Had one of those, whose credulous pietie
Thought, that a Soule one might discerne and see
Goe from a body,'at this sepulcher been,
And, issuing from the sheet, this body seen, 20
He would have justly thought this body a soule,
If not of any man, yet of the whole.
Thought, that a Soule one might discerne and see
Goe from a body,'at this sepulcher been,
And, issuing from the sheet, this body seen, 20
He would have justly thought this body a soule,
If not of any man, yet of the whole.
Donne - 1
_1635-69:_ II.
_1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c.
:_ V.
_B_, _O'F_,
_S96_, _W_]
[1 Soule! _1633:_ Soule _1635-69_]
[8 imprisoned. _W:_ imprisoned; _1633-69_]
V.
I am a little world made cunningly
Of Elements, and an Angelike spright,
But black sinne hath betraid to endlesse night
My worlds both parts, and (oh) both parts must die.
You which beyond that heaven which was most high 5
Have found new sphears, and of new lands can write,
Powre new seas in mine eyes, that so I might
Drowne my world with my weeping earnestly,
Or wash it, if it must be drown'd no more:
But oh it must be burnt! alas the fire 10
Of lust and envie have burnt it heretofore,
And made it fouler; Let their flames retire,
And burne me ô Lord, with a fiery zeale
Of thee and thy house, which doth in eating heale.
[V. _1635-69:_ _omitted_ _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ VII. _B_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[6 lands _B_, _S96_, _W:_ land _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[7 I _1635-54:_ he _1669_]
[9 it, _Ed:_ it: _W:_ it _1635-69_]
[10 burnt! _Ed:_ burnt, _1635-69_]
[11 have _B_, _S96_, _W:_ hath _O'F:_ _om. _ _1635-69_]
[12 fouler; _W:_ fouler, _1635-69_
their] those _W_]
[13 Lord] God _W_]
VI.
This is my playes last scene, here heavens appoint
My pilgrimages last mile; and my race
Idly, yet quickly runne, hath this last pace,
My spans last inch, my minutes latest point,
And gluttonous death, will instantly unjoynt 5
My body, and soule, and I shall sleepe a space,
But my'ever-waking part shall see that face,
Whose feare already shakes my every joynt:
Then, as my soule, to'heaven her first seate, takes flight,
And earth-borne body, in the earth shall dwell, 10
So, fall my sinnes, that all may have their right,
To where they'are bred, and would presse me, to hell.
Impute me righteous, thus purg'd of evill,
For thus I leave the world, the flesh, the devill.
[VI. _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W:_ III. _1633_, _A18_,
_D_, _&c. _]
[6 and soule, _1635-69:_ and my soule, _1633_]
[7 Or presently, I know not, see that Face, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _W_]
[10 earth-borne _1635-69:_ earth borne _1633_]
[14 flesh,] flesh _1633_
the devill. ] and devill. _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S96_, _TC_, _W_]
VII.
At the round earths imagin'd corners, blow
Your trumpets, Angells, and arise, arise
From death, you numberlesse infinities
Of soules, and to your scattred bodies goe,
All whom the flood did, and fire shall o'erthrow, 5
All whom warre, dearth, age, agues, tyrannies,
Despaire, law, chance, hath slaine, and you whose eyes,
Shall behold God, and never tast deaths woe.
But let them sleepe, Lord, and mee mourne a space,
For, if above all these, my sinnes abound, 10
'Tis late to aske abundance of thy grace,
When wee are there; here on this lowly ground,
Teach mee how to repent; for that's as good
As if thou'hadst seal'd my pardon, with thy blood.
[VII. _1635-69:_ IV. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ VIII. _B_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[5 o'erthrow] overthrow _1669_]
[6 dearth, _W:_ death, _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _TC_]
[8 woe. _W:_ woe, _1633-54:_ owe; _1669_]
[12 lowly] holy _1669_]
[14 thy] my _1669_]
VIII.
If faithfull soules be alike glorifi'd
As Angels, then my fathers soule doth see,
And adds this even to full felicitie,
That valiantly I hels wide mouth o'rstride:
But if our mindes to these soules be descry'd 5
By circumstances, and by signes that be
Apparent in us, not immediately,
How shall my mindes white truth by them be try'd?
They see idolatrous lovers weepe and mourne,
And vile blasphemous Conjurers to call 10
On Iefus name, and Pharisaicall
Dissemblers feigne devotion. Then turne
O pensive soule, to God, for he knowes best
Thy true griefe, for he put it in my breast.
[VIII. _1635-69:_ _omitted_ _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ X. _B_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[7 in us, _W:_ in us _1635-69_. _See note_]
[8 by] to _B_, _S96_, _W_]
[10 vile _W:_ vilde _B_, _O'F_, _S96:_ stile _1635-69_]
[14 true _W:_ _om. 1635-69_, _B_, _S96_ in _W:_ into
_1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S96_
my] thy _B_, _S96_]
IX.
If poysonous mineralls, and if that tree,
Whose fruit threw death on else immortall us,
If lecherous goats, if serpents envious
Cannot be damn'd; Alas; why should I bee?
Why should intent or reason, borne in mee, 5
Make sinnes, else equall, in mee more heinous?
And mercy being easie, and glorious
To God; in his sterne wrath, why threatens hee?
But who am I, that dare dispute with thee
O God? Oh! of thine onely worthy blood, 10
And my teares, make a heavenly Lethean flood,
And drowne in it my sinnes blacke memorie;
That thou remember them, some claime as debt,
I thinke it mercy, if thou wilt forget.
[IX. _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W:_ V. _1633_, _A18_, _D_,
_&c. _]
[1 poysonous] poysons _1639-54_
and if that] or if the _B_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[2 (else immortal) _1635-69_]
[5 or] and _B_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[6 mee] mee, _1633_]
[8 God;] God, _1633_]
[9-10 thee O God? _W:_ thee? O God, _1633-69_]
[12 memorie;] memorie, _1633_]
[14 forget. ] forget, _1633_]
X.
Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee, 5
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell, 10
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
[X. _1635-69:_ VI. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ XI. _B_, _O'F_,
_S96_, _W_]
[4 mee. ] mee; _1633_]
[5 pictures _1633 and MSS. :_ picture _1635-69_]
[8 deliverie. ] deliverie _1633-69_]
[9 Chance, _W:_ chance, _1633-69_]
[10 dost] doth _1633_
dwell,] dwell. _1633_]
[12 better] easier _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[13 wake] live _B_, _S96_, _W_]
[14 more; death, _Ed:_ more, death _1633-69_]
XI.
Spit in my face you Jewes, and pierce my side,
Buffet, and scoffe, scourge, and crucifie mee,
For I have sinn'd, and sinn'd, and onely hee,
Who could do no iniquitie, hath dyed:
But by my death can not be satisfied 5
My sinnes, which passe the Jewes impiety:
They kill'd once an inglorious man, but I
Crucifie him daily, being now glorified.
Oh let mee then, his strange love still admire:
Kings pardon, but he bore our punishment. 10
And _Iacob_ came cloth'd in vile harsh attire
But to supplant, and with gainfull intent:
God cloth'd himselfe in vile mans flesh, that so
Hee might be weake enough to suffer woe.
[XI. _1635-69:_ VII. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ _omitted_ _B_,
_S96:_ _added among_ Other Meditations. _O'F:_ XIII. _W_]
[3 onely] humbly _W_]
[6 impiety] iniquitye _D_, _H49_]
[8 glorified. ] glorified; _1633_]
[12 intent:] intent _1633_]
XII.
Why are wee by all creatures waited on?
Why doe the prodigall elements supply
Life and food to mee, being more pure then I,
Simple, and further from corruption?
Why brook'st thou, ignorant horse, subjection? 5
Why dost thou bull, and bore so seelily
Dissemble weaknesse, and by'one mans stroke die,
Whose whole kinde, you might swallow and feed upon?
Weaker I am, woe is mee, and worse then you,
You have not sinn'd, nor need be timorous. 10
But wonder at a greater wonder, for to us
Created nature doth these things subdue,
But their Creator, whom sin, nor nature tyed,
For us, his Creatures, and his foes, hath dyed.
[XII. _1635-69:_ VIII. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ _omitted_
_B_, _S96:_ _among_ Other Meditations. _O'F:_ XIV. _W_]
[1 are wee] ame I _W_]
[4 Simple, _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _W:_ Simpler _1635-69_, _A18_,
_N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _Chambers_]
[9 Weaker I am,] Alas I am weaker, _W_]
[10 timorous. _W:_ timorous, _1633-69_]
[11 a greater wonder, _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_ (greate),
_TC_, _W:_ a greater, _1635-69_]
XIII.
What if this present were the worlds last night?
Marke in my heart, O Soule, where thou dost dwell,
The picture of Christ crucified, and tell
Whether that countenance can thee affright,
Teares in his eyes quench the amasing light, 5
Blood fills his frownes, which from his pierc'd head fell.
And can that tongue adjudge thee unto hell,
Which pray'd forgivenesse for his foes fierce spight?
No, no; but as in my idolatrie
I said to all my profane mistresses, 10
Beauty, of pitty, foulnesse onely is
A signe of rigour: so I say to thee,
To wicked spirits are horrid shapes assign'd,
This beauteous forme assures a pitious minde.
[XIII _1635-69:_ IX. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ _om. B_,
_S96:_ _among_ Other Meditations. _O'F:_ XV. _W_]
[2 Marke] Looke _W_]
[4 that _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_ his _1633-69_, _D_,
_H49_]
[6 fell. _1639-69:_ fell _1633-35_]
[8 fierce] ranck _W_]
[14 assures _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_ assumes
_1633-69_]
XIV.
Batter my heart, three person'd God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow mee,'and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurpt towne, to'another due, 5
Labour to'admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weake or untrue.
Yet dearely'I love you,'and would be loved faine,
But am betroth'd unto your enemie: 10
Divorce mee,'untie, or breake that knot againe,
Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you'enthrall mee, never shall be free,
Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee.
[XIV. _1635-69:_ X. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ _om. B_, _O'F_,
_S96:_ XVI. _W_]
[7 mee should] wee should _1669_]
[8 untrue. _W:_ untrue, _1633-69_]
[9 loved _MSS. :_ lov'd _1633-69_]
[10 enemie: _W:_ enemie, _1633-69_]
XV.
Wilt thou love God, as he thee! then digest,
My Soule, this wholsome meditation,
How God the Spirit, by Angels waited on
In heaven, doth make his Temple in thy brest.
The Father having begot a Sonne most blest, 5
And still begetting, (for he ne'r begonne)
Hath deign'd to chuse thee by adoption,
Coheire to'his glory,'and Sabbaths endlesse rest.
And as a robb'd man, which by search doth finde
His stolne stuffe sold, must lose or buy'it againe: 10
The Sonne of glory came downe, and was slaine,
Us whom he'had made, and Satan stolne, to unbinde.
'Twas much, that man was made like God before,
But, that God should be made like man, much more.
[XV. _1635-69:_ XI. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ XII. _B_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[4 brest. _W:_ brest, _1633-69_]
[8 rest. ] rest; _1633_]
[11 Sonne _1633:_ Sunne _1633-69_]
[12 stolne, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _TC:_ stole,
_1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W_, _Chambers_]
XVI.
Father, part of his double interest
Unto thy kingdome, thy Sonne gives to mee,
His joynture in the knottie Trinitie
Hee keepes, and gives to me his deaths conquest.
This Lambe, whose death, with life the world hath blest, 5
Was from the worlds beginning slaine, and he
Hath made two Wills, which with the Legacie
Of his and thy kingdome, doe thy Sonnes invest.
Yet such are thy laws, that men argue yet
Whether a man those statutes can fulfill; 10
None doth; but all-healing grace and spirit
Revive againe what law and letter kill.
Thy lawes abridgement, and thy last command
Is all but love; Oh let this last Will stand!
