Fovre bookes of Du Bartas I. The Arke, II. Babylon, III. The Colonnyes, IIII. The Columues or Pyllars: In French and English, for the Instrvction and Pleasvre of Svch as Delight in Both Langvages. By William Lisle ... Together with a large Commentary by S. G. S |
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The Pillars, or fourth Booke of Noe.
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The Pillars, or fourth Booke of Noe.
Eternall, ô, if e're the purest of my mindeHath beene possest with heat of any heau'nly winde,
If e're my heart enspir'd with thine high spirits glance,
Hath to thine Altar brought a verse of famous France,
O Father of shining light, ô first Fountaine of skill,
Or now, or neu'r is time, I Thine heauenly fury fill
And quintessence my soule, and that some thought diuine,
Base cares abandoning, me lift-vp to the skine.
Time is thou lead me farre fro mens cares and alarmes,
That I endronke my sence with heau'nly Syrens charmes,
Embrace with peace and ioy Vrany and her sisters,
And view th'all-starry roofe, that o're this Temple glisters.
To th'end, as heretofore our Elders haue beene taught
By thine owne hand the rules of this high rowling vaut,
Thou própt my Muse a verse, whose bewty & state may square
With state and bewty of all heau'ns clearest lights that are,
When th'Earth was seuered by mens ambitious Iarre.
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A piller found vpright that on the plaine stood-out
As Rock that scornes the Sea assaulting round-about,
And beares a signe in top, to warne least Amphitrite
Cast any there to waues of helly-darke Cocyte:
He saw not far-aside, another like in masse,
But not in stuffe the same, nor that like happie was;
For on the flowry land Cylinder-wise it lay,
All-only built of bricke and short enduring clay:
Whereas the standing pile was hew'n and framed strong
Of Iasper quarries huge, and Marbl'enduring-long.
And beares a signe in top, to warne least Amphitrite
Cast any there to waues of helly-darke Cocyte:
He saw not far-aside, another like in masse,
But not in stuffe the same, nor that like happie was;
For on the flowry land Cylinder-wise it lay,
All-only built of bricke and short enduring clay:
Whereas the standing pile was hew'n and framed strong
Of Iasper quarries huge, and Marbl'enduring-long.
What miracles be these, quoth Phaleg to his father,
What great enormous heaps? hils handy-wroughen rather:
I wonder what so strange a frame of worke entends;
Say thou (I pray) that hast ykon'd at fingers ends
The monuments of old, ô say for what entent,
When, and by whom, these twins of ancient worke vp-went.
What great enormous heaps? hils handy-wroughen rather:
I wonder what so strange a frame of worke entends;
Say thou (I pray) that hast ykon'd at fingers ends
The monuments of old, ô say for what entent,
When, and by whom, these twins of ancient worke vp-went.
Then Heber said; my sonne, of Gods eternall breth
First Adam learned all, and he enstructed 3 Seth
The compasse, course, and site of all those flaming boules
That gild th'abiding-place of th'euer-happy soules:
And Seth his children taught, they also view'd the skies,
And trim'd and perfected this Art in curious wise.
For, on the sourdy bankes of th'easterne hurring streames,
All-out the carelesse night, when other lay in dreames,
They fed their bleating flockes, and liuing many Ages,
Might well the wonders marke of all the shining stages.
First Adam learned all, and he enstructed 3 Seth
The compasse, course, and site of all those flaming boules
That gild th'abiding-place of th'euer-happy soules:
And Seth his children taught, they also view'd the skies,
And trim'd and perfected this Art in curious wise.
For, on the sourdy bankes of th'easterne hurring streames,
All-out the carelesse night, when other lay in dreames,
They fed their bleating flockes, and liuing many Ages,
Might well the wonders marke of all the shining stages.
And building on the plot of their fore-fathers ground-work,
They raised-vp in time a rich, a faire, a sound worke.
But vnderstanding well that Gods reuenging Ire
Should once the world destroy by wat'r, and then by fire,
(As th'old Tradition was) thus high aboue the land
They rais'd a paire of Pyles with cunning Masons hand.
That there from throat of Time for their posterities,
They might the treasures hoard of Algrim Mysteries.
They raised-vp in time a rich, a faire, a sound worke.
But vnderstanding well that Gods reuenging Ire
Should once the world destroy by wat'r, and then by fire,
(As th'old Tradition was) thus high aboue the land
They rais'd a paire of Pyles with cunning Masons hand.
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They might the treasures hoard of Algrim Mysteries.
Thus hauing said, he went vnto the standing Rocke,
And did (I know not how) a secret doore vnlocke:
So went with Phaleg in, and to a candle came,
Which with eternall thirst maintain'd immortall flame.
And did (I know not how) a secret doore vnlocke:
So went with Phaleg in, and to a candle came,
Which with eternall thirst maintain'd immortall flame.
As, when a priuate man is through a hundred wayes
Brought by some husher sterne vnto the shining rayes
At length of royall seat, he wonders at the sight,
And glaunces vp and downe his eyes vnstayed light;
So Phaleg was amaz'd, and said, ô father deere,
What cunning worke is this? whose are these statues heere?
I thinke foure water-drops may scarse be more then they
Th'each vnto th'other like. How strange is their aray?
What secret mystery of heau'nly-learned skilles
Is hidden vnder vaile of these faire vtensilles?
Brought by some husher sterne vnto the shining rayes
At length of royall seat, he wonders at the sight,
And glaunces vp and downe his eyes vnstayed light;
So Phaleg was amaz'd, and said, ô father deere,
What cunning worke is this? whose are these statues heere?
I thinke foure water-drops may scarse be more then they
Th'each vnto th'other like. How strange is their aray?
What secret mystery of heau'nly-learned skilles
Is hidden vnder vaile of these faire vtensilles?
My sonne (quoth Heber) see foure daughter-twins of heau'n,
Foure sister-ladies braue, the fairest doubled eau'n
That ere th'Eternall Spirit proceeding one of twaine
Begotten hath, or e're conceiued manly braine.
Foure sister-ladies braue, the fairest doubled eau'n
That ere th'Eternall Spirit proceeding one of twaine
Begotten hath, or e're conceiued manly braine.
She there, which euer shifts or euer seemes to shift
Her fingers and her tongue, to gather, lay, and lift
Her counters many-wise, is th'Art of Odde and eau'n,
Whose industrie can search and count all th'oast of heau'n,
The winter I sickles, and flowers diapreade,
Wherewith sweet sauoury Prime enguyrlands eu'ry meade.
She sets her bewtie forth with rich acoutrements,
And round about her lye great heapes of siluer pence;
Heau'n o're her sacred head a shining treasure powers
(Like Ioue in Danaes lap) of many golden showers.
Her gowne trailes on the ground; instead of glassie plate,
To view her bewties in, hangs at her girdl' a slate,
Which maugr' all force of time for vs here keepeth still
The more part of the rules of her most certaine skill.
See with what manner marke is painted 8 Vnitie,
The root of eu'ry numb'r, and of Infinitie,
True Friendships deare delight, renowne of Harmony,
Seed-plot of all that is, and ayme of Polymnie;
No numb'r and more then numb'r, on all-sides so exact,
It hath in't all by powre, and is in all by act.
