;*< 
 
 V 
 
 
 1 
 
THE BENSON LIBRARY OF HYMNOLOGY 
 
 Endowed by the Reverend 
 
 Louis Fitzgerald Benson, d.d. 
 
 * 
 
 LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 
 
 v^3 \«.„^- *- i , 
 
" By this strange name is expressed a subject more strange : it is a minute and elaborate account of the body 
 and mind of man. Through five cantos the reader is regaled with nothing but allegorical anatomy, in the details 
 of which Phineas seems tolerably well skilled, evincing a great deal of ingenuity in diversifying his metaphors, and 
 in presenting the delineations of his imaginary island with as much justice as possible to the allegory, without 
 obtruding it on the reader's view. In the sixth canto he rises to the intellectual and moral faculties of the soul, 
 which occupy the rest of the poem." — Hallam. 
 
i 
 
THE 
 
 PURPLE ISLAND, 
 
 O R 
 
 The ISLE of MAN. 
 
 AN 
 
 ALLEGORICAL POEM. 
 By PHINEAS ^FLETCHER, 
 
 Esteemed the SPENSER of his Age. 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED 
 
 CHR/ST's 
 
 VICTORY and TRIUMPH, 
 
 A P O E M, in Four Parts. 
 By GILES FLETCHER. 
 
 Both written in the lajl Century. 
 
 " It grieves me to think thefe Pieces fhould be loft to the World, and be for 
 
 '" ever buried in Obfcurity." " The Purple Island abounds with pic- 
 
 " turefque, ufeful, and ftriking Sentiments." — See the Rev. Mt.James Hervet's 
 Letters to his Friends, Vol. II. Letter 51. 
 
 A NEW E D I T I O N, 
 
 Corrected and revifed ; with additional Notes by the Editor. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by FRYS & COUCHMAN, Worfhip-Street, Upper-Moorfields ; 
 
 And Sold by J. Bucki.and, No. 57. Paternofter-Row ; T. Wilkie, No. 71, 
 St. Paul's Church-Yard; and J. Matthews, No. 18, in the Strand, 
 
 M DCC LXXXIII. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 NEW EDITION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 IT has often been lamented by wife and good Men, 
 that whilft fuch a Number of ufelefs and pernicious 
 Writings are daily iffuing from the Prefs, lo many va- 
 luable Authors of the laft Century mould continue to 
 remain in Obfcurity. No one appears to have 
 been more fenfible of this, than the late excellent 
 Mr. James Hervey, Author of the Meditations among 
 the Tombs, &c. by whom feveral fcarce and ufeful 
 Books were refcued from the Pit of Oblivion. In the 
 Letters written to his Friends, we find mention made of 
 this very Poem ; which was put into his Hands a few 
 Weeks before his Deceafe : with which he was fo well 
 pleafed, that he intended reviling it for the Prefs; 
 and to add another Poem entitled Christ's Victory 
 and Triumph in Heaven and on Earth*. To 
 this he fays, he " was more particularly inclined, there 
 '•' being fo few Scriptural Poems in our Language, wrote 
 " by Men of Genius." 
 
 * Written by Gii.es Fletcher, Brother to the Author of the Purple IJland* 
 It was firft printed at Cambridge in »6io. 
 
 Concerning 
 
iv PREFACE. 
 
 Concerning the Author, little Information can now be 
 obtained. Hevvas the Son of Giles Fletcher, L. L. D. 
 (who was Brother to Dr. Richard Fletcher, Bifhop 
 of London in 1594*) of whom we have the following Ac- 
 count in the Biographical Dictionary. "He was a very 
 " ingenious and learned Man ; was born in Kent, and 
 " received his Education at Eton ; from thence he 
 " went to Kings College, Cambridge. Was an excellent 
 " Poet, and very accomplished Perfon ; whofe Abilities 
 u recommended him to Queen Elizabeth, by whom he 
 u was employed as a Commiflioner to Scotland, Germany, 
 " and the Low Countries. In 1588, he was fent Am- 
 " bafTador to Mufcovy, from whence he returned to 
 l ' England with Safety and Honour. He left two Sons, 
 " Giles and Phineas, both learned Men/' 
 
 Phineas was educated at King's College, Cambridge, 
 and beneficed at Hilgay in Norfolk. This Poem 
 procured him the Title of The Spenser of the 
 Age, from his Gotemporaries ; particularly by 
 Quarles, Author of the Emblems, &ct. Some 
 may confider this as paying him too high a Com- 
 pliment; yet it is acknowledged by ail, that in this 
 Piece there is great Fertility of Invention, a glowing 
 Imagination, a Difplay of much Learning, and a Vein 
 of Piety. This Poem being allegorical, it may be ne- 
 cefiary to fay fomething concerning that Species of 
 Writing. An Allegory is a figurative Speech, in 
 
 * Dr. Richard Fletcher was the Father of John Fletcher the cele- 
 brated Dramatic Writer. 
 
 t See his Vcrfes addreffed to the Author, Page xii. 
 
 which 
 
PREFACE. v 
 
 which more is contained than what the literal Mean- 
 ing conveys. Thus the Roman Commonwealth is 
 addreffed by Horace under the Picture of a Ship. The 
 Fables of Efop, the Iliad and Odyfley of Homer, and 
 the ^Eneid of Virgil, are all reckoned of this Kind. 
 The Ufe of it is of very early Date, and both Plato 
 and Socrates, who are confidered as the wifeft amongft 
 the Heathens, recommended it. But what fully evinces 
 its Excellence and Utility is the frequent Ufe made of 
 it in the Scriptures, and by our blefied Lord himfelf. 
 
 We have feveral Examples of allegorical Writing 
 in the Englifh Language both in Profe and Verfe : 
 amongd the latter, the following Piece has been greatly 
 admired by thofe into whofe Hands it has fallen ; and 
 which many wifhed to fee reprinted, being exceeding 
 fcarce, and feldom to be purchafed at any Rate. 
 
 As the Stanza ufed by the Author (nearly as in 
 Spenser's Fairy Oaeen) is very different from 
 the Meafure in which moft modern Poetry is 
 written, it may feem awkward at firfl to fome Perfons. 
 This the Editor found to be the Cafe with fome of 
 his Acquaintance ; but who, after reading a few 
 Pages, acknowledged it became both familiar and 
 pleafing. It is requefted of the Reader, to perufe all 
 the Pieces prefixed to the Poem ; and pay particular 
 Attention to the Notes as they occur in the II. III. 
 IV. and V. Cantos, which contain a full Defcription 
 of that wonderful Structure the human Body. As 
 this Poem was written near Two Hundred Years 
 
 ago. 
 
vi PREFACE. 
 
 ago, the Reader will not be furprifed, if he fhould 
 meet with an obfolete Word; which as Mr. Hervey, 
 on a fimilar Occafion, beautifully remarked, " may be 
 " likened to a Hair adhering to a fine Suit of Velvet, or 
 (t like a Mote dropped upon a Globe of Cryftal *." 
 For which Blemifhes, and the Deficiency of the Rhyme 
 in a few Inftances, no further Apology will be neceflary. 
 Refpefting the Luxuriance of the Defcriptions in fome 
 Parts, we hope for the Allowance of Candour and 
 Benevolence. 
 
 This Undertaking has been encouraged by many 
 worthy and learned Divines, and other refpectable 
 Perfons. And that the Divine Blefling, for the ad- 
 vancing the Interefts of Learning and Piety, may 
 attend it, is the earneft Defire of the 
 
 EDITOR. 
 
 London', June 16, 1783. 
 
 * See bis Preface to Jenk's Meditations, * Vols. 8vo- 
 
DEDICATION, 
 
 By the AUTHOR. 
 
 Tomy Most Worthy ^^Learned Friend, 
 EDWARD BENLOWES, Esq. 
 
 sir: 
 
 AS fome Optic GlaJJes, if we look one Way, 
 increafe the Objeft ; if the other, lefTen 
 the Quantity : Such is an Eye that looks 
 through Affection ; it doubles any good, and 
 extenuates what is amifs. Pardon me, Sir, for 
 fpeaking plain Truth ; fuch is that Eye whereby 
 you have viewed thefe raw EJfays * of my 
 very unripe Years, and almoft Childhood. 
 How unfeafonable are BloJJoms in Autumn ! 
 (unlefs perhaps in this Age, where are more 
 Flowers than Fruit). I am entering upon my 
 Winter, and yet thefe Blooms of my firft Spring, 
 
 * To this Poem, when firft published, was added a few 
 Pifcatory Eclogues and Poetical Mifcellanies, written by the 
 fame Author. 
 
 mu ft 
 
viii DEDICATION. 
 
 mud now {hew themfelves to our Ripe Wits, 
 which will certainly give them no other Enter- 
 tainment, but Derifion. For myfelf, I cannot 
 account that worthy of your Patronage, which 
 comes forth fo fliort of my Defires, thereby 
 meriting no other Light than the Fire. But 
 fince you pleafe to have them fee more Day, 
 than their Credit can well endure, marvel not 
 if they fly under your Shadow, to cover them 
 from the piercing Eye of this very curious 
 (yet more cenforious) Age. In letting them 
 go Abroad, I defire only to teftify how much 
 I prefer your Defires before mine own, and 
 how much I owe to You more than any other. 
 This if they witnefs for me, it is all the Ser- 
 vice I require. Sir, I leave them to your 
 Tuition, and entreat you to love him, who 
 will contend with you in nothing but to out- 
 love you, and would be known to the World 
 by no other Name, than 
 
 Your True Friend, 
 
 KiLCA-y, May i, 1633. 
 
 PHINEAS FLETCHER. 
 
 T O 
 
TO THE 
 
 READER. 
 
 T T E that would learn Theology, mud firft ftudy 
 •*- -*- Autology. The Way to God is by ourfelves : it 
 is a blind and dirty Way ; it hath many Windings, and 
 is eafy to be loft. This Poem will make thee under- 
 (land that Way ; and therefore my Defire is, thou 
 may ft underftand this Poem. Perufe it, as thou fhouldft 
 thyfelf, from thy firft Sheet, to thy laft. The firft View, 
 perchance, may run thy Judgment in Debt ; the fecond 
 will promife Payment ; and the third will perform 
 Promife. Thou fhalt find here Philofophy and Morality, 
 two curious Handmaids, drefling the King's Daughter, 
 whofe Garments fmell of Myrrh and Caflia; and 
 being wrought with Needle-Work and Gold, fhall 
 make thee take Pleafure in her Beauty. Here are 
 no Blocks for the Purblind ; no Snares for the 
 Timorous; no Dangers for the Bold. I invite all 
 Sorts to be Readers ; all Readers to underftand ; and 
 all who underftand to be happy. 
 
 DANIEL FEATLY, D. D. 
 
 O N 
 
C * ] 
 
 ON THE 
 
 EXCELLENT MORAL POEM 
 
 ENTITLED 
 
 The ISLE of MAN. 
 
 LORD! how my Youth with this vain World hath err'd, 
 Applauding theirs as th' only happy Fate, 
 Whom to fome Empire, Blood, Choice, Chance preferr'd, 
 
 Or who of learned Arts cou'd wifely prate ; 
 Or travelling the World, had well conferr'd 
 
 Mens Natures, with the Myfteries of State ! 
 But now thy wifer Mufe hath taught me this, 
 That thefe and mod Men elfe do aim at Blifs; 
 But thefe and moft Men elfe, do take their Aim amifs. 
 
 Reign o'er the World, not o'er this Ifle. of Man, 
 Worfe than a Slave thou thine own Slaves obey 'ft. 
 
 Study all Arts devis'd fince Time began, 
 
 And not thyfelF, thou ftudy'ft not, but play 'ft. 
 
 Out-travel wife Ulyjfcs (if you can) ; 
 
 Yet mifs this JJle, thou travell'ft not, but ftray'ft. 
 
 Let me (O Lord ! ) but reign o'er mine own Heart, 
 
 And Mafter be of this felf-knowing Art, 
 
 I'll dwell in th' IJlt of Man, ne'er travel foreign Part. 
 
 E. BEN LOWES. 
 T O 
 
C * 3 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 LEARNED AUTHOR, 
 
 Son and Brother to two judicious Poets, himfelf the third, 
 not fecond to either. 
 
 GRAVE Father of this Mufe, thou deem'ft too light 
 To wear thy Name, 'caufe of thy youthful Brain 
 It feems a fportful Child; refembling right, 
 Thy witty Childhood, not thy graver Strain, 
 Which now efteems thefe Works of Fancy vain : 
 Let not thy Child, thee living, Orphan be ; 
 Who when thou rt dead, will give a Life to thee. 
 
 How many barren Wits would gladly own, 
 How few o'th' pregnanteft own fuch another! 
 
 Thou Father art, yet blumeft to be known ; 
 
 And though 'tmay call the bell of Mufes Mother, 
 Yet thy feverer Judgment would it fmother. 
 
 O judge not Thou, let Readers judge thy Book: 
 
 Such Cates fhou'd rather pleafe the Guejl, than Cook. 
 
 O ! but thou fear'ft 'twill ftain the reverend Gown 
 Thou weareft now ; nay then fear not to fhow it : 
 
 For were't a Stain, 'twere Nature's, not thy own : 
 For thou art poet-born ; who know thee, know it : 
 Thy Brother, Sire, thy very Name's a Poet. 
 
 Thy very Name will make this Poem take, 
 
 This very Poem elfe thy Name will make. 
 
 W. BENLOWES. 
 a 2 TO 
 
C *ii 3 
 
 TO THE 
 
 INGENIOUS COMPOSER 
 
 OF THIS 
 
 OEM, 
 
 The SPENSER of this Age. 
 
 I Vow (fweet Stranger) if my lazy Quill 
 Had not been difobedient to fulfil 
 My quick defires, this Glory which is thine 
 Had but the Mufes pleafed, had been mine. 
 My Genius jumpt with thine ; the very fame 
 Was our Foundation : in the very Frame 
 Thy Genius jumpt with mine; it got the Start 
 In nothing, but Priority and Art. 
 If (my ingenious Rival) thefe dull Times 
 Shou'd want the prefent Strength to prize thy Rhymes, 
 The time-inftrufted Children of the next 
 Shall fill thy Margin, and admire the Text ; 
 Whofe well-read Lines will teach them how to be 
 The happy Knowers of themfelves, and thee. 
 
 FRAN. OUARLES. 
 
 To 
 
E xiii 3 
 
 To the unknown Mr. P. F*. upon Survey of his 
 ISLE of MAN, 
 
 RENOWNED Author, let it not feem ftrange 
 A Merchant's Eye fhould thus thy IJland range : 
 It is a Merchant's Progrefs to furround 
 The Earth, and feek out undifcover'd Ground. 
 
 What tho' my Foot hath trode the fourfold Shore ? 
 
 And Eyes furvey'd the fubdivided Store ? 
 
 Yet rarer Wonders in this IJlt of thine 
 
 I view'd this Day, than in twice fix Years Time. 
 
 Juftly did'ft thou, great Macedonf , repine 
 That thou could'ft add no other World to thine : 
 He is not truly great, nor ftout, who can 
 Curb the Great World, and not the Lejfer, Man, 
 
 And thou J whofe Name the weftern World impos'd 
 
 Upon itfelf, firft by thyfelf difclos'd ; 
 
 Yet is thy fkill by this far overcome, 
 
 Who hath defcry'd an Unknown World at Home : 
 
 A World, which to fearch out, fubdue, and till, 
 Is the beft Objea of Man's Wit, Strength, Skill : 
 A World, where all may dangerlefs obtain 
 Without long Travel, cheapeft, great eft Gain. 
 
 LOD, ROBERTS. 
 
 Th= Author having only put the Initials of his Nam; to this Poem whem 
 firit printed. 
 
 t Alexander. . \ America* 
 
 OxV 
 
XIV 
 
 ON THE 
 
 MOST ACCURATE 
 
 POEM, 
 
 INSCRIBED 
 
 The PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 HENCEFORTH let wand ring Delos ceafe to boaft 
 Herfelf the God of Learning's deareft Coaft ; 
 And let that double-headed Mountain hallow 
 No more the honoured Name of great Apollo : 
 And may the Pegafean Spring that ufes 
 To cheer the Palates of the thirfty Mufes, 
 Dry up: and let this happy Ijle of thine 
 Preferve Apollo's Harp; where every Line 
 Carries a Suada with't, and doth difplay 
 The Banners of heav'n-born Urania. 
 Henceforth let all the World thy Verfe admire 
 Before that Thracian Orpheus charming Lyre : 
 He but enchanted Beafls ; but thy divine 
 And higher Airs, bring Deities to this Ijle of thine. 
 
 A. C. 
 
 Man's 
 
C *v ] 
 
 MAN's Body's like a Houfe: his greater Bones 
 Are the main Timber ; and the leffer ones 
 Are fmaller Splints : his Ribs are Laths, daub'd o'er, 
 Plafter'd with FleJJi and U/ood : hi? Mouth's the Door, 
 His Throat's the narrow i>^ry ; and his Heart 
 Is the Great Chamber, fall of curious Art : 
 Kis Midriff is a large Partition-wall 
 'Twixt the Great Chamber and the Spacious Hall: 
 His Stomach is the Kitchen, where the Meat 
 Is often but half fod, for want of Heat : 
 His Spleens a Veffel Nature does allot 
 To take the Scum that rifes from the Pot : 
 His Lungs are like the Bellows that refpire 
 In ev'ry Office, quick'ning ev'ry Fire : 
 His Nofe the Chimney is, whereby are vented 
 Such Fumes as with the Bellows are augmented : 
 His Bowels are the Sink, whofe Part's to drain 
 All noifome Filth, and keep the Kitchen clean : 
 His Eyes are cryftal Windows, clear and bright ; 
 Let in the Objeft, and let out the Sight. 
 And as the Timber is, or great, or fmall, 
 Or ftrong, or weak, 'tis apt to ftand, or fall : 
 Yet is the likelieft Building fomerimes known 
 To fall by obvious Chapces ; overthrown 
 Ofttimes by Tempcfts, by the full-mouth'd Blajls 
 Of Heav'n ; fometimes by Fire; fometimes it waftes 
 Through unadvis'd NegkB : put cafe, the Stuff 
 Were Ruin-proof, by Nature ftrong enough 
 
 To 
 
C xvi 3 
 
 To conquer Time, and Age ; put cafe, it mould 
 Ne'er know an End, alas ! our Leafes would. 
 What haft thou then, proud Fle/h and Blood, to boaft ? 
 Thy Days are evil, at beft ; but few, at moft ; 
 But fad, at merrieft ; and but weak, at ftrongeft ; 
 Unfure, at fureft ; and but fhort, at longeft. 
 
 FRAN. QUARLES, 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 19 Line 9, for two, read too. 
 
 20 13, for veins, r. ftones. 
 
 29 18, for pil'd, r. pill'd. 
 
 38 13, for deftow, r. beftow. 
 
 92 10, for Hefpar, r. Hefper. 
 
 98 23, for plight, r. pight. 
 
 - 116 1, for night, r. knight. 
 
 121 - — 21, for oar, r. ore. 
 
 T H E s 
 
T H E 
 
 PURPLE ISLAND; 
 
 O R, 
 
 The ISLE of MA N. 
 
 C A \ T T O I. 
 
 I. 
 
 THE warmer fun the golden bnll outran, 
 And with the twins made hafte to inn and pfar : 
 Scatt'ring ton thoufand flowVs, anew began 
 
 To paint the world, and piece the lengthening day : 
 (The world more aged by new youth's accnttsg) 
 Ah, wretched man! this wretched world profiling, 
 Which Mill grows worfe by age, and older by renewing 
 
 H. 
 
 The fhepherd-bovs, who with fehe mafes dwell, 
 Met in the plain their may-lords new to cktife 
 
 .'For two they yearly chafe) to order well 
 Their rural fports and vear that next enfues : 
 Now were they fat, where bv the garden waits 
 The learned Cam with ilealing water crawls r 
 
 And lowly down berb-re. that royal temple fails. 
 
 B III. 
 
2 THE PURPLE ISLAND! 
 
 III. 
 
 Among the rout they take two gentle fwains, 
 
 Whofe fprouting youth did now but greenly bud : 
 Well could they pipe and fmg, but yet their drains 
 Were only known unto the filent wood: 
 
 Their neareft blood from felf-fame fountains flow, 
 Their fouls felf-fame in nearer love did grow : 
 So feem'd twojoin'd in one, or one disjoin'd in two. 
 
 IV. 
 Now when the fhepherd-lads, with common voice 
 
 Their firft confent had firmly ratify'd, 
 A gentle boy began to wave their choice ; 
 Tkirfil, faid he, tho' yet thy mufe untry'd, 
 Hath onlylearn'd in private fhades to feign 
 Soft fighs of love, unto a loofer ftrain, 
 Or thy poor Thelgons wrong, in mournful verfe to plain a : 
 
 V. 
 
 Yet fmce the fhepherd- fwains do all confent, 
 
 To make thee lord of them, and of their art; 
 And that choice lad (to give a full content) 
 Hath join'd with thee in office as in heart; 
 
 Wake, wake thy long, thy too long, fleeping mufe, 
 And thank them with a fong, as is the ufe : 
 Such honour thus confer VI, thou may 'ft not well refufe, 
 
 VI. 
 
 Sing what thou lift, be it of Cupid's fpite, 
 
 (Ah, lovely fpite and fpiteful lovelinefs !) 
 Or Gemma & grief, if fadder be thy fprite : 
 Begin beloved fwain, with good fuccefs. 
 
 Ah, faid the bafhful boy, fuch wanton toys, 
 A belter mind and facred vow deftrovs, 
 Since in a higher love I fettled all my joys. 
 
 a i. c. Complain. 
 
 VII. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 3 
 
 VII. 
 
 New light new love, new love new life hath bred ; 
 
 A life that lives by love, and loves by light : 
 A love to him, to whom all loves are wed ; 
 A light, to whom the fun is darkeft night : 
 Eye's light, heart's love, foul's only life he is: 
 Life, foul, love, heart, light, eye, and all are his: 
 He eye, light, heart, love, foul ; he all my joy and blifs. 
 
 VIII. 
 But if you deign my ruder pipe to hear, 
 
 (Rude pipe, unus'd, untun'd, unworthy hearing) 
 Thefe infantile beginnings gently bear, 
 
 Whofe beft defert and hope mull be your bearing. 
 But you, O mufes, by foft Camus fitting, 
 Your dainty fongs unto his murmurs fitting, 
 Which bears the under-fong unto your cheerful dittying. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Tell me, ye mufes, what hath former ages> 
 Now left fucceeding times to play upon : 
 And what remains unthought on by thofe fages, 
 Where a new mufe may try her pinion ? 
 What light'ning heroes,, like great Pekus heir 
 (Darting his beams thro' our hard-frozen air) 
 May ftir up gentle heat, and virtue's wane repair ? 
 
 X. 
 
 Who knows not Jafon ? or bold Tiphys' hand* 
 
 Thatdurft unite what nature's felf wou'd part ? 
 He makes ifles continent, and all one land; 
 
 O'er feas, as earth, he march'd with dangerous art : 
 He rides the white-mouth'd waves, and fcorneth all 
 Thofe thoufand deaths wide gaping for his fall : 
 He death defies, fenc'd with a thin, low, wooden walL'. 
 
 B 2T Xt 
 
4 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Who has not often read Troy's twice fang fires, 
 
 And at the fecond time twice better fung ? 
 Who hath not heard th' Arcadian (hepherd's quires, 
 Which now have gladly chang'd their native tongue ; 
 And fitting by flow Mincius, fport their fill, 
 With fweeter voice and never equal'd (kill, 
 Chanting their amorous lays unto a Roman quill ? 
 
 XII. 
 And thou, choice wit, love's fcholar, and love's mafter, 
 
 Art known to all, where love hlmfelf is known : 
 Whether thou bid'ft UlyJJts hie him fatter, 
 Or doft thy fault and diftant exile moan : 
 Who hath not feen upon the tragic ftage, 
 Dire Atreus feaft, and wrong'd Medea rage, 
 Marching in tragic Hate, and bufkin'd equipage. 
 
 XIII. 
 And now of late b th' Italian fifher-fwain 
 
 Sits on the more to watch his trembling line, 
 There teaches rocks and prouder feas to plain 
 By Nefis fair, and fairer Mergilinc : 
 
 Whilft his thin net, upon his cars entwin'd, 
 With wanton ftrife catches the fun and wind ; 
 Which ftill do flip away, and ftill remain behind. 
 
 XIV. 
 And that c French mufes eagle eye and wing, 
 
 Hath foar'd to heav'n, and there hath learn'd the art 
 To frame angelic drains, and canzons fing ; 
 Too high and deep for any (hallow heart. 
 Ah, blefled foul ! in thofe celeftial rays, 
 Which gave thee light, thefe lower Works to blaze. 
 Thou fit'ft iniparadis'd, and chant'ft eternal lays. 
 
 k Sanna/.ar. c Bartas- 
 
 XV.. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XV. 
 Thrice happy wits, which in your fpringing-may, 
 (Warm'd with the fun of well deferved favours) 
 Difclofe your buds, and your fair blooms difplay, 
 Perfume the air with your rich fragrant favours J 
 Nor may, nor ever mail, thofe honour'd flow'rs 
 Be fpoild by fummer's heat, or winter's fhow'rs, 
 But laft, when time fhali have decay'd the proudeft tow'rs. 
 
 XVI. 
 Happy, thrice happy days in filver age ! 
 
 When generous plants advanc'd their lofty creft; 
 When honour ftoop'd to be learn'd wifdom's page ; 
 When bafer weeds ftarv'd in their frozen neft ; 
 When th' higheft flying mufe Hill higher climbs; 
 And virtue's rife, keeps down all rifing crimes : 
 Happy, thrice happy age ! happy, thrice happy times ! 
 
 XVII. 
 But wretched we, to whom thefe iron days, 
 
 (Hard days) afford no matter, nor reward ! 
 Sings Maro ? Men deride high Maro's lays, 
 
 Their hearts with fteel, with lead their fenfe is bar'd, 
 Sing Linus, or his father, as he ufes, 
 Our Midas' ears their well tun'd verfe refufes. 
 What cares an afs for arts ? he brays at facred mufes. 
 
 XVIII. 
 But if fond Bavius vent his clouted fong, 
 
 Or Mcevius chant his thoughts in brothel charm ; 
 The witlefs vulgar, in a num'rous throng, 
 
 Like fummer flies about their dunghill fwarm : 
 They fneer, they grin. — Like to his like will move* 
 Yet never let them greater mifchief prove 
 Than this, Who hates not one y may he the other love* 
 
 XIX- 
 
6 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XIX. 
 Witnefs our d Colin ; whom tho' all the graces, 
 
 And all the mufes nurs'd ; whofe well taught fong, 
 Parnaffus felf, and Glorian embraces, 
 
 And all the learn'd, and all the fhepherd's throng ; 
 Yet all his hopes were crofs'd, all fuits deny'd ; 
 Difcourag'd, fcorn'd, his writings vilify 'd : 
 'Poorly, poor man, he liv'd : poorly, poor man, he died. 
 
 XX. 
 And had not that great Hart, whofe honour'd head 
 
 Now lies full low, pity'd thy woeful plight ; 
 There had'ft thou lain unwept, unburied, 
 Unblefs'd, nor grac'd with any common rite : 
 
 Yet fhalt thou live when thy great foe (hall fink ; 
 Beneath his mountain tomb, whofe fame fhall ftink ; 
 And time his blacker name fhall blur with blacked ink. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 O let th' Iambic mufe revenge that wrong, 
 
 Which cannot (lumber in thy fheets of lead: 
 Let thy abufed honour cry as long 
 
 As there are quills to write, or eyes to read : 
 
 On his rank name let thine own voice be turn'd, 
 " Ok may that man that hath the mufes fcorn d y 
 <£ Alive, or dead y he never of a mvfe adorn d" 
 
 XXII. 
 Oft therefore have I chid my tender mufe; 
 
 Oft my chill breafl beats ofT her flutt'ring wing: 
 Yet when new fpring her gentle rays infufe, 
 All ftorms are laid, again I chirp and fing : 
 At length foft fires difpers'd in every vein, 
 Yield open paflage to the thronging train, 
 And fwelling numbers tide, rolls like the furging main. 
 
 * Spenfer. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 7 
 
 XXIII. 
 So where fair Thames, and crooked Ifis* fon, 
 
 Pays tribute to his king, the mantling flream, 
 Encounter'd by the tide's (now rufhing on 
 
 With equal force) of 's way doth doubtful feem, 
 At length the full-grown fea, and water's king 
 Chid the bold waves with hollow murmuring : 
 Back fly the ftreams to fhroud them in their mother-fpring, 
 
 XXIV. 
 Yet thou harmonious mufe, why fhould'ft thou droop, 
 
 That every vulgar ear thy mufic (corns ? 
 Nor can they rife, nor thou fo low canft floop ; 
 No feed of heav'n takes root in mud or thorns. 
 When owls or crows, imping their flaggy wing 
 With thy ftol'n plumes, their notes thro' th' air to fling ; 
 Oh fhame ! they howl and croak, whilft fond they flrain to fmg. 
 
 XXV. 
 Enough for thee in heav'n to build thy neft ; 
 
 (Far be dull thoughts of winning dunghill-praife) 
 Enough, if kings enthrone thee in their breaft, 
 And crown their golden crowns with higher bays : 
 Enough that thofe who wear the crown of kings, 
 (Great IJ'rad\ princes) flrike thy fweetefl firings : 
 Heaven's dove when high'ft he flies, flies with thy heav'nly 
 wings. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Let others trufl the feas, dare death and hell, 
 
 Search either Ind\ vaunt of their fears and wounds : 
 Let others their dear breath (nay, filence) fell 
 
 To fools, and (fwol'n, not rich) ftretch out their bounds 
 By fpoiling thofe that live, and wronging dead ; 
 That they may drink in pearl, and couch their head 
 In foft, but fleeplefs down ; in rich, but refllefs bed. 
 
 XXVIL 
 
8 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 O, let them in their gold quaff drop fies down! 
 
 O, let them furfeits feaft in filver bright ! 
 Whilft fugar hires the tafle the brain to drown, 
 And bribes of fauce corrupt falfe appetite, 
 
 His mafter's reft, health, heart, life, foul, to fell ; 
 Thus plenty, fulnefs, ficknefs, ring their knell, 
 Death weds, and beds them ; firft in grave, and then in helL 
 
 XXVIII. 
 But, ah ! let me under fome Kentifli hill, 
 
 Near rolling Medway 'mongft my fhepherd peers,, 
 With fearlefs merry-make, and piping ftill, 
 Securely pafs my few and flow-pac'd years : 
 While yet the great Auguftus of our nation, 
 Shuts up old Janus in this long ceffation, 
 Strengthening our pleafmg eafe, and gives us fure vacation* 
 
 XXIX. 
 There may I, mafter of a little flock, 
 
 Feed my poor lambs, and often change their fare, 
 My lovely mate fhall tend my fparing ftock, 
 And nurfe my little ones with pleafmg care ; 
 
 Whofe love, and look, (hall fpeak their father plain. 
 Health be my feaft, heaven hope, content my gain ; 
 So in my little houfe* my leffer heart fhall reign. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 The beech fhall yield a cool fafe canopy, 
 
 While down I fit, and chant to th" echoing wood : 
 Ah, fmging might I live, and finging die ! 
 So by fair Thames, or filver Medway\ flood, 
 
 The dying fwan, when years her temples pierce, 
 
 In mufic's ftrains breathes out her life and verfe, 
 
 And chanting her own dirge, rides on her wat'ry hearfe. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 9 
 
 XXXI. 
 What need I then to feck a patron out ; 
 Or beg a favour from a rniftrefs' eves, 
 To fence my fong again ft the vulgar rout; 
 Or fhine upon me with hcrgeminies c ? 
 
 What care I, if they praife my (lender fong ? 
 Or heed I, if they do me right, or wrong ? 
 A fhepherd's blifs, nor frauds, nor falls to ev'ry tongue. 
 
 XXXII. 
 Great prince of ihepherds, than thy heav'n's more high, 
 
 Low as our earth, here ferving, ruling there ; 
 Who taught'ft our death to live, thy life to die ; 
 
 Who, when we broke thy bonds, our bonds wou'dft bear; 
 Who reignedft in thy heav'n, yet felt'ft our hell ; 
 Who (God) bought ft man, whom man (tho' God) did fell, 
 Who in our flefh, our graves, and worfe, our hearts wou'dft 
 dwell. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Great prince of fhepherds, thou who late didft deign 
 
 To lodge thyfelf within this wretched breaft, 
 (Moft wretched breaft, fuch gueft to entertain, 
 Yet oh moft happy lodge in fuch a gueft ! ) 
 Thou firft and laft, infpire thy facred (kill ; 
 Guide thou my hand, grace thou my artlefs quill ; 
 So (hall I firft begin, fo laft fhall end thy will. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 Hark then, ah, hark ! ye gentle fhepherd-crew ; 
 
 An isle I fain wou'd fing, an island fair; 
 A place too feldom view'd, yet ftill in view ; 
 Near as ourfelves, yet fartheft from our care ; 
 Which we by leaving find, by feeking loft ; 
 A foreign home, a ftrange, tho' native coaft ; 
 Moft obvious to all, yet moft unknown to moft. 
 
 ' In Aflronomy, the twins, the third conftellation or fign in the Zodiac. 
 
 C XXXV. 
 
io TH E PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XXXV. 
 Coeval with the world in her nativity, 
 
 Which tho' it now hath pafs : d thro' many ages, 
 And ftill retain'd a natural proclivity 
 
 To ruin, compafs'd with a thoufand rages 
 
 Of fpiteful foes, which ftill this island tofles ; , 
 Yet ever grows more profp'rous by her croffes, 
 By withering, fpringing frefh, and rich by often loifes. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 Vain men, too fondly wife, who plough the feas, 
 
 With dang'rous pains another earth to find; 
 Adding new worlds to th' old, and fcorning eafe, 
 The earth's vaft limits daily more unbind ! 
 The aged world tho' now it falling {hows, 
 And haftes to fet, yet ftill in dying grows. 
 Whole lives are fpent to win, what one death's hour mull lofe. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 How like's the w T orld unto a tragic ftage ! 
 
 Where ev'ry changing fcene the a£tors change ; 
 Some fervile crouch and fawn ; fome reign and rage : 
 
 And new ftrange plots, brings fcenes as new and ftrange, 
 Till moft are (lain ; the reft their parts have done : 
 So here, fome laugh and play, fome weep and groan, 
 Till all put offtheir robes; and ftage, and aclors gone. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 Yet this fair isle, feated fo very near, 
 
 That from our fides, nor place, nor tune, may fev'r ; 
 Tho' to yourfelves, yourfelves are not more dear, 
 Yet with ftrange carelefmefs you travel nev'r : 
 
 Thus whilft yourfelves, and native home forgetting. 
 You fearch for diftant worlds, with needlefs fwdating, 
 You .never find yourfelves ; fo lofcyc more by getting. 
 
 XXXIX, 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 11 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 When that great pow'r, that all, far more than all, 
 
 (When now the time decreed was fully come) 
 Brought into act this indigefted ball, 
 
 Which in himfelf, till then, had only room ; 
 He labour'd not, nor fuffer'd pain, or ill ; 
 But bid each kind, their feveral places fill : 
 He fpoke and they obey'd, their action was his will. 
 
 XL. 
 Forth fprang the light, and fpread his cheerful rays 
 
 Thro' all the chaos ; darknefs headlong fell, 
 Frighten'd with fudden beams, and new-born days ; 
 And plung'd her ugly head in deepeft hell : 
 Not that he meant to help his feeble fight 
 To frame the reft ; he made the day of night, 
 All elfe but darknefs; he the true, the only LIGHT, 
 
 XLI. 
 
 Fire, water, earth, and air (that fiercely ftrove) 
 
 His sov'reign hand in ftrong alliance ty'd, 
 Binding their deadly hate in conftant love : 
 
 So that great wisdom temper'd all their pride, 
 (Commanding ftrife and love lhou'd never ceafe) 
 That by their peaceful fight, and fighting peace, 
 The world might die to live, and leffen to increafe. 
 
 XLIL 
 
 Thus earth's cold arm, cold water friendly holds, 
 
 But with his dry, the others wet defies : 
 Warm air with mutual love, hot fire infolds, 
 As moift, his drought abhors, dry earth allies 
 With fire, but hot with cold new wars prepare : 
 Yet earth drench'd w T ater proves, which boil'd turns air ; 
 Hot air makes fire : condens'd, all change, and home repair. 
 
 C 2 XLIIL 
 
12 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XLIII. 
 Now when the firft week's life was almoft fpent; 
 
 And this world built, and richly furniftied; 
 To flore heaven's courts, he of each element, 
 Did call to frame an isle, the heart and head 
 Of all his works, compof'd with curious art; 
 Which like an index briefly fhou'd impart 
 The fum of all ; the whole, yet of the whole a part. 
 
 XLIV. 
 The tri-une God himfelf, in council fits, 
 
 And purple duff takes from the new-made earth ; 
 Part circular, and part triang'Iar fits ; 
 Endows it largely at the unborn birth ; 
 
 Deputes his favourite viceroy; doth invert 
 With aptnefs thereunto, as feem'd him belt ; 
 And lovM it more than all, and more than all it blefs'd. 
 
 XLV. 
 Then plac'd it in the calm pacific feas, 
 
 And bid nor waves, nor troublous winds offend it; 
 Then peopled it with fubjecls apt to pleafe 
 So wife a prince, made able to defend it 
 Againft all outward force, or inward fpite 1 
 Him framing like himfelf, all mining bright ; 
 A little living fun, fon of the living LIGHT. 
 
 XLVI. 
 Nor made he this like other ifles ; but gave it 
 
 Vigour, fenfe, reafon, and a perfect motion. 
 To move itfelf whither it wou'd have it, 
 
 And know what falls within the verge of notion : 
 No time might change it, but as ages went, 
 So ftill return'd ; ftill (pending, never fpent ; 
 More riling in their falT, more rich in detriment. 
 
 XLVII, 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 13 
 
 XLVII. 
 So once the f cradle of that double light, 
 
 Whereof one rules the night, the other day, 
 (Till fad Latona flying Juno's fpite, 
 , Her double burthen there did fafely lay) 
 Not rooted yet, in every fea was roving, 
 With ever)' wave, and every wind removing ; 
 But fince, to thofe fair twins hath left her ever moving, 
 
 XLVIII. 
 Like to a fcholar, who doth clofely gather 
 
 Many large volumes in a narrow place; 
 So that great wisdom, all this all together, 
 Confm'd unto this island's little fpace; 
 And being one, foon into two he fram'd it ; 
 And now made two, to one again reclaim'd it ; 
 The little IJle of Man, or Purple IJland narn'd it. 
 
 XLIX. 
 Thrice happy was the world's firft infancy ; 
 
 Nor knowing yet, nor curious, ill to know : 
 Joy without grief, love without jealoufy : 
 
 None felt hard labour, or the fweating plough : 
 The willing earth brought tribute to her king ; 
 No fwilling Bacchus then was feen to cling 
 On big fwol'n grapes ; their drink was every filver fpring. 
 
 L. 
 
 Of all the winds there was no difference : 
 
 None knew mild Zephyrs from cold Eurus* mouth ; 
 Nor Oritkyds lover's violence 
 
 DiftinguifrYd from the ever dropping fouth : 
 But either gentle weft-winds reign'd alone, 
 Or elfe no wind, or hurtful wind was none : 
 But one wind was in all, and all the winds in one, 
 
 f Delos. 
 
 LI. 
 
i 4 THE PURPLE ISLAND 
 
 LI. 
 
 None knew the fea ; Oh, blefled ignorance ! 
 
 None nam'd the ftars, the north cars conflant race, 
 Taurus bright horns, or fifties happy chance : 
 Aftrea yet chang'd not her name or place ; 
 
 Her ev'n-pois'd balance, heav'n yet never try'd : 
 None fought new coafts, nor foreign lands defcry'd ; 
 But in their own they liv'd, and in their own they died. 
 
 LII. 
 But, ah ! what liveth long in happinefs ? 
 Grief, of an heavy nature, fteady lies, 
 And cannot be remov'd for weightinefs ; 
 But joy of lighter prefence, eas'ly flies, 
 
 And feldom comes, and foon away will go ; 
 Some fecret pow'r here all things orders fo, 
 That for a funfhine day, follows an age of woe. 
 
 LIII. 
 Witnefs this glorious isle; which not content 
 
 To be confin'd in bounds of happinefs, 
 Wou'd try whate'er is in the continent; 
 
 And feek out ill, and fearch for wretchednefs. 
 Ah, fond, to feek what then was in thy will ! 
 That needs no curious fearch ; 'tis next us ftill. 
 'lis grief to know of grief, and ill to know of ill, 
 
 LIV. 
 That old fly ferpent (fly, but fpiteful more) 
 
 Vex'd with the glory of this happy isle, 
 Allures it fubtly from the peaceful more, 
 
 And with fair painted lies, and colour'd guile, 
 
 Drench'd in dead g feas ; whofe dark ftreams full of fright, 
 Empty their fulphur waves in endlefs night ; 
 Where thoufand deaths, and hells, torment the damned fpright, 
 
 e Mare mortuum. 
 
 LV. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 15 
 
 LV. 
 
 So when a fifher-fwain by chance hath fpy'd 
 
 A full-grown pike purfue the lefTer fry, 
 He fets a withy labyrinth befide, 
 
 And with fair baits allures his nimble eye ; 
 Which he invading with out-ftretched fin, 
 All fuddenly is compafs'd with the gin ; 
 Where there is no way out, but eafy pafTage in. 
 
 LVI. 
 That deathful lake, hath thefe three properties ; 
 
 No turning path, or iflue thence is found : 
 The captive never dead, yet ever dies ; 
 
 It endlefs finks, yet never comes to ground : 
 Hell's felf is piclur'd fri that brimftone wave ; 
 For what retiring from that hellifh grave ? 
 Or who can end in death, where deaths no ending have ? 
 
 LVII. 
 Forever had this isle in that dire pit, 
 
 With ceafelefs grief, and endlefs error ftray'd, 
 Where fire and brimflome had tormented it; 
 
 Had not the king, whofe laws he (fool !) betray 'd, 
 Unloos'd that chain, the prif'ner to releafe ; 
 For which ten thoufand tortures h HIM did feize : 
 So hard was this loft isle, reftor'd to former eafe. 
 
 LVIII. 
 O thou deep well of life, wide ftream of love, 
 
 More deep, more wide, than wideft deepeft feas) 
 Who dying, death to endlefs death didft prove, 
 To work this wilful-rebel island's eafe ; 
 Thy love no time began, nor time decays ; 
 But ftill increafeth with decreafing days : 
 Where then may we begin, where may we end thy praife: 
 
 h Ifaiah lii. 
 
i6 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 LIX. 
 My callow wing, that newly left the neft, 
 
 How can it make fo high a tow'ring flight ; 
 O depth without a depth ! in humble breaft, 
 With praifes I admire fo wondrous height : 
 But thou my filler mufe ', may'ft well gc high'r, 
 And end thy flight ; ne'er may thy pinions tire : 
 Thereto may he his grace, and gentle heat afpire. 
 
 LX. 
 Then let me end my eafier taken ftory, 
 
 And ling this island's new recover'd feat : 
 But fee, the eye of noon, in brighter! glory, 
 Teaching great men, is ne'er fo little, great : 
 Our panting flocks retire into the glade ; 
 They crouch, and clofe to th' earth their horns have laid 
 Screen ws our fcorched heads in that thick beeches (hade. 
 
 * A Poem entitled phrift'q Victory pid Triumph. 
 
 C A N T O 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND, tj 
 
 CANTO II. 
 
 I. 
 
 TXECLINING Phccbus, as he larger grows, 
 -*^ (Taxing proud folly) gentler waxeth (till ; 
 Never lefs fierce, than when he greatefl fhows : 
 When Thirfil on a gentle riling hill 
 
 (Where all his flock he round might feeding view) 
 
 Sits down, and circled with a lovely crew 
 Of nymphs, and fhepherd-boys, did thus his fong renew, 
 
 II. 
 
 Now was this ISLE pull'd from that horrid main, 
 
 Which bears the fearful looks, and name of death; 
 And fettled new with blood and dreadful pain 
 
 By him who twice had giv'n (once forfeit) breath: 
 A bafer ftate than what was firft defign'd ; 
 Wherein (to curb the too afpiring mind) 
 The better things were loft, the worit were left behind ; 
 
 III. 
 That glorious image of himfelf was raz'd ; 
 
 Ah ! fcarce the place of that bell part we find: 
 And that bright fun-like knowledge much defae'd ; 
 Only fome twinkling ftars remain behind : 
 Then mortal made ; yet as one fainting dies, 
 Two other in its place fucceedhig rife ; 
 And drooping flock, with branches fair immortal. 
 
 IV. 
 So that lone ■ bird, in fruitful Arabic, 
 
 When now her ilrength, and waning life decays, 
 Upon fome airy rock, or mountain high, 
 
 In fpicy bed (fir'd by new Pkabus rays) 
 
 4 The P;:ccn;A. 
 
 D Herfelf, 
 
18 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Hcrfelf, and all her crooked age confumes : 
 Straight from the allies, and thofe rich perfumes, 
 A new born Phoenix flies, and widow'd place refumes. 
 
 V. 
 It grounded lies upon a fure b foundation, 
 
 Compact and hard ; whofe matter, cold and dry, 
 To marble turns in ftrongeft congelation ; 
 Fram'd of fat earth, which fires together tie, 
 Through all the isle, and every part extent, 
 To give juft form to ev'ry regiment c ; 
 Imparting to each part, due ftrength and "ftablifhment. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Whofe loofer ends are join'd with brother earth rf , 
 
 Of nature like, and of a near relation ; 
 Of felf-fame parents both, at felf-fame birth ; 
 That oft itfelf ftands for a good foundation e : 
 Both thefe f a third doth folder faft, and bind ; 
 Softer than both, yet of the felf-fame kind ; 
 All inftruments of motion, in one league combin'd. 
 
 VII. 
 Upon this bafe 5 a curious work is rais'd, 
 
 Like undivided brick, entire and one, 
 Tho' foft, yet lafting, with juft balance pais'd*; 
 
 Diftributed with due proportion : 
 
 b The foundation of the body is the bones, which is the hardeft part, white, 
 and void of fenfe. 
 
 c i. e Region.- 
 
 11 Annexed to thefe are the cartila; able, and fmooth, which in 
 
 procefs of time, become bones- 
 
 e Some of thefe fuftain and uphold fome parts. 
 
 r Thefe are faftened together by a kind of < arlilages called iigamcnis. 
 
 e Upon the bones, as the foundation, is built the flefh, foft and ruddy, made 
 of blood, and covered with the common membrane qi \ 
 
 * i. c. Poifcd. 
 
 And 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND 19 
 
 And that the rougher frame might lurk unfeen, 
 All fair is hung with coverings flight and thin ; 
 Which partly hide it all, yet all is partly feen : 
 
 VIII. 
 As when a virgin her fnow-circled breaft 
 
 Difplaying, hides, and hiding fweet difplays; 
 The greater fegments cover'd, and the reft 
 The vail tranfparent willingly betrays ; 
 
 Thus takes and gives, thus lends and borrows light : 
 Left eyes mould furfeit with two greedy fight, 
 Tranfparent lawns with-hold, more to increafe delight. 
 
 IX. 
 Nor is there any part in all this land, 
 
 But is a little ifle : for thoufand brooks h 
 In azure channels glide on Giver fand ; 
 
 Their ferpent windings, and deceiving crooks, 
 Circling about, and wat'ring all the plain, 
 Empty themfelves into th' all-drinking main ; 
 And creeping forward, Aide, but ne'er return again '. 
 
 X. 
 Three diff'rent ftreams, from fountains different, 
 
 Neither in nature nor in fhape agreeing, 
 (Yet each with other, ever friendly went) 
 Give to this isle its fruitfulnefs and being: 
 The firft in fingle channels k fky-like blue, 
 With luke-warm waters dy'd in porphry hue, 
 Sprinkle this crimfon isle, with purple colour'd dew. 
 
 h The whole body is as it were watered with great plenty of rivers, veins' 
 arteries, and nerves. 
 
 ' This was the univerfally received opinion, before Dr. Hervey made known 
 his great difcovery of the circulation of the blood. 
 
 k A vein is a hollow canal, which receives the blood fora the artery, aod 
 conveys it back to the heart. 
 
 Da xi 
 
20 T'HET PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XI. 
 The ] next tho' from the fame fprings firft it rife, 
 
 Yet pafling thro' another greater fountain, 
 Doth lofe his former name and qualities : 
 
 Thro' many a dale it flows, and many a mountain ; 
 More fiery light, and needful more than all ; 
 And therefore fenced with a double wall ; 
 All froths his yellow ftreams, with many a hidden fall. 
 
 XII. 
 
 The m laft, in all things diff 'ring from the other, 
 
 Fall from an hill, and clofe together go, 
 Embracing as they run ; each with his brother 
 Guarded with double trenches fafe they flow : 
 The coldeft fpring, yet nature, be ft they have ; • 
 And like the la&eal veins which heaven pave ; 
 Slide down to ev'ry part with their thick milky wave. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Thefe with a thoufand "ftreams thro' th' island roving, 
 
 Bring tribute in ; the firft gives nourishment, 
 Next life, laftfenfe, and arbitrary moving : 
 
 Tor when the prince hath now his mandate fent, 
 The nimble pofts quick down the river run, 
 And end their journey, tho' but now begun ; 
 But now the mandate came, and now the mandate's done, 
 
 1 An artery is an hollow canal, compofed of fibres twilled together, which 
 conveys the blood from the cavity of the heart to all the parts of the body. 
 
 ■> A nerve is a whitifh, round, {lender body, arifing from the brain, which 
 is fuppofed to convey the animal fpirits to all parts of the body. 
 
 » The veins convey the nourifhment from the liver ; the artery, life and 
 heat from the heart ; the nerves, fenfe and motion from the brain : the will com- 
 mands, the nerve brings, and the part executes the mandate, all almoft in an 
 inftant. 
 
 XIV. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 21 
 
 XIV. 
 The whole ISLE, parted in three regiments °, 
 
 Bv three metropolis's jointly fway'd ; 
 Ord'ring in peace and war their governments, 
 With loving concord, and with mutual aid : 
 The loweft hath the worft, but largeft fee ; 
 The middle lefs, of greater dignity : 
 The higheft leait, but holds the greatefl fov'reignty. 
 
 XV. 
 Deep in a vale doth that firft province lie, 
 
 With many a city grac'd, and fairly town'd ; 
 And for defence from foreign enmity, 
 
 With five ftrong builded walls p en compafs'd round ; 
 Which my rude pencil will in painting ftain ; 
 A work, more curious than which poets feign 
 Neptune and Phabus built, and pulled down again. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 The firft of thefe, is that round fpreading fence q , 
 
 Which like a fea, girts th' ISLE in ev*ry part; 
 Of fairefl building, quick, and nimble fenfe, 
 Of common matter fram'd with fpecial art ; 
 Of middle temper, outwardeft of all, 
 To warn of ev'ry chance that may befall : 
 The fame a fence, and fpy; a watchman and a wall. 
 
 The whole body may be parted into three regions : the loweft, or belly; the 
 middle, or bread ; the higheft, or head. In the loweft the liver is fovereign, 
 whofe regiment is the wideft. but meaneft. In the middle, the heart reigns, 
 moft neceffary. The brain obtains the higheft place, and is the leaft in compafs, 
 but the greateft in dignity. 
 
 p The parts of the lower belly, are cither the contained or containing, the 
 latter is either common or proper; the common are the fkin, the flefhy panicle, 
 and the fat; the proper are the mufcles of the belly-piece, or the inner rim of 
 the belly. 
 
 i The fkin covers almoftthe whole body, and is formed of whitifh fibres, 
 intermixed with numberlefs branches of nerves, veins, and arteries. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 3 
 
22 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XVII. 
 His native beauty is a lily white r ; 
 
 Which ftill fome other coloured ftream infefteth ; 
 Leart like itfelf, with divers itainings dight, 
 The inward difpofition it detefreth : 
 If white, it argues wet ; if purple, fire ; 
 If black, a heavy cheer, and fix'd defire ; 
 Youthful and blithe, if fuited in a rofy tire. 
 
 XVIII. 
 It cover'd Hands with filken flourifhino- \ 
 
 Which as it oft decays, renews again, 
 The others fenfe and beauty perfecting ; 
 
 Which elfe wou'd feel, but with unufual pain : 
 
 Whofe pleafing fweetnefs, and refplendent white, 
 Soft'ning the wanton touch, and wand'ring fight, 
 Doth oft the 'prince himfelf bewitchingly delight. 
 
 XIX. 
 The fecond u rampier's of a fofter matter, 
 Made by the purple rivers overflowing : 
 Whofe airy wave, and fwelling waters, fatter 
 
 For want of heat congeaFd, and thicker growing, 
 
 ■ The native colour of the fkinis white, but changed into the fame colour which 
 is brought by the humour predominant. Where melancholy abounds, it is 
 fwarthy ; where phlegm, it is white and pale; where choler reigns, it is red and 
 aery ; but in fanguine, of a rofe colour. 
 
 s The cuticle orfcarf-fo i 'n, is an extremely thin and tranfparent membrane, void 
 ^of fenfe, and covering the fkin all over. It conftfts of feveral layers of exceeding 
 .imall fcales, which cover one another. 
 
 * The mind. 
 
 u The fat is a whitiffi, oily fubflance, void of fenfe, is fecreted from the blood, 
 ^nd lodged in fmall oval, membraneous bags, which fhoot out of the arteries. 
 
 The 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 23 
 
 The wand'ring heat w (which quiet ne'er fubfifteth) 
 Sends back again to what confine it lifteth ; 
 And outward enemies by yielding, molt refifteth. 
 
 XX. 
 The x third more inward, firmer than the beft, 
 May feem at firft, but thinly built, and flight ; 
 But yet of more defence than all the reft; 
 
 Of thick and ftubborn fubftance ftrongly dight. 
 Thefe three (three common fences them we ftyle) 
 This region do furround, and the whole isle ; 
 And faving inward friends, their outward foes beguile. 
 
 XXI. 
 Befide thefe three, two y more peculiar guards, 
 
 With conftant watch compafs this government : 
 The firft eight companies in feveral wards, 
 (To each his {ration in this regiment z ) 
 
 On each fide four continual watch obferve, 
 And under one great captain jointly ferve ; 
 Two (land before, two crofs, and four obliquely fwerve. 
 
 XXII. 
 The a other fram'd of common matter, all 
 
 This lower region girts with ftrong defence ; 
 More long than round, with double-builded wall, 
 
 Though (ingle often feems to flighter fenfe ; 
 
 w The fat increafeth inward heat, by keeping it from outward parts ; and de- 
 fends the parts fubjeft to it from bruits. 
 
 x The flcfliy panicle, is a membrane very thick, finewy, woven in with little 
 veins, and lies juft under the fat. 
 
 >' The proper parts infolding this lower region, are two ; the firft, the mufcles 
 of the belly, which arc eight ; four fide-long, two right, and two acrofs. 
 z i. e. Region. 
 
 ■ Pkritontum^ (called the rim of the belly) is a thin membrane, taking its name 
 from compaffing the bowels ; round, but longer; every where double, yet fothin 
 that it feems but fmgle. 
 
 With 
 
24 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 With many gates, whofe ftrangefl properties 
 Protect this coaft from all confpiracies ; 
 Admitting welcome friends, excluding enemies. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Between this fences double-walled fides b , 
 
 Four (lender brooks run foftly o'er the lea ; 
 The firft is call'd the nurfe, and rifing Aides 
 From this low region's extenfive fee c : 
 
 Two from th' heart-city bend their filent pace; 
 The third from urine-lake with waters bafe, 
 Lrthe d Allciutoid fea empties his flowing race. 
 
