Du Bartas His Divine Weekes And Workes with A Compleate Collectio[n] of all the other most delight-full Workes: Translated and written by yt famous Philomusus: Iosvah Sylvester |
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 | Du Bartas |  |
236
NOAH.
THE SECOND DAY OF THE SECOND WEEK.
- I. The Ark,
- II. Babylon,
- III. The Colonies,
- IV. The Colvmnes.
CONTAINING
237
1. The Ark.
THE FIRST PART OF THE SECOND DAY OF THE II. WEEK.
The Argvment.
Noah prepares the Ark: and thither brings(With him) a Seed-pair of all liuing things:
His exercise, a-ship-board: Atheist Cham
His holy Fathers humble Zeal doth blame;
And diversly impugns Gods Providence:
Noah refells his Faith-less arguments:
The Flood surceast: Th'Ark landed: Blood forbid:
The Rain-bowe bent; what is prefigured:
Wine drowneth Wit: Cham scoffs the Nakednes
Of's sleeping Sire: the Map of Drunkennes.
If now no more my sacred rimes distill
With Art-less ease from my dis-custom'd quill:
If now the Laurell, that but lately shaded
My beating temples, be dis-leav'd and vaded:
And if now, banisht from the learned Fount,
And cast down head-long from the lofty Mount
Where sweet Vrania sitteth to endite,
Mine humbled Muse flag in a lowely flight;
Blame these sad Times ingratefull cruelty,
My houshold cares, my healths infirmity,
My drooping sorrows for (late) grievous losses,
My busie suits, and other bitter crosses.
With Art-less ease from my dis-custom'd quill:
If now the Laurell, that but lately shaded
My beating temples, be dis-leav'd and vaded:
And if now, banisht from the learned Fount,
And cast down head-long from the lofty Mount
Where sweet Vrania sitteth to endite,
Mine humbled Muse flag in a lowely flight;
Blame these sad Times ingratefull cruelty,
My houshold cares, my healths infirmity,
My drooping sorrows for (late) grievous losses,
My busie suits, and other bitter crosses.
Lo, there the clogs that waigh down heavily
My best endevours, whilom soaring high:
My harvest's hail: the pricking thorns and weeds
That in my soule choak those diviner seeds.
O gracious God! remove my great incumbers,
Kindle again my faiths neer-dying imbers:
Asswage thine anger (for thine own Sons merit)
And from me (Lord) take not thy holy Spirit:
Comb, gild and polish, more then ever yet,
This later issue of my labouring wit:
And let not me be like the winde, that proudly
Begins at first to roar and murmur loudly
Against the next hils, over-turns the woods,
With furious tempests tumbles-vp the floods,
And (fiercely-fell) with stormy puffs constrains
The sparkling flints to roul about the Plains;
But flying, faints; and every league it goes,
One nimble feather of his wing doth lose:
But rather like a River poorly-breeding
In barren Rocks, thence drop by drop proceeding:
Which, toward the Sea, the more he flees his source,
With growing streams strengthens his gliding course,
Rowls, roars and foams, raging with rest-less motion,
And proudly scorns the greatnes of the Ocean.
My best endevours, whilom soaring high:
My harvest's hail: the pricking thorns and weeds
That in my soule choak those diviner seeds.
238
Kindle again my faiths neer-dying imbers:
Asswage thine anger (for thine own Sons merit)
And from me (Lord) take not thy holy Spirit:
Comb, gild and polish, more then ever yet,
This later issue of my labouring wit:
And let not me be like the winde, that proudly
Begins at first to roar and murmur loudly
Against the next hils, over-turns the woods,
With furious tempests tumbles-vp the floods,
And (fiercely-fell) with stormy puffs constrains
The sparkling flints to roul about the Plains;
But flying, faints; and every league it goes,
One nimble feather of his wing doth lose:
But rather like a River poorly-breeding
In barren Rocks, thence drop by drop proceeding:
Which, toward the Sea, the more he flees his source,
With growing streams strengthens his gliding course,
Rowls, roars and foams, raging with rest-less motion,
And proudly scorns the greatnes of the Ocean.
The Dooms of Adam lackt not long effect.
Eor th'angry Heav'ns (that can, without respect
Of persons, plague the stubborn Reprobate)
In Waters buried th'Vniversall state:
And never more the nimble painted Legions
With hardy wings had cleft the airy Regions:
We all had perisht, and the Earth in vain
Had brought such store of fruits, and grass, and grain,
If Lamech's Son (by new-found Art directed)
That huge vast vessell had not first erected,
Which (sacred refuge) kept the parent-pairs
Of all things moving in the Earth and Airs.
Eor th'angry Heav'ns (that can, without respect
Of persons, plague the stubborn Reprobate)
In Waters buried th'Vniversall state:
And never more the nimble painted Legions
With hardy wings had cleft the airy Regions:
We all had perisht, and the Earth in vain
Had brought such store of fruits, and grass, and grain,
If Lamech's Son (by new-found Art directed)
That huge vast vessell had not first erected,
Which (sacred refuge) kept the parent-pairs
Of all things moving in the Earth and Airs.
Now, while the Worlds-re-colonizing Boat
Doth on the waters over Mountains float,
Noe passeth not, with tales and idle play,
The tedious length of daies and nights away:
But, as the Sommers sweet distilling drops
Vpon the medowes thirsty yawning chops,
Re-greens the Greens, and doth the flow'rs re-flowr,
All scorcht and burnt with Auster's parching powr:
So, the care-charming hony that distils
From his wise lips, his house with comfort fils,
Flatters despair, dryes tears, calms inward smarts,
And re-advanceth sorrow-daunted harts.
Doth on the waters over Mountains float,
Noe passeth not, with tales and idle play,
The tedious length of daies and nights away:
But, as the Sommers sweet distilling drops
Vpon the medowes thirsty yawning chops,
Re-greens the Greens, and doth the flow'rs re-flowr,
All scorcht and burnt with Auster's parching powr:
So, the care-charming hony that distils
From his wise lips, his house with comfort fils,
Flatters despair, dryes tears, calms inward smarts,
And re-advanceth sorrow-daunted harts.
Cheer yee, my children: God doth now retire
These murdering Seas, which the revenging ire
Of his strict Iustice holy indignation
Hath brought vpon this wicked generation;
Arming a season, to destroy mankinde,
The angry Heav'ns, the water, and the winde:
As soon again his gracious Mercy will
Clear cloudy Heav'ns, calm windes, and waters still,
These murdering Seas, which the revenging ire
Of his strict Iustice holy indignation
Hath brought vpon this wicked generation;
239
The angry Heav'ns, the water, and the winde:
As soon again his gracious Mercy will
Clear cloudy Heav'ns, calm windes, and waters still,
His wrath and mercy follow turn by turn;
That (like the Lightning) doth not lightly burn
Long in a place: and this from age to age
Hides with her wings the faithfull heritage.
Our gracious God makes scant-weight of displeasure,
And spreads his mercy without weight or measure:
Somtimes he strikes vs (to especiall ends)
Vpon our selues, our children, or our friends,
In soule or body, goods, or else good names,
But soon he casts his rods in burning flames:
Not with the fist, but finger he doth beat-vs;
Nor doth he thrill so oft as he doth threat-vs:
And (prudent Steward) gives his faithfull Bees
Wine of his Wrath, to rebell Drones the Lees.
And thus the deeds of Heav'ns Iust-gentle King,
The Second Worlds good Patriarch did sing.
That (like the Lightning) doth not lightly burn
Long in a place: and this from age to age
Hides with her wings the faithfull heritage.
Our gracious God makes scant-weight of displeasure,
And spreads his mercy without weight or measure:
Somtimes he strikes vs (to especiall ends)
Vpon our selues, our children, or our friends,
In soule or body, goods, or else good names,
But soon he casts his rods in burning flames:
Not with the fist, but finger he doth beat-vs;
Nor doth he thrill so oft as he doth threat-vs:
And (prudent Steward) gives his faithfull Bees
Wine of his Wrath, to rebell Drones the Lees.
And thus the deeds of Heav'ns Iust-gentle King,
The Second Worlds good Patriarch did sing.
But, brutish Cham, hat in his brest accurst
The secret roots of sinfull Atheisme nurst;
Wishing already to dis-throne th'Eternall,
And self-vsurp the Maiesty supernall:
And to himself, by name of Iupiter,
On Afrik funds a sumptuous Temple rear:
With bended brows, with stout and stern aspect,
In scornfull tearms his Father thus be-checkt:
The secret roots of sinfull Atheisme nurst;
Wishing already to dis-throne th'Eternall,
And self-vsurp the Maiesty supernall:
And to himself, by name of Iupiter,
On Afrik funds a sumptuous Temple rear:
With bended brows, with stout and stern aspect,
In scornfull tearms his Father thus be-checkt:
Oh! how is grieues me, that these servile terrors.
(The scourge of Cowards, and base vulgars errors)
Haue ta'en such deep root in your feeble brest!
Why, Father, alwayes selfly thus deprest?
Will you thus alwaies make your self a drudge,
Fearing the fury of a fained Iudge?
And will you alwayes forge your self a Censor
That waighs your words, and doth your silence censure?
A fly Controuler, that doth count your hairs,
That in his hand your hearts keyes ever bears,
Records your sighs, and all your thoughts descries,
And all your sins present and past espies?
A barbarous Butcher, that with bloody knife
Threats night and day your grievous-guilty life?
(The scourge of Cowards, and base vulgars errors)
Haue ta'en such deep root in your feeble brest!
Why, Father, alwayes selfly thus deprest?
Will you thus alwaies make your self a drudge,
Fearing the fury of a fained Iudge?
And will you alwayes forge your self a Censor
That waighs your words, and doth your silence censure?
A fly Controuler, that doth count your hairs,
That in his hand your hearts keyes ever bears,
Records your sighs, and all your thoughts descries,
And all your sins present and past espies?
A barbarous Butcher, that with bloody knife
Threats night and day your grievous-guilty life?
O! see you not the superstitious heat
Of this blinde zeale, doth in your minde beget
A thousand errors? light credulity
Doth drive you still to each extreamity,
Faining a God (with thousand storms opprest)
Fainter then Women, fiercer then a Beast.
Of this blinde zeale, doth in your minde beget
A thousand errors? light credulity
Doth drive you still to each extreamity,
Faining a God (with thousand storms opprest)
Fainter then Women, fiercer then a Beast.
240
Who (tender-hearted) weeps at others weeping,
Wails others woes, and at the onely peeping
Of others blood, in sudden swoun deceases,
In manly brest a womans heart possesses:
And who (remorse-less) lets at any season
The stormy tide of rage transport his reason,
And thunders threats of horror and mishap,
Hides a Bears heart vnder a humane shape.
Yet, of your God, you one-while thus pretend;
He melts in tears, if that your fingers end
But ake a-while: anon, he frets, he frowns,
He burns, he brains, he kiss, he dams, he drowns.
Wails others woes, and at the onely peeping
Of others blood, in sudden swoun deceases,
In manly brest a womans heart possesses:
And who (remorse-less) lets at any season
The stormy tide of rage transport his reason,
And thunders threats of horror and mishap,
Hides a Bears heart vnder a humane shape.
Yet, of your God, you one-while thus pretend;
He melts in tears, if that your fingers end
But ake a-while: anon, he frets, he frowns,
He burns, he brains, he kiss, he dams, he drowns.
The wildest Boar doth but one Wood destroy;
A cruell Tyrant but one Land annoy:
And yet this Gods outrageous tyranny
Spoils all the World, his onely Empery.
A cruell Tyrant but one Land annoy:
And yet this Gods outrageous tyranny
Spoils all the World, his onely Empery.
O goodly Iustice! One or two of vs
Have sinn'd perhaps, and mov'd his anger thus;
All bear the pain, yea even the innocent
Poor Birds and Beasts incurr the punishment.
Have sinn'd perhaps, and mov'd his anger thus;
All bear the pain, yea even the innocent
Poor Birds and Beasts incurr the punishment.
No, Father, no: ('t is folly to infer it)
God is no varying, light, inconstant spirit,
Full of revenge, and wrath, and moody hate,
Nor savage fell, nor sudden passionate,
Nor such as will for som small fault vndoo
This goodly World, and his own nature too.
God is no varying, light, inconstant spirit,
Full of revenge, and wrath, and moody hate,
Nor savage fell, nor sudden passionate,
Nor such as will for som small fault vndoo
This goodly World, and his own nature too.
All wandring clouds, all humid exhalations,
All Seas (which Heav'n through many generations
Hath hoorded vp) with selfs-waight enter-crusht,
Now all at once vpon the earth have rusht:
And th'end-less, thin air (which by secret quils
Had lost it self within the windes-but hils
Dark hollow Caves, and in that gloomy hold
To icy crystall turned by the cold)
Now swiftly surging towards Heav'n again,
Hath not alone drown'd all the lowely Plain,
But in few daies with raging Floods o'r-flow'n
The top-less Cedars of mount Libanon.
All Seas (which Heav'n through many generations
Hath hoorded vp) with selfs-waight enter-crusht,
Now all at once vpon the earth have rusht:
And th'end-less, thin air (which by secret quils
Had lost it self within the windes-but hils
Dark hollow Caves, and in that gloomy hold
To icy crystall turned by the cold)
Now swiftly surging towards Heav'n again,
Hath not alone drown'd all the lowely Plain,
But in few daies with raging Floods o'r-flow'n
The top-less Cedars of mount Libanon.
Then, with iust grief the godly Father, gall'd,
A deep, sad sigh from his hearts centre hal'd,
And thus reply'd: O false, rebellious Cham;
Mine ages sorrow, and my houses shame;
Though self-conceipt contemning th'holy Ghost,
Thy sense is baend, thine vnderstanding lost:
And ô I fear (Lord, falsifie my fear)
The heavy hand of the high Thunderer
Shall light on thee, and thou (I doubt) shalt be
His Furies obiect, and shalt testifie
By thine infamous lifes accursed state,
What now thy shame-less lips sophisticate.
A deep, sad sigh from his hearts centre hal'd,
And thus reply'd: O false, rebellious Cham;
Mine ages sorrow, and my houses shame;
Though self-conceipt contemning th'holy Ghost,
Thy sense is baend, thine vnderstanding lost:
And ô I fear (Lord, falsifie my fear)
The heavy hand of the high Thunderer
Shall light on thee, and thou (I doubt) shalt be
His Furies obiect, and shalt testifie
241
What now thy shame-less lips sophisticate.
I (God be prays'd) knowe that the perfect Circle
Whose Center's every-where, of all his circle
Exceeds the circuit; I conceiue aright
Th'Almighty-most to be most infinite:
That th'onely Essence feels not in his minde
The furious tempests of fell passions winde:
That mooueless, all he moves: that with one thought
He can build Heav'n; and, builded, bring to nought:
That his high Throne's inclos'd in glorious Fire
Past our approach: that our faint soule doth tire,
Our spirit growes spright-less, when it seeks by sense
To found his infinit Omni-potence.
I surely know the Cherubins do hover
With flaming wings his starry face to cover.
None sees the Great, th'Almighty, Holy-One,
But passing by and by the back alone.
To vs, his Essence is in-explicable,
Wondrous his wayes, his name vn-vtterable;
So that concerning his high Maiesty
Our feeble tongues speak but improperly.
For, if we call him strong, the prayse is small:
If blessed spirit, so are his Angels all:
If Great of greats, he's voide of quantity:
If good, fayr, holy, he wants quality;
Sith in his Essence fully excellent,
All is pure substance, free from accident.
Therefore our voice, too-faint in such a subiect
T'ensue our soule and our weak soule her obiect,
Doth alwayes stammer; so that euer when
'Twould make Gods name redoubted among men
(In humane phraze) it calls him pitifull,
Repentant, iealous, fierce, and angerfull.
Whose Center's every-where, of all his circle
Exceeds the circuit; I conceiue aright
Th'Almighty-most to be most infinite:
That th'onely Essence feels not in his minde
The furious tempests of fell passions winde:
That mooueless, all he moves: that with one thought
He can build Heav'n; and, builded, bring to nought:
That his high Throne's inclos'd in glorious Fire
Past our approach: that our faint soule doth tire,
Our spirit growes spright-less, when it seeks by sense
To found his infinit Omni-potence.
I surely know the Cherubins do hover
With flaming wings his starry face to cover.
None sees the Great, th'Almighty, Holy-One,
But passing by and by the back alone.
To vs, his Essence is in-explicable,
Wondrous his wayes, his name vn-vtterable;
So that concerning his high Maiesty
Our feeble tongues speak but improperly.
For, if we call him strong, the prayse is small:
If blessed spirit, so are his Angels all:
If Great of greats, he's voide of quantity:
If good, fayr, holy, he wants quality;
Sith in his Essence fully excellent,
All is pure substance, free from accident.
Therefore our voice, too-faint in such a subiect
T'ensue our soule and our weak soule her obiect,
Doth alwayes stammer; so that euer when
'Twould make Gods name redoubted among men
(In humane phraze) it calls him pitifull,
Repentant, iealous, fierce, and angerfull.
Yet is not God by this repentance, thus,
Of ignorance and error taxt, like vs:
His iealous hatred doth not make him curious,
His pitty wretched, nor his anger furious.
Th'immortall Spirit is ever calmly-cleer:
And all the best that feeble man doth heer,
With vehemence of some hot passion driv'n;
That, with ripe iudgement doth the King of Heav'n.
Of ignorance and error taxt, like vs:
His iealous hatred doth not make him curious,
His pitty wretched, nor his anger furious.
Th'immortall Spirit is ever calmly-cleer:
And all the best that feeble man doth heer,
With vehemence of some hot passion driv'n;
That, with ripe iudgement doth the King of Heav'n.
Shall a Physician comfortably-bold,
Fear-less, and tear-less, constantly behold
His sickly friend vext with exceeding pain,
And feel his pulse, and give him health again?
And shall not th'euer-selfe-resembling God
Look down from Heav'n vpon a wretched clod,
Without he weep, and melt for griefe and anguish;
Nor cure his creature, but himselfe must languish?
Fear-less, and tear-less, constantly behold
His sickly friend vext with exceeding pain,
And feel his pulse, and give him health again?
And shall not th'euer-selfe-resembling God
Look down from Heav'n vpon a wretched clod,
242
Nor cure his creature, but himselfe must languish?
And shall a Iudge, self-angerless, prefer
To shamefull death the strange adulterer;
As onely looking fixtly all the time
Not on the sinner, but the sinfull crime?
And shall not then th'Eternall Iusticer
Condemn the Atheist and the Murderer,
Without selfs-fury? O! shall Iustice then
Be blam'd in God, and magnifi'd in men?
Or shall his sacred Will, and soverain Might
Be chayn'd so fast to mans frail appetite,
That filthy sin he cannot freely hate,
But wrathfull Rage him selfly cruciate?
To shamefull death the strange adulterer;
As onely looking fixtly all the time
Not on the sinner, but the sinfull crime?
And shall not then th'Eternall Iusticer
Condemn the Atheist and the Murderer,
Without selfs-fury? O! shall Iustice then
Be blam'd in God, and magnifi'd in men?
Or shall his sacred Will, and soverain Might
Be chayn'd so fast to mans frail appetite,
That filthy sin he cannot freely hate,
But wrathfull Rage him selfly cruciate?
Gods sacred vengeance, serues not for defence
Of his own Essence from our violence
(For in the Heav'ns, aboue all reach of ours,
He dwels immur'd in diamantine Towers);
But, to direct our liues and laws maintain,
Guard Innocence, and Iniurie restrain.
Of his own Essence from our violence
(For in the Heav'ns, aboue all reach of ours,
He dwels immur'd in diamantine Towers);
But, to direct our liues and laws maintain,
Guard Innocence, and Iniurie restrain.
Th'Almighty past not mean, when-he subuerted
Neer all the World from holy paths departed.
For Adams Trunk (of both-our Worlds the Tree)
In two faire Branches forking fruitfully,
Of Cain and Seth; the first brought forth a sute
Of bitter, wilde, and most detested fruit:
Th'other, first rich in goodnes, afterward
With those base Scions beeing graft, was marr'd:
And so produced execrable clusters
Worthy so wicked and incestuous lusters:
And then (alas!) what was ther to be found
Pure, iust, or good, in all this Earthly Round?
Neer all the World from holy paths departed.
For Adams Trunk (of both-our Worlds the Tree)
In two faire Branches forking fruitfully,
Of Cain and Seth; the first brought forth a sute
Of bitter, wilde, and most detested fruit:
Th'other, first rich in goodnes, afterward
With those base Scions beeing graft, was marr'd:
And so produced execrable clusters
Worthy so wicked and incestuous lusters:
And then (alas!) what was ther to be found
Pure, iust, or good, in all this Earthly Round?
Cain's Line possest sinne, as an heritage;
Seth's as a dowry got by mariage:
So that (alas!) among all humane-kinde
Those Mongrell kisses marr'd the purest minde.
And we (even we, that haue escaped here
This cruell wrack) within our conscience bear
A thousand Records of a thousand things
Conuincing vs before the King of kings;
Whereof not one (for all our self-affection)
We can defend with any iust obiection.
Seth's as a dowry got by mariage:
So that (alas!) among all humane-kinde
Those Mongrell kisses marr'd the purest minde.
And we (even we, that haue escaped here
This cruell wrack) within our conscience bear
A thousand Records of a thousand things
Conuincing vs before the King of kings;
Whereof not one (for all our self-affection)
We can defend with any iust obiection.
God playd no Tyrant, choaking with the floods
The earthly Bands and all the ayrie broods:
For, sith they liv'd but for mans seruice sole,
Man, raz'd for sin out of the Liuing Roule,
Those wondrous tools, and organs excellent,
Their Work-man rest, remain'd impertinent.
Man's only head of all that draweth breath.
Who lacks a member, yet persevereth
To liue (we see): but, members cut away
From their own head, do by and by decay.
The earthly Bands and all the ayrie broods:
For, sith they liv'd but for mans seruice sole,
Man, raz'd for sin out of the Liuing Roule,
Those wondrous tools, and organs excellent,
Their Work-man rest, remain'd impertinent.
243
Who lacks a member, yet persevereth
To liue (we see): but, members cut away
From their own head, do by and by decay.
Nor was God cruell, when he drown'd the Earth.
For, sit hence man had from his very birth
Rebeld against him; was't not equity,
That for his fault, his house should vtterly
Be rent and raz'd? that salt should there be sow'n,
That in the ruins (for instruction)
We for a time might reade and vnderstand
The righteous vengeance of Heav'ns wrathfull hand,
That wrought this Deluge: and no hoorded waues
Of ayry clouds, or vnder-earthly caves?
For, sit hence man had from his very birth
Rebeld against him; was't not equity,
That for his fault, his house should vtterly
Be rent and raz'd? that salt should there be sow'n,
That in the ruins (for instruction)
We for a time might reade and vnderstand
The righteous vengeance of Heav'ns wrathfull hand,
That wrought this Deluge: and no hoorded waues
Of ayry clouds, or vnder-earthly caves?
If all blew Curtins mixt of ayr and water,
Round over-spreading this wide All-Theater,
To som one Climate all at once should fly,
One Country they might drown vndoubtedly:
But our great Galley hauing gone so far,
So many months, in sight of either Star,
From Pole to Pole through sundry Climats whorld,
Showes that this Flood hath drowned all the world.
Round over-spreading this wide All-Theater,
To som one Climate all at once should fly,
One Country they might drown vndoubtedly:
But our great Galley hauing gone so far,
So many months, in sight of either Star,
From Pole to Pole through sundry Climats whorld,
Showes that this Flood hath drowned all the world.
Now non plust, if to re-inforce thy Camp,
Thou fly for succour to thine Ayery Damp:
Showe, in the concave of what Mountains steep
We may imagine Dens sufficient deep
For so much ayr as gushing out in fountains,
Should hide the proud tops of the highest Mountains;
Sith a whole tun of ayr scarce yeelds (in triall)
Water ynough to fill one little Viall.
And what should then betide those empty spaces?
What should succeed in the forsaken places
Of th'air's thin parts (in swift springs shrinking thence)
Sith there's no voyd in th'All-circumference?
Thou fly for succour to thine Ayery Damp:
Showe, in the concave of what Mountains steep
We may imagine Dens sufficient deep
For so much ayr as gushing out in fountains,
Should hide the proud tops of the highest Mountains;
Sith a whole tun of ayr scarce yeelds (in triall)
Water ynough to fill one little Viall.
And what should then betide those empty spaces?
What should succeed in the forsaken places
Of th'air's thin parts (in swift springs shrinking thence)
Sith there's no voyd in th'All-circumference?
Whence (wilt thou say) then coms this raging flood,
That ouer-flowes the windy Ryphean Wood,
Mount Libanus, and enuiously aspires
To quench the light of the celestiall fires?
That ouer-flowes the windy Ryphean Wood,
Mount Libanus, and enuiously aspires
To quench the light of the celestiall fires?
Whence (shall I say) then, whence-from coms it (Cham)
That Wolues, and Panthers waxing meek and tame,
Leaving the horror of their shady home,
Adiourn'd by Heav'n, did in my presence com,
Who holding subiect vnder my command
So many creatures humbled at my hand,
Am now restor'd to th'honour and estate
Whence Adam fell through sin and Satans hate?
Whence doth it com, or by what reason is't,
That vnmann'd Haggards to mine empty fist
Com without call? Whence coms it, that so little
Fresh water, fodder, meal, and other victuall,
Should serue so long so many a greedy-gut
As in the dark holds of this Ark is shut?
That heer the Partridge doth not dread the Hauk?
Nor fearfull Hare the spotted Tiger baulk?
That all these storms our Vessell haue not broak?
That all this while we do not ioyntly choak
With noysom breath, and excrementall stink
Of such a common and continuall sink?
And that our selues, mid all these deaths, are sav'd
From these All-Seas, where all the rest are Grav'd?
That Wolues, and Panthers waxing meek and tame,
Leaving the horror of their shady home,
Adiourn'd by Heav'n, did in my presence com,
Who holding subiect vnder my command
So many creatures humbled at my hand,
Am now restor'd to th'honour and estate
Whence Adam fell through sin and Satans hate?
Whence doth it com, or by what reason is't,
That vnmann'd Haggards to mine empty fist
244
Fresh water, fodder, meal, and other victuall,
Should serue so long so many a greedy-gut
As in the dark holds of this Ark is shut?
That heer the Partridge doth not dread the Hauk?
Nor fearfull Hare the spotted Tiger baulk?
That all these storms our Vessell haue not broak?
That all this while we do not ioyntly choak
With noysom breath, and excrementall stink
Of such a common and continuall sink?
And that our selues, mid all these deaths, are sav'd
From these All-Seas, where all the rest are Grav'd?
In all the compass of our floating Inns,
Are not so many planks, and boords, and pins,
As wonders strange, and miracles that ground
Mans wrangling Reason, and his wits confound:
And God, no less his mighty powr displayd
When he restor'd, then when the World he made.
O sacred Patron! pacific thine ire,
Bring home our Hulk: these angry floods retire;
A-liue and dead, let vs perceiue and proove
Thy wrath on others, on our selues thy love.
Are not so many planks, and boords, and pins,
As wonders strange, and miracles that ground
Mans wrangling Reason, and his wits confound:
And God, no less his mighty powr displayd
When he restor'd, then when the World he made.
O sacred Patron! pacific thine ire,
Bring home our Hulk: these angry floods retire;
A-liue and dead, let vs perceiue and proove
Thy wrath on others, on our selues thy love.
Thus Noah sweetens his Captivity,
Beguiles the time, and charms his misery,
Hoping in God alone: who, in the Mountains
Now stopping close the veins of all the Fountains,
Shutting Heav'ns fluces, causing th'ayr (controul'd)
Close-vp his channels, and his Seas with-hould,
Cals forth the windes. O Heav'ns fresh fans (quoth he)
Earths sweeping Brooms, O Forrests enmity,
O you my Heralds and my Harbengers
My nimble Postes and speedy Messengers,
Mine arms, my sinews, and mine Eagles swift
That through the ayr my rowling Chariot lift,
When from my mouth in my iust-kindled ire
Fly Sulph'ry fumes, and hot consuming fire,
When with my Lightning Scepters dreadfull wonder
I muster horror, darknes, clouds and thunder:
Wake, rise, and run, and drink these waters dry,
That hills and dales haue hidden from the sky.
Beguiles the time, and charms his misery,
Hoping in God alone: who, in the Mountains
Now stopping close the veins of all the Fountains,
Shutting Heav'ns fluces, causing th'ayr (controul'd)
Close-vp his channels, and his Seas with-hould,
Cals forth the windes. O Heav'ns fresh fans (quoth he)
Earths sweeping Brooms, O Forrests enmity,
O you my Heralds and my Harbengers
My nimble Postes and speedy Messengers,
Mine arms, my sinews, and mine Eagles swift
That through the ayr my rowling Chariot lift,
When from my mouth in my iust-kindled ire
Fly Sulph'ry fumes, and hot consuming fire,
When with my Lightning Scepters dreadfull wonder
I muster horror, darknes, clouds and thunder:
Wake, rise, and run, and drink these waters dry,
That hills and dales haue hidden from the sky.
Th'Æolian Crowd obays his mighty call,
The surly surges of the waters fall,
The Sea retreateth: and the sacred Keel
Lands on a Hill, at whose proud feet do kneel
A thousand Hils, his lofty horn adoring
That cleaues the clouds, the starry welking goaring.
Then hope-cheer'd Noah, first of all (for scout)
Sends forth the Crowe, who flutters neer-about;
And finding yet no landing place at all,
Returns a-boord to his great Admirall.
The surly surges of the waters fall,
The Sea retreateth: and the sacred Keel
Lands on a Hill, at whose proud feet do kneel
A thousand Hils, his lofty horn adoring
That cleaues the clouds, the starry welking goaring.
Then hope-cheer'd Noah, first of all (for scout)
Sends forth the Crowe, who flutters neer-about;
245
Returns a-boord to his great Admirall.
Som few daies after from the window flyes
The harm-less Doue for new discoueries:
But seeing yet no shoar, she (almost tyr'd)
Aboord the Carrack back again retir'd.
The harm-less Doue for new discoueries:
But seeing yet no shoar, she (almost tyr'd)
Aboord the Carrack back again retir'd.
But yet the Sun had seav'n Heav'n-Circuits rode,
To view the World a-fresh she flyes abroad;
And brings a-boord (at evening) in her bill
An Oliue branch with water pearled still.
To view the World a-fresh she flyes abroad;
And brings a-boord (at evening) in her bill
An Oliue branch with water pearled still.
O happy presage! O deer pledge of loue!
O wel-com newes! behold the peacefull Doue
Brings in her beak the Peace-branch, boading weal
And truce with God; who by this sacred seal
Kindly confirms his holy Couenant,
That first in fight the Tiger rage shall want,
Lions be cowards, Hares couragious,
Yer he be false in word or deed to vs.
O sacred Oliue! firstling of the fruits,
Health-boading branch, be it thy tender roots
Haue lived still, while this strange Deluge lasted,
I doe reioice it hath not all things wasted:
Or be it since the Ebb, thou newly spring,
Prays'd be the bounty of th'immortall King
That quickens thus these dead, the World induing
With beauty fresh so suddainly renuing.
O wel-com newes! behold the peacefull Doue
Brings in her beak the Peace-branch, boading weal
And truce with God; who by this sacred seal
Kindly confirms his holy Couenant,
That first in fight the Tiger rage shall want,
Lions be cowards, Hares couragious,
Yer he be false in word or deed to vs.