Her fingers and her tongue, to gather, lay, and lift
Her counters many-wise, is th'Art of Odde and eau'n,
Whose industrie can search and count all th'oast of heau'n,
The winter I sickles, and flowers diapreade,
Wherewith sweet sauoury Prime enguyrlands eu'ry meade.
She sets her bewtie forth with rich acoutrements,
And round about her lye great heapes of siluer pence;
Heau'n o're her sacred head a shining treasure powers
(Like Ioue in Danaes lap) of many golden showers.
Her gowne trailes on the ground; instead of glassie plate,
To view her bewties in, hangs at her girdl' a slate,
Which maugr' all force of time for vs here keepeth still
The more part of the rules of her most certaine skill.
See with what manner marke is painted 8 Vnitie,
The root of eu'ry numb'r, and of Infinitie,
True Friendships deare delight, renowne of Harmony,
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No numb'r and more then numb'r, on all-sides so exact,
It hath in't all by powre, and is in all by act.
See here the Caracter, that signifieth Twaine,
The first-borne sonne of One, first numb'r and fath'r againe
Of heau'ns effeminate: See here of numbers Odde
That eldest brother Three, which proper is vnto God;
Wherein no-numb'r and numb'r is sweetly-kissing met,
Whose two extremities and cent'r are eau'nstly set
Asunder each from oth'r, a numb'r heau'ns fauour winning,
And first of all that hath both end, middle and beginning.
Heer's Foure, base of the Cube, and that with one, two, three,
His own contents, amounts iust to the tenth degree;
The numb'r of th'Elements, and of the name of feare,
Of Vertues, Honours, Winds, and seasons in the yeare.
Heer's Fiue, th'Ermaphrodite, which ne're is multiplide
With any numb'r vneu'n, but shewes it selfe in pride
Iust at the first Encount'r; as fiue times fiue we see
Full Fiue and twenty makes, and Fifteene, fiue times three.
The first-borne sonne of One, first numb'r and fath'r againe
Of heau'ns effeminate: See here of numbers Odde
That eldest brother Three, which proper is vnto God;
Wherein no-numb'r and numb'r is sweetly-kissing met,
Whose two extremities and cent'r are eau'nstly set
Asunder each from oth'r, a numb'r heau'ns fauour winning,
And first of all that hath both end, middle and beginning.
Heer's Foure, base of the Cube, and that with one, two, three,
His own contents, amounts iust to the tenth degree;
The numb'r of th'Elements, and of the name of feare,
Of Vertues, Honours, Winds, and seasons in the yeare.
Heer's Fiue, th'Ermaphrodite, which ne're is multiplide
With any numb'r vneu'n, but shewes it selfe in pride
Iust at the first Encount'r; as fiue times fiue we see
Full Fiue and twenty makes, and Fifteene, fiue times three.
Lo th'Analogicke Six, which, with his owne content,
Nor mounts aboue it selfe, nor needeth complement;
For three is halfe thereof, a third two, one, a sixt,
And all the six is made of one, two, three, commixt.
Nor mounts aboue it selfe, nor needeth complement;
For three is halfe thereof, a third two, one, a sixt,
And all the six is made of one, two, three, commixt.
Behold The criticke seu'n, male, female, eu'n, & odde;
Containing three and foure, and call'd the Rest of God,
The numb'r of clearest brands that fixt are neare the Pole,
And those that guyrding heau'n with course vncertaine roule.
Heer's Eight the double square, And sacred nine lo heere
The sister-Muses holds in triple-triple queere.
Containing three and foure, and call'd the Rest of God,
The numb'r of clearest brands that fixt are neare the Pole,
And those that guyrding heau'n with course vncertaine roule.
Heer's Eight the double square, And sacred nine lo heere
The sister-Muses holds in triple-triple queere.
See Ten, that doth the force of numbers all combine;
As one sets downe pricke, ten drawes in length the line,
An hundred broads the plaine, a thousand thickes the bulke;
So by redoubling ten, the ballast of an hulke
Or all the sand is summ'd vpon th'Atlantike coast,
Or all the swelling waues that angry winds haue tost.
As one sets downe pricke, ten drawes in length the line,
An hundred broads the plaine, a thousand thickes the bulke;
So by redoubling ten, the ballast of an hulke
Or all the sand is summ'd vpon th'Atlantike coast,
Or all the swelling waues that angry winds haue tost.
See here how diuers summes, each right o're other set,
Are altogeth'r in one by rules of Adding met;
How by abating here the lesser numb'r is tride
From out the more; and here how small ones multiplide
Waxe almost infinite: and then how counter-guided
Into as many small the greater summ's diuided.
This Nymph that sadly frownes, with back & shoulders bent,
And holds her stedfast eye still on the ground intent,
And drawes, or seemes to draw, with point of skilfull wand
So many portratures vpon the mouing sand,
In mantle of golden ground with riuers chamleted,
With many embroydred flow'rs all-ouer diuersed,
Embost with little trees, and greeny-leaued slips,,
And edg'd with azur-frenge of some sea bearing-ships;
It is Geometrie; her buskins dusty and rent
Shew well she trauell'd farre, and o're the Climats went
Are altogeth'r in one by rules of Adding met;
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From out the more; and here how small ones multiplide
Waxe almost infinite: and then how counter-guided
Into as many small the greater summ's diuided.
This Nymph that sadly frownes, with back & shoulders bent,
And holds her stedfast eye still on the ground intent,
And drawes, or seemes to draw, with point of skilfull wand
So many portratures vpon the mouing sand,
In mantle of golden ground with riuers chamleted,
With many embroydred flow'rs all-ouer diuersed,
Embost with little trees, and greeny-leaued slips,,
And edg'd with azur-frenge of some sea bearing-ships;
It is Geometrie; her buskins dusty and rent
Shew well she trauell'd farre, and o're the Climats went
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The guide of Artisans, and mother of Symmetrie;
Life of those instruments so diuers-vsuall
And law eu'n of the law that framed all this All.
Behold her's nothing else but compasse, measure, weight,
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The soldiour Triangles, and th'architect Quadrangles,
With hundred other shapes of more increased Angles,
Sharpe, blont, or falling right; Loe here two crooked lines,
One like a crawling Snake, one like a Dodman twines:
Lo many crooked shapes, and here, of all the rest
The Circle in fauour most with eu'ry learned brest;
Whose roundell doth it selfe right-equally display,
And from the Center stands like distant euery way.
Here measure with thine eye all manner Cors-solids,
The Cubes, Dodechedrons, Cylinders, Pyramids;
And wond'r here at the Globe, which all doth comprehend,
So like the world it selfe, and hath nor mid, nor end:
The highest point of Art, and top of all his kynt
A maruaile that containes much counter-maruaile in't:
Moouabl' and immoouabl', inward-bent and bent-out,
Composed of a straight, yet crooked round about.
Behold, at any time when on a plaine 'tis throne,
It downe and vpward stirs, back, forward, all in one.
