Du Bartas his deuine weekes and workes translated: and dedicated to the Kings most excellent Maiestie by Iosuah Syluester

THE SECOND DAIE OF THE FIRST WEEK. (Book 2)

THE ARGVMENT.

Lewd Pöets checkt: Our Pöets chast Intents: Heav'ns Curtain spread: th' all-forming Elements; Their number, nature, vse and Domination, Concent, excesse, continuance, situation: Aire's triple Regions; and their Temper's change: Windes, Exhalations, and all Meteors strange; Th' effects, the vse (apply'd to Conscience): Mans Reason non-plust in som Accidents: Of Prodigies: of th' Elementall Flame: Heav'ns ten-fold Orbs: Waters aboue the same.

THose learned Spirits, whose wits applyed wrong, With wanton Charms of their in chanting song,* 1.1 Make of an olde, foul, frantike Hecuba, A wondrous fresh, fair, witty Helena: Of lewd Faustina (that loose Emperess) A chaste Lucretia, loathing wantonness: Of a blinde Bowe-Boy, of a Dwarf, a Bastard, No petty Godling, but the Gods great Master; On thankless furrows of a fruitless sand Their seed and labour lose, with heedless hand; And (pitching Netts, to catch I little wott What fume of Fame that seems them to besott)

Resemble Spiders, that with curious pain Weaue idle Webs, and labour still in vain.

But (though then Time we haue no deerer Treasure) Less should I wail their miss-expence of leasure, If their sweet Muse, with too-well spoken Spell, Drew not their Readers with themselues to Hell. For, vnder th' hony of their learned Works A hatefull draught of deadly poyson lurks: Whereof (alas) Young spirits quaffe so deep,* 1.2 That drunk with Loue, their Reason falls asleep; And such a habit their fond Fancy gets, That their ill stomack still loues euill meats.

Th' inchanting force of their sweet eloquence Hurls head long down their tender Audience, Ay (childe-like) sliding, in a foolish strife, On th' Icie down-Hills of this slippery Life.

The Songs their Phoebus doth so sweet inspire, Are euen the Bellows whence they blow the fire Of raging Lust (before) whose wanton flashes A tender brest rak't-vp in shamefaç't ashes.* 1.3

Therefore, for my part, I haue vow'd to Heav'n Such wit and learning as my God hath giv'n; To write, to th' honour of my Maker dread, Verse that a Virgine without blush may read.* 1.4

Clear Source of Learning, soule of th' Vniuerse (Sith thou art pleas'd to chuse mine humble verse To sing thy Praises) make my Pen distill Celestiall Nectar, and this Volume fill With th' Amalthéan Horn; that it may haue Som correspondence to a Theam so graue: Rid thou my passage, and make clear my way From all incumbers: shine vpon This Day; That guided safely by thy sacred Light, My Rendez-vous I may attain yer night.* 1.5

THAT HVGE broad-length, that long-broad height-profound, Th' infinite finit, that great moundless Mound, I mean that Chaos, that self-iarring Mass, Which in a moment made of Nothing was;

Was the rich Matter and the Matrix, whence The Heav'ns should issue, and the Elements.

Now th' Elements, twin-twins (two Sons, two Daughters) To wit, the Fire, the Aire; the Earth, and Waters Are not compounded: but, of them is all Compounded first, that in our sense can fall: Whether their qualities, in euery portion Of euery thing, infuse them with proportion: Whether in all, their substance they confound, And so but one thing of their foure compound: As in a Venice Glass, before our eyne,* 1.6 We see the water intermix with wine: Or, in our stomack, as our drink and food Doe mingle, after to conuert to blood. This in a Fire-brand may wes••e, whose Fire Doth in his flame toward's natiue Heav'n aspire, His Ayre in smoak; in ashes falls his Earth, And at his knots his Water wheezes forth. Euen such a War our Bodies peace maintains: For, in our Flesh, our Bodie's Earth remains: Our vitall spirits, our Fire and Aire possess: And, last, our Water in our humours rests. Nay, ther's no Part in all this Bulk of ours, Where each of these not intermix their powers; Though't be apparant (and I needs must graunt) That ayesom one is most Predominant. The pure red part, amid the Mass of Bloud, The Sanguine Aire commaunds: the clotted mud, Sunk down in Lees, Earths Melancholy showes: The pale thin humour, that on th' out-side flowes, Is watery Phlegme: and the light froathy scum, Bubbling aboue, hath Fiery Cholers room.

