
Mens faces glitter, and their hearts are blacke,
But thou (great Mistresse of heauens gloomie racke)
Art blacke in face, and glitterst in thy heart.
There is thy glorie, riches, force, and Art;
Opposed earth, beates blacke and blewe thy face,
And often doth thy heart it selfe deface,
For spite that to thy vertue-famed traine,
All the choise worthies that did euer raigne
In eldest age, were still preferd by Ioue,
Esteeming that due honor to his loue.
There shine they: not to sea-men guides alone,
But sacred presidents to euerie one.
There fixt for euer, where the Day is driuen,
Almost foure hundred times a yeare from heauen.
In hell then let her sit, and neuer rise,
Till Morns leaue blushing at her cruelties.
Meane while, accept, as followers of thy traine,
(Our better parts aspiring to thy raigne)
Vertues obscur'd, and banished the day,
VVith all the glories of this spongie sway,
Prisond in flesh, and that poore flesh in bands
Of stone, and steele, chiefe flowrs of vertues Garlands.
(Our better parts aspiring to thy raigne)
Vertues obscur'd, and banished the day,
VVith all the glories of this spongie sway,
Prisond in flesh, and that poore flesh in bands
Of stone, and steele, chiefe flowrs of vertues Garlands.
O then most tender fortresse of our woes,
That bleeding lye in vertues ouerthroes,
Hating the whoredome of this painted light:
Raise thy chast daughters, ministers of right,
The dreadfull and the iust Eumenides,
And let them wreake the wrongs of our disease,
Drowning the world in bloud, and staine the skies
VVith their spilt soules, made drunke with tyrannies.
That bleeding lye in vertues ouerthroes,
Hating the whoredome of this painted light:
Raise thy chast daughters, ministers of right,
The dreadfull and the iust Eumenides,
And let them wreake the wrongs of our disease,
Drowning the world in bloud, and staine the skies
VVith their spilt soules, made drunke with tyrannies.
Fall Hercules from heauen in tempestes hurld,
And cleanse this beastly stable of the world:
Or bend thy brasen bow against the Sunne,
As in Tartessus, when thou hadst begunne
Thy taske of oxen: heat in more extreames
Then thou wouldst suffer, with his enuious beames.
Now make him leaue the world to Night and dreames.
Neuer were vertues labours so enuy'd
As in this light: shoote, shoote, and stoope his pride:
Suffer no more his lustfull rayes to get
The Earth with issue: let him still be set
In Somnus thickets: bound about the browes,
VVith pitchie vapours, and with Ebone bowes.
And cleanse this beastly stable of the world:
Or bend thy brasen bow against the Sunne,
As in Tartessus, when thou hadst begunne
Thy taske of oxen: heat in more extreames
Then thou wouldst suffer, with his enuious beames.
Now make him leaue the world to Night and dreames.
Neuer were vertues labours so enuy'd
As in this light: shoote, shoote, and stoope his pride:
Suffer no more his lustfull rayes to get
The Earth with issue: let him still be set
In Somnus thickets: bound about the browes,
VVith pitchie vapours, and with Ebone bowes.
Rich-tapird sanctuarie of the blest,
Pallace of Ruth, made all of teares, and rest,
To thy blacke shades and desolation,
I consecrate my life; and liuing mone,
VVhere furies shall for euer fighting be,
And adders hisse the world for hating me,
Foxes shall barke, and Night-rauens belch in grones,
And owles shall hollow my confusions:
There will I furnish vp my funerall bed,
Strewd with the bones and relickes of the dead.
Atlas shall let th' Olimpick burthen fall,
To couer my vntombed face withall.
And when as well, the matter of our kind,
As the materiall substance of the mind,
Shall cease their reuolutions, in abode
Of such impure and vgly period,
As the old essence, and insensiue prime:
Then shall the ruines of the fourefold time,
Turnd to that lumpe (as rapting Torrents rise)
For euer murmure forth my miseries.
Pallace of Ruth, made all of teares, and rest,
To thy blacke shades and desolation,
I consecrate my life; and liuing mone,
VVhere furies shall for euer fighting be,
And adders hisse the world for hating me,
Foxes shall barke, and Night-rauens belch in grones,
And owles shall hollow my confusions:
There will I furnish vp my funerall bed,
Strewd with the bones and relickes of the dead.
Atlas shall let th' Olimpick burthen fall,
And when as well, the matter of our kind,
As the materiall substance of the mind,
Shall cease their reuolutions, in abode
Of such impure and vgly period,
As the old essence, and insensiue prime:
Then shall the ruines of the fourefold time,
Turnd to that lumpe (as rapting Torrents rise)
For euer murmure forth my miseries.
Ye liuing spirits then, if any liue,
VVhom like extreames, do like affections giue,
Shun, shun this cruell light, and end your thrall,
In these soft shades of sable funerall:
From whence with ghosts, whō vengeance holds frō rest,
Dog-fiends and monsters hanting the distrest,
As men whose parents tyrannie hath slaine,
VVhose sisters rape, and bondage do sustaine.