Nor stirs it all alone when cunning force it moues,
But neighbour moouables proportionally shoues;
As by the heau'ns appears; nay more, though still it bide,
It seemes to threat'n a fall and shake on eu'ry side:
Because a point is all it hath for standing-place,
And halfe on eu'ry side hangs o're so small a base.
And much more wond'r it is how this great earthie ball
Whereon we dwell, sans-base, hangs fast and cannot fall
Amids the yeelding ayre: it selfe is (out of doubt)
The commyd bodies midst, that are not press'd without.
With hundred other shapes of more increased Angles,
Sharpe, blont, or falling right; Loe here two crooked lines,
One like a crawling Snake, one like a Dodman twines:
Lo many crooked shapes, and here, of all the rest
The Circle in fauour most with eu'ry learned brest;
Whose roundell doth it selfe right-equally display,
And from the Center stands like distant euery way.
Here measure with thine eye all manner Cors-solids,
The Cubes, Dodechedrons, Cylinders, Pyramids;
And wond'r here at the Globe, which all doth comprehend,
So like the world it selfe, and hath nor mid, nor end:
The highest point of Art, and top of all his kynt
A maruaile that containes much counter-maruaile in't:
Moouabl' and immoouabl', inward-bent and bent-out,
Composed of a straight, yet crooked round about.
Behold, at any time when on a plaine 'tis throne,
It downe and vpward stirs, back, forward, all in one.
Nor stirs it all alone when cunning force it moues,
But neighbour moouables proportionally shoues;
As by the heau'ns appears; nay more, though still it bide,
It seemes to threat'n a fall and shake on eu'ry side:
Because a point is all it hath for standing-place,
And halfe on eu'ry side hangs o're so small a base.
And much more wond'r it is how this great earthie ball
Whereon we dwell, sans-base, hangs fast and cannot fall
Amids the yeelding ayre: it selfe is (out of doubt)
The commyd bodies midst, that are not press'd without.
All bodies other-shap'd, into the water cast,
Make shapes vnlike their owne; but alway round do last
Th'impressions of a Round: because it cannot strike
With any diuers part, all are vnt'all so like.
Make shapes vnlike their owne; but alway round do last
Th'impressions of a Round: because it cannot strike
With any diuers part, all are vnt'all so like.
Beside as moe may stand in houses Amblygons,
Then can in equall-bought of any Oxygons;
Because the sharpe and right take not so large a stride
As corner blunt; so doth the Round in cloyster wide
More hold then all the rest.
And other bodies breake
Then can in equall-bought of any Oxygons;
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As corner blunt; so doth the Round in cloyster wide
More hold then all the rest.
With eu'ry knock, because they haue both bay and peake,
Beginning, end, and ioynts; whereas the bodie round
Is creastlesse, cornerlesse, and eu'ry-side-way sound.
Son, summon here thy wits, and marke that few haue found,
The doubling of a Cube, and squaring of a Round:
Such hundred-folded knots, such hidden mysteries,
As shall troubl' all the schooles of our posterities.
Keepe faster then in brasse for euer grau'n in minde,
In faithfull minde, these rules, which thou shalt proued finde,
Not by vaine syllogismes or probable arguments;
But whose vndoubted truth appears eu'n vnto sence:
An Art of certainties, whose euer-fruitfull wombe
With wonders new-deuis'd shall fill the world to come.
By her the gentle streame, by her the feeble winde,
Shall driué the whirling presse, and so be taught to grinde
The graine of life to meale; that with increase it may
Vnto the sparing Dames all that is due repay.
By her the brasen throat shall vomit Iron balles,
With smoake and roaring noyse, vpon besieged walles:
The force whereof shall rent the hardest rocks asunder,
And giue more fearefull thumps then any bolt of thunder.
By her the borrowed wings of some assisting winde
Shall beare from out Bresile vnto the rich East-Inde,
And to the frozen Sea from Affricks boyling flood,
A iogging towre, or eu'n a floating towne of wood:
Wherein the Pylot set shall with a leauer light
Most huge waights easily moue, and make all coast aright.
So shall one Printer worke more learned sheets aday,
Then eu'n a thousand hands of ready-writers may:
One Crane shall more auaile then Porters many a score;
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To measure-out the fields; to part th'earth into lines,
And all the cope of heau'n int' eight and fortie signes:
So shall the wat'r, and sand, the Style and clock in towers,
Most euenly part the day to foure and twentie howers:
An Image made of wood some voice shall vtter plaine;
An artificiall globe heau'ns wonders shall containe:
Men through th'ayres emptinesse their bodies peysing right
Shall ouer-mount the Seas with bold-aduentring flight.
And doubtlesse if the wise Geometer had place
To plant his engins on, and stand himselfe in case
To stirre them aft'r his Art, so could he thrust and shoue,
That like some pettie-god the world he might remoue.
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Into that sacred tent where Vranie the bright
Sits guirt in golden belt, with spangles albedight
Of carbuncl' and of pearle, of rubye and chrysolite;
And that a man without the help of eithers quill
May neuer mount the twyns of starrie Pernas hill;
But whosoeuer wants one of these Eagles eies,
In vaine beholds the glore and fabrick of the skies;
Therefore this cunning Wryght hath neer Arithmetrie
And th'Art of measuring set-forth Astronomie.
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Wherevnder to her foot shines downe with golden beame
A firie blazing starre; two pyrops are her eyes,
Or flaming Carbuncles; her gowne is like the skies,
Blew damaske, all with stars and pictures beautifide,
And with two golden claspes on either shoulder ty'de:
And for her plume or fan shee beares the traine and wings
Of bird whom nature deckt with shining studs and rings.
But what (quoth Phaleg) mean these globes of diuers hew
Shee holds in hand, and seems to reach vnto our view.
My sonne (quoth Heber then) this round shape set-out here
With circles ouerthwart, is of the world the Spheare:
Where th'element of Earth made like a greenie ball,
The setled residence and cent'r of all this All,
Retaines the lowest place; this the wise Naturante
With azure-wauie skarfe hath guirt-about aslante:
Or (plaine to say) The Sea doth cou'r all eu'ry where,
But only certaine parts disparpled here and there.
For th'Ocean Tide he flowes and leaking finds a vent
Into the deepest holes of all th'erth-element;
And where her ouer-face hath any vnequall traite
Seeks-out the midder point not of his masse; but waite.
Here should th'Aire & the Fire, & all the wandring seau'n,
The starre-empowdred vault, the highest-whirling heau'n,
And th'empyrean-selfe be one ore other set,
But that each vpper seene would sight of th'vnder let.
Therefore in place of them the workman of this Round
Ten circles here hath made one ouer others bound,
And Armyllary-wise hath set-out their aray,
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Among the greater Six, that with a counterplight
Doe halfe-diuide the globe, the circl' of match-day-night
Is iustly set betwixt the North and Southern pole,
Which beare-vp, and whereon is turnd-about the Whole:
Now eu'ry lamp of heau'n that vnderglideth it
A longer iourney takes, and doth more wightly flit
Then any of all the rest, who narre the Poles haue leasure
Vnto the Lute of God to dance a slower measure:
And alway when the Sunne his giue day charrot guides
Right vnder line thereof, and rometh not besides,
The day and night goe euen, and cunning Nature than
In eu'ry country metes them out with equall span.
