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KOSMOBREVIA[Greek], or the infancy of the world

With an Appendix of Gods resting day, Edon Garden; Mans Happiness before, Misery after, his Fall. Whereunto is added, The Praise of Nothing; Divine Ejaculations; The four Ages of the world; The Birth of Christ; Also a Century of Historical Applications; With a Taste of Poetical fictions. Written some years since by N. B.[i.e. Nicholas Billingsley] ... And now published at the request of his Friends

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A CENTURIE OF HISTORICAL APPLICATIONS, With a Taste of Poetical Fictions: Being the fruits of some spare Hours.


133

A CENTURIE OF HISTORICAL APPLICATIONS, With a Taste of Poetical Fictions: Being the fruits of some spare Hours.


135

To his Honored Uncle, Mr Iohn Wooton one of the Commissioners for the County of Hereford.

139

Historicall Applications

1.

Tis pretty sport to see the Cobtines stride
Vpon a Hobby-horses back, and ride.
Insipid Ideots! O prepostrous deeds!
Steeds doe not carry them, they carry Steeds.
Pleasures are Reeds, which yeild us infant play;
Reader, we ride on Reeds as well as they.

2.

The Alc'ran sayes, (which who will may beleeve)
The Moon descended into Mahomet's sleeve:
'Tis strange! yet God doth his loves lamp impart
T'a more coarcted room, what's that? the heart.
O may the lustre of those rayes divine
Be alwaies sparkling in this heart of mine!
That I, inlightned by thy light may see,
Great God! more clearly to discover thee.

3.

The Tib[illeg.]ren's affix unto the Cross
Those they love best; triumphing in their loss.

138

But we to part with darling sins are sorry:
Though we may gaine thereby a crown of glory.

4.

Th'Arabians instead of worser wood
Feed Corm'rant Vulcans jawes with fragrant spices
But ah! we chuse what's bad, refuse what's good,
Offend the Lord of life with loathsome vices.
My soul when zeal to kindle prayer begins,
Cast out the filthy rubish of thy sins.

5.

Chimerians think there is no Sun,
Because it is debar'd their sight:
The dark'ned soul doth groping run,
If God absent his glorious light,
Lord turne, with thy corruscant rayes,
My darksom nights to lightsome dayes.

6.

At the Cape of good hope the rib-made Sex
With chaines of greasie tripes adorne their necks.
Ev'n so those sins which in our eyes seem faire,
In Gods, which are most pure, deformed are.
What God abhors that mostly doth arride us,
Disgrace we grace, and in our shame we pride us.

139

7.

Amongst the Series (O had we less store)
Is neither Theif, nor Murtherer, nor Whore.

8.

If glass-wall'd Baumgar be a Court for Cats,
Small entertainment's there for Mice, or Rats,
Those noted theeves; 'tis dang'rous for a Mouse
To seek for shelter in a Mouzer's house.
Forewarn'd (they say) sore-arm'd, if that I were
A Mouse, I'le warrant you I'de ne're come there.

9.

Pheniceans slay their only sons t'asswage
And mitigate their angry Demon's rage;
They their Dirceto's do fall down before.
Such love Gods well who sensless ones adore.

10.

The Pegusi, to stave off further evill,
Throw meat behind their backs to feed the Divel
And think such puppy-dogs as come and eat
Are the Devil's Caterers to bring him mear,
Lord! when I offer up to thee my prayers,
Let me behind my back cast mundane cares

140

Fill thou my soul with grace and on mine ill
The Devil may feed and surfeit if he will.

11.

Uulcan they say is lame, and reason good;
For fire cannot go forward without wood.

12.

The Turks rewards to their tormentors bring.
Esteem the whip, O 'tis a pious thing.
Lord when thou scourgest let not me repine,
But kiss the Rod, because the Rod is thine.
Give me to know that my offences urge,
That so with patience I may bear thy scorge:
And if thou please to stroke, or please to strike,
O may I love both equaly alike.

13.

In Turky the Adulterers head is drest
With the full paunch of a new slaught'red beast;
And so, in pomp, is carried up and down,
Through the throng'd streets of the admiring town.
As wholsome laws with us are instituted,
But ah! so strictly are not executed.
Why mayn't an A for the Adulterers laud,
Be a front-mark, as well as B for Baud?

141

Would all our Letchers, and each light-skirt Trull
Were ship'd for Turkey, or the great Mogull.
Or else wayes vsed heer theire lusts to tame
So as to make them be asham'd of shame.

14.

Men-eating Lestrigons all men will blame
But ah! Oppressors do the very same:
They grind the faces of the poor, and put
In bags the chinck squeez'd from the hungry gut:
They rob the Spittle, lab'ring most of all
To raise themselves by their untimely fall.
But let such know goods so unjustly got
Shall prove a curse, and in their purse shall rot.

15.

Midas his wish obtaines, his touch behold
A fruitfull Alchimy turne all to gold.
In tract of time that man may have, which bears
Midas his wealth, Midas his Asses ears.
How fond are our desires! we wish t'enjoy
The things which do within a moment cloy.
Rash Midas wish'd, but Midas did not think
T'except from Generals his meat and drinke.
Midas may say experiencedly,
More hard to fill the belly then the eye.

142

Gold buyeth all things, but were all things gold,
Food would be wanting, and our comfort cold.
Art thou a muck-worme? go take Midas store;
Midas was but an Ass and thou no more.

16.

Least they pollute pure water in Batenter,
To wash their hands the people wont t'adventure:
Lord I am worse then they; my soul forbears
To purge her foulness with repentant tears.

17.

The wound-restoring Balm is said to grow
Within the fruitfull vale of Jericho:
Nor will it set its foot on ev'ry ground:
Ev'n so in ev'ry heart grace is not found.
That Balm for sin-sick souls, the Lord doth plant it
In humble vales, when lofty Mountaines want it.
Lord plant thy grace in my hearts bord'red ally
To bear such fruits make me a lowly vally:
Let Gileads Balm my sin-sick soul recover,
And over me thy Balmy pinions hover:
The grace of true repentance pour thou in
Into my soul, and that will eat out sin.

