Dekker his Dream. In which, being rapt with a Poetical Enthusiasm, the great Volumes of Heaven and Hell to Him were opened, in which he read many Wonderful Things. Est Deus in Nobis, agitante calescimus Illo. LONDON, Printed by NICHOLAS OKES. 1620. TO THE TRVELY-ACCOMPLISHED GENTLEMAN, and worthy Deserver of all men's Loves, Master ENDYMION PORTER. SIR: IF you ask why, from the heaps of Men, I pick out you only to be that Murus ahaeneus, which must defend me, let me tell you (what you know already,) that Books are like the Hungarians in Paul's, who have a Privilege to hold out their Turkish History for any one to read. They beg nothing, the Texted Pasteboard talks all; and if nothing be given, nothing is spoken, but God knows what they think. If you are angry, that I thrust into your hands a Subject of this Nature; O good Sir, take me thus far into your pardon; that it was impossible for me to beget a Better: For, the Bed on which seven years I lay Dreaming, was filled with thorns instead of feathers, my pillow a rugged flint, my Chamberfellowes (sorrows that day and night kept me company) the very, or worse than the very Infernal Furies. Besides, I herein imitate the most Courtly Revelling; for if Lords be in the Grand Masque, in the Antimasque are Players: So in these of mine, though the Devil be in the one, God is in the other; nay in Both. What I send you, may perhaps seem bitter, yet is it wholesome; your best Physic is not a julep; sweet sauces leave rotten bodies. There is a Hell named in our Creed, and a Heaven, and the Hell comes before: If we look not into the first, we shall never live in the last. Our tossing up and down (here) is the Sea, but the land of Angels is our Shore. sail so long as we can bear up, through Honours, Riches, Pleasures, and all the sensual Billows of the World: yet there is one Harbour to put in at, and safely to arrive (There) is all the Hardness, all the Happiness. Books are Pilots in such voyages: would mine were but one point of the Compass, for any man to steer well by I do not think, but even those Courtiers, who are most taken with the glittering of Palaces, do from those glorious Interviews, masks, tilt-triumphs, & such like, (with which their eyes are so often banqueted) read sometimes excellent lectures to their souls, by a comparative laying those transitory Ones, and those immortal beauties of heaven together. The very Roofs of king's Courts, do almost draw us up to such a contemplation: For when the Pavements of such Places are at the best but Marble, yet the upper ceilings are like Firmaments of Stars: There you see the golden Embosments, and curious Enchaining: The true bravery is above. An excellent Dinner was that in France, when the King and Queen sáte at Table, and with them, Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventura (the two great Schoolmen.) whilst the others were feeding, one of these cast an earnest and fixed eye upon the beauty of the Queen: at which the King wondering, asked, why he did so? O (quoth he) if the great Workmaster, out of a piece of clay, can mould and fashion so admirable a creature as your Queen is; I am rapt into an astonishable amazement, to think, how glorious those Bodies are, who are Courtiers attending upon his Majestical Throne. If I hold the Pen longer in my hand, I shall fall asleep again: But howsoever I wake, or have mine eyes closed,— Irest Ever ready to do you service, Tho. Dekker. To the Reader. Out of a long Sleep, which for almost seven years together, seized all my senses, drowning them in a deep Lethe of forgetfulness, and burying me to the World, in the lowest grave of Oblivion: Meeting in that drowsy voyage with nothing but frightful Apparitions, by reason (as now I guess) of the place in which I lay, being a Cave strongly shut up by most Devilish & dreadful Enchantments; I did at last fall into a Dream, which presented to my waking Soul, infinite Pleasures, commixed with In-utterable Horrors. More did I behold thus Sleeping, then ever I could before, when my eyes were wide open. I climbed to the tops of all the trees in Paradise, and eat sweeter Apples than Adam ever tasted. I went into the Star-Chamber of Heaven, where Kings and Princes were set to the Bar, and when the Court arose, I fed upon Manna, at a table with Angels. jerusalem was the Palace I lived in, and Mount Zion the hill, from whose top, I was dazzled with glories brighter than Sunbeams. This was my Banquet: The Course-meate was able to kill me. For I was thrown (after all this Happiness) into a sea Infernal, and forced to swim through Torrents of unquenchable fire. All the jails of Hell were set open. And albeit the Arraignements were horrid, yet the Executions were ten-times more terririble. joys took me by the hand in the first dance, but fears & sorrows whipped me forward in the second. I must not now tell, what I saw, neither can I now see so much as I have told. What Music led both these measures, do but open my song-Booke, and the Lessons are there set down. If the Notes please thee, my pains are well bestowed. If to thine care they sound untuneable, much are they not to be blamed, in regard they are the Airs of a Sleeping Man. Farewell. Dekker his Dream. Which being truly Interpreted, is able to Comfort the Good, and terrify the Bad. WHen down, the Sun his golden Beams had laid; And at his western Inn his journey stayed, That Sleep the eyes of man and beast did seize, Whilst He gave light to the Antipodes: I slept with others, but my Senses streamed In frightful forms, for a Strange Dream I Dreamed. Signs before the last day. PEace fled to Heaven (me thought.) And as she went, War. Her Robe fell from her, which War finding Rend Into a thousand Rags, dying them in Gall, As before Christ's coming first into Mixed with Man's blood, and charged the World to call Those spoils his Ensigns: then (alarmed) bestriding there was an Universal Peace: So before his last coming, there shallbe (if not General wars) every man's heart fight one against another Famine. A Canon, and with Thundering voice dividing Nations Colleagued, down fell the Golden Chain Of Sweet Commerce, linked both by Love & Gain: Order ran mad, Disorder filled his Room, When beating at Hell gates the Fatal Drum, Out-yssued Vengeance, Horror, Incest, Rape, Famine and Death, in the most ugly shape That Hell could send them out in. At these Sights Seas threatened Shores, The Earth (in strange affrights) shook at the Centre: then (me thought) one drawn From his Full Quiver, poisoned shafts, which flew With burning feat ●●●●s of Hot Pestilence, Pestilence. Filling the wide-worlds' vast Circumference With blains, and blisters, whilst each Kingdom raves, To see the whole Earth but one field of Graves. Anon (me thought) Treason, and Murder cried Treason. Kill, Kill; wild Uproars Gates flew open wide: The Father stabbed the Son, the Son the Brother, Man was not Man, till he destroyed Another; Each man was both the Lion and the Prey, And