Not, that at all times, one same Element In one same Body hath the Regiment:* 1.7 But, in his turn each raigning, his subiects draws After his Lore: for still New Lords, new Lawes; As sans respect how rich or Noble-born, Each Citizen rules and obayes, by turn,

In chart'red Towns; which seem, in little space, Changing their Ruler, euen to change their face (For, as Chameleons vary with their obiect, So Princes manners do transform the Subiect): So th' Element in Wine predomining, It hot, and cold, and moist, and dry doth bring; By's perfect or imperfect force (at length) Inforcing it to change the taste and strength: So that it doth Grapes sharp-green iuice transfer To Must, Must t'wine, and Wine to Vineger.

As while a Monarch, to teach others aw,* 1.8 Subiects his own selfs-Greatnes to his Law, He ruleth fearless: and his Kingdoms flourish In happy Peace (and Peace doth Plenty nourish); But if (fell Tyrant) his keen sword be euer Vniustly drawn, if he be sated neuer With Subiects blood; needs must his Rage (at last) Destroy his State, and lay his Countrey waste: So (or much like) the while one Element Ouer the rest hath modest Gouernment; While, in proportion (though vnequall yet) With Soueraign Humours Subiect Humours fit, The Body's ••ound; and in the very face Retains the Form of beauty and of grace: But if (like that inhumane Emperour Who wisht, all People vnderneath his Power Had but one head, that he might butcher so All th' Empires Subiects at one onely blowe) It, Tyrannizing, seek to wrack the rest, It ruines soon the Prouince it possest; Where soon appears, through his proud vsurpation, Both outward change and inward alteration.

So, too-much Moist, which (vnconcoct within)* 1.9 The Liuer spreads betwixt the flesh and skin, Puffs vp the Patient, stops the pipes & pores Of Excrements; yea, double bars the dores Of his short breath; and slowely-swiftly curst, In midd'st of Water makes him euer thirst:

Nor giues man Rest, nor Respite, till his bones Be raked vp in a cold heap of stones.* 1.10

So, too-much Drought a lingring Ague drawes, Which seeming painless, yet much pain doth cause; Robbing the nerues of might, of Ioy the heart, Of mirth the face, of moisture euery part (Much like a Candle fed with it own humour, By little and little it own selfs consumer) Nor giues mans Rest, nor Respite, till his bones Be raked vp in a colde heap of stones.

So, too-much Heat doth bring a burning Feuer,* 1.11 Which spurrs our Pulse, and furrs our Palat euer; And on the tables of our troubled brain, Fantastikely with various pensill vain Doth counterfait as many Forms, or mo Then euer Nature, Art, or Chance could showe: Nor giues man Rest, nor Respite, till his bones Be raked vp in a cold heap of stones.

So, too-much Cold couers with hoary Fleece* 1.12 The head of Age, his flesh diminishes, Withers his face, hollowes his rheumy eyes, And makes himself euen his own self despise; While through his marrow euery where it enters, Quenching his natiue heat with endless Winters: Nor giues man Rest, nor Respite, till his bones Be taked vp in a coldheap of stones.* 1.13

Yet think not, that this Too-too-much, remises Ought into nought: it but the Form disguises In hundred fashions; and the Substances Inly, or outly, neither win nor leese. For, all that's made, is made of the First Matter Which in th' old Nothing made the All-Creator. All, that dissolues, resolues into the same. Since first the Lord of Nothing made This Frame, Nought's made of nought; and nothing turns to nothing: Things birth, or death, change but their formall clothing▪ Their Forms doe vanish, but their bodies bide; Now thick, now thin, now round, now short, now side.

For, if of Nothing anything could spring, Th' Earth without seed should wheat and barly bring. Pure Mayden-wombs desired Babes should bear: All things, at all times, should grow euery where. The Hart in Water should it self in gender; The Whale on Land; in Aire the Lambling tender: Th' Ocean should yeeld the Pine and Cornell Tree; On Hazels Acorns, Nuts on Oaks should bee: And breaking Natures set and sacred vse, The Doues would Eagles, Eagels Doues, produce.