137

18.

The mouth-less Attomes by the aier do alive,
And scent of odors; Lord be pleas'd to give
Thy quickning spirit and loves fragrancie,
Unto my soul that I may live to thee.

19.

Best in the night the Owl-ey'd Albans see;
And in the day of grace how blind are we!

20.

Our love to God is cold and hot by turns,
Now cole as Alps, anon like Etna burns.

21.

A wonder Epimenides hath bin
To many, who have longer slept in sin.

22.

Cyrus knew, by their names, his Souldiers all;
To mind his owne, Corvinus could not call;
Thy names in all thine attributes make known,
To me, dear Lord, though I forget mine owne.

138

23.

Dice, Balls, and Chess, first to the Indians came in;
Occasion'd by a body-pining famine:
Th'Inhabitants finding no other way
Lay open to redress, did fall to play
Their empty bellys to beguil; for easing
Our saturated bodies, games are pleasing.

24.

None, can in all felicity abound,
Vntoothsom Clerus is in hony found.

25.

Th'Esseni, neither lust nor money know,
I'me sure, with us, theres none can say, tis so.
Heathens are chaft, content where are you come,
You'l find it otherwise in Christendome.

26.

The Persians affect a temp'rate Diet,
Hate what the Parthians love, excess, and Ryot
Though bodies meanly fare, let the full bowls.
Of thy Nectarean word fill full our soules.

139

27.

In Turky, fools, and Lunaticks are deemd
The onely saints and who so much esteemed?
And here in England, som account for holy.
Fanatick Quakers, and the sons of Folly:

28.

The Barb'rous Issedon's, their dead devo'ur
Their drinking bouls are skulls all gilded o're.
So are our natures most inclind unto.
The things which left they should delight to do.

29.

Closs sinners, their offences cloke with night.
And like the Blattæ hate the till-tale Light.

30.

Gods favoure shins on us but we ('tis pitty)
Are like the blind-eyd Chalcedonian citty
We take no notice, what our God hath done,
But shut our eyes, and say there is no Sun.

31.

An Ape resembles man, some men and Apes
In gesture are alike as well as shapes.

140

Nay our Pragmaticks many a task do set,
Unfollowd by the busy marmoset.

32.

Christ is our Esculapius, when to sin.
We liveless are he quickens us agin.

33.

Lord grant this boon (what e're thou else denyst)
I may have faith to build my self in Christ.
So shall the lofty structrues I shall raise
Get more then Cresiphon or Philon's, Praise.
Dianas fane, and Athens Arsenall.
Are slep'd in ruin, mine shall over fall.

34.

Christ's the true Atlas, his vnshrinking shoulders
Are our offences Firmaments vpholders.

35.

Sweet Jesus land me at the banks of Sion.
Be thou my Dolphin I will be Arion,
To sound thy praises on my warbling Lyer
In emulation of that heavenly Quire.
And Caroll sonnets, sonnets at whose sound
The Hills may eccho, and the Dales rebound.

141

36.

Gainst Satans grand assaults, Lord make my brest
Impenetrable as the Halcyons nest.
And when the Arrows of Temptation fly.
Against me, Oh! be pleas'd to put them by;
O may it not be said his fi'ry dart
Hath got the better of my yeilding heart.
When he malliciously takes aim to throw
His venom'd shafts from his lowd sownding Bow;
Ah me! O may they (falling on the ground)
Make no Impression, nor no ragged wound.

37.

Not long before great Julius Cesar's death,
A sheep (having no heart) was found drew breath.
But Hipocrites, and those that flatter do,
Have, like the Pamphlagonian Partridg, two.

38.

We wisely can avoyd Bosphorean shelvs
While on the Rocks of sin we split our selves.

39.

Lord grant that I a Dedalus may be,
To build a stately edifice to thee:

142

The height of my Ambition is to frame
Within my heart a mon'ment of thy name.

40.

Like the Saguntian Child from th'earth we come,
And shall return into our mothers womb.
Our fleshly walls, and bony Timber must
Turn out their Tenant, then return to dust
Our breath is Gods, if he but take away
The breath he lent us what are we but clay?
Clay at the best, our matter and their forms
When dead, are thorough fares for crawling worms

41.

What was't a clock, Pompilius would know,
And dyes, with me why may it not be so?
Before thy grim-fac'd messeger thou send,
O make me wise to know my latter end.
Death stays for none, may I be ready still
Prepared, and then come he when he will.

42.

With poysnous sins, let us not haste our fate,
Lost we, Domitius-like, repent too late.

143

43.

Many have dy'd with grief, but overjoy
Did Sophocles and Panacrete destroy,
Dangers enwrapd in every sudden passion;
It often puts the senses out of fashion
Then moderate thy joy, and when grief wounds
Thy soul, be sure to limit in with bounds
Observe a mean, and let thy footsteps be
In the mid-road, avoyd Obliquitie.

44.

Iove's bird to th'Wren will not be reconcil'd,
Because he's Regulus, a Kingling stild:
Let Soveraignty be kep'd, then ther's no odds,
There must be no pluralitie of Gods.
Our God comands it so, nay jealous he
Will have no rivalls, to the fourth degree
He'le soundly punish, the successive race
Of Polytheists who bow to Idolls base:
But as for thousands, that observe his ways,
Mercy shall them encompass all their days.

45.

All the day long Gymnosophists will stand
(Admired patience!) in the scalding Sand,

144

On their alternate legs, and glare upon
With eys, vnapt to wink, the scorching Sun.
O Sun of God teach us t'apply this story,
And make vs constant to behold thy glory.

46.

Lord tune my heart turn griefs to songs of praise
And troublous Nights to Halcyonian dayes.

47.

If thou my sins Shouldst number by my hair
Lord make my head (like the Myconian's) bare.

48.

The swallowing down an hair? how poor a thing!
And yet to prove an instrument to bring.
Death to the Roman Fabius, may not wee,
Depart as soon, who are as frail as he?
Dangers Vnsent for oftentimes do skip.
Betwixt the sparkling cup, and vpper lip.

49.

