Visiones Rerum The Visions of Things. Or Foure Poems. 1. Principium & Mutabilitas Rerum. Or, The beginning and Mutabilitie of all things. 2. Cursus & Ordo rerum. Or, Art and Nature. 3. Opineo & Ratio rerum. Or, Wealth and Pouertie. 4. Malum & finis rerum, Or, Sinne and Vertue, concluding with the last Iudgement and end of all things. Wherein the Authour expresseth his inuention by way of dreame. By John Hagthorpe |
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Malum & finis Rerum:
Or, SINNE AND VERTVE.
1
Mine eies are dim, my toung with sorrow cleaueth,My hands they shake, my knees together smite,
My soule doth faint, my flesh with horror freezeth,
My heart it pantes, my haires they stand vpright,
When I in hand doe take my pen to write
Tho things which did to me in sleepe appeare,
Which needs I must disclose, tho much I feare.
2
When silent Night had couer'd with her clokeThe face of Earth, and euery thing sought rest,
Saue harmefull beasts, which Nature doth prouoke
To prey on weaker things; my Soule opprest
With heauy thoughts, which banisht from my brest
All pleasing and delightfull fantasies,
This Vision thus appear'd before mine eyes.
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3
A naked Damsell first appear'd (whose skinWith bleeding wounds ennammeld, yet did snow
The hidden beauties that had dwelt therein)
She fled from one that gaue her many a blow
With seuen-fold Whip, whose cause and selues to know
Sore did I long, and with that thought opprest,
The wronged Wight this speech to me adrest.
4
Mortall (quoth she) I see thou pittiest soreMy wrongs; but make the case thine owne,
And trust not this false Syren, cunning whore,
Who bred in Heauen, & thence to earth thrown downe,
As to her prison, here attempts to crowne
Herselfe on Earth, since Heauen she cannot win,
And robs my name, that's Vertue, but is Sin.
5
Trust not her painted brow, her blandishment;Her beauties but a vizor paisted on,
A cunning baite to catch th'improuident;
She's vnder it an Ethiopian:
And tho she smoothes her wrincles all she can,
Shee's filthy, cruell: Tygres farre more kind;
They feed on foes, but she deuoures her friend.
6
Vnder her Silke and Purple brauerie,Vnpartiall eyes shall find with perfit sight,
Her members spotted with ranck leprosie;
Her fingers armed with Harpies clawes for fight
And rapine; clouen beast-like both her feete;
A Dragons tayle which venombd foynes vncases
At her fond louers, in their deare embraces.
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7
And tho in pompe she trauell through the world,And most adore her, and her glittring traine;
Yet are both they, and she, fear'd and abhord,
By those, whose perfect sight desernes the same:
Therefore for thine instruction will I name
Briefly her equipage, that thou mayst see
Both what her selfe and her attendants be.
8
First, must I shew her Chariot and attire,Wherein she makes her progresse with her traine
From East to West. The Seate is foule Desire;
The Wheeles whereon it moues, are sordid Gaine,
Selfe Loue and Vnbeliefe, and Pleasures vaine;
Her Coach-man Belzabub, or Abbaddon;
Her Mates, Megara, Alecto, Tisiphone.
9
Her Iades that drew her on, Disdaine they be,Pride, Enuy, Wrath, Reuenge, Ambition,
And lastly, Feare and Curiositie:
Deceite and Lies her Lacqueys by her run,
Still ready for all errands. After whom
Come her Attendants, Shame and Diffidence,
Confusion and tormenting Conscience.
10
Follie's her page, which still keepes Reason tide:Hypocrisie's her Chaplaine, who still thriues,
VVhile true Zeale pines. Her Beadles, Ease Lust, Pride,
These from her Gates Repentance farre off driues,
From whenced Vertue poore these wounds deriue.
Lastly, thou seest her brood that followeth,
Her Issue, Famine, Sicknes, Warre and Death.
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11
This said, foure Altars then she pointed me,All smoking hot with Incence on the same:
The first to Ambition and to Crueltie;
Ignorance and Idolatrie retaine
The second place; the third of these did flame
To Auarize and to Oppression: last
To Luxurie and Lust the fourth was plac't.
[1.] The Altar to Ambition and Crveltie.
12
And while these things she spoke, me thought appear'dA horrid traine of fierce and bloody Wights:
Flame colour'd Robes they wore, with Crimson smeard;
Their dreadfull lookes euen yet my heart affrights.
Quoth she, all these ioy'd once in dismall fights,
And to their ends to tract a bloody way,
Which thus to sinne her first oblations pay.
13
But to auoide prolixitie (quoth flie)And to make vp a iust account with time,
Thy patience and mine owne lost libertie
I wish thee note, tis no intent of mine
Each seuerall storie here for to designe
And prosecute, but onely such as be
By chance most obuious vnto mine eie.
