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The liquid labyrinth, thou who first did'st prove,
No doubt thy desp'rate heart was arm'd with steele,
Did not the waves and clouds which alwaics move,
(Firme objects wanting) make thy eyes to reele?
Then he who first did steale fire from above,
Thou greater torments do'st deserve to feele:
He onely sought the fire to quicken breath,
And thou the water, as a way to death.

O! hatefull monster, since the world began,
Which with thine owne could never yet be pleas'd,
For lacke of rayment cold, for hunger wan,
With what thou hast, though many might be eas'd,
Thou poison'st first the quiet minde of man,
Whose fury since can never be appeas'd:
But seekes both sea and land with endlesse care,
And wants but wings to violate the aire.
That which encroach'd on every bordering shore,
By oft renu'd assaults usurping myles,
Shall then all ebbe, not flowing as before,
Whil'st travelling Thetis doth bring forth new iles,
Which birth soone old, to be embrac'd no more,
She loth to leave, oft turnes, and kissing smiles:
Till all the world one withered masse appeares,
Spoil'd of all moisture, save man's fruitlesse teares.
What hideous object! what a horrid sight!
O terrour strange which even I quake to thinke!
Where all of late was levell at one height, [sinke,
Their mountaine's mount, and fields farre down do
All pav'd with monsters, which if painting right,
Feare would make paper blacke, and pale my inke:
The seas with horrour so arrest my hand,
I must amaz'd retire me to the land.

The land where pleasure lodg'd, where rest did rest,
Which did abound in fruits, in fowles, and beasts,
Of which (all good) none could discerne the best,
In number more (though many) then men's tastes,
Which should refresh fraile nature when distress'd,
Though them fond man superfluously wastes:
Till that the Earth doth to a chaos turne, [burne.
Which since his teares not wash, his sinnes shall
Where are the flowry fields, the fishy streames,
The pasturing mountaines, and the fertile plaines,
With shadowes oft, oft clad with Titan's beames,
As of Heaven's pleasures types, and of Hell's paines?
(Thus in our brest, some thoughts each moment
claimes,

To curbe rash joy with contemplation's raines:)
Where are all those delights in league with sense,
Which make a Heaven when here, a Hell when
hence?

Thou who thy thoughts from no fond course re-
claimes,

But do'st thy eyes with pleasant objects cloy,
And let'st thy heart have all at which it aymes,
Bent of the sonnes of men to want no joy;
Those to thy sleeping soule are all but dreames,
Which waking findes this treasure but a toy :
Thinke, thinke, when all confounded thus remaines,
If temporall joy be worth eternall paines.

Those stately townes, whose towres did brave Hea-
ven's rounds,

Their kingdome's quintessence for wealth and skill,
A state's abridgement drawn in little bounds,
Which are (whil'st them guests of all lands doe fill) |
Mappes of the world, deduc'd from divers grounds
Where all life's parts are act'd, both good and ill,

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Brave citizens which have resisted long,
Till their dismantled towne all naked stands,
And are by weakenesse left unto the strong,
All taken, kill'd, or sold (like beasts) in bands,
As bound of right to suffer all the wrong,
Of railing tongues, or of outragious hands:
They of this last assault no type can see;
Even worse then was, or can imagin'd be.

Ah! if one house when onely fir'd by chance,
Doth straight confound a city all with feare,
What minde can think, though thoughts the same

entrance,

Whose townes (like lightning) vanish with a glance,
How those inhabitants themselves shall beare,
Whil'st them a moment doth in pieces teare?
This with amazement may benumme the minde,
But will seeme small, a greater then divin'd.

Base miser, thou who by all meanes bast us'd,
To bruise the poore, and on their spoiles to feed,
In measure, weight, and quality abus'd,
Whil'st of all evils, dearth is the least they dread,
That wealth by thee even to thy selfe refus'd,
Which might of thousands have releev'd the
need:

Shall all in flames upbraid thee with Hell's fire,
Whose use then at thy hands God will require.