every Cornfield, an Aceldema: A City on a City's ruins stood, And Towns (late peopled) now were Lakes of Blood. As boisterous billows, boisterous waves confound, So Nations, are in Nations glories drowned▪ The Turkish Half Moon on her silver Horns, Slavery. Tosses the Christian Diadem, and adorns The Sphere of Ottoman with Starry light, Stolen even from Those, under the Cross who fight: The Sacred Empire did itself o'er whelm, Civil uproars. State, on State trampled, Realm did beat down Realm: Religion (all this while) a Garment wore, Religion made a Str umpet. Stained like a Painter's Apron, and turned Whore To several Countries, till from deep Abysm Up her Two Bastards came (Error and Schism), She in That motley Cloak, with her Two Twins, Travelled from land to land, sowing Rank Sins, Which choked the Good Corn, and from them did rise, Opinions, Factions, black leaved Heresies; Pride, Superstition, Rancour, Hate, Disdain, So that (me thought) on earth no good did Reign. All this afore named (and more terrible predictions than the weak Pen of a silly man can set down) are lively written in Gods Eternal Calendar: where his Prophet Ezechiel thus thundereth forth the Terrors foregoing the later Day. The fish of the Seas, Birds of the air, Beasts of the Ezech. 39 field, and all that creepeth on the ground, together with all humane generations, which live upon the face of the earth, shall be in an uproar. Hills shall be overturned, Hedges broken down, every strong wall fall to the ground. I will call against them the sword from the tops of all Mountains, and every man's sword shall be bend against his own brother; my judgement shallbe in pestilence and blood, etc. And I will rain fire and brimstone. Mark, how an Evangelist seconds a Prophet, with this new battery upon the world. When (saith he) you shall hear the fame or bruit of wars and uproars, Luk. 21. be not afraid, for that these things must be. And yet presently the end of the world shall not ensue. One Nation shall rise against another, and one Kingdom shall invade another; there shall be great earthquakes, pestilence, and famine, most terrible Signs and tokens from Heaven. The latter day. THese transitory, poor Terrestrial terrors, Served but as Heralds to sound forth the Horrors Of woes Eternal: this, was but a Scene To the Great following Tragedy. So that then (Methought) one fitting on a Rainbow, sounded A trumpet, which in earthquakes Earth confounded. And then a voice, shrill (but Angelical) Full of Command and Dread, from heaven did call, To Summon the whole world to stand toth' Bar, Both All that ever have been, and now are, To give a strict account how they had spent That Talent of their life, which was but lent. We must All be Summoned before the Tribunal Seat of Christ, and every man receive either Good or Evil, according as he hath behaved himself whilst he lived upon earth. Christ taketh Account of all his Talents, Luke 12. 16. 19 10. Math. 26. Terrors of the later Day. THe Leaves of Heaven (me thought) them rend in sunder, Clouds shruck up like parchment. Out of which, Lightning brake, and Horrid Thunder, Which pashed (in pieces) Kingdom's: whizzing flakes Of Brimstone reigned, that Seas seemed Burning Lakes: Rocks crumbled into powder; Scalded Mountains In their dry jaws, dranck rivers up and fountains: Fury, with Snaky locks, and Smeared hands, (Tossing about her ears two fiery brands) Met Wrath, and Indignation, raving-mad, Tearing each others flesh, and wildly clad In Skins of spotted Tigers: up and down They ran, and spied (at last) Confusion: With whom swearing a League, black storms they Hurled. With whirlwind violence to crush the world, And bury her in's quick Ruins. All the Floor Celestial, cracked and fell down in a shower Of Blood, whilst the Terrestrial Pavement burned, Stars. In which the Stars to spent-out Snuffs were turned. The Sun leaped from his Chariot, and in fear Sun. Of Firing, headlong ran to'th Moons cold Sphere, But she (for all her Floods, Ice, Frosts and Snow) Moon. Did like a lamp of steel, i'th' Furnace glow. The Sun and Moon were neither Sun nor Moon, Their Shining could be called, nor Night nor Noon: This Massy, Universal, Earthly Ball, The world on fire. Was All one Bonfire, and it burned out All. In an eyes Twinkling, more by Fire was lost, Than Twenty Earth's, and all their wealth ere cost. Christ his Coming in Glory. AS in an Army Royal (led by a King) After the Canon's Sulphurous thundering, A Simile. Battering down Bulwarks, Rampires, Parapets, Forts, Gabions, Palisades, Cazimates, Horror on all sides Roaring, Wings here flying At Wings (like armed Eagles) here Troops dying. A butcherous Execution through the field, Bellowing with Fiend-like threats, when yet none yield, Though Death stalks up and down, ghastly and pale, The Victor's Wreath lying in a doubtful Scale; The King himself, safe guarded on a Hill, Seeing this black day, yet stirring not until He finds fit time to Strike: then down, amain, Whorrying he comes, a glorious dreadful Train Of High-Heroick Spirits, circling him round, Who with swift Vengeance do their Foes confound, And slave-like drag them at proud Chariot wheels, Whilst miseries (worse than Death) tread on their heels: The terror of Christ's Coming. Veniet splendore Rutilans, pulchritudine Admirandus, 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 horribilis. So (but with greater Terror, State, and Wonder) Heavens Supreme Monarch (one hand gripping thunder, The other storms of Hail, Whirlwinds. and fire, Ensigns of his hot-burning quenchless Ire) When the World's buildings, smothered lay in smoke, (With sparkling eyes) Majestically broke Out of his Palace, ne'er set ope' before, And stood like a Triumphant Conqueror. Esay 28. Trampling on Death and Hell: About him, round (Like petty Viz-royes) Spirits (me thought) all-Crownde, O Death! Where is thy sting? etc. Showed, as if none but Kings, had been his Guard; Whole Hierarchies of Saints were then preferred, With Principalities, Powers, and Dominations, How Christ comes guarded and attended. Thrones, Angels, and Archangels, (all att ' once) Filling the Presence: Then like heaven-borne Twins, Flew fiery Cherubins, and Seraphins, Whilst the old patriarchs, clothed all in white, patriarchs. Math. 13. Prophets. Were raped with joy, to see beams far more bright, About the Prophets and th' Apostles run, Than those whose Flames were kindled at the Sun. Martyrs (me thought) with selfsame lustre shined, Martyrs. As Gold, which seven times was by fire refined: Virgins, whose Souls in life from Lust lived clear, Virgins. Psal. 30. Had Silver robes, and on their heads did wear Coronets of Diamonds. Were my Finger's flint, My Pen, of pointed Adamant t'imprint Characters in tough Iron, or hammered brass, In imitation of that in Virgil. Mine ink, a depthless Sea; All these (alas!) Would be worn out, ere I one line should draw, Of those Full Glories, which (I dreamt) I saw: Nor could I write this (though it