Devovt Rhapsodies In Which, Is Treated, of the Excellencie of Divine Scriptvres ... By J: A: Rivers [i.e. John Abbot] |
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Sermo Quintus.
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26
Sermo Quintus.
To the right Honorable, John Paulet, Marquesse of Winchester, the Lady Honoria, The best Example of her Sex, His Marchiones; and the Honorable, Walter Mountague.
The Argument.
What ruind Angels? a transcendent pride?Or envy? Because Man was Deifide.
Proud Lucifer turn'd Traytor animates
His fellow Angels to be associates
In the Rebellion: Michael with the bands,
Of Loyall Subjects for GODS title stands:
The Traytors lose the day; Grace, glories Crowne,
(They might have gai'nd) to th' depths of Hell cast downe.
The Devill nere was glutton; never soild,
With amorous embraces: never foild
with drink: no purser by the high way side,
Never for Murder at the Sessions tride.
(Nor could he faile so, such concupiscence
Following corporeall faculties and sense.)
(Yet has he perpetrated all these crimes,
By proxie, above a hundred thousand times)
How fell the Devill then? how lost his place,
And share 'oth Deity, Cœlestiall grace.
How did the searcher of all intrailes finde,
Iniquity in so sublime a minde?
What horrid act hath his eversion wrought?
Ruine on him? on Us destruction brought,
(For he having limpt himselfe, made Adam halt,
Whence issued our hereditary fault.)
Was Lucifer a Peacock? when he spide
His specious plumes, with a selfe-pleasing pride,
Tooke he fond complacence in gifts bestowde,
And with those gifts rebeld against his God,
Who gave 'em? did he glorying in his state,
Aspire to be with God coequall Mate?
With soaring wings why would he northward flye,
And independant be as the most high?
With amorous embraces: never foild
with drink: no purser by the high way side,
Never for Murder at the Sessions tride.
(Nor could he faile so, such concupiscence
Following corporeall faculties and sense.)
(Yet has he perpetrated all these crimes,
By proxie, above a hundred thousand times)
How fell the Devill then? how lost his place,
And share 'oth Deity, Cœlestiall grace.
27
Iniquity in so sublime a minde?
What horrid act hath his eversion wrought?
Ruine on him? on Us destruction brought,
(For he having limpt himselfe, made Adam halt,
Whence issued our hereditary fault.)
Was Lucifer a Peacock? when he spide
His specious plumes, with a selfe-pleasing pride,
Tooke he fond complacence in gifts bestowde,
And with those gifts rebeld against his God,
Who gave 'em? did he glorying in his state,
Aspire to be with God coequall Mate?
With soaring wings why would he northward flye,
And independant be as the most high?
Or did not envy raigne? that God should sleight,
The Angelike Essence, and himselfe unite
To our weak substance, by a wondrous tye,
Including in one Man the Deity,
And humane Nature: this makes Traytors rise
In armes 'gainst their Creator; envies eyes
Are so malignant, that anothers good,
Like daggers strikes to th' heart, and fetches blood.
‘What quoth th' aspiring Angell, shall this slime
‘Oth earth, this worme in plenitude of tyme,
‘Grac'd with the union Hypostaticall,
‘Be Deified? have Empire over all.
‘Must Angels so accomplished with grace,
‘In Entity so perfect give him place?
‘Be slaves, and as obsequious Vassals stand,
‘To know, then execute what heele command?
‘If God cannot his bounties better share,
‘Weele learne him Order, teach him who we are:
‘If needs he will his gifts, and selfe diffuse
‘In Donatives, let him election use:
‘Wherefore you (Legions) ayde me, and weele make,
‘This partiall God recall his purpose, take
‘Our Nature, where you all shall sharers be,
‘And fellowes with me in the Deity.
The Angelike Essence, and himselfe unite
To our weak substance, by a wondrous tye,
Including in one Man the Deity,
And humane Nature: this makes Traytors rise
In armes 'gainst their Creator; envies eyes
Are so malignant, that anothers good,
Like daggers strikes to th' heart, and fetches blood.
‘What quoth th' aspiring Angell, shall this slime
‘Oth earth, this worme in plenitude of tyme,
‘Grac'd with the union Hypostaticall,
‘Be Deified? have Empire over all.
‘Must Angels so accomplished with grace,
‘In Entity so perfect give him place?
