POEMS, etc. UPON Several Occasions.  
BY Mr. JOHN MILTON: Both ENGLISH and LATIN, etc. Composed at several times.  
With a small Tractate of EDUCATION To Mr. HARTLIB.  
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Dring at the Blue Anchor next Mitre Court over against Fetter Lane in Fleetstreet. 1673.   

THE TABLE Of the English Poems.  

ON the Morning of Christ's Nativity. Pag. 1  
The Hymn. 2  
A Paraphrase on Psalm 114. 13  
— on Psalm 136. 14  
On the Death of a fair Infant dying of a Cough. 17  
The Passion. 21  
On Time. 24  
Upon the Circumcision. 25  
At a Solemn Music. 26  
An Epitaph on the Marchioness of Winchester. 27  
Song on May morning. 31  
On Shakespeare. 31  
On the University Carrier, who sickened in the time of his Vacancy, being forbid to go to London, by reason of the Plague. 32  
Another on the same. 33  
L'Allegro. 35  
Il Penseroso. 41  
Sonnets. 49  
To Mr. Henry Laws, on his Airs. 57  
On the late Massacre in Piedmont. 58  
The fifth Ode of Horace, Lib. 1. Englished. 62  
At a Vacation Exercise in the College. 64  
On the new forcers of Conscience under the Long Parliament. 69  
Arcades. Part of an Entertainment presented to the Countess Dowager of Derby. 70  
1. Song. 70  
2. Song. 74  
3. Song. 74  
LYCIDAS. In this Monody the Author bewails a Learned Friend, unfortunately drowned in his passage from Chester, on the Irish Seas, 1637. 75  
A MASK. 84  
Song. 94  
Song. 122  
Song. 126  
Song. 127  
Psalm 1. done into Verse, 1653. 130  
Psalm 2. 131  
Psalm 3. 132  
Psalm 4. 133  
Psalm 5. 135  
Psalm 6. 137  
Psalm 7. 138  
Psalm 8. 141  
Psalm 80. 143  
Psalm 81. 146  
Psalm 82. 149  
Psalm 83. 151  
Psalm 84. 154  
Psalm 85. 156  
Psalm 86. 158  
Psalm 87. 161  
Psalm 88 162    

THE TABLE. Of the Latin Poems.  

ELegia prima ad Carolum Diodatum. Page 11  
Elegia secunda in Obitum Praeconis Academici Cantabigiensis. 15  
Elegia tertia in Obitum Praesulis Wintoniensis. 16  
Elegia quarta, ad Thomam Junium, etc. 19  
Elegia quinta, in adventum veris. 25  
Elegia sixta, ad Carolum Diodatum, ruri Commorantem. 31  
Elegia septima 35  
In proditionem Bombardicam. 40, 41  
In Inventorem Bombardae. 42  
Ad Leonoram Romae Canentem. 42, 43  
Apologus de Rustico & Hero. 44  
Sylvarum Liber. 45  
In Quintum Novembris. 47  
In Obitum Praesulis Wintoniensis, 57  
Naturam non pati senium. 60  
De Idea Platonica, Quemadmodum Aristoteles intellexit. 63  
Ad Patrem. 64  
Psalm C XIV. 70  
Philosophus ad Regem quendam qui eum ignotum & insontem inter reos forte captum inscius damnaverat, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haec subito misit. 71  
In Effigiei Ejus Sculptorem. ibid.  
An Salsillum Poetam Romanum aegrotantem. ib.  
Mansus 74  
Epitaphium Damonis. 80  
Ad Joannem Rousium Oxoniensis Academiae Bibliothecarium. 90  
Of Education to Mr. Samuel Hartlib. 94    

ERRATA.  
PAge 21. at the end of the Elegy should have come in the Verses at a Vacation Exercise, which follow afterwards, from pag. 64. to p. 68, p. 56. line 8. after is r. it, ib. l. 9 for Colikto r. Colkitto, p. 59 l. 4. for so r. sow, p. 69. l. 17. for bank r. bank, p. 90. l. 9 for Hecate ' r. Hecat ', p. 91. l. 19 leave out the Comma after May, and for here r. hear, p. 128. l. 3. leave out that. In the second part p. 43. l. 1. for Canentam r. Canentem, ibid. l. 4. for desipulisset r. desipuisset, p. 49. l. 2. for Adamantius r. Adamantinus, ibid. l. 9 for Notat r. Natat, p. 52. l. 2. for Relliquas r. Relliquias, p. 53. l. 17, 18. a Comma after Manes, none after Exululat. Some other Errors and mispointings the Readers judgement may correct.   


ON THE MORNING OF Christ's Nativity.  

I.  
THis is the Month, and this the happy morn  
Wherein the Son of heavens eternal King,  
Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born,  
Our great Redemption from above did bring;  
For so the holy Sages once did sing,  
That he our deadly forfeit should release,  
And with his Father work us a perpetual peace.   

II.  
That glorious Form, that Light unsufferable,  
And that far-beaming blaze of Majesty,  
Wherewith he want at heavens high Councel-Table,  
To sit the midst of Trinal Unity,  
He laid aside; and here with us to be,  
Forsook the Courts of everlasting Day,  
And chose with us a darksome House of mortal Clay.   

III.  
Say Heavenly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein  
Afford a Present to the Infant God?  
Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain,  
To welcome him to this his new abode,  
Now while the Heaven by the Sun's team untrod,  
Hath took no print of the approaching light,  
And and all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright?   

IV.  
See how from far upon the Eastern road  
The Starled Wizards haste with odours sweet,  
O run, prevent them with thy humble ode,  
And lay it lowly at his blessed feet;  
Have thou the honour first, thy Lord to greet,  
And join thy voice unto the Angel Choir,  
From out his secret Altar touched with hallowed fire.    

The Hymn.  

I.  
IT was the Winter wild,  
While the Heav'n-born-childe,  
All meanly wrapped in the rude manger lies;  
Nature in awe to him  
Had doffed her gaudy trim,  
With her great Master so to sympathise:  
It was no season then for her  
To wanton with the Sun her lusty Paramour.   

II.  
Only with speeches fair  
She woos the gentle Air  
To hide her guilty front with innocent Snow,  
And on her naked shame,  
Pollute with sinful blame,  
The Saintly Veil of Maiden white to throw,  
Confounded, that her Maker's eyes  
Should look so near upon her foul deformities.   

III.  
But he her fears to cease,  
Sent down the meek-eyed Peace,  
She crowned with Olive green, came softly sliding  
Down through the turning sphere  
His ready Harbinger,  
With Turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing,  
And waving wide her myrtle wand,  
She strikes a universal Peace through Sea and Land.   

IV.  
No War, or Battles sound  
Was heard the World around  
The idle Spear and Shield were high up hung,  
The hooked Chariot stood  
Unstained with hostile blood,  
The Trumpet spoke not to the armed throng,  
And Kings sat still with awful eye,  
As if they surely knew their souran Lord was by.   

V.  
But peaceful was the night  
Wherein the Prince of light  
His reign of peace upon the earth began:  
The Winds with wonder whist,  
Smoothly the waters kissed,  
Whispering new joys to the mild Ocean,  
Who now hath quite forgot to rave,  
While Birds of Calm sit brooding on the charmed wave.   

VI  
The Stars with deep amaze  
Stand fixed in steadfast gaze,  
Bending one way their precious influence,  
And will not take their flight,  
For all the morning light,  
Or Lucifer that often warned them thence;  
But in their glimmering Orbs did glow,  
Until their Lord himself bespoke, and bid them go.   

VII.  
And though the shady gloom  
Had given day her room,  
The Sun himself withheld his wont speed,  
And hid his head for shame,  
As his inferior flame,  
The new enlightened world no more should need;  
He saw a greater Sun appear  
Then his-bright Throne, or burning Axletree could bear.   

VIII.  
The Shepherds on the Lawn,  
Or ere the point of dawn,  
State simply chatting in a rustic row;  
Full little thought they than,  
That the mighty Pan  
Was kindly come to live with them below;  
Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep,  
Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep.   

IX.  
When such music sweet  
Their hearts and ears did greet,  
As never was by mortal finger struck,  
Divinely-warbled voice  
Answering the stringed noise,  
As all their souls in blissful rapture took:  
The Air such pleasure loath to lose,  
With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close.   

X.  
Nature that heard such sound  
Beneath the hollow round  
Of Cynthia's seat, the Airy region thrilling,  
Now was almost won  
To think her part was done,  
And that her reign had here its last fulfilling;  
She knew such harmony alone  
Could hold all Heaven and Earth in happier union.   

XI.  
At last surrounds their sight  
A Globe of circular light,  
That with long beams the shamefaced night arrayed,  
The helmed Cherubin  
And sworded Seraphim,  
Are seen in glittering ranks with wings displayed,  
Harping in loud and solemn quite,  
With unexpressive notes to heavens newborn Heir.   

XII.  
Such Music (as'tis said)  
Before was never made,  
But when of old the sons of morning sung,  
While the Creator great  
His Constellations set,  
And the well-balanced world on hinges hung,  
And cast the dark foundations deep,  
And bid the weltering waves their oozy channel keep.   

XIII.  
Ring out ye Crystal spheres,  
Once bless our humane ears,  
(If ye have power to touch our senses so)  
And let your silver chime  
Move in melodious time;  
And let the Base of heavens deep Organ blow,  
And with your ninefold harmony  
Make up full consort to th'angelic symphony.   

XIV  
For if such holy Song  
Enwrap our fancy long,  
Time will run back, and fetch the age of gold,  
And speckled vanity  
Will sicken soon and die,  
And leprous sin will melt from earthly mould,  
And Hell itself will pass away,  
And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day.   

XV.  
Yea Truth, and Justice then  
Will down return to men,  
Orbed in a Rainbow; and like glories wearing  
Mercy will sit between,  
Throned in Celestial sheen,  
With radiant feet the tissued clouds down steering,  
And Heaven as at some Festival,  
Will open wide the Gates of her high Palace Hall.   

XVI.  
But wisest Fate says no,  
This must not yet be so,  
The Babe lies yet in smiling Infancy,  
That on the bitter cross  
Must redeem our loss;  
So both himself and us to glorify:  
Yet first to those ychained in sleep,  
The wakeful trump of doom must thunder through the deep.   

XVII.  
With such a horrid clang  
As on mount Sinai rang  
While the red fire, and smouldering clouds out broke:  
The aged Earth aghast  
With terror of that blast,  
Shall from the surface to the centre shake;  
When at the world last session,  
The dreadful Judge in middle Air shall spread his throne.   

XVIII.  
And then at last our bliss  
Full and perfect is,  
But now begins; for from this happy  
Th'old Dragon under ground  
In straighter limits bound,  
Not half so far casts his usurped sway,  
And wroth to see his Kingdom fail,  
Swinges the scaly Horror of his folded tail.   

XIX.  
The Oracles are dumb,  
No voice or hideous humm  
Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving.  
Apollo from his shrine  
Can no more divine,  
With hollow shriek the steep of Delphos leaving.  
No nightly trance, or breathed spell,  
Inspires the pale-eyed Priest from the prophetic cell.   

XX.  
The lonely mountains o'er,  
And the resounding shore,  
A voice of weeping heard, and loud lament;  
From haunted spring, and dale  
Edged with poplar pale,  
The parting Genius is with sighing sent,  
With flowre-inwov'n tresses torn  
The Nymphs in twilight shade of tangled thickets mourn.   

XXI.  
In consecrated Earth,  
And on the holy Hearth,  
The Lar, and Lemures moan with midnight plaint,  
In Urns, and Altars round,  
A drear and dying sound  
Affrights the Flamens at their service acquaint;  
And the i'll Marble seems to sweat,  
While each peculiar power foregoes his wont seat.   

XXII.  
Peor, and Baalim,  
Forsake their Temples dim,  
With that twice battered god of Palestine  
And mooned Ashtaroth,  
heavens Queen and Mother both,  
Now sits not girt with Tapers holy shine,  
The Libyc Hammon shrinks his horn,  
In vain the Tyrian Maids their wounded Thamuz mourn.   

XXIII.  
And sullen Moloch fled,  
Hath left in shadows dread,  
His burning Idol all of blackest hue;  
In vain with Cymbals ring,  
They call the grisly King,  
In dismal dance about the furnace blue;  
The brutish gods of Nile as fast,  
Isis and Orus, and the Dog Anubis haste.   

XXIV.  
Nor is Osiris seen  
In Memphian Grove, or Green,  
Trampling the unshowred Grass with lowings loud:  
Nor can he be at rest  
Within his sacred chest,  
Naught but profoundest Hell can be his shroud,  
In vain with Timbreled Anthems dark  
The sable stoled Sorcerers bear his worshipped Ark.   

XXV.  
He feels from Judas Land  
The dredded Infant's hand,  
The rays of Bethlehem blind his dusky eyn;  
Nor all the Gods beside,  
Longer dare abide,  
Not Typhon huge ending in snaky twine:  
Our Babe to show his Godhead true,  
Can in his swaddling bands control the damned crew.   

XXVI.  
So when the Sun in bed,  
Curtained with cloudy red,  
Pillows his chin upon an Orient wave,  
The flocking shadows pale,  
Troop to th'infernal Jail,  
Each fettered Ghost slips to his several grave,  
And the yellow-skirted Fayes,  
Fly after the Night-steeds, leaving their Moon-loved maze.   

XXVII.  
But see the Virgin blest,  
Hath laid her Babe to rest.  
Time is our tedious Song should here have ending:  
heavens youngest teemed Star,  
Hath fixed her polished Car,  
Her sleeping Lord with Handmaid Lamp attending:  
And all about the Courtly Stable,  
Bright-harnest Angels sit in order serviceable.    

A Paraphrase on Psalm 114.  
This and the following Psalm were done by the Author at fifteen years old.  

WHen the blessed seed of Terah's faithful Son,  
After long toil their liberty had won,  
And past from Pharian Fields to Canaan Land,  
Led by the strength of the Almighty's hand,  
Jehovah's wonders were in Israel shown,  
His praise and glory was in Israel known.  
That saw the troubled Sea, and shivering fled,  
And sought to hide his froth becurled head  
Low in the earth, Jordan's clear streams recoil,  
As a faint Host that hath received the foil.  
The high, huge-bellied Mountains skip like Rams  
Amongst their Ewes, the little Hills like Lambs.  
Why fled the Ocean? And why skipped the Mountains?  
Why turned Jordan toward his Crystal Fountains?  
Shake earth, and at the presence be aghast  
Of him that ever was, and ay shall last,  
That glassy floods from rugged rocks can crush,  
And make soft rills from fiery flint stones gush.    

Psalm 136.  

LEt us with a gladsome mind  
Praise the Lord, for he is kind  
For his mercies ay endure,  
Ever faithful, ever sure.   

Let us blaze his Name abroad,  
For of gods he is the God;  
For his, etc.   

O let us his praises tell,  
Who doth the wrathful tyrants quell.  
For his, etc.   

Who with his miracles doth make  
Amazed Heaven and Earth to shake.  
For his, etc.   

Who by his wisdom did create  
The painted heavens so full of state.  
For his, etc.   

Who did the solid Earth ordain  
To rise above the watery plain.  
For his, etc.   

Who by his all-commanding might,  
Did fill the newmade world with light  
For his, etc.   

And caused the Golden-tressed Sun,  
All the day long his course to run.  
For his, etc.   

The horned Moon to shine by night,  
Amongst her spangled sisters bright.  
For his, etc.   

He with his thunder-clasping hand,  
Smote the firstborn of Egypt Land.  
For his, etc.   

And in despite of Pharaoh fell,  
He brought from thence his Israel.  
For, etc.   

The ruddy waves he cleft in twain,  
Of the Erythraean main.  
For, etc.   

The floods stood still like Walls of Glass,  
While the Hebrew Bands did pass.  
For, etc.   

But full soon they did devour  
The Tawny King with all his power.  
For, etc.   

His chosen people he did bless  
In the wasteful Wilderness.  
For, etc.   

In bloody battle he brought down  
Kings of prowess and renown.  
For, etc.   

He foiled bold Seon and his host.  
That ruled the Amorrean coast.  
For, etc.   

And large-limbed Og he did subdue,  
With all his over-hardy crew.  
For, etc.   

And to his Servant Israel,  
He gave their Land therein to dwell.  
For, etc.   

He hath with a piteous eye  
Beheld us in in our misery.  
For, etc.   

And freed us from the slavery  
Of the invading enemy.  
For, etc.   

All living creatures he doth feed,  
And with full hand supplies their need.  
For, etc.   

Let us therefore warble forth  
His mighty Majesty and worth.  
For, etc.   

That his mansion hath on high  
Above the reach of mortal eye.  
For his mercies ay endure,  
Ever faithful, ever sure.    

Anno aetatis 17.  
On the Death of a fair Infant dying of a Cough  

I  
OFairest flower no sooner blown but blasted,  
Soft silken Primrose fading timelesslie,  
Summers' chief honour if thou hadst out-lasted,  
Bleak winter's force that made thy blossom dry;  
For he being amorous on that lovely die  
That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss  
But killed alas, and then bewailed his fatal bliss.   

II.  
For since grim Aquilo his charioteer  
By boisterous rape th' Athenian damsel got,  
He thought it touched his Deity full near,  
If likewise he some fair one wedded not,  
Thereby to wipe away th'infamous blot,  
Of long-uncoupled bed, and childless eld,  
Which'mongst the wanton gods a foul reproach was held.   

III.  
So mounting up in ycie-pearled carr,  
Through middle empire of the freezing air  
He wandered long, till thee he spied from far,  
There ended was his quest, there ceased his care.  
Down he descended from his Snow-soft chair,  
But all unwares with his cold-kind embrace  
Unhoused thy Virgin Soul from her fair biding place.   

IV.  
Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate;  
For so Apollo, with unwitting hand  
Whilom did slay his dearly-loved mate  
Young Hyacinth born on Eurota's strand  
Young Hyacinth the pride of Spartan land;  
But then transformed him to a purple flower  
Alack that so to change thee winter had no power.   

V.  
Yet can I not persuade me thou art dead  
Or that thy coarse corrupts in earth's dark womb,  
Or that thy beauties lie in wormie bed,  
Hid from the world in a low delved tomb;  
Could Heaven for pity thee so strictly doom?  
Oh no? for something in thy face did shine  
Above mortality that showed thou wast divine.   

VI  
Resolve me then oh Soul most surely blest  
(If so it be that thou these plaints dost hear)  
Tell me bright Spirit where ere thou hoverest  
Whether above that high first-moving Sphere  
Or in the Elysian fields (if such there were.)  
Oh say me true if thou wert mortal wight  
And why from us so quickly thou didst take thy flight.   

VII.  
Wert thou some Star which from the ruin'd roof  
Of shaked Olympus by mischance didst fall;  
Which careful Jove in natures true behoof  
Took up, and in fit place did reinstall?  
Or did of late earth's Sons besiege the wall  
Of sheenie Heaven, and thou some goddess fled  
Amongst us here below to hide thy nectared head.   

VIII.  
Or wert thou that just Maid who once before  
Forsook the hated earth, O tell me sooth  
And cam'st again to visit us once more?  
Or wert thou that sweet smiling Youth!  
Or that cowned Matron sage white-robed truth?  
Or any other of that heavenly brood  
Let down in cloudy throne to do the world some good.   

IX.  
Or wert thou of the golden-winged host,  
Who having clad thyself in humane weed,  
To earth from thy prefixed seat didst post,  
And after short abode fly back with speed,  
As if to show what creatures Heaven doth breed,  
Thereby to set the hearts of men on fire  
To scorn the sordid world, and unto Heaven aspire.   

X.  
But oh why didst thou not stay here below  
To bless us with thy heaven loved innocence,  
To slake his wrath whom sin hath made our so  
To turn Swift-rushing black perdition hence,  
Or drive away the slaughtering pestilence,  
To stand 'twixt us and our deferved smart  
But thou canst best perform that office where thou art.   

XI.  
Then thou the mother of so sweet a child  
Her false imagined loss cease to lament,  
And wisely learn to curb thy sorrows wild;  
Think what a present thou to God hast sent,  
And render him with patience what he lent;  
This if thou do he will an offspring give,  
That till the world's last-end shall make thy name to live.    

The Passion.  

I.  
Erewhile of Music, and Ethereal mirth,  
Wherewith the stage of Air and Earth did ring,  
And joyous news of heavenly Infant's birth,  
My muse with Angels did divide to sing;  
But headlong joy is ever on the wing,  
In Wintry solstice like the shortened light  
Soon swallowed up in dark and long out-living night.   

II.  
For now to sorrow must I tune my song,  
And set my Harp to notes of saddest woe,  
Which on our dearest Lord did seize ere long,  
Dangers, and snares, and wrongs, and worse than so,  
Which he for us did freely undergo.  
Most perfect Hero, tried in heaviest plight  
Of labours huge and hard, too hard for human wight.   

III.  
He sov ran Priest stooping his regal head  
That dropped with odorous oil down his fair eyes,  
Poor fleshly Tabernacle entered,  
His starry front low-rooft beneath the skies;  
O what a mask was there, what a disguise!  
Yet more; the stroke of death he must abide,  
Then lies him meekly down fast by his brethren's side.   

IV.  
These latest scenes confine my roving verse,  
To this Horizon is my Phoebus bound,  
His Godlike acts; and his temptations fierce,  
And former sufferings other where are found;  
Loud o'er the rest Cremona's Trump doth sound;  
Me softer airs befit, and softer strings  
Of Lute, or Viol still, more apt for mournful things.   

V.  
Befriend me night best Patroness of grief,  
Over the Pole thy thickest mantle throw,  
And work my flattered fancy to belief,  
That Heaven and Earth are coloured with my woe;  
My sorrows are too dark for day to know:  
The leaves should all be black whereon I write,  
And letters where my tears have washed a wannish white.   

VI  
See see the Chariot, and those rushing wheels,  
That whirled the Prophet up at Chebar flood,  
My spirit some transporting Cherub feels,  
To bear me where the Towers of Salem stood,  
Once glorious Towers, now sunk in guiltless blood;  
There doth my soul in holy vision sit  
In pensive trance, and anguish, and ecstatick fit,   

VII.  
Mine eye hath found that sad Sepulchral rock  
That was the Casket of heavens richest store,  
And here though grief my feeble hands up lock,  
Yet on the softened Quarry would I score  
My plaining vers as lively as before;  
For sure so well instructed are my tears,  
That they would fitly fall in ordered Characters.   

VIII.  
Or should I thence hurried on viewles' wing,  
Take up a weeping on the Mountains wild,  
The gentle neighbourhood of grove and spring  
Would soon unbosom all their Echoes mildè,  
And I (for grief is easily beguiled)  
Might think th' infection of my sorrows loud,  
Had got a race of mourners on some pregnant cloud.   
This Subject the Author finding to be above the years he had, when he wrote it, and nothing satisfied with what was begun, less it unfinished.   

On Time.  

FLy envious Time, till thou run out thy race,  
Call on the lazy leaden-stepping hours,  
Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets pace;  
And glut thyself with what thy womb devours,  
Which is no more than what is false and vain,  
And merely mortal dross;  
So little is our loss,  
So little is thy gain.  
For when as each thing bade thou hast entombed,  
And last of all thy greedy self consumed,  
Then long Eternity shall greet our bliss  
With an individual kiss;  
And Joy shall overtake us as a flood,  
When every thing that is sincerely good  
And perfectly divine,  
With Truth, and Peace, and Love shall ever shine  
About the supreme Throne  
Of him, t'whose happy-making sight alone,  
When once our heav'nly-guided soul shall climb,  
Then all this Earthy grossness quit,  
Attired with Stars, we shall for ever sit,  
Triumphing over Death, and Chance, and thee O Time.    

Upon the Circumcision.  

YE flaming Powers, and winged Warriors bright,  
That erst with Music, and triumphant song  
First heard by happy watchful Shepherd's ear,  
So sweetly sung your Joy the Clouds along  
Through the soft silence of the listening night;  
Now mourn, and if sad share with us to bear  
Your fiery essence can distil no tear,  
Burn in your sighs, and borrow  
Seas wept from our deep sorrow,  
He who with all heavens heraldry whilear  
Entered the world, now bleeds to give us ease;  
Alas, how soon our sin  
Sore doth begin  
His Infancy to seize!  
O more exceeding love or law more just?  
Just law indeed, but more exceeding love!  
For we by rightful doom remediless  
Were lost in death, till he that dwelled above  
High throned in secret bliss, for us frail dust  
Emptied his glory, even to nakedness;  
And that great Covenant which we still transgress  
Entirely satisfied,  
And the full wrath beside  
Of vengeful Justice bore for our excess,  
And seals obedience first with wounding smart  
This day, but O ere long  
Huge pangs and strong  
Will pierce more near his heart.    

At a solemn Music.  

Blessed pair of Sirens, pledges of heavens joy,  
Sphear-born harmonious Sisters, Voice, and Verse,  
Wed your divine sounds, and mixed power employ  
Dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce,  
And to our high-raised fantasy present,  
That undisturbed Song of pure consent,  
Ay sung before the saphire-coloured throne  
To him that sits thereon  
With Saintly shout, and solemn Jubily,  
Where the bright Seraphim in burning row  
Their loud up-lifted Angel trumpets blow,  
And the Cherubick host in thousand quires  
Touch their immortal Harps of golden wires,  
With those just Spirits that wear victorious Palms,  
Hymns devout and holy Psalms  
Singing everlastingly;  
That we on Earth with undiscording voice  
May rightly answer that melodious noise;  
As once we did, till disproportioned sin  
Jarred against nature's chime, and with harsh din  
Broke the fair music that all creatures made  
To their great Lord, whose love their motion swayed  
In perfect Diapason, whilst they stood  
In first obedience, and their state of good.  
O may we soon again renew that Song,  
And keep in tune with Heaven, till God ere long  
To his celestial consort us unite,  
To live with him, and sing in endless morn of light.    

An Epitaph on the Marchioness of Winchester.  

THis rich Marble doth enterr  
The honoured Wife of Winchester,  
A Viscount's daughter, an Ealrs' heir,  
Besides what her virtues fair  
Added to her noble birth,  
More than she could own from Earth.  
Summers' three times eight save one  
She had told, 〈◊〉 too soon,  
After so short time of breath,  
To house with darkness, and with death.  
Yet had the number of her days  
Been as complete as was her praise,  
Nature and fate had had no strife  
In giving limit to her life.  
Her high birth, and her graces sweet,  
Quickly found a lover meet;  
The Virgin choir for her request  
The God that sits at marriage feast;  
He at their invoking came  
But with a scarce-wel-lighted flame;  
And in his Garland as he stood,  
Ye might discern a Cypress bud.  
Once had the early Matrons run  
To greet her of a lovely son,  
And now with second hope she goes,  
And calls Lucina to her throws;  
But whether by mischance or blame  
Atropos for Lucina came;  
And with remorseless cruelty,  
Spoiled at once both fruit and tree:  
The hapless Babe before his birth  
Had burial, yet not laid in earth,  
And the languished Mother's Womb  
Was not long a living Tomb.  
So have I seen some tender slip  
Saved with care from Winter's nip,  
The pride of her carnation train,  
Plucked up by some unheedy swain,  
Who only thought to crop the flower  
New shot up from vernal shower;  
But the fair blossom hangs the head  
Sideways as on a dying bed,  
And those Pearls of dew she wears,  
Prove to be presaging tears  
Which the sad morn had let fall  
On her hastening funeral.  
Gentle Lady may thy grave  
Peace and quiet ever have;  
After this thy travel sore  
Sweet rest seize thee evermore,  
That to give the world increase,  
Shortened hast thy own lives lease;  
Here, besides the sorrowing  
That thy noble House doth bring,  
Here be tears of perfect moan  
Wept for thee in Helicon,  
And some Flowers, and some Bays,  
For thy Hears to strew the ways,  
Sent thee from the banks of Came,  
Devoted to thy virtuous name;  
Whilst thou bright Saint high sittest in glory.  
Next her much like to thee in story,  
That fair Syrian Shepherdess,  
Who after years of barrenness,  
The highly favoured Joseph bore  
To him that served for her before,  
And at her next birth much like thee,  
Through pangs fled to felicity,  
Far within the boosom bright  
Of blazing Majesty and Light,  
There with thee, new welcome Saint,  
Like fortunes may her soul acquaint,  
With thee there clad in radiant sheen,  
No Marchioness, but now a Queen.    

SONG.  
On May Morning.  

NOw the bright morning Star, Day's harbinger,  
Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her  
The Flowery May, who from her green lap throws  
The yellow Cowslip, and the pale Primrose.  
Hail bounteous May that dost inspire  
Mirth and youth and warm desire,  
Woods and Groves are of thy dressing,  
Hill and Dale doth boast thy blessing.  
Thus we salute thee with our early Song,  
And welcome thee, and wish thee long.    

On Shakespeare. 1630.  

WHat needs my Shakespeare for his honoured Bones,  
The labour of an age in piled Stones,  
Or that his hallowed relics should be hid  
Under a Star-ypointing Pyramid?  
Dear son of memory, great heir of Fame,  
What needest thou such weak witness of thy name?  
Thou in our wonder and astonishment  
Hast built thyself a livelong Monument.  
For whilst to th'shame of slow-endeavouring art,  
Thy easy numbers flow, and that each heart  
Hath from the le●res of thy valued Book,  
Those Delphic lines with deep impression took,  
Then thou our fancy of itself bereaving,  
Dost make us Marble with too much conceaving;  
And so Sepulchred in such pomp dost lie,  
That Kings for such a Tomb would wish to die.    

On the University Carrier, who sickened in the time of his vacancy, being forbid to go to London, by reason of the Plague.  

HEre lies old Hobson, Death hath broke his girt,  
And here alas, hath laid him in the dirt,  
Or else the ways being foul, twenty to one,  
He's here stuck in a slough, and overthrown.  
'Twas such a shifter, that if truth were known,  
Death was half glad when he had got him down;  
For he had any time this ten years full,  
Dodged with him, betwixt Cambridge and the Bull.  
And surely, Death could never have prevailed,  
Had not his weekly course of carriage failed;  
But lately finding him so long at home,  
And thinking now his journey's end was 〈◊〉  
And that he had ta'en up his latest 〈◊〉  
In the kind office of a Chamberlain  
Showed him his room where he must lodge that night,  
Pulled off his Boots, and took away the light:  
If any ask for him, it shall be fed,  
Hobson has supped, and's newly gone to bed.    

Another on the same.  

HEre lieth one who did most truly prove,  
That he could never die while he could move,  
So hung his destiny never to rot  
While he might still jog on and keep his trot,  
Made of sphear-metal, never to decay  
Until his revolution was at stay.  
Time numbers motion, yet (without a crime  
'Gainst old truth) motion numbered out his time:  
And like an Engine moved with wheel and weight,  
His principles being ceased, he ended straight,  
Rest that gives all men life, gave him his death,  
And too much breathing put him out of breath;  
Nor were it contradiction to affirm  
Too long vacation hastened on his term.  
Merely to drive the ●ime away he sickened,  
Fainted, and died, nor would with Ale be quickened,  
Nay, quoth he, on his swooning bed outstretched,  
If I may not carry, sure I'll ne'er be fetched,  
But vow though the cross Doctors all stood hearers,  
For one Carrier put down to make six bearers.  
Ease was his chief disease, and to judge right,  
He died for heavinefs that his Cart went light,  
His leisure told him that his time was come,  
And lack of load, made his life burdensome,  
That even to his last breath (there be that say't)  
As he were pressed to death, he cried more weight;  
But had his doings lasted as they were,  
He had been an immortal Carrier.  
Obedient to the Moon he spent his date  
In course reciprocal, and had his fate  
Linked to the mutual flowing of the Seas,  
Yet (strange to think) his wain was his increase:  
His Letters are delivered all and gone,  
Only remains this superscription.    

L' Allegro.  