But you that nere had birth, nor euer prou'd,
How deare a blessing tis to be belou'd,
VVhose friends idolatrous desire of gold,
To scorne, and ruine haue your freedome sold:
VVhose vertues feele all this, and shew your eyes,
Men made of Tartar, and of villanies.
Aspire th' extraction, and the quintessence
Of all the ioyes in earths circumference:
VVith ghosts, fiends, monsters: as men robd and rackt,
Murtherd in life: from shades with shadowes blackt:
Thunder your wrongs, your miseries and hells,
And with the dismall accents of your knells,
Reuiue the dead, and make the liuing dye
In ruth, and terror of your torturie:
Still all the powre of Art into your grones,
Scorning your triuiall and remissiue mones,
Compact of fiction, and hyperboles,
(Like wanton mourners, cloyd with too much ease)
Should leaue the glasses of the hearers eyes
Vnbroken, counting all but vanities.
But paint, or else create in serious truth,
A bodie figur'd to your vertues ruth,
That to the sence may shew what damned sinne,
For your extreames this Chaos tumbles in.
But wo is wretched me, without a name:
Vertue feeds scorne, and noblest honor, shame:
Pride bathes in teares of poore submission,
And makes his soule, the purple he puts on.
VVhom like extreames, do like affections giue,
Shun, shun this cruell light, and end your thrall,
In these soft shades of sable funerall:
From whence with ghosts, whō vengeance holds frō rest,
Dog-fiends and monsters hanting the distrest,
As men whose parents tyrannie hath slaine,
VVhose sisters rape, and bondage do sustaine.
But you that nere had birth, nor euer prou'd,
How deare a blessing tis to be belou'd,
VVhose friends idolatrous desire of gold,
To scorne, and ruine haue your freedome sold:
VVhose vertues feele all this, and shew your eyes,
Men made of Tartar, and of villanies.
Aspire th' extraction, and the quintessence
Of all the ioyes in earths circumference:
VVith ghosts, fiends, monsters: as men robd and rackt,
Murtherd in life: from shades with shadowes blackt:
Thunder your wrongs, your miseries and hells,
And with the dismall accents of your knells,
Reuiue the dead, and make the liuing dye
In ruth, and terror of your torturie:
Still all the powre of Art into your grones,
Compact of fiction, and hyperboles,
(Like wanton mourners, cloyd with too much ease)
Should leaue the glasses of the hearers eyes
Vnbroken, counting all but vanities.
But paint, or else create in serious truth,
A bodie figur'd to your vertues ruth,
That to the sence may shew what damned sinne,
For your extreames this Chaos tumbles in.
But wo is wretched me, without a name:
Vertue feeds scorne, and noblest honor, shame:
Pride bathes in teares of poore submission,
And makes his soule, the purple he puts on.
Kneele then with me, fall worme-like on the ground,
And from th' infectious dunghill of this Round,
From mens brasse wits, and golden foolerie,
VVeepe, weepe your soules, into felicitie:
Come to this house of mourning, serue the night,
To whom pale day (with whoredome soked quite)
Is but a drudge, selling her beauties vse
To rapes, adultries, and to all abuse.
Her labors feast imperiall Night with sports,
VVhere Loues are Christmast, with all pleasures sorts:
And whom her fugitiue, and far-shot rayes
Disioyne, and driue into ten thousand wayes,
Nights glorious mantle wraps in safe abodes,
And frees their neckes from seruile labors lodes:
Her trustie shadowes, succour men dismayd,
VVhom Dayes deceiptfull malice hath betrayd:
From the silke vapors of her Iuery port,
Sweet Protean dreames she sends of euery sort:
Some taking formes of Princes, to perswade
Of men deiect, we are their equals made,
Some clad in habit of deceased friends,
For whom we mournd, and now haue wisht amends,
And some (deare fauour) Lady-like attyrd,
VVith pride of Beauties full Meridian fir'd:
VVho pitie our contempts, reuiue our harts:
For wisest Ladies loue the inward parts.
And from th' infectious dunghill of this Round,
From mens brasse wits, and golden foolerie,
VVeepe, weepe your soules, into felicitie:
Come to this house of mourning, serue the night,
To whom pale day (with whoredome soked quite)
Is but a drudge, selling her beauties vse
To rapes, adultries, and to all abuse.
Her labors feast imperiall Night with sports,
VVhere Loues are Christmast, with all pleasures sorts:
And whom her fugitiue, and far-shot rayes
Disioyne, and driue into ten thousand wayes,
Nights glorious mantle wraps in safe abodes,
And frees their neckes from seruile labors lodes:
Her trustie shadowes, succour men dismayd,
VVhom Dayes deceiptfull malice hath betrayd:
From the silke vapors of her Iuery port,
Sweet Protean dreames she sends of euery sort:
Some taking formes of Princes, to perswade
Some clad in habit of deceased friends,
For whom we mournd, and now haue wisht amends,
And some (deare fauour) Lady-like attyrd,
VVith pride of Beauties full Meridian fir'd:
VVho pitie our contempts, reuiue our harts:
For wisest Ladies loue the inward parts.