‘Be slaves, and as obsequious Vassals stand,
‘To know, then execute what heele command?
‘If God cannot his bounties better share,
‘Weele learne him Order, teach him who we are:
‘If needs he will his gifts, and selfe diffuse
‘In Donatives, let him election use:
‘Wherefore you (Legions) ayde me, and weele make,
‘This partiall God recall his purpose, take
‘Our Nature, where you all shall sharers be,
‘And fellowes with me in the Deity.
28
As in a Leguer, where distracted mindes,
Revolt against their Generall, Treason findes,
New complices to act a dririe plot;
So now seditious Lucifer ha's got
Whole multitudes to second what he saith,
As Impious Angels violate their faith,
Turne to a Creature their chiefe leader, and
Amazed at his eminencies stand:
For Lucifer had such similitude
With God, that he, next him was the first good.
No Cedar in Mount Libanus so tall,
No Beech as hee: he far surmounted all;
Great his indowments, specious were his raies,
And he stild justly, First of all Gods wayes,
Allured with such parts, the inferiour stars
Forsake their stations, denounce open Wars
Against their Maker. Now the signal's given,
Of a great battaile to be fought in Heaven.
For Michael and his friends oppose themselves,
In Squadrons rangde against the haughty Elves:
The loyalty of Subjects now is tryde,
As they take part on Michaels and Gods side:
Who stands impartiall a spectator by,
To see these Combatants for maistery try.
Revolt against their Generall, Treason findes,
New complices to act a dririe plot;
So now seditious Lucifer ha's got
Whole multitudes to second what he saith,
As Impious Angels violate their faith,
Turne to a Creature their chiefe leader, and
Amazed at his eminencies stand:
For Lucifer had such similitude
With God, that he, next him was the first good.
No Cedar in Mount Libanus so tall,
No Beech as hee: he far surmounted all;
Great his indowments, specious were his raies,
And he stild justly, First of all Gods wayes,
Allured with such parts, the inferiour stars
Forsake their stations, denounce open Wars
Against their Maker. Now the signal's given,
Of a great battaile to be fought in Heaven.
For Michael and his friends oppose themselves,
In Squadrons rangde against the haughty Elves:
The loyalty of Subjects now is tryde,
As they take part on Michaels and Gods side:
Who stands impartiall a spectator by,
To see these Combatants for maistery try.
No party brought to th' field, or swords or bils,
But serious altercations of their Wils:
Neither did they with a Stentorean voice,
On any part plead rights; but without noice
Ioyn'd the Batalia's: No loud clamors there,
Let the left Wing advance, bring up the Rere:
But what they would have either friend or foe,
Should understand, their Wils did make 'em know:
Yet Drums and Trumpets were the harmonious Spheres,
Still ecchoing terror in the Rebels eares:
When they reflect how those, though senslesse stand,
In order, when these spurne at Gods command.
But serious altercations of their Wils:
Neither did they with a Stentorean voice,
On any part plead rights; but without noice
Ioyn'd the Batalia's: No loud clamors there,
Let the left Wing advance, bring up the Rere:
But what they would have either friend or foe,
Should understand, their Wils did make 'em know:
Yet Drums and Trumpets were the harmonious Spheres,
Still ecchoing terror in the Rebels eares:
When they reflect how those, though senslesse stand,
In order, when these spurne at Gods command.
That fight was famous in Pharsalia field,
Where the Patrisians, and their Pompey yeild
To Cæsars conquering Legions, and one day,
Makes Rome, and the whole world the Victors pray:
So was that Naumachie by the Actian shore,
Where Anthony pursues his flying Whore;
And great Octavian all the Empire gets,
Where the Sun first appeares, and where he sets.
The whole Worlds Soveraignty, being set at stake,
Did these encounters so conspicuous make.
But in this Battaile fought on Sions plaine,
Where the false Angels lose, the loyall gaine
The day: what ever is above the skies,
Even Gods command must be the Victors prize.
Where the Patrisians, and their Pompey yeild
29
Makes Rome, and the whole world the Victors pray:
So was that Naumachie by the Actian shore,
Where Anthony pursues his flying Whore;
And great Octavian all the Empire gets,
Where the Sun first appeares, and where he sets.
The whole Worlds Soveraignty, being set at stake,
Did these encounters so conspicuous make.