If of themselues things took their thriuing, then Slowe-growing Babes should instantly be men: Then in the Forests should huge boughs be seen Born with the bodies of vnplanted Treen: Then should the sucking Elephant support Vpon his shoulders a well-manned Fort: And the new-foaled Colt, couragious, Should neigh for Battail, like Bucephalus.

Contrariwise, if ought to nought did fall; All, that is felt or seen within this All, Still loosing somwhat of it self, at length Would com to Nothing: If Death's fatall strength Could altogether Substances destroy, Things then should vanish even as soon as dy. In time the mighty Mountains tops be bated; But, with their fall, the neighbour Vales are fatted; And what, when Trent or Auon ouer-flowe, They reaue one field they on the next bestowe: Loue-burning Heav'n many sweet Deaws doth drop In his deer Spouses fair and fruitfull lap; Which after she restores, straining those showrs Through th' hidden pores of pleasant plants and flowrs.

Whoso hath seen, how one warm lump of wax (Without increasing, or decreasing) takes* 1.14 A hundred figures; well may iudge of all Th' incessant Changes of this nether Ball. The Worlds own Matter is the waxen Lump, Which, vn-self-changing, takes all kinde of stamp:

The Form's the Seal; Heav'ns gratious Emperour (The Liuing God)'s the great Lord Chancellour; Who at his pleasure setting day and night His great Broad Seales, and Priuy Signets right Vpon the Mass so vast and variable, Makes the same Lump, now base, now honourable.

Heer's nothing constant: nothing still doth stay: For, Birth and Death haue still successiues way. Heer one thing springs not, till another dy: Onely the Matter liues immortally (Th' Almighties Table, body of this All, Of change-full Chances common Arçenall, All like itself, all in itself contained, Which by Times Flight hath neither lost nor gayned) Change-less in Essence; changeable in face, Much more then Proteus, or the subtile race Of rouing Polypes, who (to rob the more) Transform them howrly on the wauing shore:* 1.15 Much like the French (or like our selues, their Apes) Who with strange habit do disguise their shapes; Who louing nouels, full of affectation, Receiue the Manners of each other Nation; And scarcely shift they shirts so oft, as change Fantastik Fashions of their garments strange: Or like a Laïs, whose inconstant Loue Doth euery day a thousand times remooue; Who's scarce vnfolded from one Youths embraces, Yer in her thought another she embraces; And the new pleasure of her wanton Fire Stirs in her, still, another new desire: Because the Matter, wounded deep in heart With various Loue (yet, on the self same part, Incapable, in the same time, at once To take all figures) by successions, Form after Form receiues: so that one face Another faces features doth deface.* 1.16

Now the chief Motiue of these Accidents, Is the dire discord of our Elements:

Truce-hating Twins, where Brother eateth Brother By turns, and turn them one into another, Like Ice and Water that beget each other;* 1.17 And still the Daughter bringeth-forth the Mother. But each of these hauing two qualities (One bearing Rule, another that obayes) Those, whose effects do wholly contradict, Longer and stronger striue in their Conflict. The hot-dry Fire to cold-moist Water turns not; The cold-dry Earth, to hot-moist Aire, returns not, Returns not eas'ly: for (still opposite) With tooth and nail as deadly foes they fight. But Aire turn Water, Earth may Fierize, Because in one part they do symbolize; And so, in combate they haue less to doo; For, 't's easier far, to conquer one then two.

Sith then the knot of sacred Mariage,* 1.18 Which ioynes the Elements, from age to age Brings forth the Worlds Babes: sith their Enmities, With fell diuorce, kill whatsoeuer dyes: And sith, but changing their degree and place, They frame the various Forms, wherewith the face Of this fair World is so imbellished [As six sweet Notes, curiously varied In skilfull Musike, make a hundred kindes Of Heauenly sounds, that rauish hardest mindes; And with Division (of a choise deuise) The Hearers soules out at their ears intice: Or, as of twice-twelue Letters, thus transpos'd, This World of Words, is variously compos'd; And of these Words, in divers order sowen, This sacred Uolume that you read, is growen (Through gracious succour of th' Eternall Deïtie) Rich in discourse, with infinite Variety] It was not cause-less, that so carefully God did diuide their common Signory; Assigning each a fit-confined Sitting, Their quantity and quality befitting.