O sacred Oliue! firstling of the fruits,
Health-boading branch, be it thy tender roots
Haue lived still, while this strange Deluge lasted,
I doe reioice it hath not all things wasted:
Or be it since the Ebb, thou newly spring,
Prays'd be the bounty of th'immortall King
That quickens thus these dead, the World induing
With beauty fresh so suddainly renuing.
Thus Noah spake: And though the World gan lift
Most of his Iles above the waters drift:
Though waxen old in his long weary night,
He see a friendly Sun to brandish bright:
Though choak't with ill ayr in his stinking stall,
Hee'l not a-shoar till God be pleas'd with-all;
And till (deuout) from Heav'n he vnderstand
Som Oracle to licence him to land.
Most of his Iles above the waters drift:
Though waxen old in his long weary night,
He see a friendly Sun to brandish bright:
Though choak't with ill ayr in his stinking stall,
Hee'l not a-shoar till God be pleas'd with-all;
And till (deuout) from Heav'n he vnderstand
Som Oracle to licence him to land.
But, warn'd by Heav'n, he commeth from his Cave,
(Or rather from a foul infectious Grave)
With Sem, Cam, Iapheth, and their twice-two Brides,
And thousand pairs of liuing things besides,
Vnclean and clean: for th'holy Patriark
Had of all kinds inclosed in the Ark.
(Or rather from a foul infectious Grave)
With Sem, Cam, Iapheth, and their twice-two Brides,
And thousand pairs of liuing things besides,
Vnclean and clean: for th'holy Patriark
Had of all kinds inclosed in the Ark.
But, heer I hear th'vngodly (that for fear
Late whispered softly in each others ear,
With silent murmurs muttering secretly)
Now trumpet thus their filthy blasphemie;
Late whispered softly in each others ear,
With silent murmurs muttering secretly)
Now trumpet thus their filthy blasphemie;
Who will beleeve (but shallow-brained Sheep)
That such a ship scarce thirty Cubits deep,
Thrice fifty long, and but once fifty large,
So many months could bear so great a charge?
Sith the proud Horse, the rough-skinn'd Elephant,
The lusty Bull, the Camell water-want,
And the Rhinocerot, would, with their fodder,
Fill-vp a Hulk farr deeper, longer, broader?
That such a ship scarce thirty Cubits deep,
Thrice fifty long, and but once fifty large,
So many months could bear so great a charge?
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The lusty Bull, the Camell water-want,
And the Rhinocerot, would, with their fodder,
Fill-vp a Hulk farr deeper, longer, broader?
O profane mockers! if I but exclude
Out of this Vessell a vast multitude
Of since-born mongrels, that deriue their birth
From monstrous medly of Venerean mirth;
Fantastik Mules, and spotted Leopards,
Of incest-heat ingendred afterwards:
So many sorts of Dogs, of Cocks and Doves,
Since, dayly sprung from strange and mingled loues
Wherein from time to time in various sort,
Dedalian Nature seems her to disport:
If playner, yet I proue you space by space,
And foot by foot, that all this ample place,
By subtile iudgement made and Symmetrie,
Might lodge so many creatures handsomly,
Sith euery brace was Geometricall:
Nought resteth (Momes) for your reply at all;
If, who dispute with God, may be content
To take for current, Reasons argument.
Out of this Vessell a vast multitude
Of since-born mongrels, that deriue their birth
From monstrous medly of Venerean mirth;
Fantastik Mules, and spotted Leopards,
Of incest-heat ingendred afterwards:
So many sorts of Dogs, of Cocks and Doves,
Since, dayly sprung from strange and mingled loues
Wherein from time to time in various sort,
Dedalian Nature seems her to disport:
If playner, yet I proue you space by space,
And foot by foot, that all this ample place,
By subtile iudgement made and Symmetrie,
Might lodge so many creatures handsomly,
Sith euery brace was Geometricall:
Nought resteth (Momes) for your reply at all;
If, who dispute with God, may be content
To take for current, Reasons argument.
But heer t'admire th'Almighties powerfull hand
I rather loue, and silence to command
To mans discourse: what he hath said, is don:
For, euermore his word and deed are one.
I rather loue, and silence to command
To mans discourse: what he hath said, is don:
For, euermore his word and deed are one.
By his sole arm, the Gallions Masters saw
Themselues safe rescu'd from deaths yawning iaw;
And offers-vp to him in zealous wise,
The Peace-full sent of sweet burnt-sacrifice;
And sends withall above the starry Pole
These winged sighes from a religious soule;
Themselues safe rescu'd from deaths yawning iaw;
And offers-vp to him in zealous wise,
The Peace-full sent of sweet burnt-sacrifice;
And sends withall above the starry Pole
These winged sighes from a religious soule;
World-shaking Father, Windes King, calming-Seas,
With milde aspect behold vs; Lord appease
Thine Angers tempest, and to safety bring
The planks escap't from this sad Perishing:
And bound for ever in their antient Caves
These stormy Seas deep World-deuouring waves.
With milde aspect behold vs; Lord appease
Thine Angers tempest, and to safety bring
The planks escap't from this sad Perishing:
And bound for ever in their antient Caves
These stormy Seas deep World-deuouring waves.
Increase (quoth God) and quickly multiply,
And fill the World with fruitfull Progeny:
Resume your Scepter, and with new beheasts
Bridle againe the late revolted Beasts,
Re-exercise your wonted rule again,
It is your office ouer them to raigne:
Deere Children, vse them all: take, kill, and eate:
But yet abstain, and do not take for meat
Their ruddy soule: and leaue (O sacred seed!)
To rav'ning Fowls, of strangled flesh to feed.
And fill the World with fruitfull Progeny:
Resume your Scepter, and with new beheasts
Bridle againe the late revolted Beasts,
Re-exercise your wonted rule again,
It is your office ouer them to raigne:
Deere Children, vse them all: take, kill, and eate:
But yet abstain, and do not take for meat
Their ruddy soule: and leaue (O sacred seed!)
To rav'ning Fowls, of strangled flesh to feed.
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I, I am holy: be you holy then,
I deeply hate all cruell bloody men:
Therefore defile not in your brothers blood
Your guilty hands; refraine from cruell mood;
Fly homicide: doe not in any case,
In man, mine Image brutishly deface:
The cruell man a cruell death shall taste;
And blood with blood be venged first or last;
For euermore vpon the murderers head
My roaring storms of fury shall be shed.
I deeply hate all cruell bloody men:
Therefore defile not in your brothers blood
Your guilty hands; refraine from cruell mood;
Fly homicide: doe not in any case,
In man, mine Image brutishly deface:
The cruell man a cruell death shall taste;
And blood with blood be venged first or last;
For euermore vpon the murderers head
My roaring storms of fury shall be shed.
From hence-forth, fear no second Flood that shall
Cover the whole face of this earthly Ball:
I assure ye no; no, no, I sweare to you
(And who hath ever found mine Oath vntrue?)
Again, I swear by my thrice sacred Name:
And to confirm it, in the Clouds I frame
This coloured Bowe. When then som tempest black
Shall threat again the feareful World to wrack,
When water loaden Heav'ns your Hils shall touch,
When th'ayr with Midnight shall your Noon be-pitch,
Your cheerfull looks vp to this Rain-bowe cast.
For, though the same on moystfull Clouds be plaç't,
Though hemm'd with showrs and though it seem to sup
(To drown the World) all th'Oceans waters vp,
Yet shall it (when you seem in danger sink)
Make you, of me; me, of my promise, think.
Cover the whole face of this earthly Ball:
I assure ye no; no, no, I sweare to you
(And who hath ever found mine Oath vntrue?)
Again, I swear by my thrice sacred Name:
And to confirm it, in the Clouds I frame
This coloured Bowe. When then som tempest black
Shall threat again the feareful World to wrack,
When water loaden Heav'ns your Hils shall touch,
When th'ayr with Midnight shall your Noon be-pitch,
Your cheerfull looks vp to this Rain-bowe cast.
For, though the same on moystfull Clouds be plaç't,
Though hemm'd with showrs and though it seem to sup
(To drown the World) all th'Oceans waters vp,
Yet shall it (when you seem in danger sink)
Make you, of me; me, of my promise, think.
Noah looks-vp, and in the Ayr he views
A semi-Circle of a hundred hews:
Which, bright ascending toward th'æthereall thrones,
Hath a lyne drawn between two Orizons
For iust Diameter: an even-bent bowe
Contriv'd of three; whereof the one doth showe
To be all painted of a golden hew,
The second green, the third an orient blew;
Yet so, that in this pure blew-golden-green
Still (Opal-like) som changeable is seen.
A Bowe bright-shining in th'Arch-Archers hand,
Whose subtill string seems level with the Land,
Half-parting Heav'n; and over vs it bends,
Within two Seas wetting his horned ends;
A temporall beauty of the lampfull skies,
Where powrfull Nature shewes her freshest Dies.
A semi-Circle of a hundred hews:
Which, bright ascending toward th'æthereall thrones,
Hath a lyne drawn between two Orizons
For iust Diameter: an even-bent bowe
Contriv'd of three; whereof the one doth showe
To be all painted of a golden hew,
The second green, the third an orient blew;
Yet so, that in this pure blew-golden-green
Still (Opal-like) som changeable is seen.
A Bowe bright-shining in th'Arch-Archers hand,
Whose subtill string seems level with the Land,
Half-parting Heav'n; and over vs it bends,
Within two Seas wetting his horned ends;
A temporall beauty of the lampfull skies,
Where powrfull Nature shewes her freshest Dies.
And if you onely blew and red perceive,
The same as signes of Sea, and Fire conceiue;
Of both the flowing and the flaming Doom,
The Iudgement past, and Iudgement yet to come.
The same as signes of Sea, and Fire conceiue;
Of both the flowing and the flaming Doom,
The Iudgement past, and Iudgement yet to come.
Then, having call'd on God, our second Father
Suffers not sloth his arms together gather,
But fals to work, and wisely now renew'th
The Trade he learn'd to practice in his youth.
For, the proud issue of that Tyrant rude
That first his hand in brothers bloud imbrewd,
As scorning Ploughs, and hating harm-less tillage,
And (wantons) prising less the homely village,
With fields and Woods, then th'idle Cities shades;
Imbraced Laws, Scepters, and Arts, and Trades.
But Seths Sons, knowing Nature soberly
Content with little, fell to Husbandry,
Thereto reducing, with industrious care,
The Flocks and Droves cover'd with wool and hair;
As prayse-full gain, and profit void of strife,
Art nurse of Arts, and very life of life.
Suffers not sloth his arms together gather,
248
The Trade he learn'd to practice in his youth.
For, the proud issue of that Tyrant rude
That first his hand in brothers bloud imbrewd,
As scorning Ploughs, and hating harm-less tillage,
And (wantons) prising less the homely village,
With fields and Woods, then th'idle Cities shades;
Imbraced Laws, Scepters, and Arts, and Trades.
But Seths Sons, knowing Nature soberly
Content with little, fell to Husbandry,
Thereto reducing, with industrious care,
The Flocks and Droves cover'd with wool and hair;
As prayse-full gain, and profit void of strife,
Art nurse of Arts, and very life of life.
So the bright honour of the Heav'nly Tapers
Had scarcely boxed all th'Earths dropsie vapours,
When hee that sav'd the store-seed-World from wrack,
Began to delve his fruitfull Mothers back,
And there soon-after planteth heedfully
The brittle branches of the Nectar-tree.
Had scarcely boxed all th'Earths dropsie vapours,
When hee that sav'd the store-seed-World from wrack,
Began to delve his fruitfull Mothers back,
And there soon-after planteth heedfully
The brittle branches of the Nectar-tree.
For, 'mong the pebbles of a pretty hill
To the warm Sunsey lying open still,
He sets in furrows or in shallow trenches
The crooked Vines choice scyons, shoots, and branches:
In March he delves them, re-re-delves, and dresses:
Cuts, props and proins; and God his work so blesses,
That in the third September for his meed
The plentious Vintage doth his hopes exceed.
To the warm Sunsey lying open still,
He sets in furrows or in shallow trenches
The crooked Vines choice scyons, shoots, and branches:
In March he delves them, re-re-delves, and dresses:
Cuts, props and proins; and God his work so blesses,
That in the third September for his meed
The plentious Vintage doth his hopes exceed.
Then Noah, willing to beguile the rage
Of bitter griefs that vext his feeble age,
To see with mud so many Roofs o're-growen,
And him left almost in the World alone;
One-day a little from his strictness shrunk,
And making merry, drinking, over-drunk:
And, silly, thinking in that hony-gall
To drown his woes, he drowns his wits and all.
Of bitter griefs that vext his feeble age,
To see with mud so many Roofs o're-growen,
And him left almost in the World alone;
One-day a little from his strictness shrunk,
And making merry, drinking, over-drunk:
And, silly, thinking in that hony-gall
To drown his woes, he drowns his wits and all.
His head growes giddy, and his foot indents,
A mighty fume his troubled brain torments,
His idle prattle from the purpose quite,
Is abrupt, stuttering, all confus'd, and light:
His wine-stuft stomack wrung with winde he feels:
His trembling Tent all topsie turuie wheels:
At last, not able on his legs to stand,
More like a foul Swine then a sober man,
Opprest with sleep, he wallows on the ground
His shame-less snorting trunk, so deeply drownd
In self-obliuion, that he did not hide
Those parts that Cæsar covered when he died.
A mighty fume his troubled brain torments,
His idle prattle from the purpose quite,
Is abrupt, stuttering, all confus'd, and light:
His wine-stuft stomack wrung with winde he feels:
His trembling Tent all topsie turuie wheels:
At last, not able on his legs to stand,
More like a foul Swine then a sober man,
Opprest with sleep, he wallows on the ground
His shame-less snorting trunk, so deeply drownd
In self-obliuion, that he did not hide
Those parts that Cæsar covered when he died.
249
Ev'n as the Ravens with windy wings o'r-fly
The weeping Woods of Happy Araby,
Despise sweet Gardens and delicious Bowrs
Perfuming Heav'n with odoriferous flowres,
And greedy, light vpon the loathsom quarters
Of som late Lopez, or such Romish Martyrs:
Or as a young, vnskilfull Painter raw,
Doth carelesly the fairest features draw
In any face, and yet too neerly marks
Th'vnpleasing blemish of deformed marks,
As lips too great, or hollowness of eys,
Or sinking nose, or such indecencies:
Even so th'vngodly Sonns of Leasings Father
With black Obliuions sponge ingrately smother
Fair Vertues draughts, and cast despightfully
On the least sinns the venom of the ey,
Frump others faults, and trumpet in all ages
The lightest trips of greatest Personages:
Like scoffing Cham that impudently viewd
His Fathers shame, and most profanely-lewd,
With scornfull laughter (grace-less) thus began
To infamize the poor old drunken man,
The weeping Woods of Happy Araby,
Despise sweet Gardens and delicious Bowrs
Perfuming Heav'n with odoriferous flowres,
And greedy, light vpon the loathsom quarters
Of som late Lopez, or such Romish Martyrs:
Or as a young, vnskilfull Painter raw,
Doth carelesly the fairest features draw
In any face, and yet too neerly marks
Th'vnpleasing blemish of deformed marks,
As lips too great, or hollowness of eys,
Or sinking nose, or such indecencies:
Even so th'vngodly Sonns of Leasings Father
With black Obliuions sponge ingrately smother
Fair Vertues draughts, and cast despightfully
On the least sinns the venom of the ey,
Frump others faults, and trumpet in all ages
The lightest trips of greatest Personages:
Like scoffing Cham that impudently viewd
His Fathers shame, and most profanely-lewd,
With scornfull laughter (grace-less) thus began
To infamize the poor old drunken man,
Com (brethren) com, com quickly and behould
This pure controuler that so oft contrould
Vs without cause: see how his bed he soyls:
See, how the wine (his master) now recoyls
By's mouth, and eys, and nose: and brutely so
To all that com his naked shame doth showe.
This pure controuler that so oft contrould
Vs without cause: see how his bed he soyls:
See, how the wine (his master) now recoyls
By's mouth, and eys, and nose: and brutely so
To all that com his naked shame doth showe.
Ah shame-less beast (both brethren him reproov'd,
Both chiding thus, both with iust anger moou'd)
Vnnaturall villain, monster pestilent,
Vnworthy to behould the firmament;
Where (absent we) thou ought'st haue hid before
With thine owne Cloak, but with thy silence more,
Thy Fathers shame, whom age, strong wine, and grief,
Haue made to fall, but once in all his life;
Thou barkest first, and sporting at the matter
Proclaim'st his fault on Infamies Theater.
And saying this (turning their sight a-side)
Their hoary Fathers nakedness they hide.
Both chiding thus, both with iust anger moou'd)
Vnnaturall villain, monster pestilent,
Vnworthy to behould the firmament;
Where (absent we) thou ought'st haue hid before
With thine owne Cloak, but with thy silence more,
Thy Fathers shame, whom age, strong wine, and grief,
Haue made to fall, but once in all his life;
Thou barkest first, and sporting at the matter
Proclaim'st his fault on Infamies Theater.
And saying this (turning their sight a-side)
Their hoary Fathers nakedness they hide.
When wine had wrought, this good old-man awook,
Agniz'd his crime, ashamed, wonder-strook
At strength of wine, and toucht with true repentance,
With Prophet-mouth gan thus his Sons fore-sentence:
Agniz'd his crime, ashamed, wonder-strook
At strength of wine, and toucht with true repentance,
With Prophet-mouth gan thus his Sons fore-sentence:
Curst be thou Cham, and curst be (for thy scorn)
Thy darling Canaan: let the pearly Morn,
The radiant Noon, and rheumy Euening see
Thy necke still yoaked with Captiuity.
God be with Sem: and let his gracious speed
Spread-wide my Iapheths fruitfull-swarming seed.
Thy darling Canaan: let the pearly Morn,
The radiant Noon, and rheumy Euening see
Thy necke still yoaked with Captiuity.
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Spread-wide my Iapheths fruitfull-swarming seed.
Error, no error, but a wilfull badnes:
O soul defect! O short, O dangerous madnes!
That in thy rage, dost harm-less Clytus smother,
By his deer friend; Pentheus by his Mother.
Phrenzie, that makes the vaunter insolent;
The talk-full, blab; cruell, the violent:
The fornicator, wax adulterous;
Th'adulterer, becom incestuous:
With thy plagues leauen swelling all our crimes;
Blinde, shameless, sense-less, quenching of entimes
The soule within itself: and oft defames
The holiest men with execrable blames.
And as he Must, beginning to re-boyl,
Makes his new vessels wooden bands re-coyl,
Lifts-vp his lees, and spews with fuming vent
From his Tubs ground his scummy excrement:
So ruin'st thou thine hoast, and foolishly
From his harts bottom driv'st all secrecy.
But, hadst thou neuer don (O filthy poison!)
More mischief heer, but thus bereft of reason
This Vertues Module (rather Vertues best)
We ought thee more then Death it self detest.
O soul defect! O short, O dangerous madnes!
That in thy rage, dost harm-less Clytus smother,
By his deer friend; Pentheus by his Mother.
Phrenzie, that makes the vaunter insolent;
The talk-full, blab; cruell, the violent:
The fornicator, wax adulterous;
Th'adulterer, becom incestuous:
With thy plagues leauen swelling all our crimes;
Blinde, shameless, sense-less, quenching of entimes
The soule within itself: and oft defames
The holiest men with execrable blames.
And as he Must, beginning to re-boyl,
Makes his new vessels wooden bands re-coyl,
Lifts-vp his lees, and spews with fuming vent
From his Tubs ground his scummy excrement:
So ruin'st thou thine hoast, and foolishly
From his harts bottom driv'st all secrecy.
But, hadst thou neuer don (O filthy poison!)
More mischief heer, but thus bereft of reason
This Vertues Module (rather Vertues best)
We ought thee more then Death it self detest.
FINIS.
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2. Babylon.
THE SECOND PART OF THE SECOND DAY OF THE II. WEEK.
The Argvment.
Th'Antithesis of Blest and Cursed States,Subiect to Good and Euill Magistrates:
Nimrod vsurps: His prowes-full Policy,
To gain himself the Goal of Souerainty:
Babel begun: To stop such out-rages,
There, God confounds the, builders Languages:
Tongues excellent: the Hebrew, first and Best:
Then Greek and Latin: and (aboue the rest)
Th'Arabian, Toscan, Spanish, French, and Dutch,
And Ours, are Honoured by our Author much.
O happy people, where good Princes raign,
Who tender publike more then priuate gain!
Who (vertue's patrons, and the plagues of vice)
Hate Parasites, and harken to the wise:
Who (self-commanders) rather sin suppress
By self-examples, then by rigorousnes:
Whose inward-humble, outward Maiesty
With Subiects loue is guarded loyally:
Who Idol-not their pearly Scepters glory,
But knowe themselues set on a lofty story
For all the world to see and censure too:
So, not their lust, but what is iust they do.
Who tender publike more then priuate gain!
Who (vertue's patrons, and the plagues of vice)
Hate Parasites, and harken to the wise:
Who (self-commanders) rather sin suppress
By self-examples, then by rigorousnes:
Whose inward-humble, outward Maiesty
With Subiects loue is guarded loyally:
Who Idol-not their pearly Scepters glory,
But knowe themselues set on a lofty story
For all the world to see and censure too:
So, not their lust, but what is iust they do.
But, 't is a hell, in hatefull vassallage,
Vnder a Tyrant to consume ones age:
A self-shav'n Dennis, or a Nero fell,
Whose cursed Courts with bloud and incest swell:
An Owl, that flies the light of Parliaments
And State-assemblies iealous of th'intents
Of priuate tongues; who (for a pastime) sets
His Peers at ods; and on their fury whets:
Who neither faith, honour, nor right respects:
Who euery day new Officers erects:
Who brooks no learned, wise, nor valiant subiects,
But daily crops such vice-vpbraiding obiects,
Who (worse then Beasts, or savage monsters been).
Spares neither mother, brother, kiff, nor kin:
Who, though round fenç't with guard of armed Knights,
A-many moe he fears, then he affrights:
Who taxes strange extorts; and (Caniball)
Gnawes to the bones his wretched Subiects all.
Vnder a Tyrant to consume ones age:
A self-shav'n Dennis, or a Nero fell,
Whose cursed Courts with bloud and incest swell:
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And State-assemblies iealous of th'intents
Of priuate tongues; who (for a pastime) sets
His Peers at ods; and on their fury whets:
Who neither faith, honour, nor right respects:
Who euery day new Officers erects:
Who brooks no learned, wise, nor valiant subiects,
But daily crops such vice-vpbraiding obiects,
Who (worse then Beasts, or savage monsters been).
Spares neither mother, brother, kiff, nor kin:
Who, though round fenç't with guard of armed Knights,
A-many moe he fears, then he affrights:
Who taxes strange extorts; and (Caniball)
Gnawes to the bones his wretched Subiects all.
Print (O Heav'ns King!) in our kings harts a zeal,
First of thy lawes; then of their publik weal:
And if our Countries now-Po-poisoned phrase;
Or now-contagion of corrupted daies
Leave any tract of Nimrodizing there;
O! cancel it that they may euery where,
In stead of Babel build Ierusalem:
That lowd my Muse may eccho vnder them.
First of thy lawes; then of their publik weal:
And if our Countries now-Po-poisoned phrase;
Or now-contagion of corrupted daies
Leave any tract of Nimrodizing there;
O! cancel it that they may euery where,
In stead of Babel build Ierusalem:
That lowd my Muse may eccho vnder them.
Yer
Nimrod had attain'd to twise six yeers,
He tyranniz'd among his stripling-peers,
Out stript his equals, and in happy howr,
Layd the foundations of his after-powr;
And bearing reeds for Scepters, first he raigns
In Prentice-Princedom ouer sheep-heard Swains.
He tyranniz'd among his stripling-peers,
Out stript his equals, and in happy howr,
Layd the foundations of his after-powr;
And bearing reeds for Scepters, first he raigns
In Prentice-Princedom ouer sheep-heard Swains.
Then knowing well, that whoso ayms (illuster)
At fancied bliss of Empires awful lustre;
In valiant acts must pass the vulgar sort,
Or mask (at least) in louely Vertues Port:
He spends not night on beds of down or feathers,
Nor day intents, but hardens to all weathers
His youthfull limbs: and takes ambitiously
A rock for Pillow, Heav'n for Canapey:
In stead of softlings iests, and iollities,
He ioyes in Iousts, and manly exercises:
His dainty cates, a fat Kids trembling flesh,
Scarce fully slain, luke-warm and bleeding fresh.
At fancied bliss of Empires awful lustre;
In valiant acts must pass the vulgar sort,
Or mask (at least) in louely Vertues Port:
He spends not night on beds of down or feathers,
Nor day intents, but hardens to all weathers
His youthfull limbs: and takes ambitiously
A rock for Pillow, Heav'n for Canapey:
In stead of softlings iests, and iollities,
He ioyes in Iousts, and manly exercises:
His dainty cates, a fat Kids trembling flesh,
Scarce fully slain, luke-warm and bleeding fresh.
Then, with one breath, he striueth to attain
A Mountains top, that ouer-peers the Plain:
Against the stream to cleave the rowling ridges
Of Nymph-strong floods, that haue born down their bridges,
Running vnrean'd with swift rebounding sallies
A-cross the rocks within the narrow vallies:
To ouertake the dart himselfe did throwe,
And in plain course to catch the Hinde or Roe.
A Mountains top, that ouer-peers the Plain:
Against the stream to cleave the rowling ridges
Of Nymph-strong floods, that haue born down their bridges,
Running vnrean'd with swift rebounding sallies
A-cross the rocks within the narrow vallies:
To ouertake the dart himselfe did throwe,
And in plain course to catch the Hinde or Roe.
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But, when fiue lustres of his age expir'd,
Feeling his stomach and his strength aspir'd
To worthier wars, perceiv'd he any-where,
Boar, Libbard, Lyon, Tiger, Ounse, or Bear,
Him dread-less combats; and in combat foyls,
And rears high Tropheis of his bloody spoyls.
Feeling his stomach and his strength aspir'd
To worthier wars, perceiv'd he any-where,
Boar, Libbard, Lyon, Tiger, Ounse, or Bear,
Him dread-less combats; and in combat foyls,
And rears high Tropheis of his bloody spoyls.
The people, seeing by his war-like deed
From theeues, and robbers every passage freed:
From hideous yels, the Desarts round about:
From fear, their flocks; this monster-master stout,
This Hercules, this hammer-ill, they tender,
And call him (all) their Father and Defender.
From theeues, and robbers every passage freed:
From hideous yels, the Desarts round about:
From fear, their flocks; this monster-master stout,
This Hercules, this hammer-ill, they tender,
And call him (all) their Father and Defender.
Then Nimrod (snatching Fortune by the tresses)
Strikes the hot steel; sues, sooths, importunes, presses
Now these, then those, and (hastning his good Hap)
Leaues hunting Beasts, and hunteth Men to trap.
For, like as He, in former quests did vse
Cals, pit-fals, toyls, sprenges, and baits, and glews:
And (in the end) against the wilder game,
Clubs, darts, and shafts, and swords, their rage to tame:
So, som he wins with promise-full intreats,
With presents som, and som with rougher threats:
And boldly (breaking bounds of equity)
Vsurps the Child-World's maiden Monarchy;
Whereas, before each kindred had for guide
Their proper Chief, yet that the youthfull pride
Of vpstart State, ambitious, boyling fickle,
Did thrust (as now) in others corn his sickle.
Strikes the hot steel; sues, sooths, importunes, presses
Now these, then those, and (hastning his good Hap)
Leaues hunting Beasts, and hunteth Men to trap.
For, like as He, in former quests did vse
Cals, pit-fals, toyls, sprenges, and baits, and glews:
And (in the end) against the wilder game,
Clubs, darts, and shafts, and swords, their rage to tame:
So, som he wins with promise-full intreats,
With presents som, and som with rougher threats:
And boldly (breaking bounds of equity)
Vsurps the Child-World's maiden Monarchy;
Whereas, before each kindred had for guide
Their proper Chief, yet that the youthfull pride
Of vpstart State, ambitious, boyling fickle,
Did thrust (as now) in others corn his sickle.
In-throniz'd thus, this Tyrant gan deuise
To perpetrate a thousand cruelties,
Pel-mel subverting for his appetite
God's, Man's, and Natures triple sacred Right.
He braves th'Almighty, lifting to his nose
His flowring Scepter: and for fear he lose
The peoples aw; who (idle) in the end
Might slip their yoak; he subtle makes them spend,
Draws dry their wealth, and busies them to build
A lofty Towr, or rather Atlas wilde.
W' have liv'd (quoth he) too-long like pilgrim Grooms:
Leave we these rowling tents, and wandring rooms:
Let's raise a Palace, whose proud front and feet
With Heav'n and Hell may in an instant meet;
A sure Asylum, and a safe retrait,
If th'irefull storm of yet-more Floods should threat:
Lets found a Citie, and vnited there,
Vnder a King let's lead our liues; for fear
Lest sever'd thus, in Princes and in Tents,
We be disperst o'r all the Regiments
That in his course the Dayes bright Champion eyes.
Might-less our selues to succour, or aduise.
But, if the fire of som intestine war,
Or other mischief should diuide vs far,
Brethren (at least) let's leaue memorialls
Of our great names on these cloud-neighbouring wals.
To perpetrate a thousand cruelties,
Pel-mel subverting for his appetite
God's, Man's, and Natures triple sacred Right.
He braves th'Almighty, lifting to his nose
His flowring Scepter: and for fear he lose
The peoples aw; who (idle) in the end
Might slip their yoak; he subtle makes them spend,
Draws dry their wealth, and busies them to build
A lofty Towr, or rather Atlas wilde.
W' have liv'd (quoth he) too-long like pilgrim Grooms:
Leave we these rowling tents, and wandring rooms:
Let's raise a Palace, whose proud front and feet
With Heav'n and Hell may in an instant meet;
A sure Asylum, and a safe retrait,
If th'irefull storm of yet-more Floods should threat:
Lets found a Citie, and vnited there,
Vnder a King let's lead our liues; for fear
Lest sever'd thus, in Princes and in Tents,
We be disperst o'r all the Regiments
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Might-less our selues to succour, or aduise.
But, if the fire of som intestine war,
Or other mischief should diuide vs far,
Brethren (at least) let's leaue memorialls
Of our great names on these cloud-neighbouring wals.
Now, as a spark, that Shepheards (vnespied)
Haue faln by chance vpon a forrest side,
Among dry leaues; a-while in secret shrowds,
Lifting a-loft small, smoaky-wauing clowds,
Till fanned by the fawning windes, it blushes,
With angry rage; and rising through the bushes,
Climbs fragrant Hauthorns, thence the Oak, and than
The Pine, and Firre, that bridge the Ocean:
It still gets ground, and (running) doth augment,
And never leaues till all neer Woods be brent:
So, this sweet speech (first broacht by certain Minions)
Is soon applauded 'mong the light opinions:
And by degrees from hand to hand renu'd,
To all the base confused multitude;
Who longing now to see this Castle rear'd,
Them night and day, in differing crafts bestirr'd,
Haue faln by chance vpon a forrest side,
Among dry leaues; a-while in secret shrowds,
Lifting a-loft small, smoaky-wauing clowds,
Till fanned by the fawning windes, it blushes,
With angry rage; and rising through the bushes,
Climbs fragrant Hauthorns, thence the Oak, and than
The Pine, and Firre, that bridge the Ocean:
It still gets ground, and (running) doth augment,
And never leaues till all neer Woods be brent:
So, this sweet speech (first broacht by certain Minions)
Is soon applauded 'mong the light opinions:
And by degrees from hand to hand renu'd,
To all the base confused multitude;
Who longing now to see this Castle rear'd,
Them night and day, in differing crafts bestirr'd,
Som fall to felling with a thousand stroaks
Aduenturous Alders, Ashes, long-liv'd Oaks;
Degrading Forrests, that the Sun might view
Fields that before his bright rayes never knew.