HEnce loathed Melancholy  
Of Cerberus, and black 〈…〉 ●●dnight born,  
In Stygian Cave forlorn.  
'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and fights unholy,  
Find out some uncouth cell,  
Where brooding darkness spreads his jealous wings,  
And the night-Raven sings;  
There under Ebon shades, and low-browed Rocks,  
As ragged as thy Locks,  
In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell.  
But come thou Goddess fair and free,  
In Heaven ycleap'd Euphrosyne,  
And by men, heart-easing Mirth,  
Whom lovely Venus at a birth  
With two sister Graces more  
To Ivy-crowned Bacchus bore;  
Or whether (as some Sager sing)  
The frolic Wind that breathes the Spring.  
Zephir with Aurora playing,  
As he met her once a Maying,  
There on Beds of Violets blue,  
And fresh-blown Roses washed in dew,  
Filled her with thee a daughter fair,  
So 〈…〉 some, blithe, and debonair.  
Haste thee 〈◊〉 and bring with thee  
Jest and youthful Jollity,  
Quips and Cranks, and wanton Wiles,  
Nods, and Becks, and Wreathed Smiles,  
Such as hang on Hebe's cheek,  
And love to live in dimple sleek;  
Sport that wrincled Care derides,  
And Laughter holding both his sides.  
Come, and trip it as you go  
On the light fantastic toe,  
And in thy right hand lead with thee,  
The Mountain Nymph, sweet Liberty;  
And if I give thee honour due,  
Mirth, admit me of thy crew  
To live with her, and live with thee,  
In unreproved pleasures free;  
To hear the Lark begin his flight,  
And singing startle the dull night,  
From his watch-towre in the skies,  
Till the dappled dawn doth rise;  
Then to come in spite of sorrow,  
And at my window bid good morrow,  
Through the weet-Briar, or the Vine,  
Or the twisted Eglantine.  
While the Cock with lively din,  
Scatters the rear of darkness thin,  
And to the stack, or the Barn door,  
Stoutly struts his Dames before,  
Oft listening how the Hounds and Horn  
Cheerly rouse the slumbering morn,  
From the side of some Hoar Hill,  
Through the high wood echoing shrill.  
Some time walking not unseen  
By Hedge-row Elms, on Hillocks green,  
Right against the Eastern gate,  
Where the great Sun begins his state,  
Robed in flames, and Amber light,  
The clouds in thousand Liveries dight,  
While the Ploughman near at hand,  
Whistles o'er the Furrowed Land,  
And the Milkmaid singeth blithe,  
And the Mower whets his scythe,  
And every Shepherd tells his tale  
Under the Hawthorn in the dale.  
Strait mine eye hath caught new pleasures  
Whilst the Landscape round it measures,  
Run 〈…〉 Lawns, and Fallows Grace,  
Where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 flocks do stray,  
Mountains on whose ●●rren breast  
The labouring clouds do often rest:  
Meadows trim with Daisies pied,  
Shallow Brooks, and Rivers wide.  
Towers, and Battlements it sees  
Boosomed high in tufted Trees,  
Where perhaps some beauty lies,  
The Cynosure of neighbouring eyes.  
Hard by, a Cottage chimney smokes,  
From betwixt two aged Okes,  
Where Corydon and Thyrsis met,  
Are at their savoury dinner set  
Of Herbs, and other Country Messes,  
Which the neat-handed Phillis dresses;  
And then in haste her Bower she leaves,  
With Thestylis to bind the Sheaves;  
Or if the earlier season lead  
To the tanned Haycock in the Mead,  
Some times with secure delight  
The upland Hamlets will invite,  
When the merry Bells ring round,  
And the jocund rebecks sound  
To many a y 〈…〉 h, and many a maid,  
Dancing in the Chequered shade;  
And young and old come forth to pla 〈…〉  
On a Sunshine Holiday,  
Till the livelong daylight fail,  
Then to the Spicy Nut-brown Ale,  
With stories told of many a feat,  
How Fairy Mab the junkets eat,  
She was pinched, and pulled she said,  
And by the Friar's Lantern led  
Tells how the drudging Goblin sweat,  
To ern his Cream-bowle duly set,  
When in one night, ere glimpse of morn,  
His shadowy Flale hath threshed the Corn,  
That ten day-labourers could not end,  
Then lies him down the Lubbar Fend.  
And stretched out all the Chimney's length,  
Basks at the fire his hairy strength;  
And Crop-full out of doors he flings,  
Ere the first Cock his Mattin rings.  
Thus done the Tales, to bed they creep,  
By whispering Winds soon lulled asleep.  
Towered Cities please us then,  
And the busy humm of men,  
Where throngs of Knights and Barons●  
In wards of Peace high triumphs hold,  
With store 〈◊〉, whose bright eyes  
Rain influence, and judge the prize,  
Of Wit, or Arms, while both contend  
To win her Grace, whorn all commend,  
There let Hymen oft appear  
In Saffron robe, with Taper clear,  
And pomp, and feast, and revelry,  
With mask, and antique Pageantry,  
Such sights as youthful Poets dream  
On Summer eves by haunted stream.  
Then to the well-trod stage anon,  
If Jonsons' learned Sock be on,  
Or sweetest Shakespeare fancies child,  
Warble his native Wood-notes wild,  
And ever against eating Cares,  
Lap me in soft Lydian Airs,  
Married to immortal verse  
Such as the meeting soul may pierce  
In notes, with many a winding bout  
Of linked sweetness long drawn out,  
With wanton heed, and giddy cunning,  
The melting voice through mazes running;  
Untwisting 〈…〉 e chains that ty  
The hidden soul of harmony.  
That Orpheus self may heave his h〈…〉  
From golden slumber on a bed  
Of heaped Elysian flowers, and hear  
Such strains as would have won the ear  
Of Pluto, to have quite set free  
His half regained Eurydice.  
These delights, if thou canst give,  
Mirth with thee, I mean to live.    

Il Penseroso.  

HEnce vain deluding joys,  
The brood of folly without father bred,  
How little you bestead,  
Or fill the fixed mind with all your toys;  
Dwell in some idle brain,  
And fancies fond with gaudy shapes possess,  
As thick and numberless  
As the gay motes that people the Sun Beams,  
Or likest hover dreams  
The fickle Pensioners of Morpheus train.  
〈…〉 all thou Goddess, sage and holy,  
Hail divinest Melancholy,  
Whose Saintly 〈◊〉 is too bright  
To hit the Sense of human sight;  
And therefore to our weaker view,  
o'er laid with black stayed Wisdoms hue.  
Black, but such as in esteem,  
Prince Memnon's sister might beseem,  
Or that starred Ethiope Queen that strove  
To set her beauty's praise above  
The Sea Nymphs, and their powers offended,  
Yet thou art higher far descended,  
Thee bright-haired Vesta long of yore,  
To solitary Saturn bore;  
His daughter she (in Satur's reign,  
Such mixture was not held a stain)  
Oft in glimmering Bowers, and glades  
He met her, and in secret shades  
Of woody Ida's inmost grove,  
While yet there was no fear of Jove.  
Come pensive Nun, devout and pure,  
Sober, steadfast, and demure,  
All in a robe of darkest grain,  
Flowing with majestic train,  
And sable stole of Cyprus Lawn,  
Over thy decent shoulders drawn.  
Come, but keep thy wont state,  
With eev'n step, and musing gate,  
And looks commercing with the skies,  
Thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes:  
There held in holy passion still,  
Forget thyself to Marble, till  
With a sad Leaden downward cast,  
Thou fix them on the earth as fast.  
And join with thee calm Peace, and Quiet,  
Spare Fast, that oft with gods doth diet,  
And hears the Muses in a ring,  
Ay round about Jove's Altar sing.  
And add to these retired leisure;  
That in trim Gardens takes his pleasure;  
But first, and chiefest, with thee bring,  
Him that you soars on golden wing,  
Guiding the fiery-wheeled throne,  
The Cherub Contemplation,  
And the mute Silence hist along,  
‛ Less Philomela will deign a Song,  
In her sweetest, saddest plight,  
Smoothing the rugged brow of night,  
〈…〉 e Cynthia checks her Dragon yoke,  
Gen 〈…〉 be th'accustomed Oak;  
Sweet Bird that 〈…〉 nn'st the noise of folly,  
Most musical, most Melancholy!  
Thee Chauntress oft the Woods among,  
I woe to hear thy Even-Song;  
And missing thee, I walk unseen  
On the dry smooth-shaven Green,  
To behold the wand'ring Moon,  
Riding near her highest noon,  
Like one that had been led astray  
Through the heavens wide pathless way;  
And oft, as if her head she bowed,  
Stooping through a fleecy cloud.  
Oft on a Plat of rising ground,  
I hear the far-off Curfew sound,  
Over some wide-watered shore,  
Swinging slow with sullen roar;  
Or if the Air will not permit,  
Some still removed place will fit,  
Where glowing Embers through the room  
Teach light to counterfeit a gloom,  
Far from all resort of mirth.  
Save the Cricket on the hearth,  
Or the Belmans' drowsy charm,  
To bless the doors from nightly harm:  
Or let my Lamp at midnight hour,  
Be seen in some high lonely tower  
Where I may oft outwatch the Bear,  
With thrice great Hermes, or unsphear.  
The spirit of Plato to unfold  
What Worlds, or what vast Regions hold  
The immortal mind that hath forsaken  
Her mansion in this fleshly nook:  
And of those Daemons that are found  
In fire, air, flood, or under ground,  
Whose power hath a true consent  
With Planet, or with Element.  
Some time let Gorgeous Tragedy  
In Sceptered Pall come sweeping by,  
Presenting Thebes, or Pelops line,  
Or the tale of Troy divine.  
Or what (though rare) of later age,  
Ennobled hath the Buskined stage.  
But, O sad Virgin, that thy power  
Might raise Musaeus from his bower,  
Or bid the soul of Orpheus sing  
Such notes as warbled to the string,  
Drew Iron tears down Pluto's cheek,  
And ●●de Hell grant what Love did seek.  
Or call up 〈◊〉 left half told  
The story of Cambu●can bold,  
Of Camball, and of Algarsife,  
And who had Canace to wife,  
That owned the virtuous Ring and Glass,  
And of the wondrous Horse of Brass,  
On which the Tartar King did ride;  
And if ought else, great Bards beside,  
In sage and solemn tunes have sung,  
Of Attorneys and of Trophies hung;  
Of Forests, and enchantments drear,  
Where more is meant then meets the ear,  
Thus night oft see me in thy pale career,  
Till civil-suited Morn appear,  
Not tricked and frounced as she was wont,  
With the Attic Boy to hunt,  
But Cherchefed in a comely Cloud,  
While rocking Winds are Piping loud,  
Or ushered with a shower still,  
When the gust hath blown his fill,  
Ending on the rustling Leaves,  
With minute drops from off the Eaves.  
And when the Sun begins to fling  
His flaring beams, me Goddess bring  
To arched walks of twilight groves.  
And shadows brown that Sylvan 〈◊〉  
Of Pine, or monumental Oak,  
Where the rude Axe with heaved stroke,  
Was never heard the Nymphs to daunt,  
Or fright them from their hallowed haunt.  
There in close covert by some Brook,  
Where no prophaner eye may look,  
Hide me from Day's garish eye,  
While the Bee with Honeyed thy,  
That at her flowery work doth sing,  
And the Waters murmuring  
With such consort as they keep,  
Entice the dewy-feathered Sleep;  
And let some strange mysterious dream,  
Wave at his Wings in Airy stream,  
Of lively portraiture displayed,  
Softly on my eyelids laid.  
And as I wake, sweet music breath  
Above, about, or underneath,  
Sent by some spirit to mortals good,  
Or th'unseen Genius of the Wood  
But let my due feet never fail,  
To walk the studious Cloisters pale.  
And love the high embowed Roof,  
With antic Pillars massy proof,  
And storied Windows richly dight,  
Casting a dim religious light.  
There let the pealing Organ blow,  
To the full voiced Choir below,  
In Service high, and Anthems clear,  
As may with sweetness, through mine car,  
Dissolve me into ecstasies,  
And bring all Heaven before mine eyes.  
And may at last my weary age  
Find out the peaceful hermitage,  
The Hairy Gown and Mossy Cell,  
Where I may sit and rightly spell  
Of every Star that Heaven doth show,  
And every Herb that sips the dew;  
Till old experience do attain  
To something like Prophetic strain.  
These pleasures Melancholy give,  
And I with thee will choose to live.     

SONNETS.  

I.  
ONightingale, that on you bloomy Spray  
Warbl'st at eeve, when all the Woods are still,  
Thou with fresh hope the Lover's heart dost fill,  
While the jolly hours lead on propitious May,  
Thy liquid notes that close the eye of Day,  
First heard before the shallow Cuccoo's bill  
Portend success in love; O if Jove's will  
Have linked that amorous power to thy soft lay,  
Now timely sing, ere the rude Bird of Hate  
Foretell my hopeless doom in some Grove nigh:  
As thou from year to year hast sung too late  
For my relief; yet hadst no reason why,  
Whether the Muse, or Love call thee his mate,  
Both them I serve, and of their train am I.   

II.  
Donna leggiadra il cui bell nome honora  
L'herbosa val di Rheno, e il noble varco,  
Bene è colui d'ogni valour scarco  
Qual tuo spirto gentil non innamora,  
Che dolcement mostra si di fuora  
De sui atti soavi giamai parco,  
E i don', i son d'amor saette ed arco.  
La onde l' alta tua 〈…〉 〈◊〉.  
Quando tu v●ga parli, o lieta canti  
Che mover possa duro alpestre legno,  
Guardi ciascun a gli occhi, ed a gli orecchi  
L'entrata, chi di te si truova indegno;  
Gratia sola di su glivaglia, inanti  
Che'l disio amoroso all cuor s'invecchi.   

III.  
Qual in colle aspro, all imbrunir di sera  
L'avezza giwinetta pastorella  
Va bagnando l'herbetta strana e bella  
Che mal si spande a disusata spera  
Fuor di sua natia alma primavera,  
Cosi amor meco ensue la lingua suella  
Desta il fior novo di strania favella,  
Mentre io di te, vezzosament altera,  
Canto, dal mio buon popol non inteso  
E'l bell Tamigi cangio col bell Arno.  
Amor lo volse, ed io a l'altrui peso  
Seppich ' Amor cosa mai volse indarno.  
Deh! foss ' il mio cuor lento e'l duro seno  
A chi pianta dal ciel si buon terreno.  

Canzone.  
RIdonsi donne e giovani amorosi  
MY accostandosi attorno, e perche scrivi,  
Perche tu scrivi in lingua ignota e strana  
Verseggiando d'amor, e come t'osi?  
Din, se la tua speme sia mai vana,  
E de pensieri lo miglior t' arrivi;  
Cosi mivan burlando, altri rivi  
Altri lidi t'aspettan, & alter onde  
Nelle cui verdi sponde  
Spuntati ad hor, ad hor a la tua chioma  
L'immortal guiderdon d'eterne frondi  
Perche alle spalle tue soverchia soma?  
Canzon dirotti, e tu per me rispondi  
Dice mia Donna, e'l suo dir, e il mio evore  
Questa e lingua di cui si vanta Amore.    

IV.  
Digdati, e te'l diro con maraviglia,  
Quell ritroso io ch'amor spreggiar solea  
E de suoi lacci spesso mi ridea  
Giacaddi, ov'huom dabben talhor s'impiglia.  
Ne treecie d'oro, ne guancia vermiglia  
MY abbaglian si, ma sotto nova idea  
Pellegrina bellezza che'l evor bea,  
Portamenti alti honesti, e nelle ciglia  
Quell sereno fulgor d' amabil nero,  
Parole adorne di lingua piu d'una,  
E'l cantar che di mezzo l'hemispero  
Traviar ben puo la faticosa Luna,  
E degli occhi suoi auventa si gran fuoco  
Che l'incerar gli orecchi mi fia poco.   

V.  
Per certo i bei vostr'occhi, Donna mia  
Esser non puo che non fian lo mio sole  
Si mi percuoton forte, come ei suole  
Per l'arene di Libya chi s'invia,  
Mentre un caldo vapour (ne senti pria)  
Da quel lato si spinge ove mi duole,  
Che force amanti nelle lor parole  
Chiaman sospir; io non so che si sia:  
Parte rinchiusa, e turbida si cela  
Scosso mi il petto, e poi n'uscendo poco  
Quivi d'attorno o s'agghiaccia, o s'ingiela;  
Ma quanto a gli occhi giunge e trovar loco  
Tutte le notti a me suol far piovose  
finch mia Alba rivien colma di rose.   

VI  
Giovane piano, e semplicetto amante  
Pei che fuggir me stesso indubbio sono,  
Madonna a voi del mio cuor l'humil dono  
Faro divoto; io certo a prove tante  
L'hebbi fedele, intrepido, costante,  
De pensieri leggiadro, accorto, e buono;  
Quando rug il gran mondo, e scocca il tuono,  
S'arma dise, d'intero diamante,  
Tanto del force, e d'invidia sicuro,  
Ditimori, e speranze all pepol use  
Quanto d'ingegno, e d' alto valour vago,  
E di cetra sonora, e delle muse:  
Sol troverete in tall part men duro  
Ove amor mice l'insanabil ago.   

VII.  
How soon hath time the subtle these of youth,  
Soln on his wing my three and twentieth year!  
My hasting days fly on with full career,  
But my late spring no bud or blossom showeth.  
Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth,  
That I to manhood am arrived so near,  
And inward ripeness doth much less appear,  
That some more timely-happy spirits indu'th.  
Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow,  
It shall be still in strictest measure even,  
To that same lot, however mean or high,  
Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven;  
〈…〉, if I have grace to use it so,  
As ever in my great task Master's eye.   

VIII.  
Captain or Colonel, or Knight in Arms,  
Whose chance on these defenceless doors may fease,  
If deed of honour did thee ever please,  
Guard them, and him within protect from harms,  
He can requite thee, for he knows the charms  
That call Fame on such gentle acts as these,  
And he can spread thy Name o'er Lands and Seas,  
What ever climb the Sun's bright circle warms.  
Lift not thy spear against the Muse's Bower,  
The great Emathian Conqueror bid spare  
The house of Pindarus, when Temple and Tower  
Went to the ground: And the repeated air  
Of sad Electra's Poet had the power  
To save th' Athenian Walls from ruin bare.   

IX.  
Lady that in the prime of earliest youth,  
Wisely hast shunned the broad way and the green,  
And with those few art eminently seen,  
That labour up the Hill of heavenly Truth,  
The better part with Mary and with Ruth,  
Chosen thou hast, and they that overween,  
And at thy growing virtues fret their splee●  
No anger find in thee, but pity and ruth.  
Thy care is fixed and zealously attends  
To fill thy odorous Lamp with deeds of light,  
And Hope that reaps not shame. Therefore be sure  
Thou, when the Bridegroom with his feastful friends  
Passes to bliss at the mid hour of night,  
Hast gained thy entrance, Virgin wise and pure.   

X.  
Daughter to that good Earl, once Precedent  
Of England's Counsel, and her Treasury,  
Who lived in both, unstained with gold or fee.  
And left them both, more in himself content,  
Till the sad breaking of that Parliament  
Broke him, as that dishonest victory  
At Chaeronea, fatal to liberty  
Killed with report that Old man eloquent,  
Though later born, then to have known the days  
Wherein your Father flourished, yet by you,  
Madam, me thinks I see him living yet;  
So well your words his noble virtue's praise,  
That all both judge you to relate them true,  
And to possess them, Honoured Margaret.   

XI.  
A Book was was writ of late called Tetrachordon;  
And woven close, both matter, form and stile;  
The Subject new: it walked the Town a while,  
Numbering good intellects; now seldom poured on.  
Cries the stall-reader, bless us! what a word on  
A title page is this! and some in file  
Stand spelling falls, while one might walk to Mile-  
End Green. Why is harder Sirs than Gordon,  
Coliktto, or Macdonnel, or Galasp?  
Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek  
That would have made Quintilian stare and gasp.  
Thy age, like ours, O Soul of Sir John Cheek,  
Hated not Learning worse than Toad or Asp;  
When thou taught'st Cambridge, and King Edward Greek.   

XII. On the same.  
I did but prompt the age to quit their clogs  
By the known rules of ancient liberty,  
When straight a barbarous noise environs me  
Of Owls and Cuckoos, Asses, Apes and Dogs.  
As when those Hinds that were transformed to Frogs  
Railed at Latona's twin-born progeny  
Which after held the Sun and Moon in fee.  
But this is got by casting Pearl to Hogs;  
That bawl for freedom in their senseless mood  
And still revolt when truth would set them 〈◊〉▪  
Licence they mean when they cry liberty;  
For who loves that, must first be wife and good;  
But from that mark how far they roave we see  
For all this waist of wealth, and loss of blood.   

To Mr. H. Laws, on his Airs.  
XIII.  
Harry whose tuneful and well measured Song  
First taught our English Music how to span  
Words with just note and accent, not to scan  
With Midas Ears, committing short and long;  
Thy worth and skill exempts thee from the throng,  
With praise enough for Envy to look wan;  
To after age thou shalt be writ the man,  
That with smooth air couldst humour best our tongue  
Thou honour'st Verse, and Verse must send her wing  
To honour thee, the Priest of Phoebus' Choir  
That tun'st their happiest lines in Hymn, or Story.  
Dante shall give Fame leave to set thee higher  
Than his Casella, whom he wooed to sing  
Met in the milder shades of Purgatory.   

XIV.  
When Faith and Love which parted from thee never,  
Had ripened thy just soul to dwell with God,  
Meekly thou didst resign this earthy load  
Of Death, called Life; which us from Life doth sever.  
Thy Works and Alms and all thy good Endeavour  
Stayed not behind, nor in the grave were trod;  
But as Faith pointed with her golden rod,  
Followed thee up to joy and bliss for ever.  
Love led them on, and Faith who knew them best  
Thy handmaids, clad them o'er with purple beams  
And azure wings, that up they flew so dressed,  
And speak the truth of thee on glorious Themes  
Before the Judge, who thenceforth bid thee rest  
And drink thy fill of pure immortal streams.   

On the late Massacher in Piedmont.  
XV.  
Avenge O Lord thy slaughtered Saints, whose bones  
Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold,  
Even them who kept thy truth so pure of old  
When all our Fathers worshipped Stocks and Stones,  
Forget not: in thy book record their groans  
Who were thy Sheep and in their ancient Fold  
Slain by the bloody Piemontese that rolled  
Mother with Infant down the Rocks. Their 〈◊〉 is  
The Vales redoubled to the Hills, and they  
To Heaven. Their martyred blood and ashes so  
O'er all th' Italian fields where still doth sway  
The triple Tyrant: that from these may grow  
A hunder'd-fold, who having learned thy way  
Early may fly the Babylonian wo.   

XVI.  
When I consider how my light is spent,  
ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,  
And that one Talon which is death to hide,  
Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bend  
To serve therewith my Maker, and present  
My true account, lest he returning chide,  
Doth God exact day labour, light denied,  
I fond ask; But patience to prevent  
That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need  
Either man's work or his own gifts, who best  
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best, his State  
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed  
And post o'er Land and Ocean without rest:  
They also serve who only stand and wait.   

XVII.  
I w 〈…〉 e of virtuous Father virtuous Son,  
Now that the Fields are dank, and ways are mire,  
Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire  
Help waste a sullen day; what may be won  
From the hard Season gaining: time will run  
On smother, till Favonius reinspire  
The frozen earth; and cloth in fresh attire  
The Lily and Rose, that neither sowed nor spun.  
What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice,  
Of Attic taste, with Wine, whence we may rise  
To hear the Lute well touched, or artful voice  
Warble immortal Notes and Tuscan Air?  
He who of those delights can judge, And spare  
To interpose them oft, is not unwise.   

XVIII.  
Cyriack, whose Grandsire on the Royal Bench  
Of British Themis, with with no mean applause  
Pronounced and in his volumes taught our Laws,  
Which others at their Bar so often wrench;  
To day deep thoughts resolve with me to drench  
In mirth, that after no repenting draws;  
Let Euclid rest and Archimedes pause,  
And what the Swede intent, and what the French.  
To measure life, learn thou betimes, and know  
Toward solid good what leads the nearest way  
For other things mild Heaven a time ordains,  
And disapproves that care, though wise in show,  
That with superfluous burden loads the day,  
And when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains.   

XIX.  
Methought I saw my late espoused Saint  
Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave,  
Whom Jove's great Son to her glad Husband gave,  
Rescued from death by force though pale and faint.  
Mine as whom washed from spot of childbed taint,  
Purification in the old Law did save,  
And such, as yet once more I trust to have  
Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint,  
Came vested all in white, pure as her mind:  
Her face was veiled, yet to my fancied sight,  
Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined  
So clear, as in no face with more delight.  
But O as to embrace me she inclined  
I waked, she fled, and day brought back my night.    

The Fifth Ode of Horace. Lib. I.  

Quis multa gracilis te puer in Rosa,  Rendered almost word for word without Rhyme according to the Latin Measure, as near as the Language will permit.  
WHat slender Youth bedewed with liquid odours  
Courts thee on Roses in some pleasant Cave,  
Pyrrha for whom bindest thou  
In wreaths thy golden Hair,  
Plain in thy neatness; O how oft shall he  
On Faith and changed Gods complain: and Seas  
Rough with black winds and storms  
Unwonted shall admire:  
Who now enjoys thee credulous, all Gold,  
Who always vacant always amiable  
Hopes thee; of flattering gales  
Unmindful. Hapless they  
To whom thou untried seem'st fair. Me in my vowed  
Picture the sacred wall declares t'have hung  
My dank and dropping weeds  
To the stern God of Sea.   

AD PYRRHAM. Ode V.  
Horatius ex Pyrrhae illecebris tanquam e naufragio enataverat, cujus amore irretitos, affirmat esse miseros..  
QUis multa gracilis te puer in rosa  
Perfusus liquidis urget odoribus,  
Grato, Pyrrha, sub antro?  
Cui flavam religas comam  
Simplex munditie? heu quoties fidem  
Mutatosque deos flebit, & aspera  
Nigris aequora ventis  
Emirabitur insolens,  
Qui nunc te fruitur credulus aurea:  
Qui semper vacuam, semper amabilem  
Sperat, nescius aurae  
Fallacis. miseri quibus  
Intentata nites. me tabula sacer  
Votiva paries indicat uvida  
Suspendisse potenti  
Vestimenta maris Deo.   

Anno Aetatis 19 At a Vacation Exercise in the College, part Latin, part English. The Latin speeches ended, the English thus began.  
HAil native Language, that by sinews weak  
Didst move my first endeavouring tongue to speak,  
And mad'st imperfect words with childish trip s,  
Half unpronounced, slide through my infant-lipps,  
Driving dumb silence from the portal door,  
Where he had mutely sat two years before:  
Here I salute thee and thy pardon ask,  
That now I use thee in my latter task:  
Small loss it is that thence can come unto thee,  
I know my tongue but little Grace can do thee:  
Thou needst not be ambitious to be first,  
Believe me I have thither packed the worst:  
And, if it happen as I did forecast,  
The daintest dishes shall be served up last.  
I pray thee then deny me not thy aid  
For this same small neglect that I have made:  
But haste thee straight to do me once a Pleasure,  
And from thy wardrobe bring thy chiefest treasure;  
Not those new fangled toys, and triming slight  
Which takes our late fantastics with delight,  
But cull those richest Robes, and gay'st attire  
Which deepest Spirits, and choicest Wits desire:  
I have some naked thoughts that rove about  
And loudly knock to have their passage out;  
And weary of their place do only stay  
Till thou hast decked them in thy best array;  
That so they may without suspect or fears  
Fly swiftly to this fair Assembly's ears;  
Yet I had rather if I were to choose,  
Thy service in some graver subject use,  
Such as may make thee search thy coffers round,  
Before thou cloth my fancy in fit sound:  
Such where the deep transported mind may soar  
Above the wheeling poles, and at heavens door  
Look in, and see each blissful Deity  
How he before the thunderous throne doth lie,  
Listening to what unshorn Apollo sings  
To th'touch of golden wires, while Hebe brings  
Immortal Nectar to her Kingly Sire:  
Then passing through the Spherse of watchful fire,  
And misty Regions of wide air next under,  
And hills of Snow and lofts of piled Thunder,  
May tell at length how green-eyed Neptune raves,  
In heavens defiance mustering all his waves;  
Then sing of secret things that came to pass  
Wh 〈…〉 eldam Nature in her cradle was;  
And last of Kings and Queens and Hero's old,  
Such as the wise Demodocus once told  
In solemn Songs at King Alcinous feast,  
While sad Ulysses soul and all the rest  
Are held with his melodious harmony  
In willing chains and sweet captivity.  
But fie my wand'ring Muse how thou dost stray!  
Expectance calls thee now another way,  
Thou knowst it must be now thy only bent  
To keep in compass of thy Predicament:  
Then quick about thy purposed business come,  
That to the next I may resign my Room.  

Then Ens is represented as Father of the Predicaments his ten Sons, whereof the Eldest stood for Substance with his Canons, which Ens thus speaking, explains.  
GOod luck befriend thee Son; for at thy birth  
The Fairy Ladies danced upon the hearth;  
Thy drowsy Nurse hath sworn she did them spy  
Come tripping to the Room where thou didst lie;  
And sweetly singing round about thy Bed  
Strew all their blessings on thy sleeping Head.  
She heard them give thee this, that thou shouldst still  
From eyes of mortals walk invisible,  
Yet there is something that doth force my fear,  
For once it was my dismal hap to hear  
A Sibyl old, bow-bent with crooked age,  
That far events full wisely could presage,  
And in times long and dark Prospective Glass  
Foresaw what future days should bring to pass,  
Your Son, said she, (nor can you it prevent)  
Shall subject be to many an Accident.  
O'er all his Brethren he shall Reign as King,  
Yet every one shall make him underling,  
And those that cannot live from him asunder  
Ungratefully shall strive to keep him under,  
In worth and excellence he shall outgo them,  
Yet being above them, he shall be below them;  
From others he shall stand in need of nothing,  
Yet on his Brothers shall depend for Clothing.  
To find a Foe it shall not be his hap,  
And peace shall lull him in her flowery lap;  
Yet shall he live in strife, and at his door  
Devouring war shall never cease to roar:  
Yea it shall be his natural property  
To ha' 〈…〉 our those that are at enmity.  
What power, what force, what mighty spell, if not  
Your learned hands, can lose this Gordian knot?   

The next Quantity and Quality, spoke in Prose, than Relation was called by his Name.  
River's arise; whether thou be the Son,  
Of utmost Tweed, or Oose, or gulphie Dun,  
Or Tren●, who like some earthborn Giant spreads  
His thirty Arms along the indented Meads,  
Or sullen Mole that runneth underneath,  
Or Severn swift, guilty of Maiden's death,  
Or Rocky Avon, or of Sedgy Lee,  
Or Coaly Tine, or ancient hollowed Dee,  
Or Humber loud that keeps the Scythians Name,  
Or Medway smooth, or Royal Towered Thame.  
The rest was Prose.    

On the new forcers of Conscience under Long PARLIAMENT.  
BEcause you have thrown of your Prelate Lord,  
And with stiff Vows renounced his Liturgy  
To seize the widowed whore Plurality  
From them whose sin ye envied, not abhorred,  
Dare ye for this adjure the Civil Sword  
To force our Consciences that Christ set free,  
And ride us with a classic Hierarchy  
Taught ye by mere A. S. and Rotherford?  
Men whose Life, Learning, Faith and pure intent  
Would have been held in high esteem with Paul  
Must now be named and printed Heretics  
By shallow Edward's and Scotch what d'ye call:  
But we do hope to find out all your tricks,  
Your plots and packing worse than those of Trent,  
That so the Parliament  
May with their wholesome and preventive Shears  
Clip your Phylacteries, though bank your Ears,  
And succour our just Fears  
When they shall read this clearly in your charge  
New Presbyter is but Old Priest writ Large.   

ARCADES.  

Part of an Entertainment presented to the Countess Dowager of Derby at Harefield, by some Noble Persons of her Family, who appear on the Scene in Pastoral Habit, moving toward the seat of State, with this Song.  
1. SONG.  

LOok Nymphs, and Shepherds look,  
What sudden blaze of Majesty  
Is that which we from hence descry  
Too divine to be mistake:  
This this is she  
To whom our vows and wishes bend,  
Here our solemn search hath end.   

Fame that her high worth to raise,  
Seemed erst so lavish and profuse,  
We may justly now accuse  
Of detraction from her praise,  
Less than half we find expressed,  
Envy bid conceal the rest.   

Mark what radiant state she spreads,  
In circle round her shining throne,  
Shooting her beams like silver threads,  
This this is she alone,  
Sitting like a Gods bright,  
In the centre of her light.   

Might she the wise Latona be,  
Or the towered Cybele,  
Mother of a hundred gods;  
Juno dares not give her odds;  
Who had thought this clime had held  
A deity so unparalleled?   

As they come forward, the Genius of the Wood appears, and turning toward them, speaks.  

GEn. Stay gentle Swains, for though in this disguise,  
I see bright honour sparkle through your eyes,  
Of famous Arcady ye are, and sprung  
Of that renowned flood, so often sung,  
Divine Alpheus, who by secret sluse,  
Stole under Seas to meet his Arethuse;  
And ye the breathing Roses of the Wood,  
Fair silver-buskined Nymphs as great and good,  
I know this quest of yours, and free intent  
Was all in honour and devotion meant  
To the great Mistress of you princely shrine,  
Whom with low reverence I adore as mine,  
And with all helpful service will comply  
To further this nights glad solemnity;  
And lead ye where ye may more near behold  
What shallow searching Fame hath left untold;  
Which I full oft amidst these shades alone  
Have sat to wonder at, and gaze upon:  
For know by lot from Jove I am the power  
Of this fair Wood, and live in Oak'n bower,  
To nurse the Saplings tall, and curl the grove.  
With Ringlets acquaint; and wanton windings wove.  
And all my Plants I save from nightly ill,  
Of noisome winds, and blasting vapours i'll.  
And from the Boughs brush off the evil dew,  
And heal the harms of thwarting thunder blew,  
Or what the cross dire-looking Planet smites,  
Or hurtful Worm with cankered venom bites.  
When Evening grey doth rise, I fetch my round  
Over the mount, and all this hallowed grouned,  
And early ere the odorous breath of morn  
Awakes the slumbering leaves, or tasseled horn  
Shakes the high thicket, haste I all about,  
Number my ranks, and visit every sprout  
With puissant words, and murmurs made to bless,  
But else in deep of night when drowfines  
Hath locked up mortal sense, then listen I  
To the celestical Sirens harmony,  
That sit upon the nine enfolded Spheres,  
And sing to those that hold the vital shears,  
And turn the Adamantine spindle round,  
On which the fate of gods and men is wound.  
Such sweet compulsion doth in musickly,  
To lull the daughters of Necessity,  
And keep unsteady Nature to her law,  
And the low world in measured motion draw  
After the heavenly tune, which none can hear  
Of human mould with gross unpurged ear;  
And yet such music worthiest were to blaze  
The peerless height of her immortal praise,  
Whose lustre leads us, and for her most fit,  
If my inferior hand or voice could hit  
Inimitable sounds, yet as we go,  
What ere the skill of lesser gods can show,  
I will assay, her worth to celebrate,  
And so attend ye toward her glittering state;  
Where ye may all that are of noble stem  
Approach, and kiss her sacred vestures hemm.     

2. SONG.  
O'er the smooth enamelled green  
Where no print of step hath been,  
Follow me as I sing,  
And touch the warbled string.  
Under the shady roof  
Of branching Elm-Star-proof.  
Follow me,  
I will bring you where she sits  
Clad in splendour as befits  
Her deity.  
Such a rural Queen  
All Arcadia hath not seen.   

3. SONG.  
NYmphs and Shepherds dance no more  
By sandy Ladons' Lillied banks,  
On old Lycaeus or Cyllene hoar,  
Trip no more in twilight ranks,  
Though Erymanth your loss deplore,  
A better soil shall give ye thanks.  
From the stony Maenalus,  
Bring your Flocks, and live with us,  
Here ye shall have geater grace,  
To serve the Lady of this place.  
Though Syrinx your Pan's Mistress were,  
Yet Syrinx well might wait on her.  
Such a rural Queen  
All Arcadia hath not seen,    

LYCIDAS.  
In this Monody the Author bewails a learned Friend, unfortunately drowned in his passage from Chester on the Irish Seas, 1637. And by occasion foretells the ruin of our corrupted Clergy then in their height.  

YEt once more, O ye Laurels, and once more  
Ye Myrtles brown, with Ivy never sear,  
I come to pluck your Berries harsh and crude,  
And with forced fingers rude,  
Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year.  
Bitter constraint, and sad occasion dear,  
Compels me to disturb your season due:  
For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime,  
Young Lycidas, and hath not left his peer:  
Who would not sing for Lycidas? he knew  
Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme.  
He must not float upon his watery bear  
Unwept, and welter to the parching wind,  
Without the meed of some melodious tear.   