Lord grant that as the Heliotrop Apollo.
My heart the Sun of rightiousness may follow.

50.

Lord raise up holy fear in me to flee
From sin as creatures do the Linden-tree.

145

51.

The Heathen Brachmens do contemn and scorn
The fear of death, with hopes to be reborn.
Small is that Christians faith who dreads to dye,
When life is promis'd; and eternity!
Happy that soul which dyeth unto sin,
And unto righteousness is born agin.
This death's a pregnant wombe, regeneration
First-born to life, aud heir unto salvation.
Death is the Turn-key, for to let thee in
The gate of life if thou be dead to sin.
So live to dye, that thou maiest dye to live;
And wear the crown God shall the faithfull give.

52.

God angles, Souls unwilling to be took,
Glanis like, bite the bait, leave bare the hook.

53.

The Ch{a}nois dreaming that they shall be born
To heav'n up by their locks, will not be shorn:
Is hea'vens hand short'ned? can th'almighty save not
If he your length'ned hair to hold by have not?
Rebellious Abs'lom wore the like, yet he
Was not caught up to heaven, but to a Tree.

146

Although vpon the ground you traile your haire,
Heav'ns high; short may you come, of coming there,
God cant' a Glorious throne advance thy soul
Although th'hast not an hair upon thy poul
If to the eyes of God my heart seem faire,
What care I for such excrements as hair

54.

The Nabatheans so neglect their dead
That their Kings are in dunghils buried
Lord make me faithfull to the death, that I,
May weare a crown of life if that I dye;
To live to thee I would not wish to have
A fair inscription, on a gawdy grave
If so my soul unto her maker fly
It makes no matter where my body ly.

55.

At Bemavis sick people like to dy
All night, before an idle Idoll ly:
Fond people! think you that that sensless stones
Can ease your sorrows, or regard your mones?
My soul, when sick, acqaint the grand physitan
Of heav'n and earth, with thy deplor'd condition
Beg hard for mercy at the thron of grace.
And he'le give audience, and and at length embrace

147

Thee in his circling arms. Oh who'd not craue
Vpon such easy terms, but ask and have
Nay, he is readier to giue by farr.
Then thou to ask, Oh his indulgent care!
Ask but in faith besure thou shalt reciue,
Thou canst not crave the thing he can not give
Fear not if God but undertake the cure,
Soon done, as said, of health thou shalt be sure
Can heav'n be false? hath he not promised rest
Unto the heavy laden, and opprest?
Mans help is vain, God is a Help indeed,
I wish no better help in time of need.

56.

The Hirpian witches, with uncindged soles
On mount Soracte walk on burning coals;
So those that in security excell,
Walk as it were amidest the flames of hell

57.

Ther's difference in climes, Decembers thunder
Is not to the Italian a wonder.
Lord when so'ere thy thundring judgments rattle,
About mine eares let me prepare t'embattle
Against my sins, not count thy voice a crime.
Nor sent in an unseasonable time.

148

58.

The Marsian Bears do fashion out their young,
By licking them all over with their tongue,
And we with Bears in this one thing agree,
We put a gloss on our deformitie.

59.

Æschyl was killed by a Tortise-shell,
Which from the tallons of an Eagle fell;
His fate foretold, into the open ay'r
He gets; Gods judgments find us ev'ry where.

60.

I read man only laughs, and sheddeth tears,
And wanteth power alone to shake his ears:
But sure I am, when discontent is bred,
He needs must shake his ears that shakes his head.

61.

Dame Martia was her infants living Tombe,
When lightning killed it within her wombe
Before sins come into their birth 'twere well
If God would crush the Hydra in the shell.

149

62.

Great Judah's Lion is as mild to those
Who do submit, as furious to his foes.
Sampson, that knockt so many to the ground,
Within the carkase of a Lion found
Sweet combs of Honey: the tender Spouse doth see
In Christ, the fruits of the mellifluous Bee.
His love is very pleasing to her taste,
He, he alone is his deare-hearts repaste.
He is the Bee, the Honey, and the Hive,
To active souls; the Drones away must drive.

63.

If wisdome lies in beards, a Goate would be
Plato, full out as wise, as grave, as thee.

64.

Th'Antæi into woolves transformed were,
And Ants turn'd men, at Æneus his prayer.
If so, no mar'l they'r bloudily enclind,
And these laborious. Cat after kinde.

65.

Lampido was both daughter, wife, and mother,
Unto a King; Queen Anne was such another.

150

Is not the Church the daughter of the High'st?
Is not the Church the tender spouse of Christ?
Is not the Church the Mother of us all?
None dare deny't, I hope nor never shall.
But are we kings? God and his Son I know
Are Kings, and great ones to, the Kings below.
Are mean too them and but subordinate.
But wher's our crown? we reign with Christ in state
Thus then to God, to Christ to Saints (no other)
The Church a Daughter is, a wife, a mother.

66.

Kissing at first came in, that men might know
If their wives drank Temetum wine or no
To find her out, the jealous husband sips
The reaking sent from the good womans lips
Thus 'tis with us for sinister intents
We vse a cloake of courtly compliments

67.

Diomedean birds, have teeth to bite
Yet fawning looks, such is a parasite.
Friend me no friends, for if thou go bout
To bite at me would all thy teeth were out.

151

68.

The Gymeco-cratumeni, are borne
The Object of imperious womens scorne
Obeying husbands and comanding wiues
Both equally do lead vnnat'rall lives.
I doubt not but ther's many could afford
To wear the breeches would you say the word;
Wet't not for shame, Ile lay a brace of groats
More breeches would be worn, and fewer coats
Give shrowes the reines, if men will be such fools,
How purely will they scold, they need no schools,
To Learn them, or to traine them vp there so.
No that (God knows) they naturally can do
Their tongues run glib, and clutter out as thick
As any hops their divelish Rhetorick.
Such as will not believe this sex can prate
Go vex the Oyster wiues as Billing's gate

69

No males belong unto the modest Chainy,
Some females are so Chast that they love many
They hate and love you in a triee, the while
They'l frown upon you in their hearts they smile
And when their tongues do bid you not come neer
You may conclude your presence than doth cheer

152

O how they love to work contrary still,
Thrust off, pull on, unwill the things they will;
Now hard, anon, as pliable as wax;
A faire Encomium for th'unconstant sex.