Aduenturous Alders, Ashes, long-liv'd Oaks;
Degrading Forrests, that the Sun might view
Fields that before his bright rayes never knew.
Ha 'ye seen a Town expos'd to spoyl and slaughter
(At victors pleasure) where laments and laughter
Mixtly resound; som carry, som conuay,
Som lug, som load; 'gainst Souldiers seeking Prey
No place is sure, and yer a day be done,
Out at her gate the ransack't Town doth run:
So (in a trice) these Carpenters disrobe
Th'Assyrian hils of all their leafie robe,
Strip the steep Mountains of their gastly shades,
And powle the broad Plains, of their branchy glades:
Carts, Sleds, and Mules, thick iustling meet abroad,
And bending axles groan beneath their load.
(At victors pleasure) where laments and laughter
Mixtly resound; som carry, som conuay,
Som lug, som load; 'gainst Souldiers seeking Prey
No place is sure, and yer a day be done,
Out at her gate the ransack't Town doth run:
So (in a trice) these Carpenters disrobe
Th'Assyrian hils of all their leafie robe,
Strip the steep Mountains of their gastly shades,
And powle the broad Plains, of their branchy glades:
Carts, Sleds, and Mules, thick iustling meet abroad,
And bending axles groan beneath their load.
Heer, for hard Cement, heap they night and day
The gummy slime of chalkie waters gray:
There, busie Kil-men ply their occupations
For brick and tyle: there for their firm foundations,
They dig to hell; and damned Ghosts again
(Past hope) behold the Suns bright glorious wain:
Their hammers noyse, through Heav'ns rebounding brim,
Affrights the fish that in fair Tigris swim.
These ruddy wals in height, and compasse growe;
They cast long shadow, and far-off do showe:
All swarms with work-men, that (poor sots) surmise
Even the first day to touch the very skies.
The gummy slime of chalkie waters gray:
There, busie Kil-men ply their occupations
For brick and tyle: there for their firm foundations,
They dig to hell; and damned Ghosts again
(Past hope) behold the Suns bright glorious wain:
Their hammers noyse, through Heav'ns rebounding brim,
Affrights the fish that in fair Tigris swim.
These ruddy wals in height, and compasse growe;
They cast long shadow, and far-off do showe:
255
Even the first day to touch the very skies.
Which, God perceiving, bending wrathfull frowns,
And with a noyse that roaring thunder drowns;
'Mid clowdy fields, hils by the roots he rakes,
And th'vnmov'd hinges of the Heav'ns he shakes.
And with a noyse that roaring thunder drowns;
'Mid clowdy fields, hils by the roots he rakes,
And th'vnmov'd hinges of the Heav'ns he shakes.
See, see (quoth he) these dust-spawn, feeble, Dwarfs,
See their huge Castles, Wals, and Counter-scarfs:
O strength-full Peece, impregnable! and sure
All my iust anger's batteries to endure.
I swore to them, the fruitfull earth, no more
Hence-forth should fear the raging Oceans roar;
Yet build they Towrs: I will'd that scattered wide
They should go man the World; and lo they bide
Self-prisoned heer: I meant to be their Master,
My self alone, their Law, their Prince, and Pastor;
And they, for Lord, a Tyrant fell haue ta'en-them;
Who (to their cost) will roughly curb and rean them;
Who scorns mine arm, and with these braving Towrs
Attempts to scale this Crystall Throne of Ours.
See their huge Castles, Wals, and Counter-scarfs:
O strength-full Peece, impregnable! and sure
All my iust anger's batteries to endure.
I swore to them, the fruitfull earth, no more
Hence-forth should fear the raging Oceans roar;
Yet build they Towrs: I will'd that scattered wide
They should go man the World; and lo they bide
Self-prisoned heer: I meant to be their Master,
My self alone, their Law, their Prince, and Pastor;
And they, for Lord, a Tyrant fell haue ta'en-them;
Who (to their cost) will roughly curb and rean them;
Who scorns mine arm, and with these braving Towrs
Attempts to scale this Crystall Throne of Ours.
Com, com, let's dash their drift; and sith, combin'd
As well in voyce, as blood, and law, and minde,
In ill they harden, and with language bold
Incourage-on themselues their work to hold,
Let's cast let 'gainst their quick diligence:
Let's strike them straight with spirit of difference;
Let's all confound their speech: let's make the brother,
The Sire, and Son, not vnderstand each other.
As well in voyce, as blood, and law, and minde,
In ill they harden, and with language bold
Incourage-on themselues their work to hold,
Let's cast let 'gainst their quick diligence:
Let's strike them straight with spirit of difference;
Let's all confound their speech: let's make the brother,
The Sire, and Son, not vnderstand each other.
This said, as soon confusedly did bound
Through all the work I wot not what strange sound,
A iangling noyse; not much vnlike the rumors
Of Bacchus Swains amid their drunken humors:
Som speak between the teeth, som in the nose,
Som in the throat their words do ill dispose,
Som howl, som halloo, som do stut and strain,
Each hath his gibberish, and all striue in vain
To finde again their know'n beloved tongue,
That with their milke they suckt in cradle, young.
Through all the work I wot not what strange sound,
A iangling noyse; not much vnlike the rumors
Of Bacchus Swains amid their drunken humors:
Som speak between the teeth, som in the nose,
Som in the throat their words do ill dispose,
Som howl, som halloo, som do stut and strain,
Each hath his gibberish, and all striue in vain
To finde again their know'n beloved tongue,
That with their milke they suckt in cradle, young.
Arise betimes, while th'Opal-coloured Morn,
In golden pomp doth May-dayes door adorn:
And patient hear th'all-differing voyces sweet
Of painted Singers, that in Groues do greet
Their Loue-Bon-iours, each in his phrase and fashion
From trembling Pearch vttering his earnest passion;
And so thou mayst conceipt what mingle-mangle
Among this people every where did iangle.
In golden pomp doth May-dayes door adorn:
And patient hear th'all-differing voyces sweet
Of painted Singers, that in Groues do greet
Their Loue-Bon-iours, each in his phrase and fashion
From trembling Pearch vttering his earnest passion;
And so thou mayst conceipt what mingle-mangle
Among this people every where did iangle.
Bring me (quoth one) a trowell, quickly, quick;
One brings him vp a hammer: hew this brick
(Another bids) and then they cleaue a Tree:
Make fast this rope, and then they let it flee:
One cals for planks, another mortar lacks:
They bear the first, a stone; the last an ax:
One would haue spikes, and him a spade they giue:
Another asks a saw, and gets a siue:
Thus crosly-crost, they prate and point in vain;
What one hath made, another mars again:
Nigh breath-less all, with their confused yawling,
In boot-less labour, now begins appawling.
One brings him vp a hammer: hew this brick
256
Make fast this rope, and then they let it flee:
One cals for planks, another mortar lacks:
They bear the first, a stone; the last an ax:
One would haue spikes, and him a spade they giue:
Another asks a saw, and gets a siue:
Thus crosly-crost, they prate and point in vain;
What one hath made, another mars again:
Nigh breath-less all, with their confused yawling,
In boot-less labour, now begins appawling.
In brief, as those, that in som chanell deep
Begin to build a Bridge with Arches steep,
Perceiving once (in thousand streams extending)
The course-chang'd River from the hils descending,
With watry Mountains bearing down their Bay,
As if it scorn'd such bondage to obay;
Abandon quickly all their work begun,
And heer and there for swifter safety run:
These Masons so, seeing the storm arriv'd
Of Gods iust Wrath, all weak, and hart-depriv'd,
Forsake their purpose, and like frantick fools
Scatter their stuffe, and tumble down their tools.
Begin to build a Bridge with Arches steep,
Perceiving once (in thousand streams extending)
The course-chang'd River from the hils descending,
With watry Mountains bearing down their Bay,
As if it scorn'd such bondage to obay;
Abandon quickly all their work begun,
And heer and there for swifter safety run:
These Masons so, seeing the storm arriv'd
Of Gods iust Wrath, all weak, and hart-depriv'd,
Forsake their purpose, and like frantick fools
Scatter their stuffe, and tumble down their tools.
O proud revolt! O traiterous felony!
See in what sort the Lord hath punisht thee
By this Confusion: Ah! that language sweet,
Sure bond of Cities, friendships mastick meet,
Strong curb of anger yerst vnited, now
In thousand dry Brooks strays, I wot not how:
That rare-rich gold, that charm-grief fancy-mover,
That calm-rage harts-theef, quel-pride conjure-lover:
That purest coyn, then current in each coast,
Now mingled, hath sound, waight, and colour lost,
'Tis counterfeit: and over every shoar
The confus'd fall of Babel yet doth roar.
See in what sort the Lord hath punisht thee
By this Confusion: Ah! that language sweet,
Sure bond of Cities, friendships mastick meet,
Strong curb of anger yerst vnited, now
In thousand dry Brooks strays, I wot not how:
That rare-rich gold, that charm-grief fancy-mover,
That calm-rage harts-theef, quel-pride conjure-lover:
That purest coyn, then current in each coast,
Now mingled, hath sound, waight, and colour lost,
'Tis counterfeit: and over every shoar
The confus'd fall of Babel yet doth roar.
Then, Finland-folk might visit Affrica,
The Spaniard Inde, and ours America,
Without a truch-man: now, the banks that bound
Our Towns about, our tongues do also mound:
For, who from home but half a furlong goes,
As dumb (alas!) his Reason's tool doth lose:
Or if we talk but with our neer confines,
We borrow mouthes, or else we work by signes.
The Spaniard Inde, and ours America,
Without a truch-man: now, the banks that bound
Our Towns about, our tongues do also mound:
For, who from home but half a furlong goes,
As dumb (alas!) his Reason's tool doth lose:
Or if we talk but with our neer confines,
We borrow mouthes, or else we work by signes.
Vn-toyld, vn-tutord, sucking tender food,
We learn'd a language all men vnderstood;
And (seav'n-years old) in glass-dust did commence
To draw the round Earths fair circumference:
To cipher well, and climbing Art by Art,
We reacht betimes that Castles highest part,
Where th'Encyclopedie her darling Crowns,
In signe of conquest, with etern renowns.
We learn'd a language all men vnderstood;
And (seav'n-years old) in glass-dust did commence
To draw the round Earths fair circumference:
To cipher well, and climbing Art by Art,
We reacht betimes that Castles highest part,
257
In signe of conquest, with etern renowns.
Now (ever-boys) we wax old while we seek
The Hebrew tongue, the Latin, and the Greek:
We can but babble, and for knowledge whole
Of Natures secrets, and of th'Essence sole
Which Essence giues to all, we tire our minde
To vary Verbs, and finest words to finde;
Our letters and our syllables to waigh:
At Tutors lips we hang with heads all gray,
Who teach vs yet to read, and giue vs (raw)
An A. B. C. for great Iustinians law,
Hippocrates, or that Diviner lore,
Where God appears to whom him right adore.
The Hebrew tongue, the Latin, and the Greek:
We can but babble, and for knowledge whole
Of Natures secrets, and of th'Essence sole
Which Essence giues to all, we tire our minde
To vary Verbs, and finest words to finde;
Our letters and our syllables to waigh:
At Tutors lips we hang with heads all gray,
Who teach vs yet to read, and giue vs (raw)
An A. B. C. for great Iustinians law,
Hippocrates, or that Diviner lore,
Where God appears to whom him right adore.
What shall I more say? Then, all spake the speech
Of God himself, th'old sacred Idiom rich,
Rich perfect language, where's no point, nor signe,
But hides som rare deep mystery divine:
But since that pride, each people hath a-part
A bastard gibberish, harsh, and overthwart;
Which daily chang'd, and losing light, wel-neer
Nothing retains of that first language cleer.
Of God himself, th'old sacred Idiom rich,
Rich perfect language, where's no point, nor signe,
But hides som rare deep mystery divine:
But since that pride, each people hath a-part
A bastard gibberish, harsh, and overthwart;
Which daily chang'd, and losing light, wel-neer
Nothing retains of that first language cleer.
The Phrygians once, and that renowned Nation
Fed with fair Nilus fruitfull inundation,
Longing to know their Languages priority,
Fondly impos'd the censuring authority
To silly Iudges, voyd of iudging sense
(Dumb stammerers to treat of Eloquence)
To wit, two Infants nurst by Mothers dumb,
In silent Cels, where never noyse should com
Of charming humane voyce, to eccho there,
Till triple-twelue months full expired were.
Then brought before the Memphians, and the men
That dwell at Zant, the faint-breath'd childeren,
Cry often Bek; Bek, Bek is all the words
That their tongue forms, or their dumb mouth affords.
Then Phrygians, knowing, that in Phrygian
Bek meaneth bread, much to reioyce began,
Glad that kinde Nature had now grac't them so,
To grant this Sentence on their side to go.
Fed with fair Nilus fruitfull inundation,
Longing to know their Languages priority,
Fondly impos'd the censuring authority
To silly Iudges, voyd of iudging sense
(Dumb stammerers to treat of Eloquence)
To wit, two Infants nurst by Mothers dumb,
In silent Cels, where never noyse should com
Of charming humane voyce, to eccho there,
Till triple-twelue months full expired were.
Then brought before the Memphians, and the men
That dwell at Zant, the faint-breath'd childeren,
Cry often Bek; Bek, Bek is all the words
That their tongue forms, or their dumb mouth affords.
Then Phrygians, knowing, that in Phrygian
Bek meaneth bread, much to reioyce began,
Glad that kinde Nature had now grac't them so,
To grant this Sentence on their side to go.
Fools, which perceiv'd not, that the bleating flocks
Which powl'd the neighbour Mountains motly locks
Had taught this tearm, and that no tearms of Rome,
Greece, Ægypt, England, France, Troy, Iewry, come
Com born with vs: but every Countries tongue
Is learnt by much vse, and frequenting long.
Only, we haue peculiar to our race,
Aptness to speak; as that same other grace
Which, richly-divers, makes vs differ more
From dull, dumb wretches that in Desarts roar.
Which powl'd the neighbour Mountains motly locks
Had taught this tearm, and that no tearms of Rome,
Greece, Ægypt, England, France, Troy, Iewry, come
Com born with vs: but every Countries tongue
Is learnt by much vse, and frequenting long.
Only, we haue peculiar to our race,
Aptness to speak; as that same other grace
258
From dull, dumb wretches that in Desarts roar.
Now, that Buls bellow (if that any say)
That Lions roar, and slothfull Asses bray,
Now lowe, now lowd; and by such languages
Distinctly seem to shew their courages:
Those are not words, but bare expressions
Of violent fits of certain passions:
Confused signes of sorrw, or annoy,
Of hunger, thirst, of anger, loue, or ioy.
That Lions roar, and slothfull Asses bray,
Now lowe, now lowd; and by such languages
Distinctly seem to shew their courages:
Those are not words, but bare expressions
Of violent fits of certain passions:
Confused signes of sorrw, or annoy,
Of hunger, thirst, of anger, loue, or ioy.
And so I say of all the winged quiers,
Which mornly warble, on green trembling briers,
Ear-tickling tunes: for, though they seem to prattle
A part by payrs, and three to three to tattle;
To winde their voyce a hundred thousand wayes,
In curious descant of a thousand layes:
T'haue taught Apollo, in their School, his skill;
Their sounds want sense; their notes are word-less still:
Their song, repeated thousand times a-day,
As dumb discourse, flies in the Woods away.
Which mornly warble, on green trembling briers,
Ear-tickling tunes: for, though they seem to prattle
A part by payrs, and three to three to tattle;
To winde their voyce a hundred thousand wayes,
In curious descant of a thousand layes:
T'haue taught Apollo, in their School, his skill;
Their sounds want sense; their notes are word-less still:
Their song, repeated thousand times a-day,
As dumb discourse, flies in the Woods away.
But, only Man can talke of his Creator,
Of Heav'n, and earth, and fire, and ayr, and water,
Of Iustice, Temperance, Wisdom, Fortitude,
In choise sweet tearms, that various sense include.
And not in one sole tongue his thoughts dissunder;
But like to Scaliger, our ages wonder,
The Learned's Sun: who eloquently can,
Speak Spanish, French, Italian, Nubian,
Dutch, Chaldee, Syriak, English, Arabik,
(Besides) the Persian, Hebrew, Latin, Greek.
O rich quick spirit! O wits Chameleon!
Which any Authors colour can put on:
Great Iulius Son, and Syluius worthy brother,
Th'immortall grace of Gascony, their mother.
Of Heav'n, and earth, and fire, and ayr, and water,
Of Iustice, Temperance, Wisdom, Fortitude,
In choise sweet tearms, that various sense include.
And not in one sole tongue his thoughts dissunder;
But like to Scaliger, our ages wonder,
The Learned's Sun: who eloquently can,
Speak Spanish, French, Italian, Nubian,
Dutch, Chaldee, Syriak, English, Arabik,
(Besides) the Persian, Hebrew, Latin, Greek.
O rich quick spirit! O wits Chameleon!
Which any Authors colour can put on:
Great Iulius Son, and Syluius worthy brother,
Th'immortall grace of Gascony, their mother.
And, as for Iayes, that in their wyery gail
Can ask for victuals, and vnvictual'd rail;
Who, daring vs for eloquences meed,
Can plain pronounce the holy Christian Creed,
Say the Lords Prayer, and oft repeat it all,
And name by name a good great houshold call:
Th'are like that voice, which (by our voyce begot)
From hollow vale babbles it wots not what:
In vain the ayr they beat, it vainly cleaving,
And dumbly speak, their owne speech not conceiving,
Deaf to themselues: for, speech is nothing (sure)
But th'vnseen soules resounding portrature:
And chiefly when 'tis short, sweet, painted-plain,
As it was all, yer that rough hunters raign.
Can ask for victuals, and vnvictual'd rail;
Who, daring vs for eloquences meed,
Can plain pronounce the holy Christian Creed,
Say the Lords Prayer, and oft repeat it all,
And name by name a good great houshold call:
Th'are like that voice, which (by our voyce begot)
From hollow vale babbles it wots not what:
In vain the ayr they beat, it vainly cleaving,
And dumbly speak, their owne speech not conceiving,
Deaf to themselues: for, speech is nothing (sure)
But th'vnseen soules resounding portrature:
And chiefly when 'tis short, sweet, painted-plain,
As it was all, yer that rough hunters raign.
259
Now, when I note, how th'Hebrew brevity,
Even with few words expresseth happily
Deepest conceits; and leads the hearing part
Through all the closets of the mazy hart:
Better then Greek with her Synonimaes,
Fit Epithets, and fine Metaphoraes,
Her apt Coniunctions, Tenses, Moods, and Cases,
And many other much esteemed graces:
Even with few words expresseth happily
Deepest conceits; and leads the hearing part
Through all the closets of the mazy hart:
Better then Greek with her Synonimaes,
Fit Epithets, and fine Metaphoraes,
Her apt Coniunctions, Tenses, Moods, and Cases,
And many other much esteemed graces:
When I remember, how the Rabbins fet
Out of the sacred Hebrew Alphabet
All that our faith beleeues, or eyes behold;
That in the Law the Arts are all inrold:
Whether (with curious pain) we do transport
Her letters turn'd in many-various sort
(For, as in ciphering, th'onely transportation
Of figures, still varies their valuation:
So th'Anagram strengthens or slacks a name,
Giuing a secret twist vnto the same:)
Or whether we (euen as in gross) bestowing
The numbers, which, from one words letters flowing,
Vnfold a secret; and that word again
Another of like number doth contain:
Whether one letter for a word be put;
Or all a sentence in one word be shut:
As Ægypts silence sealed-vp (mysterious)
In one Character a long sentence serious.
Out of the sacred Hebrew Alphabet
All that our faith beleeues, or eyes behold;
That in the Law the Arts are all inrold:
Whether (with curious pain) we do transport
Her letters turn'd in many-various sort
(For, as in ciphering, th'onely transportation
Of figures, still varies their valuation:
So th'Anagram strengthens or slacks a name,
Giuing a secret twist vnto the same:)
Or whether we (euen as in gross) bestowing
The numbers, which, from one words letters flowing,
Vnfold a secret; and that word again
Another of like number doth contain:
Whether one letter for a word be put;
Or all a sentence in one word be shut:
As Ægypts silence sealed-vp (mysterious)
In one Character a long sentence serious.
When I obserue, that from the Indian Dawning,
Even to our Irish Etna's fiery yawning:
And from hot Tambut, to the Sea Tartarian,
Thou seest (O Sun!) no Nation so barbarian,
Nor ignorant in all the Laws divine,
But yet retains som tearms of Palestine,
Whose Elements (how-so disguiz'd) draw-nigh
The sacred names of th'old Orthography.
Even to our Irish Etna's fiery yawning:
And from hot Tambut, to the Sea Tartarian,
Thou seest (O Sun!) no Nation so barbarian,
Nor ignorant in all the Laws divine,
But yet retains som tearms of Palestine,
Whose Elements (how-so disguiz'd) draw-nigh
The sacred names of th'old Orthography.
When I consider that Gods antient Will
Was first enrowled by an Hebrew quill:
That never Vrim, Dream, or Vision sung
Their Oracles, but all in Isaaks tongue:
That in the same, the Lord himselfe did draw
Vpon two Tables his eternall Law:
And that (long since) in Sions Languages,
His Heav'nly Postes brought down his messages:
Was first enrowled by an Hebrew quill:
That never Vrim, Dream, or Vision sung
Their Oracles, but all in Isaaks tongue:
That in the same, the Lord himselfe did draw
Vpon two Tables his eternall Law:
And that (long since) in Sions Languages,
His Heav'nly Postes brought down his messages:
And (to conclude) when I conceiue, how then
They gaue not idle, casuall names to men,
But such as (rich in sense) before th'event,
Markt in their liues som speciall accident;
And yet, we see that all those words of old
Of Hebrew still the sound and sense do hold.
For, Adam (meaneth) made of clay: his wife
Eua (translated) signifieth life:
Cain, first begot, Abel, as vain: and Seth,
Put in his place: and he that, vnderneath
The generall Deluge, saw the World distrest,
In true interpretation, soundeth Rest.
To th'Hebrew Tongue (how-ever Greece do grudge)
The sacred right of Eldership I iudge.
They gaue not idle, casuall names to men,
But such as (rich in sense) before th'event,
Markt in their liues som speciall accident;
And yet, we see that all those words of old
Of Hebrew still the sound and sense do hold.
260
Eua (translated) signifieth life:
Cain, first begot, Abel, as vain: and Seth,
Put in his place: and he that, vnderneath
The generall Deluge, saw the World distrest,
In true interpretation, soundeth Rest.
To th'Hebrew Tongue (how-ever Greece do grudge)
The sacred right of Eldership I iudge.
All hail, therefore, O sempiternall spring
Of spirituall pictures! speech of Heav'ns high King,
Mother, and Mistress, of all Tongues the Prime:
Which (pure) hast past such vast deep gulfs of Time:
Which hast no word but weighs, whose Elements
Flowe with hid sense, thy points with Sacraments.
O sacred Dialect! in thee the names
Of Men, Towns, Countries register their fames
In brief abridgements: and the names of Birds,
Of Water-guests, and Forrest-hanting Heards,
Are open Books where every man might read
Their natures story; till th'Heav'n-shaker dread,
In his iust wrath, the flaming sword had set,
The passage into Paradise to let.
Of spirituall pictures! speech of Heav'ns high King,
Mother, and Mistress, of all Tongues the Prime:
Which (pure) hast past such vast deep gulfs of Time:
Which hast no word but weighs, whose Elements
Flowe with hid sense, thy points with Sacraments.
O sacred Dialect! in thee the names
Of Men, Towns, Countries register their fames
In brief abridgements: and the names of Birds,
Of Water-guests, and Forrest-hanting Heards,
Are open Books where every man might read
Their natures story; till th'Heav'n-shaker dread,
In his iust wrath, the flaming sword had set,
The passage into Paradise to let.
For, Adam then (in signe of mastry) giving
Peculiar names vnto all creatures living,
When in a generall muster ranged right,
They marcht by couples in his awfull sight,
He framed them so fit, that learned ears
Bearing the soul the sound, the maruails bears,
Wherewith th'All-forming voyce adorned fair
Th'inhabitants of Sea, and Earth, and Ayr.
And, for each body acts, or suffers ought,
Having made Nowns, his Verbs he also wrought:
And then, the more t'inrich his speech, he brings
Small particles, which stand in lieu of strings,
The master members fitly to combine
(As two great boards, a little glew doth ioyn)
And serue as plumes, which ever dancing light
Deck the proud crests of helmets burnisht bright:
Frenges to mantles; ears, and rings to vessels:
To marble statues, bases, feet, and tressels.
Peculiar names vnto all creatures living,
When in a generall muster ranged right,
They marcht by couples in his awfull sight,
He framed them so fit, that learned ears
Bearing the soul the sound, the maruails bears,
Wherewith th'All-forming voyce adorned fair
Th'inhabitants of Sea, and Earth, and Ayr.
And, for each body acts, or suffers ought,
Having made Nowns, his Verbs he also wrought:
And then, the more t'inrich his speech, he brings
Small particles, which stand in lieu of strings,
The master members fitly to combine
(As two great boards, a little glew doth ioyn)
And serue as plumes, which ever dancing light
Deck the proud crests of helmets burnisht bright:
Frenges to mantles; ears, and rings to vessels:
To marble statues, bases, feet, and tressels.
This (Adams language) pure persisted since,
Till th'iron Age of that cloud-climbing Prince;
Resounding onely, through all mortall tents,
The peer-less accents of rich eloquence;
But then (as partiall) it it self retyr'd
To Hebers house: whether, of the conspir'd
Rebels, he were not; but in sober quiet,
Dwelt far from Shinar, and their furious ryot:
Or whether, thither by compulsion brought,
With secret sighes hee oft his God besought,
So with vnwilling hands helping to make
The wals he wisht deep sunk in Stygian Lake:
As wretched Galley-slaues (beating the Seas.
With forced oars, fighting against their ease
And liberty) curse in their grieved spright,
Those, for whose sake they labour day and night;
Or whether else Gods liberall hand, for ever
(As it were) meeting holy mens indevour,
For his owne sake, of his free grace and pleasure,
To th'Hebrew race deposited this treasure;
While the proud remnant of those scattered Masons
Had falsed it in hundred thousand fashions,
When every one where fate him called flew,
Bearing new words into his Countrey new.
Till th'iron Age of that cloud-climbing Prince;
Resounding onely, through all mortall tents,
The peer-less accents of rich eloquence;
But then (as partiall) it it self retyr'd
To Hebers house: whether, of the conspir'd
Rebels, he were not; but in sober quiet,
Dwelt far from Shinar, and their furious ryot:
261
With secret sighes hee oft his God besought,
So with vnwilling hands helping to make
The wals he wisht deep sunk in Stygian Lake:
As wretched Galley-slaues (beating the Seas.
With forced oars, fighting against their ease
And liberty) curse in their grieved spright,
Those, for whose sake they labour day and night;
Or whether else Gods liberall hand, for ever
(As it were) meeting holy mens indevour,
For his owne sake, of his free grace and pleasure,
To th'Hebrew race deposited this treasure;
While the proud remnant of those scattered Masons
Had falsed it in hundred thousand fashions,
When every one where fate him called flew,
Bearing new words into his Countrey new.
But slipp'ry Time, enviously wasting all,
Disfigur'd soon those Tongues authenticall,
Which 'mid the Babel-builders thunder, bred
On Tigris banks, o're all the earth were spred:
And, ay the world the more confus'd to leaue,
The least of them in many Tongues did cleaue.
Disfigur'd soon those Tongues authenticall,
Which 'mid the Babel-builders thunder, bred
On Tigris banks, o're all the earth were spred:
And, ay the world the more confus'd to leaue,
The least of them in many Tongues did cleaue.
Each language alters, either by occasion
Of trade, which (causing mutuall commutation
Of th'Earths and Oceans wares) with hardy luck
Doth words for words barter, exchange and truck:
Or else, because Fame-thirsting wits, that toyl
In golden tearms to trick their gratious stile,
With new-found beauties prank each circumstance,
Or (at the least) doe new-coyn'd words inhance
With current freedom: and again restore
Th'old, rusty, mouldy, worm-gnawn words of yore.
Of trade, which (causing mutuall commutation
Of th'Earths and Oceans wares) with hardy luck
Doth words for words barter, exchange and truck:
Or else, because Fame-thirsting wits, that toyl
In golden tearms to trick their gratious stile,
With new-found beauties prank each circumstance,
Or (at the least) doe new-coyn'd words inhance
With current freedom: and again restore
Th'old, rusty, mouldy, worm-gnawn words of yore.
For, as in Forrests, leaues do fall and spring:
Even so the words, which whilom flourishing,
In sweet Orations shin'd with pleasing lustre
(Like snowe-white Lillies in a fresh green pasture)
Pass now no more; but, banisht from the Court,
Dwell with disgrace among the Countrey sort:
And those, which Eld's strict doom did disallow,
And damn for bullion, go for current now.
Even so the words, which whilom flourishing,
In sweet Orations shin'd with pleasing lustre
(Like snowe-white Lillies in a fresh green pasture)
Pass now no more; but, banisht from the Court,
Dwell with disgrace among the Countrey sort:
And those, which Eld's strict doom did disallow,
And damn for bullion, go for current now.
A happy wit, with gratious iudgement ioyn'd
May giue a pasport to the words new coyn'd
In his own shop: also adopt the strange:
Ingraft the wilde: inriching, with such change
His powerfull stile; and with such sundry ammell
Painting his phrase, his Prose or Verse enamell.
May giue a pasport to the words new coyn'd
In his own shop: also adopt the strange:
Ingraft the wilde: inriching, with such change
His powerfull stile; and with such sundry ammell
Painting his phrase, his Prose or Verse enamell.
One language hath no law but vse: and still
Runs blinde, vnbridled, at the vulgars will.
Anothers course is curiously inclos'd
In lists of Art; of choice fit words compos'd.
One, in the feeble birth, becomming old,
Is cradle-toomb'd: another warreth bold
With the yeer-spinners. One, vnhappy-founded,
Liues in a narrow valley ever bounded:
Another 'mong the learned troop doth presse
From Alexanders Altars, even to Fez.
Runs blinde, vnbridled, at the vulgars will.
262
In lists of Art; of choice fit words compos'd.
One, in the feeble birth, becomming old,
Is cradle-toomb'd: another warreth bold
With the yeer-spinners. One, vnhappy-founded,
Liues in a narrow valley ever bounded:
Another 'mong the learned troop doth presse
From Alexanders Altars, even to Fez.
And such are now, the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin:
Th'Hebrew, because of it we hold the Paten
Of Thrice-Eternals ever sacred Word:
And, of his Law, That is the first Record.
The Greek, as having cunningly compriz'd
All kinde of knowledge that may be devis'd.
And manly Roman sith the sword vndanted
Through all the world her eloquence hath planted.
Th'Hebrew, because of it we hold the Paten
Of Thrice-Eternals ever sacred Word:
And, of his Law, That is the first Record.
The Greek, as having cunningly compriz'd
All kinde of knowledge that may be devis'd.
And manly Roman sith the sword vndanted
Through all the world her eloquence hath planted.
