O Nature's glory, Fortune's phenix, stay!
I must admire that which I seldome see,
Though (when once rais'd) thy vertue might make

way,

How could'st thou, poore, grow great, great, not
rich be?

Heaven to the world this wonder would bewray,
That poverty and greatnesse might agree:
But though thy worth, the time, the state conspir'd,
So poore a magistrate might be admir'd.

In trust with money, Cato's care was such,
That he himselfe, not onely did no wrong,
But in his shadow would let no man touch,
What any way did to the state belong;
This man's integrity renown'd so much,
Then Cæsar (as more just) esteem'd more strong:
It many thousands may one day accuse,
Who (questors) did their charge corruptly use.

Rome's ancient consuls from the plough retir'd,
To fight great kings, and conquer forraine states,

1 In food and garments meane, for minde admir'd,
Did scorne gold offred, loath corruption's baits,
Where some (though knowing God) to wealth as-
pir'd.

By treason, usury, and all deceits:

If the first Cato doth in Hell remaine,
He may be censor to appoint their paine.

Bloud was so odious in each Ethnicke's sight,
That who did kill (as inhumane) none lov'd,

They who inrag'd did tyrannize in Rome,
And all who fro, then mindes did pitty barre,
With that black band in judgement once may come,
Who call'd inquisitors tormentors are,
And may in justice plead a milder doome,
Nor these in cruelty who passe them farre;
Since then strange tortures which they frame of late,
None us'd on th' Earth, nor fain'd in Hell more great.

of Christians' scandall, infamie of men,

You sheepe in show, but ravenous wolves indeede,
Whilst vow'd religious, irreligious then,
Who fayne devotion whilst you mischiefe breede,
And doe detest the persecutions ten,
Yet by one endlesse doe them all exceede;
Who make religion as an art of evills,
A privilege for men to turne quite devills;

You who (breath weigh'd as winde, and blood as
Ambiguously æquivocating rave,
[dust)

Who vent out faith to trafficke so for trust,
Glose on an oath, with warrant doe deceave,
Then you, earst Gentiles, Barbars now more just;
If lesse religion, yet more faith they have;
Marke what of theirs may once upbraid your shame,
Who have no sence of sinne, nor care of fame.

To those of Athens once a course propos'd,
Which (as he told who onely heard it nam'd)
Great profit might afford, but if disclos'd,
As monstrous was as any could be dream'd,
They (though a multitude) all well dispos'd,
Ere further known, that purpose quite disclaim'd;
What thing so worthie as would be defrai'd,

Save when just warre, or law, whil'st ballanc'd right, By honour's losse to bitter tongues betraid?

Did kindle courage, or the judgement mov'd;
The wise Pericles, though long great, he might
As foe, or judge, have fierce or rigorous prov'd,
He bragg'd, when dying, that in Athen's towne,
None, by his meanes, had worne a mourning gowne.

Farre from tast-pleasing charmes which harme us
must,

(So as more simple, I doe thinke lesse bad)
They who of soules did transmigrations trust,
All cruelty in such a horrour had,

That they would neither kill for sport, nor lust,
What moov'd, or felt, for ought which suffred, sad:
These who abhorr'd by death, to nurse their life,
With lewes who grudg'd for flesh, may stand in
strife.

Milde lenity in Sicile's tyrant shin'd,
When one (though damn'd to dye) enlarg'd a space,
If not returning at the time assign'd,
Did binde a friend, his danger to embrace,
And when come backe, with a most generous
minde,

He did redeeme his pledge, and urg'd his place:
That man (though mercilesse) a pardon gave,
And with such two, to be a third did crave.

As if that each man's griefe had beene his owne,
One's death to signe, scarce Titus could endure;
The like by Nero (but in showe) was showne,
A fatall warrant when one did procure,
Who wish'd that letters he had never knowne,
That, as his heart, his hand might have been
pure:

Of meekenesse thus that monster did esteeme,
"No nature is so bad, but good would seeme."

