University of Virginia Library

THE CLASP

[Give me a free and noble Style, that goes]

Give me a free and noble Style, that goes
In an Uncurbed Strain, though Wild it shows;
For though it Runs about it cares not where,
It shews more Courage than it doth of Fear:
Give me a Style that Nature frames, not Art,
For Art doth seem to take the Pedants part;
And that seems Noble, which is easie, free,
And not bound up with o're nice Pedantry.

The Hunting of the Hare.

Betwixt two Ridges of Plowd-land sat Wat,
Whose Body press'd to th'Earth, lay close, and squat,
His Nose upon his two Fore-feet did lye,
With his gray Eyes he glared Obliquely;
His Head he always set against the Wind,
His Tail when turn'd, his Hair blew up behind,
And made him to get Cold; but he being Wise,
Doth keep his Coat still down, so warm he lies:
Thus rests he all the Day, till th'Sun doth Set,
Then up he riseth his Relief to get,
And walks about, untill the Sun doth Rise,
Then coming back in's former Posture lies.
At last poor Wat was found, as he there lay,
By Huntsmen, which came with their Dogs that way
Whom seeing, he got up, and fast did run,
Hoping some ways the Cruel Dogs to shun;
But they by Nature had so quick a Sent,
That by their Nose they Trac'd what way he went,
And with their deep wide Mouths set forth a Cry,
Which answer'd was by Echo in the Sky;
Then Wat was struck with Terrour and with Fear,
Seeing each Shadow thought the Dogs were there,
And running out some Distance from their Cry,
To hide himself, his Thoughts he did imploy;
Under a Clod of Earth in Sand-pit wide
Poor Wat sat close, hoping himself to hide,
There long he had not been, but strait in's Ears
The winding Horns and crying Dogs he hears;
Then starting up with fear, he Leap'd, and such
Swift speed he made, the Ground he scarce did touch;
Into a great thick Wood strait ways he got,
And underneath a broken Bough he Sat,
Where every Leaf, that with the Wind did shake
Brought him such Terrour, that his Heart did Ake;
That place he left, to Champain Plains he went,
Winding about, for to deceive their Sent,
And while they Snuffling were to find his Track,
Poor Wat being weary, his swift Pace did slack;
On his two hinder Legs for ease he Sat,
His Fore-feet rubb'd his Face from Dust and Sweat,
Licking his Feet, he wip'd his Ears so clean,
That none could tell that Wat had Hunted been;
But casting round about his fair gray Eyes,
The Hounds in full Career he near him 'Spies,
To Wat it was so Terrible a Sight,
Fear gave him Wings and made his Body light;
Though he was Tyr'd before by Running long,
Yet now his Breath he never felt more Strong;
Like those that Dying are, think Health returns,
When 'tis but a faint Blast which Life out-burns;
For Spirits seek to Guard the Heart about,
Striving with Death, but Death doth quench them out.
The Hounds so fast came on, and with such Cry,
That he no hopes had left, nor help could 'spy;
With that the Winds did pitty poor VVat's Case,
And with their Breath the Sent blew from that place;
Then every Nose was busily imploy'd,
And every Nostril was set Open wide,
And every Head did seek a several way,
To find the Grass or Track where the Sent lay;
For Witty Industry is never Slack,
'Tis like to Witch-craft, and brings lost things back:
But though the VVind had tied the Sent up close,
A busie Dog thrust in his snuffling Nose
And drew it out, with that did fore-most run,
Then Horns blew Loud, the rest to follow on:
The great slow Hounds their Throats did set a Base,
The Fleet, swift Hounds, as Tenours next in place,
The little Beagles did a Treble Sing,
And through the Air their Voices round did Ring,
VVhich made such Confort as they Ran along,
That, had they Spoken words, 't had been a Song;
The Horns kept time, the Men did shout for Joy,
And seem'd most Valiant, poor Wat to Destroy;
Spurring their Horses to a full Career,
Swom Rivers deep, Leap'd ditches without fear,
Indanger'd Life and Limbs, so fast they'ld Ride;
Only to see how patiently VVat Dy'd;
At last the Dogs so near his Heels did get,
That their sharp Teeth they in his Breech did set;
Then Tumbling down he fell, with weeping Eyes
Gave up his Ghost; and thus poor Wat he Dyes.
Men hooping Loud, such Acclamations made,
As if the Devil they Imprisoned had,
When they but did a shiftless Creature Kill;
To Hunt, their needs no Valiant Souldiers Skill:
But Men do think that Exercise and Toil,
To keep their Health, is best, which makes most Spoil,
Thinking that Food and Nourishment so good,
Which doth proceed from others Flesh and Blood.
When they do Lions, Wolves, Bears, Tigres see
Kill silly Sheep, they say, they Cruel be,
But for themselves all Creatures think too few,
For Luxury, wish God would make more New;
As if God did make Creatures for Mans meat,
And gave them Life and Sense for Man to Eat,
Or else for Sport or Recreations sake
For to Destroy those Lives that God did make,
Making their Stomacks Graves, which full they fill
With Murther'd Bodies, which in Sport they Kill;
Yet Man doth think himself so Gentle and Mild,
When of all Creatures he's most Cruel, Wild,
Nay, so Proud, that he only thinks to Live,
That God a God-like Nature him did give,
And that all Creatures for his Sake alone
Were made, for him to Tyrannize upon.