Writing these later lines, weary wel-neer
Of sacred Pallas pleasing labours deer;
Mine humble chin saluteth oft my brest;
With an Ambrosial deaw mine eys possest
By peece-meal close; all moving powrs be still;
From my dull fingers drops my fainting quill;
Down in my sloath-lov'd bed again I shrink;
And in dark Lethe all deep cares I sink:
Yea, all my cares, except a zeal to len
A gainfull pleasure to my Countrymen.
For, th'holy loues-charm, burning for their sake,
When I am sleeping, keeps my soule awake.
Of sacred Pallas pleasing labours deer;
Mine humble chin saluteth oft my brest;
With an Ambrosial deaw mine eys possest
By peece-meal close; all moving powrs be still;
From my dull fingers drops my fainting quill;
Down in my sloath-lov'd bed again I shrink;
And in dark Lethe all deep cares I sink:
Yea, all my cares, except a zeal to len
A gainfull pleasure to my Countrymen.
For, th'holy loues-charm, burning for their sake,
When I am sleeping, keeps my soule awake.
Gold-winged Morpheus, East-ward issuing
By's crystall gate (it earlier opening
Then dayes bright door) fantastick leads the way
Down to a vale, where moist-cool night, and day,
Still calms and storms, keen cold, and sultry smother,
Rain, and fair weather follow not each other:
But May still raigns, and rose-crown'd Zephyrus
With wanton sighes makes the green trees to buss,
Whose whispering boughs, in Ovall form do fence
This flowrie field's delightfull excellence.
By's crystall gate (it earlier opening
Then dayes bright door) fantastick leads the way
Down to a vale, where moist-cool night, and day,
Still calms and storms, keen cold, and sultry smother,
Rain, and fair weather follow not each other:
But May still raigns, and rose-crown'd Zephyrus
With wanton sighes makes the green trees to buss,
Whose whispering boughs, in Ovall form do fence
This flowrie field's delightfull excellence.
Iust in the midst of this enammeld vale
Rose a huge Rock, cut like a Pedestall;
And on the Cornich a Colosius stands
Of during brasse, which beareth in his hands
Both fire and water: from his golden tongue
Growe thousand chains, which all the mead a-long
Draw worlds of hearers with alluring Art,
Bound fast by th'ears, but faster by the hart.
Before his feet, Boars, Bears, and Tigers lie
As meek as Lambs, reclaim'd from crueltie.
Neer hils do hop, and neighbour Forrests bound,
Seeming to dance at his sweet voyces sound.
Rose a huge Rock, cut like a Pedestall;
And on the Cornich a Colosius stands
Of during brasse, which beareth in his hands
Both fire and water: from his golden tongue
Growe thousand chains, which all the mead a-long
Draw worlds of hearers with alluring Art,
Bound fast by th'ears, but faster by the hart.
Before his feet, Boars, Bears, and Tigers lie
As meek as Lambs, reclaim'd from crueltie.
263
Seeming to dance at his sweet voyces sound.
Of Carian pillars rais'd with curious Art
On bases firm, a double rowe doth girt
The soule-charm Image of sweet Eloquence:
And these fair Piles (with great magnificence)
Bear, foure by foure, one of the Tongues which now
Our learned Age for fairest doth allow.
On bases firm, a double rowe doth girt
The soule-charm Image of sweet Eloquence:
And these fair Piles (with great magnificence)
Bear, foure by foure, one of the Tongues which now
Our learned Age for fairest doth allow.
Now, 'mong the Heav'n-deer spirits supporting heer
The Hebrew tongue, that Prince whose brows appear
Like daunt-Earth Comet's Heav'n-adorning brand,
Who holds a green-dry, withr'd-springing wand,
And in his armes the sacred Register
Of Gods eternall ten-fold Law doth bear;
Is Israels guide: first Author, he that first
Vnto his heirs his Writings offer durst:
Whose hallowed Pages not alone preceed
All Grecian Writ, but every Grecian Deed.
The Hebrew tongue, that Prince whose brows appear
Like daunt-Earth Comet's Heav'n-adorning brand,
Who holds a green-dry, withr'd-springing wand,
And in his armes the sacred Register
Of Gods eternall ten-fold Law doth bear;
Is Israels guide: first Author, he that first
Vnto his heirs his Writings offer durst:
Whose hallowed Pages not alone preceed
All Grecian Writ, but every Grecian Deed.
Dauid's the next, who, with the melody
Of voyce-matcht fingers, draws sphears harmony,
To his Heav'n-tuned harp, which shall resound
While the bright day-star rides his glorious Round:
Yea (happily) when both the whirling Poles
Shall cease their Galliard, th'ever-blessed soules
Of Christ his champions (cheer'd with his sweet songs)
Shall dance to th'honour of the Strong of strongs;
And all the Angels glorie-winged Hostes
Sing Holy, Holy, Holy, God of Hoasts.
Of voyce-matcht fingers, draws sphears harmony,
To his Heav'n-tuned harp, which shall resound
While the bright day-star rides his glorious Round:
Yea (happily) when both the whirling Poles
Shall cease their Galliard, th'ever-blessed soules
Of Christ his champions (cheer'd with his sweet songs)
Shall dance to th'honour of the Strong of strongs;
And all the Angels glorie-winged Hostes
Sing Holy, Holy, Holy, God of Hoasts.
The third, his Son, wit-wondrous Salomon,
Who in his lines hath more wise lessons sow'n,
More golden words, then in his Crown there shin'd
Pearls, Diamonds, and other Gemms of Inde.
Who in his lines hath more wise lessons sow'n,
More golden words, then in his Crown there shin'd
Pearls, Diamonds, and other Gemms of Inde.
Sweet-numbred Homer here the Greek supports,
Whose School hath bred the many-differing sorts
Of antient Sages: and, through every Realm,
Made (like a Sea) his eloquence to stream:
Plato, the all-divine, who like the Fowl
(They call) of Paradise; doth never foul
His foot on Earth or Sea, but lofty sties
Higher then Heav'n from Hell, aboue the skies:
Cleer-styl'd Herodotus, and Demosthen,
Gold-mouthed hearts-king, law of learned men.
Whose School hath bred the many-differing sorts
Of antient Sages: and, through every Realm,
Made (like a Sea) his eloquence to stream:
Plato, the all-divine, who like the Fowl
(They call) of Paradise; doth never foul
His foot on Earth or Sea, but lofty sties
Higher then Heav'n from Hell, aboue the skies:
Cleer-styl'd Herodotus, and Demosthen,
Gold-mouthed hearts-king, law of learned men.
Th'Arch-Foe to factious Catiline and (since)
To Anthony, whose thundring eloquence
Yeelds thousand streames, whence (rapt in admiration)
The rarest wits are drunk in every Nation:
Cæsar, who knowes as well to write, as war:
The Sinnewie Salust: and that Heav'n-fall'n star,
Which straggling Ilium brings to Tybers brink,
Who never seems in all his Works to wink;
Who never stumbled, ever cleer and graue;
Bashfully-bold, and blushing modest-braue:
Still like himself; and else, still like to no-man:
Sustain the stately, graue-sweet antient Roman.
To Anthony, whose thundring eloquence
Yeelds thousand streames, whence (rapt in admiration)
The rarest wits are drunk in every Nation:
264
The Sinnewie Salust: and that Heav'n-fall'n star,
Which straggling Ilium brings to Tybers brink,
Who never seems in all his Works to wink;
Who never stumbled, ever cleer and graue;
Bashfully-bold, and blushing modest-braue:
Still like himself; and else, still like to no-man:
Sustain the stately, graue-sweet antient Roman.
On mirthfull Boccace is the Tuscan plac't:
Bold, choice-tearm'd Petrarch, in deep passions grac't:
The fluent fainer of Orlando's error,
Smooth, pithy, various, quick affection-stirrer:
And witty Tasso, worthy to indight
Heroïk numbers, full of life and light;
Short, sharpe-conceipted, rich in language cleer,
Though last in age, in honour formost heer.
Bold, choice-tearm'd Petrarch, in deep passions grac't:
The fluent fainer of Orlando's error,
Smooth, pithy, various, quick affection-stirrer:
And witty Tasso, worthy to indight
Heroïk numbers, full of life and light;
Short, sharpe-conceipted, rich in language cleer,
Though last in age, in honour formost heer.
Th'Arabian language hath for pillars sound,
Great Aben-Rois most subtill, and profound,
Sharp Eldebag, and learned Auicen,
And Ibnu-farid's Figure-flowing Pen.
Great Aben-Rois most subtill, and profound,
Sharp Eldebag, and learned Auicen,
And Ibnu-farid's Figure-flowing Pen.
The Dutch, hath him who Germaniz'd the story
Of Sleidan: next, th'Isleban (lasting glory
Of Wittenberg) with Beucer gilding bright
His pleasing stile: and Butric my delight.
Of Sleidan: next, th'Isleban (lasting glory
Of Wittenberg) with Beucer gilding bright
His pleasing stile: and Butric my delight.
Gueuarra, Boscan, and Granade, which sup
With Garcilace, in honey Pytho's cup
The smiling Nectar, beare th'Hyberian:
And, but th'old glory of the Catalan,
Rauisht Osyas, he might well haue claymed
The Spanish Laurell, 'mong these lastly named.
With Garcilace, in honey Pytho's cup
The smiling Nectar, beare th'Hyberian:
And, but th'old glory of the Catalan,
Rauisht Osyas, he might well haue claymed
The Spanish Laurell, 'mong these lastly named.
Now, for the French, that shape-less Column rude,
Whence th'idle Mason hath but grosly hew'd
(As yet) the rough scales from the vpper part,
Is Clement Marot; who with Art-les Art
Busily toyls: and, prickt with praise-full thirst,
Brings Helicon, from Po to Quercy first:
Whom, as a time-torn Monument I honour:
Or as a broken Toomb: or tattered Banner:
Or age-worn Image: not so much for showe,
As for the reuerence that to Eld I owe.
Whence th'idle Mason hath but grosly hew'd
(As yet) the rough scales from the vpper part,
Is Clement Marot; who with Art-les Art
Busily toyls: and, prickt with praise-full thirst,
Brings Helicon, from Po to Quercy first:
Whom, as a time-torn Monument I honour:
Or as a broken Toomb: or tattered Banner:
Or age-worn Image: not so much for showe,
As for the reuerence that to Eld I owe.
The next I knowe not well; yet (at the least)
He seems som skilfull Master with the rest:
Yet doubt I still. For now it doth appear
Like Iaques Amyot, then like Viginere.
He seems som skilfull Master with the rest:
Yet doubt I still. For now it doth appear
Like Iaques Amyot, then like Viginere.
That, is great Ronsard, who his France to garnish,
Robs Rome and Greece, of their Art-various varnish;
And, hardy-witted, handleth happily
All sorts of subiect, stile, and Poesie.
Robs Rome and Greece, of their Art-various varnish;
And, hardy-witted, handleth happily
All sorts of subiect, stile, and Poesie.
265
And this du Plessis, beating Atheïsme,
Vain Paganisme, and stubborn Iudaïsme,
With their owne Armes: and sacred-graue, and short,
His plain-prankt stile he strengthens in such sort,
That his quick reasons, wingd with grace and Art,
Pearce like keen arrows, every gentle hart.
Vain Paganisme, and stubborn Iudaïsme,
With their owne Armes: and sacred-graue, and short,
His plain-prankt stile he strengthens in such sort,
That his quick reasons, wingd with grace and Art,
Pearce like keen arrows, every gentle hart.
Our English Tongue three famous Knights sustain;
Moore, Bacone, Sidney: of which former, twain
(High Chancelors of England) weaned first
Our Infant-phrase (till then but homely nurst)
And childish toyes; and rudeness chasing thence,
To civill knowledge, ioyn'd sweet eloquence.
And (World-mourn'd) Sidney, warbling to the Thames
His Swan-like tunes, so courts her coy proud streams,
That (all with-childe with Fame) his fame they bear
To Thetis lap; and Thetis, every-where.
Moore, Bacone, Sidney: of which former, twain
(High Chancelors of England) weaned first
Our Infant-phrase (till then but homely nurst)
And childish toyes; and rudeness chasing thence,
To civill knowledge, ioyn'd sweet eloquence.
And (World-mourn'd) Sidney, warbling to the Thames
His Swan-like tunes, so courts her coy proud streams,
That (all with-childe with Fame) his fame they bear
To Thetis lap; and Thetis, every-where.
But, what new Sun dazles my tender eyes?
What sudden transe rapts me aboue the skies?
What Princely Port? O! what imperiall grace?
What sweet-bright-lightning looks? what Angels face?
What sudden transe rapts me aboue the skies?
What Princely Port? O! what imperiall grace?
What sweet-bright-lightning looks? what Angels face?
Say (learned Heav'n-born Sisters) is not this
That prudent Pallas, Albions Misteris,
That Great Eliza, making hers disdain,
For any Man, to change their Maidens raign?
Who, while Erynnys (weary now of hell)
With Fire and Sword her neighbour States doth quell,
And while black Horror threats in stormy rage,
With dreadfull down-fall th'vniversall stage;
In happy Peace her Land doth keep and nourish:
Where reverend Iustice, and Religion flourish.
Who is not only in her Mother-voice
Rich in Oration; but with phrases choice,
So on the sudden can discourse in Greek,
French, Latin, Tuscan, Dutch, and Spanish eek,
That Rome, Rhyne, Rhone, Greece, Spain, and Italy,
Plead all for right in her natiuitie.
That prudent Pallas, Albions Misteris,
That Great Eliza, making hers disdain,
For any Man, to change their Maidens raign?
Who, while Erynnys (weary now of hell)
With Fire and Sword her neighbour States doth quell,
And while black Horror threats in stormy rage,
With dreadfull down-fall th'vniversall stage;
In happy Peace her Land doth keep and nourish:
Where reverend Iustice, and Religion flourish.
Who is not only in her Mother-voice
Rich in Oration; but with phrases choice,
So on the sudden can discourse in Greek,
French, Latin, Tuscan, Dutch, and Spanish eek,
That Rome, Rhyne, Rhone, Greece, Spain, and Italy,
Plead all for right in her natiuitie.
Bright Northren pearl, Mars-daunting martialist,
To grace the Muses and the Arts, persist:
And (O!) if ever these rude rimes be blest
But with one glaunce of Nature's only Best;
Or (luckie) light between those Yuory palms,
Which holde thy State's stern, in these happy calms,
View them with milde aspect; and gently read,
That for thy praise, thine eloquence we need.
To grace the Muses and the Arts, persist:
And (O!) if ever these rude rimes be blest
But with one glaunce of Nature's only Best;
Or (luckie) light between those Yuory palms,
Which holde thy State's stern, in these happy calms,
View them with milde aspect; and gently read,
That for thy praise, thine eloquence we need.
Then thus I spake; O spirits diuine and learned,
Whose happy labours haue your lauds eterned:
O! sith I am not apt (alas!) nor able
With you to bear the burthen honourable
Of Albions Fame, nor with my feeble sight
So much as follow your Heav'n-neighbouring flight;
At least permit me, prostrate to imbrace
Your reuerend knees: permit me to inchase
Your radiant crests with Aprils flowry Crown;
Permit (I pray) that from your high renown,
My feeble tunes eternall fames deriue;
While in my Songs your glorious names suruiue.
Whose happy labours haue your lauds eterned:
O! sith I am not apt (alas!) nor able
With you to bear the burthen honourable
266
So much as follow your Heav'n-neighbouring flight;
At least permit me, prostrate to imbrace
Your reuerend knees: permit me to inchase
Your radiant crests with Aprils flowry Crown;
Permit (I pray) that from your high renown,
My feeble tunes eternall fames deriue;
While in my Songs your glorious names suruiue.
Granting my sute, each of them bowd his head,
The valley vanisht, and the pillers fled:
And there-with-all, my Dream had flow'n (I think)
But that I lim'd his limber wings with ink.
The valley vanisht, and the pillers fled:
And there-with-all, my Dream had flow'n (I think)
But that I lim'd his limber wings with ink.
FINIS.
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3. The Colonies.
THE THIRD PART OF THE SECOND DAY OF THE II. WEEK.
The Argvment.
To stop ambition, Strife, and Auarice,Into Three Parts the Earth diuided is:
To Sem the East, to Cham the South; the West
To Iapheth falls; their seuerall scopes exprest:
Their fruitfull Spawn did all the World supply:
Antiquities vncertain Search, and why:
Assyria sceptred first; and first imparts,
To all the rest, Wealth, Honour, Arms, and Arts:
The New-found World: Mens diuers humors strange:
The various World a mutuall Counter-change.
While through the Worlds vnhanted wilderness
I, th'old, first Pilots wandring House address:
While (Famous Drake-like) coasting every strand
I do discover many a New-found-Land:
And while, from Sea to Sea, with curious pain
I plant great Noahs plentious Vine again:
What bright-brown cloud shall in the Day protect me?
What fiery Pillar shall by Night direct me
Toward each Peoples primer Residence,
Predestin'd in the Court of Providence,
Yer our bi-sexed Parents, free from sin,
In Eden did their double birth begin?
I, th'old, first Pilots wandring House address:
While (Famous Drake-like) coasting every strand
I do discover many a New-found-Land:
And while, from Sea to Sea, with curious pain
I plant great Noahs plentious Vine again:
What bright-brown cloud shall in the Day protect me?
What fiery Pillar shall by Night direct me
Toward each Peoples primer Residence,
Predestin'd in the Court of Providence,
Yer our bi-sexed Parents, free from sin,
In Eden did their double birth begin?
O sacred Lamp! that went'st so brightly burning
Before the Sages, from the spycie Morning,
To shew th'Almighty Infants humble Birth;
O! chace the thick Clouds, driue the darknes forth
Which blindeth me: that mine aduenturous Rime,
Circling the World, may search out every Clime.
For, though my Wits, in this long Voyage shift
From side to side; yet is my speciall drift,
My gentle Readers by the hand to bring
To that deer Babe, the Man-God, Christ, our King.
Before the Sages, from the spycie Morning,
To shew th'Almighty Infants humble Birth;
O! chace the thick Clouds, driue the darknes forth
268
Circling the World, may search out every Clime.
For, though my Wits, in this long Voyage shift
From side to side; yet is my speciall drift,
My gentle Readers by the hand to bring
To that deer Babe, the Man-God, Christ, our King.
A comparison expressing the effect of the astonishment, which the confusion of Tongues broght into the Babel-builders.
Through Forrests thrill their roaring thunder-claps,
The shivering Fowls do suddenly forgo
Their nests and perches, fluttering to and fro
Through the dark ayr, and round about ther rings
A whistling murmur of their whisking wings;
The grissell Turtles (seldom seen alone)
Dis-payer'd and parted, wander one by one;
And even the feeble downie feathered Yong
Venture to fly, before their quils be strong:
Even so, the Builders of that Babel-Wonder,
Hearing Gods voice aloud to roar and thunder
In their rude voices barbarous difference,
Take all at once their fearfull flight from thence
On either hand; and through th'Earth voidly-vast
Each packs a-part, where God would haue him plac't.
For, Heav'ns great Monarch (yer the World began)
Having decreed to giue the World to man;
Would not, the same a nest of theeues should be,
That with the Sword should share his Legacie;
And (brutely mix) with mongrell stock to stoar
Our Elements, round, solid, slimy floar:
But rather, fire of Couetize to curb,
Into three Parts he parts this spacious Orb,
'Twixt Sem and Cham, and Iapheth: Sem the East,
Cham South, and Iapheth doth obtain the West.
Having decreed to giue the World to man;
Would not, the same a nest of theeues should be,
That with the Sword should share his Legacie;
And (brutely mix) with mongrell stock to stoar
Our Elements, round, solid, slimy floar:
But rather, fire of Couetize to curb,
Into three Parts he parts this spacious Orb,
'Twixt Sem and Cham, and Iapheth: Sem the East,
Cham South, and Iapheth doth obtain the West.
That large rich Countrey, from Perosite shoars
(Where stately Ob, the King of Rivers, roars,
In Scythian Seas voiding his violent load,
But little less then six dayes sayling broad)
To Malaca: Moluques Iles, that bear
Cloues and Canele: well-tempered Sumater
Sub-equinoctiall: and the golden streams
Of Bisnagar, and Zeilan bearing gemms:
From th'Euxin Sea and surge of Chaldean Twins
To th'Anian Streight: the sloathfull sly my Fens
Where Quinzay stands; Chiorze, where Buls as big
As Elephants are clad in silken shag,
Is great Sems Portion. For the Destinies
(Or rather Heav'ns immutable Decrees)
Assur t'Assyria send, that in short time
Chale and Rhesen to the Clouds might climbe,
And Niniue (more famous then the rest)
Aboue them raise her many-towred Crest:
The sceptred Elam chose the Persian Hils,
And those fat fields that swift Araxis fils;
Lud, Lydia: Aram all Armenia had:
And Chalde fell to learned Arphaxad:
(Where stately Ob, the King of Rivers, roars,
In Scythian Seas voiding his violent load,
But little less then six dayes sayling broad)
To Malaca: Moluques Iles, that bear
Cloues and Canele: well-tempered Sumater
Sub-equinoctiall: and the golden streams
Of Bisnagar, and Zeilan bearing gemms:
From th'Euxin Sea and surge of Chaldean Twins
To th'Anian Streight: the sloathfull sly my Fens
Where Quinzay stands; Chiorze, where Buls as big
As Elephants are clad in silken shag,
Is great Sems Portion. For the Destinies
(Or rather Heav'ns immutable Decrees)
Assur t'Assyria send, that in short time
Chale and Rhesen to the Clouds might climbe,
269
Aboue them raise her many-towred Crest:
The sceptred Elam chose the Persian Hils,
And those fat fields that swift Araxis fils;
Lud, Lydia: Aram all Armenia had:
And Chalde fell to learned Arphaxad:
Cham became Soverain over all those Realms
South-bounded round with Sun-burnt Guinne streams;
Botangas, Benin, Cephal, Guaguametre,
Hot Concritan, too-full of poysonie matter;
North-ward with narrow Mid-terranean Sea
Which from rich Europe parts poor Africa:
Tow'rds where Titans Euening splendor sank,
With Seas of Fez, Cape-verde, and Cape-blanc:
And tow'rds where Phœbus doth each morning wake,
With Adel Ocean and the Crimsin Lake.
And further, all that lies between the steep
Mount Libanus, and the Arabian Deep,
Between th'Erythrean Sea, and Persian Sine,
He (mighty Prince) to's Afrik State doth ioyne.
His Darling Canaan doth nigh Iordan dwell
(One-day ordain'd to harbour Israel):
Put peopled Lybia: Mizriam Egypt mann'd:
And's first-born Chus the Æthyopian strand.
South-bounded round with Sun-burnt Guinne streams;
Botangas, Benin, Cephal, Guaguametre,
Hot Concritan, too-full of poysonie matter;
North-ward with narrow Mid-terranean Sea
Which from rich Europe parts poor Africa:
Tow'rds where Titans Euening splendor sank,
With Seas of Fez, Cape-verde, and Cape-blanc:
And tow'rds where Phœbus doth each morning wake,
With Adel Ocean and the Crimsin Lake.
And further, all that lies between the steep
Mount Libanus, and the Arabian Deep,
Between th'Erythrean Sea, and Persian Sine,
He (mighty Prince) to's Afrik State doth ioyne.
His Darling Canaan doth nigh Iordan dwell
(One-day ordain'd to harbour Israel):
Put peopled Lybia: Mizriam Egypt mann'd:
And's first-born Chus the Æthyopian strand.
Iapheth extends from struggling Hellespont,
The Tane and Euxin Sea, to th'double Mount
Of famous Gibraltar, and that deep Main,
Whose tumbling billows bathe the shoars of Spain:
And from those Seas, where in the steed of Keels
Of winged Ships they roule their Chariot wheels,
To the Marsilian, Morean, and Thyrrhenian;
Ligurian Seas, and learned Sea Athenian,
Iust opposite to Asia rich in spice,
Pride of the Word, and second Paradise:
And that large Countrey stretcht from Amana
To Tanais shoars, and to the source of Rha.
The Tane and Euxin Sea, to th'double Mount
Of famous Gibraltar, and that deep Main,
Whose tumbling billows bathe the shoars of Spain:
And from those Seas, where in the steed of Keels
Of winged Ships they roule their Chariot wheels,
To the Marsilian, Morean, and Thyrrhenian;
Ligurian Seas, and learned Sea Athenian,
Iust opposite to Asia rich in spice,
Pride of the Word, and second Paradise:
And that large Countrey stretcht from Amana
To Tanais shoars, and to the source of Rha.
Forth of his Gomers loigns (they say) sprung all
The war-like Nations scattered over Gaul,
And Germains too (yerst called Gomerits):
From Tubal, Spaniards: and from Magog, Scythes:
From Madai, Medes: from Mesech, Mazacans:
From Iauan, Greeks: from Thyras, Thracians.
The war-like Nations scattered over Gaul,
And Germains too (yerst called Gomerits):
From Tubal, Spaniards: and from Magog, Scythes:
From Madai, Medes: from Mesech, Mazacans:
From Iauan, Greeks: from Thyras, Thracians.
Heer, if I list, or lov'd I rover-shooting,
Or would I follow the vncertain footing
Of false Berosus and such fond Deluders
(Their zealous Readers insolent Illuders)
I could deriue the lineall Descents
Of all our Sires; and name you every Prince
Of every Province, in his time and place
(Successiuely) through-out his Ancient Race:
Yea, sing the Worlds so divers populations;
And of least Cities showe the first Foundations.
But, never will I so my sails abandon
To every blast, and rowing so at randon
(Without the bright light of that glorious Star
(Which shines 'boue all the Heav'ns) venture so far
On th'vnknowne surges of so vast a Sea
So full of Rocks and dangers every way;
Having no Pylot, saue som brain-sick Writers
Which coyn Kings names, vain fabulous Inditers
Of their own fancies, who (affecting glory)
Vpon a Flyes foot build a goodly story.
Or would I follow the vncertain footing
Of false Berosus and such fond Deluders
(Their zealous Readers insolent Illuders)
I could deriue the lineall Descents
Of all our Sires; and name you every Prince
270
(Successiuely) through-out his Ancient Race:
Yea, sing the Worlds so divers populations;
And of least Cities showe the first Foundations.
But, never will I so my sails abandon
To every blast, and rowing so at randon
(Without the bright light of that glorious Star
(Which shines 'boue all the Heav'ns) venture so far
On th'vnknowne surges of so vast a Sea
So full of Rocks and dangers every way;
Having no Pylot, saue som brain-sick Writers
Which coyn Kings names, vain fabulous Inditers
Of their own fancies, who (affecting glory)
Vpon a Flyes foot build a goodly story.
Som words allusion is no certain ground
Whereon a lasting Monument to found:
Sith fairest Rivers, Mountains strangely steep,
And largest Seas, never so vast and deep
(Though self-eternall, resting still the same)
Through sundry chances often change their name:
Sith it befals not alwayes, that his feed
Who builds a Town, doth in the same succeed:
And (to conclude) sith vnder Heav'n, no Race
Perpetually possesseth any place:
But, as all Tenants at the High Lords will,
We hold a Field, a Forrest, or a Hill:
And (as when winde the angry Ocean moues)
Waue hunteth waue, and billow billow shoues:
So do all Nations iustle each the other,
And so one People doth pursue another;
And scarce the second hath a first vn-housed,
Before a third him thence again haue rowsed.
Whereon a lasting Monument to found:
Sith fairest Rivers, Mountains strangely steep,
And largest Seas, never so vast and deep
(Though self-eternall, resting still the same)
Through sundry chances often change their name:
Sith it befals not alwayes, that his feed
Who builds a Town, doth in the same succeed:
And (to conclude) sith vnder Heav'n, no Race
Perpetually possesseth any place:
But, as all Tenants at the High Lords will,
We hold a Field, a Forrest, or a Hill:
And (as when winde the angry Ocean moues)
Waue hunteth waue, and billow billow shoues:
So do all Nations iustle each the other,
And so one People doth pursue another;
And scarce the second hath a first vn-housed,
Before a third him thence again haue rowsed.
So, th'ancient Britain, by the Saxons chac't
From's natiue Albion, soon the Gaules displac't
From Armonik; and then victoriously
(After his name) surnam'd that, Britannie.
From's natiue Albion, soon the Gaules displac't
From Armonik; and then victoriously
(After his name) surnam'd that, Britannie.
So, when the Lombard had surrendered
Fair, double-named Isthers flowry-bed
To scar-fac't Hunnes; he hunteth furiously
The rest of Gaules from wealthy Insubrie;
Which after fell in French-mens hands again,
Won by the sword of Worthy Charlemain.
Fair, double-named Isthers flowry-bed
To scar-fac't Hunnes; he hunteth furiously
The rest of Gaules from wealthy Insubrie;
Which after fell in French-mens hands again,
Won by the sword of Worthy Charlemain.
So, th'Alain and North Vandal, beaten both
From Corduba and Seuil by the Goth,
Seiz'd Carthage straight; which after-ward they lost
To wise Iustinians valiant Roman Hoast:
And Romans, since, ioyn'd with the barbarous troop
Of curled Moors, vnto th'Arabians stoop.
From Corduba and Seuil by the Goth,
Seiz'd Carthage straight; which after-ward they lost
To wise Iustinians valiant Roman Hoast:
And Romans, since, ioyn'd with the barbarous troop
Of curled Moors, vnto th'Arabians stoop.
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The sacrilegious greedy appetite
Of Gold and Scepters glistering glorious bright,
The thirst of Vengeance, and that puffing breath
Of elvish Honour built on blood and death,
On desolation, rapes and robberies,
Flames, ruins, wracks, and brutish butcheries,
Vn-bound all Countries, making war-like Nations
Through every Clymat seek new habitations.
Of Gold and Scepters glistering glorious bright,
The thirst of Vengeance, and that puffing breath
Of elvish Honour built on blood and death,
On desolation, rapes and robberies,
Flames, ruins, wracks, and brutish butcheries,
Vn-bound all Countries, making war-like Nations
Through every Clymat seek new habitations.
I speak not heer of those Alarbian Rovers,
Numidian Shepheards; or Tartarian Drovers,
Who shifting pastures for their store of Cattle:
Do heer and there their hairy Tents imbattle:
Like the black swarms of Swallows swiftly-light,
Which twice a-year cross with their nimble flight
The Pine-plough'd Sea, and (pleas'd with purest ayr)
Seek every Season for a fresh repair:
But other Nations fierce, who far and nigh
With their own bloods-price purchast Victory;
Who, better knowing how to win, then wield;
Conquer, then keep; to batter, then to build;
And brauely choosing rather War then Peace,
Haue over-spread the World by Land and Seas.
Numidian Shepheards; or Tartarian Drovers,
Who shifting pastures for their store of Cattle:
Do heer and there their hairy Tents imbattle:
Like the black swarms of Swallows swiftly-light,
Which twice a-year cross with their nimble flight
The Pine-plough'd Sea, and (pleas'd with purest ayr)
Seek every Season for a fresh repair:
But other Nations fierce, who far and nigh
With their own bloods-price purchast Victory;
Who, better knowing how to win, then wield;
Conquer, then keep; to batter, then to build;
And brauely choosing rather War then Peace,
Haue over-spread the World by Land and Seas.
Such was the Lombard, who in Schonland nurst,
On Rugeland and Liuonia seized first.
Then having well reveng'd on the Bulgarian
The death of Agilmont, the bold Barbarian
Surpriseth Poland; thence anon he presses
In Rhines fair streams to rinse his Amber tresses:
Thence turning back, he seats him in Morauia;
After, at Buda; thence he postes to Pauia;
There raigns two hundred years: triumphing so,
That royall Tesin might compare with Po.
On Rugeland and Liuonia seized first.
