Classic Poem

Like the young moon,
When, on the sunlit limits of the night,
Her white sheen trembles amid crimson air,
And whilst the sleeping tempest gathers might,
Doth as the herald of her coming, bear
The ghost of her dead mother, whose dim form
Bends in dark ether from her infant's chair.
Whether entranc'd , or in a dreame of dreames,
Procur'd by Fancy in our sleepe's extreames,
Or whether by a strong imagination ,
Bred in the Bowels of deepe Contemplation ,
My soule , when as my bodie waking was,
Did see, what doth ensue, in Fancie's Glasse:
I know not well; but this ful wel I know,
If it no substance were, it was a show
A show whereat my Muse admired much,
Which she with her best sense can scarslie touch;
It was so strange and full of mistery ,
Past apprehension of her ingeny .
Me thought I saw, (at least I saw in thought
As on a River's side I lay long-straught
Eyeing the Waters' eie-delighting glide )
An heauenly creature more then glorifide
Vpon the waues come tripping towards me,
Who, scarse the water toucht, did seeme to flee:
Her face was louely, yet mee thought shee lookt
As one that had long time and travell brookt.
The Robe she ware was lawne (white as the Swanne )
Which siluer Oes , and Spangles over-ran
That in her motion such reflexion gaue,
As fill'd, with siluer starres , the heav'nly waue
Her Browes , two hemi-circles did enclose
Of Rubies rang'd in artificiall Roes :
Whose precious haire thereto was so confixt,
That golde and Rubie seemed intermixt
Vpon her head a siluer crowne shee ware,
(Depressing so that rising golden Haire )
In token that shee knew no marriage Bed ,
Which nerthelesse was richly garnished
With rarest Pearle , that on the arched bents
That rose from that rich Crowne's embattlements,
Did shine like that braue party-coulord Bow ,
That doth Heav'ns' glorie , and their mercy show
About her Necke hung Nature's Miracle ,
A Carcanet of glorious Carbuncle ;
Which did the Sunne ecclipse, and clos'd mine Eyes
That they could not behold her other guise
This sight (though glorious) much amated me,
From which , rowzing my selfe, I sought to flee:
But with the offer I fell downe againe,
As one whose Legges could not his Corpes sustaine,
Yet still I off'red (bootelesse) to be gon,
For, Sights divine daunt the stout'st Champion
At the first sight; for, Nature doth not love
To see (fraile Creature ) ought her selfe aboue
When lo, this heau'nly Apparition ,
Bad me not feare, with sweete perswasion!
For, I am shee (quoth shee) that lately was
Thy Sov'raigne; fried from this Earthy Masse
I now can like an Angell with a trice,
Shift place to serue the Prince of Paradice
And, I am come to thee by his permission,
That (notwithstanding thy obscure condition )
Thou should'st by me haue light , and cleerely see
(As in a Glasse ) what shal hereafter bee
Touching this Land , I did predominate:
Looke in these Waues (quoth shee) and see her fate .
But I yet fearing lest by some delusion ,
I might be drawne to drowne me, in conclusion
Did backward seeme to doe this later heast ,
Though in the premisses I seemed blest
Then shee (as seeing with immortall eyes
The mortall feare that did my Soule surprise)
Skipt from the Water to the verdant Shore ,
And tooke me by the hand , and cheer'd me more.
Her touch , mee thought, sent to my soule such ioy ,
As quite expell'd, what erst did it annoy.
That hand , mee seem'd, I kist with reverence
Which yeeled sense-reviving redolence.
I held it fast, and swai'd it as I would,
For shee encourag'd me, and made me bold,
When to my selfe, I wisht I had had might,
T'haue swaid or staid it when it once did write,
When it did (shaking) write Elizabeth ,
Name giving Life to be a name of Death .
I often haue held hands , while I haue taught
Those hands to write, as (handsomely) they ought;
But had I held her hand then, when it was,
I would haue taught her hand all hands to passe
In love-procuring skill; and when shee wrate
Elizabeth great R abridging date
Of Life and Name , shee should haue written thus,
Live live great R: for dying oft for vs .
And though shee had in Earth no interest
Now fried from it by eternall rest ,
Yet, was my soule , mee thought, extreamely glad
So to converse with her immortall Shade .
