A paraphrase upon the canticles and some select hymns of the New and Old Testament, with other occasional compositions in English verse. By Samuel Woodford |
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 | A paraphrase upon the canticles |  |
54
ΕΠΩΔΗ THE LEGEND OF LOVE
CANTO. I.
I
Song, which the God of Love did first inspire,Not he the blind, and sottish World calls so,
No God, nor ought save a wild raging Fire,
Which with incessant Bellows Lust does blow,
But HE, to whom all things their being owe,
In whom alone they live, in whom they move,
And, by his Love made, to perfection grow,
All who below adore Him, or above,
The Mighty Lord of Hosts, the very GOD of LOVE,
II
Song, by the very God of Love inspir'd,And of a thousand more the sacred Chief,
But wherein Salomon, from himself retir'd,
Not what his Love, but what was his belief,
(Songs ill became the cause of all his Grief,
If love we to our Mortal Standart bring,
Whose spoils are Robbe'ries, and whose God's a thief)
Under Love's borrow'd name to th' World did sing,
LOVE is the borrow'd Name, Holy Churches FAITH the thing,
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III
Song, which the borrow'd Name dost understand,And all the Mysteries which in it lie,
For 'tis the Dialect of the Heav'nly Land,
Nor as to us it sounds does signifie,
(Blest Souls in Love discourse with the most High)
Thou, who knowst this, and more than this, whence came
The profanation of the Deity,
And how this lustful Earth took th' empty Name,
Embracing sulphu'rous clouds, for its Gods purest flame,
IV
Tell the World, Song, whence first its madness grew!Who knows not th' World is mad? Thou best of all,
Which, if 'twere possible Inno'cence to renew,
To its first Inno'cence wouldst the World recal,
And more than e're it lost ith' wretched Fall:
By love Thou callst it, and the Voice is known,
Well known's the Voice, but we too sensual,
So brutish in our Lusts obscene are grown,
That call'd by it's name, we think't an Idol of our own.
V
Yet none of ours is what we' have stol'n the name,That Idol, which we thus with Mirtles crown,
But with our form from Heav'n at once it came,
From Heav'n was with a Silver Cord let down,
And into the Souls mass divinely thrown,
To be its Salt, miraculously contriv'd;
And first in Heav'n the name of Love was known,
From whence at length it hither was deriv'd,
And here a while such, and so call'd in pleasure liv'd.
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VI
In pleasure 'it liv'd, and with its chang'd aboad,Strangely surprizd, was strangely pleas'd a-while,
At first perceiv'd not the unusual load,
But in her Face, who should betray 'it, did smile,
As fearless, as unconscious yet of guile:
And to a Body tho it were design'd,
A Body, as the Land of its exile,
All parts so' agreeable, and soft did find,
Its Tour seem'd thence enlarg'd more, than confin'd.
VII
For all with Spi'rits it did converse before,It self a Spi'rit, but when the Eternal Mind
To new displays of his creating Power,
In beings of a lower Rank inclin'd,
Which Angels yet should not come far behind;
Soon as the great Resolve was past above,
And Man of all those Works the Lord design'd,
Love the first mover, and the last, did move,
That He, whom all obey'd, o're all should rule by Love.
VIII
It mov'd thus, and the motion was embrac't,Als' Love, that made it downwards took its way;
And viewing how the Bodies parts were cast,
Seiz'd, with the Spi'rit, the scarce yet moulded Clay,
Nor for partition, or nice choice did stay,
But blending both together, seiz'd the whole;
Both in the whole, whole both in each part lay,
And both together making th' humane Soul,
Th' unactive Matter did both quicken, and controul.
57
IX
The Spi'rit gave Life, with what to Life pertain,Sense, Motion, and the several Faculties,
A cheerful, goodly, and a pompous Train,
When rul'd, as they' ought, and manag'd by the Wise;
The wise is Love, that th' whole unites, and ties,
And which, where e're it undisturb'd does reign,
Makes th' earthly frame, with th' Heav'nly sympathize,
Nor to rebel dare any passion strain,
When o're them reason, o're that love does hold the rein.
X
Thus ith' first happy Pair, a while Love reign'd,And but a while, with regal Soveraignty,
Who to its Lore so early both were train'd,
That Love it self, as rapt in extasie,
Wondred what in dull Flesh the' effects might be:
It wondred, but so chast, and innocent,
So Love-conspiring every part did see,
And so obsequious to its great intent,
That Love it self enamour'd was of its descent.
XI
Forthy the happy pair, with sever'd flame,Which yet in both was one, to love inclin'd;
Two downwards only, but rise'n whence it came,
Again collected in one point, and joynd,
And still the higher rise'n, the more refind;
They lov'd, and so in Heav'n to love are seen
Bright Seraphs, nor could Differe'nce be assignd,
But that the Body here did croud between,
There by pure Spi'rits was dressed out the mighty Scene.
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XII
The new form'd Body here did croud between,But all to love was so dispos'd, and made,
In either Sex, and with so Beauteous meen,
That either seem'd with other well appay'd,
And Love himself the Hymenæal said:
(For Love's an He, who proud of what was done,
And of Man most, as fairest there Pourtraid,
The form assum'd, which likest was to' his own,
And will but as a Male, when sung in Verse be known.)
XIII
Love said it, and Heav'n all he said approv'd,By signs authentick, which none durst deny;
The new Creation in soft measures mov'd,
And the whole World of beings, waiting by,
Bow'd all a-down, and blest the Augury,
They bow'd, and blest it, as they waiting stood,
They bow'd, and blest it each, tho near so high,
From the Angelic Natures, to the Brood
Of Earth-born Vegetables, and God saw 'twas Good.
XIV
'Twas good He saw for Man to have his Make,Man saw no less 'twas good for him to love,
And in his Arms the Virgin Bride did take,
With all the' endearments that affection move,
Nor Hell that lookt askaunce could th' Rites reprove.
In 'his Arms he took her, as Superiour,
She, as one yet, who would be Conquer'd, strove,
Till safe arriving at the Genial Bowre,
And conquer'd both, Love each saluted Conquerour.
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XV
There gentle purpose did they enterchange,And all the innocent delights, that make
Blest Wedlock happy, nor did think it strange,
Connubial pleasures to or leave, or take;
For, nor him Inn'ocence did, nor her forsake,
And they who think it did, or that the place,
Or state forbad such use'ith fordice rake
Of their own lusty-head, fouly miss the case,
And on God's noblest Masterpiece retort disgrace.
XVI
Think so, who will for me, and bear the shameOf such sad thought; those just ones thought not so
Nor God, nor Love, who kindled first the flame
Wherewith they in desire alike did glow,
Desire unhappy never till 't would know
Secrets of knowledg unpermitted it,
Unhappy knowledg, source of all our Woe,
Unhappy Tree, ith' midst oth, Garden set,
Unhappy seen, but tasted, more unhappy yet!
XVII
Forbidden therefore 'twas, but that alone,What else beside Man could, or wish, or crave,
Enclosure, Limit and Restraint had none,
Nor other Law than what Right Reason gave;
Right Reason, unforc'd yet to be a Slave,
To 'its under Ministers, a Lawless suit
Of stubborn Lusts, when they the Mastery have,
Less of the Man partaking than the Brute,
And are the dire effects of the forbidden Fruit.
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XVIII
Too dire Effects, if God had seen it fit,Which Natures Course disturb'd and alter'd so,
That all the Bands, which held it were unknit,
And quite revers'd the Pyramis did show,
Above a Front unshapely, 'a point below:
Thus while 'twas turning, but once set upon
It's no Foundation, for so grim a Brow,
Or which was but a point, as good as none,
Down fell the Heap, Hell trembled, and the Earth did groan.
XIX
Love was that Pyramis, which whilst it stood,As fixt by Heav'n, on its own proper Base,
(Matter, in Mankind, cemented by Blood
Spiritous, where Sense had lowest place,
Reason supreme) whole Nature did embrace;
Which o're her Works such Robes of Beauty threw,
And with such Rays did th' Universe enchase,
That Instinct some, the' rest Inclination drew,
Only to Love, and what was lov'd, by Love pursue.
XX
Love, and Fruition of their Kind, was the' whole,Whither to 'arrive, most Creatures did aspire,
(By Sense led,) and arriv'd; but Man, whose Soul
Had particles of an Æthereal Fire,
Aim'd at Fruition too, but of what high'er,
And more sublime, was laid up, than his Kind,
Or that part of 'it his Flesh, whence to retire,
In Innocence he found himself inclin'd,
The beauties of his own, and of th' Eternal Mind.
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XXI
His Kind he lov'd, as all things did beside,All things beside his Kind he also lov'd
In their due Rank, but how to be apply'd
To use, th' Hypothesis was to be prov'd,
And thousand Stones to move, and be remov'd,
E're Love he to so just an height could raise,
As in his Intellect it was approv'd,
That he from Earth to Heav'n by steps of Praise,
Might hourly mount, and boldly tread God's secret Ways.
XXII
Deep in himself was the Foundation laid,And in those Acts, wherein he did partake
With meaner Beings, for his Empire made,
And of which some for Propagation make,
By their first Institution, call'd Love by mistake,
Whose sacred name they have engrost; but Love,
Or cause, or sign of Love no more are, take
But the Disguise off, as bare Acts they prove,
Nor higher look, than 'tis Love naturally to move.
XXIII
These therefore were laid deep, and of the Pile,If ought, Substruction, consecrate to Night,
The sense of Touch, too subject to beguile,
Where Reason does not hold the Ballance right;
Reason, wherein true Love, and pure Delight
Only consists, and is the Fabricks Scale,
Uninterruptedly to' ascend Heav'ns height,
To him, who has the skill Heav'n thus to assail,
And o're th' Omnipotent by almighty Love prevail.
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XXIV
The first Man had that Skill, and of his Love,BEAUTY and GOOD the Object, he it sought
In that bright Sphere, where it on High does move,
And thither by Reduction all things brought,
Which, in their Season, beautiful are wrought;
All that in others, or himself he spi'd,
Which of the Heav'nly Goodness Trace had ought;
And by this Chain did an Ascent provide,
To th' Foot-stool of that Throne, where its first Link was ty'd.