That stout Athenian whom great Xerxes sought,
Who (twise deluded) had his death design'd,
And long the same would with great summes have
(His memory did so torment his mind) [bought,
Yet came to him though warranted by nought
Save that he thought a generous foe to find;
Not like to them who from faith given have swerv'd,
Who trusted him (though hated) he preserv'd.

Those two whose rigour first did Rome displease,
Who long great captaines, last great tyrauts grew,
Whilst bent what way to murther with most ease,
By papers one, by signes another slew ;

Of those one once, on whom foes sought to seaze,
Fled to his rivall danger did eschew;

And he, though cruell, false, and his chiefe foe,
Yet would, when trusted, not take vengeance soe.

Fabricius did his enemy advise,
That his phisitian poyson did intend,
And with great scorne his judgement did despise,
Who had foes just, a traytour to his friend;
And this to doe nought else did him entise,
But that no crime might his reproach pretend;
This man all treason did abhorre soe much,
That even suspition could his fame not touch.
Rome's second founder, who Gaule's rage did stay,
When by assault, a citty bent to take,
A schoole-master his students did betray,
Their parents soe all supplicants to make;
He who did loath to vanquish such a way, [back,
Him naked straight, them stor'd with rods, sent
That they his stripes with interest might restore,
All beating him, who did beate them before.

And (though thus tempted) from his faith not fell; And he shall hence have joy, who heere doth

"Of thee what people could more knowledge have, | Who usher'd oft with guards, did gorgeous stand,
Then by thy selfe had at the first been showne? Are (naked now) throng'd in a vulgar band.
Who could give backe more then they did receive?
Or honour thee whom they had never known?
Ah, how could we the light of nature leave,
Or whil'st thy will was hid, but use our owne?
Shall we be judg'd by lawes, not given to us,
What not commanded, violating thus?"

That looke which can cure some, wound others too,
As Peter's comfort, doth breed their despaires;
They finde that what their rebell syre did doe,
Had forfeited himselfe, and all his heires, [wooe,
A prince when wrong'd should not vile traitours
But when entreated (hearkning to their cares)
Is (if he grant of grace, that they may live)
Milde if he doe forgive, just not to give.

Of our first father, of grosse earth the sopne,
(Fruits of forbidden fruits which all concerne)
As did the crime, the costly knowledge wonne,
Went to his race, which without bookes all learne,
So that thenceforth bright wisedome was begunne,
Which of all things with judgement might discerne,
And (rotten branches of a poison'd root) [fruit.

Each soule doth hatch some seeds of that blacke
The fatall heires of knowing ill and good,
Ere statutes grav'd in stone were set in sight,
How God was pleas'd, or griev'd, they understood,
As the first errour did direct them right,
So that all those who were before the floud,
Were damn'd, or sav'd, judg'd by innated light:
That science rob'd, which Nature's law did prove,
Of ignorance all colour did remove.

O! how the Ethnickes then with grievous moanes,
For desp❜rate anguish roaring, horrour howle,
A heavy murmur, with rebounding groanes,
Doth breathe abroad the burthen of each soule;
Some who of late had been enstall'd in thrones,
Are then abhorr'd, as Stygian monsters foule :
O what strange change is at an instant wrought!
Most wretched they, who had been happy thought.

DOOMES-DAY;

OR,

THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD'S IVDGEMENT.
THE SIXTH HOURE.

THE ARGUMENT.

Some who themselves prophanely did defile,
And gave to creatures what to God was due;
Some whom with bloud, ambition did beguile,
Who honour sought where horrour did ensue,
Doe here with witches meet, and strangely vile,
Some parricides and traitours in a crue,
Who wanting all that unto grace belong'd,
Most vainely God, man violently wrong'd.