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14
Why should I point thee out accursed Caine?Orth' Hayrie Hunter with his sinew bow?
Or those on whom iust Ioseph did complaine?
That frantick faithlesse King why should I show?
Or He that made the childrens blood streame through
Indeas streetes? whyth' sonne of Gedeon?
Or that same comly cruell Absalon?
15
Behold Busiris, Egypts cruell King,That fed with humain flesh his Horses full.
Three cruell Ptolomies him following.
Numulisinthis then the Thracian Trull:
Then Phalleris with's dreadfull brazen Bull.
Loe Pontus King, and Occhus false of oath,
Black Haniball, and Iugurth here be both.
16
Next these, obserue the Purple Persian thereWith Royall tyre, Cambiles is his name;
How strange a sacrifice the wretch doth beare,
To offer cruelties vnhallowed flame.
With him Astiages, and Zerxes came;
This millions slew, to atcheiue his proud defire;
That cookt the children for their wofull Syre.
17
Loe, Tullia, King Seruius gracelesse heyre,Who wearie of her long-liu'd Syres delay,
Slew him, perhaps t'anticipate a yeare,
Perhaps a moneth, perhaps not a full day:
But not consent to take his life away,
Most ignominiously she causde her Horse,
That drew her Chariot, trample on his corpse:
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18
She shew'd me then two Romans and two Greekes,That with their happy regall states displeasde,
Halde by Ambition into strange dislikes,
Made the world sicke, and in their time diseasde
Charen with two much labour, yet appeasde,
Nor satisfied a iot their vaine desires,
Tho shedding seas of blood to quench those fires.
19
Then (as they came in sight) she did me showSylla, with purple face and firie eyes,
The plague of Pontus, and Romes ouerthrow,
By first inducing those sad tragedies.
And Marrius fear'd of friends and enemies.
Then Caius vile, that wisht the world to slay;
And he that slew's Mother Agrippina.
20
Another crew she shew'd me then that seem'dTo be some Kingly Romans by their weede,
But tyrants were, or monsters righter deem'd,
Begot of Tigars broode, or Dragons seede,
So many innocents they causde to bleed;
Of whom some offerd Armes, some Feet, Legs, thighs,
Some Eares, some Noses, others Tongues and eyes.
21
And one of these she show'd me mongst the restA Romaine Prince (if true my Author tell)
Offring a heart with letters fiue imprest,
Which Iesus made, if rightly they did spell:
But surely in the Tyrants heart was Hell,
With dying life, and liuing death who vext
Those worthy soules to vertue so conext.
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22
Next these came one in Polish weed attir'd,Whom Rats and Mice had bare anatomizde:
Then of my faire his story I requir'd,
Who said, 'twas one that sometimes Royalizde
In Polish Throne; by Poyson that surprizde
His Vncles liues, whose flesh by Heauens iust doome
Turnd into Rats, the Caitife to consume.
23
Next him came one that sacrifizde to th'GhostOf's angry Syre, the cruell Amurath:
Then he that offerd vp that wofull Host,
Of Noble Grecian blood, fierce Mahumeth.
Next him Valachia's Prince that put to death
So many thousand subiects seuerall waies,
As did great Tyrant Mahumet amaze.
24
In the last ranke of these she show'd me more,Three cruell Princes foule with Patricide:
A Turke a (misnam'd) Christian, and a Moore.
The first, most cruell Selim, full of pride,
Who in a cup his ag'd Sires death did hide:
Friends, Brothers, Nephews kild, and th'whole world fired,
Like Phaeton; and last by fire expired.
25
The second Adolphe, Duke of Guelders hight,Who from his seate his aged Parent drew,
And him imprison'd in most lothsome plight,
Thinking to tire him out by meanes mis due,
Whom into like extreames Heauen iustly threw:
And as from's Sire hee banisht pace and rest,
So he a captiue liu'd and dyde distrest.
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26
The third of these was Ainidas, the PrinceOf Tunis, who against his Sire did rise,
Tho being chiefly crusted for defence,
During his absence, gainst his enemies:
Absent he takes his Crowne, present his Eyes.
But as his Regall Sire he rob'd of sight,
Iust Heauen by sicknesse did himselfe benight.
27
After all these she shew'd me other three,Of whom the first an English habit wore:
Wan were his Cheekes, blacke Locks, a downe cast eie,
And Camels backe; his name I sought her sore
To know, but she denyde, bad aske no more.
A thousand slaues there followed after him
With bloody bowles where heads and hearts did swim
28
Next after whom a warlike Gaule there came,Which in his hand a bloody brand did waue:
The robes he wore were scarlet dyde in graine,
And he himselfe like colour seemd to haue,
Who in so many millions blood did laue.