 XXIV. 
 Down in a e vale, where thefe two parted walls 
 Differ from each with wide diftending fpace, 
 Into a lake the urine river falls, 
 
 Which at the Nrphros\ii\\ begins his race : 
 Crooking his banks he often runs anray, 
 Left his ill ilreams might backward find a way: 
 Thereto fcrae fay, was built a curious framed bay. 
 
 XXV. 
 The urine-lake f drinking his eolour'd brook, 
 
 By little fwelis, and fills his ilretching fide : 
 But when the ft ream the brink docs overlook, 
 
 A fturdy groom empties the fwelling tides ; 
 
 b The double ruaicic of the rim, is parted into a large fpacc, That with a double 
 ■wall it might fence the bladder, where the veffcls of the navel are contained. 
 Thefe are four, firft the nurfe, which is «n win nourifliing the infant in the womb ; 
 fecond, two arteries, in which the infant breathes ; the fourth the Ourachos, a pipe 
 whereby (whilft the child is in th: womb) the urine is carried into the Allautoid. 
 
 c Stanz. xiv. line 5, page 2t . 
 
 d A membrane receiving fwcat and urine. 
 
 e The paiTages carrying the uiine from the kidneys to the bladder. 
 
 f The bladder is compofed of three coats: the iirft is an extenfion of the 
 Peritoneum ; the fee o id conlifls of mufcular fibres ; the third is both glandulous 
 and nervous, and full of wrinkles, that it may be C-pable of ccnlradion and 
 dilatation, ; 
 
 Sphincter 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAN 6. *$ 
 
 SpkinEkr* fome call; who if he loofed be, 
 Or ftiff with cold, out flows the fenfelefs fea, 
 And ruining unawares, covers the drowned lea. 
 
 XXVI. 
 From thence with blinder h paffage (flying name) 
 Thefe noifome ftreams a fecret pipe conveys ; 
 Which tho' we term the hidden parts of fhame, 
 Yet for the fkill deferve no leffer praife 
 
 Than they, to which we honour'd names impart. 
 O, powerful wisdom ! with what wondrous art 
 Mad'ft thou the heft, who thus haft fram'd the vileft part. 
 
 XXVII. 
 Six f goodly cities, built with fuburbs round, 
 
 Do fair adorn this lower region ; 
 The firft k Koilia, whofe extremeft bound 
 On this Tide's border'd by the Spienion, 
 
 On that by fovereign Hepar's large commands, 
 The merry Diazotne above it Hands, 
 To both thefe joined in league, and never failing bands. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 The form (as when with breath the bag-pipes rife 
 And fwell) made round, and long, the latter more, 
 
 Fram'd to the mod capacious figures guife ; 
 For 'tis the island's garner; here its ftore 
 
 8 A name common to feveral mufcles, which bind, firengthen, or draw 
 together any part. 
 
 h Its glands feparate a flimy matter, which defends the bladder from the acri- 
 mony of the urine. The involuntary emiffion of this, is prevented by a fmali 
 mufcle, which goes round the neck of the bladder. 
 
 ■ Befides the bladder there are fix fpecial parts contained in this lower region; 
 the liver, the ftomach, and the guts ; the gall, the fpleen, or milt ; the kidneys and 
 parts for generation. 
 
 k The ftomach (or Koilia) is the firft in order though not in dignity, which is 
 long and round like a bag-pipe, made to receive and concott the meat, and t© 
 peifcdl the Chyle. 
 
 E Lies 
 
26 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Lies treafur'd up, which well prepar'd, it fends 
 By fecret path, that to th' arch-city bends ; 
 Which making it more fit, to all the isle extends. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Far hence at foot of rocky Cepkal's hills, 
 
 This city's * fleward dwells in vaulted {tone ; 
 And twice a day Koilias ftore-houfe fills 
 With certain rent and due provifion : 
 Aloft he fitly dwells in arched cave, 
 Which to defcribe I better caufe mail have, 
 When that fair mount I fing, and his white curdy wave. 
 
 XXX. 
 At that cave's mouth, twice fixteei^ porters m ftand, 
 
 Receivers of the cuftomary rent ; 
 On each fide four (the foremoft of the band) 
 Whofe office to divide what in is fent ; 
 
 Straight other four break it in pieces fmall ; 
 And at each hand twice five, which grinding all, 
 Fit it for convoy, and this city's arfenal. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 From thence a ft groom of wondrous activity 
 
 Delivers all unto near officers, 
 
 Of nature like himfelf, and like agility ; 
 
 At each fide four, that are the governors 
 
 To fee the victuals fhipp'd at fitted tide ; 
 
 Which ftraight from thence in profp'rous channel Aide, 
 
 And in Koilias port with nimble oars glide. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 1 Gujlus, the tafte, is the caterer, or fleward to the ftomach, which has its place 
 in Cephaly that is the head : the furface of the tongue is filled with fma'l Papillar, 
 which are no other than fine ramifications of the guftatory nerve ; these are vari- 
 oufly moved by the particles of meat and drink ; and this motion bving by that 
 nerve tranfmitted to the brain, that perception arifes which we ftyle tajiing. 
 
 m In either jaw, are fixteen teeth, four cutters, two dog-teeth, or breakers, and 
 ten grinders. 
 
 n The tongue with great agility delivers up the mrtt (well chewed) to the 
 
 inftruroent* 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 27 
 
 XXXIL 
 
 The ° haven fram'd with wondrous fenfe and art, 
 
 Opens itfelf to all that entrance feek; 
 Yet if ought back would turn, and thence depart, 
 With thoufand wrinkles- fhuts the ready creek: 
 But when the rent is flack, it rages rife, 
 And mut'nies in itfelf with civil ftrife : 
 Whereto a p little groom eggs it with fharpeli knife. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 Below q dwells in this city's market-place, 
 The ifland's common cook, conco£tion ; 
 Common to all, therefore in middle fpace 
 Is quarter'd fit in juft proportion, 
 
 Whence never from his labour he retires ; 
 No reft he afks, or better change requires : >. 
 Both night and day, he works, ne'er fleeps, nor fleep defires. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 That r heat, which in his furnace ever fumeth, 
 
 Is nothing like to our hot parching fire ; 
 Whicn all confuming, felf at length confumeth; 
 But moift'ning flames, a gentle heat infpire ; 
 
 Which fure fome in-born neighbour to him lendeth ; 
 And oft the bord'ring coaft fit fuel fendeth, 
 And oft the riling fume, which down again defcendeth. 
 
 inftruments of fwallowipg : eight mufcles ferving to this purpofe, "which inftantly 
 fend the meat into the ftomach. 
 
 The upper mouth of the ftomach hath little veins, or circular firings, to 
 fhut in the meat, and keep it from returning. 
 
 * A fhort veffel, which fending in a melancholy humour, fharpensthe appetite. 
 
 <J In the bottom of the ftomach (which is placed in the midft of the belly) is 
 conco&ion performed. 
 
 r The concoftion of meats in the ftomach, is perfected as by an innate property 
 and fpecial virtue ; fo alfo by the outward heat of parts adjoining. 
 
 E 2 XXXV. 
 
a8 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XXXV. 
 Like to a pot, where under hovering 
 
 Divided flames, the iron fides entwining, 
 Above is ftop'd with clofe laid covering, 
 
 Exhaling fumes to narrow ftraights confining ; 
 So doubling heat, his duty doubly fpeedeth : 
 Such is the fire conco£lion's vefiel needeth, 
 Who daily all the isle with fit provifion feedeth. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 There many a groom, the bufy cook attends 
 
 In under offices, and fever al place : 
 This gathers up the fcum, and thence it fends 
 To be cail out; another, liquor's bafe ; 
 Another, garbage, which the kitchen cloys ; 
 And divers filth, whofe fcent the place annoys, 
 By divers fecret ways in under finks convoys. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 Therefore a fecond s port, is fidelong fram'd, 
 
 To let out what unfavory remains ; 
 There fits a needful groom, the porter nam'd, 
 Which foon the full-grown kitchen cleanly drains, 
 By divers pipes with hundred turnings girding, 
 Left that the food, too fpeedily retiring, 
 Shou'd whet the appetite, ftil cloy'd, and flill defiring ; 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 So Erificlhon, fir'd (as men do fay) 
 
 With hungry rage, ne'er fed, tho' ever feeding ; 
 Ten thoufand dilhes ferv'd in ev'ry day, 
 
 Yet Hill ten thoufand thoufand dilhes needing ; 
 
 » The lower orifice, or mouth of the ftomach, is not placed at the very bottom, 
 but at the fide, and is called the Janitor (or porter) as fending out the food now 
 eonco&ed, through the entrails, which are knotty and full of windings, left 
 the meat too fuddenly paffing through the body, fhould make it too fubjeft to 
 appetite and greedinefs. 
 
 In 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 29 
 
 In vain his daughter hundred fhapes aflum'd : 
 A whole camp's meat he in his gorge inhum'd ; 
 And all cortfum'd, his hunger yet was unconium'd. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 Such would the ftate of this whole island be, 
 
 If thofe pipes windings (paflage quick delaying) 
 Should not refrain too much edacity, 
 
 With longer flay fierce appetite allaying. 
 
 Thefe f pipes are feven-fold longer than the ISLE, 
 Yet all are folded in a little pile, 
 Whereof three noble are, and thin ; three thick, and vile. 
 
 XL. 
 The " firft is narrow'ft, and down-right doth look, 
 
 Left that his charge difcharg'd, might back retire; 
 And by the way takes in a bitter brook, 
 
 That when the channels ftopt with Rifling mire, 
 Thro' th' idle pipes, with piercing waters foaking; 
 His tender fides with fharpeft ftream provoking, 
 Thrufts out the muddy parts, and rids the miry choking. 
 
 XLI. 
 The w fecond lean and lank, ftill pil'd, and harry 'd 
 
 By mighty bord'rers oft his barns invading : 
 Away his food, and new-inn'd flore is carry 'd ; 
 Therefore an angry colour, never fading 
 
 * The entrails dried and blown, arc feven times longer than the body. 
 
 u The firft is flraight, without any winding, that the chyle might not return ; and 
 moft narrow, that it might not find too hafty a paflage. It takes in a little pafTage 
 from the gall, which there purges the choler, to provoke the entrails (when they 
 are flowj to caft out the excrements. This is called Duodenum (or twelve finger) 
 from its length. 
 
 w The fecond, is called the lank, or hungry gut, as being more empty than the 
 reft; for the liver being near, it draws out his juice, or cream : it is known from 
 the reft by its red colour. 
 
 Purples 
 
30 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Purples his cheek : the x third for length exceeds, 
 And down his ftream in hundred turnings leads : 
 Thefe three mofl noble are, adorn 'd with filken threads. 
 
 XLII. 
 The y forcmofl of the bafe half blind appears ; 
 And where his broad way in an IJihmus ends, 
 There he examines all his paflengers, 
 
 And thofe who ought not 'fcape, he backward fends : 
 The z fecond JElos court, where tempefts raging, 
 Shut clofe within a cave the winds encaging, 
 With earthquakes makes the island, thunders fad prefaging. 
 
 XLIII. 
 The a laft downright falls to port EJquiline, 
 
 More ftraight above, beneath ftill broader growing, 
 Soon as the gate opes by the king's aifign, 
 
 Empties itfelf, far thence the filth out-throwing: 
 This gate endow'd with many properties, 
 Yet for his office, fight, and naming, flies ; 
 Therefore between two hills, in darkeft valley lies. 
 
 XLIV. 
 To that b arch-city of this government, 
 
 The three firft pipes the ready feaft convoy : 
 The other three, in bafer office fpent, 
 
 Fling out the dregs, which elfe the kitchen cloy. 
 
 * The third called Ilion (for winding) from his many folds and turnings is 
 of all the longeft, 
 
 y The firft of the bafer fort, is called blind ; at whofe end is an appendant, 
 where if any of the thinner chyle do chance to efcape, it is {topped, and by the 
 veins of the midriffe drawn out. 
 
 * The fecoud is Colon (or the tormenter) becaufe of the wind there (laying, and 
 vexing the body. 
 
 * The laft called Rcftum (or ftraight) hath no windings, fhort, larger toward 
 the end, that the excrement may be more eafily eje&ed, and retained alfo upon 
 occafion. 
 
 b The thin entrails ferve for carrying and concofting the chyle. They 
 are all fprinkled with numberlefs little veins, that no part of the chyle might 
 efcape, till all be brought to the liver. 
 
 In 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 31 
 
 In c every one the Hepar keeps his fpies, 
 Who if ought good, with evil blended lies ; 
 Thence bring it back again to Hepar 's treafuries. 
 
 XLV. * 
 
 Two feveral d covers fence thefe twice three pipes : 
 
 The fii ft from over fwimmer takes his name, 
 Like cobweb-lawn woven with hundred ftripes : 
 The fecond ftrengthen'd with a double frame, 
 From foreign enmity the pipes maintains : 
 Clofe by c Pancreas ftands, who ne'er complains; 
 Tho' prefs'd by all his neighbours, he their ilate fuftains. 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 Next Hepar, chief of all thefe lower parts, 
 
 One of the three, yet of the three the leaft. 
 But fee the fun, like to undaunted hearts, 
 Enlarges in his fall his ample breaft. 
 
 Now hie we home ; the pearled dew ere long 
 Will wet the mothers and their tender young : 
 To-morrow with the day we may renew our fong. 
 
 c Epiploon (or over- fwimmer) defcends below the navel, and afcends above the 
 bigheft entrails; of fkinny fubftance, all overlaid with fat. 
 
 d The Meftntcry, which ties and knits the entrails together. 
 
 e Pancreas (or all-flefh) for fo it feems, is laid as a pillow under the ftomacbj 
 and fuftains the veins, that are difprcad from the gate vein. 
 
 CANTO 
 
32 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 C A N T O III 
 
 THE morning frefh, dappling her horfe with rofes, 
 (Vext at the ling'ring lhades that long had left her, 
 In Tithons, freezing arms) the light difclofes ; 
 
 And chafing night, of rule and heaven bereft her: 
 The fun with gentle beams his rage difguifes, 
 And like afpiring tyrants, temporifes ; 
 Never to be endur'd, but when he falls, or rifes. 
 
 II. 
 
 Thirfd from withy prifon, as he ufes, 
 
 Lets out his flock, and on an hill flood heeding, 
 Which bites the grafs, and which his food refufes ; 
 So his glad eyes, fed with their greedy feeding. 
 
 Straight crowd a throng of nymphs, and fhepherd-fwains, 
 While all their lambs range o'er the flow'ry plains ; 
 Then thus thG boy began, crown'd with their circling trains, 
 
 III. 
 
 You gentle fhepherds, and you hoary fires, 
 
 That fit around, my rugged rhymes attending ; 
 How may I hope to quit your flrong defires, 
 
 In verfe uncouth, Inch wonders comprehending ? 
 Too well I know my rudenefs, all unfit 
 To frame this curious isle, whole framing yet 
 Was never throughly known to any human wit. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Thou shepherd-god, who only know 'ft it right, 
 And hid'fl that art from all the world behde ; 
 
 Shed in my mifty breaft thy fparkling light, 
 And in this fog, my erring foot-Heps guide ; 
 
 3 Thoti 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 33 
 
 Thou who firft mad'ft, and never will forfake it : 
 Elfe how fhall my weak, hand dare undertake it, 
 When thou thyfelf afk'ft counfel of thyfelf to make it. 
 
 V. 
 Next to Koilicii on the right fide ftands, 
 
 Fairly difpread in large dominion, 
 Th' g arch city Hepar, ftretching her commands, 
 To all within this lower region ; 
 
 Fenc'd with fuch bars, and ftrongeft fituation ; 
 So never fearing foreigners invafion : 
 Hence are the h walls, flight, thin ; built but for fight and 
 fafliion. 
 
 VI. 
 To th' heart, and to th' head-city furelv tied ' 
 
 With firmeft league, and mutual reference : 
 His lieges there, theirs ever here abide, 
 To take up ftrife, and cafual difference : 
 
 Built k all alike, feeming like rubies fheen ', 
 Of fome peculiar matter ; fuch I ween, 
 As over all the world, may no where elfe be feen. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Much like a m mount, it eafily afcendeth ; 
 
 The upper parts all fmooth as flipp'ry glafs : 
 But on the lower many a crag dependeth ; 
 
 Like to the hangings of fome rocky mafs : 
 
 e Of all this lower region, the Htpar, or liver, is the principal. The fituation 
 ftrong, and fafe walled in by the ribs. 
 
 h It is covered with one fingle tunicle, and that very thin and flight. 
 
 1 The liver is tied to the heart by arteries, to the head by nerves, and to both 
 by veins, difperfed to both. 
 
 k The liver confute of no ordinary flefh, but of a kind proper to itfelf. 
 
 1 i. e. Fair, fhining. 
 
 m The liver's upper part rifes, and fwells gentlv; is very fmooth and even; the 
 lower on the out'.iie like to an hollow rock, rugged and craggy. 
 
 F Here 
 
34 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Here firft the "purple fountain making vent, 
 By thoufand rivers thro' the isle is fent, 
 Gives every part fit growth, a*nd daily nourifhment. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 In this °fair town the isle's great fteward dwells ; 
 
 His porphry houfe glitters in purple dye ; 
 In purple clad himfelf : from hence he deals 
 His (lore, to all the isle's neceflity : 
 And tho' the rent he daily, duly pav, 
 Yet doth his flowing fubftance ne'er decay ; 
 AH day he rent receives, returns it all the day. 
 
 IX. 
 
 And like that golden ftar, which cuts his way 
 Through Saturn s ice, and Mars his fiery ball ; 
 Temp'ring their ftrife with his more kindly ray : 
 So 'twixt the Spleruons fro ft, and th' angry gall, 
 The jovial Hepar fits ; with great expence 
 Cheering the isle by his fweet influence ; 
 So flakes their envious rage, and endlefs difference. 
 
 X. 
 
 Within, fome fay, p love hath his habitation, 
 
 Not Cupid's felf, but Cupid's better brother : 
 For Cupid's felf dwells with a lower nation, 
 
 But this, more fure, much charter than the other ; 
 By whofe command, we either love our kind, 
 Or with moit perfect love, affect the mind ; 
 With fuch a diamond knot, he often, fouls can bind. 
 
 n From it rife all the fprings ot blood that runs in the veins. 
 ■ The fteward of the whole is us, is here fitly placed, becaufe as all 'that is 
 brought in) is here futeu and difpofed, fa from hence returned and difprnfed. 
 
 * Htrc Plato difpofes the feat of love. 
 
 XL 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 3J 
 
 XI. 
 Two * purple dreams, here raife their boiling heads ; 
 
 The firft, and leaft, in hollow cavern' breeding, 
 His waves on divers neighbour grounds difpreads : 
 The next fair river all the reft exceeding, 
 
 Topping the hill, breaks forth in fierce evafion, 
 And fheds abroad his nile-like inundation ; 
 So gives to all the isle their food and vegetation. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Yet thefe from other ftreams much different ; 
 
 For others, as they longer, broader grow ; 
 
 Thefe as they run in narrow banks are pent; 
 
 Are then at leaft, when in the main they flow : 
 Much like a tree, which all his roots fo guides, 
 That all his trunk in his full body hides ; 
 Which ihaight, his flem to thoufand branches fubdivides, 
 
 XIII. 
 Yet left thefe r ftreams might hap to be infected, 
 
 With other liquors in the well abounding ; 
 Before their flowing channels are detected, 
 
 Some leffer delfts, the fountains bottom founding, 
 Draw out the bafer ftreams, the fprings annoying, 
 An hundred pipes unto that end employing ; 
 Thence run to fitter place, their noifome load convoying. 
 
 XIV. 
 Such is fair Hepar, 5 which with great diffenfion 
 
 Of all the reft pleads molt antiquity ; 
 But yet th' heart-city with no lefs contention, 
 
 And jufteft challenge, claims priority : But 
 
 9 Hence rife the two great rivers of blood, of which all the reft are leffer ftreams . 
 
 r The chyle, or juice of meats, conco&ed in the ftomach, could not all be 
 turned into fweet blood, by rcafon of the divers kinds ©f humours in it ; there- 
 fore there are three kinds of excremental liquors drawn away by little veffels, and 
 carried to their appointed places. 
 
 s Famous is the controverfy between the peripatetkks and pbyficians ; one 
 
 ¥ a holding 
 
36 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 But fure the Hepar was the elder bore ; 
 For that fmall river call'd the nurfe* of yore, 
 Laid both foundations, yet Hepar "s built afore. 
 
 XV. 
 Three poif nous liquors from this purple well, 
 
 Rife with the native dreams ; fc the firft like fire. 
 AH flaming hot, red, furious, and fell ; 
 The fpring of dire debate, and civil ire ; 
 
 Which wer't not furely held with ftrong retention, 
 Would ftir domeftic ftrife, and fierce contention, 
 And wafte the weary isle with ceafelefs hot difTenfion. 
 
 XVI. 
 Therefore clofe by, a little conduit ftands, 
 
 Ckoledockus ", that drags this poifon hence, 
 And fafely locks it up in prifon bands ; 
 
 Thence gently drains it through a narrow fence ; 
 A needful fence, attended with a guard, 
 That watches in the ftraights, all clofely barr'd, 
 Left fome might back efcape, and break the prifon ward. 
 
 XVII. 
 The w next ill ftream the wholefome fount offending, 
 
 All dreary, black, and frightful, hence convey'd 
 By divers drains, unto the Spknion tending, 
 
 The Spknion o'er againfl the Hepar laid, 
 
 holding the heart, the other the liver to be firft. That the liver is the firft in 
 time, and making, is manifeft ; becaufe the nurfe (the vein that feeds the infant yet 
 in the womb) empties itfelf upon the liver. 
 
 « The firft excrement drawn from the liver to the gall, is cholerick, bitter, 
 like flame in colour ; which, were it not removed, and kept in due place, would 
 fill all the body with bitternefs and gnawing. 
 
 u ChokdochuS) or the gall, is of a membranous fubftance, having but one, yet 
 that a ftrong tunicle. It hath two paffages, one drawing the humour from the 
 liver, another conveying the overplus into the firft gut, and fo emptying the gall . 
 and this fence hath a double gate, to keep the liquor from returning. 
 
 <F The fecond ill humour is earthv and heavy, which is drawn from the liver, 
 by little veffels, unto the fpleea ; the native feat of melancholv. 
 
 Built 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND; 37 
 
 Built long, and fquare : fome fay that laughter here 
 Keeps refidence ; but laughter fits not there, 
 Where darknefs ever dwells, and melancholy fear. 
 
 XVIII. 
 And mould tliefe x ways, flopt by ill accident, 
 
 To Hepars dreams turn back their muddy humour, 
 The cloudy isle, with no fmall dreeriment * 
 
 Wou'd foon be fill'd, and thoufand fearful rumours : 
 Fear hides him- here, lock'd up in earthy cell ; 
 Dark, doleful, dreary, like a little hell ; 
 Where with him fright, defpair, and thoufand horrors dwell. 
 
 XIX. 
 If this black town in v over-growth increafes. 
 
 With too much ftrength his neighbours overbearing; 
 The Hehar daily, and whole isle decreafes, 
 
 Like ghaftly fhade, or frightful ghoft appearing : 
 
 But when it pines, th' isle thrives ; its curfe, his blcfling: 
 So when a " tyrant, raves, his fubjects priefErtg, 
 . His gaining is their lofs, his treafure there dinreiTing. 
 
 XX. 
 
 The third bad a water, bubbling from this fountain, 
 
 Is wheyifh cold, which with good liquors fpent, 
 Is drawn into the double Nephrol mountain ; 
 
 Which draw the beft for growth and nourifhmeiU; 
 The worft as through fmall b orifice, diftilling 
 To divers pipes, the pale cold humour fwilling, 
 Runs down to urine-lake, his banks thrice daily filling. 
 
 x If the fpleen fhould foil i:i this office; the whole body would be fillrd with 
 melancholy fancies, ami vain tenors. • i. e. Sorrow, hcavinefs. 
 
 v Where the fpleen flouvifh.es, all the body decays, and withers; but where 
 the fpleen is kept down, the body flourifhes. 
 
 z Trajan compared the fpleen to his exchequer, becaufe. as his coffers being 
 full, drained his fubjeQ* purfe ; Po the full fpleen makes the' body faplc-Ts. 
 
 a The watery humour with fome good blood ("which is fpc.nl foi the nourifh- 
 mrnt of thefe pasts) is drawn by the kidneys. 
 
 " Ureters receive the water feparated from the blood, is diftilled from 
 tilth demy fubftanccs in th< - keto teats. 
 
 XXI. 
 
3$ THE PURPLE ISLAND 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Thefe f mountains differ but in fituation, 
 
 In form and matter like : the left is higher, 
 Left even height might flack their operation : 
 
 Both like the moon (which now wants half her fire) 
 Yet into two obtufer angles bended, 
 Both flrongly with a double wall defended ; 
 And both have walls of earth, before thofe walls extended, 
 
 XXII. 
 The fixth and laft town in this region, 
 
 With large ftretch'd precin£ts, and with compafs wide, 
 Is that, where Venus and her wanton fon 
 (Her wanton Cupid) will in youth refide: 
 For tho' his arrows, and his golden bow, 
 On other hills he frankly does deftow, 
 Yet here he hides the fire, with which each heart doth glow. 
 
 XXIII. 
 For that great providence, their courfe forefeeing. 
 
 Too eas'ly led into the fea of death ; 
 After this firft, gave them a fecond being, 
 Which in their offspring newly flourifheth : 
 He, therefore, made the fire of generation, 
 To burn in Venus' courts without ceffation ; 
 Outofwhofe afhes comes another island nation. 
 
 XXIV. 
 For from the firft a fellow isle he fram'd, 
 
 (For what alone, can live, or fruitful be?) 
 Arren the firft, the fecond Thelu nam'd ; 
 Weaker the laft, yet fairer much to fee : 
 Alike in all the reft, here difagreeing, 
 Where Venus and her wanton have their being ; 
 For nothing is produc'd of two, in all agreeing. 
 
 ' c The kidneys are both alike , the left fomewhat higher. 
 
 XXV. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 39 
 
 XXV. 
 
 But tho' fome few in thefe hid parts wou'd fee 
 Their Maker's glory, and their jufteft fhame; 
 Yet far the mod would turn to luxury, 
 
 And what they fhou'd lament, wou'd make their game : 
 Fly then thofe parts, which beft are undefcry'd ; 
 Forbear my maiden fong to blazon wide, 
 What th' isle, and nature's felf, doth ever ftrive to hide. 
 
 XXVI. 
 Thefe two fair isles di&inft in their creation, 
 
 Yet one extracted from the other's fide, 
 Are oft made one, by love's firm combination ; 
 And from this unity are multiply'd: 
 
 Strange may it feem, fuch their condition, 
 That they are much increas'd by union ; 
 And two are twenty made, by being join'd in one. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 For from thefe two in love's delight agreeing, 
 Another little isle is foon proceeding; 
 At firft of unlike frame and matter being, 
 
 In Venus' temple takes its form and breeding; 
 Till at full time the tedious prifon flying, 
 It breaks all lets, its ready way denying ; 
 And (hakes the trembling isle with often painful dying, 
 
 XXVIII. 
 So by the Bofphor ftraights, in Euxine feas, 
 
 Not far from old Byzantum, clofely (land 
 Two neighbour iflands, call'd Symplegades, 
 
 Which fometimes feem but one combined land : 
 For often meeting on the wat'ry plain, 
 And parting oft, toft by the boiifrous main, 
 Tney now are join'd in one, and now disjoin'd again. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
40 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XXIX. 
 Here oft, not luft, but fweeter chaftity, 
 
 Coupled fometimes, and fometimes fingle, dwells ; 
 Now join'd with love, to quench lull's tyranny ; 
 Now Phoznix like, alone in narrow cells : 
 
 Such Phoenix one, but one at once may be ; 
 In Albion s I/le, thee, great d Eliza, thee, 
 Such only have I feen, fuch fhall I never fee> 
 
 XXX. 
 
 What nymph was this, faid faireft Rofaken> 
 
 Whom thou admired thus above fo many ? 
 She, while fhe was, ah ! was the fhepherd's queen ; 
 Sure fuch a fhepherd's queen, was' never any : 
 But, ah ! no joy her dying heart contented, 
 Since to a e Favourites death fhe had confented ; 
 Whofe end, ihe all too late, too foon, too much repented. 
 
 XXXI. 
 Ah, royal maid ! why fhou'dft thou thus lament thee ? 
 
 Thy little fault, was but too much believing f : 
 It is too much, fo much thou fhou'dft repent thee ; 
 His joyous foul at reft defires no grieving. 
 
 Thefe words (vain words!) fond comforters did lend her; 
 But, ah ! no words, no pray'rs, might ever bend her 
 To give an end to grief ; for grief did furely end her. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 But how fhou'd I thofe forrows dare difplay ? 
 
 Or how fet forth her virtues wondrous height ! 
 She was, ay me ! fhe was, the fweeteft May> 
 
 That ever flow'r'd in Albion s Ifle, fo bright : 
 
 A Queen Elizabeth. • The Earl or Effcx. 
 
 f Hiftorian* inform us, that Elizabeth complained fhe had been betrayed 
 into this fanguinary meafure ; which occafioned a finking of her fpirits, that 
 brought her to her grave in 1603, the 70th year of her age, and 45th of her reign. 
 
 Few 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 4 i 
 
 Few eyes fall'n light adore : yet fame fhall keep 
 Her name alive, when others filent deep ; 
 While men have ears to hear, eyes to look back, and weep. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 And tho' the curs (which whelpt and nurs'd in Spazn % 
 
 Learn of fell Geryon g to fnarl and brawl) 
 Have vow'd and ftrove her virgin tomb to ftain ; 
 
 And grin, and foam, and rage, and yelp, and bawl : 
 • Yet fhall our Cynthia 's high triumphing light 
 Deride their howling throats, and toothlefs fpite ; 
 And fail thro' heav'n, whilfl they fink down in endlefs night. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 So is this island's lower region : 
 
 Yet, ah ! much better is it fure than fo. 
 But my poor reeds, like my condition, 
 (Low is the fhepherd's Hate, my fong as low) 
 
 Mar what they make : — but now in yonder fhade 
 Reft we, while funs have longer fhadows made : 
 See how, our panting flocks run to the cooler glade, 
 
 t In heathen mythology, a fabulous giant with three heads. 
 
 CANTO 
 
4* THE PURPLE ISLANDv 
 
 CANTO IV; 
 
 I. 
 
 THE fhepherds in the fhade their hunger feaflecT,, 
 With fimple cates, fuch as the country yields ; 
 And while from fcorching beams fecure they refted. 
 The nymphs, difpers'd along the woody fields, 
 Pull'd from their ftalks the blufhing ftrawberries, 
 Which lurk clofe fhrouded from high looking eyes • 
 Shewing that fweetnefs, oft both low, and hidden lies. 
 
 II. 
 But when the day had his meridian run 
 
 Between his higheft throne and low declining ; 
 Thirfil again his wonted talk begun, 
 
 Th' attentive audience his fides entwining. 
 The middle province next this lower ftands, 
 Where th' isle's heart-city fpreads his large commands, 
 Leagu'd to the neighbour towns with fure and friendly bands, 
 
 III. 
 
 Such as that ftar, which fets his glorious chair 
 
 In midft of heaven, and to dead darknefs, here 
 Gives light, and life ; fuch is this city fair : 
 Their ends, place, office, ftate, fo very near, 
 
 That thofe wife ancients, from their nature's fio-ht. 
 And likenefs, turn'd their names, and call'd aright 
 The fun the great world's heart, the heart the lefs world's 
 light. 
 
 IV. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 4$ 
 
 IV. 
 
 This "middle coaft, to all the ISLE extends 
 
 All heat, and life : hence it another guard 
 {Befide thefe common to the firft) defends ; 
 
 Built whole of maffy ftone, cold, dry, and hard : 
 Which ftretching round about his circling arms, 
 Warrants thefe parts from all external harms; 
 Repelling angry force, fecuring all alarms. 
 
 V. 
 But in the front b two fair twin-bulwarks rife ; 
 In th 5 Arren built for ftrength and ornament ; 
 in Thelu of more ufe, and larger fize; 
 
 For hence the young isle draws its nourifhment : 
 Here lurking Cupid hides his bended bow ; 
 Here milky fprings in fweeten'd rivers flow ; 
 Which firft gave th' infant isle to be, and then to grow. 
 
 VI. 
 
 For c when the letter island (ftill increafing 
 
 In Venus' temple) to fome greatnefs grows, 
 Now larger rooms, and wider fpaces feizing, 
 It flops the Hepar rivers; — backward flows 
 
 The ftream, and to thefe hills bears up his flight, 
 And in thefe founts (by fome ftrange hidden might) 
 Dyes his fair rofy waves into a lily white. 
 
 a The heart is the feat of heat and life ; therefore walled about with the ribs, 
 for more fafety. 
 
 b The breads, or paps, are given to men for ftrength and ornament ; to wo- 
 men for milk. 
 
 * When the infant grows large, the blood vefTels are fo oppreffed, that partly 
 through the readinefs of the paflage, but efpecially by the providence of God, the 
 blood turns back to the breaft, and tlierc by. a wonderful faculty is turned 
 into milk. 
 
 G 2 VII. 
 
44 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 VII. 
 
 So where fair Midway down the KentiJIi dales, 
 
 To many towns her plenteous waters dealing, 
 Lading her banks into wide Thamis falls ; 
 
 Th' extended main with foaming billows fwelling, 
 Stops there the fudden ftream : her fleady courfe 
 Staggers a while, at length flows back with force ; 
 And with much hafle returns unto its parent fource. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Thefe two fair d mounts are like two hemifpheres, 
 
 Endow'd with goodly gifts and qualities ; 
 Whofe tops two little purple hillocks rears, 
 Much like the poles in heaven's axletrees : 
 And round about two circling altars gird 
 In blufhing red, the reft in white attir'd, 
 Like Thracian Hcemus looks, which Phabus never fir'd. 
 
 IX. 
 
 That mighty hand, in thefe difle&ed wreaths, 
 
 (Where moves our fun) his throne's fair picture gives ; 
 The pattern breathlefs, but the picture breathes ; 
 His higheft heav'n is dead, our low heav'n lives: 
 Nor fcorns that lofty one, thus low to dwell : 
 Here his beft ftars he fets, and glorious cell ; 
 And fills with faintly fpirits, fo turns to heav'n from hell. 
 
 X. 
 
 About this region round in compafs ftands 
 A guard, both for defence, and refpiration, 
 
 Of e fixty-four, parted in feveral bands; 
 Half to let out the fmoky exhalation ; 
 
 * The breafts bearing fueh refemblance. 
 
 « In the Thorax, or breaft, are fixty-nve rnufcles for refpiration, or breathing 
 whiah is either free or forced : the inflruments of forced breathing are fixty-four, 
 whereof thirty-two diftcnd, and as many contrail it. 
 
 The 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. A5 
 
 The other half to draw in frefher winds : 
 Befide thefe two, a third of both their kinds, 
 That lets both out, and in ; which no enforcement binds. 
 
 XI. 
 
 This third the merry f Diazome we call, 
 
 A border-city thefe two coafts removing; 
 That like a beam with his crofs-builded wall, 
 Sep'rates the bounds of anger, and of loving ; 
 Keeps from th' heart-city fuming kitchen fires, 
 And to his neighbour's gentle winds infpires ; 
 Loofe 8 when he draws in air, contract when he expires. 
 
 XII. 
 The h Diazome of fev'ral matters fram'd : 
 
 The firft, moift, foft ; harder the next, and drier : 
 His fafhion like the fifh a Raia nam'd ; 
 
 Fenc'd with two walls, one low, the other higher ; 
 By eight ftreams water'd ; two from Hepar low, 
 And from th' heart-town as many higher go ; 
 But two twice told, down from the Cephal mountain flow. 
 
 XIII. 
 Here ' fportful laughter dwells, here ever fitting, 
 
 Defies all lumpifh griefs, and wrinkled care; 
 And twenty merry-mates mirth caufes fitting, 
 And fmiles, which laughter's fons, yet infants are. 
 But if this town be fir'd with burnings nigh, . 
 With felf-fame flames high Cephal 's towers fry ; 
 Such is their feeling love, and loving fympathy. 
 
 f The inllrument of free breathing is the Diazome or Diaphragma, which we 
 call the Midriffe, as a wall, parting the heart and liver. 
 
 fi The midriffe dilates itfelf when it draws in, and contracts itfelf when it puff* 
 out the air. 
 
 b The midriffe confifts of two circles, one fkinny, the other flefhy ; it hath two 
 tunicles, as many veins and arteries, and four nerves. 
 
 » Here moft men have placed the feat of laughter ; it hath much fympathy with 
 the brain. 
 
 XIV. 
 
46 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XIV. 
 This coaft ftands girt with a k peculiar wall, 
 
 The whole precin£l, and every part defending : 
 The J chiefeft city, and imperial, 
 
 Is fair Kerdia, far his bounds extending ; 
 
 Which full to know, were knowledge infinite : 
 How then fhou'd my rude pen this wonder write, 
 Which thou, who only mad'ft it, only know'ft aright? 
 
 XV. 
 
 In middle of this middle regiment 
 
 Kerdia feated lies, the centre deem'd 
 Of this whole isle, and of this government : 
 If not the chiefeft this, yet needful'ft feem'd, 
 Therefore obtain'd an equal diftant feat, 
 More fitly hence to fhed his life and heat, 
 And with his yellow ftreams the fruitful island wet. 
 
 XVI. 
 Flank'd m with two difF'rent walls (for more defence) ; 
 
 Betwixt them ever flows a wheyifti moat ; 
 In whofe foft waves, and circling profluence, 
 This city like an ifle, might fafely float : 
 
 In motion ftill (a motion fix'd, not roving) 
 Moll like to heav'n, in his moft conftant moving : 
 Hence moft here plant the feat of fure and aciive loving. 
 
 XVII. 
 Built of a fubftance like fmooth porphyry ; 
 
 His n matter hid, and, like itfelf, unknown : 
 Two rivers of his own ; another by, 
 That from the Hepar rifes, like a crown, 
 
 k Within, the PUura, or (kin, which covers the ribs on the infide, compares this 
 middle region. 
 
 1 The heart is placed in the midft of this province, and of the whole body. 
 
 » The heart is immured, partly by a membrane going round about it, and a 
 peculiar tunicle ; partly with an humour, like whey or urine ; as well to cool the 
 heart, as to lighten the body. 
 
 » The flelh of the heart is proper, and peculiar to itfelf; not like other mufclcs, 
 
 ■of a figure pyramidical. 
 
 Infolds 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. ^ 
 
 Infolds the narrow part : for that great all 
 This his works glory made pyramid'al, 
 Then crown'd with triple wreath, and cloth'd in fcarlet pall. 
 
 XVIII. 
 The city's felf in two ° partitions reft, 
 
 That on the right, this on the other fide : 
 The p right (made tributary to the left) 
 Brings in his penfion at his certain tide, 
 
 A penfion of thofe liquors ftrangely wrought ; 
 Which firft by Hepars ftreams are hither brought, 
 And here diflill'd with art, beyond or words, or thought. 
 
 XIX. 
 The q grofTer waves of thefe life-ftreams (which here 
 
 With much, yet much lefs labour is prepar'd) 
 A doubtful channel doth to * Pneumon bear : 
 But to the left thofe labour'd extracts (har'd 
 As through r a wall, with hidden paflage Aide ; 
 Where many fecret gates (gates hardly fpy'd) 
 With convoy fafe, give paflage to the other fide. 
 
 XX. 
 At each fide of the left, s two ftreets ftand by, 
 
 Of divers fluff, and divers working fram'd, 
 With hundred crooks, and deep wrought cavity : 
 Both like the ears in form, and fo are nam'd, 
 
 } Though the heart be an entire body, yet it is fevered into two partitions, 
 the right and left ; of which, tiie left is more excellent and noble. 
 
 r The right receives into its hollownefs, the blood flowing from the liver, and 
 concocts it. 
 
 i This right fide fends down to the lungs that part of the blood which is lefc 
 laboured, and thicker ; but the thinner part, it fweats through a flefhy partition 
 into the left fide. 
 
 * i. e. The lungs 
 
 1 This flefhy partition fevers the right fide from the left ; at firft it feems thick, 
 but if it be well viewed, we fnall fee it full of many pores or pafTages. 
 
 • Two fkinny additions (from their likenefs called the ears) receive, the one. 
 the thicker blood, that called the right ; the other, the left, takes in the air fent 
 by the lungs. 
 
 In 
 
48 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 In right-hand ftreet, the tribute liquor fitteth : 
 The left, forc'd air into his concave getteth ; 
 Which fubtile wrought, and thin, for future workmen htteth. 
 
 XXI. 
 The city's ' left fide (by fome hid direction) 
 
 Of this thin air, and of that right Tide's rent, 
 (Compound together) makes a ftrange confection; 
 And in one veffel both together meint u , 
 
 Till 'ftill'd with equal, never quenched firing, 
 They in fmall ftreams (around the isle retiring) 
 Are fent to every part, both heat and life infpiring. 
 
 XXII. 
 In this w heart-city, four main ftreams appear ; 
 
 One from the Hepar, where the tribute landeth, 
 Largely pours out his purple river here ; 
 
 At whofe wide mouth, a band of Tritons ftandeth, 
 
 (Three Tritons ftand) who with their three fork'd mace, 
 Drive on, and fpeed the river's flowing race ; 
 But ftrongly ftop the wave, if once it back repafs \ 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 The y fecond is that doubtful channel, lending 
 
 Some of this tribute to the Pneumon nigh ; 
 Whofe fprings by careful guards are watch 'd, that fending 
 
 From thence the waters, all regrefs deny. 
 
 ' The left fide of the heart takes in this air and blood ; and conco&ing them 
 both in his hollow bofom, fends them out by the great artery into the whole body. 
 
 ■ i. e. Mingled. 
 
 w In the heart are four great veffels, the firft is the hollow vein, bringing in 
 blood from the liver ; at whofe mouth ftand four little folding doors, with three 
 forks, giving paffage, but no return to the bloor. 
 
 * What is faid concerning the blood, both in the flanzas and notes in this canto, 
 is agreeable to the old philofophy; this poem being written before Dr. Harvey 
 made known his difcovery. 
 
 f The fecond veffel is called the artery vein, which rifing from the right fide of 
 the heart, carries down the blood here prepared for the lungs, for their nourifh- 
 naent : here alfo is the like three folding doors, made like, half circles, giving 
 pafTage from the heart, but not backwardv 
 
 The 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 49 
 
 The z third unlike to this, from Pneumon flowing, 
 And his due air — tribute here beftowing, 
 Is kept by gates, and bars, which flop all backward going. 
 
 XXIV. 
 The a lafl full fpring, out of this left fide rifes, 
 
 Where three fair nymphs, like Cynthia 's felf appearing, 
 Draw down the ftream which all the isle fuffices ; 
 But flops back ways, fome ill revolt thence fearing. ' 
 This river ftill itfelfto lefs dividing, 
 At length with thoufand little brooks runs gliding, 
 His fellow courfe along with Htpars channels guiding. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Within this city is the b palace fram'd, 
 
 Where life, and life's companion, heat, abideth; 
 And there attendants, paflions all untam'd : 
 (Oft very hell, in this fhaight room refideth) 
 
 And did not neighbouring hills, cold airs infpiring, 
 Allay their rage and mutinous confpiring, 
 Heat, all (itfelf likewife) wou'd burn with quenchlefs firing. 
 
 XXVI. 
 Yet that great light, by whom all heaven mines 
 
 With borrow'd beams, oft leaves his lofty ikies, 
 And to this lowly feat himfelf confines. 
 
 Fall then again, proud heart, now fall to rife : 
 
 Ceafe earth, ah ! ceafe, proud Babel earth, to fwell : 
 Heav'n blafts high tow'rs, ftoops to a low roof'd cell; 
 Firft heav'n muft dwell in man, then man in heav'n (hall dwell. 
 
 z The third is called the veiny artery, rifing from the left fide, which hath 
 two folds three-forked. 
 
 a The fourth is the great artery ; this hath alfo a flood-gate, made of three ferni- 
 circular membranes. 
 
 b The heart is the fountain of life and heat to the whole body, and the feat 
 •f the paGions. 
 
 H XXVII. 
 
so THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XXVIL 
 
 Clofe to Kerdia, c Pneumon takes his feat, 
 
 Built of a lighter frame and fpungy mould : 
 Hence rife freQi airs, to fan Kerdia 's heat, 
 
 Temp'ring thofe burning fumes with moderate cold: 
 Itfelf of larger fize, diflended wide, 
 In divers flreets, and out-ways multipli'd ; 
 Yet in one corporation all are jointly ty'd. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 Fitly 'tis cloth'd with d hangings thin and light, 
 Left too much weight might hinder motion : 
 His chiefefl ufe, to frame the voice aright ; 
 
 (The voice which publifhes each hidden notion) 
 And for that end a lengthen'd pipe e defcends. 
 (Which here itfelf, in many leMer fpends) 
 Until, low at the foot of Cepkal's mount it ends. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 This pipe was made for th' air's fafe purveyance,. 
 
 To fit each feveral voice with perfect found ; 
 Therefore of divers matter the conveyance 
 Is finely fram'd ; the firft in circles round, 
 In hundred circles bended, hard and dry, 
 (For wat'ry foftnefs is found's enemy) 
 Not altogether clofe, yet meeting very nigh. 
 
 c The Pneumon, or lungs, is neareft the heart ; whofe flefh is light and fpungy, 
 and are very large. They are the inftruments of breathing and fpeaking, divided 
 irrto many parcels, yet all united into one body. 
 
 d The lungs are covered with a light, and very thin tunicle, left it might hinder 
 their motion. 
 
 e The wind-pipe, which is framed partly of cartikiges, or griftly matter, becaufe 
 the voice is perfected with hard and fmooth things (thefe cartilages are compofed 
 like a ring) and partly of fkin, which tie the gri files together. 
 
 XXX. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. n 
 
 XXX. 
 
 The fecond's drought and hardncfs fomewhat lefs, 
 
 But fmooth, and pliable, with eafe extending, 
 Fills up the diftant circle's emptinefs ; 
 All in one body jointly comprehending : 
 
 The f lafl moft foft, which where the circle's icanted, 
 Not fully met, fupplies what they have wanted ; 
 Not hurting tender parts, which next to this are planted. 
 
 XXXI. 
 Upon the top doth ftand the pipes fafe * cov'r, 
 
 Made for the voice's better modulation : 
 Above it fourteen careful warders hov'r, 
 Which fliut and open it on each occafion : 
 The cov'r in four parts itfelf dividing, 
 Of ilubftance hard, fit for the voice's guiding; 
 One (till unmov'd (in Thelu double oft) redding. 
 
 XXXII. 
 Clofe h by this pipe, runs that great channel down, 
 
 Which from high Ctpkal\ mount, twice every day 
 Brings to Koilia due provifion : 
 
 Straight at whofe i mouth a flood-gate flops the way, 
 Made like an ivy leaf, broad, angle fafhion ; 
 Of matter hard, fitting his operation, 
 For fwallowing, quick to fall, and rife for refpiration. 
 
 { And becaufe the rings of the griftles do not wholly meet, this fpace is 
 made up by mufcles, that fo the meat-pipe adjoining, might not be galled or hurt. 
 
 s The Larynx, or covering of the wind-pipe, is a griftly iubftance, paited into 
 four griflles ; of which the firft is ever unmoved, and in women often double. 
 
 h Adjoining to it, is the Oefophagus, or meat-pipe, conveying meats and drinks 
 to the ftomach. 
 
 J At whofe end is the Epiglottis or cover of the throat ; the principal infti la- 
 ment of tuning, and changing the voice ; and therefore griftly, that it might fooner 
 fall when we fwallow and rife when we breathe. 
 
 H 2 XXXIII. 
 
5* THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 But fee, the fmoke mounting in village nigh, 
 
 With folded wreaths, fteals through the quiet air ; 
 And mix'd with dufky (hades, in eaftern fky, 
 Begins the night, and warns us home repair : 
 
 Bright Vefper now hath chang'd his name, and place, 
 And twinkles in the heav'ns with doubtful face : 
 Home then, my full fed lambs; the night comes on apace. 
 
 
 CANTO 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 CANTO V. 
 
 I. 
 
 T) Y this the old night's head (grown hoary grey) 
 
 -*-* Foretold that her approaching end was near ; 
 
 And gladfome birth of the fucceeding day, 
 Lent a new glory to our hemifphere : 
 The early fwains falute the infant ray, 
 Then drove the ewes to feed, the lambs to play : 
 
 And Thirfd with night's death, revives his morning lay. 
 
 IL 
 
 The higheft region in this little isle, 
 
 Is both the island's, and Creator's glory: 
 Ah ! then, my lowly mufe, and rugged ftyle, 
 
 How durft thou pencil out this wondrous ftory ? 
 Oh thou ! who mad'ft this goodly regiment 
 So heav'nly fair, of bafeft element, 
 Make this inglorious verfe, thy glory's infrxument. 
 
 III. 
 
 So fhall my flagging mufe to heav'n afpire, 
 
 Where with thyfelf, thy fellow-fhepherd fits ; 
 And warm her pinions at that heav'nly fire ; 
 But, ah ! fuch height no earthly fhepherd fits : 
 Then be content within tfcs humble vale, 
 On (lender reeds to fing a {lender tale. 
 A little boat will need as little fail and gale. 
 
 IV. 
 The third precinft, the bell and chief of all, 
 
 Tho' leaft in compafs, and of narrow fpace, 
 Was therefore fram'd like heav'n fpherical, 
 
 Of largeft figure, and of lovelieft grace : 
 
 53 
 
 Tho 
 
54 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Tho' fhap'd at firft, the a leaft of all the three ; 
 Yet higheft fet in place, as in degree ; 
 And over all the reft bore rule and fovereignty. 
 
 V. 
 So of three parts, fair Europe is the leaft, 
 
 In which this earthly ball was firft divided ; 
 Yet ftronger far, and nobler than the reft, 
 Where victory, and learned arts refided ; 
 And by the Greek and Roman monarchy 
 Sway'd both the reft ; now prefs'd by flavery 
 Of Mo/cozvy and the haughty Turkifu tyranny* 
 
 VI. 
 
 Here all the b fenfes dwell, and all the arts ; 
 
 And learned mufes by their filvef fpring : 
 The c city fever'd in two divers parts, 
 
 Within the walls, and fuburbs neighbouring ; 
 The fuburbs girt but with the common fence, 
 Founded with wondrous fkill, and great expence; 
 And therefore beauty here, keeps her chief reffdence. 
 
 VII. 
 
 And fure for ornament, and buildings rare, 
 
 Lovely afpecl:, and ravifhing delight, 
 Not all the isle or world, with this can pair; 
 But in the Tkelu is the faireft fight : 
 
 Thefe fuburbs many call the island's face; 
 Whofe charming beauty, and bewitching grace, 
 Oft times the d prince himfelf inthralls in fetters bafe. 
 
 a The head, of thefe three regions is the leaft, but nobleft in frame and office, 
 moft like to heaven, being higheft in this little v/orld, as alfo, in figure, being round. 
 
 h The brain is the feat of the mind and fenfes. 
 
 c The head is divided into the city and fuburbs ; the brain within the wall, 
 and the face 'without. 
 
 d The mind. 
 
 VIII. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 55 
 
 VIII. 
 For as this isle is a fhort fummary 
 
 Of all that in this * All is wide difpread ; 
 So th' island's face is the isle's epitome, 
 
 Where e'en the prince's thoughts are often read : 
 For when that ALL had finifh'd every kind, 
 And all his works wou'd in lefs. volume bind, 
 Fair on the face he wrote the index of the mind. 
 
 IX. 
 Fair are the fuburbs ; yet to clearer fight, 
 
 The city's felf ! s more fair and excellent : 
 A thick-grown wood, not pierc'd with any light, 
 Yields it .defence, but greater ornament : 
 The divers colour 'd trees and frefli array 
 Much grace the town, but moll the T&clu gay : 
 Yet all in winter turn to fnow, and foon decay. 
 
 X. 
 Like to fome {lately work, whofe quaint devices, 
 
 And giitt'ring turrets with much cunning dight, 
 The gazer's eye ftill more and more entices, 
 Of th' inner rooms to get a fuller fight ; 
 
 Whofe beauty much more wins his raviih'd heart, 
 That now he only thinks the outward part, 
 To be a worthy cov'ring of fo fair an art. 
 
 XL 
 
 Four fev'ral e walls, befide the common guard, 
 For more defence the city round embrace : 
 
 The firft thick, foft ; the fecond, dry and hard; 
 
 As when foft earth before hard ftone we place : 
 
 * See ftaaza xlviii, line 3, canto 1. 
 
 e Befide the common tuniples of the body, the brain is covered, firft, with the 
 bone of the fkull ; fecondly, with the pejric rani una. or fkin, -covering the fkull ; and 
 thirdly, with two inward (kins. 
 
 The 
 
$6 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 The fecond all the city round en cafes, 
 And, like a rock with thicker fides, embraces ; 
 For here the prince, his court, and Handing palace places. 
 
 XII. 
 
 The other r two, of matter thin and light ; 
 
 And yet the firft much harder than the other ; 
 Both cherifh all the city : therefore right, 
 
 They call that hard, and this the tender mother. 
 The g firft with divers crooks, and turnings wry, 
 Makes this fair town in four divifions lie : 
 But both join to refill th' invading enemy. 
 
 XIII. 
 Next thefe, the buildings yield themfelves to fight ; 
 The h outward foft, and pale, like afhes look ; 
 The inward parts more hard, and curdv white : 
 
 Their matter both, from th' isle's firft matter took; 
 Nor cold, nor hot : heats, needful flecp infeft, 
 Cold numbs the workmen ; middle temper's beft ; 
 When kindly warmth fpeeds work, and cool gives timely reft. 
 
 XIV. 
 Within the ' centre (as a market-place) 
 
 Two caverns ftarid, made like the moon half fpent ; 
 Of fpecial ufe, for in their hollow fpace 
 
 All odours to their judge themfelves prefent : 
 Here firft are born the fpirits animal, 
 Whofe matter, almoft immaterial, 
 Refembles heavens matter quinteflential. * 
 
 f Thefe two are called the hard and tender mother. 
 
 8 The whole fubftance of the brain is divided into four parts by divers folds of 
 the inward fkin. 
 
 k The outfide of the brain is fofter, and of an afhy colour ; the inward part 
 white and harder. 
 
 1 Almoft in the middle of the brain, are two hollow places, like half moons, 
 of much ufe for preparing the fpirits, receiving odours, &c. 
 
 XV. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 57 
 
 XV. 
 Hard by an k hundred nimble workmen {land, 
 
 Thefe noble fpirits readily preparing ; 
 Lab 'ring to make them thin, and fit to hand, 
 With never ended work, and fleeplefs caring : 
 Hereby two little hillocks jointly rife, 
 Where fit two judges clad in feemly guife, 
 That cite all odours here, as to their jufl aflize. 
 
 XVI. 
 Next thefe a l wall, built all of fapphires, mining t 
 
 As fair, more precious ; hence it takes its name ; 
 By which the m third cave lies, his fides combining 
 To th' other two, and from them hath his frame ; 
 (A meeting of thofe former cavities) 
 Vaulted by three fair arches fafe it n lies, 
 And no oppreffion fears, or falling tyrannies. 
 
 XVII. 
 By this "third cave, the humid city drains 
 
 Bafe noifome ftrcams, the milky ftreets annoying ; 
 And through a wide mouth'd tunnel duly drains, 
 
 Unto a p bibbing fubflance down convoying ; 
 
 k Here is a knot of veins and arteries weaved together ; by which the animal 
 fpirits are conco&ed, thinned, and fitted for fervice : and clofe by, are too little 
 bunches, like teats, the instruments of fmclling. 
 
 1 Next is that Septum Lucidum, or bright wall, fevering thefe hollow caverns. 
 
 10 The third cavity is nothing elfe but a meeting of the two former : 
 
 * It lies under Ccrpus Cameratum, or the chamber fubftance, which with three 
 arches, bears up the whole weight of the brain. 
 