XXV
By view hereof He upward did ascend,Still upward, as he cast his curious view,
The Higher any thing did upward tend,
The better 'twas, and much more Beauteous grew,
And with it from the Earth, Love upward drew:
From th' Earth, of which once having lost the sight,
Love more refin'd became, by Objects new,
And all presented by a clearer Light,
That did exhaust the Flesh, and ravished the Sp'rit.
XXVI
For having past at length the Atmosphere,By many a Stage, the Flesh was left behind;
And now another Face of things appear,
And other Beauties, that surprize the Mind,
On which to gaze he did strange Pleasure find:
And tho their Light excessive he scarce bear,
Seeing above his Journey unconfin'd,
Upward he presses still, and void of Fear,
As perfect grown, above the Skies his Head does rear.
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XXVII
Above the Skies he to those Heav'ns does mount,Step after step ascending, where there be
For happy Souls, as sacred Writ does count,
Mansions prepar'd, for their sublimity,
The third Heav'n call'd, and 'its Furniture does see:
With which he could delighted ever stay,
But that advanced to the last Degree,
That mortal Foot e're toucht, a farther way,
By Wing to be dispatcht he' espies, Loves last Essay.
XXVIII
So on he claps his best, and largest Wings,And swift as thought, but more direct upright
Than Eagle soars, into a Welkin springs,
(If so it may be call'd) of Flame more bright,
And pure, than what by this Worlds Sun, and Light,
Can be compar'd; and in blest Extasy,
With sacred Wonder, but without affright,
Those fair Idæas contemplates, whereby
Himself, and th' World was made, and there laid up do lie.
XXIX
Ascended hither, Love the place well knew,As whence himself into our World came down,
Eve'n Man as nearer to his God he drew,
New motions felt, and Powers before unknown;
And swallow'd up in Speculation,
Forgot what ever he admir'd below,
Himself, and Her, whom he had left alone,
To wait' his return, and rapt, he scarce knew how,
To th' Land of Love, himself a Love transform'd did grow.
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XXX
For why that Tract the Realm of Love was stil'd,And all, who thither in deducted mind,
Leaving this lower Earth arrive, are fill'd,
As the bright Region is, with thoughts refin'd,
And Quintessence of Love; but of what kind,
Impossible it is to be exprest,
And in a Chime of soundful Words design'd,
Which but Conceits are, to our Fashion drest,
And if Immortal, with the mortal Load opprest.
XXXI
Suffice it, Angels there Inhabited,Rang'd all in their Trinal Triplicities,
Into a Body, under Love their Head,
And ready all for some Renown'd Emprise,
Soon as the mighty Signal given is:
He saw it given, and all before a Throne,
Of Heav'nly Diamond, vailing each his Eyes,
Each Angel prostrate on his Face falls down,
And at its Foot-stool casts his Consecrated Crown.
XXXII
From simple Angels, as th' Inferiour Band,To the Archangels, led by Michael,
Then to Dominions, that the third Rank stand,
To Virtues then, whose numerous Banners swell,
And Principalities, of whom none fell
With Rebel Lucifer, 'or abbetted him,
To Powers then, and to Thrones, whom who can tell?
And so up to th' eighth Order, Cherubim,
But by the ninth compleat, Love-flaming Seraphim.
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XXXIII
All these our Father saw, by Love retir'dIn, and above Himself, but o're them all,
One fairer yet, to whom his Mind aspir'd,
Th' Incomprehensible Original,
In whom no Blemish, and no Spot can fall:
By Love he saw Him, and in Him the end,
And utmost point of Love, enough to' appall
The Holie'st of his Sons, who should descend
From' his after sinful Loins, and thither after tend.
XXXIV
But him the sight appall'd not, rather fill'dWith Images more fair his enlarg'd Brest;
And from the Principles his Love instil'd,
On naught less high could he affix his rest,
Or be content tho of the Earth possest:
The' whole Earth, that in this Res'very view'd round,
Too scanty seem'd an Heav'n-born Soul to' invest,
Too scant a Limit, and too scant a Bound,
For what an Infinite was only equal found.
XXXV
Excursions therefore into that he made,Often Excursions into Infinite,
Infinite Love, and Beauties seen display'd
I'th' Prototype, by Intellectual Light,
And Reasons yet undim'd discursive sight:
Tho when that fail'd, or when 'twas weary grown,
Through 'excess of conceiv'd Vision, as it might,
The' Almighties self would come in Person down,
And oft prevent Man's journey to Him, with His own.
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XXXVI
Or come, or send Him frequent EmbassiesOf Angels, who still ready on the Wing,
With hasty flight, from summit of the Skies,
Would seem to vie, who should the Message bring,
And first approach the Favorite of their King:
Tho all the Message, which they bore was Love,
And all their Service was but Ministring
To one below them made, yet who above,
Was Heav'ns great Care, and greatest Ornament should prove.
XXXVII
Not much below them, while his Innocence,On its Foundation did unshockt abide,
And perfect Love, seen in obedience,
The nether World so fast to th' upper ti'd,
That Hell between them could not once divide:
One Heart, one Business was in both approv'd,
One God alike, in both was magnifi'd,
That mighty Axis, round which both were mov'd,
And whom alike both prais'd, and whom alike both lov'd.
XXXVIII
Alike they lov'd, and as they lov'd alike,All Vertues in that Act did comprehend,
Which did in both an awful Reverence strike,
And careful made them, lest they should offend,
But chiefly Man did thence his Mark intend,
With greater vigour, as on whom was laid
Fear for a Rein, if Hell its Wiles should send;
For Death was threatned, if he disobey'd,
And He not to be' high-minded, chose to be afraid.
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XXXIX
Love made him chuse so kind, and wholesome Fear,From which all Torment yet secluded was,
And but the brighter made his Love appear,
Like Beams reflected upon burnisht Brass,
That their own Native Lustre thence surpass:
So shon his Love, and thence his Temperance,
That the forfended Limit would not pass,
Nor to behold it care'd with wanton Glance,
What ever fond Conceit its Glories might enhance.
XL
Hence Justice, hence true Magnanimity,Prudence, and Wisdom, o're his Soul did flow,
And sacred Truth, and peaceful Loyalty,
And all the Graces, that to Love do owe
Their Rise, and into' Eternal Rivers grow:
And all upon the Supreme Beauty plac'd,
That Good, which still the more we come to know,
The more we' admire, till in its Arms embrac'd,
An end of all our Love we find, the First, and Last.
XLI
Such was his Love, and like it was his Praise,A Service, wherein with him Nature joyn'd,
Whole Nature, and each part, by several ways,
As with him in one love they were combin'd;
And various was the Anthems stops, and kind,
Articulate by Man, their High Priest, made,
And in one sacred Hallelu-jah twin'd,
Which he, as First-Fruits, on Earths Altar laid,
And Heav'n with grateful Odours early did invade.
68
XLII
Their Orisons, which he each Morning paid,With his fair Partner, or by Angels taught,
Or whereof capable their Form was made,
By Images from Heav'n first thither brought,
And which they into perfect Figure wrought,
By Plastic Art of Words harmonious;
Which to the great Occasion came unsought:
And whether sung in Verse, or said in Prose,
In Prose most powerful were, in Verse most numerous.
XLIII
For Verse, and all that does to Verse belong(In this lowe'r World) had its first happy rise
In Innocence, which first invented Song,
And how so e're one may its Charms despise,
Or which is worse, abuse, in Paradise,
By Pause, and Fugue's, adapted to fit strains,
Was first perform'd; to whose Discoveries
The Sons of Verse now elocate their pains,
And (save from Heav'n) expect no their Immortal gains
XLIV
In Paradise, discover'd first was Verse,And Voice, and Number with it given to Song,
And glorious Subjects, which both did reherse,
Alternate, and in Chorus, as or long,
Or short returns did to the Ground belong;
But than of Love they sounded nothing more,
Or ofter, or with Brest more large, and strong,
The Love Divine, whom thus they did implore
In raptur'ous Odes, and (as they of it sang) adore.
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XLV
They sang how All things their beginning had,From Loves diffusive, and Life-giving heat;
How Immaterial Spirits, with Glory clad,
Its First-born were, with Love as high, and great,
As from this lower World's remov'd their Seat:
Then how this lower World from Nothing rose,
And No-where, in that beauteous order met,
That Place, and Matter, which the whole compose,
And circumscribe, unconceiv'd Luster did disclose.
XLVI
Not at an instant made, but by degrees,As confus'd Chaos could th' impression take,
In Six Days space, and throughly purge its Lees,
Hell newly form'd more horrible to make,
And its own new made Enmities off-shake,
For of such jarring Parts it was contriv'd,
And of such contrarieties did partake,
That it by Discord, and Confusion liv'd,
(A life such as it was) with Death to be surviv'd.
XLVII
So strove they, thus would they have striven ever;Till pittying their debate, the Spirit of Love
Calm'd the discordant Mole, and did dissever
Th' Eternal Combatants, plac'd some above,
Others did to the deep Abysse remove
Fast to be held, in Adamantine Chain;
Whilst those few Parts, that did more ductile prove,
Into Four Principles, which all contain,
Themselves in all contain'd, were solely left to reign.
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XLVIII
FIRE, which as lightest took the highest place,And upward rais'd its towring Head; then AIR,
That follow'd it, but with unequal pace,
And tho it vy'd to be and look as fair,
Forc'd in the midst to hang, self-ballanc'd there:
Next WATER, which the Surface cover'd o're,
That pregnant Mother of the EARTH, less rare,
In its vast Womb conceiv'd, but which, before
It could emerge, lackt mighty Love to force the Door.
XLIX
And so it did, but LIGHT was first to shine,And an whole Day, for that which makes the Day,
But little enough was thought ith' Mind Divine,
Through Darkness palpable to clear its way,
And all its various Beauties to display:
Darkness, which tho but counted Privative,
Such claims to th' heap, whence 'twas call'd out, did lay,
That Love like equal shares to both did give,
Alternately, each Day, in Day, and Night to live.
L
But harder were the teeming Waters Throes,When on the second Day, Earth nearer came
To its great Birth, like weight, that heavier grows,
Long born, and to break through disjoynts the frame;
The Waters pangs compar'd thus, were the same,
When they divided burst, but ne're to close,
Stopt by the solid FIRMAMENT, whose Name
Immoveable Partition does suppose,
By' whose Shoar disjoyn'd, upper and nether Ocean flows.