[XVI. _1635-69:_ XII. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ IV. _B_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[3 Trinitie] Trinitie, _1633_]
[8 doe _1633:_ _om. 1635-69:_ doth _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC_, _W_
invest. _W:_ invest, _1633-39:_ invest: _1650-69_]
[9 thy _O'F_, _S96_, _W:_ these _1633-69:_ those _A18_, _D_,
_H49_, _N_, _TC_]
[11 doth;] doth, _1633_
but all-healing _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ but thy
all-healing _1633-69_. _See note_
spirit] Spirit, _1633-69_]
[12 Revive againe] Revive and quicken _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W_
kill. _1635-69:_ kill, _1633_]
[14 this _1633-69:_ that _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_
thy _B_, _O'F_, _S96_]
XVII.
Since she whom I lov'd hath payd her last debt
To Nature, and to hers, and my good is dead,
And her Soule early into heaven ravished,
Wholly on heavenly things my mind is sett.
Here the admyring her my mind did whett 5
To seeke thee God; so streames do shew their head;
But though I have found thee, and thou my thirst hast fed,
A holy thirsty dropsy melts mee yett.
But why should I begg more Love, when as thou
Dost wooe my soule for hers; offring all thine: 10
And dost not only feare least I allow
My Love to Saints and Angels things divine,
But in thy tender jealosy dost doubt
Least the World, Fleshe, yea Devill putt thee out.
[XVII. _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life and Letters of
John Donne, 1899]
[2 dead,] dead _W_]
[6 their] y^r _W_
head;] head, _W_]
[10 wooe] _spelt_ woe _W_]
[12 divine,] divine _W_]
XVIII.
Show me deare Christ, thy spouse, so bright and clear.
What! is it She, which on the other shore
Goes richly painted? or which rob'd and tore
Laments and mournes in Germany and here?
Sleepes she a thousand, then peepes up one yeare? 5
Is she selfe truth and errs? now new, now outwore?
Doth she, and did she, and shall she evermore
On one, on seaven, or on no hill appeare?
Dwells she with us, or like adventuring knights
First travaile we to seeke and then make Love? 10
Betray kind husband thy spouse to our sights,
And let myne amorous soule court thy mild Dove,
Who is most trew, and pleasing to thee, then
When she'is embrac'd and open to most men.
[XVIII. _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life _&c. _]
[2 What! ] What _W_]
[3 tore] _so I read W:_ lore _Gosse_]
XIX.
Oh, to vex me, contraryes meet in one:
Inconstancy unnaturally hath begott
A constant habit; that when I would not
I change in vowes, and in devotione.
As humorous is my contritione 5
As my prophane Love, and as soone forgott:
As ridlingly distemper'd, cold and hott,
As praying, as mute; as infinite, as none.
I durst not view heaven yesterday; and to day
In prayers, and flattering speaches I court God: 10
To morrow I quake with true feare of his rod.
So my devout fitts come and go away
Like a fantastique Ague: save that here
Those are my best dayes, when I shake with feare.
[XIX. _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life _&c. _]
[3 that] y^t _W_, _so always_]
[4 and] & _W_, _so always_]
_The Crosse. _
Since Christ embrac'd the Crosse it selfe, dare I
His image, th'image of his Crosse deny?
Would I have profit by the sacrifice,
And dare the chosen Altar to despise?
It bore all other sinnes, but is it fit 5
That it should beare the sinne of scorning it?
Who from the picture would avert his eye,
How would he flye his paines, who there did dye?
From mee, no Pulpit, nor misgrounded law,
Nor scandall taken, shall this Crosse withdraw, 10
It shall not, for it cannot; for, the losse
Of this Crosse, were to mee another Crosse;
Better were worse, for, no affiction,
No Crosse is so extreme, as to have none.
Who can blot out the Crosse, which th'instrument 15
Of God, dew'd on mee in the Sacrament?
Who can deny mee power, and liberty
To stretch mine armes, and mine owne Crosse to be?
Swimme, and at every stroake, thou art thy Crosse;
The Mast and yard make one, where seas do tosse; 20
Looke downe, thou spiest out Crosses in small things;
Looke up, thou seest birds rais'd on crossed wings;
All the Globes frame, and spheares, is nothing else
But the Meridians crossing Parallels.
Materiall Crosses then, good physicke bee, 25
But yet spirituall have chiefe dignity.
These for extracted chimique medicine serve,
And cure much better, and as well preserve;
Then are you your own physicke, or need none,
When Still'd, or purg'd by tribulation. 30
For when that Crosse ungrudg'd, unto you stickes,
Then are you to your selfe, a Crucifixe.
As perchance, Carvers do not faces make,
But that away, which hid them there, do take;
Let Crosses, soe, take what hid Christ in thee, 35
And be his image, or not his, but hee.
But, as oft Alchimists doe coyners prove,
So may a selfe-dispising, get selfe-love,
And then as worst surfets, of best meates bee,
Soe is pride, issued from humility, 40
For, 'tis no child, but monster; therefore Crosse
Your joy in crosses, else, 'tis double losse.
And crosse thy senses, else, both they, and thou
Must perish soone, and to destruction bowe.
For if the'eye seeke good objects, and will take 45
No crosse from bad, wee cannot scape a snake.
So with harsh, hard, sowre, stinking, crosse the rest,
Make them indifferent all; call nothing best.
But most the eye needs crossing, that can rome,
And move; To th'other th'objects must come home. 50
And crosse thy heart: for that in man alone
Points downewards, and hath palpitation.
Crosse those dejections, when it downeward tends,
And when it to forbidden heights pretends.
And as the braine through bony walls doth vent 55
By sutures, which a Crosses forme present,
So when thy braine workes, ere thou utter it,
Crosse and correct concupiscence of witt.
Be covetous of Crosses, let none fall.
Crosse no man else, but crosse thy selfe in all. 60
Then doth the Crosse of Christ worke fruitfully
Within our hearts, when wee love harmlesly
That Crosses pictures much, and with more care
That Crosses children, which our Crosses are.
[The Crosse. _1633-69_ (_following_, _1635-69_, In that, ô
Queene _&c. _ _p. _ 427): _similarly_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[8 paines] pangs _JC_]
[12 Crosse; _1635-69:_ Crosse. _1633_]
[13 affliction, _Ed:_ affliction _1633-69_]
[14 none. _Ed:_ none; _1633-54:_ none: _1669_]
[19 Crosse; _Ed:_ Crosse, _1633:_ Crosse, _1635-69_]
[20 make] makes _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S_
where] when _O'F_
tosse; _1635-69:_ tosse. _1633_]
[21 out] our _1669_]
[23 is] are _A25_, _B_]
[26 But yet] And yet _A18_, _D_, _JC_, _N_, _TC_]
[27 medicine] medicines _A25_, _B_, _JC_]
[33 make, _1635-69:_ make: _1633_]
[34 take; _Ed:_ take. _1633:_ take: _1635-69_]
[37 oft _Ed:_ oft, _1633-69_]
[38 selfe-love, _D:_ selfe-love. _1633-69_]
[42 losse. _Ed:_ losse, _1633-69_]
[44 destruction] corruption _O'F_]
[45 seeke] see _1650-69_]
[48 all; call nothing best. _Ed:_ indifferent; call nothing
best. _1633 and MSS:_ indifferent; all, nothing best.
_1635-69_]
[50 To th'other th'objects _1633:_ To th'others objects
_1635-69_]
[52 Points _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC:_ Pants _1633-69_,
_B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_]
[53 dejections _1633:_ detorsions _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[55 the] thy _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_TC_]
[61 fruitfully _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TC:_ faithfully _1633-69_]
[63 That _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TC:_ The _1633-69_]
_Resurrection, imperfect. _
Sleep sleep old Sun, thou canst not have repast
As yet, the wound thou took'st on friday last;
Sleepe then, and rest; The world may beare thy stay,
A better Sun rose before thee to day,
Who, not content to'enlighten all that dwell 5
On the earths face, as thou, enlightned hell,
And made the darke fires languish in that vale,
As, at thy presence here, our fires grow pale.
Whose body having walk'd on earth, and now
Hasting to Heaven, would, that he might allow 10
Himselfe unto all stations, and fill all,
For these three daies become a minerall;
Hee was all gold when he lay downe, but rose
All tincture, and doth not alone dispose
Leaden and iron wills to good, but is 15
Of power to make even sinfull flesh like his.
Had one of those, whose credulous pietie
Thought, that a Soule one might discerne and see
Goe from a body,'at this sepulcher been,
And, issuing from the sheet, this body seen, 20
He would have justly thought this body a soule,
If not of any man, yet of the whole.
_Desunt cætera. _
[Resurrection, imperfect. _1633-69_ (_following_ By
Euphrates _&c. _ _p. _ 424), _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[15 good, _1633-69 and MSS. : Chambers queries_ gold]
[22 If] If, _1633-69_]
_The Annuntiation and Passion. _
Tamely, fraile body,'abstaine to day; to day
My soule eates twice, Christ hither and away.
She sees him man, so like God made in this,
That of them both a circle embleme is,
Whose first and last concurre; this doubtfull day 5
Of feast or fast, Christ came, and went away.
Shee sees him nothing twice at once, who'is all;
Shee sees a Cedar plant it selfe, and fall,
Her Maker put to making, and the head
Of life, at once, not yet alive, yet dead. 10
She sees at once the virgin mother stay
Reclus'd at home, Publique at Golgotha;
Sad and rejoyc'd shee's seen at once, and seen
At almost fiftie, and at scarce fifteene.
At once a Sonne is promis'd her, and gone, 15
Gabriell gives Christ to her, He her to John;
Not fully a mother, Shee's in Orbitie,
At once receiver and the legacie.
All this, and all betweene, this day hath showne,
Th'Abridgement of Christs story, which makes one 20
(As in plaine Maps, the furthest West is East)
Of the'Angels _Ave_,'and _Consummatum est_.
How well the Church, Gods Court of faculties
Deales, in some times, and seldome joyning these!
As by the selfe-fix'd Pole wee never doe 25
Direct our course, but the next starre thereto,
Which showes where the'other is, and which we say
(Because it strayes not farre) doth never stray;
So God by his Church, neerest to him, wee know,
And stand firme, if wee by her motion goe; 30
His Spirit, as his fiery Pillar doth
Leade, and his Church, as cloud; to one end both.
This Church, by letting these daies joyne, hath shown
Death and conception in mankinde is one;
Or'twas in him the same humility, 35
That he would be a man, and leave to be:
Or as creation he hath made, as God,
With the last judgement, but one period,
His imitating Spouse would joyne in one
Manhoods extremes: He shall come, he is gone: 40
Or as though one blood drop, which thence did fall,
Accepted, would have serv'd, he yet shed all;
So though the least of his paines, deeds, or words,
Would busie a life, she all this day affords;
This treasure then, in grosse, my Soule uplay, 45
And in my life retaile it every day.
[The Annuntiation and Passion. _1633-69:_ Upon the
Annuntiation and Passion falling upon one day. Anno D[^n]i
1608. _B_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96:_ _similarly_, _N_, _TCD:_ The
Annuntiation. _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ _no title_, _P_]
[1 Tamely, fraile body, _Ed:_ Tamely fraile body _1633:_
Tamely fraile flesh, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S96_ (_1650-69
accidentally drop second_ to day)]
[6 away. ] away; _1633:_ away, _1635-39_]
[10 yet dead. _Ed:_ yet dead; _1633_, _B_, _P_, _S:_ and dead;
_1635-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCD_ (_full stop_,
_MSS. _)]
[12 at Golgotha; _Ed:_ at Golgotha. _1633-69_]
[13 Sad and rejoyc'd] Rejoyc'd and sad _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_]
[18 legacie. _Ed:_ legacie; _1633-69_]
[24 these! _Ed:_ these? _D_, _TCD:_ these; _1633:_ these.
_1635-69_]
[31 as _1633:_ and _1635-69_]
[32 both. _1635-69:_ both: _1633_]
[33 these _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_,
_TCD:_ those _1633-69_
daies _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TCD:_ feasts _1635-69_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]
[34 one; _Ed:_ one. _1633:_ are one. _1635-69_ (one _1669_)]
[37 hath] had _B_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_]
_Goodfriday_, 1613. _Riding Westward. _
Let mans Soule be a Spheare, and then, in this,
The intelligence that moves, devotion is,
And as the other Spheares, by being growne
Subject to forraigne motions, lose their owne,
And being by others hurried every day, 5
Scarce in a yeare their naturall forme obey:
Pleasure or businesse, so, our Soules admit
For their first mover, and are whirld by it.