And as he wet all France with bloody showres,
So heauen at length his blood from each part powres
29
The third and last of all, whose natiue illAnd vice transcends the vice of all the rest;
As farre as Atlas doth the humblest Hill,
Or Sylons carry Powre, Galwayes small beast:
With whom worst Kings compar'd, seeme good and blest;
The Russian Tyrant, Russia's shame, whose breath
Did wither all things, in whose name was death.
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30
His pleasures were not like to other mens;Sweete sounds the sternest hearts sad'st soules reioyce:
But Musick neuer pleasde his hellish sense.
He neuer laught but at some dying voyce;
Teares, sighs, sobs, grones to him were heauenly ioyes,
Who very seldome rellisht well his meate,
But when with blood and death he season'd it.
31
If any rauisht virgin did lament,Or honourd Lady forc't vnto his will,
Or seem'd their friends or parents discontent,
Toth' stewes they went; or (not content to kill)
He hung them ore their parents table, till
Their friends (with their dead sauour welnigh slaine)
By teares and bribes got leaue to burie them.
32
When people from the Temples vsde to come,He vsde to loose his Beares at them in sport,
Delighting much to see them scale the throng;
With which bad pastime many perisht for't.
No mercy did his anger ere consort,
Which buried Kindreds; but, encreast to rage,
Entomb'd whole Cities, sparing sex nor age.
33
His ministers of mirth, his dearest friends,His Wiues, his Whores, his Children were not sure;
The most of these he brought t'vntimely ends;
The instruments euen of his lusts impure;
The Hangmen from this Hangman's not secure:
The Beares and Tygers in their owne Whelpes ioy;
He worse then they, his owne Sonne did destroy.
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34
The wondrous writing on Balthasnærs wallSeemes small, compar'd with what to him was sent,
To whom from Heauen a letter downe did fall
In Marble-writ, whose sculpture sure was ment
To him that liu'd, and dyde impenitent.
And as he fatall was while he had breath,
So did his stench in death giue others death.
2. The Altar to Ignorance and Idolatry.
35
These and their ceremonies scarce were past,When in there came another hideous crew,
Which to the second Altar went in hast,
And on the same their seuerall Incense threw:
Most of them differing both in speech, in hue,
In face and habit, being seuerall Nations,
And some in new, and some in antick fashions.
36
Then here my kind Interpreter I praidT'enstruct me of this second company:
Who kindly granted my request, and said,
All these brought Incense to Idolatry
From euery Coast and Region farre and nigh,
Both old and new. But since so many liue,
She meant of both but short accounts to giue.
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37
She shewd me first vpon this Altar plac't,The Idols worshipt by each seuerall Nation,
Whereby Iehouahs worship is defac't,
And Stocks and Stones cut after differing fashion,
Men, Beasts, Fish, Foule by vaine imagination
Are deified; yea, Satan visibly,
Not pleasde alone with types inuisibly.
38
She nam'd th'Egyptians, leaders of the rest,Seeking for Isis and Osiris lost,
And for their sacred Bull but late disseast,
Lamenting sore, meaning to be at cost
With's Obsequies: for euen those things that most
Harm'd them, they worshipt; th' Aspe, the Dragons fell;
Both Birds and Beasts within their Phanes did dwell.
39
Th'Ichuewmon, and the Crocodile they fed,And feeding, with great humblenes ador'd;
And Beetles (blinded Beetles they indeed,
That so the death of Dogs and Cats deplor'd)
(Whose strange zeale that from Onions aide implor'd)
Me thought now hauing found Osiris ran,
And sacrifiz'd thereto a red hair'd man.
40
The Romans here sought out their rurall Pan,Ioue, Saturne, Hercules, Mars, Liber, Play,
Mercury, and two-fronted Linus then;
Pallas and Iuno, Venus and Flora,
With their blest Mother Berecinthya,
Chance, Vesta, Victory, and Priapus,
With thousands such, to number friuolus.
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41
She showde me then th'old EthiopiansWhich Hammon sought, and those oraculous trees;
Diana then serued by th'Ephesians,
And Eckrons, Baalzebub, God of Flies;
Sydmans, busie with the mysteries
Of their deare Sheepe god, Asterti Tirians
Bowing to Apollo; and to Rimmon th' Syrians.
42
Then those ador'd the Sunne, the fond Phœnicians,Here in great numbers sought their loued stone
(So much enricht, and serued by seuerall Nations)
Which was Piramed all form'd like a cone.
And here the men of Carras made great mone
To Luna, to whose Temple those ouercome
By their curst wiues, with offrings vsde to run.