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LI
And now the third Day of her Monstrous ChildHalf way deliver'd the Great Mother was;
Monstrous, unsightly yet, with Horrour fill'd,
Which in its Oasy Arms it did embrace,
And, half supprest, to the' Birth would ne're let pass,
But, with it joyn'd, one Monstrous Body made,
Above DRY GROUND, below a confus'd Mass,
Part Earth, with Briny Hatchments overlaid,
Part unmixt Water, upon empty Nothing staid,
LII
And called SEA; as what appear'd was LAND;Rough, bare, mishape't, tho dry, unbeautifi'd,
It self unbeautiful, vast plains of Sand,
More horribly deform'd, with terrors Pride,
Mountains, that to' Heav'n aspir'd, and gaping wide,
With rais'd up Jaws, threatned to swallow down,
In gorge unsatiate, glories there envy'd,
And wrinkled Forehead, which scarce made did frown,
And Omens give of Future War, from cause unknown.
LIII
Nor could there cause be gi'ven, for a new FaceFrom the' Love Divine it took, and Nakedness
Was cloath'd upon with all the Charming Grace
Of Fruit, and Flower; and the grim Gyantess,
(Its own Eternal Goodness to express)
Kind Heav'n illumin'd with a double Light,
The fourth Day made, the greater, and the less;
By Day the SUN with vital heat, and bright,
To warm, the MOON with starry Robe to' invest at night.
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LIV
Nor was this all, but at the fifth Days dawn,Earth, and her Mother Sea replenished
With new Inhab'itants were, and every Laune,
And every Hill (scar'd Solitude thence fled)
Legions of FOWL produc'd, and kindly bred,
Which on large Wings, above the Ground did fly,
But perching on some Tree, made that their Bed;
Whilst Lakes, and Streams, and the huge Sea fast by,
With mighty WHALES were fill'd, and with the lesser FRY.
LV
Fill'd were the Floods with these, but still the Earth,(As whose Wing'd-People most partook of th' Air,
Their haunt) impregnate with a second Birth,
For which disclos'd 't had room enough to spare,
Did on the sixth Day to disclose prepare;
And out all BEASTS, and REPTILS, in their kind,
Sprang from the fertile Womb, proportion'd fair,
Each to its Nature, but with Look declin'd,
To th' Earth whence tane, to th' Earth whereto confin'd.
LVI
Of these, and other Works of God they sang,In Lays harmonious, as Love utterance gave;
Yet these, and others, which they lowdly rang,
Were but as Præludes, which, with Mast'ry brave,
Their Voice shew'd, and what compass Verse might have:
Verse which then triumpht in Recitative,
When they all other Grounds resolv'd to wave,
Sang of themselves, and Him, who at once did give
One power to Sing thus to Him, and like Him to live.
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LVII
A wondrous Work it was, from Nothing thusAll things in weight, and measure up to raise,
And perfect Order form'd most beauteous,
Subordinate, as different were the Ways,
Whereby their Maker would direct his Praise:
But none so Wondrous did, and strange appear,
Of Power and Beauty with so rich displays,
As Mans Formation, made the Rule to bear,
And sublim'd Earth equal to highest Heaven rear.
LVIII
That Dust could Live, in what was done beforeWas plainly told, but that it too could love,
As Love all life in it contains, and more,
All that or Reason knows, or can improve,
Th' Eternal Treasures only were enough
To drein, and to be drein'd: For God but spake,
And all below, and all the Hosts above,
Being, and Life from the great Word did take;
But Hands Divine, Man's model were employ'd to make.
LIX
By Hands Divine, his Body first was wrought,The full Abridgment of this World to be;
With curious Art, to 'its last perfection brought,
But infinitely base, in its degree,
To th' Soul the Pourtraict of the Deity,
Into his Nostrils breath'd; that in his Brain
Might be infixt the Heav'nly Ima'gry,
And Life, with Vital Blood in every Vein,
To th' Parts extream convey'd, the Character retain.
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LX
Love was that Character, in Holiness,And perfect Purity exemplifi'd,
And Innocence, which that first state did bless,
And Reason with them Empire to divide,
And o're th' Inferiour Appetite preside,
Which it restrain'd, and furnisht with true Skill,
It self, in all its Acts to curb, and guide;
At least had power to do so, and fulfil
The Charge Divine, close backt by Freedom of the Will.
LXI
Blest Qualities, which made him Lord and King,Of all this lower World, and Majesty
On his Erected Countenance stampt, did bring
Heav'n down to Earth, and Earth, that flat did lie,
Advance'd to be for Angels Company;
Nay farther, and what Angels did admire,
For its Ætern Exemplar, the Most High,
Who with his Work delighted, would retire
Frequent from Heav'n, as to divert, and view it nighe'r.
LXII
Himself hereby Man dexterously did guide,And o're himself so absolutely reign,
(The greatest Kingdom in the World beside,
And which all other Kingdoms did contain,
In 'it self in Chief, or Vassalages Chain)
That only Peace, and only what was Good,
And only Love was given for Love again;
With Charms, that by no force could be withstood,
And centred in one Point Indivisible GOD.
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LXIII
Hail happy state of Innocence, thrice Hail!Hail to Thy Love and Thee! And may my Verse,
From thence inspir'd, with generous Souls prevail,
As they deserve, Thy Wonders to reherse,
And through the World thy Sacred Name disperse!
No Theam, like that, so high can Numbers raise,
Or render more Humane Mankinds converse;
For if there any Vertue be, or Praise,
They in Perfection shon, in those first happy Days.
LXIV
Ah! that those Happy Days should be so few,Ended, cut off, e're scarce they were begun!
Whose early Happiness, when known to Two,
A Third crept in, by whom all was undone,
And Love unthron'd hard drive'n away to run.
Follow him, Muse, for if he should go wrong,
Thou art in danger too, whose Fates are one
With his; Nor canst Thou be without him long,
But do it, if thou'hast Courage, in another Song.
76
CANTO. II.
I
I OFT am thinking whether Love was knownTo the World Heathen, and what was their sense
Of Man's, and His Origination;
Or if of this first state of Innocence
They any certain knowledg had, and whence
The Notice was deriv'd, and to them came,
Dark as it was; and turn o're Books, but thence
Am little satisfi'd, find there the Name,
'Tis true, but Pillars of black Smoak instead of Flame.
II
Fiction I there find has so Truth disguis'd,That hard it is for one to know what's true;
And, amongst all the Vanities they priz'd,
How much, or little 'twas they truly knew,
And ancient Faith obscur'd with Fancies new;
Which diversly, as diffe'rent was their Art,
They dressed out, and 'mongst the People threw,
Part plain, with lame or monstrous Figures part,
As in a scarce, or not discover'd Countrys Chart.
77
III
For there as We' Hippogryphs, and Satyrs place,Or Seas, or Carra'vans, when there's nothing found
Of certainty, to fill the empty space,
That each Man in his own sense may abound:
Just so did they, but more the Truth confound,
With Fable, as themselves it suited best,
Who, so they did but keep the markt out bound,
Convey'd them by Tradition, for the rest,
Left it to others, as 'twas left them to be ghest.
IV
A Godlike therefore 'twas, and Golden Age,Tho little known to them, who call'd it so,
And of it counted, fill'd with ancient rage,
Not as it was, but did at distance show;
Tho something, 'tis confest, they seem'd to know;
And what they of it said, by chance was true,
As to the main, if somewhat we allow,
For the false Light, and those, who 'its Figure drew,
In Plane, or Prospective, and were but Copiers too.
V
By Negatives the Plane was most design'd,And prov'd the Fairest, and the luckiest Draught;
The Prospective was stiff, and more enclin'd
To an hard confus'd roughness, scarcely brought
To decence, done by Images they sought
In their own Breasts, or Age, by Heav'nly Light
Unlumin'd, and by false Priests blindly taught:
Love only made o're all to take his Flight,
Came nearest to the Truth, if understood aright.
78
VI
For by a Child they Love did represent,As his best Emblem, under which disguise,
(For such it was) they hid with high intent,
Or rather plainly shew'd those Mysteries,
Which were conceal'd from base and vulgar Eyes;
Native Simplicity, pure Innocence,
Absolute freedom from all touch of Vice,
An easie mildness Favours to dispense,
And all those Graces, that its Actions influence.
VII
Not that they would that Ages Faults approve,In Lovers, but its Vertues thence propound;
For tho a Child they made, and painted Love,
Scarce such another Child ith' World was found,
By whose soft Hands were fiercest Lions bound,
Traind to his Yoke; the Course of Thunder staid;
And all the Gods above, and underground,
Which Gentilisms great Religion made,
(As sottish as it was) in heavy Fetters laid.
VIII
Naked, 'tis true, they feign'd him; but just so,As we, who yet esteem our selves more Wise,
In Oratories naked Angels show,
Nor count it blame our selves thus to advise,
How open all we do, or think to Heaven lies;
That from it nought we can, or would conceal,
That from us banisht is all Artifice;
All which by 'his Nakedness Love does reveal,
And, from his Step-dames Temples, to the Church appeal.
79
IX
But by his Fillet they such Lessons taught,As the Worlds present Learning far out-goes;
Nor did the Master, who design'd the Draught,
And for a Dia'dem put it on Loves brows,
E're think it would his Sacred Head expose;
Tho be 'it a Fillet, what can it intend?
What teach, but that, which every Lover knows,
Eve'ry true Lover, that to chuse a Friend,
Barely by sight, 's beginning where scarce Fools would end.
X
His Eyes were therefore hid (if hid they were)From all commerce in Love to' exclude the Eyes;
Which judging, as the Object does appear,
Too oft impose, impos'd by Flatteries,
False mirrors of an Heart, which deeper lies:
The Heart, where Love that's true does first begin,
By Reason guided, its own worth to 'apprize;
Then by Discretion, seld in Lovers seen,
Who still the more's the outward glare, see least within.
XI
Eyes Intellectual he' had, wherewith agreeThose Wings, which they no less unto him gave;
I'll Furniture for Love, if Blind he be,
Who rather then would want a Guide to have,
Himself from dangers unforeseen to save:
But love himself alone was his own Guide,
Nor needed any others Conduct crave,
And with his Wings spread, and extended wide,
A flight to Heav'n attempted, none durst dare beside.