Whoso (somtime) hath seen rich Ingotstri'd,* 1.19 When forç't by Fier their treasures they diuide (How fair and softly, Gold to Gold doth pass, Siluer seeks Siluer, Brass consorts with Brass; And the whole Lump, of parts vnequall, seuers It self apart, in white, red, yellow Rivers) May vnderstand how, when the Mouth Diuine Op'ned (to each his proper Place t'assigne) Fire flew to Fire, Water to Water slid, Aire clung to Aire, and Earth with Earth abid.

Earth, as the Lees, and heauy dross of All (After his kinde) did to the bottom fall:* 1.20 Contrariwise, the light and nimble Fire Did through the crannies of th' old Heap aspire Vnto the top; and by his nature, light No less then hot, mounted in sparks vpright: As, when we see Aurora, passing gay, With Opals paint the Seeling of Cathay, Sad Floods doefume, and the celestiall Tapers Through Earths thin pores, in th' Aire exhale the vapours.

But least the Fire (which all the rest embraces) Being too neer should burn the Earth to ashes; As chosen Vmpires, the great All-Creator* 1.21 Between these Foes placed the Aire and Water: For, one suffiz'd not their stern strife to end. Water, as Cozen, did the Earth befriend: Aire, for his Kinsman Fire, as firmly deals: But both, vniting their divided zeals, Took vp the matter, and appeas'd the brall; Which doubt-less else had discreated All. Th' Aire lodg'd aloft, the Water vnder it, Not casually, but so disposed fit By him who (Nature in her kind to keep) Kept due proportion in his Workmanship;* 1.22 And, in this Store-house of his Wonders treasure, Observ'd in all things number, waight, and measure. For, had the Water next the Fire been plaç't, Fire, seeming then moro wrongd and more disgraç't,

Would sodainly have left his Aduersary, And set vpon the Vmpire (more contrary). But all the Links of th' holy Chain, which tethers The many Members of the World togethers, Are such, as none but only he can breake them, Who at the first did (of meere nothing) make them. Water, as arm'd with moisture and with cold, The cold-dry Earth with her one hand doth hold; With th' other th' Aire: The Aire, as moist and warm,* 1.23 Holds Fire with one; Water with th' other arm: As Country Maidens, in the Month of May, Merrily sporting on a Holy-day, And lusty dancing of a lively Round,* 1.24 About the May-pole, by the Bag-pipes sound; Hold hand in hand, so that the first is fast (By means of those between) vnto the last.

For, sith 'tis so that the dry Element Not onely yeelds her owne Babes nourishment, But with the milke of her aboundant brests, Doth also feede th' Aires nimble winged guests, And also all th' innumerable Legions Of greedy mouths that haunt the Bryny Regions (So that, th' Earth's Mother, or else Nurse of all That run, or fly, or swim, or slide, or crawl) 'Twas meet, it should be it self's Counterpoize, To stand still firm against the roaring noise Of wrack full Neptune, and the wrathfull blasts Of parching South and pinching Boreas. 'T was meet, her sad-slowe body to digest* 1.25 Farther from Heav'n than any of the rest: Least, of Heav'ns Courseth' Eternall swift Careers, Rushing against her with their whirling Sphears, Should her transport, as swift and violent, As ay they do their neighbour Element.

And sith, on th' otherside, th' harmonious Course) Of Heav'ns bright Torches is th' immortall source Of earthly life: and sith all alterations (Almost) are caus'd by their quick agitations

In all the World, God could not place so fit Our Mother Earth, as in the midst of it. For, all the Stars reflect their lively rayes On Fire and Aire, and Water, diuers wayes; Dispersing, so, their powerfull influence On, in, and through these various Elements: But, on the Earth, they all in one concurr, And all vnite their seuered force in her; As in a Wheel, which with a long deep rut* 1.26 His turning passage in the durt doth cut, The distant spoaks neerer and nearer gather, And in the Navevnite their points together.