70.

Great men are multipli'd, but good men are
As is the Drephanis exceeding rare;
Were there as many men as good as great
Virtue would more advance, and vice retreat.

71.

The gagling of a goose, how poor a thing?
And yet so strange deliverance to bring
The Roman Capitol: oft great events
Are brought about by weakest instruements.
In Sampson's hand the Jaw-bone of an Ass
Did slaughter thousands; purp'ling o're the grass.
The Rock yeilds water smot with Moses rod;
The smalest means prevails, if blest by God.

72.

The Shrimp only for food waits one the Nacre,
So we to serve our turnes do serve our maker.
How servile are we? we affection bear
To God not so much out of love as feare.

153

73.

Like Quails, and Roe-bucks we love poyson, that
Which most we should avoyd doth make us fat.
Sin is a cut-throat, yet it is our will.
To count him friendliest, when he means to kill.

74.

I would not wish, so I be fair within,
For Chios earth to beautifie my skin.
While ceruss'd faces unto sin allure,
May my chast soul b'unseperably pure:
I care not how the world esteem of mee,
So I be lovely onely vnto thee,
Nothing can make me fine I must confess.
O Saviour but thy robes of righteousness.

75.

Our hearts all vice, as Amphitane gold draws,
The Load-stone iron, as the Amber strawes.

76.

A chillis-like god which inflicts the wound.
In justice, can in mercy make it sound.
The law is as a lance to cut the bile,
The gosple pours in balme an healing oile.

154

O may that make me sensible of sin.
And this revive, when I to sink begin.

78.

I Tortoise-like, wish neither Teeth nor Tonge.
Rather then haue them instruments of wrong.
Abusive language may I alwayes shun,
By their lewd bab'lings many are undone.
Silence is laudable; my judgment's such,
Better to have no tongue, then one too much.

79.

We like Laertes, and Augeas, Kings,
Who dung'd their grounds, minde only earthly things.
We pore still downwards, and are groveling still
Below, like muke-wormes, ne're looke up the hill,
The pleasant Sion; let the things of heaven.
Or sink, or swim, they'r left at six and seaven.
May I, who Christianity profess,
Minde God and heaven more, and trifles less.

80.

To three M's the Philosopher assignes
Th'earths riches, Mettals, Minerals, and Mines.

155

81.

Poor Cincimatus, he which held the plough
So lately, is become dictator now.
Fortune on Peasants sometimes casts renown,
Raises the humble, kicks the lofty down.
Joy is the consequent of dull-brow'd sorrow,
A subject now, may be a King to morrow.
The active spirits of our age do climbe
By gradual steps to dignities sublime:
I speak in rev'rence to his Highness, who
By Martial Valour hath attain'd unto
The pow'r now in his hands, whom God doth bless
With matchless and unparralel'd success:
The Honorable title of a King,
How modestly refus'd he? under's wing
We are protected from the boyling rage
Of home-bred foes in this rebellious Age
Blessed be God, that under our own vine,
We have the liberty to sup, and dine.

82.

Support my faith with thy confirming hand,
So shall it firme, like unmov'd Milo, stand.
If thou withdraw and leave me but an hour
Unto my selfe, how feeble is my power.

156

But by thy sinewy arme, great God upheld,
The day is mine, my foe-men needs must yeild.

83.

Christ's our Nepenthe, enemy to sadness
Dispersing sorrow; and reversing gladness.
Art thou, my soul, at any time cast down?
O think on him; and thou wilt smile, not frown;
Drink in, by faith, the Julips of his bloud,
Oh that's a Cordial, thou wilt say 'tis good,
O what can more resocilate the soul,
Then streaming merits in a lib'ral boul.

84.

The Prognean swallow, the cold country leaves,
Hasts to a warmer one: a false friend cleaves,
Fast in the Summer of prosperity.
Let adverse Winter come, then farewell he.

85.

God's word, like to Sybilla's golden branch
Can make us through all difficulties lance.
Soul take it with thee, when thou wouldst oppose
The storming fury of thy spiritual foes,
As sin, and death: nay it hath power to quell
The Divel, and drive him to the gates of hell.

157

86.

On the pure Elements, four things live sole,
Chamelion, Herring, Salamander, Mole.
Tobacconists, Pot-Leaches, Lechers, Misers,
Of Ayr, and Water, Fire, and Earth are prizers.
The first makes the Tobacco pipe his dugg,
And sucks the smoak of the burnt Indian drugg.
The second, he, for his part, cannot live
Without full flaggons: And the third doth grieve
If any step between and stop the flame
Of his lust towards an alluring Dame;
Whores are his hackneys, he is alwaies dull,
But when he's sporting with his pamp'red Trull.
As for the fourth, the Miser to be sure,
Were't not for gold he could not long endure.
So then this one, and that another likes;
Wedded to that their own opinion strikes.

87.

The Indian women, in a foolish spite,
Will black their teeth because that dogs be white:
As for the sparkish gallants of our Nation,
They'r French-mens Apes in each fantastik fashion.

158

88.

Wouldst thou repair thy memory? I think
Thou may'st, if thou'lt look Mneme fount, then drink.

89.

Zisca commands his skin be made a drum,
That the Bohemians still might overcome.
Who, while he lives, is over sin victorious,
After his death he shall not be in-glorious.

90.

Malice inflicts on men more dang'rous wounds
Then Porc'pines quills on the pursuing hounds.
How sedulous are some to purchase woe
For other men, what will not malice doe?

91.

The ebbs and flows of, Egipts plowman, Nile,
Do make a barren, or a fruitfull soile:
Grace is this river, and the more it flows
The more good fruit; if less, the lesser grows.

92.

Panthers have crabbed looks though speckled skins,
And fairest out-sides joyne to fowlest sins.

159

93.

Anaxarete, whilst on the Rack he hung,
Did in the Tyrants face spit out his tongue.
To have no tongue it is the lesser evill,
Then to recant by't, and so please the Divel.