Somɛ who below with pomp their progresse past,
Of what they once claim'd all, no part possesse;
Who (scarce confin'd by all this compasse vast)
As straited, strugling for more roome did presse,
They now not strive for state, all would be last,
By ruine levell'd, equall in distresse :

Two troupes' great terrour cannot be conceiv'd,
Which (as in sinne) in judgement joyn'd remaine;
In image this, in essence that God brav'd,
His honour given away, his servants slaine;
Th'one (furious) rag'd, and th' other (foolish) rav'd,
None thought in all so many to have seene,
Prophanely cruell, cruelly prophane :

As murth'rers and idolaters have beene.

There are Bell's priests who for themselves to shift, | O how they quake that he their course must try,
Would needs their God a monstrous glutton prove, Whose deity they did trust, yet durst deny!
Till Daniel did disclose their fraudfull drift,
And (as his bargaine was) did them remove,
Then, these for God who did a dragon lift,
Which without force he forc'd, such to disprove,
And many thousands bursting forth deepe groanes,
Who prostituted soules to stockes and stones.

What millions, loe, pale, quaking, cry despair'd,
Which always sinn'd, yet never mercy claim'd,
And whilst that they for Heav'n's great God not car'd,
Did dote on that which they themselves had fram'd,
By Dagon, Baal, and Ashtaroth snar'd,

By Milcom, Molech, Nisroch deities dream'd;
Which could not raise themselves when once they
fell,

Yet could who them ador'd cast down to Hell.
There stand two soveraignes of the world's first state;
The first is he who so prophanely rail'd,
Whose host an angell plagu'd with slaughter great,
Till forc'd to flie, his high designes all fail'd,
Loath'd as a monster, safe in no retreate,
Not altar's right, nor father's name avail'd ;
But by his sonnes, before his God, kill'd there,
Idolatry and blood both venged were.

The next is he who that huge statue fram'd,
To be ador'd at every trompet's sound,
To whom the prophet twise told what he dream'd,
First of great empires, last what would confound,
Who with a haughty heart (fond foole) proclaim'd,
"Is not this Babel, which my hands did found?"
Then did abash'd with beastes a beaste abide,
Type of God's judgements, spectacle of pride.
What mighty monarchs follow after those,
Withwhom light's throne so great regard had wonne,
That of their empire purpos'd to dispose,
All met before daie's progresse was begunne,
Then vow'd their judgement should on him repose,
Whose courser's ney did first salute the Sunne;
A gallant coosnage, one the crowne did gaine,
Whose horse, or foote-groome, had more right to
raigne.

The Greekes, though subtle, raving in this sort,
With idoles earst defil'd, were last orethrowne;
From their high wittes bright nature did extort,
That some great God rul'd all things as his own;
Yea, some farre gone (though of the end still short)
Rais'd altars up unto a God unknown;
Yet by the multitude their state was borne,
Though those dumbe deities some durst clearely

scorne.

venge,

One, who not fear'd that they themselves could
[beare,
Once with such taunts, as none but blockes could
With loves of gold, his cloake of cloth did change,
For winter warme, for summer light to weare,
Then since his sire had none, as in him strange,
From Esculapius his long beard did teare;
Thus he himselfe with spoiles of gods did fraught,
They impotent, he impudent, both naught.
What thinke those senatours when Christ they see,
Who whilst inform'd what fame of him was runne;
Of mortall ends that from suspition free,
He by great wonders confidence had wonne ;
Since they to him no temples would decree,
Whose God-head without them had beene begunne;

Rome coin'd (Heaven's rivall) deities as thought best,
And temples did, (as judge of God's) allow,
To fortune one, by fortune all the rest,
For flattery, bravery, or a doubtfull vow;
What thing esteem'd had not some altar dress'd,
Save fatall money which made all to bow?
But (still dissemblers) they the truth abhorr'd,
It (though no God profess'd) was most ador'd.
March forth you gallants greedy of respect,
Who did not rightly wooe, but ravish fame,
To court fraile echoes of a dying name,
(Though seeming vertuous) vitious in effect,

And ere the world such errours could detect,
Though thrown in Hell, did heavenly honours clame,
Marke what vaine pompes and deities do availe,
Which first your selves, then thousands made to
faile.