The Hunting of a Stag.

There was a Stag, did in the Forest lye,
Whose Neck was long, whose Horns were Branch'd up high,
His Haunch was broad, Sides large, and Back was long,
His Legs were Nervous, and his Joynts were Strong;
His Hair lay Sleek and Smooth, he was so Fair,
None in the Forest might with him Compare.
In Summer's Heat he in Cool Brakes him lay,
VVhich being High did keep the Sun away;
In Evenings Cool, and Dewy Mornings he
VVould early Rise and all the Forest see;
Then was he VValking to some Crystal brook,
Not for to Drink, but on his Horns to Look,
Taking such pleasure in his stately Crown,
His Pride forgot that Dogs might pull him down;
From thence he to a Shady VVood did go,
VVhere streightest Pines and talest Cedars grow;
Olives upright, imbrac'd by th'Loving Vines,
Birches which Bow their Heads to Golden Mines;
Small Aspen stalk, which shakes like Agues cold,
That from perpetual Motion never hold;
The sturdy Oak, which on the Seas doth Ride;
Firr which tall Masts doth make, where Sails are tied;
The weeping Maple, and the Popler green,
Whose cooling Buds in Salves have Healing been;
The fatting Chestnut, and the Hasle small,
The smooth-rind Beech, which groweth Large and Tall;
The loving Mirtle fit for Amorous kind,
The yielding Willow for Inconstant Mind;
The Cypress Sad, which makes the Funeral Hearse,
And Sicomors, where Lovers write their Verse;
And Juniper, which gives a pleasant Smell,
With many more, which were too Long to tell,
Which from their Sappy Roots sprout Branches small,
Some call it Under-wood, that's never Tall;
There walking through the Stag was hinder'd much,
The bending Twigs his Horns did often Touch;
While he on tender Leaves and Buds did brouse,
His Eyes were troubled with the broken Boughs;
Then strait he sought this Labyrinth t'unwind,
Though hard it was his first way out to find;
Unto this Wood a Rising Hill was near,
The sweet wild Thyme and Marjoran grew there,
And Winter-Sav'ry which was never Set,
Of which the Stag took great delight to Eat;
But looking down into the Vallies low,
He saw, there Grass and Cowslips thick did grow,
And Springs, which Digg'd themselves a passage out,
Much like as Serpents, wind each Field about;
Rising in Winter high, they'ld over-flow
The flow'ry Banks, but make the Soil to grow;
And as he went thinking therein to Feed,
He 'spied a Field, which Sow'd was with VVheat-seed,
The Blades were grown a handfull high and more,
VVhich Sight to Taste did soon Invite him o're;
In haste he went, Fed full, then down did lye;
The Owner coming there, did him Espy,
Strait call'd his Dogs to Hunt him from that place;
At last it prov'd to be a Forest chase;
The Chase grew hot, the Stag apace did run,
The Dogs pursu'd, more Men for Sport came on;
At last a Troop of Men, Horse, Dogs did meet,
Which made the Hart to try his Nimble feet;
Full swift he was, his Horns he bore up high,
The Men did Shout, the Dogs ran Yelping by,
And Bugle Horns with several Notes did blow,
Huntsmen, to cross the Stag, did Side-ways go;
The Horses beat their Hoofs against dry Ground,
Raising such Clouds of Dust, their ways scarce found,
Their Sides ran down with Sweat, as if they were
New come from Watering, so dropt every Hair;
The Dogs their Tongues out of their Mouths hung long,
Their Sides did like a Feaverish Pulse beat strong,
Their short Ribs heav'd up high, and then fell low,
As Bellows draw in Wind that they may Blow;
Men Tawny grew, the Sun their Skins did turn,
Their Mouths were Dry, their Bowels felt to Burn;
The Stag so Hot as glowing Coals may be,
Yet swiftly Ran when he the Dogs did see.
Coming at length unto a Rivers side,
VVhose Current flow'd as with a falling Tide,
There he Leap'd in, thinking some while to stay
To wash his Sides, his burning Heat t'allay,
In hope the Dogs could not in VVater swim,
But was deceiv'd, for they did follow him
Like Fishes, which do Swim in VVaters deep;
He Duck'd, but Out, alas! his Horns did Peep;
The Dogs were cover'd over Head and Ear,
Nothing did of them but their Nose appear;
The Stag and River like a Race did show,
He striving still the River to Out-go,
VVhilst Men and Horses down the Banks did run,
Encouraging the Dogs to follow on,
Where in the Water, like a Looking-glass,
He by Reflexion saw their Shadows pass;
Fear did his Breath cut short, his Limbs did shrink,
Like those which the Cramp makes to th'Bottom sink:
Thus out of Breath no longer could he stay,
But Leap'd on Land, and swiftly Run away;
For Change brings Ease, ease Strength, in Strength Hope lives,
Hope Joys the Heart, and Joy light Heels still gives.
His Feet did like a Feather'd Arrow fly,
Or like a winged Bird that mounts the Sky;
The Dogs like Ships, that Sail with Wind and Tide,
Do Cut the Air, and VVaters deep Divide;
Or like as Greedy Merchants, which for gain
Venture their Life, and Traffick on the Main;
The Hunters like to Boys, which without fear,
To see a Sight, will hazard Life, that's Dear:
For they are Sad when Mischief takes no place,
And out of Countenance as with Disgrace,
But when they see a Ruine and a Fall,
They come with Joy, as if they'd Conquer'd all:
And thus did their three several Passions meet;
First the desire to Catch the Dogs made Fleet,
Then Fear the Stag made Run, his Life to save,
Whilst Men for love of Mischief digg'd his Grave.
The angry Dust flew in each Face about,
As if't would with Revenge their Eyes put out,
Yet they all fast went on, with a huge Cry;
The Stag no hope had left, nor help did 'spy,
His Heart so heavy grew with Grief and Care,
That his small Feet his Body scarce could bear,
Yet loath to Dye, or yield to Foes was he,
And to the last would strive for Victory;
'Twas not for want of Courage he did Run,
But that an Army was 'gainst him alone;
Had he the Valour had of Cæsar stout,
Yet Yield he must to them, or Dye, no doubt;
Turning his Head, as if he Dar'd their spight,
Prepar'd himself against them all to Fight;
Single he was, his Horns were all his helps,
To Guard him from a Multitude of Whelps;
Besides, a Company of Men were there,
If Dogs should fail, to strike him every where;
But to the last his Fortune he'ld try out,
Then Men and Dogs did Circle him about,
Some Bit, some Bark'd, all Ply'd him at the Bay,
Where with his Horns he Tossed some away:
But Fate his Thread had Spun, he down did fall,
Shedding some Tears at his own Funeral.

