Pia Desideria or, Divine Addresses, In Three Books. Illustrated with XLVII. Copper-Plates. Written in Latin by Herm. Hugo. Englished by Edm. Arwaker ... The Fourth Edition, Corrected |
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| X. |
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| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
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| IV. |
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| VI. |
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| X. |
| XI. |
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| XIV. |
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| XIV. | XIV. |
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 | Pia Desideria |  |
229
XIV.
O how amiable are thy Tabernacles: Thou Lord of Hosts!
Psal. lxxxiv. 1.
Great
Leader of the Starry Hosts that stand
In shining order on thy either Hand!
Such bright Magnificence adorns Thy Throne,
That hence my ravish'd Soul wou'd fain be gone,
To offer there her low Devotion.
Hail glorious Palace, which a lofty Mound
Of shining Jasper closely does surround!
Where the blew Saphyre and clear Chrysolite
At once astonish and affect the Sight!
Where sparkling Topas-thresholds kiss the Feet
Of all who come towards the Almighty's Seat!
By doors of dazling Adamant let in,
Where Golden Roofs on Emerald Pillars shine!
This lofty Structure, this divine Abode,
Becomes the Presence of its Founder, God.
Here purest Ayrs, fann'd in by Angels Wings,
Breathe all the Odours of ten thousand Springs.
Here no benumming Frosts dare once be rude,
Nor piercing Snows within these Courts intrude.
The torrid Zone is far remote from hence,
This Climate feels a gentler influence.
This true Elizium's Pleasures ne'er decay,
Whose time is all but One eternal Day.
In shining order on thy either Hand!
Such bright Magnificence adorns Thy Throne,
That hence my ravish'd Soul wou'd fain be gone,
To offer there her low Devotion.
Hail glorious Palace, which a lofty Mound
Of shining Jasper closely does surround!
Where the blew Saphyre and clear Chrysolite
At once astonish and affect the Sight!
Where sparkling Topas-thresholds kiss the Feet
Of all who come towards the Almighty's Seat!
By doors of dazling Adamant let in,
Where Golden Roofs on Emerald Pillars shine!
This lofty Structure, this divine Abode,
Becomes the Presence of its Founder, God.
230
Breathe all the Odours of ten thousand Springs.
Here no benumming Frosts dare once be rude,
Nor piercing Snows within these Courts intrude.
The torrid Zone is far remote from hence,
This Climate feels a gentler influence.
This true Elizium's Pleasures ne'er decay,
Whose time is all but One eternal Day.
Bright Resident of the Cœlestial Spheres!
How despicable's Earth, when Heav'n appears?
The very name of Grief's a Stranger here,
And nothing can beget a thought of Fear.
Here undisturb'd Tranquillity presides,
And entrance to all jarring Foes forbids.
Hence every Passion, Frailty, and Disease,
All that may injure, trouble, or displease,
All that may discompose th'exalted Mind,
Are to eternal Banishment confin'd.
How despicable's Earth, when Heav'n appears?
The very name of Grief's a Stranger here,
And nothing can beget a thought of Fear.
Here undisturb'd Tranquillity presides,
And entrance to all jarring Foes forbids.
Hence every Passion, Frailty, and Disease,
All that may injure, trouble, or displease,
All that may discompose th'exalted Mind,
Are to eternal Banishment confin'd.
Bright Resident of the Cœlestial Spheres!
How despicable's Earth, when Heav'n appears?
Here feasting Souls perpetual Revels keep,
And never are concern'd for Food or Sleep;
With indefatigable Zeal they move,
Born on the wings of Duty and of Love.
Dissolv'd in Hymns, here Quires of Angels lie,
And with loud Halelujah's fill the Sky.
Here new-come Saints with wreaths of Light are crown'd,
While Iv'ry Harps and Silver Trumpets sound.