Hence is't, that I am carryed towards the West
This day, when my Soules forme bends toward the East. 10
There I should see a Sunne, by rising set,
And by that setting endlesse day beget;
But that Christ on this Crosse, did rise and fall,
Sinne had eternally benighted all.
Yet dare I'almost be glad, I do not see 15
That spectacle of too much weight for mee.
Who sees Gods face, that is selfe life, must dye;
What a death were it then to see God dye?
It made his owne Lieutenant Nature shrinke,
It made his footstoole crack, and the Sunne winke. 20
Could I behold those hands which span the Poles,
And turne all spheares at once, peirc'd with those holes?
Could I behold that endlesse height which is
Zenith to us, and our Antipodes,
Humbled below us? or that blood which is 25
The seat of all our Soules, if not of his,
Made durt of dust, or that flesh which was worne
By God, for his apparell, rag'd, and torne?
If on these things I durst not looke, durst I
Upon his miserable mother cast mine eye, 30
Who was Gods partner here, and furnish'd thus
Halfe of that Sacrifice, which ransom'd us?
Though these things, as I ride, be from mine eye,
They'are present yet unto my memory,
For that looks towards them; and thou look'st towards mee, 35
O Saviour, as thou hang'st upon the tree;
I turne my backe to thee, but to receive
Corrections, till thy mercies bid thee leave.
O thinke mee worth thine anger, punish mee,
Burne off my rusts, and my deformity, 40
Restore thine Image, so much, by thy grace,
That thou may'st know mee, and I'll turne my face.
[Goodfriday, _&c. _ _1633-69:_ Good Friday (_with or without
date and_ Riding _&c. _) _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _N_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ Good Friday. 1613. Riding towards Wales. _D_,
_Lec_, _O'F:_ Good Friday. 1613. Riding to S^r Edward Harbert
in Wales. _H49:_ M^r J. Duñ goeing from Sir H. G. on good
friday sent him back this meditation on the way. _A25_]
[4 motions _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S_, _S96_, _TC:_ motion, _1633-69_]
[8 and] _bis_ _1650-54_]
[10 toward _1633:_ _do. or_ towards _MSS. :_ to _1635-69_,
_O'F_]
[12 beget _1633:_ beget. _1635-69_, _Chambers_]
[13 this Crosse, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96_, _TCC:_ his Crosse, _1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _N_, _TCD_]
[16 too] two _1639-69_]
[22 turne _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ tune _1633-69_,
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96_
once,] once _1633_]
[30 Upon his miserable _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_
On his distressed _1635-69_]
[40 rusts, _1633_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S96_, _TCD:_ rust, _1635-69_, _A18_, _S_, _TCC_]
THE LITANIE.
I.
_The_ FATHER.
Father of Heaven, and him, by whom
It, and us for it, and all else, for us
Thou madest, and govern'st ever, come
And re-create mee, now growne ruinous:
My heart is by dejection, clay, 5
And by selfe-murder, red.
From this red earth, O Father, purge away
All vicious tinctures, that new fashioned
I may rise up from death, before I'am dead.
II.
_The_ SONNE.
O Sonne of God, who seeing two things, 10
Sinne, and death crept in, which were never made,
By bearing one, tryed'st with what stings
The other could thine heritage invade;
O be thou nail'd unto my heart,
And crucified againe, 15
Part not from it, though it from thee would part,
But let it be, by applying so thy paine,
Drown'd in thy blood, and in thy passion slaine.
III.
_The_ HOLY GHOST.
O Holy Ghost, whose temple I
Am, but of mudde walls, and condensed dust, 20
And being sacrilegiously
Halfe wasted with youths fires, of pride and lust,
Must with new stormes be weatherbeat;
Double in my heart thy flame,
Which let devout sad teares intend; and let 25
(Though this glasse lanthorne, flesh, do suffer maime)
Fire, Sacrifice, Priest, Altar be the same.
IV.
_The_ TRINITY.
O Blessed glorious Trinity,
Bones to Philosophy, but milke to faith,
Which, as wise serpents, diversly 30
Most slipperinesse, yet most entanglings hath,
As you distinguish'd undistinct
By power, love, knowledge bee,
Give mee a such selfe different instinct
Of these; let all mee elemented bee, 35
Of power, to love, to know, you unnumbred three.
V.
_The Virgin_ MARY.
For that faire blessed Mother-maid,
Whose flesh redeem'd us; That she-Cherubin,
Which unlock'd Paradise, and made
One claime for innocence, and disseiz'd sinne, 40
Whose wombe was a strange heav'n, for there
God cloath'd himselfe, and grew,
Our zealous thankes wee poure. As her deeds were
Our helpes, so are her prayers; nor can she sue
In vaine, who hath such titles unto you. 45
VI.
_The Angels. _
And since this life our nonage is,
And wee in Wardship to thine Angels be,
Native in heavens faire Palaces,
Where we shall be but denizen'd by thee,
As th'earth conceiving by the Sunne, 50
Yeelds faire diversitie,
Yet never knowes which course that light doth run,
So let mee study, that mine actions bee
Worthy their sight, though blinde in how they see.
VII.
_The Patriarches. _
And let thy Patriarches Desire 55
(Those great Grandfathers of thy Church, which saw
More in the cloud, then wee in fire,
Whom Nature clear'd more, then us Grace and Law,
And now in Heaven still pray, that wee
May use our new helpes right,) 60
Be satisfy'd, and fructifie in mee;
Let not my minde be blinder by more light
Nor Faith, by Reason added, lose her sight.
VIII.
_The Prophets. _
Thy Eagle-sighted Prophets too,
Which were thy Churches Organs, and did sound 65
That harmony, which made of two
One law, and did unite, but not confound;
Those heavenly Poëts which did see
Thy will, and it expresse
In rythmique feet, in common pray for mee, 70
That I by them excuse not my excesse
In seeking secrets, or Poëtiquenesse.
IX.
_The Apostles. _
And thy illustrious Zodiacke
Of twelve Apostles, which ingirt this All,
(From whom whosoever do not take 75
Their light, to darke deep pits, throw downe, and fall,)
As through their prayers, thou'hast let mee know
That their bookes are divine;
May they pray still, and be heard, that I goe
Th'old broad way in applying; O decline 80
Mee, when my comment would make thy word mine.
X.
_The Martyrs. _
And since thou so desirously
Did'st long to die, that long before thou could'st,
And long since thou no more couldst dye,
Thou in thy scatter'd mystique body wouldst 85
In Abel dye, and ever since
In thine; let their blood come
To begge for us, a discreet patience
Of death, or of worse life: for Oh, to some
Not to be Martyrs, is a martyrdome. 90
XI.
_The Confessors. _
Therefore with thee triumpheth there
A Virgin Squadron of white Confessors,
Whose bloods betroth'd, not marryed were,
Tender'd, not taken by those Ravishers:
They know, and pray, that wee may know, 95
In every Christian
Hourly tempestuous persecutions grow;
Tentations martyr us alive; A man
Is to himselfe a Dioclesian.
XII.
_The Virgins. _
The cold white snowie Nunnery, 100
Which, as thy mother, their high Abbesse, sent
Their bodies backe againe to thee,
As thou hadst lent them, cleane and innocent,
Though they have not obtain'd of thee,
That or thy Church, or I, 105
Should keep, as they, our first integrity;
Divorce thou sinne in us, or bid it die,
And call chast widowhead Virginitie.
XIII.
_The Doctors. _
Thy sacred Academic above
Of Doctors, whose paines have unclasp'd, and taught 110
Both bookes of life to us (for love
To know thy Scriptures tells us, we are wrote
In thy other booke) pray for us there
That what they have misdone
Or mis-said, wee to that may not adhere; 115
Their zeale may be our sinne. Lord let us runne
Meane waies, and call them stars, but not the Sunne.
XIV.
And whil'st this universall Quire,
That Church in triumph, this in warfare here,
Warm'd with one all-partaking fire 120
Of love, that none be lost, which cost thee deare,
Prayes ceaslesly,'and thou hearken too,
(Since to be gratious
Our taske is treble, to pray, beare, and doe)
Heare this prayer Lord: O Lord deliver us 125
From trusting in those prayers, though powr'd out thus.
XV.
From being anxious, or secure,
Dead clods of sadnesse, or light squibs of mirth,
From thinking, that great courts immure
All, or no happinesse, or that this earth 130
Is only for our prison fram'd,
Or that thou art covetous
To them whom thou lovest, or that they are maim'd
From reaching this worlds sweet, who seek thee thus,
With all their might, Good Lord deliver us. 135
XVI.
From needing danger, to bee good,
From owing thee yesterdaies teares to day,
From trusting so much to thy blood,
That in that hope, wee wound our soule away,
From bribing thee with Almes, to excuse 140
Some sinne more burdenous,
From light affecting, in religion, newes,
From thinking us all soule, neglecting thus
Our mutuall duties, Lord deliver us.
XVII.
From tempting Satan to tempt us, 145
By our connivence, or slack companie,
From measuring ill by vitious,
Neglecting to choake sins spawne, Vanitie,
From indiscreet humilitie,
Which might be scandalous, 150
And cast reproach on Christianitie,
From being spies, or to spies pervious,
From thirst, or scorne of fame, deliver us.
XVIII.
Deliver us for thy descent
Into the Virgin, whose wombe was a place 155
Of middle kind; and thou being sent
To'ungratious us, staid'st at her full of grace;
And through thy poore birth, where first thou
Glorifiedst Povertie,
And yet soone after riches didst allow, 160
By accepting Kings gifts in the Epiphanie,
Deliver, and make us, to both waies free.
XIX.
And through that bitter agonie,
Which is still the agonie of pious wits,
Disputing what distorted thee, 165
And interrupted evennesse, with fits;
And through thy free confession
Though thereby they were then
Made blind, so that thou might'st from them have gone,
Good Lord deliver us, and teach us when 170
Wee may not, and we may blinde unjust men.
XX.
Through thy submitting all, to blowes
Thy face, thy clothes to spoile; thy fame to scorne,
All waies, which rage, or Justice knowes,
And by which thou could'st shew, that thou wast born; 175
And through thy gallant humblenesse
Which thou in death did'st shew,
Dying before thy soule they could expresse,
Deliver us from death, by dying so,
To this world, ere this world doe bid us goe. 180
XXI.
When senses, which thy souldiers are,
Wee arme against thee, and they fight for sinne,
When want, sent but to tame, doth warre
And worke despaire a breach to enter in,
When plenty, Gods image, and seale 185
Makes us Idolatrous,
And love it, not him, whom it should reveale,
When wee are mov'd to seeme religious
Only to vent wit, Lord deliver us.
XXII.
In Churches, when the'infirmitie 190
Of him which speakes, diminishes the Word,
When Magistrates doe mis-apply
To us, as we judge, lay or ghostly sword,
When plague, which is thine Angell, raignes,
Or wars, thy Champions, swaie, 195
When Heresie, thy second deluge, gaines;
In th'houre of death, the'Eve of last judgement day,
Deliver us from the sinister way.
XXIII.
Heare us, O heare us Lord; to thee
A sinner is more musique, when he prayes, 200
Then spheares, or Angels praises bee,
In Panegyrique Allelujaes;
Heare us, for till thou heare us, Lord
We know not what to say;
Thine eare to'our sighes, teares, thoughts gives voice and word. 205
O Thou who Satan heard'st in Jobs sicke day,
Heare thy selfe now, for thou in us dost pray.
XXIV.
That wee may change to evennesse
This intermitting aguish Pietie;
That snatching cramps of wickednesse 210
And Apoplexies of fast sin, may die;
That musique of thy promises,
Not threats in Thunder may
Awaken us to our just offices;
What in thy booke, thou dost, or creatures say, 215
That we may heare, Lord heare us, when wee pray.
XXV.