Begin then, Sisters of the sacred well,  
That from beneath the seat of Jove doth spring,  
Begin, and somewhat loudly sweep the string.  
Hence with denial vain, and coy excuse,  
So may some gentle Muse  
With lucky words favour my destined Urn,  
And as he passes turn,  
And bid fair peace be to my sable shroud.  
For we were nursed upon the selfsame hill,  
Fed the same flock; by fountain, shade, and rill.   

Together both, ere the high Lawns appeared  
Under the opening eyelids of the morn,  
We drove a field, and both together heard  
What time the Gray-fly winds her sultry horn,  
Batt'ning our flocks with the fresh dews of night,  
Oft till the Star that rose, at Evening, bright,  
Toward heavens descent had sloped his westering wheel.  
Mean while the Rural ditties were not mute,  
Tempered to th' Oaten Flute,  
Rough Satyrs danced, and Fauns with clov'n heel,  
From the glad sound would not be absent long,  
And old Damaetas loved to hear our song.   

But O the heavy change, now thou art gone,  
Now thou art gone, and never must return!  
Thee Shepherd, thou the Woods, and desert Caves,  
With wild Thyme and the gadding Vine o'ergrown,  
And all their echoes mourn.  
The Willows, and the Hazle Copses green,  
Shall now no more be seen,  
Fanning their joyous Leaves to thy soft lays.  
As killing as the Canker to the Rose,  
Or Taint-worm to the weanling Herds that graze,  
Or Frost to Flowers, that their gay wardrobe wear,  
When first the White Thorn blows;  
Such, Lycidas, thy loss to Shepherd's ear.   

Where were ye Nymphs when the remorseless deep  
Closed o'er the head of your loved Lycidas?  
For neither were ye playing on the steep,  
Where your old Bards, the famous Druids, lie,  
Nor on the shaggy top of Mona high,  
Nor yet where Deva spreads her wizard stream:  
Ay me, I fond dream!  
Had ye been there— for what could that have done?  
What could the Muse herself that Orpheus bore,  
The Muse herself for her enchanting son  
Whom Universal nature did lament,  
When by the rout that made the hideous roar,  
His gory visage down the stream was sent,  
Down the swift Hebrus to the Lesbian shore.   

Alas! What boots it with uncessant care  
To end the homely slighted Shepherds trade,  
And strictly meditate the thankless Muse,  
Were it not better done as others use,  
To sport with Amaryllis in the shade,  
Or with the tangles of Neaera's hair?  
Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise  
(That last infirmity of Noble mind)  
To scorn delights, and live laborious days;  
But the fair Guerdon when we hope to find,  
And think to burst out into sudden blaze,  
Comes the blind Fury with th'abhorred shears,  
And slits the thin spun life. But not the praise,  
Phoebus replied, and touched my trembling ears;  
Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil,  
Nor in the glistering foil  
Set off to th'world, nor in broad rumour lies,  
But lives and spreads aloft by those pure eyes,  
And perfect witness of all-judging Jove;  
As he pronounces lastly on each deed,  
Of so much fame in Heaven expect thy meed.   

O Fountain Arethuse, and thou honoured flood,  
Smooth-sliding Mincius, crowned with vocal reeds,  
That strain I heard was of a higher mood:  
But now my Oat proceeds,  
And listens to the Herald of the Sea  
That came in Neptune's plea,  
He asked the Waves, and asked the Felon Winds,  
What hard mishap hath doomed this gentle swain?  
And questioned every gust of rugged wings  
That blows from off each beaked Promontory;  
They knew not of his story,  
And sage Hippotades their answer brings,  
That not a blast was from his dungeon strayed,  
The Air was calm, and on the level brine,  
Sleek Panope with all her sisters played.  
It was that fatal and perfidious Bark  
Built in th'eclipse, and rigged with curses dark,  
That sunk so low that sacred head of thine.   

Next Camus, reverend Sire, went footing slow,  
His Mantle hairy, and 〈◊〉 Bonnet sedge,  
Inwrought with figures ●im, and on the edge  
Like to that sanguine flower inscribed with woe.  
Ah; Who hath rest (quoth he) my dearest pledge?  
Last came, and last did go,  
The Pilot of the Galilean lake,  
Two massy Keys he bore of metals twain,  
(The Golden opes, the Iron shuts amain)  
He shook his Mitred locks, and stern bespoke,  
How well could I have spared for thee, young swain,  
Enough of such as for their bellies sake,  
Creep and intrude, and climb into the fold?  
Of other care they little reckoning make,  
Then how to scramble at the shearers feast,  
And shove away the worthy bidden guest;  
Blind mouths! that scarce themselves know how to hold  
A Sheephook, or have learned aught else the least  
That to the faithful Herdmans' art belongs!  
What recks it them? What need they? They are sped;  
And when they list, their lean and flashy songs  
Grate on their scrannel Pipes of wretched straw,  
The hungry Sheep look up, and are not fed,  
But swollen with wind, and the rank missed they draw,  
Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread:  
Besides what the grim Wolf with privy paw  
Daily devours apace, and nothing said,  
that two-handed engine at the door,  
Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more.   

Return Alpheus, the dread voice is past,  
That shrunk thy streams; Return Sicilian Muse,  
And call the Vales, and bid them hither cast  
Their Bells, and Flourets of a thousand hues.  
Ye valleys low where the mild whispers use,  
Of shades and wanton winds, and gushing brooks,  
On whose fresh lap the swart Star sparely looks,  
Throw hither all your acquaint enamelled eyes,  
That on the green terf suck the honeyed showers,  
And purple all the ground with vernal flowers.  
Bring the rather Primrose that forsaken dies.  
The tufted Crow-toe, and pale Gessamine,  
The white Pink, and the Pansie freakt with jet,  
The glowing Violet.  
The Musk-rose, and the well attired Woodbine,  
With Cowslips wan that hang the pensive head,  
And every flower that sad embroidery wears:  
Bid Amarantus all his beauty shed,  
And Daffodils fill their cups with tears,  
To strew the Laureate Hearse where Lycid lies.  
For so to interpose a little ease,  
Let our frail thoughts dally with false surmise.  
Ay me! Whilst thee the shores, and sounding Sea  
Wash far away, where ere thy bones are hurled,  
Whether beyond the stormy Hebrides  
Where thou perhaps under the whelming tide  
Visit'st the bottom of the monstrous world;  
Or whether thou to our moist vows denied,  
Sleepest by the fable of Bellerus old,  
Where the great vision of the guarded Mount  
Looks toward Namancos and Bayona's hold;  
Look homeward Angel now, and melt with ruth.  
And, O ye Dolphins, waft the hapless youth.   

Weep no more, woeful Shepherds weep no more,  
For Lycidas your sorrow is not dead,  
Sunk though he be beneath the watery floar,  
So sinks the daystar in the Ocean bed,  
And yet anon repairs his drooping head,  
And tricks his beams, and with new spangled Ore,  
Flames in the forehead of the morning sky:  
So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high,  
Through the dear might of him that walked the waves  
Where other groves, and other streams along,  
With Nectar pure his oozy Lock's he laves,  
And hears the unexpressive nuptial Song,  
In the blessed Kingdoms meek of joy and love.  
There entertain him all the Saints above,  
In solemn troops, and sweet Societies  
That sing, and singing in their glory move,  
And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes.  
Now Lycidas the Shepherds weep no more;  
Henceforth thou art the Genius of the shore,  
In thy large recompense, and shalt be good  
To all that wander in that perilous flood.   

Thus sang the uncouth Swain to th' Oaks and rills,  
While the still morn went out with Sandals grey,  
He touched the tender stops of various Quills,  
With eager thought warbling his Doric lay:  
And now the Sun had stretched out all the hills,  
And now was dropped into the Western Bay;  
At last he rose, and twitched his Mantle blew:  
To morrow to fresh Woods, and Pastures new.    

A MASK PRESENTED At LUDLOW-CASTLE, 1634. etc.  
The first Scene discovers a wild Wood  
The attendant Spirit descends or enters.  

BEfore the starry threshold of Jove's Court  
My mansion is, where those immortal shape  
Of bright atreal Spirits live ensphered  
In Regions mild of calm and serene Air,  
Above the smoke and stir of this dim spot,  
Which men call Earth, and with low-thoughted care  
Confined, and pestered in this pinfold here,  
Strive to keep up a frail, and Feverish being  
Unmindful of the crown that Virtue gives  
After this mortal change, to her true Servants  
Amongst the enthroned gods on Sainted seats.  
Yet some there be that by due steps aspire  
To lay their just hands on that Golden Key  
That opes the Palace of Eternity:  
To such my errand is, and but for such,  
I would not soil these pure Ambrosial weeds,  
With the rank vapours of this Sin-worn mould.   

But to my task. Neptune besides the sway  
Of every salt Flood, and each ebbing stream,  
Took in by lot 'twixt high, and nether Jove,  
Imperial rule of all the Sea-girt Isles  
That like to rich, and various gems inlay  
The unadorned boosom of the Deep,  
Which he to grace his tributary gods  
By course commits to several government,  
And gives them leave to wear their Saphire crowns,  
And wield their little tridents, but this I'll  
The greatest, and the best of all the main  
He quarter's to his blue-haired deities,  
And all this tract that fronts the falling Sun  
A noble Peer of much trust, and power  
Has in his charge, with tempered awe to guide  
An old, and haughty Nation proud in Arms:  
Where his fair offspring nursed in Princely lore,  
Are coming to attend their Father's state,  
And new-entrusted Sceptre, but their way  
Lies through the perplexed paths of this drear Wood,  
The nodding horror of whose shady brows  
Threats the forlorn and wand'ring Passenger.  
And here their tender age might suffer peril,  
But that by quick command from Soveran Jove  
I was dispatched for their defence, and guard;  
And listen why, for I will tell you now  
What never yet was heard in Tale or Song  
From old, or modern Bard in Hall, or Bower.   

Bacchus' that first from out the purple Grape,  
Crushed the sweet poison of misused Wine  
After the Tuscan Mariners transformed  
Coasting the Tyrrhene shore, as the winds listed,  
On Circe's Island fell (who knows not Circe  
The daughter of the Sun? Whose charmed Cup  
Whoever tasted, lost his upright shape,  
And downward fell into a grovelling Swine)  
This Nymph that gazed upon his clustering locks,  
With Ivy berries wreathed, and his blithe youth,  
Had by him, ere he parted thence, a Son  
Much like his Father, but his Mother more,  
Whom therefore she brought up and Comus named,  
Who ripe, and frolic of his full grown age,  
Roving the Celtic, and Iberian fields,  
At last betakes him to this ominous Wood,  
And in thick shelter of black shades embowered,  
Excels his Mother at her mighty Art,  
Offering to every weary Traveller,  
His orient Liquor in a Crystal Glass,  
To quench the drought of Phoebus, which as they taste  
(For most do taste through fond intemperate thirst)  
Soon as the Potion works, their human countenance,  
Th'express resemblance of the gods, is changed  
Into some brutish form of Wolf, or Bear,  
Or Ounce, or Tiger, Hog, or bearded Goat,  
All other parts remaining as they were,  
And they, so perfect is their misery,  
Not once perceive their foul disfigurement,  
But boast themselves more comely than before  
And all their friends, and native home forget  
To roll with pleasure in a sensual sty.  
Therefore when any favoured of high Jove,  
Chances to pass through this adventurous glade,  
Swift as the Sparkle of a glancing Star,  
I shoot from Heaven to give him safe convoy,  
As now I do: But first I must put off  
These my sky robes spun out of Iris Wooff,  
And take the Weeds and likeness of a Swain,  
That to the service of this house belongs,  
Who with his soft Pipe, and smooth dittied Song.  
Well knows to still the wild winds when they roar,  
And hush the waving Woods, nor of less faith,  
And in this office of his Mountain watch,  
Likeliest, and nearest to the present aid  
Of this occasion. But I hear the tread  
Of hateful steps, I must be viewles now.   Comus enters with a Charming Rod in one hand, his Glass in the other, with him a rout of Monsters, headed like sundry sorts of wild Beasts, but otherwise like Men and Women, their Apparel glistering, they come in making a riotous and unruly noise, with Torch's in their hands. Comus. 
The Star that bids the Shepherd fold.  
Now the top of Heaven doth hold,  
And the gilded Car of Day,  
His glowing Axle doth allay  
In the steep Atlantic stream,  
And the slope Sun his upward beam  
Shoots against the dusky Pole,  
Pacing toward the other goal  
Of his Chamber in the East.  
Mean while welcome Joy, and Feast,  
Midnight shout, and revelry,  
Tipsy dance, and Jollity.  
Braid your Locks with rosy Twine  
Dropping odours, dropping Wine.  
Rigour now is gone to bed,  
And Advice with scrupulous head,  
Strict Age, and sour Severity,  
With their grave Saws in slumber lie.  
We that are of purer fire  
Imitate the Starry Choir,  
Who in their nightly watchful Spheres,  
Led in swift round the Months and Years.  
The Sounds, and Seas with all their finny drove  
Now to the Moon in wavering Morris move,  
And on the Tawny Sands and Shelves,  
Trip the pert Fairies and the dapper Elves;  
By dimpled Brook, and Fountain brim,  
The Wood-Nymphs decked with Daisies trim,  
Their merry wakes and pastimes keep:  
What hath night to do with sleep?  
Night hath better sweets to prove,  
Venus now wakes, and wak'ns Love.  
Come let us our rights begin,  
'Tis only daylight that makes Sin  
Which these dun shades will ne'er report,  
Hail Goddess of Nocturnal sport  
Dark veiled Cocytto, t'whom the secret flame  
Of midnight Torches burns; mysterious Dame  
That ne'er art called, but when the Dragon woom  
Of Stygian darkness spits her thickest gloom,  
And makes one blot of all the air,  
Stay thy cloudy Ebon chair,  
Wherein thou rid'st with Heceat ', and befriend  
Us thy vowed Priests, till utmost end  
Of all thy deuce be done, and none left out,  
Ere the blabbing Eastern scout,  
The nice Morn on th' Indian steep  
From her cabined loophole peep,  
And to the tell-tale Sun descry  
Our concealed Solemnity.  
Come, knit hands, and beat the ground,  
In a light fantastic round.  

The Measure.  
Break off, break off, I feel the different pace,  
Of some chaste footing near about this ground.  
Run to your shrouds, within these Brakes and Trees,  
Our number may affright: Some Virgin sure  
(For so I can distinguish by mine Art)  
Benighted in these Woods. Now to my charms,  
And to my wily trains, I shall e'er long  
Be well stocked with as fair a herd as grazed  
About my Mother Circe. Thus I hurl  
My dazzling Spells into the spongy air,  
Of power to cheat the eye with blear illusion,  
And give it false presentments, lest the place  
And my acquaint habits breed astonishment,  
And put the Damsel to suspicious flight,  
Which must not be, for that's against my course;  
I under fair pretence of friendly ends,  
And well placed words of glozing courtesy  
Baited with reasons not unplausible  
Wind me into the easie-hearted man,  
And hug him into snares. When once her eye  
Hath met the virtue of this Magic dust.  
I shall appear some harmless Villager  
And hearken, if I may, her business here.  
But here she comes, I fairly step aside   The Lady enters. 
This way the noise was, if mine ear be true,  
My best guide now, me thought it was the sound  
Of Riot, and ill managed Merriment,  
Such as the jocund Flute, or gamesome Pipe  
Stirs up among the loose unlettered Hinds,  
When for their teeming Flocks, and granges full  
In wanton dance they praise the bounteous Pan,  
And thank the gods amiss. I should be loath  
To meet the rudeness, and swilled insolence  
Of such late Wassailers; yet O where else  
Shall I inform my unacquainted feet  
In the blind mazes of this tangled Wood?  
My Brothers when they saw me wearied out  
With this long way, resolving here to lodge  
Under the spreading favour of these Pines,  
Stepped as they said to the next Thicket side  
To bring me Berries, or such cooling fruit  
As the kind hospitable Woods provide.  
They left me then, when the gray-hooded Eev'n  
Like a sad Votarist in Palmer's weed  
Rose from the hindmost wheels of Phoebus' wain.  
But where they are, and why they came not back,  
Is now the labour of my thoughts, 'tis likeliest  
They had engaged their wand'ring steps too far,  
And envious darkness, ere they could return,  
Had stole them from me, else O thievish Night  
Why shouldst thou, but for some felonious end,  
In thy dark Lantern thus close up the Stars,  
That nature hung in Heaven, and filled their Lamps  
With everlasting oil, to give due light  
To the misled and lonely Traveller?  
This is the place, as well as I may guests,  
Whence even now the tumult of loud Mirth  
Was rife, and perfet in my listening ear,  
Yet nought but single darkness do I find.  
What might this be? A thousand fantasies  
Begin to throng into my memory  
Of calling shapes, and beckoning shadows dire,  
And airy tongues, that syllable men's names  
On Sands, and Shores, and desert Wildernesses.  
These thoughts may startle well, but not astounded  
The virtuous mind, that ever walks attended  
By a strong siding champion Conscience.—  
O welcome pure-eyed Faith, white-handed Hope,  
Thou hover Angel girt with golden wings,  
And thou unblemished form of Chastity,  
I see ye visibly, and now believe  
That he, the Supreme good, t'whom all things ill  
Are but as slavish officers of vengeance,  
Would send a glistering Guardian if need were  
To keep my life and honour unassailed.  
Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud  
Turn forth her silver lining on the night?  
I did not err, there does a sable cloud  
Turn forth her silver lining on the night,  
And casts a gleam over this tufted Grove.  
I cannot hollow to my Brothers, but  
Such noise as I can make to be heard farthest  
I'll venture, for my new enlivened spirits  
Prompt me; and they perhaps are not far off.  

SONG.  
Sweet Echo, sweetest Nymph that liv'st unseen  
Within thy airy shell  
By slow Meander's margin green,  
And in the violet embroidered vale  
Where the love-lorn Nightingale  
Nightly to thee her sad Song mourneth well.  
Canst thou not tell me of a gentle Pair  
That likest thy Narcissus are?  
O if thou have  
Hid them in some flowery Cave,  
Tell me but where  
Sweet Queen of Parley, Daughter of the Sphere.  
So mayst thou be translated to the skies,  
And give resounding grace to all heavens Harmonies.   Com. 
Can any mortal mixture of Earth's mould  
Breath such Divine enchanting ravishment?  
Sure something holy lodges in that breast,  
And with these raptures moves the vocal air  
To testify his hidd'n residence;  
How sweetly did they float upon the wings  
Of silence, through the empty-vaulted night  
At every fall smoothing the Raven down  
Of darkness till it smiled: I have oft heard  
My Mother Circe with the Sirens three,  
Amidst the flowry-kirtled Naiads  
Culling their potent herbs, and baleful drugs,  
Who as they sung, would take the prisoned soul,  
And lap it in Elysium, Scylla wept,  
And chid her barking waves into attention,  
And fell Charybdis murmured soft applause:  
Yet they in pleasing slumber lulled the sense,  
And in sweet madness robbed it of itself,  
But such a sacred, and homefelt delight,  
Such sober certainty of waking bliss  
I never heard till now. I'll speak to her  
And she shall be my Queen. Hail foreign wonder  
Whom certain these rough shades did never breed  
Unless the Gods that in rural shrine  
Dwellest here with Pan, or Sylvan, by blessed Song  
Forbidding every bleak unkindly Fog  
To touch the prosperous growth of this tall Wood  La. 
Nay gentle Shepherd ill is lost that praise  
That is addressed to unattending Ears,  
Not any boast of skill, but extreme shift  
How to regain my severed company  
Compelled me to awake the courteous Echo  
To give me answer from her mossy Couch.  Co. 
What chance good Lady hath bereft you thus?  La. 
Dim darkness, and this leavy Labyrinth.  Co. 
Could that divide you from near ushering guides?  La. 
They left me weary on a grassy terf.  Co. 
By falsehood, or discourtesy, or why?  La. 
To seek i'th' valley some cool friendly Spring.  Co. 
And left your fair side all unguarded Lady?  La. 
They were but twain, and purposed quick return.  Co. 
Perhaps forestalling night prevented them.  La. 
How easy my misfortune is to hit!  Co. 
Imports their loss, beside the present need?  La. 
No less than if I should my brothers lose.  Co. 
Were they of manly prime, or youthful bloom?  La. 
As smooth as Hebe's their unrazored lips.  Co. 
Two such I saw, what time the laboured Ox  
In his loose traces from the furrow came,  
And the swinked hedger at his Supper sat;  
I saw them under a green mantling vine  
That crawls along the side of yond small hill,  
Plucking ripe clusters from the tender shoots,  
Their port was more than human, as they stood;  
I took it for a faêry vision  
Of some gay creatures of the element  
That in the colours of the Rainbow live  
And play▪ i'th' plighted clouds. I was aw●strook,  
And as I passed, I worshipped; if those you seek  
It were a journey like the path to Heaven,  
To help you find them.  La. 
Gentle villager  
What readiest way would bring me to that place?  Co. 
Due west it rises from this shrubby point.  La. 
To find out that, good Shepherd, I suppose,  
In such a scant allowance of Starlight,  
Would overtask the best Land-Pilots art,  
Without the sure guess of well practised feet.  Co. 
I know each lane, and every alley green  
Dingle, or bushy dell of this wild Wood,  
And every bosky bourn from side to side  
My daily walks and ancient neighbourhood,  
And if your stray attendance be yet lodged,  
Or shroud within these limits, I shall know  
E'er morrow wake, or the low roosted lark  
From her thatched palate rouse, if otherwise  
I can conduct you Lady to a low  
But loyal cottage, where you may be safe  
Till further quest'.  La. 
Shepherd I take thy word,  
And trust thy honest offered courtesy,  
Which oft is sooner found in lowly sheds  
With smoky rafters, then in tapstery Halls  
And Courts of Princes, where it first was named,  
And yet is most pretended: In a place  
Less warranted than this, or less secure  
I cannot be, that I should fear to change it,  
Eye me blest Providence, and square my trial  
To my proportioned strength. Shepherd lead on.—  The two Brothers. Eld. Bro. 
Unmuffle ye faint Stars, and thou fair Moon  
That wontst to love the traveller's benison,  
Stoop thy pale visage through an amber cloud,  
And disinherit Chaos, that reigns here  
In double night of darkness, and of shades;  
Or if your influence be quite damned up  
With black usurping mists, some gentle taper  
Though a rush Candle from the wicker hole  
Of some clay habitation visit us  
With thy long levelled rule of streaming light,  
And thou shalt be our star, of Already,  
Or Tyrian Cynosure.  2. Bro. 
Or if our eyes  
Be barred that happiness, might we but hear  
The folded flocks penned in their wattled coats,  
Or sound of pastoral reed with oa●en stops,  
Or whistle from the Lodge, or Village Cock  
Count the night watches to his feathery Dames,  
'Twould be some solace yet some little cheering  
In this close dungeon of innumerous bows.  
But O that hapless virgin our lost sister  
Where may she wander now, whether betake her  
From the i'll dew, amongst rude burrs and thistles?  
Perhaps some cold bank is her bolster now  
Or 'gainst the rugged bark of some broad Elm  
Leans her unpillowed head fraught with sad fears,  
What if in wild amazement, and affright,  
Or while we speak within the direful grasp  
Of Savage hunger, or of Savage heat?  Eld. Bro. 
Peace Brother, be not over-exquisite  
To cast the fashion of uncertain evils;  
For grant they be so, while they rest unknown,  
What need a man forestall his date of grief,  
And run to meet what he would most avoid?  
Or if they be but false alarms of Fear,  
How bitter is such self-delusion?  
I do not think my sister so to seek,  
Or so unprincipled in virtue's book,  
And the sweet peace that goodness boosoms ever,  
As that the single want of light and noise  
(Not being in danger, as I trust she is not)  
Could stir the constant mood of her calm thoughts,  
And put them into mis-becoming plight.  
Virtue could see to do what virtue would  
By her own radiant light, though Sun and Moon  
Were in the flat Sea sunk. And Wisdoms self  
Oft seeks to sweet retired Solitude,  
Where with her best nurse Contemplation  
She plumes her feathers, and le's grow her wings  
That in the various bustle of resort  
Were all to ruffled, and sometimes impaired.  
He that has light within his own clear breast  
May sit i'th' centre, and enjoy bright day,  
But he that hides a dark soul, and foul thoughts  
Benighted walks under the midday Sun;  
Himself is his own dungeon.  2. Bro. 
'tis most true  
That musing meditation most affects  
The pensive secrecy of desert cell,  
Far from the cheerful haunt of men, and herds,  
And sits as safe as in a Senate house,  
For who would rob a Hermit of his Weeds,  
His few Books, or his Beads, of Maple Dish,  
Or do his grey hairs any violence?  
But beauty like the fair Hesperian Tree  
Laden with blooming gold, had need the guard  
Of dragon watch with unenchanted eye,  
To save her blossoms, and defend her fruit  
From the rash hand of bold Incontinence.  
You may as well spread out the unsunned heaps  
Of Miser's treasure by an outlaws den,  
And tell me it is safe, as bid me hope  
Danger will wink on Opportunity,  
And let a single helpless maiden pass  
Uninjured in this wild surrounding waist.  
Of night, or loneliness it recks me not,  
I fear the dread events that dog them both,  
Lest some ill greeting touch attempt the person  
Of our unowned sister.  Eld. Bro. 
I do not, Brother,  
Infer, as if I thought my sister's state  
Secure without all doubt, or controversy:  
Yet where an equal poise of hope and fear  
Does arbitrate th'event, my nature is  
That I incline to hope, rather than fear,  
And gladly banish squint suspicion.  
My sister is not so defenceless left  
As you imagine, she has a hidden strength  
Which you remember not.  2. Bro. 
What hidden strength,  
Unless the strength of Heaven, if you mean that?  Eld. Bro. 
I mean that too, but yet a hidden strength  
Which if Heaven gave it, may be termed her own:  
'Tis chastity, my brother, chastity:  
She that has that, is clad in complete steel,  
And like a quivered Nymph with Arrows keen  
May trace huge Forests, and unharboured Heaths,  
Infamous Hills, and sandy perilous wilds,  
Where through the sacred rays of Chastity,  
No savage fierce, Bandit, or Mountaneer  
Will dare to soil her Virgin purity,  
Yea there, where very desolation dwells  
By grots, and caverns shagged with horrid shades,  
She may pass on with unblenched majesty,  
Be it not done in pride, or in presumption.  
Some say no evil thing that walks by night  
In fog, or fire, by lake, or moorish fen,  
Blew meager Hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost,  
That breaks his magic chains at curfew time,  
No Goblin, or swart Faêry of the mine,  
Hath hurtful power o'er true Virginity.  
Do ye believe me yet, or shall I call  
Antiquity from the old Schools of Greece  
To testify the arms of Chastity?  
Hence had the huntress Diana her dread bow  
Fair silver-shafted Queen for ever chaste,  
Wherewith she tamed the brinded lioness  
And spotted mountain pard, but set at nought  
The frivolous bolt of Cupid, gods and men  
Feared her stern frown, and she was queen oth'woods'.  
What was that snaky-headed Gorgon shield  
That wise Minerva wore, unconquered Virgin,  
Wherewith she freezed her foes to congealed stone?  
But rigid looks of chaste austerity,  
And noble grace that dashed brute violence  
With sudden adoration, and blank awe.  
So dear to Heaven is Saintly chastity,  
That when a soul is found sincerely so,  
A thousand liveried Angels lackey her,  
Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt,  
And in clear dream, and solemn vision  
Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear,  
Till oft convers with heavenly habitants  
Begin to cast a beam on th'outward shape,  
The unpolluted temple of the mind,  
And turns it by degrees to the souls essence,  
Till all be made immortal: but when lust  
By unchaste looks, loose gestures, and foul talk,  
But most by lewd and lavish act of sin,  
Le's in defilement to the inward parts,  
The soul grows clotted by contagion,  
Embodies, and imbrutes, till she quite loose  
The divine property of her first being.  
Such are those thick and gloomy shadows damp  
Oft seen in Charnel vaults, and Sepulchers  
Linger, and sitting by a new made grave,  
As loath to leave the Body that it loved,  
And linked itself by carnal sensuality  
To a degenerate and degraded state.  2. Bro. 
How charming is divine Philosophy!  
Not harsh, and crabbed as dull fools suppose,  
But musical as is Apollo's lute,  
And a perpetual feast of nectared sweets,  
Where no crude surfeit reigns.  Eld. Bro. 
List, li●, I hear  
Some far of hollow break the silent Air.  2. Bro. 
Me thought so too; what should it be?  Eld. Bro. 
For certain  
Either some one like us night-soundered here,  
Or else some neighbour Woodman, or at worst,  
Some roving Robber calling to his fellows.  2. Bro. 
Heaven keep my sister, again, again, and near,  
Best draw, and stand upon our guard.  Eld. Bro. 
I'll hollow,  
If he be friendly he comes well, if not,  
Defence is a good cause, and Heaven be for us.  The attendant Spirit habited like a Shepherd. 
That hollow I should know, what are you? speak;  
Come not too near, you fall on iron stakes else.  Spir. 
What voice is that, my young Lord? speak again.  2. Bro. 
O brother, 'tis my father Shepherd sure.  Eld. Bro. 
Thyrsis? Whose artful strains have oft delayed  
The huddling brook to hear his madrigal,  
And sweetened every musk-rose of the dale,  
How cam'st thou here good Swain? hath any Ram  
slipped from the fold, or young Kid lost his dam,  
Or straggling Wether the penned flock forsaken?  
How couldst thou find this dark sequestered nook?  Spir. 
O my loved Master's heir, and his next joy,  
I came not here on such a trivial toy  
As a strayed Ewe, or to pursue the stealth  
Of pilfering Wolf, not all the fleecy wealth  
That doth enrich these Downs, is worth a thought  
To this my errand, and the care it brought.  
But O my Virgin Lady, where is she?  
How chance she is not in your company?  Eld. Bro. 
To tell thee sadly Shepherd, without blame,  
Or our neglect, we lost her as we came.  Spir. 
Ay me unhappy than my fears are true.  El. Bro. 
What fears good Thyrsis? Prithee briefly show.  Spir. 
I'll tell ye, 'tis not vain or fabulous,  
(Though so esteemed by shallow ignorance)  
What the sage Poets taught by th'heavenly Muse,  
Storied of old in high immortal vers  
Of dire Chimeras and enchanted Isles,  
And rifted Rocks whose entrance leads to Hell,  
For such there be, but unbelief is blind.  
Within the navel of this hideous Wood,  
Immured in cypress shades a Sorcerer dwells  
Of Bacchus, and of Circe born, great Comus,  
Deep skilled in all his mother's witcheries,  
And here to every thirsty wanderer,  
By sly enticement gives his baneful cup,  
With many murmurs mixed, whose pleasing poison  
The visage quite transforms of him that drinks,  
And the inglorious likeness of a beast  
Fixes instead, unmoulding reasons mintage  
Charactered in the face; this have I learned  
Tending my flocks hard by i'th' hilly crofts,  
That brow this bottom glade, whence night by night  
He and his monstrous rout are heard to howl  
Like stabled wolves, or tigers at their prey,  
Doing abhorred rites to Hecate  
In their obscured haunts of inmost bowers,  
Yet have they many baits, and guileful spells  
To inveigle and invite th'unwary sense  
Of them that pass unwitting by the way.  
This evening late by then the chewing flocks  
Had ta'en their supper on the savoury Herb  
Of Knotgrass dew-besprent, and were in fold,  
I sat me down to watch upon a bank  
With Ivy canopied, and interwove  
With flaunting Honeysuckle, and began  
Wrapped in a pleasing fit of melancholy  
To meditate upon my rural minstrelsy,  
Till fancy had her fill, but ere a close  
The wont roar was up amidst the Woods,  
And filled the Air with barbarous dissonance  
At which I ceased, and listened them a while,  
Till an unusual stop of sudden silence  
Gave respite to the drowsy frighted steeds  
That draw the litter of close curtained sleep;  
At last a soft and solemn breathing sound  
Rose like a stream of rich distilled perfumes,  
And stole upon the Air, that even Silence  
Was took ere she was ware, and wished she might  
Deny her nature, and be never more  
Still to be so displaced. I was all ear,  
And took in strains that might create a soul  
Under the ribs of Death, but O ere long  
Too well I did perceive it was the voice  
Of my most honoured Lady, your dear sister.  
Amazed I stood, harrowed with grief and fear,  
And O poor hapless Nightingale thought I,  
How sweet thou singest, how near the deadly snare!  
Then down the Lawns I ran with headlong haste  
Through paths, and turnings often trod by day,  
Till guided by mine ear I found the place  
Where that damned wizard hid in sly disguise  
(For so by certain signs I knew) had met  
Already, ere my best speed could prevent,  
The aidless innocent Lady his wished prey,  
Who gently asked if he had seen such two,  
Supposing him some neighbour villager;  
Longer I durst not stay, but soon I guessed  
Ye were the two she meant, with that I sprung  
Into swift flight, till I had found you here,  
But further know I not.  2. Bro. 
O night and shades,  
How are ye joined with Hell in triple knot  
Against th'unarmed weakness of one Virgin  
Alone, and helpless! is this the confidence  
You gave me Brother?  Eld. Bro. 
Yes, and keep it still,  
Lean on it safely, not a period  
Shall be unsaid for me: against the threats  
Of malice or of sorcery, or that power  
Which erring men call Chance, this I hold firm,  
Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt,  
Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled,  
Yea even that which mischief meant most harm,  
Shall in the happy trial prove most glory.  
But evil on itself shall back recoil,  
And mix no more with goodness, when at last  
Gathered like scum, and settled to itself  
It shall be in eternal restless change  
Self-fed, and self-consumed, if this fail,  
The pillared firmament is rott'nness,  
And earth's base built on stubble. But come let's on.  
Against th'opposing will and arm of Heaven  
May never this just sword be lifted up,  
But for that damned Magician, let him be girt  
With all the grisly legions that troop  
Under the sooty flag of Acheron,  
Harpies and Hydra's, or all the monstrous forms  
'Twixt Africa and Ind, I'll find him out,  
And force him to restore his purchase back,  
Or drag him by the curls, to a foul, death,  
Cursed as his life.  Spir. 
Alas good venturous youth,  
I love thy courage yet, and bold Emprise,  
But here thy sword can do thee little stead,  
Far other arms, and other weapons must  
Be those that quell the might of hellish charms,  
He with his bare wand can unthread thy joints,  
And crumble all thy sinew.  Eld. Bro. 
Why prithee Shepherd  
How dared thou then thyself approach so near  
As to make this Relation?  Spir. 
Care and utmost shifts  
How to secure the Lady from surprisal,  
Brought to my mind a certain Shepherd Lad  
Of small regard to see to, yet well skilled  
In every virtuous plant and healing herb  
That spreads her verdant leaf to th'morning ray,  
He loved me well, and oft would beg me sing,  
Which when I did, he on the tender grass  
Would sit, and hearken even to ecstasy,  
And in requital open his leathern scrip,  
And show me simples of a thousand names  
Telling their strange and vigorous faculties;  
Amongst the rest a small unsightly root,  
But of divine effect, he culled me out;  
The leaf was darkish, and had prickles on it,  
But in another Country, as he said,  
Bore a bright golden flower, but not in this soil:  
Unknown, and like esteemed, and the dull swain  
Treads on it daily with his clouted shoes,  
And yet more medicinal is it then that Moly  
That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave;  
He called it Haemony, and gave it me,  
And bade me keep it as of sov'ran use  
'Gainst all enchantments, mildew blast, or damp  
Or ghastly furies apparition;  
I pursed it up, but little reckoning made,  
Till now that this extremity compelled,  
But now I find it true; for by this means  
I knew the foul enchanter though disguised,  
Entered the very lime-twigs of his spells,  
And yet came off: if you have this about you  
(As I will give you when we go) you may  
Boldly assault the necromancers hall;  
Where if he be, with dauntless hardihood,  
And brandished blade rush on him, break his glass,  
And shed the luscious liquor on the ground,  
But seize his wand, though he and his cursed crew  
Fierce sign of battle make, and menace high,  
Or like the Sons of Vulcan vomit smoke,  
Yet will they soon retire, if he but shrink.  Eld. Bro. 
Thyrsis lead on apace, I'll follow thee,  
And some good angel bear a shield before us.  The Scene changes to a stately Palace, set out with all manner of deliciousness: soft Music, Tables spread with all dainties. Comus appears with his rabble, and the Lady set in an enchanted Chair, to whom he offers his Glass, which she puts by, and goes about to rise. Comus. 
Nay Lady sit; if I but wave this wand,  
Your nerves are all chained up in Alabaster,  
And you a statue, or as Daphne was  
Root-bound, that fled Apollo,  La. 
Fool do not boast,  
Thou canst not touch the freedom of my mind  
With all thy charms, although this corporal rind  
Thou haste emmanacled, while Heaven sees good.  Co. 
Why are you vexed Lady? why do you frown?  
Here dwell no frowns, nor anger, from these gates  
Sorrow flies far: See here be all the pleasures  
That fancy can beget on youthful thoughts,  
When the fresh blood grows lively, and returns  
Brisk as the April buds in Primrose-season.  
And first behold this cordial Julep here  
That flames, and dances in his crystal bounds  
With spirits of balm, and fragrant Syrups mixed.  
Not that Nepenthes which the wife of Thone,  
In Egypt gave to Jove-born Helena  
Is of such power to stir up joy as this,  
To life so friendly, or so cool to thirst.  
Why should you be so cruel to yourself,  
And to those dainty limbs which nature lent  
For gentle usage, and soft delicacy?  
But you invert the covenants of her trust,  
And harshly deal like an ill borrower  
With that which you received on other terms,  
Scorning the unexempt condition  
By which all mortal frailty must subsist,  
Refreshment after toil, ease after pain,  
That have been tired all day without repast,  
And timely rest have wanted, but fair Virgin  
This will restore all soon.  La. 
'Twill not false traitor,  
'Twill not restore the truth and honesty  
That thou hast banished from thy tongue with lies,  
Was this the cottage, and the safe abode  
Thou told'st me of? What grim aspects are these,  
These oughly-headed Monsters? Mercy guard me!  
Hence with thy brewed enchantments, foul deceiver,  
Hast thou betrayed my credulous innocence  
With visored falsehood, and base forgery,  
And wouldst thou seek again to trap me here  
With liquorish baits fit to ensnare a brute?  
Were it a draft for Juno when she banquets,  
I would not taste thy treasonous offer; none  
But such as are good men can give good things,  
And that which is not good, is not delicious  
To a well-governed and wise appetite.  Co. 
O foolishness of men! that lend their ears  
To those budge Doctors of the Stoic Fur,  
And fetch their precepts from the Cynic Tub,  
Praising the lean and sallow Abstinence.  
Wherefore did Nature pour her bounties forth,  
With such a full and unwithdrawing hand,  
Covering the earth with odours, fruits, and flocks,  
Thronging the Seas with spawn innumerable,  
But all to please, and sat the curious taste?  
And set to work millions of spinning Worms,  
That in their green shops wove the smooth-haired silk  
To deck her Sons, and that no corner might  
Be vacant of her plenty, in her own loins  
She hutched th'all-worshipped o'er, and precious gems  
To store her children with; if all the world  
Should in a pet of temperance feed on Pulse,  
Drink the clear stream, and nothing wear but Freeze,  
Th'all-giver would be unthanked, would be unpraised,  
Not half his riches known, and yet despised,  
And we should serve him as a grudging master,  
As a penurious niggard of his wealth,  
And live like Nature's bastards, not her sons,  
Who would be quite surcharged with her own weight,  
And strangled with her waste fertility;  
Th'earth cumbered, and the winged air darked with plumes,  
The herds would over-multitude their Lords,  
The Sea o'refraught would swell, & th'unsought diamonds  
Would so emblaze the forehead of the Deep,  
And so bestudd with Stars, that they below  
Would grow inur'd to light, and come at last  
To gaze upon the Sun with shameless brows.  
List Lady be not coy, and be not cozened  
With that same vaunted name Virginity,  
Beauty is nature's coin, must not be hoarded,  
But must be currant, and the good thereof  
Consists in mutual and partak'n bliss,  
Unsavoury in th'enjoyment of itself  
If you let slip time, like a neglected rose  
It withers on the stalk with languished head.  
Beauty is nature's brag, and must be shown  
In courts, at feasts, and high solemnities  
Where most may wonder at the workm 〈…〉  
It is for homely features to keep home,  
They had their name thence; course complexions  
And cheeks of sorry grain will serve to ply  
The sampler, and to tease the huswives wool.  
What need a vermeil-tinctured lip for that  
Love-darting eyes, or tresses like the the Morn?  
There was another meaning in these gifts,  
Think what, and be advised, you are but young yet.  La. 
I had not thought to have unlocked my lips  
In this unhallowed air, but that this Juggler  
Would think to charm my judgement, as mine eyes  
Obtruding false rules pranked in reason's garb.  
I hate when vice can bolt her arguments,  
And virtue has no tongue to check her pride:  
Impostor do not charge most innocent nature,  
As if she would her children should be riotous  
With her abundance she good cateres  
Means her provision only to the good  
That live according to her sober laws,  
And holy dictate of spare Temperance:  
If every just man that now pines with want  
Had but a moderate and beseeming share  
Of that which lewdly-pampered Luxury  
Now heaps upon some few with vast excess,  
Nature's full blessings would be well dispensed  
In unsuperfluous eeven proportion,  
And she no whit encumbered with her store,  
And then the giver would be better thanked,  
His praise due paid, for swinish gluttony  
ne'er looks to Heaven amidst his gorgeous feast,  
But with besotted base ingratitude  
Crams, and blasphemes his feeder. Shall I go on?  
Or have I said enough? To him that dares  
Arm his profane tongue with contemptuous words  
Against the Sun-clad power of Chastity;  
Feign would I something say, yet to what end?  
Thou hast nor Ear, nor Soul to apprehend  
The sublime notion, and high mystery  
That must be uttered to unfold the sage  
And serious doctrine of Virginity,  
And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know  
More happiness than this thy present lot.  
Enjoy your dear Wit, and gay Rhetoric  
That hath so well been taught her dazzling fence,  
Thou art not fit to hear thyself convinced;  
Yet should I try, the uncontrolled worth  
Of this pure cause would kindle my raped spirits  
To such a flame of sacred vehemence,  
That dumb things would be moved to sympathise,  
And the brute Earth would lend her nerves, and shake,  
Till all thy magic structures reared so high,  
Were shattered into heaps o'er thy false head.  Co. 
She fables not, I feel that I do fear  
Her words set off by some superior power;  
And though not mortal, yet a cold shuddering dew  
Dips me all o'er, as when the wrath of Jove  
Speaks thunder, and the chains of Erebus  
To some of Satur's crew. I must dissemble,  
And try her yet more strongly. Come, no more,  
This is mere moral babble, and direct  
Against the canon laws of our foundation;  
I must not suffer this, yet 'tis but the lees  
And settle of a melancholy blood;  
But this will cure all straight, one sip of this  
Will bathe the drooping spirits in delight  
Beyond the bliss of dreams. Be wise, and taste.—  The Brother's rush in with Swords drawn, wrest his Glass out of his hand, and break it against the ground; his rout make sign of resistance, but are all driven in; The attendant Spirit comes in. Spir. 
What, have you let the false Enchanter scape?  
O ye mistook, ye should have snatched his wand  
And bound him fast; without his rod reversed,  
And backward mutters of dissevering power,  
We cannot free the Lady that sits here  
In stony fetters fixed, and motionless;  
Yet stay, be not disturbed, now I bethink me,  
Some other means I have which may be used,  
Which once of Melibaeus old I learned  
The soothest Shepherd that ere piped on plains.  
There is a gentle Nymph not far from hence,  
That with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream,  
Sabrina is her name, a Virgin pure,  
Whilom she was the daughter of Locrine,  
That had the Sceptre from his Father Brute.  
The guiltless damsel flying the mad pursuit  
Of her enraged stepdame Gwendolyn,  
Commended her fair innocence to the flood  
That stayed her flight with his cross flowing course,  
The water Nymphs that in the bottom played,  
Held up their pearled wrists and took her in,  
Bearing her strait to aged Nereus' Hall,  
Who piteous of her woes, reared her lank head,  
And gave her to his daughters to imbathe  
In nectared lavers strewed with Asphodel,  
And through the porch and inlet of each sense  
Dropped in Ambrosial Oils till she revived,  
And underwent a quick immortal change  
Made Goddess of the River; still she retains  
Her maid'n gentleness, and oft at Eeve  
Visits the herds along the twilight meadows,  
Helping all urchin blasts, and ill luck signs  
That the shrewd meddling Else delights to make,  
Which she with precious vialed liquors heals.  
For which the Shepherds at their festivals  
Carrol her goodness loud in rustic lays,  
And throw sweet garland wreaths into her stream  
Of pansies, pinks, and gaudy Daffodils.  
And, as the old Swain said, she can unlock  
The clasping charm, and thaw the numbing spell,  
If she be right invoked in warbled Song,  
For maid'nhood she loves, and will be swift  
To aid a Virgin such as was herself  
In hard besetting need, this will I try  
And add the power of some adjuring verse.  