And to my selfe I said, with submisse voice,
If Princes' Shades our Spirits so reioyce;
What will their Substance where they please to grace?
That , in the Soule must needes haue greater place
Arise (quoth shee) because the Water 's deepe,
And thou (perhapps) dost feare therein to peepe:
Come, follow mee to yonder shadie Grove ,
Which Zephirus doth gentlie breathing moue;
Vpon the further side of this greene Meade ,
There shalt thou see, what shall thy Fancy feede.
Then vp I sprange with rare agilitie ,
Which gaue me pow'r, me thought, with her to flie
As swift as thought , to that designed place;
And there she laid me downe, with sweete embrace:
Which so entranc'd me, as a while I laie
Engulf'd in ioy , yet all the while did praie
That the Catastrophe of this sweete Scene ,
Might answere the beginning and the meane
Shee feeling with her hand my Pulse to beate
As one whose Soule did seeke to shift her Seate ,
Shee chafte my Temples which did showring raine
The liquid Pearle which oft proceedes of Paine
And with a loving checke shee did controule,
The Passion of my over-passion'd Soule
I am (quoth shee) no Soule -confounding Fiend ,
Assuming Angell's forme for wicked end;
But come to grace thee, gracelesse forlorne Man ,
With divine favours , why dost feare me than?
Whereto with trembling Tongue I made reply:
I feare thee not, sense-mazing Maiestie;
But the delight my silly Soule conceaues
For this high grace , my soule of sense bereaves.
Well then I coniure thee in Loue (quoth shee)
That thou feare not, But marke what thou shalt see
No sooner these sweete words accented were,
But in our presence livelie did appeare
A Ladie of a most maiesticke state,
Cladd like a World -commanding Potentate ,
With all that might obiect prosperitie ,
To Witt or Observation's Eagle's Eye .
On whom attended two still-striving Dames ,
In manners diverse, diverse too in frames ,
The one still eyde the Mould , with downe-cast looke ,
In blacke invested, in her hand a Booke .
Her Brest close-clasped vp vnto the Chin ,
That no lascivious Eye might prie therein:
A Cipres vaile ore-canapide her face ,
Where vnder shone a World of modest grace
Nothing about her was superfluous,
And nothing wanting, fitte for Nature's vse;
I tooke her for some World-despising Dame ,
Whose conversation was not in the same
The other was the true Arch-tipe of that
Which Men for Levitie doe wonder at
Neere to her Body shee ( fantasticke ) ware
A thinne vaile of Carnation coulor'd ware ;
On which, with Starrs of gold embost was drawne
As t' were an vpper Smock of purest Lawne ,
Which seem'd as if a Silver Cloude had spredd
Over the face of Phaebus blushing redd;
Vpon all which shee ware a Gabberdine ,
For forme as strange, as for stuffe , rich and fine:
To which ther was a certaine kinde of Traine ,
Which (vselesse) was turn'd vp threefold againe:
The Wings wherof, (where her Armes out were let)
Were of pure gold with Smarags thicke besett:
So were the verges of it sett with stone ,
As costlie as the Whore's of Babilon .
On either side from her Armes to her Wast ,
It was vnsow'd, and made with Buttons fast
Of orient Pearle , of admirable size,
Which loopes of Azur'd silke did circulize:
So as yee might betweene the Buttons see,
Her smocke out-tuft to show her levitee
The Sleeves whereof were meanely large, yet so
As to the handes it lesse and lesse did gro:
About whose wrists being gath'red in fine pleates
It was made fast with orient Bracilets
Of Pearle as bigge as Plumbes , and intermixt
With other Iemmes , of diuers hues transfixt;
Which ore her hands hunge as superfluously
As (like the rest shee ware) most combrously
Morisco -wise her Garment did orehang
Her Girdle , set with stone and many a spang
Which nerethelesse could not be seene at all
By reason of that Robe's orefolding fal:
Saving that when the Winde blew vp the same
It might be seene like lightning's sodaine flame
This Garment though it were but too too long
Yet too too short, or short'st of all, it hunge.
Her nether Vesture strecht but to her calfe ,
Yet lower rought then that aboue, by halfe:
For, shee the vpper tuckt and trebl'd so,
As like a Vardingale the same did sho.