You, who of old did Candie's king adore,

As who might all the hosts of Heaven command,
Where millions now upbraiding him do roare,
Loe, how the naked wretch doth quivering stand,
(Then all the rest condemn'd for mischiefe more)
Whil'st thought Heaven's God, Hell's guide in every
land,

He father's state, and sister's shame did reave,
A parricide, incestuous, lust's vile slave.

Loe, his adnitrous brood, Amphitrio's scorne,
Right father's heire, ador'd for doing ill,
Whose fame, by fabulous deeds, aloft was borne,
Yet but great robber, did lesse robbers kill,
Till by a poyson'd shirt, last justly torne,
As whil'st alive by lust's vile harpies still:
Now he who once was fain'd to force the Hell,
There damn'd to darknesse may for ever dwell.

He trembleth now who spurning still at peace,
With brags, the ayre, with blows did beat the
ground,

And she with whom whil'st bent to sport a space,
He who brav❜d others did lye basely bound;
Then that lame dolt who prov'd his owne disgrace,
With him (their like) by whom the fraud was found.
What godly gods? what worth with titles even,
Thus seeking Hell, to stumble upon Heaven.

These do not scape who first for vertue known,
Rais'd from love's thigh, or head, dress'd wines, and
oyles,

Nor she by whom for food first corne was sown,
To furnish fields with autumn's pretious spoils,
Nor none of them by whom prais'd arts were shown,
Since they usurp'd what did to God belong,
To barre vice-breeding sloth by needfull toils:
And were, whil'st doing right, intending wrong.

Not onely Gentiles who prophanely rav'd,
Do now curse those by whom they were beguil'd
And Inde's new world, ere borne, in sinne conceiv'd,
From whom the light of God was farre exil'd,
But even these lews whose soules the truth per-

ceiv'd,

(With spirituall whoredome publickly defil'd)
They who ingrate, great benefits abus'd,
Loe, quite confounded, can not be excus'd.

1

O wretched troupe which did so grosly stray,
When God with you (as friends) did freely treat,
Who even whil'st Moses in ambassage lay,
In place of him a senselesse calfe did seat;
This, what you parting robb'd, did thus repay,
When turn'd to such an use, as Ægypt's fate;
Where his great works forgot who did you leade,
And you such fools to trust in what you made?
Next them stand these when in Canaan plac'd,
And all perform'd what promis'd was before;
Who their appointed way no longer trac'd,
God's law, and wonders, not remembred more,
Who barbarous customes where theycame embrac'd,
And did the idols of the land adore, [mourne,
Yea, whil'st set free, when God had heard them
Who to their vomit did like dogges returne.
The Iews' first king, first mark'd who did begin,
By loath'd selfe-slaughter to prevent world's shame;
Though glory glos'd upon a ground of sinne,
Whil'st Gentiles sought to justifie their fame,
Feare but prevayl'd where courage came not in;
They weakenesse show, did of true worth but dreame:
Saul's end for soules is the most dangerous crime,
Which for repentance doth not leave a time.

From seeking asses he was rais'd to raigne,
And when enstall'd soone forfeited his right;
Once prophecied amongst the prophet's traine,
Then hunted was with sprits which loath'd the light;
Spar'd heathnish Agag whom he should have slaine,
And kill'd God's priests, though precious in his sight;
He ever abject was, or did insult,

Did first with God, last with the Devill consult.

He who made Israel sinne, forc'd, and entis'd,
O what huge anguish in his soule doth sit!
Who with religion policy disguis'd,

In heavenly things of too much worldly wit, [pris'd,
Whose hand stretch'd forth to strike, even then sur-
Was hurt, and heal'd, by him whom bent to hit:
The altar rent, as was his heart with feares,
The ashes falne, as should have done his teares.