 ° By the third cavity are two parages, and at the end of the firft is the tunnel, 
 under which is the rheum kernel, as a fpunge fucking the rheums, and difUUing 
 them into the palate. 
 
 * i. e. Often frppir.g. 
 
 T Which 
 
5 8 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Which t'.iefe foul dropping humours largely fwills, 
 Till all his fwelling fnunge he greedy fills, 
 And then thro' other finks, by little, foft diilills. 
 
 XVIII. 
 Between q this and the fourth cave lies a vale, 
 
 (The fourth ; the firft in worth, in rank the laft) 
 Where two round hills fhut in this pleafant dale, 
 Through which the fpirits thither fafe are paft; 
 Thofe here refm'd, their full perfection have, 
 And therefore clofe hy this r fourth wondrous cave, 
 Rifes that filver well, feat 'ring his milky wave. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Not that bright fpring, where fair Hermaphrodite 
 
 Grew into one with wanton Salmacis ; 
 Nor that where Biblis dropt, too fondly light, 
 
 Her tears and felf, may dare compare with this ; 
 Which s here beginning, down a lake defcends, 
 Whofe rocky channel thefe fair ftreams defends, 
 Till it the precious wave through all the isle extendi. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Many fair l rivers take their heads from either/ 
 
 (Both from the lake, and from the milky well) 
 Which ilill in loving channels run together, 
 Each to his mate, a neighbour parallel : 
 
 Thus widely fpread with friendly combination, 
 They call about their wondrous operation, 
 And give to every part both motion and fenfation. 
 
 * The other paffage reaches to the fourth cavity, -which yields a fafa way for 
 the fpirits. 
 
 r The fourth cavity is mod noble, where all the fpirits are perfected. 
 
 * The pith, or marrow, fpringing in the brain, flows down through the back 
 bone. 
 
 * All the nerves imparting all fenfe and motion to the whole body, have their 
 root, partly from the brain, and partly from the back bone. 
 
 XXI. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 5 ej 
 
 XXI. 
 
 This u filver lake, firft from th' head-city fpringing, 
 
 To that bright fount four little channels fends ; 
 Through which it thither plenteous water bringing, 
 Straight all again to every place diftends : 
 Such is th' head-city, fuch the prince's hall ; 
 Such, and much more, which ftrangely libera^ 
 Tho' fenfe it never had, yet gives all fenfe to all. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Of other Huff the fuburbs have their framing ; 
 
 May feem fo ft marble, fpotted red and white : 
 Firft w ftands an arch, pale Cynthia 's brightnefs (naming, 
 The city's fore front, call in filver bright : 
 
 At whofe proud bafe, are built two watching tow'rs, 
 Whence hate and love fkirmifh with equal pow'rs, 
 When fmiling gladnefs mines, and fullen forrow fhow'rs. 
 
 XXIII. 
 Here x fits retir'd the filent reverence; 
 
 And when the prince incens'd with anger's fire, 
 Thunders aloud, he darts his lightening hence : 
 Here dufky reddilh clouds foretell his ire : 
 Of nothing can this isle more boaft aright : 
 A twin-born fun, a double feeing light • 
 With much delight they fee ; are feen with much delight. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 That y Thracian fhepherd call'd them nature's glafs ; 
 
 Yet than a glafs, in this much worthier being : 
 Blind glafies reprefent fome near fet face, 
 
 But this a living glafs, both feen and feeing : 
 
 a The pith of the backbone, fpringing from the brain, vhence, by fourp3fTa> 
 ;es, it is conveyed into the back. ' 
 w The firft part of the face is the forehead, at whofe bafe are the eyes, 
 * The eyes arc the index of the mind, difcovering ever;.- aftc&OH. 
 » Orpheus. 
 
 I 2 Like 
 
6^ THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Like z heav'n in moving, like in heav'nly firing ; 
 Sweet heat and light, no burning flame infpiring : 
 Yet, ah ! too oft we find, they fcorch with hot defiring. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 They mounted high, fit on a lofty hill ; 
 
 (For they the prince's beft intelligence ! 
 And quickly warn of future good, or ill) 
 Here ftands the palace of the nobleft fenfe : 
 
 Here a Vifus keeps, whofe court, than cryftal fmoother, 
 And clearer feems ; he, tho* a younger brother, 
 Yet far more noble is, far fairer than the other. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Six b bands are fet to ftir the moving tow'r : 
 
 The firfl the proud band call'd, that lifts it high'r ; 
 The next the humble band, that moves it low 'r; 
 The bibbing third, draws it together nigh'r ; 
 The fourth difdainful, oft away is moving: 
 The other two, helping the compafs roving, 
 Are called the circling trains and wanton bands of loving. 
 
 XXVII. 
 Above, c two compafs groves (love's bended bows) 
 
 Which fence the tow'rs from floods of higher place : 
 Before, a d wall, deluding rufning foes, 
 
 That fhuts and opens in a moment's fpace : 
 
 The low part fix'd, the higher quick defcending ; 
 
 Upon whofe tops, fpear-men their pikes intending. 
 
 Watch there both night and day, the caftle's port defending. 
 
 * Plato affirmed, they were lighted up with heavenly fire, not burning, but 
 fhining. 
 
 • * Vifus, or the fight, is the nobleft of all the fenfes. 
 
 * Thefe are fix mufcles moving the eye, thus termed by anatomifts. 
 e Above are the eye-brows, keeping off the fweat. 
 
 d The eye-lids fcrve to keep off duff and flies. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. Ci 
 
 xxviin. 
 
 Three c divers lakes within thefe bulwarks lie, 
 The nobleft parts, and inftruments of light ; 
 The firft, receiving forms of bodies nigh, 
 
 Conveys them to the next, and breaks the light, 
 Damping his ralh, and forcible invafion ; 
 And with a clear and whitilh inundation, 
 Retrains the nimble fpirits from their too quick evauon, 
 
 XXIX. 
 In midft of both is plac'd the f cryflal pond; 
 
 Whofe living water thick, and brightlv Ihining, 
 Like fapphires, or the fparkling diamond, 
 
 His inward beams with outward light combining, 
 Alt'ring itfelf to every fhape's afpect; 
 The divers forms doth further ftill direct, 
 Till by the nimble poft they're brought to th' intellect. 
 
 XXX. 
 The 8 third, like molten glafs, all clear and white, 
 
 Both round embrace the noble cryftalline. 
 Six h inward walls fence in this tow'r of fight : 
 The firft, moft thick, doth all the frame enfhrme, 
 And girts the caflle with a clofe embrace, 
 Save in the midft, is left a circle's fpace, 
 Where light, and hundred fhapes, Hock out and in apace. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 The ' fecond not fo ma fly as the oth'r, 
 
 Yet thicker than the reft, and tougher fram'd, 
 
 Takes his beginning from that harder moth'r; 
 The outward part like horn, and thence is nam'd ; 
 
 e There are three humours in the eye : the firft the watery, breaking thetos 
 vehement light, and flopping the fpirits from going oat too faft. 
 
 f The fecond is the cryftalline, and is the chief inftrument of fight. 
 
 e The third, from its likenefs, is called the glafTy humour. 
 
 b There are fix tumcles belonging to the eye, the firft called the conjunctive, 
 fdlid; thick, compaffing the whole eye, except the black window. 
 
 » The feconti is cornea ov horny tunick, traufparcnt, & made of diehard mother. 
 
 Through 
 
62 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Through whofe transparent fides much light is borne 
 Into the tow'r, and much kept out by th' horn ; 
 Makes it a pleafant light, much like the ruddy morn. 
 
 XXXII. 
 The k third of fofter mculd, is like a grape, 
 
 Which all entwines in his encircling fide : 
 In midft, a window lets in every fnape ; 
 
 Winch with a thought is narrow made, or wide : 
 His inmoft fide more black than ftarlefs night; 
 But outward part (how like an hypocrite ! ) 
 As painted Iris looks, with various colours dight. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 The l fourth of fineft work, more flight and thin, 
 
 Than, or Arackne (which in filken twine 
 With Pallas ftrove) or Pallas' 1 felf cou'd fpin : 
 This round enwraps the fountain cryftallme. 
 The m next is made out of that milky fpring, 
 That from the Cephal mount his waves doth fling, 
 Like to a curious net his fubftance fcattering. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 His fubftance as the head fpring perfect white ; 
 
 Here thoufand nimble fpies are round difpread : 
 The forms caught in this net, are brought to fight, 
 And to his eyes are lively pourtrayed. 
 
 The n laft the glaffy wall (that round encafing 
 The moat of glafs, is nam'd from that enlacing) 
 The white and glaffy wells, parts with his ftrict. embracing. 
 
 k The third is Uvea, or grapy, made of the tender mother, thin and pervious 
 by a fmall round window ; is diverfly coloured without, but exceeding black 
 within. 
 
 1 The fourth is thinner than any cobweb, comparing the cryftalline humour. 
 
 01 The fifth reticular, is a netty tunicle, framed of the fubftance of the brain. 
 
 * The fixth is called the glaffy tunicle, clafping in the glaffy humour. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 65 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 Thus then is fram'd the noble Vifus' bow'r; 
 
 Th' outward light by the firft wall's circle fending 
 His beams and hundred forms into the tow'r, 
 
 The wall of horn, and that black gate tranfcending, 
 Is lighted by the brighteft cryftalline, 
 And fully View'd in that white net entwin'd °, 
 From thence with th' utmoft hafte is polled to the mind. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 Like to a chamber, darken'd as with night, 
 
 Saving the fide, adverfe to th' Scoptric Ball p 
 Which gives a narrow paffage to the light, 
 
 Is fpread with fome white tap'ftry 'gain ft the wall ; 
 An hundred fhapes that thro' the air do ftray, 
 Rufh boldly in, pafTing that narrow way ; 
 And divers figures there, in colours bright difplay. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 Two q pair of rivers from the head fpring flow, 
 
 To thefe two tow'is, the firft in their mid-race 
 (The fpies conveying) twifted jointly go, 
 
 Strengthening each other with a firm embrace. 
 The r oth'r pair, thefe walking tow 'rs are moving; 
 At firft but one, then in two channels roving : 
 And therefore both agree in ftanding or removing. 
 
 • See ftanza xxxiv. of this canto, line 3. 
 
 P Herein is defcribed the Carrara Obfcura, a well known machine in optica, 
 which exhibit the pictures of external objects in their proper colours, by means of 
 a convex glafs, or Scicptric Bail, either in a darkened chamber, or portable box. 
 
 * The eye hath two nerves, the optic or feeing nerve, and the moving one; 
 ihe optic fcparate in their root, in the midft of their progrefs meet, and ftrengthen 
 one another. 
 
 r The moving, rifing from the fame ftexa, are at length fevered ; therefore at 
 one moves, fo move* the otherv 
 
 XXXVIII, 
 
Gf THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 Auditus \ fecond of the Pentarchy \ 
 
 Is next, not quite fo noble as his brother ; 
 Yet of more need, and more conveniency : 
 His feat is plac'd fomewhat below the other : 
 On each fide of the mount's a double cave ; 
 Both which a goodly portal doth embrave, 
 And winding entrance, like Maatider's erring wave. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 The "portal hard and dry, all hung around 
 
 With filken, thin, carnation tapeftry ; 
 Whofe open gate lets in each voice and found, 
 That thro* the fhaken air is paiTing by : 
 The entrance winding, left fome violence 
 Might fright the judge with hidden influence, 
 Or fome unwelcome gueft, might vex the bufy fenfe. 
 
 XL. 
 This w cave's firft part, fram'd with a flcep afcent, 
 
 (For in four parts 'tis fitly fevered) 
 Makes th' entrance hard, but eafy the defcent : 
 Where flands a braced drum, whofe founding head 
 (Obliquely plac'd] (truck by the circling air, 
 Gives inftant warning of each found's repair, 
 Which foon is thence convey'd unto the judgment chair. 
 
 XLI. 
 The x drum is made of fubilance hard and thin : 
 
 Which if fome falling moifture chance to wet, 
 The loudefl found is hardly heard within : 
 
 But if it once grow thick, with ilubborn let, 
 
 * Hearing is the fecond fen fe, lefs noble than the Tight, but more needful. 
 » The five fenfes. 
 
 u The outward ear is of a griftly matter, covered with the common tunicle ; it i« 
 framed of many crooks, left the air fhould enter too forcibly. 
 
 * The inward ear confifta of lour paffages, the firft is deep, left any thing fhould 
 civer in. 
 
 * If the drum be wet with the falling of the rheum, we are hard of hearing; 
 if.thick, irrecoverably deaf. 
 
 It 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 6$ 
 
 It bars all paffage to the inner room ; 
 No founding voice unto his feat may come : 
 The lazy fenfe ftill fleeps, unfummon'd with his drum. 
 
 XLII. 
 This ▼ drum divides the firfl and fecond part, 
 In which three hearing inflruments refide ; 
 Three inflruments compact with wondrous art. 
 With (lender firing knit to the drum's infide ; 
 Their native temper being hard and dry, 
 Fitting the found with their firm quality, 
 Continue ftill the fame in age and infancy. 
 
 XLIII. 
 The firfl an z hammer calPd, whofe out-grown fides 
 
 Lie on the drum ; but with his fwelling end 
 Fix'd in the hollow ftith, there fafl abides : 
 
 The ftith's fhort foot, doth on the drum depend, 
 His longer in the flirrup furely plac'd ; 
 The flirrup's fharp fide by the ftith embrac'd ; 
 But his broad bafe ty'd to a little window fafl. 
 
 XLIV. 
 Two a little windows ever open lie, 
 
 The found unto the cave's third part conveving; 
 And flendcr pipe, whofe narrow cavity, 
 
 Doth purge the inborn air, that idle flaying, 
 
 Would elfe corrupt, and ftill fupplies the fpending: 
 The cave's third part in twenty by-ways bending, 
 Is call'd the labyrinth, in hundred crooks afcending, 
 
 y The drum parteth the firfl and fecond paffage. To it are joined three little 
 bones, the inflruments of hearing ; which never grow, or decreafc, in childhood 
 or age : they are all in the fecond pafTage. 
 
 1 The hammer, ftith v 'or anvil) and flirrup. all take their names from their 
 likrnefs ; and arc all tied to the drum by a fmall firing. 
 
 1 Thefe are two fmall pafoges, admitting the founds into the head, and cleaning 
 the air. 
 
 K XLV, 
 
66 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XLV. 
 
 Such long ago was that deceiving frame, 
 
 Which crafty Dadal with a cunning hand 
 Bnilt to enclofe the Cretan prince's fhame : 
 
 Such was that JVoodftock cave, where Rqfamond, 
 Fair Ro/amond, fled jealous Ellenorc, 
 Whom late a poet taught to weep fo fore, 
 That woods and hardeft rocks, her harder fate deplore. 
 
 XLVI. 
 The third part with his narrow rocky {traits 
 
 Perfects the found, and gives more fharp accenting ; 
 Then fends it to the b fourth ; wliere ready waits 
 A nimble poft, who ne'er hishafte relenting, 
 Makes to the judgment-feat with fpcedy flight ; 
 There the juft judge attending day and night, 
 Receives the ent'ring founds, and dooms each voice aright, 
 
 XLVII. 
 As when a Hone falls in the quiet waters, 
 
 Prints in the troubled ftream a circle round, 
 Which foon another and another fcatters, 
 
 Till ali the lake with circles now is crown'd : 
 Juft fo the air when ftrickeu forcibly, 
 Begets a world of circles in the Iky ; 
 All which inflected move with founding quality. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 Thefe at Auditus palace foon arriving, 
 
 Enter the gate, and ftrike the warning drum; 
 To thofe, three inftruments fit motion giving, 
 
 Which every voice difcern: tYmn that third room 
 Sharpens each found, and quick conveys it thence; 
 Till by the flying poft 'tis hurry 'd hence, 
 And in an inftant brought unto the judging fenfe. 
 
 b The lait patfage is called the Cochlea (fnail, or periwinkle) where the nerves 
 arine plainly appear. 
 
 • XLIX. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. G ? 
 
 XLIX. 
 This fcnfe is made the mafter of requefr, 
 
 Prefers petitions to the prince's ear ; 
 Admits what befl he likes, ftfuts out the reft ; 
 
 And fometimes cannot, ' • j will hot hear : 
 
 Oftimes he lets in anTer-ftirrint lies, 
 
 a p * 
 
 Oft melts the prince with oily flatteries. 
 Ill may he thrive, that loves his mailer's enemies ! 
 
 L. 
 
 'Twixt Vifus double court a tower frauds, 
 
 Plac'd in the fuburbs centre ; whofe high top, 
 And lofty raifed ridge the reft commands: 
 Low at his feet a double door Hands ope, 
 Admitting pafTage to the air's afcending ; 
 And divers odours to the city fending, 
 Revives the heavy town, his lib'ral fweets diftendirjg, 
 
 LI. 
 
 This vaulted tow'r's half built of maify (tone, 
 
 The other half of Huff lefs hard and dry, 
 Fit for diflending, or compreflion : 
 
 The outward wall mav feefh all pfrophyry. 
 OlfaHus ' dwell* : this lofty fort ; 
 
 But in the citv is his chief re 
 Where 'twixt two little hills he keeps his judging court. 
 
 LII. 
 
 By two great caves are nVd thefe l little hills, 
 
 Moll like the nipples of a virgin's breail ; 
 
 By which the air that tli' hollow tower fills, 
 
 Into the city pafleth : with the reft 
 
 The odours pre (Ting in, are here all flay'd; 
 
 Till by the fenfe impartially weigh'd, 
 
 Unto the common judge they are with fpeed convev'd. 
 
 c The fenfe of fire!!. d Thcfe are thofe twer little pjps or 
 
 leats fpoVen of in the xvth ftan/a of this cano. 
 
 K 2 LIIL 
 
68 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 LIII. 
 
 At each fide of that tow'r, ftand two e fair plains, 
 
 Mope fair than that in which rich Tkdjfaly 
 Was once frequented by the mufe's trains : 
 Here ever fits fweet-biufning modefty ; 
 Here in two colours beauty fhining bright, 
 Drefling her white with red, and red with white, 
 With pleafing thraldom chains, and binds loofe wand'ring fight. 
 
 LIV. 
 Below a cave, roof ? d with an heav'n-like plafter, 
 
 And under ftrew'd with purple tapeftry, 
 Where Guftus f dwells, the isle's and prince's tafter, 
 Koilias fteward, one of the Pentarcky ; 
 
 Whom g TaSius (fome affirm) got of his mother : 
 For by their neareft likenefs one to th' other, 
 TaSIus may eas'ly feem his father, and his brother. 
 
 LV. 
 TaBus the laft, but yet the eldeft brother ; 
 
 (Whofe office meaneft, yet of all the race 
 The firft and laft, more needful than the other) 
 Hath his abode in none, yet every place : 
 Thro' all the isle extended is his dwelling; 
 He rules the ftreams that from the Cejjhal fwelling, 
 Run all along the isle, both fenfe and motion dealing. 
 
 LVI. 
 With Guftus, Lingua h dwells, his prattling wife, 
 Endow'd with ftrange and advei fe qualities : 
 The nurfe of hate and love, of peace and ftrife; 
 Mother of faireft truth, and fouleft lies, 
 
 Or beft, or worn; no mean: made all of fire, 
 Which fometimes hell, and fometimes heav'n infpire, 
 By whom truth's felf oft fpeaks, oft that firft murdering liar. 
 
 f> The cheeks. f CuJIus 3 or the tafte, is in the palate. 
 
 x TafluSf the fenfe of feeling. b The tongue. 
 
 LVII. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 69 
 
 LVII. 
 
 The idle fun flood frill at her command, 
 
 Breathing his fiery ileeds in Gibeon : 
 And pale-fac'd Cynthia at her word made Hand, 
 Refting her coach in vales of Ajalon. 
 
 Her voice oft open breaks the ftubborn flues, 
 And holds th' Almighty's hands with fuppliant cries : 
 Her voice tears open hell with horrid blafphemies. 
 
 LVIII. 
 
 Therefore that great Creator, well forefeeing 
 
 To what a moniler fhe wou'd foon be changing, 
 (Tho' lovely once, perfect and glorious being) 
 
 Curb'd her with iron j bit, and held from ranging ; 
 And with ftrong bonds her loofer fteps enchaining. 
 Bridling her courfe, too many words refraining, 
 And doubled all his guards, bold liberty reftraining. 
 
 LIX. 
 
 For clofe within he fets twice fixteen k guarders, 
 
 Whofe harden'd temper cou'd not foon be mov'd : 
 Without the gate he plac'd two other warders, 
 To fhut and ope the door, as it behov'd : 
 
 But fitch flrange force hath her enchanting art, 
 That (he hath made her keepers of her part, 
 And the}* to all her flights all furtherance impart. 
 
 LX. 
 Thus (with their help) by her the facred mufes 
 
 Refrefh the prince, dull'd with much bufmefs ; 
 By her the prince, unto his prince oft ufes, 
 In heav'nly throne, from hell to find accefs. 
 She heav'n to earth in mufic often brines, 
 And earth to heav'n : — but oh, how fweet fhe fings. 
 When in rich grace's kev, fhe tunes poor nature's fhrincrs. 
 
 ' The tongue is held with a ligament called the bridle. 
 
 k It is guarded by the teeth and lips, bo:h w&chhelp ?.nd fweetcfl the ••oice." 
 
 LXI. 
 
yo THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 LXI. 
 Thus Orpheus won his loft Eundice ; 
 
 Whom fome deaf fnake, that cou'd no mufic hear, 
 Or fome blind newt 1 , that cou'd no beauty fee, 
 Thinking to kifs, kill'd with his forked fpear : 
 He, when his plaints on earth were vainly fpent, 
 Down to Avermu river boldlv went, 
 And charm'd the meagre ghofts with mournful blandishment. 
 
 LXII. 
 There what his mother, fair Calliope, 
 
 From Phoebus harp and mufes fpring had brought him ; 
 What fharpefl grief for his Euridice, 
 
 And love, redoubling grief, had newly taught him, 
 He lavifh'd out, and with his potent fpell 
 Bent all the rig'rous pow'rs of ftubborn hell : 
 He firft brought pity down with rigid ghofts to dwell. 
 
 LXIII. 
 Th' amazed (hades came flocking round about, 
 Nor car'd they now to pafs the Stygian ford : 
 All hell came running there (an hideous rout) 
 And dropp'd a filent tear for ev'ry word : 
 The aged ferryman fhov'd out his boat ; 
 But that without his help did thither float, 
 And having took him in, came dancing on the moat. 
 
 LXIV. 
 
 The hungry Tantal might have fill'd him now ; 
 
 And with large draughts fwill'd in the ftanding pool : 
 The fruit hung lift'mng on the wond'ring bough, 
 Forgetting hell's command ; but he (ah, fool !) 
 Forgot his ftarved tafte, his ears to fill : 
 Ixions turning wheel at length flood ftill ; 
 But he was rapt as much with pow'rful mufic's fkill. 
 
 1 A fort of lizard. 
 
 LXV, 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 7* 
 
 LXV. 
 Tir'd Sifyphus fat on his refting ftone, 
 
 And hop'd at length his labour done for ever : 
 The vulture feeding on his pleafing moan, 
 Glutted with mufic, fcorn'd Tityus* liver. 
 The furies flung their fnaky whips away, 
 And melt in tears, at his enchanting lay; 
 No wailings now were heard ; all hell kept holiday. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 That treble dog, whofe voice ne'er quiet fears 
 
 All that in endlefs night's fad kingdom dwell ; 
 Stood pricking up his thrice two lifl'ning ears, 
 With greedy joy drinking the facred fpell ; 
 And foftly whining pity'd much his wrongs ; 
 And now nrft filent at thofe dainty fongs, 
 Oft wifh'd himfelf more ears, and fewer mouths and tongues. 
 
 LXVII. 
 At length return'd with his Euridice ; 
 
 But with this law, never to turn his eve, 
 Till he was paft the bounds of Tartary ; 
 (Alas! who gives love laws in mifery ? 
 
 Love is love's law ; love but to love is ty'd). 
 Now when the dawn of the next day he fpy'd, 
 Ah, wretch ! — Euridice he faw, — and loft, — and died. 
 
 LXV III. 
 Juft fo, who itrives from grave of hellifh night, 
 To bring his dead foul to the joyful Iky ; 
 If when he comes in view of heav'nly light, 
 He turns again to hell his yielding eye*, 
 
 And longs to fee what he had left ; his fore 
 Grows defp'rate, deeper, deadlier than before: 
 His help:; and hopes much lefs, his crime and judgment more. 
 
 LXLX. 
 
72 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 LXIX. 
 
 But why do I enlarge my tedious fong, 
 
 And tire ray flagging mufe with weary flight ? 
 Ah! much I fear, I hold you much too long. 
 The outward parts are plain to every fight : 
 But to defcribe the people of this isle, 
 And that great m prince, thefe reeds are all too vile. 
 Some higher verfe may fit, and fome more loftv llyle. 
 
 LXX. ' 
 See,Pklego?i drenched in the liquid main, 
 
 Allays his thirft, and cools his flaming car ; 
 Vefper fair Cynthia ufhers, and her train : 
 See, th' apifh earth hath lighted many a ftar, 
 Sparkling in dewy globes : — all home invite : 
 Home then my flocks, home fheplierds, home, 'tis night 
 My fong with day is done ; my mufe fets with the light. 
 
 ■» The intellect. 
 
 CANTO 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 73 
 
 CANTO VI; 
 
 I. 
 
 r TPHE hours had now unbarr'd the gates of day, 
 •*■ When fair Aurora leaves her frofty bed, 
 Hafting with youthful Cephalus to play, 
 
 Unveil'd her face and rofy beauties fnread : 
 Tithonus filver age was much defpis'd. 
 Ah! who in love that cruel law devis'd, 
 That old love's little worth, and new too highly priz'd ? 
 
 II. 
 
 The gentle fhepherds on an hillock plac'd, 
 
 (Whofe fhady head a beechy garland crown'd) 
 View'd all their flocks that on the paftures graz'd : 
 When Thcnot rofe, the reft all fitting round ; 
 Thenot! was never fairer boy among 
 The gentle lads, that to the mufes throng 
 By Camus' yellow ftreams, to learn their pipe and fong, 
 
 III. 
 
 See, Thirfil, fee the fhepherd's expectation ; 
 
 Why then, ah ! why fit t ft thou fo filent there ? 
 We long to know that island's happy nation; 
 Oh, do not leave thy isle unpeopled here. 
 
 Tell us who brought, and whence thefe colonies ; 
 Who is their king, what foes, and what allies ; 
 What laws maintain their peace ; what wars, and victories ? 
 
 IV. 
 
 Thenot, my dear ; that fimple filher-fwain, 
 
 Whofe little boat in fome fmall river ftrays ; 
 Yet fondly launches in the fwelling main, 
 
 Soon, yet too late, repents his foolifh plays : 
 
 L How 
 
74 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 How dare I then my well-fet bounds forfake, 
 Whofe new-cut pipe as yet but harfh founds make ; 
 A narrow compafs lure my early mufe fhould take-. 
 
 y. 
 
 Two fhepherds moft I love, and do adore, 
 
 That a Mantuan fwain, who chang'd his (lender reed, 
 To the fhrill trumpet's voice, and wars loud roar, 
 From Cory don to Turnus daring deed ; 
 
 And next our home-bred b Colin, us infpiring ; 
 Their fteps not following clofe, but far, admiring : 
 To lackey one of thele, is all my pride's afpiring. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Then you, my peers, whofe quiet expectation 
 
 Doth feem my backward tale again t'invite ; 
 Now gently hear this Purple Island's nation, 
 A people never feen, yet ftill in fight; 
 
 Our daily guefts, and natives, yet unknown; 
 Our fervants born, but now commanders grown ; 
 Our friends, and enemies ; aliens, yet ftill our own. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Not like thofe heroes, who in better times 
 
 This happy island firfl inhabited 
 In joy and peace ; — when no rebellious crimes, 
 That Godlike nation yet had difpeopled: 
 
 Thofe claim'd their birth from that eternal light, 
 ,Held th' isle, and rul'd it in their father's right; 
 And in their faces {hone their parent's image bright. 
 
 VIII. 
 For when this isle that main chofe to forfake, 
 
 In which at firft it found a happy place, 
 And deep was plung'd in that dead hellifh lake ; 
 Back to their father fled this heav'nly race, 
 
 • Virgil. fc Spenfer. 
 
 And 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 75 
 
 And left the isle forlorn and defolate ; 
 That now with fear, and wifhes all too late, 
 Sought in that blackefl wave to hide his blacker fate. 
 
 IX. 
 Kow fhall a worm, on dixit i. and feeds, 
 
 Climb to th' empyreal court, where thefe ftates reign, 
 And there take view of what heavVs felf exceeds ? 
 Thofe flars fo bright, their lights the fun diftain : 
 Whofe beams divine, and beauties do excell 
 
 hat here on earth, in air, or heav'n do dwell : 
 never eye yet faw, fuch never tongue can tell. 
 
 X. 
 Soon as thefe faints the treacherous isle forfook, 
 
 RuhYd in a falfe, foul, fiend-like company, 
 And every fort, and every cafile took, 
 All to this rabble vield the fov'reignty : 
 
 The goodly temples which thofe heroes plac'd, 
 Bv this foul rout were utterly defac'd, 
 And all their fences flrong, and all their bulwarks raz'd. 
 
 XI. 
 
 So where the neateft badger moll abides ; 
 
 Deep in the -earth Fne frames her pretty cell, 
 Which into halls and clofets fhe divides : 
 
 But when the crafty fox with loathfome fmell 
 Infecls her pleafant cave, the cleanly beaft 
 So hates her inmate and rank fmelling gueft, 
 That far away fhe flies, and leaves her loathed nefL 
 
 XII. 
 But when thofe graces (at their father's throne) 
 
 In heav n's high court to juftice had complain'd, 
 How they were wrong'd, and forced from their own, 
 
 And what foul people in their dwellings reign'd ; 
 
 L 2 How 
 
76 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 How th' earth much wax'd in ill, much wan'd in good ; 
 How rampant vice ; how blafted virtue's bud : 
 Begging fuch vicious weeds might fink in vengeful flood : 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Forth ftepp'd the jufl c Diccca, full of rage ; 
 
 (The firft born daughter of th' Almighty King) 
 Ah, facred maid ! thy kindled ire aflwage ; 
 Who dare abide thy dreadful thundering ? 
 Soon as her voice, but father only, fpake, 
 The faultlefs heav'ns, like leaves in autumn, (hake ; 
 And all that glorious throng, with fear begin to quake ! 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Heard you not d late, with what loud trumpets found, 
 
 Her breath awak'd her father's fleeping ire ? 
 The heav'nly armies flamed, earth fhook, heav*n frown'd, 
 And heavYi's dread king call'd for his forked fire ! 
 Hark ! how the pow'rful words ft rike thro' the ear ; 
 The frighten'd fenfe moots up the Hairing hair, 
 And makes the trembling foul with fright and fhudd'nng fear, 
 
 XV. 
 So have I feen the earth, ilrong winds detaining 
 
 In prifon clofe ; they fcorning to be under 
 Her dull fubjeftion, and her pow'r difdaining, 
 With horrid ftrugglings tear their bonds afunder. 
 
 Mean while the wounded earth, that fore'd their flav, 
 With terror reels, the hills run far away ; 
 The world affrighted, fears hell's broke upon the day. 
 
 c According to heathen mytholygy, the daughter of Jupiter, the maiden goddcf* 
 of juflice and judgment. 
 
 < Sec the poem called thrift's Vittory, &c. part I, 
 
 XVL 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND, 77 
 
 XVI. 
 
 But fee, how 'twixt her filler and her fire, 
 Soft hearted mercy fweetly interpofmg, 
 Settles her panting breaft againfl his fire, 
 
 Pleading for grace, and chains of death unloofing : 
 Hark ! from her lips the melting honey flows ; 
 And heav'n's dread king doth ftraight recall his blows ; 
 And ever)' armed foldier down his weapon throws. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 So when the day, wrapp'd in a cloudy night, 
 
 Puts out the fun ; anon the rattling hail 
 On earth pours down his fhot with fell defpite : 
 Which being fpent, the fun puts off his vail, 
 And fair his flaming beauties now unfteeps ; 
 The ploughman from his bufhes gladly peeps ; 
 And hidden traveller, out of his covert creeps. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 Ah, faireft maid ! belt eflence of thy father, 
 
 Equal unto thy never equalFd fire ; 
 How in low verfe ihall thy poor fhepherd gather, 
 What all the world can ne'er enough admire ? 
 When thy fweet eyes fparkle in cheerful light, 
 The brighteft day grows pale as leaden night, 
 fad heav'ns bright burning eye lofes his wonted fight, 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Who then thofe fweeteil ftrains can underftand, 
 
 Which calm'd thy father, and our defp'rate fears ; 
 And charm'd the nimble light'ning in his hand, 
 That unawares it dropt in melting tears ? 
 
 Then thou dear e fwain, thy heav'nly load unfraught ; 
 For (he herfelf hath thee her fpeeches taught, 
 So near her heav'n they be, fo far from human thought. 
 
 • The author of Chrift's Viftoiy, &c, 
 
 XX. 
 
78 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XX. 
 
 But let my lighter fkiff return again 
 
 Unto that little isle which late it left, 
 Nor dare to enter on that boundlefs main, 
 Or tell the nation from this island reft; 
 But Ting that civil ftrife and home difTenfion 
 'Twixt two ftrong factions with like fierce contention, 
 Where peace they never know, nor peace do ev'n mention. 
 
 XXI. 
 For that foul rout, which from the Stygian brook,. 
 
 (Where firft they dwelt in midft of death and night) 
 By force the loft, and empty island took; 
 
 Claim hence full'conqueft, and pofTefiion's right : 
 But that fair band which mercy fent anew, 
 The afhes of that firft heroic crew r , 
 From their forefathers claim their right, and island's due, 
 
 XXII. 
 In their fair looks their parents grace appears, 
 
 Yet their renowned fires were much more glorious j 
 For what decays not with decaying years ? 
 All night, and all the day, with toil laborious, 
 (In lofs and conqueft angry) frefh they fight : 
 Nor can the other ceafe or day or night, 
 While th' isle is doubly rent with endlefs war and fright. 
 
 XXIII. 
 As when the Briti/k, and the Spanijli fleet, 
 
 With bold refolves, and fearlefs expectation, 
 On trembling feas with equal fury meet, 
 
 The fhore refounds with diverfe acclamation ; 
 Till now at length Spain's fiery dons dp fhrink : 
 Down with their fhips, hope, life, and courage fink : 
 Courage, life, hope, and fhips, the gaping furges drink. 
 f See the viitb ftanza of this canto- 
 
 XXIV. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 79 
 
 XXIV. 
 But who, alas ! fhall teach my ruder breaft 
 
 The names and deeds of thefe heroic kings ; 
 Or downy mufe, which now but left the neft, 
 
 Mount from her bum to heav'n with new born wings ? 
 Thou facred maid ! which from fair Pakjlvnc, 
 Thro' all the world haft fpread thy brightefl fhine, 
 With thy light flaming eyes kindle this breaft of mine. 
 
 XXV. 
 Sacred Tkefpio ! which in Sinai's grove 
 
 Firft took'ft thy being and immortal breath, 
 And vaunt'ft thy offspring from the higheft Jove, 
 Yet deign 'ft to dwell with mortals here beneath, 
 With vileft earth, and men more vile refiding; 
 Come, holy virgin, to my bofom gliding ; 
 With thy glad angel light my blind-fold footfteps guiding. 
 
 XXVI. 
 And thou, dread fpirit ! which at firft didft fpread 
 
 On thofe dark waters thy all-opening light ; * 
 
 I hou who of late (by thy great bounty led) 
 This neft of hellifh fogs, and Stygian night, 
 With thy bright orient fun hail fair renew'd, 
 And with unwonted day haft it endu'd ; 
 Which late, both day, and thee, and moll itfelf efchew'd. 
 
 XXVII. 
 Oh then, dread fpirit ! thofe fev'ral bands unfold ; 
 
 Both which thou fent'ft, a needful fupplement 
 To this loft isle, and which with courage bold, 
 Hourly a {Tail thy rightful government ; 
 
 And with ftrong hand opprefs and keep them under. 
 Raife now my humble vein to lofty thunder, 
 That heav'n and earth may both refound thy praife with 
 wonder. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
8o THE PURPLE ISLAND, 
 
 XXVIII. 
 The island's* prince, of frame celeflial, 
 Is rightly call'd th' all -feeing Intellect; 
 So bright, fuch nothing is terreftrial; 
 
 Whofe fun-like face, and moft divine afpe£r, 
 No human fight can poffibly defcry : 
 For when himfelf on's felf reflects his eye, 
 Dull, and amaz"d he Hands at fuch bright majefty. 
 
 XXIX. 
 Obferve the fun, whofe ray and fearching light, 
 Here, there, and every where itfelf difplays, 
 No nook or corner flies his piercing fight; 
 Yet on himfelf when he reflects his rays, 
 
 Soon back he flings the too bold vent'ring gleam ; 
 Down to the earth the flames all broken flream ; 
 Such .is this famous prince, fuch his unpierced beam. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Kis ftrangeft body is not bodily, 
 
 But matter without matter ; never fill'd, 
 Nor filling; tho' within his compafs high, 
 
 All heav'n and earth, and all in both are held ; 
 Yet thoufand thoufand heavens cou'd contain, 
 And frill as empty as at fir ft remain : 
 And when he takes in moft, readieft to take again. 
 
 XXXI. 
 Tho' travelling all places, changing none : 
 
 Bid him foarup to heav'n, and thence down throw, 
 The centre fearch, and Dis dark realm ; he's gone, 
 Returns, arrives, before thou faw'ft him go : 
 And while his weary kingdom doth repofe, 
 All night he watches to preferve from foes ; 
 Nor e'er upon himfelf he any reft bellows. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. *i 
 
 XXXII. 
 In ev'ry quarter of this blefled isle 
 
 Himfelf both prefent is, and prefident ; 
 Nor once retires 'ah, happy realm the while, 
 That by nq officers lewd lavifhment, 
 
 With greedy luft and wrongs confumed art !) 
 He all in* all, and all in ev'ry part, 
 Doth {hare to each his due, and equal dole impart. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 He knows nor deajh, nor years, nor feeble age ; 
 But as his time, his flrength and vigour grows : 
 And when his kingdom by inteftine rage, 
 Lies broke and wafted, open to his foes ; 
 
 And batter'd fconce now flat and even lies ; 
 Sooner than thought to that great judge he flies, 
 Who weighs him juft reward of good, or injuries. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 For he the judge's viceroy here is plac'd ; 
 Where if he lives, as knowing he may die ; 
 
 He never dies, but with frefh pleafures grac'd, 
 
 . Bathes his crown'd head in blefs'd eternity ; 
 
 Where thoufand joys and pleafures ever new, 
 And bleflings thicker than the morning dew, 
 
 With endlefs fweets rain down on that immortal crew *. 
 
 XXXV. 
 There golden ftars fet in the cryftal fnow ; 
 There dainty joys, laugh at uneafy care; 
 There day, no night, delight no end fhall know ; 
 Sweets without furfeit ; fulnefs without fpare ; 
 And by its fpending, grows in happinefs: 
 There God himfelf in glories lavifhnefs 
 DifTus'd in all, to all, is all full blelTednefs. 
 
 f i. e Company. 
 
 M XXXVI. 
 
$2 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 But if he here neglecls his matter's law, 
 
 And with thofe traitors 'gainft his Lord rebels, 
 Down to the deep ten thoufand fiends him draw ; 
 A deep, where night, and death, and horror dwells, 
 And in worft ills, ftill worfe expecting, fears : 
 Where fell defpite for fpite his bowels tears ; 
 And ftill increafmg grief, and torments endlefs bears. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 Pray'rs there are idle, death is woo'd in vain ; 
 
 In midft of death, poor wretches long to die : 
 Night without day, or reft, ftill doubling pain ; 
 
 Woes fpending ftill, yet ftill their end lefs nigh : 
 The foul tftere reftlefs, helplefs, hopelefs lies; 
 The body frying roars, and roaring fries : 
 There's life that never lives, there's death that never dies. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 Hence while unfettled here he fighting reigns, 
 
 Shut in a tow'r where thoufand enemies 
 Aflault the fort ; with wary care and pains 
 He guards all entrance, and by divers fpies 
 Searcheth into his friend's defigns, and foes : 
 But, fubje&s moft he fears, for well he knows, 
 This tow'r 's moft like to fall, if treafon 'mongft them rofe. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 Therefore while yet he lurks' in earthly tent, 
 
 Difguis'd in worthlefs robes and poor attire, 
 Try we to view his glory's wonderment, 
 And get a fight of what we fo admire : 
 
 For when away from this fad place he flies, 
 And in the fkies abides, more bright than fkies ; 
 Too glorious is his fight for our dim mortal eyes. 
 
 XL, 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 83 
 
 XL. 
 
 So curl'd-head Thetis, water's fearful queen, 
 Unlefs in cauls of fand, yields not to fight-; 
 And planet's glorious king may beft be feen, 
 
 When fome thin cloud dims his too piercing light, 
 And vails his face (which, more his face difclofesj : 
 For when his bright eye full our eye oppofes, 
 None gains his glorious fight, but his own fight he lofes. 
 
 XLI. 
 
 Within the caftle fit eight counfellors, 
 
 That help him in this tent to govern well ; 
 Each in his room a fev'ral office bears : 
 Three of his inmoft private council deal 
 In great affairs : five of lefs dignity 
 Have outward courts, and do all actions trv, 
 But {till refer the doom to courts more fit and high. 
 
 XLII. 
 Thofe five fair brethren which I fung of late, 
 
 For their juft number called the Pentarchy h ; 
 The other three, three pillars of the ftate : 
 
 The i firft in midft of that high tow'r doth lie, 
 (The chiefeft manfion of this glorious king} 
 The judge and arbiter of every thing, 
 Which thofe five brethren's pofts into his office bring. 
 
 XLIII. 
 Of middle years, and feemly perfonage, 
 
 Father of laws, the rule of wrong and right ; 
 Fountain of judgment, therefore wondrous fage, 
 Difcreet, and wife, of quick and piercing fight : 
 Not thofe fev'n fages might him parallel ; 
 Nor he whom Pythian maid did long fince tell 
 To be the wifcfl man, that then on earth did dwell, 
 
 h The five fenfes. ■ The common (cafe. 
 
 M a XLIV. 
 
84 THE PURPLE I S L A N ; D. 
 
 XLIV, 
 As Neptune s cittern draws in tribute tides, 
 
 (Yet never full) which every channel brings, 
 
 And thirfly drinks, and drinking, thirft. bides ; 
 
 For by fome hidden way, back to the fprings 
 
 It fends the ftreams in wand'ring conduits fpread, 
 Which, with a circling duty ftill are led ; 
 So ever feeding them, is by them ever fed. 
 
 XLV, 
 Ev'n fo the firft of thefe three counsellors, 
 
 Gives to thofe five the pow'r of defcrying ; 
 Which back to him with mutual duty bears 
 All informations, and the caufes trying : 
 
 For through ftraight ways the nimble pott afcends 
 Unto his hall ; there up his meflage fends, 
 Which to the next well fcann'd, he ftraightway recommends. 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 The next that in the cattle's front is plac'd, 
 
 PhantaJles Y call'd ; his years are frefh and green ; 
 His vifage old, his face too much defac'd 
 
 With afhes pale ; his eyes deep funk have been 
 With often thoughts, and never flack'd intention: 
 Yet he's the fount of fpeedy apprehenfion, 
 Father of wit, the well of arts, and quick invention. 
 
 XLVII. 
 But in his private thoughts and bufy brain 
 
 A thoufand forms and idle fancies flit ; 
 The three-fhap'd Sphinx ; and direful Harpy 's train ; 
 Which in the world had never being yet ; 
 Oft dreams of fire, and water ; loofe delight ; 
 And oft arretted by fome ghattly fpright, 
 Nor can he think, nor fpeak, nor move for great affright. 
 
 k The fancy. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND, $ 3 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 Phantafies from the firft all fhapes deriving, 
 
 In new habiliments can quickly dight ; 
 
 Of all materia! and grofs parts depriving, 
 
 Fits them unto the noble prince's fight ; 
 
 Which foon as he hath view'd with fearching eye, 
 He ilraight commits them to his treafury, 
 Which old Eumneflcs keeps, father of memory. 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 Eumnrjles old, who in his living fcreen 
 
 (His mindful breafl) the rolls and records bears 
 Of all the deeds, and men, which he hath feen, 
 And keeps lock'd up in faithful registers : 
 Well he recalls Ni?nrods firft tyranny ; 
 And Babel's pride, daring the lofty fky ; 
 Well he recalls the earth's twice growing infancy. 
 
 L. 
 Therefore his body weak, his eyes 'half blind, 
 
 But mind more frelh and ftrong ; (ah, better fate!) 
 And as his carcafe, fo his houfe declin'd ; 
 Yet were the walls of firm and able ftate : 
 Only on him a nimble page attends, 
 Who when for aught the aged grandfire fends 
 With fwift, yet backward Heps, his ready aidance lends. 
 
 LI. 
 But let my fong pafs from thefe w r orthy fages 
 
 Unto this i s l a n d 's higheft fovereign ; 
 
 And thofe hard wars which all the year he wages ; 
 
 .For thefe three late a gentle m ihepherd fwain 
 
 Moil fweetly fung, as he before had feen 
 
 In Almx\ houfe : his memory yet green 
 
 Lives in his well tun'd fongs ; immortal all I ween, 
 
 1 The unieriUndir.g. *» Spcnfcr, 
 
 LII. 
 
86 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 LII. 
 
 Nor can I guefs, whether his mufe divine, 
 
 Or gives to thofe, or takes from them his grace ; 
 Therefore Eumnejles in his lading fhrine 
 Hath juftly him enroll'd in fecond place ; 
 Next to our Mantuan poet doth he reft; 
 There fhall our n Colin live for ever bleft, 
 'Spite of thofe thoufand fpites, which living, him opprefs'd. 
 
 LIII. 
 
 The prince his time in double office fpends : 
 
 For firft thofe forms and fancies he admits, 
 Which to his court bufy Phantafies fends, 
 And for the eafier difcerning fits : 
 
 For fhedding round about his fparkling light, 
 
 He clears their dufky Ihades, and cloudy night, 
 
 Producing like himfelf their fhapes all mining bright. 
 
 LIV. 
 As when the fun reftores the glitt'ring day, 
 
 The world late cloth'd in night's black livery, 
 Doth now a thoufand colours fair difplay, 
 And paints itfelf in choice variety ; 
 
 Which late one colour hid, the eye deceiving : 
 Juft fo this prince thofe (hapes obfcure perceiving, 
 With his fuffufed light makes ready to conceiving. 
 
 LV. 
 This flrft, is call'd the a&ive faculty, 
 
 Which to an higher pow'r the object leaves : 
 That takes it in itfelf, and cunningly 
 
 Changing itfelf, the object foon perceives : 
 For ftraight itfelf in felf-fame fhape adorning, 
 Becomes the fame with quick and ftrange transforming ; 
 So is all things itfelf, to all itfelf conforming. 
 
 B Spenfcr. 
 
 P LVI. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 87 
 
 LVI. 
 
 Thus when the eye thro' Vifus jetty ports 
 
 Lets in the wand'ring fhapes, the cryftal Grange 
 Quickly itfelf to ev'ry fort conforts, 
 
 So is whate'er it fees by wondrous change : 
 
 Thrice happy then, when on that ° mirror bright 
 He ever faftens his unmoved fight, 
 So is what there he views ; divine, full, glorious light. 
 
 LVII. 
 Soon as the prince, thefe fofms hath clearly feen, 
 
 Parting the falfe from true, the wrong from right, 
 He ftraight prefents them to his beauteous queen, 
 Whofe courts are lower, yet of equal might ; 
 Voletta * fair, who with him lives, and reigns ; 
 Whom neither man, nor fiend, nor God conflrains: 
 Oft good, oft ill, oft both, yet ever free remains. 
 
 LVIII. 
 Not that great q fovereign of the Fairy land, 
 
 Whom late our Colin hath eternized ; 
 (Tho' graces decking her with plenteous hand, 
 Themfelves of grace have all unfurnifhed; 
 Tho' in her breafl fhe virtue's temple bare, 
 The faireft temple of a gueft fo fair) : 
 Not that great Glorians felf, with this might e'er compare. 
 
 LIX. 
 Her radiant beauty, dazzling mortal eye, 
 
 Strikes blind the daring fenfe ; her fparkling face 
 Herhufband's felf now cannot well defcry : 
 
 With fuch ftrange brightnefs, fuch immortal grace, 
 Hath that great parent in her cradle made, 
 That Cynthia* Giver cheek wou'd quickly fade, 
 And light itfelf to her, wou'd feem a painted fliade. 
 
 • 2 Corinthians, chap. id. ver. i3. * The Will. 
 
 « Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 LX. 
 
88 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 LX. 
 
 But, ah ! entic'd by her own worth and pride, 
 
 She ftain'd her beauty with moft loathfome fpot ; 
 Her Lord's fixt law, and fpoufe's light deny'd, 
 So fill'd her fpoufe and felf with leprous blot : 
 And now all dark is their firft morning ray. 
 What verfe might then their former light difplay, 
 When yet their darkeft night outfhines the brighteft day ? 
 
 LXL 
 On her a royal damfel ftill attends, 
 And faithful courifellor, r Synterffis : 
 For tho' Voldta ever good intends, 
 Yet by fair ills fhe oft deceived is, 
 
 By ills fo fairly drefs'd with cunning flight, 
 That virtue's felf they well may feem to fight, 
 But that bright virtue's felf oft feems not half fo bright. 
 
 LXII. 
 
 Therefore Synterefis of nimble fight, 
 
 Oft helps her doubtful hand, and erring eye ; 
 Elfe might fhe ever Humbling in this night, 
 Fall down as deep as deepeft Tartary. 
 
 Nay, thence a fad fair maid, Repentance, rears, 
 And in her arms her fainting lady bears, 
 Warning her num'rous ftains with ever falling tears. 
 
 LXIII. 
 Thereto fhe adds a water fovereign, 
 
 Of wondrous force, and fkilful compofltion : 
 For firft fhe pricks the heart in tender vein ; 
 
 Then from thofe precious drops, and deep contrition, 
 With free confefhon, and with bitter cries, 
 Still'd in a broken fpirit, fad vapours rife, 
 Exhal'd by facred fires, and drop through melting eyes. 
 
 r Confciencc. 
 
 LXIV. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 89 
 
 LXIV. 
 
 Thefe cordial drops, thefefpirit healing balms, 
 
 Cure all her linful bruifes, clear her eyes ; 
 Unlock her ears ; recover fainting qualms : 
 
 And now grown frelh and ftrong, fhe makes her rife, 
 And glafs of unmafk'd fin, fhe bright difplays, 
 Whereby fhe fees, joaths, mends her former ways ; 
 So foon repairs her light, doubling her new-born rays. 
 
 LXV. 
 
 But, ah ! why do we (fimple as I ween) 
 
 With curious labour, dim, and vailed fight, 
 Searching the nature of this king and queen, 
 Groping in darknefs for fo clear a light ? 
 A light, which once could not be thought or told, 
 But now with blackeft clouds is thick enroll'd, 
 Prefs'd down in captive chains, and pent in earthly mould. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 Rather lament we this their wretched fate, 
 
 (Ah, wretched fate, and fatal wretchednefs !) 
 Unlike thofe former days, and firft eflate, 
 When he efpous'd with higheft happinefs, 
 To fair Volttta, both their lights confpiring, 
 He faw whate'er was fit for her requiring, 
 And fhe to his clear fight, wou'd temper her defiring. 
 
 LXVII. 
 
 When both replenifh'd with celeflial light, 
 All coming evils cou'd forefee and fly ; 
 When both with cleareft eye, and perfect fight, 
 Could every nature's difference defcry : 
 
 Whofe pictures now they fcarcely fee with pain, 
 Obfcure and dark, like to thofe fhadows vain, 
 Which thin and empty glide along Avernus' plain. 
 
 N LXVIIL 
 
9 6 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 LXVIII. 
 
 The flow'rs that frighten'd with fharp winter's dread 
 
 Retire into their mother Tellus' womb, 
 Yet in the fpring in troops new muttered 
 Peep out again from their unfrozen tomb : 
 The early violet will frefh arife, 
 Spreading his purple flow'rs unto the fkies ; 
 Boldly the little plant the winter's fpite defies. 
 
 LXIX. 
 The hedge, green fatin pink'd and cut, arrays ; 
 
 The fun-flow'r unto cloth of gold afpires ; 
 In hundred-colour'd iilks the tulip plays ; 
 
 Th' imperial flow'r, his neck with pearl attires ; 
 The lily, high her filver grograrn rears ; 
 The panfy, her wrought velvet garment bears ; 
 The rofe, both fcarlet and the provence, damalk wears. 
 
 LXX. 
 How falls it then, that fuch an heav'nly light, 
 
 As this great king's fhou'd fink fo wondrous low, 
 That fcarce he can fufpecl his former height ? 
 Can one eclipfe make dark his mining brow, 
 And fteal away his beauty blooming fair ? 
 Only one blot, fo great a light to mar, 
 That never cou'd he hope his waning to repair ? 
 
 LXXI. 
 Ah ! never cou'd he hope cncc to repair 
 
 So great a wane, fhou'd not that new-born sun, 
 Adopt him both his brother and his heir ; 
 
 Who through bafe life, and death, and hell, wou'd run, 
 To feat him where he might fecurely dwell : 
 That he may mount to heav'n, he funk to hell; 
 That he might live, he died, that he might rife, he fell ! 
 
 LXXII. 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND, 
 
 9* 
 
 LXXII. 
 A perfect virgin breeds and bears a fon, 
 
 Th' immortal father of his mortal moth'r ; 
 Earth, heav'n, flefh, fpirit, man, God, met in one : 
 His younger brother's child, his children's broth'r, 
 Eternity, who vet was born and died ; 
 His own creator, earth's fcorn, heav'n's pride ; 
 Who Deity, took flefh, and man's flefh deified. 
 
 LXXIII. 
 
 Thou uncreated sun, heav'n's glory bright! 
 
 Whom we with hearts, and knees low bent, adore ; 
 At rifing, perfect, and now falling light ; 
 
 Ah, what reward, what thanks fhall we rellore ! 
 Thou wretched waft, that we might happy be : 
 Thou all the good we hope, and all we fee ; 
 That thee we know and love, comes from thy love and thee. 
 
 LXXIV. 
 Receive, what we can only back return, 
 
 (Yet that we may return, thou firft muft give) 
 A heart, which fain wou'd flame, which fain wou'd burn 
 In praife ; for thee, to thee, wou'd only live : 
 And thou (who fatt'ft in night to give us day) 
 Light and enflame us with thy glorious ray, 
 That we may back reflect, and borrow'd light repay. 
 
 LXXV. 
 So we beholding with immortal eye, 
 
 The glorious picture of thy heav'nly face, 
 In his firft beauty and true majefty, 
 
 May make from our dull fouls thefe fetters bafe : 
 And mounting up to that bright cryftal fphere, 
 Whence thou fhak'ft all the world with fhudd'ring fear, 
 May not be held by earth, nor hold vile earth fo dear. 
 
 N 2 LXXVL 
 
92 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 LXXVI. 
 Then fiiou'd thy fhepherd (pooreft fhepherd) fing 
 
 A thoufand cantos in thy heav'nly praifc, 
 And roufe his flagging mufe, and flutt'ring wing, 
 To chant thy wonders in immortal lays ; 
 
 (Which once thou wrought'ft, when Nilus* flimy fhore. 
 Or Jordan's banks thy mighty hand adore) 
 Thy judgments and thy mercies ; but thy mercies more. 
 
 LXXVII. 
 
 But fee, the Healing night with fofteft pace, 
 
 To fly the weftern fun, creeps up the eaft ; 
 Cold He/par now unvails his evening face, 
 And calls the winking liars from drowfy reft : 
 
 Home then, my lambs ; the falling drops efchew : 
 To-morrow (hall ye feaft in paftures new, 
 And with the rifing fun banquet on pearled dew. 
 