94.

Soul, though the flames should for a while subdue thee
Like the Pyrrhean grove, God can renew thee.

95.

Lest I be like the Hirecinyan wood,
Lord lop my sins, and in the roome graft good.
Since the Creation that was never lop'd,
Till renovation we do stand untop'd.
Lord if thou hew us, hew us not in ire,
Nor make us bundles for eternal fire
To feed upon: our names are in thy rouls,
And wilt thou cast out our immortal souls.

96.

Taprobans, (not respecting persons) fling
To merc'less Tygers their offending King.
How happy were we if we could command
Our head-sins, go, to the Arch-Tyrants land.

160

97.

The B udmes fight unarm'd, the Sword, the Spear,
They are the only weapons that they bear:
Right Combatants of Mars they scorn to throw
Cowardly Arrowes from the springing Bow.
My life a warfare is, Lord, let thy word
Thy dreadful word, be as a two-edgd Sword
To wound mine en'mies, O be thou my Spear,
And if an Hoast besiege me I'le not fear.

98.

Hold water in their mouths, forceing their wives
The men of Burami lead quiet lives.
A better way then this there may be found
For both their ease, as this I shall propound.
It argues wisdome when the wise doth scold,
And clap her fists, the prudent husband hold
His passion in, and when the husband chides,
A wise wife her unruly member hides
'Twixt double doors: this well observ'd infrindges
No Nuptial love, but keps them on their hindges.

99.

Ignatius Leiola, the first Jesuite
As ever I did read of, did delight

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In giggling laughter, and why did he so?
His teeth (it may be yellow) for to shew:
A Jesuite I would not wish to be,
Unless mine actions with my name agree:
Laughter is Cousen-Germane unto folly,
Better is the extream of Malencholly:
To too much Mirth it is not safe to leane;
Nor too much Grief: There is a golden mean.
O grant, dear Lord, I may be alwayes glad
In thee, my God, or make me alwaies sad:
If I must needs be proud, permit not me
To pride in any thing, great God, but thee;
Unfold my lips, for to agnize my sin;
Let me be foul without, so, fair within.

100.

The Alc'ran tels us ther's a Bird nam'd Ziz,
(I think more fabulous then true it is)
So large, that when his wings abroad are hurl'd
They hide the Sun and darken all the world,
Though litle credit unto this be due
Yet shall it's application be true.
Sin is this monstrous bird, which doth obscure
God's Sun-like face: 'tis sin that doth immure
Our souls from faith, 'tis sin that puts a skreen
And walls of seperation between

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God and the soul; 'tis sin that hath the power
To cloath, in shades, this Micro-cosm of our:
Thou which from darkness didst deduce the day,
Banish such mists, let thy coruscant ray
Break through the clouds of my opposing sin;
That so thou maiest enlighten me within.

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Poetical Fictions.

1. On Jupiter.

In Creta, Jupiter was born, of Ops;
And Saturn nourished on Ida's tops,
By the self-gelding Corribants, who plaid
So loudly on their brazen drums, and made
Such tinkling sounds, and such obsteperous noise,
That Saturn might not heare his infants voyce:
The cheated god (thinks to secure his throne)
Instead of Jupiter, devours a stone,
Who was, no sooner grown to mans estate,
But seeing how his father did await
To drink his bloud, tumbles him headlong down,
And he himself usurps the Regal Crown:
The conquered god in Latium hides for shame,
The land of Latium hence derives her name.

2 On Apollo.

Latona 's son in floating Delos born,
Vast Cyclops slew, his god-head lost, forlorn

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Wanting employment sits him down to keep
Thessalian Admetus fleecy sheep;
Mercury gave to him his Harp; the Speare,
Lyre, Buckler, on his Image painted were.
The Muses father, Poets chiefest power,
Author of Musick in the upper Bower;
Sol was he call'd, Bacchus in earth, in hell
Known by the name Apollo, he could tell
Things long before they were, he first did know
The Art of Phisick, from his radiant bow
His golden-footed messengers doth send
Whose rapid force sing to their journeys end;
In love with Hiacynth, and Daphne, he
Turnes him into a Flower, her a Tree.
The Lawrell, Olive, and the Juniper,
Unto Apollo consecrated were;
The Princely Cock, the Herauld of the day,
The griping Goshauk, greedy of his prey,
The silver Swan, and Crow, which can divine,
Is off'red up unto Apollo's shrine.

4 On Bacchus.

Jove 's thigh-borne, Ivy crowned Bacchus nurst
By Juno and the Nymphs, invented first

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The use of wine, and over all the world
He rides, fell Tigers and fierce Linces whirld
His Chariots rapid wheels, he did subdue
Innumerable Nations, and embrew
His hands in tawny Indians bloud, he taught
The Art to buy and sell, the first that sought
Triumphall honour, he his Temples bound
With Regal Diadems, and triumphs sound.
The browsing Goat, and slugish Ass are proud
For to be stiled his, see what a crowd
Of wanton Satyrs, and Sileni, comes,
Rending the ayer with their Kettle-drums;
Loud bellowing sounds, the Menedes his Priests
His Orgis, and his Bacchanalian feasts,
With such vociferations celebrate,
As would tire Fabius for to relate
Their mad confused fragors: seem to mix
The burning Axle with the frigid Styx.

5 On Mercury.

Great Atlas Nephew, Jove and Maias son,
Th'embassador of heavenly powers puts on
His Stag-like feet, and golden head, his wings,
Quits the bright Court: with him along he brings

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His snake-ingirted-soporiferous Rod,
Because that men should know he is a god,
Addicted much to exercise and motion
Swims swiftly thorough the aerial Ocean:
No sennuy force could weapons swifter fling
From Scythian bows, or Balearick string,
Then he doth scud along: Merchants to trade
Instructeth how, tells Theeves for to evade
As he (a theevish god) by slight of Art
Was wont, when he did steale Apollo's dart;
He quickly took (and was as quickly gone)
Neptune's Mace, Uulcan's tongs, & golden Zone
Of rose-cheek'd Uenus, king Admetus drove
And would have rob'd the bolts from thund'ring Jove
VVhat e're he saw he made, what could there be
Secur'd from his light-finger'd Dietie?
This active nimble god from heaven came,
VVas Author, first, of the Palestrick game;
The use of the shrill sounding Lute out sound,
And on mount Caucasus, Prometheus bound,
Hundred-eyd Argus in a conflict slew,
Freed captive Mars, and on a golden clue
Let downe by pulleys, from his fluent tongue,
The eares of his atentive hearers hung.
Cylenius, in Egypt worship'd is,
In the shape of Dog-headed Anubis;

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Of him and Venus, an Hermaphrodite
Of either sex was born, then from the sight
Of the prodigious Gyants, having fled,
He in t'a Stork was Metamorphosed.