If these be dreames, euen so are all things else,
That walke this round by heauenly sentinels:
But from Nights port of horne she greets our eyes
VVith grauer dreames inspir'd with prophesies,
VVhich oft presage to vs succeeding chances,
VVe proouing that awake, they shew in trances.
If these seeme likewise vaine, or nothing are
Vaine things, or nothing come to vertues share:
For nothing more then dreames, with vs shee findes:
Then since all pleasures vanish like the windes,
And that most serious actions not respecting
The second light, are worth but the neglecting,
Since day, or light, in anie qualitie,
For earthly vses do but serue the eye.
And since the eyes most quicke and dangerous vse,
Enflames the heart, and learnes the soule abuse,
Since mournings are preferd to banquettings,
And they reach heauen, bred vnder sorrowes wings.
Since Night brings terror to our frailties still,
And shamelesse Day, doth marble vs in ill.
That walke this round by heauenly sentinels:
But from Nights port of horne she greets our eyes
VVith grauer dreames inspir'd with prophesies,
VVhich oft presage to vs succeeding chances,
VVe proouing that awake, they shew in trances.
If these seeme likewise vaine, or nothing are
Vaine things, or nothing come to vertues share:
For nothing more then dreames, with vs shee findes:
Then since all pleasures vanish like the windes,
And that most serious actions not respecting
The second light, are worth but the neglecting,
Since day, or light, in anie qualitie,
For earthly vses do but serue the eye.
And since the eyes most quicke and dangerous vse,
Enflames the heart, and learnes the soule abuse,
Since mournings are preferd to banquettings,
And they reach heauen, bred vnder sorrowes wings.
Since Night brings terror to our frailties still,
And shamelesse Day, doth marble vs in ill.
All you possest with indepressed spirits,
Indu'd with nimble, and aspiring wits,
Come consecrate with me, to sacred Night
Your whole endeuours, and detest the light.
Sweete Peaces richest crowne is made of starres,
Most certaine guides of honord Marinars,
No pen can any thing eternall wright,
That is not steept in humor of the Night.
Indu'd with nimble, and aspiring wits,
Come consecrate with me, to sacred Night
Your whole endeuours, and detest the light.
Sweete Peaces richest crowne is made of starres,
No pen can any thing eternall wright,
That is not steept in humor of the Night.
Hence beasts, and birds to caues and bushes then,
And welcome Night, ye noblest heires of men,
Hence Phebus to thy glassie strumpets bed,
And neuer more let Themis daughters spred,
Thy golden harnesse on thy rosie horse,
But in close thickets run thy oblique course.
And welcome Night, ye noblest heires of men,
Hence Phebus to thy glassie strumpets bed,
And neuer more let Themis daughters spred,
Thy golden harnesse on thy rosie horse,
But in close thickets run thy oblique course.
See now ascends, the glorious Bride of Brides,
Nuptials, and triumphs, glittring by her sides,
Iuno and Hymen do her traine adorne,
Ten thousand torches round about them borne:
Dumbe Silence mounted on the Cyprian starre,
VVith becks, rebukes the winds before his carre,
VVhere she aduanst; beates downe with cloudie mace,
The feeble light to blacke Saturnius pallace:
Behind her, with a brase of siluer Hynds,
In Iuorie chariot, swifter then the winds,
In great Hyperions horned daughter drawne
Enchantresse-like, deckt in disparent lawne,
Circkled with charmes, and incantations,
That ride huge spirits, and outragious passions:
Musicke, and moode, she loues, but loue she hates,
(As curious Ladies do, their publique cates)
This traine, with meteors, comets, lightenings,
The dreadfull presence of our Empresse sings:
VVhich grant for euer (ô eternall Night)
Till vertue flourish in the light of light.
Nuptials, and triumphs, glittring by her sides,
Iuno and Hymen do her traine adorne,
Ten thousand torches round about them borne:
Dumbe Silence mounted on the Cyprian starre,
VVith becks, rebukes the winds before his carre,
VVhere she aduanst; beates downe with cloudie mace,
The feeble light to blacke Saturnius pallace:
Behind her, with a brase of siluer Hynds,
In Iuorie chariot, swifter then the winds,
In great Hyperions horned daughter drawne
Enchantresse-like, deckt in disparent lawne,
Circkled with charmes, and incantations,
That ride huge spirits, and outragious passions:
Musicke, and moode, she loues, but loue she hates,
(As curious Ladies do, their publique cates)
This traine, with meteors, comets, lightenings,
The dreadfull presence of our Empresse sings:
VVhich grant for euer (ô eternall Night)
Till vertue flourish in the light of light.
Explicit Hymnus.
| SKIA NUKTOS[Greek]. The Shadovv of Night | |