Thou who to riches wast preferr'd from nought,
Though once but poore, contemn'd, of base degree,
For whom at length all realmes by shippes were
sought,

So that no winde could blow but serving thee,
Yet would not comfort those who starv'd in ought,
Not mindefull what thou wast, nor what to be:
As naked born, thou naked shalt returne,
Else kept to see thy wealth, thy selfe next burne.

Those stately statues which great townes doe grace,
And monuments (as rare) which mindes amaze,
The world's seven wonders, wondred at a space,
Whil'st strangers long did on their reliques gaze,
If that ere then time doe them not deface,
A little flash shall even their ruines raze,
Which onely serve to witnesse to each sight,
Their idle builder's vanity and might.

Those palaces amongst rare things enrol'd,
Which architectors' numbrous art bewray,
With interlaced roofes, emboss'd with gold,
On marbled walles which costly workes array,
A richer riches, which within doth stay,
Though rich without, yet worthy but to hold,
Past emulation, admiration's marke;

All their great pompe doth perish with a sparke.

Those second Edens, gardeus of delight,
Where time's bright patron justly parts the houres,
Where men to gaze, all objects doe invite,
In alwaies lying walkes, and growing bowres,
In smelling beds with pleasure ravish'd quite,
Whil'st wandring in a labyrinth of flowers,
Where art with nature still for praise contends,
A strife though oft times judg'd, which never ends:

Where Flora's treasures with Pomona's strive,
Low shining groves with shadow'd lights above,
Whil'st art (by engines rais'd,) doth water drive,
Borne through the ayre an uncouth way to prove,
And by all sounds which creatures can contrive,
To melt in mirth, would melancholy move:
Those pleasant parts shall straight abhorr'd remaine,
As where salt sowne, or showres of brimstone raine.

Those walking worms, which (with worms' spoiles array'd)

Would purchase homage from each credulous eye,
And yet (as asses) worth an asse not weigh'd,
Whil'st having nought of worth, but what they buy,
They shall see that which so their fancies sway'd,
The Tyrian purple, and th' Assyrian dye:
Of pride the badges, and the baits of lust,
Though kept with toile from dust, all turn'd to dust.

Those glorious roomes of darkenesse, robbing night,
Where even the walls rich garments doe invest,
Where ivory beds, with gold all glancing bright,
Are made for show, as others are for rest,
And objects need to entertaine the sight,

Then every one of them to Hell repaires, Or else a greater heat doth drink up theirs.

Great monarchs, whom ambitious hopes do drive,
To raise their owne by razing others' thrones,
Who spare no wayes that there they may arrive,
Through orphan's teares, man's bloud, and woman's
grones,
[strive,
And all those earthly mindes which for th' earth
By passing bounds, and altering setled stones;
All such that day not lords of their owne grave,
Shall have no earth, nor them no earth shall have.

The Earth, as glorying in her changed state,
With face all bright with flames, seemes lightning
smiles,
Whil'st free from wounds and toils, indur'd of late,
Oft burn'd, oft freez'd, which every day defiles,
Though forc'd she must conceive (a fertile mate)
Her husband's hopes who often times beguiles.
And as she would revenge all troubles past,
She yeelds up man whom she had hid at last.

That element which, onely needing aid,
May be made more, and doth on others feed,
Whose piercing powers can in no bounds be staid;
Such bodies smail that thickned rarenesse breed,
The onely essence, which can not be weigh'd,
And void of weight, doth alwayes upward speed.
That soone may seize on all when once set free,
Which infinitly multipli'd may be.

But lest my furie be too farre declin'd,

Which lodge (since great) a seldome sleeping guest: That with the flames to flie have striv'd in vaine,

Now at this last alarme to them who live,
They then a cottage no more comfort give.

Those pretious stones which most in worth excell,
For vertue least, for vanity much sought,
Pearles, rubies, diamonds, from rocke, from shell,
From depths of flouds, from mountains' entrails

brought,

Made gods with men, whose Heaven is hatching Hell,
Prys'd by opinion, but by substance bought:
The sweet perfumes, and all which is esteem'd,
Wast (by the owners' wish) not once redeem'd.