Then having well reveng'd on the Bulgarian
The death of Agilmont, the bold Barbarian
Surpriseth Poland; thence anon he presses
In Rhines fair streams to rinse his Amber tresses:
Thence turning back, he seats him in Morauia;
After, at Buda; thence he postes to Pauia;
There raigns two hundred years: triumphing so,
That royall Tesin might compare with Po.
Such was the Goth, who whilom issuing forth
From the cold, frozen Ilands of the North,
Imcampt by Vistula: but th'Air (almost)
Being there as cold as on the Baltick Coast,
He with victorious arms Sclavonia gains,
The Transylvanian and Valacchian Plains.
Thence plies to Thracia: and then (leaving Greeks)
Greedy of spoil, foure times he bravely seeks
To snatch from Rome (then, Mars his Minion)
The Palms which she o'r all the World had won;
Guided by Rhadaguise, and Alaric,
And Vidimarius, and Theodoric:
Then coms to Gaul: and thence repulst, his Legions
Rest ever since vpon the Spanish Regions.
From the cold, frozen Ilands of the North,
Imcampt by Vistula: but th'Air (almost)
Being there as cold as on the Baltick Coast,
He with victorious arms Sclavonia gains,
The Transylvanian and Valacchian Plains.
Thence plies to Thracia: and then (leaving Greeks)
Greedy of spoil, foure times he bravely seeks
To snatch from Rome (then, Mars his Minion)
The Palms which she o'r all the World had won;
Guided by Rhadaguise, and Alaric,
And Vidimarius, and Theodoric:
Then coms to Gaul: and thence repulst, his Legions
Rest ever since vpon the Spanish Regions.
Such th'antik Gaul: who, roving every way,
As far as Phœbus darts his golden ray,
Seiz'd Italy; the Worlds proud Mistress sackt
Which rather Mars then Romulus compackt:
Then pill'd Panonia: then with conquering ploughs
He furrows-vp cold Strymons slymie sloughs:
Wastes Macedonia: and (inclin'd to fleece)
Spares not to spoyl the greatest Gods of Greece:
Then (cloyd with Europe) th'Hellespont he past,
And there Mount Ida's neighbour world did waste:
Spoyleth Pisidia: Mysia doth inthrall:
And midst of Asia plants another Gaul.
As far as Phœbus darts his golden ray,
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Which rather Mars then Romulus compackt:
Then pill'd Panonia: then with conquering ploughs
He furrows-vp cold Strymons slymie sloughs:
Wastes Macedonia: and (inclin'd to fleece)
Spares not to spoyl the greatest Gods of Greece:
Then (cloyd with Europe) th'Hellespont he past,
And there Mount Ida's neighbour world did waste:
Spoyleth Pisidia: Mysia doth inthrall:
And midst of Asia plants another Gaul.
Most famous Peoples dark Antiquity,
Is as a Wood: where bold Temerity
Stumbles each step; and learned Diligence
If selfe intangles; and blind Ignorance
(Groping about in such Cimmerian nights)
In pits and ponds, and boggs, and quag-mires lights.
Is as a Wood: where bold Temerity
Stumbles each step; and learned Diligence
If selfe intangles; and blind Ignorance
(Groping about in such Cimmerian nights)
In pits and ponds, and boggs, and quag-mires lights.
It shall suffice me therefore (in this doubt)
But (as it were) to coast the same about:
And, rightly tun'd vnto the golden string
Of Amrams Son, in gravest verse to sing,
That Sem, and Cham, and Iapheth did re-plant
Th'vn-peopled World with new inhabitant:
And that again great Noahs wandring Boat
The second time o'r all the World did float.
But (as it were) to coast the same about:
And, rightly tun'd vnto the golden string
Of Amrams Son, in gravest verse to sing,
That Sem, and Cham, and Iapheth did re-plant
Th'vn-peopled World with new inhabitant:
And that again great Noahs wandring Boat
The second time o'r all the World did float.
Not that I send Sem, at one flight vnceast,
From Babylon vnto the farthest East,
Tartarian Chorats silver waues t'eslay,
And people China, Cambula, Cathay,
Iapheth to Spain: and that profanest Cham,
To thirsty Countries Meder' and Bigam,
To Cephala vpon Mount Zambrica,
And Cape of Hope, last coign of Africa.
From Babylon vnto the farthest East,
Tartarian Chorats silver waues t'eslay,
And people China, Cambula, Cathay,
Iapheth to Spain: and that profanest Cham,
To thirsty Countries Meder' and Bigam,
To Cephala vpon Mount Zambrica,
And Cape of Hope, last coign of Africa.
For, as Hymetus and Mount Hybla were
Not over-spread and covered in one year
With busie Bees; but yearly twice or thrice
Each Hyue supplying new-com Colonies
(Heav'ns tender Nurcelings) to those fragrant Mountains,
At length their Rocks dissolv'd in Hony Fountains:
Or rather, as two fruitfull Elms that spred
Amidst a Cloase with brooks environed,
Ingender other Elms about their roots;
Those, other still; and still, new-springing shoots
So over-growe the ground, that in fewe years
The somtimes-Mead a great thick Groue appears:
Even so th'ambitious Babel-building rout,
Disperst, at first go seat themselues about
Mesopotamia: after (by degrees)
Their happy Spawn, in sundry Colonies
Crossing from Sea to Sea, from Land to Land,
All the green-mantled neather Globe hath mann'd:
So that, except th'Almighty (glorious Iudge
Of quick and dead) this World's ill dayes abbridge,
Ther shall no soyl so wilde and savage be,
But shall be shadowed by great Adams Tree.
Not over-spread and covered in one year
With busie Bees; but yearly twice or thrice
Each Hyue supplying new-com Colonies
(Heav'ns tender Nurcelings) to those fragrant Mountains,
At length their Rocks dissolv'd in Hony Fountains:
Or rather, as two fruitfull Elms that spred
Amidst a Cloase with brooks environed,
Ingender other Elms about their roots;
Those, other still; and still, new-springing shoots
So over-growe the ground, that in fewe years
The somtimes-Mead a great thick Groue appears:
Even so th'ambitious Babel-building rout,
Disperst, at first go seat themselues about
Mesopotamia: after (by degrees)
Their happy Spawn, in sundry Colonies
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All the green-mantled neather Globe hath mann'd:
So that, except th'Almighty (glorious Iudge
Of quick and dead) this World's ill dayes abbridge,
Ther shall no soyl so wilde and savage be,
But shall be shadowed by great Adams Tree.
Therefore, those Countries neerest Tigris Spring,
In those first ages were most flourishing,
Most spoken-of, first Warriors, first that guide,
And giue the Law to all the Earth beside.
In those first ages were most flourishing,
Most spoken-of, first Warriors, first that guide,
And giue the Law to all the Earth beside.
Babylon (living vnder th'awfull grace
Of Royall Greatness) sway'd th'Imperiall Mace,
Before the Greeks had any Town at all,
Or warbling Lute had built the Dircean Wall:
Yer Gauls had houses, Latins Burgages,
Our Britains Tents, or Germans Cotages.
Of Royall Greatness) sway'd th'Imperiall Mace,
Before the Greeks had any Town at all,
Or warbling Lute had built the Dircean Wall:
Yer Gauls had houses, Latins Burgages,
Our Britains Tents, or Germans Cotages.
The Hebrews had with Angels Conversation,
Held th'Idol-Altars in abhomination,
Knew the Vnknowen, with eyes of Faith they saw
Th'invisible Messias, in the Law:
The Chaldees, Audit of the Stars had made,
Had measur'd Heav'n, conceiv'd how th'Earths thick shade
Eclipst the silver brows of Cynthia bright,
And her brown shadow quencht her brothers light.
Held th'Idol-Altars in abhomination,
Knew the Vnknowen, with eyes of Faith they saw
Th'invisible Messias, in the Law:
The Chaldees, Audit of the Stars had made,
Had measur'd Heav'n, conceiv'd how th'Earths thick shade
Eclipst the silver brows of Cynthia bright,
And her brown shadow quencht her brothers light.
The Memphian Priests were deep Philosophers,
And curious gazers on the sacred Stars,
Searchers of Nature, and great Mathematicks;
Yer any Letter, knew the ancient'st Atticks.
And curious gazers on the sacred Stars,
Searchers of Nature, and great Mathematicks;
Yer any Letter, knew the ancient'st Atticks.
Proud Ægypt glistred all with golden Plate,
Yer the lame Lemnian (vnder Ætna grate)
Had hammer'd yron; or the Vultur-rented
Prometheus, 'mong the Greeks had fire invented.
Yer the lame Lemnian (vnder Ætna grate)
Had hammer'd yron; or the Vultur-rented
Prometheus, 'mong the Greeks had fire invented.
Gauls were not yet; or, were they (at the least)
They were but wilde; their habit, plumes; their feast,
But Mast and Acorns, for the which they gap't
Vnder the Trees when any winde had hapt:
When the bold Tyrians (greedy after gain)
Durst rowe about the salt-blew Africk Main;
Traffikt abroad, in Scarlet Robes were drest,
And pomp and pleasure Euphrates possest.
They were but wilde; their habit, plumes; their feast,
But Mast and Acorns, for the which they gap't
Vnder the Trees when any winde had hapt:
When the bold Tyrians (greedy after gain)
Durst rowe about the salt-blew Africk Main;
Traffikt abroad, in Scarlet Robes were drest,
And pomp and pleasure Euphrates possest.
For, as a stone, that midst a Pond ye fling,
About his fall first forms a little ring,
Wherein, new Circles one in other growing
(Through the smooth Waters gentle-gentle flowing)
Still one the other more and more compell
From the Ponds Centre, where the stone first fell;
Till at the last the largest of the Rounds
From side to side 'gainst every bank rebounds:
So, from th'Earth's Centre (which I heer suppose
About the Place where God did Tongues transpose)
Man (day by day his wit repolishing)
Makes all the Arts through all the Earth to spring,
As he doth spread, and shed in divers shoals
His fruitfull Spawn, round vnder both the Poles.
About his fall first forms a little ring,
Wherein, new Circles one in other growing
(Through the smooth Waters gentle-gentle flowing)
Still one the other more and more compell
From the Ponds Centre, where the stone first fell;
Till at the last the largest of the Rounds
From side to side 'gainst every bank rebounds:
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About the Place where God did Tongues transpose)
Man (day by day his wit repolishing)
Makes all the Arts through all the Earth to spring,
As he doth spread, and shed in divers shoals
His fruitfull Spawn, round vnder both the Poles.
Forth from Assyria, East-ward then they trauell
Towards rich Hytanis with the golden grauell:
Then people they the Persian Oroâtis;
Then cleer Choaspis, which doth humbly kiss
The Walls of Susa; then the Vallies fat
Neer Caucasus, where yerst th'Arsaces sat:
Then mann they Media; then with humane seed,
Towards the Sea th'Hyrcanian Plain they speed.
Towards rich Hytanis with the golden grauell:
Then people they the Persian Oroâtis;
Then cleer Choaspis, which doth humbly kiss
The Walls of Susa; then the Vallies fat
Neer Caucasus, where yerst th'Arsaces sat:
Then mann they Media; then with humane seed,
Towards the Sea th'Hyrcanian Plain they speed.
The Sons of these (like flowing Waters) spred
O'r all the Countrey which is bordered
With Chiesel River, 'boue Thacalistan;
Gadel and Cabul, Bedan, Balestan.
O'r all the Countrey which is bordered
With Chiesel River, 'boue Thacalistan;
Gadel and Cabul, Bedan, Balestan.
Their off-spring then, with fruitfull stems doth stoar
Basinagar, Nayard, and either shoar
Of famous Ganges; Aua Toloman,
The Kingdom Mein, the Musky Charazan;
And round about the Desart Op, where oft
By strange Phantasmas Passengers are scoft.
Basinagar, Nayard, and either shoar
Of famous Ganges; Aua Toloman,
The Kingdom Mein, the Musky Charazan;
And round about the Desart Op, where oft
By strange Phantasmas Passengers are scoft.
Som ages after, linkt in divers knots,
Tipur they take, rich in Rhinocerots;
Caichin, in Aloes; Mangit, and the shoar
Of Quinz' and Anie lets them spread no more.
Tipur they take, rich in Rhinocerots;
Caichin, in Aloes; Mangit, and the shoar
Of Quinz' and Anie lets them spread no more.
From that first Centre to the West-ward bending,
Old Noahs Nephews far and wide extending,
Seiz less Armenia; then, within Cilicia,
Possess the Ports of Tharsis and of Issea,
And the delicious strange Corycian Caue
(Which warbling sound of Cymbals seems to haue)
Iönia, Cappadocia, Taurus horns,
Bythinia, Troas, and Meanders turns.
Old Noahs Nephews far and wide extending,
Seiz less Armenia; then, within Cilicia,
Possess the Ports of Tharsis and of Issea,
And the delicious strange Corycian Caue
(Which warbling sound of Cymbals seems to haue)
Iönia, Cappadocia, Taurus horns,
Bythinia, Troas, and Meanders turns.
Then passing Sestos Straights; of Strymon cold,
Herber and Nest they quaff; and pitch their Fold
In vales of Rhodope, and plow the Plains
Where great Danubius neer his death complains.
Herber and Nest they quaff; and pitch their Fold
In vales of Rhodope, and plow the Plains
Where great Danubius neer his death complains.
On th'other side, Thrace subtle Greece beswarms;
Greece, Italy (famous for Art and Arms):
Italy, France; France, Spain, and Germany
(Rhines fruitfull bed) and our Great Britany.
On th'other side, it spreads about Moldauia,
Mare-Maiour, Podolia, and Morauia,
With Transyluania, Seruia, and Panonia,
The Prussian Plains, and over all Polonia:
The verge of Vistula, and farther forth
Beyond the Alman, drawing to the North.
Greece, Italy (famous for Art and Arms):
Italy, France; France, Spain, and Germany
(Rhines fruitfull bed) and our Great Britany.
On th'other side, it spreads about Moldauia,
Mare-Maiour, Podolia, and Morauia,
With Transyluania, Seruia, and Panonia,
The Prussian Plains, and over all Polonia:
275
Beyond the Alman, drawing to the North.
Now turn thee South-ward: see, see how Chaldea.
Spews on Arabia, Phœnice, and Iudea,
Chams cursed Ligne, which (over-fertill all)
Between two Seas doth into Ægypt fall;
Sowes all Cyrenia, and the famous Coast
Whereon the roaring Punik Sea is tost:
Fez, Dara, Argier, Galate, Guzol, Aden,
Terminan, Tombut, Melle, Gago, Gogden:
The sparkling Desarts of sad Libya,
Zeczec, Benin, Borno Cano Nubia,
And scalding quick-sands of those thirsty Plains
Where Iesvs name (yet) in som reverence raigns;
Where Prester Iohn (though part he Iudaize)
Doth in som sort devoutly Christianize.
Spews on Arabia, Phœnice, and Iudea,
Chams cursed Ligne, which (over-fertill all)
Between two Seas doth into Ægypt fall;
Sowes all Cyrenia, and the famous Coast
Whereon the roaring Punik Sea is tost:
Fez, Dara, Argier, Galate, Guzol, Aden,
Terminan, Tombut, Melle, Gago, Gogden:
The sparkling Desarts of sad Libya,
Zeczec, Benin, Borno Cano Nubia,
And scalding quick-sands of those thirsty Plains
Where Iesvs name (yet) in som reverence raigns;
Where Prester Iohn (though part he Iudaize)
Doth in som sort devoutly Christianize.
But would'st thou knowe, how that long Tract, that lies
Vnder Heav'ns starry Coach, covered with yce,
And round embraced in the winding arms
Of Cronian Seas (which Sol but seldom warmes)
Came peopled first? Suppose, that passing by
The Plains where Tigris twice keeps company
With the far-flowing silver Euphrates,
They lodg'd at foot of hoary Nyphates:
And from Armenia, then Iberia mann'd,
Albania, Colchis and Bosphorian strand:
And then from thence, toward the bright Leuant,
That vast Extent, where now fell Tartars hant
In wandring troops; and towards th'other side
Which (neer her scource) long Volga doth divide,
Moscouy Coast, Permia, Liuonia, Prussia,
Biarmia, Scrifinia White-Lake, Lappia, Russia.
Vnder Heav'ns starry Coach, covered with yce,
And round embraced in the winding arms
Of Cronian Seas (which Sol but seldom warmes)
Came peopled first? Suppose, that passing by
The Plains where Tigris twice keeps company
With the far-flowing silver Euphrates,
They lodg'd at foot of hoary Nyphates:
And from Armenia, then Iberia mann'd,
Albania, Colchis and Bosphorian strand:
And then from thence, toward the bright Leuant,
That vast Extent, where now fell Tartars hant
In wandring troops; and towards th'other side
Which (neer her scource) long Volga doth divide,
Moscouy Coast, Permia, Liuonia, Prussia,
Biarmia, Scrifinia White-Lake, Lappia, Russia.
But whence (say you) had that New-World his Guests,
Which Spain (like Delos floting on the Seas)
Late digg'd from darknes of Oblivions Graue,
And it vndoing, it new Essence gaue?
If long agoe; how should it hap that no-man
Knew it till now? no Persian, Greek, no Roman;
Whose glorious Peers, victorious Armies guiding
O're all the World, of this had never tyding?
If but of late; how swarm their Cities since
So full of Folk? how pass their Monuments
Th'Ægyptian Spires, Mausolus stately Toomb,
The Wals and Courts of Babylon and Rome?
Which Spain (like Delos floting on the Seas)
Late digg'd from darknes of Oblivions Graue,
And it vndoing, it new Essence gaue?
If long agoe; how should it hap that no-man
Knew it till now? no Persian, Greek, no Roman;
Whose glorious Peers, victorious Armies guiding
O're all the World, of this had never tyding?
If but of late; how swarm their Cities since
So full of Folk? how pass their Monuments
Th'Ægyptian Spires, Mausolus stately Toomb,
The Wals and Courts of Babylon and Rome?
Why! think ye (fond) those people fell from Heav'n
All-ready-made; as in a Sommer Ev'n
After a sweltring Day, som sultry showr
Doth in the Marshes heaps of Tadpals pour,
Which in the ditches (chapt with parching weather)
Lie crusht and croaking in the Mud together?
Or else, that setting certain slips, that fixt
Their slender roots the tender mould betwixt,
They saw the light of Phœbus lyuening face;
Having, for milk, moist deaws; for Cradle, grass:
Or that they grew out of the fruitfull Earth,
As Toad-stools, Turneps, Leeks, and Beets haue birth?
Or (like the bones that Cadmus yerst did sowe)
Were bravely born armed from top to toe?
All-ready-made; as in a Sommer Ev'n
After a sweltring Day, som sultry showr
Doth in the Marshes heaps of Tadpals pour,
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Lie crusht and croaking in the Mud together?
Or else, that setting certain slips, that fixt
Their slender roots the tender mould betwixt,
They saw the light of Phœbus lyuening face;
Having, for milk, moist deaws; for Cradle, grass:
Or that they grew out of the fruitfull Earth,
As Toad-stools, Turneps, Leeks, and Beets haue birth?
Or (like the bones that Cadmus yerst did sowe)
Were bravely born armed from top to toe?
That spacious Coast, now call'd America,
Was not so soon peopled as Africa;
(Th'ingenious, Towr-full, and Law-loving Soil,
Which, Ioue did with his Lemans name en-stile)
And that which from cold Bosphorus doth spread
To pearl'd Auroras Saffron-coloured Bed.
Because, they ly neerer the diapry verges
Of tear-bridge Tigris Swallow-swifter surges,
Whence our amaz'd first Grand-sires faintly fled,
And like sprung Partridge every-where did spred;
Except that World, where-vnder Castiles King,
Famous Columbus Force and Faith did bring.
Was not so soon peopled as Africa;
(Th'ingenious, Towr-full, and Law-loving Soil,
Which, Ioue did with his Lemans name en-stile)
And that which from cold Bosphorus doth spread
To pearl'd Auroras Saffron-coloured Bed.
Because, they ly neerer the diapry verges
Of tear-bridge Tigris Swallow-swifter surges,
Whence our amaz'd first Grand-sires faintly fled,
And like sprung Partridge every-where did spred;
Except that World, where-vnder Castiles King,
Famous Columbus Force and Faith did bring.
But the rich buildings rare magnificence,
Th'infinit Treasures, various gouernments,
Showe that long since (although at sundry times)
'T had Colonies (although from sundry Climes):
Whether the violence of tempestuous weather
Som broken Vessels haue inforced thither;
Whether som desperat, dire extremity
Of Plague, War, Famin; or th'Authority
Of som braue Typhis (in adventure tost)
Brought weary Carvels on that Indian Coast.
Th'infinit Treasures, various gouernments,
Showe that long since (although at sundry times)
'T had Colonies (although from sundry Climes):
Whether the violence of tempestuous weather
Som broken Vessels haue inforced thither;
Whether som desperat, dire extremity
Of Plague, War, Famin; or th'Authority
Of som braue Typhis (in adventure tost)
Brought weary Carvels on that Indian Coast.
Who maketh doubt but yerst the Quinzay Fraights
As well might venture through the Anian Straights,
And finde as easie and as short a way
From the East Indies to the Tolguage Bay,
As vsually the Asian Ships are wont
To pass to Greece a-cross the Hellespont:
Spaniards to Fez, a-thwart the Straight Abilia:
Through Messine stream th'Italians to Sicilia?
As well might venture through the Anian Straights,
And finde as easie and as short a way
From the East Indies to the Tolguage Bay,
As vsually the Asian Ships are wont
To pass to Greece a-cross the Hellespont:
Spaniards to Fez, a-thwart the Straight Abilia:
Through Messine stream th'Italians to Sicilia?
From Tolm and Quiuir's spacious Plains (wherein
Bunch backed Calues, with Horse-like manes are seen,
And Sheep-like Fleece) they fill Azasia,
Toua, Topir, Canada, Cossia,
Mecchi, Auacal, Calicuaz, Bacalos,
Los Campos de Labor (where Floods are froze).
Bunch backed Calues, with Horse-like manes are seen,
And Sheep-like Fleece) they fill Azasia,
Toua, Topir, Canada, Cossia,
Mecchi, Auacal, Calicuaz, Bacalos,
Los Campos de Labor (where Floods are froze).
On th'other side, Xalisco soyl they Man
(Now new Galizia) Cusule, Mechuacan:
And cunningly in Mexik Sea they pile
Another Venice (or a City-Ile).
Strange things there see they (that amaze them much)
Green Trees to wither with their very touch;
And in Nicaragua, a Mountain top,
That (Ætna-like) bright Flashes belches vp.
Thence, reach they th'Isthmos of rich Panama,
And on their right hand build Oucanama,
With Cassamalca, Cusco, Quito: and
In famous Peru's very golden Strand
Admire the Lake that laveth Colle about,
Whose Waves be salt within, and fresh without:
And streams of Cinca, that, with vertue strange,
To hardest stone soft Mud and Chalk do change.
(Now new Galizia) Cusule, Mechuacan:
277
Another Venice (or a City-Ile).
Strange things there see they (that amaze them much)
Green Trees to wither with their very touch;
And in Nicaragua, a Mountain top,
That (Ætna-like) bright Flashes belches vp.
Thence, reach they th'Isthmos of rich Panama,
And on their right hand build Oucanama,
With Cassamalca, Cusco, Quito: and
In famous Peru's very golden Strand
Admire the Lake that laveth Colle about,
Whose Waves be salt within, and fresh without:
And streams of Cinca, that, with vertue strange,
To hardest stone soft Mud and Chalk do change.
Then seiz they Chili, where all day the Deep
Runs roaring down, and all the night doth sleep:
Chinca, the Patagons, and all the shoar
Where th'azure Seas of Magellan do roar.
Left-ward, they spread them 'longst the Darians side;
Where through th'Vrabian Fields the Huo doth slide,
Neer Zenu's stream, which toward the Ocean drags
Pure grains of Gold, as big as Pullets eggs:
To new Granada, where the Mount embost
With Emeralds doth shine; Cumanean Coast,
Where noysom vapours (like a dusky night)
Bedimms their eyes, and doth impair their sight:
Therefore som troops from Cumana they carry
To Caripana, Omagu and Pari:
By Maragnon, all over fell Brasile,
And Plate's fat Plains, where flowes another Nile.
Runs roaring down, and all the night doth sleep:
Chinca, the Patagons, and all the shoar
Where th'azure Seas of Magellan do roar.
Left-ward, they spread them 'longst the Darians side;
Where through th'Vrabian Fields the Huo doth slide,
Neer Zenu's stream, which toward the Ocean drags
Pure grains of Gold, as big as Pullets eggs:
To new Granada, where the Mount embost
With Emeralds doth shine; Cumanean Coast,
Where noysom vapours (like a dusky night)
Bedimms their eyes, and doth impair their sight:
Therefore som troops from Cumana they carry
To Caripana, Omagu and Pari:
By Maragnon, all over fell Brasile,
And Plate's fat Plains, where flowes another Nile.
Ghess too, that Grotland yerst did Picne store,
And Ireland fraught Los Campos de Labor;
As Tombut, Melli, Gago and Terminan,
Planted the Plains and shoars of Corican.
And Ireland fraught Los Campos de Labor;
As Tombut, Melli, Gago and Terminan,
Planted the Plains and shoars of Corican.
Yet (happely) thou'lt gladly grant me this,
That mans ambition ay so bound-less is,
That steepest Hils it over-climbs with ease,
And runs (as dry-shod) through the deepest Seas:
And (maugre meagre Thirst) her Carvels Lands
On Afrik, Tolmon, and Arabian sands;
But hardly credit'st, that one Family
Out of foure couples should so multiply,
That Asia, Europ, Africa, and All
Seems for their off-spring now too straight and small.
That mans ambition ay so bound-less is,
That steepest Hils it over-climbs with ease,
And runs (as dry-shod) through the deepest Seas:
And (maugre meagre Thirst) her Carvels Lands
On Afrik, Tolmon, and Arabian sands;
But hardly credit'st, that one Family
Out of foure couples should so multiply,
That Asia, Europ, Africa, and All
Seems for their off-spring now too straight and small.
If thou set-light by th'everlasting Voice,
Which now again re-blest the Love-full choice
Of sacred Wedlocks secret binding band;
Saying, Increase, Flourish and Fill the Land:
Which now again re-blest the Love-full choice
Of sacred Wedlocks secret binding band;
Saying, Increase, Flourish and Fill the Land:
278
And if (profane) thou hold it for a Fiction,
That Seauenty Iewes, in Ægypt (in affliction)
Within foure-hundred yeers and half three-score,
Grew to fiue-hundred-thousand soules and more:
That Seauenty Iewes, in Ægypt (in affliction)
Within foure-hundred yeers and half three-score,
Grew to fiue-hundred-thousand soules and more:
Consider yet, that being fed that while
With holesom Fruits of an vn-forced soil,
And kindly meats, not marred by the Book,
And wanton cunning of a sawcy Cook;
Waigh furthermore, that being not cut-down
With bloody swords when furious neighbours frown;
Nor worn with Travell, nor enfeebled
With hatefull Sloth; Our Grand-sires flourished
Hundreds of yeers in youth; and even in Age
Could render duly Venus Escuage:
And that Polygamy (in those dayes common)
Most Men vsurping more then one sole Woman,
Made then the World so mightily augment
In vpright Creatures; and (incontinent)
From fruitfull loins of one old Father-stock,
So many branches of man-kinde to flock:
Even as an ear of Corn (if all the yield
Be yeerly sow'n still in a fertill Field)
Fils Barns at length; and spreads in spacious Plain
Millions of millions of like ears again.
Or, as two Fishes, cast into a Meer,
With fruitfull Spawn will furnish in few yeer
A Town with victuall, and serve (furthermore)
Their neighbour Waters with their Fry to store.
With holesom Fruits of an vn-forced soil,
And kindly meats, not marred by the Book,
And wanton cunning of a sawcy Cook;
Waigh furthermore, that being not cut-down
With bloody swords when furious neighbours frown;
Nor worn with Travell, nor enfeebled
With hatefull Sloth; Our Grand-sires flourished
Hundreds of yeers in youth; and even in Age
Could render duly Venus Escuage:
And that Polygamy (in those dayes common)
Most Men vsurping more then one sole Woman,
Made then the World so mightily augment
In vpright Creatures; and (incontinent)
From fruitfull loins of one old Father-stock,
So many branches of man-kinde to flock:
Even as an ear of Corn (if all the yield
Be yeerly sow'n still in a fertill Field)
Fils Barns at length; and spreads in spacious Plain
Millions of millions of like ears again.
Or, as two Fishes, cast into a Meer,
With fruitfull Spawn will furnish in few yeer
A Town with victuall, and serve (furthermore)
Their neighbour Waters with their Fry to store.
Have not our Daies a certain Father know'n,
Who, with the fruit of his own body grow'n,
Peopled a Village of a hundred Fires,
And issue-blest (the Crown of Old Desires)
In his own life-time, his own off-spring saw
To wed each other without breach of Law?
So far, the branches of his fruitfull Bed
Past all the Names of Kinreds-Tree did spred.
Who, with the fruit of his own body grow'n,
Peopled a Village of a hundred Fires,
And issue-blest (the Crown of Old Desires)
In his own life-time, his own off-spring saw
To wed each other without breach of Law?
So far, the branches of his fruitfull Bed
Past all the Names of Kinreds-Tree did spred.
'Tis know'n, that few Arabian Families
New-planted Lybia with their Progenies,
In compass of three hundred yeers and less;
And Bugi, Argier, Oran, Thunis, Tez,
Fez, Melli, Gago, Tonbut, Terminan
With hatefull Laws of Heathnish Alcoran.
New-planted Lybia with their Progenies,
In compass of three hundred yeers and less;
And Bugi, Argier, Oran, Thunis, Tez,
Fez, Melli, Gago, Tonbut, Terminan
With hatefull Laws of Heathnish Alcoran.
If this among the Africans we see,
Whom cor'zive humour of Melancholy
Doth alwaies tickle with a wanton Lust,
Although less powrfull in the Paphian Ioust
For Propagation (for, too-often Deed
Of Loues-Delight, enfeebles much their seed:
And inly still they feel a Wintery Fever;
As outwardly, a scorching Sommer ever)
Ghess how much more, those, whose hoar heads approach
And see the turnings of Heav'ns flaming Coach,
Doo multiply; because they seldom venter,
And, but in season, Venus lists to enter.
And, the cold, resting (vnder th'Artick Star)
Still Master of the Field in champian War,
Makes Heat retire into the Bodies-Towr:
Which, there vnited, gives them much more powr.
Whom cor'zive humour of Melancholy
Doth alwaies tickle with a wanton Lust,
Although less powrfull in the Paphian Ioust
For Propagation (for, too-often Deed
Of Loues-Delight, enfeebles much their seed:
279
As outwardly, a scorching Sommer ever)
Ghess how much more, those, whose hoar heads approach
And see the turnings of Heav'ns flaming Coach,
Doo multiply; because they seldom venter,
And, but in season, Venus lists to enter.
And, the cold, resting (vnder th'Artick Star)
Still Master of the Field in champian War,
Makes Heat retire into the Bodies-Towr:
Which, there vnited, gives them much more powr.
From thence indeed, Hunns, Herules, Franks, Bulgarians,
Circassyans, Sweves, Burgognians, Turks, Tartarians,
Dutch, Cimbers, Normans, Alains, Ostrogothes,
Tigurins, Lombards, Vandals, Visigothes,
Have swarm'd (like Locusts) round about this Ball,
And spoil'd the fairest Provinces of all:
While barren South had much a-doo t'assemble
(In all) two Hoasts; that made the North to tremble:
Whereof; the One, that one-ey'd Champion led,
Who famous Carthage rais'd and ruined:
Th'other (by Tours) Charles Martell martyr'd so,
That never since, could Afrik Army showe.