80
XII
For why no Love it is, whose vile desires,Incline it downwards to the Miry Ground;
This Earth of ours, which Sottices inspires,
Preying on Carnage there, or made, or found,
And with ignoble thoughts does most abound:
But that's true Love, and does deserve the Name,
Whose noble Acquists, nothing mean can bound;
And mindful of the Region, whence it came,
Thither aspiring terminates with Heav'n its Fame.
XIII
Like Wings, like Quiver: With bright Arrows fill'd,Of different sorts, but with like Mystery,
As is well known to them, who 'in Love are skill'd,
Well taught, what Motions in the Mind there be,
And how both Love, and Hatred there agree;
Hatred of all that bears the' impress of ill,
With love of all that's good, in its degree;
The Choques and just fixt byass of the Will,
Which make up Love, and all its various parts fulfil.
XIV
The Golden pyl'd its Inclination prov'd,Leaden Aversion, ne're to be deny'd;
Or if thereof there should be Question mov'd,
The Torch Love bore, his other Arms beside,
Too bright did shine the Mystic Truth to hide,
That Soul of th' World, that all things keeps intire,
In Life, and Motion, nobly Typifi'd;
Noblest of Elements, but yet rais'd higher
Than place'd at first, when made Loves noblest Symbol, Fire.
81
XV
Thus by the Ancients Love was first express'd,And, tho a Child, their God most ancient own'd;
Older than Saturn, whom Jove dispossess'd
Of Right usurpt, and in his stead was Crown'd:
Son of Urania, (as in Books is found)
Venus Urania, whom we Heaven call
With them, who their Mythologie expound,
Distinct from that Pandeme, who was Thrall
To Vulgar Souls, and had from th' Earth Original.
XVI
Two unlike Mothers of two Sons unlike,Eros and Anteros, whose oppos'd Name,
(Which different Sentiments in them did strike)
From their own first great Opposition came,
That from their Nature; and tho judg'd the same,
In one, and t'other Sex, where they preside,
The Male, and Female Hymeneal Flame,
Are two so, that once kindled they divide,
Just like those Fatal Brethrens, who Dead, each defi'd.
XVII
Eros was Elder, and the stronger too;Of Constitution likely to endure
Eternal Ages, if the Spi'rit he drew,
Were not empoyson'd by an Air impure;
Of which consulting how to be secure,
'Twas plainly told him from th' Oraculous Throne,
Than that of Themis far more Old, and sure,
A Tripode, which ne're fail'd, When two are One,
Then Love in danger is by Love to be undone.
82
XVIII
Of two made one, Love well enough conceiv'd,For that himself had seen, himself had done;
But it by Love could hardly be believ'd,
That he to' himself so contrary should run,
As to provoke, what most he sought to shun:
Against himself that he should so prevail,
As thence in hazard be, to be undone;
This ev'en to Love, obscur'd in Mortal Vail,
Abstruse did seem, and by another sai'd might fail.
XIX
But Time, a little time the Mysterie clear'd,When by another Love, this Anteros,
He was betray'd; who that which first appear'd,
(And 't was the Sun) when from the Earth he rose,
Ador'd as his chief God, with sacred Vows;
And many Altars to it after made,
By 'his Votaries, on whom he did impose
The Task Idolatrous, and First-fruits pai'd,
Himself the first Idolater, there prophanely laid.
XX
From Earth first rose this feign'd, and Idol Love,By DIS begot; tho not till after known
Who was his Sire, or what himself would prove;
Of a curst Father the as cursed Son,
Born Arm'd for others Ruine, and his own;
With all the Ensigns Love was wont to bear,
By th' Heathen read, that if together shown,
All but themselves to' impose on they'd go near,
And here's the true Love one would say, & one he's there.
83
XXI
Like Youth in both, like Face, and Looks were seenLike naked Limbs, with covered Impudence
In this, but gesture tending to obscene,
In a free gayety 'hid, to' elude the Sense;
Like Chaplet, for their Brows, and Eyes defence;
Like Wings, like Quiver hung their Backs adown;
Like different Arrows to be drawn out thence;
Like burning Torch, which Flames so like did crown,
Either would seem the true, if single, and alone.
XXII
Ah! that they had like Grace those Arms to use!But this was loudly by the False decry'd,
Who only took them, that he might abuse,
The World, by whom he should be Deifi'd,
And acts inglorious in that Visor hide:
Never to use them was his full intent,
Or if he did, not as before well try'd;
But to a Love, and Learning different,
Where Sense alone should be supreme in Government.
XXIII
Love saw all this (for what to Love is hid?)The true Love saw it, and withdrew in haste;
No place was left him on the Earth to' abide,
Wherefore he to the Empyrean past,
And only Conscience his Vicegerent plac'd:
With Promise yet, that if in time to come,
Man wiser grew (the Counterfeit uncas'd)
Himself his now left Charge would reassume,
And once again to Man return, as his last Home.
84
XXIV
For Man, 'tis known, scarce the wild Phanto'sm saw,This Pageant Counterfeit of Love Divine,
But his Allegeance back he straight did draw,
And to the Enemies part from Love decline,
By Sense led, which had quickly sunk a Mine,
Reason, or to surprize, or to o'rethrow;
And the vain Stratagem had drest so fine,
With umbrage, that it Good, and Ill should know,
The Fort surrendred was, scarce known for what, or how.
XXV
But up 'twas given, and therewith given was all,(For Nothing, or what's worse than nothing, lies)
What ever Man his own, by right might call,
Or by Commission, but sure ne're did prize
Deserv'dly, since he' it could so soon despise;
His Life, his Soul, what most was of behoof,
To' a Being so dispos'd, and fram'd, as His;
Of his Obedience the first easie proof,
And what, as Heav'n it self was valuable, his Love.
XXVI
All were give'n up, and now adieu, blest Love!Adieu all Happiness, and Innocence!
Honour, and Vertue, which the same Course move,
And Mortals very rarely visit since!
Adieu unto you all, for Love's gone hence,
And only left your empty Names behind,
Upon the Stage to please, or give offence,
As variously Spectators are inclin'd,
But wherewith most are pleas'd, as most 'gainst Love combind.
85
XXVII
Honour and Love adieu! And now my Song,Since thou hast trace'd them to their first aboad,
Rest they a while; and tell, as does belong
To the Mock-Love, the World's, and Peoples God!
But make of every Rime an Iron Rod,
Wherewith thou mayst the Profligate chastise!
And tho thou goest a way, as yet untrod,
Despair not but thy Work shall beauteous rise,
And with the Sober find acceptance, and the Wise!
XXVIII
With these acceptance, but with others scorn,Who to this Anti-Love blind Vassals made,
By our First-Fathers Act, have Fealty sworn
To a fell Tyran, who must be obey'd,
And will, nor in his furious heats gain-said:
Unhappy Men, if their unhappiness
They could but know, and how they are betray'd;
Enough unhappy, would they but confess
The little that they know, which words can scarce express!
XXIX
Slaves of Vile Passions, which drive furiously,And all that's Sacred, with high Hand bear down;
Themselves, their Ancestors, the Deity,
Reason, and Reasons Guide, Religion,
The Worlds consent attested by their own;
Till to the Winds, and Seas their Faith they gave,
And sought, what else they could not flee, to drown
In bottomless Abyss, nor Shipwrackt have
The least security, they shall their Fraightage save.
86
XXX
And yet who more secure? But this their Love,Their New Love, in whose Service they 're retain'd,
Gives as his own, and their most urging Proof,
That they, true Conquerors, have the Victory gain'd,
And broke those Iro'ns, wherewith all else are chain'd:
Ill Education, brutal Thunders dread,
A fear of what's above, to which they 'are train'd,
And what's to come, dreams of the long since dead,
That first made Gods, and what their Fears made, worshipped.
XXXI
Horrors th' Anti-diluvian World ne're knew,Or if it did, durst not bare-face'd profess;
Tho from one Seed their Love, and Atheism grew,
Both Ills, but which the greater, which the less,
Is hard to say, almost as hard to ghess:
For either both, in both was either had,
In both, and either lost Man's Righteousness;
I'th' cause, or in th' effect, both equal bad,
And both, that sensually, and this prophanely mad.
XXXII
But for Prophaneness, Sense was th' Harbinger,And busily by Love prepar'd its way;
(For so I'll call awhile the Worlds Troubler)
Who all its Stages did before-hand lay,
And longer here, and longer there would stay:
Till having th' whole Earth compass'd, and laid waste,
A Deluge came, and swept their Spoils away,
The Spoilers 'scaping with the few, who past,
By Ship to a new world, where Cham their Standard plac'd.
87
XXXIII
Cham pitcht it there; Curst Cham who for the shameDone to his Father, just Reproach did bear,
In that Addition to his cursed Name,
Servant of Servants, which his Race still wear:
But never did he Slave so much appear,
Of Slaves the verie'st Drudg, as when he Love
Permitted uncontroll'd to domineer,
And lustful War 'gainst Heav'n, and God to move,
And all below seduce, and defy all above.
XXXIV
With him Love went (while yet the World was one,One People, and one Language) unperceiv'd;
And so great Victories by his Conduct won,
That He was openly at last receiv'd,
The first, that no more Worlds there were, who griev'd:
And yet more Worlds he for his Triumphs found,
Or what's as good, new Coasts to be deceiv'd;
When the divided Earth was Peopled round,
With distinct Nations sown, which stockt the new-broke Ground.
XXXV
Each Nation was a several World, or asA World distinct; the Islands most of all,
Which, late discover'd, for new Worlds did pass
With those, who by that Name did Countries call,
Surrounded by the wide Seas rolling Wall:
And Love in every Land, and every Isle,
Did reign with Majesty Imperial,
And sway unbounded by the farthest Thyle,
Tho that, as the World's farthest bound, did stand erewhile.
88
XXXVI
A mighty Prince, and curious Traveller,Of sense most exquisite, from each to take,
Each Country, lay it farther off, or near,
What for the gust of Loving most could make,
And the o're-labour'd Appetite awake,
Satiate with loose disport, and rockt asleep,
Of not yet tasted Pleasures to partake;
Which in his dark Serraig'ls he close did keep,
And laid, till time should serve, as the Earths Center deep.