That our eares sicknesse wee may cure,
And rectifie those Labyrinths aright,
That wee, by harkning, not procure
Our praise, nor others dispraise so invite, 220
That wee get not a slipperinesse
And senslesly decline,
From hearing bold wits jeast at Kings excesse,
To'admit the like of majestie divine,
That we may locke our eares, Lord open thine. 225
XXVI.
That living law, the Magistrate,
Which to give us, and make us physicke, doth
Our vices often aggravate,
That Preachers taxing sinne, before her growth,
That Satan, and invenom'd men 230
Which well, if we starve, dine,
When they doe most accuse us, may see then
Us, to amendment, heare them; thee decline:
That we may open our eares, Lord lock thine.
XXVII.
That learning, thine Ambassador, 235
From thine allegeance wee never tempt,
That beauty, paradises flower
For physicke made, from poyson be exempt,
That wit, borne apt high good to doe,
By dwelling lazily 240
On Natures nothing, be not nothing too,
That our affections kill us not, nor dye,
Heare us, weake ecchoes, O thou eare, and cry.
XXVIII.
Sonne of God heare us, and since thou
By taking our blood, owest it us againe, 245
Gaine to thy self, or us allow;
And let not both us and thy selfe be slaine;
O Lambe of God, which took'st our sinne
Which could not stick to thee,
O let it not returne to us againe, 250
But Patient and Physition being free,
As sinne is nothing, let it no where be.
[The Litanie. _1633-69:_ A Letanie. _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[17 be, _D:_ be _1633-69_]
[30 serpents, _Ed:_ serpents _1633-69_]
[34 a such _1633:_ such _1635-69_, _JC:_ such a _A18_, _D_,
_H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC_
instinct _1633:_ instinct, _1635-69_]
[35 these; _Ed:_ these, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ these _1633-69:_
thee _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[48 Native] Natives _B_, _JC_, _S_
in heavens faire Palaces, _D:_ in heavens faire Palaces
_1633-39:_ in heavens Palaces, _1650-69_]
[52 which _1633:_ what _1635-69_]
[56 Grandfathers] Grandfathers, _1633_]
[58 then] that _1635-39_]
[58 Grace and Law, _D:_ grace and law, _1633-69_]
[61 satisfy'd, _1635-69_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _S96_,
_TC:_ sanctified, _1633_
fructifie] fructified _A18_, _JC_]
[63 Faith, _D:_ Faith _1633-69_]
[93 were, _Ed:_ were; _1633-69_]
[97 grow; _Ed:_ grow, _1633-69_]
[100 The] Thy _B_, _D_, _H49_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_]
[109 Thy] The _1635-69_
Academie _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ Academ _1635-69:_ Academe
_N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC_]
[112 thy] the _1650-69_
Scriptures] Scripture _1669_
wrote] _spelt_ wrought _1633 and MSS. _]
[115 adhere; _Ed:_ adhere, _1633-69_]
[122 too, _D:_ too _1633-69_]
[125 Lord: _Ed:_ Lord, _1633-69_]
[128 clods _1633:_ clouds _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_ (_which
corrects_), _S96_]
[133 whom] _om. D_, _H49_, _Lec_
them] _om. A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[134 sweet, _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _S96:_ sweets,
_1635-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
[137 owing] owning _1669_]
[139 soule] souls _1669_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S_]
[153 fame,] flame, _1633_]
[154 for _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ through
_1635-69_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_, _Chambers_]
[156 middle] midle _1633_, _D_]
[157 grace;] grace, _1633_]
[159 Glorifiedst] Glorifiest _1633 some copies_, _D_, _H49_]
[162 Deliver, and] Deliver us, and _Chambers_]
[163 through] though, _1633_
that] thy _B_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[164 is still] still is _1633 some copies_, _1635-69_]
[166 fits;] fits, _1633_]
[173 clothes _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_
robes _1635-69_, _B_ (robe), _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[175 born; _Ed:_ born, _1633-69_]
[196 When] Where _many MSS. _]
[197 last judgement] the last _JC_, _S:_ Gods judgement _B_]
[202 Allelujaes; _1635-69:_ Allelujaes, _1633_]
[204 say; _D:_ say. _1633-69_]
[209 Pietie; _Ed:_ Pietie, _1633-69_]
[214 offices;] offices, _1633_]
[217 wee _1633:_ me _1635-69_]
[219 wee, _Ed:_ wee _1633-69_
harkning, not _1633-69:_ heark'ning not _Chambers_]
[231 well, _1633_ (_but altered to_ will, _in some copies_),
_A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ will, _1635-69_,
_Lec_, _Chambers_, _Grolier_]
[233 decline: _Ed:_ decline; _1633-69_]
[239 apt . . . doe,] apt, . . . doe _1633_]
[243 weake ecchoes, O thou eare, and cry. _1633-69_, _A18_,
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ weake wretches, O thou eare and
eye. _B_, _S_, _S96:_ _Chambers adopts_ Eye _from S_,
_O'F reads_ eye_, _and TCC alters_ crye _to_ eye, _all
retaining_ ecchoes. _See note_]
[245 againe,] againe _1633_]
[246 or us _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _JC_, _N_, _S_,
_TC:_ and us _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S96_, _Chambers_]
[248 O Lambe] O lambe _1633_]
_Vpon the translation of the Psalmes by Sir_ Philip Sydney,
_and the Countesse of Pembroke his Sister. _
Eternall God, (for whom who ever dare
Seeke new expressions, doe the Circle square,
And thrust into strait corners of poore wit
Thee, who art cornerlesse and infinite)
I would but blesse thy Name, not name thee now; 5
(And thy gifts are as infinite as thou:)
Fixe we our prayses therefore on this one,
That, as thy blessed Spirit fell upon
These Psalmes first Author in a cloven tongue;
(For 'twas a double power by which he sung 10
The highest matter in the noblest forme;)
So thou hast cleft that spirit, to performe
That worke againe, and shed it, here, upon
Two, by their bloods, and by thy Spirit one;
A Brother and a Sister, made by thee 15
The Organ, where thou art the Harmony.
Two that make one _Iohn Baptists_ holy voyce,
And who that Psalme, _Now let the Iles rejoyce_,
Have both translated, and apply'd it too,
Both told us what, and taught us how to doe. 20
They shew us Ilanders our joy, our King,
They tell us _why_, and teach us _how_ to sing;
Make all this All, three Quires, heaven, earth, and sphears;
The first, Heaven, hath a song, but no man heares,
The Spheares have Musick, but they have no tongue, 25
Their harmony is rather danc'd than sung;
But our third Quire, to which the first gives eare,
(For, Angels learne by what the Church does here)
This Quire hath all. The Organist is hee
Who hath tun'd God and Man, the Organ we: 30
The songs are these, which heavens high holy Muse
Whisper'd to _David_, _David_ to the Iewes:
And _Davids_ Successors, in holy zeale,
In formes of joy and art doe re-reveale
To us so sweetly and sincerely too, 35
That I must not rejoyce as I would doe
When I behold that these Psalmes are become
So well attyr'd abroad, so ill at home,
So well in Chambers, in thy Church so ill,
As I can scarce call that reform'd untill 40
This be reform'd; Would a whole State present
A lesser gift than some one man hath sent?
And shall our Church, unto our Spouse and King
More hoarse, more harm than any other, sing?
For _that_ we pray, we praise thy name for _this_, 45
Which, by this _Moses_ and this _Miriam_, is
Already done; and as those Psalmes we call
(Though some have other Authors) _Davids_ all:
So though some have, some may some Psalmes translate,
We thy Sydnean Psalmes shall celebrate, 50
And, till we come th'Extemporall song to sing,
(Learn'd the first hower, that we see the King,
Who hath translated those translators) may
These their sweet learned labours, all the way
Be as our tuning; that, when hence we part, 55
We may fall in with them, and sing our part.
[Vpon the _&c. _ _1635-69:_ _no extant MSS. _]
[17 voyce, _1635-39:_ voyce; _1650-69_]
[22 sing;] sing. _1635-69_]
[23 three Quires, _1669:_ 3 Quires, _1635-54_]
[28 here _1669:_ heare _1635-54_ (_the same word, not_ hear
_as in Chambers' note_)]
[46 this Moses _Grosart:_ thy _Moses_ _1635-69_]
[55: tuning; _1719:_ tuning, _1635-69_
part, _1719:_ part _1635-69_]
_Ode: Of our Sense of Sinne. _
1. Vengeance will sit above our faults; but till
She there doth sit,
We see _her_ not, nor _them_. Thus, blinde, yet still
We leade her way; and thus, whil'st we doe ill,
We suffer it. 5
2. Vnhappy he, whom youth makes not beware
Of doing ill.
Enough we labour under age, and care;
In number, th'errours of the last place, are
The greatest still. 10
3. Yet we, that should the ill we now begin
As soone repent,
(Strange thing! ) perceive not; our faults are not seen,
But past us; neither felt, but onely in
The punishment. 15
4. But we know our selves least; Mere outward shews
Our mindes so store,
That our soules, no more than our eyes disclose
But forme and colour. Onely he who knowes
Himselfe, knowes more. 20
_I. D. _
[Ode. _1635-69_, _O'F:_ Of our Sense of Sinne.
_H40_, _RP31_ (_in margin_, S^{r} Edw. Herbert): _no title_,
_B_, _Cy_, _P_, _S_]
[2 doth _1635-39:_ do _1650-69_]
[11 now] new _B_]
[15 The _1635-69_, _Cy_, _P:_ Our _B_, _H40_, _O'F_]
_To M^{r}_ Tilman _after he had taken orders. _
Thou, whose diviner soule hath caus'd thee now
To put thy hand unto the holy Plough,
Making Lay-scornings of the Ministry,
Not an impediment, but victory;
What bringst thou home with thee? how is thy mind 5
Affected since the vintage? Dost thou finde
New thoughts and stirrings in thee? and as Steele
Toucht with a Loadstone, dost new motions feele?
Or, as a Ship after much paine and care,
For Iron and Cloth brings home rich Indian ware, 10
Hast thou thus traffiqu'd, but with farre more gaine
Of noble goods, and with lesse time and paine?
Thou art the same materials, as before,
Onely the stampe is changed; but no more.
And as new crowned Kings alter the face, 15
But not the monies substance; so hath grace
Chang'd onely Gods old Image by Creation,
To Christs new stampe, at this thy Coronation;
Or, as we paint Angels with wings, because
They beare Gods message, and proclaime his lawes, 20
Since thou must doe the like, and so must move,
Art thou new feather'd with cœlestiall love?
Deare, tell me where thy purchase lies, and shew
What thy advantage is above, below.
But if thy gainings doe surmount expression, 25
Why doth the foolish world scorne that profession,
Whose joyes passe speech? Why do they think unfit
That Gentry should joyne families with it?
As if their day were onely to be spent
In dressing, Mistressing and complement; 30
Alas poore joyes, but poorer men, whose trust
Seemes richly placed in sublimed dust;
(For, such are cloathes and beauty, which though gay,
Are, at the best, but of sublimed clay. )
Let then the world thy calling disrespect, 35
But goe thou on, and pitty their neglect.
What function is so noble, as to bee
Embassadour to God and destinie?
To open life, to give kingdomes to more
Than Kings give dignities; to keepe heavens doore? 40
_Maries_ prerogative was to beare Christ, so
'Tis preachers to convey him, for they doe
As Angels out of clouds, from Pulpits speake;
And blesse the poore beneath, the lame, the weake.
If then th'Astronomers, whereas they spie 45
A new-found Starre, their Opticks magnifie,
How brave are those, who with their Engine, can
Bring man to heaven, and heaven againe to man?
These are thy titles and preheminences,
In whom must meet Gods graces, mens offences, 50
And so the heavens which beget all things here,
And the earth our mother, which these things doth beare,
Both these in thee, are in thy Calling knit,
And make thee now a blest Hermaphrodite.
[To M^{r} Tilman _&c. _ _1635-69:_ _no extant MSS. _]
[18 Christs] Chists _1635_]
[34 clay. ) _Ed:_ clay) _1635-69_]
[52 beare, _1650-69:_ beare _1635-39_]
_A Hymne to Christ, at the Authors last going into Germany. _
In what torne ship soever I embarke,
That ship shall be my embleme of thy Arke;
What sea soever swallow mee, that flood
Shall be to mee an embleme of thy blood;
Though thou with clouds of anger do disguise 5
Thy race; yet through that maske I know those eyes,
Which, though they turne away sometimes,
They never will despise.