be but mean) Did not some Angel guide my Fainting Pen. God's Heir Apparent (here once made away) Triumphed in this his Coronation day, In which Heaven was his Kingdom, Mercy his Throne, justice his Sceptre, a Communion Of Sanctified souls, the Courtly Peers, And his Star Chamber Lords: who now had years Which never turned them Grey, by Times rough wether, Greatness was now, no more called Fortune's feather, Nor Honour held a fruitless golden Dream, The Saints in heaven enjoy all perfection. Nor Riches, a bewitching swallowing stream, Nor Learning laughed at as the Beggar's Dower, Nor beauties painted cheek a Summer's Flower. No, no; life endless was, yet without loathing, Honour and Greatness wore Immortal clothing, Riches were Subject to no base Consuming, Learning burnt bright, without Contentious fuming, Beauty no painting bought, but still renewed, Each one had (here) his full Beatitude. O my weak eyes! how did your Balls (me thought) Burn out their jelly, when they had but caught One little-little glimpse of those Divine And in-accessible Beams, which did outshine Hot-glowing coals of Fire? no mortal Sight Can stand a Majesty so infinite. That Face whose Picture might have ransomed Kings, As Christ was in every part of his body crucified by jews; So will he come Glorified in all perfection, to the Terror both of jew and Gentile. Yet put up Spetting, Baffuling, Bufferings. Esa. 50. jerem. 3. Math. 26. Mark. 14. Luk. 22. That Head, which could a Crown of Stars have worn, Yet spitefully was wrenched with wreathes of Thorn, Math. 27. Mark. 15. john 19 Those Hands, and Feet, where Purest stamps were set; Yet Naild-up like to Pieces Counterfeit. Psal. 77. Those Lips, which though they had Command o'er All, Being thirsty, Vinegar had to drink, and Gall. Luk. 23. That Body, scourged and torn with many a wound, That his dear Blood (like Balm) might leave us Sound. Luk. 23. Psal. 129. Zach. 13. The Well of Life, which with a Spear being tried, Two Streams (Mysterious) gushed out from the Side. john 19 Messias, great jehovah, God on high, Yet Hailed, King of the jews, in Mockery. Math. 27. Mark. 15. Luk. 23. The Manger-Cradled Babe, the Beggar borne, The poorest Worm on earth, the Height of Scorn. Math. 2. Psal. 22. That Lord, by his Own Subjects Crucified, Lo, at this Grand Assize comes Glorified, With troops of Angels, who his Officers are, To call by sound of Trump his Foes to a Bar. Thus stood be Armed; justice his Breastplate was, judgement his Helmet, stronger far than Brass: On his Right Arm, Truth's Shield he did advance, And turned his Sharpened Wrath into a Lance: Wisd. 5. Out of his Mouth, a Two-edged Sword did fly, To Wound, Body and Soul, eternally; Apoc. 1. Armed (Cap-a-pe) thus, who against him durst fight? There was no ground for Strength, nor yet for Flight. At this (me thought) All Graves that ever held Dead Courses, yawned wide-open, and compelled The bones of Deadmen, up with Flesh to rise; Yea, those on whom the Seas did tyrannize, And drowned in wracks, and which were piecemeal eaten, With lively bodies to the shores were beaten: Whom Sword, or Fire, jibbets, or Wheels had torn, Had their own limbs again, and new were borne: From the first Man God made, to'th last that died, The Names of All, were here Examplified, emperors and Kings, patriarchs, and Tribes forgotten, The general Sessions. The Conquerors of the world (moldred and rotten) Lords, beggars, Men and Women, young and old, Up (at a Bar set forth) their Hands did hold. The judge being set, in open Court were laid The books of Conscience opened. Vnusquisque cernet ant faciem suam exposita Opera sua, five bona illa, sive mala, etc. Item, Formidabiles libri aperientur, in quibus scripta sunt Opera nostra, & Actus, et Verba; et quaecunque egimus in nec Vita: illic non solum Actus, verum et cogitationes, et intentiones Cordis, scriptae erunt. Ephra in lib. De Vera Poenitentia Cap. 4. Quid nobis miseris fiet, cum omnia (orbi Vniverso) palam facta, in tam aperto, támque illustri Theatro de nudata, Hominum nobis partim cognitorum, partim incognitorum oculis subijcienturè etc. D. Chrysostom: Homil. 5. add Roman. Huge Books: at sight of which, All were dismayed, Would fain have shrunk back, and fell down with fear: In sheets of Brass, all Stories written were (Which those Great volumes held) Charactered deep▪ With Pens of Steel, Eternal Files to keep Of every Nation, since the Earth began, And every Deed, Word, thought, of every Man: Sins hatched in Caves, or such whose Bawd was Night, The Minutes of the Act were here set right. Great men, whose secret Damned sins vizards wore so close, that none upon their Brows could score The least Black line (because none durst) had here A Bill of Items in particular, What their Souls owed for Sin, to Death and Hell; Or, if it happened that they e'er did well, In these True journals, it at large was found, And with rich promise of Reward was Crowned. The Books were opened, etc. Apoc. 20. Which done (me thought) the Sessions thus began, Conscience the Crier, called forth every Man, To make appearance, and (though to my sight The Numbers that were there were infinite) In an Eies-twinkling yet they parted were, The Good from Bad, the Spotted from the clear; The Wolves and Goats, to th' left Hand howling went, The Lambs, and Harmless Sheep, to th' Right were sent. After this Separation, up did rise Heavens-lord-chiefe-iustice, and this Sentence flies Conscience the Crier of the Court. Out of his Dreadful Breast: O you (quoth he) That have my Lambs been, and did follow me, As your true Shepherd, and did know my Voice, Triti●um a zizanijs, bonos pisces a malis separable. As I in you, you shall in Me rejoice: And now is come the day: this is the Hour, In which my Blessings on your Heads I pour: The Lord-Chiefe-Iustice his Sentence on the prisoners. Beloved of my Father, Come and Take A Kingdom laid up only for your sake; For me you have been Mocked, Reviled, and Beat, Mount therefore now into a Glorious Seat: Come you Blessed, etc. O blessed word! which none but he can speak, O word of Love Divine! when (not with weak Math. 25. But Arms Omnipotent-strong, spread ope'-wide-) He cries, Come, Come? How is Man dignifide Math. 5: (Being but a Vassal grovelling on the ground) Next to his Kings own Throne thus to sit Crowned? Come and possess: O what shall you possess? The excellence of that Inheritance laid up in heaven for those that do well. A Kingdom, whose vast Bounds none can express: Had all the Pebbles in the world been cut Into Rich Diamonds, and both Indies put Into Two Hills of Silver, and fine Gold, Nor all King's hoarded Treasures down being sold, Can this Inheritance buy, which for your Good Is purchased at a High Rate (Christ's dear blood.) Come, and Possess, what Time can never Rot, thieves steal, War's spoil, or Cank'rous Envy blot; Come, and possess, a State whose Title, Law, Attorneys Wiles, no, nor the Scarlet Awe Of corrupt judges ever can Entangle, No Bawling