Streams from Helicon :: :: University of Virginia Library

A gastly Sight, for lo the Dead arise,
Some without Arms and others without Eyes:
Till these come flying on the Wings of Wind,
From diff'rent Airths no more to be disjoin'd;
No single Atom of the Body's lost,
Each Part reviv'd crawls to its former Post.
Leaping with Life, the Hand finds out the Skull;
The Heart with Blood, runs till the Veins are full;
The Pulses beat, such is the Pow'r of God;
Shin-Bones come leaping to receive their Load:

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The quicken'd Dust creeps from its loathsome Den,
And Stink, and Vermine turns to living Men.

Almighty Pow'r rebuilds the stately Dome,
Behold the Pillars and the Beams do come;
The Bones are artificially unite,
Fresh oyl'd with Marrow, moisten'd full of Heat.
The Breast is cover'd with the Sternum-Bone,
The Skelet now hath got his Breast-Plate on:
That Stomach, Heart and Lungs, be free from Harm,
Lo seven strong Ribs do clasp them in their Arm,
Whose bonny Heads the Vertebræ doth find,
Their right Ends are unto the Sternum join'd.
Five bastard Ribs, the Belly doth invest;
The last and least, hangs loosely from the rest.
The Head's complete, the Vertebræ is sent,
To join this Island to the Continent.
Atlas whose Foot stands on the Shoulder-Blade,
Supports this Wise, this glorious Globe the Head:
Th'indented Sutures closely join in one,
All's safe within, the warlike Helmet's on.
For sure Defence, the Skull receives the Brains,
The Breast, with all its Parts, the Ribs sustains:
The Brain's enthron'd in their strong lofty Tow'r,
Th'an'mal Spirits elaborate as before:
Which the miraculous Machine preserves,
Circ'lating thro' their Vehicles, the Nerves,
Thro' various Ducts and Rivuletes they flow,
Dispensing Blessings to the Parts below.

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The Heart, which now with vital Heat doth burn,
To its old Purse and Thorax doth return;
Amidst its ancient Lobes resumes its Seat,
Like standing Clock-wind up, begins to beat:
Sets all the Springs to Work, maintains them all,
Conveys brisk Streams thro' many a hid Canal:
Which thro' meandring Veines, with gentle Course
Do glide, and then return unto their Source.
So all the Rivers run unto the Deep,
The Parent doth the Childrens Portion keep:
In her Exchequer all the Treasure lies,
From thence is issued out in fresh Supplies.

The Lungs do beat, the Bronchy's full of Air,
Caus'd by the Pressure of the Atmos-Sphere;
Which by Elastick Virtue entrance hath,
Filling the empty Cavaties with Breath.
The Bellows fully blown, severely swell'd,
Compressed by the Thorax is repell'd:
Thus Respiration's constantly perform'd,
The needful Air suck'd in, anon return'd.

The Curtains drawn, these lum'nous Globes the Eyes.
Roll in their Orbs with wonder and surprise;
Plac'd in the hollow Sockets of the Skull,
With Muscles cled, to make the motion full:
Now from th'exalted Mansion they behold,
The Truth of what th'inspir'd Job fortold.

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I know that my Redeemer lives,
My dear Lord Jesus comes,
To judge the Earth in Righteousness,
And raise us from our Tombs.
Tho' Worms devour my Flesh and Bones
When I am turn'd to Clay,
These Eyes of mine shall see the Lord,
At the great Judgment Day,

The spreading Ears the son'rous Trumpets hear
With strong Concussions of th'external Air;
The auditory Nerves all start for fear.
They hear a Sound was never heard before,
Gabriel proclaims that Time shall be no more.

Th'august Tribunal's in the Rain-Bow plac'd,
To this high Court all Men and Angels haste;
Lo there's Heav'ns Pursevants and Heraulds bright,
With glorious Robes of pure æther'al Light.

Titius the Pleader, is a Pannel now,
Blushes succeeds the Brass o'erspread his Brow.

Learn'd Æsculapius minds no Pill or Potion;
The Aomon promises no Declination:
Nature's upon an Chymick Operation,
The Sea it self can't quench this Conflagration.

The Infant World did in hot Lust abound,
And was by Heav'ns Electuaries drown'd,

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In Dottage now, she still more vicious grows,
And therefore dies by a Mercurial Dose.

The Sun and Moon from their high Orbs do wander,
Falling calcine the World to a Cynder.