That dreadfull storme as striving to begin,
Mount Etna's flames, which roare while as supprest,
And that which swallowing Nature's student in,
Did him digest, who could it not digest,
And all those hills whence streames of sulphur run,
Shall with their fires, then fortifie the rest :
Whose generall floud, whil'st it the world ore-comes,
None knowes where kindled first,nor whence it comes.

The lucrous coal (though black) a pretious stone,
Whose force as Vulcan will, makes Mars to bend,
Of Albion's jewels second unto none,
To art and nature both a speciall friend,
Then when of it the needfull use is gone;
What it maintain'd, it likewise helps to end.
And thus the Earth (though cold)with fire then stor❜d,
To burne it selfe materials doth afford.

Those bathing springs which free physitians prove,
Yet for all evils one onely cure can show,
The which may seeme whil'st boyling up above,
A part of Phlegeton ore-flow'd below:
But for man's health nought can from thence remove,
Where he doth dwell who would the world orethrow,

I must a space within my selfe confin'd,
Fresh succours seek to charge of new againe;
So great amazement hath ore-whelm'd my minde,
That now I in an agony remaine.

But he who did in fierie tongues descend,
As through the fire, will leade me to the end.

DOOMES-DAY;

OR,

THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD'S IVDGEMENT.

THE FOURTH HOURE.

THE ARGUMENT,

A hideous trumpet horriblie doth sound;
Who sleep in graves a mighty voyce doth wake;
By angels (messengers) charg'd from each ground,
All flesh comes forth that ever soule did take;
Seas give account of all whom they have drown'd;
The Earth her guests long hid in haste gives backe:
Those who then live are at an instant chang'd,
Though not from life, yet still from death estrang'd..

So great a power my sacred guide imparts,
That still my Muse doth raise her vent'rous flight,
Though with confusion compass'd on all parts,
My troubled thoughts dare on no object light;
The world by flames (a charmer) justly smarts,
Whose ashes now seeme to upbraid my sight;

Though feares would quench those fires my breast | Such bosomes serpents nurse whose stings they try,

that burne,

Yet I must sing, that thousands else may mourne.

To plague proud man who look'd of late aloft,
The Earth still pure, till made by him uncleane,
By whome, as fierce for blood, or by lust soft,
She (forc'd to beare) in both abus'd had beene,
Straight (as a strumpet prostituted oft)
Now by her lovers naked shall be seene;
An odious masse (even in her owners' eyes)
(As bruis'd by thunder) whilst she with'red lyes.

Now of all states the fatall period comes,

Pride, æmulation, envy, ielousie.

As prick'd with thorne some in their beds doe roule, Whilst charg'd with thoughts, which but their cares abuse,

And make that mettall idols of their soule; Which in a calfe the lewes great Iudge did bruise; Their greedy course whilst nothing can controule, Though having more then they themselves can use;

Like them who drinke more then they can digest, Who keepe the appetite, but not the taste.

Which showes how time was short, world's great- The Devill in darkenesse held most powerfull still,

nesse small;

Fierce Vulcan's fury Neptune's so orecomes, That not one drop remaines to weepe his fall; Loe, all the world one continent becomes, Whereas save man no creature lives at all; The sea to earth, the earth all turnes to fire, A monstrous comet threatning coming ire.

O! what a vault I see of angels' wings,
Whose greater brightnesse makes the fires decline!
A glorious guard fit for the King of kings,
Whilst they (like rayes) about that Sunne doe shine.
But, O! his presence (past expressing) brings
A reall glory all in all divine;

All as from darkenesse looke upon this light,
Whilst flames (as mysts) doe flie before his sight.

Those blessed bands in state of grace which stood, (As ministers admitted unto God)

To mortalls sometime which tould tidings good,
And oft did strike with indignation's rod;
They, who till com'd, this time not understood,
With Christ arise all ready at his nod;
And free from envy which did marre their mates,
Doe seeke with joy the partners of their states.

The dregs of Adam's race shall soone disclose
What God's decree involv'd in clouds doth keepe,
That time, that time, which must confound all those,
Whose thoughts are plung'd in pleasure's ground-
lesse deepe,

Even then perchance (that nature may repose)
When all the senses buried are in sleepe;
Ah! how those eyes unclos'd amaz'd remaine,
Which from that time should never close againe.