As the bright Sun shines thorough smoothest Glass,* 1.27 The turning Planets influence doth pass Without impeachment through the glist' ring Tent Of the tralucing Fierie Element, Th' Aires triple Regions, the transparent Water; But not the firm Base of this fair Theater. And therefore rightly may we call those Trines (Fire, Aire, and Water) but Heav'ns Concubines: For, neuer Sun, nor Moon, nor Stars inioy The love of these, but only by the way, As passing by: whereas incessantly, The lusty Heav'n with Earth doth company; And with a fruitfull seed, which lends All life, With-childs each-moment his owne lawfull wife; And with her louely Babes, in form and nature* 1.28 So diuers, decks this beautifull Theater.

The Water, lighter then the Earthy Masse, Heauier then Aire, betwixt them both hath place; The better so with a moist-cold, to temper Th' ones over-driness, th' others hot distemper.

But, my sweet Muse, whither so fast away?* 1.29 Soft, soft, my Darling: draw not dry To-Day Castalian Springs; defer the Cirque, and Seat, The power, and praise, of Sea and Earth as yet: Do not anticipate the Worlds Beginning; But, till To-Morrow, leaue the enter-blinning

Of Rocky Mounts, and rouling Waues so wide. For, euen To-Morrow will the Lord diuide, With the right hand of his Omnipotence, These yet confus'd and mingled Elements; And liberally the shaggy Earth adorn With Woods, and Buds of fruits, of flowers and corn. 'Tis time, my Loue, 'tis time, mine onely Care, To hie vs hence, and Mount vs in the Aire: 'Tis time (or neuer) now, my dearest Minion, To imp strong farcels in thy sacred pinion; That lightly born vpon thy Virgin back, Safe through the Welkin I my course may take: Com, com, my Ioy, lend me thy lillie shoulder; That, thereon raised, I may reach the bolder (Before the rest of my deer Country-men, Of better wit, but worse-applied pen) At that green Laurel, which the niggard Skies So long haue hidden from my longingeies.

Th' Aire (hoste of Mists, the bounding Tennis-ball, That stormy Tempests toss and play with all;* 1.30 Of winged Clouds the wide inconstant House, Th' vnsetled kingdom of swift Aeolus, Great Ware-house of the Windes, whose traffik giues Motion of life to euery thing that liues) Is not throughout all one: our Elder Sages Have fitly parted it into Three Stages. Wherof, because the Highest still is driv'n With violence of the First-mouing Heav'n,* 1.31 From East to West; and from West returning To th' honored Cradle of therosiall Morning, And also seated next the Fiery vault; It, by the learned, very hot is thought. That, which we touch, with times doth variate, Now hot, now cold, and sometimes temperate;* 1.32 Warm-temp'red showers it sendeth in the Spring: In Autumn likewise, but more varying: In Winter time, continuall cold and chill: In Sommer season, hot and soultry still;

For then, the Fields, scorched with flames, reflect The sparkling rayes of thousand Stars aspect; And chiefly Phoebus, to whose arrows bright, Our Globy Grandame serues for But and White.* 1.33

But now, because the Middle Region's set Far from the Fiery seelings flagrant heat, And also from the warm reuerberation Which aye the Earth reflects in diuers fashion; That Circle shiuers with eternall colde. For, into Hail how should the Water molde,* 1.34 Euen when the Sommer hath gilt Ceres Gowne, Except those Climes with Ycicles, were sowen?

So soon as Sol, leaving the gentle Twins, With Cancer, or thirst-panting Leo Inns, The mid-most Aire redoubleth all his Frosts; Being besieged by two mighty Hoasts Of Heat more fierce' gainst his Cold force then ever, Calls from all quarters his chil troups together. T'incounter them with his vnited Powr, Which then dispersed, hath far greater powr: As Christian Armies, from the Frontiers far, And out of fear of Turks outrageous War, March in disorder, and become (disperst) As many Squadrons as were Souldiers yerst; So that somtimes th' vntrained Multitude With bats and boawes hath beat them, and subdu'd: But if they once perceive, or vnderstand The Moony Standards of proud Ottoman To be approaching, and the Sulph'ry thunder Wherewith he brought both Rhodes and Belgrade vnder; They soon vnite, and in a narrow place Intrench themselues; their courage growes apace, Their heart's on fire; and Circumcised Powrs, By their approach, double the strength of ours.