But in this Battaile fought on Sions plaine,
Where the false Angels lose, the loyall gaine
The day: what ever is above the skies,
Even Gods command must be the Victors prize.
The Armies ordered, and in mutuall view,
The grand Commander of the Traytruos crue
Himselfe advances, and at every straine,
Presents Goliah, or fierce Tamerlaine.
Blasphemes and curses Gods selected band,
But as (if such comparisons may stand)
A thick neck'd Bull made Captaine of the Herd,
And for his strength, of all the Forrest fear'd;
Meeting some stately Lyon at a spring,
Disdaines to pay due homage to his King:
But ventilating oft his hornes ith' ayre,
He and his Flock themselves to fight prepare;
When the stout Lyon backed by his friends,
The conflict presently begins and ends:
As furiously upon the Bull he goes:
And, maugre his great strength, casts in the close.
Then on the prostrate neck, setting his foot,
With a disdainfull paw puls out his throat:
The rest, as they behold their Leader dye,
With the disaster all appalled flye.
In the same manner Michael putting on
His trusty Armour: Vindication
Of Gods supremacy, a two edg'd Sword,
Strongly compos'd of Gods revealed Word:
Iustice his brest-plate, and of Faith the shield:
A belt of Verity: his helmet steel'd
With safety. Armed thus against his foe,
He marches, and as David with one blow
Defeats the Else: then trampling on his head,
This ovant speech in following manner said:
‘Who like to God? who from the abysse of nought,
‘First made thee, then to this perfection brought?
‘Ingratefull wretch to thy Creators grace,
‘Unworthy such endowments, and cheife place.
‘Was thy eye evill because God was good?
‘Or didst thou surfeit with much plenitude?
‘What is, is his; and must he come so low
‘Beneath himselfe, that when he will bestow
‘His favours, he must aske his creatures what
‘He shall bestow? whether on this or that
‘Person, or nature? he can best dispence,
‘Who knowes what's given is but benevolence:
‘Great were thy eminencies: did we repine
‘At dignities conferd on thee, and thine?
‘We knew, and so shouldst thou, that he who gave
‘Such gifts, knew well what every one should have,
‘And in what measure, neither thou, nor I,
‘Can limit or inlarge his liberality.
‘False Impe, who wouldst have Empire over all,
‘To the lowest pit thou shalt dejected fall:
‘Can nothing please thee but thy Makers Crowne?
‘To Hell with thy associates tumble downe.
The grand Commander of the Traytruos crue
Himselfe advances, and at every straine,
Presents Goliah, or fierce Tamerlaine.
Blasphemes and curses Gods selected band,
But as (if such comparisons may stand)
A thick neck'd Bull made Captaine of the Herd,
And for his strength, of all the Forrest fear'd;
Meeting some stately Lyon at a spring,
Disdaines to pay due homage to his King:
But ventilating oft his hornes ith' ayre,
He and his Flock themselves to fight prepare;
When the stout Lyon backed by his friends,
The conflict presently begins and ends:
As furiously upon the Bull he goes:
And, maugre his great strength, casts in the close.
Then on the prostrate neck, setting his foot,
With a disdainfull paw puls out his throat:
The rest, as they behold their Leader dye,
With the disaster all appalled flye.
In the same manner Michael putting on
His trusty Armour: Vindication
Of Gods supremacy, a two edg'd Sword,
Strongly compos'd of Gods revealed Word:
Iustice his brest-plate, and of Faith the shield:
A belt of Verity: his helmet steel'd
30
He marches, and as David with one blow
Defeats the Else: then trampling on his head,
This ovant speech in following manner said:
‘Who like to God? who from the abysse of nought,
‘First made thee, then to this perfection brought?
‘Ingratefull wretch to thy Creators grace,
‘Unworthy such endowments, and cheife place.
‘Was thy eye evill because God was good?
‘Or didst thou surfeit with much plenitude?
‘What is, is his; and must he come so low
‘Beneath himselfe, that when he will bestow
‘His favours, he must aske his creatures what
‘He shall bestow? whether on this or that
‘Person, or nature? he can best dispence,
‘Who knowes what's given is but benevolence:
‘Great were thy eminencies: did we repine
‘At dignities conferd on thee, and thine?
‘We knew, and so shouldst thou, that he who gave
‘Such gifts, knew well what every one should have,
‘And in what measure, neither thou, nor I,
‘Can limit or inlarge his liberality.