43
Next these came such whom amorous fires did moueBy paires to seeke the shades, and burbling streames,
And sacred beauties of the Daphnean Groue
Where Cypresse boughes forbid th'ennamourd beames
Of glorious Phœbus, in his hottest gleames
To kisse their Mother-earth, or to discouer
The secret ioye, of any melting louer,
44
The Persians here ador'd their holy Fire:The Laodiceans to Minerua paide
(According as her cruell Rites require)
Yeerely oblation of a spotlesse Maide.
Diuers there were likewise, that offerings laid
To Dagon th'Syren of the Phylistines.
But here from these she past to neerer times.
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45
And shew'd me first the vaine Tartarians,Offering vnto their felten Deitie,
Mares-milke and Flesh. Next them the Chynians,
And Iapons, people of great policie,
Yet in Religion full of vanitie,
And who (as'ts easiest alway to doe euill
Through Ignorance) giue worship to the Deuill.
46
Next these came Peguaus as wise as they,That Incenc't Idoll-Deuils of strange shape;
As doth Cambaia to, and Bengalæ.
The Cidambarans here sought out their Ape,
And those of Cothyne, and along to th' Cape
Comorin, of Narsinga, Callicut,
That bow to an Apes Tooth, and doe worship to't.
47
Then shewd she diuers did IdolatrizeToth, Sunne and Moone, the Moores of Angola,
And Congo; some to Serpents, some to Trees.
Canibals of Anzitthi, Zanfara,
Then show'd she me the Witches of Medra,
Which worshipt Deuils, and doe offer them
Lou'd sacrifice of humain bodies slaine.
48
She past not byth' tawny Tenustitans,That millions to their Vitzliputzly slew:
Seconded by th'as fond Peruuïans,
Who did their Virachocha all bedew
With blood of slaughtred men. But let me view
Brasillians seruing Aignan and's Maracca:
Virginians offering theirs Blood and Tobacca.
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49
The next that vnto me she did display,Of Turkie pilgrims seemd a Carrouan,
Passing the Desarts of Arabia,
Who seemd as if to Meccha now they came,
Their Prophets graue (and th' house of Abraham)
These at this Altar sought mongst other things
His Tombe thereon to pay their offerings.
50
Next these came some that brought a world of trash,Beade, Relick; holy Crucifixes, Coffers,
Gold, Iewels, Siluer and pure Ciprian brasse,
Vowe, Prayers, Teares, to wood and stone, vaine offers
To gods that cannot helpe, the wrongs wormes proffers:
A dull conceit that sencelesse clogs adores,
More grosse then theirs that actiue sprights implores.
51
After all these I fortun'd to espieAn Idoll mongst the rest of fearefull forme:
Like humain face it had, but ne'er an eie
To see: vpon the brow a mightie horne;
Elephants eares, yet vse did none returne:
An eare-wide mouth, with Boare-like sangs beset,
And th' Purples tongue, as sharpe as needles wher.
52
A Ianus face it had, a morions hew,Two wings, and many coloured plumes she wore,
The vpper parts did Giants members show,
And armes, whose fingers Griffens tallents bore,
But Pygmies leggs it had, so small therefore,
That much adoe they had to make it stand,
For still it tumbled downe on euery hand.
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53
Those that did worship this, brought waters sweete,Thinking to wash it faire: but all in vaine,
In vaine they stroue to make their Ethiope white,
Pure waters were polluted by the same;
I crau'd my Faire to let me know their name:
But she vnwilling was to grant me this,
Onely she calld their Idoll Dokesis.
54
All these past on, amongst them diuers wereWhom I had seene, and diuers other to
I neuer knew; whom this my Virgin-faire
For breuitie omitted me to show:
But all with humble reuerence did goe
Toth' second Altar, and did lowly lowre,
While they thereon did their libations powre.
3. The Altar of Avarice and Opression.
55
Which done, they straight-way vanisht out of sight,And the third ranck appear'd of Suppliants then;
All which were such whom Gold did most delight,
And gaine atchieu'd byth' harmes of other men.
She show'd me diuers Princes mixt with them,
Altho for breuitie she onely nam'd
Some few, whom this base vulgar vice distayn'd.
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56
She show'd me Pharoe and's extorted wealth,Extracted from the poore oppressed Iew:
And Lidian Cræsus with his loued pelfe:
And Ptolomy whom Cypresse sometime knew:
Then the Sicillian Tyrants did she shew,
And th' Neapolitane of later time,
That causde his subiects for to keepe his Swine.
57
And after them she let me next beholdA stately traine of petty Princes then.
And Lordings faire attir'd in Silke and Gold,
Which saue their Robes did Polish fashion seeme;
I should haue sworne I most of them had seene:
But I confesse that I no such doe know,
And this confession to mine errours owe.