Vpon her legges shee ware a Buskin fine,
Of stuffe that did like cleerest Amber shine,
Downe halfe way folded, with a Brouch below,
Which on the shinne shee rightly did bestow
Her nether smockes or smock-like Petticotes ,
Each gale of winde aloft in Aier flotes:
Which she assisted with prompt reddynesse,
Glad of so good a coulor (as I guesse)
To show the coulor of her skinne below,
Which scarse the Smocks of modest Matrones know
Her Brest lay open almost to the Wast ,
That by the eie, men might be drawne to taste
The bitter sweetes , which in her did abound;
" For, beautie through the eie the heart doth wound.
Her Pappes were varnisht ore with shining stuffe ,
To giue the Sight a lustie counterbuffe :
Twixt whom there hung a Iewell of rare Iemmes .
That the eie dazl'd with resplendant beames .
About her Necke a chaine of Pearle shee ware,
That to her Brest did couer all the bare;
Saving that here and there yee might espie
A dy -like Square of polisht Ivorie
Her Ruffe (or what you will) about her Necke ,
Was cut and keru'd the more the same to decke:
And in the cuts , betweene the foldes , did lurke
Frogs, Flies, Snakes, Spiders , al of Gold-smithes ' work;
So liuely made, as that the sight would sweare
They were aliue, for each did seeme to steere
Vpon the hemme whereof did looslie hange
Many a glitt'ring siluer-golden spang:
Which, with the motion of her bodie light
Did (twinckling) seeme like starres in winter's night
Her face , though faire, was painted cunninglie ,
Which trebl'd beautie , to bewitch the eie
In center of her forehead (which did shine
As if the same had beene all christalline )
Betweene rare Pearles , disposed all in fret ,
A rich coruscant Rubie in was let.
Vpon the verge of whose gold-stayning haire ,
Illustrious Saphires ev'nly ranked were:
Saving that here and there prowde Pompe did place
Great pointed Diamonds to giue them grace
Her Haire , though faire, yet was it made to line
A curled Periwicke of Haire more fine;
Not haire , but golden wire drawne like the Twist
The Spider spins with her vnfing'red fist .
Behind, the rest was so in tramells folded
(Which precious Pearle and Rubies rich infolded)
That all , like speckl'd Snakes , in Knots was wound
And ev'ry one with diverse flowres crownd.
Her gate was painefull, tripping on the Toes ,
As if Desire should say, lo, there shee goes .
Shee stood, as if she stood vpon no ground ,
But on some water-waue that made her bound;
For, now shee sinckes on this legge, then aloft
Vpon that other shee advanced oft
And no lesse oft shee would cast downe her eie
Vpon her Ivory paps: and wantonly
Shee seem'd to smile on beauty without peere
To draw all wanton eies to note it there .
In summe shee was such as Voluptusnesse
With all her coulors cannot well expresse
These damsels straue (as erst I said) to gaine
The loue of her that was their Soveraigne
Who seem'd to each indiff'rently dispos'd;
But after much adoe their strife shee clos'd
With this decree; that who her most could moue
By Reason's force, should bee her leefest Loue .
Then Vertue lo, (for so it seem'd shee was)
With modest looke , and favour full of grace
Began to tune her tongue vnto that eare
Which shee desired to her to indeere.
Quoth shee , deere Albion , (so I knew her name
That first of all into our presence came)
If thou wilt me imbozome, I will make
Both Heav'n and Earth to loue thee for my sake.
Thy conscience I wil calme, and in thy brest
Thou shalt perceaue the heav'n of heav'ns to rest.
Thine vnderstanding's eie shalbee as bright
As that faire eie that al the World doth light.
Al Nations shal doe homage vnto thee ,
As vnto her that giues them eies to see
Thou shalt reduce to thine obedience
Without the Sword , the Earthe's circumference
The wisemen of the East shal come from farre,
Drawne by thy grace , led by thy vertue's starre
And offer thee Gold, Mirrh , and Frankensence ,
And what els may delight thy Soule or sense .
Thou shalt haue powre to crush the crownes of kings
And with their neighbors' swords to clip their wings ,
If they shal rise against thee in their pride;
So keepe them downe, and yet thy hands vndide
God and the World (though it be nere so il)
Shal hold those curst that doe resist thy will .