'Tis (doubt-less) this * 1.35 Antiperistasis (Bear with the word) I hold it not a miss T' adopt somtimes such strangers for our vse, When Reason and Necessity induce:

As namely, where our natiue Phrase doth want A Word so force-full and significant) Which makes the Fireseem to our sense and reason Hotter in Winter then in Sommer season: 'Tis it which causeth the cold frozen Scythia, Too-often kist by th' husband of Orithya, To bring forth people, whose still hungry brest (Winter or Sommer) can more meat digest Then those lean staruelings which the Sun doth broil Vpon the hot sands of the Libyan soyl: And that our selues, happily seated fair, Whose spongy lungs draw sweet and holesom Aire, Hide in our stomacks a more liuely heat, While bi-front Ianus frosty frowns do threat, Then when bright Phoebus, leauing swarty Chus, Mounts on our Zenith, to reflect on vs.

Th' Almighties hand did this Partition form;* 1.36 To th' end that Mist, Comets, and Winde, and Storm, Deaw, drizling Showrs, Hail, slippery Ice, & Snowe, In the Three Regions of the Aire might growe: Wherof som, pointed th' Earth to fertilize, Other to punish our impieties, Might dayly grave in hardest hearts the love And fear of him, who Raigns in Heav'n above.

For, as a little end of burning wax,* 1.37 By th' emptiness, or if it self attracts In Cupping-glasses, through the scotched skin Behind the Poule, superfluous humors thin, Which fuming from the brain did thence descend Vpon the sight, and much the same offend: So the swift Coach-man, whose bright flaming hair Doth euery Day gild either Hemisphear, Two sorts of Vapours by his heat exhales From floating Deeps, and from the flowry Dales: Th' one somwhat hot, but heauy, moist, and thick; The other, light, dry, burning, pure, and quick; Which, through the Welkin roaming all the year, Make the World diuers to itself appear.

Now, if a vapour be so thin, that it Cannot to Water be transformed fit,* 1.38 And that with Cold-lym'd wings, it houer neer The flowry Mantle of our Mother deer; Our Aire growes dusky, and moist drowsy Mist Vpon the Fields doth for a time persist.

And if this vapour fair and softly sty, Not to the cold Stage of the middle Sky,* 1.39 But 'bove the Clouds, it turneth (in a trice) In April, Deaw; in Ianuary Ice.

But, if the Vapour brauely can aduenture Vp to th' eternall seat of shivering Winter, The small thin humour by the Cold is prest Into a Cloud; which wanders East and West* 1.40 Vpon the Winde's wings, till in drops of Rain It fall into his Grandames lap again: Whether som boistrous winde, with stormy puff Ioustling the Clouds with mutuall counter-buff, Do break their brittle sides, and make them shatter In drizling Showres their swift distilling water: As when a wanton heedless Page (perhaps)* 1.41 Rashly together two full glasses claps; Both being broken, so dainly they pour Both their brew'd liquors on the dusty flour. Whether som milder gale, with sighing breath Shaking their Tent, their tears disseuereth: As after rain another rain doth drop In shady Forests from their shaggy top, When through their green boughs, whiffing Winds do whirl With want on pufs their wauing locks to curl. Or whether th' vpper Clouds moist heauiness Doth with his waight an vnder Cloud oppress, And so one humour doth another crush, Till to the ground their liquid pearls do gush: As, the more clusters of ripe grapes we pack In Vintage-time vpon the hurdles back; At's pearced bottom the more fuming liquor Runns in the scummy Fat, and falls the thicker.

Then, many Heav'n-flouds in our Flouds do lose-am;* 1.42 Nought's seen but Showers: the Heav'ns sad sable bosom Seems all in tears to melt; and Earths green bed With stinking Frogs is somtimes couered: Either, because the floating Cloud doth fold Within it self both moist, dry, hot, and cold, Whence all things heer are made: or else for that The actiue windes sweeping this dusty Flat, Somtimes in th' aire som fruitfull dust doo heap: Whence these new-formed vgly creatures leap: As on the edges of som standing Lake Which neighbour Mountains with their gutters make, The foamy slime, it self transformeth oft To green half-Tadpoles, playing there aloft, Half-made, half-vnmade; round about the Floud, Half-dead, half-liuing; half-a frog, half-mud.