A Description of an Island.

There was an Island Rich by Nature's Grace,
In all the World it was the Sweetest place,
Surrounded with the Seas, whose VVaves not miss'd
To do her Homage, and her Feet they Kiss'd;
Each Wave did seem by turn to Bow down low,
And proud to Touch her, when as they did Flow;
Armies of VVaves in Troops high Tides brought on,
Whose wat'ry Arms did Glister as the Sun,
And on their Backs burthens of Ships did bear,
Placing them in her Havens with great Care,
Not Mercenary, for no Pay they'ld have,
But as her Guard did Watch, to keep her Safe,
And in a Ring they Circled her about,
Strong as a Wall, to keep her Foes without;
The Winds did Serve her, and on Clouds did Ride,
Blowing their Trumpets loud on every side,
Serving as Scouts, they Search'd in every Lane,
And Gallop'd in the Forests, Fields and Plain;
While she did please the Gods, she did Live safe,
And they all kind of Pleasures to her gave;
For all this Place was Fertile, Rich and Fair,
Both Woods, and Hills, and Dales in Prospects were;
Birds pleasure took, and with delight did Sing,
In Praises of this Isle the VVoods did Ring;
Trees thriv'd with Joy, for she their Roots well fed,
And Tall with Pride, their Tops did Over-spread;
Danc'd with the Winds, when they did Sing and Blow,
Play'd like a wanton Kid, or a swift Roe;
Their several Branches several Birds did bear,
Which Hop'd and Skip'd, and always Merry were;
Their Leaves did Wave, and Rushing make a Noise,
And many ways striv'd to express their Joys;
All Flowers there look'd fresh, and gay with Mirth,
Whilst they were Danc'd upon the Lap of Earth;
Th'Isle was their Mother, they her Children sweet,
Born from her Loins, got by Apollo great,
Who Dress'd and Prun'd them often with great Care,
And wash'd their Leaves with Dew to make them Fair;
Which being done, he wip'd those Drops away
With Webs of Heat , which he Weaves every Day;
Paint them with several Colours Intermixt,
Veil'd them with Shadows every Leaf betwixt;
Their Heads he Dress'd, their Hairy Leaves spread out,
Wreath'd round their Crowns his Golden Beams about:
For he this Isle esteem'd above the rest;
Of all his Wives he had he Lov'd her best;
Daily he did present her with some Gift,
Twelve Ells of Light to make her Smocks for Shift;
Which every time he came, he put on Fair,
That Lovely she and Handsome might appear,
And when he from her went, the World to see,
He left his Sister her for Company,
Whose name is Cynthia, though Pale yet Clear,
Which makes her always in Dark Clouds appear;
Besides, he left his Stars to wait on her,
Lest she should Grieve too much, when he's not there,
And from his bounty Cloath'd them all with Light,
Which makes them Twinkle in a frosty Night;
He never brought Hot beams to do her harm,
Nor let her take a Cold, but Lap'd her warm;
He Mantles Rich of equal Heat o'respread,
And cover'd her with Colour Crimson Red;
He gave another o're her Head to lye,
The Colour is a pure bright Azure Sky;
And with soft Air did Line them all within,
Like Furs in Winter, in Summer Satin thin;
With Silver Clouds he Fringed them about,
And Spangled Meteors Glist'ring hung without:
Thus gave he Change, lest she should weary grow,
Or think them Old, and so away them throw.
Nature adorn'd this Island all throughout
With Landskips, Riv'lets, Prospects round about;
Hills over-top'd the Dales, which Level were,
And cover'd all with Cattel, Feeding there;
Grass grew up even to the Belly high,
Where Beasts that Chew their Cud lay Pleasantly,
Whisking their Tails about, the Flies to beat,
Or else to Cool them from the Sultry heat;
Nature, her Love to th'Gods willing to show,
Sent Plenty in, like Nile's great Overflow,
And temperate Seasons gave, and equal Lights,
Warm Sun-shine Days, and Dewy Moon-shine Nights;
And in this pleasant Island Peace did dwell,
No noise of VVarr, or sad Tale could it tell.