 CANTO 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 93 
 
 CANTO VII. 
 1. 
 
 r TPHE rifing morn lifts up his orient head, 
 -*- And fpangled heav'ns in golden robes inverts; 
 Jhirfd upftarting from his fearlefs bed, 
 
 Where ufelefs nights he fafe and quiet refts, 
 
 Unhous'd his bleeting flock, and quickly thence 
 Hailing to his expecting audience, 
 Thus with fad verfe began their grieved minds t' incenfe, 
 
 II. 
 Fond man, that looks on earth for happinefs, 
 
 And here long feeks -what here is never found ! 
 For all our good we hold from heav'n by leafe, 
 With many forfeits and conditions bound ; 
 Nor can we pay the fine, and rentage due : 
 Tho' now but writ, and feal'd, and giv'n anew, 
 Yet daily we it break, then daily muft renew. 
 
 IU. 
 
 Why fhou'dft thou here look for perpetual good, 
 
 At ev'ry lofs 'gainft heav'n's face repining ? 
 Do but behold where glorious cities ftood, 
 
 With golden fanes, and filver turrets mining; 
 There now the hare fearlefs of greyhound feeds, 
 And loving pelican in fafety breeds : 
 There fcreeching fatyrs fill the people's former fledes*. 
 
 IV. 
 Where is the AJfyrian lion's golden hide, 
 
 That all the eaft once grafp'd in lordly paw ? 
 Where that great Perjian bear, whofe fwelling pride 
 
 The lion's felf tore out with rav'nous jaw ? 
 
 * L c. Pbca. 
 
 Or 
 
o 4 THE PURPLE IS.LA N D. 
 
 Or he which 'twixt a Hon, and a pard, 
 Through all the world with nimble pinions far'd a , 
 And to his greedy whelps his conquer'd kingdoms fhard. 
 
 V. 
 Hardly the place of fuch antiquity, 
 
 Or note of thefe great monarchies we find : 
 Only a fading verbal memory, 
 
 And empty name in writ is left behind : 
 
 But when this fecond life, and glory fade:, 
 
 And finks at length in times obfeurer fhades, 
 
 A fecond fall fucceeds, and double death invades. 
 
 VI. 
 That monftrous bea'ft, which nurs'd in Tiber's fen, 
 
 Did all the world in hideous fhape affray; 
 That fill'd with coflly fpoil his gaping den, 
 
 And trode down all the reft to duft and clay : 
 His batt'ring horns pull'd out by civil hands, 
 And iron teeth lie fcatter'd on the fands ; 
 Back'd, bridled by a monk, with fev 'n heads yoked Hands. 
 
 VII. 
 And that black b vulture, which with deathful wing 
 
 O'erfhadows half the earth, whofe difmal fight 
 Jrighten'd the mufes from their native fpring, 
 Already Hoops, and flags with weary flight : 
 Who then fhall look for happinefs beneath? 
 Where each new day proclaims, chance, change, and death; 
 And life itfelf 's as fiit as is the air we breathe. 
 
 VIII. 
 Nor might this prince efcape, tho' he as far 
 
 All thefe excells in worth and heav'nly grace, 
 As brighteft Phoebus does the dimmeft flar : 
 
 The deepeft falls are from the higheft place. 
 
 * i. c. went. k The Turk. 
 
 There 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. g 5 
 
 There lies he now, bruis'd with fo fore a fall, 
 To his bafe bonds, and loathfome prifon thrall, 
 Whom thoufand foes befiege, fenc'd with frail yielding walh 
 
 IX. 
 Tell me, oh, tell me then, thou holy mufe ! 
 
 Sacred Tkefpio ! what the caufe may be 
 Of fuch defpite ; fo many enemies ufe 
 To perfecute unpitied mifery ? 
 
 Or if thefe canker'd foes, as moll men fay, 
 So mighty be, that gird this wall of clay; 
 What makes it hold fo long, and threaten'd ruin flay ? 
 
 X. 
 
 When that great Lord his (landing court wou'd build, 
 
 The outward walls with gems and glorious lights, 
 But inward rooms with nobler courtiers fill'd ; 
 Pure, living flames, fwift, mighty, blefled fprights : 
 Eut fome his royal fervice (fools ! ) difdain ; 
 So down were hurPd : — (oftblifs is double pain) 
 In heav'n they fcorn'd to ferve, fo now in hell they reign. 
 
 XI. 
 There turn'd to ferpents, fwol'n with pride and hate; 
 
 Their prince a dragon fell, who burft with fpite, 
 To fee this king's and queen's yet happy ftate, 
 Tempts them to luft, and pride ; prevails by flight : 
 To make them wife, and gods, he undertakes. 
 Thus while the fnake they hear, they turn to fnakes ; 
 To make them gods he boafls, but beafts, and devils makes. 
 
 XII. 
 
 ut that great c lion, who in Judah's plains 
 The awful beafts holds down in due fubje&ion ; 
 The dragon's craft, and bafe-got fpoil difdains, 
 And folds this captive prince in his protection ; 
 e Revelations v, $. 
 
 Breaks 
 
96 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Breaks ope the jail, and brings the pris'ners thence : 
 Yet plac'd them in this cattle's weak defence, 
 Where they might truft and feek an higher providence- 
 
 XIII. 
 
 So now fpread round about this little hold, 
 
 With armies infinite, encamped lie 
 Th' enraged dragon, and his ferpents bold : 
 
 And knowing well his time grows fhort and nigh, 
 He fwells with venom'd gore d , and pois'nous heat ; 
 His tail unfolded, heav'n itfelf doth beat, 
 And fweeps the mighty ftars from their tranfcendent feat, 
 
 XIV. 
 With him goes e Caro, curfed dam of fin, 
 
 Foul, filthy dam, of fouleft progeny ; 
 Yet feems (fkin deep) moll fair by witching gin 
 To weaker fight ; but to a purged eye 
 
 Looks like (nay, worfe than) hell's infernal hags : 
 Her empty breafts hang like lank hollow bags : 
 And Iris' ulcer'd fkin is patch'd with leprous rags. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Therefore her loathfome fhape's in fteel array 'd ; 
 
 All ruft within, the outfide poliih'd bright : 
 And on her fhield a Mermaid fung and play'd, 
 
 Whofe human beauties lure the wand'ring fight ; 
 But fliiny fcales hid in their waters lie : 
 She chants, fhe fmiles, fo draws the ear, the eye, 
 And whom (he wins, fhe kills : — the word, hear, gaze, ana ait. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 After her march'd a fruitful ferpent fry, 
 
 Whom fhe of divers lechers divers bore ; 
 Marfhal'd in fev'ral ranks their colours fly ; 
 
 Four ' to Anagnus, four this painted whore 
 
 1 Revelations, xii. 12. e The ficfh. f The fruits of the ficih, 
 
 fee Gal. v. 19, 20, 21, and are here ranked into four companies ; ill, uxicleanncfs ; 
 ?.d, urreligion ; 3d, unrighteoufnefs ; 4th, intemperance. 
 
 To 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 97 
 
 To Joathfome Afebie brought forth to light;' 
 Twice four got Adieus, a hateful wight : 
 But fwol'n Aerates two, born in one bed and night. 
 
 XVII. 
 Motchus g the firft, of fhamelefs bold afpeel ; 
 
 Yet with him doubt and fear ftill trembling go : 
 Oft look'd he back, as if he did fufpeft 
 Th' approach of fome unwifh'd, unwelcome foe : 
 Behind, fell jealoufy his fleps obferv'd, 
 And hire revenge with dart that never fwerv'd : 
 7"en thoufand griefs and plagues he felt, but more deferv'd. 
 
 XVIII; 
 
 His armour black as hell, or ftarlefs night, 
 And in his fhield he lively portray 'd bare 
 Mars fall embrae'd in arms of Venus' light, 
 And ty'd as faft in Vulcan ■& fubtil (hare : 
 
 She feign'd to blufh for ihame, now all too late ; 
 But his red colour feem'd to fparkle hate : 
 Sweet areJioVn waters, round about his fhield he fet. 
 
 XIX. 
 Porneius h next him pae'd, a meagre wight ; 
 
 Whofe leaden eyes funk deep in fwimming head, 
 And joylefs look, like fome pale amy fpright ; 
 Seem'd as he now were dying, or now dead : 
 And with him waftefulnefvthat all expended, 
 And want, that ftill in theft, and prifon ended, 
 A hundred foul difeafes clofely him attended. 
 
 XX. 
 
 His mining helm might feem a fparkling flame, 
 
 Yet footh, nought was it but a foolifh fire : 
 And all his arms were of that burning frame, 
 
 That flefh and bones were gnaw'n with hot defire, 
 
 * Adultery, Gal. v. 19, b Fornication. 
 
 O About 
 
98 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 About his wrift his blazing fhield did fry 
 With fweltring hearts in flames of luxury : 
 His word, Injire I Uve> injire I burn, and die. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 With him j Acatharus s in Tujcan drefs ; 
 
 A thing that neither man will own, nor bead: 
 Upon a boy he lean'd in wantonnefs, 
 
 On whofe fair limbs his eyes flill greedy feaft ; 
 He fports, he toys, kiiTes his mining face : 
 Behind, reproach and thoufand devils pace : 
 Before, bold impudence, that cannot change her grace* 
 
 XXII. 
 His armour feem'd to laugh with idle boys, 
 
 Which all about their wanton fportings play'd ; 
 Wou'd oft himfelf help out their childifh toys, 
 And like a boy lend them unmanly aid : 
 
 In his broad fhield the bird her wings difpread, 
 Which trailing wafts the Trojan Ganymede: 
 And round was written, Like with his like is coupled. 
 
 XXIII. 
 Afelges k follow'd next, the bcldeft boy 
 
 That ever play'd in Venus'' wanton court ; 
 He little cares who notes his lavifli joy ; 
 Broad were his jells, wild his uncivil fport ; 
 His fafhion too, too fond, and loofly light : 
 A long love-lock on his left moulder's plight ; 
 Like to a woman's hair, well fhew'd a woman's fpright. 
 
 XXIV. 
 Lufl in ftrange nefls this cuckoo egg conceiv'd ; 
 
 Which nurs'd with furfeits, drefs'd with fond difguife, 
 In fancy's fchool his breeding firR receiv'd : 
 So this brave fpai-k to wilder flame doth rife ; 
 1 Sodomy, Rom. i. 26, 27. Lev. xx. 13, i 5 , 16. * Lafcivtoitfnefs. 
 
 And 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 99 
 
 And now to court preferr'd, high bloods he fires, 
 There blows up pride, vain mirth, and loofe defires ; 
 And heav'nly fouls (oh griefs ! ) with hellifh flame infpires, 
 
 XXV. 
 There oft to rivals lends the gentle dor ', 
 
 Oft takes (his roiftrefs by) the bitter bob m : 
 There learns her each day's change of Gules n , Verd°, 0r p 9 
 (His fampler) ; if ihc pouts, her (lave mull fob : 
 Her face his fphere, her hair his circling fky ; 
 Her love his heav'n, her fight eternity : 
 Of her he dreams, with her he lives, for her he'll die, 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Upon his arm a tinfel fcarf he wore, 
 
 Forfooth his madam's favour, fpangled fair : 
 Light as himfelf, a fan his helmet bore, 
 
 With ribbons drefs'd, begg'd from his miftrefs' hair : 
 On's fhield a winged boy all naked fhin'd ; 
 His folded eyes, willing and wilful blind : 
 The word was wrought with gold, Such is a lover s mind* 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Thefe four, <1 Anagnus and foul r Caro's fons, 
 
 Who led a different and diforder'd rout ; 
 Fancy, a lad that all in feathers s wons, 
 
 And loofe defire, and danger link'd with doubt ; 
 And thoufand wanton thoughts ftill budding new : 
 But lazy eafe ufher'd the idle crew ; 
 And lame difeafe fhuts up their troops with torments due. 
 
 1 A term ufed for leave to fleep awhile* 
 ■ A taunt, or feoff. 
 
 n Red. ° Green. p Gold colour. 
 
 . n Stanza xvi. of this canto. 
 ' Ditto xiv. ditto. * i. e. Dwelli. 
 
 O 2 XXVIII. 
 
ioo THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 Next band, by l Afebit was boldly led, 
 
 And his four Tons begot in Stygian night : 
 Firft u Idololatros, whofe monftrous bead 
 Was like an ugly fiend, his flaming fight 
 Like blazing ftars ; the reft all different : 
 For to his fhapefome part each creature lent ; 
 But to the great Creator all adverfely bent. 
 
 XXIX. 
 Upon his bread a bloody crofs he fcor'd, 
 
 Which oft he worfhipp'd ; but the Ckrift that died 
 Thereon, he feldom but in paint ador'd ; 
 
 Yet wood, ftone, b lis, wealth, lulls, fiends, deified : 
 He makes mere pageants of the faving w rock, 
 Puppet-like trimming his almighty flock : 
 Which then, his god, or he, which is the verier block ? 
 
 XXX. 
 Of giant fhape, and ftrength thereto agreeing, 
 
 Wherewith he once had all the world opprefs'd; 
 And yet the greater part (his vaffals being) 
 Slumb'ring in ignorance, fecurely reft : 
 
 A golden calf (himfelf more beaft) he bore, 
 Which brutes with dancings, gifts, and fongs adore, 
 Idols are laymen s baoks> he round had wrote in ore. 
 
 XXXI. 
 Next x Pharmakeus, of ghaftly, wild afpecl ; 
 
 Whom hell with feeming fear, and fiends obey : 
 Full eas'ly wou'd he know each paft efTecl:, 
 
 And things to come with double guefs forefay, 
 
 * Stanza xvi. of this canto. 
 
 u Idolatry, either by worfhipping the true God by falfe worfhip ; as by images, 
 againft the fecond commandment : or giving away his worfhip to that which 
 is not God, againil the firft. 
 
 w Pfalm lxii. 7. 
 
 * Witchcraft j and magical arts. 
 
 By 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. ici 
 
 By flain bea!>s entrails, and fowls marked flight : 
 
 Thereto he tempers rais'd by many a fpright, 
 
 And charm'd the fun and moon, and chang'd the, day an4 
 
 night. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Bv birth and hand, he juggling fortunes tells ; 
 
 Oft brings from fhades his grandfires damned ghoft ; 
 Oft (lolen gocds reveals by wicked fpelis : 
 
 His frightful (hield with thoufand fiends embofr, 
 Which feem'd without a circle's ring to play: 
 In inidil him felt" dampens the fmiling day, 
 And prints fad characters, which none may write, or fay. 
 
 XXXIII, 
 The third l Haretkus, a wrangling carl z , 
 
 Who in the way to heav'n wou'd wilful err ; 
 
 And oft convi&ed, ftill wou'd fnatch and fnarl : 
 
 His Cradle oft repeats; — all tongue, no ear; 
 
 Him obftinacv, pride, and fcorn attended : 
 
 On's fhicld, with truth error difguis'd contended : 
 
 His motto this, Rather thus err t than be amended. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 Laft march'd Hypocrify, falfe form of grace, 
 
 That vaunts the fhew of all, has truth of none : 
 A rotten heart he mafks with painted face; 
 
 Among the beafts, a mule, 'mongft bees, a drone, 
 
 'Mongft ftars, a meteor : — all the world neglecls him ; 
 Nor good, nor bad, nor heav'n, nor earth affecls him : 
 The earth for glaring forms, for bare forms heav'n rejects him* 
 
 XXXV. 
 His wanton heart he vails with dewy eyes, 
 
 So oft the world, and oft himfelf deceives: 
 His tongue his heart, his hands his tongue belies : 
 
 Shining (as fnailsj his path, but (lime he leaves : 
 
 i Herefy. » i. e . Churl. 
 
 He 
 
102 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 He Babels glory is, but Sions taint ; 
 Religion's blot, but irreligion's paint : 
 A faint abroad, at home a fiend ; and worlT, a faint. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 So tallow lights live glitt'ring, {linking die; 
 
 Their gleams aggrate the fight, fleams wound the frncll : 
 So Sodom apples pleafe the ravilh'd eve, 
 
 But fulphur tafle proclaim their root's in hell : 
 So airy flames to heav 'nly feem allvd, 
 But when their oil is fpent, they fwiftly glide, 
 And into fuifome mire melt all their gilded pride. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 So rufhes green, fmooth, full, are fpungv light; 
 
 So flones in peaches wear a velvet goWn ; 
 So rotten flicks feem flars in cheating night ; 
 
 So quagmires falfe, their mire with em'ralds crown : 
 Such is Hypocrify's deceitful frame ; 
 A {linking light, a fulphur fruit, falfe flame; 
 Smooth rufh, peach flone, fere wood, falfe mire, a voice, ^ 
 
 name. 
 
 ■ 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 Such were his arms, falfe gold, true alchymy ; 
 
 Glitt'ring with gloffy flones, and fine deceit : 
 His fword a flatt'ring fleel, which gull'd the eye, 
 And piere'd the heart with pride and felf-conceit : 
 On's fhield a tomb, where death had drefs'd his bed 
 With curious art, and crown'd his loathfome head, 
 With gold, and gems : — his word, More gorgeous when dead 
 
 XXXIX. 
 Before them went their nurfe, bold Ignorance) 
 
 A loathfome monfler, light, fight, 'mendment fcorning ; 
 Born deaf and blind, fitter to lead the dance 
 To fuch a rout ; her filver head adorning, 
 
 (He* 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 103 
 
 (Her dotage index) much (he bragg'd, yet feign'd : 
 For by falfe tallies many years fhe gain'd. 
 Wife youth is honour d age '—Age is with dotage Jlaind. » 
 
 XL. 
 Ker failing legs with erring footfleps recl'd ; 
 
 (Lame guide to blifs!) her daughters on each fide 
 Much pain'd themfelves, her Humbling feet to wield; 
 Both like their mother, dull, and beetle ey'd : 
 The firft was Error falfe, who multiplies 
 Her num'rous race in endlefs progenies : 
 For but one truth there is, ten thoufand thoufand lies. 
 
 XLI. 
 Her brood o'erfpread her round with fin and blood, 
 
 With envy, malice, mifchiefs infinite ; 
 Whilil (lie to fee herfelf, amazed Hood, 
 So oft impregnated and big with fpite : 
 
 Her offspring fly about, and fpread their feed; 
 Straight hate, pride, fchifm, wars, (editions breed, 
 Spring up, grow ripe. — Hoivjoon profptrsthe vicious weed. 
 
 XLII. 
 The other .owl-ey'd Suptrftilion, 
 
 Deform'd, diflorted, blind in midfl of light ; 
 Yet ilyles herfelf holy devotion, 
 
 And fo is calfd, and feerns in gloomy night : 
 Fearful as is the hare, or hunted hind ; 
 Her face, and breaft, fhe oft with crofTes fign'd : 
 No cuftom wou'd ihe break, or change her fettled mind. 
 
 XLIII. 
 If hare, or fnake, fhe meets, herfelf fhe crofTes, 
 
 And flops her mazy fteps ; fad fears annoy her 
 When falling fait points out fome fatal lofles, 
 
 Till Bacchus' grapes with holy fprinkle joy her : 
 
 Her 
 
J04 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Her only * bible is an Erra Pater b ; 
 Her antidotes are hallow'd wax and water : 
 When dark, all lights are fprights, all noifes, chains that clatter. 
 
 XLIV. 
 With them did march (in deep fecurity) 
 
 Prqfaiwiefs, to be fear'd, for never fearing ; 
 And by him, new oaths coining Bla/phemy, 
 
 Who names not God, but in a curfe, or {wearing : 
 And tlioufand other fiends in diverfe faihion, 
 Difpos'd in feveral ward, and certain ftation : 
 Under, hell widely yawn'd ; and over, flew damnation. 
 
 XLV. 
 Next c Adieus his fons; — firft u Eclhros fly, 
 
 Whole prick'd-up ears kept open houfe for lies ; 
 And leering eyes flill watch, and wait to fpy 
 When to return ilill-living injuries : 
 
 Fair weather fmil'd upon his painted face, 
 And eyes fpoke peace, till he had time and place, 
 Then pours down Ihow'rs of rage, and Dreams of rancour bafe. 
 
 XLVI. 
 So when a fable cloud, with (Welling fail 
 
 Comes fwimming thro' calm flues, the filent air 
 (While fierce winds deep in ALol\ rocky jail) 
 With fpangled beams embroider'd, glitters fair ; 
 But foon it lowrs : flraight clatt'ring hail is bred, 
 Scatt 'ring cold fliot ; light hides his golden head, 
 And with untimely winter, earth is overfpread. 
 
 XLVII. 
 His arms well fuit his mind, where fmiling fkies 
 
 Breed thund 'ring tempefls : on his lofty crefl 
 Afleep the (potted panther crouching lies, 
 
 And by fweet fcents, and {kin fo quaintly dreft, 
 
 • Alluding to the erroneous Pop'JJi tranflaticn. 
 
 * In eontradiftin&ion to Vera Mater, i. e. the tr«e mother; the church of Bom 
 i<o calling herfelf. 
 
 c See llaiua jtvi. of this canto. d Hatred 
 
 Draws 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Draws on its prey : upon his fhield he bears 
 The dreadful monfler which great Nilus, fears ; 
 cping crocodile) his word, I kill with tears* 
 XLVIII. 
 With him Dijftmbiance went, his paramour, 
 
 Whofe painted face cou'd hardly be detected ; 
 Arms of offence he fcarce if ever wore, 
 
 Left thence his clofe defigns might be fufpecled ; 
 But clafping clofe his foe, as loth to part, 
 He Heals his dagger with falfe fmiling art, 
 And (heaths the trait'rous fleel in his own mailer's heart* 
 
 XLIX. 
 Two Jewijti captains, clofe themfe'ves enlacing 
 
 In love's fweet bands, his target broad difplay'd ; 
 One th' others beard with his left hand embracing, 
 But in his right a mining fword he fway'd, 
 
 Which unawares thro' th' other's ribs he fmites ; 
 There lay the wretch without all burial rites : 
 His word, Hz deepefl wounds, who in his fawning bites» 
 
 L. 
 Eris ' the next, of fex unfit for war : 
 
 Her arms were bitter words from flaming tongue, 
 Which never quiet, wrangle, fight, and jar; 
 
 Ne'er wou'd fhe weigh report with right, or wrong : 
 What once (he held, that wou'd fhe ever hold, 
 And Non-obflantes force with courage bold : 
 The laft word mult fhe have, or never ceafe to fcold. 
 
 LI. 
 
 She is the trumpet to this angry train, 
 
 And whets their fury with loud-railing fpite : 
 
 But when no open foes did more remain, 
 
 Againft themfelves, themfelves flie wou'd incite. 
 
 e Variance. 
 
 105 
 
 Her 
 
to6 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Her clacking mill, driv'n by her flowing gall, 
 Cou'd never ftand, but chide, rail, bark, and bawl : 
 Her fhield no word cou'd find, her tongue engrofs'd them alt* 
 
 LII. 
 
 Zelos* the third, whofe fpiteful emulation 
 
 Could not endure a fellow in excelling ; 
 Yet flow in any virtue's imitation, 
 
 At eafy rate that fair pofleflion felling : 
 Still as he went he hidden fparkles blew, 
 Till to a mighty flame they fudden grew, 
 And like fierce light 'ning all in quick deflru&ion drew. 
 
 LIII. 
 Upon his fhield lay that Tirinthian fwain* 
 
 Swelt'ring in fiery gore, and pois'nous flame, 
 His wife's fad gift venom'd with bloody ftain : 
 
 Well cou'd he bulls, fnakes, hell, all monfters tame : 
 Well cou'd he heav'n fupport, and prop alone j 
 But by fell jealoufy foon overthrown, 
 Without a foe, or fword : his motto, Fir/l, or none. 
 
 LIV. 
 Thumos g the fourth, a dire, revengeful fwain ; 
 
 Whofe foul was made of flames, his flefh of fire ; 
 Wrath in his heart, hate, rage, and fury reign ! 
 Fierce was his look, when clad in fparkli ng tire ; 
 But when dead palenefs in his cheeks took feizure, 
 And all the blood his boiling heart did treafure, 
 Then in his wild revenge, kept he nor mean nor meafure. 
 
 LV. 
 
 Like to the waters wall'd with brazen wreath, 
 
 Befieg'd with crackling flames, their common foe; 
 
 The angry feas do foam and hotly breathe, 
 
 Then fwell, rife, .rave, and ftill more furious grow ; 
 
 f Emulation. % Wrath. 
 
 Nor 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 io 7 
 
 Nor can be held ; but forc'd with fires below, 
 Toflmg their waves, break out, and all o'erflow : 
 So boil'd his rifing blood, and dafh'd his angry brow, _ 
 
 LVI. 
 
 For in his face, red heat, and aftvy cold ; 
 
 Strove which fhou'd paint revenge in proper colours : 
 That, like confuming fires, mod dreadful roll'd ; 
 This, liker death, threatens all deadly dolours: 
 His trembling hand a dagger (till embrac'd, 
 Which in his friend he rathly oft encas'd: 
 His fhield's device, frefh blood with fouleft (lain defac'd. 
 
 LVII. 
 Next him Erithius h , moft unquiet fwain, 
 
 That all in law, and fond contention fpent ; 
 Not one was found in all this numerous train, 
 With whom in any thing he wou'd confent : 
 
 His will his law, he weigh'd not wrong or right ; 
 Much fcorn'd to bear, much more forgive a fpight : 
 Patience, he, th* afTes load, and coward's virtue, hight ' . 
 LVIII. 
 His weapons all were fram'd of fhining gold, 
 
 Wherewith he fubtly fought clofe under hand : 
 Thus wou'd he right from right by force with-hold, 
 Nor fuits, nor friends, nor laws his flights withfland : 
 Ah, pow'rful weapon ! how doit thou bewitch 
 Great, but bafe minds, and fpott'ft with leprous itch, 
 That never are in thought, nor ever can be rich ! 
 
 LIX. 
 
 Upon his belt (faften'd with leather laces) 
 
 Black boxes hung, fheaths of his paper-fwords, 
 
 Fill'd up with writs, fubpcenas, trials, cafes ; 
 This trefpafs'd him in cattle, that in words : 
 fc Sirife. 3 i. c. Named. 
 
 P 2 Fit 
 
iaS THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Fit his device, and well his fhield became, 
 A falamander drawn in lively frame : 
 His word was this, / live, I breathe, I feed injlame. 
 
 LX. 
 
 Next after him march'd proud Dichojlafis k , 
 
 That only us'd in factious courts to dwell ; 
 But now to fhepherd-fwains clofe linked is ; 
 
 And taught them (fools ! ) to change their humble cell, 
 And lowly weeds, for courts, and purple gay, 
 To fit aloft, and ftates, and princes fway ; 
 A hook, no fceptre needs our erring fheep to flay. 
 
 LXI. 
 
 A mitre trebly crown'd th' impoftor wore ; 
 
 For heav'n, earth, hell, he claims with lofty pride : 
 Not in his lips, but hands, two keys he bore, 
 Heav'n 's doors and hell's to (hut, or open wide : 
 But late his keys are marr'd, or broken quite : 
 For hell he cannot fhut, but opens light ; 
 Nor heav'n can ope, but fhut ; nor buys, but fells by flight. 
 
 LXII. 
 
 Two heads, oft three, he in one body had, 
 
 Nor with the body, nor themfelves agreeing : 
 What this commanded, th' other foon forbad ; 
 As different in rule, as nature being : 
 
 The body to them both, and neither prone, 
 Was like a double-hearted dealer grown ; 
 Endeavouring to pleafe both parties, pieafmg none. 
 
 LXIII. 
 
 As when the pow'rful wind, and adverfe tide, 
 
 Strive which mould molt command the fubjeel: main ; 
 
 The fcornful waves fweiling with angry pride 
 Yielding to neither, all their force difdain : 
 
 k Sedition, or fclufiu. 
 
 Mean 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 109 
 
 Mean time the fhaken veffel doubtful plays, 
 And on the ftagg'ring billow trembling flays, 
 And wou'd obey them both, yet neither {he obeys. 
 
 LXIV. 
 
 A fubtlc craftfman fram'd him feemly arms, 
 ForgM in the (hop of wrangling Sophiflry ; 
 And wrought with curious arts, and mighty charms, 
 Temper'd with lies, and falfe philofophy : 
 Millions of heedle'fs fouls thus had he (lain. 
 His fev'a-h>Id fhield afield of Gules l did flain ; 
 In which two fwords he bore : his word, Divide, and reign* 
 
 LXV. 
 Envy the next, Envy with fquinted eyes ; 
 
 Sick of a ftrangd difeafe, his neighbour's health : 
 $efl lives he then, when any better dies ; 
 Is never poor, but in another's wealth : 
 
 On beft man's harms and griefs he feeds his fill ; 
 Elfe his own maw doth eat with fpiteful will : 
 111 muft the temper be, where diet is fo ill. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 Each eye through divers opticks flily leers, 
 
 Which both his fight, and th' optick's felf bely ; 
 So greateft virtue as a moat appears, 
 
 And molehill faults to mountains multiply. 
 
 When needs he muft, yet faintly, then he praifes ; 
 Somewhat the deed, much more the means he raifes : 
 So marreth what he makes, and praifing moft, difpraifes. 
 
 LXVII. 
 Upon his fhield that cruel herd-groom play'd, 
 
 Fit inflrument of Juno's, jealous fpite ; 
 His hundred eyes flood fixed on the maid ; 
 
 He pip'd, fhe figh'd : his word, Her day, my night. 
 
 1 In Htraldry, fignifying red. 
 
 His 
 
no THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 His miflile weapon was a lying tongue, 
 Which he far off like fwifteft lightning flung ; 
 That all the world with noife, and foul blafpheming rung. 
 
 LXVIII. v 
 Lafl of this rout the favage Phonos m went, 
 
 Whom his dire mother nurs'd with human blood ; 
 And when more age and ftrength more fiercenefs lent, 
 She taught him in a dark and defert wood 
 
 With force and guile poor paffengers to flay, 
 And on their flefh his barking ftomach flay, 
 And with their wretched blood his fiery thirft allay. 
 
 LXIX, 
 So when the never fettled Scythian 
 
 Removes his dwelling in an empty wain ; 
 When now the fun hath half his journey ran, 
 
 His horfe he bleeds, and pricks a trembling vein ; 
 So from the wound quenches his thirfty heat : 
 Yet worfe, this fiend makes his own flefh bis meat. 
 Monfter ! the rav'nous bear, his kind will never eat. 
 
 LXX. 
 Ten thoufand furies on his fteps awaited, 
 
 Some fear'4 his harden'd foul with Stygian brand :• 
 Some with black terrors his faint confcience baited, 
 That wide he ftar'd, and ftiffen'd hair did ftand : 
 The firfl born man flill in his mind he bore, 
 Foully array 'd in guiltlefs brother's gore, 
 Which for revenge to heav'n, from earth did loudly roar. 
 
 J.XXI. 
 
 His arms ofFenfive all, to fpill, not fpare ; 
 
 Swords, piflols, poifons, inftruments of hell : 
 A fhield he wore (not that the wretch did care 
 
 To fave his flefh, oft he himfelf wou'd quell] 
 
 w Murder. 
 
 For 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. tii 
 
 For fhew, not ufe : on it a viper fwilling 
 The dam's fpilt gore ; his empty bowels filling 
 With flefh that gave him life : his word, / live by killing, 
 
 LXX1I. 
 And laft, his brutifh fons, Aerates n fent, 
 
 Whom ° Caro bore both in one birth and bed, 
 Metnos r the firft, whofe feet fo flagg'ring went, 
 They well agreed with his unfettled head : 
 His foul quite plunged was in grapy blood ; 
 In all his parts the idle dropfy flood ; 
 Which, tho' already drown'd, dill thirfted for the flood. 
 
 LXXIII. 
 This thing, nor man, nor beafl, tuns all his wealth 
 
 In drink; his days, his years, in liquor drenching: 
 So quaffs he ficknefs down, by quaffing health; 
 
 Firing his cheeks with quenching; ftrangely quenching 
 His eyes with firing ; dull and faint they roll'd : 
 But, nimble lips, known things and hid unfold ; 
 Belchings, and frequent Tips, mark the long tale he told. 
 
 LXXIV. 
 
 Kis armour green might feem a fruitful vine ; 
 
 The clufters prifon'd in the clofe fet leaves, 
 Yet oft between the ripen'd grape did mine ; 
 And creeping forth, his jailor's fpite deceives : 
 Among the boughs did fwilling Bacchus ride, 
 Whom wild grown Manad's bore, and ev'ry flride, 
 Bacche, 16 Bacche, loud with madding voice they cry'd. 
 
 LXXV. 
 
 On's fliield, the goatifh fatyrs dance around, 
 
 (Their heads much lighter than their nimble heels) 
 
 Silenus old, in wine (as ever) drown'd, 
 
 Clos'd with the ring, in midft (tho* fitting) reels : 
 "•See ftarua xvi. of thii- canto. • See ftanza xlv. of ditto, * Drunkennefs. 
 
 Under 
 
ii2 THE PURPLE ISLAND, 
 
 Under his arm a bag-pipe fwol'n lie held, 
 (Yet wine-fwoFn cheeks the windy bag outfwell'd) 
 So loudly pipes : his word, Rut full, no mirth I yield, 
 
 LXXVI. 
 Infatiate fink, how with U> general {tain 
 
 Thy loathed paddles, court, town, fields entice ! 
 Ah me ! the mepherd's felves thee entertain, 
 And to thy Curtian. gulph do facrifice : 
 
 All drink to fpew, and fpew again to diink. 
 Sour fwiiUtub (itij of all the reft the fink, 
 How can'ft thou thus bewitch with thy abhorred dink ? 
 
 LXXVII. 
 The eye thou wrong'ft with vomit's reeking flreams, 
 
 The ear with belchings ; touch thou drown'd in winej 
 The talle thou furfeitd ; fmell with fpewing fleams 
 Thou wounded : foh ! thou loathfome putrid fwine ; 
 Still thou increafeft third* when third thou flaked ; 
 The mind and will thou (wits bane) captive taked; 
 Senfelefs thy hoggifh filth, and fenfe thou fenfelefs maked, 
 
 LXXVIIL 
 Thy felloxv fins, and all the other vices 
 
 With feeming good, are fairly cloth'd to fight ; 
 Their feigned fweets, the blinded will entices 
 Coz'ning the dazzled fenfe with borrow 'd light : 
 Thee, neither true, nor yet falfe good commends j 
 Profit, nor pleafure on thy deps attends : 
 Folly begins thy fin, which full with madnefs ends* 
 
 LXXIX. 
 With Methos, Gluttony, his guttling broth'r, 
 
 Twin parallels, drawn from the fclf-fame line \ 
 So foully like was either to the oth'r, 
 
 And both mod like a mouflrous belly'd fwine : 
 
 aii 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 113 
 
 Kis life was either a continued feaft, 
 \\ hofe furfeits upon forfeits him opprefs'd ; 
 Or heavy deep, that helps fo great a load digeft. 
 
 LXXX. 
 Mean time his foul, weigh'd down with heavy chains, 
 
 Can neither work, nor move in captive bands; 
 But dull'd in vap'rous fogs, all carelefs reigns, 
 Or rather ferves flrong appetite's commands: 
 
 That when he now was gorg'd with cramm'd-down flore, 
 And porter wanting room had fhut the door, 
 The glutton figh'd, that he could gormandize no more. 
 
 LXXXI. 
 
 Kis crane-like neck was all unlac'd ; his breaft, 
 
 And gouty limbs, like to a circle, round, 
 As broad as long ; and for his fpear in reft 
 
 Oft with his ftaff he beats the yielding ground; 
 Wherewith his hands did help his feet to bear, 
 Elfe cou'd they ill fo huge a burthen fleer : 
 His clothes were all of leaves, no armour cou'd he wear. 
 
 LXXXII. 
 Only a target light, upon his arm 
 
 He carelefs bore, on which old Gryll was drawn, 
 Transibrm'd into a fwine with cunning charm ; 
 In head, and belly, foul itfelf a brawn : 
 
 Half drown'd within; without, yet flill did hunt 
 In his deep trough forfwill, as he was wont; 
 Cas'd all in loathfome mire : no word; Gryll cou'd but grunt. 
 
 LXXXIII. 
 
 Him ferv'd fweet feeming lufts, felf pleafing lies, 
 But bitter death flow'd from thofe fweets of fin : 
 And at the rear of thefe in fecret guife 
 I Crept Thievery, and Dttraflwn, near akin, 
 
 No 
 
n 4 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 No twins more like: they feem'd almoft the fame; 
 One ftole the goods, the other the good name : 
 The latter lives in fcorn, the former dies in fhame. 
 
 LXXXIV. 
 
 Their boon companions in their jovial feafting, 
 
 Were new coin'd oaths, and damning perjuries ; 
 Their cafes, fit for their tafte, profaneft jelling ; 
 Seafon'd with fait of hell, dire blafphemies. 
 But till th' ambitious fun, yet ftill afpiring, 
 Allays his flaming gold with gentler firing, 
 We'll reft our weary fong, to that thick grove retiring, 
 
 CANTO 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. u5 
 
 CANTO VIII. 
 i. 
 
 THE fun began to flack his bended bow, 
 And more obliquely dart his milder ray ; 
 When cooler airs gently began to blow, 
 
 And fan the fields, parch'd with the fcorching day : 
 The Ihepherds to their wonted feats repair; 
 Thirfil, refrefh'd with this foft breathing air, 
 Did foon renew his tafk, and further fong prepare. 
 
 II. 
 
 What watchful care muft guard that weary ftate, 
 
 Which deadly foes begirt with cruel fiege ; 
 And fraileft wall of glafs, and trait'rous gate 
 
 Strive which mould firft yield up their woful liege ? 
 By enemies alfail'd, by friends betray 'd ; 
 When others hurt, himfelf refufes aid : 
 JBy weaknefs' felf his ftrength is foil'd and overlay'd. 
 
 III. 
 How comes it then, that in fo near decay 
 
 We deadly fleep in deep fecurity, 
 When every hour is ready to betray 
 Our lives to that ftill watching enemy ? 
 
 Wake then, thy foul, that deadly flumbereth ; 
 For when thy foe hath feiz'd thy captive breath, 
 Too late to wife paft life, too late to wifh for death. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Caro the vanguard with the Dragon led, 
 
 Cofrnos a the battle guides, with loud alarms ; 
 Cqfmos the firft fon to the Dragon red, 
 Shining in feeming gold, and gliu'ring arms : 
 ■ The world, or mammon. 
 
 Q 2 And 
 
n6 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 And fo appear'd a ftrong and gentle night, 
 As e'er was clad in fteel and armour bright ; 
 But was a recreant bafe, a foul, falfe cheating fpright. 
 
 V. 
 
 And as himfelf, fuch were his arms ; appearing 
 Bright burnifh'd gold, in truth bafe alchymy, 
 Dim beetle eyes, and greedy worldlings blearing ; 
 His fhield was drefs'd in night's fad livery, 
 
 Where man-like apes a glow-worm compafs round, 
 Glad that in w r intry night they fire had found : 
 Bufy they puff and blow : the word, Miflake the ground. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Miflake points all his darts ; his fun mines bright, 
 
 (Miftaken) light appear, fad lightning prove : 
 His clouds (miftook) feem lightnings, turn'd to light ; 
 His love true hatred is, his hatred love ; 
 His (hop, a pedlar's pack of apifh fafliion ; 
 His honours, pleafures, joys, are all vexation : 
 His wages, glorious care, fwcet forfeits, woo'd damnation. 
 
 VII. 
 His lib'ral favours, conaplimental arts ; 
 
 His high advancements, alpine flipp'ry (traits ; 
 His fmiling glances, death's, moll p!eafing darts ; 
 And (what he vaunts) his gifts, are gilded baits : 
 Indeed he nothing is, yet all appears. 
 Haplefs earth's happy fools, that know no tears! 
 Who bathes in worldly joys, fwims in a world of fears. 
 
 VIII. 
 Pure Essence ! who haft made a flone defcry 
 
 'Twixt nature's hid, and check that metal's pride 
 That dare afpire to gold's high fov'reignty ; 
 
 Ah, leave fome touchflone erring eyes to guide, 
 
 And 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. iiy 
 
 And judge diflemblance ! fee by what devices, 
 Sin with fair glofs our mole-ey'd fight entices, 
 That vices virtues feem to mod ; and virtues vices. 
 
 IX, 
 Strip thou their meretricious feemlinefs, 
 
 And tinfel glitt'ring, bare to ev'ry fight, 
 That we may loath their inward uglinefs ; 
 Orelfe uncloud the foul, whofe fhady light 
 Adds a fair luftre to falfe earthly blifs : 
 Thine and their beauty differs but in this ; 
 Theirs what it is not, feems; thine feems not what it is, 
 
 X. 
 Next to the captain, coward b Delias far'd c 
 
 Him right before he as his fhield projected, 
 And following troops to back him as his guard ; 
 
 Yet both his fhield and guard (faint heart) fufpec~red : 
 And fending often back his doubtful eye, 
 By fearing, taught unthought-of treacherv ; 
 So made him enemies, by fearing enmity. 
 
 XI. 
 Still did he look for fome enfuing crofs, 
 
 Fearing fuch hap as never man befell : 
 No mean he knows, but dreads each little Jofs 
 (With tyranny of fear diftraught) as hell. 
 
 His fenfe, he dare not truft (nor eyes, nor ears) ; 
 And when no other caufe of fright appears, 
 Himfelf he much fufpetts, and fears his caufelefs fears, 
 
 XII. 
 Harnefs'd with maffy fteel, for fence and fight j 
 
 His fword unfeemly long he ready drew : 
 At fudden fhine of his own armour brio-ht. 
 He flarted oft, and look'd with ghaflly hue : 
 
 k Fearfulneta c Went. 
 
 He 
 
n8 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 He flirieks at ev'ry danger that appears, 
 Shaming the knight-like arms he goodly bears: 
 His word : Safer, who all, than he who nothing fears. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 With him went Doubt, ftagg'ring with fteps unfure ; 
 
 That every way, and neither way inclin'd ; 
 And fond Diftrufl, who nothing cou'd fecure : 
 Sujpicion lean, as if he never din'd : 
 
 He keeps intelligence by thoufand fpies ; 
 Argus to him bequeath'd his hundred eyes : 
 So waking, ftill he fleeps, and deeping, wakeful lies. 
 
 XIV. 
 Weak Deilos all ; Tolmetes d nothing fears ; 
 
 Laughs at fad frights, all terrors counteth bafe ; 
 And when of danger or bad news he hears, 
 He meets the thund'ring fortune face to face : 
 Yet oft in words he fpends his boift'rous threat ; 
 That his hot blood driv'n from its native feat, 
 Leaves his faint coward heart empty of lively heat. 
 
 XV. 
 Himfelf (weak help ! ) was all his confidence ; 
 
 He fcorns low ebbs, but fwims in higheft rifes : 
 His limbs with arms or fhield he wou'd not fence, 
 Such coward fafhion (fool ! ) he much defpifes : 
 Ev'n for his fingle fword the world feems fcant ; 
 For hundred worlds his conqu'ring arm cou'd daunt : 
 Much wou'd he boldly do ; but, much more boldly vaunt. 
 
 XVI. 
 With him went felf-admirinp; Arrogance ; 
 
 And Brag; his deeds without an helper prais'd ; 
 Blind CarekjJ'nefs before wou'd lead the dance ; 
 
 Fear Hole behind, thofe vaunts in balance pais'd e 
 * Overboldnefs, or feol-hardincfs. e i. e. poifed, or made even. 
 
 Which 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. n 9 
 
 Which far their deeds outweigh'd ; their violence, 
 'Fore danger fpent with lavilh diffluence, 
 Was none, or weak, in time of greateft exigence. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 As when a fiery courfer ready bent, 
 
 Puts forth himfelf at firfl with fwifteft pace ; 
 Till with too fudden flafh his fpirits fpent, 
 Already fails now in the middle race : 
 
 His hanging crefl far from his wonted pride, 
 No longer now obeys his angry guide; 
 Rivers of fweat and blood flow from his gored fide. 
 
 XVIII. 
 Thus ran the rafh Tolmetes, never viewing 
 
 The fearful fiends that duly him attended ; 
 Pefiru&ion clofe his fteps in poft purfuing; 
 And certain ruins heavy weights depended 
 
 Over his curfed head ; and fmooth-fac'd guile, 
 That with him oft wou'd loofly play and fmile ; 
 Till in his fnare he lock'd his feet with treach'rous wile. 
 
 XIX. 
 Next march'd Afbtus f , an unthrifty fwain ; 
 
 Who with a fork went fpreading all around 
 What his old fire with fweating toil and pain, 
 Long time was raking from his racked ground : 
 In giving he obferv'd nor form nor matter, 
 But beft reward he got, who belt cou'd flatter. 
 Thus what he thought to give, he did not give, but fcatter. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Before array'd in fumptuous bravery, 
 
 Deck'd court-like in the choiceft, neweft guife ; 
 
 But all behind like drudging flavery, 
 
 With ragged patches, rent, and bared thighs, 
 
 f Prodigality, 
 
 White 
 
!2o THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 While other parts, that fhun the hated light, 
 
 Were naked left ; (ah, foul indecent fight ! ) 
 Yet neither cou'd he fee, nor feel his wretched plight. 
 
 XXL 
 His fhield prefents to life, death's lateft rites, 
 
 A fad black hearfe borne up by fable fwains • 
 Which many idle grooms with hundred lights 
 (Tapers, lamps, torches) ufher through the plains 
 To endlefs darknefs ; while the fun's bright brow, 
 With fiery beams, quenches their fmoking tow, 
 And wafies their idle coft ; the word, Not need, butjkozu. 
 
 XXIL 
 A vagrant rout (like unto tattling daws) 
 
 Strew him with vain fpent pray'rs and idle lays ; 
 And flatt'ry to his fin clofe curtains draws, 
 Tickling the itching ear with fulfome praife. 
 Behind weak pity much his fall lamented, 
 And mifery that former wafle repented : 
 The ufurer for his goods, jail for his bones indented. 
 
 XXIIL 
 His fteward was his kinfman, Vain expcnce y 
 
 Who proudly ftrove in matters light, to (hew 
 Heroick mind in braggart affluence ; 
 
 So loft his treafure, getting nought in lieu, 
 But orientation of a foolifh pride, 
 While women fond, and boys flood gaping wide; 
 But wife men all his wafle, and needlefs coft deride* 
 
 XXIV. 
 Next Pleojiecles g went, his gold admiring, 
 
 His fervants drudge, (lave to his bafeit flave ; 
 Never enough, and ftill too much defrring ; 
 His gold his god, yet in an iron grave 
 p Covetoufncfs. 
 
 Himfelf 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 121 
 
 Himfelf protects his god from noifome rufting ; 
 Much fears to keep, much more to lofe his lulling; 
 Himfelf and golden god, and every one miftrufting. 
 
 XXV. 
 Age on his hairs the winter fnow had fpread ; 
 
 That filver badge' his near end plainly proves : 
 Yet as to earth he nearer bows his head, 
 
 So loves it more ; for Like his like JIM loves. 
 
 Deep from the ground he digs his fweeteft gain, 
 And deep into the earth digs back with pain : 
 From hell his gold he brings, and hoards in hell again. 
 
 XXVI. 
 His clothes all patch'd with more than honefl thrift, 
 And clouted fhoes were nail'd for fear of wafting : 
 Falling he prais'd, but fparing was his drift ; 
 
 And when he eats, his food is worfe than fafting : 
 Thus ftarves in ftore, thus doth in plenty pine ; 
 And worshipping his god, his golden mine, 
 He feeds his famifh'd foul with that deceiving mine. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 O, hungry metal ! falfe deceitful ray, 
 
 Well laid'ft thou dark, prefs'd in earth's hidden womb ; 
 Yet thro' our mother's entrails cutting way, 
 We drag thy buried oar from hellifli tomb : 
 
 The merchant from his wife and home departs, 
 Nor at the fwelling ocean ever ftarts ; 
 While death and life a wall of thin planks only parts. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Who was it firft, that from thy deepeft cell, 
 
 With fo much coftly toil and painful fweat, 
 Durfl rob thy palace bord'ring next to hell ? 
 
 For fure thou com'ft from that infernal feat, 
 
 R That 
 
122 the purple island. 
 
 That all the world With blackefl deeds doft fill. 
 Fool man, who with fuch pain dolt woo thine ill ! 
 Needlefs to fend for grief, for he is next us ftill. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 His arms were light and cheap, as made to fave 
 
 His purfe, not limbs ; the money, not the man : 
 Rather he dies, than fpends : his helmet brave, 
 An old brafs pot ; breaft-plate, a dripping-pan : 
 His fpear a fpit, a pot-lid broad his fhield, 
 Whofe finoky plain a chalk'd Imprefe h fill'd ; 
 A bag fall feal'd ; his word, Much better fay d than failV d. 
 
 XXX. 
 By PleoneHes, fhamelefs Sparing went, 
 
 Who whines and weeps to beg a longer day ; 
 Yet with a thund'ring voice claims tardy rent ; 
 Quick to receive, but hard and How to pay : 
 ■ His care's to leflen coil with cunning bafe ; 
 But when he's fore'd beyond his bounded fpace, 
 Loud wou'd he cry, and howl, while others laugh apace. 
 
 XXXI. 
 Long after went Pufillus l , weakeft heart ; 
 
 Able to ferve, and able to command, 
 But thought himfelf unfit for either part ; 
 
 And now full loth, amidft the warlike band, * 
 
 Was hither drawn by force from quiet cell : 
 Lonenefs his heav'n, and bus'nefs was his hell. 
 A weak dijlrujlful heart is virtues aguiJhfpelL 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 His goodly arms, cover'd with fhameful dull, 
 
 Bewray 'd their mailer's eafe, and want of ufing ; 
 
 Such was his mind, which too did idle rufl ; 
 His goodly gifts with little ufe abufing : 
 
 h i. e. an emblem or device, witka motto. » Feeble-rnindednefs. 
 
 Upon 
 
THE PURPLE INLAND. 
 
 123 
 
 Upon his fhield was drawn that noble fwain, 
 
 Who loth to change his love and quiet reign, 
 
 for glorious war-like deeds, did crafty madnefs feign, 
 
 XXXIII. 
 Finely the workman fram'd the toilfome plough 
 
 Drawn with an ox and afs, unequal pair; 
 \Vhile he with bufy hand his fait did fow, 
 And at the furrow end, his dearefl heir 
 
 Did helplefs lie ; and Greek lords watching, ilill 
 Obferv'd his hand, guided with careful will : 
 About was wrote, Who nothing doth, doth nothing ill. 
 
 * XXXIV. 
 
 By him went Idkne/s, his loved friend, 
 
 And Shame with both; with all, ragg'd Poverty: 
 Behind fun* Puniffunent did clofe attend, * 
 Waiting awhile fit opportunity ; 
 
 Taking account of hours mifpent in vain, 
 And talents lent without returning gain, 
 Pour'd on his guilty head, late grief, and helplefs pain. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 This dull cold earth with fl.an.ding water frpze ; 
 
 At eafe he lies to coin pretence for eafe ; 
 His foul like Ahazs dial, while it goes 
 
 ^t forward, pofleth backward ten degrees : 
 On's couch he's pliant wax for fiends to feal ; 
 He never fweats, but in his bed, or meal : 
 He'd rather Ileal than work, and beg than flrive to fteal. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 All oppofite, tho'-he his brother were, 
 
 Was Chaunus \ that too high himfelf efteemM : 
 
 AH things he undertook, nor cou'd he fear 
 
 His power too weak, or boailed flrength rnifdeem'd; 
 
 * Arrogancy. 
 
 R 2 With 
 
124 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 With his own praife, like windy bladder blown : 
 His eyes too little, or too much his own : 
 Tho' known to all men weak, was to himfeif unknown. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 Fondly himfeif with praifing he difprais'd, 
 , Vaunting his deeds and worth with idle breath ; 
 So raz'd himfeif, what he himfeif had rais'd : 
 On's fhield a boy threatens high Phabus death, 
 Aiming his arrows at his pureft light : 
 But foon thofe thin reeds, fir'd with lightning bright, 
 Fell idly on the ftrand : his word, Yet kigh y and right. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 Next brave Pkilctimus l full poft did ride : 
 
 Like Irifing ladders was his climbing mind ; 
 His high-flown thoughts, had wings of courtly pride, 
 Which by foul rife to greateft height inclin'd ; 
 His heart afpiring fwell'd until it burfl : 
 But when he gain'd the top, with fpite accurll 
 Down wou'd he fling the fteps by which he mounted firit 
 
 XXXIX. 
 His head's a (hop furniuYd with looms of flate : 
 
 His brain's the weaver, thoughts are fhuttles light, 
 With which in fpite of heav'n he weaves his fate ; 
 Honour his web : thus works he day and night, 
 Till fate cuts off his thread; fo heapeth fins, 
 And plagues, nor once enjoys the place he wins ; 
 But where his old race ends, there his new race begins, 
 
 XL. 
 
 Ah, filly man, who dream'ft that honour Hands 
 
 In ruling others, not thyfelf ! — thy (laves 
 Serve thee, and thou thy flaves : — in iron bands 
 
 Thy fervile fpirit preft with paflions raves. 
 
 1 Ambition. 
 
 Wou'dft 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 125 
 
 Woa'dft thou live honour'd, clip ambition's wing; 
 To reafon's yoke, thy furious paflions bring. 
 Thrice noble is the man, who ojhimfelf is king. 
 
 XLI. 
 Upon his fhield was fram'd that vent'rous lad, 
 
 That durft allay the fun's bright flaming team ; 
 Spite of his feeble hands, the horfes mad 
 
 Fling down on burning earth the fcorching beam ; 
 So made the flame in which himfelf was flr'd ; 
 The world the bonfire was, where he expir'd : 
 His motto written thus, Yet had what he defird. 
 
 XLII. 
 But Atimus m , a carelefs, idle fwain, 
 
 Tho' glory ofTer'd him her fweet embrace, 
 And fair occafion that with little pain 
 
 Reach'd him her ready hand ; but (lubber bafe ! ) 
 Kept his own way, all worthy deeds declin'd ; 
 Well did he thence prove his degen'rate mind : 
 Bafe were his ftubborn thoughts; bafe all his dunghill kind. 
 
 XLIII. 
 And now by force dragg'd* from the monkifh cell, 
 
 Where teeth he only us'd, nor hands, nor brains, 
 But in fmooth fticams, fwam down thro' eafe to hell ; 
 His work to eat, drink, fleep, and purge his reins. 
 He left his heart behind him with his feaft : 
 His target with a flying dart was drefs'd, 
 Polling unto his mark : the word, / move to reft. 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 Next Colax n , all his words with fugar fpices ; 
 
 His fervile tongue, bafe flave to greatnefs' name, 
 Runs nimble defcant on the plaineft vices ; 
 
 He lets his tongue to fin, takes rent of fhame ; 
 
 ™ Bafeuefs of mind. n Flattery. 
 
 He 
 
126 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 He temp'ring lies, porter to th' ear refides ; 
 Like Indian apple, which with painted fides, 
 More dangerous within its lurking poifon hides. 
 
 XLV. 
 His art is but to hide, not heal a fore ; 
 
 To nourifh pride, to ftrangle confcience ; 
 To drain the rich, his empty purfe to ftore ; 
 
 To fpoil the precious foul, to pleafe vilefenfe : 
 A carrion-crow he is, a gaping grave, 
 The rich coat's molh, court's bane, and trencher's fiave, 
 Sin's and hell's winning bawd, the Devil's facTring knave. 
 
 XLVI. 
 A mift he calls before his patron's fight, 
 
 That blackeft vices never once appear; 
 But greater than it is feems virtue's light ; 
 His lord's difpleafure is his only fear : 
 His pleafing lies, tickling the fenfes frail 
 To death, make open way where force wou'd fail, 
 Lefs hurts the lions paw ; than foxes foftejl tail. 
 