XXXVII
At length it serv'd; Ah! that it serv'd not now!And Love by 'his Conquests had such Subjects gain'd,
(For to his Yoak the Universe did bow,
And Arts, and Arms were to the Service train'd)
That out of fear to lose what he' had obtain'd,
He only Trophies gave himself to rear,
And the Disguise put off he had sustain'd;
As the Supreme God would Himself appear,
And above all, that's else call'd God, his Head did bear.
XXXVIII
Above the Sun, whom Himself worshipped,But whom disgraded he to th' Persian sent,
Next to himself to be propitiated,
In their Horn'd Mithra, which to Idols bent,
With thousand others, of obscure descent,
By this time Gentilism Gods had made,
New Deities industr'ious to invent;
Whom or in Hills, or thick Groves hallow'd shade,
With Beasts, or Humane Blood they aton'd, and to them pray'd.
89
XXXIX
Their Sons, or Daughters Blood for these suffic'd,But what to him they offer'd was their own;
Freedom, above their Life, to be appriz'd,
Which how they could disvalue well was shown
By this, if only this had been alone,
That when th' Usurper did their Homage claim,
And in 'his true Colours made himself be known,
In throngs they to his Feet, and Altars came,
And kept, with Fires from their own Brests, perpetual Flame.
XL
Fires, which consum'd, e're felt, the noblest Part,And all that's good in Man, or great, laid waste,
By th' Eyes convey'd most treacherously to th' Heart,
Whence to the Liver soon the Burning past,
And Vertues Images in both defac'd;
Thence to the Bones, nor did the Flesh 'scape long;
Till Soul and Body in a Flame at last,
The present God, to be deny'd too strong,
Plung'd all into a Sea of Sulphur'ous Flame headlong.
XLI
Like God, like Victim; To a God unclean,Of Beasts th' Uncleanest offer'd, Man turn'd Beast;
Himself the Sacrifice, and Priest obscene,
In which to minister he did divest,
All that above the Brute he once possest,
And lower than the Brute unforce'd sank down;
With such Unmanly' Indignities opprest,
He' had scorn'd them, as he might, by 'another done,
Her rude disgusts, whom he solicited, and his own.
90
XLII
For why a SHE's the Quarry, and the Game,At which this Mock-Love, and his Haggards flie;
The Sex in either Sex, both worthy blame,
And tho distinguisht first for ends more high,
Both equally debaucht by 'his Effrontry,
And acts so mad, and foolish (yet call'd Love,
Thereby engrossing the' whole Monopoly)
That one would think't should Indignation move,
Such Follies to commit, such Madness to reprove.
XLIII
A Medly, with part Folly, Madness part,And is the All of Love, Person, or Thing,
Or Act, or Powe'r, or by the Poets Art
However call'd, as he can Matter bring,
Of Love in Numbers and in Verse to sing;
And tending all, as Love's in all the same,
By Images of divers fashioning,
(If all are yet enough to' expose the shame)
One Spoiler to denote, and LEGION is his Name.
XLIV
The hardest Devil to be dispossest;For e're he came the empty Rooms were swept,
By Idleness the' Housekeeper, and new drest;
Idleness, only for that service kept,
And who, or so employ'd, or ever slept:
A brawny Carle, that ne're did work beside,
But here commanded forward briskly stept;
And rather than be found unoccupi'd,
The Windows stopt, and all the several Lights did hide.
91
XLV
But Fancy well enough did that supply,Or little mist, Loves next fore-runner light;
Who having once uprear'd his tender Eye,
And of the Object ta'ne the distant height,
Made up the view all by Internal Sight:
And with new Beauties unperceiv'd before,
But there display'd, himself did first delight;
Then open'd, which he'had to him shut, the Door,
To let in loose Desire, and again tell them o're.
XLVI
So in Desire came, vainest of the Three,And after him in Triumph rode the Fiend;
Whom seven Spirits, full as bad as he,
Did close behind in Mascarade attend,
And Iö sang to Love, that Heav'n did rend:
So sang they all, but with unequal grace,
As were their looks; for some their Brows did bend,
And grin'd most horrid, with distorted Face;
Others were blith, and smil'd as they along did pass.
XLVII
These Folly were, and Mirth, and Dalliance,Who hardly could their Way for laughing hold,
By Genius clos'd; the Three, who lookt askaunce,
And midst their shouts could hardly cease to scold,
Were Lust, that scorn'd by th' best to be controll'd;
And Proteus Sin, who diverse Shapes put on,
As diverse kind, and Names he' had manifold;
And Death, the seventh from Love, mere Skeleton
One half, t'other Fantastick clad as shall be shown.
92
XLVIII
Folly the First, by' her Habit seem'd a Maid,And by her Face, which was excelling fair;
Tho whether such, was difficult to be said,
Nor safe it may be, since few Men there were,
But in her claim'd with Women equal share,
And ill had took't, had she pure Woman been:
A pretty thing to gaze on, but whose Air,
And Gate, and Gesture, made it quickly seen,
She none of th' Wisest was, and somewhat lackt within.
XLIX
Light Gesture, Gate ungraceful, compos'd Air,Save when she spake, or laught; but then betray'd
A thousand Follies, with prodigious glare;
For by a Glass she with a Shadow plaid,
(Her self, to whom she frequent Honours made)
And every glance, which she design'd to cast,
And every look, by that in order laid;
And to such troublesome Impertinence past,
That every little Word she thereby form'd at last.
L
Mirth was a Youth of beautiful regard,With chearful Eyes, plump downy Cheeks, and Chin;
And nothing in his looks, or strange, or hard,
That, if one by the Face could ought divine,
All Beauties there amass't did seem to shine:
All that can Man become, or Love excite
In Loves great Criticks, the Sex Feminine;
All but i'th' Timorous, whom his Whip did fright,
And more deterr, than all his other Charms invite.
93
LI
For in his Hand a Bloody Discipline,With many a'pointed Rowel stuck, he bore;
And wherewith, when unmark't, he saw his time,
Backward reflecting, he his Shoulders tore,
And the smooth Channel fill'd with purple gore:
But when or Folly call'd, or Dalliance,
The fretting exercise he soon gave o're,
And, as recovered from a sullen Trance,
Met with quick Eyes, and amorous Look each smiling Glance.
LII
Him Dalliance followed next, a Damsel gay,Of light behaviour, as she well could feign;
And wantonly her Brest did open lay,
The Lover who came next, to entertain;
Tho who the He were of her mighty Train,
She was not much solicitous to know,
Nor much to fancy him her self did pain;
For she like Favours did on all bestow,
And bonnour was to all, how high so e're or low.
LIII
A Night-Gown was the Habit which she wore,Loosely clapt round her, but so airy thin,
That through its light disguise appear'd the more,
What she ne're strove to hide, her beauteous Skin,
And just proportion of each curious Limb:
With Impudence too luscious to be told,
And speech Lascivious, when she did begin,
Which none, but like her self, unchast, and bold,
Or unreprov'd could hear, or unasham'd behold.
94
LIV
Next after her in order Genius came,Of Body somewhat gross, but Humour free;
Whom part call'd Comus, as by his Sirname,
Tho both, or either with him well agree,
Without whom Love, nor merry Life can be:
A right good Fellow, as his Belly show'd,
Which in a Swath reacht almost to his Knee,
And made him passage through th' admiring Crowd,
Which shouting to him louted, as to them he bow'd.
LV
No wrinkle in his Counte'nance did appear,Nor careful thought seem'd to come near his Mind,
Of what should be; but things, which present were,
Variously turn'd him, as did sit the Wind,
And this way now, now that way he inclin'd:
Tho if 'twere still, (and sometime still it lay)
Diversions to himself he'd make, or find;
And sometimes only muse a live-long Day,
Tho askt on what, he or nought knew, or nought could say.
LVI
These were the fairest Shews Loves entrance had,And of the Pomp the sightliest Officers,
Who therefore next the Carr Triumphal staid,
But Spirits Incarnate were, and all as fierce,
Provoke'd once, as those Fatal Ministers
Of his, and more than his, of th' Wrath Divine,
Which follow'd next, with look, and meen perverse;
A Grisly, Horrid, and Prodigious Trine,
Which hardly into shape, Love could by 'his Art refine.
95
LVII
Lust was the First, but whether Man, or Beast,Or He, or She, one could by no means know,
For it both Sexes had, and did invest
Mankind above, and Beast mishape'd below,
And slote divided did for ostent show:
With shaggy Hair the' whole Body cover'd o're,
And poysonous stench, which he around did throw,
Undampt by th' Perfumes, which the Satyre bore,
(For so they call'd him) and about him ever wore.
LVIII
A very Satyr, whom he nearest came,In Face, and Guise, but in Deformity
Excell'd, the first of the' Family, and Name;
And shameless was his Look, and lew'd his Eye,
But sharp withal, Beauties which cloyster'd lie,
First to discover, then to circumvent,
By Clamour, wherein low'd he was and high,
Nor could forbear, as he in Triumph went;
Prime Visier of the Port, and Loves chief Confident.
LIX
Sin follow'd him, who was his Eldest Son,And only Child, with place and dignity,
His Parents Titles suiting, and his own;
But on his own he mostly did relie,
And all, but what his own was, did decry;
Would, and did loudly against Lust declame,
As Impotent, couragious to defie,
But who to Handy-blows, or never came,
Or not with such effect, as he, to get a Name.
96
LX
For tho but one, a thousand Heads he had,And twice a thousand Hands boldly to fight;
An Army of himself, and which he made
Greater, or less, as the Cause did invite;
(Love, and Loves Good Old Cause was his delight)
Rebellion, whose design to carry on,
Himself he variously, as 'it hapt, would dight,
A Beasts, or Man's form take now, and anon
Angels, or Fiends, a multitude, one be, or none.
LXI
But Death the third, the same shape alway kept,If Shape it might be call'd, that shape had none,
Except in that half of him, which foremost stept
And to the view expos'd a side of Bone,
That seem'd with Skin to have been cloath'd upon,
And Musculage, not many Days before;
For scarcely cleansed was the Skeleton,
And here and there appear'd fresh stains of Gore,
And gobbets of green flesh, which from the joynts he tore.