SONG.  

Sabrina fair  
Listen where thou art sitting  
Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave,  
In twisted braids of Lilies knitting  
The loose train of thy amber-dropping hair,  
Listen for dear honours sake,  
Goddess of the silver lake,  
Listen and save.   

Listen and appear to us  
In name of great Oceanus,  
By the earth-shaking Neptune's mace,  
And Tethys' grave majestic pace,  
By hoary Nereus' wrincled look,  
And the Carpathian wizard's hook,  
By scaly Triton's winding shell,  
And old sooth-saying Glaucus' spell,  
By Leucothea's lovely hands,  
And her son that rules the strands,  
By Thetis tinsel-slippered feet,  
And the Songs of Sirens sweet,  
By dead Parthenope's dear tomb,  
And fair Ligea's golden comb,  
Wherewith she sits on diamond rocks  
Sleeking her soft alluring locks,  
By all the Nymphs that nightly dance  
Upon thy streams with wily glance,  
Rise, rise, and heave thy rosy head  
From thy coral-pav'n bed,  
And bridle in thy headlong wave,  
Till thou our summons answered have.  
Listen and save.  
Sabrina rises, attended by water-Nymphs, & sings.  
By the rushy-fringed bank,  
Where grows the Willow and the Osier dank,  
My sliding Chariot stays,  
Thick set with Agat, and the azurn sheen  
Of Turquis blue, and Emerald green  
That in the channel strays,  
Whilst from off the waters fleet  
Thus I set my printless feet  
O'er the Cowslips Velvet head,  
That bends not as I tread,  
Gentle swain at thy request  
I am here.    Spir. 
Goddess dear  
We implore thy powerful hand  
To undo the charmed band  
Of true Virgin here distressed,  
Through the force, and through the wile  
Of unblessed enchanter vile.  Sab. 
Shepherd 'tis my office best  
To help ensnared chastity;  
Brightest Lady look on me,  
Thus I sprinkle on thy breast  
Drops that from my fountain pure,  
I have kept of precious cure,  
Thrice upon thy finger's tip,  
Thrice upon thy rubied lip,  
Next this marble venomed seat  
Smeared with gums of glutenous heat  
I touch with chaste palms moist and cold,  
Now the spell hath lost his hold;  
And I must haste ere morning hour  
To wait in Amphitrite's bower.  Sabrina descends, and the Lady rises out of her seat. Spir. 
Virgin, daughter of Locrine  
Sprung of old Anchises line  
May thy brimmed waves for this  
Their full tribute never miss  
From a thousand petty rills,  
That tumbled down the snowy hills:  
Summer drought, or singed air  
Never scorch thy tresses fair,  
Nor wet October's torrent flood  
Thy molten crystal fill with mud,  
May thy billows roll ashore  
The beryl, and the golden ore,  
May thy lofty head be crowned  
With many a tower and terras round,  
And here and there thy banks upon  
With Groves of myrrh, and cinnamon.  
Come Lady while Heaven lends us grace,  
Let us fly this cursed place,  
Lest the Sorcerer us entice  
With some other new device.  
Not a waste, or needless sound  
Till we come to holier ground,  
I shall be your faithful guide  
Through this gloomy covert wide,  
And not many furlongs thence  
Is your Father's residence,  
Where this night are met in state  
Many a friend to gratulate  
His wished presence, and beside  
All the Swains that there abide,  
With Jigs, and rural dance resort,  
We shall catch them at their sport,  
And our sudden coming there  
Will double all their mirth and cheer;  
Come let us haste, the Stars grow high,  
But night sits monarch yet in the mid sky.  The Scene changes, presenting Ludlow Town and the Precedents Castle, then come in Countrey-Dancers, after them the attendant Spirit, with the two Brothers and the Lady. SONG. Spir. 
Back Shepherds, back, anough your play,  
Till next Sunshine holiday,  
Here be without duck or nod  
Other trip to be trod  
Of lighter toes, and such Court guise  
As Mercury did first devise  
With the mincing Dryads  
On the Lawns, and on the Leas.  This second Song presents them to their Father and Mother. 
Noble Lord, and Lady bright,  
I have brought ye new delight,  
Here behold so goodly grown  
Three fair branches of your own,  
Heaven hath timely tried their youth,  
Their faith, their patience, and their truth.  
And sent them here through hard assays  
With a crown of deathless Praise,  
To triumph in victorious dance  
O'er sensual Folly, and Intemperance.  The dances ended, the Spirit Epiloguizes. Spir. 
To the Ocean now I fly,  
And those happy climes that lie  
Where day never shuts his eye,  
Up in the broad fields of the sky:  
There I suck the liquid air  
All amidst the Gardens fair  
Of Hesperus, and his daughters three  
That sing about the golden tree:  
Along the crisped shades and bowers  
Revels the spruce and jocund Spring,  
The Graces, and the rosie-boosomed Hours,  
Thither all their bounties bring,  
That there eternal Summer dwells,  
And West winds, with musky wing  
About the cedarn alleys fling  
Nard, and Cassia's balmy smells.  
Iris there with humid bow,  
Waters the odorous banks that blow  
Flowers of more mingled hue  
Then her purfled scarf can show,  
And drenches with Elysian dew  
(List mortals if your ears be true)  
Beds of Hyacinth, and Roses  
Where young Adonis oft reposes,  
Waxing well of his deep wound  
In slumber soft, and on the ground  
Sadly sits th' Assyrian Queen;  
But far above in spangled sheen  
Celestial Cupid her famed Son advanced,  
Holds his dear Pysche sweet entranced  
After her wand'ring labours long,  
Till free consent the gods among  
Make her his eternal Bride,  
And from her fair unspotted side  
Two blissful twins are to be born,  
Youth and Joy; so Jove hath sworn.  
But now my task is smoothly done,  
I can fly, or I can run  
Quickly to the green earth's end,  
Where the bowed welkin slow doth bend,  
And from thence can soar as soon  
To the corners of the Moon.  
Mortals that would follow me,  
Love virtue, she alone is free,  
She can teach ye how to climb  
Higher than the Spheary chime;  
Or if Virtue feeble were,  
Heaven itself would stoop to her.   


PSAL. I. Done into Verse, 1653.  

Blessed is the man who hath not walked astray  
In counsel of the wicked, and i'th' way  
Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat  
Of scorners hath not sat. But in the great  
Jehovahs' Law is ever his delight,  
And in his Law he studies day and night.  
He shall be as a tree which planted grows  
By watery streams, and in his season knows  
To yield his fruit, and his leaf shall not fall,  
And what he takes in hand shall prosper all.  
Not so the wicked, but as chaff which fanned  
The wind drives, so the wicked shall not stand  
In judgement, or abide their trial then,  
Nor sinners in th' assembly of just men.  
For the Lord knows th' upright way of the just,  
And the way of bad men to ruin must.    

PSAL. II. Done Aug. 8. 1653. Terzetti.  

WHy do the Gentiles tumult, and the Nations  
muse a vain thing, the Kings of th' earth upstand  
With power, and Princes in their Congregations   

Lay deep their plots together through each Land,  
Against the Lord and his Messiah dear  
Let us break off, say they, by strength of hand   

Their bonds, and cast from us, no more to wear,  
Their twisted cords: he who in Heaven doth dwell  
Shall laugh, the Lord shall scoff them, then severe   

Speak to them in his wrath, and in his fell  
And fierce ire trouble them; but I saith he  
anointed have my King (though ye rebel)   

On Zion my holi' hill. A firm decree  
I will declare; the Lord to me hath said  
Thou art my Son I have begotten thee   

This day; ask of me, and the grant is made;  
As thy possession I on thee bestow  
Th' Heathen, and as thy conquest to be swayed   

Earth's utmost bounds: them shalt thou bring full low  
With Iron Sceptre bruised, and them disperse  
Like to a potter's vessel shivered so.   

And ●ow be wise at length ye Kings averse  
Be taught ye Judges of the earth; with fear  
Jehovah serve, and let your joy converse   

With trembling; kiss the Son lest he appear  
In anger and ye perish in the way  
If once his wrath take fire like fuel sere.  
Happy all those who have in him their stay.    

PSAL. 3. Aug. 9 1653. When he fled from Absalon.  

LOrd how many are my foes  
How many those  
That in arms against me rise  
Many are they  
That of my life distrustfully thus say,  
No help for him in God there lies.  
But thou Lord art my shield my glory,  
Thee through my story  
Th' exalter of my head I count  
Aloud I cried  
Unto Jehovah, he full soon replied  
And heard me from his holy mount.  
I lay and slept, I waked again,  
For my sustain  
Was the Lord. Of many millions  
The populous rout  
I fear not though encamping round about  
They pitch against me their Pavilions.  
Rise Lord, save me my God for thou  
Hast smote ere now  
On the cheekbone all my foes,  
Of men abhorred  
Hast broke the teeth. This help was from the Lord  
Thy blessing on thy people flows.    

PSAL. IU. Aug. 10. 1653.  

ANswer me when I call  
God of my righteousness  
In straits and in distress  
Thou didst me disinthrall  
And set at large; now spare,   

Now pity me, and hear my earnest prai'●.  
Great ones how long will ye  
My glory have in scorn  
How long be thus forborn  
Still to love vanity,  
To love, to seek, to prise   

Things false and vain and nothing else but lies?  
Yet know the Lord hath chose  
Chose to himself a part  
The good and meek of heart  
(For whom to choose he knows)  
Jehovah from on high   

Will hear my voice what time to him I cry.  
Be aw●d, and do not sin,  
Speak▪ to your hearts alone,  
Upon your beds, each one,  
And be at peace within.  
Offer the offerings just   

Of righteousness and in Jehovah trust.  
Many there be that say  
Who yet will show us good?  
Talking like this world's brood;  
But Lord, thus let me pray,  
On us lift up the light   

Lift up the favour of thy count'nance bright.  
Into my heart more joy  
And gladness thou hast put  
Then when a year of glut  
Their stores doth overcloy  
And from their plenteous grounds   

With vast increase their corn and wine abounds  
In peace at once will I  
Both lay me down and sleep  
For thou alone dost keep  
Me safe where ere I lie  
As in a rocky Cell  
Thou Lord alone in safety mak'st me dwell.    

PSAL. V. Aug. 12. 1653.  

JEhovah to my words give ear  
My meditation weigh  
The voice of my complaining hear  
My King and God for unto thee I pray.  
Jehovah thou my early voice  
Shalt in the morning hear  
Ith' morning I to thee with choice  
Will rank my Prayers, and watch till thou appear.  
For thou art not a God that takes  
In wickedness delight  
Evil with thee no biding makes  
Fools or mad men stand not within thy sight.  
All workers of iniquity  
Thou hat'st; and them unblessed  
Thou wilt destroy that speak a lie  
The bloodi' and guileful man God doth detest.  
But I will in thy mercies dear  
Thy numerous mercies go  
Into thy house; I in thy fear  
Will towards thy holy temple worship low  
Lord lead me in thy righteousness  
Led me because of those  
That do observe If I transgress  
Set thy ways right before, where my step goes.  
For in his faltering mouth unstable  
No word is firm or soothe  
Their inside, troubles miserable;  
An open grave their throat, their tongue they s 〈…〉  
God; find them guilty, let them fall  
By their own counsels quelled;  
Push them in their rebellions all  
Still on; for against thee they have rebelled;  
Then all who trust in thee shall bring  
Their joy, while thou from blame  
Defend'st them, they shall ever sing  
d shall triumph in thee, who love thy name.  
For thou Jehovah wilt be found  
To bless the just man still,  
As with a shield thou wilt surround  
Him with thy lasting favour and good will    

PSAL. VI Aug. 13. 1653.  

LOrd in thine anger do not reprehend me  
Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct;  
Pity me Lord for I am much deject  
Am very weak and faint; heal and amend me,  
For all my bones, that even with anguish ache,  
Are troubled, yea my soul is troubled sore  
And thou O Lord how long? turn Lord, restore  
My soul, O save me for thy goodness sake  
For in death no remembrance is of thee;  
Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise?  
Wearied I am with sighing out my days,  
Nightly my Couch I make a kind of Sea;  
My Bed I water with my tears, mine Eye  
Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark  
Ith' midst of all mine enemies that mark.  
Depart all ye that work iniquity.  
Depart from me, for the voice of my weeping  
The Lord hath heard, the Lord hath heard my prayer  
My supplication with acceptance fair  
The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping.  
Mine enemies shall all be blank and dashed  
With much confusion; then grow red with shame,  
They shall return in haste the way they came  
And in a moment shall be quite abashed.    

PSAL. VII. Aug. 14. 1653.  
Upon the words of Chush the Benjamite against him.  

LOrd my God to thee I fly  
Save me and secure me under  
Thy protection while I cry,  
Lest as a Lion (and no wonder)  
He hast to tear my Soul asunder  
Tearing and no rescue nigh.   

Lord my God if I have thought  
Or done this, if wickedness  
Be in my hands, if I have wrought  
Ill to him that meant me peace,  
Or to him have rendered less,  
And not freed my foe for naught;   

Let th' enemy pursue my soul  
And overtake it, let him tread  
My life down to the earth and roll  
In the dust my glory dead,  
In the dust and there out spread  
Lodge it with dishonour foul.   

Rise Jehovah in thine ire  
Rouse thyself amidst the rage  
Of my foes that urge like fire;  
And wake for me, their furi' assuage;  
Judgement here thou didst engage  
And command which I desire.   

So th' assemblies of each Nation  
Will surround thee, seeking right,  
Thence to thy glorious habitation  
Return on high and in their sight.  
Jehovah judgeth most upright  
All people from the world's foundation.   

Judge me Lord, be judge in this  
According to my righteousness  
And the innocence which is  
Upon me: cause at length to cease  
Of evil men the wickedness  
And their power that do amiss.   

But the just establish fast,  
Since thou art the just God that tries  
Hearts and reins. On God is cast  
My defence, and in him lies  
In him who both just and wise  
Saves th' upright of Heart at last.   

God is a just Judge and severe,  
And God is every day offended;  
If th' unjust will not forbear,  
His Sword he whets, his Bow hath bended  
Already, and for him intended  
The tools of death, that waits him near.   

(His arrows purposely made he  
For them that persecute.) Behold  
He travels big with vanity,  
Trouble he hath conceived of old  
As in a womb, and from that mould  
Hath at length brought forth a Lie.   

He digged a pit, and delved it deep,  
And fell into the pit he made,  
His mischief that due course doth keep,  
Turns on his head, and his ill trade  
Of violence will undelayed  
Fall on his crown with ruin steep.   

Then will I Jehovah's praise  
According to his justice raise  
And sing the Name and Deity  
Of Jehovah the most high.    

PSAL. VIII. Aug. 14. 1653.  

O Jehovah our Lord how wondrous great  
And glorious is thy name through all the earth?  
So as above the Heavens thy praise to set  
Out of the tender mouths of latest birth,   

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou  
Hast founded strength because of all thy foes  
To stint th' enemy, and slack th'avengers brow  
That bends his rage thy providence to oppose   

When I behold thy Heavens, thy Finger's art,  
The Moon and Stars which thou so bright hast set,  
In the pure firmament, then saith my heart,  
O what is man that thou remember'st yet,   

And think'st upon him; or of man begot  
That him thou visit'st and of him art found;  
Scarce to be less than Gods, thou mad'st his lot,  
With honour and with state thou hast him crowned.   

O'er the works of thy hand thou mad'st him Lord,  
Thou hast put all under his lordly feet,  
All Flocks, and Herds, by thy commanding word,  
All beasts that in the field or forest meet.   

Fowl of the Heavens, and Fish that through the wet  
Sea-paths in shoals do slide. And know no dearth.  
O Jehovah our Lord how wondrous great  
And glorious is thy name through all the earth.     

April. 1648. J. M.  
Nine of the Psalms done into Metre, wherein all but what is in a different Character, are the very words of the Text, translated from the Original.  

PSAL. LXXX.  

THou Shepherd that dost Israel keep  
Give ear in time of need,  
Who leadest like a flock of sheep  
Thy loved joseph's seed,  
That sittest between the Cherubs bright  
Between their wings out-spread  
Shine forth, and from thy cloud give light,  
And on our foes thy dread  
In Ephraim's view and Benjamins,  
And in Manasse's sight  
Awake 
* Gnorera.  thy strength, come, and be seen  
To save us by thy might.  
Turn us again, thy grace divine  
To us O God vouchsafe;  
'Cause thou thy face on us to shine  
And then we shall be safe.  
Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou,  
How long wilt thou declare  
Thy 
* Gnashanta.  smoking wrath, and angry brow  
Against thy peoples praire.  
Thou feedest them with the bread of tears,  
Their bread with tears they eat,  
And mak'st them 
* Shalish.  largely drink the tears  
Wherewith their cheeks are wet.  
A strife thou mak'st us and a prey  
To every neighbour foe,  
Among themselves they 
* play,  laugh, they  
And 
* Jilgnagu.  flouts at us they throw  
Return us, and thy grace divine,  
O God of Hosts vouchsafe  
'Cause thou thy face on us to shine,  
And then we shall be safe.  
A Vine from Egypt thou hast brought,  
Thy free love made it thine,  
And drov'st out Nations proud and haut  
To plant this lovely Vine.  
Thou didst prepare for it a place  
And root it deep and fast  
That it began to grow apace,  
And filled the land at last.  
With her green shade that covered all,  
The Hills were overspread  
Her Bows as high as Cedars tall  
Advanced their lofty head.  
Her branches on the western side  
Down to the Sea she sent,  
And upward to that river wide  
Her other branches went.  
Why hast thou laid her Hedges low  
And broken down her Fence,  
That all may pluck her, as they go,  
With rudest violence?  
The tusked Boar out of the wood  
Up turns it by the roots,  
Wild Beasts there browse, and make their food  
Her Grapes and tender Shoots.  
Return now, God of Hosts, look down  
From Heaven, thy Seat divine,  
Behold us, but without a frown,  
And visit this thy Vine.  
Visit this Vine, which thy right hand  
Hath set, and planted long,  
And the young branch, that for thyself  
Thou hast made firm and strong.  
But now it is consumed with fire,  
And cut with Axes down,  
They perish at thy dreadful ire,  
At thy rebuke and frown.  
Upon the man of thy right hand  
Let thy good hand be laid,  
Upon the Son of Man, whom thou  
Strong for thyself hast made.  
So shall we not go back from thee  
To ways of sin and shame,  
Quick'n us thou, then gladly we  
Shall call upon thy Name.  
Return us, and thy grace divine  
Lord God of Hosts vouchsafe,  
'Cause thou thy face on us to shine,  
And then we shall be safe.    

PSAL. LXXXI.  

TO God our strength sing loud, and clear  
Sing loud to God our King,  
To jacob's God, that all may hear  
Loud acclamations ring.  
Prepare a Hymn, prepare a Song  
The Timbrel hither bring  
The cheerful Psaltry bring along  
And Harp with pleasant string,  
Blow, as is wont, in the new Moon  
With Trumpets lofty sound,  
Th' appointed time, the day whereon  
Our solemn Feast comes round.  
This was a Statute given of old  
For Israel to observe  
A Law of jacob's God, to hold  
From whence they might not swerve.  
This he a Testimony ordained  
In Joseph, not to change,  
When as he passed through Egypt land;  
The Tongue I heard, was strange.  
From burden, and from slavish toil  
I set his shoulder free;  
His hands from pots, and miry soil  
Delivered were by me.  
When trouble did thee sore assail,  
On me then didst thou call,  
And I to free thee did not fail,  
And led thee out of thrall.  
answered thee in 
* Be Sether ragnam.  thunder deep  
With clouds encompassed round;  
I tried thee at the water steep  
Of Meriba renowned.  
Hear O my people, hearken well,  
I testify to thee  
Thou ancient stock of Israel,  
If thou wilt list to me,  
Through out the land of thy abode  
No alien God shall be  
Nor shalt thou to a foreign God  
In honour bend thy knee.  
I am the Lord thy God which brought  
Thee out of Egypt land  
Ask large enough, and I, besought,  
Will grant thy full demand.  
And yet my people would not hear,  
Nor hearken to my voice;  
And Israel whom I loved so dear  
Misliked me for his choice.  
Then did I leave them to their will  
And to their wand'ring mind;  
Their own conceits they followed still  
Their own devises blind.  
O that my people would be wise  
To serve me all their days,  
And O that Israel would advise  
To walk my righteous ways.  
Then would I soon bring down their foes  
That now so proudly rise,  
And turn my hand against all those  
That are their enemies.  
Who hate the Lord should then be fain  
To bow to him and bend,  
But they, his People, should remain,  
Their time should have no end.  
And we would feed them from the shock  
With flower of finest wheat,  
And satisfy them from the rock  
With Honey for their Meat.    

PSAL. LXXXII.  

GOd in the 
* Bagnadath-●l.  great * assembly stands  
Of Kings and lordly States,  

† Bekerev.  Among the gods † on both his hands  
He judges and debates.  
How long will ye 
* Tishphetu gnavel.  pervert the right  
With * judgement false and wrong  
Favouring the wicked by your might.  
Who thence grow bold and strong  

* Shiphtu-dal.  Regard the * weak and fatherless  
* Dispatch the * poor man's cause,  
And † raise the man in deep distress  
By 
† Hatzdiku.  just and equal Laws.  
Defend the poor and desolate,  
And rescue from the hands  
Of wicked men the low estate  
Of him that help demands.  
They know not nor will understand,  
In darkness they walk on  
The Earth's foundations all are * moved  
And 
* Jimmotu.  out of order gone.  
I said that ye were Gods, yea all  
The Sons of God most high  
But ye shall die like men, and fall  
As other Princes die.  
Rise God, * judge thou the earth in might,  
This wicked earth 
* Shiphta.  redress,  
For thou art he who shalt by right  
The Nations all possess.    

PSAL. LXXXIII.  

BE not thou silent now at length  
O God hold not thy peace,  
Sat not thou still O God of strength  
We cry and do not cease.  
For lo thy furious foes now * swell  
And 
* Jehemajun.  storm outrageously,  
And they that hate thee proud and fell  
Exalt their heads full high.  
Against thy people they 
† Jagnarimu  contrive  

† Sod.  Their Plots and Counsels deep,  

* Jithjagnatsugnal.  Them to ensnare they chiefly strive  

* Tsephuneca.  Whom thou dost hide and keep.  
Come let us cut them off say they,  
Till they no Nation be  
That Israel's name for ever may  
Be lost in memory.  
For they consult 
† Leujachdau.  with all their might,  
And all as one in mind  
Themselves against thee they unite  
And in firm union bind.  
The tents of Edom, and the brood  
Of scornful Ishmael,  
Moab, with them of Hagars' blood  
That in the Desert dwell,  
Gebal and Ammon there conspire,  
And hateful Amalec,  
The Philistims, and they of Tyre  
Whose bounds the Sea doth check.  
With them great Asshur also bands  
And doth confirm the knot,  
All these have lent their armed hands  
To aid the Sons of Lot.  
Do to them as to Midian bold  
That wasted all the Coast  
To Sisera, and as is told  
Thou didst to Jabins' host,  
When at the brook of Kishon old  
They were repulsed and slain,  
At Endor quite cut off, and rolled  
As dung upon the plain.  
As Zeb and Oreb evil sped  
So let their Prince's speed  
As Zeba, and Zalmunna bled  
So let their Princes bleed.  
For they amidst their pride have said  
By right now shall we seize  
God's houses, and will now invade  

† Neoth Elohim bears both.  Their stately Palaces.  
My God, oh make them as a wheel  
No quiet let them find,  
Giddy and restless let them reel  
Like stubble from the wind.  
As when an aged wood takes fire  
Which on a sudden strays,  
The greedy flame runs hire and higher  
Till all the mountains blaze,  
So with thy whirlwind them pursue,  
And with thy tempest chase;  

* They seek thy Name, Heb.  And till they * yield thee honour due;  
Lord fill with shame their face.  
Ashamed and troubled let them be,  
Troubled and shamed for ever,  
Ever confounded, and so die  
With shame, and scape it never.  
Then shall they know that thou whose name  
Jehova is alone,  
Art the most high, and thou the same  
O'er all the earth art one.    