For, thou shalt nothing wil but what is good ,
As long as thou and I , be one in moode .
I wil breake ope Heav'n's gates with might & maine,
And on thy head shal Blessings powre amaine
Yea, to thy comfort it shal wel appeare
That al desir'd increase shal crowne each yeare .
The golden daies of peaceful Salomon ,
Shal ever waite thy blessed yeares vpon.
The sea shal yeeld thee from her liquid Wombe ,
What shal enrich thy poore and basest Groome .
Thy Mountaines shal with cattell stil be crown'd .
The whiles the Vales with corne shal ore-abound
Thy Sonns , & Daughters , shal yeeld comfort to thee,
That whilome did indevour to vndoe thee,
Thy young-men shal see Visions , & thine Old
Shal dreame dreames , by which things shalbe foretold
That shal concerne thy good in times future,
And that prevent, which may thine Ill procure;
Angels shal guard thy walles and on thy strand
In legions they shal lie as thicke as Sand ,
To keepe thy Fo-men from assailing thee,
In Battaile rang'd by Heav'n's Divinitie .
Thy Schools shal yeeld thee Saints , which shal direct
In Life , and Doctrine , whatsoever Sect ,
Thy Citties like Bee-hives shal stil containe
Men as Bees busie for the Common gaine .
All idle Drones that live by others' sweate
They shal cassiere, or not allow them meate ,
There shal no Begger in thy Streets be found
Nor cries of wretches at thy Gates shal sound;
But, with the foizone of Heav'n's blessings all
(By means of me) their Baskets fill they shall
Thy Peeres shal striue for peace , & who shalbe
In Vertue (not in State ) in highst degree
There shal be no Contention in thy Body ,
Which heretofore hath made thy members bloudy.
The Poole of Grace shal overflowe thy Land ,
Glyding in Christall streames on Pearly Sand .
The Horrors that consort the hateful Crue ,
Shal never come so neere as in thy view .
No humane quarters shal oretopp thy Gates ,
For seeking to ore toppe thy Maiestrates
No Heading, Hanging, Burning , or the like,
Shalt need to vse, ne with the Sword to strike
Those that doe weare good Swords but to badd ends;
For all shal liue in peace like loving friends .
The Worde Oppression , much lesse shall the deede
Be never heard, where all are well agreede.
Each one shal know his place , and in the same
Shal laboure to preserve an honest name .
One Hart , one Hand , one Faith , one Soule , & Mind ,
Shal al thy People in one Body binde.
Thou shalt not neede to feare the Chamber-scapes ,
The sinnes gainst Nature , and the brutish Rapes
Which with the godlesse Nations are too rife;
For ev'rie Man shal have his lawful Wife :
Which dulie in an vndefiled Bedd ,
Shal gett right Members for their vpright Head ,
Thou shalt not neede to pinch thy People's Purses,
And so incurre thereby thy Commons' curses:
Or money- Bladders seeke, in Seas of Bloud
To beare thee vp, from sincking in that Floud .
For, thou shalt haue Exchequers richly stor'de
That thou to well-deservers maist affoorde
Roiall rewards , without the Commons' Cost;
For, Crownes are richly blest, w ith Peace y-crost
Taxe-vndergrowne , (o odious Tyranny!
Bredd in the Wombe of Sensuality )
Shal nere so much as once be nam'd in thee,
But thou shalt punish Kingdomes , where they bee
The cloudie Piller shall guide thee by daie ,
The firie Flame by night shal show thy Waie .
Beauies of Quailes , and Manna ( Angells' foode)
Shal showre from Heav'n to doe thy Children good
Who shal therefore sing Hymnes of praise divine,
And merry make each one beneath his Vine
The voice divine shal thunder from on hie,
And talke with thee ( belov'd ) familierly
Thou shalt with Moises' Rodd divide the Deepes ,
And make their raging Waues to stand on Heapes ,
That Man , and Horse which to thee doo belonge,
Shal passe, as on drie Land , those Waues amonge
For thine Advantage thou shalt ope the Earth ,
And send repyning Rebells quicke beneath,
If any should arise; but doubtlesse Those
Can never spring , where Vertue stil ore-flowes
If thou wilt vse me , thou wilt vse me still,
For I will please thy Soule , thy Witt , thy Will .