6 On Mars.

The war-like god, great Jove, and the Juno's son
Caused the seed of discontent to run
Throughout the hospitable world, fierce anger
With flaming eyes, a strange confused clangor,
Deafning the heav'ns, mad fury, pallid fear,
Rageing oppression, jarring discord were
His sad concomitants; with bloudy rod,
Bellona waits upon this impious god,
Vnto this all-devouring Diety:
In Lemnoe men were sacrifiz'd, the Py
That cheating bird, the watchful Dog, & brood—
—Destroying Vulture, the stout Cock, and bloud—
—Carowsing Wolfe, (true combatants of Mars)
Were dedicated to the god of warrs.
The Romans brag that they derive their line
From him, make him their patron, and assigne
To him his Salij, and do dedicate
The years first Month, oh what invet'rate hate

168

Beares he to Pallas? for his missile darts
At Iove-born wisdome fly, and lib'ral Arts
Him Vulcan with his spouse a bed espies,
And (angry) in a net doth them surprize:
Keeps them close pris'ner from captivitie.
Till Neptune by intreaties set them free.

7 On Uulcan.

The sooty god of Iove and Iuno sprung,
For his deformity from heaven flung,
Fell down into the Island Lemnos, with
The fall grew lame; made of the gods the Smith:
There sets up trade. On sulphry Ætnae's top,
And Lipara sometimes he sets up shop;
Where, with the one-eyd monstrous Cyclopes,
Broontes, Pyrachmon and huge Steropes,
Iove's thunder armour for the gods he made
Against those Gyants which would heaven invade:
To him the Lion, tetri lest of beasts
Was consecrated; in his honor feasts,
And sacrifices, celebrated were
Called Protervia, what meat they spare
They burne: Gentiles with blazing torches run
And when the wick is spent their race is done.

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At Juno's suit he made Ænea's shield,
At Thetis did Pelides armour yeild,
The potent Queen of riches and the air
He chaineth fast unto a golden chaire;
His wife and Msrs he in adultry found,
And them in Adamantine fetters bound.

8 On Cibele.

Cibele , mother of the Gods call'd Ops,
From helpful wealth, and Vesta fair with crops
Of golden eared-labour-crowning crown,
She cloaths the fields; and doth her lap adorn
With verdent grass, choice hearbs, green trees, sweet flowrs
Wife was she to the antient'st of all powers:
This antique Matron weares a branched gown,
And beares, upon her head, a Tower-like crown;
Her right hand holds a Mace, her left a Key;
To her, as Emblems of fertilitie,
The teeming Sow is sacrific'd, then comes
(Beating their brazen hollow-sounding drums)
A traine of self-dissected Coribants,
And round about the street for money dance,
To please their great Cybele, she that found
Out rural pipes, and first did Cymbals sound.

170

9 On Juno.

The sceptred Queen of heaven, to thundring love
Sister, and wife of marriage doth approve
Goddess of riches, ever counted mild
And helpful unto woman great with child;
Saturne, and Ops, her parents; she was bred
Up by the Flowrs, and by the Sea-Nymphs fed.
Faire Iris, Ledeas twins, and Nymphs twice seaven
Fidelious service, to the Queen of heaven,
Duly performe, and dayly waite upon her,
Respecting her according to her honour;
In a rich Charriot, stately to behold,
Of beaten silver and of burnish'd gold,
A yoke of yellow Lyons draw her round
Her vast dominions; spangled star pav'd ground.
The taile-proud Peacock, and the vigilant Goose,
And ravenous Raven's sacred to her use:
Her parties, to be married, off'rings bring,
And do the gall behind the Alters fling:
Her Temple open-roofed was, to enter
Therein, no whore by Numa's law might venture.
Her coadjutor, who is wont to tye men
To females, known is by the name of Hymen.

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This hand a Torch, and that a red vaile holds,
Therewith she modest blushing Brides enfolds;
Iuno did shed her milke, rather then she
A nurse unto feirce Herculee would be:
Thence Lillius had their Alablaster look,
From thence the milkie way its whiteness took:
This hand holds a Pomgranate, there doth stand
A Cuckow on her other sceptered hand.

10. On Uenus.

Loves Goddess, thrice more radient then the morne
Of Cetus testicles, and Sea froth born,
With Rosy Chaplets her fair Temple's boun'd,
And sometimes with the peaceful Mirtle crown'd;
Light Torches bears, and needle-pointed Arrows,
Prodromes of love, a yoke of lecherous Sparrows
Sometimes do draw her Charriots, now she loves
To couple silver Swans, then spotless Doves;
Facundious Merc'ry, and the bounteous Graces,
Perswasive Pytho, in their several places,
Write on her honour; who was said to saile
To flow'ry Paphos, in a shell, a vaile
Of sorrow-boading Cyperus she wore,
When she Bore-kil'd Adonis did deplore.

172

Sometimes a wanton Goate she rides upon,
And doth house-carrying tongueless snails tread on,
Mars into Seas of wantonness did steere her,
And reeling Bacchus was her Armour-bearer.
Paris assign'd unto the Queen of love,
The golden Apple which fell from above:
Iuno prevails not though she proffers treasure,
Pallas her gifts are slighted, it is pleasure
Load-stone to vice, attracts the wanton eye
Of injuditious Paris, wit may lie
And starve, for him rich Iuno is neglected;
And Venus, who but Venus, is respected?
Hellen is rap'd, he Hellen doth enjoy,
A ten years warr ends in the fall of Troy:
O dire effects of love! by Vulcan's jaws
Troy was devour'd, but Hellen was the cause.