Somtimes it happens that the force of Cold Freezes the whole Cloud: then we may behold* 1.43 In siluer Flakes a heav'nly Wooll to fall; Then, Fields seem grass-less, Forests leafe-less all, The World's all white; and, through the heaps of Snowe, The highest Stag can scarce his armour showe.

Somtimes befals, that, when by secret powr,* 1.44 The Cloud's new-chang'd into a dropping showr, Th' excessiue cold of the mid-Aire (anon) Candies-it all in bals of Icy-stone: Whose violent storms somtimes (alas) doo proin,* 1.45 Without a knife, our Orchard and our Vine: Reap without sickle, beat down Birds and Cattle, Disgrace our woods, and make our Roofs to rattle.

If Heav'ns bright Torches, from Earth's kidneys, sup Som somwhat dry and heatfull Vapours vp, Th' ambitious lightning of their nimble Fire Would so dainly neer th' Azure Cirques aspire: But scarce so soon their fuming crest hath raught, Or toucht the Coldnes of the middle Vault, And felt what force their mortall Enemy In Garrison keeps there continually;

When down again, towards their Dam they bear, Holp by the waight which they haue drawn from her: But in the instant, to their aid arriues Another new heat, which their heart reuiues, Re-arms their hands, and hauing staied their flight, Better resolv'd brings them again to fight: Well fortifi'd then, by these fresh supplies, More brauely they renew their enterprize: And one-while th' vpper hand (with honour) getting, Another-while disgracefully retreating, Our lower Aire they tosse in sundry sort, As weak or strong their matter doth comport. This lasts not long; because the heat and cold, Equall in force and Fortune, equall bold In these assaults; to end this so dain brall, Th' one stops their mounting, th' other stayes their fall. So that this Vapour, neuer resting stound, Stands neuer still, but makes his motion round, Posteth from Pole to Pole, and flies amain From Spain to India, and from Inde to Spain.

But though these blustring spirits seem alwaies blow'n By the same spirit, and of like Vapour grow'n; Yet, from their birth-place, take they diuersly A diuers name and diuers quality. Feeling the fower Windes, that with diuers blast,* 1.46 From the fower corners of the World doo haste; In their effects I finde fower Temp'raments, Foure Times, foure Ages, and foure Elements. Th' East-winde, in working, follows properly Fire, Choler, Summer, and soft Infancy: That, which dries-vp wild Affrick with his wing, Resembles Aire, Bloud, Youth, and liuely Spring: That, which blowes moistly from the Western stage, Like Water, Phlegme, Winter, and heauy Age: That, which comes shiv'ring from cold Climates solely, Earth, withered Eld, Autumn, and Melancholy. Not, but that Men haue long ye•• this found-out More then these foure Windes, East, West, North, and South:

Those that (at Sea) to see both Poles are wont, Vpon their Compass two and thirty count, Though they be infinite, as are the places Whence the Heav'n-fanning Exhalation passes: But wheresoeuer their quick course they bend, As on their Chiefs, all on these Foure depend.

One while, with whisking broom they brush and sweep* 1.47 The cloudy Courtains of Heav'ns stages steep: Anon, with hotter sighes they dry the Ground, Late by Electra and her sisters drownd. Anon refresh they, with a temperate blowing, The soultry Aier, vnder the Dog-star glowing: On Trees anon they ripe the Plum and Pear, In cods the Poulse, the Corn within the ear: Anon, from North to South, from East to West With ceas-less wings they driue a Ship addrest: And somtimes whirling, on an open Hill, The round-flat Runner in a roaring Mill, In flowry motes they grinde the purest grain, Which late they ripened on the fruitfull Plain.* 1.48

If th' Exhalation hot and oily proue, And yet (as feeble) giueth place aboue To th' Airy Regions euer-lasting Frost, Incessantly th' apt-tinding fume is tost Till it inflame: then like a Squib it falls, Or fire-wingd shaft, or sulp'hry Powder-Balls.* 1.49