O ten times curst! whom Christ that time shall finde,
Still hatching evill, defrauding Nature's due,
Whilst darkenesse makes the eyes (though open)
blinde,

And makes the minde what it affects to view, Which (wing'd with thoughts) fare swifter then the winde,

Though (still confin'd) doth all, over all, pursue;
What doubtfull projects flote within his brest,
Who dreames yet sleepes not, lyes, but doth not

rest.

When that crown'd bird which Peter's braggs did

scorne

(As still a friend to light) seemes to cite light,
Some more conceive then ever could be borne,
Whilst big with monsters of imagin'd might,
And aiery names with shadowes to adorne,
Doe build high hopes which fall, ere at the height;

Some when retir'd imagine mischiefe strange,
And to shed blood doe dedicate their will,
Whilst tortur'd with a fury of revenge;
More guilty he who in his heart doth kill,
Although his course (if disappointed) change;
Then he who doth by chance one's death pro-

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Not onely shall this sudden charge surprise,
Such in their sinnes as do from God rebell,
But even all those who evils by night devise,
As loving darknesse, shall in darknesse dwell:
Who with a conscience calme all feares despise,
Not having hope of Heaven, nor feare of Hell:
Such to an owle make God inferiour be,
As if by night, night's maker nought could see.

Wing'd messengers may then even some arrest,
Who, rioting till quite exhausted all,
(Whil'st in their vomits wallowing they rest)
From men to beasts, from beasts to nought do
fall:

Those dead (though living) who can but deteste,
As Nature's monsters mankinde to appall?
In them who have their reason drown'd in wine,
No sparke of God's, nor Nature's light doth shine.

Some rating pleasure at too high a price,
Who with the light do lay all shame aside,
Do prostitute their souls to every vice;
If not then free (by beastlinesse) from pride;
Then their whole states oft venture on the dice,
As who in nought but fortune do confide;
By many odious oath such mock God's might,
True works of darkenesse worthy of the night.

Fond worldlings there involv'd in vaine delight,
Who to the senses fraile indulgent are,
And (as soft sounds the courage do invite)
With measur'd madnesse march upon the aire;
Whil'st from themselves by pleasure ravish'd quite,
What it provokes no kinde of sport they spare;
Their eares attending musick's soule to have,
Of this dread blast the first assault receive.

By stratagems a captaine boldly wise,

His enemie's campe (not look'd for)oft confounds,
But when he first doth sentinels surprise,
That all about the neighbouring bounds rebounds,
In breasts unarm'd what terrour strange doth rise,
Whil'st drummes yeeld deadly, trumpets lively
[blinde,
sounds?
Whil'st shouts make deafe, amazement dumbe, dust
Ere swords the bodie, feare doth kill the minde.

So shall it be with all those broken bands,
(As for the godly they watch still prepar'd)
Then when life's Lord doth come to judge all lands;
Like fishes angled, or like beasts ensnar'd, [brands,
Those whom Hell's badge for endlesse darknesse
Not having power to wish, are straight despair'd;
And soone do see what now they not attend,
Ere thought by them begun, all at an end.

What hideous charge all to compeer compels,
Whose sound may show what breath the blast doth
feed?

No cannons, thunders, tempests, trumpets, bells,
Nor yet all joyn'd, so huge a noise could breed;
Since heard in Heaven, on Earth, aud in the Hells,
Till dreadfull silence doth over all succeed:
The hearkening world seemes all become one eare,
The grave gives place, the dead his voice do heare.
All you who on, or in the dust, do lodge,
A great great court I cite you to attend,
Even at Christ's instance where himselfe is Iudge,
To heare that sentence which none can suspend,
Of boundlesse joyes, or else of anguish huge,
Which he doth give (as you deserv'd) in th' end.
What from his servant's mouth none would conceive,
Heare from himselfe, even what doth damne, or save.