_S96_, _W_]
[1 Soule! _1633:_ Soule _1635-69_]
[8 imprisoned. _W:_ imprisoned; _1633-69_]
V.
I am a little world made cunningly
Of Elements, and an Angelike spright,
But black sinne hath betraid to endlesse night
My worlds both parts, and (oh) both parts must die.
You which beyond that heaven which was most high 5
Have found new sphears, and of new lands can write,
Powre new seas in mine eyes, that so I might
Drowne my world with my weeping earnestly,
Or wash it, if it must be drown'd no more:
But oh it must be burnt! alas the fire 10
Of lust and envie have burnt it heretofore,
And made it fouler; Let their flames retire,
And burne me ô Lord, with a fiery zeale
Of thee and thy house, which doth in eating heale.
[V. _1635-69:_ _omitted_ _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ VII. _B_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[6 lands _B_, _S96_, _W:_ land _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[7 I _1635-54:_ he _1669_]
[9 it, _Ed:_ it: _W:_ it _1635-69_]
[10 burnt! _Ed:_ burnt, _1635-69_]
[11 have _B_, _S96_, _W:_ hath _O'F:_ _om. _ _1635-69_]
[12 fouler; _W:_ fouler, _1635-69_
their] those _W_]
[13 Lord] God _W_]
VI.
This is my playes last scene, here heavens appoint
My pilgrimages last mile; and my race
Idly, yet quickly runne, hath this last pace,
My spans last inch, my minutes latest point,
And gluttonous death, will instantly unjoynt 5
My body, and soule, and I shall sleepe a space,
But my'ever-waking part shall see that face,
Whose feare already shakes my every joynt:
Then, as my soule, to'heaven her first seate, takes flight,
And earth-borne body, in the earth shall dwell, 10
So, fall my sinnes, that all may have their right,
To where they'are bred, and would presse me, to hell.
Impute me righteous, thus purg'd of evill,
For thus I leave the world, the flesh, the devill.
[VI. _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W:_ III. _1633_, _A18_,
_D_, _&c. _]
[6 and soule, _1635-69:_ and my soule, _1633_]
[7 Or presently, I know not, see that Face, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _W_]
[10 earth-borne _1635-69:_ earth borne _1633_]
[14 flesh,] flesh _1633_
the devill. ] and devill. _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S96_, _TC_, _W_]
VII.
At the round earths imagin'd corners, blow
Your trumpets, Angells, and arise, arise
From death, you numberlesse infinities
Of soules, and to your scattred bodies goe,
All whom the flood did, and fire shall o'erthrow, 5
All whom warre, dearth, age, agues, tyrannies,
Despaire, law, chance, hath slaine, and you whose eyes,
Shall behold God, and never tast deaths woe.
But let them sleepe, Lord, and mee mourne a space,
For, if above all these, my sinnes abound, 10
'Tis late to aske abundance of thy grace,
When wee are there; here on this lowly ground,
Teach mee how to repent; for that's as good
As if thou'hadst seal'd my pardon, with thy blood.
[VII. _1635-69:_ IV. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ VIII. _B_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[5 o'erthrow] overthrow _1669_]
[6 dearth, _W:_ death, _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _TC_]
[8 woe. _W:_ woe, _1633-54:_ owe; _1669_]
[12 lowly] holy _1669_]
[14 thy] my _1669_]
VIII.
If faithfull soules be alike glorifi'd
As Angels, then my fathers soule doth see,
And adds this even to full felicitie,
That valiantly I hels wide mouth o'rstride:
But if our mindes to these soules be descry'd 5
By circumstances, and by signes that be
Apparent in us, not immediately,
How shall my mindes white truth by them be try'd?
They see idolatrous lovers weepe and mourne,
And vile blasphemous Conjurers to call 10
On Iefus name, and Pharisaicall
Dissemblers feigne devotion. Then turne
O pensive soule, to God, for he knowes best
Thy true griefe, for he put it in my breast.
[VIII. _1635-69:_ _omitted_ _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ X. _B_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[7 in us, _W:_ in us _1635-69_. _See note_]
[8 by] to _B_, _S96_, _W_]
[10 vile _W:_ vilde _B_, _O'F_, _S96:_ stile _1635-69_]
[14 true _W:_ _om. 1635-69_, _B_, _S96_ in _W:_ into
_1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S96_
my] thy _B_, _S96_]
IX.
If poysonous mineralls, and if that tree,
Whose fruit threw death on else immortall us,
If lecherous goats, if serpents envious
Cannot be damn'd; Alas; why should I bee?
Why should intent or reason, borne in mee, 5
Make sinnes, else equall, in mee more heinous?
And mercy being easie, and glorious
To God; in his sterne wrath, why threatens hee?
But who am I, that dare dispute with thee
O God? Oh! of thine onely worthy blood, 10
And my teares, make a heavenly Lethean flood,
And drowne in it my sinnes blacke memorie;
That thou remember them, some claime as debt,
I thinke it mercy, if thou wilt forget.
[IX. _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W:_ V. _1633_, _A18_, _D_,
_&c. _]
[1 poysonous] poysons _1639-54_
and if that] or if the _B_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[2 (else immortal) _1635-69_]
[5 or] and _B_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[6 mee] mee, _1633_]
[8 God;] God, _1633_]
[9-10 thee O God? _W:_ thee? O God, _1633-69_]
[12 memorie;] memorie, _1633_]
[14 forget. ] forget, _1633_]
X.
Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee, 5
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell, 10
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
[X. _1635-69:_ VI. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ XI. _B_, _O'F_,
_S96_, _W_]
[4 mee. ] mee; _1633_]
[5 pictures _1633 and MSS. :_ picture _1635-69_]
[8 deliverie. ] deliverie _1633-69_]
[9 Chance, _W:_ chance, _1633-69_]
[10 dost] doth _1633_
dwell,] dwell. _1633_]
[12 better] easier _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[13 wake] live _B_, _S96_, _W_]
[14 more; death, _Ed:_ more, death _1633-69_]
XI.
Spit in my face you Jewes, and pierce my side,
Buffet, and scoffe, scourge, and crucifie mee,
For I have sinn'd, and sinn'd, and onely hee,
Who could do no iniquitie, hath dyed:
But by my death can not be satisfied 5
My sinnes, which passe the Jewes impiety:
They kill'd once an inglorious man, but I
Crucifie him daily, being now glorified.
Oh let mee then, his strange love still admire:
Kings pardon, but he bore our punishment. 10
And _Iacob_ came cloth'd in vile harsh attire
But to supplant, and with gainfull intent:
God cloth'd himselfe in vile mans flesh, that so
Hee might be weake enough to suffer woe.
[XI. _1635-69:_ VII. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ _omitted_ _B_,
_S96:_ _added among_ Other Meditations. _O'F:_ XIII. _W_]
[3 onely] humbly _W_]
[6 impiety] iniquitye _D_, _H49_]
[8 glorified. ] glorified; _1633_]
[12 intent:] intent _1633_]
XII.
Why are wee by all creatures waited on?
Why doe the prodigall elements supply
Life and food to mee, being more pure then I,
Simple, and further from corruption?
Why brook'st thou, ignorant horse, subjection? 5
Why dost thou bull, and bore so seelily
Dissemble weaknesse, and by'one mans stroke die,
Whose whole kinde, you might swallow and feed upon?
Weaker I am, woe is mee, and worse then you,
You have not sinn'd, nor need be timorous. 10
But wonder at a greater wonder, for to us
Created nature doth these things subdue,
But their Creator, whom sin, nor nature tyed,
For us, his Creatures, and his foes, hath dyed.
[XII. _1635-69:_ VIII. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ _omitted_
_B_, _S96:_ _among_ Other Meditations. _O'F:_ XIV. _W_]
[1 are wee] ame I _W_]
[4 Simple, _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _W:_ Simpler _1635-69_, _A18_,
_N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _Chambers_]
[9 Weaker I am,] Alas I am weaker, _W_]
[10 timorous. _W:_ timorous, _1633-69_]
[11 a greater wonder, _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_ (greate),
_TC_, _W:_ a greater, _1635-69_]
XIII.
What if this present were the worlds last night?
Marke in my heart, O Soule, where thou dost dwell,
The picture of Christ crucified, and tell
Whether that countenance can thee affright,
Teares in his eyes quench the amasing light, 5
Blood fills his frownes, which from his pierc'd head fell.
And can that tongue adjudge thee unto hell,
Which pray'd forgivenesse for his foes fierce spight?
No, no; but as in my idolatrie
I said to all my profane mistresses, 10
Beauty, of pitty, foulnesse onely is
A signe of rigour: so I say to thee,
To wicked spirits are horrid shapes assign'd,
This beauteous forme assures a pitious minde.
[XIII _1635-69:_ IX. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ _om. B_,
_S96:_ _among_ Other Meditations. _O'F:_ XV. _W_]
[2 Marke] Looke _W_]
[4 that _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_ his _1633-69_, _D_,
_H49_]
[6 fell. _1639-69:_ fell _1633-35_]
[8 fierce] ranck _W_]
[14 assures _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_ assumes
_1633-69_]
XIV.
Batter my heart, three person'd God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow mee,'and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurpt towne, to'another due, 5
Labour to'admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weake or untrue.
Yet dearely'I love you,'and would be loved faine,
But am betroth'd unto your enemie: 10
Divorce mee,'untie, or breake that knot againe,
Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you'enthrall mee, never shall be free,
Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee.
[XIV. _1635-69:_ X. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ _om. B_, _O'F_,
_S96:_ XVI. _W_]
[7 mee should] wee should _1669_]
[8 untrue. _W:_ untrue, _1633-69_]
[9 loved _MSS. :_ lov'd _1633-69_]
[10 enemie: _W:_ enemie, _1633-69_]
XV.
Wilt thou love God, as he thee! then digest,
My Soule, this wholsome meditation,
How God the Spirit, by Angels waited on
In heaven, doth make his Temple in thy brest.
The Father having begot a Sonne most blest, 5
And still begetting, (for he ne'r begonne)
Hath deign'd to chuse thee by adoption,
Coheire to'his glory,'and Sabbaths endlesse rest.
And as a robb'd man, which by search doth finde
His stolne stuffe sold, must lose or buy'it againe: 10
The Sonne of glory came downe, and was slaine,
Us whom he'had made, and Satan stolne, to unbinde.
'Twas much, that man was made like God before,
But, that God should be made like man, much more.
[XV. _1635-69:_ XI. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ XII. _B_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[4 brest. _W:_ brest, _1633-69_]
[8 rest. ] rest; _1633_]
[11 Sonne _1633:_ Sunne _1633-69_]
[12 stolne, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _TC:_ stole,
_1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W_, _Chambers_]
XVI.
Father, part of his double interest
Unto thy kingdome, thy Sonne gives to mee,
His joynture in the knottie Trinitie
Hee keepes, and gives to me his deaths conquest.
This Lambe, whose death, with life the world hath blest, 5
Was from the worlds beginning slaine, and he
Hath made two Wills, which with the Legacie
Of his and thy kingdome, doe thy Sonnes invest.
Yet such are thy laws, that men argue yet
Whether a man those statutes can fulfill; 10
None doth; but all-healing grace and spirit
Revive againe what law and letter kill.
Thy lawes abridgement, and thy last command
Is all but love; Oh let this last Will stand!
[XVI. _1635-69:_ XII. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c. :_ IV. _B_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[3 Trinitie] Trinitie, _1633_]
[8 doe _1633:_ _om. 1635-69:_ doth _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC_, _W_
invest. _W:_ invest, _1633-39:_ invest: _1650-69_]
[9 thy _O'F_, _S96_, _W:_ these _1633-69:_ those _A18_, _D_,
_H49_, _N_, _TC_]
[11 doth;] doth, _1633_
but all-healing _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ but thy
all-healing _1633-69_. _See note_
spirit] Spirit, _1633-69_]
[12 Revive againe] Revive and quicken _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W_
kill. _1635-69:_ kill, _1633_]
[14 this _1633-69:_ that _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_
thy _B_, _O'F_, _S96_]
XVII.