Pleader at the Bar shall wrangle To prove the Right of This, being Stronglier Grounded Than Descents Lineal, by which Realms are Bounded. Sat at his Table, which doth Ever lie Covered with banquets of Eternity: Salvations Cup stands filled for you to'th Brim, Come Drink, where Immortality doth swim. Come and Possess you blessed. Blessed in This, The dear Son gives you a Celestial Kiss For welcome: Come you blessed, and possess Wealth, Honour, Glories, Pleasures numberless. Forthwith (me thought) they All were Crowned with Gold, The not-guilty, how rewarded. Set thick with Stars, and in their hands did hold Sceptres of sparkling Diamonds, which out shined Sunbeams, or Silver, seven times being Refined. The joy at this, was wondrous: All the Skies Danced to the sounds of several Harmonies, Both Angels, and Archangels loudly sung, All Heaven was but One Instrument well strung, But They, who on the Lefthand were set by, (As Outcasts) shook and trembled fearfully, The guilty, how perplexed. Like falling Towers: their Sins and Souls were black, And troops of Hellhounds waited at their Back: They beat their breasts, they tore their flesh and hair, And cursed that hour in which they first drew air. And then with Groans (able to split in sunder If the condemnation be so grievous, what will the execution be? Osee 10. Their very Souls, like trees riven through with Thunder) They wrung their hands, sobbed, shrieked, & howled, & prayed That Rocks and Hills might on their backs be laid, And they to dust be grinded, so that they Might from the judge's face but turn away: And seeing themselves enforced to stand the Doom, They gnashed their teeth, and cursed their mother's womb. jerem. 20. They who on earth were reared (Colossus-high) Spurned Kingdoms, trod on Thrones, and did defy jerem. 25. Psal. 149. Omnipotence itself, into base graves Tumbling prowed monarchs, here took place with Slaves, And like to broken Statues down were thrown, Trampled, and (but in scorn) not looked upon. Their cries, nor yell did the judge regard, The judge implacable. For all the doors of Mercy up were bard, justice and Wrath in wrinkles knit his forehead, And thus he spoke: You cursed and abhorred, You brood of Satan, sons of death and hell, In fires that still shall burn, you still shall dwell: Be Maledicti. In hoops of Iron, than were they bound up strong, (Shrieks being the Burden of their doleful Song.) Scarce was the Sentence breath'd-out, but mine eyes Even saw (me thought) a Cauldron, whence did rise A pitchy Steam of Sulphur and thick Smoke, Able whole copes of Firmament to choke: Souls tormented. About This, Devils stood round, still blowing the fire, Some, tossing Souls, some whipping them with wire Across the face, as up toth' chins they stood, In boiling brimstone, lead, and oil, and blood. Millions were here tormented, and together (All at this Sessions doomed) were condemned hither. My frighted Soul (me thought) with terrors shook To see such Horrid Objects: blood forsook The conduite-pipes of each Exterior part, And ran to comfort and defend the Heart. But the world's Glorious Frame being razed in fire And none alive left, I had then desire (●e thought) to see That black Infernal Court, Whither (in thousands) Souls did so resort. The way was quickly found: paths numberless Facilis descensus Auerni. (Beaten with feet which thither fast did press) Lay trodden bare, but not One Path returning, Vestigia nulla retrorsum. Was ever seen from this dark house of Mourning. This Flaming Kingdom hath One Ferryman, And he One Boat: he rows through Acheron Styx, and Cocytus, Rivers that in Hell Spread all the Country over: Fogs still dwell Stinking and thick, upon them, and there grows Upon their banks (in wild disordered rows) The Poplar (white and black) with blasted Ewgh, The deadly Poppy, Cypress, Gall, and Rew, (Emblems of Graves, Tombs, Funerals, and biers) And on the boughs no other Bird appears, But Schriches, Owls, and Ravens, and the shrill throats Of Whistlers; death still listening to their Notes. These Rivers of Hell, Poetically invented, carry a Moral and Mystical Interpretation: for Acheron (the first water) A pardon for these Poetical Fictions, may (without much begging) be given, if the Curious Censor makes but true use of the Inclusive moral, no way derogating from Divinity. signifies Bitterness: Styx, a detestation; and Cocytus, a Sorrow or Repentance, and are thus applied. When Souls, by reason of their Sins, are to pass over the troublesome Rivers of Death, being tormented with remembrance of the loss of worldly Honours, Riches, etc. then they pass Acheron, it is a bitter draught: Styx is the next, for when they see no remedy, but they must pass over to their last shore, they begin to have a loathing of their Ante-acted life: and then coming to ferry over Cocytus, they mourn and howl: so that all the conflicts, combats, and earthly wrestlings about the time of a Man's departure, are figured under those Three Rivers. I hollowed to the Ferryman (me thought) And with a stretched voice, cried a Boat, a boat. He came at first call, and when near he drew, That of his Face and Form, I had full view, Death terrible in countenance. My blood congealed to ice with a cold fear, To see a Shape so horribly appear: His eyes flashed fire, grizzled and shagged his Hair, (Snarled all in felt-lockes) Terror and Despair Lay in his wrinkled cheeks, his voice was hoarse, And grumbling, he looked ghastlier than a Coarse. This description of the Ugly Ferryman, is but an Argument how terrible the appearance of death is unto us, at our last voyage, which we take in departing from the world. By those who there stood thronging on the Shore, I heard his name was Charon: A black Oar And dirty, held he in his brawny hand. And though amongst those who stood upon the Strand He saw some Kings, some Beggars, None had room Mors sceptra ligonibus aequat. For Birth, or Blood, but sat as they did come: None gave the Cushions here, for there was none, But in heaps tumbling in, All were as One: Some thither came, laden with bags of gold, Some with brave cloths; then did he bark, and scold, And snatched all from them, with look sharp and grim, All Fares (he said) must Naked go with him. job. 4. As Death hath no respect of persons, for the beggar's dish & the kings standing cup of gold, are to him of one weight; so he spoileth all men of all that they possess, Princes of their Crowns, Lords of their Manors, judges of their Scarlet, Gentlemen of their Revenues, Citizens of Riches, Soldiers of Strength, Scholars of Learning, Women of Beauty, Age of Experience, Youth of Comeliness. And as they enter into the Lists of the world, weak and unfurnished; So must they go forth, Beaten, Vanquished, and Disarmed. At last (me thought) I leaped into the boat, Which seen, the Sculler plucked me by the throat To have his Fare first; ask what it was, He cried a Penny. I for That did pass: Being glad for bought experience I could tell, That Avarice