PSAL. LXXXIV.  

How lovely are thy dwellings fair!  
O Lord of Hosts, how dear  
The pleasant Tabernacles are!  
Where thou dost dwell so near.  
My Soul doth long and almost die  
Thy Courts O Lord to see,  
My heart and flesh aloud do cry,  
O living God, for thee.  
There even the Sparrow freed from wrong  
Hath found a house of rest,  
The Swallow there, to lay her young  
Hath built her brooding nest,  
Even by thy Altar's Lord of Hosts  
They find their safe abode,  
And home they fly from round the Coasts  
Toward thee, My King, my God.  
Happy, who in thy house reside  
Where thee they ever praise,  
Happy, whose strength in thee doth bide,  
And in their hearts thy ways.  
They pass through Baca's thirsty Vale,  
That dry and barren ground  
As through a fruitful watery Dale  
Where Springs and Showers abound.  
They journey on from strength to strength  
With joy and gladsome cheer  
Till all before our God at length  
In Zion do appear.  
Lord God of Hosts hear now my prayer  
O jacob's God give ear,  
Thou God our shield look on the face  
Of thy anointed dear.  
For one day in thy Courts to be  
Is better, and more blest  
Then in the joys of Vanity,  
A thousand days at best.  
I in the temple of my God  
Had rather keep a door,  
Then dwell in Tents, and rich abode  
With Sin for evermore.  
For God the Lord both Sun and Shield  
Gives grace and glory bright,  
No good from them shall be withheld  
Whose ways are just and right.  
Lord God of Hosts that reign'st on high,  
That man is truly blest,  
Who 〈…〉 lie on thee doth rely,  
And in thee only rest.    

PSAL. LXXXV.  

THy Land to favour graciously  
Thou hast not Lord been slack,  
Thou hast from hard Captivity  
Returned Jacob back.  
Th' iniquity thou didst forgive  
That wrought thy people woe,  
And all their Sin, that did thee grieve  
Hast hid where none shall know.  
Thine anger all thou hadst removed,  
And calmly didst return  
From thy 
† Heb. The burning heat of thy wrath.  fierce wrath which we had proved  
Far worse than fire to burn.  
God of our saving health and peace,  
Turn us, and us restore,  
Thine indignation cause to cease  
Toward us, and chide no more.  
Wilt thou be angry without end,  
For ever angry thus  
Wilt thou thy frowning ire extend  
From age to age on us?  
Wilt thou not 
* Heb Turn to quicken us.  turn, and hear our voice  
And us again * revive,  
That so thy people may rejoice  
By thee preserved alive.  
Cause us to see thy goodness Lord,  
To us thy mercy show  
Thy saving health to us afford  
And life in us renew.  
And now what God the Lord will speak  
I will go straight and hear,  
For to his people he speaks peace  
And to his Saints full dear,  
To his dear Saints he will speak peace,  
But let them never more  
Return to folly, but surcease  
To trespass as before.  
Surely to such as do him sear  
Salvation is at hand  
And glory shall ere long appear  
To dwell within our Land.  
Mercy and Truth that long were missed  
Now joyfully are met  
Sweet Peace and Righteousness have kissed  
And hand in hand are set.  
Truth from the earth like to a flower  
Shall bud and blossom then,  
And Justice from her heavenly bower  
look down on mortal men.  
The Lord will also then bestow  
Whatever thing is good  
Our Land shall forth in plenty throw  
Her fruits to be our food.  
Before him Righteousness shall go  
His Royal Harbinger,  
Then then will he come, and not be slow  
His footsteps cannot err.  
* Heb. He will set his steps to the way.    

PSAL. LXXXVI.  

THy gracious ear, O Lord, incline,  
O hear me I thee pray,  
For I am poor, and almost pine  
with need, and sad decay.  
Preserve my soul, sor 
† Heb. I am good, loving, a doer of good and holy things.  I have trod  
Thy ways, and love the just,  
Save thou thy servant O my God  
Who still in thee doth trust.  
Pity me Lord for daily thee  
I call;  
O make rejoice  
Thy Servants Soul; for Lord to thee  
I lift my soul and voice,  
For thou art good, thou Lord art prone  
To pardon, thou to all  
Art full of mercy, thou alone  
To them that on thee call.  
Unto my supplication Lord  
give ear, and to the cry  
Of my incessant prayers afford  
Thy hearing graciously.  
I in the day of my distress  
Will call on thee for aid;  
For thou wilt grant me free access  
And answer, what I prayed.  
Like thee among the gods is none  
O Lord, nor any works  
Of all that other gods have done  
Like to thy glorious works.  
The Nations all whom thou hast made  
Shall come, and all shall frame  
To bow them low before thee Lord,  
And glorify thy name.  
For great thou art; and wonders great  
By thy strong hand are done,  
Thou in thy everlasting Seat  
Remainest God alone.  
Teach me O Lord thy way most right,  
I in thy truth will bide,  
To fear thy name my heart unite  
So shall it never slide  
Thee will I praise O Lord my God  
Thee honour, and adore  
With my whole heart, and blaze abroad  
Thy name for ever more.  
For great thy mercy is toward me,  
And thou hast freed my Soul  
even from the lowest Hell set free  
From deepest darkness foul.  
O God the proud against me rise  
And violent men are met  
To seek my life, and in their eyes  
No fear of thee have set.  
But thou Lord art the God most mild  
Readiest thy grace to show,  
Slow to be angry, and art styled  
Most merciful, most true.  
O turn to me thy face at length,  
And me have mercy on,  
Unto thy servant give thy strength,  
And save thy handmaids Son.  
Some sign of good to me afford,  
And let my foes then see  
And be ashamed, because thou Lord  
Dost help and comfort me.    

PSAL. LXXXVII.  

AMong the holy Mountains high  
Is his foundation fast,  
There Seated in his Sanctuary,  
His Temple there is placed.  
Zions fair Gates the Lord loves more  
Than all the dwellings fair  
Of jacob's Land, though there be store,  
And all within his care.  
City of God, most glorious things  
Of thee abroad are spoke;  
I mention Egypt, where proud Kings  
Did our forefather's yoke,  
I mention Babel to my friends,  
Philistia full of scorn,  
And Tyre with Ethiopes utmost ends,  
Lo this man there was born:  
But twice that praise shall in our ear  
Be said of Zion last  
This and this man was born in her,  
High God shall fix her fast.  
The Lord shall write it in a Scroll  
That ne'er shall be outworn  
When he the Nations doth enrol  
That this man there was born.  
Both they who sing, and they who dance  
With sacred Songs are there,  
In thee fresh brooks, and soft streams glance  
And all my fountains clear.    

PSAL. LXXXVIII.  

LOrd God that dost me save and keep,  
All day to thee I cry;  
And all night long, before thee weep  
Before thee prostrate lie.  
Into thy presence let my prayer  
With sighs devout ascend  
And to my cries, that ceaseless are,  
Thine ear with favour bend.  
For cloyed with woes and trouble store  
Surcharged my Soul doth lie,  
My life at deaths uncherful door  
Unto the grave draws nigh.  
Reck'ned I am with them that pass  
Down to the dismal pit  
I am a 
* Heb. A man without manly strength,  man, but weak alas  
And for that name unfit.  
From life discharged and parted quite  
Among the dead to sleep,  
And like the slain in bloody fight  
That in the grave lie deep.  
Whom thou rememberest no more,  
Dost never more regard,  
Them from thy hand delivered o'er  
Death's hideous house hath barred.  
Thou in the lowest pit profound  
Hast set me all forlorn,  
Where thickest darkness hovers round,  
In horrid deeps to mourn.  
Thy wrath from which no shelter saves  
Full sore doth press on me;  

* The Hebr. bears both.  Thou break'st upon me all thy waves,  
* And all thy waves break me.  
Thou dost my friends from me estrange,  
And mak'st me odious,  
Me to them odious, for they change,  
And I here penned up thus.  
Through sorrow, and affliction great  
Mine eye grows dim and dead,  
Lord all the day I thee entreat,  
My hands to thee I spread.  
Wilt thou do wonders on the dead,  
Shall the deceased arise  
And praise thee from their loathsome bed  
With pale and hollow eyes?  
Shall they thy loving kindness tell  
On whom the grave hath hold,  
Or they who in perdition dwell  
Thy faithfulness unfold?  
In darkness can thy mighty hand  
Or wondrous acts be known,  
Thy justice in the gloomy land  
Of dark oblivion?  
But I to thee O Lord do cry  
ere yet my life be spent,  
And up to thee my prayer doth high  
Each morn, and thee prevent.  
Why wilt thou Lord my soul forsake,  
And hide thy face from me,  
That am already bruised, and 
† Heb. Prae Concussione.  shake  
With terror sent from thee;  
Bruised, and afflicted and so low  
As ready to expire,  
While I thy terrors undergo  
Astonished with thine ire.  
Thy fierce wrath over me doth flow  
Thy threatenings cut me through.  
All day they round about me go,  
Like waves they me pursue.  
Lover and friend thou hast removed  
And fevered from me far.  
They fly me now whom I have loved,  
And as in darkness are.    
FINIS.   

Joannis Miltoni LONDINENSIS POEMATA.  
Quorum pleraque intra Annum aetatis Vigesimum Conscripsit.  
Nunc primum Edita.  
LONDINI, Excudebat W. R. Anno 1673,   

HAec quae sequuntur de Authore testimonia, tametsi ipse intelligebat non tam de se quam supra se esse dicta, eo quod praeclaro ingenio viri, nec non amici ita fere solent laudare, ut omnia suis potius virtutibus, quam veritati congruentia nimis cupide affingant, noluit tamen horum egregiam in se voluntatem non esse notam; Cum alii praesertim ut id faceret magnopere suaderent. Dum enim nimiae laudis invidiam totis ab se viribus amolitur, sibique quod plus aequo est non attributum esse mavult, judicium interim hominum cordatorum atque illustrium quin summo sibi honori ducat, negare non potest.  

Joannes Baptista Mansus, Marchio Villensis Neapolitanus ad Joannem Miltonium Anglum.  

VT mens, forma, decor, facies, mos, si pietas sic,  
Non Anglus, verùm herclè Angelus ipse sores.    

Ad Joannem Miltonem Anglum triplici poeseos laurea coronandum Graeca nimirum, Latina, atque Hetrusca, Epigramma Joannis Salsilli Romani.  

CEde Meles, cedat depressa Mincius urna;  
Sebetus Tassum desinat usque loqui;  
At Thamesis victor cunctis ferat altior undas,  
Nam per te, Milto, par tribus unus erit.    

Ad Joannem Miltonum.  

GRaecia Maeonidem, jactet sibi Roma Maronem,  
Anglia Miltonum jactat utrique parem.  
Selvaggi    

All Signior Gio. Miltoni Nobile Inglese. O D E.  

ERgimi all' Etra o Clio  
Perche di stelle intrecciero corona  
Non piu del Biondo Dio  
La Frond eterna in Pindo, e in Elicona,  
Diensi a merto maggior, maggiori i fregi,  
OF celeste virtu celesti pregi.   

Non puo del tempo edace  
Rimaner preda, eterno alto valour  
Non puo l'oblio rapace  
Furar dalle memory eccelso onore,  
Su l'arco di mia cetra un dardo forte  
Virtu m'addatti, e feriro la morte.   

Deal Ocean profondo  
Cinta dagli ampi gorghi Anglia risiede  
Separata dal mondo,  
Pero che il suo valour l'umano eccede:  
Questa feconda sa produrre Eroi,  
Ch' hanno a ragion del souruman troth noi.   

Alla virtu sbandita  
Danno ne i petty lor fido ricetto,  
Quella gli e sol gradita,  
Perch in lei santrovar gioia, e diletto;  
Ridillo tu, Giovanni, e mostra in tanto  
Con tua vera virtu, vero il mio Canto.   

Lungi dal Patrio lido  
Spinse Zeusi l'industre ardente brama;  
Ch' udio d' Helena il grido  
Con aurea tromba rimbombar la fama,  
E per poterla effigiare all paro  
Dalle piu belle Idee trasse il priu raro.   

Cosi l' Ape Ingegnosa  
Trae con industria il suo liquor pregiato  
Dalinea giglio e dalla rosa,  
E quanti vaghi fiori ornano il prato;  
Formano un dolce suon divers chord,  
Fan vary voci melodia concord.   

Di bella gloria amante  
Milton dal Ciel natio per varie parti  
Le peregrine piante  
Volgesti a ricercar scienze, ed arti;  
Deal Gallo regnator vedesti i Regni,  
E dell' Italia anchor gl' Eroi piu degni.   

Fabro quasi divino  
Sol virtu rintracciando il tuo pensiero  
Vide in ogni confino  
Chi di noble valour calca il sentiero;  
L' ottimo dal miglior dopo scegliea  
Per fabbricar d'ogni virtu l' Idea.   

Quanti nacquero in Flora  
O in lei del parlar Tosco appreser l' arte,  
La cui memoria onora  
Il mondo fatta eterna in dotte cart,  
Volesti ricercar per tuo tesoro,  
E parlasti con lor nell' opre loro.   

Nell' altera Babelle  
Per te il parlar confuse Giove in vano,  
Che per vary favelle  
Di se stessa trofeo cadde su'l piano:  
Ch' Ode oltr' all Anglia il suo piu degno Idioma  
Spagna, Francia, Toscana, e Grecia e Roma.   

I piu profondi arcani  
Ch' occulta la natura e in cielo e in terra  
Ch' a Ingegni sourumani  
Troppo avara tal' hor gli chiude, e serra,  
Chiarament conosci, e giungi all fine  
Della moral virtude all gran confine.   

Non batta il Tempo l' ale,  
Fermisi immoto, e in un fermin si gl' anni,  
Che di virtu immortal  
Scorron di troppo ingiuriosi a i danni;  
Che s' opre degne di Poema e storia  
Furon gia, l' hai presenti alla memoria.   

Dammi tua dolce Cetra  
Se vuoi ch'io dica del tuo dolce canto,  
Ch' inalz indoti all' Etra  
Di farti huomo celeste ottiene il vanto,  
Il Tamigi il dira che gl' e concesso  
Per te suo cigno pareggiar Permesso.   

Io i in riva del Arno  
Tento spiegar tuo merto alto, e preclaro  
So i fatico indarno,  
E ad ammirar, non a lodarlo imparo;  
Freno dunque la lingua, e ascolto il core  
Che ti prende a lodar con lo stupore.   
Deal sig. Antonio Francini gentilhuomo Fiorentino.   

JOANNI MLTONI LONDINENS 1.  
Juveni Patria, virtutibus eximio,  
VIro qui multa peregrinatione, studio cuncta, orbis terrarum loca perspexit, ut novus Ulysses omnia ubique ab omnibus apprehenderet.  
Polyglotto, in cujus ore linguae jam deperditae sic reviviscunt, ut idiomata omnia sint in ejus laudibus infacunda; Et jure ea percallet ut admirationes & plausus populorum ab propria sapientia excitatos, intelligat.  
Illi, cujus animi dotes corporisque, sensus ad admirationem commovent, & per ipsam motum cuique auferunt; cujus opera ad plausus hortantur, sed venustate vocem laudatoribus adimunt.  
Cui in Memoria totus Orbis: In Intellectu Sapientia: In voluntate ardor gloriae: In ore Eloquentia: Harmonicos coelestium Sphaerarum sonitus Astronomia Duce audienti; Characteres mirabilium naturae per quos Dei magnitudo describitur magistra Philosophia legenti; Antiquitatum latebras, vetustatis excidia, eruditionis ambages comite assidua autorum Lectione. 
Exquirenti, restauranti, percurrenti.  
At cur nitor in arduum?   
Illi in cujus virtutibus evulgandis or a Famae non sufficiant, nec hominum stupor in laudandis satis est. Reverentiae & amoris ergo hoc ejus meritis debitum admirationis tributum offert Carolus Datus Patricius Florentinus.  Tanto homini servus, tantae virtutis amator.   

ELEGIARUM Liber Primus.  

Elegia prima ad Carolum Diodatum.  

TAndem, chare, tuae mihi pervenere tabellae,  
Pertulit & voces nuncia charta tuas,  
Pertulit occiduâ Devae Cestrensis ab orâ  
Vergivium prono quà petit amne salum.  
Multùm crede juvat terras aluisse remotas  
Pectus amans nostri, tamque fidele caput,  
Quòdque mihi lepidum tellus longinqua sodalem  
Debet, at unde brevi reddere jussa velit.  
Me tenet urbs refluâ quam Thamesis alluit undâ,  
Meque nec invitum patria dulcis habet.  
Jam nec arundiferum mihi cura revisere Camum,  
Nec dudum vetiti me laris angit amor.  
Nuda nec arva placent, umbrasque negantia molles,  
quam male Phoebicolis convenit ille locus!  
Nec duri libet usque minas perferre magistri  
Caeteraque ingenio non subeunda meo.  
Si fit hoc exilium patrios adiisse penates,  
Et va ●um curis otia grata sequi,  
Non ego vel profugi nomen, sortemve recuso,  
Laetus & exilii conditione fruor.  
O utinam vates nunquam graviora tulisset  
Ille Tomitano flebilis exul agro;  
Non tunc Jonio quicquam cessisset Homero  
Neve foret victo laus tibi prima Maro.  
Tempora nam licet hîc placidis dare libera Musis,  
Et totum rapiunt me mea vita libri.  
Excipit hinc fessum sinuosi pompa theatri,  
Et vocat ad plausus garrula scena suos.  
Seu catus auditur senior, seu prodigus haeres,  
Seu procus, aut positâ casside miles adest,  
Sive decennali foecundus lite patronus  
Detonat inculto barbara verba foro,  
Saepe vafer gnato succurrit servus amanti,  
Et nasum rigidi fallit ubique Patris;  
Saepe novos illic virgo mirata calores  
Qud sit amor nescit, dum quoque nescit, amat.  
Sive cruentatum furiosa Tragoedia sceptrum  
Q●assat, & effusis crinibus ora rotat,  
Et dolet, & specto, juvat & spectasse dolendo,  
Interdum & lacrymis dulcis amaror inest:  
Seu puer infelix indelibata reliquit  
Gaudia, & abrupto flendus amore cadit,  
Seu ferus è tenebris iterat Styga criminis ultor  
Conscia funereo pectora torre movens,  
Seu maeret Pelopeia domus, seu nobilis Ili,  
Aut luit incestos aula Creontis avos.  
Sed neque sub tecto semper nec in urbe latemus,  
Irrita nec nobis tempora veris eunt.  
Nos quoque lucus habet vicinâ consitus ulmo  
Atque suburbani nobilis umbra loci.  
Saepius hic blandas spirantia sydera flammas  
Virgineos videas praeteriisse choros.  
Ah quoties dignae stupui miracula formae  
Quae possit senium vel reparare Jovis;  
Ah quoties vidi superantia lumina gemmas,  
Atque faces quotquot volvit uterque polus;  
Collaque bis vivi Pelopis quae brachia vincant,  
Quaeque fluit puro nectare tincta via,  
Et decus eximium frontis, tremulosque capillos,  
Aurea quae fallax retia tendit Amor.  
Pellacesque genas, ad quas hyacinthina sordet  
Purpura, & ipse tui floris, Adoni, rubor.  
Cedite laudatae toties Heroides olim,  
Et quaecunque vagum cepit amica Jovem.  
Cedite Achaemeniae turritâ sronte puellae,  
Et quot Susa colunt, Memnoniamque Ninorr.  
Vos etiam Danaae fasces submittite Nymphae,  
Et vos Iliacae, Romuleaeque nurus.  
Nec Pompeianas Tarpêia Musa columnas  
Jactet, & Ausoniis plena theatra stolis.  
Gloria Virginibus debetur prima Britannis,  
Extera sat tibi sit foemina posse sequi.  
Tuque urbs Dardaniis Londinum structa colonis  
Turrigerum latè conspicienda caput,  
Tu nimium felix intra tua moenia claudis  
Quicquid formosi pendulus orbis habet.  
Non tibi tot caelo scintillant astra sereno  
Endymioneae turba ministra deae,  
Quot tibi conspicuae formáque auróque puellae  
Per medias radiant turba videnda vias,  
Creditur huc geminis venisse invecta columbis  
Alma pharetrigero milite cincta Venus,  
Huic Cnidon, & riguas Simoentis flumine valles,  
Huic Paphon, & roseam posthabitura Cypron.  
Ast ego, dum pueri s●●it indulgentia caeci,  
Moenia quam subitò linquere fausta paro;  
Et vitare procul malcfidae infamia Circes  
Atria, divini Molyos usus ope.  
Stat quoque juncosas Cami remeare paludes,  
Atque iterum raucae murmur adire Scholae.  
Interea fidi parvum cape munus amici,  
Paucaque in alternos verba coacta modos.    

Elegia secunda, Anno aetatis 17.  
In obitum Praeconis Academici Cantabrigiensis.  

TE, qui conspicuus baculo fulgente solebas  
Palladium toties ore ciere gregem,  
Ultima praeconum praeconem te quoque saeva  
Mors rapit, officio nec favet ipsa suo.  
Candidiora licet fuerint tibi tempora plumis  
Sub quibus accipimus delituisse Jovem,  
O dignus tamen Haemonio juvenescere succo,  
Dignus in Aesonios vivere posse dies,  
Dignus quem Stygiis medicâ revocaret ab undis  
Arte Coronides, saepe rogante dea.  
Tu si jussus eras acies accire togatas,  
Et celer à Phoebo nuntius ire tuo,  
Talis in Iliacâ stabat Cyllenius aula  
Alipes, aethereâ missus ab arce Patris.  
Talis & Eurybates ante ora furentis Achillei  
Rettu●it Atridae jussa severa ducis.  
Magna sepulchrorum regina, satelles Averni  
Saeva nimis Musis, Palladi saeva nimis,  
Quin illos rapias qui pondus inutile terrae,  
Turba quidem est telis ista petenda tuis.  
Vestibus hunc igitur pullis Academia luge,  
Et madeant lachrymis nigra feretra tuis.  
Fundat & ipsa modos querebunda Elegéia tristes,  
Personet & totis naenia moesta scholis.    

Elegia tertia, Anno aetatis 17.  
In obitum Praesulis Wintoniensis.  

Moestus eram, & tacitus nullo comitante sedebam,  
Haerebantque animo tristia plura meo,  
Protinus en subiit funestae cladis Imago  
Fecit in Angliaco quam Libitina solo;  
Dum procerum ingressa est splendentes marmore turres  
Dira sepulchrali mors metuenda face;  
Pulsavitque auro gravidos & jaspide muros,  
Nec metuit satrapum sternere falce greges.  
Tunc memini clarique ducis, fratrisque verendi  
Intempestivis ossa cremata rogis.  
Agmina gemmatis plaudunt caelestia pennis,  
Pura triumphali personat aethra tubâ.  
Quisque novum amplexu comitem cantuque salutat,  
Hosque aliquis placido misit ab ore sonos;  
Nate veni, & patrii felix cape gaudia regni,  
Semper ab hinc duro, nate, labore vaca.  
Dixit, & aligerae tetigerunt nablia turmae,  
At mihi cum tenebris aurea pulsa quies.  
Flebam turbatos Cephaleiâ pellice somnos,  
Talia contingant somnia saepe mihi.    

Elegia quarta. Anno aetatis 18.  
Ad Thomam Junium praeceptorem suum, apud mercatores Anglicos Hamburgae agentes, Pastoris munere fungentem.  

CUrre per immensum subitò mea littera pontum,  
I, pete Teutonicos laeve per aequor agros,  
Segnes rumpe moras, & nil, precor, obstet eunti,  
Et festinantis nil remoretur iter.  
Ipse ego Sicanio fraenantem carcere ventos  
Aeolon, & virides sollicitabo Deos;  
Caeruleamque suis comitatam Dorida Nymphis,  
Ut tibi dent placidam per sua regna viam.  
A● tu, si poteris, celeres tibi sume jugales,  
Vect. quibus Colchis fugit ab ore viri.  
Aut queis Triptolemus Scythicas devenit in oras  
Gratus Eleusinâ missus ab urbe puer.  
Atque ubi Germanas flavere videbis arenas  
Ditis ad Hamburgae moenia flecte gradum,  
Dicitur occiso quae ducere nomen ab Hamâ,  
Cimbrica, quem fertur clava dedisse neci.  
Vivit ibi antiquae clarus pietatis honore  
Praesul Christicolas pascere doctus oves;  
Ille quidem est animae plusquam pars altera nostrae,  
Dimidio vitae vivere cogor ego.  
Hei mihi quot pelagi, quot montes interjecti  
Me faciunt aliâ parte carere mei!  
Charior. ille mihi quam tu doctissime Graium  
Cliniadi, pronepos qui Telamonis erat.  
Quámque Stagirites generoso magnus alumno,  
Quem peperit Libyco Chaonis alma Jovi.  
Qualis Amyntorides, qualis Philyrêius Heros  
Myrmidonum regi, talis & ille mihi.  
Primus ego Aonios illo praeeunte recessus  
Lustrabam, & bifidi sacra vireta jugi,  
Pieriosque hausi latices, Clioque savente,  
Castalio sparsi laeta ter ora mero.  
Et memini Heroum quos vidit ad aethera raptos,  
Flevit & amissos Belgia tota duces.  
At te praecipuè luxi dignissime praesul,  
Wintoniaeque olim gloria magna tuae;  
Delicui fletu, & tristi sic ore querebar,  
Mors fera Tartareo diva secunda Jovi,  
Nonne satis quod sylva tuas persentiat iras,  
Et quod in herbosos jus tibi detur agros,  
Quodque afflata tuo marcescant lilia tabo,  
Et crocus, & pulchrae Cypridi sacra rosa,  
Nec finis ut semper fluvio contermina quercus  
Miretur lapsus praetereuntis aquae?  
Et tibi succumbit liquido quae plurima coelo  
Evehitur pennis quamlibet augur avis,  
Et quae mille nigris errant animalia sylvis,  
Et quod alunt mutum Proteos antra pecus.  
Invida, tanta tibi cum sit concessa potestas;  
Quid juvat humanâ tingere caede manus?  
Nobileque in pectus certas acuisse sagittas,  
Semideamque animam sede fugâsse suâ?  
Talia dum lacrymans alto sub pectore volvo,  
Roscidus occiduis Hesperus exit aquis,  
Et Tartessiaco submerserat aequore currum  
Phoebus, ab eöo littore mensus iter.  
Nec mora, membra cavo posui refovenda cubili,  
Condiderant oculos noxque soporque meos.  
Cum mihi visus eram lato spatiarier agro,  
Heu nequit ingenium visa referre meum.  
Illic puniceâ radiabant omnia luce,  
Ut matutino cum juga sole rubent.  
Ac veluti cum pandit opes Thaumantia proles,  
Vestitu nituit multicolore solum.  
Non dea tam variis ornavit floribus hortos  
Alcinoi, Zephyro Chloris amata levi.  
Flumina vernantes lambunt argentea campos,  
Ditior Hesperio flavet arena Tago.  
Serpit odoriferas per opes levis aura Favoni,  
Aura sub innumeris humida nata rosis.  
Talis in extremis terrae Gangetidis oris  
Luciferi regis fingitur esse domus.  
Ipse racemiferis dum densas vitibus umbras  
Et pellucentes miror ubique locos,  
Ecce mihi subito Praesul Wintonius astat,  
Sydereum nitido fulsit in ore jubar;  
Vestis ad auratos defluxit candida talos,  
Infula divinum cinxerat alba caput.  
Dumque senex tali incedit venerandus amictu,  
Intremuit laeto florea terra sono.  
Flammeus at signum ter viderat arietis Aethon,  
Induxitque auro lanea terga novo,  
Bisque novo terram sparsisti Chlori senilem  
Gramine, bisque tuas abstulit Auster opes:  
Necdum ejus licuit mihi lumina pascere vultu,  
Aut linguae dulces aure bibisse sonos.  
Vade igitur, cursuque Eurum praeverte sonorum,  
quam sit opus monitis res docet, ipsa vides.  
Invenies dulci cum conjuge forte sedentem,  
Mulcentem gremio pignora chara suo,  
Forsitan aut veterum praelarga volumina patrum  
Versantem, aut veri biblia sacra Dei.  
Caelestive animas saturantem rore tenellas,  
Grande salutiferae religionis opus.  
Utque solet, multam, sit dicere cura salutem,  
Dicere quam decuit, si modo adesset, herum.  
Haec quoque paulum oculos in humum defixa modestos,  
Verba verecundo sis memor ore loqui:  
Haec tibi, si teneris vacat inter praelia Musis  
Mittit ab Angliaco littore fida manus.  
Accipe sinceram, quamvis sit sera, salutem;  
Fiat & hocipso gratior illa tibi.  
Sera quidem, sed vera fuit, quam casta recepit  
Icaris a lento Penelopeia viro.  
Ast ego quid volui manifestum tollere crimen,  
Ipse quod ex omni parte levare nequit.  
Arguitur tardus meritò, noxamque fatetur,  
Et pudet officium deseruisse suum.  
Tu modò da veniam fasso, veniamque roganti,  
Crimina diminui, quae patuere, solent.  
Non ferus in pavidos rictus diducit hiantes,  
Vulnifico pronos nec rapit ungue leo.  
Saepe sarissiferi crudelia pectora Thracis  
Supplicis ad moestas delicuere preces.  
Extensaeque manus avertunt sulminis ictus,  
Placat & iratos hostia parva Deos.  
Jamque diu scripsisse tibi fuit impetus illi,  
Neve moras ultra ducere passus Amor.  
Nam vaga Fama refert, heu nuntia vera malorum!  
In tibi finitimis bella tumere locis,  
Teque tuàmque urbem truculento milite cingi,  
Et jam Saxonicos arma parasse duces.  
Te circum latè campos populatur Enyo,  
Et sata carne virûm jam cruor arva rigat.  
Germanisque suum concessit Thracia Martem,  
Illuc Odrysios Mars pater egit equos.  
Perpetuóque comans jam deflorescit oliva,  
Fugit & aerisonam Diva perosa tubam,  
Fugit io terris, & jam non ultima virgo  
Creditur ad superas justa volasse domos.  
Te tamen intereà belli circumsonat horror,  
Vivis & ignoto solus inópsque solo;  
Et, tibi quam patrii non exhibuere penates  
Sede peregrinâ quaeris egenus opem.  
Patria dura parens, & saxis saevior albis  
Spumea quae pulsat littoris unda tui,  
Siccine te decet innocuos exponere faetus;  
Siccine in externam ferrea cogis humum,  
Et sinis ut terris quaerant alimenta remotis  
Quos tibi prospiciens miserat ipse Deus,  
Et qui laeta ferunt de caelo nuntia, quique  
Quae via post cineres ducat ad astra, docent?  
Digna quidem Stygiis quae vivas clausa tenebris,  
Aeternâque animae digna perire fame!  
Haud aliter vates terrae Thesbitidis olim  
Pressit inassueto devia tesqua pede,  
Desertasque Arabum salebras, dum regis Achabi  
Effugit atque tuas, Sidoni dira, manus.  
Talis & horrisono laceratus membra flagello,  
Paulus ab Aemathiâ pellitur urbe Cilix.  
Piscosaeque ipsum Gergessae civis Jesum  
Pinibus ingratus jussit abire suis.  
At tu sume animos, nec spes cadat anxia curis  
Nec t●a concutiat decolor ossa metus.  
Sis etenim quamvis fulgentibus obsitus armis,  
Intententque tibi millia tela necem,  
At nullis vel inerme latus violabitur armis,  
Deque tuo cuspis nulla cruore bibet.  
Namque eris ipse Dei radiante sub aegide tutus,  
Ille tibi custos, & pugil ille tibi;  
Ille Sionaeae qui tot sub moenibus arcis  
Assyrios fudit nocte silente viros;  
Inque fugam vertit quos in Samaritidas oras  
Misit ab antiquis prisca Damascus agris,  
Terruit & densas pavido cum rege cohortes,  
Aere dum vacuo buccina clara sonat,  
Cornea pulvereum dum verberat ungula campum,  
Currus arenosam dum quatit actus humum,  
Auditurque hinnitus equorum ad bella ruentûm,  
Et strepitus ferri, murmuraque alta virûm.  
Et tu (quod superest miseri) sperare memento,  
Et tua magnanimo pectore vince mala.  
Nec dubites quandoque frui melioribus annis,  
Atque iterum patrios posse videre 〈◊〉,    

Elegia quinta, Anno aetatis 20.  
In adventum veris.  