LXII
To'ther half was the Universe, and all,And every thing, that in the World is found,
Which hastens, or is ready at Death's call,
And are th' Ingredients, which he does compound,
Or single, or in Mass to give the Wound:
A dreadful Mixture, and of which to tell,
Almost to think, would th' greatest Wit confound;
For since the time that Man from Happi'ness fell,
They were collecting, and had at the bottom Hell.
97
LXIII
Where e're he came, these were Loves Company,With Train and Baggage, which did far extend;
And Meny suiting so great Prince as He,
For Prince and God they call'd him, tho Pure Fiend:
Unquiet Care, which all his time did spend
Himself to' undo, backt by Suspicion,
Then Impudence, which did to Lechery lend
His unchast Ear, and Fury bad come on,
By Riotice drawn up, and Irreligion.
LXIV
Without door Danger, and Distrust did wait,And Fear, that never was himself at rest,
Or others would permit their Watch to 'abate;
And Jealousie, which tho he were possest
Of what he lov'd, for rage tore his own Breast;
And Lust unnatural, and Villany,
And Revellings, in thousand Anticks drest;
And Poverty, in Rags clad piteously,
Calling aloud for Death, which did th' unhappy fly.
LXV
It fled him, as one, who from Love was fled,Under the Disc'ipline, if he had the skill
To use it right, of Sorrow, seeming dead,
But which for a blest Life prepares Our will,
By that Repentance, which Shame does instil;
Repentance the first step to Innocence,
Whose various parts it makes, or does fulfil:
But whereof Lustful Minds have little sense,
Till Shame sum up the Total of the vast expence.
98
LXVI
Death such a Bankrupt therefore flies,Hasting to those, who call'd, or call'd him not,
By Loves own Hands crown'd for the Sacrifice,
And or pursue'd, or i'th' pursuit were hot,
E're well aware to th' end of all things got,
By Death inglorious, and with Infamy;
(Of most Luxurious Livers the hard lot)
Yet which Love colour'd with such Maistery,
That the most follow'd, what the most did seem to flie.
LXVII
For Love had thousand Deaths at his command,And every Lover, might his own Fate make,
Which some did, but by'a way so under-hand,
That from the praise of Love it much did take,
And many 'a Lover lost he for their sake;
Tho such he pleaded were by him giv'n o're,
(If all might be believ'd, which then Love spake)
Nor could to his account be reckoned more,
Than if thus, or a Natural Death they dy'd before.
LXVIII
Be the Point therefore, as it will for me,Who list not further of it here to tell;
Enough are Lovers Deaths we daily see,
(And so 'twas then) a Songs scant bounds to swell,
Nor yet for Love, or them contriv'd so well,
But that one midst the Pomp might easily find
The Mighty, by whose cruel Hands they fell;
And Verdict give the Murther was design'd,
By th' Pains they felt before, Reproach they left behind.
99
LXIX
Pains more than can of Mortal Tongue be told,And sharper than e're Tyran did invent;
Which the whole Man did in strait Fetters hold,
Till tortur'd Nature, quite worn out, was spent,
Of Love the Guerdon and the Punishment:
Yet Tyrans Racks found out, the Pale, and Wheel,
And Fire, and all that can by Fire torment,
Or be prepar'd, th' Ax, and derr-doing Steel,
But make no wounds all, set with those which Lovers feel.
LXX
Thrice, and than thrice more wretched state of Love,When Innocence and Truth to Heav'n were gone!
But seve'n times wretcheder it yet did prove,
When this Mock-love wholly usurpt the Throne,
(As he 'after did) and single reign'd alone,
With Name and Pow'r alike usurpt, yet was,
Ah! What not was he?—But 'tis time to' have done
With him, who can to Verse give little grace,
And in another Canto to the True Love pass.
100
CANTO III.
I
Tire'd with the Way I have already goneLonger by many a Stage, than setting out
I thought it would have prov'd, and where there's none
To guide me, in the search I am about,
How well I shall succeed is my great doubt,
Who almost of the Enterprize repent,
Wishing I better of it first had thought;
At least before me some Espials sent,
Who might have told the hazard of the bold Attempt.
II
But to repent (alas!) 'tis now too late,And in the last Act fail, a wrong to Love,
Which in another I should surely hate,
And cannot in my self unblam'd approve,
What Arguments so e're Distrust may move;
Which many, cogent seem, and weighty all,
But all which by this single'One I reprove,
That well if well, if ill succeed I shall,
'Tis not inglorious from the noblest heights to fall.
101
III
But help me Love, and I'll not yet despair!For other Muse I dare not invocate;
None but thy Self, with whom the Treasures are
Of bright Idæas, tho discover'd late
To me, who half my time in Darkness sat,
Ylamped only by a Foolish Fire,
Whose wandring guidance I now deprecate,
Led by it often, and my vain desire,
To whence I could not till Thy Day brake out, retire.
IV
At length it brake out, and I came to knowHow wofully I had mistook my Way;
Shine forth again with double Glory now,
And in my Verse Thy fairest Beams display,
That others with me in it triumph may:
And having their Night Sullys thence refin'd,
Carol with sacred Hymn's to th' Beauteous Day;
Carol to Thee, by Heav'n, and God design'd,
The Counterfeit to' uncase, and Eyes restore the Blind.
V
LONG had the Mock-love, by his false disguise,Upon the Credulous World impos'd, but more
Upon himself, if he had been so wise
To think how much 'twould cost him to restore,
And, what by tort he' had snatcht, a new pay o're;
But this (alas!) came seldom in his thought,
Rather perverse still, as he was before,
The World, which he had into Bondage brought,
Eternally to' enthral, was th' only Prize he sought.
102
VI
This was his aim, nor to rebate it found,Save Prophecies of a Supplanters race;
Which well he knew not, and could worse expound,
Wherein the happy Country was the place,
Whence was foretold should come his great disgrace;
But when, or how, tho himself Oracles gave,
Too hard to be resolv'd was the dark case;
Nor could he any certain knowledg have,
Who should the Mighty Conqueror be, his Thralls to' unslave.
VII
The happy Country well enough he knew,Part of his Syria to be 'hight Palestine;
Wherefore he thither his Chief Forces drew,
And seiz'd it first by 'a more than double Trine
Of cursed Nations, from the Great Chams Line;
Cham, who first gave him credit by his Arms,
And then his Empire to him did resign;
Cham, whom he thus rewarded for the harms
He had sustain'd, to be Camp-Master of his Charms.
VIII
Seven cursed Nations, of his cursed Seed,To be its constant Guard Love thither sent;
Who fill'd the Land so with their cursed Breed,
That scarce was left him room for his own Tent,
Less for new Col'onies, if such thither went:
A stupid, bestial, and unmanly Rout,
That all their Age in Lusts unnatural spent;
Till the time came their Land should spue them out,
Too long opprest, and bring the dread Foresight about.
103
IX
Love saw it coming, and began to fear,When Jacob's numerous Host, from Bondage led,
Unto the Cananitish bounds drew near,
Seising the Nations with unusual Dread,
While Seas to make them way rose up and fled;
But never did he more confounded stand,
Than when he Jordan saw recoil to 'his Head,
And to new Armies shar'd by Lot his Land,
Supplanted e're he did th' Supplanters understand.
X
Before he doubted those would prove the Men,And therefore when they were upon the Way,
From Madian drest a Female Stratagem,
By which above two Myriads slaughter'd lay,
Tho Madian for it after dear did pay,
And he who gave the Counsel with them fell.
Balam their Priest and his the Sword did slay,
To expiate for th' Whoredoms he did sell,
And more advise, than by Prophetic rage foretel:
XI
But then he knew it, and in every Age,As Israel did in wealth and power encrease,
New Wars would with the Holy People wage,
Wars Amorous, the sad result of Peace;
Nor his Assaults defeated oft surcease;
Till David was exalted to the Throne,
With Testimony that he God did please,
As Enoch had, and then Love gave for gone
All he before had gain'd, and by his Conquests won.
104
XII
Ah! that it had been gone! and that his swayHad here expir'd! But Jesses Son soon fell,
A victim at his Altars, and a Prey;
Wherewith, and with his Pride he so did swell,
That tho he after had not much to tell,
Nor much to boast more, during his whole Reign,
Eluded was he judg'd the Oracle,
Nor could there for him ought behind remain,
But what He thus had got, as happ'ly to maintain.
XIII
This Salomons youth did easily perswade,(David's next Successor) who tho most wise,
(Love of the Wisest ne're was yet afraid)
Had other Grandures, which might chance to rise
Higher in Loves account, well plac'd, than his:
Infinite Riches, Peaceful Government,
The Necks, and Pleasures of his Enemies;
And, what then these was more, a mind intent,
Of Folly, and of Love to make th' Experiment.
XIV
He made it, and in making it was caught,To his Lands baleful Ruine, and his own;
And both, by him that, he by Love ill taught,
As from a Precipice together thrown,
Ne're stopt till come to th' bottom Head-long down:
Unhappy Prince, who could not single fall!
Whose smiles appear'd more fatal than his frown;
The Kingdoms Laws this, for the Criminal,
But bad example those, which further reacht to all!
105
XV
And now, if ever, Love to the' top was gotOf his unmeasurable Soveraigntie;
So far above his Hope and deepest Plot,
That scarce could he believe what he did see,
And almost trembled in those heights to be,
Compar'd with which the Honours he had gain'd,
In the World Heathen, were a low degree;
For there he o're the brutish only reign'd,
The Noblest, and the Wisest here to 'his Lore were train'd.
XVI
Ev'n God himself most High to serve was made;And his first Institution, Marriage,
Cement of holy Love, so base allay'd,
That it degen'rated to Bestial rage,
And more divided, than it did engage
To mutual Amours and joyn'd Hearts consent:
Madness before begun, but which this Age,
With ancient Rites, indulg'd long, not content,
Perfected by a new, and wild Establishment,
XVII
Of sharers infinite in the Marriage Bed,By this false Loves prime Ministers brought in;
With Artifice, at first, close palliated,
The New-made World, which was but peopled thin,
To stock amain and plausibly begin:
Hence Bigamy, and then Polygamy,
Causless Divorce next, to them near of kin,
On every small dislike, did multiply,
And Children reck'ned were of Loves huge Family.