 XLVII. 
 His arms with hundred tongues were powder'd gay, 
 
 (The mint of lies) gilt, fil'd, the fenfe to pleafe ; 
 His fword which in his mouth clofe fheathed lay, 
 Sharper than death, and fram'd to kill with eafe. 
 Ah, curfed weapon, life with pleafure fpiliing ? 
 The Sardoin herb, with many branches filling 
 His fhield, was his device : the word, I pleafe in ratlings 
 
 XLVIII. 
 Bafe flave ! how crawFft thou from thy dunghill neft, 
 
 Where thou waft hatch'd by fhame and beggary. 
 And percheft in the learn'd and noble bread ? 
 
 Nobles of thee their courtfhjp learn ; of thee 
 
 * 
 
 Arts 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 137 
 
 Arts learn new art their learning to adorn : 
 (Ah, wretched minds! J he is not. nobly born, 
 Nor learn'd, who doiL not thy ignoble learning fcorn. 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 Clofe to him Pkafing went, with painted face. 
 And Honour by fome hidden cunning made ; 
 "Set Honour's felf, but Honours fcmblance bafe, 
 For foon it vaniflrd like an empty made : 
 Behind, his parents duly him attend ; 
 With them he forced is his age to fpend : 
 Shame his beginning was, and fhame mufl be his end. 
 
 L. 
 
 Next follow'd Dyjcolus °, a froward wight ; 
 
 His lips thick, fwol'n, and eve-brows ever bent ; 
 With footy locks, dark looks, and fcouling fight ; 
 His face a tell-tale to his bafe intent : 
 
 He nothing lik'd, or prais'd ; but reprehended 
 What every one befide himfelf commended. 
 Humors of tongues impqfthu?rid, purg'd with fiiame % are maided* 
 
 LI. 
 His mouth a pois nous quiver, where he hides 
 
 Sharp venom'd arrows, which his bitter tongue, 
 With fquibs, and jells, unto their objecls guides ; 
 Nor fears he gods on earth, or heav'n to wrong : 
 Upon his fhield was fairly drawn to fight, 
 A raging dog, foaming out wrath and fpite: 
 The word to his device, Impartial all I bite* 
 
 LII. 
 Gcloios p next enfu'd, a merry Greek, 
 
 Whofe life was laughter vain, and mirth mifplac'd ; 
 His fpeeches broad, to (hame the modefl cheek; 
 Nor car'd he what, or whom, his tongue difgrae'd ; 
 • Moiofcnsis. 1 Mad laughter. 
 
 Salt, 
 
t28 THE PURPLE ISLAND. * 
 
 Salt q , round about he caft upon the fand 
 If in his way his friend or father ftand, 
 His father and his friend he fpreads with carelefs hand. 
 
 LIII. 
 His foul jefts, fteep'd and drown'd in laughter vain 
 
 And rotten fpeech (ah!) was not mirth, but madnefs : 
 His armour crackling thorns all flaming ftain 
 
 With golden fires (emblem of foppiih gladnefsj : 
 Upon his Ihieid two laughing fools you fee, 
 (In number he the third, firft in degree) 
 At which himfelf wou'd laugh, and fleer : his word, IVe three. 
 
 LIV. 
 
 And after Agrios r , a fullen fwain ; 
 
 All mirth he in himfelf and others hated ; 
 Dull, dead, and leaden, was his cheerlefs vein ; 
 His weary fenfe he never recreated ; 
 
 And now he march'd as if he fomewhat dream'd ! 
 All honeft joy, but madnefs he efteem'd, 
 Refreming's idlenefs ; but fport, he folly deem'd. 
 
 LV. 
 
 In's arms, his mind the workman apt cxprefs'd, 
 
 Which all with quenched lamps, but fmoking yet 
 And foully fmelling, were full quaintlv drefs'd 
 To blind, not light the eyes, to choke, not heat: 
 Upon his fhield an heap of fenny mire, 
 In flags and turfs (with funs yet never drier) 
 Did fmoth'ring lie, not burn : his word, Smcke zaihoidjirr, 
 
 LVI. 
 Laft Impudence, whofe never-changing face 
 
 Knew but one colour ; with fome brafs-brow'd lie, 
 And laughing loud (he drowns her juft difgrace : 
 
 About her all the fiends in armies fly : 
 
 1 i. e. wit ; a talent too often employed as It is here figuratively defcribeu 
 * Rufticity, or lavagenefs. 
 
 Her 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 129 
 
 Her feather'd beaver fidelong cock'd, in guife 
 Of roaring boys ; fet look, with fixed eyes 
 Out-looks all fbarae-fac'd forms, all modefty defies. 
 
 LVIL 
 
 And as her thoughts, her arms were black as hell, 
 
 Her brazen fhield two fable dogs adorn, 
 Who each at other ftare, and fnarl, and fwell : 
 Beneath the word was fet, All change Ifcortu 
 But if I all this rout in foul array 
 Shou'd mufter up, and fhew in fad affray, 
 Too long yourfelves and flocks my tedious fong wou'd flay. 
 
 LVIII. 
 
 The aged day grows dim, and homeward calls : 
 
 The fetting fun (man's ftate defcribing well) 
 Palls when he rifes, rifes when he falls : 
 So we by falling rofe, by rifing fell. 
 
 The gloomy cloud of night doth foftly creep, 
 And all our world with fable tinfture fteep : 
 Home now ye fhepherd-fwains ; home now beloved fheep. 
 
 CANTO 
 
j 3 o THE PURPLE fSLAND. 
 
 CANTO IX. 
 I. 
 
 THE bridegroom fun, who late the earth efpous'd, 
 Leaves his ftar-chamber ; early in the eafl 
 He fhook his fparkling locks, head lively rouz'd, 
 While morn his couch with bluihing rofes dreft ; 
 
 His beams the earth foon caught to gild her flow'rs : 
 Phojphor his gold-fleec'd drove folds in their bow'rs, 
 Which all the night had graz'd about th' Olympic tow'rs. 
 
 II. 
 
 The cheerful lark, mounting from early bed, 
 
 With fweetefl fong awakes the drowfy light ; 
 The earth (he left, and up to heav'n is fled ; 
 
 There chants her Maker's praifes out of fight. 
 Earth feems a mole-hill, men but ants to be ; 
 Teaching the proud, who foar to high degree, 
 The further up they climb, the lefs they feem, and fee. 
 
 III. 
 
 The fhepherds met, and Thomalin began ; 
 
 Young Thomalin, whofe notes and Giver firing 
 Silence the rifing lark, and dying fwan : 
 
 Come Tkirjil, end thy lay. and cheerful fing : 
 Hear how the larks give welcome to the day, 
 Temp'ring their fweetefl notes unto thy lay ; 
 Up then, beloved fwain ; why dofl thou longer flay ? 
 
 IV. 
 
 Well fett'fl thou, friend, the lark before mine eyes, 
 
 Much eauer to hear than imitate : 
 Her wings lift up her notes to lofty fkies ; 
 
 But me a leaden fleep, and earthly ftate, 
 
 D^vn 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. t a< 
 
 Down to the centre ties with captive firing : 
 How fhall I follow then her note and wing ? 
 Singing (he lofty mounts : ah ! mounting fhou'd I fing ? 
 
 V. 
 Oh, thou dread king of that heroick band! 
 
 Which by thy pow'r beats back thefe hellifh fprites, 
 Refcuing this ftate from death and bafe command. 
 
 TelL me (dread king ! what are thofe w r arlike Knights? 
 What force ? what arms ? where lies their flrength's in- 
 That tho' fo few in number, never ceafe [creafe, 
 
 To keep this town, belleg'd by numbers numberlefs ? 
 
 VI. 
 The firfl commanders in this holy train 
 
 Leaders to all the reft, an ancient pair; 
 Long fin ce fure link'd in wedlock's fweeteft chain; 
 His name Spiritto, her's Urania fair : 
 
 Fair had (he been, and full of heav'nly grace, 
 And he in youth a mighty warrior was, [race. 
 
 Both now more fair, and ftrong, which prov'd their heav'nly 
 
 VII. 
 His arms, with flaming tongues did fparkle bright, 
 Bright flaming tongues, in divers feclions fecn ; 
 Jlis piercing fword, edg'd with their fierv light, 
 
 The joints and marrow, he cou'd t,hrufl between s ; 
 Upon his fhield was drawn a glorious dove, 
 'Gainft whom the proudeft eagle dares not move ; 
 Glitt'ring in beams: his word, Conquering by peace and love. 
 
 VIII. 
 But fhe Amazon-Y&e, in azure arms, 
 
 Silver' d with flars, and gilt with funny rays : 
 Her mighty spouse in fight, and ferce alarms 
 Attends, and equals in thofe bloody frays ; 
 • Hcb, iv. \i. 
 
 S 2 
 
i 3 2 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 And on herfhield an heav'nly globe (difplaying 
 The conftellations, lower bodies fwaying, 
 Sway'd by the higher) fhe bore : her word, / rule obeying. 
 
 IX. 
 
 About them fwarm'd their fruitful progeny ; 
 
 An heav'nly offspring of an heav'nly bed : 
 Well might you in their looks his brav'ry fee 
 With her fweet graces lovely tempered. 
 
 Fit youths they feem'd to play in princes hall, 
 (But, ah ! long fmce they thence were banifh'd b all) 
 Or mine in glitt'ring arms, when war on them doth call. 
 
 X. 
 
 The firft in order (nor in worth the lafl) 
 
 Is Knowledge, drawn from peace, and mufe's fpring, 
 Where (haded in fair Sinai's groves, his tafte 
 
 He feafts with words, and works of heav'nly king; 
 But now to bloody field is fully bent : 
 Yet ilill he feem'd to ftudy as he went: 
 His arms cut all in books ; ilrong fliield flight papers lent. 
 
 XL 
 His glitt'ring armour fhin'd like burning day, 
 
 Garnifh'd with golden funs, and radiant flow'rs ; 
 Which turn their bending heads to Phabus* ray, 
 And when he falls, fhuts up their leafy bow'rs : 
 Upon his fhield the filver moon did bend 
 Her horned bow, and round her arrows fpend : 
 His word in filver wrote, / borrow what I lend. 
 
 XII. 
 All that he faw, and all he heard, were books, 
 
 In which he read, and learn'd his Maker's will : 
 Moft on his word, yet much on hcav'n he looks, 
 
 And thence admires with praife the workman's fkill. 
 
 b Canto vi. ftanza 8, 
 
 Clofe 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. , 33 
 
 Clofe to him went ftill-mufing Contemplation, 
 That made good ufe of ills by meditation ; 
 So to him ill itfelf was good, by ftrange mutation : 
 
 XIII. 
 
 And Care c i who never from his fides wou'd part, 
 
 Of Knowledge oft the ways and means inquiring, 
 To practice what he learn'd from holy art ; 
 And oft with tears, and oft with fighs defiring 
 
 Aid from that sov'reign guide, who fe ways fo deep, 
 Tho' fain he wou'd, yet weak, he cou'd not keep : 
 But when he cou'd' not run, yet forward wou'd he creep. 
 
 XIV. 
 Next Tapinus d , whofe fweet, tho' lowly grace, 
 
 All other higher than himfelf efleem'd ; 
 He in himfelf priz'd things as mean and bafe, 
 
 Which yet in others great and glorious feem'd : 
 All ill his due, good undeferv'd he thought ; 
 His heart a low-roof 'd houfe, but fweetly wrought, 
 Where God himfelf wou'd dwell, tho' he it dearly bought, 
 
 XV. 
 Honour he fliuns, yet is the way unto him ; 
 
 As hell, he hates advancement won with bribes ; 
 But public place, and truft, are fore'd to woo him ; 
 He good to grace, ill to defert afcribes : 
 Him (as his Lord) contents a lowly room, 
 Whofe firit. houfe was the bleifed virgin's womb, 
 The next a cratch, the third a crofs, the fourth a tomb. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 So choifeft drugs in meanefl fhrubs are found ; 
 
 So precious gold in deepeit centre dwells ; 
 So fweeteft vi'lets trail on coarfeft ground ; 
 
 So richefl pearls lie clos'd in vileft Ihells : 
 
 c 2 Cor. vii. ix. What rarefulnefs, Scz. < Humility. 
 
 So 
 
i 3 4 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 So loweft dales we let at higheft rates ; 
 So creeping flrawberries yield daintieft cates. 
 The highest loves the low, but all the lofty hates. 
 
 XVII. 
 Upon his fhield was drawn that fhepherd lad, 
 
 Who with a fling threw down faint Ifraels fearj ; 
 And in his hand his fpoils, and trophies glad, 
 
 The zrton iter's fword and head, he bravely bears: 
 Plain on his lovely face you might behold 
 A blufhing meeknefs met with courage bold : 
 Little, not little worthy was fairly wrote in gold. 
 
 XVIII. 
 With him his kinfman both in birth and name, 
 
 Obedience, taught by many bitter fhow'rs 
 In humble bonds his paflions proud to tame, 
 And low fubmit unto the higher pow'rs : 
 
 But yet no fervile yoke his forehead brands ; 
 For ty'd in holy fervices fweet bands, 
 In this obedience rules, and ferving thus commands. 
 
 XIX. 
 By them went Fido e , marfhal of the field : 
 
 Weak was his mother when fne gave him day; 
 And he at firfl a Tick and weakly child, 
 As e'er with tears receiv'd the funny ray : 
 
 Yet when more years afford more growth and might, 
 A champion flout he was, and pow'rful knight, 
 As ever came in field, or fhone in armour bright. 
 
 XX. 
 
 So may we fee a little lionet, 
 
 When newly whelpt, a weak and tender thing, 
 Defpis'd by ev'ry beaft; but waxen great, 
 
 When fuller times, full ftrength and courage bring; 
 
 ^ Faith. 
 
 The 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 The beafts all crouching low, their king adore, 
 And dare not fee what they contemn'd before : 
 The trembling foreft quakes at his affrighting roar. 
 
 XXI. 
 Mountains he calls in feas with mighty hand ; 
 
 Stops and turns back the fun's impetuous courfe; 
 Nature repeals her laws at his command; 
 
 No pow'r of hell or heav'n withftands his force: 
 Events to come yet many ages hence, 
 He prefent makes, by wondrous prefcience; 
 Proving the fenfes blind, by being blind to fenfe. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 His fky-like arms, dy'd all in blue and white, 
 And fet with golden ftars that flamed wide; 
 His fliield invifible to mortal fight, 
 Yet he upon it eafily defcry'd 
 
 The near refemblance of his dying Lord, 
 Whofe naked fide with cruel fpear was gor'd ; 
 Which to his fainting fpirits new courage wou'd afford. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Strange was the force of that enchanted fhield, 
 
 Which higheft pow'rs to it from heav'n impart : 
 For who could bear it well, and rightly wield; 
 It fav'd from fword, and fpear, and poifon'd dart : 
 Well might he flip, but yet not wholly fall : 
 No final lofs his courage might appal ; 
 Growing more found by wounds, and riling by his fall. 
 
 XXIV. 
 So fome have feign'd that TcllUS* giant fon, 
 
 Drew many new-born lives from his dead mother; 
 
 (Another rofe as foon as one was gone, 
 And twenty loft, yet ftill remain'd another : 
 
 *35 
 
 For 
 
136 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 For when he fell, and kifs'd the barren heath, 
 His parent ftraight infpir'd fucceflive breath ; 
 And tho' herfelf was dead, yet ranfom'd him from death. 
 
 XXV. 
 With him his nurfe, went careful Aco'i f ; 
 
 Whofe hands firft from his mother's womb did take him, 
 And ever fince have fofter'd tenderly : 
 
 She never might, fhe never wou'd forfake him ; 
 
 And he her lov'd again with mutual band : 
 
 For by her needful help he oft did ftand, 
 
 When elfe he foon wou'd fall into the en'mies hand. 
 
 XXVI. 
 With both, fweet Meditation ever pac'd, 
 
 His nurfe 's daughter, and his fofter- fitter ; 
 Dear as his foul, he in his foul her plac'd, 
 
 And oft embrac'd, and oft by Health he kifs'd her : 
 For fhe had taught him by her filent talk 
 To tread the fafe ; but dang'rous ways to balk ; 
 And brought his God with him, him with his God to walk. 
 
 XXVIL 
 Behind him Penitence did fadly go, 
 
 Whofe cloudy dropping eyes were ever raining ; 
 Her fwelling tears, which, e'en in ebbing flow, 
 Furrow her cheeks, the linful puddles draining : 
 Much feem'd fhe in her penfive thought molefled, 
 And much the mocking world her foul infefled; 
 More fhe the hateful world, but moil herfelf detefled. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 She was the object of lewd men's difgrace, 
 The jeer, and impious feoff of carnal hearts ; 
 
 Yet fmiling heav'n delights to kifs her face, 
 
 And with his blood Christ bathes her painful fmarts: 
 
 f Hearing. 
 
 Affliction's 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 137 
 
 Affliction's iron rod her foul chaflis'd ; 
 With fharpeft griefs her heart was circumcis'd : 
 But angels faw her weep, and ev'ry tear they priz'd. 
 
 XXIX. 
 With her a troop of mournful grooms abide, 
 
 That with their fullen looks increafe her woe ; 
 Amendment Hill (for his own faults) did chide, 
 And Penance arm'd with fmarting whips did go : 
 Then fad Remorfe came fighing all the way; 
 Laft Satisfaction, giving all away : 
 Much furely did he owe, much more wou'd he repay. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Next went Elpinus g , clad in fky-like blue ; 
 
 And thro' his arms few ftars did feem to peep, 
 Which there the workman's hand fo finely drew, 
 That rock'd in clouds they foftly feem to fleep : 
 His rugged fhield was like a rocky mould. 
 On which an anchor's fix'd with fureft hold : 
 I hold by being held, was written round in gold. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Nothing fo cheerful was his thoughtful face, 
 
 As was his broth'r Fido's : — fear feem'd to dwell 
 Clofebyhis heart; his colour chang'd apace, 
 And went, and came, that fure all was not well : 
 Therefore a comely maid did oft fuftain 
 His fainting fteps, and fleeting life maintain : 
 Pollicita h her name, which ne'er cou'd lie or feign. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Next to Elpinus march'd his broth'r Love ; 
 
 Not that great love which cloth'd his Godhead bright 
 With rags of flefh, and now again above 
 
 Hath drefs'd his flefh in heav'ns eternal light : 
 
 1 Hope. h Promifc. 
 
 T Much 
 
i 3 8 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Much lefs the brat of that, falfe Cyprian dame, 
 Begot by froth, and fire, in bed of fhame, 
 And now burns idle hearts fwelt'ring'in luftful flame. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 But this from heav'n brings his immortal race, 
 
 And nurs'd by gratitude whofe careful arms 
 Long held, and hold him flill in kind embrace : 
 But train'd to daily wars, and fierce alarms, 
 
 He grew to wondrous flrength, and beauty rare : 
 Next that great love, from whom his offsprings are, 
 No match in earth or heav'n may with this love compare. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 His page, who from his fide might never move, 
 
 Remembrance, on him waits ; in books reciting 
 The famous paffion of that higheft love, 
 His burning zeal to greater flame exciting : 
 
 Deep wou'd he figh, and feem empaflion'd fore, 
 And oft with tears his backward heart deplore, 
 That loving all he cou'd, he lov'd that love no more. 
 
 XXXV. 
 Yet fure he truly lov'd, and honour'd dear 
 
 That glorious name ; which when, or where he fpy'd 
 Wrong'd, or in heilifh fpeech blafphem'd did hear, 
 Boldly the rafli blafphemer he defy'd, 
 
 And forc'd him eat the words he foully fpake : 
 But if for him, he grief or death did take, 
 That grief he counted joy, and death, life for his fake. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 His glitt'ring arms, drefs'd all with fiery hearts 
 
 Seem'd burn in chafte defire, and heav'nly flame : 
 And on his fhield kind Jonathan imparts 
 
 To his foul's friend, his robes, and princely name, 
 
 And 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 '39 
 
 And kingly throne, which mortals To adore : 
 And round about was writ in golden ore, 
 Well might he give him all, who gave hts life before. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 rhefe led the vanguard ; and an hundred mo l 
 Fill'd up the empty ranks with order'd train : 
 But firfl in middle ward did juftly go 
 In goodly arms a frefli and lovely Svjain k , 
 
 Vaunting himfelf Love's twin, but younger brother: 
 Well might it be, for e'en their very mother 
 With plcafing error oft miftook one for the other. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 K$ when fair Paris gave that golden ball, 
 
 A thoufand doubts ran in his ftagg'fing breaft : 
 Ml lik'd him well, fain wou'd he give it all : 
 Each better feems, and Hill the laft feems bed : 
 Doubts ever new his reaching hand deferr'd ; 
 The more he look'd, the more his judgment err'd : 
 >o (he firfl this, then that, then none, then both preferr'd. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 Jke them, their armour feem'd full near of kin : 
 
 In this they only differ ; th' elder bent 
 rlis higher foul to heav'n ; the younger twin 
 'Mongft mortals here his love and kindnefs fpent ; 
 Teaching (ftrange alchymyj the fureft thriving, 
 By felling lands, and to grow rich by giving ; 
 ly emptying filling bags, fo heav'n by earth achieving. 
 
 XL. 
 
 U>out him flock'd the poor with num'rous trains, 
 Whom he with tender care, and large expence, 
 
 With kindefl words, and fuccour entertains ; 
 Nor looks for thanks, or thinks of recoinpence : 
 
 ♦ i. ?. mere. k Charitv. 
 
 T 2 Hi: 
 
1 4 o THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 His wardrobe ferves to clothe the naked fide, 
 The body's parts unfeemly, thence did hide ; 
 If other clothes he lack'd, his own he wou'd divide. 
 
 XLI. 
 To rogues, his gate was fhut ; but open lay 
 
 Kindly the weary traveller inviting : 
 Oft therefore angels, hid in mortal clay, 
 
 And God himfelf in his free roofs delighting, 
 Lowly to vifit him wou'd not difdain, 
 And in his narrow catin oft remain ; 
 Whom heav'n, and earth, and all the world cannot contain. 
 
 XLII. 
 His table ftill was fill'd with wholefome meat, 
 
 Not to provoke, but quiet appetite ; 
 And round about the hungry freely eat, 
 With plenteous cates cheering their feeble fprite: 
 Their earneft pray'r broke open heav'n's wide door ; 
 That not in vain fweet plenty evermore 
 With gracious eye looks down upon his blefled flore. 
 
 XLIII. 
 Him too attended with much uncouthnefs 
 
 A troop with little caps, and fhaved head ; 
 Such as was once enfranchis'd bondmen's drefs, 
 New freed from cruel mafters fervile dread : 
 Thefe had he lately bought from captive chain ; 
 Hence they his triumph fing with joyful drain, 
 And on his head due praife, and thoufand bleflings rain* 
 
 XLIV. 
 He was a father to the fatherlefs, 
 
 To widows he fupply'd an hufband's care ; 
 fjor wou'd he heap up woe to their diftrefs, 
 
 Of by a guardian's name their (late impair ; 
 
 But 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 141 
 
 But refcue them from flrong oppreflbrs might : 
 Nor doth he weigh the great man's heavy fpite. 
 Who fears the hightfl Judge, need fear no mortal wight, 
 
 XLV. 
 Once ev'ry week he on his progrefs went, 
 
 The fick to vifit, and thofe meager fwains, 
 Who all their weary life in darknefs fpent, 
 
 In fetters bound, and prefs'd with heavy chains : 
 He hoards not wealth for his loofe heir to fpend, 
 But it with willing hand doth well expend. 
 Gold then is certain good which to our God we lend. 
 
 XLVI. 
 And when the dead by cruel tyrant's fpite, 
 
 Lie out to rav'nous birds and beafts expos'd, 
 His yearning heart pitying that wretched fight, 
 In decent graves their weary flefh enclos'd, 
 
 And ftrew'd with fragrant flow'rs the lowly hearfe; 
 Then all alone the laft words did rehearfe, 
 Bidding them foftly deep in his fad fighing verfe. 
 
 XLVIL 
 
 So once that royal maid l fierce Thebes beguiFd, 
 
 Tho' wilful Creon proudly did forbid her; 
 Her brother from his home and tomb exil'd, 
 
 (Whilft willing night in darknefs fafely hid her) 
 She lowly laid in earth's all-covering made : 
 
 Her dainty hands (not us'd to fuch a trade) 
 With the rude mattock toil, and with the weary fpade. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 Yet feels me neither fweat, nor irkfome pain, 
 
 Till now his grave was fully finimed ; 
 Then on his wounds her cloudy eyes did rain, 
 
 To warn the guilt painted in deepeft red : 
 
 ? Antigone daughter of Oedipus, contrary to the edict of Crcon buries Polpicts. 
 
 An4 
 
14* THE PURPLE ISLAND- 
 
 And falling down upon his gored fide, 
 With hundred varied plaints (he often cry'd, 
 Oh, had I died for thee, or with thee might have died! 
 
 XLIX. 
 Ay me ! my ever wrong'd, and banifh'd brother, 
 
 How can I fitly thy hard fate deplore, 
 Or in my breaft fo juft complaining fmother ? 
 To thy fad chance what can be added more ? 
 Exile thy home, thy home a tomb thee gave : 
 Oh, no ! fuch little room thou mufl not have ; 
 But for thy baninYd bones, I (wretch) mull ileal a grave- 
 
 L. 
 
 But whither, woful maid, have thy complaints 
 
 With fellow-paflion drawn my pleafmg moan ? 
 But thus this Love deals with thofe murder'd faints ; 
 Weeps with the fad, and fighs with thofe that groan. 
 But now in that beech grove we'll fafely play, 
 And in thofe fhadows mock the fcorching ray ; 
 Which yet increafes more with the decreafing day. 
 
 C A N T O 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. M3 
 
 CANTO X. 
 
 L 
 
 THE fliepherds to the woody mount withdrew, 
 Where cooling fnades yield a fafe canopy ; 
 Whofe top with violets dy'd all in blue, 
 Might feem to make a little azure fky : 
 
 And that round hill, which their weak heads maintain'd, 
 A letter Atlas feem'd, whofe neck fuftain'd 
 The weight of all the heav'ns ; fo ancient poets feign 'd. 
 
 II. 
 And here and there primrofes fcattered, 
 
 Spangling the blue, fit conflellations make : 
 Some broadly flaming their fair colours fpread ; 
 Some feem'd to wink, as if but half awake : 
 Fit were theyplac'd, and fet in order due: 
 Nature here look'd like art, fo lively true 
 A little heav'n on earth in narrow fpace fhe drew. 
 
 III. 
 
 Within this earthly heav'n the fhepherds play, 
 
 The time beguiling, and the parching light; 
 Till the declining fun, and elder day 
 
 I Abate their flaming heat, and youthful might : 
 The fheep had left the fhades, their food to eat; 
 Then all returning to their former feat, 
 Thrrfd did now begin his weary fong repeat. 
 1V - 
 Great pow'r of love ! with what commanding fire 
 
 Doft thou enflame the world's wide regiment, 
 And kindly heat in every heart infpire ! 
 
 Nothing is free from thy fweet government : 
 
144 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Fifh burn in feas ; beafts, birds thy weapons prove ; 
 By thee dead elements and heav'ns move ; 
 Which void of fenfe themfelves, yet are not void of love. 
 
 V. 
 But thofe twin Loves, which from thy feas of light 
 
 To us on earth diffufe their lefTer ftreams, 
 Tho' in their force they (hew thy wondrous might, 
 On thee reflecting back their glorious beams ; 
 Yet here encounter'd with a mighty foe, 
 Had need both^arm'd and furely guarded go : 
 But mofl thy help they need ; do not thy help foreflow a . 
 
 VI. 
 
 Next to the younger Love, Irenus b went, 
 
 Whofe hoary head proclaim'd his winter age : 
 His fpring in many battles had he fpent ; 
 But he all weapons chang'd for counfel fagc. 
 His heavy fword (the witnefs of his might) 
 Has now long time remain'd in idle plight ; 
 Which hid in quiet flieath, he dooms to endlefs night. 
 
 VII. 
 Patience his fhield had lent to guard his breaft, 
 
 Whofe golden plain three olive branches drefs : 
 The word in letters large was fair exprefs'd, 
 Thrice happy author of a happy peace. 
 
 Rich plenty yields him pow'r, pow'r flores his will ; 
 Will ends in works, good works his treafures fill : 
 Earth's weal , heav'n's heir he is ;— as God, pays good for ill. 
 
 VIII. 
 By him Andreos d pae'd, of middle age, 
 
 His mind as far from rafhnefs, as from fears ; 
 Hating bafe thoughts, as much as defp'rate rage : 
 The world's loud thund'rings he unfhaken hears : 
 " i. e. delay. * Peaccablenefs. c Matt. v. 9. 4 Fortitude. 
 
 Nor 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 H5 
 
 Nor death, nor life, will he or feek or fly, 
 Ready for both. — He is as cowardly 
 IVko longer fears to live,- as he zuho fears to die, 
 
 IX. 
 Worft was his civil war, where deadly fought 
 
 He with himfelf, till pafiion yields or dies : 
 All heart and hand, no tongue; not fierce, butftout: 
 His warmth had counfel in't ; his fury, eyes ; 
 His rage well temper'd is : no fear can daunt 
 His reafon ; but cold blood is valiant : 
 Well may he ilrength in death ; but never courage want. 
 
 X. 
 But like a mighty rock; whofe unmov'd fides 
 
 The hoftile fea affaults with furious wave, 
 And o'er its head the boift'rous north-wind rides ; 
 
 ^Both fight, and florin, and fwell, and roar, and rave ; 
 Hoarfe (urges lafh, loud blafts their trumpets ftrain : 
 Th' heroick cliff laughs at their fruftrate pain ; 
 aves fcatter'd, drop in tears, winds broken, whining plain . 
 XI. 
 Such was this Knight's undaunted conftancy ; 
 
 No mifchief weakens his refolved mind : 
 None fiercer to a ftubborn enemy ; 
 
 kBut to the yielding none more fweetly kind. 
 His fhield an even ballaft (hip embraves, 
 Which dances light, while Neptune wildly raves : 
 His word was this, I fear high heavn, not winds, or waves. 
 
 I XII. 
 
 And next Mecrothumus\ whofe quiet face 
 No cloud of pafiion ever fhadowed ; 
 Nor cou'd hot anger reafon's rule difplace, 
 Changing the rofy cheek to fiery red : 
 e i, e complain. ( Long-fuffering, 
 
146 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Nor cou'd revenge, clad in a deadly white, 
 With hidden malice eat his vexed fprite : 
 For ill, he good repay 'd, and love exchang'd for fpite. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Nor was there e'er a more undaunted fpirit ; 
 
 Yet, moft him deem'd abafe and tim'rous fwain; 
 
 But he well weighing his own ftrength and merit, 
 
 The greateft wrong cou'd wifely entertain. 
 
 Nothing refilled his commanding fpcar : 
 
 Yielding itfelf to him a winning were : 
 
 And tho' he died, yet dead, he rofe a conqueror. 
 
 XIV. 
 His nat'ral force beyond all nature ftretched : 
 
 Moft ftron<r he is, becaufe he will be weak : 
 ^.nd happy moft, becaufe he can be wretched. 
 
 Then whole and found, when he himfelf doth break ; 
 Rejoicing moft when moft he is tormented : 
 In greateft difcontents he refts contented : 
 By conquering himfelf, all conquefts he prevented. 
 
 XV. 
 His arms were made of mafly adamant, 
 
 Which back did make recoil the hardeft blade ; 
 His (kin itfelf cou'd any weapon daunt, 
 
 Of fuch ftrange mould and temper was he made : 
 Upon his fliield a palm-tree ftill increas'd, 
 Tho' many weights its rifing arms deprefs'd : 
 His word was, Rifing ?nqft i by bang mojl opprejsd. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Next him Androphilus g , whofe fweeteft mind 
 'Twixt mildnefs temper'd, and low courtefy, 
 
 Cou'd ceafe as foon to be, as not be kind : 
 
 Churliih defpite ne'er look'd from his calm eye, 
 
 e Gentlenefs, or courtcfv. 
 
 Much 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 147 
 
 Much lefs commanded in his gentle heart : 
 To bafeft men fair looks he wou'd impart; 
 Nor cou'd he cloak ill thoughts with complimental art. 
 
 XVII. 
 His en'mies knew not how to difcommend ; 
 
 All others dearly lov'd ; fell ranc'rous fpite, 
 And vile detraction fain wou ; d reprehend ; 
 And oft in vain his name they clofely bite, 
 As popular '", and flatterer accufing : 
 But he fuch flavifn office much refilling, 
 Can eas'ly clear himfelf from their falfe tongues abufing. 
 
 XVIII. 
 His arms were fram'd into a fplendid night, 
 
 Whofe fable drefs with ftars all fpangled wide, 
 Afford the weary traveller cheerful light, 
 
 And to his home his erring footfteps guide : 
 Upon his ancient fhield the workmen fine 
 Had drawn the fun, whofe eye did ne'er repine 
 To look on good and ill : his word, To all IJIiine. 
 
 XIX. 
 Fair virtue, where ft ay 'ft thou in poor exile, 
 
 Leaving the court from whence thou took'ft thy name ? 
 While in thy place is ftept difdaining vile, 
 
 iAnd flattery, bafe fon of need and fhame ; 
 And with them furly (corn, and hateful pride; 
 Whofe artificial face falfe colours dy'd, 
 Which more difplay her fhame, than loathfome foulnefs hide. 
 
 XX. 
 Late, there thou livedft with a gentle fwain, 
 
 (As gentle fwain as ever lived there) 
 Who lodg'd thee in his heart, and all thy train, 
 Where hundred other graces feated were : 
 
 b i.e. ftudious of the favour of the people. 
 
 U 2 But 
 
148 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 But he, alas! untimely dead and gone, 
 Leaves us to rue his death, and thee to moan, 
 That few were ever fuch ; and now thofe few are none, 
 
 XXI. 
 
 By him the ftout Encratcs ! boldly went, 
 
 AfTailed oft by mighty enemies, 
 Which all on him alone their fpite mifpent ; 
 Boldly whole armies he himfeif defies ; 
 
 With him nor might, nor cunning (lights prevail ; 
 All force on him they try, all forces fail : 
 Yet ftill aflail him frefh, yet vainly ftill aflail. 
 
 XXII. 
 His body full of vigour, full of health ; 
 
 His table feeds not luft, but ftrength and need : 
 Full ftor'd with plenty, not by heaping wealth, 
 But topping rank defires, which vain exceed : 
 
 On's fhield an hand from heav'n a garden d re (Ting, 
 Pruning fuperfluous boughs the trees opprefling ; 
 So adding fruit: his word, By lejjening increa/ing. 
 
 XXIII. 
 His fettled mind was written in his face : 
 
 For on his forehead cheerful gravity 
 Falfe joys and apifh vanities doth chace : 
 And watchful care did wake in either eye. 
 His heritage he wou'd not lavifh fpend, 
 Nor yet his treafure deal with niggard hand ; 
 What he had gotten well he rightly did expend, 
 
 XXIV. 
 A lovely pair of twins clos'd either Cide : 
 
 Not thofe in heav'n, the flow'ry Gemmies, 
 Are half fo lovely bright ; the one his bride, 
 Agntia k chafte, was join'd in Hymens ties, 
 
 1 Temperance. k Chaftity in the married. 
 
 ' And 
 
THE PiRPLE ISLAND. 
 
 And love, as pure as heav'ns conjunction : 
 Thus fhe was his, and he her flefh and bone ; 
 So were they two to light ; in truth entirely one. 
 
 XXV. 
 Upon her arched brows, unarmed love 
 Triumphing fat in peaceful victory ; 
 And in her eyes thoufand chafle graces move, 
 Checking vain thoughts with awful majefty ; 
 Ten thoufand more her fairer breaft contains ; 
 Where quiet meeknefs every ill reftrains, 
 And humbly fubj e£t fpirit by willing fervice reigns. 
 
 XXVI. 
 Her fky-like arms glitter'd in golden beams, 
 
 And brightly feem'd to* flame with burning hearts : 
 The fcorching ray with his reflected ftreams 
 
 Augments their flames, but heav'nly fire imparts : 
 Upon his fhield a pair of turtles fhone ; 
 A lovely pair, (till coupled, ne'er alone : 
 Her word, T/w* one when two, yet either two, or none. 
 
 XXVII. 
 With her, her filler went, a warlike Maid, 
 
 Parthenia \ all in fteel, and gilded arms ; 
 In needle's Head, a mighty fpear fhe fway'd, 
 With which in bloody fields, and fierce alarms, 
 The boldeft champion fhe down wou'd bear, 
 And like a thunderbolt wide paffage tear, 
 Cafting all to the earth with her enchanted fpear. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Her goodly armour feem'd a garden green, 
 Where thoufand fpotlefs lilies frefhly blew ; 
 
 And on her fhield the lone bird m might be feen, 
 
 Th' Arabian bird, fhining in colours new : 
 
 1 Chaflity in the Tingle, m The Phoenix. 
 
 a 49 
 
 Itfelf 
 
i#> THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Itfelf unto itfelf was only mate ; 
 Ever the fame, but new in newer date : 
 And underneath was writ, Suck is chajIefingUJLdc. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Thus hid in arms (he feem'd a goodly Knight, 
 
 And fit for any warlike exercife : 
 But when (he lift, lays down her armour bright, 
 And back refumes he* peaceful maiden's guile : 
 The faired Maid fhe was, that ever yet 
 Prifon'd her locks within a golden net, 
 Or let ihem waving hang, with roles fair befet. 
 
 XXX. 
 Choice nymph ! the crown of chafte Dianas train, 
 
 Thou beauty's lily, fet in heav'nly eaith ; 
 Thy cheeks unpattern'd, all perfection ftam : 
 Sure heav'n with curious pencil at thy birth 
 In thy rare face her own full picture drew : 
 It is a ftrong verfe here to write, but true, 
 All hyperboles in others, are but half thy due. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Upon her forehead love his trophies fits, 
 
 A thoufand fpoils in filver arch difplaying; 
 And in the midft himfelf full proudly fits, 
 Himfelf in awful majefty arraying : 
 
 Upon his brows lies his bent ebon bow, 
 And ready fhafts : deadly thofe weapons (how ; 
 Yet fweet that death appear'd, lovelv that deadly blow 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 And at the foot of this celeftial frame, 
 
 Two radiant ftars, than ftars yet better being, 
 
 Enclu'd with living fire, and feeing flame ; 
 
 Yet with heav'ns ftars in this too near agreeing ; 
 
 They 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. l3 i 
 
 They timely warmth, themfelves not warm, infpire ; 
 The fe kindle thoufand hearts with hot defire, 
 And burning all they fee, feel in themfelves no iire. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 Ye marchlefs flars (yet each the other match] 
 
 Heav'ns richer! diamonds, fet in amel white, 
 From whole bright fpheres all grace the graces catch, 
 And will not move but by your loadilar a bright ; 
 How have you ftol'n, and ftor'd your armoury 
 With love's and death's ftrong fhafts, and from your fky, 
 Pour down thick fhow'rs of darts to make whole armies fly ? 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Above thofe funs, two rainbows high afpire, 
 
 Not in light (hews, but fadder liveries dreft ; 
 Fair Iris feem'd to mourn in black attire ; 
 
 Yet thus more fweet the greedy eye they feafl : 
 And but thai: wondrous face it well allow'd, 
 Wondrous it feem'd, that two fair rainbows fhow T 'd 
 Above their fparkling funs, without or rain or cloud. 
 
 XXXV. 
 A bed of lilies flow'r upon her cheek, 
 
 And in the midft was fet a circling rofe ; 
 Whofe fweet afpeci: wou'd make Narcijfus feek 
 New liveries, and frefher colours choofe 
 To deck his beaut'ous head in i'nowy tire ; 
 But all in vain : for who can hope t' afpire 
 To fuch a Fair, which none attain, but all admire ? 
 
 XXXVI. 
 Her ruby lips lock up from gazing fight 
 
 A troop of pearls, which ftand in goodly row : 
 Bat when ihe deigns thofe precious bones t'undight, 
 
 Soon heav'nly notes from thofe divisions f: 
 
 n The pole flar, fo called from its leading and guidirj manner. 
 
 And 
 
i#a THE PURPLE ISLAND* 
 
 And with rare mufick charm the ravifh'd ears, 
 Damping bold thoughts, but cheering modeft fears : 
 The fpheres fo only fing, fo only charm the fpheres. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 Her dainty breafts* like to an April rofe 
 
 From its green fillets yet not all unbound, 
 Began their little rifing heads difclofe, 
 
 And fairly fpread their filver circlets round : 
 
 From thofe two bulwarks love doth fafely fight } 
 Which fwelling eafily, may feem to fight 
 To be enwombed both of pleafure and delight. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 Yet all thefe ftars which deck this beaut'ous fky, 
 
 By force of tlv inward fun both fhine and move : 
 Thron'd in her heart fits love's high majefty ; 
 In higheft majefty the higheft love. 
 As when a taper mines in glafTy frame, 
 The fparkling cryftal burns in glittering flame, 
 So does that brighteft love brighten this lovely dame, 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 Thus, and much fairer, fair Parthema 
 
 Glift'ring in arms, herfelf prefents to fight ; 
 As when th' Amazon queen, Hippolyta, 
 With Theftus enter'd lifts in Tingle fight, 
 
 With equal arms her mighty foe oppofing ; 
 Till now her head expos'd and face difclofing, 
 Conquer'd the conqueror, and won the fight by lofing. 
 
 XL. 
 A thoufand Knights' woo'd her with bufy pain, 
 
 To thoufands the her virgin-grant deny'd ; 
 Altho' her dear- fought love to entertain, 
 
 They all their wit, and all their ftrength apply 'd : 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. i 53 
 
 Yet in her heart, love clofe his fceptre fwav'd, 
 
 Which to anHEAVENLV Spouse her thoughts betray'd, 
 
 re fhe a maiden wife might live, a wife, and maid. 
 
 XLI. 
 
 Upon her fteps a virgin page attended, 
 
 Fair Erythrt °, whofe often blufhing face, 
 Sweetly her in-born bafhful thoughts commended ; 
 
 The face's change prov'd th' heart's unchanged grace, 
 Which fhe a fhrine to purity devotes: 
 So when clear ivory, vermilion blots, 
 By llains it fairer grows, and lovelier by its fpots. 
 
 XLII. 
 
 Her golden hair, her filver forehead high, 
 Her teeth of folid, eyes of liquid pearl ; 
 But neck and bread no man might bare defcrv, 
 So fweetly modefl was this bafhful girl : 
 
 But that fweet paradife, ah ! cou'd we fee, 
 On whofe white mounts far daintier apples be, 
 Than thofe we bought fo dear on Eden's tempting tree. 
 
 XLIII. 
 Thefe noble Knights this threaten'd fort defend ; 
 Thefe, and a thoufand more heroick Sztains, 
 That to this harafs'd ftate their fervice lend, 
 
 To free from force, and fave from captive chains. 
 But now too late the battle to recite ; 
 For He/per us heav'ns tapers haftes to light, 
 And warns each flar to wait upon their miflrefs night. 
 
 • Modcfty. 
 
 W CANTO 
 
i54 THE PURPLE. ISLAND. 
 
 C A N T O XI. 
 
 I. 
 
 r T~ , HE early morn let out the peeping day, 
 ■*• And ftrew'd his path with fplendid marigolds : 
 The moon grows wan, and ftars flee all away, 
 Whom Lucifer locks up in wonted folds 
 
 Till light is quench'd, and heav'n in feas headlong 
 Hath thrown the day: — to th' hill the fhepheid's throng. 
 And Tkirfil now began to end his tafk and fong, 
 
 II. 
 
 Who now, alas ! (hall teach my humble vein, 
 
 That never yet durft ftep from covert glade; 
 But foftly learnt for fear to figh and plain, 
 And vent his griefs to filent myrtle's (hade ? 
 Who now fhall teach to change my oaten quill 
 For trumpets founds, or lowly verfes fill 
 With graceful majefty, and lofty rifing (kill ? 
 
 HI. 
 
 Oh, thou dread fpirit ! flied thy holy fire, 
 And holy flame into my frozen heart ; 
 Teach thou my creeping meafures to afpire, 
 And fwell with louder notes, and higher art : 
 Teach my low mufe thy fierce alarms to ring, 
 And raife my foft drain to high thundering - : 
 Tune thou my lofty fong ; thy battles mull I fing. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Such as thou wert within the facred breaft 
 Of that thrice famous poet, fhepherd, king; 
 
 And taught'ft his heart to frame his cantos, belt 
 Of all that e'er thy glorious works did fing : 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. i 55 
 
 Or as thofe bleft Apoftles, whom among 
 Thou flamedft bright in many a cloven tongue ; [fong. 
 And brought'fl down heav'n to earth in thine all conqu'ring 
 
 V. 
 Thefe mighty Heroes, fill'd with jufleft rage 
 
 To be in narrow walls fo clofely pent, 
 
 Glitt'ring in arms, and goodly equipage, 
 
 Stood at the caftle's gate, now ready bent 
 
 To fally out, and meet the enemy : 
 
 A hot difdain fparkied in every eye, 
 
 Breathing out hateful war, and deadly enmity. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Thither repairs the careful IntelUEl a , 
 
 With his fair fpoufe Voletta \ heav'nly fair : 
 With both, their daughter ; whofe divine afpecl:, 
 Tho' now fad damps of forrow much impair, 
 
 Yet through thofe clouds did fhine fo glorious bright, 
 That every eye did liomage to the fight, 
 Yielding their captive hearts to that commanding light. 
 
 VII. 
 
 But who may hope to paint fuch majefly, 
 
 Or fhadow well fuch beauty, fuch a face ; 
 Such beaut'ous face, unfeen to mortal eye ? 
 
 Whofe pow'rful looks, and more than mortal grace 
 Love's felf hath lov'd, leaving his heav'nly throne, 
 With amorous fighs, and many a lovely moan 
 (Whom all the world wou'd woo) woo'd her his only one. 
 
 VIII. 
 Far be that boldnefs from thy humble fwain, 
 
 Faireft EcleBa, to defcribe thy beauty, 
 And with unequal {kill thy glory ftain, 
 
 Which, ever he admires with humble duty : 
 
 ) See canto vi. flanza 28. * Ibid, {lar.za 57, 
 
 Bat 
 
 W2 
 
«6 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 But who to view fuch beauty e'er doth long, 
 Go he to Sinai, th' holy groves among ; 
 Where that wife fhepherd chants her in his matchlefs fong. 
 
 w ix. 
 
 The island's king with fober countenance 
 
 Aggrates the Knights, who thus his right defended ; 
 And with grave fpeech, and graceful amenance\ 
 
 Himfelf, his ftate, his fpoufe, to them commended : 
 His lovely child, that by him penfive Hands, 
 And laft delivers to their valiant hands ; 
 And her to thank the Knights, her champions, he commands. 
 
 X. 
 The God-like Maid awhile all filent ftood, 
 
 And down to th' earth let fall her humble eyes ; 
 While modeft thoughts fhot up the flaming blood, 
 Which fir'd her lovely cheeks with rofy dyes ; 
 But foon to quench the heat, that lordly reigns, 
 From her fair eye a fhow'r of cryftal rains, 
 Which with its filver flreams, o'er-runs the beaut'ous plains* 
 
 XL 
 As when the fun in midft of fummer's heat 
 
 Draws up thin vapours with his potent ray, 
 Forcing dull waters from their native feat ; 
 At length dim clouds fhadow the burning day : 
 Till coldeft air, foon melted into fhow'rs, 
 Upon the earth his welcome fury pours, 
 And heav'n's clear forehead now wipes off her former lowrs. 
 
 XII. 
 At length, a little lifting up her eyes, 
 
 While for her forrows, fighs a vent did make, 
 Which from her heart inceflantly arife ; 
 
 And firft in th' eye, then in the lip thus fpake ; 
 
 ' i, e. Behaviour. 
 
 Ah, 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 157 
 
 Ah, gentle Knights, how may a fimple Maid, 
 With jufteft grief, and wrong fo ill appay'd, 
 Give due reward for fuch your pains, and friendly aid ? 
 
 XIII. 
 But if my princely spouse do not delay 
 His timely prefence in my greateft need, 
 He will for me your friendly love repay, 
 And well requite this your fo gentle deed : 
 Then let no fear your mighty hearts afTail : 
 His word's himfeif ; himfelf he cannot fail. 
 Long may he flay, yet fure he comes, and muft prevaiL 
 
 XIV. 
 By this the long-flint gate was open laid ; 
 
 Soon out they rulh in order well arrang'd : 
 And viewing earneflly that heav'nly Maid, 
 How oft for fear her -faireft colour chang'd ! 
 
 Her looks, hpr worth, her goodly grace, and ftate, 
 Comparing with her prefent wretched fate, 
 Pity whets juft revenge, and love's fire kindles hate. 
 
 XV. 
 Long at the gate the thoughtful Intdlccl 
 
 Stav'd with his fearful queen, and daughter fair; 
 But when the Knights were paft their dim afpec*:, 
 Thev follow* them with vows, and many a pray'r: 
 At laft they climb up to the caftle's height ; 
 From which they view'd the deeds of ev'ry Knight 
 And mark'd the doubtful end of this intefline fight. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 As when a youth bound for the B'lgick war, 
 Takes leave of friends upon the KaitiJJi fhore ; 
 
 Now are they parted, and he fail'd fo far 
 
 They fee not now, and now are feen no more : 
 
 Vet 
 
l 3 
 
 8 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Yet far off viewing the white trembling fail*, 
 The tender mother foon plucks off her vails, 
 And fhaking them aloft, unto her fon fhe hails. 
 
 XVII. 
 Mean time thefe Champions march in fit array, 
 
 Till both the armies now were come in fight : 
 Awhile each other boldly viewing flay, 
 
 With fhort delays whetting fierce rage and fpite. 
 Sound now ye trumpets, found alarums loud; 
 Hark how their clamours whet their anger proud : 
 See, yonder are they met in midft of dully cloud ! 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 So oft the South with civil enmity 
 
 Muflers his wat'ry forces gainft the Weft; 
 The threat'ning clouds come rolling up the fky 
 In dark folds wrapping up their angry gueft : 
 
 At length the flame breaks from th' impris'ningcold 
 With horrid noife tearing the limber mould : 
 While down in liquid tears the broken vapours roll'd. 
 
 XIX. 
 Firfl did that warlike Maid herfelf advance ; 
 
 And riding from amidft her company, 
 About her helmet wav'd her mighty lance, 
 Daring to fight the proudeft enemy : 
 Pomeius 6 foon his ready fpear addrefl, 
 And clofe advancing on his hafly beafl, 
 Bent his (harp-headed lance againfl her dainty breail. 
 
 XX. 
 In vain the broken ftaff fought entrance there, 
 
 Where Love himfelf oft entrance fought in vain : 
 But much unlike the martial Virgins fpear, 
 Which low difmounts her foe on dully plain, 
 
 d See canto vii. ftarua 19, 
 
 
 Broaching 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Broaching with bloody point his bread before : 
 Down from the wound trickled the purple gore, 
 And bid pale death come in at that wide gaping door. 
 
 XXI. 
 There lies he now cover'd in lowly duft, 
 
 And foully wallowing in clotted blood, 
 Together breathing out his life and luft, 
 
 Which from his breaft fwam in the fteaming flood : 
 In maids his joy, now by a Maid defy'd, 
 His life he loft, and all his former pride : 
 With women wou'd he live, now by a woman died. 
 
 XXII. 
 Aftlgts % flruck with fuch a difmal fight, 
 
 And to revenge his brother's fad decay, 
 Spurr'd forth his flying fteed with fell defpite, 
 And met the Virgin in the open way : 
 
 His fpear againft her head he fiercely threw, 
 Which to that face performing homage due, 
 Kifling her helmet, thence in thoufand fhivers flew. 
 
 XXIII. 
 The wanton boy had dreamt, that lateft night, 
 
 He well had learnt the liquid air to part, 
 And fwim along the heav'ns with pinions light; 
 Now that fair Maid taught him this nimble art : 
 Who from his fteed fo far away fhe fent, 
 Flying along the open firmament, 
 That hardly yet he knew whither his courfe was bent. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 The reft who faw with fear the ill fuccefs 
 Of Angle fight, durft not like fortune try ; 
 
 But round befet her with their num'rous prefs : 
 Before, behind, they now upon her fly, 
 
 ' See canto vii. ftar.zi 23. 
 
 159 
 
 
 And 
 
i€o THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 And every part with coward odds affail : 
 But fhe redoubling ftrokes as thick as hail, 
 Drove far their flying troops, and threhYd with iron flaiL 
 
 XXV. 
 
 As when a gentle greyhound fet around 
 
 With little curs, which dare his way moleft, 
 Snapping behind ; foon as the angry hound 
 Turning his courfe, hath caught the bufieft, 
 And fhaking in his fangs hath well nigh (lain ; 
 The reft affrighted foon turn back again, 
 And Handing all aloof, whine, howl, and bark in vain. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 The fubtil Dragon, that from far did view 
 
 The wafte and fpoil made by this Maiden Knight, 
 Fell to his wonted guile ; for well he knew 
 
 AJ1 force was vain againft fuch wondrous might : 
 A crafty Swain well taught to cunning harms, 
 Call'd Falfc Delight, he chang'd with hellifh charms, 
 That true delight he feem'd, the felf fame fhape and arms, 
 
 XXVII. 
 The watchfull 'ft fight, no difference cou'ddefcry; 
 The fame his face, his voice, his gait the fame: 
 Thereto his words he feign'd ; and coming nigh 
 The Maid, who fierce purfues her martial game, 
 He whets her wrath with many a guileful word, 
 Till fhe lefs careful did fit time afford : 
 Then up with both his hands he lifts his baleful fword. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 Ye pow'rful heav'ns ! and thou their governor! 
 
 With what eyes can you view this doleful fight ? 
 How can you fee your faireft conqueror 
 
 So near her end by fo unmanly flight ? 
 
 The 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 161 
 
 The dreadful weapon through the air doth glide ; 
 But fure you turn'd the hurtful edge afide : 
 Elfe mull (he there have fall'n, and by that traitor died. 
 
 XXIX. 
 Yet in her Tide's a wound of dreadful fize ; 
 
 Her flowing life the ihining armour flains : 
 From that wide fpring long rivers took their rife, 
 With purple ftreams drowning the filver plains : 
 Her cheerful colour now grows wan and pale, 
 Which oft me flrives with courage to recall, 
 And raife her fainting head, which down as oft wou'd fall. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Juft fo a lily prefs'd with heavy rain, 
 
 Which fills her cups with fhow'rs up to the brinks ; 
 The weary flem no longer can fuflain 
 
 The head, but low beneath the burthen finks : 
 Or as a virgin rofe her leaves difplays, 
 Which too hot fcorching beams quite difarrays ; 
 Down flags her double ruff, and all her fweet decays. 
 
 XXXI. 
 Th' undaunted Maid, feeling her feet deny 
 
 Their wonted duty, to a tree retir'd ; 
 Whom all the rout purfue with deadly cry. 
 As when a hunted flag, now well nigh tir'd, 
 Stay'd by an oak, he with his head doth play ; 
 The fearful hounds dare not his horns afTay, 
 But running round about, with yelping voices bay. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 ^ind now perceiving all her flrength was fpent, 
 
 Lifting to lift'ning heav'n her fwimming eyes : 
 Thus whifp'ring foft, her foul to heav'n fhe fent ; 
 
 k^Thou chafteft love ! that rul'ft the wandring fkies, 
 X More 
 
- if 2 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 More pure than pureft heavens by thee mov'd ; 
 If thine own love in me thou fure haft prov'd ; 
 If ever thou, myfelf, my vows, my love haft lov'd, 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Let not this temple of thy fpotlefs dove ! 
 