This other couched here next vnd'r it ouerth wart,
Whose poles doe from the poles of th'All warp-out apart
Some twenty foure degrees, is call'd the Zodiack,
The race of wandring flames: here Phœbus keeps his track
To bring-about the yeares, and monthly changing Innes
Procures the quarter-change of Seasons double twinnes.
This other passing-through the poles both of the world
And of the foresaid wheele where Phœbus round is horld,
And framing angles euen on th'Equinoctiall rote
A th'onside thwarts the Crab, ath'otherside the Goat,
The Solsticial Colure is call'd, for Phœbus there
Runs slow, as not along, but ath'onside the Sphere:
And this here crossing that in spheryck angles eu'n
And running by the Ram, the Skoles and Axe of heau'n,
The second is, and call'd the nigh-equall Colure.
And this the circle of Noone, that neuer standeth sure,
But with our Zenith flits: as also with our sight
Th'vnstedfast Horizon takes euery way his flight.
Now for the lesser foure, aside th'Equator lie
The winter Tropick low, and summer Tropick high.
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And lower then the low th'Antartick out of sight.
These foure misse common Centr' and wry-part heau'ns-high wheele;—
Each to th'Equat'r and each vnt' each is paraleel.
The Ball shee beares in lest the portrait is of heau'n;
For howbeit Arte we finde to Nature match vneuen,
Good wits yet ner'thelesse thus also take delight
To view and maruaile-at the Vault so flamie-bright.
For howbeit Arte we finde to Nature match vneuen,
Good wits yet ner'thelesse thus also take delight
To view and maruaile-at the Vault so flamie-bright.
O what a pleasure 'tis that turning softly about
This starrie briefe of heau'n we see as 'twere come out,
And with a stately traine before our eyes to coast,
The bands and banners bright of that all-conquering hoast!
One hath a quiu'r and bow, with arrowes quick-to-strike;
Another swayes a Mace; another shakes a pike.
One lies along, anoth'r enthrond in stately chaire
Rowles-ore the brasen blew of th'euer-shining Sphaire.
Behold, some march afoot, and some on horseback ride;
Some vp, some downe, and some before, behind, beside:
Her's ord'r eu'n in disord'r; and of this iarre doth come
Both vnto Sea and Land a plenty-swelling wombe.
I neuer see them looke one aft'r anoth'r askance
In tryangl', in quadrangle, or in sextile agglance,
Sometime with gentle smile, and sometime with a frowne,
But that me thinks I see the braue youth of a towne
All dancing on a greene; where each sex freely playes,
And one another leads to foot the country layes:
Where one darts as he go'th a looke of Ielousie,
Another throwes his Lasse a louely glauncing eye.
Then Phaleg said, how is't (Sir) that the Souerain-faire
Who naught vnseemly makes in Sea, in earth, in ayre,
Yet on this heau'nly vault, which doth all else containe,
(Where ought delight her selfe and grace and beauty raigne)
Sets many a cruell beast and many a monster fell,
That meeter were t'abide among the fiends in hell?
This starrie briefe of heau'n we see as 'twere come out,
And with a stately traine before our eyes to coast,
The bands and banners bright of that all-conquering hoast!
One hath a quiu'r and bow, with arrowes quick-to-strike;
Another swayes a Mace; another shakes a pike.
One lies along, anoth'r enthrond in stately chaire
Rowles-ore the brasen blew of th'euer-shining Sphaire.
Behold, some march afoot, and some on horseback ride;
Some vp, some downe, and some before, behind, beside:
Her's ord'r eu'n in disord'r; and of this iarre doth come
Both vnto Sea and Land a plenty-swelling wombe.
I neuer see them looke one aft'r anoth'r askance
In tryangl', in quadrangle, or in sextile agglance,
Sometime with gentle smile, and sometime with a frowne,
But that me thinks I see the braue youth of a towne
All dancing on a greene; where each sex freely playes,
And one another leads to foot the country layes:
Where one darts as he go'th a looke of Ielousie,
Another throwes his Lasse a louely glauncing eye.
Then Phaleg said, how is't (Sir) that the Souerain-faire
Who naught vnseemly makes in Sea, in earth, in ayre,
Yet on this heau'nly vault, which doth all else containe,
(Where ought delight her selfe and grace and beauty raigne)
Sets many a cruell beast and many a monster fell,
That meeter were t'abide among the fiends in hell?
Sonne (answers Heb'r) indeed the curious hand of God
Makes all by rules of Art, and nothing gracelesse-odde;
And this especially the world doth beautifie,
That both aloft and here is such varietie.
Yet more, our ancestors that wisely drew the lines,
And skoared first the Globe according to the Signes,
Gaue each a name and shape implying such effects
As on all vnder-things they worke by their aspects.
For thy a Ram they made the Sunnes twyhorned Inne,
His curly-golden signe whereat the yeares begin.
Wherevnd'r is all the land lukewarmed peece by peece
And puts on rich attire, a flowrie-golden fleece.
The next they made a Bull, for there they wont to yoke
The softly-drawing steers that in a sweaty smoke
Plow-vp the fallow grounds, and turning-ore the mould
Doe skowre the coult'r againe that rust before had fould.
Twinnes of the third they made, where Loue that angry-sweet
The male and female makes in one together meet
For eithers perfiture; when fruit in cluster growes,
And all at once are seene both flowr' and graynie rowes.
The fourth a Crab, whereat this prince of wandring fires
Acoast the South againe vntireably retires;
And backward (like a Crab) the way before he trode
Reprints with equall steps, and keeps his beaten rode.
The fift a Lyon fierce; for as the Lyons are
Of hot-infecting breath, so vnder this same starre
Our haruest glowes with heat; yea on the Sea and streames
The Lyon-maned Sun shoots-out his burning beames.
The sixt by their deuise the title hath of a maid,
Because th'Earth like a Girle therevnd'r is ill apaid
To beare the loue-hot looks that Phœbus on her flings,
And then, chast as a maid, no fruit at all she brings.
The next hath of the Scoales, because it seems to way
The silence-louing night and labour-guiding day,
The Summer and the Wint'r, and in the month of Wines
Makes either side so eu'n, as neither more declines.
The next, because we feele then first the Summer gon,
And sting of Winter come, they call'd a Scorpion.
The next, in name and shape an Archer, bow in hand,
He shooteth day and night vpon the witherd land,
Vpon th'embattled towrs, vpon the tufted woods,
His arrowes fethered with Ise and snowie foods.
The next they made a Goat, where, as in shaggie locks
The Goat is wont to clime and countermount the rocks,
Our goldy-locked Sun, the fairest wandring starre,
Remounting vp the Globe begins to come vs narre.
And in the latter signes, because they saw a wet
And euer-weeping heau'n, our fathers wisely set
One with a water-spout still running o're the brim,
And fishes there apaire which in the water swim.
