Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

I well record, a holy Father sayes,
He teaches to deny, that faintly prayes:
The suit surceases, when desire failes,
But whoso prayes with fervency, prevailes;
For Prayr's the key that opes th'eternall gate,
And findes admittance, whether earl' or late;
It forces audience, it unlockes the eare
Of heavens great God (though deafe) it makes him heare.

Vpon a time Babel (the worlds faire Queene
Made drunk with choller, and enrag'd with spleen)
Through fell disdaine, derraigned war 'gainst them
That tender homage to Jerusalem:
A maiden-fight it was, yet they were strong
As men of Warre; The Battaile lasted long,

Much blood was shed, an spilt on either side,
That all the ground with purple gore was dyde:
In fine, a Souldier of Ierusalem:
Charissa hight, (the Almner of the Realme)
Chill'd with an ague, and unapt to fight,
Into Iustitia's Castle too her flight,
Whereat great Babels Queene commanded all,
To lay their siege against the Castle wall;
But poore Tymissa (not with warr acquainted)
Fearing Charissa's death, fell downe, and fainted;
Dauntlesse Prudentia rear'd her from the ground,
Where she lay (pale and senselesse) in a swound,
She rub'd her temples, and at length awaking
She gave her water, of Fidissa's making,
And said, Cheare up, (deare sister) though our foe
Hath tane us Captives, thus besieg'd with woe,
We have a King puissant, and of might,
Will see us take no wrong, and doe us right,
If we possesse him with our sad complaint,
Cheare up, wee'l send to him, and him acquaint.
Tymissa (new awak'd from swound) replies,
Our Castle is begirt with enemies,
And troops of armed men besiege our walls,
Then suer Death, or worse than death befalls
To her, (who ere she be) that stirs a foote,
Or rashly dares attempt to venture out,
Alas! what hope have wee to finde reliefe,
And want the meanes that may divulge our griefe?
Within that place a jolly Matron dwell'd,
Whose lookes were fixt and sad; her left hand held
A paire of equall ballances; her right
A two-edg'd sword; her eyes were quicke & bright,
Not apt to squint, but nimble to discerne;
Her visage lovely was, yet bold and sterne;

Her name Iustitia; to her they make
Their moane; who, well advis'd, them thus bespake:

Faire Maidens, more beloved then the light,
True the suffrance of your wofull plight,
But pitty's fond alone, recures no griefe,
But fruitlesse fals, unlesse it yeeld reliefe.
Cheare up, I have a Messenger in store,
Whose speed is much, but faithfull trust is more,
Whose nimble wings shall cleave the flitting skies,
And scorne the terrour of your enemies,
Oratio hight, well knowne unto your King,
Your message she shall doe, and tydings bring,
Provided that Fidissa travaile with her,
And so (on Christs name) let them goe together.
With that Fidissa having ta'ne her errant,
And good Oratio with Iustitia's Warrant,
In silence of the midnight tooke her flight,
Arriving at the Court that very night;
But they were both as flames of fier hot,
For they did fly as swift, as Cannon shot,
But they (lest sudden cold should do them harme)
Together clung, and kept each other warme:
But now, the kingly gates were sparr'd, and lockt,
They call'd, but none made answer thē they knockt
Together joyning both their force in one,
They knockt againe; Yet answer there was none;
But they that never learn'd to take deniall,
With importunity made further triall;
The King heard well, although he lift not speake,
Till they with strokes the gate did wel-nie breake:
In fine, the brazen gates flew open wide;
Oratio moov'd her suit; The King replide,
Oratio was a faire, and welcome guest;
So heard her suit, so granted her request.

Fraile man, observe; In thee the practice lies,
Let sacred Meditation moralize:
Let Pray'r bee fervent, and thy Faith intire,
And heaven, at last, will grant thee thy desire.