11 On Minerva.

Jove 's brain-bred girle, the president of warr
Princess of peace drawn in a fiery Carr,
To her the Owl (To shew her clear discerning
Of obstruse secrets) sacred was of learning,
Of Arts of wisdome, she invent'ress was;
Her Target (Egis call'd) though smooth as glass,

173

Did beare a Snake-hair'd Gorgon's head, thereon
Who ever look'd was turn'd into a stone;
She on a Dragon treads, gripes in her hand
A Crow a Cock doth on her Helmet stand;
A long Cloake (Peplum cal'd) she us'd to wear,
And in the air wave her glit'ring Spear;
Terrour and feare her waiting maids stood by her,
Tutor'd by her, Prometheus stole fire,
From Titan's burning Chariot, by which thing,
He many Arts did to perfection bring:
Her heav'n-sent Image, the Paladium
Was by the vestal Virgins kept at Rome:
The Trojans loosing, this their City, lost,
Which in a Sea of stormy warrs was tos'd?
Olives to her were sacred, for she found
The use of Oyl, her the Athenians crown'd
With decent Chaplets, made of Olive leavs;
Her new-sound use of wooll, she spins and weaves,
A golden lamp to her was dedicated,
At her March leasts the Mistresses awaited
Upon their serving Maids, as Masters tended
Upon their Men, till the Saturnal's ended.
Jove's thunder she could use, and had the power
To raise a storme, and qualifie a shower.
Her heavenly seat is next to Jupiter,
She went up into Diomedes Carr,

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In Oreus pitchy Helmet hid (so sly)
That she was undiscern'd, by Mars his eye:
Palas, Arachne turn'd into a Spider,
Ambition loves no equals live beside her.

12 On Diana.

Apollo 's sister daughter unto Jove,
And fair Latona, loves in woods to rove;
And on the swelling hills: from her sure bow
Her Arrows (messengers of death) doth throw,
At swift-foot Dears, and tim'rous Hares, which hast
For life, but meet with death; Diana chast
Goddess of dancing, unto virgins mild
Propitious unto women great with child:
An eye of watchfulness, this Goddess sets,
Over the Fishers and the Hunters nets.
The dancing Satyrs. Sylvan Dryades,
Nymphs, Hamadryades, and Orades,
Do in her sight delight; in Heaven, Earth, Hell,
Luna, Diana, Proserpine, do dwell;
One and the same, Triform'd, and Trivia nam'd,
Because, where three wales met there she was fam'd
This winged Goddess easily restrains
Fierce Lions force, and speck'led Leopards reines:

175

The all-united force of milk-white Stags,
Through Marble plains her silver Chariot drags;
Because, with hornes, she looketh beautifull,
Men sacrifized unto her a Bull;
Nay more (while they Diana did invoke)
With humane flesh her frequent Altars smoke.

13 On Ceres and Proserpine,

Corne crowned Ceres Saturne and faire Ops
Faire Off-spring smiles upon her golden crops
Holds wealthy Plutus, who at her command
Scatters his bounty with a liberal hand.
Plenty and Hony-mouthed peace remaine
Linck'd fast together by a silken chaine
None to her sacrifice at any time
Could ent'rance find, if conscious of a crime
Faire Venus, Iuno and Minerua to;
Did on a certaine time a Maying goe,
Proserpine bare them company, who while
Shee gathered Popy, with a pleasing toil
Tricking her bosome, with delightfull flowres
Grim Pluto whirld her to his pitchy Bowres
For his Tartarian Chariots, Cerb'rous sings
And fell Erynnis Scorpions have nor stings,

176

Ixions wheele stood still, Promtheus heart
Feeles no corroding Vipers, Flouds impart
Theire liquor unto thirsty Tantalus,
The stone affordeth rest to Sisyphus:
The lab'ring Belides have leave to play
And solemnize this ioyfull marrage day
Now Ceres mother takes a flaming Pine
And sorrowing seeketh for her Proserpine
And kindly entertained by Celeus
Taught them how to sow corne; Triptolemus
His Son by day, with milk, by night with fire,
She nonrished; while Celius did enquire
Too curiously in this, him Ceres slew.
Triptol'mus Chariot winged Dragons drew,
Circling the world Triptolemus to men
First taught the use of Corn; from Dis, his den
Proserpine could not redelivered be
Because she, of a fare Pomgranate tree
(Which did in Pluto's Orchard grow) did taste;
Yet she obtain'd such favour, at the last,
As to continue (after she was found)
Six months above, as many under ground;
Halfe a yeare here, as long assign'd to dwell
Black Pluto's Queen, in the low Countries, Hell:
Witches to Hecate, their Goddess, come;
Unto her offred are the Hecatombe.

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To shew th'unconstancy of wealth and store,
Halfe moones upon their shoes the Romans wore.

14 On Pluto.

Saturne 's three sons shar'd his estate, heav'n fell
To Iove, to Neptune Sea; to Pluto Hell.
And all earth's golden entrails appertains,
His triple-headed Ceberus bound in chains
Of Adamant, holding a bunch of keys,
Before the pitchy Pallace kennel'd lies;
Horrible for his snakey hares, keeps cent'ry
To guard hell's Monarch; Sybil in this entry
(Which with a vig'lant eye he us'd to keep)
Did by her wisdome, lul him fast asleep;
Thence Herc'les drag'd him, light doth make him spue,
And of his foame the poys'nous Wolf-bane grew;
The raiging Futies, the life-measuring Fates,
Rapacious Harpies, waite within the gates
Of grisly Dis, with Fun'rall Cypres crown'd,
Who, galloping on his black Steeds, is found
By fraud'lent Cheaters, cursed Perjurers,
Oppressors, Lyars, and Extortioners:
But very slowly halteth from his den,
To honest, godly, conscionable men.