 Be with foul hand, and beaftly rage denTd : 
 But when my fpirit fhall its camp remove, 
 And to his home return, too long exil'd ; 
 Do thou protect it from the rav'nous fpoil 
 Of ranc'rous enemies, that hourly toil 
 Thy humble votary with loathfome fpot to foil. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 With this few drops fell from her fainting eyes, 
 
 •To dew the fading rofes of her cheek ; 
 That much high love was moved with thofe cries; 
 Much more thefe ftreams his heart and patience break : 
 Straight he the charge gives to a winged fwain, 
 Quick to defcend upon that bloody plain, 
 And aid her weary arms, and rightful caufe maintain. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 Soon ftoops the fpeedv herald through the air, 
 
 Where chafte Agnda f and Encrates fi fought : 
 See, fee ! he cries, where your Parthenia h fair, 
 The flow'r of all your army, hemm'd about 
 With thoufand enemies now fainting ftand;-, 
 Ready to fall into their murd'ring hands : 
 Fly ye, oh, fly with fpeed ! the highest love comma.idv 
 
 XXXVI. 
 They cafting round about their angry eyes, 
 
 The wounded virgin almoft (inking fpy'd ; 
 Each fpurs his fteed, which flraight like lightning flies : 
 
 Their brother Continence runs by their fide; 
 
 f See Canto x. . A .anza 24. s Ibid, ftanza 21. h Ibid, ftanza 27- 
 
 Fai: 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. ^3 
 
 Fair Continence, that truly long before, 
 As his heart's liege, this lady did adore : 
 And now his faithful love kindled his heart the more. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 Encrates and his fpoufe with flaming fword 
 
 AfTail the fcatter'd troops, that headlong fly ; 
 While Continence a precious liquor pour'd 
 Into th% wound, and fuppled tenderly : 
 Then binding up the gaping orifice, 
 Reviv'd the fpirits, that now began to rife, 
 And with new life confront her heartlefs enemies. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 So have I often (Qen a purple flow'r, i 
 
 Fainting thro' heat, hang down her drooping head, 
 But foon refreflied with a welcome fhow'r, 
 Begins again her lively beauties fpread, 
 
 And with new pride her fllken leaves difplay ; 
 And while the fun doth now more gently play, 
 Opens her beaut'ous bofoin to the fmiling day. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 Now rufh they all into the flying trains ; ; 
 
 Blood fires their blood, and flaughter kindles fight : 
 The wretched vulgar on the purple plains 
 Fall down as thick, as when a ruftic wight 
 From laden oaks the plent'ous acorns pours ; 
 Or like the thicken'd air that fadly lowrs, 
 And melts its fullen brow, and weeps fweet April fhow'r< 
 
 XL. 
 
 The greedy Dragon that aloof did fpy 
 
 So ill fuccefs of this renewed fray ; 
 More vex'd with lofs of certain victory, 
 
 Depriv'd of fo aflur'd and wikYd-for prey, 
 
 X 2 Gnafhed 
 
164 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Gnafhed his iron teeth for grief and fpite : 
 The burning fparks fly from his flaming fight, 
 And from his fmoking jaws fleam forth a fmould'ring night. 
 
 XLI. 
 Straight thither fends he in a frefli fupply, 
 
 The fwelling band that drunken Methos led ; 
 And all the rout his brother Gluttony 
 Commands, in lawlefs bands difordered : 
 So now they bold reftore their broken fight, 
 And fiercely turn again from fhameful flight ; 
 While both with former lofs fharpen their raging fpite. 
 
 XLII. 
 
 Again thefe Knights aflault thefe frefher bands, 
 
 And with new battle all their flrength renew : 
 Down fell Geloios ' by Encrates hands ; 
 Agneia, Matchus k and Anagnus ! flew ; 
 
 And feeing Methos m compafs'd with the vine, 
 His body pierc'd : — there lies the drunken fwinc, 
 And cafts his liquid foul out with his purple wine. 
 
 XLIII. 
 As when a greedy lion, long unfed, 
 
 Breaks in at length into the harmlefs folds ; 
 (So hungry rage commands) with fearful dread 
 He drags the filly beafts : nothing controlls 
 
 The vi&or proud ; he fpoils, devours, and tears : 
 In vain the keeper calls his fhepherd peers : 
 Mean while the fimple flock gaze on with filent fears. 
 
 XLIV. 
 Such was the {laughter thefe three Champions made ; 
 
 But moft Encrates, whofe unconquer'd hands 
 Sent thoufand foes down to th' infernal fhade, 
 
 With ufelefs limbs ftrewing the bloody fands : 
 i Sec canto viii. ftanza 52. v See canto vii. ftanza 17. ! It. fianza 16. m lb. ftan/2 72. 
 
 Oft 
 

 THE PURPLE ISLAND. t e 5 
 
 Oft were they fuccour'd frefh with new fupplies, 
 But fell as oft : — the Dragon grown more wife 
 By former lofs, doth now another way devife. 
 
 XLV. 
 Soon to their aid the Cyprian band he fent : 
 
 For eafy fhirmifh clad in armour light : 
 Their golden bows in hand were ready bent, 
 And painted quivers furnifh'd well for fight, 
 
 Stuck full of fhafts, whofe heads foul poifon fiains ; 
 Which dipp'd in Phlegethon by hellifh fwains, 
 Bring thoufand painful deaths, and thoufand deadly pains. 
 
 XLVI. 
 Thereto of fubftance ftrange, fo thin, and flight, 
 
 And wrought by fubtil hand fo cunningly, 
 That hardly were difcern'd by weaker fight ; 
 Sooner the heart did feel, than eye cou'd fee : 
 Far off they flood, and flung their darts around 
 Raining whole clouds of arrows on the ground ; 
 So fcfely, others hurt while they receive no wound. 
 
 XLVII. 
 Much were the Knights encumber'd with thefe foes ; 
 
 For well they faw, and felt their enemies: 
 But when they back wou'd turn the borrow'd blows, 
 The light-foot troop, away more fwiftly flies 
 Than do their winged arrows with the wind : 
 And in their courfe oft wou'd they turn behind, 
 And with their glancing darts their hot purfuers blind, 
 
 XLVIH. 
 As when by Ruffian Volgha's frozen banks, 
 
 The falfe-back Tartars, fear, with cunning feign, 
 And pofling faft away in flying ranks, 
 
 Oft backward turn, and from their bows do rain 
 
 Whole 
 
i66 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Whole ftorms of darts ; fo do they flying fight : 
 And what by force they lofe, they win by flight; 
 Conquer'd by {landing out, but conquerors by flight. 
 
 XLIX. 
 Such was the craft of this falfe Cyprian crew : 
 
 Yet oft they feem'd to flack their fearful pace, 
 And yield themfelves to foes that fall purfue ; 
 So wou'd they deeper wound in nearer fpace ; 
 In fuch a fight, he wins who fafteft flies. 
 Fly, fly, chafle Knights, fuch fubtil enemies : 
 The vanquifh'd cannot live, the conqu'ror furely dies. 
 
 L. 
 
 The Knights opprefs'd with wounds, and journey paft, 
 
 Did foon retire, and now were nsar to fainting : 
 With that a meflenger did travel faft, 
 
 The general with this heavy news acquainting: 
 He foon refrefh'd their hearts that now did tire. 
 But, let our weary mufe awhile refpire : 
 Shade we our fcorched heads from Phczbus parching fire. 
 
 CANTO 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 167 
 
 CANTO XII. 
 1. 
 
 THE fhepherds guarded from the fparkling heat 
 Of blazing air, upon the flow'ry banks, 
 {Where various flow'rs dama{k the fragrant feat, 
 And all the grove perfume) in wonted ranks 
 Securely fit them down, and fweetly play : 
 At length, thus Thirfil ends his broken lay, 
 Left that the ftealing night his later fong might flay. 
 
 II. 
 
 Thrice, oh, thrice happy, fhepherd's life and ftate ! 
 
 Tho' courts, his happy ftate, unhappy flyles. 
 His cottage low, and fafely humble gate 
 
 Shuts out proud fortune, with her frowns and fmiles : 
 No feared treafon breaks his quiet deep : 
 Singing all day, his flocks he learns to keep ; 
 Himfelf as innocent as are his fimple fheep. 
 
 III. 
 No Strian worms he knows, that with their thread 
 
 Draw out their filken lives : — nor filken pride : 
 His lamb's warm fleece well fits his little need, 
 Not in that proud Sidonian tin£ture dy'd : 
 No empty hopes, no courtly fears affright ; 
 Nor begging wants his middle fortune bite : 
 But fweet content exiles both mifery and fpite. 
 
 IV. 
 Inflead of mufick, and bafe flatterino; tongues, 
 
 Which wait to greet rich lordiings when they rife ; 
 The cheerful lark wakes hirn with early Songs, 
 
 And by her lively notes his ears lurprife. 
 
 In 
 
i68 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 In country games is all the ftrife he ufes ; 
 Or fing, or dance unto the rural rnufes ; 
 And but in mufick's fports, all difference refufes. 
 
 V. 
 His happy ftate, that never can deceive him, 
 
 Is full of thoufand fweets, and rich content : 
 The fmooth leav'd beeches in the field receive him 
 With cooleft fhades, till noon-tide rage is fpent : 
 His life is neither toft in boifl'rous feas 
 Of worldly care, nor loll in flothful eafe : 
 Pleas'd and full bleft he lives, when he his God can pleafe, 
 
 VI. 
 His bed of wool yields fafe and quiet fleeps, 
 
 While by his fide his faithful fpoufe hath place : 
 His little fon into his bofom creeps 
 
 The lively picture of his father's face : 
 
 Never his humble houfe or ftate torment him ; 
 Lefs he cou'd like, if lefs his God had fent him ; [him. 
 And when he dies, green turfs, with meaneft tomb content 
 
 VII. 
 
 The world's great light his lowly ftate hath blefs'd, 
 
 And left his heav'n to be a fhepherd bafe : 
 Thoufand fweet fongs he to his pipe addrefs'd : 
 
 Swift rivers ftopp'd, beafts ran, rocks quit their place; 
 And ferpents flew to hear his fofteft ftrains : 
 He fed his flock, on Jordan s fruitful plains ; 
 There took our rags, gave us his robes, and bore our pains. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Then thou high light! whom fhepherds low adore, 
 Teach me, oh, do thou teach thy humble fwain 
 
 To raife my creeping fong from earthly floor ! 
 Fill thou my empty breaft with lofty ftrain ; 
 
 That 
 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 169 
 
 That Tinging of thy wars and dreadful fight, 
 My notes may thunder out thy conqu'ring might ; 
 And 'mongft the golden flars may take her tow 'ring flight. 
 
 IX. 
 The mighty general moved with the news 
 Of thofe four famous Knights fo near "decay, 
 With greatefl fpeed the conqu'ring foe purfues ; 
 At lafl he fpies where they were led away, 
 Forc'd to obey the viclor's proud commands : 
 Soon did he rulh into the middle bands, 
 And cut the llavifh cords from their imprifon'd hands. 
 
 X. 
 And as the Knights were faint, he quickly fent 
 
 To Penitence v whom Phoebus taught his art ; 
 Which fhe well knew by long experiment : 
 For many a foul, and many a wounded heart 
 Had (he reitor'd, and brought to life again ; 
 The broken fpirit, with grief and horror (lain, 
 Tho' oft reviv'd, yet died as oft with fharpeft pain. 
 
 XI. 
 For (he in fev'ral baths their wounds did fleep ; 
 
 The firfl: of Rue which purg'd the foul infection, 
 And cur'd the deepeft wound, by wounding deep : 
 Then wou'd fhe make another ftrange confe&ion, 
 And mix it with Nepenthe * fovereign ; 
 Wherewith fhe quickly fwag'd the rankling pain : 
 Thus fhe the Knights reilor'd, and wafh'd from finful ftain. 
 
 XII. 
 Mean time the fight now fiercer grows than ever : 
 
 (For all his troops the Dragon hither drew) 
 The two Twin-Loves b whom no place might diflever ; 
 And Knowledge with his train begins anew 
 
 1 A drug fo called. b See canto ix. rtaiu»32. 
 
 Y T« 
 
i 7 o THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 To ftrike frefli fummons up, and hot alarms : 
 In midft great Fido t clad in fun-like arms, 
 With his unmatched force repairs all former harms. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 So when the fun fhines in bright Taurus' head. 
 
 Returning tempefts all with winter fill ; 
 And ftill fucceflive florins frefh muflered, 
 The timely year in his firfl fpringings kill : 
 
 And oft it breathes awhile, then flraight again 
 Doubly pours out his fpite in fmoking rain : 
 The country's vows and hopes fwim on the drowned plain. 
 
 XIV. 
 The Lovely Twins ride 'gainfl the Cyprian bands, 
 
 Chafing their troops, but with no feigned flight : 
 Their broken (hafts lie fcattered on the fands, 
 Themfelves for fear quite vanifh'd out of fight : 
 Againft thefe conquerors Hypocrijy, 
 And Co/mo* s c hated bands, with Eclhros d fly, 
 And all that rout do march, and bold the Twins defy, 
 
 XV. 
 
 Elpinus e , mighty enemies affail ; 
 
 But Doubt of all the other mofl infefted ; 
 That oft his courage did begin to fail, 
 
 More by his craft than odds of force molefled : 
 For oft the traitor chang'd his weapon light, 
 Suddenly alt'ring his firfl kind of fight ; 
 And oft himfelf and fhape transformed with cunning flight 
 
 XVI. 
 
 So that great river, with Alcides flriving 
 
 In Oeneus' court for the /Etolian maid, 
 To divers fhapes his fluent limbs contriving, 
 
 From manly form in ferpent's frame he flav'd, 
 
 c Sec caato vlii. ftanza 4. d Sec canto vii. ftanza.45. c See canto ix. ftanra oc 
 
 Sweepid 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 1?1 
 
 Sweeping with fpeckled breafl the duffcy land ; 
 Then like a bull with horns did armed ftand : 
 His hanging dewlap trail'd along the golden fand. 
 
 XVII. 
 Such fhapes and changing fafhions much difmay'd him, 
 
 That oft he ftagger'd with unufual fright ; 
 Did not his brother Fido often aid him, 
 He there muft fall in unacquainted fight : 
 
 feut he wou'd flill his wavering ftrength maintain, 
 And chace that monfter through the fandy plain ; 
 Which from him fled apace, but oft return'd again. 
 
 XVIII. 
 Yet him more flrong and numerous foes withftand, 
 
 Whom he with greater hull and ftrength defy'd : 
 Foul Ignorance, with all her owl-ey'd band ; 
 Oft-ftarting Fear, Diftrufl ne'er fatisfy'd, 
 Sufpicion too, and thoufand other foes ; 
 Whom far he drives with his unequal blows, 
 And with his flaming fword their fainting army mows. 
 
 XIX. 
 As when blood-guilty earth for vengeance cries, 
 (If greateft things with lefs we may compare) 
 The mighty thunderer through the air flies, 
 While furious whirlwinds open ways prepare : 
 
 Dark clouds fpread out their fable curtains o'er him ; 
 And angels on their flaming wings up bore him : 
 Mean time the guilty heav'ns for fear fly faft before him. 
 
 XX. 
 There while he on the wind's proud pinions rides, 
 
 Down with his fire fome lofty mount he calls, 
 And fills the valley with its ruin'd fides ; 
 He oft the fore ft with his lightning blafts ; 
 
 Y 2 And 
 
i 7 2 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 And folemn temples awful ruins make ; 
 Down fall the fpires, the pillars fearful quake ; 
 Nor fure to fall, or ftand, with doubtful trembling, make. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 With Fido, Knowledge went, who order'd right 
 
 His mighty hands : — fo now his fcatter'd troops 
 Make head again, filling their broken fight ; 
 While with new change the Dragons army droops, 
 And from purfuing vi&ors headlong run : 
 Yet ftill the Dragon fruftrates what is done ; 
 And eas'ly makes them lofe what they fo hardly won: 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Out of his gorge a dreadful fmoke he drew 
 
 That all the fields with foggy mift enwraps : 
 As when Tiphaus from his body threw 
 
 Black fmothering flames, roll'd in loud thunder claps ; 
 The pitchy vapours choke the mining ray, 
 And bring dull night upon the fmiling day : 
 Thus burning ALtna oft fpreads darknefs and difmay. 
 
 XXIII. 
 Yet cou'd his bat-ey'd legions eas'ly fee 
 
 In this dark Chaos : — they the feed of night : 
 But thefe not fo, who night and darknefs flee ; 
 For they the fons of day, rejoice in light : 
 But Knowledge foon began a way devife, 
 To bring again the day, and clear their eves: 
 So open'd Fido's fhield, and golden vail unties. 
 
 XXIV. 
 Of one pure Diamond, celeftial fair, 
 
 That heav'nly fhield by wifeft hand was made ; 
 Whofe light divine, fpread through the mifty air, 
 To brighteft morn wou'd turn the weflern fhade 
 
 And 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 173 
 
 And lightfome day beget before bis time ; 
 Fram'd in heaven, free from all earthly crime, 
 Dipp'd in the fiery fun, which burnt the bafer flime. 
 
 XXV. 
 As when from marfhy lands the heavy clouds 
 
 With rifmg fteams damp the bright morning's face ; 
 At length the piercing fun his team unfhrouds, 
 And with his beams the idle fog doth chace : 
 The broken mill lies melted all in tears : 
 So this bright fhield the difmal darknefs clears, 
 And giving back the day, diflblves their former fears. 
 
 XXVL 
 Which when afar, the fiery Dragon fpies 
 
 His flights deluded with fo little pain ; 
 To his laft refuge now at length he flies : 
 
 Long time his pois'nous gorge he feem'd to ftrain ; 
 And now, ah loathfome fight ! at length he threw 
 From belly foul a moft deformed crew ; 
 The heav'ns all fled away from their moft ugly view. 
 
 XXVII. 
 The firft that crept from his detefted maw, 
 
 Was Hamartia f , foul deformed wight ; 
 More foul, defonn'd, the fun yet never faw ; 
 Therefore fhe hates the all-betraying light : 
 A woman feem'd fhe in her upper part : 
 To which fhe cou'd fuch lying glofs impart, 
 That millions fhe had {lain with her deceiving art. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 The reft (tho' hid) in ferpent's form array 'd, 
 
 With iron fcales, like to a plaited mail : 
 Over her back her knotty tail difplay'd, 
 Along the empty air did lofty fail ; 
 ' Sin. 
 
 Whofe 
 
i 7 4 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Whofe end was pointed with a double fling, 
 Which fhe ivith dreadful might was wont to fling, 
 That nought cou'd help the wound, but blood of heav'nly 
 
 [King. 
 XXIX. 
 Of the firfl woman, her the Dragon got, 
 (The fouleft baftard of fo fair a mother) 
 Whom when fhe faw defil'd with monftrous fpof, 
 She ftrove her hidden fhame and birth to fmother ; 
 But fhe well nigh her mother's felf had flain ; 
 And all who dare her kindly entertain : 
 So fome parts of her dam, more of her fire remain, 
 
 XXX. 
 Her fnaky locks hung loofe about her ears ; 
 
 And with a monftrous fnake fhe them reftrains, 
 Which like a border on her head fhe wears : 
 About her neck hang down long adder chains, 
 In thoufand knots, and wreaths infolded round ; 
 Which in her anger quickly fhe unbound, 
 And darting far away wou'd furc and deadly wound. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Yet fair and lovely feems to fools dim eyes ; 
 But hell more lovely, Pluto's felf more fair 
 Appears, when her true form true light defcries : 
 Her loathfome face, blancht fkin, and fnaky hair ; 
 Her ihapelefs fhape, dead life, and carrion fmell ; 
 The worfl of ills, the child, and dam of hell : 
 Yet man, fool man for this, his precious foul doth fell ? 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 The fecond in this rank was black Dtfpair> 
 
 Bred in the dark womb of eternal night : 
 His looks fafl nail'd to Sin ; long footy hair 
 
 Cover'd his face, which wou'd himfelf affright : 
 
 His 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND, 
 
 *7i 
 
 His leaden eyes, retir'd into his head ; 
 Light, heav'n, and earth, himfelf, and all things fled : 
 A breathing corpfe he feem'd, wrapt up in living lead. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 His body all was fram'd of earthly pafte, 
 
 And heavy mould ; yet earth cou'd not content him : 
 Heav'n faft he flies, and heav'n fled him as faft ; 
 Tho' kin to hell, yet hell did much torment him : 
 His very foul was nought but ghaflly fright; 
 With him went many a fiend, and ugly fpright, 
 Armed with ropes and knives, all inftruments of fpite- 
 
 XXXIV. 
 Inftead of feathers on his dangling creft 
 
 A Iucklefs raven fpread her blackeft wings ; 
 And to her croaking throat fhe gives no reft, 
 But deathful verfes and fad dirges fings : 
 
 His hellifh arms were all with fiends emboli, 
 Who damned fouls with endlefs torments roaft, 
 And thoufand ways devife to vex the tortur'd ghoft. 
 
 XXXV. 
 Two weapons, fharp as death he ever bore, 
 
 Strift Judgment, which from far he ever darts ; 
 Sm at his fide, a two-edg'd fword he wore, 
 
 With which he foon appals the ftouteft hearts: 
 Upon his fhield Alttlo with a wreath 
 Of fnaky whips the damn'd fouls tortureth : 
 And round about was wrote, Reward of Jin is death, 
 
 XXXVI. 
 T)ie lail two brethren were far different, 
 
 Only in common name of death agreeing ; 
 The firft arrn'd with a fcythe ftill mowing weiit; 
 
 Yet wriioro, and v/Iun he marder'd, never feeing ; 
 
 Born 
 
176 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Born deaf, and blind : — nothing might flop his way 
 No pray'rs, no vows his deadly weapon flay, 
 Nor beauty's felf, his fpite, nor virtue's felf allay. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 No ilate, no age, no fex may hope to move him ; 
 
 Down drop the young, and old, the boy, and maid : 
 Nor beggar can intreat, nor king reprove him ; 
 All are his flaves in cloth of flefh array 'd : 
 
 The bride he matches from the bridegroom's arms, 
 And renders horrible all beauty's charms : 
 Too well we know his pow'r by long experienc'd harms, 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 A dead man's fkull fupply'd his helmet's place, 
 A bone his club, his armour fheets of lead : 
 Some more, fome lefs, fear his affrighting face ; 
 But moll, who fleep on downy pleafure's bed : 
 But who in life have daily learn'd to die, 
 And dead to this, live to a life more high ; 
 Sweetly in death they fleep, and flumb'ring quiet lie. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 The fecond far more foul in every part, 
 
 Burnt with blue fire, and hotted fulphur flreams ; 
 Which wrapping him around, fo fill'd with fmart 
 His curfed limbs, that direly he blafphemes : 
 
 Mofl flrange it feems, that burning thus for ever, 
 No reft, no time, no place thefe flames diflever, 
 Yet death in thoufand deaths without death dieth never, 
 
 XL. 
 Soon as thefe hellifh monflers came in fight, 
 
 The fun his eye in blackeft vapours drawn'd, 
 Scar'^ at fuch horrid views ; th' amazed light 
 Sets in an early evening : earth aflound, 
 
 Bids 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 1?7 
 
 Bids dogs with howls give warning : at whofe found 
 The fearful air doth flart, feas break their bound, 
 And frighten'd fled away ; no fands might them impound. 
 
 XLI. ' 
 The palfied troop like afpen leaves appear, 
 
 Till now their hearts congeal 'din icy blood, 
 Deaden the ghaftly face : — locks flifFen'd flare : 
 
 Thus charm 'd, in ranks of flone they marfhal'd flood : 
 Their ufelefs fwords fell idly on the plain, 
 While thofe the triumph found in lofty ftrain ; 
 So conquering Dragon binds the Knights in flavifh chain » 
 
 XLII. 
 As when proud Phineus in his brother's feaft 
 Fill'd all with tumult and intefline broil ; 
 Wife Per/eus with fuch multitudes opprcfs'd, 
 Before him bore the Snaky Gorgons fpoil : 
 
 The vulgar now feem'd all to marble chang'd, 
 And in vain ranks, like ftatues, were arrang'd ; 
 Become more quiet guefls, from former rage eflrang'd. 
 
 XLIII. 
 The fair Eclecla g , who with grief had ftood, 
 
 Viewing the changes of this doubtful fight, 
 Saw now the field fwim in her Champions blood, 
 And from her heart, rent with deep paflion, figh'd ; 
 Painting true forrow in fad filent art. 
 Light grief floats on the tongue ; but heavy J mart 
 Sinks down, and deeply lies in centre of the heart. 
 
 XLIV. 
 What Dcedal art fuch griefs can truly fhew, 
 
 Broke heart, deep fighs, loud fobs, inceflant cries, 
 Baptifing ev'ry limb in weeping dew ? 
 
 Whilft briny tears inflame her fwoilen eye;, 
 
 * Sec canto xi. flanza 8. 
 
 Z Tbeis 
 
tyf 
 
 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Their cryftals, rock ; coral, each lid appears ; 
 Compafs'd about with tides of grief and fears : [tears 
 Where grief ftorcs fear with fighs, and fear flores grief wit! 
 
 XLV. 
 
 At length fad forrow, mounted on the wings 
 
 Of loud breath'd fighs, his leaden weight uprears ; 
 And vents itfelf in fofteft whifperings, 
 
 Follow'd with deadly groans, ufher'd by tears : 
 While her fair hands, and watry mining eyes 
 Were upward bent upon the mourning fkies, 
 Which feem'd with cloudy brow her grief to fympathize. 
 
 XLVI. 
 Long time the filent paiTion, wanting vent, 
 
 Made flowing tears, her words, and eyes, her tongue; 
 Till faith, experience, hope, afliilance lent 
 
 To fhut both flood-gates up with patience ftrong : 
 
 The ftreams well ebb'd, new hopes fome comforts borrov 
 From firmeft truth ; then beam'd the hopeful morrow : 
 So fjpring fome dawns of joy, fo fets the night of forrow. 
 
 XLVII. 
 Ah dearefl: Lord ! my heart's fole Sovereign, 
 
 Who fit'ft exalted on thy burning throne ; 
 Hear from thy heav'n, where thou doit, fafely reign, 
 Cloth'd with the golden fun, and filver moon : 
 Call down awhile thy fweet and gracious eye, 
 And low unvail that glorious Majesty, 
 Deigning a gentle look on our fad mifery. 
 
 XLV III. 
 To thee, dear Lord ! I lift this watry eye, 
 
 This eye which thou fo oft in love h hail pfaisM ; 
 This eye with which thou 1 wounded oft wou'dft die; 
 
 To thee, dear Lord ! thefe fuppliant hands are rais'd : 
 
 h Canticles i. 15. » Ibid. iv. 9. 
 
 Thef 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. rf79 
 
 Thefe to be lilies thou hafl often told me ; 
 Which if but once again may ever hold thee, 
 vVill never let thee go, will never more unfold thee. 
 
 XLIX. 
 lee how thy foes defpiteful trophies rear, 
 Too confident in thy prolong'd delays ; 
 'ome then, oh quickly come, my deareft dear ; 
 When lhall I fee thee crown'd with conqu'ring bays, 
 And all thy enemies become as clay ? 
 When mall I fee thy face, and glory's ray ? 
 *oo long thou Hay 'ft my Jove ; come then, no longer ftay, 
 
 L. 
 lait thou forgot thy former word and love, 
 Or fhut thy kindnefs up in jufl difdain ? 
 )idit thou in vain thofe thoufand injuries prove ? 
 Are all thofe griefs, thy birth, life, death, in vain ? 
 Oh ! no ; — of ill thou only doft repent thee, 
 And in thy greateft mercies moft content thee : 
 "hen why, with ftay fo long, fo long doll thou torment me ? 
 
 LI. 
 Reviving cordial of my dying fpright, 
 
 The beft elixir for foul's drooping pain ; 
 Ji! now unvail thy face, uncloud thy fight - 
 See, ev'ry way's a trap, each path's a train : 
 
 Hell's troops my foul befiege ; bow down thine ears ; 
 And hear my cries pierce thro' my groans and tears : 
 sveet spouse ! fee not my fins; remove my doubts and fears. 
 
 LII. 
 <et frailty, favour ; forrow, .fuccour move ; 
 
 Anchor my foul in thy calm ftreams of blood: 
 >e thou my rock, tho' I poor changeling rove, 
 Toll to and fro with waves of worldly flood : 
 
 Z 2 Whilft 
 
180 THE PURfLE ISLAND. 
 
 Whilft I in vale of tears at anchor ride, 
 Where winds of earthly thoughts my fails mifguide ; 
 Harbour my flefhly bark fafe in thy wounded fide. 
 
 LIII. 
 
 Take, take my contrite heart, thy facrifice, 
 
 Wafti'd in her eyes that fwims and finks in woes : 
 See, fee, as feas with winds do boifterous rife, 
 So ftorm, fo rage, fo gape thy boafting foes! 
 
 Dear spouse! unlefs thy right hand even fleers; 
 Oh ! if thou anchor not thefe threat'ning fears ; 
 Thy ark will fail as deep in blood, as now in tears. 
 
 LIV. 
 With that a thund'ring noife did fhake the iky, 
 
 As when with iron wheels o'er ftony plain 
 A thoufand chariots to the battle fly ; 
 
 Or when with boift'rous rage the fwelling main, 
 Blown up by mighty winds, doth hoarfely roar; 
 And beating with his waves the trembling fhore, 
 His fandy girdle fcorns, and breaks earth's rampart door. 
 
 LV. 
 
 And ftraight an Angel k full of heav'nly might, 
 
 (Three fev'ral crowns adorn 'd his royal head) 
 From northern coaft raifmg his blazing light, 
 
 Through all the earth his glorious beams difpread, 
 And open lays the beaft's and Dragons lhame : 
 For to this end, th' Almighty did him frame, 
 And therefore from fupplanting gave his ominous name. 
 
 LVL 
 
 A filver trumpet oft he loudly blew, 
 
 Frighting the guilty earth with thund'ring knell; 
 
 And oft proclaim'd, as through the world he flew, 
 Babtly great Babel lies as low as hell ; 
 
 k King Janes I, 
 
 Let 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. x 8i 
 
 Let every angel loud his trumpet found, 
 Her heav'n-exalted tow'rs in dull are drown'd : 
 Babel, proud Babel's fall'n, and lies upon the ground* 
 
 LVII. 
 The broken heav'ns difpart with fearful noife, 
 
 And from the breach outfhoots a fudden light : 
 When ftraight fhrill trumpets with loud founding voice 
 Give echoing fummons to new bloody fight : 
 Well knew the Dragon that all-quelling blail, 
 And foon perceiv'd that day muft be his laft ; 
 Which flrook his frighten 'd heart, and all his troops aghaJi. 
 
 LVIII. 
 Yet full of malice, and of flubborn pride, 
 
 Tho' oft he ftrove, and had been foil'd as oft, 
 Boldly his death and certain fate defy'd : 
 And mounted on his flaggy fails aloft, 
 
 With boundlefs fpite he long'd to try again 
 A fecondlofs, and new death; — glad and fain 
 To mew his poisonous hate, tho' ever fhew'd in vain. 
 
 LIX. 
 
 So he arofe upon his outftretch'd fails 
 
 Fearlefs expecting his approaching death ; 
 So he arofe, that th' air both itarts and fails, 
 And over-prefled, finks his load beneath : 
 So he arofe, as doth a thunder-cloud, 
 Which all the earth with fhadows black doth fhroud : 
 So lie arofe, and thro' the weary air he row'd. 
 
 LX. 
 
 Now his almighty FOE far offhefpies; 
 
 Whofe fun-like arms eclips'd the brighteft day, 
 Confounding with their beams lefs glittering fkies, 
 
 Firing the air with more than heav'nly ray; 
 
 Like 
 
ite THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Like thoufand funs in one : — fuch is their light, 
 A fubjeft only for immortal fpright ; 
 Which never can be feen, but by immortal fight. 
 
 LXI. 
 His threat'ning eyes mine like that dreadful flame, 
 
 With which the thunderer arms his an^ry hand : 
 Himfelf had fairly wrote his wondrous name, 
 
 Which neither earth ror heav'n cou'd understand : 
 A hundred crowns, like tow'rs, befet around 
 His conqu'ring head : well may they there abound, 
 When all his limbs, and troops, with gold are richly crown'd. 
 
 LXII. 
 His armour all was dy'd with purple blood ; 
 
 (In purple blood of thoufand rebel kings) 
 In vain their ftubborn pow'rs his arm withftood : 
 
 Their proud necks chain'd, he them in triumph brings, 
 And breaks their fpears, and all their trait'rous fwords : 
 Upon whofe arms and thigh in faireft words 
 Was written, 7/^King of kings, and Lord of lords. 
 
 LXIII. 
 His fnow white fteecl appear'd of heav'nly kind, 
 
 Begot by Boreas on the Thracian hills ; 
 More ftrong and fpeedy than his parent wind : 
 And (which his foes with fear and horror fills) 
 Out from his mouth a two-edg'd fword he darts ; 
 Whofe fharpeft fteel the bone and marrow parts, 
 And with his keeneft point unbreafls the naked hearts. 
 
 LXIV. 
 The Drago?i, wounded with His pow'rful hand, 
 
 They take, and in ftrong bonds and fetters tie: 
 Short was the fight, nor cou'd he long withfland 
 
 Him, whofe appearance is his viclory. 
 
 So 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. .i£* 
 
 So now he's bound in adamantine chain ; 
 He ftorms, he roars, he yells for high difdain : 
 His net is broke, the fowl go free, the fowler ta'en. 
 
 LXV. 
 Thence by a Mighty Swain hefoon was led 
 
 Unto a thoufand thoufand torturirigs : 
 His tail, whofe folds were wont the flars to died, 
 Now ftretch'd at length, clofe to his body clings : 
 Soon as the pit he fees, he back retires, 
 And battle new, but all in vain, refpires : 
 So there he deeply lies, burning in quenchlefs fires. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 As when Alcicks from forc'd hell had drawn 
 
 The three-head Dog, and mafter'd all his pride ; 
 Bafely the fiend did on his viclor fawn, 
 With ferpent tail clapping his hollow fide : 
 At length arriv'd upon the brink of light, 
 He fhuts the day out 'from his dullard fight, 
 And fwelling all in vain, renews unhappy fight. 
 
 LXVII. 
 Soon at this fight the Knights revive again, 
 
 As frefh as when the flow'rs from winter's tomb 
 (When now the fun brings back his nearer wain) 
 Peep out again from their frefh mother's womb : 
 The primrofe lighted new, her flame difplays, 
 And frights the neighbour hedge with fiery rays : 
 And all the world renew their mirth and fpojrtive plays. 
 
 LXVIII. 
 
 The Prince, who faw his long imprifonmcnt 
 
 Now end in never ending liberty ; 
 To meet the victor from his caitlc went, 
 
 And falling down, clafping his foVfcl khe< , 
 
 Pour? 
 
184 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 Pours out deferved thanks in grateful praife : 
 But him the heavnly Saviour foon doth raife, 
 And bids him fpend in joy, his never ending days. 
 
 LXIX. 
 The fair Eckfla, who with widow'd brow 
 
 Her abfent Lord long mourn'd in fad array, 
 Now filken linen l cloth'd as white as fnow, 
 Whofe filver fpanglets fparkle 'gainfl the day : 
 
 This mining robe her Lord himfelf had wrought, 
 While he her love with thoufand prefents fought, 
 And it with many a wound, and many a torment bought ! 
 
 LXX. 
 And thus array 'd, her heav'nly beauties fhin'd 
 
 (Drawing their beams from his moll glorious face) 
 Like to a precious Jafper m , pure refin'd, 
 
 Which with a Cryjial mix'd, increafe his grace : 
 The golden ftars a garland fair did frame 
 To crown her head ; the fun lay hid for fhame, 
 And yielded all his beams to her more glorious flame. 
 
 LXXI. 
 Ah ! who that flame can tell ? Ah ! who can fee ? 
 
 Enough is me with filence to admire; 
 While higher joy, and humble majefly 
 In either cheek had kindled graceful fire : 
 Long filent flood fhe, while her former fears 
 And griefs ran all away in flowing tears ; 
 That like a wat'ry fun her gladfome face appears. 
 
 LXXII. 
 
 At length when joys had left her clofer heart* 
 To- feat themfelves upon her thankful tongue : 
 
 Firfl in her eyes they fudden flafhes dart, 
 
 Then forth i' th* nmfick of her voice they throng; 
 
 1 Rev. xix, 8. ro Ibid. \\\, li. 
 
 My 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 185 
 
 Mv hope, my love, my joy, my life, my blifs, 
 (Whom to enjoy is heav'n, but hell to mifs) 
 What are the world's falfe joys, or all true joys to this ? 
 
 LXXIII. 
 Ah, deareft Lord ! does my rapt foul behold thee ? 
 
 Am I awake ? and fure I do not dream ? 
 Do thefe thrice bleffed arms again infold thee ? 
 Too much delight makes true things feigned feem. 
 Thee, thee I fee ; thou, thou thus folded art : 
 For deep thy ftamp is printed in my heart, 
 And thoufand untold joys ftream in each melting part.. 
 
 LXXIV. 
 While with glad forrow fhe did thus complain, 
 Upon his neck a welcome load depending ; 
 He, her with higheft joys did entertain, 
 
 Herfelf, her Champions, highly all commending : 
 So all in triumph to his palace go ; 
 Whofe blifs in narrow words we cannot fhow : 
 For bounJlefs thought is h[s than the high blifs they know. 
 
 LXXV. 
 There fweet delights, which know nor end, nor meafure ; 
 
 No chance is there, nor eating times fucceeding : 
 No wafteful fpending can impair their treafure ; 
 Pleafures full grown, and yet are ev'r breeding : 
 Fulnefs of blifs excludes not more receiving: 
 The foul replete with joy, yet ftill conceiving ; [ing. 
 Beyond flow tongues report, beyond quick thoughts perceiv- 
 
 LXXVI. 
 
 There are they gone ; there will they ever bide ; 
 
 Drinking full draughts of joy, and heav'nly love : 
 He ftill a bridegroom, (he a gladfome bride ; 
 
 Their hearts in love, like fpheres ftill conftant move : 
 
 A a N^ 
 
186 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 No change, no grief, no age can them befall : 
 Where they thus reft, we heaven juftly call ; 
 Where all days are but one, and only one is all. 
 
 LXXVIL 
 And as in ftate they thus in triumph ride, 
 
 The boys and damfels their jufl praifes chant ; 
 
 The boys the bridegroom fing, the maids the bride, 
 
 While all the hills glad Hymens loudly vaunt : 
 
 Heav'ns winged hofts, greeting this glorious fpring, 
 Attune their higher notes, and Hymens fing: 
 Each thought to pafs, and each did pafs thought's loftieft wing. 
 
 LXXVIII. 
 
 Upon His lightning brow love {lately fitting 
 
 Flames out in pow'r, mines out in majefty ; 
 There all his lofty fpoils and trophies fitting ; 
 Difplays the marks of highest deity : 
 
 There full of ftrength in lordly arms he (lands, 
 And every heart, and every foul commands : 
 No heart, no foul, his ftrength and lordly pow'r withftand.3. 
 
 LXXIX. 
 Upon her forehead thoufand cheerful graces, 
 
 Seated on thrones of fpotlefs ivory ; 
 ^here gentle love his armed hand unbraces; 
 His bow unbent difclairns all tyranny ; 
 
 There by his play a thoufand fouls beguiles, 
 Perfuading more -by fimple modeft fmiles, 
 T.han e'er w r as won by force of arms, or crafty wiles, 
 
 LXXX. 
 
 Upon her cheek doth beauty's felf uifplav 
 
 The frefheft garden of her choiccft flow'rs ; 
 (So that if Envy ° did but look that way, 
 
 His eyes wou'd fwell, and burft, and meljt in fhow "rs; : 
 
 ■ See Canto- vii. flanzas 65, 66, and 67. wherein this hateful paffion is fully 
 *1 Scribed. 
 
 Thrice 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 187 
 
 Thrice fairer both than ever faireft ey'd : 
 Heav'n never fuch a bridegroom yet defcry'd ; 
 Nor ever earth fo fair, fo undefiPd a bride. 
 
 LXXXI. 
 Full of his Father mines his glorious face, 
 
 As far the fun furpaiTing in his light, 
 As doth the fun the ftars, with flaming blaze : 
 
 Sweet influence ftreaming from his quick'ning fight : 
 His beams from nought did all this All difplay ; 
 And when to lefs than nought they fell away, 
 He foon reftor'd again by his new orient ray. 
 
 LXXXII. 
 
 All heav'n mines forth in her fweet face's frame : 
 
 Her feeing ftars (which we mifcall bright eye's) 
 
 More bright than is the morning's brighteft flame, 
 
 More faithful than the May-time Geminies : 
 
 Thefe, back reftore the timely fummer's fire ; 
 
 Thofe, fpringing thoughts in winter hearts infpire, 
 
 Infpiriting dead fouls, and quick'ning warm defire. 
 
 LXXXIII. 
 Thefe two fair suns in heav'nly fpheres are plac'cl, 
 
 Where in the centre, joy triumphant fits : 
 Thus in all high perfections fully grac'd, 
 
 Her noon-tide blifs no future night admits ; 
 But in the mirrors of her spouse's eyes 
 Her faireft felf flie drefles ; wherein lies 
 All fweets, a glorious beauty to emparadife. 
 
 LXXXIV. 
 
 His locks like raven's plumes, or fliining jet, 
 
 Fall down in curls along his ivory neck ; 
 Within their circlets hundred graces fet, 
 
 And with love-knots their comely hano-inp-s deck : 
 
 A a 2 
 
188 THE PURPLE ISLAND. 
 
 His mighty moulders, like that giant fwain °, 
 All heav'n and earth, and all thereon fuftain ; 
 Yet knows no wearinefs, nor feels opprefling pain. 
 
 LXXXV. 
 
 Her amber hair like to the funny ray, 
 
 With gold enamelling the filver white ; 
 There heav'nly loves their pretty fportings play, 
 Firing their darts in that wide flaming light : 
 
 Her beaut'ous neck, fpread with that filver mould, 
 Where double beauty doth itfelf unfold, 
 In her own filver fhines, and fairer borrow'd gold. 
 
 LXXXVI. 
 
 His breaft a rock of pureft alabafter, 
 
 Where loves felf-failing, fhipwreck'd often fitteth. 
 Hers a twin-rock, unknown, but to th' fhip-mafler ; 
 Which harbours him alone, all other fplitteth. 
 
 Where better cou'd her love than here have nefled ? 
 Or he his thoughts than here more fweetly feafted ? 
 Then both their love and thoughts in each are ever relied, 
 
 LXXXVII. 
 
 Run now you fhepherd-fwains ; ah ! run you thither, 
 Where this fair bridegroom leads the bleffed way : 
 And hafte you lovely maids, hafte you together 
 
 With this fweet bride, while yet the fun-fhine day p 
 Guides your blind fteps ; while yet loud fummons call, 
 That every wood and hill refounds withal, 
 Come Hymen, Hymen come, dreit in thy golden pall. 
 
 LXXXVIII. 
 The founding echo back the mufick flung, 
 
 While heav'nly fpheres unto the voices play'd. 
 But lo ! the day is ended with my fong, 
 
 And fporting bathes with that fair ocean maid : 
 • Atlas. p The glorious gcfpcl-day. 
 
 Stoop 
 
THE PURPLE ISLAND. 189 
 
 Stoop now thy wing, my mufe, now ftoop thee low : 
 Hence may'ft thou freely play, and reft thee now; 
 While here I hang my pipe upon the willow bough. 
 
 LXXXIX. 
 
 So up they rofe, while all the fhepherd-throng 
 
 With their loud pipes a country triumph blew, 
 And led their Thirjzl home with joyful fong: 
 
 Mean time the lovely nymphs in garlands new. 
 His locks in bay and honour'd palm-tree bound, 
 With lilies {et t and hyacinths around ; 
 And lord of all the year, and their May-fportings crown'd. 
 
 FINIS. 
 

C H R I S T's 
 
 VICTORY 
 
 AND 
 
 TRIUMPH. 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY 
 
 I N 
 
 HEAVEN, and on EARTH; 
 
 AND 
 
 TRIUMPH 
 
 OVER, and AFTER DEATH. 
 
 A POEM, 
 
 IN FOUR PARTS. 
 
 By GILES FLETCHER. 
 
 •Inhisbleft Life, 
 
 I fee the Path, and in his Death, the Price, 
 And in his great Afcent, the Proof fupreme 
 
 Of Immortality. And did he rife? 
 
 Hear, O ye Nations ! hear it, O ye Dead ! 
 
 He role ! He rofc ! He burft the Bars of Death. 
 
 The Theme, the Joy, how then fhall Man fuftain ? 
 
 Oh the burft Gates! crufh'd Sting! demoliili'd Throne ! 
 
 Laffc Gafp ! of vanquifh'd Death. Shout Earth and Heaven ! 
 
 This Sum of Good to Man. 
 
 Young's Xight Thoughts. 
 
 A NEW E D I T I O N, 
 
 Corrected and Revifed ; with an Introduction and additional Notes by 
 
 the Editor. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by F R Y S and COUC II M A N, Worfhip-Strcct, Upper-Moor fields. 
 
 M D C C L X X X 1 1 1. 
 
A N 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 TO THE NEW EDITION OF THE 
 
 SCRIPTURAL POEM, 
 
 ENTITLED 
 
 CHRIST'S VICTORY, &c. 
 
 AGAIN this Work appears, and courts anew 
 Th' attentive Ear of the Judicious Few, 
 Who pious Sentiments in Verfe admire, 
 And Sacred Truths, which nobleft Thoughts infpire : 
 Thus for his Theme, this Author wifely took 
 The higheft Subjed of that bleffed Book *, 
 Whence we our Faith, and Hope, and Joy obtain : 
 
 (Alas, that any fhou d that Book difdain J ) 
 
 * 
 
 Well hath the Poet fhew'n th* amazing Plan 
 Of Love Divine ! to refcue fallen Man ; 
 When Jujlice from her Throne began to rife, 
 And threaten Vengeance from the angry Skies ! 
 But Mercy, foon her Voice did interpofe, 
 To plead for him, who 'gainft his Maker rofe. 
 Jujlice the Honour of the Law maintains; 
 And Christ in Heav'n the glorious Vifl'ry gains! 
 
 • The Bible. 
 
 Who 
 
iv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Who in due Time defcending from Above, 
 
 Doth in our Nature further Conqicejls prove : 
 
 Born of a Virgin : — wholly free from Sin, 
 
 See him on Earth his mighty Acts begin. 
 
 To a wafte Defert by the Spirit led, 
 
 Where favage Beafts a deadly Terror fpread ; 
 
 Here forty Days he fading did abide, 
 
 While him with guileful Baits the Tempter try'd : 
 
 But well the Saviour that Deceiver knew, 
 
 And all his dire Defigns he overthrew. 
 
 Now midft unnumber'd Throngs does Christ appear; 
 
 And makes the Blind to fee, the Deaf to hear. 
 
 Tho' other wondrous Deeds his Pow'r effect, 
 
 Yet all his Miracles the Jews reject; 
 
 Nor will his Godhead own, nor him confefs 
 
 As the Messiah, born their Race to blefs : 
 
 Lo ! Priejls and Elders wickedly combine ; 
 
 Nor lefs than Murder is their black Defign: 
 
 Yea, all the Multitude together, cry 
 
 Barabbas fpare, but Jtfus crucify \ 
 
 Thus he to Death fubmits : — but, therein we 
 
 The awful Price of our Redemption fee ! 
 
 " Strange Conqueft, where the Conqueror mud die, 
 
 " And he is (lain who wins the Victory/* 
 
 And yet another Conquejl he muft gain, 
 
 Or all our Faith, and higheft Hopes are vain. 
 
 Low in the Earth thofe precious Spoils are laid ; 
 
 The Great Redeemer's number'd with the Dead ! 
 
 His Enemies now thought themfelves fecure ; 
 
 A Watch they fet, and Sepulchre made jure : 
 
 But, 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 But, fhort's the Triumph of Infernal Foes ; 
 On the third Day the Mighty Saviour rofe ! 
 And foon to his Difciples he appear' d ; 
 Whom they, with Joy and Tranfport, faw and heard 
 But \o I a Cloud defcends, which bears away 
 The Glorious Victor to the Realms of Day ! 
 Where all the Heav'nly Hofts their Voices raife, 
 And fing His Triumphs in Immortal Lays ! 
 
 Ye mourning Saints, fojourning here below, 
 Dry up your Tears, and for your Comfort know, 
 He who afcended thus to Worlds on high, 
 Regards you ever with a Gracious Eye : 
 Who in like Manner will return again, 
 When you with Him Eternally fhall reign. 
 
 P. B. 
 
 D E D I. 
 
DEDICATION, 
 
 By the AUTHOR, 
 
 To the Right Worshipful and Rev. Dr.NEVYLE, 
 Dean of Canterbury, and Master of Trinity 
 College, Cambridge. 
 
 Right worthy and Rev. Sir, 
 A SI have always thought the place wherein I live, 
 -**■ after heaven, principally to be denred, both be- 
 caufe I moft want, and it moft abounds in wifdom ; 
 which is fled by fome with as much delight, as it is 
 obtained by others, and ought to be followed by all : 
 fo I cannot but next unto God, for ever acknowledge 
 myfelf moft bound unto the hand of God (I mean 
 yourfelf ) that reached down, as it were, out of heaven, 
 unto me, a benefit of that nature, and price, than 
 which, I could wifh none (only heaven itfelf excepted) 
 either more fruitful, and contenting for the time that 
 is now prefent, or more comfortable and encouraging 
 for the time that is yet to come. 
 
 For as in all men's judgments (that have any judg- 
 ment) Europe is worthily deemed the queen of the 
 world ; that garland both of learning and pure religion, 
 being now become her crown, and bloffoming upon 
 her head, that hath long fince been withered in Greece 
 and Palejline; fo my opinion of this ifland hath always 
 
 been 
 
viii DEDICATION. 
 
 been, that it is the very face, and beauty of all Europe: 
 in which both true religion is faithfully profefled 
 without fuperflition, and (if on earth) true learning 
 fweetly flourifheth without oftentation : and what are 
 the two eyes of this land, but the two Univerfities ; 
 which cannot but profper in the time of fuch a prince, 
 that is a prince of learning, as well as of people : and 
 truly I fhould forget myfelf, if I fhould not call Cam- 
 bridge the right eye : and I think (King Henry VIII. 
 being the uniter, Edward III. the founder, and your- 
 felf the repairer, of this college wherein I live) none 
 will blame me, if I efteem the fame, fince your polifh- 
 ing of it, the faireft fight in Cambridge : in which being 
 placed by your favour only, mod freely, without either 
 any means from other, or any defert in myfelf, bein<r 
 not able to do more, I could do no lefs, than acknow- 
 ledge that debt, which I fhall never be able to pay ; 
 and with old Silenus, in the Poet (upon whom the 
 boys — injiciunt ipfts ex vinculo, fer lis, making his garland 
 his fetters) finding myfelf bound unto you by fo many 
 benefits, that were given by yourfelf for ornaments, but 
 are to me as fo many golden chains to hold me fafl: in a 
 kind of defired bondage, feek (as he doth) my free- 
 dom with a fong, the matter whereof is as worthy the 
 fweeteft finger, as myfelf the miferable finger, un- 
 worthy fo divine a fubject : but the fame favour that 
 before rewarded no defert, knows now as well how to 
 pardon all faults; than which indulgence, when I re- 
 gard myfelf, I can wifh no more ; when I remember 
 
 you, I can hope no lefs. 
 
 So 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 IX 
 
 So commending thefe few broken lines unto yours, 
 d yourfelfinto the hands of the beft phyfician, Jefus 
 rift, with whom the molt ill-afFe6led man in the midft 
 his ficknefs is in good health, and without whom, the 
 >ft lufty body, in his greateft jollity, is but a lan- 
 ifhing carcafe, I humbly take my leave, ending 
 th the fame wifh, that your devoted obferver, and 
 f approved friend doth, in his verfes prefently fe- 
 ent*, that your paffage to heaven may be flow to us, 
 it fhall want you here, but to yourfelf that cannot 
 nt us there, moft fecure and certain. 
 
 Your Worjhifs, 
 
 In all Duty and Service, 
 
 GILES FLETCHER. 
 
 * The fojiowing vcifes. 
 
 B THOMAS 
 
THOMAS NEVYLE 
 MOST HEAVENLY 
 
 AS when the captain of the heav'nly hoft, 
 Or elfe that glorious army doth appear, 
 In waters drown'd with furging billows toft, 
 
 We know they are not, where we fee they are ; 
 We fee them in the deep, we fee them move, 
 We know they fixed are in heav'n above : 
 
 So did the Sun of righteoufnefs come down, 
 
 Clouded in flefh, and feemed in the deep : 
 So do the many waters feem to drown 
 
 The flars, his faints, and they on earih to keep; 
 And yet this Sun from heaven never fell, 
 And vet thefe earthly liars in heaven dwell. 
 
 What if their fouls be into prifon call 
 
 In earthly bodies ? yet they long for heaven : 
 
 What if thi^ worldly fea they have not paft ? 
 
 Yet fain they wou'd be brought into their haven : 
 
 They are not here, and yet we here them fee, 
 
 For ev'ry one is there, where he wou'd be. 
 
 Long may you wifh, and yet long wifh in vain, 
 
 Hence to depart, and yet that wifh obtain. 
 Long may you here in heav'n, on earth remain, 
 
 And yet a heav'n in heav'n hereafter gain : 
 Go you to heav'n, but yet oh make no hafte, 
 Go flowly, flowly, but yet go at laft. 
 
 But when the Nightingale fo near doth fit, 
 Silence the Titmoiifi better mav befit. 
 
 F> NETHERSOU 
 
TO THE 
 
 AUTHOR of the POEM 
 
 CALLED 
 
 CHRIST'S VICTORY, &c. 
 
 T70ND lads ! that fpend fo fafl your polling time, 
 ■*■ (Too polling time, that fpends your time as faft) 
 To chant light toys, or frame fome wanton rhyme 
 
 Where idle bovs may glut their luftful tafte ; 
 Or elfe with praife to clothe fome flefhly flime 
 
 With virgin's rofes, and fair lilies chafte ; 
 While itching bloods, and youthful ears adore it ; 
 I}ut wifer men, and once yourfelves will molt abhor it* 
 
 But thou (moft near, moll dear) in this of thine, 
 Haft prov'd the mufes not to Venus bound, 
 
 Such as thv matter, fuch thy mufe divine: 
 
 Or thou fuch grace with mercy's felf haft found, 
 
 That (he herfelf deigns in thy leaves to mine : 
 
 Or ftoFn from heav'n thou brought'ft this verfe to ground, 
 
 Which frights the ft lipid foul with fearful thunder; 
 
 And foon with honey 'd dews melts it 'twixt joy anci wonder. 
 
 Then do not thou malicious tongues efteem ; 
 
 The glafs through which an envious eye doth gaze, 
 Can eas'ly make a molehill, mountains feem ! 
 
 His Praife difpraifes, his Difpraifes praife: 
 Enough, if beft men, beft thy labours deem, 
 
 And to the higheft pitch thy merit raife ; 
 Whilft all the mufes to thy fong decree 
 Victorious Triumph, Triumphant Victory ! 
 
 Phixeas Fletc 
 
PART L 
 
 CHRISTY VICTORY 
 
 IN HEAVEN. 
 
 I. 
 
 THE birth a of HIM who no beginning knew, 
 Yet gives beginning to all that are born ; 
 And how the infinite far greater grew, 
 By growing lefs ; and how the rifing morn 
 Which fprang from heav'n, did back to heav'n return i 
 The obfequies of him who cou'd not die •■ 
 And death of life, end of eternity ; 
 How worthily H e died, who died unworthily : 
 
 II. 
 
 How God and man, did both embrace each other, 
 
 Met in one perfon, heav'n and earth did kifs ; 
 And how a virgin did become a mother, 
 
 And bear that Son, who the world's Father is; 
 And Maker of his mother ; and how Blifs 
 Defcended from the prefence of the High, 
 To clothe himfelf in naked mifery ; 
 Rifing at length to heav'n, in earth b triumphantly, 
 
 a The argument propounded in general : our redemption by Chrift. 
 b In man's nature. 
 