Circassyans, Sweves, Burgognians, Turks, Tartarians,
Dutch, Cimbers, Normans, Alains, Ostrogothes,
Tigurins, Lombards, Vandals, Visigothes,
Have swarm'd (like Locusts) round about this Ball,
And spoil'd the fairest Provinces of all:
While barren South had much a-doo t'assemble
(In all) two Hoasts; that made the North to tremble:
Whereof; the One, that one-ey'd Champion led,
Who famous Carthage rais'd and ruined:
Th'other (by Tours) Charles Martell martyr'd so,
That never since, could Afrik Army showe.
O! see how full of Wonders strange is Nature:
Sith in each Climat, not alone in stature,
Strength, hair and colour, that men differ doo,
But in their humours and their manners too.
Whether that, Custom into Nature change:
Whether that, Youth to th'Elds example range:
Or divers Laws of divers Kingdoms, vary-vs:
Or th'influence of Heav'nly bodies, cary-vs.
Sith in each Climat, not alone in stature,
Strength, hair and colour, that men differ doo,
But in their humours and their manners too.
Whether that, Custom into Nature change:
Whether that, Youth to th'Elds example range:
Or divers Laws of divers Kingdoms, vary-vs:
Or th'influence of Heav'nly bodies, cary-vs.
The Northern-man is fair, the Southern foul;
That's white, this black; that smiles, and this doth scoul:
Th'one's blithe and frolick, th'other dull and froward;
Th'one's full of courage, th'other fearfull coward:
Th'ones hair is harsh, big, curled, th'other's slender;
Th'one loveth Labour, th'other Books doth tender:
Th'one's hot and moist, the other hot and dry;
Th'ones Voice is hoarse, the other's cleer and high:
Th'one's plain and honest, th'other all deceipt:
Th'one's rough and rude, the other handsom neat:
Th'one (giddy-brain'd) is turn'd with every winde:
The other (constant) never changeth minde:
Th'one's loose and wanton, th'other continent;
Th'one thrift-less lavish, th'other provident:
Th'one milde Companion; th'other, stern and strange
(Like a wilde Wolf) loves by himself to range:
Th'one's pleas'd with plainness, th'other pomp affects:
Th'one's born for Arms, the other Arts respects.
But middling folk, who their abiding make
Between these two, of either guise partake:
And such have stronger limbs; but weaker wit,
Then those that neer Niles fertill sides do sit;
And (opposite) more wit, and lesser force,
Then those that haunt Rhines and Danubius shoars.
That's white, this black; that smiles, and this doth scoul:
Th'one's blithe and frolick, th'other dull and froward;
Th'one's full of courage, th'other fearfull coward:
Th'ones hair is harsh, big, curled, th'other's slender;
Th'one loveth Labour, th'other Books doth tender:
Th'one's hot and moist, the other hot and dry;
Th'ones Voice is hoarse, the other's cleer and high:
Th'one's plain and honest, th'other all deceipt:
Th'one's rough and rude, the other handsom neat:
Th'one (giddy-brain'd) is turn'd with every winde:
The other (constant) never changeth minde:
Th'one's loose and wanton, th'other continent;
Th'one thrift-less lavish, th'other provident:
Th'one milde Companion; th'other, stern and strange
(Like a wilde Wolf) loves by himself to range:
Th'one's pleas'd with plainness, th'other pomp affects:
Th'one's born for Arms, the other Arts respects.
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Between these two, of either guise partake:
And such have stronger limbs; but weaker wit,
Then those that neer Niles fertill sides do sit;
And (opposite) more wit, and lesser force,
Then those that haunt Rhines and Danubius shoars.
For, in the Cirque of th'Vniversall City;
The Southern-man, who (quick and curious-witty)
Builds all on Dreams, deep Extasies and Transes,
Who measures Heav'ns eternall-moving Dances,
Whose searching soule can hardly be suffiz'd
With vulgar Knowledge, holds the Place of Priest.
The Northern-man, whose wit in's Fingers settles,
Who what him list can work in Wood and Mettles,
Who (Salmon-like) can thunder counterfait;
With men of Arms, and Artizans is set.
The Third (as knowing well to rule a State)
Holds, gravely-wise, the room of Magistrate.
Th'one (to be briefe) loves studious Theory,
The other Trades, the third deep Policy.
Yet true it is, that since som later lustres,
Minerva, Themis, Hermes and his Sisters
Have set, as well, their Schools in th'Artick Parts,
As Mars his Lists, and Vulcan Shops of Arts.
The Southern-man, who (quick and curious-witty)
Builds all on Dreams, deep Extasies and Transes,
Who measures Heav'ns eternall-moving Dances,
Whose searching soule can hardly be suffiz'd
With vulgar Knowledge, holds the Place of Priest.
The Northern-man, whose wit in's Fingers settles,
Who what him list can work in Wood and Mettles,
Who (Salmon-like) can thunder counterfait;
With men of Arms, and Artizans is set.
The Third (as knowing well to rule a State)
Holds, gravely-wise, the room of Magistrate.
Th'one (to be briefe) loves studious Theory,
The other Trades, the third deep Policy.
Yet true it is, that since som later lustres,
Minerva, Themis, Hermes and his Sisters
Have set, as well, their Schools in th'Artick Parts,
As Mars his Lists, and Vulcan Shops of Arts.
Nay, see we not among our selves, that live
Mingled almost (to whom the Lord doth give
But a small Turf of earth to dwell-vpon)
This wondrous ods in our condition?
We finde the Alman in his fight courageous,
But salable; th'Italian too-outrageous;
Sudden the French, impatient of delay;
The Spaniard slowe, but suttle to betray:
Th'Alman in Counsell cold, th'Italian quick,
The French in constant, Spaniards politick:
Fine feeds th'Italian, and the Spaniard spares;
Prince-like the French, Pig-like the Alman, fares:
Milde speaks the French, the Spaniard proud and brave;
Rudely the Alman, and th'Italian grave:
Th'Italian proud in 'tire, French changing much;
Fit-clad the Spaniard, and vn-fit the Dutch:
The French man braves his Fo, th'Italian cheers-him;
The Alman spoils, the Spaniard never bears-him:
The French-man sings, th'Italian seems to bleat;
The Spaniard whines, the Alman howleth great;
Spaniards like Iugglers iet, th'Alman; like Cocks;
The French goes quick, th'Italian like an Ox:
Dutch Lovers proud, th'Italian envious;
Frolick the French, the Spaniard furious.
Mingled almost (to whom the Lord doth give
But a small Turf of earth to dwell-vpon)
This wondrous ods in our condition?
We finde the Alman in his fight courageous,
But salable; th'Italian too-outrageous;
Sudden the French, impatient of delay;
The Spaniard slowe, but suttle to betray:
Th'Alman in Counsell cold, th'Italian quick,
The French in constant, Spaniards politick:
Fine feeds th'Italian, and the Spaniard spares;
Prince-like the French, Pig-like the Alman, fares:
Milde speaks the French, the Spaniard proud and brave;
Rudely the Alman, and th'Italian grave:
Th'Italian proud in 'tire, French changing much;
Fit-clad the Spaniard, and vn-fit the Dutch:
The French man braves his Fo, th'Italian cheers-him;
The Alman spoils, the Spaniard never bears-him:
The French-man sings, th'Italian seems to bleat;
The Spaniard whines, the Alman howleth great;
Spaniards like Iugglers iet, th'Alman; like Cocks;
The French goes quick, th'Italian like an Ox:
Dutch Lovers proud, th'Italian envious;
Frolick the French, the Spaniard furious.
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Yet would the Lord, that Noahs fruitfull Race
Should over-spread th'Earths vniversall Face:
That, drawing so his Children from the crimes
Which seem peculiar to their Native Climes,
He might reveal his grace: and that Heav'ns lights
Might well incline (but not constrain) our sprights:
That over all the World, his Saints alwaies
Might offer him sweet Sacrifice of Praise:
That from cold Scythia his high Name as far
Mighthy resound as Sun-Burnt Zanzibar:
And that the treasures which strange Soils produce,
Might not seem worth-less for the want of vse;
But that the In-land Lands might truck and barter,
And vent their Wares about to every Quarter.
Should over-spread th'Earths vniversall Face:
That, drawing so his Children from the crimes
Which seem peculiar to their Native Climes,
He might reveal his grace: and that Heav'ns lights
Might well incline (but not constrain) our sprights:
That over all the World, his Saints alwaies
Might offer him sweet Sacrifice of Praise:
That from cold Scythia his high Name as far
Mighthy resound as Sun-Burnt Zanzibar:
And that the treasures which strange Soils produce,
Might not seem worth-less for the want of vse;
But that the In-land Lands might truck and barter,
And vent their Wares about to every Quarter.
The World compared to a mighty City, wherein dwell people of all conditions, continually trafficking together and exchanging their particular commodities, for benefit of the Publike.
Her's the Kings Palace, there the Innes of Court:
Heer (to the Thames-ward all a-long the Strand)
The stately Houses of the Nobles stand:
Heer dwell rich Merchants; there Artificers:
Heer Stik man, Mercers, Gold-Smiths, Iewellers:
There's Church-yard furnisht with choice of Books;
Heer stand the Shambles, there the Rowe of Cooks:
Heer wonn Vp-Hosters, Haber dashers, Horners;
There Pothecaries, Gracers, Tailours, Tourners:
Heer Shoo-makers; there Ioyners, Coopers, Coriers;
Heer Brewers, Bakers, Cutlers, Felters, Furriers:
This Street is full of Drapers, that of Diars;
This Shop with Tapers, that with Womens Tiars:
For costly Toys, silk Stockings, Cambrick, Lawn,
Heer's choice-full Plenty in the curious Pawn:
And all's but an Exchange, where (briefly) no man
Keeps ought as private. Trade makes all things common
So com our Sugars from Canary Iles:
From Candy, Currance, Muskadels and Oyls:
From the Moluques, Spices: Balsamum
From Egypt: Odours from Arabia com:
From India, Drugs, rich Gemms and Ivory:
From Syria, Mummy: black-red Ebony,
From burning Chus: from Peru, Pearl and Gold:
From Russia, Furres (to keep the rich from cold)
From Florence, Silks: from Spain, Fruit, Saffron, Sacks
From Denmark, Amber, Cordage, Firres and Flax:
From France and Flanders, Linnen, Woad and Wine:
From Holland, Hops: Horse, from the banks of Rhine.
In brief, each Country (as pleas'd God distribute)
To the Worlds Treasure paies a sundry Tribute.
From Candy, Currance, Muskadels and Oyls:
From the Moluques, Spices: Balsamum
From Egypt: Odours from Arabia com:
From India, Drugs, rich Gemms and Ivory:
From Syria, Mummy: black-red Ebony,
From burning Chus: from Peru, Pearl and Gold:
From Russia, Furres (to keep the rich from cold)
From Florence, Silks: from Spain, Fruit, Saffron, Sacks
From Denmark, Amber, Cordage, Firres and Flax:
From France and Flanders, Linnen, Woad and Wine:
From Holland, Hops: Horse, from the banks of Rhine.
In brief, each Country (as pleas'd God distribute)
To the Worlds Treasure paies a sundry Tribute.
And, as somtimes that sumptuous Persian Dame
(Out of her Pride) accustomed to name
One Province for her Robe, her Rail another,
Her Partlet this, her Pantofles the tother,
This her rich Mantle, that her royall Chain,
This her rare Bracelets, that her stately Train:
Even so may Man. For, what wilde Hill so steep?
What so waste Desart? what so dangerous Deep?
What Sea so wrackfull? or so barren Shoar
In all the World may be suppos'd so poor,
But yeelds him Rent; and, free from envious spight,
Contributes frankly to his Lifes Delight?
(Out of her Pride) accustomed to name
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Her Partlet this, her Pantofles the tother,
This her rich Mantle, that her royall Chain,
This her rare Bracelets, that her stately Train:
Even so may Man. For, what wilde Hill so steep?
What so waste Desart? what so dangerous Deep?
What Sea so wrackfull? or so barren Shoar
In all the World may be suppos'd so poor,
But yeelds him Rent; and, free from envious spight,
Contributes frankly to his Lifes Delight?
Th'inammell'd Vallies, where the liquid glass
Of silver Brooks in curled streams doth pass,
Serve vs for Gardens; and their flowry Fleece
Affords vs Sithe-work yeerly twice or thrice;
The Plains for Corn; the swelling Downs for Sheep;
Small Hills for Vines; the Mountains strangely-steep
(Those Heav'n-climb Ladders, Labyrinths of Wonder,
Cellars of Winde, and Shops of Sulph'ry Thunder;
Where stormy Tempests have their vgly birth;
Which thou mis-call'st the blemish of the Earth;
Thinking (profane) that God, or Fortune light,
Made them of envy, or of oversight)
Bound with eternall bounds proud Emperies;
Bear mighty Forrests, full of Timber-Trees
(Whereof thou buildest Ships, and Houses fair,
To trade the Seas, and fence thee from the Air)
Spew spacious Rivers full of fruitfull breed,
Which neighbour-Peoples with their plenty feed;
Fatten the Earth, with fresh, sweet, fertill mists;
Drive gainfull Mills; and serve for Forts and Lists
To stop the Fury of War's waste-full hand,
And ioyn to th'Sea the middle of the Land.
The Wildes and Desarts, which so much amaze-thee,
Are goodly Pastures, that do daily graze-thee
Millions of Beasts for tillage, and (besides)
Store thee with Flesh, with Fleeces, and with Hides.
Yea, the vast Sea (which seems but onely good
To drown the World, and cover with his Flood
So many Countries, where we else might hope
For thrifty pains to reap a thankfull Crop)
Is a large Lardar, that in briny Deeps,
To nourish thee, a World of Creatures keeps:
A plentious Victualler, whose provisions serve
Millions of Cities that else needs must starve
(Like half-dead Dolphins, which the Ebb lets ly
Gasping for thirst vpon the sand, a-dry):
'T increaseth Trade, Iournies abbreviates,
The flitting Clouds it cease-less exhalates;
Which, cooling th'air, and gushing down in rain,
Make Ceres Sons (in sight) to mount amain.
Of silver Brooks in curled streams doth pass,
Serve vs for Gardens; and their flowry Fleece
Affords vs Sithe-work yeerly twice or thrice;
The Plains for Corn; the swelling Downs for Sheep;
Small Hills for Vines; the Mountains strangely-steep
(Those Heav'n-climb Ladders, Labyrinths of Wonder,
Cellars of Winde, and Shops of Sulph'ry Thunder;
Where stormy Tempests have their vgly birth;
Which thou mis-call'st the blemish of the Earth;
Thinking (profane) that God, or Fortune light,
Made them of envy, or of oversight)
Bound with eternall bounds proud Emperies;
Bear mighty Forrests, full of Timber-Trees
(Whereof thou buildest Ships, and Houses fair,
To trade the Seas, and fence thee from the Air)
Spew spacious Rivers full of fruitfull breed,
Which neighbour-Peoples with their plenty feed;
Fatten the Earth, with fresh, sweet, fertill mists;
Drive gainfull Mills; and serve for Forts and Lists
To stop the Fury of War's waste-full hand,
And ioyn to th'Sea the middle of the Land.
The Wildes and Desarts, which so much amaze-thee,
Are goodly Pastures, that do daily graze-thee
Millions of Beasts for tillage, and (besides)
Store thee with Flesh, with Fleeces, and with Hides.
Yea, the vast Sea (which seems but onely good
To drown the World, and cover with his Flood
So many Countries, where we else might hope
For thrifty pains to reap a thankfull Crop)
Is a large Lardar, that in briny Deeps,
To nourish thee, a World of Creatures keeps:
A plentious Victualler, whose provisions serve
Millions of Cities that else needs must starve
(Like half-dead Dolphins, which the Ebb lets ly
Gasping for thirst vpon the sand, a-dry):
'T increaseth Trade, Iournies abbreviates,
The flitting Clouds it cease-less exhalates;
283
Make Ceres Sons (in sight) to mount amain.
But, shall I still be Boreas Tennis-ball?
Shall I be still stern Neptunes tossed Thrall?
Shall I no more behold thy native smoak,
Dear Ithaca? Alas! my Bark is broak,
And leaks so fast, that I can rowe no more:
Help, help (my Mates) make haste vnto the shoar:
O! we are lost; vnless som friendly banks
Quickly receive our Tempest-beaten planks.
Heer (as it were) wearied with so long a voiage, from so broad & bottomless an Ocean (in imitation of the inimitable Author) the Translater hoping kinde intertainment, puts in for the Port of England: whose happy praises he prosecutes at large; Concluding with a zelous Prayer for preservation of the King, and prosperity of his Kingdom.
Shall I be still stern Neptunes tossed Thrall?
Shall I no more behold thy native smoak,
Dear Ithaca? Alas! my Bark is broak,
And leaks so fast, that I can rowe no more:
Help, help (my Mates) make haste vnto the shoar:
O! we are lost; vnless som friendly banks
Quickly receive our Tempest-beaten planks.
Ah, curteous England, thy kinde arms I see
Wide-stretched out to save and welcom me.
Thou (tender Mother) wilt not suffer Age
To snowe my locks in Forrein Pilgrimage;
That fell Brasile my breath-less Corps should shrowd,
Or golden Peru of my praise be proud,
Or rich Cathay to glory in my Verse.
Thou gav'st me Cradle: thou wilt give me Herse.
Wide-stretched out to save and welcom me.
Thou (tender Mother) wilt not suffer Age
To snowe my locks in Forrein Pilgrimage;
That fell Brasile my breath-less Corps should shrowd,
Or golden Peru of my praise be proud,
Or rich Cathay to glory in my Verse.
Thou gav'st me Cradle: thou wilt give me Herse.
All hail (dear Albion) Europ's Pearl of price,
The Worlds rich Garden, Earths rare Paradise:
Thrice-happy Mother, which ay bringest forth
Such Chiualry as daunteth all the Earth
(Planting the Trophies of thy glorious Arms
By Sea and Land, where ever Titan warms):
Such Artizans as do wel-neer Eclipse
Fair Natures praise in peer-lesse Workmanships:
Such happy Wits, as Egypt, Greece and Rome
(At least) have equall'd, if not overcom;
And shine among their (Modern) learned Fellows,
As Gold doth glister among paler Yellows:
Or as Apollo th'other Planets passes:
Or as His Flowr excels the Medow-grasses.
The Worlds rich Garden, Earths rare Paradise:
Thrice-happy Mother, which ay bringest forth
Such Chiualry as daunteth all the Earth
(Planting the Trophies of thy glorious Arms
By Sea and Land, where ever Titan warms):
Such Artizans as do wel-neer Eclipse
Fair Natures praise in peer-lesse Workmanships:
Such happy Wits, as Egypt, Greece and Rome
(At least) have equall'd, if not overcom;
And shine among their (Modern) learned Fellows,
As Gold doth glister among paler Yellows:
Or as Apollo th'other Planets passes:
Or as His Flowr excels the Medow-grasses.
Thy Rivers, Seas thy Cities, Shires do seem;
Civil in manners, as in buildings trim:
Sweet is thine Air, thy Soil exceeding Fat,
Fenç't from the World (as better worth then That)
With triple Wall (of Water Wood and Brass)
Which never Stranger yet had powr to pass;
Save when the Heav'ns have, for thy hainous Sin,
By som of Thine, with false Keys let them in.
Civil in manners, as in buildings trim:
Sweet is thine Air, thy Soil exceeding Fat,
Fenç't from the World (as better worth then That)
With triple Wall (of Water Wood and Brass)
Which never Stranger yet had powr to pass;
Save when the Heav'ns have, for thy hainous Sin,
By som of Thine, with false Keys let them in.
About thy borders (O Heav'n-blessed Ile)
There never crawls the noysom Crocodile;
Nor Bane-breath'd Serpent, basking in thy sand,
Measures an Acre of thy flowry Land,
The swift-foot Tiger, or fierce Lioness
Haunt not thy Mountains, nor thy Wilderness;
Nor ravening Wolves worry thy tender Lambs,
Bleating for help vnto their help-less Dams;
Nor suttle Sea-Horse, with deceitfull Call,
Intice thy Children in thy Floods to fall.
There never crawls the noysom Crocodile;
Nor Bane-breath'd Serpent, basking in thy sand,
Measures an Acre of thy flowry Land,
The swift-foot Tiger, or fierce Lioness
Haunt not thy Mountains, nor thy Wilderness;
Nor ravening Wolves worry thy tender Lambs,
Bleating for help vnto their help-less Dams;
284
Intice thy Children in thy Floods to fall.
What though thy Thames and Tweed have never rowl'd,
Among their gravell, massy grains of Gold?
What though thy Mountains spew no Silver streams?
Though every Hillock yeeld not precious Gemms?
Though in thy Forrests hang no Silken Fleeces?
Nor sacred Incense, nor delicious Spices?
What though the clusters of thy colder Vines
Distill nat Clarets, Sacks, nor Muscadines?
Yet are thy Woolls, thy Corn, thy Cloth, thy Tin,
Mines rich enough to make thee Europes Queen,
Yea Empress of the World; Yet not sufficient
To make thee thankfull to the Cause efficient
Of all thy Blessings: Who, besides all this,
Hath (now nine Lustres) lent thee greater Bliss;
His blessed Word (the witnes of his fauour)
To guide thy Sons vnto his Son (their Saver)
With Peace and Plenty: while, from War and Want,
Thy neighbours Countries never breathed scant.
And last, not least (so far beyond the scope
Of Christians Fear, and Anti-Christians Hope)
When all, thy Fall seem'd to Prognosticate,
Hath higher rais'd the glory of thy State;
In raysing Stvards to thy regal Throne,
To Rule (as David and as Salomon)
With Prudence, Prowesse, Iustice, and Sobriety,
Thy happy People in Religious Piety.
O too too happy! too too fortunate,
Knew'st thou thy Weal: or were thou not ingrate.
Among their gravell, massy grains of Gold?
What though thy Mountains spew no Silver streams?
Though every Hillock yeeld not precious Gemms?
Though in thy Forrests hang no Silken Fleeces?
Nor sacred Incense, nor delicious Spices?
What though the clusters of thy colder Vines
Distill nat Clarets, Sacks, nor Muscadines?
Yet are thy Woolls, thy Corn, thy Cloth, thy Tin,
Mines rich enough to make thee Europes Queen,
Yea Empress of the World; Yet not sufficient
To make thee thankfull to the Cause efficient
Of all thy Blessings: Who, besides all this,
Hath (now nine Lustres) lent thee greater Bliss;
His blessed Word (the witnes of his fauour)
To guide thy Sons vnto his Son (their Saver)
With Peace and Plenty: while, from War and Want,
Thy neighbours Countries never breathed scant.
And last, not least (so far beyond the scope
Of Christians Fear, and Anti-Christians Hope)
When all, thy Fall seem'd to Prognosticate,
Hath higher rais'd the glory of thy State;
In raysing Stvards to thy regal Throne,
To Rule (as David and as Salomon)
With Prudence, Prowesse, Iustice, and Sobriety,
Thy happy People in Religious Piety.
O too too happy! too too fortunate,
Knew'st thou thy Weal: or were thou not ingrate.
But least (at last) Gods righteous wrath consume vs,
If on his patience still we thus presume-vs:
And least (at last) all Blessings had before
Double in Curses to torment-vs more:
Dear Mother England, bend thine aged knee,
And to the Heav'ns lift vp thy hands with me;
Off with thy Pomp, hence with thy Pleasures past:
Thy Mirth be Mourning, and thy Feast a Fast:
And let thy soule, with my sad soule, confesse
Our former sins, and foul vnthankfulnes.
If on his patience still we thus presume-vs:
And least (at last) all Blessings had before
Double in Curses to torment-vs more:
Dear Mother England, bend thine aged knee,
And to the Heav'ns lift vp thy hands with me;
Off with thy Pomp, hence with thy Pleasures past:
Thy Mirth be Mourning, and thy Feast a Fast:
And let thy soule, with my sad soule, confesse
Our former sins, and foul vnthankfulnes.
Pray we the Father, through th'adopting Spirit,
Not measure vs according to our merit;
Nor strictly weigh, at his high Iustice Beam,
Our bold Rebellions, and our Pride extream:
But, for his Son (our dear Redeemer's) sake,
His Sacrifice, for our Sins Ransom, take;
And, looking on vs with milde Mercies Ey,
Forgive our Past, our Future Sanctifie;
That never more, his Fury are incense
To strike (as now) with raging Pestilence
(Much lesse provoke him by our guilt so far,
To wound vs more with Famine and with War.
Not measure vs according to our merit;
Nor strictly weigh, at his high Iustice Beam,
Our bold Rebellions, and our Pride extream:
But, for his Son (our dear Redeemer's) sake,
His Sacrifice, for our Sins Ransom, take;
And, looking on vs with milde Mercies Ey,
Forgive our Past, our Future Sanctifie;
285
To strike (as now) with raging Pestilence
(Much lesse provoke him by our guilt so far,
To wound vs more with Famine and with War.
Lord, cease thy wrath: Put vp into thy Quiver
This dreadfull shaft: Dear Father, vs deliver:
And vnder wings of thy protection keep
Thy Servant Iames, both waking and a-sleep:
And (furthermore) we (with the Psalmist) sing,
Lord, give thy iudgements to (our Lord) the King,
And to his Son: and let there ay beene
Of his Male Seed to sit vpon his Throne,
To feed thy Folk in Iacob, and (advance)
In Israel thy (dear) Inheritance,
And (long-long-lived) full of Faith and Zeal,
Reform (like Asa) Church and Common-weal;
Raysing poor Vertue, razing proudest Vice,
Without respect of Person or of Price;
That all bold Atheists, all Blaspheamers, then,
All Popish Traitors may be weeded clean.
And, Curst be All that say not heer, Amen.
This dreadfull shaft: Dear Father, vs deliver:
And vnder wings of thy protection keep
Thy Servant Iames, both waking and a-sleep:
And (furthermore) we (with the Psalmist) sing,
Lord, give thy iudgements to (our Lord) the King,
And to his Son: and let there ay beene
Of his Male Seed to sit vpon his Throne,
To feed thy Folk in Iacob, and (advance)
In Israel thy (dear) Inheritance,
And (long-long-lived) full of Faith and Zeal,
Reform (like Asa) Church and Common-weal;
Raysing poor Vertue, razing proudest Vice,
Without respect of Person or of Price;
That all bold Atheists, all Blaspheamers, then,
All Popish Traitors may be weeded clean.
And, Curst be All that say not heer, Amen.
FINIS.
286
4. The Colvmnes.
THE IIII. PART OF THE SECOND DAY OF THE II. WEEK.
The Argvment.
Seth's Pillars found: Heber instructs his SonIn th'vse thereof, and who them first begun;
Opens the One, and findes, on severall Frames,
Foure lively Statues of foure lovely Dames
(The Mathematiks) furnisht each apart
With Equipages of their severall Art:
Wonders of Numbers and Geometry:
New Observations in Astronomy:
Musiks rare force: Canaan (the Cursed) cause
Of Hebers stop; and Bartas witty pause.
Being about to treat of the Mathematiks, our Poet heer imploreth especiall assistance in handling so high and difficult a Subiect.
In sacred Rage were rapt above the Pole:
If ever, by thy Spirit my spirit inspir'd,
Offred thee Layes that learned France admir'd:
Father of Light, Fountain of learned Art,
Now, now (or never) purge my purest part:
Now quintessence my Soule, and now advance
My care-free Powrs in som celestiall Transe:
That (purg'd from passion) thy Divine address
May guide me through Heav'ns glistring Palaces;
Where (happily) my dear Vrania's grace,
And her fair Sisters I may all imbrace:
And (he melodious Sirens of the Sphears,
Charming my senses in those sweets of theirs)
So ravished, I may at rest contemple
The Starry Arches of thy stately Temple:
287
Our Grand-sires learn'd Heav'ns Course and Quality;
Thou now mai'st prompt me som more lofty Song,
As to this lofty Subiect doth belong.
After That Mens strife-hatching, haut Ambition
Had (as by lot) made this lowe Worlds partition;
Phalec and Heber, as they wandred, fand
A huge high Pillar, which vpright did stand
(Much like a Rock amid the Ocean set,
Seeming great Neptunes surly pride to threat;
Whereon a Pharos bears a Lanthorn bright,
To save from Shipwrack those that sail by night)
And afterward, another nigh as great;
But not so strong, so stately, nor so neat:
For, on the flowry field it lay all flat,
Built but of Brick, of rusty Tiles, and Slat:
Whereas the First was builded fair and strong
Of Iasper smooth, and Marble lasting long.
Had (as by lot) made this lowe Worlds partition;
Phalec and Heber, as they wandred, fand
A huge high Pillar, which vpright did stand
(Much like a Rock amid the Ocean set,
Seeming great Neptunes surly pride to threat;
Whereon a Pharos bears a Lanthorn bright,
To save from Shipwrack those that sail by night)
And afterward, another nigh as great;
But not so strong, so stately, nor so neat:
For, on the flowry field it lay all flat,
Built but of Brick, of rusty Tiles, and Slat:
Whereas the First was builded fair and strong
Of Iasper smooth, and Marble lasting long.
What Miracles! what monstrous heaps! what Hills
Heav'd-vp my hand! what Types of antike Skills
In form-less Forms (quoth Phalec)! Father showe
(For, th'Ages past I knowe full well you knowe):
Pray teach me, who did both these Works erect:
About what time: and then to what effect.
Heav'd-vp my hand! what Types of antike Skills
In form-less Forms (quoth Phalec)! Father showe
(For, th'Ages past I knowe full well you knowe):
Pray teach me, who did both these Works erect:
About what time: and then to what effect.
Old Seth (saith Heber) Adams Scholler yerst
(Who was the Scholler of his Maker first)
Having attain'd to knowe the course and sites,
Th'aspect and greatnes of Heav'ns glistring Lights;
He taught his Children, whose industrious wit
Through diligence grew excellent in it.
For, while their flocks on flowry shoars they kept
Of th'Eastern Floods, while others soundly slept
(Hushing their cares in a Night-shortning nap,
Vpon Oblivions dull and sense-less Lap)
They, living lusty, thrice the age of Rav'ns,
Observ'd the Twinkling Wonders of the Heav'ns:
And on their Grand-sires firm and goodly ground
A sumptuous building they in time do found.
But (by Tradition Cabalistik) taught,
That God would twice reduce this world to nought,
By Flood and Flame; they reared cunningly
This stately pair of Pillars which you see;
Long-time safe-keeping, for their after-Kin,
A hundred learned Mysteries therein.
(Who was the Scholler of his Maker first)
Having attain'd to knowe the course and sites,
Th'aspect and greatnes of Heav'ns glistring Lights;
He taught his Children, whose industrious wit
Through diligence grew excellent in it.
For, while their flocks on flowry shoars they kept
Of th'Eastern Floods, while others soundly slept
(Hushing their cares in a Night-shortning nap,
Vpon Oblivions dull and sense-less Lap)
They, living lusty, thrice the age of Rav'ns,
Observ'd the Twinkling Wonders of the Heav'ns:
And on their Grand-sires firm and goodly ground
A sumptuous building they in time do found.
But (by Tradition Cabalistik) taught,
That God would twice reduce this world to nought,
By Flood and Flame; they reared cunningly
This stately pair of Pillars which you see;
Long-time safe-keeping, for their after-Kin,
A hundred learned Mysteries therein.