‘False Impe, who wouldst have Empire over all,
‘To the lowest pit thou shalt dejected fall:
‘Can nothing please thee but thy Makers Crowne?
‘To Hell with thy associates tumble downe.
As when the heavens, the ayre, the winds conspire
With horrid thunder, and with flashing fire,
To terrifie the world, and make us thinke,
Our sins had fild Gods cup even to the brinke,
And the Universe must end: Midst all these tones
Of angry Heaven, innumerable stones,
Of haile fall downe, and with their fragour make,
The Machin of the frighted World to shake.
Such was the Angels precipice from Heaven,
When glorious Michael had his sentence given.
For Lucifer, who made the Angels faile,
As he fell headng, dragd downe with his tayle,
The stars third part (when men of high estate
Decline, the ruine ends not in their Fate.)
But as some potent Lording, who hath wrought
Treason against his Soveraigne Prince, and sought
To murder or depose him, for which ends,
Conspiring with his Vassals, and his Friends;
He traiterously takes armes, but in the field,
Is vanquishd by his King, compeld to yeild.
Brought to a tryall, all receive their doome,
But differently; some from their native home,
Banishd; some forfeit life, some goods and land,
So did the case with the damn'd Angels stand,
Some are confinde 'ith spatious ayre to dwell,
Others on the earth, and seas; yet all in Hell.
For they still beare about the load of sin:
Fire in the apprehension, tortur'd minds within.
And we might see, had we spirituall eyes,
How innumerous Devils, Atome-like and Flies
In a hot summers day, hop up and downe,
Ith' ayre or'e every City, Village, Towne.
Soaring like Hawkes, with Vultures mawes and eyes,
And when 'tis sprung, source downe upon their prize.
Then let us know that as they towre so high,
They easily, viewing, with advantage flye,
And seaze upon their pray. (Whats poore mans state,
Continually exposed to their hate?)
With horrid thunder, and with flashing fire,
To terrifie the world, and make us thinke,
Our sins had fild Gods cup even to the brinke,
And the Universe must end: Midst all these tones
Of angry Heaven, innumerable stones,
Of haile fall downe, and with their fragour make,
The Machin of the frighted World to shake.
Such was the Angels precipice from Heaven,
When glorious Michael had his sentence given.
For Lucifer, who made the Angels faile,
As he fell headng, dragd downe with his tayle,
31
Decline, the ruine ends not in their Fate.)
But as some potent Lording, who hath wrought
Treason against his Soveraigne Prince, and sought
To murder or depose him, for which ends,
Conspiring with his Vassals, and his Friends;
He traiterously takes armes, but in the field,
Is vanquishd by his King, compeld to yeild.
Brought to a tryall, all receive their doome,
But differently; some from their native home,
Banishd; some forfeit life, some goods and land,
So did the case with the damn'd Angels stand,
Some are confinde 'ith spatious ayre to dwell,
Others on the earth, and seas; yet all in Hell.
For they still beare about the load of sin:
Fire in the apprehension, tortur'd minds within.
And we might see, had we spirituall eyes,
How innumerous Devils, Atome-like and Flies
In a hot summers day, hop up and downe,
Ith' ayre or'e every City, Village, Towne.
Soaring like Hawkes, with Vultures mawes and eyes,
And when 'tis sprung, source downe upon their prize.
Then let us know that as they towre so high,
They easily, viewing, with advantage flye,
And seaze upon their pray. (Whats poore mans state,
Continually exposed to their hate?)
But that grand Traytor, Lucifer, whats done
With him? doe not the conquerors sit upon
The manner of his chastisement? who lead
The dance in this Rebellion, was the head
Plotter and actor in the treason, shall
Be more severely punished then all
The minor Devils; and one clause they adde
Toth' rest of's torments, that makes him stark mad:
Namely, that he who would so high have flowne,
With wings of pride, even to Jehovahs throne,
In a deep dungeon, shut eternally,
Shall a confined slave and prisoner lye.
A hole his goale furthest from Heaven to show,
That as transgressions so must pennance goe.
The other Fiends have the vast Ayre and Seas,
And land to range in whensoere they please:
But their great Monarck must in fetters tyde,
In lowest Hell perpetully abide.
And this was the first prison made for sin,
A patterne to torment Delinquents in:
Yet no confinements, Fetters, Bolts, and Gives,
Can make the damned wretches mend their lives.