house stood the next door to hell. Covetousness a hag infernal. Charon, by interpretation is joy; for after we have ferried What Charon is over the troublesome passage of death, and landed on the shores of Blessedness, than the Ferryman (how churlish and terrible soever he seemed at first) hath a countenance merry and comfortable. Charon also, is pictured Old, thereby signifying Good Council, & Sweet Persuasion to prepare for death, and that brings joy: For what joy can be greater, than that which ariseth out of an assured knowledge of a spotless Innocence, or of an hope that sins committed are repent and pardoned? Anon (to see with what a Restless Gyre The Soul entranced is whirled, some times through fire, Then waves, than Racking Clouds: earth, heaun and hell Lying (then) all-open, free, and passable) Me thought, being in a Twinkling ferried o'er, And trembling on the horrid Stygian shore, I saw the Brazen gates of deep Abyss In a vast bottom standing: none can miss The way, it is so beaten, and so wide That ten Caroches (breast-wise) in may ride. To is there is a Headlong base Descent, Slippery in whorrying down, yet turbulent Through throngs of people daily posting thither, For Day nor Night are the Gates closed together. Noctes atque Dies patet atri Ia●ua Ditis. As at some direful Tragedy (before Not Acted) men press roundabout the door Crowding for Entrance, yet none entrance have, But (like tossed billows) this and that way Wave: So Here; I asked the cause, and thousands cried, Hell is so Full, there's room for Few beside. Hell extreme full. In thrust I'mongst the thick'st, and sweeting got (For all the Air me thought was sulphry hot) With much ado to'th Gate, where stood a grim And churlish Porter, being in voice and limb Cerberus' Porter to Hell. A Dog; yet like the Porter of a jail, On new-come guests he Fawned and wagged his tail, But bawled aloud for Fees, ready to tear Their throats, who without bribes begged Entrance there, I choked the Cur with what he craved, and went On with bold steps to the Black Regiment. The Feeding and seeing of Cerberus, taxeth those in office, who weigh the gift, not the cause; and have no other language in their mouths, but Quid dabis? yet S. Paul willeth him that hath an office, to look to his office: And as for-taking of Bribes, there is a direct Statute against it, set down by the Upper house of Heaven, in these express words, Thou shalt take no Bribe, Exod. 23. Noise was my Guide (me thought) by which being led, I got to'th Court where Souls were Sentenced: Full was it of brave Fellows and fine Dames, Their Hair (once so perfumed) all turned to Flames. The Prince of Darkness, sat upon a Throne Lucifer in his state. Of red-hot Steel, and on his head a Crown Of Glowing Adamant: As in he drew The noisome Air, flames from his nostrils flew, His Eyes flashed fire, and when with dreadful sound He Roared (for that's his Voice) he shook the ground Of his Tartarean Palace) massy Keys (The Ensigns of his Empire) held (as Stays) A Canopy of Brass above his head, Which hard (to last) in Hell was Hammered. Those Keys being Emblems of Eternal pain, For who there enter ne'er come forth again, Being lock'd-vp Ever: At his cloven feet Three judges sat, whom I did lowly greet. Those judge's names are Minos, Rhadamant, and AEacus: the Infernal King is called Pluto. Now, albeit by The infernal judges. the laws of God we both believe, and are bound to acknowledge Him only to be Supreme Lord and judge both of Heaven, Earth, and Hell, yet since those former figured Names (drawn from Poetical Invention) carry in them a Moral and Instructive Meaning, they are not altogether to be rejected; and the rather because in Picturing forth so Terrible an Object as the Kingdom of Hell, and Tortures of the Damned, I strive to shadow the Horrors of them, and to set them off with heightening both of Profit and Delectation. He will bruise them with a rod of iron, etc. Psalm 2. The judges in their hands held Whips of Wire, Dipped in boiled brimstone to pay Souls their hire According to their Facts: The King of Fiends Spying me there i'th' throng, roars out and sends Two of his Furies (Beadles of the Court) To drag me to him, who in currish sort (Like flesh-hooke-fingred Sergeants) haled me on: Being there, the jaws of Black Damnation Thus yawned, and bellowed: Wherefore art thou come Hither (thou Slave) ere Death sets down thy Doom? Thou art alive, and not a soul that draws Breath Vital, by our dread infernal Laws Must here set Footing. Humbly then (me thought) With pale and fright full looks I Him besought, That since I was a Stranger, and alive, He by his Hellish large Prerogative Would sign my Pass, but to walk all the Rounds Of his vast Countries and to view their Bownds: A yelling Outcry all-about was hurled, That'twas not fit one of the Upper World Should be a close intelligencing Spy Of their scorched shores to make discovery. But the Crim Tartar, with distorted brow Thwarting their grumbling, held it scorn to bow To any wish of theirs, and Vnder-writ The Pass, with to ades blood from the Witches pit, Charging me as my soul (if ere it fell Into his Paws) should answer it in hell, Not to a next World that my Pen betrayed What there I saw. His threatening being obeyed, From him I took my way, nor did I fear To lose my path, Hell's path was every where. here begin the Descriptions both of the Darkness and fires of Hell, etc. as also of the particular Torments assigned to every Man, according to his particular Sins. ON wings of hot desire I flew from thence With whirlwind swiftness, noise, and violence, Being mounted on a Spirits back, which ran With Mandrake-shrikes, and like a Leprechaun: Whilst round (me thought) about me there did roar Ten thousand Torrents, beating on a shore Made all of Rocks, where huge Leviathans lay job 27. Esay. 57 Gaping to swallow Souls, new cast away. The Darkness of Hell. WEre all the Rowndure betwixt Hell and Heaven One Cloud condensd, & into blackness driven, The darkness of Hell (no way to be described) is here notwithstanding by comparison of others, made fearful unto Humane understanding by such things as we know. Not That; no, nor the Chaos un-refinde, (When in one Bundle Darkness up did bind That confused Lump of Mixtures) being put too, Not That: no nor if since the world was new, All Nights (that ever were) might grow in One, Neither could That: nor that Egyptian Caliginous, Black vapour, which did rise From Caves infernal to blind Pharaohs eyes, Clammy as if that pitch from Heaven did melt, And glutinously-thick it might be felt: Add to all these, that hideous direful hour, When all the lamps Celestial out did pour, Their lights like spent oil, dropping from their Sphere (As in my dream at first it did appear:) Not all these Darkenesses together glowd, And ten-times-ten Redoubled and Renewed, Are half so dismal as the Night infernal, The properties of hell's darkness. Black, Stinking, Stiflling, Poisoning, and Eternal. See for this Darkness Math. 22. 