This having said, old Heber drawing nigher,
Opens a Wicket in the Marble Spire,
Where (Phalec following) soon perceive they might
A pure Lamp burning with immortall light.
Opens a Wicket in the Marble Spire,
Where (Phalec following) soon perceive they might
A pure Lamp burning with immortall light.
288
As a mean person, who (though oft-disgraç't
By churlish Porters) is convaied at last
To the Kings Closet; rapt in deep amaze,
At th'end-less Riches vp and down doth gaze:
So Phalec fares. O father (cries he out)
What shapes are these heer placed round about,
So like each other wrought with equall skill,
That foure rain-drops cannot more like distil?
What Tools are these? what divine secrets ly
Hidden within this learned Mystery?
By churlish Porters) is convaied at last
To the Kings Closet; rapt in deep amaze,
At th'end-less Riches vp and down doth gaze:
So Phalec fares. O father (cries he out)
What shapes are these heer placed round about,
So like each other wrought with equall skill,
That foure rain-drops cannot more like distil?
What Tools are these? what divine secrets ly
Hidden within this learned Mystery?
These foure (quoth Heber) foure bright Virgins are,
Heav'ns Babes, and Sisters, the most fair and rare,
That e'r begot th'eternall Spirit (expir'd
From double Spirit) or humane soule admir'd.
Heav'ns Babes, and Sisters, the most fair and rare,
That e'r begot th'eternall Spirit (expir'd
From double Spirit) or humane soule admir'd.
This first, that still her lips and fingers moves,
And vp and down so sundry-waies removes
Her nimble Crouns; th'industrious Art it is
Which knowes to cast all Heav'ns bright Images,
All Winters hail, and all the gawdy flowrs
Wherewith gay Flora pranks this Globe of ours.
She's stately deckt in a most rich Attire:
All kinde of Coins in glistering heaps ly by-her:
Vpon her sacred head Heav'n seems to drop
A richer showr then fell in Danaes Lap:
A gold-ground Robe; and for a Glass (to look)
Down by her girdle hangs a Table-book,
Wherein the chief of her rare Rules are writ,
To be safe-guarded from times greedy bit.
And vp and down so sundry-waies removes
Her nimble Crouns; th'industrious Art it is
Which knowes to cast all Heav'ns bright Images,
All Winters hail, and all the gawdy flowrs
Wherewith gay Flora pranks this Globe of ours.
She's stately deckt in a most rich Attire:
All kinde of Coins in glistering heaps ly by-her:
Vpon her sacred head Heav'n seems to drop
A richer showr then fell in Danaes Lap:
A gold-ground Robe; and for a Glass (to look)
Down by her girdle hangs a Table-book,
Wherein the chief of her rare Rules are writ,
To be safe-guarded from times greedy bit.
Mark heer what Figure stands for One, the right
Root of all Number; and of Infinite:
Loves happiness, the praise of Harmony,
Nurcery of All, and end of Polymny:
No Number, but more then a Number yet;
Potentially in all, and all in it.
Now, note Two's Character, One's heir apparent,
As his first-born; first Number, and the Parent
Of Female Pairs. Heer now obserue the Three,
Th'eldest of Ods, Gods number properly;
Wherein both Number, and no-number enter:
Heav'ns dearest Number, whose enclosed Center
Doth equally from both extreams extend:
The first that hath beginning, midst and end.
The (Cubes-Base) Foure; a full and perfect summ,
Whose added parts iust vnto Ten doo com;
Number of Gods great Name, Seasons, Complexions,
Windes, Elements, and Cardinall Perfections.
Th'Hermaphrodite Fiue, never multiply'd
By't self, or Odd, but there is still descry'd
His proper face: for, three times Fiue arriue
Vnto Fifteen; Fiue Fiues to Twenty-fiue.
The perfect Six, whose iust proportions gather,
To make his Whole, his members altogether:
For Three's his halfe, his Sixt One, Two his Third;
And One Two Three make Six, in One conferd.
The Criticall and double-sexed Seav'n,
The Number of th'vnfixed Fires of Heav'n;
And of th'eternall sacred Sabbaoth;
Which Three and Foure containeth ioyntly both.
Th'Eight, double-square. The sacred note of Nine,
Which comprehends the Muses Triple-Trine.
The Ten, which doth all Numbers force combine:
The Ten, which makes, as One the Point, the Line:
The Figure, th'Hundred, Thousand (solid corps)
Which, oft re-doubled, on th'Atlantik shoars
Can summ the sand, and all the drops distilling
From weeping Auster, or the Ocean filling.
Root of all Number; and of Infinite:
Loves happiness, the praise of Harmony,
Nurcery of All, and end of Polymny:
No Number, but more then a Number yet;
Potentially in all, and all in it.
Now, note Two's Character, One's heir apparent,
As his first-born; first Number, and the Parent
Of Female Pairs. Heer now obserue the Three,
Th'eldest of Ods, Gods number properly;
Wherein both Number, and no-number enter:
Heav'ns dearest Number, whose enclosed Center
Doth equally from both extreams extend:
The first that hath beginning, midst and end.
The (Cubes-Base) Foure; a full and perfect summ,
Whose added parts iust vnto Ten doo com;
Number of Gods great Name, Seasons, Complexions,
Windes, Elements, and Cardinall Perfections.
Th'Hermaphrodite Fiue, never multiply'd
By't self, or Odd, but there is still descry'd
289
Vnto Fifteen; Fiue Fiues to Twenty-fiue.
The perfect Six, whose iust proportions gather,
To make his Whole, his members altogether:
For Three's his halfe, his Sixt One, Two his Third;
And One Two Three make Six, in One conferd.
The Criticall and double-sexed Seav'n,
The Number of th'vnfixed Fires of Heav'n;
And of th'eternall sacred Sabbaoth;
Which Three and Foure containeth ioyntly both.
Th'Eight, double-square. The sacred note of Nine,
Which comprehends the Muses Triple-Trine.
The Ten, which doth all Numbers force combine:
The Ten, which makes, as One the Point, the Line:
The Figure, th'Hundred, Thousand (solid corps)
Which, oft re-doubled, on th'Atlantik shoars
Can summ the sand, and all the drops distilling
From weeping Auster, or the Ocean filling.
See: many Summs, heer written streight and even
Each over other, are in one contriven:
See heer small Numbers drawn from greater count:
Heer Multipli'd they infinitely mount:
And lastly, see how (on the other side)
One Summ in many doth it self Diuide.
Each over other, are in one contriven:
See heer small Numbers drawn from greater count:
Heer Multipli'd they infinitely mount:
And lastly, see how (on the other side)
One Summ in many doth it self Diuide.
That sallow-faç't, sad, stooping Nymph, whose ey
Still on the ground is fixed stedfastly,
Seeming to draw with point of siluer Wand
Som curious Circles in the slyding sand;
Who weares a Mantle, brancht with flowrie Buds,
Embost with Gold, trayled with silver Floods,
Bordered with greenest Trees, and Fringed fine
With richest azure of Seas storm-full brine:
Whose dusky Buskins (old and tattered out)
Showe, she hath trauail'd far and neer about
By North and South, it is Geometrie,
The Crafts-mans guide, Mother of Symmetrie,
The life of Instruments of rare effect,
Law of that Law which did the World erect.
Still on the ground is fixed stedfastly,
Seeming to draw with point of siluer Wand
Som curious Circles in the slyding sand;
Who weares a Mantle, brancht with flowrie Buds,
Embost with Gold, trayled with silver Floods,
Bordered with greenest Trees, and Fringed fine
With richest azure of Seas storm-full brine:
Whose dusky Buskins (old and tattered out)
Showe, she hath trauail'd far and neer about
By North and South, it is Geometrie,
The Crafts-mans guide, Mother of Symmetrie,
The life of Instruments of rare effect,
Law of that Law which did the World erect.
Heer's nothing heere, but Rules, Squires, Compasses,
Waights, Measures, Plummets, Figures, Balances.
Lo, where the Workman with a steddy hand
Ingeniously a leuell Line hath drawn,
War-like Triangles, building-fit Quadrangles,
And hundred kindes of Forms of Manie-Angles
Straight, Broad, and Sharp: Now see on th'other side
Other, whose Tracts neuer directly slide,
As with the Snayl, the crooked Serpenter,
And that which most the learned do prefer,
The compleat Circle; from whose every-place
The Centre stands an equi-distant space.
Waights, Measures, Plummets, Figures, Balances.
Lo, where the Workman with a steddy hand
Ingeniously a leuell Line hath drawn,
War-like Triangles, building-fit Quadrangles,
And hundred kindes of Forms of Manie-Angles
Straight, Broad, and Sharp: Now see on th'other side
Other, whose Tracts neuer directly slide,
As with the Snayl, the crooked Serpenter,
And that which most the learned do prefer,
290
The Centre stands an equi-distant space.
See heer the Solids, Cubes, Cylinders, Cones,
Pyramides, Prismas, Dodechædrons:
And there the Sphear, which (Worlds Type) comprehends
In't-self it-self; hauing nor midst nor ends:
Arts excellence, praise of his peers, a wonder
Wherein consists (in diuers sort) a hundred:
Firm Mobile, an vp-down-bending-Vault,
Sloaping in Circuit, yet directly wrought.
See, how so soon as it to veer begins,
Both vp and down, forward and back it wends;
And, rapt by other, not it self alone
Moues, but moues others with its motion
(Witnes the Heav'ns): yea, it doth seem, beside,
When it stands still, to shake on every side,
Because it hath but one small point where-on
His equal halves are equi-peiz'd vpon,
And yet this goodly Globe, where we assemble
(Though hung in th'Ayr) doth neuer selfly tremble:
For, it's the midst of the Con-centrik Orbs
Whom neuer Angle nor out-nook disturbs.
Pyramides, Prismas, Dodechædrons:
And there the Sphear, which (Worlds Type) comprehends
In't-self it-self; hauing nor midst nor ends:
Arts excellence, praise of his peers, a wonder
Wherein consists (in diuers sort) a hundred:
Firm Mobile, an vp-down-bending-Vault,
Sloaping in Circuit, yet directly wrought.
See, how so soon as it to veer begins,
Both vp and down, forward and back it wends;
And, rapt by other, not it self alone
Moues, but moues others with its motion
(Witnes the Heav'ns): yea, it doth seem, beside,
When it stands still, to shake on every side,
Because it hath but one small point where-on
His equal halves are equi-peiz'd vpon,
And yet this goodly Globe, where we assemble
(Though hung in th'Ayr) doth neuer selfly tremble:
For, it's the midst of the Con-centrik Orbs
Whom neuer Angle nor out-nook disturbs.
All Solids else (cast in the Ayr) reflect
Vn-self-like-forms: but in a Globe each tract
Seems still the same, because it euery-where
Is vniform, and differs not a hair.
Vn-self-like-forms: but in a Globe each tract
Seems still the same, because it euery-where
Is vniform, and differs not a hair.
More-over, as the Buildings Ambligon
May more receiue then Mansions Oxigon
(Because th'acute, and the rect-Angles too,
Stride not so wide as obtuse Angles doo):
So doth the Circle in his Circuit span
More roum hen any other Fgure can.
Th'other are eas'ly broke, because of ioynts,
Ends and beginnings, edges, nooks, and points:
But, th'Orb's not subiect vnto such distress,
Because 'tis ioyntless, point-less, corner-less.
May more receiue then Mansions Oxigon
(Because th'acute, and the rect-Angles too,
Stride not so wide as obtuse Angles doo):
So doth the Circle in his Circuit span
More roum hen any other Fgure can.
Th'other are eas'ly broke, because of ioynts,
Ends and beginnings, edges, nooks, and points:
But, th'Orb's not subiect vnto such distress,
Because 'tis ioyntless, point-less, corner-less.
Chiefly (my Phalec) hither bend thy minde,
And learn Two Secrets which but fewe shall finde,
Two busie knots, Two labyrinths of doubt,
Where future Schools shall wander long about,
Beating their brains, their best endeuours troubling:
The Circles Squareness, and the Cubes Re-doubling.
And learn Two Secrets which but fewe shall finde,
Two busie knots, Two labyrinths of doubt,
Where future Schools shall wander long about,
Beating their brains, their best endeuours troubling:
The Circles Squareness, and the Cubes Re-doubling.
Print euer faster in thy faithfull brain,
Then on brass leaues, these Problemes proued plain,
Not by Sophistick subtle Arguments,
But euen by practice and experience:
Vn-disputable Art, and fruitfull Skill,
Which with new wonders all the VVorld shall fill.
Then on brass leaues, these Problemes proued plain,
Not by Sophistick subtle Arguments,
But euen by practice and experience:
Vn-disputable Art, and fruitfull Skill,
Which with new wonders all the VVorld shall fill.
291
Heer-by, the Waters of the lowest Fountains
Shall play the Millers, as the Windes on Mountains:
And grain, so ground within a rowling Frame,
Shall pay his duty to his niggard Dame.
Heer-by, a Bullet spewd from Brazen brest
In fiery fume against a Town distrest,
With roaring powr shall pash the Rocks in sunder,
And with the noise euen drown the voice of Thunder.
Heer-by the Wings of fauourable Windes
Shall bear from Western to the Eastern Indes,
From Africa to Tule's farthest Flood,
A House (or rather a whole Town) of Wood;
While sitting still, the Pilot shall at ease
With a short Leauer guide it through the Seas.
Heer-by, the Printer, in one day shall rid
More Books, then yerst a thousand Writers did.
Heer-by, a Crane shall steed in building, more
Then hundred Porters busie pains before:
The Iacobs-staff, to measure heights, and Lands,
Shall far excell a thousand nimble hands,
To part the Earth in Zones and Climats even;
And in twice-twenty-and-foure Figures, Heav'n.
A Wand, Sand, Water, small Wheels turning ay,
In twice-twelue parts shall part the Night and Day.
Statues of Wood shall speak: and fained Sphears
Showe all the Wonders of true Heav'n in theirs.
Men, rashly mounting through the emptie Skie,
With wanton wings shall cross the Seas wel-nigh:
And (doubt-less) if the Geometrician finde
Another world where (to his working minde)
To place at pleasure and convenience
His wondrous Engines and rare Instruments,
Euen (like a little God) in time he may
To som new place transport this World away.
Shall play the Millers, as the Windes on Mountains:
And grain, so ground within a rowling Frame,
Shall pay his duty to his niggard Dame.
Heer-by, a Bullet spewd from Brazen brest
In fiery fume against a Town distrest,
With roaring powr shall pash the Rocks in sunder,
And with the noise euen drown the voice of Thunder.
Heer-by the Wings of fauourable Windes
Shall bear from Western to the Eastern Indes,
From Africa to Tule's farthest Flood,
A House (or rather a whole Town) of Wood;
While sitting still, the Pilot shall at ease
With a short Leauer guide it through the Seas.
Heer-by, the Printer, in one day shall rid
More Books, then yerst a thousand Writers did.
Heer-by, a Crane shall steed in building, more
Then hundred Porters busie pains before:
The Iacobs-staff, to measure heights, and Lands,
Shall far excell a thousand nimble hands,
To part the Earth in Zones and Climats even;
And in twice-twenty-and-foure Figures, Heav'n.
A Wand, Sand, Water, small Wheels turning ay,
In twice-twelue parts shall part the Night and Day.
Statues of Wood shall speak: and fained Sphears
Showe all the Wonders of true Heav'n in theirs.
Men, rashly mounting through the emptie Skie,
With wanton wings shall cross the Seas wel-nigh:
And (doubt-less) if the Geometrician finde
Another world where (to his working minde)
To place at pleasure and convenience
His wondrous Engines and rare Instruments,
Euen (like a little God) in time he may
To som new place transport this World away.
Because these Two our passage open set
To bright Vrania's sacred Cabinet,
Wherin shee keeps her sumptuous Furniture,
Pearls, Diamonds, Rubies, and Saphires pure:
Because, to climbe starrie Parnassus top
None can, vnless these Two doo help him vp
(For, whoso wants either of these Two eyes,
In vain beholds Heav'ns glistering Canapies):
The Caruer (heer) close by Geometry
And Numbering Art, hath plaç't, Astronomy.
To bright Vrania's sacred Cabinet,
Wherin shee keeps her sumptuous Furniture,
Pearls, Diamonds, Rubies, and Saphires pure:
Because, to climbe starrie Parnassus top
None can, vnless these Two doo help him vp
(For, whoso wants either of these Two eyes,
In vain beholds Heav'ns glistering Canapies):
The Caruer (heer) close by Geometry
And Numbering Art, hath plaç't, Astronomy.
A siluer Crescent wears she for a Crown,
A hairy Comet to her heels hangs down,
Brows stately bent in milde-Maiestik wise,
Beneath the same two Carbuncles for eyes,
An Azure Mantle wauing at her back,
With two bright Clasps buckled about her neck;
From her right shoulder sloaping ouer-thwart-her,
A watchet Scarf, or broad imbrodered Garter,
Flourisht with Beasts of sundry shapes, and each
VVith glistering Stars imbost and poudred rich;
And then, for wings, the golden plumes she wears
Of that proud Bird which starry Rowells bears.
A hairy Comet to her heels hangs down,
Brows stately bent in milde-Maiestik wise,
Beneath the same two Carbuncles for eyes,
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With two bright Clasps buckled about her neck;
From her right shoulder sloaping ouer-thwart-her,
A watchet Scarf, or broad imbrodered Garter,
Flourisht with Beasts of sundry shapes, and each
VVith glistering Stars imbost and poudred rich;
And then, for wings, the golden plumes she wears
Of that proud Bird which starry Rowells bears.
But what faire Globes (quoth Phalec) seemes she thus,
With spreading arms, to reach and offer vs?
My Son (quoth Heber) that round Figure there,
With crossing Circles, is the Mundane Sphear;
Wherein, the Earth (as the most vile and base,
And Lees of All) doth hold the lowest place:
Whom prudent Nature girdeth ouer-thwart
With azure Zone: or rather, euery part
Couers with Water winding round about,
Saue heer and there some Angles peeping out:
For, th'Oceans liquid and sad slyding Waues
Sinking in deepest of Earths hollow Caues,
Seek not (within her vast vnequall height)
The Centre of the wideness, but the weight.
With spreading arms, to reach and offer vs?
My Son (quoth Heber) that round Figure there,
With crossing Circles, is the Mundane Sphear;
Wherein, the Earth (as the most vile and base,
And Lees of All) doth hold the lowest place:
Whom prudent Nature girdeth ouer-thwart
With azure Zone: or rather, euery part
Couers with Water winding round about,
Saue heer and there some Angles peeping out:
For, th'Oceans liquid and sad slyding Waues
Sinking in deepest of Earths hollow Caues,
Seek not (within her vast vnequall height)
The Centre of the wideness, but the weight.
There, should be th'Ayr, the Fire, and wandring Seauen,
The Firmament, and the first-mouing Heav'n
(Besides th'Empyreall Palace of the Saincted)
Each ouer other, if they could be painted.
The Firmament, and the first-mouing Heav'n
(Besides th'Empyreall Palace of the Saincted)
Each ouer other, if they could be painted.
But th'Artist, faining in the steed of these,
Ten Circles, like Heav'ns Superficies,
To guide vs to them by more easie Path,
In hollow Globe the same described hath.
Ten Circles, like Heav'ns Superficies,
To guide vs to them by more easie Path,
In hollow Globe the same described hath.
'Mid th'amplest Six, whose crossing difference
Divides in two the Sphears Circumference,
Stands th'Equinoctiall, equi-distant all
From those two Poles which do support this Ball.
Therefore each Star that vnderneath it slides,
A rest-less, long, and weary Iourney rides,
Goes larger Circuit, and more speedy far
Then any other steady fixed Star
(Which wexeth slowe the more it doth advaunce
Neer either Pole his God-directed Daunce)
And while Apollo driues his Load of Light
Vnder this Line, the Day and dusky Night
Tread equall steps: for, learned Natures hand
Then measures them a-like in every Land.
Divides in two the Sphears Circumference,
Stands th'Equinoctiall, equi-distant all
From those two Poles which do support this Ball.
Therefore each Star that vnderneath it slides,
A rest-less, long, and weary Iourney rides,
Goes larger Circuit, and more speedy far
Then any other steady fixed Star
(Which wexeth slowe the more it doth advaunce
Neer either Pole his God-directed Daunce)
And while Apollo driues his Load of Light
Vnder this Line, the Day and dusky Night
Tread equall steps: for, learned Natures hand
Then measures them a-like in every Land.
The next, which there beneath it sloaply slides,
And his fair Hindges from the World's divides
Twice twelue Degrees; is call'd the Zodiack,
The Planets path, where Phœbus plies to make
Th'Yeers Revolution: through new Houses ranging,
To cause the Seasons yeerly foure-fold changing.
And his fair Hindges from the World's divides
Twice twelue Degrees; is call'd the Zodiack,
The Planets path, where Phœbus plies to make
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To cause the Seasons yeerly foure-fold changing.
Th'other, which (crossing th'Vniuersall Props,
And those where Titans Whirling Chariot sloaps)
Rect-angles forms; and, crooking, cuts in two
Heer Capricorn; there burning Cancer too;
Of the Sun's stops it Colure hath to name,
Because his Teem doth seem to trot more tame
On these cut points: for, heere he doth not ride
Flatling a-long, but vp the Sphears steep side.
And those where Titans Whirling Chariot sloaps)
Rect-angles forms; and, crooking, cuts in two
Heer Capricorn; there burning Cancer too;
Of the Sun's stops it Colure hath to name,
Because his Teem doth seem to trot more tame
On these cut points: for, heere he doth not ride
Flatling a-long, but vp the Sphears steep side.
Th'other, which cuts this equi-distantly
With Aries, Poles, and Scale, is (like-wisely)
The Second Colure: The Meridian, This
Which neuer in one Point of Heav'n persists;
But still pursues our Zenith: as the light
Inconstant Horizon our shifting sight.
With Aries, Poles, and Scale, is (like-wisely)
The Second Colure: The Meridian, This
Which neuer in one Point of Heav'n persists;
But still pursues our Zenith: as the light
Inconstant Horizon our shifting sight.
For the foure small ones: heer the Tropiks turn,
Both that of Cancer and of Capricorn.
And neerer th'Hindges of the golden Sphear,
Heer's the South-Circle; the North-Circle there:
Which Circles cross not (as you see) at all
The Center-point of th'vniuersall Ball;
But, parting th'Orb into vn-equall ells,
'Twixt th'Equi-nox and them, rest Parallels.
Both that of Cancer and of Capricorn.
And neerer th'Hindges of the golden Sphear,
Heer's the South-Circle; the North-Circle there:
Which Circles cross not (as you see) at all
The Center-point of th'vniuersall Ball;
But, parting th'Orb into vn-equall ells,
'Twixt th'Equi-nox and them, rest Parallels.
The other Ball her left hand doth support,
Is Heav'ns bright Globe: for, though that Art com short
Of Nature far, heer may ingenious soules
Admire the stages of Star-seeled Poles.
Is Heav'ns bright Globe: for, though that Art com short
Of Nature far, heer may ingenious soules
Admire the stages of Star-seeled Poles.
O what delight it is in turning soft
The bright Abbridgement of that Vpper Loft,
(To seem) to see Heav'ns glorious Host to march
In glistring Troops about th'Aethereal Arch!
Where, one for Arms bears Bowe and Shafts: a Sword
A second hath; a trembling Launce a third:
One fals: another in his Chariot rowles
On th'azure Brass of th'ever-radiant Bowles:
This serues a-foot, that (as a Horseman) rides:
This vp, that down; this back, that forward slides:
Their Order order-less, and Peace-full Braul
With-child's the World; fils Sea, and Earth, and All.
The bright Abbridgement of that Vpper Loft,
(To seem) to see Heav'ns glorious Host to march
In glistring Troops about th'Aethereal Arch!
Where, one for Arms bears Bowe and Shafts: a Sword
A second hath; a trembling Launce a third:
One fals: another in his Chariot rowles
On th'azure Brass of th'ever-radiant Bowles:
This serues a-foot, that (as a Horseman) rides:
This vp, that down; this back, that forward slides:
Their Order order-less, and Peace-full Braul
With-child's the World; fils Sea, and Earth, and All.
I neuer see their glaunces inter-iect
In Triangle, Sextile, or Square aspect,
Now milde, now moody; but, mee thinks I see
Som frollik Swains amid their dauncing glee;
Where Men and Maids together make them merry,
With Iigs and Rounds, till Pipe and all be weary:
Where, on his Loue one smiles with wanton eye;
Where-at his Rivall frowns for Iealousie.
In Triangle, Sextile, or Square aspect,
Now milde, now moody; but, mee thinks I see
Som frollik Swains amid their dauncing glee;
Where Men and Maids together make them merry,
With Iigs and Rounds, till Pipe and all be weary:
Where, on his Loue one smiles with wanton eye;
Where-at his Rivall frowns for Iealousie.
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But why (quoth Phalec) hath th'All-Fair, who frames
Nought heer below, but's full of Beauties flames;
Ingrav'n on th'Orbs of th'azure Crystalline
(Where Beauties self, and Loue should euer shine)
So many hideous Beasts and Monsters fell:
Fellows, more fit for th'vgly Fiends in Hell.
Nought heer below, but's full of Beauties flames;
Ingrav'n on th'Orbs of th'azure Crystalline
(Where Beauties self, and Loue should euer shine)
So many hideous Beasts and Monsters fell:
Fellows, more fit for th'vgly Fiends in Hell.
Surely (saith Heber) God's all-prudent pleasure
Makes nothing Art-less, nor without iust measure:
And this the Worlds chiefe praise of Beauty carries
That in each part it infinitly varies.
Makes nothing Art-less, nor without iust measure:
And this the Worlds chiefe praise of Beauty carries
That in each part it infinitly varies.
Our learned Elders then, who on this Sphear,
Heav'ns shining Signes imagin'd fitly-fair,
Did vnto each, such Shape and Name devise,
As with their Natures neerly symbolize.
Heav'ns shining Signes imagin'd fitly-fair,
Did vnto each, such Shape and Name devise,
As with their Natures neerly symbolize.
In form of Ram with golden Fleece, they put
The bi-corn'd Signe, which the Yeers bounds doth 'butt;
Because the World (vnder his temp'rate heat)
In fleece of flowrs is pranked richly neat.
Of Bull the next: because the husband-men
With yoaks of slowe-paç't smoking Bullocks then
Tear-vp their Fallows, and with hope-full toyl,
Furbush their Coultars in the Corn-fit soyl.
Of Twins the third: because then, of two Sexes
Kinde-cruell Cupid one whole body mixes:
Then all things couple, then Fruits double growe,
Then Flowrs do flourish, and corn Fields do showe.
The fourth a Lobstars name and frame they made,
Because then South-ward Sol doth retrograde,
Goes (Crab-like) backward, and so neuer stinteth,
But still his wheels in the same track reprinteth.
The fift a Lion: for, as Lions breath
Is burning hot; so likewise, vnderneath
This fiery Signe, th'Earth sparkles, and the streams
Seem sod-away with the Suns glowing beams.
The sixt a Maid: because with Maid-like honour,
Th'Earth loatheth then the Suns Loue-glances on her
T'inflame her loue: and (reclus'd as it were)
This Virgin Season nought at all doth bear.
Balance the seuenth: because it equall weighs
Nights louing-silence, and grief-guiding Daies;
And Heat and Cold: and in Must-Month, the Beam
Stands equi-poiz'd in equipeizing them.
Scorpion the next: because his pearcing sting
Doth the first tydings of cold Winter bring.
The ninth an Archer both in shape and Name,
Who day and night follows his fairest game;
And his keen Arrows euery-where bestowes
Headed with Yce, feathered with Sleet and Snowes.
The next a Kid: because as Kids do clime
And frisk from Rock to Rock; about this Time
The Prince of Planets (with the locks of Amber)
Begins again vp towards vs to clamber.
And then, because Heav'n alwayes seems to weep
Vnder th'ensung Signes; on th'Azure steep
Our Parents plaç't a Skinker: and by him,
Two siluer Fishes in his floods to swim.
The bi-corn'd Signe, which the Yeers bounds doth 'butt;
Because the World (vnder his temp'rate heat)
In fleece of flowrs is pranked richly neat.
Of Bull the next: because the husband-men
With yoaks of slowe-paç't smoking Bullocks then
Tear-vp their Fallows, and with hope-full toyl,
Furbush their Coultars in the Corn-fit soyl.
Of Twins the third: because then, of two Sexes
Kinde-cruell Cupid one whole body mixes:
Then all things couple, then Fruits double growe,
Then Flowrs do flourish, and corn Fields do showe.
The fourth a Lobstars name and frame they made,
Because then South-ward Sol doth retrograde,
Goes (Crab-like) backward, and so neuer stinteth,
But still his wheels in the same track reprinteth.
The fift a Lion: for, as Lions breath
Is burning hot; so likewise, vnderneath
This fiery Signe, th'Earth sparkles, and the streams
Seem sod-away with the Suns glowing beams.
The sixt a Maid: because with Maid-like honour,
Th'Earth loatheth then the Suns Loue-glances on her
T'inflame her loue: and (reclus'd as it were)
This Virgin Season nought at all doth bear.
Balance the seuenth: because it equall weighs
Nights louing-silence, and grief-guiding Daies;
And Heat and Cold: and in Must-Month, the Beam
Stands equi-poiz'd in equipeizing them.
Scorpion the next: because his pearcing sting
Doth the first tydings of cold Winter bring.
The ninth an Archer both in shape and Name,
Who day and night follows his fairest game;
And his keen Arrows euery-where bestowes
Headed with Yce, feathered with Sleet and Snowes.
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And frisk from Rock to Rock; about this Time
The Prince of Planets (with the locks of Amber)
Begins again vp towards vs to clamber.
And then, because Heav'n alwayes seems to weep
Vnder th'ensung Signes; on th'Azure steep
Our Parents plaç't a Skinker: and by him,
Two siluer Fishes in his floods to swim.
But if (my Son) this superficiall gloze
Suffice thee not: then may we thus suppose,
That as before th'All-working Word alone
Made Nothing be All's womb and Embryon,
Th'eternall Plot, th'Idea fore-conceiv'd,
The wondrous Form of all that Form receiv'd,
Did in the Work-mans spirit diuinely ly;
And yer it was, the World was wondrously:
Th'Eternall Trine-One, spreading even the Tent
Of th'All enlightning glorious Firmament,
Fill'd it with figures; and in various Marks
There pourtray'd Tables of his future Works.
Suffice thee not: then may we thus suppose,
That as before th'All-working Word alone
Made Nothing be All's womb and Embryon,
Th'eternall Plot, th'Idea fore-conceiv'd,
The wondrous Form of all that Form receiv'd,
Did in the Work-mans spirit diuinely ly;
And yer it was, the World was wondrously:
Th'Eternall Trine-One, spreading even the Tent
Of th'All enlightning glorious Firmament,
Fill'd it with figures; and in various Marks
There pourtray'd Tables of his future Works.
See heer the pattern of a siluer Brook
Which in and out on th'azure stage doth crook,
Heer th'Eagle plays, there flyes the rav'ning Crowe,
Heer swims the Dolphin, there the Whale doth rowe,
Heer bounds the Courser, there the Kid doth skip,
Heer smoaks the Steer, the Dragon there doth creep:
There's nothing precious in Sea, Earth, or Ayr,
But hath in Heav'n som like resemblance fair.
Yea, euen our Crowns, Darts, Lances, Skeyns, and Scales
Are all but Copies of Heav'ns Principals;
And sacred patterns, which to serue all Ages,
Th'Almighty printed on Heav'ns ample stages.
