University of Virginia Library

Chap. 10.

Oh I am sick of life! nor will controule
My Passion, but in bitternesse of Soule,
Thus teare the Aire: what should thy wrack incense
To punish him who knowes not his offence?
Ah! do'st thou in oppression take delight?
Wilt thou thy Servant fold in shades of Night,
And smile on wicked Counsels? do'st thou see
With Eyes of Flesh? is Truth conceal'd from thee?
VVhat are thy Dayes as fraile as ours? or can
Thy yeares determine like the age of Man?
That thou should'st my Delinquencies exquire;
And with Variety of tortures tire?
Cannot my knowne Integritie remove
Thy cruell Plagues? wilt thou remorselesse prove?
Ah! wilt thou thy owne workemanship confound?
Shall the same hand that did create, now wound?
Remember I am built of clay; and must
Resolve to my originary Dust.
Thou powr'dst me out like milke into the wombe;
Like curds conden'st; and in that secret roome
My Limbs proportion'd; cloth'd with flesh and skin;
With bones, and sinewes, fortifi'd within:
The Life thou gav'st, thou hast with plentie fed;
Long cherisht, and through Dangers safely led.
All this is buryed in thy breast: and yet
I know thou can'st not thy old Love forget.
Thou, if I erre observ'st me with sterne eyes:
Nor will the plea of Ignorance suffice.
Woe unto me should sinne my Soule infect:
Who dare not now, though innocent, erect
My downe-cast lookes: which clouds of shame infold.
Great God, my growing Miseries behold!
Thou like a Lion huntest me: wounds on wounds
Thy hands inflict; thy fury knowes no bounds.
Against me all thy Plagues embattaild are:
Subdu'd with changes of internall warre.
Why didst thou draw me from my Mothers wombe?
Would I from thence had slipt into my Tombe,
Before the Eye of man my face had seene;
And mixt with dust, as I had never beene!
Oh since I have so short a time to live,
A little ease to these my torments give:
Before I goe where all in silence mourne;
From whose darke shores no travellers returne:
A Land where Death, confusion, endlesse Night,
And Horror reigne: where Darkenesse is their Light.