 III. 
 
2 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 III. 
 
 Is the firfl theme, wherewith my purer mufe 
 
 Doth burn in heav'nly love, fuch love to tell. 
 O T H o u c , who didfl this holy fire infufe ! 
 
 And taught'ft this breaft, but late the grave of hell 
 Wherein a blind and dead heart liv'd ; to fwell 
 
 With better thoughts ; fend down thofe lights, that lend 
 Knowledge, how to begin, and how to end, 
 The love that never was, nor ever can be pen'd. 
 
 IV. 
 Ye Sacred Writings ! in whofe antique leaves 
 The wondrous deeds of heav'n recorded lie ; 
 Say, what might be the caufe, that mercy heaves 
 The duft. of fin above the ftarry fky, 
 
 And lets it not to duft and aihes fly? — jp, 
 
 Cou'd justice be of fin fo over- woof d, 
 Or fo great ill, be caufe of fo great good, 
 That bloody man to fave, man's Saviour, fried his blood " 
 
 V. 
 Or did the lips of mercy drop foft fpeech d 
 
 For trait'rous man, when at th' eternal's throne, 
 Incens'd Nemefis c did heaven befeecli 
 
 With thund'ring voice, that vengeance might be fhown 
 Againft the rebels, that from, God were flown : 
 O fay ! fay how cou'd mercy plead for thofe, 
 Who fcarcely made, againft their Maker rofe ? 
 Will any flay his friend, that he may fpare his foes ? 
 
 VI. 
 There is a place beyond that flaming hill, 
 
 From whence the ftars their thin appearance fried, 
 A place, beyond all place, where never ill, 
 
 Nor impure thought was ever harboured ; 
 
 •" The author's invocation, for the. better handling of it. 
 
 J The argument, man's redemption, expounded from the caufe, mercy. 
 
 e According to heathen mythology, the goddefs of revenge. 
 
 Bur 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. 3 
 
 But faintly heroes are for ever faid 
 To keep an everlafting fabbath's reft, 
 Still wifhing that, of which they're ftill pofTeft; 
 Enjoying but one joy, but one of all joys beft. 
 
 VII. 
 Here, when the ruin of that beaut'ous frame f , 
 Whofe golden building fhin'd with ev'ry ftar 
 Of excellence, deform'd with fin became ; 
 
 Mercy g rememb'ring peace in midft of war, 
 Lift up the mufick of her voice, to bar 
 Eternal fate, left it fhou'd quite erafe 
 That from the world, which was the firft world's grace, 
 And all again into their nothing, Chaos, chafe. 
 
 VIII. 
 For what had all this All, which man in one, 
 
 Did not unite ; the earth, air, water, fire, 
 Life, fenfe, and fpirit ; nay the pow'rful throne 
 Of the Divineft Eflence did retire, 
 And his own Image into clay infpire : 
 So that this creature well might called be, 
 Of the great world, the fmall epitome ; 
 Of the dead world, the life, and quick anatomy. 
 
 IX. 
 
 But, justice had no fooner mercy feen, 
 
 Smoothing the wrinkles of her father's brow ; 
 But up fhe ftarts, and throws herfelf between : 
 So when a vapour from a rnoory (lough, 
 Meeting the ftar of morn (that hath but now 
 Open'd the world, which all in darknefs lay) 
 Doth heav'ns bright face of his rays difarray, 
 And damps the fouling orient of the fpringing daw 
 
 f Man being confidercd as the nobkft part of the creation. 
 c Pleading for mall, now g 
 
 X. 
 
4 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 X. 
 
 She was a virgin of auflere regard; 
 
 Not as the world efteems her, deaf and blind ; 
 But as the eagle, which hath oft compared 
 
 Her eye with heav'n's, fo, and more brightly fhin'd 
 Her piercing fight : for fhe each wifh cou'd find 
 Within the folid heart; and with her ears, 
 The filence of the thought, loud fpeaking hears. 
 And in one hand a pair of even fcales fhe bears. 
 
 XI. 
 
 No riot of affection revel kept 
 
 Within her breafl ; but a frill apathy 
 PofifelTed all her foul ; which foftly flept 
 Securely without temp^ft ; no fad cry 
 Awakes her pity, but wrong'd poverty 
 
 Lifting his eyes to heav'n, fwimmingin tears, 
 
 With hideous clamours ever flruck her ears, 
 
 Whetting the blazing fword, that in her hand appears. 
 
 XII. 
 
 The forked lightning h is her Mercury, 
 
 And round about her mighty thunders found : 
 Impatient of himfelf lies pining by 
 
 Pale ficknefs, with his head in kerchief bound; 
 
 And thoufand noifome plagues attend her round : 
 
 But if her cloudy brow but once grow foul, 
 
 The flints do melt, and rocks to water roll, 
 
 And lofty mountains make, and frighten'd fpeftres howl. 
 
 XIII. 
 Famine ; and meagre care ; and bloody war ; 
 
 Want; and the want of knowledge how to ufe 
 Abundance ; — age, and fear that runs afar 
 
 Before his fellow grief, that aye i purfues 
 
 b The retinue of juftice. ' i. e, ever. 
 
 His 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. . 
 
 His winged fteps ; — for who wou'd not refufe 
 Grief's company, a dull, and raw-bon'd fpright, 
 That fhrinks the cheeks, and palls the frelhefl fight; 
 Unbofomincr the cheerful breafl of all delight. 
 
 XIV. 
 Before this curfed throng goes ignorance, 
 
 That needs will lead the way he cannot fee; 
 And after al), death doth his flag advance ; 
 And in the midft ftrife ftill wou'd hurtful be, 
 Whofe ragged flefh, and clothes did well agree ; 
 And round about amazed horror flies ; 
 And over all, fhame vails his guilty eyes ; 
 And underneath, hell's hungry throat ft ill yawning lies, 
 
 XV. 
 Upon two k ftony tables fpread before her, 
 
 She lean'd her bofom, more than ftony hard ; 
 There flept th' impartial judge, and ftricl reftorer 
 Of wrong, or right, with pain, or with reward ; 
 There hung the fcore of all our debts ; the card 
 
 Where good and bad, and life and death were painted ; 
 Never was heart of mortal fo untainted, 
 But when that fcroll was read, with thoufand terrors fainted. 
 
 XVI. 
 Witnefs the thunder that mount Sinai (hook, 
 
 When all the hill with fierv clouds did flame ; 
 And wond'ring IJrael cou'd no longer look ; 
 
 But blind with feeing, durft not touch the fame ; 
 And like a wood of fhaking leaves became : 
 On this, dread justice ! fhe, the living law, 
 Bowing herfelf with a majeftic awe, 
 All heav'n, to hear her fpeech, did into filence draw. 
 
 k Her fubjeft, the rnoral law. which was written on tables of ftone. . 
 
 C XVIL 
 
6 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 XVII. 
 Dread Lord l of fpirits ! well thou didft devife 
 
 To fling the world's rude dunghill and the drofs 
 Of the old Chaos, furthe.1 ft am the fkies 
 
 And thine own feat ; that here the child of lofs, 
 Of all the lower heav'n the curfe and crofs, 
 That wretch, beafl, caitiff, monfler man, might fpend, 
 (Proud of the mire in which his foul is penn'd) 
 Clodded in lumps of clay, his weary life to end. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 His body dull : where grew fuch caufe of pride m ? 
 
 His foul thy image : what cou'd he envy ? 
 Himfelf raoft happy, if he fo wou'd 'bide : 
 Now grown fo wretched, who can remedy ? 
 He flew himfelf, himfelf the enemy : 
 
 That his own foul wou'd his own murder wreak, 
 If I were filent, heav'n and earth wou'd fpeak; 
 And if all fail'd, thefe Hones wou'd into clamours break. 
 
 XIX. 
 How many darts made furrows in his fide, 
 
 When Ihe that out of his own fide was made, 
 Gave feathers to their flight ? — Where was the pride 
 Of their new knowledge ? whither did it fade, 
 When running from thy voice into the fhade, 
 He fled thy fight, himfelf of fight bereav'd ; 
 And for his fhield a leafy armour weav'd, [ceiv'd ? 
 
 With which, vain man ! he thought God's eves to have de- 
 
 XX. 
 
 Yet well he might delude thofe eyes, that fee, 
 
 And judge by colours : — for who ever faw 
 A man of leaves, a reafonable tree ? 
 
 But thofe that from this flock their lives did draw, 
 
 1 Her accufation of man's fin. " And ftrft, of Adam's fin. 
 
 Soora 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. 7 
 
 Soon n made their father godly, and by law 
 Proclaimed trees Almighty : — gods of wood, 
 Of flocks, and ftones with crowns of laurel flood, 
 Templed, and fed by fathers with their children's blood. 
 
 XXI. 
 The fparkling fanes, that burn in beaten gold, 
 
 And, like the ftars of heaven in midft of night, 
 .Black Egypt, as her mirrors doth behold ; 
 I Are but the dens where idol fnakes delight 
 Again to cover Satan from their fight : 
 
 Yet thefe are all their gods ; with whom they vie 
 The crocodile, the cock, the rat, the fly : 
 Fit gods indeed, for fuch men to be ferved by. 
 
 XXII. 
 The fire, the wind, the fca, the fun, and moon; 
 
 The flitting air, and the fwift-flying hours; 
 And all the watchmen, that fo nimbly run, 
 And centinel about the walled tow'rs 
 Of the world's city, in their heav'nly bow'rs; 
 And left their pleafant gods fhou'd want delight, 
 Neptune cafts forth the lady Aphrodite; 
 And but in heav'n, proud Juno's peacocks fcorn to light. 
 
 XXIII. 
 The fenfelefs earth, the ferpent, dog, and cat ; 
 
 And worfe than all thefe, man, and worft of men 
 Ufurping Jove, and fwilling Bacchus fat, 
 
 And drunk with the vines purple blood ; and then 
 The Fiend himfelf they conjure from his den, 
 Becaufe he only yet remain'd to be 
 Worfe than the worft of men : — they fly from THEE; 
 And wear his altar ftones out with their pliant knee. 
 
 n Then of his poftcnty's, in all kinds of idolatrv. 
 
 C 2 XXIV. 
 
8 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 But let him in his cavern reftlefs reft ; 
 
 The dungeon of dark flames, and fcorching fire : 
 Justice in heav 'n againft man makes requeft 
 To God, and of his angels doth require 
 Sin's punifhment : — If what I did defire, 
 
 Or who, or againft whom, or why, or where. 
 Of, or before whom ignorant I were, 
 Then fhou'd my fpeech, their fands of fins to mountains rear* 
 
 XXV. 
 Were not the heav'ns pure, in whofe courts I fuc ; 
 
 The judge, to whom I fue, juft to requite him ; 
 The caufe for fin, the punifhment moft due ; 
 Juftice herfelf, the plaintiff to indite him ; 
 The angels holy, before whom I cite him ; 
 He againft whom, wicked, unjuft, impure : 
 Then might he finful live and die fecure, 
 Or trial might efcape, or trial might endure. 
 
 XXVI. 
 The judge might partial be, and over-pray'd ; 
 
 The place appeal'd from, in whofe courts he fues; 
 The fault excus'd, or punifhment delay 'd ; 
 The party's felf accus'd, that did accufe; 
 Angels for pardon might their prayers ufe : 
 But now no ftar can fhine, no hope be got ; 
 Moft wretched creature if he knew his lot ; 
 And yet, more wretched far, becaufe he knows it not * ! 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 What fhou'd I tell, how barren earth is grown, 
 And that to ftarve her children ? Didft not thou 
 
 Water with heav'nly fhow'rs her womb unfown, 
 
 And drop down clouds of flow'rs ; didft thou not bow 
 
 • An awful effect of fin ; which renders the finner totally bUrtd to his miferablc 
 condition. 
 
 Thine 
 
. CHRIST'S VICTORY. $ 
 
 Thine eafy ear unto the ploughman's vow : 
 
 Long might he look, and look, and long in vain, 
 Might load his harvefl in an empty wain, 
 And beat the woods to find the poor oak's hungry grain. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 The fwelling Tea feeths in his angry waves, 
 
 And fmites the earth that dares the traitors nourifh : 
 Yet oft his tempefls their light bark outbraves ; 
 
 Ranging the mountains, on whofe fides do flourifh 
 Whole woods of garlands ; and their pride to cherifh, 
 Plough through the fea's green fields, and nets difplay 
 To catch the flying winds, and Ileal away, 
 Coz'ning the greedy fea, pris'ning their nimble prey. 
 
 XXIX. 
 Who makes the fources of the filver fountains, 
 From the flint's mouth, and rocky vallies glide, 
 Thick'ning the airy bowels of the mountains ? 
 Who hath the wild herds of the forefl ty'd 
 In their cold dens, making them hungry bide 
 Till man to reft be laid? — Can beaftly he, 
 That fhou'd have moll fenfe, only fenfelefs be ; 
 And all things elfe, fave he himfelf, fo awful fee. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Were he not wilder than the favage beafl ; 
 
 Prouder than haughty hills, harder than rocks ; 
 Colder than fountains from their fprings releaft ; 
 Lighter than air, more blind than fenfelefs flocks ; 
 More changing than the rivers curling locks : 
 
 If reafon wou'd not, fenfe wou'd foon reprove p him, 
 And unto fhame, if not to forrow move him, 
 To fee cold floods, wild beafls, dull flocks, hard flones out- 
 love him. 
 
 P For his ingratitude. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
to CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Under the weight of fin the earth did fall, 
 
 And fwallow'd Datkan; — and the raging wind, 
 And ftormy fea, and gaping whale, did call 
 For Jonas ;- — and the air did bullets find, 
 Ajid (hot from heav'n a flony fliow'r to grind 
 
 The five proud kings, that for their idols fought; 
 The fun itfelf flood flill to fight it out ; 
 And fire from hSay'n came down, when fin to heav'n did fhout. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Shou'd any to himfelf for fafety fly ? 
 
 The way to fave himfelf (if any were) 
 Is to fly from himfelf q . — Should he rely 
 
 Upon the promife of hfs wife ? What there, 
 What can he fee, but that he moll may fear, 
 A firen, fweet to death ? — Upon his friends ? 
 Who what he needs, or what he hath not lends ; 
 Or wanting aid himfelf, aid to another fends. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 His ftrength ? 'Tis dufl: — His pleafure ? Caufe of pain: 
 His hope ? Falfe courtier : — Youth or beauty ? Brittle : 
 Intreaty ? Fond : — Repentance ? Late and vain : 
 J uft recompence ? The world were all too little: 
 Thy love ? He hath no title to a tittle- 
 Hell's force ? In vain her furies hell {hall gather : 
 His fervants, kinfmen, or his children rather? 
 His child (if good] ihall judge; (if bad) {hall curfe his father. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 His life ? That brings him to his end, and leaves him : 
 His end ? That leaves him to begin his woe : 
 
 His goods ? What good in that which fo deceives him : 
 His gods of wood ? Their feet alas ! are flow 
 i Being deftitute of all hope, or any remedy. 
 
 To 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. ft 
 
 To go to help, which mull be help'd to go : 
 
 Honours, great worth ? Ah ! little worth they be 
 Unto their owners : — Wit ? That makes him fee, 
 He wanted wit, who thought he had it, wanting thee. 
 
 XXXV. 
 What need I urge r , what they mult needs confers ? 
 Sentence on them, condemn'd by their own lull; 
 I crave no more, and thou canft give no lefs, 
 Than death to dead men, juftice to unjufl ; 
 Shame to moft lhameful, and moll (hamelefs dull : 
 But if thy mercy needs will fpare her friends, 
 Let mercy there begin, where juftice ends. 
 'Tis cruel mercy, that the wrong from right defends. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 She ended s , and the heav'nly hierarchies, 
 
 Burning with zeal, now quickly marihall'd were; 
 Like to an army that alarum cries, 
 
 When ev'ry one doth (hake his dreadful fpear ; 
 And the Almighty's felf, as he wou'd tear 
 The earth and her firm bafis quite afunder, 
 Flam'd all in juft revenge, and mighty thunder; 
 Heav'n ftole itfelf from earth, by clouds that gathcr'd under. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 As * when the cheerful fun, light fpreading wide, 
 
 Glads all the world with his difiufive ra\ r , 
 And woo's the widow'd earth airefh, to pride 
 And paint her bofom with the flow'ry May ; 
 His filent filler fleals him quite au ay, 
 
 Wrapt in a fable cloud, from mortal eyes, 
 The hafty liars at noon begin to rife, 
 And headlong to his early roofl: the fparrow Hies. 
 
 r He can expefr nothing but a fearful fenlence. 
 
 ■ Juftice having ended her fpeech - the erlcft it had on the heavenly r>n^rtr%. 
 
 * Appealed "by mercy. • 
 
 XXXVIIL 
 
12 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 But foon as he unckmded is again, 
 
 Reftoring the blincl world his blemifh'd fight, 
 As tho' another day were now began ; 
 
 The cozen'd birds, induftrious take their flight, 
 And wonder at the fhortnefs of the nioht : 
 So mercy once again herfclfdifpl ays 
 Out from her filler's cloud, and open lays 
 Thofe funfhine looks, whofe beams wou'd dim a thoufand days. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 How may a worm u that crawls along the duft, 
 
 Afcend the azure mountains thrown fo high, 
 And bring from thence thy fair idea jjuft, 
 
 That in thofe bright abodes doth hidden lie ; 
 Cloth'd with fuch light as blinds the angel's eye : 
 How may weak mortal ever hope to file 
 His unfmooth tongue, and his fo uncouth flyle ? 
 O ! raife thou from his corpfe, thy now entomb'd exile. 
 
 XL. 
 If any afk w why rofes pleafe the fight ? 
 
 Becaufe their leaves upon thy cheeks do bow'r ; 
 If any afk why lilies are fo white ? 
 
 Becaufe their bloffoms in thy hand do flow'r ; 
 Or why fweet plants fuch grateful odours fhow'r? 
 It is becaufe thy breath fo like they be ; 
 Or why the Orient fun fo bright we fee ? 
 What reafon can we give, but fiom thine eyes and thee. 
 
 XLI. 
 
 Ros'd all in lively crimfon are thy cheeks, 
 
 Where beauties ever flourifhing abide ; 
 And as to pafs his fellow either feeks 
 
 Both feem toblufh at one another's pride : 
 
 * Our inability to defctibc this gloi ious attribute. 
 
 * Her beauty relembled by the creatures, which are all but frail fhadova of her 
 perfections. 
 
 And 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. 13 
 
 And on thine eyelids, waiting thee befide, 
 
 Ten thoufand graces x fit, and when they move 
 To earth, their looks fo beaut'ous, from above, 
 rhey fly from heav'n, and on their wings convey thy love. 
 
 XLII. 
 As melting honey y , dropping from the comb, 
 
 Diftill the words that fpring between thy lips ; 
 Diy lips, where fmiling fweetnefs keeps her home, 
 And heav'nly eloquence pure manna fips : 
 He, that his pen but in that fountain dips, 
 How nimbly will the golden phrafes fly; 
 And fend forth Grains of choiceft. poefy, 
 rhat captivate the ear with their fweet harmony. 
 
 XLIII. 
 Like as the thirfty land, in fummer's heat, 
 
 Calls to the clouds, and opes at every fhow'r, 
 A.s though her hungry clefts all heav'n wou'd eat ; 
 Which if High God into her bofom pour, 
 Though much refrefh'd, yet more fhe cou'd devour : 
 So angels greed 'ly hear thofe words fo fweet, 
 And every breath, a thoufand longing meet ; 
 Some flying in, fome out, and all about her fleet. 
 
 XLIV. 
 Upon her breaft, delight doth foftly fleep, 
 
 And with eternal joy is nourilhed ; 
 Thofe fnowy mountainets, through which do creep 
 The milky rivers, that are inly bred 
 In filver cifterns, and themfelves do (lied 
 On weary travellers in heat of day, 
 To quench their fiery thirft, and to allay 
 With dropping Ntclar floods the hardihips of their way. 
 
 x Her at:=ndants. J Her oerfmfive power. 
 
 D XLV. 
 
i 4 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 XLV. 
 If * any wander, thou doft call him back ; 
 
 If any be not forward, thou incit'ft him ; 
 Thou doft expect, if any fhou'd grow flack ; 
 If any feem but willing, thou invit'ft him ; 
 Or if he do offend thee, thou acquitt'ft him ; 
 
 Thou find'ft the loft, and follow'ft him that flies ; 
 
 Healing the fick, and quick'ning him that dies ; 
 
 Thou art the lame man's friendly ftaff, the blind man's eyes. 
 
 XLVI. 
 So fair thou art, that all wou'd thee behold ; 
 
 But, none can thee behold, thou art fo fair : 
 Pardon, O pardon then thy vaflal bold ! 
 
 That with poor fhadows ftriveth to compare, 
 And match the things which he knows matchlefs are : 
 O thou bright mirror of celeftial grace ! 
 How can frail colours, e'er portray thy face, 
 Or paint in flefh thy beauty, in fuch femblance bafe ? 
 
 XLVIL 
 
 Her upper garment a was a filken lawn, 
 
 Richly with needle-work embroidered ; 
 Which flie herfelf, with her own hand had drawn ; 
 And all the world therein had portrayed, 
 With threads fo frefli and lively coloured, 
 As if the world fhe new-created there ; 
 And the miftaken eye wou'd rafhly fwear, 
 The filken trees did grow, and the beafts living were. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 Low b at her feet the earth was caft alone, 
 
 (As tho' to kifs her foot it did afpire, 
 And gave itfelf for her to tread upon) 
 With fo unlike and different attire, 
 i 
 
 * Her kind offices to man. * Her drefs compofed of all the creatures. 
 h Earth. 
 
 Tnat 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. t 5 
 
 That every one who faw it, did admire 
 
 What it might be, was of fuch various hue ; 
 For to itfelf, it oft fo diverfe grew, 
 That ftill it feem'd the fame, and ftill it feem'd anew. 
 
 XLIX. 
 And here and there few men fhe fcattered, 
 
 (Who in their thoughts the world efteem but fmall, 
 And themfelves great) but fhe with one fine thread 
 So fhort, and fmall, and flender wove them all, 
 That like a fort of bufy ants that crawl 
 About fome molehill, fo they wandered ; 
 And round about the waving fea was fhed : 
 But for the filver fands, fmall pearls were there fprinkled, 
 
 L. 
 
 So curioufly the under-work c did creep ; 
 
 And curling circlets fo well fhadow'd lay, 
 That afar off the waters feem'd to fleep; 
 
 But thofe that near the margin pearls did play, 
 Hoarfely enwaved were with hafly fway ; 
 As tho' they meant to lull the gentle ear, 
 And hufh the former that enfl umber 'd were ; 
 And here a dang'rous rock the flying mips did fear. 
 
 LI. 
 
 High d in the airy element was hung 
 
 Another cloudy fea, that flid difdain 
 (As tho' his purer waves from heaven fprung) 
 To crawl on earth as doth the fluggifh main : 
 But it, the ground wou'd water with his rain, 
 
 That ebb'd, and flow'd, as wind, and feafon would ; 
 And oft the fun wou'd cleave the limber mould 
 To alabafler rocks, that in the liquid rolFd. 
 
 c Sea. d Aic, 
 
 D 2 LIL 
 
iS CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 Lit 
 
 Beneath thofe funny banks, a darker cloud 
 
 Dropping with thicker dew did melt apace, 
 And bent itfelf into a hollow fhroud ; 
 
 On which if mercy did but caft her face, 
 A thoufand colours did the bow enchafe ; 
 
 That wondrous 'twas to fee the filk diflain'd, 
 With the refplendance from her beauty gain'd ; 
 And Iris paint her locks with beams fo lively feign'd. 
 
 LIU. 
 About her head a Cyprus wreath e fhe wore, 
 
 Spread like a vail upheld with filver wire ; 
 In which the ftars fo burn'd in golden ore, 
 As if the azure web was all on fire ; 
 But haftily to quench their fparkling ire, 
 A flood of milk came rolling up the fhore, 
 That on his curdled wave fwift Argus bore ; 
 And the immortal Swan that did her life deplore. 
 
 LIV. 
 Yet flrange it was fo many ftars to fee 
 
 Without a fun, to give their tapers light: 
 Yet ftrange it was not, that it fo fhou'd be: 
 For where the fun centers himfelf by right, 
 Her face and locks did flame ; that at the fight, . 
 The heav'nly vail, that elfe wou'd quickly move, 
 Forgot his flight, and all inflam'd with love, 
 With wonder and amazement, did her beauty prove. 
 
 LV. 
 
 Over her hung a canopy of ftate f ; 
 
 Not of rich tifiue, nor of fpangled gold ; 
 But of a fubflance, tho' not animate, 
 
 Yet of a heav'nly, and fpiritual mould, 
 
 ? The celeftial bodies. f The third heaven. 
 
 That 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. ij 
 
 That only eyes of fpirits might behold ; 
 Such light as from vaft rocks of diamond, 
 Shooting their fparks at Phabus, wou'd rebound ; 
 And little a*ngels holding hands dane'd all around. 
 
 LVI. 
 
 It feem'd thofe little fprights, fo fwift and bold, 
 
 The ftately canopy bore on their wings : 
 But them itfelf, as pendants did uphold; 
 Befides the crowns of many famous kings ; 
 Amongft the reft there David ever lings ; 
 
 And now, with years grown young, renews his lays 
 Unto his golden harp ; and ditties plays, 
 Pfalming aloud in well-tun'd fongs, his Maker's praife. 
 
 LVII. 
 Thou felf-idea of all joys to come ; 
 
 Whofe love is fuch wou'd make the rudeft fpeak; 
 Whofe love is fuch, wou'd make the wifeft dumb : 
 O when wilt thou thy fo long filence break, 
 And overcome the ftrong to fave the weak ! 
 If thou no weapons haft, thine eyes will wound 
 Th' Almighty's felf, that gaze upon the ground, 
 As tho' fome wondrous object there, did them confound. 
 
 LVIII. 
 Ah ! miferable abject s of difgrace, 
 
 What happinefs is in thy mifery ? 
 I both muft pity and envy thy cafe : 
 For she who is the glory of the iky, 
 Leaves heaven blind, to fix on thee her eye : 
 Yet her (tho' mercy's felf efteems not fmall) 
 The world defpis'd ; they her Repentance call ; 
 And (lie herfelf defpifes, and the world, and all. 
 
 e Repentance. 
 
 LIX. 
 
*3 C H R I S T s VICTORY. 
 
 LIX. 
 
 Deeply, alas ! empaflioned flie flood, 
 
 To fee a flaming brand, toil up from hell ; 
 Boiling her heart in her own luflful blood, 
 That oft for torment {lie wou'd loudly yell ; 
 Now fhe wou'd fighing fit, and now (be fell 
 Crouching upon the ground in fackcloth vile ; 
 Early and late fhe pray'd, faffing the while; 
 And her difhevel'd hair, afhes and duff defile. 
 
 LX. 
 
 Of ^11 moll hated, yet hated moft of all 
 
 Of her own felf {he was; — difconfolate 
 (As though herfelf were making funeral 
 For her poor ghoft) fhe in an arbour fat 
 Of thorny brier, weeping her curfed ftate ; 
 And her before a hafly river fled, 
 Which her blind eyes with faithful penance fed ; 
 And all about, the grafs with tears hung down its head. 
 
 LXI. 
 
 Her eyes, tho' blind abroad, at home kept faft ; 
 Inwards they turn'd, and look'd into her head, 
 At which {he often {farted as aghaft, 
 To fee fo fearful fpeclacles of dread ; 
 And with one hand her breafl (he martyred, 
 Wounding her heart the fame to mortify ; 
 The other a fair Dam/el h held her by, 
 Which if but once let go, fhe funk immediately. 
 
 LXII. 
 
 But Faith was quick, and fwift as is the heav'n, 
 
 As if of love, and life, fhe all had been ; 
 And tho' of prefent fight fhe was bereav'n, 
 
 Yet, {he cou'd fee the things cou'd not be feen 
 
 h Faith. 
 
 Beyond 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 *9 
 
 Beyond the liars, as nothing were between ; 
 She fix'd her fight, difdaining things below ; 
 Into the fea fhe cou'd a mountain throw, 
 And make the fun to ftand, and waters backward flow. 
 
 LXIII. 
 Such, when as mercy, her beheld from high, 
 
 In a dark valley drown'd with her own tears ; 
 One of her graces fhe fent fpeedily, 
 Smiling Eh'ene, who a garland wears 
 Of gilded olive, on her fairer hairs, 
 
 To crown the fainting fouls true facrifice'; 
 Whom, when as fad Repentance coming fpies, 
 The holy Defperado wip'd her fwollen eyes. 
 
 LXIV. 
 
 But mercy felt a kind remorfe to run 
 
 Thro' her foft veins, and therefore moved fafl 
 To put an end to filence, thus begun \ 
 
 Aye honoured father, if no joy thou haft 
 But to reward defert ; reward at laft 
 
 The Devil's voice, who fpoke with ferpent's tongue, 
 (Meet to hifs out the words, fo deadly flung) 
 And let him die, death's bitter charms fo fweetly kiwr. 
 
 LXV. 
 He was the father k of that hopelefs feafon, 
 
 When to ferve other gods, men left their own ; 
 The reafon was, thou waft above their reafon : 
 They wou'd have any gods, rather than none, 
 A beaflly ferpent, or a fenfelefs flone : 
 
 And thefe as JUSTICE hates, fo I deplore: 
 But, the up-ploughed heart all rent and tore, 
 Tho' wounded by itfelf, I gladly wou'd reflore. 
 
 i Her deprecative f.>eech for man, ia which/ flae traaflates J&e pruicjml 
 
 fault unto the Devi'. 
 
 LXYL 
 
so CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 He l was but duft, why fear'd he not to fall ? 
 And being fall'n,. how can he hope to live ? 
 Cannot the hand deftroy him, that made all ? 
 Cou'd he not take away, as well as give ? 
 Shou'd man deprave, and (hall not God deprive ? 
 Was it not all the world's deceiving fpirit, 
 (That, puffed up with pride of his own merit, 
 Pell in his rife) that him of heav'n did difinherit. 
 
 LXVII. 
 
 He m was but dufl : how cou'd he ftand before him ? 
 
 And being fall'n, why fhou'd he fear to die ? 
 Cannot the hand that made him firft, reftore him ? 
 Deprav'd by fin, fhou'd he deprived lie 
 Of grace ? — Can he not hide infirmity, 
 
 Who gave him ftrength ? Unworthy the forfaking 
 He is, who ever weighs, without miftaking, 
 Or maker of the man, or manner of his making. 
 
 LXVIII. 
 
 Who fhall bring incenfe to thy temple more ? 
 
 Or on thy altar crown the facrifice ; 
 Or ftrew with idle flow'rs the hallow'd floor ; 
 Or why fhou'd prayer deck with herbs and fpice 
 Her vials, breathing orifons of price ? 
 
 If n all muft pay, that which all cannot pay ? 
 Oh! firft begin with me, and mercy flay, 
 And thy thrice-honour'd son, who now beneath dothftray. 
 
 LXIX. 
 
 But if, or he, or I, may live, and fpeak ; 
 
 And heav'n rejoice to fee a finncr weep, 
 Oh! let not justice iron fceptrc break 
 
 A heart already broke, that low doth creep, 
 
 1 Referring to juftice's aggravation of man's" fin. m Mitigates it firft by a con- 
 trary inference. n By interesting hcifelf in the caufe of Chrift. 
 
 And 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. 21 
 
 And with humility her feet's dull doth fweep. 
 Muft all go by defert, is nothing free ? 
 Ah ! if but thofe, who only worthy be ; 
 None fhou'd thee ever fee, none fhou'd thee ever fee. 
 
 LXX. 
 
 What hath man done, that man ihall not undo", 
 
 Since God to him is grown fo near akin ? 
 Did his foe flay him ? — He fhall flay his foe : 
 Hath he loft all ? — He all again fhall win : 
 Is fin his mailer ? — He fhall mafter fin : 
 Too hardy foul, with fin the field to try ; 
 The only way to conquer, was ^o fly : 
 But thus long death hath liv'd, and now death's felf fhall die. 
 
 LXXI. 
 Christ is a path, — if any be milled ; 
 
 He is a robe, — if any naked be ; 
 If any chance to hunger, — he is bread ; 
 If any be a bondman, — he is free ; 
 If any be but weak, — how flrong is he ? 
 
 To dead men, life he is ; — to lick men, health ; 
 To blind men, light; and to the needy, wealth; 
 A pleafure without lofs ; — a treafure without Health. 
 
 LXXII. 
 
 Who can forget ? Never to be forgot, 
 
 The time p , that all the world in llumber lies ; 
 When like the liars, the finging angels fhot 
 To earth ; and heav'n awaken'd all his eyes, 
 To fee another sun, at midnight rife : 
 
 On earth, was never fight of equal fame : 
 For God before, man like himfelf did frame ; 
 But God himfelf, now like a mortal man became. 
 
 ° Chrift being as fumcient to fatisfy, as man was impotent. 
 * Whom {he celebrates from the time of his nativity. 
 
 E LXXIII. 
 
22 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 LXXIII. 
 
 A child he was q , and had not learnt to fpeak, 
 
 Who with his word, the world before did make ; 
 His mothe/'s arms him bore, he was fo weak, 
 
 Who with one hand the vaults of heav'n cou'd fhake : 
 See how fmall room my infant Lord doth take, 
 Whom all the world is not enough to hold. 
 Who of his years, or of his age hath told ? 
 Never fuch age fo young, never a child fo old. 
 
 LXXIV. 
 And yet but lately was this infant bred ; 
 And yet already he was fought to die ; 
 Yet fcarcely born, already banifhed ; 
 Not able yet to go, and forc'd to fly ; 
 But fcarcely fled away, when by and by, 
 The tyrant's fword with blood is all defil'd ; 
 And Rachel for her fons, with fury wild, 
 Cries, O thou cruel king ! and O my fweeteft child ! 
 
 LXXV. 
 
 Egypt his nurfe became, where Nilus fpripgs; 
 
 Who ftraight to entertain the rifmg sun, 
 The hafty harveft in his bofom brings : 
 
 But now for drought the fields are all undone ; 
 And now with waters all is overrun ; 
 
 So faft. the Cynthza?i mountains pour'd their fnow, 
 When once they felt the sun fo near them glow ; 
 That Nilus, Egypt loft, and to a fea did grow. 
 
 LXXVI. 
 
 The angels caroll'd loud -their fong of peace ; 
 
 The curfed Oracles were all ftruck dumb ; 
 To fee their Shepherd, the poor fhephrerds preft ; 
 
 To fee their King, the kingly Sophies come, 
 
 i From the effcfts of it in himfelf 
 
 And 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. 23 
 
 And them to guide unto their Master's home, 
 A ftar comes dancing up the orient, 
 And fprings for joy over the ftrawy tent ; 
 Where gold, to make their Prince a crown, they all prefent. 
 
 LXXVII. 
 Young John, glad child, before he cou'd be born, 
 
 Leap'd in the womb, his joy to prophefy; 
 Old Anna, tho' with age all fpent and worn, 
 Proclaims her Saviour to polf enty ; 
 And Simeon faff his dying words doth ply ; 
 Oh, how the bleffed fouls about him trace ! 
 It is the Sire of heav'n thou doft embrace, 
 Sing, Simeon, ling ; fing, Simeon, fing apace i 
 
 LXXVIII. 
 With that the mighty thunder dropt away 
 
 From God's outftretched arm r ; now milder grown 
 And melted into tears ; as if to pray 
 
 For pardon, and for pity, it had known ; 
 Which fnou'd have been for facred vengeance thrown : 
 Thereto th' angelic armies all had vow'd 
 Their former rage: — but, all to mercy bow'-d, 
 And broken weapons at her feet, they gladly ftrow'd. 
 
 LXXIX. 
 Bring, bring ye graces all your Giver flafkets % 
 
 Painted with every choicefl flow'r that grows, 
 That I may foon unload your fragrant hafkets, 
 To drew the fields with odours, where he goes ; 
 Let whatfoe'er he treads on be a rofe. 
 So down fhe let her eyelids fall, to fhine 
 Upon the rivers of bright Pakjline ; 
 Whofe woods drop honey, and her rivers flow with wine. 
 
 1 The effe&s of mercy's fpeech. ■ A tranfition to Chrift's fecond victory. 
 
 End of Part I. 
 
PART IL 
 
 CHRIST'S VICTORY 
 
 ON EARTH. 
 
 I. 
 
 THERE a by himfelf alone, remain'd awhile 
 In fhady darknefs a poor traveller ; 
 Who now had meafur'd many a weary mile, 
 Thro' a wafte defert, where th 'Almighty Sire 
 And his own will him brought ; (a place how dire I) 
 Whom to devour, as he to reft began. 
 The hungry beafts of the wild foreft ran, 
 And all with open throat, wou'd fwallow whole the MAN, 
 
 II. 
 
 Tis fure that man cou'd have deftroyed all, 
 
 Whom to devour, the beafts now made pretence : 
 For him their favage thirft cou'd nought appal, 
 Tho' weapons none he had for his defence : 
 What arms for innocence, but innocence ? 
 
 But when they faw their Lord's bright cognizance 
 Shine in his face, foon did they ceafe t'advance; 
 And fome unto him kneel, and fome about him dance. 
 
 • Chrift brought into the place of combat, the wildernefs, amongfl the wild 
 bea£s. Mark i. 13. 
 
 III. 
 
26 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 III. 
 
 Down fell the lordly lion's angry mcod ", 
 
 And he himfelf fell down in conges low ; 
 Bidding him welcome to his wafteful wood : 
 
 Sometimes he kifs'd the grafs where he wou'd go ; 
 And, as to wafh his feet he well did know, 
 
 With fawning tongue he lick'd away the duft ; 
 And every one wou'd nearefl to him thruft ; 
 And every one with new, forgot his former luft. 
 
 IV- 
 
 Unmindful of himfelf, to mind his Lord, 
 
 The lamb flood gazing by the tyger's iide, 
 As tho' between them they had made accord ; 
 And on the lion's back the goat did ride, 
 Regardlefs of the roughnefs of the hide : 
 If he ftood flill, their eyes upon him baited ; 
 But if he walk'd, they all in order waited ; 
 And when he flept, they as his watch themfelves conceited. 
 
 V. 
 Upon a graffy hillock he was laid, 
 
 Where woody primrofes now flourished ; 
 And over him the wanton fhadows play'd 
 Of a wild olive, which her boughs fo fpread, 
 That with her leaves fne feem'd to crown his head ; 
 And her green arms t'embrace the Prince of peace : 
 The sun fo near, needs muft the winter ceafe ; 
 The SUN fo near, another fpring feem'd to increafe. 
 
 VI. 
 
 His hair was black c , and in fmall curls did twine, 
 
 As tho' it were the fhadow of fome light ; 
 And underneath, his face, as day did fhine ; 
 
 Bin fure the day ne'er fhined half fo bright, 
 
 * Whom the creatures cannot but adore. 
 ' The beauty of his body. Cant. v. ti. 
 
 Nor 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. 27 
 
 Nor the fun's fhadow made fo dark a night : 
 Under his lovely locks, her head to Ihroud, 
 Wou'd make humility herfelf grow proud : 
 Hither, to light their lamps, did all the graces crowd. 
 
 VII. 
 One of ten thoufand fouls I am, and more, 
 
 That of his eyes, and their fweet wounds complain ; 
 Sweet are the wounds of love, however fore, 
 Ah, might he often flay me fo again ! 
 He never lives, that thus is never flain. 
 
 What boots to watch ? Thofe eyes, for all my art, 
 Mine own eyes looking on, have ftole my heart ; 
 In them LOVE bends his bow, and dips his flaming dart. 
 
 VIII. 
 His cheeks as fnowy apples, dipt in wine, 
 
 Had their red rofes quencht with lilies white d ; 
 And like to garden ftrawberries did fhine, 
 
 WaflVd in a bowl of milk ; or rofe-buds bright, 
 Unbofoming their breafts againft the light : 
 
 Here love-fick fouls did eat, there drank, and made 
 Sweet-fmelling pofies, that can never fade : 
 But, worldly eyes him thought more like fome living fhade'. 
 
 IX. 
 
 For laughter never fat upon his brow, 
 
 Tho' in his face all fmiling joys abide ; 
 No filken banners did about him flow: 
 
 Fools make their fetters enfigns of their pride; 
 He was bell cloth ? d, when naked was his fide. 
 A lamb he was, and woollen fleece he bore, 
 Wove with one thread ; his feet low fandals wore ; 
 But bare were both his legs, fo went the times of yore. 
 
 i Cant v- 10. * I fa. iiii. 2. 
 
 X> 
 
28 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 X. 
 
 As two white marble pillars that uphold 
 
 God's holy place, where he in glory fets ; 
 And rife' with goodly grace and courage bold, 
 To bear his temple on their ample jets, 
 Vein'd ev'ry where with azure rivulets : 
 Whom all the people on fome holy morn, 
 With boughs and flow'ry garlands do adorn ; 
 Of fuch, tho' fairer far, this temple was upborne f . 
 
 XL 
 
 Twice had Diana bent her golden bow, 
 
 (And fhot from heav'n her filver (hafts, to roufe 
 The fluggifh beads that dwell in dens below, 
 And all the day in lazy covert drowfe) 
 Since him the filent wildernefs did houfe : 
 
 The heav'n his roof, and arbour fhelter was ; 
 The ground his bed, and his moiil pillow, grafs : 
 But fruits there none did grow, nor rivers none did pafs. 
 
 XII. 
 
 At length an aged Sire g far off he faw 
 
 Come flowly footing; ev'ry ftep he guefs'd 
 One of his feet he from the grave did draw ; 
 
 Three legs he had, that made of wood, was beft ; 
 And all the way he went, he ever bleft 
 With benedictions, and with prayers ftore ; 
 But, the bad ground was bleffed ne'er the more : 
 And all his head with fnow of age was waxen hoar. 
 
 XIII. 
 A good old Hermit he now feem'd to be, 
 
 Who for devotion had the world forfaken ; 
 And now was travelling fome faint to fee, 
 Since to his beads he had himfelf betaken ; 
 
 { Cant. v. 15. 
 
 « Chrift meeting his adverfary the Devil, difguifed as an hermit. 
 
 Where 
 
CttRIST's VICTORY. 
 
 29 
 
 Where all his former fins he might awaken ; 
 
 And them might warn away with tears of brine, 
 And alms, and falls, and churches difcipline; 
 And dead, might reft his bones under the holy fhrine. 
 
 XIV. 
 But when he nearer came, he bowed low 
 
 With prone obeifance, and with court'fy kind ; 
 That at his feet his head he feem'd to throw ; 
 What need he now another faint to find ? 
 Affe&ions are the fails, and faith the wind, 
 That to this faint a thoufand fouls convey 
 Each hour : O happy pilgrims thither ftray ! 
 What care they for the beafts, or for the weary way ? 
 
 XV. 
 Soon the old Pabner his devotions fung, 
 
 Like pleafing anthems, mod'lated in time; 
 For well that aged Sire cou'd tip his tongue 
 With golden foil of eloquence, and rhyme ; 
 And fmooth his rugged fpeech with phrafes prime. 
 Ay me ! quoth he, how many years have been, 
 Since thefe old eyes the fun of heav'n have feen ! 
 Certes the Son of heav'n, they now behold I ween. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Ah, might my humble cell fo bleffed be ! 
 
 As heav'n to welcome in its lowly roof; 
 And be the temple for thy Deity ! 
 
 Lo ! how my cottage worfhips thee aloof; 
 That under ground hath hid its head, in proof 
 It doth adore thee, with the ceiling low. 
 Here's milk and honey ; and here chefnuts grow; 
 The boughs a bed of leaves upon thee fhall beftow. 
 
 F XVII. 
 
30 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 6ut oh* ! he faid, and therewith figh'd full deep. 
 
 The heav'ns, alas, too envious are grown, 
 Becaufe our fields thy prefence from them keep ; 
 For ftones now grow, where corn was lately fown : 
 (So ftooping down, he gather'd up a ftone) 
 
 But thou with corn canfl make this ftone to ear: 
 What need we then the angry heav'ns to fear ? 
 Let^hem envy us ftill, fo we enjoy thee here. 
 
 XVIII. 
 Thus on they wander'd ; but, thofe holy weeds, 
 
 A monftrous ferpent ', and not man do cover ; 
 So under greeneft herbs the adder feeds : 
 
 And round about that loathfome corpfe did hover 
 The difmal prince of gloomy night ; and over 
 His ever-damned head the fhadows err'd 
 Of thoufand peccant ghofts, unfeen, unheard ; 
 And all the tyrant fears, and all the tyrant fear'd. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 He was the fon of blackeft Acheron, 
 
 Where many damned fouls loud wailing lie ; 
 And rul'd the burning waves of Phlegethon, 
 Where many more in flaming fulphur fry ; 
 At once compell'd to live, and forc'd to die : 
 Where nothing can be heard, but the fad cry 
 Of oh ! alas ! and oh ! alas ! that I ! 
 Or once again might live, or once at length might die : 
 
 XX. 
 
 Ere long they came near to a baleful bow'r k , 
 
 Much like the mouth of that infernal cave, 
 Which gaping flood all comers to devour; 
 
 Dark, doleful, dreary, like a greedy, grave, 
 
 " h Clofely tempting him to defpair of God's providence. 
 » Being what he feemed not, Satan. 
 
 k The tempter would lead Chrift to Dcfpcratlon ; chara&eriiVd by his plaGe, 
 rountenance, apparel, horrible apparitions, Sec. mtjbis and thr five following flanzas. 
 
 " That 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. 31 
 
 That flill for carrion carcafes doth crave. 
 
 The ground no herbs but venomous, did bear; 
 The trees all leaflefs flood ; and ev'ry where 
 Dead bones and fkulls were caft, and bodies hanged were. 
 
 XXI. 
 Upon the roof, the bird of forrow fat, 
 
 Keeping back joyful day with her fad note; 
 And through the fhady air the flutt'ring bat 
 
 Did wave her leathern fails, and blindly float; 
 While with her wings the fatal fcreech-owl fmote 
 Th'unbleffed houfe; there on a craggy (tone 
 Celceno l hung, and made a direful moan ; 
 And all about the murder'd ghofts did fhriek and groan. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Like cloudy moon-fhine in fome fhadowy grove, 
 Such was the light in which Defpair did dwell ; 
 But he himfelf with night for darknefs ftrove : 
 His black uncombed locks difhevell'd fell 
 About his face ; thro' which as brands of hell 
 Sunk in his fkull, his flaring eyes did glow, 
 Which made him deadly look ; — their glimpfes mow 
 Like cockatrices eyes, that fparks of poifon throw. 
 
 XXIII. 
 His clothes were ragged clouts, with thorns pinn'd faft ; 
 
 And as he mufing lay, into a fright 
 A thoufand wild chimeras wou'd him caft : 
 So when a fearful dream in midft of night 
 Difturbs the mind, and to the aftonifh'd fight 
 
 Some phantom brings; ftraight doth the hafty foot 
 A(Tay to flee, but can't itfelf up-root ; 
 The voice dies in the tongue ; the mouth gapes without boot m , 
 
 1 One of the harpies, See Virgil's ./Eneid. 
 
 m This is defcriptive of what is vulgarly called the Night-mare. 
 
 F 2 XXIV. 
 
32 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 XXIV. 
 Now he wou'd dream, that he from heav'n fell. 
 And then wou'd fnatch the air, afraid to fall ; 
 And now he thought he finking was to hell, 
 
 And then wou'd grafp the earth ; and now his ftalj 
 To him feem'd hell, and then he out wou'd crawl : 
 And ever as he went wou ? d fquint afide, 
 Left he fhou'd be by fiends from hell efpy'd ; 
 And forc'd, alas ! in chains for ever to abide. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Therefore he foftly fhrunk and Hole away, 
 
 Nor ever dared to draw his breath for fear, 
 Till to the door he came, and there he lay 
 Panting for breath, as tho' he dying were ; 
 And ftill he thought he felt their grapples tare 
 Him by the heels back to his ugly den ; 
 Out, fain he wou'd have leap'd, but then 
 The heav'ns, as hell, he fear'd, that punifh guilty men. 
 
 XXVI. 
 Within the gloomy den of this pale wight, 
 
 The ferpent woo'd him with his charms, to inn ; 
 That he might bait by day, and reft by nighty 
 But under that fame bait, a fearful gin 
 Was ready to entangle him in fin : 
 But he upon Ambrqfia daily fed, 
 That grew in Eden ; thus he anfwered ; 
 So both away were caught, and to the temple fled. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Well knew our Saviour this the Serpent was; 
 
 And the old Serpent knew our Saviour well ; 
 Never did any this in falfhood pafs ; 
 
 Never did anv him in truth excell : 
 
 With 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. 33 
 
 With him we fly to heav'n; from heav'n we fell 
 With this : — but now they both together met 
 Upon the facred pinnacle", that threat 
 With its afpiring top Aflreas ftarry feat. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 Here did Prefumption her pavilion fpread, 
 
 Over the temple the bright ftars among ; 
 (Ah, that her foot fhou'd trample on the head 
 Of that revered place !)— -and a lewd throng 
 Of wanton boys fung her a pleafant fong 
 Of love, long life, of mercy, and of grace ; 
 And every one her dearly did embrace ; 
 And (he herfelf enamour'd was of her own face. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Poor fool ! fhe thought herfelf in wondrous price 
 
 With God, as if in paradife fhe were ; 
 But, were fhe not in a fool's paradife, 
 
 She might have feen more reafon to defpair : 
 But him °, fhe like fome ghaftly fiend, did fear; 
 And therefore as that wretch hew'd out his cell, 
 Under the bowels, in the heart of hell, 
 So fhe above the moon, amidfl the ftars wou'd dwell. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Her tent with funny clouds was ceil'd afoft, 
 
 And fo exceeding fhone with a falfe light, 
 That heav'n itfelf to her it feemed oft, 
 
 Heav'n without clouds to her deluded fight ; 
 But clouds without a heav'n it was aright : 
 
 And as her houfe was built, fo wou'd her brain 
 Build caftles in the air, with idle pain : 
 But heart fhe never had, in all her body vain. 
 
 » The tempter would lead Chrifl to Prefumption ; chara&erifed by her place, 
 attendants, &c. in the feven following ftanzas. 
 • Defpair, before defcribed 
 
 XXXI. 
 
Si CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Like to a fhip, in which no ballaft lies, 
 
 Without a pilot on the fleeping waves, 
 Fairly along with wind and water flies ; 
 
 And painted raafts with filken fails, fo braves, 
 That Neptune s felf the bragging vefTel faves, 
 To laugh awhile at her fo proud array ; 
 Ker waving ftreamers loofely fhe lets play, 
 That with their colours fhine, as bright as fmiling day. 
 
 XXXII. 
 But, ah ! fo foon as heav'n his brows doth bend, 
 She vails her banners, and pulls in her beams ; 
 The empty bark the raging billows fend , 
 
 Up to th' Olympic waves ; and Argus feems 
 Again to ride upon our lower ftreams : 
 Juft fo Prefumption did herfelf behave, 
 Toffed about with every ftormy wave ; 
 And in white lawn fhe went, moft like an angel brave. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 Gently our Saviour fhe began to tafk, 
 
 Whether he were the Son of God, or no ; 
 For any other fhe difdain'd to afk ; 
 
 And if he were, fhe bid him, fearlefs throw 
 Himfelf to ground, and therewithal did fhow 
 A flight of little angels, that await, 
 Upon their glittering wings to catch him ftraight, 
 And longed on their backs to feel his glorious weight. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 But when fhe faw her fpeech prevailed nought, 
 
 Herfelf fhe tumbled headlong to the floor : 
 But him the angels on their feathers caught. 
 And to a lofty mountain fwiftly bore ; 
 
 Whofe 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 Whdfe fnowy (lioulders, like fome chalky fhore, 
 Refllefs Olympus feem'd to reft upon, 
 With all his fwimming globes : — fo both are gone. 
 The Dragon with the Lamb. — Ah, unmeet paragon ! 
 
 XXXV. 
 All fuddenly the hill his fnow devours ; 
 
 Inftead of which a goodly garden grew p , 
 As if the fnow had melted into flow'rs; 
 
 Which their fweet breath in fubtil vapours threw, 
 That all around perfumed fpirits flew : 
 For whatfoever might aggrate the fenfe 
 In all the world, or pleafe the appetence, 
 Here it was poured out in lavifh affluence. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 Not lovely Ida might with this compare, 
 
 Tho' with his ftreams his banks were filvered ; 
 Tho' Xanthus with his golden fands he bear; 
 Nor Hibla, tho' his thyme when gathered, 
 As fall again with honey blodbmed ; 
 
 Nor Rhodophe, nor Tempts flow'ry plain; 
 Adonis' garden was to this but vain, 
 Tho' Plato on his beds a flood of praife did rain. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 For in all thefe, fome one thing moftwou'd grow; 
 
 But in this one, grew all things elfe beiide, 
 For fweet variety herfelf did throw 
 
 On every bank ; here, all the ground fhe dy'd 
 In lily white ; there, pinks were fpread fo wide, 
 They damafk'd all the earth ; and here, fhe fhed 
 Blue violets-; and there, came rofes red; 
 And every fight the yielding fenfe, as captive led. 
 
 p Satan tempts Chrtft by Vain Glory, poetically defcribed from the place wfiere 
 her court floor 1 ., a gv 
 
 XXXVIII 
 
36 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 The garden like a lady fair, was cut, 
 
 That lay as if fhe flumber'd in delight, 
 And to the open fkies her eyes did (hut ; 
 
 The azure fields of heav'n, in femblance right, 
 Was a large circle, fet with flow'rs of light ; 
 The Flower-de-luce, and the bright drops of dew 
 That hung upon the azure leaves, all fhew 
 Like twinkling ftars, that fparkle in the heav'ns fo blue. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 Upon a lofty bank her head fhe caft, 
 
 On which was built the bow'r of Vain Delight ; 
 White and red rofes for her face were plac'd, 
 And for her trefTes, marigolds fo bright ; 
 Which broadly fhe difplay'd, t'attracl: the fight, 
 Till in the ocean the glad day were drown'd ; 
 Then up again her yellow locks fhe wound, 
 That with green fillets, in their pretty cauls were bound. 
 
 XL. 
 
 What fhou'd I here depict her lily hand, 
 
 Her veins of violets, her ermine breaft, 
 Which there in orient colours living ftand ; 
 Or how her gown with filken leaves is dreft ; 
 Or how her watchman, arm'd with branchy creft, 
 A wall tho' hidden, in his bufhes bears ; 
 Shaking at every wind their leafy fpears, 
 Whilft fhe fupinely fleeps, nor to be waken'd fears? 
 
 XLI. 
 Over the hedge depends the branching elm, 
 
 Whofe greener head empurpled was with wine, 
 That feem'd to wonder at his bloody helm, 
 And half fufpeft the bunches of the vine ; 
 
 Left 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. 37 
 
 Xeft they, perhaps, his ftrength fhou'd undermine; 
 For well he knew fuch fruit he never bore : 
 But her weak arms embraced him the more, 
 And with her ruby grapes laughed at her paramour. 
 
 XLII. 
 Under the fhadow of thefe drunken elms 
 
 A fountain rofe, where Panglorctta ufes 
 (When her fome flood of fancy overwhelms, 
 
 And one of all her favourites me chufes) ■ » 
 
 To bathe herfelf, whom me in lull abufes, 
 And from his wanton body draws his foul ; 
 Which drown'd in pleafure, in that juicy bowl, 
 And fwimming in delight, doth amoroufly roll. 
 
 XLIII. 
 And all about, embayed in foft fleep, 
 
 Upon the floor a herd of beafls were fpread ; 
 Which fhe fecure in golden chains did keep, 
 And them in willing bondage fettered. 
 Once men they liv'd, but now the men were dead, 
 And turn'd to beafts ; fo fabled Homer old, 
 That Circe with her potion, charm'd in gold, 
 Was wont men's fouls in beaftly bodies to infold. 
 
 XL1V. 
 
