Self-Conflict or, The powerful Motions between the Flesh & Spirit. Represented In the Person and upon the occasion of Joseph, when By Potiphar's Wife He was enticed to Adultery. A Divine Poem, Written originally in Low-Dutch, by Jacob Catts ... and from thence Translated |
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THE ENTERTAINMENT.
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THE ENTERTAINMENT.
In fulsome dung, thou who a beast dost hereBehold inclos'd, and pondering dost appear,
The meaning to desire, thy thoughts compose,
My Song the while shall thee the mind disclose.
Of cleanlyest Creatures in this Ring enchas'd,
Thou one behold'st, by unkind hands there plac'd,
Of name the Ermin; one by nature bent
To be untainted with ought foul; now pent
May 'scape procure, unless it will pollute
In filth its fur; but hating most a blot,
It faints, opprest with famine, on the Plot.
The choyce is sharp: or it must dye, or see
That now its Coat in Mire defil'd must be;
Yet such its mind, that in this huge dismay,
Cold death it chooseth, and concludes its day;
Where lo, though dying, with what wondrous care
It softly sinks, lest it should blot a hair?
There now it lies stretcht out upon the plain,
Grim death embracing to be free of stain.
Thus far the Emblem, which the mind displays
Of Jacobs Joseph, which his pious ways
And Conquest shews by him of lust obtain'd,
Of lust, so strongly which in's Mistress reign'd.
Not youthful dalliance relish'd with his mind,
He far more pleasure in chast thoughts did find;
Though carbonading lust did him assail,
He stood unmov'd, nor could that lust prevail.
A Lady he to him beholds inclin'd
With unchast love, young, fair, and rich; his mind,
Yet her resists: she balmy joys presents,
He God prefers, her joys as vice resents.
She pleads: Alone, we're safe from prying eye.
But he returns: Yet God doth us descrye.
Then she: My Lord abroad, none obvious stand
To cross our loves. He then: But God's at hand
She adds: Youth prompts us to this am'rous play.
But he: Yet youth must wedlock rules obey.
She cryes, My fervent flames O quench, I frye.
Then he: To them no stranger may come nigh.
Yet she: Slave to my will thou'rt bought to be.
But not to sin, returns he; there I'm free.
But he makes clear: Nought hurts a peaceful mind.
She storms, but he's compos'd, threats doth abide
And curses from her, prays; and steps aside,
Till she lays lastly hold. Skill'd in this fight,
He then his cloak lets go, and flees her sight.
Wonder of men! 'twas Joseph, in thy prime
Of youthful days, the verdure of thy time,
When thou thy flesh subdu'dst. In ways of truth
O guide! and pattern rare for tender youth!
Assist my numbers, let my flowing Verse,
As is his due, his solid praise reherse,
If that can be: And thou thus Laureate,
Vouchsafe, though slender, to commemorate
Thy victories renown, chast Boy, that we
May read with wonder, and thy followers be.
But Zoilus is come; methinks I hear
His murmuring Sons at our blest Joseph jear.
Whom they a mind devoyd of Spirit name,
A vein of blood, a torch of spriteful flame.
But sure abus'd in reasonings you appear,
O sons of error: better reason hear.
Is freedom yours? 'tis then an easie case
In times when lewd, to run a sinful race.
Nor is it hard when youthful eyes espye
A beauty, strait in lustful flames to frye.
For lo, how facile 'tis to loose the rein
That curbs the flesh, that doth its lust restrain.
Nor easie less, when pregnant showrs do flow
To you of wealth, then earthly soul'd to grow.
If love, if honour wait on you, if gain;
Such things with pleasure you can entertain.
But when the flesh with overmatching power,
Storms on the Soul like a tempestuous show'r;
A Champion worthy is to Lord the field.
Vain worldly men those Spirits valiant praise,
That Armies rout, that walled Cities rase:
But in deeds truly brave, none higher rise,
Than such a mind who its own lusts denies.
Let then Cimmerian ignorance revile,
Whilst virtue triumphs with a peaceful smile.
But thou, if young, let this example thee,
So chast, so virtuous, so Divine to be.
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