106
XVIII
And so it stood, even in the Holy Race,(From the Beginning tho it were not so)
For many Ages of permissive Grace,
But more of Hardness that ith' Heart did grow.
Of those, who no delight in One would know,
And whom Variety would only please:
Yet God at first but One design'd, to show
His, and the pow'r of Love, and if Disease
Abus'd 't should after be, its Remedy and Ease.
XIX
(For more, if more are sought the drought to allay,But like strange waters to th' Hydropic prove,
And frequent draughts, which in the Bowels stay,
And nor the Thirst, nor the Disease remove;
And such is Change to him, who Change does love,
(The more, the worse) He drinks, and thirsts again,
And still the more he drinks, does more improve
His Thirst, the very remedy is pain,
Yet neither can shake off, of neither but complain.)
XX
And that Disease 'twould prove, in his Foresight,Abus'd once, the Almighty knew, and thence
To 'a single Circle bound the subtile Sp'rit,
Who, one transgrest, was Proof against all fence,
And easi'ly could with Just and Fit dispense;
One Partner in Chast Nuptials, as enough
Their Ornament to be, and their Defence,
By Sin prevented, all that was above,
Or two, or more, or many, came from this False Love.
107
XXI
From him they came All, but successively,And even the Many yet were but a Few,
Compar'd with that excess, which grown most high,
In Salomon's Reign, no limits had, or knew,
And into th' Band, not One, but Hundreds drew:
Seven hundred Wives, Three hundred Concubins,
Whom the Uxorious King did close pursue,
A Female Army, under Love's Ensigns,
With Treasure infi'nit drein'd, and with exausted Loins.
XXII
Prodigious Astoreth, be 'it an He, or She,Or both, or neither, an opprobrious Stock;
For Sex in Idols is a Nicetie
Unknown to th' Makers, whom it ne're did choque
To stile as they should please the sensless Block:
Tho if they call'd it by a Female Name,
More Folly, and less Power, they yfere did yoke;
And, if need serv'd, a Male the God became,
Their own to 'attemper, and expose the Votaries shame.
XXIII
Be it prodigious therefore, and a She!And a She this Mock-Love, if so it please!
Prodigious Astoreth! and prodigious He,
Who was her Slave, and Slave to 'a thousand Shees,
On the Rack put by 'his Lusts, or Marriages!
And if 'tis true, that each a Body makes,
(And true it is) how monstrous with all these,
Must his appear, who has so different stakes,
Where each with only 'him, he with each, and all partakes?
108
XXIV
With all partook he, and made up with allOne monstrous Body, which did all contain;
All Lands, and Languages, from the huge Wall
Of Babylon, to where Nile bedds the Main,
Lusty in Egypts Spoils, with Pompous Train:
No Country was there, but sent in some Love,
No Love, but did its Countries Gods retain,
All which he serv'd, if he were Service-proof,
Enough to satiate, not to satisfy enough.
XXV
Marriage perverted thus from its design,Love to enhance, and raise an Holy Seed,
To hinder Whoredoms, and the Rage confine
Of an unruly Passion, which did need
More Reins than Spurs, and of Hells fiercest breed;
But above all, nobly to typify
The Mystic Union, which shall intercede
'Twixt Christ & holy Church, Man & th' Most High,
All Mischiefs thence brake in, and all Idolatry.
XXVI
Thence Whoredoms, Fornications thence brake in,And, which the Holy People did or'eflow,
Rapes, Incests, and than Incest worse, the Sin
Confusion call'd, foul Sod'omy, and a row
Of bestial Vices, which 'twere guilt to know,
But more to tell; The 'unwary Course some take
Lust to perstringe by action, or by show,
But teaching more, what does no teaching lack,
And those whose Ign'orance, their whole Innocence does make.
109
XXVII
Yet Israel acted all, and did out-do,Well thew'd in Villanies, their Teachers skill;
And Men with Men, with Women Women too
All Shame put off, and did both parts fulfil,
With Sexes counterfeited, (every Hill,
And Grove with Humane Beasts, and mingled Blood
Promiscuous cast, replenisht thick) the while
Brutes themselves, as less salvage, wondring stood,
Man o're them made to reign, should with them change Manhood.
XXVIII
No wonder thus debas'd, new Gods they chose,Gods like themselves, and they new Gods did chuse,
Prodigious as their Lusts, on whom they'impose
Horrors the Beast would, if it could, refuse,
Design'd for Service and a nobler use:
Baalim and Astaroth, or what-ever name
Those Generals include, bleeding Thamuze,
Dagon, and Moloch, Kemos, Moabs shame,
And thousand others, which into the Bead-roll came:
XXIX
All which they worship'd, and did lowly bowBefore their Altars; lowest bow'd their King,
Who Temples made them, and did first allow
Their Rites absurd, (by his strange Wives brought in,
Authentick made, when their establishing
Own'd him as Founder) and some think that Verse
Then lustful Orgias first began to sing,
And prostituted Mysteries rehearse,
Which Fabulous Greece did after through the World disperse.
110
XXX
Verse it is sure, did early suffer wrong;And Tyran Love debaucht it, as he' had done
God's noblest Creature, for the chains are strong,
With which he holds it yet, as if his own
It purely were, and were enough alone
All that he else has lost back to regain,
And whence he had been tumbled, to the Throne
Once more advance him, in his Hands the Rein
Of all things, midst an holier People, put again.
XXXI
It serv'd a little then, its service nowIs wondrously encreast, since Sloth, and Age
Have heightned Vice, and made Verse to it bow;
To th' Gods before it was in Vassalage,
And only knew the Pythonesses rage,
Or Priests inspir'd, to all beside most chast,
To Vertue did, and to true Worth engage;
And if the Object had been rightly plac'd,
Might for a real Vertue, and true Grace have past.
XXXII
But now, (what quickly after it begun)Retaining nothing but the Ill 'it has gain'd,
By Lux, and Travel, it does counter-run
To all that's Good, or Honest, or maintain'd
I'th' Civil Worlds esteem, with Atheism stain'd,
(As the next step to many Gods is none)
And all Impiety, has place obtain'd
With the worst Men, and is so furious grown,
That in its fits it God and King defies alone.
111
XXXIII
These it defies, and dare unmask'd profess,(Where'it may be free, and to its full pitch flown)
What e'ven to think abash'd mere Heathenness;
Nay when reserv'd most, and most modest grown,
'Twill others Follies sing, and make its own,
And than the Wise much rather please the Vain:
But since its present State too well is known
To be conceal'd, my self I shall not pain
To tell it here, or further, tho provok'd complain.
XXXIV
Ah! that it would it self, or could complain!And of the Lusts, to which it did submit
Unwillingly at first, nor without pain,
But willingly when Custom humbled it,
Betray'd by 'its false and treacherous Mi'gnon Wit:
Her Mistress Verse the treacherous Maid beguil'd,
The false Love her; and up they both did set
One shameless Brothel, wanton that, this wild,
Till both of Honour, Vertue, and true Love were spoil'd.
XXXV
Despoil'd they were, despoil'd, what they did serve,Honour, and Vertue, and the Love Divine,
And Wedlock, which did covertly preserve
Some Traces of a Vigor Masculine,
Which Lust could never to its Beck incline
So perfectly, but it resistance made,
Weak as it was, and sprung a Counter-mine:
But now aside all Enmities were laid,
And all with one consent did plot Heav'n to invade.
112
XXXVI
Which as th' Almighty saw into his Mind,That Mind of his it came, which ever love
To 'his Works did bear, to Man was ever kind,
The madness of such Faytours to reprove,
And what none else could do, the Cause remove;
The cause was this Mock-Love, whom to debase,
Into his Mind it came, by him, who strove
So high to raise him, and who what he was,
Of all Men best did know, did all in Loves surpass.
XXXVII
Wise Salomon, who when he long had try'dThe vain Experiment, at length grew Wise;
Nor longer with him would the secret hide,
Than till th' Almighty open'd had his Eyes,
And to him clear'd the blest Discoveries:
Till his Repentance had his Loves effac'd,
And Credence gain'd us, that, immerst to rise
Tho hard it be, the Doom may not be past,
If what's too long one Day deferr'd, yet come at last.
XXXVIII
Him his great Prophet God most high did raise,Turning the Tenor of his inspir'd String,
Of Ancient Honour, and of Future Praise,
But most of Love, the Cause, and end to sing,
And hidden Mysteries to the Light to bring;
The mighty Works th' Almighty's Self would do,
For Loves, and his BELOVEDS ransoming:
All which he did to th' Royal Prophet show,
And all which, by him taught, his Israel came to know.
113
XXXIX
Not as those Works, when finisht perfectlyShould be display'd, but as became their state,
And Him, who was, restor'd, the Type to be
Of all the Glories, which he should relate;
By Figures, and by Shadows adæquate
To Humane Reasonings, and Discourse finite;
By his chang'd Loves a Love to adumbrate,
Which cannot else be seen by Mortal Light,
God's Love to man, which different Natures should unite.
XL
That Love, which God in time from Heav'n should bring,With Man to dwell, and as true Man appear;
Which Man no less, of all his Works the King,
To Heav'n, excluded thence by' his Fall, should bear,
And on his Wings triumphantly up-rear:
And all the way, as he does thither rise,
With Idees fill him of the Beauties there;
That Love, in fine, which does all Loves comprize,
Whence Man to'his Maker lives, his Maker for him dies.
XLI
Of all which Marriage is the Sacrament;(Or Symbol call it, if the Name displease)
The closest Union to represent,
'Twixt God and Man, 'twixt Man and Happiness;
And if there closer Union be than these,
Or more (and whether more be meant who knows?
Tho closer none) in one Term all to' express;
Marriage, which once confirm'd by holy Vows,
Is Loves Reprizal, and in one all Unions shows.
114
XLII
So God most High resolv'd, so Salomon,By him inspir'd did carnal Love impeach
Of highest Treason, and Rebellion;
The first, who plainly did the Mystery preach,
And what himself, but late learnt, others teach:
That Love alone, whose long and outstretcht Line,
Through Natures Works, to Natures end does reach,
Their Love, whom God, not Lust or Interest joyn,
Unequal tho it be, comes nearest the Divine.