 Thro' this falfe Eden to his Lemans q bow'r r 
 
 (Which thoufand fouls devoutly idolize) 
 The firft Defiroyer led our Saviour. 
 There in the lower room in folemn guife 
 They danc'd around, and pour'd their facrifice 
 To plump Lyceus s ; and amongft the reft, 
 The jolly prieft, in ivy garlands dreft, 
 Chanted their Orgies wild in honour of the feaft. 
 
 1 A harlot or concubine. 
 
 * Further defcribed, from her court and courtiers. 
 
 * A Surname of Bacchus. 
 
 G .XLV. 
 
38 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 XLV. 
 Others 1 within their arbours drinking fat, 
 (For all the room about was arboured) 
 With laughing Bacchus, who was grown fo fat, 
 That (land he could not, but was carried ; 
 And every evening fremly watered 
 
 To quench his fiery cheeks ; and all about 
 Small pipes broke through the wall, and poured out 
 Flaggons of wine, to fet on fire that fwilling rout. 
 
 XLVI. 
 This their imbruted fouls efreem'd their wealth, 
 
 To crown the boufing can from day to night ; 
 And fick they drink themfelves, with drinking health : 
 Some vomiting, all drunken with delight. 
 Hence, to a lofr, carv'd all in ivory white 
 They came, where many wanton ladies went; 
 Melted in pleafure, and foft languifhment, 
 And funk in beds of rofes, amorous glances fent. 
 
 XLVII. 
 Fly, fly thou holy child! that wanton room; 
 And thou my chafler mufe, thofe harlots fhun; 
 And with him to a higher flory come w , 
 
 Where gold and filver to vaft heaps are grown : 
 
 The while the owners, with their wealth undone, 
 
 Starve in their ftore, and 'midft their plenty pine ; 
 
 Rolling themfelves upon their golden mine ; 
 
 Glutting their famifh'd fouls with the deceitful mine. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 Ah ! who was he fuch precious perils found ? 
 
 How ftrongly nature did her treafures hide ; 
 And call upon them mountains of thick ground 
 
 Dark'ning their orey luftre : — but fmce pride 
 
 ' ill. PUafurc-in-drink;n£. u zd, Luxury. v j gd Avarice. 
 
 Hath 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY. .39 
 
 Hath taught her fons to wound their mother's fide ; 
 And gauge the deep, to fearch for glitt'ring (hells, 
 In whofe bright bofom fpumy Bacchus fwells ; 
 Not either heav'n, or earth, henceforth in fafety dwells. 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 O facred hunger of the greedy eye ! 
 
 Whofe need hath end, but no end, Avarice-, 
 Empty in fulnefs, rich in poverty, 
 
 That having all things, nothing can fuffice : 
 How thou the fancy tak'ft of men moll wife ! 
 
 The poor man wou'd be rich; the rich man great ; 
 The great man king; the king in God's own feat 
 Enthron'd, with mortal arm, dares flames and thunder threat. 
 
 L. 
 Therefore above the reft, Ambition fat x ; 
 
 Whofe court with mining pearl around was wall'd ; 
 And there upon the wall in chairs of ftate, 
 And moft majeflic fplendour were inftall'd 
 A hundred kings, whofe temples were empal'd 
 In golden diadems, fet here and there 
 With diamonds, and gems that num'rous were ; 
 And with their fplendid fceptres, gorgeoufly appear, 
 
 LI. 
 High over all Panglory's blazing throne, 
 
 In her bright turret, all of cryftal wrought, 
 Like Phozbus lamp in midft of heav'n fhone : 
 Whofe flarry top, with pride infernal fraught, 
 Self-arching columns to uphold were taught : 
 In which her image ftill reflected was 
 By the fmooth cryftal, which like her own glafs. 
 In beauty and in frailty, did all others pafs. 
 
 * 4th, Ambitious fano'ur. 
 
 G ? LIL 
 
4 o CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 LII. 
 
 A filver wand the Sorcerefs did fway, 
 
 And for a crown of gold, her hair (he wore ; 
 Only a garland of rofebuds did play 
 
 About her locks ; and in her hand fhe bore 
 A hollow globe of glafs, which long before 
 With her own hands fhe wholly emptied ; 
 And all the world therein had piclured; 
 Whofe colours, like the rainbow, ever vanifhed. 
 
 LIII. 
 
 Such wat'ry images young boys do blow 
 
 Out from fome flender tube, and much admire 
 The fwimming world ; which tenderly they row 
 With eafy breath, till it be waved high'r ; 
 But if they chance too roughly to refpire, 
 The painted bubble inftantly doth fall. 
 Here when he came, fhe did for mufic call, 
 And fung this wooing fong to welcome him withal. 
 
 'Tis Love y that makes the heav*ns to move; 
 And the fun doth burn in Love. 
 Love the ftrong and weak doth yoke ; 
 And makes the ivy climb the oak: 
 Under whofe fhadow lions wild, 
 Soften'd by Love, grow tame and mild. 
 Love no med'cine can appeafe ; 
 He burns the fifhes in the feas : 
 Not the moft fkill'd his wounds can flench ; 
 Not all the fea his fire can quench. 
 Love did make the bloody fpear, 
 Once a leafy coat to wear ; 
 Whilil in his leaves there flirouded lay 
 Sweet birds, for Love, that fing and play : 
 
 f From her temptation. 
 
 And 
 
CHRIST'S VICTORY, 41 
 
 And of all Loves: joyful flame, 
 I the bud and bloffom am. 
 
 Only bend thy knee to me ; 
 
 Thy wooing fhall thy winning be. 
 
 See, fee the flow'rs that below, 
 Now as frelh as morning blow ; 
 And of all, the virgin rofe 
 Like to bright Aurora fhows ; 
 How they all do leaflefs die, 
 Lofing their virginity : 
 Like unto a fummer's made, 
 But now born, and now they fade. 
 Every thing doth pafs away, 
 There is danger in delay. 
 Come, come, gather then the rofe, 
 Gather it, or it you lofe. 
 All the fand of Tagus more, 
 Into my bofom cafts his ore. 
 All the valleys ripen'd corn, 
 To my houfe is yearly borne. 
 Every grape of every vine, 
 Is gladly bruis'd to make me wine. 
 Whrlfl ten thoufand kings, as proud 
 To carry up my train, have bow'd : 
 And the flars in heav'n that (hine, 
 With ten thoufand more are mine. 
 
 LIV. 
 Thus fought the dire Enchantrefs in his mind, 
 
 Her guileful baits to have embofomed ; 
 But HE her charms difperfed into wind, 
 
 And her of infolence admonifhed ; 
 
 And 
 
42 CHRIST'S VICTORY. 
 
 And all her optic glafles fhattered : 
 
 So with her Sire, to hell fhe took her flight % 
 (The Parting air flew from the damned fpright) 
 Where deeply both aggriev'd, plunged themfelves in night. 
 
 LV. 
 But, to their Lord, now mufmg in his thought, 
 
 A heav'nly hoft of fwifteft angels flew ; 
 And from his Father, him a banquet brought 
 Thro' the fine element ; for well they knew, 
 After fo long a fail, he hungry grew ; 
 And, as he fed, the holy choirs agree 
 To fing a hymn of the celestial three ! 
 Which by the heart of man cou'd ne'er conceived be. 
 
 LVI. 
 The birds, fweet notes, to fonnet out their joys, 
 
 Attemper'd to the lays angelical ; 
 And to the birds, the winds attune their noife ; 
 And to the winds, the waters foftly call ; 
 And Echo back again returned all, 
 
 That the whole valley rung with victory ! 
 But now our Lord to reft doth homewards fly: 
 For lo, the night comes haft'ning from the mountains high. 
 
 » The effect of this victory on Satan. 
 
 End of Part II. 
 
PART III. 
 
 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH 
 
 OVER DEATH. 
 
 I. 
 
 SO down the filver ftreams of Eridan a , 
 On either fide bank'd with a lily wall, 
 Whiter than both, rides the triumphant fwan, 
 And lings his dirge, and proprieties his .fall, 
 Diving unto his wat'ry funeral : 
 
 But Eridan to Cedron b , muft fubmit 
 Kis flow'ry more ; nor can he envy it, 
 If when Apollo lings, his fwans all filent fit. 
 
 II. 
 
 That heav'xly voice c I more delight to hear, 
 
 Than gentle airs to breathe ; or fwelling waves 
 Againft the founding rocks their bofoms tear ; 
 Or whiffling reeds, that Jordan's river laves, 
 And with their verdure his white head embraves ; 
 To chide the winds ; or roving bees, that fly 
 About the laughing blooms of fallowy, 
 Rocking afleep the lazy drones that thereon lie. 
 
 a A celebrated river in Italy. 
 
 b A brook between Jerufalcm and Mount Olivet. John xviii. t. 
 5 Chriu's triumph over death on the crofs, exnreiTed firft in general by his 
 joy to uudcrgo it ; Gnging before he went to the garden, Matth sxw. 30. 
 
 III. 
 
44 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 III. 
 
 And yet, how can I hear thee Tinging go, 
 
 When men incens'd with hate, thy death do threat ? 
 Or elfe why do I hear thee fighing fo, 
 
 When thou, inflam'd with love, their life dofl get ? 
 That love and hate, and fighs and fongs are met ; 
 But thus, and only thus thy love did crave, 
 To fend thee ringing for us to thy grave, 
 Whilfl we fought thee to kill, and thou fought'ft us tofave. 
 
 IV. 
 
 When I remember Christ our burden bears d , 
 
 I look for glory, — and find mifery ; 
 I look for joy, — and find a fea of tears; 
 
 I look that we fhould live, — and fee him die ; 
 I look for angels fongs, — and hear him cry : 
 Thus what I feek, I cannot find fo well ; 
 Or rather, what I find, I cannot tell ; 
 Thefe banks fo narrow are, thofe flreams fo high do fwell. 
 
 V. 
 Christ fufFers, — and in this, his tears begin; 
 
 Suffers for us, — and joy on us bellows ; 
 Suffers to death, — here is his manhood feen ; 
 Suffers to rife, — and hence his Godhead fhows : 
 For man that cou'd not by himfelf have rofe 
 Out of the grave, doth by the Godhead rife; 
 And God, that cou'd not die, in manhood dies, 
 That we in both might live, by that fweet facrifice. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Go giddy brains, whofe wits are thought fo frefh ; 
 
 Pluck all the flow'rs that nature forth doth throw ; 
 Go flick them on the cheeks of wanton flefh ; 
 
 Poor idol ! (forc'd at once to fall and grow) 
 
 d Secondly, by his grief in undergoing it. 
 
 Of 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 45 
 
 Of fading rofes, and of melting fnow : 
 
 Your fongs exceed your matter ; — this of mine, 
 The matter which it fings, fhall make divine ; 
 As ftars dull puddles gild, in which their beauties mine. 
 
 VII. 
 Who e doth not fee drown'd in Deucalion 's name, 
 
 (When earth his men, and fea had loft his fhore) 
 Old Noah? and in Nijus lock, the fame 
 Of Samp/on yet alive ; and long before 
 In Phaetons, mine own fall I deplore : 
 
 But he that conquer'd hell, to fetch again 
 His virgin widow by a Serpent (lain, 
 Another Orpheus was, than dreaming poets feign : 
 
 VIII. 
 That taught the hardeft Hones to melt for paffion, 
 
 And dormant fea, to hear him, filent lie; 
 And at his voice, fee how the wat'ry nation 
 All crowd, as if they deem'd it cheap, to buy 
 With their own deaths his facred harmony : 
 The while the waves flood ftill to hear his fong. 
 And fteady fhore wav'd with the reeling throng 
 Of thirfty fouls, that hung upon his fluent tongue. 
 
 IX. 
 
 What better friendfhip f , than to cover Ihame ? 
 What greater love, than for a friend to die ? 
 Yet this is better, to affume the blame ; 
 And this is greater, for an enemy : 
 But more than this, to die not fuddenly, 
 
 Not with fome common death, with little pain ; 
 But flowly, and with torments to be (lain : 
 O wondrous love! which to unfold, all words are vain. 
 
 • By the obfcure fables of the Gentiles typifying it. 
 By the cauie of it in him, his love. 
 
 h X. 
 
46 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 X. 
 
 And yet the Son is humbled for the flave, 
 
 And yet the flave is proud before the Son : 
 Yet the Creator for his creature gave 
 Himfelf, and yet the creature haftes to run 
 Prom his Creator, and felf-good doth fhun : 
 And yet the Prince, and God himfelf doth cry 
 To man his traitor, pardon, not tojly ; 
 Yet doth the traitor jnan, his God and Prince defy. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Who is it fees not g , that he nothing is, 
 
 But he that nothing fees ? What weaker breaft, 
 Since Adams armour fail'd, dares warrant his ? 
 Who, made by God, of all his creatures bell, 
 Straight made himfelf the worft of all the reft : 
 If any ftrength we have, it is to ill ; 
 But all the good is God's, both pow'r and will : 
 The dead man cannot rife, tho' he himfelf may kill. 
 
 XII. 
 A tree was firft the inftrument of ftrife h , 
 
 Where Eve to fin her foul did proftitute ; 
 A tree is now the inftrument of life, 
 
 Tho' ill that trunk, and Christ's fair body fuit ; 
 Ah, curfed tree 1 and yet, oh blefled fruit ! 
 That death to him, this life to us doth give ; 
 Strange is the cure, when things paft cure revive, 
 And the Phyjician dies to make his Patient live. 
 
 XIII. 
 Sweet Eden was the arbour of delight; 
 
 Yet in his honey flow'rs our poifon blew : 
 Sad Gethfemanes \ the bow'r of baneful night ; 
 
 Where Christ a health from poifon for us drew: 
 
 * By the efft-ft it mould have on us. 
 
 h By the inftrument, the tree of knowledge, Sec. 
 
 ' Exprcfled in particular by his fore paffion in the garden. 
 
 Yea. 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 47 
 
 Yea, all our honey in that poifon grew : 
 
 So we from fweeteft flow'rs cou'd draw our banc ; 
 And Christ from bitter venom cou'd again ' 
 
 ExtracT life out of death, and pleafure out of pain. 
 
 ;xiv. 
 
 A man was firft the author of our fall ; 
 A man is now the author of our rife ; 
 A garden was the place we perifh'd all ; 
 A garden is the place he pays our price; 
 And the old Serpent with a new device, 
 Hath found a way, himfelf for to beguile ; 
 So he that all men tangled in his wile, 
 Is now by one man caught, beguil'd with his own guile. 
 
 XV. 
 The dewy night had with her frofly (hade 
 
 So mantled all the earth, that the ftiff ground 
 Sparkled in ice ; only the Lord, that made 
 All for himfelf, himfelf diflblved found ; 
 Sweat without heat, and blood without a wound : 
 Of heav'n and earth, and God, and man forfook ; 
 Thrice begging help of thofe whofe fins he took ; 
 And thrice deny'd of one k ; — whofe treatment he did brook. 
 
 XVI. 
 Yet had he been alone of God forfaken, 
 Or had his body been embroil'd alone 
 In fierce afTault ; he might, perhaps, have taken 
 Some joy in foul, when all joy elfe was gone ; 
 But that with God, to higheft heav'n is flown : 
 And hell itfelf out from her grave doth rife, 
 Black as the ftarlefs night ; — and with them flies, 
 Yet blacker far than both, the fon of blafphemies. 
 
 * The apoftle Pater, 
 
 H 2 XVII. 
 
48 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 XVII. 
 As when the planets with unkind afpecT:, 
 
 Call from her caves the meagre peftilence ; 
 The pois'nous vapour, eager to infe&, 
 Obeys the voice of the fad influence, 
 And fpreads abroad a thoufand noxious fcents ; 
 The fount of life, flaming his golden flood 
 "With the fick air, fevers the boiling blood, 
 And poifons all the body with contagious food. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 The bold phyfician, too incautious, 
 
 By thofe he cures, himfelf is murdered ; 
 Kindnefs infe&s, pity is dangerous ; 
 
 And the poor infant yet not fully bred, 
 There, whence he fliou'd be born, lies buried : 
 So the dark Prince, from his infernal cell, 
 Cafts up his horrid torturers of hell, 
 And whets them to revenge, with this infulting fpell. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 See how the world fmiles in eternal peace ; 
 
 While we the harmlefs brats, and rufty throng 
 Of night, our fnakes in curls do prank, and drefs : 
 Why fleep our drowfy fcorpions fo long ? 
 Where is our wonted virtue to do wrong ? 
 Are we ourfelves ; or are we graces grown ? 
 The fons of hell, or heav'n ? Twas never known 
 Our whips fo ufelefc were ; and brands fo lifelefs blown. 
 
 XX. 
 
 O long-defir'd ! but never hop'd-for hour, 
 
 When our tormentor fhall our torments feel ! 
 
 Arm, arm ycurfelves, ye Demons with my powV ; 
 And make our judge for pardon to us kneel, 
 
 Whilft 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 49 
 
 Whilfl we do tear him with our whips of fleel : 
 Myfelf in honour of fo noble prize, 
 Will pour you reeky blood, fhed with the cries 
 Of hafly heirs, who their own fathers facrifice. 
 
 XXI. 
 With that a flood of poifon black as hell, 
 
 Out from his filthy gorge, the beafl did fpew, 
 That all about his blefled body fell ; 
 
 And thoufand flaming Serpents hilling flew 
 About his foul, and hellifh fulphur threw ; 
 And every one brandifh'd his fiery tongue, 
 And round about him violently clung ; 
 But he their flings tore out, and to the ground them flung. 
 
 XXII. 
 So have I feen a rock's heroic k breaft, 
 
 Againft proud Neptune, that his ruin threats, 
 When all his waves he hath to battle prefl, 
 (And with a thoufand fwelling billows beats 
 The ftubborn ftone, and foams, and chafes, and frets, 
 . To heave him from his root) their force withfland ; 
 And tho' in heaps the threat'ning furges band, 
 Yet broken they retire, and wafh the yielding flrand. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 So may we oft a tender father fee, 
 
 To pleafe his wanton fon, his only joy, 
 Coafl all about, to catch the roving bee; 
 And flung himfelf, his bufy hands employ 
 To fave the honey for the gameforae boy : 
 Or from the fnake her ranc'rous teeth erafe, 
 Making his child the toothlefs ferpent chace, 
 Or with his little hands her fwelling crefl embrace, 
 
 XXIV, 
 
6 o CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 XXIV. 
 Thus Christ hlmfelf to watch and forrow gives, 
 
 While dew'd in eafy fleep dead Peter lies ; 
 Thus man in his own grave fecurely lives, 
 
 While Christ alive with thoufand horrors dies; 
 Yet he for ours, not his own pardon cries : 
 No fins he had, yet all our fins he bear ; 
 So much doth God for others evils care, 
 And yet fo carelefs men for their own evils are* 
 
 XXV. 
 
 See 1 drowfy Peter, fee where Judas wakes ; 
 
 Where Judas kiffes him whom Peter flies ; 
 O kifs, more deadly than the fling of fnakes ! 
 Falfe love, more hurtful than true injuries ! 
 Ah me ! how dearly God his fervant buys ! 
 
 For God his man at his own blood doth hold ; 
 
 And man his God for thirty pence hath fold : 
 
 So tin for filver goes, and dunghill drofs for gold. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Yet was it not enough for fin to chufe * 
 
 A fervant to betray his Lord to them; 
 But that a fubje£t. mud his king accufe ; 
 But that a Pagan mufl his God condemn ; 
 But that a Father mull his Son contemn ; 
 But that the Son mufl his own death defire ; 
 That prince, and people, fervant, and the Sire, 
 Gentile and Jew, and he againfl himfelf confpire ? 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Was this the oil m , to make thy faints adore thee, 
 The frothy fpittle of the rafcal throng ? 
 
 Are thefe the trophies that are borne before thee, 
 Bafe whips of cord, and knotted all along ? 
 
 1 By his paffion itfelf, amplified from the general caufes. 
 m Parts and effects of it. 
 
 Is 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 5 i 
 
 Is this thy golden fceptre againft wrong, 
 A reedy cane ? — Is that the crown adorns 
 Thy Chining locks, a crown of {harpeft thorns ? 
 Are thefe the angels hymns, the priefts blafphemous fcorns ? 
 
 XXVIII. 
 Who ever faw honour before afham'd ; 
 
 Infulted majefty ; debafed height ; 
 Innocence guilty ; honefty defam'd ; 
 
 Liberty bound ; health tick ; the fun in night ? 
 But fince fiich wron^ was offer'd unto ri^ht, 
 Our night is dav, our ficknefs health is grown ; 
 Our {hame is hid ; — this now remains alone 
 For us, fince he was ours, that we be not our own. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Night was ordain'd for reft n , and not for pain; 
 
 But they, to pain their Lord, their reft contemn; 
 Good laws to fave, what bad men wou'd have flain, 
 And not bad judges ; with one breath by them 
 The innocent to pardon, and condemn : 
 Death for revenge of murderers, not decay 
 Of guiltlefs blood; — but now, all headlong {way 
 Man's murderer to fave, man's Saviour for to flay. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Frail multitude, whofe law, is a-s vou lift; 
 Whofe heft applaufe is windy flattering; 
 Mod like the breath of which it doth confift, 
 No fooner blown, but as foon vanifhin?, 
 As much delir'd, as littje profiting; 
 
 Which makes the men who have it, oft as light 
 As thofe who give it; which the proud invite, 
 And fear : — the bad man's friend ; — the good man's hvpocrite. 
 
 " From the particu'.ur cat. us. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
6 2 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 It was but now their founding clamours fung, 
 Bleffed is he that comes from the Mojl High ! 
 ,. And all the mountains with hofannas rung ; 
 But now, Away with him, away, they cry ! 
 And nothing can be heard but, Crucify : 
 It was but now, the crown itfelf they fave, 
 And pow'rful name of King unto him gave ; 
 And now, no King, but only Cafar, they will have. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 It was but now, they gather'd blooming May y 
 
 And of his arms depriv'd the branchy tree, 
 To ftrew with boughs, and bloffoms, all thy way ; 
 But now the branchlefs trunk's a crofs for thee; 
 And of fharp thorns thy coronet muft be : 
 
 It was but now, they did with kindnefs throw 
 Their own beft garments, where thy feet fhou'd go ; 
 And now, thyfelf they ftrip, and bleeding wounds do fhow. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 See where the Author of all life is dying : 
 
 O fearful day ! he dead, what hope of living? 
 See where the hopes of all our lives are buying ; 
 O cheerful day ! they bought, what fear of grieving ? 
 Love now for hate, and death for life is giving : 
 
 Lo ! how his arms are ftretch'd abroad to grace thee ; 
 And, as they open ftand, call to embrace thee, 
 Why ftay'ft thou then my foul ; O fly ! fly thither, hafle thee. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 His tender back, with bloody whips they gore ; 
 
 His radiant head, with pungent thorns doth fmart ; 
 His hands and feet, with rugged nails they bore ; 
 
 And with a fpear thev pierce his fide and heart : 
 
 And 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 53 
 
 And to afflict his grieved foul the more, 
 
 Rejoiced at his pains, and made their game; 
 His naked body too, expos'd to fhame, 
 That all might come to fee, and all might fee who came. 
 
 XXXV. 
 Whereat ° the heav'n put out his guilty eye, 
 
 That durft behold {o execrable fight ; 
 And cover'd all with black the vaulted fky ; 
 And the pale ftars ftruck with unwonted fright, 
 Quenched their everlafting lamps in night : 
 And at his birth, as all the ftars heav'n had, 
 Were not enough, but a new ftar was made ; 
 So now both new, and old, and all away did fade. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 Th' amazed p angels fhook their fiery wings, 
 
 Ready to lighten vengeance from God's throne; 
 One, down his eyes upon the manhood flings ; 
 Another, gazes on the Godhead ; none, 
 But furely thought, his w T its were not his own : 
 Some flew, to look if it were very he ; 
 But when God's arm, unarmed they did fee, 
 Altho' they faw it was, they thought it cou'd not be. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 The q fadden'd air hung all in cheerlefs black, 
 
 Through which the gentle winds foft fighing flew; 
 Jordan did into fuch vaft forrows break, 
 (As if his holy fiream no meafure knew) 
 That all his narrow banks he overthrew ; 
 
 The trembling earth with horror inly fhook • 
 And ftubborn ftones, fuch grief unus'd to brook, 
 Soonburft; andghofts awaking, from their graves did look. 
 
 • The effe&s of it in the heavens. ? In the heavenly fpirits. 
 
 * In the inanimate creatures. 
 
 I XXXVIIL 
 
54 
 
 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 The wife Philqfopher r cry'd, all aghaft ! 
 The God of nature fur ely languiflied ; 
 The fad Centurion cried out as fall, 
 
 The Son of God! the Son of God was dead! 
 The wicked Jew hung down his penfive head, 
 And homewards hied ; and ever, as he went, 
 He fmote his breafl, half defperately bent : 
 The very woods, and beafts, all feem his death lament, 
 
 XXXIX. 
 The gracelefs Traitor* round about did look; 
 
 (He look'd not long, the Devil quickly met him) 
 To find a halter, which he found, and took ; 
 Only a gibbet now he needs muft get him, 
 So on a wither'd tree he fairly fet him, 
 
 And help'd to fit the rope, and in his thought, 
 A thoufand Furies, with their whips, he brought ; 
 So there he flands, ready to hell to make his vault. 
 
 XL. 
 For him a waking blood-hound, yelling loud, 
 (That in his bofom long had fleeping laid, 
 A guilty confeience, barking after blood) 
 Purfued eagerly, nor ever flay'd, 
 Till the betrayer's felf it had betray 'd ; 
 
 Oft chang'd he place, in hope away to wind ; 
 But change of place cou'd never change his mind ; 
 Himfelf he flies to lofe, and follows but to find. 
 
 XLI. 
 There are but two ways for this foul to have, 
 
 When parting from the body ; forth it fprings, 
 To fly to heav'n, or fall into the grave, 
 
 Where whips of fcorpions, with their painful flings, 
 
 r Dionyfius, who being then at Athens, far diftant from Jcrufakm, is reported 
 to have thus cried out. s Judas t 
 
 Torture 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 55 
 
 Torture the howling ghofts ; whofe loud wailings, 
 Are ceafelefs heard within this cave of night ; 
 Where flames do burn, and yet no fpark of light ; 
 And fire torments, but not deftroys the damned fpright, 
 
 Xhll. 
 
 There lies the captive foul, aye fighing fore, 
 
 Reck'ning a thoufand years fince her firft bands; 
 Yet flays not there, but adds a thoufand more, 
 And at another thoufand never ftands, 
 But tells to them the flars, and heaps the fands ; 
 And now the flars are told, and fands are run, 
 And all thofe thoufand thoufand myriads done, 
 And yet, but now, alas ! but now, all is begun. 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 With that a flaming brand a Fury catcht, 
 
 And fhook, and toft it round in his wild thought ; 
 So from his heart all joy, all comfort fnatcht, 
 With every ftar of hope, while Judas fought, 
 (With prefent fear, and future grief diftraught l ) 
 To fly from his own heart; and aid implore 
 Of him, the more he gives, that hath the more; 
 Whofe ftorchoufe is the heav'ns, too little for HIS flore. 
 
 XLIV. 
 Stay wretch on earth! cry'd Satan, reftlefs reft; 
 
 Know'ft thou not juftice lives in heav'n ; or can 
 The worft of creatures live amongft the beft ; 
 Amongft the blefTed angels curfed man ? 
 Will Judas now become a Chriftian ? 
 
 Whither will hope's long wings tranfport thy mind; 
 Or can'ft thou not thyfelf a finner find ; 
 Or cruel to thyfelf, wou'dft thou have MERCY kind? 
 
 • i, e. diflraacd. 
 
 I 2 XLV. 
 
3 6 CJiRIST's TRIUMPH. 
 
 XLV. 
 He gave thee life : — why fhou'dit thou feck to flay hirn ? 
 
 He lent thee wealth : — what, for thy avarice ? 
 He call'd thee friend : — what, that thou fhouldil betray him ? 
 He kifs'd thee, tho' he knew his life the price. 
 He wafh'd thy feet: — (hou'dft thou his facrifice ? 
 He gave thee bread, and wine, his body, blood • 
 And at thy heart to enter in, he ftood ; 
 But I, then enter'd in, and all my Snaky brood, 
 
 XLVI. 
 Such horrid Gorgons, and mifhapen forms 
 
 Of damned Fiends, poflefled all his heart ; 
 That now, unable to endure their fiorms, 
 Fly, fly, he cries, thyfelf, whate'er thou art j 
 Hell doth already burn in every part. 
 Thus into his Tormentor 's arms he fell, 
 That ready ftood his funeral to knell, 
 And in a cloud of night, to waft him quick to hell, 
 
 XLVII. 
 Yet oft he fnatch'd, and ftarted as he hung: 
 
 So when the fenfes half enflumberd lie, 
 The headlong body, ready to be flung 
 By the deluding fancy, from fome high 
 And craggy rock, recovers greedily, 
 
 And clafps the yielding pillow, half aflecp ; 
 And as from heav'n it tumbled to the deep, 
 Feels a cold fweat through ev'ry trembling member creep. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 There let him hang, embowel'd in his blood ; 
 
 There let not any gentle fhepherd feed 
 His harmlefs flock ; nor ever heav'nly flood 
 
 Fall on the curfed ground ; nor wholefome feed, 
 
 That 
 
57 
 
 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 That may the leaft delight or pleafure breed : 
 Let no fweet flow'rs adorn his habitation ; 
 But noxious weeds, and all that caufe vexation, 
 With thorns and briers grow ; fad figns of defolation. 
 
 XLIX. 
 There let the dragon make his dread abode ; 
 
 And putrid carcafes be thrown avaunt ; 
 There may the fcreech-owl dwell, and loathfome toad ; 
 Fawns, fylvans, and deformed fatyrs chant ; 
 And ever let fome reftlefs fpirit haunt, 
 
 With hollow found, and clanking chains, to fcare 
 The paffenger, and eyes, like to the frar 
 That fparkles in the creit of angry Mars afar. 
 
 L. 
 But let the bleffed dews for ever fhow'r 
 
 Upon that ground, in whofe fair fields I fpy 
 The bloody enfign of our Saviour : 
 
 Strange conqueft, where the conqueror mult die, 
 And he is flain, who wins the victory : 
 
 But he", who living, had no proper room, 
 Now had no grave, but Jofepk gives his tomb : 
 Ye faints then hither hafte ; with fpice the place perfume. 
 
 LI. 
 And ye glad fpirits, that now fainted fit 
 
 On your celeilial thrones in glory dreft ; 
 Tho' I your tears recount, O let not it 
 
 With after-forrow wound your tender breaft ! 
 Or with new grief difquiet your foft refl : 
 Enough for me your plaints to found again, 
 That never cou'd myfelf enough complain ; 
 Sing then, O fing aloud, thou Arimathean fwain ! 
 
 t In the bleiTed faints, Jofeph, & c . 
 
S% CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 LII. 
 So long he flood, in his faint arms upholding 
 
 The faireft fpoil heav'n ever forfeited, 
 With fach a filent paffion grief unfolding; 
 
 That had the meet but on himfeif Been inrcad, 
 He for the corpfe might have been buried. 
 And with him was the faved happy Thief 
 (Who feem'd of mercy's miracles the chief) : 
 Whilft for their Lord, fat holy Marys drown'd in grief. 
 
 LIU. 
 At length (kiffing his lips, before he fpak<\ 
 
 As if from thence he fetch'd again his glioftj 
 To Mary thus, with tears, his filence break : 
 Ah woful foul ! what joy in all our coaft, 
 When him we hold, we have already loft ? 
 
 Once didftthou lofe thy Son, but found'ft again; 
 Now find'ft thy Son, but find'ft him loft, and (lain : 
 Ah me ! though he cou'd death, how caiift thou life mftaiir- 
 
 LIV. 
 Where'er dear Lord, thy fhadow hovereth, 
 
 Blefling the place wherein it deigns* t'abide i 
 Look how the earth dark horror covereth, 
 Clothing in. mournful black her naked fide ; 
 Willing her fhadow up to heav'n to glide, 
 
 To feek, if it may meet thee wand'ring there ; 
 That fo, if now herfelf muft mifs thee here, 
 At leaft her fhadow may her duty to thee bear. 
 
 LV. 
 See how the fun in day-time clouds his face ; 
 
 And lagging Ve/per, loofing his late team, 
 Forgets in heav'n to run his nightly race, 
 
 But, fleeping on bright Oetas top, doth dream 
 
 The 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 59 
 
 The world a Chaos is ; no joyful beam 
 
 Looks from his Harry bow'r ; the heav 'ns do moan ; 
 And trees drop tears, left we fhou'd grieve alone ; 
 The winds have learnt to figh, and waters hoarfely groan. 
 
 LVI. 
 
 And ye fweet flow'rs, that in this garden grow, 
 
 Whofe happy ftates a thoufand fouls envy; 
 Did ye your own felicities but know, 
 
 Yourfelves unpluck'd wou'd to his funeral hie ; 
 Ye never cou'd in better feafon die : 
 O that I might into your places glide ! 
 The gate of heav'n Hands open in his fide ; 
 Therein my foul fhou'd run, and all her faults fhou'd hide. 
 
 LVII. 
 Are thefe the eves, that made all others blind ; 
 Ah ! why are they themfelves now blemifhed ? 
 Is this the face, in which all beauty fhin'd ? 
 What blaft hath thus his flow'rs fo withered ? 
 Are thefe the feet, that on the wat'ry head 
 Of t*ie unfaithful ocean, pafTage found; 
 Why go they now fo lowly under ground ; 
 Wafht with our worthlefs tears, and their own precious wound ? 
 
 LVIII. 
 One hem but of the garment that he wore, 
 
 Cou'd quickly heal whole countries of their pain; 
 One touch of this pale hand cou'd life reftore ; 
 One word from thefe cold lips revive the flain : 
 Well the blind man thy Godhead might maintain : 
 What tho' the fullen Pharifies repin'd ? 
 He that fhou'd both compare, at length wou'd find, 
 The Blind Man only faw, the Seers all were blind. 
 
 LIX, 
 
6o CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 LIX. 
 Why (hou'd they think thee worthy to be (lain ? 
 
 Was it becaufe thou gav'ft their blind men eyes ; 
 Or that thou mad'ft their lame to walk again ; 
 Or that thou heal'dft their fick mens maladies ; 
 Or mad'ft their dumb to fpeak ; and dead to rife ? 
 O cou'd all thefe but any grace have won ! 
 What wou'd they not to fave thy life have done ? 
 The dumb man wou'd have fookc, and lame man wou'd have run, 
 
 LX. 
 
 Let me, O let me near fome fountain lie ! 
 
 That through the rock lifts up its foamy head; 
 Or let me dwell upon fome mountain high, 
 
 Whofe hollow root, and bafer parts are fpread 
 On fleeting waters, in his bowels bred, 
 
 That I their ftreams, and they my tears may feed ; 
 Or clothed in fome hermit's ragged weed, 
 Spend all my days, in weeping for this curfed deed. 
 
 LXI. 
 The life, the which I once did love, I leave ; 
 The love, in which I once did live, I loath ; 
 I hate the light, that did my light bereave ; 
 Both love, and life, I do defpife you both ; 
 O that one grave might both your afhes clothe ! 
 A love, a life, a light I now obtain, 
 Able to make niy age grow voting again, 
 Able to fave the fick, and to revive the flain. 
 
 LXII. 
 Thus fpend we tears, that never can be fpent, 
 On him, that forrow never more fliall fee : 
 Thus fend we fighs, that never can be fent, 
 To him that died to live, and wou'd not be, 
 
 To 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 6% 
 
 To be there where he wou'd. Here bury we 
 
 This heav'nly earth, here let it foftly fleep, 
 
 The faireft Shepherd of the faireft Sheep. 
 
 So all the body kifs'd, and homewards went to weep. 
 
 LXIII. 
 
 So home their bodies went, to feek repofe, 
 
 But at the grave they left their fouls behind ; 
 O who the force of love celcftial knows ! 
 That can the chains of nature's felf unbind, 
 Sending the body home, without the mind. 
 Ah, bleffed Virgin ! what high angel's art 
 Can ever count thy tears, or fing thy fmart, 
 When every nail that pierced him, did pierce thy heart ? 
 
 LXIV. 
 So Pkilo?nel w , perch'd on an afpen fprig. 
 Weeps all the night her loft virginity ; 
 And fings her fad tale to the lift'ning twig, 
 That dances at fuch joyful mifery : 
 Nor ever lets fweet reft invade her eye, 
 But leaning on a thorn her dainty cheft, 
 For fear foft fleep fhou'd fteal into her breaft, 
 ExprefTes in her fong, grief not to be expreft. 
 
 LXV. 
 
 So when the Lark, poor bird ! afar efpys 
 
 Her yet un feather 'd children (whom to fave 
 She ftrives in vain) (lain by the fatal fithes ; 
 Which from the meadow the green grafs doth (have ; 
 That their warm neft is now become their grave : 
 The woful mother up to heaven fprings, 
 And all about her plaintive notes fhe flings ; 
 And their untimely fate, moft pitifully fings. 
 
 * The nightingale. 
 
 K 
 End ojf Part III. 
 
PART IV. 
 
 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH 
 
 AFTER DEATH. 
 
 I. 
 
 BUT a now the fecond morning, from her bow'r, 
 Began td gliflen with her beams ; and now 
 The rofes of the day began to flow'r 
 
 In th' eaftern garden ; for heav'ns fmiling brow 
 Half infolent for joy began to (how : 
 The early fun came lively dancing out, 
 And the glad lambs ran merrily about; 
 That heav'n and earth appear'd in triumph both to fhout. 
 
 II. 
 
 The gladden'd fpring, forgetful now to weep, 
 
 Began to blazon from her leafy bed ; 
 The waking fwallow broke her half year's fleep; 
 And every bufh was deeply coloured 
 With violets : — the wood's late wintry head, 
 Wide flaming primrofes, fet all on fire ; 
 And his bald- trees put on their green attire, 
 Among whofe infant leaves the joyous birds do quire., 
 
 a Chrift's triumph aftrr death: ift, in hii refurreftion, macifefled by the 
 tfTcfls of it :n the creatures. 
 
 K 2 III. 
 
64 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 III. 
 
 Say earth, why hall thou gotten new attire, 
 
 And ftick'ft thy garment full of daifies red ? 
 As if to fome high thought thou didft afpire, 
 
 And fome new found out bridegroom meant'ft tb wed ; 
 Tell me ye trees fo frefh apparelled, 
 
 (Nor ever may the fpiteful canker wafte you ; 
 Nor ever may the heav'ns with lightning blait you) 
 Why go you now fo neatly drefs'd, or whither hafte you ? 
 
 IV. 
 
 Anfwer me Jordan^ why thy crooked tide, 
 So often wanders from his neareft way ; 
 As tho' fome other way thy ftream wou'd glide, 
 And fain falute the place where fcmethinglay ? 
 And you fweet birds, fcreen'd from the heat of day, 
 Sit carolling, and piping grief away, 
 The while the lambs to hear you, dance and play ; 
 Tell me fweet birds, what is it you fo fain wou'd fay ? 
 
 V. 
 And thou fair fpoufe of earth, that every year 
 
 Get'ft fuch a num'rous iffue of thy bride, 
 -How com'ft thou hotter fhin'ft, and draw 'ft more near? 
 Sure thou fomewhere, fome worthy fight haft fpy'd. 
 That in one place for joy thou can't abide : 
 And you dead fwallows that fo fwiftly now, 
 Thro' the thin air your winged pafTage row, 
 How cou'd new life into your frozen bodies flow ? 
 
 VI. 
 Ye primrofes, and purple violets, 
 
 Tell me, why blaze ye from your leafy bed, 
 And woo men's hands to pluck you from your fets, ,-■ 
 As tho' fomewhere you wou'd be carried. 
 
 With 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 65 
 
 With frelh perfumes, and velvets garnifhed ? 
 But ah, I need not a(k, 'tis furely fo, 
 You all wou'd to the Saviour's triumph go, 
 There wou'd ye all await, and humble homage do. 
 
 VII. 
 
 There fliou'd the earth herfelf with garlands new, 
 
 And lovely flow'rs embellifhed adore ; 
 Such rofes never in her garland grew ; 
 Such lilies never in her breaft (he wore; 
 Like beauty never yet did fhine before : 
 There fhou'd the fun another S"UN behold, 
 From whence himfelf borrows his locks of gold, 
 That kindle heav'n and earth, with beauties manifold. 
 
 VIII. 
 There might the violet and primrofe fweet, 
 
 Beams of more lively, and more lovely grace, 
 Arifing from their beds of incenfe, meet ; 
 
 There fhou'd the fwallow fee new life embrace 
 Dead afhes ; and the grave unvail his face, 
 To let the living from his bowels creep, 
 Unable longer his own dead to keep: 
 There heav'n and earth, fhou'd fee their Lord awake from fleep. 
 
 IX. 
 Their Lord, before by others judg'd to die, 
 Now Judge of all himfelf; before forfaken 
 Of all the world, that from his aid did fly, 
 Now by the faints into their armies taken ; 
 Before for an unworthy man miftaken, 
 Now worthy to be God confeft ; before 
 With blafphemies by all the bafeft tore ; 
 Now worshipped by angels, that him low adore. 
 
 X. 
 
66 CHRIST'* TRIUMPIL 
 
 X. 
 
 So fe long HE wander'd in our lower fphere, 
 
 That heav'n began his cloudy ftars defpife ; 
 Half envious, to fee on earth appear 
 
 A greater light than flam'd in his own fkies : 
 At length it burft, whence inftantly there flies 
 A hoft of winged angels, fwift as thought ; 
 That on their beaut'ous feathers, lively caught 
 This glorious Sun ; which to their azure fields they brought/ 
 
 XL 
 The reft, that yet amazed*ftood below, 
 
 With eyes lift up, as greedy to be fed, 
 And hands upheld, themfelves to ground did throw i 
 So when the Trojan Boy was ravifhed, 
 As through th' Idalian woods they fay he fled, 
 His aged guardians flood all difmay'd ; 
 Some left he fhou'd have fallen back afraid; 
 And fome made hafty vows; fome timely prayers faid* 
 
 XIL 
 Lift up your heads ye everlafting gates* 
 
 And let the Prince of glory enter in! 
 At whofe high Paan 'mongft fideral ftates, 
 
 The fun did blufh, the ftars all dim were (een, 
 
 When fpringing firft from earth, he did begin 
 
 To foar on angels wings. — Then open hang 
 
 Your cryjlal doors. — So all the chorus fang 
 
 Of heav'nly birds, as to the fkies they nimbly fprang. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Hark ! how the floods clap their applauding hands ; 
 
 The pleafant vallies finging for delight ; 
 And lofty mountains c dance about the lands ; 
 
 The while the fields, ftruck with the heav'nly light, 
 
 k sdly, In his afcenfion to heaven; whofe joys are defaibed. 
 c Pfal. cxiv. 4. 
 
 Set 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 6; 
 
 Set all their flow'rs a fmiling at the fight ; 
 
 The trees laugh with their bloflbms ; and the found 
 Of the triumphant fhouts of praife, that crown'd 
 The Lamb of God ! riling to heaven, hath paifage found. 
 
 XIV. 
 Forth fprang the ancient Patriarchs, all in hafte, 
 
 To fee the pow'rs of hell in triumph led, 
 And with fmall ftars a garland interlaced 
 
 Of olive leaves they bore, to crown his head, 
 That was before with thorns fo injured : 
 
 After them flew the Prophets, brightly flol'd d 
 In mining lawn, with foldings manifold; 
 {Striking their ivory harps, all ftrung with chords of gold. 
 
 XV. 
 To which the Saints victorious carols fung; 
 
 Ten thoufand ftrike at once, that with the found, 
 The hollow vaults of heav'n for triumph rung : 
 The Cherubines their mufic did confound 
 With all the reft, and clapp'd their wings around: 
 Down from their thrones the Dominations flow, 
 And at his feet their crowns and fceptres throw; 
 And all the Princely Souls fell on their faces low. 
 
 XVI. 
 Nor can the Martyrs wounds ftay them behind, 
 
 But out they rum amongft the heav nly crowd, 
 Seeking their heav'n, out of their heav'n to find ; 
 Sounding their filver trumpets out fo loud, 
 That the fhrill noife broke through the ftarry cloud : 
 And all the Virgin fouls in white array, 
 Came dancing forth, and making joyous play : 
 So him they thus conduct unto the courts of day. 
 
 3 i. e. robed. 
 
 XVII, 
 
68 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 XVII. 
 Now him they brought unto the realms of blifs, 
 
 Where never war, nor wounds^ await him more ; 
 For in that place abides eternal peace : 
 Where many fouls arrived long before, 
 Whofe lives were full of troubles great and fore''; 
 But now, eftranged from all mifery, 
 As far as heav'n and hell afunder lie ; 
 And ev'ry joy is crown'd with immortality, 
 
 XVIII. 
 Gaze f but upon the houfe, where man doth live, 
 
 With flow'rs, and verdure to adorn his way : 
 Where all the creatures due obedience give ; 
 The winds to fweep his chambers every day, 
 And clouds that wafh his rooms ; the cieling gay 
 With glitt'ring ftars, that night's dark empire brave ; 
 If fuch an houfe, God to another gave, 
 How mine thofe fplendid courts, he for himfelf will have. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 And if a heavy cloud, opaque as night, 
 
 In which the fun may feem embodied, 
 Depur'd of all its dregs, we fee fo white, 
 Burning in liquid gold his wat'ry head, 
 Gr round with ivory edges filvered : 
 What luftre fupereminent will he 
 Lighten on thofe, who mall his funfhine {ec t 
 In that all glorious court, in which all glories be. 
 
 XX. 
 If but one fun with his diffufive fires, 
 
 Can fill the ftars, and the whole world with light, 
 And joy, and life, into each heart infpiies ; 
 And^very faint (hall Oiine in heav'n as bright 
 
 ■ Pfal. lxxi. 20. Rev. vii. 14. ' The beauty of the place. 
 
 As 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 69 
 
 As doth the fun in his tranfcendent might ; 
 
 (As faith may well believe, what truth once fays g ) 
 What fliall fo many funs united rays 
 But dazzle all the eyes, that now in heav'n we praife ? 
 
 XXI. 
 Here let my Lord hang up his conq'ring lance, 
 And bloody armour with late (laughter warm ; 
 And looking down on his weak militants, 
 Behold his faints amidft their hot alarm 
 Hang all their golden hopes upon his arm ; 
 And in this lower field when Graying wide 
 Through Satan s wiles, who wou'd their fails mifguide, 
 Anchor their flefhly ihips raft in Ins wounded fide. 
 
 XXIL 
 Here may the band, that now in triumph mines, 
 
 And who (before they were inverted thus) 
 In earthly bodies carried heav'nly minds ; 
 Pitch round about, in order glorious, 
 Their funny tents, and houfes luminous : 
 All their eternal day in fongs employing ; 
 Joy is their end, without end of their joying : 
 While their Almighty Prince, deflruction is deftroying. 
 
 XXIII. 
 Full \ yet without fatiety, of that 
 
 Which whets, and quiets greedy appetite : 
 Where never fun arofe, nor ever fat ; 
 But one eternal day, and endlefs light, 
 Gives time to thofe, whofe time is infinite ; 
 Speaking with thought, obtaining without fee ; 
 Beholding him, whom never eye cou'd fee, 
 And magnifying him, who cannot greater be. 
 
 t Matt xiii. 43. h The impletiou of the appetite. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
7 o 
 
 C H.R I S T ' s TRIUMPH. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 How can fuch joy as this want words to fpeak ? 
 
 And yet what words can fpeak fuch joy as this ? 
 Far from that world which wou'd their quiet break, 
 Here the glad fouls the face of beauty kifs, 
 With holy raptures on their feats of blifs ; 
 And drinking NeBar torrents, ever hold 
 Their eyes on him, whofe graces manifold, 
 The more they do behold, the more they wou'd behold. 
 
 XXV. 
 Their fight drinks lovely fires in at their eyes ; 
 
 They breathe fweet incenfe, which can never cloy, 
 That on God's altar ever burning lies ; 
 
 Their hungry ears feed on the heav'nly voice 
 Of angels, finging forth their untold joys ; 
 
 Their understandings, naked truth ; their wills, 
 The all, and felf-fufficient goodnefs fills ; 
 That nothing here is wanting ; — but the want of ills. 
 
 XXVI. 
 No * forrow now hangs clouding on their brow ; 
 
 No bloodlefs malady empales the face ; 
 No age drops on their hairs his filver fnow ; 
 No nakednefs their bodies does embafe ; 
 No poverty themfelves and theirs difgrace ; 
 No fear of death the joy of life devours ; 
 No unchafte deep their precious time deflow'rs ; 
 No lofs, no grief, no change wait on their winged hours. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 But now their naked bodies fcorn the cold ; 
 
 And from their eyes jov looks, and laughs at pain ; 
 The infant wonders how he came fo old ; 
 
 The old man how he came fo young again ; 
 
 » By the abi r ence of all evil. 
 
 Still 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 71 
 
 Still refling, tho' from deep they flill refrain ; 
 Where all are rich, and yet no gold they mow ; 
 And all are kings, and yet no fubjecls know ; 
 All full, and yet no time on food do they bellow. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 For things that pafs, are pad ; and in this field, 
 
 The fpring indefinite, no winter fears ; 
 The trees together fruit and bloflbms yield ; 
 Th' unfading lily, leaves of filver bears, 
 The crimfon rofe, a fcarlet garment wears: 
 And all of thefe on the faint's bodies grow, 
 Not as they wont, on bafer earth below. 
 Three rivers here, of milk, and wine, and honey flow. 
 
 XXIX. 
 About k the holy city rolls a flood ' 
 
 Of molten cryftal, like a fea of glafs ; 
 On which bright ftream a ftrong foundation flood, 
 Of living diamonds the building was ; 
 That all things elfe, it wholly did furpafs. 
 
 Her flreets, the ftars, inflead of ftones did pave, 
 And little pearls for dull, it feem'd to have, 
 On which foft {beaming manna like pure fnow did wave. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 In M midft of this city celeflial, 
 
 Where the eternal temple fhou'd have rofe, 
 Lighten'd th' idea beatifical n , 
 
 End and beginning of each thing that grows ; 
 
 Whofe felf no end, nor yet beginning knows ; 
 
 That hath no eyes to fee, nor ears to hear, 
 
 Yet fees, and hears, and is all eye, all ear, 
 
 That no where is contain'd, and yet is ev'ry where. 
 
 k By the pofleflion of all good in the glory of the holy city. 
 
 : Rev. xxii, 1. ■ In the beatifical virion of God. "Rev.xxi. 22, 23. 
 
 L 2 XXXI. 
 
72 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Changer of all things, yet immutable; 
 
 Before, and after all, the firft and laft ; 
 Who, moving all, is yet immovable ; 
 
 Great, without quantity ; in whofe forecaft, 
 Things paft are prefent, things to come are paft ; 
 Swift without motion ; unto whofe broad eye 
 The hearts of wicked men all open lie, 
 At once, abfent and prefent to them, far and nigh. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 It is no flaming Iuftre, made of light ; 
 
 No fweet content ; or well-tim'd harmony ; 
 Ambrojia, for to feafl the appetite ; 
 Or flow'ry odour, mixt with fpicery ; 
 No foft embrace, or pleafure bodily : 
 And yet it is a kind of inward feafl ; 
 A harmony, that founds within the breaft ; 
 An odour, light, embrace, in which the foul doth reft. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 A heav'nly feafl no hunger can confume ; 
 
 A light unfeen, yet mines in ev'ry place ; 
 A found no time can Ileal; a fweet perfume 
 No winds can fcatter ; an entire embrace, 
 That no fatiety can e'er debafe : 
 
 Receiv'd into fo high a favour, there 
 The faints, with their compeers, whole worlds outwear; 
 And things unfeen do fee, and things unheard do hear. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 Ye blelTed fouls, grown richer by your fpoil, 
 
 Whofe lofs, tho' great, is caufe of greater gains; 
 Here may your weary fpirits reft from toil, 
 Spending your endlefs evening that remains, 
 
 Amongfl 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. n 
 
 Amongfl thofe white Flocks, and celeftial Trains, 
 That feed upon their Shepherd's eyes ; and frame 
 That heav'nly mufic of fo wondrous fame, 
 Pfalming aloud the holy honours of his name! 
 
 XXXV. 
 Had I a voice of fteel to tune my fong; 
 
 Were every verfe as fmooth as fmootheft glafs ; 
 And every member turned to a tongue ; 
 
 And every tongue were made of founding brafs ; 
 Yet all that {kill, and all this ftrength, alas ! 
 Shou'd it prefume t'adorn (were mifadvis'd) 
 The place, where David hath new fongs devis'd, 
 As on his fhining throne he fits emparadis'd. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 Mod happy prince, whofe eyes thofe ftars behold, 
 Treading ours under feet, now mayft thou pour 
 That overflowing flrill, wherewith of old 
 
 Thou wont'ft to fmooth rough fpeech; now mayft thou fliow'r 
 Frefh ftreams of praife upon that holy bow'r, 
 Which well we heav'n call, not that it rolls, 
 But that it is the heaven of our fouls : 
 Moil happy prince, whofe fight fo heav'nly fight beholds 1 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 Ah, foolifh Shepherds ! who were wont t'efteem, 
 
 Your God all rough, and fhaggy-hair'd to be; 
 And yet far wifer Shepherds than ye deem, 
 For who fo poor (tho' who fo rich) as he, 
 When fojourning with us in low degree, 
 
 He wafli'd his flocks in Jordan's fpotlefs tide ; 
 And that his dear remembrance might abide, 
 Did to us come, and with us liv'd, and for us died. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
74 CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 But now fuch lively colours did embeam 
 
 His fparkling forehead ; and fuch fhining rays 
 Kindled his flaming locks, that down did ftream 
 In curls along his neck, where fweetly plays 
 (Singing his wounds of love in facred lays) 
 
 His deareft spouse, spouse of the deareft lover, 
 Knitting a thoufand knots over and over, 
 And dying {till for love, but they her ftill recover. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 Faireft of fairs, that at his eyes doth drefs 
 
 Her glorious face; thofe eyes, from whence are fhed 
 Attractions infinite; where to exprefs 
 
 His LOVE, High Uud ! all heav'n as captive leads, 
 And all the banners of his grace difpreads, 
 And in thofe windows doth his arms englaze, 
 And on thofe eyes, the angels all do gaze, 
 And from thofe eyes, the lights of heav'n obtain their blaze. 
 
 XL. 
 But let the Kentijh lad°, that lately taught 
 
 His oaten reed the trumpet's filver found, 
 Young Thyr/zlis; and for his mufic brought 
 
 The willing fpheres from heav'n, to lead around 
 The dancing nymphs and (wains, that fung, and.crown'd 
 EcleBas hymen p with ten thoufand flow'rs 
 Of choiceft praife ; and hung her heav'nly bow'rs 
 With faffron garlands, drefs'd for nuptial paramours. 
 
 XLI. 
 Let his fhrill trumpet, with her filver blaft, 
 
 Of fair Ec/eSla, and her fpoufal bed, 
 Be the fweet pipe, and fmooth encomiaft : 
 
 But my green mufe, hiding her younger head, 
 
 • The author of the Purple Ifland. ' i. e. marriage. 
 
 Under 
 
CHRIST'S TRIUMPH. j 5 
 
 Under old Camus' flaggy banks, that fpread 
 Their willow locks abroad, and all the day 
 With their own watry fhadows wanton play ; 
 Dares not thofe high amours, and love-fick fongs allay. 
 
 XLII. 
 Impotent words, weak lines, that flrive in vain ; 
 
 In vain, alas, to tell fo heav'nly fight ! 
 So heav'nly fight, as none can greater feign, 
 
 Feign what he can, that feems of greateft might: 
 Cou'd any yet compare with Infinite ? 
 Infinite fure thofe joys ; my words but light ; 
 Light is the palace where fhe dwells. — O then, how bright! 
 
 / N 
 
►N; 
 
 /~*Y