Passe, passe, swift angels, ore each region range,
Force all to rise who ever downe did lye;
What in their essence th' elements did change,
Bid them restore, that Christ all flesh may spie;
You are the gathrers, this that vintage strange,'
Which in all souls what stuffe hath beene, must try;
Twixt Heaven and Hell this is a judgement great,
To judge each one their owne, contentions date.
The word them gives by which they thus are sought,
Power to obey, else were the charge but vaine,
That word which first did make them all of nought,
May now of something make them soone againe ;
Past numbring, numbers are together brought,
That some may thinke what bounds can them con-
Who makes the dead to rise at his decree, [taine:
May make a roome where they may marshall'd be.

The heavenly soules which with fraile bodies bound,
Did act together on this earthly stage,
Though subtile they of divers deeps did sound,
In which grosse organs could not then engage:
Yet in all actions equall partners found,
By reason led or head-long borne by rage.
Though once divorc'd, they marry must againe,
To joyne in joy, or in eternall paine.

Their twice-borne bodies when put on they have,
First from the belly, last now from the grave.

Those gather up their garments from the dust,
Which prison'd are in Pluto's ugly cels,
Though loath to part thence, where returne they
must,

As then their conscience inwardly them tels,
They know their Iudge as terrible, as just,
Will but confirme their holding of the Hells,
Yet all their processe must deduced be,
That saints God's justice, and their faults may see.

Foure elements with foure complexions make,
This mortall masse soone rais'd, and soone ore-
throwne,

And when that it turns to corruption backe,
With what accrest each doth crave back the owne,
The waters all the liquid substance take,
Th'ayre breath, fire active heat, th' earth earth well
known.

Which all though thus in their first fountains drown'd,
Not take nor leave, but are the same still found.

The Lord doth not (which some would fondly doubt)
As once in Eden a creation use,

As if the first consum'd were all worne out,
That he not knows their substance where to chuse,
No these same bodies which we beare about,
The Lord will raise, and cleare or else accuse :
When done by God, then wonders are not strange,
The quality and nothing else doth change.

Of our fraile spoils each part (where made a prey)
He who doth watch our dust will straight require;
That which the waters washed have away,
What was in flames exhausted by the fire,
That which (winde's scorn) toss'd through the ayre
did stray,

And what to earth all rotten did retire:
All at an instant shall together go,
To recontinue, not beginning so.

The husband's hopes, which Ceres first renown'd,
Must buried rot, made lesse, to be made more;
Yet wrestle up (though in the earth still bound)
In forme more pleasant, multipli'd in store:
So shall our dust (though swallow'd in the ground)
Spring from corruption brighter then before,
In bodies new, whose state none can surmise,
Laid mortall downe, but must immortall rise.

Those creeping creatures which with silks conceive,
Bred first of seed, their food with toils acquite,
Then what they gaine must all to others leave,
And lye (stretch't out) wrapt up in funerall white:
Yet straight reviv'd, where buried burst the grave,
And mount aloft with wings all altered quite.

In wormes (men's types) those who do mark this
change,

How can they thinke the resurrection strange?

As man like milk was at the first pour'd out,
Then straight like cheese turn'd all to cruds at once,

Those heavenly sparks which are flowne up above, Till clad with skinne (his sex made free from doubt)

To shine in glory, and in zeale to burne;
And shall of pleasure the perfection prove,
With mortall vails which mask'd of late did mourne:
They from their place a moment must remove,
With Christ in triumph glorious to returne;

With sinews joyn'd, and fortifi'd with bones;
When as the Moone hath chang'd thrice, thrice about,
He doth burst forth, neglecting mother's grones,
And (though from him at first as weake teares flow)
Doth straight of God a talking image grow.

So sowne by death where rests fraile mortals' seed,
The earth conceiv'd, shall straight (big-bellyed)
shake,

And though at first a moving masse doth breed,
Not travell shall till time her birth ripe make,
Whil'st vitall moysture ashes dry doth feed,
That marrow bones, bones flesh, flesh skinne doth
Till all at last unto perfection worne, [take,
Graves are delivered, mankinde is new borne.