58
With stately pace me thought these Polish PeeresAnd fierce regard, went vp to sacrifize
Chargers of Sweat, and pearly Peasan & Teares,
(So oft transformed by Magick Auarice
Into those orient ones of smaller price)
They offerd shewes of Barke and Ackorne bread,
And sculles of men, which hard hearts famished.
59
A thousand Lawyers here did sacrifize.Who offerd vp Demurres, and long delayes,
Barres, Stops, Iniunctions, References,
And Prohibitions, that the cause betraies
Of the poore Client, and the Kernell layes
At their owne doores, restoring these the shell,
Of whom had Tophet th'ill, the world were well.
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60
She showde me then another gowned crew,And Cipresse Garlands did their browes impale;
They seem'd like mourners by their sable hew,
Yet massie chests they seem'd to tug and hale;
Vpon their shoulders bore they bills of sale,
Morgages, Nouerints, rich Iewels, Stones;
But all their offerings were of dead mens bones.
4. The Altar to Lvst and Lvxvrie.
61
To the last Altar then (whereon were plac'tTo Bacchus and to Venus Deities,
Two Images, with curious cunning grac't)
Came the fourth ranck thereto to sacrifize,
Which did with Songs and Musick iouialize,
And rosie Chaplets did their haires entwine,
Their colours youthfull weare, White, Red & Greene.
62
There Babilonian SymiramisShe shewed me, and that lustfull Pasipha.
The wife of Agamemnon did not misse;
Nor youthfull Paris, and faire Hellena;
Nor Troyalus, and wanton Cressida,
Pirrhus, Lays, Flora, and Manilius
She show'd, and Lamye, and Demetrius.
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63
Pompeiæ there she show'd, and Clodius;She show'd me Syleus and Messaline.
Then Cleopatra and Anthonius,
And many others of much later time,
And nearer home: all which to Venus shrine,
Besides Sighes, Sonnets, Teares, and Libian Gold,
Offerd a Milke-white Goat, twice eight yeares old.
64
She noted then three singled from the rest,Whose countenance show'd their sad soules discontent;
Louers they seem'd; yet seem'd their minds possest
With deeper woes, then Cupids languishment:
These three from three pure soules those iewels rent;
Which gain'd, with losse of liues they did repay,
And Crownes, which here on Venus shrine they lay;
65
Ten thousand more there were, whose stories sheFor breuitie abridged; yet three or foure
She noted, patternes of strange Luxurie,
Persians and Chaldeans, but past ore
All of them, saue Balthaser, who did powre
Full Challices to Bacchus holy Flame,
As earst he did amongst his cups being slaine.
66
There named she Getæ th'Emperor, whose meatAfter no common guise to's table came,
But ranckt by letters of the Alphabet.
There named she Esope the Tragedian,
Who offerd vp a dish vnseene till than,
All the sweete singing Birds that Rome did hold,
To grace his Feast, at dearest prises sold.
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67
She left not out Dennis Heracleot;Iouian, and Septimius Seuerus,
Who dyde with drinking, both were not forgot;
Nor yet that Sorcerer Tiberius:
All which to Bacchus most imperious
Did offer Flaggons, and with wreathes of Vine,
Adornd the Temples of his honourd shrine.
68
The Priest of Phœbus then she show'd me there,All naked, in his chariot drawne along,
By naked women (as he did appeare
Sometime in Rome amidst the lustfull throng)
Where Gammeds and Syrens sweetely sung)
And a rare dish of minst meate offred
Of Peæhens tongues, and Cocks-combs finely shred.
69
She show'd me then the Emperour Maximine,A Thracian Shepheard by originall,
Who did by all the staires of Fortune climbe
Vnto the throne and seate Imperiall.)
(But as she raisde him, so the wrought his fall)
A full cram'd Glutton so ore fed with cheare,
That two strong men were plac't his paunch to beare.
70
Diuers there were of later times, that seem'dAmongst the rest; she noted onely two,
The first, at first, great Maximine I deem'd;
But better viewd by's picture, streight I know;
He softly pac't, but sore did puffe and blow:
He dranke to Bacchus, and with all his heart
Presented Venus with his secret part.
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71
Next him came Muleasses, that perfum'dHis dishes with so rare and costly Sweetes,
That one three little birds there were consum'd
An hundreth Crownes. Next these came diuers Knights
And Princely Dames assisting at these Rites,
And millions of each ranke, whose stories she
Cut off, through th'entrance of new companie.
72
Much was I moued with what I earst had seene,My heart it vented sighes, mine eyes raind teares,
Recording things which so long past had been,
But now alas renewed my griefes and feares,
Seeing a world of Clergie-men by th'eares,
Striuing and strugling who should first begin
To kill the greatest Hecatombs to sinne.