But if-so this (my sonne) not satisfie thy minde,
A man may well thereof some other reason finde:
As, that before the word of God made all of naught,
Before that breeding voice not only th'Infant wrought
But euen the wombe of All; th'eterne exampl' and plot,
The wondrous print of things, (now being, and then not)
On heau'nly manner lodg'd in th'Architects foreseeing;
And thus, before it was, the world it had a being.
So first the great Three-One with drift ingenious
Diplaid of shining heau'n the curtaine precious;
And, as vpon a slate, or on a painters frame,
The shape, of things to-be, portrayed on the same.
Loe, is not here the draught of some gold-sandy brooke
That on this azure ground glydes (as it were) acrooke?
There softly fannes a Rav'n, here swiftly an Eagle driues;
There walloweth a Whale, and here a Dolphin diues:
A Dragon glisters here, a Bull there sweating frets;
Here runs the light-foot Kid, and there the horse curuets:
What thing so goodly abides in ayre, at sea, aground,
But some right shape thereof in heau'n aloft is found?
Our ballances, our crownes, our arrowes, darts and maulles,
What are they but estreats of those originals
Whereof th'Almighty word engroue the portraiture
Vpon the books of heau'n for euermore t'endure?
157
And this especially the world doth beautifie,
That both aloft and here is such varietie.
Yet more, our ancestors that wisely drew the lines,
And skoared first the Globe according to the Signes,
Gaue each a name and shape implying such effects
As on all vnder-things they worke by their aspects.
For thy a Ram they made the Sunnes twyhorned Inne,
His curly-golden signe whereat the yeares begin.
Wherevnd'r is all the land lukewarmed peece by peece
And puts on rich attire, a flowrie-golden fleece.
The next they made a Bull, for there they wont to yoke
The softly-drawing steers that in a sweaty smoke
Plow-vp the fallow grounds, and turning-ore the mould
Doe skowre the coult'r againe that rust before had fould.
Twinnes of the third they made, where Loue that angry-sweet
The male and female makes in one together meet
For eithers perfiture; when fruit in cluster growes,
And all at once are seene both flowr' and graynie rowes.
The fourth a Crab, whereat this prince of wandring fires
Acoast the South againe vntireably retires;
And backward (like a Crab) the way before he trode
Reprints with equall steps, and keeps his beaten rode.
The fift a Lyon fierce; for as the Lyons are
Of hot-infecting breath, so vnder this same starre
Our haruest glowes with heat; yea on the Sea and streames
The Lyon-maned Sun shoots-out his burning beames.
The sixt by their deuise the title hath of a maid,
Because th'Earth like a Girle therevnd'r is ill apaid
To beare the loue-hot looks that Phœbus on her flings,
And then, chast as a maid, no fruit at all she brings.
The next hath of the Scoales, because it seems to way
The silence-louing night and labour-guiding day,
The Summer and the Wint'r, and in the month of Wines
Makes either side so eu'n, as neither more declines.
The next, because we feele then first the Summer gon,
And sting of Winter come, they call'd a Scorpion.
158
He shooteth day and night vpon the witherd land,
Vpon th'embattled towrs, vpon the tufted woods,
His arrowes fethered with Ise and snowie foods.
The next they made a Goat, where, as in shaggie locks
The Goat is wont to clime and countermount the rocks,
Our goldy-locked Sun, the fairest wandring starre,
Remounting vp the Globe begins to come vs narre.
And in the latter signes, because they saw a wet
And euer-weeping heau'n, our fathers wisely set
One with a water-spout still running o're the brim,
And fishes there apaire which in the water swim.
But if-so this (my sonne) not satisfie thy minde,
A man may well thereof some other reason finde:
As, that before the word of God made all of naught,
Before that breeding voice not only th'Infant wrought
But euen the wombe of All; th'eterne exampl' and plot,
The wondrous print of things, (now being, and then not)
On heau'nly manner lodg'd in th'Architects foreseeing;
And thus, before it was, the world it had a being.
So first the great Three-One with drift ingenious
Diplaid of shining heau'n the curtaine precious;
And, as vpon a slate, or on a painters frame,
The shape, of things to-be, portrayed on the same.
Loe, is not here the draught of some gold-sandy brooke
That on this azure ground glydes (as it were) acrooke?
There softly fannes a Rav'n, here swiftly an Eagle driues;
There walloweth a Whale, and here a Dolphin diues:
A Dragon glisters here, a Bull there sweating frets;
Here runs the light-foot Kid, and there the horse curuets:
What thing so goodly abides in ayre, at sea, aground,
But some right shape thereof in heau'n aloft is found?
Our ballances, our crownes, our arrowes, darts and maulles,
What are they but estreats of those originals
Whereof th'Almighty word engroue the portraiture
Vpon the books of heau'n for euermore t'endure?
168
Yea, were it not (I feare) to bold an enterprise,
(Although why should I feare to cancell all the vice,
Theft, furie, sacrilege, profane incestuous beds,
And all the monster-lyes wherewith Greeks idle heads,
(We know not what they were) to mock all After-age,
Of th'euermouing heau'n dishonour would the stage?)
Well could I let thee know how these shapes vnder them
Containe the mysteries of new Ierusalem:
That here the fing'r of God as on a crystall drew,
For holy men to reade, what euer should ensue:
A publike register and chartr' authenticall
Containing orderlesse the view propheticall
Of all Church-monuments. O chariot firie-cleer,
That swift and whirlwind-like vp-rauishedst the Seer;
About the Northen Pole thou draw'n art day and night,
And dippest not at all thy wheeles in Amphitrite:
Nor stablest once thy teeme, still-toyling, neuer spent,
Below the massie round of baser Element.
Meane while Elisha (loe) full wistly thee beholds,
And with a fiery zeale his master so with-holds,
That vp the starrie mount he makes the steeds to fling
And round and round againe to turne and trot the ring,
See Dauid fast-him-by, who beares in warlike hand
Some Lyons tufted mane, that flameth like a brand:
Here shines his royall crowne, and here his harpe of gold;
With seu'n stars richly deckt; here th'vgly Beare behold
That for his fathers Lambe he, then a shepherd, slew;
And here the whizzing launce that mad Saul at him threw.
(Although why should I feare to cancell all the vice,
Theft, furie, sacrilege, profane incestuous beds,
And all the monster-lyes wherewith Greeks idle heads,
(We know not what they were) to mock all After-age,
169
Well could I let thee know how these shapes vnder them
Containe the mysteries of new Ierusalem:
That here the fing'r of God as on a crystall drew,
For holy men to reade, what euer should ensue:
A publike register and chartr' authenticall
Containing orderlesse the view propheticall
Of all Church-monuments. O chariot firie-cleer,
That swift and whirlwind-like vp-rauishedst the Seer;
About the Northen Pole thou draw'n art day and night,
And dippest not at all thy wheeles in Amphitrite:
Nor stablest once thy teeme, still-toyling, neuer spent,
Below the massie round of baser Element.