And though I seeme t'vncircumcized Sense
But passing plaine , and ful of Indigence ,
Yet in my Brest true Glorie is enthron'd,
And al my Friends shalbe with Glorie Crown'd
On me doe waite the Ministers of Ioy ,
To be dispos'd as I shal them imploy
Death , and Damnation I treade vnderfoote,
And over Lethe lake with ease I flote.
I am the Darling of the TRINITIE ,
That ore Sinne, Death , and Hell hath Emperie .
When Heav'n shal melt , & Earth shal meare away
I in his blessed Bozome live for aie.
If thou through humaine frailtie chance to trippe ,
Ile stay thy foote , that downe thou shalt not slippe .
Or if in mire of sinne downe flatt thou fall,
Ile wring Teares from thine Eyes to wash off all .
What shal I say? if thou wilt cherish me,
Ile stil make peace betweene thy God and thee :
That neither Sathan, Sinne , nor ought beside,
Shall haue the pow'r your Vnion to devide
Thinke what a comfort it wilbe to thee ,
By me t' enioy this World's felicitee,
And when Confusion shal dissolve the same,
Thy Soule to live with God, with Saints thy fame;
Which al eternity shall comprehend,
In ioy past ioy; thus shee with ioy did end
When lo, the other (painted Butterfly
That lookt too like voluptuous Vanity )
Seem'd greatly chafed with this long discourse .
And often mew'd and mopt , and which is worse
The speech disgraced interruptingly,
With What might make the same seeme al a ly .
But now shee gan to face her Countenance ,
With many a smile and Eye -delighting glance
And thus with voice , that did her speech become,
Shee brake into her Tale's Exordium .
Deere Albion , whom as my Soule I prize,
In whom (as in my Heav'n ) my glorie lies;
If ever thou, by following sound advice,
Wouldst tast the truest ioyes of Paradice ,
Then, listen to me, while I breath such breath
As shal create a complete Heav'n on Earth
If thou wilt me imbrace; as did that Prince
That was the Sourse of humane sapience ,
Who in his wisedome knew wel what he did
(Sith he knew more then al the world beside)
When monge a thouzand Loues , his wisdome's powre
Did choose me for his chiefest Bellamoure:
If therfore thou wilt me indeere to thee ,
That but one soule may be twixt thee & mee ,
I knowing what such wisdome high did please,
Wil plunge thy soule in depth of pleasure's Seas:
Where thou shalt meete with Ioye's vnsounded deepe,
To lullabie thy waking Cares asleepe
But to particulate what they shalbe,
Requires the Tongue of some Divinitee .
Yet coldly, as I can, I wil expresse
This onely heav'n-surmounting happinesse .
Deere sweete , quoth she, (& sweet she lisped foorth)
If thou wilt well conceave thine owne high woorth ,
Listen to mee, and I wil tell thee what
Shal glad thy Soule , and correspond with that .
As stands thy case , thou well maist prize thy Head ,
With the extreamest rate of Ioue's God-hed:
And sith aboue he raignes in boundles blisse ,
Thy blisful raigne below should be like his .
I therefore wil draw Wit , and Industry
(Al whose defects my science shal supplie)
To straine their powres to their extreame extent,
So to accomplish thy soule's ravishment
Thou on Triumphant Chariots (like the Sunn's ,
That on the cristal Heav'ns in glorie runnes)
By Horses shalt be drawne, as white as milke ,
And al thy way shal cover'd bee with silke
Of choisest kinde , and of the Tyrian die,
As wel to show thy state , as please thine eie .
Thy Robes shalbe pure gold ten-times refin'd,
That like the Aire shal gently turne and winde:
Not fac'd with Ermine , but with everie thing
That to the heav'n's bright eie may wonder bring:
Which shal send backe, when that eie on it stayes,
(In counter change) more glittering-glorious Raies!
Thy Horses heades, with Phenix feathers deckt,
Shal worke on Angels ' eies the like effect
The pillers of thy Pallaceis shalbe
Hewne out of rockes of purest Porphyree ,
Their wals of Iasper square, and eu'ry Ioint
Dissolued Amber , passing cleere, shal point .