The Ruine of this Island.

This Island Liv'd in Peace full many a Day,
So long as she unto the Gods did Pray;
But she grew Proud with Plenty and with Ease,
Ador'd her Self, and did the Gods displease,
She flung their Altars down, and in their stead
Set up her Own, and would be VVorshipped:
The Gods grew angry, and commanded Fate
To Alter and to Ruine quite the State,
For they had Chang'd their Mind of late, they said,
And did Repent, unthankfull Man th'had made;
Fates wondred much to hear what said the Gods,
That they and mortal Men were at great Odds,
And found them apt to Change, thought it did show,
As if the Gods did not poor Men fore-know;
For why, said they, if Men do Evil grow,
The Gods, fore-seeing all, Men's hearts did know
Long, long before they did Man first Create;
If so, what need they change or alter Fate?
'Twas in their Power to make them Good or Ill,
Wherefore Men cannot do just what they will;
Then why do Gods complain against them so,
Since Men are made by them such ways to go?
If Evil power hath Gods to oppose,
Two equal Deities it plainly shows;
The one Pow'r cannot keep Obedience long,
If Disobedient power be as Strong;
And being Ignorant how Men will prove,
Know not how Strong or Long will last their Love:
But may't not be the Course of God's Decree,
To love Obedience, wheresoe're it be?
They from the first a Changing power Create,
And for that Work make Destiny and Fate;
It is the Mind of Man that's apt to Range,
The Minds of Gods are not subject to Change.
Then did the Fates unto the Planets go,
And told them they Malignity must throw
Into this Island, for the Gods would take
Revenge on them, who did their Laws forsake;
VVith that the Planets drew like with a Screw
Bad Vapours from the Earth, and then did View
What place to Squeeze that Poyson on, which all
The Venom had, got from the VVorld's great Ball;
Then through Mens Veins like Molten Lead it came,
And did like Oyl their Spirits all Inflame,
VVhere Malice boyl'd with Rancor, Spleen and Spight,
In VVarr and Fraud, Injustice took delight,
Thinking which way their Lusts they might fulfill,
Committed Thefts, Rapes, Murthers at their will;
Parents and Children did Unnat'ral grow,
And every Friend was turn'd a Cruel Foe;
Nay, Innocency no Protection had,
Religious Men were thought to be stark Mad;
In Witches, Wizzards, they did put their trust,
Extortions, Bribes were thought to be most Just;
Like Titan's Race all did in Tumults rise,
And 'gainst the Heavens utter Blasphemies;
The Gods in Rage unbound the Winds, to blow
In a strange Nation, formerly their Foe,
Where they themselves did Plant, the Natives all
Were by them Kill'd, for th'Gods had Sworn their fall;
Compassion wept, and Virtue wrung her hands,
To see that Right was Banish'd from their Lands:
Thus Winds, and Seas, the Planets, Fates and all
Conspir'd to work her Ruine and her Fall;
But those that keep the Laws of God on high,
Shall Live in Peace, i'th' Grave rest Quietly;
And ever after like the Gods shall be,
Injoy all Pleasure, know no Misery.