13. jud. 13. job 10. Prou. 4. 14. Psal. 107. 10. Horror of Hell Fire. HOw then (it may be asked) did my weak Sight Pierce these thick walls of Horror, where no light Ever shed Beam? why, on that Sorcerous Coast Where Hags and Witches dwelled was not I lost? My Spirit had balls of Wildfire in his head For Eyes (me thought) and I by them was led: For All these coale-pits (faddomed deep as hell) Still burn, yet are the Flames Invisible. This fire is none of that, which God lent Man, Tartarus 〈◊〉 ardour, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignem vincit, ut noster pictum, etc. Anselm. When (driven by sin out) he from Paradise ran, Bitten with cold, beaten with frosts and Snow, And in mere pity did that Warmth bestow, Teaching him how to kindle it at first, And then with food combustible have it nursed: No; this Red, Gloomy Furnace is a Firing, Devouring, yet not wasting nor selfe-tiring. Arithmetic cannot in Figures set An Age of Numbered years to swell so Great, As to fill up that time when these shall dye, Being NEVER, for it burns Eternally, From the World's first Foundation, to'th Confounding: Were Deluges on Deluges abounding, Not All that Rain (able to drown the World, Reached it to heaven) nor thousand Oceans hurled On top of all those Waters, can ever slake Or quench the least drop of this brimstone Lake. For (which most dreadful is) the Flames cease Never Fire without light. To torture Souls, and yet no light seen Ever: It is a Burning which doth Brightness lack, The Coals being infinite-hot, and infinite black. Yet through my horse of Hell galloped amain, Now plunged in Boiling lakes, then up-againe; Leaping into vast Caves, where heat never comes: For sharper cold than Winter's breath, benumbs. The Air so stiff, it freezeth All to ice, And Clouds of Snow; whose Flakes are harder thrice Than those Quadrangled Hailstones, which in Thunder Kill Teems, and Ploughmen, and rive Oaks in sunder. The Extremities of Cold in Hell. THe Hyperborean wind, whose Rough hand flings Mountains for Snowballs, and on's Marble wings Simile. Bears Rocks of ice, fetched from the Frigid zone, Which stuck i'th' North Seas, Seas and shores were One; Ten thousand wild Waves hardened in the Air Rattling like Icicles on his grizly Hair, And in his drivelling Beard Snow ten-times more Than e'er the baldpate Alps in Periwigs wore, When from his Caves of brass (bound there in Gives Of Adamant) out he whorries, and ' fore him drives (In whirlwinds,) Hail, Frosts, Sleet, and Storms; and With rugged Winter, whom he Roaring greets, (meets Then clapping their obstreperous Squalid Wings, Each of them on the frozen Russian dings Such bitter blasts down, that they fly in Droves (Though swaddled all in furs) too Sweltering Stoves: The Muff, the Scythian, nor the Freeze-land-boore, Nor the Laplandian Witch once peeping o'er A threshold, left their Noses, Cheeks, and Eyes (Pinched off by his Clumzy Nails) be made a prize To snarling Boreas. O yet! all this cold (Were it piled up in heaps a hundred fold, In stiffened Clouds to freeze ten thousand year) Is a Warm Thaw, to'th piercing Horrors here. Hell's Cold so biting, so Invincible, The effects of the cold in hell Insufferable, Inexpressible, That from all cold else the sharp nips doth steal; Should fire come near it, it would fire congeal, Till Flames turn icy Flakes, and force fire lose His Virtue so, that coals Red-hot will freeze. Here I beheld (me thought) Souls Scar-crow-like, Some bound, some hang byth' heels, whose heads did strike The Icy-knobbed-roofe, tossed too and fro, By Gusts implacable, able down to throw Rampires of Brass; which still beat out the Brains. And still Renewed them with Plangiferous Pains. Here, I beheld Kennels of fat-paunched Dogs, From one to one howling in Dialogues Of Hellish Language, cursing that they sat hard-heartedness punished▪ At proud Voluptuous Tables, yet forgot Numbed Charity, when at their gaudy gates She begged but Scraps of their worst Delicates, Yet starved for want; whilst they at Toasting fires Bathed their Rank Guts: and with sharp whips of Wires (But nothing else) heated her Shivering limbs: They quaffing Bowls (i'th' mean time) crowned to'th Brims. And when ragged Soldiers, of their Bodies making Soldier's unpitied. Anatomies in Wounds, with i'll blasts quaking And shrunke-up maws, did to their Worships come, A Whipping-Poast, and Halter was their Doom. Or when Thin-pale-cheeked Scholars held but forth Scholar's unrewarded. Their Threadbare arms, and did beseech their Worth To pity hapless Learning once so much As not to see her beg: No, they'd not Touch A Poor books cover, though within it lay Their Souls wealth, but (in scorn) Shuffled away. O Divine Vengeance! how most Just thou art? What they Stung ochers with, is Now their smart. Bleak Agues, Apoplexies, Murres, Catarrhs, Coughs, Dropsies, Rheums, diseases that make wars, And in cold blood kill Health, did here reign rife, And though they could not Waste, yet Worried life. Death from his earthy hands flung here and there Cold Snakes, and Scorpions, which did piece-male tear Frost-bitten Souls, and spewed them up again Wanting Digestion: And to whip Pain with Pain, Ten thousand Salamanders (whose i'll thawing Puts Bonfires out) their stark-stiffe lungs were gnawing: Harsh was their Music therefore, on no string But Yels; Teeth-gnashing, Chattering, Shivering. When thus far I was transported by my Dream: I called to mind (me thought) that upon earth I had heard many great Scholars defend, that there was no Cold in hell: But then (turning over the leaves of my memory) I found writteu there, that job once spoke thus. They shall pass from the waters of Snow, to too much Heat. And that upon those words Reverend Bede Sebastian Barradas in 4. Euan gcl. lib. 10. cap. 5. did infer, that job seemed to point (with his finger as it were) at Two Hells, the one of Fire, the other of Cold. And that S. Hierome upon the tenth of Matthew, did avouch the same thing: And again, that Hugo Victorinus, in his Book De Anima, had ser down, that in Hell Hugo Victorinus lib. 4. cap. 13. there was a Passage from the waters of Snow, to the heat of Fire, and both of these were Insufferable, etc. job 24. I likewise (me thought) remembered, that the Author of the Book (entitled De Triplici Habitaculo, that is to say, Of Heaven, Earth, and Hell) being thought to be the Tom. 9 cap. 2: work of Saint Augustine, had these words, There are two principal Torments in Hell; viz. Intolerable Cold, and Intolerable Heat. Whereupon the Evangelists wrote, there shall be in Hell, Weep, and Gnashing Math. 13. Luke 13. of Teeth: Tears, melting from the eyes through the extremity of Fire, and that of the Teeth, proceeding from the Sharpness of Cold. Then called I to mind, that justinianus, in his Book De casto Connubio Animae, said thus: There justinia. cap. 16. is in Hell, a Fire Corporeal, Inextinguible, wanting Combustible matter to nourish it: It