The columnes of thy windowes shalbe Iet ,
Inlaide with Pearle , in many a curious fret .
Their Glasse of christall : in whose vpper part
With stone of price, past price, and matchlesse Art
Shalbe inserted stories of thy deedes ,
That both the eie delights and Spirite feedes
Their Heav'n -high Roofes shalbe embattelled
With Adamant in gold enuelloped.
Their Tile of Currall , and in Lozenge -wise,
Mother of pearle their sides shal circulize.
Vpon their crest , as thicke as they may stand,
Saint George on horse-backe with a Lance in hand,
Charging a Dragon , both of precious stone ,
To wit, the Emeral'd , and Calcedone .
The roomes within, al rooft in arched wise,
(Like to the Convexe of the vaulted skies )
Shalbe with purest Bice enammeld faire,
Enchas'd with stars , like Ioues etherial chaire!
The chimny-peeces reaching through the same
Of glorious Chrysolites , that seeme to flame:
On whose fore-fronts below, cut out shalbe,
In Indian Berill , curious Imageree
The hangings of thy wals , of that same ware
That Salomon in al his glorie ware.
Thy floores shalbe (most glorious to behold)
Couerd with cloth of Bodkin, Tyssue, Gold .
Thy chaire of state (t' amuse the gazer's sight)
Cut out of one vnvalued Margarite
Shal stand on top of Twelue most faire Ascents ,
Like that wherein Ioue sits in Parliments .
Each steppe of stone , of richest price , and hue ,
Deckt on each ende with beasts , of dreadful view,
(Huge Lyons, Dragons, Panthers , and the like
That in th' aspectors' harts doe terror strike)
Shal seeme like that more then celestial Throne ,
Which Iupiter in state doth sit vpon
Thy cloth of state that it ore-canopies,
Shalbe stuffe brought from Earthly Paradise
By sp'rits immortal, which shal waite on thee,
And doe thy Heasts , if thou wilt rule by me
This precious geare (no name is good ynuffe
I' expresse the glory of this precious stuffe )
With Sunne -like Carbuncles in forme of eies
Shalbe embossed, as if each were spies ,
Which with their luster creepe in each darke hole .
That thou thereby maist pul thence by the Polle
Who shal vnseene envie thy glorious state ,
So, with thy Sword of Iustice pole their Pate
And, when thou sitt'st vpon that royal seate ,
Thou shalt seeme Iupiter , if not more great,
Sitting on his celestial Throne of Thrones
Compas'd about with many thousand Sunnes!
Thy privie chambers (where thou privilie
Shalt glut thy selfe, without satietie ,
With what shal tickle al thy vaines with pleasure
Measur'd by loue's sweete motions without measure)
Shalbe like Orchards fram'd so by mine Art ,
That thou shalt seeme in Heav'n when there thou art;
There wil I haue an artificial Sunne
In the like Heav'n al daie his course to runne,
That though the daie abroad doe lowre like night ,
Thy Sunne within shal shine exceeding bright.
The Moone and stars (like to the lampes of heau'n)
By night shal light thee, set in order ev'n:
And by their constellations and their frames ,
Th' astronomer shal cal them by their names
Al kinde of Trees , of what soeuer sute ,
That either Branches beare, or Branch with fruit ,
There wil I cause (or at least, seeme) to grow,
That Nature from her owne them shal not know
Plumbs, Peares, Dats, Filbeards, Apples , glistering Cherries ,
Pomgranats, Peaches, Medlras, & Mulberies,
Lymmons and Orenges , some ripe , some greene
What shal I say! al fruit that ere were seene
This artificial Eden shal containe,
Thine eie with pleasure stil to entertaine!
Hard by shal runne, from Artificial Rockes ,
Confected waters sweete, whose falling , mockes
The voice of birds; which made by science shal
Tune their sweete notes , to that sweete water's fal.
Here shal arise an hand-erected Mounte ,
From whose greene side shal glide a siluer fount
Encreasing breadth , as it runnes, by degrees;
Hemd in with Couslips, Daffadils , and Trees
That ore the same an Arche of Bowes shal make
Through which the Sunne shal parcel-gild the Lake!
Beneath which, in this little siluer Sea
Shal bathe the daughters of Mnemosine
Singing like Syrens , playing Lyres vpon
Beheav'ning so this hand-made Helicon!