73
Foule worke they made, and many a bloodie streameForth from their broken heads did trickle downe:
Sore tugged they at a triple Diademe,
And for the same was many a clouen crowne,
Their Croysiers crackt and Miters ouerthrowne:
Such stirre there was, as any man might well
Thinke onely bred in Babylon or Hell.
74
In most disordred sort along they went,Amongst themselues each striuing first to be.
With single sacrifizes not content,
Each of them did to euery Altar flie
With equall zeale, and like Humilitie;
Out-stripping farre (if all she told me true)
The vildest Pagans either old or new.
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75
Then quoth my Faire, Conuert then thine eyes, and findIn these the compleate ill of all the rest,
And vice accomplisht in so high a kind,
That Nero here would Crueltie detest,
Maximine thinke his Auarice were blest,
Mad Anthonine would Luxurie deride,
Messalme would hate lust, Poppea pride.
76
Loe first comes he that drew the putrid CorseOf's predecessor from his Marble Vrne,
And in a Synode (voyde of all remorse)
First, plac't him in Saint Peters Chaire in scorne,
Did him with Robes pontificall adorne;
Degrades him; then from's hands three fingers cuts;
Lastly, with's corpse pure Tyburs waues polutes.
Platina, de formoso in vita Stephani sexti.
77
Then Iohn the twelfth, a monster vile behold,To hunting more adicted then to prayer
(When tend it for venerian tilts he could:)
The Lateran he made a brothell faire;
Saint Peters golden Challices the ware.
He, Healths to Pluto drunke; and for his paine,
By him i'th'act of lust impure was slaine.
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78
I would not load thy memorie too sore,(Quoth she) mongst many will I name but two
Damd Sorcerers, that Leagues accursed swore,
And did in woods and secret places bow,
And sacrifice th'infernal powres vnto,
Contracting most deare bargains, to obtaine
A short, disquiet, aye repented raigne.
79
The first loe there is Siluester by name,Whose bargaine was, that he on earth should stay
So long, till to Ierusalem he came,
A further iourney then he meant to stray.
But going to the Church, so call'd, to pray,
His Feinds appeares: the Churches name he craues:
Which knowne, he droopes dies. Thus false Feinds deceiues.
80
That other Benedict the ninth we call,So farre indeed from what his name imports,
That to obtaine the cursed Romain Pall,
And that with women he might freely sport,
Sealed couenants written with his owne blood for't.
And whilest he once his wicked homage made,
His Master kild him, and his owne debts paid.
81
There goes another no lesse liberall,Another Benedict, a blessed one:
Of Priestly gifts and grace spirituall,
A man of equall note with those best knowne,
Who rauisht Nuns and Virgins, pittied none:
A damned Atheist blind with lust and pride,
The soule to be immortall he denide.
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82
That Hildebrand loe here, that Hellish brand,The sower of sedition, murther, strife,
Before whose Gate an Emperour did stand
Barefoote three dayes, attending with his wife;
Yet still he sought to rid him of his life:
Not pleasde, altho his Crowne vpon his knee
He offerd him, with base seruilitie.
83
Then show'd she him that did Pope Iohn benight,Imprisond, and in prison causde him pine.
Then he that crown'd the Emperour with his feete,
That dogged in cælestiall Cælestine.
Then Alexander Pope farre lesse diuine
Then Pagan Alexander, Persia's god,
Who vnder's feete Great Cæsars neuer trod.
84
Next these, a Wretch that murtherd two Popes goesCalixtus then that Gregorie displac't,
Making him passe in manner dolerous
Through Rome, where earst he had been highly grac't;
Vpon a Cammell leane, and badly pac't,
Trapt with raw Goats hides, then to prisne confind him,
Where with Petrean charitie he pyn'd him.
85
Loe Balthasar that Balthasar excell'd,Poysoning his Predecessor, to acquire
Saint Peters Chaire; who th'holy Relicks sell'd,
To feed the fewell of his Paphian fire;
For rapes of Nunnes, and fortie vertues higher,
And Atheisme, was at Constance last deposde,
And in strong Manheyms walles he dyde enclosde.
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86
Next him obserue Aeneas Siluius,That made old Rome a new stage of delight;
Learned, but subtill and luxurious.
Next whom comes Peter Barbo into sight,
Whose soule liu'd here in a Cimmerian night.
And (tho his rich stones dimd the Moone) dy'd poore,
Consuming all on's Bastard and his Whore.
87
There others goe, whom lust and beautie hentTo highest place. Then Sixtus loe (quoth she)
That Brothels built t'encrease Saint Peters rent,
And with his friends dispenc't for Sodomie
Three moneths the yeere, Iune, August, Iuly:
And he that sometime did Auignion feast
Most prodigally, yet but one dish drest.