Since she whom I lov'd hath payd her last debt
To Nature, and to hers, and my good is dead,
And her Soule early into heaven ravished,
Wholly on heavenly things my mind is sett.
Here the admyring her my mind did whett 5
To seeke thee God; so streames do shew their head;
But though I have found thee, and thou my thirst hast fed,
A holy thirsty dropsy melts mee yett.
But why should I begg more Love, when as thou
Dost wooe my soule for hers; offring all thine: 10
And dost not only feare least I allow
My Love to Saints and Angels things divine,
But in thy tender jealosy dost doubt
Least the World, Fleshe, yea Devill putt thee out.
[XVII. _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life and Letters of
John Donne, 1899]
[2 dead,] dead _W_]
[6 their] y^r _W_
head;] head, _W_]
[10 wooe] _spelt_ woe _W_]
[12 divine,] divine _W_]
XVIII.
Show me deare Christ, thy spouse, so bright and clear.
What! is it She, which on the other shore
Goes richly painted? or which rob'd and tore
Laments and mournes in Germany and here?
Sleepes she a thousand, then peepes up one yeare? 5
Is she selfe truth and errs? now new, now outwore?
Doth she, and did she, and shall she evermore
On one, on seaven, or on no hill appeare?
Dwells she with us, or like adventuring knights
First travaile we to seeke and then make Love? 10
Betray kind husband thy spouse to our sights,
And let myne amorous soule court thy mild Dove,
Who is most trew, and pleasing to thee, then
When she'is embrac'd and open to most men.
[XVIII. _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life _&c. _]
[2 What! ] What _W_]
[3 tore] _so I read W:_ lore _Gosse_]
XIX.
Oh, to vex me, contraryes meet in one:
Inconstancy unnaturally hath begott
A constant habit; that when I would not
I change in vowes, and in devotione.
As humorous is my contritione 5
As my prophane Love, and as soone forgott:
As ridlingly distemper'd, cold and hott,
As praying, as mute; as infinite, as none.
I durst not view heaven yesterday; and to day
In prayers, and flattering speaches I court God: 10
To morrow I quake with true feare of his rod.
So my devout fitts come and go away
Like a fantastique Ague: save that here
Those are my best dayes, when I shake with feare.
[XIX. _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life _&c. _]
[3 that] y^t _W_, _so always_]
[4 and] & _W_, _so always_]
_The Crosse. _
Since Christ embrac'd the Crosse it selfe, dare I
His image, th'image of his Crosse deny?
Would I have profit by the sacrifice,
And dare the chosen Altar to despise?
It bore all other sinnes, but is it fit 5
That it should beare the sinne of scorning it?
Who from the picture would avert his eye,
How would he flye his paines, who there did dye?
From mee, no Pulpit, nor misgrounded law,
Nor scandall taken, shall this Crosse withdraw, 10
It shall not, for it cannot; for, the losse
Of this Crosse, were to mee another Crosse;
Better were worse, for, no affiction,
No Crosse is so extreme, as to have none.
Who can blot out the Crosse, which th'instrument 15
Of God, dew'd on mee in the Sacrament?
Who can deny mee power, and liberty
To stretch mine armes, and mine owne Crosse to be?
Swimme, and at every stroake, thou art thy Crosse;
The Mast and yard make one, where seas do tosse; 20
Looke downe, thou spiest out Crosses in small things;
Looke up, thou seest birds rais'd on crossed wings;
All the Globes frame, and spheares, is nothing else
But the Meridians crossing Parallels.
Materiall Crosses then, good physicke bee, 25
But yet spirituall have chiefe dignity.
These for extracted chimique medicine serve,
And cure much better, and as well preserve;
Then are you your own physicke, or need none,
When Still'd, or purg'd by tribulation. 30
For when that Crosse ungrudg'd, unto you stickes,
Then are you to your selfe, a Crucifixe.
As perchance, Carvers do not faces make,
But that away, which hid them there, do take;
Let Crosses, soe, take what hid Christ in thee, 35
And be his image, or not his, but hee.
But, as oft Alchimists doe coyners prove,
So may a selfe-dispising, get selfe-love,
And then as worst surfets, of best meates bee,
Soe is pride, issued from humility, 40
For, 'tis no child, but monster; therefore Crosse
Your joy in crosses, else, 'tis double losse.
And crosse thy senses, else, both they, and thou
Must perish soone, and to destruction bowe.
For if the'eye seeke good objects, and will take 45
No crosse from bad, wee cannot scape a snake.
So with harsh, hard, sowre, stinking, crosse the rest,
Make them indifferent all; call nothing best.
But most the eye needs crossing, that can rome,
And move; To th'other th'objects must come home. 50
And crosse thy heart: for that in man alone
Points downewards, and hath palpitation.
Crosse those dejections, when it downeward tends,
And when it to forbidden heights pretends.
And as the braine through bony walls doth vent 55
By sutures, which a Crosses forme present,
So when thy braine workes, ere thou utter it,
Crosse and correct concupiscence of witt.
Be covetous of Crosses, let none fall.
Crosse no man else, but crosse thy selfe in all. 60
Then doth the Crosse of Christ worke fruitfully
Within our hearts, when wee love harmlesly
That Crosses pictures much, and with more care
That Crosses children, which our Crosses are.
[The Crosse. _1633-69_ (_following_, _1635-69_, In that, ô
Queene _&c. _ _p. _ 427): _similarly_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[8 paines] pangs _JC_]
[12 Crosse; _1635-69:_ Crosse. _1633_]
[13 affliction, _Ed:_ affliction _1633-69_]
[14 none. _Ed:_ none; _1633-54:_ none: _1669_]
[19 Crosse; _Ed:_ Crosse, _1633:_ Crosse, _1635-69_]
[20 make] makes _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S_
where] when _O'F_
tosse; _1635-69:_ tosse. _1633_]
[21 out] our _1669_]
[23 is] are _A25_, _B_]
[26 But yet] And yet _A18_, _D_, _JC_, _N_, _TC_]
[27 medicine] medicines _A25_, _B_, _JC_]
[33 make, _1635-69:_ make: _1633_]
[34 take; _Ed:_ take. _1633:_ take: _1635-69_]
[37 oft _Ed:_ oft, _1633-69_]
[38 selfe-love, _D:_ selfe-love. _1633-69_]
[42 losse. _Ed:_ losse, _1633-69_]
[44 destruction] corruption _O'F_]
[45 seeke] see _1650-69_]
[48 all; call nothing best. _Ed:_ indifferent; call nothing
best. _1633 and MSS:_ indifferent; all, nothing best.
_1635-69_]
[50 To th'other th'objects _1633:_ To th'others objects
_1635-69_]
[52 Points _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC:_ Pants _1633-69_,
_B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_]
[53 dejections _1633:_ detorsions _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[55 the] thy _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_TC_]
[61 fruitfully _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TC:_ faithfully _1633-69_]
[63 That _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TC:_ The _1633-69_]
_Resurrection, imperfect. _
Sleep sleep old Sun, thou canst not have repast
As yet, the wound thou took'st on friday last;
Sleepe then, and rest; The world may beare thy stay,
A better Sun rose before thee to day,
Who, not content to'enlighten all that dwell 5
On the earths face, as thou, enlightned hell,
And made the darke fires languish in that vale,
As, at thy presence here, our fires grow pale.
Whose body having walk'd on earth, and now
Hasting to Heaven, would, that he might allow 10
Himselfe unto all stations, and fill all,
For these three daies become a minerall;
Hee was all gold when he lay downe, but rose
All tincture, and doth not alone dispose
Leaden and iron wills to good, but is 15
Of power to make even sinfull flesh like his.
Had one of those, whose credulous pietie
Thought, that a Soule one might discerne and see
Goe from a body,'at this sepulcher been,
And, issuing from the sheet, this body seen, 20
He would have justly thought this body a soule,
If not of any man, yet of the whole.
_Desunt cætera. _
[Resurrection, imperfect. _1633-69_ (_following_ By
Euphrates _&c. _ _p. _ 424), _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[15 good, _1633-69 and MSS. : Chambers queries_ gold]
[22 If] If, _1633-69_]
_The Annuntiation and Passion. _
Tamely, fraile body,'abstaine to day; to day
My soule eates twice, Christ hither and away.
She sees him man, so like God made in this,
That of them both a circle embleme is,
Whose first and last concurre; this doubtfull day 5
Of feast or fast, Christ came, and went away.
Shee sees him nothing twice at once, who'is all;
Shee sees a Cedar plant it selfe, and fall,
Her Maker put to making, and the head
Of life, at once, not yet alive, yet dead. 10
She sees at once the virgin mother stay
Reclus'd at home, Publique at Golgotha;
Sad and rejoyc'd shee's seen at once, and seen
At almost fiftie, and at scarce fifteene.
At once a Sonne is promis'd her, and gone, 15
Gabriell gives Christ to her, He her to John;
Not fully a mother, Shee's in Orbitie,
At once receiver and the legacie.
All this, and all betweene, this day hath showne,
Th'Abridgement of Christs story, which makes one 20
(As in plaine Maps, the furthest West is East)
Of the'Angels _Ave_,'and _Consummatum est_.
How well the Church, Gods Court of faculties
Deales, in some times, and seldome joyning these!
As by the selfe-fix'd Pole wee never doe 25
Direct our course, but the next starre thereto,
Which showes where the'other is, and which we say
(Because it strayes not farre) doth never stray;
So God by his Church, neerest to him, wee know,
And stand firme, if wee by her motion goe; 30
His Spirit, as his fiery Pillar doth
Leade, and his Church, as cloud; to one end both.
This Church, by letting these daies joyne, hath shown
Death and conception in mankinde is one;
Or'twas in him the same humility, 35
That he would be a man, and leave to be:
Or as creation he hath made, as God,
With the last judgement, but one period,
His imitating Spouse would joyne in one
Manhoods extremes: He shall come, he is gone: 40
Or as though one blood drop, which thence did fall,
Accepted, would have serv'd, he yet shed all;
So though the least of his paines, deeds, or words,
Would busie a life, she all this day affords;
This treasure then, in grosse, my Soule uplay, 45
And in my life retaile it every day.
[The Annuntiation and Passion. _1633-69:_ Upon the
Annuntiation and Passion falling upon one day. Anno D[^n]i
1608. _B_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96:_ _similarly_, _N_, _TCD:_ The
Annuntiation. _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ _no title_, _P_]
[1 Tamely, fraile body, _Ed:_ Tamely fraile body _1633:_
Tamely fraile flesh, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S96_ (_1650-69
accidentally drop second_ to day)]
[6 away. ] away; _1633:_ away, _1635-39_]
[10 yet dead. _Ed:_ yet dead; _1633_, _B_, _P_, _S:_ and dead;
_1635-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCD_ (_full stop_,
_MSS. _)]
[12 at Golgotha; _Ed:_ at Golgotha. _1633-69_]
[13 Sad and rejoyc'd] Rejoyc'd and sad _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_]
[18 legacie. _Ed:_ legacie; _1633-69_]
[24 these! _Ed:_ these? _D_, _TCD:_ these; _1633:_ these.
_1635-69_]
[31 as _1633:_ and _1635-69_]
[32 both. _1635-69:_ both: _1633_]
[33 these _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_,
_TCD:_ those _1633-69_
daies _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TCD:_ feasts _1635-69_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]
[34 one; _Ed:_ one. _1633:_ are one. _1635-69_ (one _1669_)]
[37 hath] had _B_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_]
_Goodfriday_, 1613. _Riding Westward. _
Let mans Soule be a Spheare, and then, in this,
The intelligence that moves, devotion is,
And as the other Spheares, by being growne
Subject to forraigne motions, lose their owne,
And being by others hurried every day, 5
Scarce in a yeare their naturall forme obey:
Pleasure or businesse, so, our Soules admit
For their first mover, and are whirld by it.
