Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

And when the lustfull Kings Decree was read
In ev'ry eare, and Shire proclam'd, & spread,
Forthwith unto the Eunuch Hege's hand
The Bevy came, the pride of beauties band,
Armed with joy, and warring with their eyes,
To gaine the conquest of a princely prize;
But none in peerlesse beauty shin'd so bright,
As lovely Ester did in Hege's sight:
In loyall service he observed her;
He sent for costly Oyles, and fragrant Myrrh,
To fit her for the presence of the King:
Rich Tyres, and change of vesture did he bring;

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Seven comely maids he gave to tend upon her,
To shew his service, and increase her honour:
But she was watchfull of her lips, and wise,
Disclosing not her kinred, or alyes:
For trusty Mardocheus tender care
Gave hopefull Ester Items to beware
To blaze her kin, or make her people knowne,
Lest for their sake, her hopes be overthrowne.
Before the Gates he to and fro did passe,
Wherein inclos'd the Courtly Ester was,
To understand how Ester did behave her,
And how she kept her in the Eunuchs favour.
Now when as Time had fitted ev'ry thing,
By course, these Virgins came before the King.

Such was the custome of the Persian soyle,
Sixe months the Virgins bath'd in Myrrh & Oyle,
Sixe months perfum'd in change of odours sweet,
That perfect lust, and great excesse may meet;
What costly Robes, rare Iewels, rich attire,
Or curious Fare, these Virgins did desire,
'Twas given, and freely granted, when they bring
Their bodies to be prostrate to the King:
Each Virgin keepes her turne, and all the night
They lewdly lavish in the Kings delight,
And soone as morning shall restore the day,
They in their bosomes beare blacke night away,
And (in their guilty breasts, as are their sinnes
Close prisoners) in the house of Concubines
Remaine, untill the satiate King shall please
To lend their pamper'd bodyes a release.

Now when the turne of Ester was at hand,
To satisfie the wanton Kings command,
Shee sought not (as the rest) with brave attire,
To lend a needlesse spurre t'unchast Desire,

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Nor yet endeavours with a whorish Grace,
T'adulterate the beautie of her face:
Nothing she sought to make her glory braver,
But simply tooke what gentle Hege gave her:
Her sober visage daily wan her honour:
Each wandring eye inflam'd, that look'd upon her.

Meditat. 5.

When God had with his Al-producing Blast;
Blown up the bubble of the World, & plac't
In order that, which he had made in measure,
As well for necessary use, as pleasure:
Then out of earthy mould he fram'd a creature
Farre more Divine, and of more glorious feature
Than earst he made, indu'd with understanding,
With strength, victorious, & with awe commanding,
With Reason, Wit, repleate with Majesty,
With heavenly knowledge, and Capacity,
True embleme of his Maker: Him he made
The sov'raigne Lord of all; Him all obay'd;
Yeelding their lives (as tribute) to their King;
Both Fish, and Bird, and Beast, and every thing:
His body's rear'd upright, and in his eye,
Stand radient beames of awfull sov'raignty;
All Creatures else pore downward to the ground,
Man looks to heaven, and all his thoughts rebound
Vpon the Earth (where tydes of pleasures meete)
He treads, and daily tramples with his feete;
Which reade sweet Lectures to his wandring eyes,
And teach his lustfull heart to moralize:
Naked he liv'd, nak'd to the world he came;
For he had then nor fault to hide, nor shame:

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His state was levell, and he had free will
To stand or fall, unforc't to good or ill;
Man had (such state he was created in)
Within his pow'r, a power not to sinne:
But Man was tempted, yeelded, sinn'd, and fell,
Abus'd his free-will, lost it, then befell
A worse succeeding state; who was created
Complete, is now become poore, blinde, and naked;
He's drawne with head-strong bias unto ill,
Bereft of active pow'r to will, or nill;
A bless'ed Saint's become a balefull Devill,
His free-will's onely stinted now to evill:
Pleasure's his Lord, and in his Ladies eyes
His Christall Temple of devotion lyes:
Pleasures the white, whereat he takes his levell,
Which (too much wronged with the name of evill)
With best of blessings takes her lofty seat,
Greatest of goods, and seeming best of great:
Whats good, (like Iron) rusts for want of use,
And what is bad is worsed with abuse;
Pleasure, whose apt, and right ordained end
Is but to sweeten labour, and attend
The frailty' of man is now preferr'd so hie,
To be his Lord, and beare the sov'raignty,
Ruling his slavish thoughts, ignoble actions,
And gaines the conquest of his best affections,
Sparing no cost to bolster up delight,
But force vaine pleasures to unwonted height:

Who addes excesse unto a lustfull heart,
Commits a costly sin, with greater Art.