Which in and out on th'azure stage doth crook,
Heer th'Eagle plays, there flyes the rav'ning Crowe,
Heer swims the Dolphin, there the Whale doth rowe,
Heer bounds the Courser, there the Kid doth skip,
Heer smoaks the Steer, the Dragon there doth creep:
There's nothing precious in Sea, Earth, or Ayr,
But hath in Heav'n som like resemblance fair.
Yea, euen our Crowns, Darts, Lances, Skeyns, and Scales
Are all but Copies of Heav'ns Principals;
And sacred patterns, which to serue all Ages,
Th'Almighty printed on Heav'ns ample stages.
Yea surely, durst I (but why should I doubt
To wipe from Heav'n so many slanders out,
Of profane Rapin and detested Rapes,
Of Murder, Incest, and all monstrous Scapes,
Wher-with (heerafter) som bold-fabling Greeks
Shall foully stain Heav'ns Rosy-blushing cheeks?)
Heer could I showe, that vnder euery Signe
Th'Eternall grav'd som Mystery divine
Of's holy Citty; where (as in a glass)
To see what shall heer-after com-to pass;
As publik and autentik Rowles, fore-quoting
Confusedly th'Euents most worthy noting,
In his deer Church (his Darling and Delight)
To wipe from Heav'n so many slanders out,
Of profane Rapin and detested Rapes,
Of Murder, Incest, and all monstrous Scapes,
Wher-with (heerafter) som bold-fabling Greeks
Shall foully stain Heav'ns Rosy-blushing cheeks?)
Heer could I showe, that vnder euery Signe
Th'Eternall grav'd som Mystery divine
Of's holy Citty; where (as in a glass)
To see what shall heer-after com-to pass;
As publik and autentik Rowles, fore-quoting
Confusedly th'Euents most worthy noting,
In his deer Church (his Darling and Delight)
O! thou fair Chariot flaming brauely bright,
Which like a Whirl-winde in thy swift Career
Rapt'st vp the Thesbit; thou do'st alwaies veer
About the North-pole, now no more be-dabbling
Thy nimble spokes in th'Ocean, neither stabling
Thy smoking Coursers vnder th'Earth, to bayt:
The while Elisha earnestly doth wayt
Burning in zeale (ambitious) to inherit
His Masters Office, and his mighty Spirit;
That on the starry Mountain (after him)
He well may manage his celestiall Teem.
Which like a Whirl-winde in thy swift Career
Rapt'st vp the Thesbit; thou do'st alwaies veer
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Thy nimble spokes in th'Ocean, neither stabling
Thy smoking Coursers vnder th'Earth, to bayt:
The while Elisha earnestly doth wayt
Burning in zeale (ambitious) to inherit
His Masters Office, and his mighty Spirit;
That on the starry Mountain (after him)
He well may manage his celestiall Teem.
Close by him, Dauid in his valiant Fist
Holds a fierce Lions fiery flaming Crest:
Heer shines his golden Harp, and there his Crown:
There th'vgly Bear bears (to his high renown)
Seav'n (shining) Stars. Lo, heer the whistling Lance,
Which frantick Saul at him doth fiercely glance.
Holds a fierce Lions fiery flaming Crest:
Heer shines his golden Harp, and there his Crown:
There th'vgly Bear bears (to his high renown)
Seav'n (shining) Stars. Lo, heer the whistling Lance,
Which frantick Saul at him doth fiercely glance.
Pure Honours Honour, Prayse of Chastity,
O fair Susanna, I should mourn for thee,
And moan thy tears, and with thy friends lament
(With Heav'n-lift-eyes) thy wofull punishment,
Saue that so timely (through Heav'ns prouidence)
Young Daniel saues thy wronged Innocence:
And by a dreadfull radiant splendor, spread
From Times Child Truth (not from Medusa's head)
Condemns th'old Leachers, and eft-soons vpon
Their cursed heads there hayls a storm of stone.
Also, as long as Heav'ns swift Orb shall veer,
A sacred Trophee shall be shining heer
In the bright Dragon, of that Idoll fell,
Which the same Prophet shall in Babel quel.
O fair Susanna, I should mourn for thee,
And moan thy tears, and with thy friends lament
(With Heav'n-lift-eyes) thy wofull punishment,
Saue that so timely (through Heav'ns prouidence)
Young Daniel saues thy wronged Innocence:
And by a dreadfull radiant splendor, spread
From Times Child Truth (not from Medusa's head)
Condemns th'old Leachers, and eft-soons vpon
Their cursed heads there hayls a storm of stone.
Also, as long as Heav'ns swift Orb shall veer,
A sacred Trophee shall be shining heer
In the bright Dragon, of that Idoll fell,
Which the same Prophet shall in Babel quel.
Wher-to more fit may Pegasus compair,
Than to those Coursers; flaming in the ayr,
Before the Tyrant of less-Asia's fury
Vsurps the fair Metropolis of Iury?
Wher-to the Coach-man, but Ezechiel?
That so well driues the Coach of Israel.
Wher-to the Swan, but to that Proto-Martyr,
The faithfull Deacon which endureth torture,
(Yea death) for his dead Lord; whom sure to meet,
So neer his end sings so exceeding sweet?
Wher-to the Fish which shineth heer so bright,
But to that Fish, that cureth Tobies sight?
Wher-to the Dolphin, but to that meek Man,
Who dry-shod guides through Seas Erythrean
Old Iacobs Fry: And Iordans liquid glass
Makes all his Hoast dry (without boat) to pass?
Than to those Coursers; flaming in the ayr,
Before the Tyrant of less-Asia's fury
Vsurps the fair Metropolis of Iury?
Wher-to the Coach-man, but Ezechiel?
That so well driues the Coach of Israel.
Wher-to the Swan, but to that Proto-Martyr,
The faithfull Deacon which endureth torture,
(Yea death) for his dead Lord; whom sure to meet,
So neer his end sings so exceeding sweet?
Wher-to the Fish which shineth heer so bright,
But to that Fish, that cureth Tobies sight?
Wher-to the Dolphin, but to that meek Man,
Who dry-shod guides through Seas Erythrean
Old Iacobs Fry: And Iordans liquid glass
Makes all his Hoast dry (without boat) to pass?
And furthermore, God hath not onely graven
On the brass Tables of swift-turning Heav'n
His sacred Mot; and, in Triangle frame,
His Thrice-One Nature stamped on the same:
But also, vnder that stout Serpent-Slayer,
His Satan-taming Son (Heav'ns glorious heir)
Who with the Engin of his Cross abates
Th'eternall Hindges of th'infernall Gates:
And, vnder that fair Sun-fixt-gazing Foul,
The God of Gods deer Minion of his Soule,
Which from his hand reaves Thunder often-times,
His Spirit; his Loue, which visits earthly Climes
In plumy shape: for, this bright winged Signe,
In head and neck, and starry back (in fine)
No less resembles the milde simple Doue,
Than crook-bild Eagle that commands aboue.
On the brass Tables of swift-turning Heav'n
His sacred Mot; and, in Triangle frame,
His Thrice-One Nature stamped on the same:
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His Satan-taming Son (Heav'ns glorious heir)
Who with the Engin of his Cross abates
Th'eternall Hindges of th'infernall Gates:
And, vnder that fair Sun-fixt-gazing Foul,
The God of Gods deer Minion of his Soule,
Which from his hand reaves Thunder often-times,
His Spirit; his Loue, which visits earthly Climes
In plumy shape: for, this bright winged Signe,
In head and neck, and starry back (in fine)
No less resembles the milde simple Doue,
Than crook-bild Eagle that commands aboue.
What shall I say of that bright Bandeleer,
Which twice-six Signs so richly garnish heer?
Th'Years Vsher, doth the Paschal Lamb fore-tell:
The Bull, the Calfe, which erring Israel
Sets vp in Horeb. These fair shining Twins,
Those striving Brethren Isaacs tender Sons:
The fourth is Salomon, who (Crab-like) crawls
Backward from Vertue: and (fowl Swine-like) fals
In Vices mire: profanest old (at last)
In soule and body growne a-like vn-chaste.
The fift, that Lion which the Hair-strong Prince
Tears as a Kid, without Wars instruments.
The sixt, that Virgin, euer-maiden Mother,
Bearing for vs, her Father, Spouse, and Brother.
The next that Beam, which in King Lemuels hand,
So iustly weighs the Iustice of his Land.
The next, that Creature which in Malta stings
Th'Apostles hand, and yet no blemish brings;
For 't is indifferent, whether we the same,
A spotted Scorpion, or a Viper name.
Th'Archer, is Hagars Son: The Goat (I ghess)
Is Arons Scape-Goat in the Wildernes.
The next, the deer Son of dumb Zacharias,
Gods Harbinger, fore-runner of Messias:
Who in clear Iordan washeth clean the sin
Of all that rightly do repent with-in.
These Two bright Fishes, those wher-with the Lord
(Through wondrous blessing of his powrfull Word)
Feeds with fiue Loaves (vpon Asphaltis shoar)
Abundantly fiue thousand Folk and more.
Which twice-six Signs so richly garnish heer?
Th'Years Vsher, doth the Paschal Lamb fore-tell:
The Bull, the Calfe, which erring Israel
Sets vp in Horeb. These fair shining Twins,
Those striving Brethren Isaacs tender Sons:
The fourth is Salomon, who (Crab-like) crawls
Backward from Vertue: and (fowl Swine-like) fals
In Vices mire: profanest old (at last)
In soule and body growne a-like vn-chaste.
The fift, that Lion which the Hair-strong Prince
Tears as a Kid, without Wars instruments.
The sixt, that Virgin, euer-maiden Mother,
Bearing for vs, her Father, Spouse, and Brother.
The next that Beam, which in King Lemuels hand,
So iustly weighs the Iustice of his Land.
The next, that Creature which in Malta stings
Th'Apostles hand, and yet no blemish brings;
For 't is indifferent, whether we the same,
A spotted Scorpion, or a Viper name.
Th'Archer, is Hagars Son: The Goat (I ghess)
Is Arons Scape-Goat in the Wildernes.
The next, the deer Son of dumb Zacharias,
Gods Harbinger, fore-runner of Messias:
Who in clear Iordan washeth clean the sin
Of all that rightly do repent with-in.
These Two bright Fishes, those wher-with the Lord
(Through wondrous blessing of his powrfull Word)
Feeds with fiue Loaves (vpon Asphaltis shoar)
Abundantly fiue thousand Folk and more.
But, turn we now the twinkling Globe, and there
Let's mark as much the Southern Hemi-sphear.
Ah! know'st thou not this glorious Champion heer,
Which shines so brightly by the burning Steer?
'Tis Nun's great Son, who through deep Iordan leads
His Army dry shod; and (triumphant) treads
On Canaan Curs, and on th'Ammorean Hare,
Foyl'd with the fear of his victorious war.
Let's mark as much the Southern Hemi-sphear.
Ah! know'st thou not this glorious Champion heer,
Which shines so brightly by the burning Steer?
'Tis Nun's great Son, who through deep Iordan leads
His Army dry shod; and (triumphant) treads
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Foyl'd with the fear of his victorious war.
See th'ancient Ship, which, over windes and waues
Triumphing safe, the Worlds seed-remnant saues.
Lo, heer the Brasen Serpent shines, whose sight
Cures in the Desart those whom Serpents bite.
Heer th'happy Rav'n, that brings Eitas cates;
Heer the rich Cup, where Ioseph meditates
His graue Predictions: Heer that Heav'nly Knight ,
Who prest appearing armed all in white,
To Maccabeus, with his flaming spear
So deep (at last) the Pagan Wolfe doth tear,
That on Gods Altar (yerst profan'd so long)
Sweet Incense fumeth, and the sacred Song
Of Leuits soundeth in his House again;
And that rich Crown th'Asmonean Race doth gain,
To rule the Iewes. Lo, there the happy Fish
Which payes Christs Tribute (who our Ransom is):
And heer the Whale, within whose noysom breast,
The Prophet Ionas for three daies doth rest.
Triumphing safe, the Worlds seed-remnant saues.
Lo, heer the Brasen Serpent shines, whose sight
Cures in the Desart those whom Serpents bite.
Heer th'happy Rav'n, that brings Eitas cates;
Heer the rich Cup, where Ioseph meditates
His graue Predictions: Heer that Heav'nly Knight ,
Who prest appearing armed all in white,
To Maccabeus, with his flaming spear
So deep (at last) the Pagan Wolfe doth tear,
That on Gods Altar (yerst profan'd so long)
Sweet Incense fumeth, and the sacred Song
Of Leuits soundeth in his House again;
And that rich Crown th'Asmonean Race doth gain,
To rule the Iewes. Lo, there the happy Fish
Which payes Christs Tribute (who our Ransom is):
And heer the Whale, within whose noysom breast,
The Prophet Ionas for three daies doth rest.
But while (my spoaks-man, or I rather his)
Thus Heber comments on Heav'ns Images,
Through path-less paths his wandring steps doth bring,
And boldly quauers on a Maiden string;
Suppose not (Christians) that I take for grounds
Or points of Faith, all that he heer propounds;
Or that old Zeno's Portall I sustain,
Or Stoik Fate (th'Almighties hands to chain):
Or in Heav'ns Volume reading things to-com,
Erroneously a Chaldee-Wise becom,
No, no such thing; but to refresh again
Your tyred Spirits, I sung this novell strain:
That hither to having with patience past
Such dreadfull Oceans, and such Desarts vast,
Such gloomy Forrests, craggy Rocks and steep,
Wide-yawning Gulfs, and hideous Dungeons deep;
You might (at last) meet with a place of pleasure,
Wher-on the Heav'ns lauish their plentious treasure,
Where Zephyre puffs perfumes, and siluer Brooks
Embrace the Meads, smiling with wanton Looks.
Yet (curteous Readers) who is it can say
Whether our Nephews yet another-day
(More zealous then our selues in things Divine)
This curious Art shall Christianly refine;
And giue, to all these glistring Figures then,
Not Heathen names, but names of Holy men?
Thus Heber comments on Heav'ns Images,
Through path-less paths his wandring steps doth bring,
And boldly quauers on a Maiden string;
Suppose not (Christians) that I take for grounds
Or points of Faith, all that he heer propounds;
Or that old Zeno's Portall I sustain,
Or Stoik Fate (th'Almighties hands to chain):
Or in Heav'ns Volume reading things to-com,
Erroneously a Chaldee-Wise becom,
No, no such thing; but to refresh again
Your tyred Spirits, I sung this novell strain:
That hither to having with patience past
Such dreadfull Oceans, and such Desarts vast,
Such gloomy Forrests, craggy Rocks and steep,
Wide-yawning Gulfs, and hideous Dungeons deep;
You might (at last) meet with a place of pleasure,
Wher-on the Heav'ns lauish their plentious treasure,
Where Zephyre puffs perfumes, and siluer Brooks
Embrace the Meads, smiling with wanton Looks.
Yet (curteous Readers) who is it can say
Whether our Nephews yet another-day
(More zealous then our selues in things Divine)
This curious Art shall Christianly refine;
And giue, to all these glistring Figures then,
Not Heathen names, but names of Holy men?
But seek we now for Heber, whose Discourse
Informs his Phalec in the Planets course:
What Epicicle meaneth, and Con-centrik,
With Apagé, Perigé, and Eccentrik:
And how fell Mars (the Seedster of debate)
Dayes glorious Torch, the wanton (Vulcans Mate)
Saturn, and Ioue, three Sphears in one retain,
Smooth Hermes five, faire Cynthia two-times-twain.
Informs his Phalec in the Planets course:
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With Apagé, Perigé, and Eccentrik:
And how fell Mars (the Seedster of debate)
Dayes glorious Torch, the wanton (Vulcans Mate)
Saturn, and Ioue, three Sphears in one retain,
Smooth Hermes five, faire Cynthia two-times-twain.
For, the Divine Wits, whence this Art doth flowe,
Finding their Fires to wander to and fro,
Now neer, now far from Natures Nave: above,
Confusion, voyd; and rupture to remoue,
Which would be caused, through their wanderment,
In th'Heav'ns inclos'd within the Firmament,
Haue (more then men) presum'd to make, within
Th'Eternall Wheels where th'erring Tapers been,
Sundry small Wheels, each within other closed,
Such equi-distance each-where inter-posed,
That (though they kiss) they crush not; but the base
Are vnder th'high, the high the lowe imbrace:
Like as the Chest-nut (next the meat) within
Is cover'd (last) with a soft slender skin,
That skin inclos'd in a tough tawny shel,
That shel in-cas't in a thick thistly fell.
Finding their Fires to wander to and fro,
Now neer, now far from Natures Nave: above,
Confusion, voyd; and rupture to remoue,
Which would be caused, through their wanderment,
In th'Heav'ns inclos'd within the Firmament,
Haue (more then men) presum'd to make, within
Th'Eternall Wheels where th'erring Tapers been,
Sundry small Wheels, each within other closed,
Such equi-distance each-where inter-posed,
That (though they kiss) they crush not; but the base
Are vnder th'high, the high the lowe imbrace:
Like as the Chest-nut (next the meat) within
Is cover'd (last) with a soft slender skin,
That skin inclos'd in a tough tawny shel,
That shel in-cas't in a thick thistly fell.
Then takes he th'Astrolabe, wher-in the Sphear
Is flat reduced: he discouers there
The Card of Heights, the Almycantharats,
With th'Azimynths and the Almadarats
(Pardon me Muse, if ruder phrase defile
This fairest Table, and deface my stile
With Barbarism: For in this Argument,
To speak Barbarian, is most eloquent).
Is flat reduced: he discouers there
The Card of Heights, the Almycantharats,
With th'Azimynths and the Almadarats
(Pardon me Muse, if ruder phrase defile
This fairest Table, and deface my stile
With Barbarism: For in this Argument,
To speak Barbarian, is most eloquent).
On th'other side, vnder a veering Sight,
A Table veers; which, of each wandring Light
Showes the swift course; and certain Rules includes,
Dayes, names of Months, and scale of Altitudes.
Removing th'Albidade, he spends som leasure,
To shew the manner how a Wall to measure,
A Fountains depth, the distance of a place,
A Countries compass, by Heav'ns ample face:
In what bright starry Signe, th'Almighty dread,
Dayes Princely Planet daily billeted:
In which his Nadir is: and how with-all
To finde his Eleuation and his Fall.
How long a time an entire Signe must wear
While it ascendeth on our Hemi-sphear:
Poles eleuation: The Meridian line:
And diuers Hours of Day and night to finde.
A Table veers; which, of each wandring Light
Showes the swift course; and certain Rules includes,
Dayes, names of Months, and scale of Altitudes.
Removing th'Albidade, he spends som leasure,
To shew the manner how a Wall to measure,
A Fountains depth, the distance of a place,
A Countries compass, by Heav'ns ample face:
In what bright starry Signe, th'Almighty dread,
Dayes Princely Planet daily billeted:
In which his Nadir is: and how with-all
To finde his Eleuation and his Fall.
How long a time an entire Signe must wear
While it ascendeth on our Hemi-sphear:
Poles eleuation: The Meridian line:
And diuers Hours of Day and night to finde.
These learned wonders witty Phalec marks,
And heedfully to euery Rule he harks:
Wise Alchymist, he multiplies this Gold,
This Talent turns, encreasing many-fold:
And then presents it to his Noble seed,
Who soon their Doctor in his Art exceed.
And heedfully to euery Rule he harks:
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This Talent turns, encreasing many-fold:
And then presents it to his Noble seed,
Who soon their Doctor in his Art exceed.
But, even as Mars, Hermes, and Venus bright,
Go visit now the naked Troglodite,
Then Iaue, then Guynney; and (inclin'd to change)
Oft shifting House, through both the Worlds do range
(Both Worlds ev'n-halv'd by th'Equinoctiall Line):
So the perfection of this Art divine,
First vnder th'Hebrews bred and born, anon
Coms to the Chaldes by adoption:
Scorning, anon, th'olde Babylonian Spires,
It leaues swift Tigris, and to Nile retires;
And, waxen rich, in Egypt it erects
A famous School: yet, firm-less in affects,
It falls in loue with subtill Grecian wits,
And to their hands a while it self commits;
But, in renowned Ptolomeus Raign,
It doth re-visit the deer Memphian Plain:
Yet, Thence re-fled, it doth th'Arabians try;
From thence to Rome: from Rome to Germany.
Go visit now the naked Troglodite,
Then Iaue, then Guynney; and (inclin'd to change)
Oft shifting House, through both the Worlds do range
(Both Worlds ev'n-halv'd by th'Equinoctiall Line):
So the perfection of this Art divine,
First vnder th'Hebrews bred and born, anon
Coms to the Chaldes by adoption:
Scorning, anon, th'olde Babylonian Spires,
It leaues swift Tigris, and to Nile retires;
And, waxen rich, in Egypt it erects
A famous School: yet, firm-less in affects,
It falls in loue with subtill Grecian wits,
And to their hands a while it self commits;
But, in renowned Ptolomeus Raign,
It doth re-visit the deer Memphian Plain:
Yet, Thence re-fled, it doth th'Arabians try;
From thence to Rome: from Rome to Germany.
O true Endymions, that imbrace above
Vpon mount Latmos your Imperiall Love
(Great Queen of Heav'n) about whose Bed, for Guard,
Millions of Archers with gold Shields do ward.
True Atlasses: You Pillars of the Poles
Empyreall Palace; you fair learned soules;
But for your Writings, the Starrs-Doctrine soon
Would sink in Læthe of Oblivion:
'Tis you that Marshall Months, and yeers, and dayes:
'Tis you that quote for such as haunt the Seas
Their prosperous Dayes, and Dayes when Death ingraven
On th'angry Welkin, warns them heep their Haven:
'Tis you that teach the Plough-man when to sowe:
When the brave Captain to the Field shall goe;
When to retire to Garrison again;
When to assault a batter'd Peece; and when
To conuoy Victuals to his valiant Hoast:
'Tis you that shewe what season fitteth most
For euery purpose; when to Purge is good,
When to be Bathed, when to be Let-blood:
And how Physicians, skilfully to mix
Their Drugs, on Heav'n their curious eys must fix.
'Tis you that in the twinkling of an ey
Through all the Heav'nly Prouinces do fly:
'Tis you that (greater then our greatest Kings)
Possess the whole World in your Governings:
And (to conclude) you Demi-gods can make.
Between your hands the Heav'ns to turn and shake.
Vpon mount Latmos your Imperiall Love
(Great Queen of Heav'n) about whose Bed, for Guard,
Millions of Archers with gold Shields do ward.
True Atlasses: You Pillars of the Poles
Empyreall Palace; you fair learned soules;
But for your Writings, the Starrs-Doctrine soon
Would sink in Læthe of Oblivion:
'Tis you that Marshall Months, and yeers, and dayes:
'Tis you that quote for such as haunt the Seas
Their prosperous Dayes, and Dayes when Death ingraven
On th'angry Welkin, warns them heep their Haven:
'Tis you that teach the Plough-man when to sowe:
When the brave Captain to the Field shall goe;
When to retire to Garrison again;
When to assault a batter'd Peece; and when
To conuoy Victuals to his valiant Hoast:
'Tis you that shewe what season fitteth most
For euery purpose; when to Purge is good,
When to be Bathed, when to be Let-blood:
And how Physicians, skilfully to mix
Their Drugs, on Heav'n their curious eys must fix.
'Tis you that in the twinkling of an ey
Through all the Heav'nly Prouinces do fly:
'Tis you that (greater then our greatest Kings)
Possess the whole World in your Governings:
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Between your hands the Heav'ns to turn and shake.
O divine Spirits: for you my smoothest quill
His sweetest hony on this Book should still;
Still should you be my Theam: but that the Beauty
Of the last Sister drawes my Love and Duty;
For, now I hear my Phalec humbly crave
The fourth Maids name: his Father, mildely-grave,
Replyes him thus; Observe (my dearest Son)
Those cloud-less brows, those cheeks vermilion,
Those pleasing looks, those eyes so smiling-sweet,
That grace-full posture, and those pretty feet
Which seem still Dancing: all those Harps and Lutes,
Shawms, Sag-buts, Citrons, Viols, Cornets, Flutes,
Plaç't round about her; prove in every part
This is the noble, sweet, Voice-ord'ring Art,
Breath's Measurer, the Guide of supplest fingers
On (living-dumb, dead-speaking) sinew-singers:
Th'Accord of Discords: sacred Harmony,
And Numb'ry Law, which did accompany
Th'Almighty-most, when first his Ordinance
Appointed Earth to rest, and Heav'n to dance.
For (as they say) for super-Intendent there,
The supream Voice placed in every Sphear
A Siren sweet; that from Heav'ns Harmony
Inferiour things might learn best Melody,
And their rare Quier with th'Angels Quier accord
To sing aloud the praises of the Lord,
In 's Royall Chappell, richly beautifi'd
With glist'ring Tapers and all sacred Pride.
His sweetest hony on this Book should still;
Still should you be my Theam: but that the Beauty
Of the last Sister drawes my Love and Duty;
For, now I hear my Phalec humbly crave
The fourth Maids name: his Father, mildely-grave,
Replyes him thus; Observe (my dearest Son)
Those cloud-less brows, those cheeks vermilion,
Those pleasing looks, those eyes so smiling-sweet,
That grace-full posture, and those pretty feet
Which seem still Dancing: all those Harps and Lutes,
Shawms, Sag-buts, Citrons, Viols, Cornets, Flutes,
Plaç't round about her; prove in every part
This is the noble, sweet, Voice-ord'ring Art,
Breath's Measurer, the Guide of supplest fingers
On (living-dumb, dead-speaking) sinew-singers:
Th'Accord of Discords: sacred Harmony,
And Numb'ry Law, which did accompany
Th'Almighty-most, when first his Ordinance
Appointed Earth to rest, and Heav'n to dance.
For (as they say) for super-Intendent there,
The supream Voice placed in every Sphear
A Siren sweet; that from Heav'ns Harmony
Inferiour things might learn best Melody,
And their rare Quier with th'Angels Quier accord
To sing aloud the praises of the Lord,
In 's Royall Chappell, richly beautifi'd
With glist'ring Tapers and all sacred Pride.
Where, as (by Art) one selfly blast breath'd out
From panting bellows, passeth all-about
Winde-Instruments; enters by th'vnder Clavers
Which with the Keys the Organ-Master quavers,
Fils all the Bulk, and severally the same
Mounts every Pipe of the melodious Frame;
At once reviving lofty Cymbals voice,
Flutes sweetest air, and Regals shrillest noise:
Even so th'all-quickning Spirit of God above
The Heav'ns harmonious whirling wheels doth move;
So that re-treading their eternall trace,
Th'one bears the Trebble, th'other bears the Base.
From panting bellows, passeth all-about
Winde-Instruments; enters by th'vnder Clavers
Which with the Keys the Organ-Master quavers,
Fils all the Bulk, and severally the same
Mounts every Pipe of the melodious Frame;
At once reviving lofty Cymbals voice,
Flutes sweetest air, and Regals shrillest noise:
Even so th'all-quickning Spirit of God above
The Heav'ns harmonious whirling wheels doth move;
So that re-treading their eternall trace,
Th'one bears the Trebble, th'other bears the Base.
But, brimmer far than in the Heav'ns, heer
All these sweet-charming Counter-Tunes we hear:
For, Melancholy, Winter, Earth belowe,
Bear ay the Base; deep, hollow, sad and slowe:
Pale Phlegm, moist Autumn, Water moistly-cold,
The Plummet-like-smooth-sliding Tenor hold:
Hot-humid Bloud, the Spring, transparent Air;
The Maze-like Mean, that turns and wends so fair:
Curst Choler, Sommer, and hot thirsty Fire,
Th'high warbling Treble, loudest in the Quire.
All these sweet-charming Counter-Tunes we hear:
For, Melancholy, Winter, Earth belowe,
Bear ay the Base; deep, hollow, sad and slowe:
Pale Phlegm, moist Autumn, Water moistly-cold,
The Plummet-like-smooth-sliding Tenor hold:
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The Maze-like Mean, that turns and wends so fair:
Curst Choler, Sommer, and hot thirsty Fire,
Th'high warbling Treble, loudest in the Quire.
And that's the cause (my Son) why stubborn'st things
Are stoopt by Musik; as reteining springs
Of Number in them: and they feeble live
But by that Spirit which th'Heav'ns dance doth drive.
Are stoopt by Musik; as reteining springs
Of Number in them: and they feeble live
But by that Spirit which th'Heav'ns dance doth drive.
Sweet Musik makes the sternest men-at-Arms
Let-fall at once their Anger and their Arms:
It cheers sad soules, and charms the frantik fits
Of Lunatiks that are bereft their wits:
It kils the flame, and curbs the fond desire
Of him that burns in Beauties blazing Fire
(Whose soule, seduced by his erring eies,
Doth som proud Dame devoutly Idolize):
It cureth Serpents banefull bit, whose anguish
In deadly torment makes men madly languish:
The Swan is rapt, the Hinde deceiv'd with-all,
And Birds beguil'd with a melodious call:
Th'Harp leads the Dolphin, and the buzzing swarm
Of busie Bees the tinkling Brass doth charm.
Let-fall at once their Anger and their Arms:
It cheers sad soules, and charms the frantik fits
Of Lunatiks that are bereft their wits:
It kils the flame, and curbs the fond desire
Of him that burns in Beauties blazing Fire
(Whose soule, seduced by his erring eies,
Doth som proud Dame devoutly Idolize):
It cureth Serpents banefull bit, whose anguish
In deadly torment makes men madly languish:
The Swan is rapt, the Hinde deceiv'd with-all,
And Birds beguil'd with a melodious call:
Th'Harp leads the Dolphin, and the buzzing swarm
Of busie Bees the tinkling Brass doth charm.
O! what is it that Musick cannot doo!
Sith th'all-inspiring Spirit it conquers too:
And makes the same down from th'Empyreall Pole
Descend to Earth into a Prophets soule;
With divine accents tuning rarely right
Vnto the rapting Spirit the rapted Spright.
Sith, when the Lord (most moved) threatneth most,
With wrathfull tempest arming all his Hoast;
When angry stretching his strong sinewy arms,
With bended back he throwes down thundry storms;
Th'harmonious sighs of his heart-turning Sheep
Supple his sinews, lull his wrath a-sleep;
While milde-ey'd Mercy stealeth from his hand
The sulph'ry Plagues prepar'd for sinfull Man.
Sith th'all-inspiring Spirit it conquers too:
And makes the same down from th'Empyreall Pole
Descend to Earth into a Prophets soule;
With divine accents tuning rarely right
Vnto the rapting Spirit the rapted Spright.
Sith, when the Lord (most moved) threatneth most,
With wrathfull tempest arming all his Hoast;
When angry stretching his strong sinewy arms,
With bended back he throwes down thundry storms;
Th'harmonious sighs of his heart-turning Sheep
Supple his sinews, lull his wrath a-sleep;
While milde-ey'd Mercy stealeth from his hand
The sulph'ry Plagues prepar'd for sinfull Man.
But, while that Heber (eloquently) would
Old Musiks vse and excellence have told;
Curst Canaan (seeking Iordans fatall course)
Past by the Pillars, and brake his Discourse,
And mine withall; for I must rest me heer:
My weary Iourny makes me faint well-neer:
Needs must I crave new aid from High, and step
A little back, that I may farther leap.
Old Musiks vse and excellence have told;
Curst Canaan (seeking Iordans fatall course)
Past by the Pillars, and brake his Discourse,
And mine withall; for I must rest me heer:
My weary Iourny makes me faint well-neer:
Needs must I crave new aid from High, and step
A little back, that I may farther leap.
The End of the Second Day of the Second Week.
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