Behinde the Trees coucht, drown'd in Daffadillis
Oxslips , wilde Cullambines , and water Lillis ,
Shal Elues and Fairies their abiding make,
To listen to these Ladies of the Lake!
Actêon here shal metamorphiz'd bee,
Great Obron there shal ring his compance
And here and there shalbe varietie
Of what so ere may charme the eare or eie!
Vnder a gloomy Bowre of stil-greene Baies ,
That stil greene keepe their mortall maker's praise,
(Where Eglantines with flowers thrust in their Noses ,
Intangled with the slips of damaske Roses ,
Stil fresh and flourishing , as month of Maie )
There shalt thou heare of Ioue the sweetest lay
Which shall thy greedy sense so much inchaunt,
That where thou art thou shalt be ignoraunt;
And what thou art thou shalt not much respect,
Sith heav'n -rapt souls that What , do quight neglect!
There, Angells notes shal so inchant thine Eares ,
That thou shalt swim in ioy , though sunck in Cares
Here Lab'rinthes intricate of winding walkes ,
Of Mirtles filld with Maie-bowes in the Balkes ,
Where out shal breath soule -ravishing perfume
(Which time wil rather prosper then consume )
Shal lull fraile sense asleepe in pleasure's lapp,
From melancholie free'd and al mishapp .
Each foote of grasse-made ground , orelaid shalbe
With Nature's Daizie -decked Draperee .
And therewith-al, to yeeld the more delight ,
Angell-fac'd Fairies (clad in vestures white)
Shal come in tripping blithsome Madrigalls ,
And foote fine Horne-pippes, Iigges , and Caterbralls
That done, the Driads and the Silvane crue,
Successiuelie thy solace to renewe,
In Matecheines, Lavolts , and Burgamasks
Shal hardlie plie these time -beguiling Tasks .
Each Tree shal droppe downe sweete Ambrosia ,
Or cordial Spices, Myrrh , and Casia .
The Baies shal sprinkle from their dewey Bowes ,
Rose-water cleere to cheere thy handes and Browes
Nought shal bee wanting in this Earthlie Heav'n ,
That Art and Nature to Delight have giv'n;
Or by the pow'r of Spirites may bee fulfill'd,
To ravish sense with al that Heav'n may yeeld!
For I wil dive into th' infernal deepes ,
Where Pluto, Prince of riches revell keepes,
And make him dance attendance on my Traine ,
T' effect thy pleasure , deere sweete Soveraigne!
There shalt thou see (without al cause of feare )
The glorious worthies of the world that were :
How Caesar in rich Triumph entred Rome ;
And Scipio when he Africk had orecome!
There shal the stately Queene of Amazons
Penthesilia , with her Minions ,
Present thee with a Maunde of fruite divine,
Cull'd from the golden Tree of Proserpine!
Hector, Achilles, Priam, Hecuba,
Great Agamemnon, Pyrrhus, Helena ,
Or whom soever thou desir'st to see
Shal at a beck doe homage vnto thee!
Ile ripp the Bowells of the subtile Aire
And bring the Sp'rits therin (in fashion faire)
To counterfet the Musick of the Spheares ,
And with Heav'n's harmony to fil thine Eares!
To fetch for thee, from the extreame extent
Of Earthe's huge Globe , what ere may thee content!
To flie vpon thine errand with a trice,
To fetch thee fruite from Earthly Paradice!
To entertaine thee, when alone thou art,
With al the secrets of each hidden Art :
And whatsoere the heav'nly Cope doth cover,
To thee (that thou maist know it) to discover!
The Stone so sought of all Philosophers ,
The making of which one , so many marrs;
Thou shalt directly make it at thy pleasure,
I' enrich thy kingdome without meane or measure!
The great Elixer (making small ones great )
Like dust thou shalt make common in the Streete!
And if thou wilt, high waies shal paved bee
With burnisht gold , made onely but by thee!
If thou would'st haue the Aiir turn'd, and tost,
To strike a terrour in each Clime , or Coste ,
These Sp'rits that Lord it ore that Element ,
Shal doe the same for thee incontinent!
And when thou wouldst spare their societie ,
They, with a vengance , through the Aire shal flie
Without the least hurt done to thee , or thine ,
Except it be in making you divine!