IN se perpetuo Tempus revolubile gyro  
Jam revocat Zephyros vere tepente novos.  
Induiturque brevem Tellus reparata juventam,  
Jamque soluta gelu dulce virescit humus.  
Fallor? an & nobis redeunt in carmina vires,  
Ingeniumque mihi munere veris adest?  
Munere veris adest, iterumque vigescit ab illo  
(Quis putet) atque aliquod jam sibi poscit opus.  
Castalis ante oculos, bifidumque cacumen oberrat,  
Et mihi Pyrenen somnia nocte ferunt.  
Concitaque arcano fervent mihi pectora motu,  
Et furor, & sonitus me sacer intùs agit.  
Delius ipse venit, video Penëide lauro  
Implicitos crines, Delius ipse venit.  
Jam mihi mens liquidi raptatur in ardua coeli,  
Perque vagas nubes corpore liber eo.  
Perque umbras, perque antra feror penetralia vatum,  
Et mihi fana patent interiora Deûm.  
Intuiturque animus toto quid agatur Olympo,  
Nec fugiunt oculos Tartara caeca meos,  
Quid tam grande sonat distento spiritus ore?  
Quid parit haec rabies, quid sacer iste furor?  
Ver mihi, quod dedit ingenium, cantabitur illo;  
Profuerint isto reddita dona modo.  
Jam Philomela tuos soliis adoperta novellis  
Instituis modulos, dum silet omne nemus.  
Urbe ego, tu syluâ simul incipiamus utrique,  
Et simul adventum veris uterque canat.  
Veris io rediere vices, celebremus honores  
Veris, & hoc subeat Musa perennis opus.  
Jam sol Aethiopas fugiens Tithoniaque arva,  
Flectit ad Arctoas aurea lora plagas.  
Est bieve noctis iter, brevis est mora noctis opacae  
Horrida cum tenebris exulat illa suis.  
Jamque Lycaonius plaustrum caeleste Boôtes  
Non longâ sequitur fessus ut ante viâ,  
Nunc etiam solitas circum Jovis atria toto  
Excubias agitant sydera rara polo.  
Nam dolus, & caedes, & vis cum nocte recessit,  
Neve Giganteum Dii timuere scelus.  
Forte aliquis scopuli recubans in vertice pastor,  
Roscida cum primo sole rubescit humus,  
Hac, ait, hac certè caruisti nocte puellá  
Phoebe tuâ, c●leres quae retineret equos,  
Laeta suas repetit sylvas, pharetramque resumit  
Cynthia, Luciferas ut videt alta rotas,  
Et tenues ponens radios gaudere videtur  
Officium fieri tam breve fratris ope.  
Desere, Phoebus ait, thalamos Aurora seniles,  
Quid juvat effoeto procubuisse toro?  
Te manet Aeolides viridi venator in herba,  
Surge, tuos ignes altus Hymettus habet.  
Flava verecundo dea crimen in ore fatetur,  
Et matutinos ocyus urget equos.  
Exuit invisam Tellus rediviva senectam,  
Et cupit amplexus Phoebe subire tuos;  
Et cupit, & digna est, quid enim formosius illâ,  
Pandit ut omniferos luxuriosa sinus,  
Atque Arabum spirat messes, & ab ore venusto  
Mitia cum Paphiis fundit amoma rosis.  
Ecce coronatur sacro frons ardua luco,  
Cingit ut Idaeam pinea turris Opim;  
Et vario madidos intexit flore capillos,  
Floribus & visa est posse placere suis.  
Floribus effusos ut erat redimita capillos  
Tenario placuit diva Sicana Deo.  
Aspice Phoebe tibi faciles hortantur amores,  
Mellitasque movent flamina verna preces.  
Cinnameâ Zephyrus leve plaudit odorifer alâ,  
Bland●tiasque tibi ferre videntur aves.  
Nec sine dote tuos temeraria quaerit amores  
Terra, nec optatos poscit egena toros,  
Alma salutiferum medicos tibi gramen in usus  
Praebet, & hinc ticulos adjuvat ipsa tuos.  
Quòd si te pretium, si te fulgentia tangunt  
Munera, (muneribus saepe coemptus Amor)  
Illa tibi ostentat quascunque sub aequore vasto,  
Et superinjectis montibus abdit opes.  
Ah quoties cum tu clivoso fessus Olympo  
In vespertinas praecipitaris aquas,  
Cur te, inquit, cursu languentem Phoebe diurno  
Hesperiis recipit Caerula mater aquis?  
Quid tibi cum Tethy? Quid cum Tartesside lymphâ,  
Dia quid immundo perluis ora salo?  
Frigora Phoebe meâ melius captabis in umbrâ,  
Huc ades, ardentes imbue rore comas.  
Mollior egelidâ veniet tibi somnus in herbâ,  
Huc ades, & gremio lumina pone meo.  
Quáque jaces circum mulcebit lene susurrans  
Aura per humentes corpora fusa rosas.  
Nec me (crede mihi) terrent Semelëia fata,  
Nec Phäetonteo fumidus axis equo;  
Cum tu Phoebe tuo sapientius uteris igni,  
Huc ades & gremio lumina pone meo.  
Sic Tellus lasciva suos suspirat amores;  
Matris in exemplum caetera turba ruunt.  
Nunc etenim toto currit vagus orbe Cupido,  
Languentesque fovet solis ab igne faces.  
Insonuere novis lethalia cornua nervis,  
Triste micant ferro tela corusca novo.  
Jamque vel invictam tentat superasse Dianam,  
Quaeque sedet sacro Vesta pudica foco.  
Ipsa senescentem reparat Venus annua formam,  
Atque iterum tepido creditur orta mari.  
Marmoreas juvenes clamant Hymenaee per urbes,  
Litus io Hymen, & cava saxa sonant.  
Cultior ille venit tunicâque decentior aptâ,  
Puniceum redolet vestis odora crocum.  
Egrediturque frequens ad amoeni gaudia veris  
Virgineos auro cincta puella sinus.  
Votum est cuique suum, votum est tamen omnibus unum,  
Ut sibi quem cupiat, det Cytherea virum.  
Nunc quoque septenâ modulatur arundine pastor,  
Et sua quae jungat carmina Phyllis habet.  
Natvia nocturno placat sua sydera cantu,  
Delphinasque leves ad vada summa vocat.  
Jupiter ipse alto cum conjuge ludit Olympo,  
Convocat & famulos ad sua festa Deos.  
Nunc etiam Satyri cum sera crepuscula surgunt,  
Pervolitant celeri florea rura choro,  
Sylvanusque suâ Cyparissi fronde revinctus,  
Semicaperque Deus, semideusque caper.  
Quaeque sub arboribus Dryades latuere vetustis  
Per juga, per solos expatiantur agros.  
Per sata luxuriat fruticetaque Maenalius Pan,  
Vix Cybele mater, vix sibi tuta Ceres,  
Atque aliquam cupidus praedatur Oreada Faunus,  
Consulit in trepidos dum sibi Nympha pedes,  
Jamque latet, latitansque cupit male tecta videri,  
Et fugit, & fugiens pervelit ipsa capi.  
Dii quoque non dubitant caelo praeponere sylvas,  
Et sua quisque sibi numina lucus habet.  
Et sua quisque diu sibi numina lucus habeto,  
Nec vos arboreâ dii precor ite domo.  
Te referant miseris te Jupiter aurea terris  
Saecla, quid ad nimbos aspera tela redis?  
Tu saltem len●è rapidos age Phoebe jugales  
Quà potes, & sensim tempora veris eant.  
Brumaque productas tardè ferat hispida noctes,  
Ingruat & nostro serior umbra polo.    

Elegia sexta.  
Ad Carolum Diodatum ruri commorantem.  
Qui cum idibus Decemb. scripsisset, & sua carmina excusari postulasset si solito minus essent bona, quod inter lautitias quibus erat ab amisis exceptus, haud satis felicem operam Musis dare se posse affirmabat, hunc habuit responsum.  

MItto tibi sanam non pleno ventre salutem,  
Quâ tu distento forte carere potes.  
At tua quid nostram prolectat Musa camoenam,  
Nec sinit optatas posse sequi teneb 〈…〉?  
Carmine scire velis quám te redamémque colámque,  
Crede mihi vix hoc carmine scire queas,  
Nam neque noster amor modulis includitur arctis,  
Nec venit ad claudos integer ipse pedes.  
quam bene solennes epulas, hilaremque Decembrim  
Festaque coelifugam quae coluere Deum,  
Deliciasque refers, hyberni gaudia ruris,  
Haustaque per lepidos Gallica musta focos.  
Quid queretis resugam vino dapibusque poesin?  
Carmen amat Bacchum, Carmina Bacchus amat.  
Nec puduit Phoebum virides gestasse corymbos,  
Atque hederam lauro praeposuisse suae.  
Saepius Aoniis clamavit collibus Euoe  
Mista Thyonêo turba novena choro.  
Naso Corallaeis mala carmina misit ab agris:  
Non illic epulae non sata vitis erat.  
Quid nisi vina, rosasque racemiferumque Lyaeum  
Cantavit brevibus Têia Musa modis,  
Pindaricosque inflat numeros Teumesius Evan,  
Et redolet sumptum pagina quaeque merum.  
Dum gravis everso currus crepat axe supinus,  
Et volat Eléo pulvere fuscus eques.  
Quadrimoque madens Lyricen Romanus jaccho  
Dulce canit Glyceran, flavicomamque Chloen.  
Jam quoque lauta tibi generoso mensa paratu,  
Mentis alit vires, ingeniumque sovet.  
Massica foecundam despumant pocula venam,  
Fundis & ex ipso condita metra cado.  
Addimus his arts, fusumque per intima Phoebum  
Corda, favent uni Bacchus, Apollo, Ceres.  
Scilicet haud mirum tam dulcia carmina per te  
Numine composito tres peperisse Deos.  
Nunc quoque Thressa tibi caelato barbitos auro  
Insonat argutá molliter icta manu;  
Auditurque chelys suspensa tapetia circum,  
Virgineos tremulâ quae regat arte pedes.  
Illa tuas saltem teneant spectacula Musas,  
Et revocent, quantum crapula pellit iners.  
Crede mihi dum psallit ebur, comitataque plectrum  
Implet odoratos festa chorea tholos,  
Percipies tacitum per pectora serpere Phoebum,  
Quale repentinus permeat ossa calor,  
Perque puellares oculos digitumque sonantem  
Irruet in totos lapsa Thalia sinus.  
Namque Elegia levis multorum cura deorum est,  
Et vocat ad numeros quemlibet illa suos;  
Liber adest elegis, Eratoque, Ceresque, Venusque,  
Et cum purpureâ matre tenellus Amor.  
Talibus inde licent convivia larga poetis,  
Saepius & veteri commaduisse mero.  
At qui bella resert, & adulto sub Jove coelum,  
Heroasque pios, semideosque duces,  
Et nunc sancta canit superum consulta deorum,  
Nunc latrata fero regna profunda cane,  
Ille quidem parcè Samii pro more magistri  
Vivat, & innocuos praebeat herba cibos;  
Stet prope fagineo pellucida lympha catillo,  
Sobriaque è puro pocula fonte bibat.  
Additur huic scelerisque vacans, & casta juventus,  
Et rigidi mores, & sine labe manus.  
Qualis veste nitens sacrâ, & lustralibus undis  
Surgis ad infensos augur iture Deos.  
Hoc ritu vixisse ferunt post rapta sagacem  
Lumina Tiresian, Ogygiumque Linon,  
Et lare devoto profugum Calchanta, senemque  
Orpheon edomitis sola per antra feris;  
Sic dapis exiguus, sic rivi potor Homerus  
Dulichium vexit per freta longa virum,  
Et per Monstrificam Perseiae Phoebados aulam,  
Et vada foemineis insidiosa sonis,  
Perque tuas rex ime domos, ubi sanguine nigro  
Dicitur umbrarum detinuisse greges.  
Diis etenim sacer est vates, diuûmque sacerdos,  
Spirat & occultum pectus, & ora Jovem.  
At tu si quid agam, scitabere (si modò saltem  
Esse putas tanti noscere siquid agam)  
Paciserum canimus caelesti femine regem,  
Faustaque sacratis saecula pacta libris,  
Vagitumque Dei, & stabulantem paupere tecto  
Qui suprema suo cum patre regna colit.  
Stelliparumque polum, modulan tesque aethere turmas,  
Et subitò elisos ad sua fana Deos.  
Dona quidem dedimus Christi natalibus illa  
Illa sub auroram lux mihi prima tulit.  
Te quoque pressa manent patriis meditata cicutis,  
Tu mihi, cui recitem, judicis instar eris.    

Elegia septima, Anno aetatis undevigesimo.  

NOndum blanda tuas leges Amathusia nôram,  
Et Paphio vacuum pectus ab igne suit.  
Saepe cupidineas, puerilia tela, sagittas,  
Atque tuum sprevi maxime, numen, Amor.  
Tu puer imbelles dixi transfige columbas,  
Conveniunt tenero mollia bella duci.  
Aut de passeribus tumidos age, parve, triumphos,  
Haec sunt militiae digna trophaea tuae:  
In genus humanum quid inania dirigis arma?  
Non valet in fortes ista pharetra viros.  
Non tulit hoc Cyprius, (neque enim Deus ullus ad iras  
Promptior) & duplici jam serus igne calet.  
Ver erat, & summae radians per culmina villae  
Attulerat primam lux tibi Maie diem:  
At mihi adhuc refugam quaerebant lumina noctem  
Nec matutinum sustinuere jubar.  
Astat Amor lecto, pictis Amor impiger alis,  
Prodidit astantem mota pharetra Deum:  
Prodidit & facies, & dulce minantis ocelli,  
Et quicquid puero, dignum & Amore suit.  
Talis in aeterno juvenis Sigeius Olympo  
Miscet amatori pocula plena Jovi;  
Aut qui formosas pellexit ad oscula nymphas  
Thiodamantaeus Naiade raptus Hylas;  
Addideratque iras, sed & has decuisse putares,  
Addideratque truces, nec sine felle minas.  
Et miser exemplo sapuisses tutiùs, inquit,  
Nunc mea quid possit dextera testis eris.  
Inter & expertos vires numerabere nostras,  
Et faciam vero per tua damna fidem.  
Ipse ego si nescis strato Pythone superbum  
Edomui Phoebum, cessit & ille mihi;  
Et quoties meminit Peneidos, ipse fatetur  
Certiùs & graviùs tela nocere mea.  
Me nequit adductum curvare peritiùs arcum,  
Qui post terga solet vincere Parthus eques.  
Cydoniusque mihi cedit venator, & ille  
Inscius uxori qui necis author erat.  
Est etiam nobis ingens quoque victus Orion,  
Herculeaeque manus, Herculeusque comes.  
Jupiter ipse licet sua fulmina torqueat in me,  
Haerebunt lateri spicula nostra Jovis.  
Caetera quae dubitas meliùs mea tela docebunt,  
Et tua non leviter corda petenda mihi.  
Nec te stulte tuae poterunt defendere Musae,  
Nec tibi Phoebaeus porriget anguis opem.  
Dixit, & aurato quatiens mucrone sagittam,  
Evolat in tepidos Cypridos ille sinus.  
At mihi risuro tonuit ferus ore minaci,  
Et mihi de puero non metus ullus erat,  
Et modò quà nostri spatiantur in urbe Quirites  
Et modò villarum proxima rura placent.  
Turba frequens, faciéque simillima turba dearum  
Splendida per medias it que reditque vias.  
Auctaque luce dies gemino fulgore coruscat,  
Fallor? an & radios hinc quoque Phoebus habet.  
Haec ego non fugi spectacula grata severus,  
Impetus & quò me fert juvenilis, agor.  
Lumina luminibus malè providus obvia misi  
Neve oculos potui continuisse meos.  
Unam forte aliis supereminuisse notabam,  
Principium nostri lux erat illa mali.  
Sic Venus optaret mortalibus ipsa videri,  
Sic regina Deûm conspicienda fuit.  
Hanc memor objecit nobis malus ille Cupido,  
Solus & hos nobis texuit antè dolos.  
Nec procul ipse vafer latuit, multaeque sagittae,  
Et facis a tergo grande pependit onus.  
Nec mora, nunc ciliis haesit, nunc virginis ori,  
Insilit hinc labiis, insidet inde genis:  
Et quascunque agilis partes jaculator oberrat,  
Hei mihi, mille locis pectus inerme ferit.  
Protinus insoliti subierunt corda furores,  
Uror amans intùs, flammaque totus eram.  
Interea misero quae jam mihi sola placebat,  
Ablata est oculis non reditura meis.  
Ast ego progredior tacitè querebundus, & excors,  
Et dubius volui saepe referre pedem.  
Findor, & haec remanet, sequitur pars altera votum,  
Raptaque tàm subitò gaudia flere juvat.  
Sic dolet amissum proles Junonia coelum,  
Inter Lemniacos praecipitata socos.  
Talis & abreptum solem respexit, ad Orcum  
Vectus ab attonitis Amphiaraus equis.  
Quid faciam infelix, & luctu victus, amores  
Nec licet inceptos ponere, neve sequi.  
O utinam spectare semel mihi detur amatos  
Vultus, & coràm tristia verba loqui!  
Forsitan & duro non est adamante creata,  
Forte nec ad nostras furdeat illa preces.  
Crede mihi nullus sic infeliciter arfit,  
Ponar in exemplo primus & unus ego.  
Parce precor teneri cum sis Deus ales amoris,  
Pugnent officio nec tua facta tuo.  
Jam tuus O certè est mihi formidabilis arcus,  
Nate deâ, jaculis nec minus igne potens:  
Et tua fumabunt nostris altaria donis,  
Solus & in superis tu mihi summus eris.  
Demetrius meos tandem, verùm nec deme furores,  
Nescio cur, miser est suaviter omnis amans:  
Tu modo da facilis, posthaec mea siqua futura est,  
Cuspis amaturos figat ut una duos.   

HAec ego ment olim laeuâ, studioque supino  
Nequitiae posui vana trophaea meae.  
Scilicet abreptum sic me malus impulit error,  
Indocilisque aetas prava magistra fuit.  
Donec Socraticos umbrosa Academia rivos  
Praebuit, admissum dedocuitque jugum.  
Protinus extinctis ex illo tempore flammis,  
Cincta rigent multo pectora nostra gelu.  
Unde suis frigus metuit puer ipse Sagittis,  
Et Diomedéam vim timet ipse Venus.     

In Proditionem Bombardicam.  

CUm simul in regem nuper satrapasque Britannos  
Ausus es infandum perfide Fauxe nefas,  
Fallor? an & mitis voluisti ex parte videri,  
Et pensare malâ cum pietate scelus;  
Scilicet hos alti missurus ad atria caeli,  
Sulphureo curru flammivolisque rotis.  
Qualiter ille feris caput inviolabile Parcis  
Liquit Jördanios turbine raptus agros.    

In eandem.  

SIccine tentasti caelo donâsse Jâcobum  
Quae septemgemino Belua monte lates?  
Ni meliora tuum poterit dare munera numen,  
Parce precor donis insidiosa tuis.  
Ille quidem sine te consortia serus adivit  
Astra, nec inferni pulveris usus ope.  
Sic potius foedos in caelum pelle cucullos,  
Et quot habet brutos Roma profana Deos,  
Namque hac aut aliâ nisi quemque adjuveris arte,  
Crede mihi caeli vix bene scandet iter.    

In eandem.  

PUrgatorem animae derisit Iäcobus ignem,  
Et sine quo superûm non adeunda domus.  
Frenduit hoc trinâ monstrum Latiale coronâ  
Movit & horrificum corona dena minax.  
Et nec inultus ait temnes mea sacra Britanne,  
Supplicium spretâ relligione dabis.  
Et si stelligeras unquam penetraveris arces,  
Non nisi per flammas triste patebit iter.  
O quam funesto cecinisti proxima vero,  
Verbaque ponderibus vix caritura suis!  
Nam prope Tartareo sublime rotatus ab igni  
Ibat ad aethereas umbra perusta plagas.    

In eandem.  

QUem modò Roma suis devoverat impia diris,  
Et Styge damnarât Taenarioque sinu,  
Hunc vice mutatâ jam tollere gestit ad astra,  
Et cupit ad superos evehere usque Deos.    

In invertorem Bombardae.  

JApetionidem laudavit caeca vetustas,  
Qui tulit aetheream solis ab axe facem;  
At mihi major erit, qui lurida creditur arma,  
Et trifidum fulmen surripuisse Jovi.    

Ad Leonoram Romae canentem.  

ANgelus unicuique suus (sic credite gentes)  
Obtigit aethereis ales ab ordinibus.  
Quid mirum? Leonora tibi si gloria major,  
Nam tua praesentem vox sonat ipsa Deum.  
Aut Deus, aut vacui certè mens tertia coeli.  
Per tua secretò guttura serpit agens;  
Serpit agens, facilisque docet mortalia corda  
Sensim immortali assuesoere posse sono.  
Quòd si cuncta quidem Deus est, per cunctaque fusus,  
In te unâ loquitur, caetera mutus habet.    

Ad eandem.  

ALtera Torquatum cepit Leonora Poëtam,  
Cujus ab insano cessit amore furens.  
Ah miser ille tuo quantò feliciùs aevo  
Perditus, & propter te Leonora foret!  
Et te Pieriâ senfisset voce canentam  
Aurea maternae fila movere lyrae,  
Quamvis Dircaeo torsisset lumina Pentheo  
Saevior, aut totus desipulisset iners,  
Tu tamen errantes caecâ vertigine sensus  
Voce eadem poteras composuisse tuâ;  
Et poteras aegro spirans sub corde quietem  
Flexanimo cantu restituisse sibi.    

Ad eandem.  

CRedula quid liquidam Sirena Neapoli jactas,  
Claraque Parthenopes fana Achelöiados,  
Littoreamque tuâ defunctam Naiada ripâ  
Corpora Chalcidico sacra dedisse rogo?  
Illa quidem vivitque, & amoenâ Tibridis undâ  
Mutavit rauci murmura Pausilipi.  
Illic Romulidûm studiis ornata secundis,  
Atque homines cantu detinet atque Deos.    

Apologus de Rustico & Hero.  

RUsticus ex Malo sapidissima poma quotannis  
Legit, & urbano lecta dedit Domino:  
Hic incredibili fructûs dulcedine Captus  
Malum ipsam in proprias transtulit areolas.  
Hactenus illa ferax, sed longo debilis aevo,  
Mota solo assueto, protinùs aret iners.  
Quod tandem ut patuit Domino, spe lusus inani,  
Damnavit celeres in sua damna manus.  
Atque ait, Heu quantò satius fuit illa Coloni  
(Parva licet) grato dona tulisse animo!  
Possem Ego avaritiam froenare, gulamque voracem:  
Nunc periere mihi & foetus & ipsa parens.   
Elegiarum Finis.   

Sylvarum Liber.  

Anno aetatis 16. In obitum Procancellarii medici.  

PArere fati discite legibus,  
Manusque Parcae jam date supplices,  
Qui pendulum telluris orbem  
Iäpeti colitis nepotes.  
Vos si relicto mors vaga Taenaro  
Semel vocârit flebilis, heu morae  
Tentantur incassùm dolique;  
Per tenebras Stygis ire certum est.  
Si destinatam pellere dextera  
Mortem valeret, non ferus Hercules  
Nessi venenatus cruore  
Aemathiâ jacuisset Oetâ.  
Nec fraude turpi Palladis invidae  
Vidisset occisum Ilion Hectora, aut  
Quem larva Pelidis peremit  
Ense Locro, Jove lacrymante.  
Si●riste fatum verba Hecateia  
Fugare possint, Telegoni parens  
Vixisset infamis, potentique  
Aegiali soror usa virgâ.  
Numenque trinum fallere si queant  
Artes medentûm, ignotaque gramina,  
Non gnarus herbarum Machaon  
Eurypyli cecidisset hastâ.  
Laesisset & nec te Philyreie  
Sagitta echidnae perlita sanguine,  
Nec tela te fulmenque avitum  
Caese puer genitricis alvo.  
Tuque O alumno major Apolline,  
Gentis togatae cui regimen datum,  
Frondosa quem nunc Cirrha luget,  
Et mediis Helicon in undis,  
Jam praesuisses Palladio gregi  
Laetus, superstes, nec sine gloria,  
Nec puppe lustrasses Charontis  
Horribiles barathri recessus.  
At fila rupit Persephone tua  
Irata, cum te viderit artibus  
Succoque pollenti tot atris  
Fausibus eripuisse mortis.  
Colende praeses, membra precor tua  
Molli quiescant cespite, & ex tuo  
Crescant rosae, calthaeque busto,  
Purpureoque hyacinthus ore.  
Sit mite de te judicium Aeaci,  
Subrideatque Aetnaea Proserpina,  
Interque felices perennis  
Elysio spatiere campo.    

In quintum Novembris, Anno aetatis 17.  

JAm pius extremâ veniens Iäcobus ab arcto  
Teucrigenas populos, latéque patentia regna  
Albionum tenuit, jamque inviolabile foedus  
Sceptra Caledoniis conjunxerat Anglica Scotis:  
Pacificusque novo felix divesque sedebat  
In solio, occultique doli securus & hostis:  
Cum ferus ignifluo regnans Acheronte tyrannus,  
Eumenidum pater, aethereo vagus exul Olympo,  
Forte per immensum terrarum erraverat orbem,  
Dinumerans sceleris socios, vernasque fideles,  
Participes regni post funera moesta futuros;  
Hic tempestates medio ciet aêre diras,  
Illic unamimes odium struit inter amicos,  
Armat & invictas in mutua viscera gentes;  
Regnaque olivifera vertit florentia pace,  
Et quoscunque videt purae virtutis amantes,  
Hos cupit adjicere imperio, fraudumque magister  
Tentat inaccessum sceleri corrumpere pectus,  
Infidiasque locat tacitas, cassesque latentes  
Tendit, ut incautos rapiat, seu Caspia Tigris  
Insequitur trepidam deserta per avia praedam  
Nocte sub illuni, & somno nictantibus astris.  
Talibus infestat populos Summanus & urbes  
Cinctus caeruleae fumanti turbine flammae.  
Jamque fluentisonis albentia rupibus arva  
Apparent, & terra Deo dilecta marino,  
Cui nomen dederat quondam Neptunia proles  
Amphitryoniaden qui non dubitavit atrocem  
Aequore tranato furiali poscere bello,  
Ante expugnatae crudelia saecula Troiae.   

At simul hanc opibusque & festâ pace beatam  
Aspicit, & pingues donis Cerealibus agros,  
Quodque magis doluit, venerantem numina veri  
Sancta Dei populum, tandem suspiria rupit  
Tartareos ignes & luridum olentia sulphur.  
Qualia Trinacriâ trux ab Jove clausus in Aetna  
Efflat tabifico monstrosus ab ore Typhoeus.  
Ignescunt oculi, stridetque adamantius ordo  
Dentis, ut armorum fragor, ictaque cuspide cuspis.  
Atque pererrato solum hoc lacrymabile mundo  
Inveni, dixit, gens haec mihi sola rebellis,  
Contemtrixque jugi, nostrâque potentior arte.  
Illa tamen, mea si quicquam tantamina possunt.  
Non feret hoc impune diu, non ibit inulta,  
Hactenus; & piceis liquido notat aêre pennis;  
Quà volat, adversi praecursant agmine venti,  
Densantur nubes, & crebra tonitrua fulgent.   

Jamque pruinosas velox superaverat alpes,  
Et tenet Ausoniae fines, à parte sinistrâ  
Nimbifer Appenninus erat, priscique Sabini,  
Dextra veneficiis infamis Hetruria, nec non  
Te furtiva Tibris Thetidi videt oscula dantem;  
Hinc Mavortigenae consistit in arce Quirini.  
Reddiderant dubiam jam sera crepuscula lucem,  
Cum circumgreditur totam Tricoronifer urbem,  
Panificosque Deos portat, scapulisque virorum  
Evehitur, praeeunt submisso poplite reges,  
Et mendicantum series longissima fratrum;  
Cereaque in manibus gestant funalia caeci,  
Cimmeriis nati in tenebris, vitamque trahentes,  
Templa dein multis subeunt lucentia taedis  
(Vespe● erat sacer iste Petro) fremitusque canentum  
Saepe tholos implet vacuos, & inane locorum.  
Qualiter exululat Bromius, Bromiique caterva,  
Orgia cantantes in Echionio Aracyntho,  
Dum tremit attonitus vitreis Asopus in undis,  
Et procul ipse cauâ responsat rupe Cithaeron.   

His igitur tandem solenni more peractis,  
Nox senis amplexus Erebi taciturna reliquit,  
Praecipitesque impellit equos stimulante flagello,  
Captum oculis Typhlonta, Melanchaetemque ferocem,  
Atque Acherontaeo prognatam patre Siopen  
Torpidam, & hirsutis horrentem Phrica capillis.  
Interea regum domitor, Phlegetontius haeres   

Ingreditur thalamos (neque enim secretus adulter  
Producit steriles molli sine pellice noctes)  
At vix compositos somnus claudebat ocellos,  
Cum niger umbrarum dominus, rectorque silentum,  
Praedatorque hominum falsâ sub imagine tectus  
Astitit, assumptis micuerunt tempora canis,  
Barba sinus promissa tegit, cineracea longo  
Syrmate verrit humum vestis, pendetque cucullus  
Vertice de raso, & ne quicquam desit ad artes,  
Cannabeo lumbos constrinxit sune salaces.  
Tarda fenestratis figens vestigia calceis.  
Talis uti fama est, vastâ Franciscus eremo  
Tetra vagabatur solus per lustra ferarum,  
Sylvestrique tulit genti pia verba salutis  
Impius, atque lupos domuit, Lybicosque leones.   

Subdolus at tali Serpens velatus amictu  
Solvit in has fallax ora execrantia voces;  
Dormis nate? Etiamne tuos sopor opprimit artus?  
Immemor O fidei, pecorumque oblite tuorum!  
Dum cathedram venerande tuam, diademaque triplex  
Ridet Hyperboreo gens barbara nata sub axe,  
Dumque pharetrati spernunt tua jura Britanni:  
Surge, age, surge piger, Latius quem Caesar adorat,  
Cui reserata patet convexi janua caeli,  
Turgentes animos, & fastus frange procaces,  
Sacrilegique sciant, tua quid maledictro possit,  
Et quid Apostolicae possit custodia clavis;  
Et memor Hesperiae disjectam ulciscere classem,  
Mersaque Iberorum lato vexilla profundo,  
Sanctorumque cruci tot corpora fixa probrosae,  
Thermodoontéa nuper regnante puella.  
At tu si tenero mavis torpescere lecto  
Crescentesque negas hosti contundere vires,  
Tyrrhenum implebit numeroso milite pontum,  
Signaque Aventino ponet fulgentia colle:  
Relliquas veterum franget, flammisque cremabit,  
Sacraque calcabit pedibus tua colla profanis,  
Cujus gaudebant soleîs dare basia reges.  
Nec tamen hunc bellis & aperto Marte lacesses,  
Irritus ille labor, tu callidus utere fraude,  
Quaelibet haereticis disponere retia fas est;  
Jamque ad consilium extremis rex magnus ab oris  
Patricios vocat, & procerum de stirpe creatos,  
Grandaevosque patres trabeâ, canisque verendos;  
Hos tu membratim poteris conspergere in auras,  
Atque dare in cineres, nitrati pulveris igne  
Aedibus injecto, quà convenere, sub imis.  
Protinus ipse igitur quoscunque habet Anglia fidos  
Propositi, factique mone, quisquámne tuorum  
Audebit summi non jussa facessere Papae.  
Perculsosque metu subito, casúmque stupentes  
Invadat vel Gallus atrox, vel saevus Iberus.  
Saecula sic illic tandem Mariana redibunt,  
Tuque in belligeros iterum dominaberis Anglos.  
Et nequid timeas, divos divasque secundas  
Accipe, quotque tuis celebrantur numina fastis.  
Dixit & adscitos ponens malefidus amictus  
Fugit ad infandam, regnum illaetabile, Lethen.   

Jam rosea Eoas pandens Tithonia portas  
Vestit inauratas redeunti lumine terras;  
Maestaque adhuc nigri deplorans funera nati  
Irrigat ambrosiis montana cacumina guttis;  
Cum somnos pepulit stellatae janitor aulae  
Nocturnos visus, & somnia grata revolvens.   

Est locus aeternâ septus caligine noctis  
Vasta ruinosi quondam fundamina tecti,  
Nunc torvi spelunca Phoni, Prodotaeque bilinguis  
Effera quos uno peperit Discordia partu.  
Hic inter caementa jacent praeruptaque saxa,  
Ossa inhumata virûm, & trajecta cadavera ferro;  
Hic Dolus intortis semper sedet ater ocellis,  
Jurgiaque, & stimulis armata Calumnia fauces.  
Et Furor, atque viae moriendi mille videntur  
Et timor, exanguisque locum circumvolat Horror,  
Perpetuoque leves per muta silentia Manes  
Exululat, tellus & sanguine conscia stagnat.  
Ipsi etiam pavidi latitant penetralibus antri  
Et Phonos, & Prodotes, nulloque sequente per antrum  
Antrum horrens, scopulosum, atrum feralibus umbris  
Diffugiunt sontes, & retrò lumina vortunt,  
Hos pugiles Romae per saecula longa fideles  
Evocat antistes Babylonius, atque ita fatur.  
Fi●ibus occiduis circumfusum incolit aequor  
Gens exosa mihi, prudens natura negavit  
Indignam penitus nostro conjungere mundo:  
Illuc, sic jubeo, celeri contendite gressu,  
Tartareoque leves difflentur pulvere in auras  
Et rex & pariter satrapae, scelerata propago  
Et quotquot fidei caluere cupidine verae  
Consilii socios adhibete, operisque ministros.  
Finierat, rigidi cupidè paruere gemelli.   

Interea longo flectens curvamine coelos  
Despicit aethereâ dominus qui fulgurat arce,  
Vanaque perversae ridet conamina turbae,  
Atque sui causam populi volet ipse tueri.   

Esse ferunt spatium, quà distat ab Aside terra  
Fertilis Europe, & spectat Mareotidas undas;  
Hic turris posita est Titanidos ardua Famae  
Aerea, lata, sonans, rutilis vicinior astris  
quam superimpositum vel Athos vel Pelion Ossae  
Mille fores aditusque patent, totidemque fenestrae,  
Amplaque per tenues translucent atria muros;  
Excitat hic varios plebs agglomerata susurros;  
Qualiter instrepitant circum mulctralia bombis  
Agmina muscarum, aut texto per ovilia junco,  
Dum Canis aestivum coeli petit ardua culmen  
Ipsa quidem summâ sedet ultrix matris in arce,  
Auribus innumeris cinctum caput eminet olli,  
Queis sonitum exiguum trahit, atque levissima captat  
Murmura, ab extremis patuli confinibus orbis.  
Nec tot Aristoride servator inique juvencae  
Isidos, immiti volvebas lumina vultu,  
Lumina non unquam tacito nutantia somno,  
Lumina subjectas late spectantia terras.  
Istis illa solet loca luce carentia saepe  
Perlustrare, etiam radianti imper●ia soli●▪  
Millenisque loquax auditaque visaque linguis  
Cuilibet effundit temeraria, veráque mendax  
Nunc minuit, modò confictis sermonibus auget.  
Sed tamen a nostro meruisti carmine laudes  
Fama, bonum quo non aliud veracius ullum,  
Nobis digna cani, nec te memorasse pigebit  
Carmine tam longo, servati scilicet Angli  
Officiis vaga diva tuis, tibi reddimus aequa.  
Te Deus aeternos motu qui temperat ignes,  
Fulmine praemisso alloquitur, terrâque trement▪  
Fama siles? an te latet impia Papistarum  
Conjurata cohors in meque meosque Britannos,  
Et nova sceptrigero caedes meditata Iäcobo:  
Nec plura, illa statim sensit mandata Tonantis,  
Et satis antè fugax stridentes induit alas,  
Induit & variis exilia corpora plumis;  
Dextra tubam gestat Temesaeo ex aere sonoram.  
Nec mora jam pennis cedentes remigat auras,  
Atque parum est curfu celeres praevertere nubes,  
Jam ventos, jam solis equos post terga reliquit:  
Et primò Angliacas solito de more per urbes  
Ambiguas voces, incertaque murmura spargit,  
Mox arguta dolos, & detestabile vulgat  
Proditionis opus, nec non facta horrida dictu,  
Authoresque addit sceleris, nec garrula caecis  
Insidiis loca structa silet; stupuere relatis,  
Et pariter juvenes, pariter tremuere puellae,  
Effaetique senes pariter, tantaeque ruinae  
Sensus ad aetatem subitò penetraverat omnem  
Attamen interea populi miserescit ab alto  
Aethereus pater, & crudelibus obstitit ausis  
Papicolûm; capti poenas raptantur ad acres;  
At pia thura Deo, & grati solvuntur honores;  
Compita laeta focis genialibus omnia fumant;  
Turba choros juvenilis agit: Quintoque Novembris  
Nulla Dies toto occurrit celebratior anno.    