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88
Then Borgia behold well-nigh the last,Whose auarice I doe not meane to touch,
(Slight vice for vertues oft-times here hath past)
But diuelish Artes and lust in him were such,
That to corriue with sonnes, he thought not much
In's daughters bed: so mixt he many a cup
Of death for's friends, and last himselfe did sup.
89
Then after these she let me see that Iulius,That Peters Keyes in Tyburs waues did throw;
And Pauls keene Sword then tooke in hand most furious,
When he before Mirandula did go;
VVherewith he made whole streames of blood to flow.
Then Leo last, an Atheist worst of all
VVho did the Gospell but a Fable call.
90
These Clergie men brought vessels full of bloud,And poisoned bowles, they offerd crueltie:
Then Teeth, Bones, Haire, old Reliques, rotten VVood,
And Idols more then Nile to Idolatrie.
To Auarice a world of soules. To Luxurie,
Delitious Cates, VVine, Silke and costly Stones.
To Venus then, ten thousand little ones.
91
Here-with me thought the Altars fiercely blaz'd,The flames then earst ascended much more high,
The smoke ten thousand pitchy turrets raisde,
And so transcended boue the Starry skie,
Piercing the nostrils of Ioues Maiestie:
VVhereat amazde, my haires vpright they run,
Mine eyes grew dim, and tongue grew stiffe and dumb.
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92
For straight me thought the earth began to quake,The water murmurd, and the ayre did sigh,
The leauy Groues seem'd sadder sounds to make
The Oxen groned, and Horses snorted high:
All rebels to their Masters, feeling nigh
This end of things; and all in heart request
Great God to right their wronges, and giue thē rest:
93
The Sun and Moone then streight me thought grew dim,The Starres from heauen they fell, and lost their light;
And all the world seemd now returnd againe
To her first Chaos, and eternall night.
Then were my feares and hopes, in doubtfull fight,
When straight me thought this voice came frō aboue;
Is this the fruit of Heauens long care and loue?
94
The Earth cries out, that man her gifts abuseth.The Sea (whose bending backe he tyres for gaine)
That bloody streames he in her waues infuseth,
And doth corrupt her spawne with bodies slaine.
The Aire that it's polluted doth complaine.
The Fire cries out, he doth so oft enrage it,
That Cities melt, and Floods can not asswage it.
95
The Towre-bearer, and proud couragious beastCrie out, he forceth them against their will,
T'assaile with armed sides, and barbest crest
The liues of men to murther and to kill.
The Lions rore, that earst were taught to fill
Themselues on Men; whom hunger only forceth
To feed on those, Ioues fatall brand endorceth.
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96
The weeping Woods of haplesse Arabye,The sweetes which for delight and health he fram'd,
Euen these complaine, and doe for vengeance cry,
Because so oft on Idoll shrines they flam'd,
And by his lusts impure haue been defam'd.
The powrefull Hearbs, which flying breath recall,
Made by themselues Deaths Agents in their fall.
97
The Beasts, Fowle, Fish and Fruit of various kind,Ordain'd for health, for pleasure, and for vse,
The hidden treasures to the earth assign'd;
All these likewise doe witnesse his abuse,
With which he truth and iustice doth traduce:
With which he surfets, while his brethren pine,
And in his heart denies the powre diuine.
98
The Saints lament that Heauen he still reprocheth,The Angels grieue at his ingratitude.
The Deuils cry out, that he on them encroeheth,
And now begins to teach them to be leaud:
Therefore Iehouah doth in Time conclude,
Since all's accomplisht, was decreed before,
The World shall end, and Time shall be no more.
99
Here-with the fires th'etheriall tracts retainesThe hidden sparkles, both in Wood and Stone,
The Sulphur lurking in earths secret veynes
Burst forth (me thought) and all conueend in one,
Men, Beasts, Trees, Houses for to feede vpon:
This fierie Sergeant in an houre did spoyle
Of many hundred yeares the painefull toile.
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100
Then gaspt earths marble iawes; her hungry mouthIt opned wide, tho now no more to take,
But to restore the surfets of her youth:
Each Goale a free deliuerance to make;
The Sea restorde her Dead, each Streame and Lake,
And all the earth with new-borne limbs it trembled,
VVhile soules and bodies themselues re-assembled.
101
The Kings and Princes they did sore lament,VVishing the earth would ope and swallow them.
The gallant Dames that liu'd incontinent,
For whose deare sakes so many earst was slaine,
VVith horror here confounded, and with shame;
They wayled, they wept, they wisht to change their state
VVith meanest slaues, or beasts they fed on late.
102
But all in vaine they wisht what cannot be:The Trumpet sounds, and they must all appeare:
They see the angry Iudge sitting on high;
Beneath them Hell, the obiect of their feare:
No pleaders need they, neither witnesse here,
Three Bookes of Conscience, Passion, Life lies ope,
Then cease the good to feare, the bad to hope.