178

He cometh creeping when he wealth doth bring,
Departing, flieteth with an Eagles wing.
Who e're put on Pluto his Helmet, he,
Became invisible, and from danger free:
With this same Helmet coverd, Wisdomes Queen
Fought against Troy, and was, by Mars unseen.
How Pluto ravished his Proserpine,
I lately told and shall not tel't agin.

15 On Charon.

The squalid son of Erebus and Night
Old, but not weak, most terrible for sight;
Vigorous, furious, coveteous, and sad,
With greasy, sordid, ragged garments clad:
In his old rotten, feeble, brittle wherry,
Mens souls to the Elizium he doth ferry,
Over the scalding Lakes of Phlegethon:
Mournful Cocytus, joyless Acheron,
Hateful Styx, (by which the Gods did sweare)
Oblivion; causing Lethe, for his fare,
Each passenger a half-penny must carry
In his shut mouth, or else for passage tarry:
None but the dead t'his boat admitted be,
Yet was Eneas, for his pietie,

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Took in alive; Hercules entrance found,
Theseus by strength, Orpheus by's musicke sound;
Alive, and with no faces these Champions come,
Into the pitchy Realms of Baratbrum.

16 On Minos, Eacus, Rhadamanthus,

Iust Minos, husband to the beautiful
Pasiphas, who intirely lov'd a Bull:
Into a wooden Cow, which he did frame.
Her, Ded'lus puts, the Minotaur thence came.
No sooner was this known to Minos, but
He Dedalus and his Son Icarus shut
With that same Man-Bull Monster fed with men)
Within his self-made Labyrinth, and then
Haveing obtain'd the favour of a clue
Of threed, they made evasion, and flew
From Cretae's Isle, with Artificial plumes,
While unadvised Icarus presumes
Too high a flight, his waxen wings did melt,
And straightway fail'd, when they no sooner felt
The scorching force of Titan's fiery beames
He fell and christned the Icarian streames.
Theseus the man-destroying Monster slew,
And scap'd, help'd out by Ariadne's clue.

180

Jove his three Sons to be hell's judges sent,
Who in their way (by him directed) went
Thorough a flow'ry Meadow, which was thought
The field of truth, poor naked souls were brought
To these impartial Judges, who were strict
In dealing righteous judgment, and t'inflict
Deserved punishment upon offenders,
Furies, and evill Genii, their atenders,
With thund'ring whips of steell are ready still,
To execute these righteous Judges will,
On conscious souls; as bloudy murtherers,
Adulterers, hollow-hearted flaterers,
Claw-bac'd detractors, glozing Sycophants,
He which hath store of guilt no torment wants.
Æacus, Rhadamonthus, sit by one
Another lovingly, Minos alone.
When as Ægina was unpeopl'd then
At Eacus prayers, Iove turn'd the Ants to men;
His timely Orizons deliver'd Greece,
From the devouring plague, which did encrease,
And feast it self on flesh, carowsing bowls
Of the infected bloud of dying souls.

181

17 Eumenides.

The snake-hair'd furies, born of Night and Dis,
Eumen'des nam'd by an Antiphrasis;
In heaven Diræ and in earth they be
Call'd Harpiæ, and in hell the Furiæ,
She Stygian Dogs of Pluto; Alecto
With bloudy-burning Pine, runs too and fro;
Envious Megæra riseth from her chair,
And with her poysnous breath infects the air;
The furnace of her mouth (beseig'd with fire)
Contagious vapors casts her whip of wire
Mad drunk with bloud, makes such a dreadful sound
As though the heauen, & earth, it would confound
Spightful Tesipeone with Scorpions stings
Offenders, and her horrour-boding wings
She stearnly shakes, and makes the guilty seal
Th'imprinted strokes of her revengful steel.
These sisters, dredful for their brazen feet;
Snake-hairs, loud-sounding scourges have their seat
With Apollo's sacred Temple porch,
Dismaly tining their infestuous Torch;
Worship'd they were, that they no hurt might doe,
Who into their Achaian Temple goe,

182

Guilty of murther, incest, theft, or acted.
Much like enormities, did grow distracted

18 On the Harpies, Stryges, and Lamiæ.

Ællo , Celeno, and Ocypete,
The names of the rapacious Harpies be;
Who did, them eat upon blind Pheneus table
Pollute, and then devour (as runs the Fable)
Their flat'ring countenance, and maiden face,
Do seem to promise and portend embraces;
Their Dragons tails, and tallons of an Eagle,
Threat ruine unto those whom they inveagle.
When as tra'lucent Phebe doth appear,
The Striges and the Lamie domineere,
Suck childrens bloud, with Hecatean charmes,
Hurt Cattle, therefore from such noxious harmes
They C[illeg.] to protect them doe invoke,
And with their sacrifices Altars smoke.

19 On Chimera.

Three shap'd Chimera, that much hurt had done,
At last was killed by Belerophon,

183

A Lions head he had; his gulf-like throate
Breaths fire, the belly of a wanton goate
Nor wanting was to him, and least he saile
Of spight, he had the poys'nous Dragons taile.

20 On the Fates.

Th' inexorable Parce, borne of Hell,
And night, three Sisters were assign'd to dwell
Within a pitchy cavern; nature bindes
Their souls in peacefull union: Clothe windes
Flax on the Distaste, and the thred of life
Is spun by Lachesis, the fatal knife
Of Atropos divideth it in twain,
Which done it cannot be conjoyn'd againe.
The Series of things, Jupiter's scribes
Will not divert, no, for a world of bribes:
Cresus his store, the wealth that Midas treasur'd,
Cannot prorogue the life that they have measur'd:
Th'intreats of virtue, nor the threats of vice,
Melts them to mercy; neither prayer nor price
Wring out compassion, no fire can thaw
Their frozen hearts, nor can affliction draw
Their thoughts to pitty, they regard no m nes,
Nor thunder of ingemenated groanes.

184

Noe stormy sighs, nor silent-pleading tears,
Can force the rocky portals of their ears;
They'r cloath'd in white, haveing their temples crown'd
An Adamantine distaffe held, which round
The spacious orb encircled, their extent
And solid stableness, thereby was meant.
By these three Fates is understood, by some,
Time past, time present, and the time to come.