Meane while Elisha (loe) full wistly thee beholds,
And with a fiery zeale his master so with-holds,
That vp the starrie mount he makes the steeds to fling
And round and round againe to turne and trot the ring,
See Dauid fast-him-by, who beares in warlike hand
Some Lyons tufted mane, that flameth like a brand:
Here shines his royall crowne, and here his harpe of gold;
With seu'n stars richly deckt; here th'vgly Beare behold
That for his fathers Lambe he, then a shepherd, slew;
And here the whizzing launce that mad Saul at him threw.
Now thee Susanna faire, example of chastitee,
And honors chiefest hon'r, I tremble should to see,
And weep thy trickling teares; and those so weighty chaines
That binde thy lillie wrests would yeeld me a thousand paines
Among thy dearest kin; and cause me to the skies
For thy deliuerance ioine with them hands and eyes:
But that a Daniel I see makes holy speed
From death and shamefull doome to saue a maid at need.
He with some powerfull beames of ouer-awing light,
Which comes not of Meduse, but of the Truth and Right,
Confounds the witnesses, and breaks them head and bones
With thunder-darted haile of ly-reuenging stones.
And sure, as long as heau'n doth whirl-round any Signe,
Shall eu'r aboue our head so holy a Trophey shine
Anuyst this Idol foule, this dragon vgly and fell,
Which was in Babel pent by that young Daniel.
To whom may Pegasus more fitly be compared
Then t'one of those same horse that in th'aire burning flared,
Before the Tyrant great of Asia the Lesse
Did in a firie rage Ierusalem oppresse.
This earnest Wagoner, who'st but Ez'chiel,
Which manageth so right the Coach of Israel?
And who's the siluer swan that shineth here, but eu'n
That Deacon clad in white, the faithfull Martyr Steu'n,
Who death endured for his master crucified,
And sung more heau'nly sweet then swan before he died?
The siluer-scaled fish that shines here in the skies
I take to be the same that heald old Tobyts eyes:
And whom this Dolphin bright but great Amramides
Which out of Egypt led athwart the ruddie Seas
The frie of Israel, and brought his armed ranks,
A-dryfoot, wanting ship, to th'ldumean banks?
And honors chiefest hon'r, I tremble should to see,
And weep thy trickling teares; and those so weighty chaines
That binde thy lillie wrests would yeeld me a thousand paines
Among thy dearest kin; and cause me to the skies
For thy deliuerance ioine with them hands and eyes:
But that a Daniel I see makes holy speed
From death and shamefull doome to saue a maid at need.
He with some powerfull beames of ouer-awing light,
Which comes not of Meduse, but of the Truth and Right,
Confounds the witnesses, and breaks them head and bones
With thunder-darted haile of ly-reuenging stones.
And sure, as long as heau'n doth whirl-round any Signe,
Shall eu'r aboue our head so holy a Trophey shine
170
Which was in Babel pent by that young Daniel.
To whom may Pegasus more fitly be compared
Then t'one of those same horse that in th'aire burning flared,
Before the Tyrant great of Asia the Lesse
Did in a firie rage Ierusalem oppresse.
This earnest Wagoner, who'st but Ez'chiel,
Which manageth so right the Coach of Israel?
And who's the siluer swan that shineth here, but eu'n
That Deacon clad in white, the faithfull Martyr Steu'n,
Who death endured for his master crucified,
And sung more heau'nly sweet then swan before he died?
The siluer-scaled fish that shines here in the skies
I take to be the same that heald old Tobyts eyes:
And whom this Dolphin bright but great Amramides
Which out of Egypt led athwart the ruddie Seas
The frie of Israel, and brought his armed ranks,
A-dryfoot, wanting ship, to th'ldumean banks?
What shall I further say? God hath not only engrau'n
His sakerfaint Emprese on brasse of whirling heau'n;
And in tryangle shape embleam'd his mysterie
Of nature wonderfull, three in one, one in three:
But by this valiant youth, who slew yon creeping euill,
Set-forth his only Sonne which ouercame the Deuill,
And with sway of a Crosse (his engine most of might)
Broke-ope the brasen gates of euerlasting night:
Yea by this goodly bird, the God-of-Gods delight,
Which with a stedfast eye beholds the Sun so bright,
And takes the thunder-boult oft out of's angry hand,
His Spirit and Loue is ment; who visited the land
Descending feathered. for why? this winged signe
In head, in brest, in back of starred-ermyline,
No lesse resembl' it may the Pigeon simple and meeke,
Then th'eagle goodly-fierce, then th'Eagle crookie-beeke.
His sakerfaint Emprese on brasse of whirling heau'n;
And in tryangle shape embleam'd his mysterie
Of nature wonderfull, three in one, one in three:
But by this valiant youth, who slew yon creeping euill,
Set-forth his only Sonne which ouercame the Deuill,
And with sway of a Crosse (his engine most of might)
Broke-ope the brasen gates of euerlasting night:
Yea by this goodly bird, the God-of-Gods delight,
Which with a stedfast eye beholds the Sun so bright,
And takes the thunder-boult oft out of's angry hand,
His Spirit and Loue is ment; who visited the land
Descending feathered. for why? this winged signe
In head, in brest, in back of starred-ermyline,
No lesse resembl' it may the Pigeon simple and meeke,
Then th'eagle goodly-fierce, then th'Eagle crookie-beeke.
As for the golden belt wherewith all heau'n is cross'd,
Whereon the dosen signes are curiously emboss'd;
Who, but the Paschall Lambe, is he that leads the ring?
The Bull's that moulten calfe whom peopl' Idolatring
Made Aron make for God. The Twins, that shine so bright,
Are Isacks sons who stroue before they saw this light.
The next is Salomon, who like a Crab recoiles,
And in his latter time himselfe with sin besoiles:
And, as a swine in mud doth after washing roule,
Becomes adulterer both in his bodie and soule.
The Lyon is the same that crusht was like a Kid
By Samsons thundring hand: The Virgin, she that hid
In vndefiled wombe, (for vs made maiden-mother)
And brought-forth at her time, her father, husband, brother.
The Ballance here is set for Kings of Israel
To iudge the peopl' aright and ponder causes well.
The next that serpent is which on the Maltan sand
With traiterous intent hung-on th'Apostles hand:
For whether it be call'd a spotted Scorpion,
Or Viper-poysonous, it matters not, all's one.
The Bowman may be thought old Abrahams elder childe.
This Goat that scape-lot is whom Aaron lets goe wilde.
This Ewrer is the sonne of dombe Zacharia,
Messia's herbenger, preparer of his way:
Which in the siluer streame of Iordan drown'd the sinne
Of all that doe repent, and will new life beginne:
And these two Fishes they that with fiue loues of bread,
Blest of thrall-feeding Word aboue fiue thousand fed.
Whereon the dosen signes are curiously emboss'd;
Who, but the Paschall Lambe, is he that leads the ring?
171
Made Aron make for God. The Twins, that shine so bright,
Are Isacks sons who stroue before they saw this light.
The next is Salomon, who like a Crab recoiles,
And in his latter time himselfe with sin besoiles:
And, as a swine in mud doth after washing roule,
Becomes adulterer both in his bodie and soule.
The Lyon is the same that crusht was like a Kid
By Samsons thundring hand: The Virgin, she that hid
In vndefiled wombe, (for vs made maiden-mother)
And brought-forth at her time, her father, husband, brother.