Hence is't, that I am carryed towards the West
This day, when my Soules forme bends toward the East. 10
There I should see a Sunne, by rising set,
And by that setting endlesse day beget;
But that Christ on this Crosse, did rise and fall,
Sinne had eternally benighted all.
Yet dare I'almost be glad, I do not see 15
That spectacle of too much weight for mee.
Who sees Gods face, that is selfe life, must dye;
What a death were it then to see God dye?
It made his owne Lieutenant Nature shrinke,
It made his footstoole crack, and the Sunne winke. 20
Could I behold those hands which span the Poles,
And turne all spheares at once, peirc'd with those holes?
Could I behold that endlesse height which is
Zenith to us, and our Antipodes,
Humbled below us? or that blood which is 25
The seat of all our Soules, if not of his,
Made durt of dust, or that flesh which was worne
By God, for his apparell, rag'd, and torne?
If on these things I durst not looke, durst I
Upon his miserable mother cast mine eye, 30
Who was Gods partner here, and furnish'd thus
Halfe of that Sacrifice, which ransom'd us?
Though these things, as I ride, be from mine eye,
They'are present yet unto my memory,
For that looks towards them; and thou look'st towards mee, 35
O Saviour, as thou hang'st upon the tree;
I turne my backe to thee, but to receive
Corrections, till thy mercies bid thee leave.
O thinke mee worth thine anger, punish mee,
Burne off my rusts, and my deformity, 40
Restore thine Image, so much, by thy grace,
That thou may'st know mee, and I'll turne my face.
[Goodfriday, _&c. _ _1633-69:_ Good Friday (_with or without
date and_ Riding _&c. _) _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _N_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ Good Friday. 1613. Riding towards Wales. _D_,
_Lec_, _O'F:_ Good Friday. 1613. Riding to S^r Edward Harbert
in Wales. _H49:_ M^r J. Duñ goeing from Sir H. G. on good
friday sent him back this meditation on the way. _A25_]
[4 motions _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S_, _S96_, _TC:_ motion, _1633-69_]
[8 and] _bis_ _1650-54_]
[10 toward _1633:_ _do. or_ towards _MSS. :_ to _1635-69_,
_O'F_]
[12 beget _1633:_ beget. _1635-69_, _Chambers_]
[13 this Crosse, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96_, _TCC:_ his Crosse, _1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _N_, _TCD_]
[16 too] two _1639-69_]
[22 turne _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ tune _1633-69_,
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96_
once,] once _1633_]
[30 Upon his miserable _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_
On his distressed _1635-69_]
[40 rusts, _1633_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S96_, _TCD:_ rust, _1635-69_, _A18_, _S_, _TCC_]
THE LITANIE.
I.
_The_ FATHER.
Father of Heaven, and him, by whom
It, and us for it, and all else, for us
Thou madest, and govern'st ever, come
And re-create mee, now growne ruinous:
My heart is by dejection, clay, 5
And by selfe-murder, red.
From this red earth, O Father, purge away
All vicious tinctures, that new fashioned
I may rise up from death, before I'am dead.
II.
_The_ SONNE.
O Sonne of God, who seeing two things, 10
Sinne, and death crept in, which were never made,
By bearing one, tryed'st with what stings
The other could thine heritage invade;
O be thou nail'd unto my heart,
And crucified againe, 15
Part not from it, though it from thee would part,
But let it be, by applying so thy paine,
Drown'd in thy blood, and in thy passion slaine.
III.
_The_ HOLY GHOST.
O Holy Ghost, whose temple I
Am, but of mudde walls, and condensed dust, 20
And being sacrilegiously
Halfe wasted with youths fires, of pride and lust,
Must with new stormes be weatherbeat;
Double in my heart thy flame,
Which let devout sad teares intend; and let 25
(Though this glasse lanthorne, flesh, do suffer maime)
Fire, Sacrifice, Priest, Altar be the same.
IV.
_The_ TRINITY.
O Blessed glorious Trinity,
Bones to Philosophy, but milke to faith,
Which, as wise serpents, diversly 30
Most slipperinesse, yet most entanglings hath,
As you distinguish'd undistinct
By power, love, knowledge bee,
Give mee a such selfe different instinct
Of these; let all mee elemented bee, 35
Of power, to love, to know, you unnumbred three.
V.
_The Virgin_ MARY.
For that faire blessed Mother-maid,
Whose flesh redeem'd us; That she-Cherubin,
Which unlock'd Paradise, and made
One claime for innocence, and disseiz'd sinne, 40
Whose wombe was a strange heav'n, for there
God cloath'd himselfe, and grew,
Our zealous thankes wee poure. As her deeds were
Our helpes, so are her prayers; nor can she sue
In vaine, who hath such titles unto you. 45
VI.
_The Angels. _
And since this life our nonage is,
And wee in Wardship to thine Angels be,
Native in heavens faire Palaces,
Where we shall be but denizen'd by thee,
As th'earth conceiving by the Sunne, 50
Yeelds faire diversitie,
Yet never knowes which course that light doth run,
So let mee study, that mine actions bee
Worthy their sight, though blinde in how they see.
VII.
_The Patriarches. _
And let thy Patriarches Desire 55
(Those great Grandfathers of thy Church, which saw
More in the cloud, then wee in fire,
Whom Nature clear'd more, then us Grace and Law,
And now in Heaven still pray, that wee
May use our new helpes right,) 60
Be satisfy'd, and fructifie in mee;
Let not my minde be blinder by more light
Nor Faith, by Reason added, lose her sight.
VIII.
_The Prophets. _
Thy Eagle-sighted Prophets too,
Which were thy Churches Organs, and did sound 65
That harmony, which made of two
One law, and did unite, but not confound;
Those heavenly Poëts which did see
Thy will, and it expresse
In rythmique feet, in common pray for mee, 70
That I by them excuse not my excesse
In seeking secrets, or Poëtiquenesse.
IX.
_The Apostles. _
And thy illustrious Zodiacke
Of twelve Apostles, which ingirt this All,
(From whom whosoever do not take 75
Their light, to darke deep pits, throw downe, and fall,)
As through their prayers, thou'hast let mee know
That their bookes are divine;
May they pray still, and be heard, that I goe
Th'old broad way in applying; O decline 80
Mee, when my comment would make thy word mine.
X.
_The Martyrs. _
And since thou so desirously
Did'st long to die, that long before thou could'st,
And long since thou no more couldst dye,
Thou in thy scatter'd mystique body wouldst 85
In Abel dye, and ever since
In thine; let their blood come
To begge for us, a discreet patience
Of death, or of worse life: for Oh, to some
Not to be Martyrs, is a martyrdome. 90
XI.
_The Confessors. _
Therefore with thee triumpheth there
A Virgin Squadron of white Confessors,
Whose bloods betroth'd, not marryed were,
Tender'd, not taken by those Ravishers:
They know, and pray, that wee may know, 95
In every Christian
Hourly tempestuous persecutions grow;
Tentations martyr us alive; A man
Is to himselfe a Dioclesian.
XII.
_The Virgins. _
The cold white snowie Nunnery, 100
Which, as thy mother, their high Abbesse, sent
Their bodies backe againe to thee,
As thou hadst lent them, cleane and innocent,
Though they have not obtain'd of thee,
That or thy Church, or I, 105
Should keep, as they, our first integrity;
Divorce thou sinne in us, or bid it die,
And call chast widowhead Virginitie.
XIII.
_The Doctors. _
Thy sacred Academic above
Of Doctors, whose paines have unclasp'd, and taught 110
Both bookes of life to us (for love
To know thy Scriptures tells us, we are wrote
In thy other booke) pray for us there
That what they have misdone
Or mis-said, wee to that may not adhere; 115
Their zeale may be our sinne. Lord let us runne
Meane waies, and call them stars, but not the Sunne.
XIV.
And whil'st this universall Quire,
That Church in triumph, this in warfare here,
Warm'd with one all-partaking fire 120
Of love, that none be lost, which cost thee deare,
Prayes ceaslesly,'and thou hearken too,
(Since to be gratious
Our taske is treble, to pray, beare, and doe)
Heare this prayer Lord: O Lord deliver us 125
From trusting in those prayers, though powr'd out thus.
XV.
From being anxious, or secure,
Dead clods of sadnesse, or light squibs of mirth,
From thinking, that great courts immure
All, or no happinesse, or that this earth 130
Is only for our prison fram'd,
Or that thou art covetous
To them whom thou lovest, or that they are maim'd
From reaching this worlds sweet, who seek thee thus,
With all their might, Good Lord deliver us. 135
XVI.
From needing danger, to bee good,
From owing thee yesterdaies teares to day,
From trusting so much to thy blood,
That in that hope, wee wound our soule away,
From bribing thee with Almes, to excuse 140
Some sinne more burdenous,
From light affecting, in religion, newes,
From thinking us all soule, neglecting thus
Our mutuall duties, Lord deliver us.
XVII.
From tempting Satan to tempt us, 145
By our connivence, or slack companie,
From measuring ill by vitious,
Neglecting to choake sins spawne, Vanitie,
From indiscreet humilitie,
Which might be scandalous, 150
And cast reproach on Christianitie,
From being spies, or to spies pervious,
From thirst, or scorne of fame, deliver us.
XVIII.
Deliver us for thy descent
Into the Virgin, whose wombe was a place 155
Of middle kind; and thou being sent
To'ungratious us, staid'st at her full of grace;
And through thy poore birth, where first thou
Glorifiedst Povertie,
And yet soone after riches didst allow, 160
By accepting Kings gifts in the Epiphanie,
Deliver, and make us, to both waies free.
XIX.
And through that bitter agonie,
Which is still the agonie of pious wits,
Disputing what distorted thee, 165
And interrupted evennesse, with fits;
And through thy free confession
Though thereby they were then
Made blind, so that thou might'st from them have gone,
Good Lord deliver us, and teach us when 170
Wee may not, and we may blinde unjust men.
XX.
Through thy submitting all, to blowes
Thy face, thy clothes to spoile; thy fame to scorne,
All waies, which rage, or Justice knowes,
And by which thou could'st shew, that thou wast born; 175
And through thy gallant humblenesse
Which thou in death did'st shew,
Dying before thy soule they could expresse,
Deliver us from death, by dying so,
To this world, ere this world doe bid us goe. 180
XXI.
When senses, which thy souldiers are,
Wee arme against thee, and they fight for sinne,
When want, sent but to tame, doth warre
And worke despaire a breach to enter in,
When plenty, Gods image, and seale 185
Makes us Idolatrous,
And love it, not him, whom it should reveale,
When wee are mov'd to seeme religious
Only to vent wit, Lord deliver us.
XXII.
In Churches, when the'infirmitie 190
Of him which speakes, diminishes the Word,
When Magistrates doe mis-apply
To us, as we judge, lay or ghostly sword,
When plague, which is thine Angell, raignes,
Or wars, thy Champions, swaie, 195
When Heresie, thy second deluge, gaines;
In th'houre of death, the'Eve of last judgement day,
Deliver us from the sinister way.
XXIII.
Heare us, O heare us Lord; to thee
A sinner is more musique, when he prayes, 200
Then spheares, or Angels praises bee,
In Panegyrique Allelujaes;
Heare us, for till thou heare us, Lord
We know not what to say;
Thine eare to'our sighes, teares, thoughts gives voice and word. 205
O Thou who Satan heard'st in Jobs sicke day,
Heare thy selfe now, for thou in us dost pray.
XXIV.
That wee may change to evennesse
This intermitting aguish Pietie;
That snatching cramps of wickednesse 210
And Apoplexies of fast sin, may die;
That musique of thy promises,
Not threats in Thunder may
Awaken us to our just offices;
What in thy booke, thou dost, or creatures say, 215
That we may heare, Lord heare us, when wee pray.
XXV.
That our eares sicknesse wee may cure,
And rectifie those Labyrinths aright,
That wee, by harkning, not procure
Our praise, nor others dispraise so invite, 220
That wee get not a slipperinesse
And senslesly decline,
From hearing bold wits jeast at Kings excesse,
To'admit the like of majestie divine,
That we may locke our eares, Lord open thine. 225
XXVI.