Anno aetatis 17. In obitum. Praesulis Eliensis.  

ADhuc madentes rore squalebant genae,  
Et sicca nondum lumina;  
Adhuc liquentis imbre turgebant salis,  
Quem nuper effudi pius,  
Dum maesta charo justa persolvi rogo  
Wintoniensis praesulis.  
Cum centilinguis Fama (proh semper mali  
Cladisque vera nuntia)  
Spargit per urbes divitis Britanniae,  
Populosque Neptuno satos,  
Cessisse morti, & ferreis sororibus  
Te generis humani decus,  
Qui rex sacrorum illâ fuisti in insulâ  
Quae nomen Anguillae tenet.  
Tunc inquietum pectus irâ protinus  
Ebulliebat fervidâ,  
Tumulis potentem saepe devovens deam:  
Nec vota Naso in Ibida  
Concepit alto diriora pectore,  
Graiusque vates parciùs  
Turpem Lycambis execratus est dolum,  
Sponsamque Neobolen suam.  
At ecce diras ipse dum fundo graves,  
Et imprecor neci necem,  
Audisse tales videor attonitus sonos  
Leni, sub aurâ, flamine:  
Caecos furores pone, pone vitream  
Bilemque & irritas minas,  
Quid temerè violas non nocenda numina,  
Subitoque ad iras percita.  
Non est, ut arbitraris elusus miser,  
Mors atra Noctis filia,  
Erebóve patre creta, sive Erinnye,  
Vastóve nata sub Chaos:  
Ast illa caelo missa stellato, Dei  
Messes ubique colligit;  
Animasque mole carneâ reconditas  
In lucem & auras evocat:  
Ut cum fugaces excitant Horae diem  
Themidos Jovisque filiae;  
Et sempiterni ducit ad vultus patris;  
At justa raptat impios  
Sub regna furvi luctuosa Tartari,  
Sedesque subterraneas  
Hanc ut vocantem laetus audivi, citò  
Foedum resiqui carcerem,  
Volatilesque faustus inter milites  
Ad astra sublimis feror:  
Vates ut olim raptus ad coelum senex  
Auriga currus ignei,  
Non me Boötis terruere lucidi  
Sarraca tarde frigore, aut  
Formidolosi Scorpionis brachia,  
Non ensis Orion tuus.  
Praetervolavi fulgidi solis globum,  
Longéque sub pedibus deam  
Vidi trisormem, dum coercebat suos  
Fraenis dracones aureis.  
Erraticorum syderum per ordines,  
Per lacteas vehor plagas,  
Velocitatem saepe miratus novam,  
Donec nitentes ad fores  
Ventum est Olympi, & regiam Chrystallinam, &  
Stratum smaragdis Atrium.  
Sed hic tacebo, nam quis effari queat  
Oriundus humano pa●●e  
Amoenitates illius loci, mihi  
S●t est in aeternum frui,    

Naturam non pati senium.  

HEu quam perpetuis erroribus acta fatiscit  
Avia mens hominum, tenebrisque immersa profundis  
Oedipodioniam volvit sub pectore noctem!  
Quae vesana suis metiri facta deorum  
Audet, & incisas leges adamante perenni  
Assimilare suis, nulloque solubile saeclo  
Consilium fati perituris alligat horis.   

Ergóne marcescet sulcantibus obsita rugis  
Naturae facies, & rerum publica mater  
Omniparum contracta uterum sterilescet ab aevo?  
Et se fassa senem malè certis passibus ibit  
Sidereum tremebunda caput? num tetra vetustas  
Annorumque aeterna fames, squalorque s●usque  
Sidera vexabunt? an & insatiabile Tempus  
Esuriet Caelum, rapietque in viscera patrem?  
Heu, potuitne suas imprudens Jupiter arces  
Hoc contra munisse nefas, & temporis isto  
Exemisse malo, gyrosque dedisse perennes?  
Ergo erit ut quandoque sono dilapsa tremendo  
Convexi tabulata ruant, atque-obvius ictu  
Stridat uterque polus, superâque ut Olympius aula  
Decidat, horribilisque retectâ Gorgone Pallas.  
Qualis in Aegaeam proles Junonia Lemnos  
Deturbata sacro cecidit de limine caeli.  
Tu quoque Phoebe tui casus imitabere nati  
Praecipiti curru, subitâque ferere ruinâ  
Pronus, & exinctâ fumabit lampade Nereus,  
Et dabit attonito feralia sibila ponto.  
Tunc etiam aërei divulfis sedibus Haemi  
Dissultabit apex, imoque allisa barathro  
Terrebunt Stygium dejecta Ceraunia Ditem  
In superos quibus usus erat, fraternaque bella.   

At pater omnipotens fundatis fortius astris  
Consuluit rerum summae, certoque peregit  
Pondere fatorum lances, atque ordine summo  
Singula perpetuum jussit servare tenorem.  
Volvitur hinc lapsu mundi rota prima diurno;  
Raptat & ambit os sociâ vertigine caelos.  
Tardior haud solito Saturnus, & acer ut olim  
Fulmineum rutilat cristatâ casside Mavors.  
Floridus aeternùm Phoebus juvenile coruscat,  
Nec fovet effoetas loca per declivia terras  
Devexo temone Deus; sed semper amicá  
Luce potens eadem currit per signa rotarum,  
Surgit odoratis pariter formosus ab Indis  
Ethereum pecus albenti qui cogit Olympo  
Mane vocans, & serus agens in pascua coeli,  
Temporis & gemino dispertit regna colore.  
Fulget, obitque vices alterno Delia cornu,  
Caeruleumque ignem paribus complectitur ulnis.  
Nec variant elementa fidem, solitóque fragore  
Lurida perculsas jaculantur fulmina rupes.  
Nec per inane furit leviori murmure Corus,  
Stringit & armiferos aequali horrore Gelonos  
Trux Aquilo, spiratque hyemem, nimbosque volutat.  
Utque solet, Siculi diverberat ima Pelori  
Rex maris, & raucâ circumstrepit aequora conchâ  
Oceani Tubicen, nec vastâ mole minorem  
Aegaeona ferunt dorso Balearica cete.  
Sed neque Terra tibi saecli vigor ille vetusti  
Priscus abest, servatque suum Narcissus odorem,  
Et puer ille suum tenet & puer ille decorem  
Phoebe tuufque & Cypri tuus, nec ditior olim  
Terra datum sceleri celavit montibus aurum  
Conscia, vel sub aquis gemmas. Sic denique in aevum.  
Ibit cunctarum series justissima rerum,  
Donec flamma orbem populabitur ultima, latè  
Circumplexa polos, & vasti culmina caeli▪  
Ingentique rogo flagrabit machina mundi.    

De Idea Platonica quemadmodum Aristoteles intellexit.  

DIcite sacrorum praesides nemorum deae,  
Tuque O noveni perbeata numinis  
Memoria mater, quaeque in immenso procul  
Antro recumbis otiosa Aeternitas,  
Monumenta servans, & ratas leges Jovis,  
Caelique fastos atque ephemeridas Deûm,  
Quis ille primus cujus ex imagine  
Natura solers finxit humanum genus,  
Aeternus, incorruptus, aequaevus polo,  
Unusque & universus, exemplar Dei?  
Haud ille Palladis gemellus innubae  
Interna proles insidet menti Jovis;  
Sed quamlibet natura sit communior,  
Tamen seorsùs extat ad morem unius,  
Et, mira, certo stringitur spatio loci;  
Seu sempiternus ille syderum comes  
Caeli pererrat ordines decemplicis,  
Citimúmve terris incolit Lunae globum:  
Sive inter animas corpus adituras sedens  
Obliviosas torpet ad Lethes aquas:  
Sive in remotâ forte terrarum plagâ  
Incedit ingens hominis archetypus gigas,  
Et iis tremendus exigit celsum caput  
Atlante major portitore syderum.  
Non cui profundum caecitas lumen dedit  
Dircaeus augur vidit hunc alto sinu;  
Non hunc silenti nocte Plêiones nepos  
Vatum sagaci praepes ostendit choro;  
Non hunc sacerdos novit Assyrius, licet  
Longos vetusti commemoret atavos Nini,  
Priscumque Belon, inclytumque O●●ridem.  
Non ille trino gloriosus nomine  
Ter magnus Hermes (ut sit arcani sciens)  
Talem reliquit Isidis cultoribus.  
At tu perenne ruris Academi decus  
(Haec monstra si tu primus induxit scholis)  
Jam jam pôetas urbis exules tuae  
Revocabis, ipse fabulator maximus,  
Aut institutor ipse migrabis foras.    

Ad Patrem.  

NUnc mea Pierios cupiam per pectora fontes  
Irriguas torquere vias, totumque per ora  
Volvere laxatum gemino de vertice 〈…〉 um;  
Ut tenues oblita sonos audacibus alis  
Surgat in officium venerandi Musa parentis.  
Hoc utcunque tibi gratum peter optime carmen  
Exiguum meditatur opus, nec novimus ipsi  
Aptiùs à nobis quae possunt munera donis  
Respondere tuis, quamvis nec maxima possint  
Respondere tuis, nedum ut par gratia donis  
Esse queat, vacuis quae redditur arida verbis.  
Sed tamen haec nostros ostendit pagina census,  
Et quod habemus opum chartâ numeravimus istâ,  
Quae mihi sunt nullae, nisi quas dedit aurea Clio  
Quas mihi semoto somni peperere sub antro,  
Et nemoris laureta sacri Parnassides umbrae.   

Nec tu vatis opus divinum despice carmen,  
Quo nihil aethereos ortus, & semina caeli,  
Nil magis humanam commendat origine mentem,  
Sancta Promethéae retinens vestigia flammae.  
Carmen amant superi, tremebundaque Tartara carmen  
Ima ciere valet, divosque ligare profundos,  
Et triplici duros Manes adamante coercet.  
Carmine sepositi retegunt arcana futuri  
Phoebades, & tremulae pallantes ora Sibyllae;  
Carmina sacrificus sollennes pangit ad aras  
Aurea seu sternit motantem cornua taurum;  
Seu cum fata sagax fumantibus abdita fibris  
Consulit, & tepidis Parcam scrutatur in extis.  
Nos etiam patrium tunc cum repetemus Olympum,  
Aeternaeque morae stabunt immobilis aevi,  
Ibimus auratis per caeli templa coronis,  
Dulcia suaviloquo sociantes carmina plectro,  
Astra quibus, geminique poli convexa sonabunt.  
Spiritus & rapidos qui circinat igneus orbes,  
Nunc quoque sydereis intercinit ipse choreis  
Immortale melos, & inenarrabile carmen;  
Torrida dum rutilus compescit sibila serpens,  
Demissoque ferox gladio mansueseit Orion;  
Stellarum nec sentit onus Maurusius Atlas.  
Carmina regales epulas ornare solebant,  
Cum nondum luxus, vastaeque immensa vorago  
Nota gulae, & modico spumabat coena Lyaeo.  
Tum de more sedens festa ad convivia vates  
Aesculeâ intonsos redimitus ab arbore crines,  
Heroumque actus, imitandaque gesta canebat,  
Et chaos, & positi latè fundamina mundi,  
Repeantesque Deos, & alentes numina glandes,  
Et nondum Aetneo quaesitum fulmen ab antro.  
Denique quid vocis modulamen inane juvabit,  
Verborum sensusque vacans, numerique loquacis?  
Silvestres decet iste choros, non Orphea cantus  
Qui tenuit fluvios & quercubus addidit aures  
Carmine, non citharâ, simulachraque functa canendo  
Compulit in lacrymas; habet has à carmine laudes.   

Nec tu perge precor sacras contemnere Musas,  
Nec vanas inopesque puta, quarum ipse peritus  
Munere, mille sonos numeros componis ad aptos,  
Millibus & vocem modulis variare canoram  
Doctus, Arionii meritò sis nominis haeres.  
Nunc tibi quid mirum, si me genuisse poëtam  
Contigerit, charo si tam propè sanguine juncti  
Cognatas artes, studiumque affine sequamur:  
Ipse volens Phoebus se dispertire duobus,  
Altera dona mihi, dedit altera dona parenti,  
Dividuumque Deum genitorque puerque tenemus.   

Tu tamen ut simules teneras odisse camoenas,  
Non odisse reor, neque enim, pater, ire jubebas  
Quà via lata patet, quà pronior area lucri,  
Certaque condendi fulget spes aurea nummi:  
Nec rapis ad leges, malè custoditaque gentis  
Jura, nec insulsis damnas clamoribus aures.  
Sed magis excultam cupiens ditescere mentem,  
Me procul urbano strepitu, sccessibus altis  
Abductum aoniae jucunda per otia ripae  
Phoebaeo lateri comitem finis ire beatum.  
Officium chari taceo commune parentis,  
Me poscunt majora, tuo pater optime sumptu  
cum mihi Romuleae patuit facundia linguae,  
Et Latii veneres, & quae Jovis ora decebant  
Grandia magniloquis elata vocabula Graiis,  
Addere suasisti quos jactat Gallia flores,  
Et quam degerreri novus Italus ore loquelam  
Fundit, Barbaricos testatus voce tumultus,  
Quaeque Palaestinus loquitur mysteria vates.  
Denique quicquid habet coelum, subjectaque coelo  
Terra parens, terraeque & coelo interfluus aer,  
Quicquid & unda tegit, pontique agitabile marmor,  
Per te nosse licet, per te, si nosse libebit.  
Dimotáque venit spectanda scientia nube,  
Nudaque conspicuos inclinat ad oscula vultus,  
Ni fugisse velim, ni sit libâsse molestum.   

I nunc, confer opes quisquis malesanus avitas  
Austriaci gazas, Perüanaque regna praeoptas.  
Quae potuit majora pater tribuisse, vel ipse  
Jupiter, excepto, donâsset ut omnia, coelo?  
Non potiora dedit, quamvis & tuta fuissent,  
Publica qui juveni commisit lumina nato  
Atque Hyperionios currus, & fraena diei,  
Et circum undantem radiatâ luce tiaram.  
Ergo ego jam doctae pars quamlibet ima catervee  
Victrices hederas inter, laurosque sedebo,  
Jamque nec obscurus populo miscebor inerti,  
Vitabuntque oculos vestigia nostra profanos.  
Este procul vigiles curae, procul este querelae,  
Invidiaeque acies transverso tortilis hirquo,  
Saeva nec anguiferos extende Calumnia rictus;  
In me triste nihil faedissima turba potestis,  
Nec vestri sum juris ego; securaque tutus  
Pectora, vipereo gradiar sublimis ab ictu.   

At tibi, chare pater, postquam non aequa merenti  
Posse referre datur, nec dona rependere factis,  
Sit memorâsse satis, repetitaque munera grato  
Percensere animo, fidaeque reponere menti.   

Et vos, O nostri, juvenilia carmina, jusus,  
Si modo perpetuos sperare audebitis annos,  
Et domini superesse rogo, lucemque tueri,  
Nec spisso rapient oblivia nigra sub Orco,  
Forsitan has laudes, decantatumque parentis  
Nomen, ad exemplum, sero servabitis aevo.    

PSALM CXIV.  

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Philosophus ad regem quendam qui eum ignotum & in tem inter reos forte captum inscius damnaverat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haec subito misit.  

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In Effigei Ejus Sculptorem  

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Ad Salfillum poetam Romanum aegrotantem.  

SCAZONTES.  
OMusa gressum quae volens trahis claudum,  
Vulcanioque tarda gaudes incessu,  
Nec sentis illud in loco minus gratum,  
quam cum decentes flava Dëiope suras  
Alternat aureum ante Junonis lectum,  
Adesdum & haec s'is verba pauca Salsillo  
Ref●r, camoena nostra cui tantum est cordi,  
Quamque ille magnis praetulit immeritò divis.  
Haec ergo alumnus ille Londini Milto,  
Diebus hisce qui suum linquens nidum  
Polique tractum, (pessimus ubi ventorum,  
Insanientis impotensque pulmonis  
Pernix anhela sub Jove exercet flabra)  
Venit feraces Itali soli ad glebas,  
Visum superbâ cognitas urbes famâ  
Virosque doctaeque indolem juventutis,  
Tibi optat idem hic fausta multa Salsill●,  
Habitumque fesso corpori penitùs sanum;  
Cui nunc profunda bilis infestat renes,  
Praecordiisque fixa damnosùm spirat.  
Nec id pepercit impia quòd tu Romano  
Tam cultus ore Lesbium condis melos.  
O dulce diuûm munus, O salus Hebes  
Germana! Tuque Phoebe morborum terror  
Pythone caeso, sive tu magis Paean  
Libenter audis, hic tuus sacerdos est.  
Querceta Fauni, vosque rore vinoso  
Colles benigni, mitis Evandri sedes,  
Siquid salubre vallibus frondet vestris,  
Levamen aegro ferte certatim vati.  
Sic ille charis redditus rursùm Musis  
Vicina dulci prata mulcebit cantu.  
Ipse inter atros emirabitur lucos  
Numa, ubi beatum degit otium aeternum,  
Suam reclivis semper Aegeriam spectans.  
Tumidusque & ipse Tibris hinc delinitus  
Spei favebit annuae colonorum:  
Nec in sepulchris ibit obsessum reges  
Nimiùm sinistro laxus irruens loro:  
Sed fraena melius temperabit undarum,  
Adusque curvi salsa regna Portumni.    

Mansus.  
Joannes Baptista Mansus Marchio Villensis vir ingenii laude, tum literarum studio, nec non & bellica virtute apud Italos clarus in primis est. Ad quem Torquati Tassi dialogus extat de Amicitia scriptus; erat enim Tassi amicissimus; ab quo etiam inter Campaniae principes celebratur, in illo poemate cui ritulus Gerusalemme conquistata, lib. 20.  

Fra cavalier magnanimi, è cortesi  
Risplende il Manso—   
Is authorem Neapoli commorantem summa benevolentia prosecutus est, multaque ei detulit humanitatis officia. Ad hunc itaque hospes ille antequam ab ea urbe discederet, ut ne ingratum se ostenderet, hoc carmen misit.  

HAec quoque Manse tuae meditantur carmina laudi  
Pierides, tibi Manse choro notissime Phoebi,  
Quandoquidem ille alium haud aequo est dignatus honore,  
Post galli cineres, & Mecaenatis Hetrusci.  
Tu quoque si nostrae tantùm valet aura Camoenae,  
Victrices hederas inter, laurosque sedebis.  
Te pridem magno felix concordia Tasso  
Junxit, & aeternis inscripsit nomina chartis.  
Mox tibi dulciloquum non inscia Musa Marinum  
Tradidit, ille tuum dici se gaudet alumnum,  
Dum canit Assyrios diuûm prolixus amores;  
Mollis & Ausonias stupefecit carmine nymphas  
Ille itidem moriens tibi soli debita vates  
Ossa tibi soli, supremaque vota reliquit.  
Nec manes pietas tua chara fefellit amici,  
Vidimus arridentem operoso ex aere poetam.  
Nec satis hoc visum est in utrumque, & nec pia cessant  
Officia in tumulo, cupis integros rapere Orco,  
Quá potes, atque avidas Parcarum eludere leges:  
Amborum genus, & variâ sub sorte peractam  
Describis vitam, moresque, & dona Minervae;  
Aemulus illius Mycalen qui natus ad altam  
Rettulit Aeolii vitam facundus Homeri.  
Ergo ego te Cliûs & magni nomine Phoebi  
Manse pater, jubeo longum salvere per aevum  
Missus Hyperboreo juvenis peregrinus ab axe.  
Nec tu longinguam bonus aspernabere musam,  
Quae nuper gelidâ vix enutrita sub Arcto  
Imprudens Italas aufa est volitare per urbes.  
Nos etiam in nostro modulantes flumine cygnos  
Credimus obscuras noctis sensisse per umbras,  
Quà Thamesis late puris argenteus urnis  
Oceani glaucos perfundit gurgite crines.  
Quin & in has quondam pervenit Tityrus ora●.  
Sed neque nos genus incultum, nec inutile Phoebo,  
Quà plaga sept●●o mundi sulcata Trione  
Brumalem patitur longâ sub nocte Boöten.  
Nos etiam colimus Phoebum, nos munera Phoebo  
Flaventes spicas, & lutea mala canistris,  
Halantemque crocum (perhibet nisi vana vetustas)  
Misimus, & lectas Druidum de gente choreas.  
(Gens Druides antiqua sacris operata deorum  
Heroum laudes imitandaque gesta canebant)  
Hinc quoties festo cingunt altaria cantu  
Delo in herbosâ Graiae de more puellae  
Carminibus laetis memorant Corinenida Loxo,  
Fatidicamque Upin, cum flavicomâ Hecaêrge  
Nuda Caledonio variatas pectora fuco.  
Fortunate senex, ergo quacunque per orbem  
Torquati decus, & nomen celebrabitur ingens,  
Claraque perpetui succrescet sama Marini,  
Tu quoque in ora frequens venies plausumque virorum,  
Et parili carpes iter immortale volatu.  
Dicetur tum sponte tuos habitâsse penates  
Cynthius, & famulas venisse ad limina Musas:  
At non sponte domum tamen idem, & regis adivit  
Rura Pheretiadae coelo fugitivus Apollo;  
Ille licet magnum Alciden susceperat hospes;  
Tantùm ubi clamosos placuit vitare bubulcos,  
Nobile mansueti cessit Chironis in antrum,  
Irriguos inter saltus frondosaque tecta  
Peneium prope rivum: ibi saepe sub ilice nigrâ  
Ad citharae strepitum blandâ prece victus amici  
Exilii duros lenibat voce labores.  
Tum neque ripa suo, barathro nec fixa sub imo,  
Saxa stetere loco, nutat Trachinia rupes,  
Nec sentit solitas, immania pondera, silvas,  
Emotaeque suis properant de collibus orni,  
Mulcenturque novo maculosi carmine lynces.  
Diis dilecte senex, te Jupiter aequus oportet  
Nascentem, & miti lustrarit lumine Phoebus,  
Atlantisque nepos; neque enim nisi charus ab ortu  
Diis superis poterit magno favisse poetae.  
Hinc longaeva tibi lento sub flore senectus  
Vernat, & Aesonios lucratur vivida fusos,  
Nondum deciduos servans tibi frontis honores,  
Ingeniumque vigens, & adultum mentis acumen.  
O mihi si mea sors talem concedat amicum  
Phoebaeos decorâsse viros qui tam bene nôrit,  
Si quando indigenas revocabo in carmina reges,  
Arturumque etiam sub terris bella moventem;  
Ant dicam invictae sociali foedere mensae,  
Magnanimos Heroas, & (O modo spiritus ad fit)  
Frangam Saxonicas Britonum sub Marte phalanges.  
Tandem ubi non tacitae permensus tempora vitae,  
Annorumque satur cineri sua jura relinquam,  
Ille mihi lecto madidis astaret ocellis,  
Astanti sat erit si dicam sim tibi curae;  
jile meos artus liventi morte solutos  
Curaret paruâ componi molliter urnâ.  
Forsitan & nostros ducat de marmore vultus,  
Nectens aut Paphiâ myrti aut Parnasside lauri  
Fronde comas, at ego securâ pace quiescam.  
Tum quoque, si qua fides, si praemia certa bonorum,  
Ipse ego caelicolûm semotus in-aethera diuûm,  
Quò jabor & mens pura vehunt, atque ignea virtus  
Secreti haec aliquâ mundi de parte bidebo  
(Quantum fata sinunt) & totâ ment serenùm  
Ridens purpureo suffundar lumine vultus  
Et simul aethereo plaudam mihi laetus Olympo.    

EPITAPHIUM DAMONIS.  
ARGUMENTUM.  
THyrsis & Damon ejusdem viciniae Pastores, eadem studia secuti a pueritia amici erant, ut qui plurimum. Thyrsis animi causa profectus peregrè de obitu Damonis nuncium accepit. Domum postea reversus, & rem ita esse comperto, se, suamque solitudinem hoc carmine deplorat. Damonis autem sub persona hîc intelligitur Carolus Deodatus ex urbe Hetruriae Luca Paterno genere oriundus, caetera Anglus; ingenio, doctrina, clarissimisque caeteris virtutibus, dum viveret, juvenis egregius.  
EPITAPHIUM DAMONIS.  

HImerides nymphae (nam vos & Daphnin & Hylan,  
Et plorata diu meministis fata Bionis)  
Dicite Sicelicum Thamesina per oppida carmen:  
Quas miser effudit voces, quae murmura Thyrsis,  
Et quibus assiduis exercuit antra querelis,  
Fluminaque, fontesque vagos, nemorumque recessus,  
Dum sibi praereptum queritur Damona, neque altam  
Luctibus exemit noctem loca soia perrerans.  
Et jam bis viridi surgebat culmus arista,  
Et totidem flavas numerabant horrea messes,  
Ex quo summa dies tulerat Damona sub umbras,  
Nec dum aderat Thyrsis; pastorem scilicet illum  
Dulcis amor Muste Thusca retinebat in urbe.  
Ast ubi mens expleta domum, pecorisque reli 〈…〉 i  
Cura vocat, simul assuetâ seditque sub ulmo,  
Tum verò amissum tum denique sen●it amicum,  
Coepit & immensum sic exonerare dolorem.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Hei mihi! quae terris, quae dicam numina coelo,  
Postquam te immiti rapuerunt funere Damon;  
Siccine nos linquis, tua sic sine nomine virtus  
Ibit, & obscuris numero sociabitur umbris?  
At non ille, animas virgâ qui dividit aureâ,  
Ista velit, dignumque tui te ducat in agmen,  
Ignavumque procul pecus arceat omne silentum.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Quicquid erit, certè nisi me lupus antè videbit,  
Indeplorato non comminuere sepulchro,  
Constabitque tuus tibi honos, longúmque vigebit  
Inter pastores: Illi tibi vota secundo  
Solvere post Daphnin, post Daphnin dicere laudes  
Gaudebunt, dum rura Pales, dum Faunus amabit:  
Si quid id est, priscamque fidem coluisse, piúmque,  
Palladiásque artes, sociúmque habuisse canorum.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Haec tibi certa manent, tibi erunt haec praemia Damon,  
At mihi quid tandem fiet modò? quis mihi fidus  
Haerebit lateri comes, ut tu saepe solebas  
Frigoribus duris, & per loca foeta pruinis,  
Aut rapido sub sole, siti morientibus herbis?  
Sive opus in magnos fuit eminùs ire leones  
Aut avi 〈…〉 s terrere lupos praesepibus altis;  
Quis fando sopire diem, cantuque solebit?   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Pectora cui credam? quis me lenire docebit  
Mordaces curas, quis longam fallere noctem  
Dulcibus alloquiis, grato cum sibilat igni  
Molle pyrum, & nucibus strepitat focus, at malus auster  
Miscet cuncta foris, & desuper intonat ulmo.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Aut aestate, dies medio dum vertitur axe,  
Cum Pan aesculeâ somnum capit abditus umbrâ,  
Et repetunt sub aquis sibi nota sedilia nymphae.  
Pastoresque latent, stertit sub sepe colonus,  
Q●is mihi blanditiásque tuas, quis tum mihi risus,  
Cecropiosque sales referet, cultosque lepores?   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat agni.  
At jam solus agros, jam pascua solus oberro,  
Sicubi ramosae densantur vallibus umbrae,  
Hic serum expecto, supra caput imber & Eurus  
Triste sonant, fractaeque agitata crepuscula silvae.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Heu quam culta mihi prius arva procacibus herbis  
Involvuntur, & ipsa situ seges alta fatiscit!  
Innuba neglecto marcescit & uva racemo,  
Nec myrteta juvant; ovium quoque taedet, at illae  
Moerent, inque suum convertunt ora magistrum.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Tityrus ad corylos vocat, Alphesiboeus ad ornos,  
Ad salices Aegon, ad flumina pulcher Amyntas,  
Hîc gelidi fontes, hîc illita gramina musco,  
Hîc Zephiri, hîc placidas interstrepit arbutus undas;  
Ista canunt surdo, frutices ego nactus abibam.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Mopsus ad haec, nam me redeuntem forte notârat  
(Et callebat avium linguas, & sydera Mopsus)  
Thyrfi quid hoc? dixit, quae te coquit improba bilis?  
Aut te perdit amor, aut te malè fascinat astrum,  
Saturni grave saepe fuit pastoribus astrum,  
Intimaque obliquo figit praecordia plumbo.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Mirantur nymphae, & quid te Thyrsi futurum est?  
Quid tibi vis? aiunt, non haec solet esse juventae  
Nubila frons, oculique truces, vultusque severi,  
Illa choros, lususque leves, & semper amorem  
Jure petit, bis ille miser qui serus amavit.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Venit Hyas, Dryopéque, & filia Baucidis Aegle  
Docta modos, citharaeque sciens, sed perdita fastu,  
Venit Id manii Chloris vicina fluenti;  
Nil me blanditiae, nil me solantia verba,  
Nil me, si quid adest, movet, aut spes ulla futuri.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Hei mihi quam similes ludunt per prata juvenci,  
Omnes unanimi secum sibi lege sodales,  
Nec magis hunc alio quisquam secernit amicum  
De grege, sic densi veniunt ad pabula thoes,  
Inque vicem hirsuti paribus junguntur onagri;  
Lex eadem pelagi, deserto in littore Proteus  
Agmina Phocarum numerat, vilisque volucrum  
Passer habet semper quicum sit, & omnia circum  
Farra libens volitet, serò sua tecta revisens,  
Quem si fors letho objecit, seu milvus adunco  
Fata tulit rostro, seu stravit arundine fossor,  
Protinus ille alium socio petit inde volatu.  
Nos durum genus, & diris exercita fatis  
Gens homines aliena animis, & pectore discors,  
Vix sibi quisque parem de millibus invenit unum,  
Aut si sors dederit tandem non aspera votis,  
Illum inopina dies quâ non speraveris horâ  
Surripit, aeternum linquens in saecula damnum.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Heu quis me ignotas traxit vagus error in oras  
Ire per aêreas rupes, Alpemque nivosam!  
Ecquid erat tanti Romam vidisse sepultam?  
Quamvis illa foret, qualem dum viseret olim,  
Tityrus ipse suas & oves & rura reliquit;  
Ut te tam dulci possem caruisse sodale,  
Possem tot maria alta, tot interponere montes,  
Tota sylvas, tot saxa tibi, fluviosque sonantes.  
Ah certè extremùm licuisset tangere dextram,  
Et bene compositos placidè morientis ocellos,  
Et dixi●●e vale, nostri memor ibis ad astra.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Quamquam etiam vestri nunquam meminisse pigebit  
Pastores Thusci, Musis operata juventus,  
Hic Charis, atque Lepos; & Thuscus tu quoque Damon.  
Antiquâ genus unde petis Lucumonis ab urbe.  
O ego quantus eram, gelidi cum stratus ad Arni  
Murmura, populeumque nemus, quà mollior herba,  
Carpere nunc violas, nunc summas carpere myrtos,  
Et potui Lycidae certantem audire Menalcam.  
Ipse etiam tentare ausus sum, nec puto multùm  
Displicui, nam sunt & apud me munera vestra  
Fiscellae; calathique & cerea vincla cicutae,  
Quin & nostra suas docuerunt nomina fagos  
Et Datis, & Francinus, erant & vocibus ambo  
Et studi●● noti, Lydorum sanguinis ambo.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Haec mihi tum laeto dictabat roscida luna,  
Dum solus teneros claudebam cratibus hoedos.  
Ah quoties dixi, cum te cinis ater habebat,  
Nunc canit, aut lepori nunc tendit retia Damon,  
Vimina nunc texit, varios sibi quod sit in usus;  
Et quae tum facili sperabam ment futura  
Arripui voto levis, & praesentia finxi,  
Heus bone numquid agis? nisi te quid forte retardat,  
Imus? & argutâ paulùm recubamus in umbra,  
Aut ad aquas Colni, aut ubi jugera Cassibelauni?  
Tu mihi percurres medicos, tua gramina, succos,  
Helleborúmque, humilésque crocos, foliúmque hyacinthi '  
Quasque habet ista palus herbas, artesque medentûm,  
Ah pereant herbae, pereant artesque medentûm  
Gramina, postquam ipsi nil profecere magistro.  
Ipse etiam, nam nescio quid mihi grande sonabat  
Fistula, ab undecimâ jam lux est altera nocte,  
Et tum forte novis admonram labra cicutis,  
Dissiluere tamen rupta compage, nec ultra  
Ferre graves potuere sonos, dubito quoque ne sim  
Turgidulus, tamen & referam, vos cedite silvae.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Ipsa ego Dardanias Rutupina per aequora puppes  
Dicam, & Pandrasidos regnum vetus Inogeniae,  
Brennùmque Arviragúmque duces, priscùmque Belin 〈…〉  
Et tandem Armoricos Britonum sub lege colonos;  
Tum gravidam Arturo fatali fraude Jogernen  
Mendaces vultus, assumptáque Gorlonis arma,  
Merlini dolus. O mihi tum si vita supersit,  
Tu procul annosa pendebis fistula pinu  
Multùm oblita mihi, aut patriis mutata camoenis  
Brittonicum strides, quid enim? omnia non licet uni  
Non sperâsse uni licet omnia, mi satis ampla  
Merces, & mihi grande decus (sim ignotus in aevum  
Tum licet, externo penitúsque inglorius orbi)  
Si me flava comas legat Usa, & potor Alauni,  
Vorticibúsque frequens Abra, & nemus omne Treantae,  
Et Thamesis meus ante omnes, & fusca metallis  
Tamara, & extremis me discant Orcades undis.   