103
The sentence past, the blessed soules reioyce:The wicked gnasht their teeth, gainst Heauen blaspheming;
The Deuils howld, and made a fearefull noyse,
And all the poyson of their malice teeming
On wretched mortalls (hopelesse of redeeming)
In burning carrs, & chaines towards Hell them hayld,
Frō whēce, me thought, these words mine eares assaild.
117
Vox gehenna.
Oh cursed you, that whyleft yee earst had time,No councels betterd, nor examples moued,
To keepe the statutes, and the lawes diuine,
But still your blinded sence your banes approued;
Tho Christ for sinners suffred whom he loued:
We but for one offence are hither driuen,
You're lost for want of faith, whose sins were giuen.
105
VVith flaming forkes therefore weele tosse and turne yee,In Stigian streames to Christall will we freeze yee;
In Phlegiton then will we thaw, then burne yee;
Our comfort is, we're sure we cannot leese yee.
Death grazeth on yee, but he euer flies yee.
Here shall ye freeze with feare, & burne with anguish,
And pine with famine, and in darke fires languish.
106
You Tygers which did thirst for bloody streames,And teares of others, here shall drinke your owne.
You Moles, whose eyes were dazde with Golden beames,
Yee shall haue store, great measure shall be showne,
With Ladles downe your throtes it shall be throwne.
You Iustfull Goats, that ioyd in amorous graces,
You shall be glutted here with our embraces.
107
You angry Doggs, here shall you fight your fill.You rauenous Wolues, here shall ye eate your dung.
You enuious Dragons to, that dyde to kill,
That hated still the good, the wise and strong,
Your selues vnapt for any thing but wrong,
Here shall ye feed on Aspecks; and your head
With Snakie tresses shall be couerd.
118
Pœna sensus.
You Eyes that heretofore could not endureTo looke vpon the sores of Lazarus,
But highly feasted were with things impure,
With costly Pictures, and lasciuious,
With Gownes, with Gauds, with fashions rare and vicious,
With Maskes, with Shows; here shall ye nothing see
But Serpents, flying Fires, and vgly We.
109
You, you whose noses still so close were pent,In passing by the poore and needy wight,
For whom from Ganges Odours rich were sent,
And nothing was thought costly, that was meet,
To couer Natures faults, or to delight.
You, you that Chimneys were for Indian smoke,
With pitchy Clouds and Brimstone shall yee choke.
110
You eares that earst were deafe vnto the poore,Whom flatteries, or gaine, or charming sound
Of Musick only pleasde, you shall no more
Heare names of Honor, Grace, of Wit profound,
Valour or Beautie; here all things resound,
And eccho horror, grones of wretched Ghosts,
Othes, Blasphemies, and Yells of vs your Hosts.
111
You, you for whom the Virgins fingers spunneThe silkes of Naples, and proud Genoa,
For whom were brought soft Sables from the Donne,
And costly Ermines from Rhezania;
Who pin'd the poore that you might feast and play.
You, you whose curious touch no Downe could please.
Here burning beds of Iron is your ease.
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112
You curious mouthes that nought but sweets could taste,Whose great excesse did grutch the poore a share,
Which on your paunches millions earst did wast,
And had so many thousands still to care,
Onely to bring you dishes, strange and rare,
Here Ostrich-like shall swallow in your rage,
Toads, Steele, or Stones, your hungers to asswage.
Pœna damni.
Then damned soules, conceiue what you haue lost,How faire a Citie, what a Mansion,
Prouided for yee at anothers cost;
Enricht with beauty and perfection,
Where thorny cares, disease, or want is none,
But all with glorie, and with wisdome shine,
Sustain'd and cherisht by that loue diuine.
114
On earth while earst you liu'd, you deemd the losseOf Parents fauour was no little paine;
The losse of Kingdomes an exceeding crosse;
But most to loose the light, and to remaine
In dungeon darke: This losse doth all containe
The losse of God, whose boundlesse powre diuine
Doth not your plagues in times or tearmes confine.
115
Altho ye could like Esau melt to teares;Restore like Iudas your accursed gaine;
Like Ahab mourne in sack-cloth (many yeares)
Altho you here could chatter like the Crane,
Send forth as shrill shrikes as the Pellican:
Tho ye could weepe whole Seas for euery sinne,
They're all but lost, no mercy can yee winne.
120
116
But here me thought I felt a sudden ioyRun through my flesh, and wing my rauisht spright,
Feeling my selfe exempt from this anoy,
Full of cœlestiall thoughts, and rare delight,
Amongst the Quires of heauenly Singers sweete.
With which high ioyes, I thinke, my soule had scapt
From forth her prison, if I had not wakt.
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