That living law, the Magistrate,
Which to give us, and make us physicke, doth
Our vices often aggravate,
That Preachers taxing sinne, before her growth,
That Satan, and invenom'd men 230
Which well, if we starve, dine,
When they doe most accuse us, may see then
Us, to amendment, heare them; thee decline:
That we may open our eares, Lord lock thine.
XXVII.
That learning, thine Ambassador, 235
From thine allegeance wee never tempt,
That beauty, paradises flower
For physicke made, from poyson be exempt,
That wit, borne apt high good to doe,
By dwelling lazily 240
On Natures nothing, be not nothing too,
That our affections kill us not, nor dye,
Heare us, weake ecchoes, O thou eare, and cry.
XXVIII.
Sonne of God heare us, and since thou
By taking our blood, owest it us againe, 245
Gaine to thy self, or us allow;
And let not both us and thy selfe be slaine;
O Lambe of God, which took'st our sinne
Which could not stick to thee,
O let it not returne to us againe, 250
But Patient and Physition being free,
As sinne is nothing, let it no where be.
[The Litanie. _1633-69:_ A Letanie. _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[17 be, _D:_ be _1633-69_]
[30 serpents, _Ed:_ serpents _1633-69_]
[34 a such _1633:_ such _1635-69_, _JC:_ such a _A18_, _D_,
_H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC_
instinct _1633:_ instinct, _1635-69_]
[35 these; _Ed:_ these, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ these _1633-69:_
thee _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[48 Native] Natives _B_, _JC_, _S_
in heavens faire Palaces, _D:_ in heavens faire Palaces
_1633-39:_ in heavens Palaces, _1650-69_]
[52 which _1633:_ what _1635-69_]
[56 Grandfathers] Grandfathers, _1633_]
[58 then] that _1635-39_]
[58 Grace and Law, _D:_ grace and law, _1633-69_]
[61 satisfy'd, _1635-69_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _S96_,
_TC:_ sanctified, _1633_
fructifie] fructified _A18_, _JC_]
[63 Faith, _D:_ Faith _1633-69_]
[93 were, _Ed:_ were; _1633-69_]
[97 grow; _Ed:_ grow, _1633-69_]
[100 The] Thy _B_, _D_, _H49_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_]
[109 Thy] The _1635-69_
Academie _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ Academ _1635-69:_ Academe
_N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC_]
[112 thy] the _1650-69_
Scriptures] Scripture _1669_
wrote] _spelt_ wrought _1633 and MSS. _]
[115 adhere; _Ed:_ adhere, _1633-69_]
[122 too, _D:_ too _1633-69_]
[125 Lord: _Ed:_ Lord, _1633-69_]
[128 clods _1633:_ clouds _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_ (_which
corrects_), _S96_]
[133 whom] _om. D_, _H49_, _Lec_
them] _om. A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[134 sweet, _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _S96:_ sweets,
_1635-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
[137 owing] owning _1669_]
[139 soule] souls _1669_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S_]
[153 fame,] flame, _1633_]
[154 for _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ through
_1635-69_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_, _Chambers_]
[156 middle] midle _1633_, _D_]
[157 grace;] grace, _1633_]
[159 Glorifiedst] Glorifiest _1633 some copies_, _D_, _H49_]
[162 Deliver, and] Deliver us, and _Chambers_]
[163 through] though, _1633_
that] thy _B_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[164 is still] still is _1633 some copies_, _1635-69_]
[166 fits;] fits, _1633_]
[173 clothes _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_
robes _1635-69_, _B_ (robe), _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[175 born; _Ed:_ born, _1633-69_]
[196 When] Where _many MSS. _]
[197 last judgement] the last _JC_, _S:_ Gods judgement _B_]
[202 Allelujaes; _1635-69:_ Allelujaes, _1633_]
[204 say; _D:_ say. _1633-69_]
[209 Pietie; _Ed:_ Pietie, _1633-69_]
[214 offices;] offices, _1633_]
[217 wee _1633:_ me _1635-69_]
[219 wee, _Ed:_ wee _1633-69_
harkning, not _1633-69:_ heark'ning not _Chambers_]
[231 well, _1633_ (_but altered to_ will, _in some copies_),
_A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ will, _1635-69_,
_Lec_, _Chambers_, _Grolier_]
[233 decline: _Ed:_ decline; _1633-69_]
[239 apt . . . doe,] apt, . . . doe _1633_]
[243 weake ecchoes, O thou eare, and cry. _1633-69_, _A18_,
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ weake wretches, O thou eare and
eye. _B_, _S_, _S96:_ _Chambers adopts_ Eye _from S_,
_O'F reads_ eye_, _and TCC alters_ crye _to_ eye, _all
retaining_ ecchoes. _See note_]
[245 againe,] againe _1633_]
[246 or us _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _JC_, _N_, _S_,
_TC:_ and us _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S96_, _Chambers_]
[248 O Lambe] O lambe _1633_]
_Vpon the translation of the Psalmes by Sir_ Philip Sydney,
_and the Countesse of Pembroke his Sister. _
Eternall God, (for whom who ever dare
Seeke new expressions, doe the Circle square,
And thrust into strait corners of poore wit
Thee, who art cornerlesse and infinite)
I would but blesse thy Name, not name thee now; 5
(And thy gifts are as infinite as thou:)
Fixe we our prayses therefore on this one,
That, as thy blessed Spirit fell upon
These Psalmes first Author in a cloven tongue;
(For 'twas a double power by which he sung 10
The highest matter in the noblest forme;)
So thou hast cleft that spirit, to performe
That worke againe, and shed it, here, upon
Two, by their bloods, and by thy Spirit one;
A Brother and a Sister, made by thee 15
The Organ, where thou art the Harmony.
Two that make one _Iohn Baptists_ holy voyce,
And who that Psalme, _Now let the Iles rejoyce_,
Have both translated, and apply'd it too,
Both told us what, and taught us how to doe. 20
They shew us Ilanders our joy, our King,
They tell us _why_, and teach us _how_ to sing;
Make all this All, three Quires, heaven, earth, and sphears;
The first, Heaven, hath a song, but no man heares,
The Spheares have Musick, but they have no tongue, 25
Their harmony is rather danc'd than sung;
But our third Quire, to which the first gives eare,
(For, Angels learne by what the Church does here)
This Quire hath all. The Organist is hee
Who hath tun'd God and Man, the Organ we: 30
The songs are these, which heavens high holy Muse
Whisper'd to _David_, _David_ to the Iewes:
And _Davids_ Successors, in holy zeale,
In formes of joy and art doe re-reveale
To us so sweetly and sincerely too, 35
That I must not rejoyce as I would doe
When I behold that these Psalmes are become
So well attyr'd abroad, so ill at home,
So well in Chambers, in thy Church so ill,
As I can scarce call that reform'd untill 40
This be reform'd; Would a whole State present
A lesser gift than some one man hath sent?
And shall our Church, unto our Spouse and King
More hoarse, more harm than any other, sing?
For _that_ we pray, we praise thy name for _this_, 45
Which, by this _Moses_ and this _Miriam_, is
Already done; and as those Psalmes we call
(Though some have other Authors) _Davids_ all:
So though some have, some may some Psalmes translate,
We thy Sydnean Psalmes shall celebrate, 50
And, till we come th'Extemporall song to sing,
(Learn'd the first hower, that we see the King,
Who hath translated those translators) may
These their sweet learned labours, all the way
Be as our tuning; that, when hence we part, 55
We may fall in with them, and sing our part.
[Vpon the _&c. _ _1635-69:_ _no extant MSS. _]
[17 voyce, _1635-39:_ voyce; _1650-69_]
[22 sing;] sing. _1635-69_]
[23 three Quires, _1669:_ 3 Quires, _1635-54_]
[28 here _1669:_ heare _1635-54_ (_the same word, not_ hear
_as in Chambers' note_)]
[46 this Moses _Grosart:_ thy _Moses_ _1635-69_]
[55: tuning; _1719:_ tuning, _1635-69_
part, _1719:_ part _1635-69_]
_Ode: Of our Sense of Sinne. _
1. Vengeance will sit above our faults; but till
She there doth sit,
We see _her_ not, nor _them_. Thus, blinde, yet still
We leade her way; and thus, whil'st we doe ill,
We suffer it. 5
2. Vnhappy he, whom youth makes not beware
Of doing ill.
Enough we labour under age, and care;
In number, th'errours of the last place, are
The greatest still. 10
3. Yet we, that should the ill we now begin
As soone repent,
(Strange thing! ) perceive not; our faults are not seen,
But past us; neither felt, but onely in
The punishment. 15
4. But we know our selves least; Mere outward shews
Our mindes so store,
That our soules, no more than our eyes disclose
But forme and colour. Onely he who knowes
Himselfe, knowes more. 20
_I. D. _
[Ode. _1635-69_, _O'F:_ Of our Sense of Sinne.
_H40_, _RP31_ (_in margin_, S^{r} Edw. Herbert): _no title_,
_B_, _Cy_, _P_, _S_]
[2 doth _1635-39:_ do _1650-69_]
[11 now] new _B_]
[15 The _1635-69_, _Cy_, _P:_ Our _B_, _H40_, _O'F_]
_To M^{r}_ Tilman _after he had taken orders. _
Thou, whose diviner soule hath caus'd thee now
To put thy hand unto the holy Plough,
Making Lay-scornings of the Ministry,
Not an impediment, but victory;
What bringst thou home with thee? how is thy mind 5
Affected since the vintage? Dost thou finde
New thoughts and stirrings in thee? and as Steele
Toucht with a Loadstone, dost new motions feele?
Or, as a Ship after much paine and care,
For Iron and Cloth brings home rich Indian ware, 10
Hast thou thus traffiqu'd, but with farre more gaine
Of noble goods, and with lesse time and paine?
Thou art the same materials, as before,
Onely the stampe is changed; but no more.
And as new crowned Kings alter the face, 15
But not the monies substance; so hath grace
Chang'd onely Gods old Image by Creation,
To Christs new stampe, at this thy Coronation;
Or, as we paint Angels with wings, because
They beare Gods message, and proclaime his lawes, 20
Since thou must doe the like, and so must move,
Art thou new feather'd with cœlestiall love?
Deare, tell me where thy purchase lies, and shew
What thy advantage is above, below.
But if thy gainings doe surmount expression, 25
Why doth the foolish world scorne that profession,
Whose joyes passe speech? Why do they think unfit
That Gentry should joyne families with it?
As if their day were onely to be spent
In dressing, Mistressing and complement; 30
Alas poore joyes, but poorer men, whose trust
Seemes richly placed in sublimed dust;
(For, such are cloathes and beauty, which though gay,
Are, at the best, but of sublimed clay. )
Let then the world thy calling disrespect, 35
But goe thou on, and pitty their neglect.
What function is so noble, as to bee
Embassadour to God and destinie?
To open life, to give kingdomes to more
Than Kings give dignities; to keepe heavens doore? 40
_Maries_ prerogative was to beare Christ, so
'Tis preachers to convey him, for they doe
As Angels out of clouds, from Pulpits speake;
And blesse the poore beneath, the lame, the weake.
If then th'Astronomers, whereas they spie 45
A new-found Starre, their Opticks magnifie,
How brave are those, who with their Engine, can
Bring man to heaven, and heaven againe to man?
These are thy titles and preheminences,
In whom must meet Gods graces, mens offences, 50
And so the heavens which beget all things here,
And the earth our mother, which these things doth beare,
Both these in thee, are in thy Calling knit,
And make thee now a blest Hermaphrodite.
[To M^{r} Tilman _&c. _ _1635-69:_ _no extant MSS. _]
[18 Christs] Chists _1635_]
[34 clay. ) _Ed:_ clay) _1635-69_]
[52 beare, _1650-69:_ beare _1635-39_]
_A Hymne to Christ, at the Authors last going into Germany. _
In what torne ship soever I embarke,
That ship shall be my embleme of thy Arke;
What sea soever swallow mee, that flood
Shall be to mee an embleme of thy blood;
Though thou with clouds of anger do disguise 5
Thy race; yet through that maske I know those eyes,
Which, though they turne away sometimes,
They never will despise.