Ite domum impasti, domino jam non vacat, agni.  
Haec tibi servabam lentâ sub cortice lauri,  
Haec, & plura simul, tum quae mihi pocula Mansus,  
Mansus Chalcidicae non ultima gloria ripae  
Bina dedit, mirum artis opus, mirandus & ipse,  
Et circùm gemino caelaverat argumento:  
In medio rubri maris unda, & odoriferum ver  
Littora longa Arabum, & sudantes balsama silvae,  
Has inter Phoenix divina avis, unica terris  
Caerulcùm fulgens diversicoloribus alis  
Auroram vitreis surgentem respicit undis.  
Parte alia polus omnipatens, & magnus Olympus,  
Quis putet? hic quoque Amor, pictaeque in nube pharetrae,  
Arma corusca faces, & spicula tincta pyropo;  
Nec tenues animas, pectúsque ignobile vulgi  
Hinc ferit, at circùm flammantia lumina torquens  
Semper in erectum spargit sua tela per orbes  
Impiger, & pronos nunquam collimat ad ictus,  
Hinc mentes ardere sacrae, formaeque deorum.   

Tu quoque in his, nec me fallit spes lubrica Damon,  
Tu quoque in his certè es, nam quò tua dulcis abiret  
Sanctáque simplicitas, nam quò tua candida virtus?  
Nec te Lethaeo fas quaesivisse sub orco,  
Nec tibi conveniunt lacrymae, nec flebimus ultrà,  
Ite procul lacrymae, purum colit aethera Damon,  
Aethera purus habet, pluvium pede reppulit arcum;  
Heroúmque animas inter, diuósque perennes,  
Aethereos haurit latices & gaudia potat  
Ore Sacro. Quin tu coeli post jura recepta  
Dexter ades, placidúsque fave quicunque vocaris,  
Seu tu noster eris Damon, sive aequior audis  
Diodotus, quo te divino nomine cuncti  
Coelicolae nôrint, sylvisque vocabere Damon.  
Quòd tibi purpureus pudor, & sine labe juventus  
Grata fuit, quòd nulla tori libata voluptas,  
En etiam tibi virginei servantur honores;  
Ipse caput nitidum cinctus rutilante corona,  
Letáque frondentis gestans umbracula palmae  
Aeternum perages immortales hymenaeos;  
Cantus ubi, choreisque furit lyra mista beatis,  
Festa Sionaeo bacchantur & Orgia Thyrso.    

Jan. 23. 1646.  
Ad Joannem Rousium Oxoniensis Academiae Bibliothecarium.  
De libro Poematum amisso, quem ille sibi denuo mitti postulabat, ut cum aliis nostris in Bibliotheca publica reponeret, Ode.  

Strophe 1.  

GEmelle cultu simplici gaudens liber,  
Fronde licet geminâ,  
Munditiéque nitens non operosâ,  
Quam manus attulit  
Juvenilis olim,  
Sedula tamen haud nimii Poetae;  
Dum vagus Ausonias nunc per umbras  
Nunc Britannica per vireta lusit  
Insons populi, barbitóque devius  
Indulsit patrio, mox itidem pectine Daunio  
Longinquum intonuit melos  
Vicinis, & humum vix tetigit pede;   

Antistrophe.  

Quis te, parve liber, quis te fratribus  
Subduxit reliquis dolo?  
Cum tu missus ab urbe,  
Docto jugiter obsecrante amico,  
Illustre tendebas iter  
Thamesis ad incunabula  
Caerulei patris,  
Fontes ubi limpidi  
Aonidum, thyasusque sacer  
Orbi notus per immensos  
Temporum lapsus redeunte coelo,  
Celeberque futurus in aevum;     

Strophe 2.  

Modò quis deus, aut editus deo  
Pristinam gentis miseratus indolem  
(Si satis noxas luimus priores  
Mollique luxu degener otium)  
Tollat nefandos civium tumultus,  
Almaque revocet studia sanctus  
Et relegatas sme sede Musas  
Jam penè totis finibus Angligenûm;  
Immundasque volucres  
Unguibus imminentes  
Figat Apollineâ pharetrâ,  
Phinéamque abigat pestem procul amne Pegaséo.   

Antistrophe.  

Quin tu, libelle, nuntii licet malâ  
Fide, vel oscitantiâ  
Semel erraveris agmine fratrum,  
Seu quis te teneat specus,  
Seu qua te latebra, forsan unde vili  
calo teréris institoris insulsi,  
Laetare felix, en iterum tibi  
Spes nova fulget posse profundam  
Fugere Lethen, vehique Superam  
In Jovis aulam remige pennâ;     

Strophe 3.  

Nam te Roüsius sui  
Optat peculî, numeróque justo  
Sibi pollicitum queritur abesse,  
Rogatque venias ille cujus inclyta  
Sunt data virûm monumenta curae:  
Téque adytis etiam sacris  
Voluit reponi quibus & ipse praesidet  
Aeternorum operum custos fidelis,  
Quaestorque gazae nobilioris,  
quam cui praefuit Iön  
Clarus Erechtheides  
Opulenta dei per templa parentis  
Fulvosque tripodas, donaque Delphica  
Iön Actaea genitus Creusâ.   

Antistrophe.  

Ergo tu visere lucos  
Musarum ibis amoenos,  
Diamque Phoebi rursus ibis in domum  
Oxoniâ quam valle colit  
Delo posthabitâ,  
Bifidóque Parnassi jugo:  
Ibis honestus,  
Postquam egregiam tu quoque sortem  
Nactus abis, dextri prece sollicitatus amici.  
Illic legéris inter alta nomina  
Authorum, Graiae simul & Latinae  
Antiqua gentis lumina, & verum decus.     

Epodos.  

Vos tandem haud vacui mei labores,  
Quicquid hoc sterile fudit ingenium,  
Jam serò placidam sperare jubeo  
Perfunctam invidiâ requiem, sedesque beatas  
Quas bonus Hermes  
Et tutela dabit solers Roüsi,  
Quò neque lingua procax vulgi penetrabit, atque longè  
Turba legentum prava facesset;  
At ultimi nepotes,  
Et cordatior aetas  
Judicia rebus aequiora forsitan  
Adhibebit integro sinu.  
Tum livore sepulto,  
Si quid meremur sana posteritas sciet  
Roüsio favente.    
Ode tribus constat Strophis, totidémque Antistrophis unâ demum epodo clausis, quas, tametsi omnes nec versuum numero, nec certis ubique colis exactè respondeant, ita tamen secuimus, commodè legendi potius, quam ad antiquos concinendi modos rationem spectantes. Alioquin hoc genus rectiùs fortasse dici monostrophicum debuerat. Metra partim sunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 partim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Phale●cia quae sunt, spondaeum tertio loco bis admittunt, quod idem in secundo loco Catullus ad libitum fecit.    

OF EDUCATION. To Master Samuel Hartlib. Written above twenty Years since.  
Mr. Hartlib,  
I Am long since persuaded, that to say, or do aught worth memory and imitation, no purpose or respect should sooner move us, then simply the love of God, and of mankind. Nevertheless to write now the reforming of Education, though it be one of the greatest and noblest designs that can be thought on, and for the want whereof this Nation perishes, I had not yet at this time been induced, but by your earnest entreaties, and serious conjurements; as having my mind for the present half diverted in the pursuance of some other assertions, the knowledge and the use of which, cannot but be a great furtherance both to the enlargement of truth, and honest living, with much more peace. Nor should the laws of any private friendship have prevailed with me to divide thus, or transpose my former thoughts, but that I see those aims, those actions which have won you with me the esteem of a person sent hither by some good providence from a far country to be the occasion and the incitement of great good to this Island. And, as I hear, you have obtained the same repute with men of most approved wisdom, and some of highest authority among us. Not to mention the learned correspondence which you hold in foreign parts, and the extraordinary pains and diligence which you have used in this matter both here, and beyond the Seas; either by the definite will of God so ruling, or the peculiar sway of nature, which also is God's working. Neither can I think that so reputed, and so valued as you are, you would to the forfeit of your own discerning ability, impose upon me an unfit and over-ponderous argument, but that the satisfaction which you profess to have received from those incidental Discourses which we have wandered into, hath pressed and almost constrained you into a persuasion, that what you require from me in this point, I neither aught, nor can in conscience defer beyond this time both of so much need at once, and so much opportunity to try what God hath determined. I will not resist therefore, whatever it is either of divine, or humane obligement that you lay upon me; but will forthwith set down in writing, as you request me, that voluntary Idea, which hath long in silence presented itself to me, of a better Education, in extent and comprehension far more large, and yet of time far shorter, and of attainment far more certain, then hath been yet in practice, Brief I shall endeavour to be; for that which I have to say, assuredly this Nation hath extreme need should be done sooner than spoken. To tell you therefore what I have benefited herein among old renowned Authors, I shall spare; and to search what many modern Januas and Didactics more than ever I shall read, have projected, my inclination leads me not. But if you can accept of these few observations which have flowered off, and are, as it were, the burnishing of many studious and contemplative years altogether spent in the search of religious and civil knowledge, and such as pleased you so well in the relating, I here give you them to dispose of.  
The end then of Learning is to repair the ruins of our first Parents by regaining to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to love him, to imitate him, to be like him, as we may the nearest by possessing our souls of true virtue, which being united to the heavenly grace of faith makes up the highest perfection. But because our understanding cannot in this body found itself but on sensible things, nor arrive so clearly to the knowledge of God and things invisible, as by orderly cunning over the visible and inferior creature, the same method is necessarily to be followed in all discreet teaching. And seeing every Nation affords not experience and tradition enough for all kind of Learning, therefore we are chiefly taught the Languages of those people who have at any time been most industrious after Wisdom; so that Language is but the Instrument conveying to us things useful to be known. And though a Linguist should pride himself to have all the Tongues that Babel cloven the world into, yet, if he have not studied the solid things in them as well as the Words & Lexicons, he were nothing so much to be esteemed a learned man, as any Yeoman or Tradesman competently wise in his Mother Dialect only. Hence appear the many mistakes which have made Learning generally so unpleasing and so unsuccessful; first we do amiss to spend seven or eight years merely in scraping together so much miserable Latin and Greek, as might be learned otherwise easily and delightfully in one year. And that which casts our proficiency therein so much behind, is our time lost partly in too oft idle vacancies given both to Schools and Universities, partly in a preposterous exaction, forcing the empty wits of Children to compose Themes, Verses and Orations, which are the acts of ripest judgement and the final work of a head filled by long reading and observing, with elegant maxims, and copious invention. These are not matters to be wrung from poor striplings, like blood out of the Nose, or the plucking of untimely fruit: besides the ill habit which they get of wretched barbarizing against the Latin and Greek idiom, with their untutored Anglicisms, odious to be read, yet not to be avoided without a well continued and judicious conversing among pure Authors digested, which they scarce taste, whereas, if after some preparatory grounds of speech by their certain forms got into memory, they were led to the praxis thereof in some chosen short book lessoned throughly to them, they might then forthwith proceed to learn the substance of good things, and Arts in due order, which would bring the whole language quickly into their power. This I take to be the most rational and most profitable way of learning Languages, and whereby we may best hope to give account to God of our youth spent herein: And for the usual method of teaching Arts, I deem it to be an old error of Universities not yet well recovered from the Scholastic grossness of barbarous ages, that in stead of beginning with Arts most easy, and those be such as are most obvious to the sense, they present their young unmatriculated Novices at first coming with the most intellective abstractions of Logic and Metapysicks: So that they having but newly left those Grammatick flats and shallows where they stuck unreasonably to learn a few words with lamentable construction, and now on the sudden transported under another climate to be tossed and turmoiled with their unballasted wits in fadomless and unquiet deeps of controversy, do for the most part grow into hatred and contempt of Learning, mocked and deluded all this while with ragged Notions and Babblements, while they expected worthy and delightful knowledge; till poverty or youthful years call them importunately their several ways, and hasten them with the sway of friends either to an ambitious and mercenary, or ignorantly zealous Divinity; Some allured to the trade of Law, grounding their purposes not on the prudent and heavenly contemplation of justice and equity which was never taught them, but on the promising and pleasing thoughts of litigious terms, fat contentions, and flowing fees; others betake them to State affairs, with souls so unprincipled in virtue, and true generous breeding, that flattery, and Court shifts and tyrannous Aphorisms appear to them the highest points of wisdom; instilling their barren hearts with a conscientious slavery, if, as I rather think, it be not feigned. Others lastly of a more delicious and airy spirit, retire themselves knowing no better, to the enjoyments of ease and luxury, living out their days in feast and jollity; which indeed is the wisest and the safest course of all these, unless they were with more integrity undertaken. And these are the fruits of mispending our prime youth at the Schools and Universities as we do, either in learning mere words or such things chiefly, as were better unlearnt.  
I shall detain you no longer in the demonstration of what we should not do, but straight conduct ye to a hill side, where I will point ye out the right path of a virtuous and noble Education; laborious indeed at the first ascent, but else so smooth, so green, so full of goodly prospect, and melodious sounds on every side, that the Harp of Orpheus was not more charming. I doubt not but ye shall have more ado to drive our dullest and laziest youth, our stocks and stubbs from the infinite desire of such a happy nurture, than we have now to hale and drag our choicest and hopefullest Wits to that asinine feast of sowthistles and brambles which is commonly set before them, as all the food and entertainment of their tenderest and most docible age. I call therefore a complete and generous Education that which fits a man to perform justly, skilfully and magnanimously all the offices both private and public of Peace and War. And how all this may be done between twelve, and one and twenty, less time than is now bestowed in pure trifling at Grammar and Sophistry, is to be thus ordered.  
First to find out a spacious house and ground about it fit for an Academy, and big enough to lodge a hundred and fifty persons, whereof twenty or thereabout may be attendants, all under the government of one, who shall be thought of desert sufficient, and ability either to do all, or wisely to direct, and oversee it done. This place should be at once both School and University, not needing a remove to any other house of Scholarship, except it be some peculiar College of Law, or Physic, where they mean to be practitioners; but as for those general studies which take up all our time from Lily to the commencing, as they term it, Master of Art, it should be absolute. After this pattern, as many Edifices may be converted to this use, as shall be needful in every City throughout this Land, which would tend much to the increase of Learning and Civility every where. This number, less or more thus collected, to the convenience of a foot Company, or interchangeably two Troops of Cavalry, should divide their day's work into three parts, as it lies orderly. Their Studies, their Exercise, and their Diet.  
For their Studies, First they should begin with the chief and necessary rules of some good Grammar, either that now used, or any better: and while this is doing, their speech is to be fashioned to a distinct and clear pronunciation, as near as may be to the Italian, especially in the Vowels. For we Englishmen being far Northerly, do not open our mouths in the cold air, wide enough to grace a Southern Tongue; but are observed by all other Nations to speak exceeding close and inward: So that to smatter Latin with an English mouth, is as ill a hearing as Law-French. Next to make them expert in the usefullest points of Grammar, and withal to season them, and win them early to the love of virtue and true labour, ere any flattering seducement, or vain principle seize them wandering, some easy and delightful Book of Education would be read to them; whereof the Greeks have store, as Cebes, Plutarch, and other Socratic discourses. But in Latin we have none of classic authority extant, except the two or three first Books of Quintilian, and some select pieces elsewhere. But here the main skill and groundwork will be, to temper them such Lectures and Explanations upon every opportunity, as may lead and draw them in willing obedience, inflamed with the study of Learning, and the admiration of Virtue; stirred up with high hopes of living to be brave men, and worthy Patriots, dear to God, and famous to all ages. That they may despise and scorn all their childish, and ill-taught qualities, to delight in manly, and liberal Exercises: which he who hath the Art, and proper Eloquence to catch them with, what with mild and effectual persuasions, and what with the intimation of some fear, if need be, but chiefly by his own example, might in a short space gain them to an incredible diligence and courage: infusing into their young breasts such an ingenuous and noble ardour, as would not fail to make many of them renowned and matchless men. At the same time, some other hour of the day, might be taught them the rules of Arithmetic, and soon after the Elements of Geometry even playing, as the old manner was. After evening repast, till bedtime their thoughts will be best taken up in the easy grounds of Religion, and the story of Scripture. The next step would be to the Authors Agriculture, Cato, Varro, and Columella, for the matter is most easy, and if the language be difficult, so much the better, it is not a difficulty above their years. And here will be an occasion of inciting and enabling them hereafter to improve the tillage of their Country, to recover the bad Soil, and to remedy the waste that is made of good: for this was one of Hercules' praises. Ere half these Authors be read (which will soon be with plying hard, and daily) they cannot choose but be masters of any ordinary prose. So that it will be then seasonable for them to learn in any modern Author, the use of the Globes, and all the Maps; first with the old names, and then with the new: or they might be then capable to read any compendious method of natural Philosophy. And at the same time might be entering into the Greek tongue, after the same manner as was before prescribed in the Latin; whereby the difficulties of Grammar being soon overcome, all the Historical Physiology of Aristotle and Theophrastus are open before them, and as I may say, under contribution. The like access will be to Vitruvius, to Seneca's natural questions, to Mela, Celsus, Pliny, or Solinus. And having thus past the principles of Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy, and Geography with a general compact of Physics, they may descend in Mathematics to the instrumental science of Trigonometry, and from thence to Fortification, Architecture, Enginry, or Navigation. And in natural Philosophy they may proceed leisurely from the History of Meteors, Minerals, plants and living Creatures as far as Anatomy. Then also in course might be read to them out of some not tedious Writer the Institution of Physic; that they may know the tempers, the humours, the seasons, and how to manage a crudity: which he who can wisely and timely do, is not only a great Physician to himself, and to his friends, but also may at some time or other, save an Army by this frugal and expenseless means only; and not let the healthy and stout bodies of young men rot away under him for want of this discipline; which is a great pity, and no less a shame to the Commander. To set forward all these proceedings in Nature and Mathematics, what hinders, but that they may procure, as oft as shall be needful, the helpful experiences of Hunters, Fowlers, Fishermen, Shepherds, Gardeners, Apothecaries; and in the other sciences, Architects, Engineers, Mariners, Anatomists; who doubtless would be ready some for reward, and some to favour such a hopeful Seminary. And this will give them such a real tincture of natural knowledge, as they shall never forget, but daily augment with delight. Then also those Poets which are now counted most hard, will be both facile and pleasant, Orpheus, Hesiod, Theocritus, Aratus, Nicander, Oppian, Dionysius, and in Latin Lucretius, Manilius, and the rural part of Virgil.  
By this time, years and good general precepts will have furnished them more distinctly with that act of reason which in Ethics is called Proairesis: that they may with some judgement contemplate upon moral good and evil. Then will be required a special reinforcement of constant and sound endoctrinating to set them right and firm, instructing them more amply in the knowledge of Virtue and the hatred of Vice: while their young and pliant affections are led through all the moral works of Plato, Xenophon, Cicero, Plutarch, Laertius, and those Locrian remnants; but still to be reduced in their nightward studies wherewith they close the day's work, under the determinate sentence of David or Solomon, or the Evanges and Apostolic Scriptures. Being perfect in the knowledge of personal duty, they may then begin the study of Economics. And either now, or before this, they may have easily learned at any odd hour the Italian Tongue. And soon after, but with wariness and good antidote, it would be wholesome enough to let them taste some choice Comedies, Greek, Latin, or Italian: Those Tragedies also that treat of Household matters, as Trachiniae, Alcestis, and the like. The next remove must be to the study of Politics; to know the beginning, end, and reasons of Political Societies; that they may not in a dangerous fit of the Commonwealth be such poor, shaken, uncertain Reeds, of such a tottering Conscience, as many of our great Counsellors have lately shown themselves, but steadfast pillars of the State. After this they are to dive into the grounds of Law, and legal Justice; delivered first, and with best warrant by Moses; and as far as humane prudence can be trusted, in those extolled remains of Grecian Lawgivers, Lycurgus, Solon, Zaleucus, Charondas, and thence to all the Roman Edicts and Tables with their Justinian; and so down to the Saxon and common Laws of England, and the Statutes. Sundays also and every evening may be now understandingly spent in the highest matters of Theology, and Church History ancient and modern: and ere this time the Hebrew Tongue at a set hour might have been gained, that the Scriptures may be now read in their own orginal; where●o it would be no impossibility to add the Chaldey, and the Syrian Dialect. When all these employments are well conquered, then will the choice Histories, Heroic Poems, and Attic Tragedies of stateliest and most regal argument, with all the famous Political Orations offer themselves; which if they were not only read; but some of them got by memory, and solemnly pronounced with right accent, and grace, as might be taught, would endue them even with the spirit and vigour of Deviosthenes or Cicero, Euripides, or Sophocles. And now lastly will be the time to read with them those organic arts which enable men to discourse and write perspicuously, elegantly, and according to the f 〈…〉 d stile of lofty, mean, or lowly. Logic therefore so much as is useful, 〈◊〉 to be referred to this due place withal her well couched Heads and Topics, until it be time to open her contracted palm into a graceful and ornate Rhetoric taught out of the rule of Plato, Aristotle, Phalereus, Cicero, Hermogenes, Longinus. To which Poetry would be made subsequent, or indeed rather precedent, as being less subtle and fine, but more simple, sensuous and passionate. I mean not here the prosody of a verse, which they could not but have hit on before among the rudiments of Grammar; but that sublime Art which in Aristotle's Poetics, in Horace, and the Italia 〈…〉 Commentaries of Castelvetro, Tasso, Mazzoni, and others, teaches what the laws are of a true Epic Poem, what of a Dramatic, what of a Lyric, what Decorum is, which is the grand masterpiece to observe. This would make them soon perceive what despicible creatures our comm Rhymers and Play-writers be, and show them, what religious, what glorious and magnificent use might be made of Poetry both in divine and humane things. From hence and not till now will be the right season of forming them to be able Writers and Composers in every excellent matter, when they shall be thus fraught with an universal insight into things. Or whether they be to speak in Parliament or Counsel, honour and attention would be waiting on their lips. There would then also appear in Pulpits other Visages, other gestures, and stuff otherwise wrought then what we now sit under, oft times to as great a trial of our patience as any other that they preach to us. These are the Studies wherein our noble and our gentle Youth ought to bestow their time in a disciplinary way from twelve to one and twenty; unless they rely more upon their ancestors dead, then upon themselves living. In which methodical course it is so supposed they must proceed by the steady pace of learning onward, as at convenient times for memories sake to retire back into the middle ward, and sometimes into the rear of what they have been taught, until they have confirmed, and solidly united the whole body of their perfeted knowledge, like the last embattelling of a Roman Legion. Now will be worth the seeing what Exercises and Recreations may best agree, and become these Studies.  

Their Exercise.  
The course of Study hitherto briefly described, is, what I can guests by reading, 〈◊〉 to those ancient and famous Schools of Pythagoras, Plato, Isocrates, Aristotle and such others, out of which were bred up such a number of renowned Philosophers, Orators, Historians, Poets and Princes all over Greece, Italy, and Asia, besides the flourishing Studies of Cyrene and Alexandria. But herein it shall exceed them, and supply a defect as great as that which Plato noted in the Commonwealth of Sparta; whereas that City trained up their Youth most for War, and these in their Academies and Lycaeum, all for the Gown, this institution of breeding which I here delineate, shall be equally good both for Peace and War. Therefore about an hour and a half ere they eat at Noon should be allowed them for exercise and due rest afterwards: But the time for this may be enlarged at pleasure, according as their rising in the morning shall be early. The Exercise which I commend first, is the exact use of their Weapon, to guard and to strike safely with edge, or point; this will keep them healthy, nimble, strong, and well in breath, is also the likeliest means to make them grow large and tall, and to inspire them with a gallant and fearless courage, which being tempered with seasonable Lectures and Precepts to them of true Fortitude and Patience, will turn into a native and heroic valour, and make them hate the cowardice of doing wrong. They must be also practised in all the Locks and Gripes of Wrestling, wherein English men were wont to excel, as need may often be in fight to tug or grapple, and to close. And this perhaps will be enough, wherein to prove and heat their single strength. The interim of unsweating themselves regularly, and convevenient rest before meat may both with profit and delight be taken up in recreating and composing their travailed spirits with the solemn and divine harmonies of Music heard or learned; either while the skilful Organist plies his grave and fancied descant, in lofty fugues, or the whole Symphony with artful and unimaginable touches adorn and grace the well studied chords of some choice Composer; sometimes the Lute, or soft Organ stop waiting on elegant Voices either to Religious, martial, or civil Ditties; which if wise men and Prophets be not extremely out, have a great power over dispositions and manners, to smooth and make them gentle from rustic harshness and distempered passions. The like also would not be unexpedient after Meat to assist and cherish Nature in her first concoction, and send their minds back to study in good tune and satisfaction. Where having followed it close under vigilant eyes till about two hours before supper, they are by a sudden alarm or watch word, to be called out to their military motions, under sky or covert, according to the season, as was the Roman wont; first on foot, then as their age permits, on Horseback, to all the Art of Cavalry; That having in sport, but with much exactness, and daily muster, served out the rudiments of their Soldiership in all the skill of Embattelling, Marching, Encamping, Fortifying, Besieging and Battering, with all the helps of ancient and modern stratagems, Tactics and warlike maxims, they may as it were out of a long War come forth renowned and perfect Commanders in the service of their Country. They would not then, if they were trusted with fair and hopeful armies, suffer them for want of just and wise discipline to shed away from about them like sick feathers, though they be never so oft supplied: they would not suffer their empty and unrecrutible Colonels of twenty men in a Company to quaff out, or convey into secret hoards, the wages of a delusive list, and a miserable remnant: yet in the mean while to be overmastered with a score or two of drunkards, the only souldery left about them, or else to comply with all rapines and violences. No certainly, if they knew aught of that knowledge that belongs to good men or good Governors, they would not suffer these things. But to return to our own institute, besides these constant exercises at home, there is another opportunity of gaining experience to be won from pleasure itself abroad; In those vernal seasons of the year, when the air is calm and pleasant, it were an injury and sullenness against nature not to go out, and see her riches, and partake in her rejoicing with Heaven and Earth. I should not therefore be a persuader to them of studying much then, after two or three year that they have well laid their grounds, but to ride out in Companies with prudent and stayed Guides, to all the quarters of the Land: learning and observing all places of strength, all commodities of building and of soil, for Towns and Tillage, Harbours and Ports for Trade. Sometimes taking Sea as far as to our Navy, to learn there also what they can in the practical knowledge of sailing and of Sea-fight. These ways would try all their peculiar gifts of Nature, and if there were any secret excellence among them, would fetch it out, and give it fair opportunities to advance itself by, which could not but mightily redound to the good of this Nation and bring into fashion again those old admired Virtues and Excellencies, with far more advantage now in this purity of Christian knowledge. Nor shall we then need the Monsieurs of Paris to take our hopeful Youth into their slight and prodigal custodies and send them over back again transformed into Mimics, Apes and Kicshoes. But if they desire to see other Countries at three or four and twenty years of age, not to learn Principles but to enlarge Experience, and make wise observation, they will by that time be such as shall deserve the regard and honour of all men where they pass, and the society and friendship of those in all places who are best and most eminent. And perhaps then other Nations will be glad to visit us for their Breeding, or else to imitate us in their own Country.  
Now lastly for their Diet there cannot be much to say, save only that it would be best in the same House; for much time else would be lost abroad, and many ill habits got; and that it should be plain, healthful, and moderate I suppose is out of controversy. Thus Mr. Hartlib, you have a general view in writing, as your desire was, of that which at several times I had discoursed with you concerning the best and Noblest way of Education; not beginning as some have done from the Cradle, which yet might be worth many considerations, if brevity had not been my scope, many other circumstances also I could have mentioned, but this to such as have the worth in them to make trial, for light and direction may be enough. Only I believe that this is not a Bow for every man to shoot in that counts himself a Teacher; but will require sinews almost equal to those which Homer gave Ulysses, yet I am withal persuaded that it may prove much more easy in the assay, than it now seems at distance, and much more illustrious: howbeit not more difficult than I imagine, and that imagination presents me with nothing but very happy and very possible according to best wishes; if God have so decreed, and this age have spirit and capacity enough to apprehend.   
THE END.   

A Catalogue of some Books printed for and sold by Tho. Dring at the Blue Anchor over against Fetter lane in Fleetstreet.  

LAW BOOKS.  
1 THe Statutes at large by Ferdinando Pulton, and continued to the year 1670. by T. Manby of Lincoln's Inn Esq in Folio, Price 50. s.  
2 A Collection of Entries, etc. by W. Rastal Esq newly amended and much enlarged with many good Precedents of late times, whereof divers are upon sundry Statutes, and noted in the end of the Table, in fol. price 3. l.  
3 A Book of Entries, containing Precedents of Counts, Declarations, Informations, etc. By Sir Edward Coke Knight, in fol. price 3. l.  
4 The 11. Reports of the Lord Coke in French with a Table, fol. price 3. l.  
5 The whole Office of a Sheriff: By Mich. Dalton, with very large Additions since Mr. Daltons' death, in fol. price 12. s.  
6 The Country Justice, containing the practice of the Justices of Peace, as well in as out of Sessions; By Mich. Dalton with Additions, in fol. price 8. s.  
7 Coke Commentary on Littleton, printed 1670. fol. price 18. s.  
8 Formulae bene placitandi, A Book of Entries containing variety of choice Precedents, of Counts, Declarations, etc. and divers other Plead collected from the Manuscripts, as well as some of the late learned Prothonotaries of the Court of Common Pleas, as of other eminent Practisers in the Court of King's Bench, never before in print, methodically digested under apt Titles, with an exact Table; By W. B. a Clerk of the Common Pleas, in folio, printed 1671. price. 12. s.  
9 Lord Dyers Reports, with a Table never before printed with it, in fol. printed 1671. price 18. s.  
10 Thesaurus Brevium, in fol. price 6. s.  
11 Brevia Judicialia, being a Collection of of Precedents for Writs in the King's Bench, fol. price 10. s.  
12 Actions on the Case for Slander; By W. Sheppard, in fol. price 6. s.  
13 A Collection of all the Acts and Statutes made in the Reigns of King Charles the first and King Charles the second, with the Abridgement of such as stand Repealed or expired, continued after the Method of Mr. Pulton, with Notes of Reference one to the other; to which also is added the Statutes and private Acts of Parliament passed by their said Majesties, until the year 1671. with a Table directing to the principal matters of the said Statutes; By Tho. Manby of Lincoln's Inn Esq fol. price 14. s.  
14 Tables to most of the printed Precedents of Pleading, Writs, and Return of Writs at the Common Law, collected by George Townsend, fol. price 12. s.  
15 The Law of Common Assurances touching Deeds in general, viz. Feoffments Gifts, Grants, Leases, etc. with two Alphabetical Tables; By W. Sheppard Esq fol. price 14. s.  
16 Modern Reports; by William Style of the Inner Temple Esq fol. price 10. s.  
17 Complete Clerk, containg forms of all sorts of Precedents for Conveyances and Assurances, and other Instruments now in use and Practice, the third Edition, very much enlaged in Quarto, price 12. s.  
18 A Treatise of the Forest Laws; By Jo. Manwood, the third Edition corrected and enlarged, in Quarto, price 6. s.  
19 The Complete Attorney, showing the Office of an Attorney in the Court of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Pleas of the Exchequer, the manner of their proceeding, with Instructions for the Solicitation of any cause in the Chancery, Exchequer Chamber, Duchy Chamber, in Oct. price 3. s.  
20. The Young Clerks Guide, or an exact Collection of Choice English Precedents according to the best forms now used, very useful and necessary for all, but chiefly for those that intent to follow the Attorneys Practice, in Oct. price 5. s.  
21 fitzherbert's Natura Brevium, corrected and amended, printed 1667, Large Octavo, price 5. s.  
22 Practical Register, Or the Accomplished Attorney, consisting of Rules, Orders and the most principal observation of the Practice of the Common Law in his Majesty's Courts, but more particularly applicable to the proceedings in the King's Bench, the second Edition very much enlarged, in Oct. price 3. s. 6. d.  
23 Parson's Law, or A View of Advowsons', Wherein is contained the Right of Patrons, Ordinaries and incumbents to Advowsons' of Churches and Benefices and Cure of Souls and other Spiritual Promotions, the third Edition, enlarged by W. Hughes, in Oct. price 2. s. 6. d.  
24 Terms of the Law with Additions, in Oct. price 4. s.  
25 An Abridgement of all the Statutes from Magna Charta, until the year 1671; By E. Wingat, in Oct. price 6. s.  
26 Complete Justice, being an exact Collection out of such as have treated of the Office of Justice of the Peace, in Twelves, price 2. s.  
27 Lord Coke complete Copyholder, whereunto is added a large Treatise by way of Supplement, printed 1668. in 120. price 1. s. 6. d.  
28 Doctor and Student in English, in Oct. printed 1663. price 2. s.  
29 Fortescue de Laudibus Legum Angliae, with Notes on Fortescue and Hengam; By John Selden Esq in small Oct. price 3. s. printed 1672.  
30 Tractatus de Legibus & Consuetudinibus per Ranulphum de Glanvillia, in Oct. price 2. s.  
31 Littleton's Tenors in French and English, carefully corrected and amended, printed 1670. 〈◊〉 Quarto, price 2. s. 6.  
32 A Philosophical Commentary, or an Illustration of the most obvious and useful terms in the Law; By Edw. Leigh Gent. sometimes of the middle Temple, in Oct. price 1. s. 6. d.  
33 A Profitable Book of the Laws of England; By John Perkins, in small Oct. price 2. s.  
34 Studii Legalis Ratio, or directions for the Study of the Law under these seven Heads, viz. the Qualifications for study, the nature means, method, time and place of study, in Twelves, price 1. s. 6. d.  
35 Statuta Vetera & Recentiora, A methodical Collection and Abridgement of the Statutes that relate to the Practice of the Common Law, in small Oct. price 1. s.  
36 Speculum Juris Anglicani, or a View of the Laws of England, as they are divided into Statutes, Common Law and Customs, incidently of the Customs of the famous City of London, never before printed, together with Resolutions on several of them, by the Reverend Judges at Westminster, in Oct. price 1. s. By John Bridal Esquire.  
37 Young Clerks Tutor, being a Collection of the best Precedents of Recognizances, Obligations, Conditions, Acquittances, Bills of Sale, Warrants of Attorney, etc. in Twelves, price 1. 6. d.  
38 Jus Sigilli, or the Law of England, touching His Majesty's four principal Seals, Viz. The Great Seal, the Privy Seal, the Exchequer Seal, and the Signet; also of those grand Officers to whose Custody these Seals are committed, in small Twelves, price 10. d.  
39 Young Clerks Companion, or a Manual for his daily practice, wherein are contained the most absolute modern precedents, fitted for all occasions of present use, in a more accurate and facile Method then ever yet was published, in 240: price 1. s.   
FINIS.