shines to Punishment, not to Consolation. In that place there is Cold Incomparable, Gnashing of Teeth, and Smoke most Horrible-Stinking, etc. And that Haymo commenting upon Matthew, sung the same Tune, thus: That among all Haymo in Ma●● 8. cap. the Tortures in Hell, the greatest were Heat and Cold. My memory (me thought) amongst these mustered, Anselmus in his Elucidary, Innocentius with his book De Innocent. lib. 6. cap. 4. Contempta Mundi, with many others, all fighting under the same Opinion. Again, I took hold upon the 39 Chapter of Ecclesiasticus, speaking thus: They are Spirits created for Revenge, and in their fury they have fortified their Torments; when the final Day shall come, they shall pour forth the force and rage of him that created them, Fire, hail, Famine, etc. These, & other Fortifications of Reading defending me, were Armours sufficient & of proof, that there was Cold in Hell: And that haply the Infernal torments did Bede in job. 24. so change, that some times the Souls of men were scorched in fires, and anon as grievously plagued with inexpressible anguish of cold: yet considering with myself, that it was no Pillar for Salvation to lean upon, to believe that there was or was not any such thing, it could (me thought) be no offence to Persuade, It was so, or not so: and the rather, because it was but a Dream. My Mephostophilan Nag (which foamed before With a white frothy Sweat, by scudding o'er The Fields of Flames) had now the Glanders got Through sudden Cold, when he was Extreme hot: Foundered he was beside (halting downright) So that I durst nor on, nor yet alight; Myself (me thought) being almost frozen dead. Back therefore did I rein his stubborn Head, When quick as Thought, he galloped thence away, And came again where Souls all broiling lay: Upon them fell down storms of burning Spears, Trumpets red-hot, blowing Flames into their Ears, Each Sense, and Member, that on earth had been An Armour in the quarrel of Damned Sin To fight 'gainst Heaven, were (here) in pieces rend, And Faults weighed out with equal punishment. Esa. 27. The Glutton roared for Cooks to give him meat, I will exercise judgement in weight, & justice in measure. jere. 25. Esa. 27. Drunkards for Wine, to quench their scalding Heat, Adulterers for their Whores, to cool those Fires Which now burned hotter than their old Desires: Some for Caroches cried, some for their Train Of Vassals to attend, but cried in vain. They shall cry to the gods whom they served in this life, and they shall not save them in this time of affliction. jer. 2. Gay gaudy women, who spent years of Noons In tricking up their Fronts with Chaperons, Pride of women (and in that the effeminacy of men in this age) is here taxed, and rewarded. And powdered Hair: whose Tailors shears did quarrel With Pride, how to cut only their apparel, Whose Backs wore out more Fashions than their Wit, Fantasticness being short to alter it Into so many shapes, as they did vary The loads, being more than those when fed Mules carry (In Sumpters) Great Lords things: whose heads were Ith' Air high as a Stags, 'bove all the Herd; reared And when they road (their Footmen running by) They seemed proud Ships in all their Gallantry, Newly-arriued, full-fraighted, under sail, 'Slight empty Cock-boates dancing at their Tail; These Dames, who each day in French Chariots sat Glistering like Angels, a prowd-bounding Trot From four fair Steeds drawing all on them to wonder, That the Clouds echoed, and the Earth shook under: But when their Coursers took their full Career, It looked like that Day, when the Thunderer Struck with his Triple-fire Heaven's Rider down; Phaetunt. Fab. Ouid. Metam. lib. 2. For (from their horses nostrils) Breath was thrown Hot-quick as lightning, and their Hoofs up-hurld Such Clouds of Smoke, as when he fired the world. O horrid sight! These (once so much Adored) In hell were drudges, spurned at, and abhorred; Their Painted cheeks, turned into Witches looks, Bright Hair to Snakes, long Fingers into hooks, Pearle-Chaines to ropes, their gaudy Robes to Rags, And delicate bodies, uglier far than Hags. They that for Table-crums refused to buy And (for their souls) hoard up Eternity, Here offered worlds of Treasure, but to get One drop of Water: (O hells infinite Heat!) Yet not a drop was suffered once to fall: To quench their thirst, Devils held out caps of Gall. Dives the pattern of such uncharitable wretches, cries out in that Language: O Father Abraham, have compassion upon me, and send down Lazarus unto me, that he may dip the top of his finger in water and cool my tongue, etc. Luke 16. Cram'd-vp in stinking corners I beheld What rabble are in Hell. Base Heaps tumbled together, who all yelled Like bandogs tied in kennels: High-way-standers, Foists, Nips, and jilts, Prinadoes, Bawds, Pimps, Pan- thieves. Panders. Bawds. Old sunk-eyed Beldames, hired to keep the doors, (dear, Till their own Daughters were by slaves made whores: catchpoles, and Varlets, who did poor men fleece Catchpolles. (To their undoing) for a Twelvepenny piece. Mongst these were mingled Perjured common- Bail, Commonbail. Pettifogger's Light weights breed heaviness. With Pettifogger's, that set Law to sale With Cauterised Consciences; thieves, Cheats, Tradesmen that fed upon the Broken Meats Of Oaths and Rotten-wares; and those to sell Cared not for single money to buy Hell. Ten thousand Packs (like these) were basely thrown Into a Warehouse of Damnation, Where Fire their food was, Adders galls their Drink, Good cheer in hell for sinners. And their Tobacco, a strong Brimstone stink. His bread (speaking of the wicked Worldling) in his job. 20. belly shall be turned into the gall of Serpents, he shall be constrained to vomit out again the riches which he hath devoured, God shall pull them forth of his belly, he shall be constrained to suck the galls of Cockatrices, and the tongues of Adders shall slay him, etc. job 10. The Worm of Conscience. THe whips that lashed the Damned, were some of wire, And some of Iron; others were ropes of Fire Knotted with ragged stones of glowing Flint, Which though in thousand forms they did imprint Tortures upon their Souls, yet there was One To which all Torments else compared, were None. A kind of Worm there was, all speckled black, That shot tenthousand Prickles from his back, The Worm of conscience. Sharper than quills of Porcupines, and longer, And further flying, and more swift and stronger; It bore a Tearing forked sting behind, Which in the Striking did so strangely wind, It wounded every way where it did Hit, Nor could it be put by, by force or Wit: This Worm had Teeth of needles, and lay gnawing Both night and day, Black Souls in pieces drawing: The more 'tis racked, it lives; the more it Fries In Flames, the less it Burns, and Never dies. Our Saviour speaking of the pains of the Damned, saith; that their Worm dieth not. Mar. 9 44. To call but this Worm to mind (amongst the other Torments of that Infernal Lake) mark