XLIII
As near as was, or fit for us to know,Or possible, in Mortal Flesh immur'd;
(Tho God himself the Form would take below)
When brighter Vision could not be endur'd,
Nor Loves invisible taught else, or secur'd;
For such is Man, tho of God's Works the chief,
Of things Invisible to be assur'd,
That from things Visible he must receive
Th' imperfect Image, and of God by' himself conceive.
XLIV
His Bodies structure, and his Souls great Powers,Both which as having God himself propounds;
Tho Acts Organical are purely Ours,
And he the Deity by the shift confounds,
Who makes it what the Parable expounds,
With Senses, and with Parts corporeal,
Loving like us, and with a Lovers Wounds,
Which from the Deity are excluded all,
And only us'd, that under Sense those Acts may fall.
115
XLV
Yet so God loves, so would be known to Love,As Love ith' Marriage Bed, kept undefil'd,
Might figure best, if one the Vail remove,
Our Nature, which of Innocence dispoyl'd,
Till rais'd, whence sunk, beguiles and is beguil'd;
But once restor'd, is worthy Him, and Us,
Him still to love, with Love us to be fill'd,
(Of Grace not Debt) become both Amorous,
The Churches Husband He, the Church his Bride and Spouse.
XLVI
Thus loving, and belov'd thus shame on those,Whose either Atheism, or Impiety,
Dare the Tremendous Figure, or expose,
Or subject make it of foul Raillery,
And to vile Lust embase the Mystery!
That of their Happ'ness have so little sense,
Their God, their Souls, and their Civility,
That they with things most sacred can dispense,
And rather than not give it, take from Heav'n offence!
XLVII
From Thee, most sacred and inspired Song,The humblest Condescention of Heav'ns King,
From which my roving Verse has stray'd too long,
Led by the Mock-love, and now late does sing;
Next that the humblest, which with Saffron Wing,
Gabriel, the True-loves mighty Harbinger,
Foretold to the' EVER-VIRGIN, e're the thing
Was full accomplisht, and thereof did bear,
When done first News, and what the signs to know him were.
116
XLVIII
Signs too unlikely, till by Angels told,Whereby the Maker of all things to find;
For who would think a simple Cratch should hold
Eternal Majesty, mean Swathings bind
Th' Incomprehensible, and Unconfin'd;
And that an Ox, and Ass were company,
(To Scorn enur'd, and labour by their kind)
In an Inns-Stable fit for God Most High,
And that a Babe should be that God, and expos'd lie?
XLIX
Yet signs they were with Heav'n which suited best,And best with God, when God should Flesh appear;
And so was Wedlock, thence to be exprest,
E're that time came, the Image he should bear,
Or rather what our selves, allyed to' him near,
(Nearer by Purchase, than Creation)
Should thence become; like Glories with him wear,
And since to us it could not else be known,
Till Man to Heav'n should rise, high Heav'n to Man bring down.
L
By Love to bring it: And by Love HE brought it,Who all the Mysteries of Love did know;
Second alone to Loves dear self, who taught it,
As or above it was, or as below,
And in thee, Song, its Mystic Power did show:
Not as thy Words to'us sound, but as thy Sense,
To th' Church apply'd, by holy Churches Vow,
Must be expounded, with this Difference,
Of God 'tis Figure All, of Man all Innocence,
117
LI
Of Soul and Body, but of Soul the most,Whose Acts and Motions Thou dost most intend,
By views Material, to our Light dispos'd,
But where the Matter does all Act suspend,
And shadows what it cannot comprehend;
Is nothing, or as nothing, how e're laid,
Compar'd with what comparison does transcend;
Nor meant at all, tho by it all is said,
That's said of Love, which through its broken Pipe's convey'd.
LII
So wouldst Thou, Song, so must Thou be understood;And short of this, who e're Thy Flight would bound,
To th' Deity sacrifices Human Blood,
And fixes on th' Impassible that Wound,
Which the Mock-love to offer had astound.
For He soon as he heard the words Divine,
His Sentence in them, and his Doom he found;
At which affrighted, back he did resign
All he before usurpt, nor ought had to rejoyn.
LIII
Happy he so could scape, tho e're away,Cast, and condemn'd, he into Exile went,
The True Love, who long waited for that Day,
Hymen his great Embassadour down sent,
To beg some Exemplary Punishment,
And Caution, that he would return no more:
But all the Caution, which to give he meant,
Was but his Word, nor longer that than Power
Should fail him to attempt, what he had done before.
118
LIV
For Punishment, 'twas yet too early Day,To move, or hope; Himself enough had done,
By those Spoyls, which unforce'd he down did lay,
The Jurisdiction of Heav'ns Court to own,
Whom that acknowledgment must serve or none:
And out he went, with stern, and bloody Eyes,
And bitter Railings on blest Hymen thrown;
Who all his Railings did no less despise,
Content (since he no more could get) with the bare Prize,
LV
Marriage restor'd to' its Just and Ancient Right,And all th' Intents, to which it was design'd;
Marriage, which once secur'd, does Souls unite,
And made in Heav'n, to Heav'n so near is joyn'd,
That only there we purer Love can find:
Marriage of th' Fallen World the best Estate,
Marriage most Honourable with Mankind,
Which to abuse, a Man his Flesh must hate,
Marriage God's Blessing, when He gave o're to create.
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To the Muse, ODE PINDARIC.
I. STROPHE.
But whither bear'st Thou me, O Love,Sovereign Disposer of all things,
Beyond the flight of Verses Wings,
Which after Thee a Course unequal move?
So swift Thy passage is, and wondrous light,
Scarce can I of Thee get the sight;
And all so here, and there,
So unconfin'd, and every where,
Appear Thou dost, and disappear,
A Phantosm Thou would'st reckned be,
But that whole Nature lives alone by Thee.
I. ANTISTROPHE.
From Heav'n to Earth, from Earth againTo Heav'n, who has Loves Journy trace't?
Hail ye bright Stars, which saw him last,
And greater Lustre by his grant obtain!
You last of all his parting Charge receiv'd,
And still to keep it are believ'd,
In times, and seasons thence,
Which you to all his Works dispense,
With kind and wholesome Influence;
And at his Thrones dread Footstool wait,
Illustrious Guards and Messengers of Fate.
I. EPODOS.
“Happy the Man, whose noble Soul“Hath rais'd him to a pitch so high,
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“Undazled can behold with curious Eye;
“And every Mystic note,
“That's in their Mighty Volume wrote,
“As clearly understand,
“As if acquainted with no other hand:
“Yet happier He by far,
“Who like the Kings, first guided by a Star,
“Obtains like Royal Grace,
“Into the Sacred Presence, usher'd thus, to pass!
II. STROPHE.
An Honour done but to a few,As few there be, who care to joyn
Their quest to th' search of Love Divine,
Thither applying, what from thence they drew;
Heav'ns Priests, and Loves, who have the lucky skill,
Both Services at once to fill;
Nor like the most all day,
Or Idle stand, or play,
And gaze tho' on Heaven their Age away:
Of Love, who largely boast the Name,
But never saw his Light, or felt his Flame.
II. ANTISTROPHE.
At once both Services he fill'd,Whom the Muse sings, both knows the best
Of any, who e're those Gifts possest,
In Books so different so divinely skill'd;
Natures and God's, the Gloss that, this the Text,
And read together unperplext:
While that, by' it self alone.
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But Altars rears to' a God unknown;
To th' True this does a way provide,
But difficult to walk without a Guide.
II. EPODOS.
Not SETH, whose Pillars FabulousSurviv'd the all-devouring Flood,
Taught the New World the Half he teaches us,
Were all he taught as well but understood:
Tho when of Love He treats,
And His high Mysteries repeats,
All hear, and what is heard
By all for certain Truth is so rever'd,
The ravisht Soul resents
Its teadious stay, and future joys prevents;
Rapt in Ecstatic Fires
To the Divine Aboads, almost ith' Flame expires.
III. STROPHE.
Witness Thou Sarums sacred Pile,Which from the day Thou first cam'st down
From the parcht neighbouring Hill, the Town
Attending Thee, and shouting all the while,
None happier saw'st than that which made Thee His,
And Him Thine with united bliss.
Thy Streams, Thy Fields, Thy Towers,
By the' Graces led, and Hours,
Daunc'd to their Genius Crown'd with Flowers:
Thy very Children bless that time
And their new Aera from its date sublime.
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III. ANTISTROPHE.
Not but that worthy Thee, and Verse,There have been Prælats heretofore,
(Tho none so Worthy) had like store
Of sacred Poets been, as now rehearse.
But all (alas!) are in Oblivion drown'd,
Unsung laid underground,
Because the Muses ayd,
To all th' Acquists they made,
Or lacking was, or else unpray'd:
And their fond hopes of Future glory,
Or to dumb Walls confin'd, or doubtful story.
III. EPODOS.
So Thy first Fathers, so others fare'dBefore, and since Thy great Translation;
And if to' escape 'twas not for some so hard,
The Works they wrote, were their Fames best Foundation;
In which an Age they live,
That Brass, and Marble shall survive.
So Jewel ever lives,
And life to' his very Enemy gives.
So shall Thy Reverend Lord
Long hence be Thine, and His own best Record.
Hast to Him Muse, and take
At 'his Knees that blessing, which may Thee Immortal make.
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To the Right Reverend FATHER IN GOD, SETH Lord Bishop of SARUM.
Mindful, whence first she learnt the early Skill,In humble strains Almighty LOVE to sing;
And then of Her, to whom she' her Works does bring,
The CHURCH, and Colledg, both whose Names instil
Like Sentiments, and shall Fames Records fill
With Worthies, fit to 'employ the Noblest string
Of Heav'n-tun'd Verse, and almost tire its Wing,
To bear them, hence translated, up its Hill:
My Muse to You, my LORD, and your great Name,
This LEGEND of the one, and t'other LOVE,
(As different as their Ends and Natures prove)
Doubly inscribes; that thence her purer Flame
To Heav'n, so offer'd, may more grateful rise;
The grosser Parts be Wood for th' Sacrifice.
FINIS.
| A paraphrase upon the canticles | |