The Ballance here is set for Kings of Israel
To iudge the peopl' aright and ponder causes well.
The next that serpent is which on the Maltan sand
With traiterous intent hung-on th'Apostles hand:
For whether it be call'd a spotted Scorpion,
Or Viper-poysonous, it matters not, all's one.
The Bowman may be thought old Abrahams elder childe.
This Goat that scape-lot is whom Aaron lets goe wilde.
This Ewrer is the sonne of dombe Zacharia,
Messia's herbenger, preparer of his way:
Which in the siluer streame of Iordan drown'd the sinne
Of all that doe repent, and will new life beginne:
And these two Fishes they that with fiue loues of bread,
Blest of thrall-feeding Word aboue fiue thousand fed.
But let the twinkling Ball now vpsidowne be rowld,
And with like curious eye the sotherne halfe behold:
O know you not the face of this fierce warlike wight,
That neere the shining Bull enlustres heau'n with light?
The sonne of Nun it is, that worthy Ioshuah,
Who dry ore Iordan went as on a sandy bay:
And did those Ganan dogges from prey vnworthy scare,
And set his conquering soot vpon Loues hartlesse Hare.
And with like curious eye the sotherne halfe behold:
O know you not the face of this fierce warlike wight,
That neere the shining Bull enlustres heau'n with light?
The sonne of Nun it is, that worthy Ioshuah,
Who dry ore Iordan went as on a sandy bay:
And did those Ganan dogges from prey vnworthy scare,
And set his conquering soot vpon Loues hartlesse Hare.
Loe here that Argosie which all the world did saue,
And brauely now triumphs both ouer wind and waue.
Lo here the yellow plights of Moses brasen snake,
That shone in wildernesse all others sting to slake.
Lo here that happy Rav'n which did Elia feed:
Here Iosephs golden cup wherein he wont arreed
His wondrous prophesies: and here that heau'nly knight
Which vnto Machabee appeared all in white;
His ang'r-enflamed launce so strooke this Pagan Woolfe
With paine and bursten-rot athwart the belly-gulfe,
That on Gods Altar-stone prophaned many a yeere
Now reeks a sweet perfume; and Levies hallowed queere
Sings ioyfull Psalms againe in Gods temple Idol-staind,
And th'ldumean Race this Crowne at length obtainde,
To raigne in Israel. Now here the Fish behold
With tribute paid for him that was for sinners sold:
And here the gaping Whale, whose ill-digesting maw
Three daies a Prophets life held as empawn'd by law.
While Heb'r all sings for me, with Muse so bold, new, odd,
And strikes a string vntouchd, and walks a path vntrod,
Thinke not (ô Christen peopl') I take all that he saith
Concerning th'oast of heau'n for articl' of my faith:
Or that I ment set-vp old Zenoes schoole againe,
T'embound th'eternall God, and so relinke the chaine
Of Stoyck destinie: or would of all to come
(As Caldeman) arreed in books of heau'n the summe.
No, nothing lesse I meane; but only thought by grace
Of such a new deuise, as here I enterlace,
Refresh your weary minds; that hauing past before
So many a foamy flood; such warre against the shore,
And hurly-burling rage of counterbuffed waue;
So many a ghastly Wylde, a dyke, a rock, a caue:
You might set foot at length on some delightfull place,
Whereon the skie may shew for eu'r a louely face:
Where runs a siluer streame, the wind blowes sweetly awhile,
And where to welcome you the ground-selfe seems to smile.
Oh who (good Reader) knowes, but fuller may be done
And brauely now triumphs both ouer wind and waue.
173
That shone in wildernesse all others sting to slake.
Lo here that happy Rav'n which did Elia feed:
Here Iosephs golden cup wherein he wont arreed
His wondrous prophesies: and here that heau'nly knight
Which vnto Machabee appeared all in white;
His ang'r-enflamed launce so strooke this Pagan Woolfe
With paine and bursten-rot athwart the belly-gulfe,
That on Gods Altar-stone prophaned many a yeere
Now reeks a sweet perfume; and Levies hallowed queere
Sings ioyfull Psalms againe in Gods temple Idol-staind,
And th'ldumean Race this Crowne at length obtainde,
To raigne in Israel. Now here the Fish behold
With tribute paid for him that was for sinners sold:
And here the gaping Whale, whose ill-digesting maw
Three daies a Prophets life held as empawn'd by law.
While Heb'r all sings for me, with Muse so bold, new, odd,
And strikes a string vntouchd, and walks a path vntrod,
Thinke not (ô Christen peopl') I take all that he saith
Concerning th'oast of heau'n for articl' of my faith:
Or that I ment set-vp old Zenoes schoole againe,
T'embound th'eternall God, and so relinke the chaine
Of Stoyck destinie: or would of all to come
(As Caldeman) arreed in books of heau'n the summe.
No, nothing lesse I meane; but only thought by grace
Of such a new deuise, as here I enterlace,
Refresh your weary minds; that hauing past before
So many a foamy flood; such warre against the shore,
And hurly-burling rage of counterbuffed waue;
So many a ghastly Wylde, a dyke, a rock, a caue:
You might set foot at length on some delightfull place,
Whereon the skie may shew for eu'r a louely face:
Where runs a siluer streame, the wind blowes sweetly awhile,
And where to welcome you the ground-selfe seems to smile.
Hereaft'r, of some so zeal'd, this worke I first begon!
174
In stead of heathen lyes, this Art made all-diuine?
Now heare we Heb'r againe; to Phaleg whose discourse
Of euery Planet shewes the downing and resours
Grau'n on the lasting brasse; and what's the Perigee,
Concentrike, Excentrike, Epicycl' Apogee;
And how the bring-day Sun, and Venus fond-of-mate,
Together with the starre of Mars the sow-debate,
Saturne and Iupiter, three circles haue in one;
And Mercurie only fiue, and only foure the Moone:
For those same heau'nly wits who taught vs first this Art,
Perceiuing well these Lights now that, now this-way, start;
That now alow they stoop, and now aloft they reach;
To banish from aboue th'vnlikely voide, the breach
And bodie-piercing broile, the which their course vneau'n
Might cause among the Spheres enclos'd by th'vpper heau'n;
Vnt'each eternall wheele, that round each Planet soops,
Haue, more then manly, durst appoint some lesser hoops;
Who kissing either-oth'r oppose not other-either:
So well is round to round distinctly set together,
A lesse one vnd'r a great with bent so close embras'd;
Euen as the Chesnut is in tender skin encas'd,
175
The tanned hide in huske thick, sharp, rough, brittle-dry'd.
Then takes he th'Astrolabe, & shewes the Sphere in flats:
The Pole-heights, Azimuths, Alcanthars, Almadrats.
(Ye Muses pardon me if I deface with blots
A table of such a price, if I with barbarots
So soile my faire discourse; for why? this matt'r of mine,
In case I speake it right, I may not speake it fine.)
But on that other side a Sight-rule turnes about,
And vnd'r it lyes a tabl', on which they seeset-out
The course of wandring starres (who keep yet certaine rites)
The names of eu'ry month, the dayes and scale of heights.