in what passions one poureth forth his fears: Gehennam timeo, quip interminatam, exhorreo Tartarum ut cui nimium insit Cyrillus Allexandrinus in Oratione de Exitu Animae. Caloris, paveo Tenebras quoniam nihil admittunt Lucis, Formido pectiferum VERMEM, quoniam est perennis, etc. I fear Gehenna, because it hath no end, Hell to me is horrible, because it hath too much Fire, the Darkness I Gehenna, one of the Names of Hell, taken from Hinmon valley, etc. tremble at, because it hath no Light, the Deadly WORM affrights me, because it is Everlasting. Holy Bernard being pierced to the Soul with the same Agony of Fear, thus confesseth it: Paveo Gehennam, Bernard. Serm. 16. in Cantic. Contremisco a Dentibus Bestiae infernalis, Horreo VERMEM rodentem, et ignem torrentem, Fumum, et Vaporem, et Sulphur, et Spiritum Procellarum, etc. I am (says he) afraid of Hell, I tremble at the teeth of the Infernal Dragon, the Gnawing WORM is a Horror to me, and the Roasting Fire, and the Smoke, and the Brimstone, and the Spirit of Storms, etc. One Soul, me thought, boiling in Sulphurous flame, A soul bitterly accusing God of injustice. Cursed God, and on his Rigour did exclaim, Railed at him for Injustice, and thus Cried: If for my Sin thy Son was Crucified, Why am I held in Execution In this Damned jail, ever to be Undone? If He laid down his life to set me Clear From all my Debts, why am I Dungeoned Here? Why for a life no longer than a Span, Am I an Everlasting damned Man? He whom the First bad woman did entice, Was but once driven out of Paradise, Yet he (even then) was Sole Monarchal Lord Adam a Monarch after his deposing. O'er the whole Globe, Seas did to him Accord In sweet Obedience: all the Beasts on Earth, As under his Dominion they took birth, So from him had they Names, they all did Bow Their knees to him, and did observe his Brow. He lost a Garden, but an Orchard found, Walled in with Seas, with Sunbeams compassed round, Where Birds (whose Notes were never since so clear) Served as Musicians All, to tune his Ear: A Serpent cozened Him by sorcerous Charms, But (in his stead) a woman filled his Arms: A woman! in whose Face more Beauties shone Then all the Beauties after made in One: He was Man's Maister-thiefe, Robbed him of All, drove him from Eden, and (so) forced him Fall Out of the Sphere of Innocence: and yet Those Crowns of Blessings God on him did set. Why then for Sin but of a minute's date, Must I for Ever be a Rebrobate? God's holy hunger though it oft did kill me, God's holy Banquet yet did never fill me; Auri sacra Fames. The Silk worm ne'er for me wrought in her Loom, I never slept in a Rich Lordly Room, Never eat Pies of Nightingales Tongues, or sat Like Dives at my table served in Plate. My Beldame Nurse (the Earth) when she gave Suck To me, her left Breast still she forth did pluck, Being juiceless; or from thence if Drops did fall, How could I quench my thirsty jaws with Gall? I never lackeyed by proud Fortune's wheel: For all the taste of Pleasures I did feel, Was in the warm Embracements of my Whore: If that were Sin, why then did Nature store My Veins with hot blood, blowing lust full fire? 'Twas her Corruption, and not my Desire. I likewise (now and then) was washed within All-o're with Wines, but why should that be Sin, When God the Vineyard planted, and in's word Bid Man drink wine? Thou art a Rigorous Lord, (Me thought) the Hellhound howled, for trifling Crimes To Damn me in a World out-lengthning Times. Say, that full sixty years my Glass did run, More than that half I slept, there was won Little to Hell in sleep: but my life's thread Reached but to thirty, so that I lay dead Fifteen of those, and of those fifteen, five At least were childish: O must I alive Be held for Ever in Damnation's jail For poor ten years! when I perhaps did sail Some part of them towards Heaven? What cursed wave Threw'st Thou to drown me in th' Infernal Grave? My Parents blest me Mornings, Noons and Nights, Were all those spent in Vain? I took delights Inplucking Apples from t'Hesperian Trees, Which Eating, I grew Learned: add to All these My Private Readins, which more Schooled my Soul, Then Tutors, when they sternliest did Control With Frowns or Rods: some Days in This were Spent: So that if All my Faire-writ leaves were Rend Out of God's Memory, alack! it were A Thin Book of the Fowl: yet must I (here) For sowing some Few Acres un-awares Of Bad Corn, reap an Endless Field of Tares? At this, ten thousand Souls (raving mad) Roared That on their Heads the selfsame shot was scoard: But then, a Voice (tuned to an Angels Sound) With repercussive Echoes did rebound Through all the Court of Barathrum, thus Thundering Terrors that shook Hell's Centre: Cease thy wondering (Thou Bawling Reprobate,) a recompense Is given thee to the Weight of thine Offence. For had thy years outreached Methuslem's Age, Thy Black life's Torrent (with impetuous rage) Had Boundless, Bottomless, Restless been; So that as Thy Eternity did Sin Peccas Homo in AEterno tuo: Pu nit Deus in AEterno suo. Tortured thou art in God's Eternity: Thy faults to him, his rods for thee do buy: Nor can he in his justice pity those, Who pity not themselves, but do expose Their Souls to Fowl Acts, scorning threatened Pain, Like Whores, who buy Damnation for small Gain. Thou on the bread thy Sins did earn dost feed, Not paying by the Day, but by the Deed. What was thy whole life but a Mutinous War Against thy Creator? Every Sense did jar From his Obedience: like to Madman's swords Thy works were wounds, and blows flew from thy words: Thy Lips, Ears, Eyes, have still been Gates set wide To let in Blasphemy, Lust, Avarice, Pride, And Legions of such Devils. Thou didst Dwell First in a House of Flesh, but now in Hell: That was thy Partner, and (as Partners do) The soul and body being Partners, undo one another. Hath thee Undone for Ever: Thou shalt Rue His Riots, Whoring, Swear, his Disorders Are thy Damnation's: every Sense now furders Thy Torments; the loose Glances of the Eyes, The Liquorishnesse of Taste, the Melodies To the Lascivious Ear; All-all these turn To thy Perdition, thou for these shalt burn. To no hand holden-up can help be given, The Left is Hells, the Right beat back from Heaven: In Flames go it Where, and grow Green again; Pain kill thee, yet thou still shalt live in pain. On was he going but to drown this Voice, All Hell broke loose, and then were heard no Noise But Vlulations, Shriek, Horrid Soundings Of Ratling-Chaynes, and thousand strange Confounding Of Indisting guishable dire-mixed Terrors: (rors. At which (I Trembling) WAKDE; and though the Errors- Of my Sleepe-wandring-Soule, were now left Clear, And that my cold hands had ta'en leave of fear, Yet my Heart panted, and my Hair turned white, More through the Ghastly Objects of this Night, Then with the Snow of Age: And yet even then, Collecting up myself, I read of Men The Volumes over, and the world, so well That I found Here worse Devils than are in Hell FINIS.