There shal no kingdomes' Cares , that life destroie,
And like Hell-paines the Hart and Minde annoy,
Once dare to ceaze vpon thy blisseful Hart;
For I wil charme them so, by Pleasure's Art ,
That they shal seeme as dead and never sterr,
Thy solace to disturbe in peace , or warre .
Ile reave sweete voyced Boies of what they may
Ill spare, (if spare) to sing thy Cares awaie.
Ile make some others spend their total time ,
To make sweete strings expresse the twangs of Rime :
Which tickle shal thy hart-strings with such mirth ,
That thou shalt saie, ha, this is Heav'n on Earth!
Thy royal Table shalbe serv'd with Cates
Surmounting farre Caelestial Delicates :
Ambrosia , shalbe thy coursest Cheate ,
And Manna ( Angells -foode) thy Groomes shal eate!
Delicious Wines , that make sweete Nectar sowre,
Beauties divine in precious Boles shal powre,
To comfort Nature and to glad thy Hart
With comfort that surmounteth Nature's Art
The Samos Pecocke, and the Malta Crane,
The dainty Lamprey in Tartesia tane,
The Phrigian Woddcock, and th' Ambracian Gote,
The fine fish Asinellus , hardly gott,
The Oisters of Tarentum , fish of Helops ,
The Goldny of Cilicia, Chios Scalopps,
The Nutts of Tasia , and th' Ægyptian Dates,
In few, all kingdomes' choisest Delicates
That to the Pallate pleasure may affoord,
Shal oreabound vpon thy bounteous Boord!
When, from a Silver'd Tent , to please thine Eare ,
Cornetts, Recorders, Clarions thou shalt heare:
Whiles to delight thy sight as wel as hearing ,
Stately Dumb-showes before it shal be sterring:
Which wel-tongu'd Mercury shal faire relate
Stil pointing to thy praise , and glorious state .
When, with these Sweetes thou art wel satisfied,
Ile make thee Beds of flowres , divinly dide:
Where thou, & thy Loues , (for your Limbs ' reposes)
May drownd your selues among sweet damask Roses
And while your rest, the sacred Muses nyne,
(Singing ful sweetely Ditties most divine,
That for Hart's ioy wil cause the Eyes to weepe)
Shal lullabie your blisful Soules asleepe
Continual Iusts , and roial Turnaments ,
Furnisht with al Eye -pleasing ornaments :
Mummings, Masks, Plaies; Plaies that shal play with Care
As Catt with Mouse , to kill her comming There .
What booteth it to weare a golden Crowne ,
If thorny Cares it line , to make thee frowne:
Away with Care therefore, awaie with thought ,
What shouldst thou doe with that , that's good for nought
Let them go waite on Byshops , to whose See
They doe belong, but let the Prince be free.
Wilt thou be Servant to the common Trash ,
That often leaves their Master in the lash?
Or spend thy Witte , and Sp'rits for such Riffraffe ,
And so consume the Corne to saue the Chaffe?
Wilt thou orewhelme thy selfe in all anoy ,
That they may swime aloft in Seas of Ioy?
What! wilt thou place thy pleasure in thy paine ,
And make thy Subiect , be thy Soveraigne?
Wilt loose thy roiall sole prerogatiue ,
To make vngrateful base Bash-rags to thriue?
O be indulgent to thine owne deere Hart ,
And of Heav'n's blessings take a blisful part
Doe not depriue thy selfe of that rare blisse ,
That vnto none but thee peculier is
And here vpon the sodaine (great mishap )
I found my selfe in Oxford my loue's lap
Where thinking seriously vpon this thing ,
I heard some say, God saue king Iames , our King
And therewithal I heard a Trumpet's clang,
That in an vnison that Dittie sang.
Then did I more admire what I had seene,
But griev'd I had so double lost the Queene!
And grieu'd no lesse, sith I saw not the rest
Of that wherein I held me highlie blest!
Had I so blessed bin, t'haue seene th' event ,
I should haue thought my time divinely spent
But as I cannot now diuine what shal
Vnto this Land (orewhelm'd in blisse ) befal;
So wil I not suspect the worst; for why?
God , onely good , keepes good Kings company.