Sure the strange quallities of Alpheus streames,
Are idle Poets or Historians dreames.
How he though disimboguing in the Maine,
Yet midst the brine his sweetnesse can retaine;
Debt, and transgression are conducent gins,
To Prisons, Prisons Colledges of sins.
The noble Sciences profest, and chiefe
Arts taught, are of the Drunkard, Whore and Thiefe,
Who were in knavery Freshmen, comming here,
Shall proceed learned Graduats in one yeare.
With him? doe not the conquerors sit upon
The manner of his chastisement? who lead
The dance in this Rebellion, was the head
Plotter and actor in the treason, shall
Be more severely punished then all
The minor Devils; and one clause they adde
Toth' rest of's torments, that makes him stark mad:
Namely, that he who would so high have flowne,
With wings of pride, even to Jehovahs throne,
In a deep dungeon, shut eternally,
Shall a confined slave and prisoner lye.
32
That as transgressions so must pennance goe.
The other Fiends have the vast Ayre and Seas,
And land to range in whensoere they please:
But their great Monarck must in fetters tyde,
In lowest Hell perpetully abide.
And this was the first prison made for sin,
A patterne to torment Delinquents in:
Yet no confinements, Fetters, Bolts, and Gives,
Can make the damned wretches mend their lives.
Sure the strange quallities of Alpheus streames,
Are idle Poets or Historians dreames.
How he though disimboguing in the Maine,
Yet midst the brine his sweetnesse can retaine;
Debt, and transgression are conducent gins,
To Prisons, Prisons Colledges of sins.
The noble Sciences profest, and chiefe
Arts taught, are of the Drunkard, Whore and Thiefe,
Who were in knavery Freshmen, comming here,
Shall proceed learned Graduats in one yeare.
Behold the Gallies, and a Prison view,
And they shall fully represent to you
What's done in Hell; blaspheming every where,
Continuall torments, yet they curse and sweare
Amidst those torments: Boat-swaines, Goalers are,
The Furies that torment 'em and their fare,
Bisket, Tobacco; trickling teares must serve
To make their meat go downe: else let 'em starve,
What then? too many care no more when halfe
Are starv'd then Butchers when they kill a Calfe.
A Prison's like the cruell Martichore,
Or Hell it selfe, still seeking to devour,
It's alwayes taking, the least favour must
Be dearely bought, nor can you goe on trust.
Sweat, labour for some Goalers, a good turne,
Is never thought of in the following morne,
Best curtesi's done to them are but their due,
And what's their Office must be sold to you:
French imposts, Spanish taxes are not hard,
If to th' exactions of a Goale compar'd.
And they shall fully represent to you
What's done in Hell; blaspheming every where,
Continuall torments, yet they curse and sweare
Amidst those torments: Boat-swaines, Goalers are,
The Furies that torment 'em and their fare,
Bisket, Tobacco; trickling teares must serve
To make their meat go downe: else let 'em starve,
What then? too many care no more when halfe
Are starv'd then Butchers when they kill a Calfe.
A Prison's like the cruell Martichore,
Or Hell it selfe, still seeking to devour,
It's alwayes taking, the least favour must
Be dearely bought, nor can you goe on trust.
Sweat, labour for some Goalers, a good turne,
Is never thought of in the following morne,
Best curtesi's done to them are but their due,
And what's their Office must be sold to you:
33
If to th' exactions of a Goale compar'd.
Yet heavens forbid all Keepers should be such,
I know some gently bred, who will not grutch
To doe a favour gratis, know the same
Fortune that oretakes others, is not lame,
But may oretake themselves, and they may be,
Their fellow-prisoners in Captivity:
Know what a sin it is, to boyle the lambe,
Ith' milke and sight of the afflicted damme,
And therefore scorne to add fresh woes to woe,
(Onely ignoble, Beares and Wolves do so.)
They understand al gaines these Vultures take
From undone men cannot them wealthy make,
No more then did that silver Judas good,
Which he had purchas'd with his Maisters blood.
The poore are Christ himselfe, and what is got,
Over the Devils shoulders needs must rot
Under the belly of his Damme (as teares,
And Prisoners clamours penetrate Gods eares.)
These keep not Goales as Charon kept his Boat,
To crave for every passenger a groat,
Nor (gentle soules) wil they, or curse, or raile,
If any in their bounty sometimes faile.