Here ruddy Cherubs sacred Hymns begin,
And smiling Seraphs loud Responses sing;
While echoing Angels the blests Ayrs retort,
Follow'd by a loud Chorus of the Universal Court:
While, to compleat the Musick of the Quire
The Royal Psalmist tunes his Sacred Lyre.
How despicable's Earth, when Heav'n appears?
Here feasting Souls perpetual Revels keep,
And never are concern'd for Food or Sleep;
With indefatigable Zeal they move,
Born on the wings of Duty and of Love.
231
And with loud Halelujah's fill the Sky.
Here new-come Saints with wreaths of Light are crown'd,
While Iv'ry Harps and Silver Trumpets sound.
Here ruddy Cherubs sacred Hymns begin,
And smiling Seraphs loud Responses sing;
While echoing Angels the blests Ayrs retort,
Follow'd by a loud Chorus of the Universal Court:
While, to compleat the Musick of the Quire
The Royal Psalmist tunes his Sacred Lyre.
Such was the mighty Joy, when they caress'd
The Royal CHARLES, their welcom martyr'd Guest.
Such Songs of Triumph fill'd Heav'ns space around,
When in his room his God-like Son was crown'd:
Him, for whose safety they were oft employ'd,
And blest the grateful Orders they obey'd:
Him, for whose sake they did loud Storms asswage,
And still'd the more tumultuous Peoples rage;
Knowing His Reign such Blessings wou'd dispence,
To make their Pains a glorious Recompence:
So mild, so good—such Woes his Exit brings,
When they look on, they sigh, and flag their Wings.
O that my ravish'd Soul could mount the Skyes,
To hear the Musick of their Psalmodies!
The meanest Seat in this bright Court I'd chuse,
Before the best Preferment Earth bestows;
For one short Days sublime Enjoyment here
Exceeds an Age of the chief Pleasure there.
Haste then, my Soul! to those blest Mansions fly,
With those bright Objects please thy wondring Eye!
With their sweet Ayrs fill thy attentive Ear,
Till thou hast learnt to chant glad Anthems there!
Till thou, instructed in the Heav'nly Art,
May'st in their Consort bear an humble Part!
Blest Resident of the Cœlestial Spheres!
How despicable's Earth, when Heav'n appears?
What pure Delights that happy Place allows?
How many Mansions in my Father's House?
My flaming Soul can thence no longer stay;
If none goes there and lives, I'll die to find the way.
The Royal CHARLES, their welcom martyr'd Guest.
Such Songs of Triumph fill'd Heav'ns space around,
When in his room his God-like Son was crown'd:
Him, for whose safety they were oft employ'd,
And blest the grateful Orders they obey'd:
Him, for whose sake they did loud Storms asswage,
And still'd the more tumultuous Peoples rage;
Knowing His Reign such Blessings wou'd dispence,
To make their Pains a glorious Recompence:
So mild, so good—such Woes his Exit brings,
When they look on, they sigh, and flag their Wings.
O that my ravish'd Soul could mount the Skyes,
To hear the Musick of their Psalmodies!
232
Before the best Preferment Earth bestows;
For one short Days sublime Enjoyment here
Exceeds an Age of the chief Pleasure there.
Haste then, my Soul! to those blest Mansions fly,
With those bright Objects please thy wondring Eye!
With their sweet Ayrs fill thy attentive Ear,
Till thou hast learnt to chant glad Anthems there!
Till thou, instructed in the Heav'nly Art,
May'st in their Consort bear an humble Part!
Blest Resident of the Cœlestial Spheres!
How despicable's Earth, when Heav'n appears?
What pure Delights that happy Place allows?
How many Mansions in my Father's House?
My flaming Soul can thence no longer stay;
If none goes there and lives, I'll die to find the way.
233
O my Soul! what can I say when I behold the Joy to come? I am lost in Admiration, because the Joy will be within and without, above and below, about and beside us.
Bonavent. Soliloq. cap. 4.
| Pia Desideria | |