He mouing that same Rule now takes the paine to teach
The toysing of a wall, and now to know the reach
From any place to place; the depth of any Well,
By view of breadth in heau'n a breadth on earth to tell:
As als'at what-signe Inne, by tyquet as it were,
Th'Almight' appoints the Sun to ledge all months i'th' yeere,
And where his Nadir is, and how much he declines,
Or how much he aduanc'd aboue th Equator shines:
What time a Signe entire allotted hath to runne
Ere on our Hemisphere he mount; and how to konne
Each countries mid-day-line, the Pole-heights euery way,
All howers of the night, all howers of the day.
The pregnant Phaleg yeelds vnt'all old Heber taught,
His eu'r attentiue care and quick-conceiuing thought;
As perfect Alcumist this gold he multiplies,
And vsing well the stock bequeaths rich legacies
Of learning, treasured in his encreasing Casse,
Vnt' all his noble race; and they their teacher passe.
But as of Venus, Mars, and Mercurie the lights
Goe visit otherwhile the naked Troglodytes;
Now Iava, now Peru, and oft remoue, to shine
In either world, a-this, a-that side th'Equall line:
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And then a Chaldee adopt; soone after gan to scorne
And brauely set-by light old Babels ruyn'd pile,
So south from Tiger flew vnto the fruitfull Nile:
There taught sh'a noble schoole; but thence the Grecian wits
Her tysd, and shee to them her tooles and selfe commits:
Then vnder Ptolomey shee t'Egypt turnes againe,
Delighting to reuise her deere Pelusian plaine:
And yet vnconstant went from thence int'Arabie,
From thence int' Italie, from thence int' Almanie.
O right Endymions, on Latmos star-set hill
Who coll, embrace, and kisse your welbelou'd at will,
Dame Cynthia queene of heau'n: about whose bed there stand
A thousand thousand guards, with golden shield in hand:
O goodly-learned soules! ô Atlasses vnfained!
By whom the throne of God is eu'r (as 'twere) sustained!
Without your helps (alas) into the Sea or Hell
Of all forgetfulnesse this skill of heau'n had fell.
Tis you diuide the months and seasons of the yeere
Confused altofore; you quote the Marinere,
By searching all that Fate doth on the skie descriue,
His time to hoise-vp saile, and when and where t'arriue.
You teach the slow-foot oxe and daily-sweating swaine
What time the faithfull earth may best receiue their graine.
You teach the man of warre to keep his hold, or fight,
And when to scale a wall, and when to vittl' aright
His hunger-doubting camp: of you all season-good
The good Physician learnes, to purge and let vs blood,
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In turning of an hand, or twinckling of an eye.
You, more then princely rule all countries vnder Sun;
You demigodly make heau'n twixt your hands to run.
For you (ô heauenly wits) my fairest painting quill
Should on these folded sheets her hony-dew distill,
Still would I write of you: but with her daintie sweets
The last sist'r of the foure me calls and louely greets.
For I this Phaleg heare with sonly-meeke language
His fath'r entreat to tell the name of th'oth'r Image;
And Heb'r him answer thus: Deere sonne, this painted girle
By that her wanton foot seems still to daunce and tirle,
By glauncing of her eye, the Cornets, Guytterns, Flutes,
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Which all-about her lye vpon the table and ground,
Appeares to be that Art which rules the voice and sound.
Which guides the gentle breath and mistresse-like appoints
How on the tuned string we trull our nimble ioynts.
The sacred harmonie, the discordant accord,
Law numbred, number law'd, which waited on the Lord,
When his creating Word spring of All-euerie
Made th'earth to stand so fast, and heau'n so fast to flie.
Sith euery Sphere (they say) hath some Intelligent,
Or Angell musicall, for Lady president,
Appointed by the Word: to th'end of those aboue
These lower things may learne the perfect cord of loue;
And that with Angell-queers a dauncing Set be seene
To reuell on his praise in temple fyrie-sheene.
Or as from bellow-loongs a breath one and the same
In skilfull wise put-out straies through the secret frame
Of curious handyworke, quits euery stop and list,
That opens when the keyes are tickt by th Organist;
And mounting here and there from out the channell scored
Into th'esparsed pipes o'th'Sommier thorow-bored,
Alliues, all in a trice, Recorders sweetly-still
And Regals eager-tun'd, and Cymballs sounding shrill:
So of Gods mouth the breath and Spirit all-aliuing
Stirres of the tuned heau'n these wheeles all louely striuing,
And as their wonted way eternally they trace,
Some of them trill the Trebl', and some bomb-out the Base.
Now all these counter-notes, so charmy-sweet, appeere
Yet not so plainly in heau'n as eu'n among vs heere.
Th'humour Melancholike, the Wint'r, and cold-dry ground,
They beare the Bases part, and soft and slowly sound.
The white phleame, th'Autom-time, the water cold and wet,
They all aleauell run, and are for Tenor set.
The Blood the prime of yere, the moist and luke-warme Aire,
Play Descant florisher, deuider, painter, strayer.
The Choller, Summer, Fire, that are so hot and dry,
Resembl' a strained chord that soundeth eu'r on high.
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That are most fierce by kinde; there are inclos'd within them
The seeds of numb'r and time: nor can their life hold-out
But by the Spirits helpe, that whirleth heau'n about.
Sweet harmony it makes the fiercest Army stay
Their deadly fewd and force; the griefe it doth allay
Of eu'ry pained soule; and with a gentle charme
Withdraweth by degrees the Foole from trickes of harme;
It bridleth hot desire, and putteth-out the flame
That makes a louers heart Idolatrize a dame;
It heales a man that's hurt with fly Phalangy's sting,
That eu'n at point of death will madly daunce and fling:
The Swan delights therein, deceiu'd thereby we finde
The shye discoullard fowle, and fearefull starting hinde.
The Dolphin loues the Leere, th'vnhiued swarme of Bees
With tinkling sound of brasse, are clustred on the trees.
O what's to Musick hard? which wont so much to merit,
Which wont so to preuaile eu'n with th'enspiring Spirit,
As bring him downe on Saul, and in Elisha wed
The Spirit rauisher vnto the rauished?
Yea when th'eternall God, to sharpest anger bent,
Smoakes, thunders, lightens, hailes, with all his pow'rs assent,
And with his heau'd-vp arme, and with his backe enfoul't,
Is ready to discharge his sorest blasting-boult;
Th'armonyons accord that hearts deuout shall weepe
His sinnowes albenombes, and brings his ang'r asleepe:
Then sweet-ey'd mercy steales (as well shee wont and can)
From vnd'r his hand the rod deseru'd by rebell man.
But now as Heb'r had thought t'haue further gon & told
The practise and the skill of all the Musicke old;
See, Canan searching-out his Iordans fatall walke,
Vnto the Pillernies and breakes-off all the talke.
Nor can I further goe; this iourneyes irksome length
In weaknesse vndertooke, hath wasted all my strength:
I must anew entreat some helpe of heau'nly grace,
And some what need recoile to leape a greater space.
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