The spritual powers shall soone have repossess'd,
Their ancient roomes restor'd to them by grace,
Which were (they thence by nature's rigour press'd)
To death by sinne morgag'd but for a space;
But now (they free who had beene thus distress'd)
All members move, power pour'd in every place.
What could corrupt all worne unto an end,
They spirituall bodies, bodied sprits ascend,

[gaine;

Then shall not weaknesse (passing each degree)
A progresse have perfection to attaine,
But from infirmity made freely free,
They shape, proportion, strength, and knowledge
All qualities at once accomplis'd be,
That to augment there nothing doth remaine;
The first and second birth do differ farre,
First men were made,now rais'd, then grew, now are.

Some Gentiles fond who from the truth did stray,
(When by th' apostles told) did scorne this once,
Yet trusted grounds which vaine inventions lay,
By fabulous doctrine learn'd, and fools at once,
That by Prometheus men were made of clay,
And by Deucalion quickened out of stones.
Thus had their souls to see the truth no eyes,
"Who loath the light, God gives them over to lyes."

Great armies oft as if one body move,
Whose soul it seemes the trumpet's sound doth sway,
So when this charge is thundred from above,
One moment makes who were, or are, obey.
O strange alarme! what must this meeting prove,
Where ruine onely hath prepar'd the way? [there,
All knowne when mustred (though not numbred).
A dreadfull censor no man's spot will spare.

Those which the deeps disgested did containe,
As bent to drink those who them oft did drink,
To heaven exhal'd, though still'd through fruits by
That dainty tastes more delicate them think: [raine,
Their trunks drawn down when once throwne up

againe,

[sink:

Though dead and buried, move, not swimme, nor
A death which drunkards do deserve to have,
To lye with liquor in a liquid grave.

Of them whom Thetis kiss'd till kil'd of late,
Whilst their three mates they in her bosome leave,
Some winds, and waves, against each rock do beat,
'Till them for food the scalie troups receave;
That fishes men, men may those fishes eat,
Chang'd quality, and forme, whose flesh may have.
Man's substance it may transubstantiate oft,
But shall the same that first, mount last aloft.
Muse, do not strive above thy strength to mount,
As mortal's braines those hosts could comprehend,
Which not sea's sands, nor yet Heaven's starres can
count,

Whil'st swarming forth their judgment to attend,
They arithmetick's rules do farre surmount; [end,
When, rais'd from dust, more thick then dust in th'

May leave a more impression in the minde.
But yet a part most knowne by fame design'd,

The first great troupe inuding from the deep,
Which long have wandred with the watrie brood,
Which glutted Neptune in his caves did keep,
When all his guests were surfeited of food,
Are those amid'st the roaring waves who sleep,
Since first they fell drown'd by the generall flood:
Those who of God the threatenings still did scorne,
Till Death at once one fleece ore all had shorne.

What deluge strange doth from that deluge flow,
Of monstrous people terrible to see?
Whose stature shows what time they had to grow;
The dwarfes with them, with us would giants be:
Ere bended was the many colour'd bow,
All that had falne rise from corruption free.
Where raging deeps had justly lodg'd their dust,
Still drown'd when dead, who burn'd alive with lust.
where fertile Nilus mollifies the minde;
Thence comes the tyrant who did sway the state,
Whom (to confirme his owne with wonders great)
God did obdure, and made by brightnesse blinde,
With guilded slaves, which, flattering his conceit,
The Lord to him would needs inferior finde.
Those all like him by his example made,
As oft to sinne he shall to judgement leade.

Mad men to whom by wond'rous blows abroad,
The arme of God had justly terrour brought;
Foole that had seene the proofe of Aron's rod,
What danger was thou might'şt in time have thought,
Whil'st vaine magicians emulating God,

The same in show, but not in substance wrought:
Truth, (naked) truth, lyes are (though painted)
Vaine sophists (to be mock'd) but mock the eyes,
lyes.

Turne streames to bloud, might mixe them with thy
What made the doubt, that he whom thou didst spie,
bloud,

That he who made thy land's first borne to dye,
Would save the lives of (his friend) Abraham's brood,
Where his might march he who the deeps did dry,
That he would make them drowne who him with-

stood?

Those head-long runne who are for wrack design'd.” "But those whom God will lose he makes them [blinde,

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