University of Virginia Library

previous section Oxford Historical and Literary Studies
next section

ON THE SILKE-WORME

The Silke-worme's Work & Labour now is mine;
A Taske (on this side Heaven) most divine!
A Worke, that in the Subject may contend
With Virgil's Bee, however it bee penn'd!
71

Pretty neat Huswife! pray, what Nature is't
Hath taught thee this fine Art to spin & twist
Those precious Threads, wch make the Plow-man vaile
And strike his Russet-bonnet to thy Saile!
Sure 't is some Providence, Something no lesse
Than that High Power, wch his Gifts doth blesse
With a preserving Skill, hath freely lent
Both for Necessity and Ornament.
How can the cunning Artisan let slip
The pompe and glory of thy Workmanship!
What vast & mighty pleasures this small Wretch
Disperses from it selfe, enough to stretch
A barren Fancy into teeming joyes!
A Heape, that satisfies, but never cloyes.
Pleasure & Profit, Wit and Industry,
Mix their great Powers in this Little Fly.
Minerva's Loom is shrunke into his Cell;
Arachne's Web is a slight Paralell.
Deck'd with the travaile of these creatures, Kings
And Queens become such Honourable Things.
The Gallant rufling in a Silken Storme,
Poor Man, is yet beholding to a Worme
For all his Braverie! when the wind is low,
This pettie Æolus must make Him blow,
Set up his Sailes, and from his Wardrope bring
The blust'ring gloryes of a glitt'ring King.
Wee have our Physick too from Him: the Heart
Is cloath'd with easy health, and freed from smart.
The smooth & downie Wings of Sweet Content
Are woven here, the Mind's Habiliment.
It cheers the Soule, it recreates the Sad,
In rugged Times it makes the Spirits glad,
It calmes distempers, smooths a wrinckled Brow,
And swells our thoughts, although our Fate bee low;
It mollifies our greifes, and doth assuage
The course afflictions of this ragged Age:
In vaine wee use Steel-physick to confute
The Iron-World; 't is this Soft Thing must doe't.
72

As tender drops of dew dissolve the Stone,
Our Hardship thus doth vanish and is gone;
As solemne Musique gluts the greedy Eare,
It fills with courage; and it purges Feare;
Inspires, and expells; it breeds & feeds
Our good, but starves & kills our wicked deeds:
It stores the Mind with Angells, & lets out
Those wild corruptions, that rebellious rout
Of Sinnes & Devills, which perplex the Saint
Till Soveraigne Faith & Roiall Reason faint.
A Virgin's Smile distill'd into a Kisse
Is not such comfortable joy as this!
This is the force of Silkes! in harder termes
This is the strength & vertue of Alkermes.
All this that thus cloaths, cures, preserves, reformes,
Windes up in praise to our Silke-spinning Wormes.
Their Breeding is so delicate, 't must needs
Produce such mild effects, such glorious deeds.
Observe with wonder, how this punie Elfe
Doth worke, and winde, and nuzzle up himselfe
In a rich Bed of Silke! His Mulb'ry Feast
Once past, hee runs to his laborious Rest,
73

Lurkes in his politique Huske, as if hee meant
With ease to undermine The Parliament,
Workes like a Powder-traitour in a Hole;
Faux himselfe was not such a crafty Mole.
See, sayes SR Walter Earle, this is the way
To settle the Commission of Array.
If Hee bee suffer'd to expire his stuffes,
Wee shall have treason shortly lurke in muffes;
I tell you, Freinds, if Hee be suffer'd so
To vent his Wares, if the State let Him goe,
Thus orderly to traine his Silver Band,
Our brazen-fac'd Militia cannot stand.
These are the Workes of Peace & Darknesse! War
Is our Delight: This sleizie Peice will marre
Our sturdy Soules: A solid massie Crown
Is not brought forth on Beds of melting Down.
Dixit SR Midwife. But the quiet Flies
Smile at his harmlesse testy injuries.
They sweat in hope of Better Times, whilst I
Wrapt in conceit of this deepe Mysterie,
Dare wish, if neither Gold, nor Silver must
Denominate our wellfare, though but Dust,
If neither Honey come in floods, nor Milke,
We may bee glutted with the Age of Silke.
 

Alkermes. A famous Confection, made of Silke decocted & infused into the juice of Kermes, a Soveraigne remedy against fainting & swowning; very restorative & comfortable to sickly weake people, and a good Cordiall for all kind of Sadnesse, Greife, & Distraction.

Very delicate indeed. I. in regard of the Time, the best part of the yeare, the Spring, and the best part of the Spring, in April, at the Moon's Increase, and for the time of the day, they must be fed every morning & evening, and upon the fourth change at noon also. II. in respect of the Meanes, the Leaves of the Mulberie, a Tree very rare in most Countryes, and those Leaves, wch are most tender, and of those Trees, wch are planted upon the topps of Hills, standing open to the Sun. &c. III. of the Matter: the Seed wch is but a yeare old to bee made choice of for Breeders. IV. the Manner of Production. this Seed must bee made ripe & mellow with a bath of Wine. V. the Place. 1. by the Fire's Side. 2. betwixt two Pillowes stuff'd with soft warm Feathers, or betwixt a Woeman's Breast...3. upon Boards or Papers, rubb'd over with Wormwood, or some such wholesome Hearb, wch discovers the profit as well as the pleasure and curiositie of this Beast. There are many other circumstances very observable in the generation & education of our Silkworme; but these are sufficient to prove the admirable finenesse of his constitution.

S. Wal. Earl. A Man (shall I say? or a Man-midwife, as One sayd of Him) who was wont to deliver the Com̄onwealth of her swelling tympanies, & make strange discoveries of Horrible Plots. a Man, that help'd to ruine illustrationin deciphering & tormenting those innocent Characters of his Name; and if He be yet in Beeing, will hardly suffer these tame harmlesse Vermine to doe their Businesse in Peace.

previous section Oxford Historical and Literary Studies
next section