Vp hatefull Achab, horrour of thy race, [thought,
Whose heart, then hands durst do, more mischiefe
When quaking to behold Christ's flaming face,
The cheape vine-garden shall be dearly bought;
O bitter grapes, hard to digest, no grace,
When thy tumultuous minde to light is brought;
And for his cause whose life thou thus did'st reave,
Dogges did thy bloud, devils do thy soule receave.
You sisters faire whom God did love so much,
Both basely humbled did dishonour'd range,
He (abject rivals) jealous made of such,
Whose vilenesse did exempt them from revenge:
Mouth dumbe, eares deafe, eyes blinde, hands could
not touch,
[change?
What monstrous madnesse could procure this
Law, wonders, prophets, promise nought could move,
For infinite deserts, a gratefull love.

Some kings of Iuda idols did imbrace,

As he whose sonne through fire polluted went,
That hatefull Ahaz, Achab's steps did trace,
Next whom one more did sinne, but did repent;
And one before link'd with the loathsome race,
With him did perish, whom to follow beut. [moves,
"From them who make bad leagues the Lord re-
And often-times the friendship fatall proves."

Of Israel's monarchs to worke mischiefe sold,
When nearly mark'd I scarce misse any one,
Save it be lehu killing (as God would)

His hated rivals to attaine a throne,
Who (though the course of Dan was not controul'd)
Of foure heires crown'd succeeded was when gone :
The rest with idols filthily defil'd,

Do finde how farre their judgement was beguil'd.
With Ahab match'd as fit to be his mate,
He stands, who both God's grace, men's love abus'd,
Who to be worse then worst did prove ingrate,
More evill then all whom God before refus'd:
His feare (as fault) not comes in my conceit;
When justly thus by God's great priest accus'd,
Was this (vile monster) a reward to me?
And couldst thou kill his sonne who did save thee?
With these now nam'd of idoll-serving bands,
What number loe (time past) their folly findes ?
Some dead, some yet alive, whom in all lands,
Opinion clouds, or ignorance quite blindes;
Whil'st humbled to the worke of mortall bands,
Some simplie trust, some would comment their
mindes:

But that command beares no exception now,
Which before images discharg'd to bow.

O what dread troupe doth with strange aspects rise!
I think their eyes flame fire, their hands drop blood?
Those whose proud hearts did all the world despise,
That at their power abus'd astonish'd stood,
Did murther, robbery, sacriledge disguise,
With shows of valour, which their brags made good:
Where is that courage vaunted of so oft?
Whil'st crush'd with fears they dare not look aloft.
When as God's sonnes did with men's daughters lye,
Of the first world behold a bloudy traine;
But chiefly two most eminent I spie,
A barbarous murtherer, and a bragger vain:
He who to God durst with disdaine reply,
When for his brother ask'd (whom he had slain)
"Am I his keeper?" and I think he thought
Take up his offering, help'd thy favour ought?

This moth of minds, base spite, selfe-torturing gall,
Made devils to lose what he them once had given,
Then bent to be like God made man to fall,
Himselfe from Eden, and his Sonne from Heaven,
To which all children still by nature thrall,
(Though for their harme) with others would be even:
A childish vice which onely weaknesse beares,
"One what he wants, in others hates, or feares."

With him who first confusion did conspire,
The swaggerer's patron next in ranke is rang'd,
If seven-fold vengeance Cain did require,
Times seventy seven who vow'd to be reveng'd;
And told his wives that (insolent in ire) [chang'd.
He wounds for words, and death for wounds ex-
But who thus rioting did burden eares,
(With terrour freez'd) is all benumm'd with fears.

That hairy hunter given to sport with bloud,
Ere borne contentious, in the wombe prophane,
Who (as estrang'd from knowing what was good)
His birth-right sold, some pottage so to gaine:
Who further likewise gave, allur'd by food,
That which once scorn'd, was after beg'd in vaine:
This man still foolish findes his fault too late,
Whil'st being nam'd with them whom God doth hate.