May such (and prisoners votes are potent) be
Fellowes with Peter in Eternity.
(Turn-keys best patterne) who with little state,
But much humanity will ope Heavens gate
Toth' poorest soule, that clensed from his sin,
Or knocks, or rings, craving admission in.
No mischiefe on such Keepers ever fall,
But let 'em have his lot who kept Saint Paul:
No prisoners scaping from 'em run away,
Much courtesie with much injustice pay.
Free from the Bondmans heaven-ascending curse,
May they dye rich in credit, rich in purse.
As the Egyptian Midwifes, let their race,
And they thrive here, and have in Heaven a place.
I know some gently bred, who will not grutch
To doe a favour gratis, know the same
Fortune that oretakes others, is not lame,
But may oretake themselves, and they may be,
Their fellow-prisoners in Captivity:
Know what a sin it is, to boyle the lambe,
Ith' milke and sight of the afflicted damme,
And therefore scorne to add fresh woes to woe,
(Onely ignoble, Beares and Wolves do so.)
They understand al gaines these Vultures take
From undone men cannot them wealthy make,
No more then did that silver Judas good,
Which he had purchas'd with his Maisters blood.
The poore are Christ himselfe, and what is got,
Over the Devils shoulders needs must rot
Under the belly of his Damme (as teares,
And Prisoners clamours penetrate Gods eares.)
These keep not Goales as Charon kept his Boat,
To crave for every passenger a groat,
Nor (gentle soules) wil they, or curse, or raile,
If any in their bounty sometimes faile.
May such (and prisoners votes are potent) be
Fellowes with Peter in Eternity.
(Turn-keys best patterne) who with little state,
But much humanity will ope Heavens gate
Toth' poorest soule, that clensed from his sin,
Or knocks, or rings, craving admission in.
No mischiefe on such Keepers ever fall,
But let 'em have his lot who kept Saint Paul:
No prisoners scaping from 'em run away,
Much courtesie with much injustice pay.
Free from the Bondmans heaven-ascending curse,
May they dye rich in credit, rich in purse.
As the Egyptian Midwifes, let their race,
And they thrive here, and have in Heaven a place.
34
Yet thrice blest Rome, who in the seven Kings times,
And Tribunes rule, wert so devoyd of crimes,
That one pore Goale sufficed to detaine,
All Malefactors, but as Scipio's gaine,
Asia, and Africa, Emilius Greece,
And all returne rich Iasons with the fleece
Of gold, then as thy sins and Towne increase
New Goales are made, and Justices of Peace.
How art thou spotted, with what tincture di'de,
Of sins proud London? which so loud have cri'd
To Heaven for vengeance, that in every street,
New prisons must be made; the Gatehouse, Fleet,
Newgate, and Ludgate, and a hundreth more,
Not large enough for murderer, thiefe, and whore;
But so increases the Malignant trade,
That Courts and Pallaces are prisons made.
O inauspitious Stars to live and die
In torments worse then those of Gregory.
There miseries end with our exhaled breaths,
Continued prisons are continued deaths:
A prison's like Vestas deflowred Nun,
Ram'd in the grave before his thread be spun.
Yet heavens are gentle, and permit this curse,
To fall on some, to keep 'em from a worse.
And Tribunes rule, wert so devoyd of crimes,
That one pore Goale sufficed to detaine,
All Malefactors, but as Scipio's gaine,
Asia, and Africa, Emilius Greece,
And all returne rich Iasons with the fleece
Of gold, then as thy sins and Towne increase
New Goales are made, and Justices of Peace.
How art thou spotted, with what tincture di'de,
Of sins proud London? which so loud have cri'd
To Heaven for vengeance, that in every street,
New prisons must be made; the Gatehouse, Fleet,
Newgate, and Ludgate, and a hundreth more,
Not large enough for murderer, thiefe, and whore;
But so increases the Malignant trade,
That Courts and Pallaces are prisons made.
O inauspitious Stars to live and die
In torments worse then those of Gregory.
There miseries end with our exhaled breaths,
Continued prisons are continued deaths:
A prison's like Vestas deflowred Nun,
Ram'd in the grave before his thread be spun.
Yet heavens are gentle, and permit this curse,
To fall on some, to keep 'em from a worse.
| Devovt Rhapsodies | |