But if This kinde of Exhalation tour Aboue the walls of Winters icy bowr 'T-inflameth also; and anon becoms A new strange Star, presaging wofull dooms: And, for this Fier hath more fewell in't Then had the first, 'tis not so quickly spent: Whether the Heav'ns incessant agitation, Into a Star transforming th' Exhalation, Kindle the same: like as a coal, that winkt On a sticks end (and seemed quite extinct) Tost in the dark with an industrious hand, To light the night, becoms a fier-brand:

Or whether th' vpper Fire doo fire the same; As lighted Candles doo th' vnlight inflame.

According as the vapour's thick or rare,* 1.50 Euen, or vn-even, long or large, round or square, Such are the Forms it in the Aire resembles: At sight whereof, th' amazed Vulgar trembles. Heer, in the night appears a flaming Spire, There a fierce Dragon folded all in fire; Heer a bright Comet, there a burning Beam, Heer flying Launces, there a Fiery Stream: Heer seems a horned Goat environ'd round With fiery flakes about the Aire to bound. There, with long bloody hair, a Blazing Star Threatens the World with Famin, Plague, and War: To Princes, death: to Kingdoms, many crosses: To all Estates, ineuitable Losses: To Heard-men, Rot: to Plough-men, hap-less Seasons: To Saylers, Storms: to Cities, ciuill Treasons.

But hark: what hear I in the Heav'ns? me thinks* 1.51 The Worlds wall shakes, and his Foundation shrinks: It seems euen now that horrible P••rsiphoné, Loosing Meger, Alecto, and Tysiphoné, Weary of raigning in black Erebus, Transports her Hell between the Heav'n and vs.

'Tis held I knowe, that when a Vapour moist* 1.52 As well from Fresh as from Salt water's hoist In the same instant with hot-Exhalations, In th' Aiery Regions secondary stations; The Fiery Fume, besieged with the Croud And keen-cold thicknes of that dampish Cloud, Strengthens his strength; and with redoubled Volleys Of ioyned Heat, on the the Cold Leagher sallies.

Like as a Lion, very late exil'd,* 1.53 From's natiue Forests; spit-at and reuil'd, Mock't, moov'd, and troubled with a thousand toyes, By wanton children, idle girls and boyes; With hideous roaring doth his Prison fill, In's narrow Cloistre ramping wildely, still,

Runns to and fro; and furious, less doth long For liberty, than to reuenge his wrong: This Fire, desirous to break forth again From's cloudy Ward, cannot itself refrain; But, without resting, loud it grones and grumbles, It roules and roars, and round-round-round it rumbles, Till (hauing rent the lower side in sunder) With Sulph'ry flash it haue shot-down his thunder: Though, willing to vnite, in these alarms, To's Brothers Forces, his own fainting arms; And th' hottest Circle of the World to gain, To issue vp-ward, oft it striues in vain: But, 'tis there fronted with a Trench so large And such an Hoast, that though it often charge, On this and that side, the Cold Camp about, With his Hot Skirmish; yet still, still the stout Victorious Foe repelleth ev'ry push; So that (despairing) with a furious rush, Forgetting honour, it is fain to fly By the back-door, with blushing Infamy.

Then th' Ocean boyls for fear; the Fish doo deem* 1.54 The Sea too shallow to safe-shelter them: The Earth doth shake; the Shepheard in the field In hollow Rocks himself can hardly shield: Th' affrighted Heav'ns open; and, in the Vale Of Acheron, grim Plutoes self looks pale: Th' Aire flames with Fire: for, the loud-roaring Thunder (Renting the Cloud, that it includes, asunder) Sends forth those Flashes which so blear our sight: As wakefull Students, in the Winters night Against the steel glauncing with stony knocks,* 1.55 Strike sodain sparks into their Tinder-box.

Moreouer, Lightning of a fume is fram'd:* 1.56 Through 'tselfs hot-dryness, euermore inflam'd: Whose powr (past-credit) without razing skin Can bruiz to powder all our bones within: Can melt the Gold that greedy Mizers hoord In barred Cofers, and not burn the boord:

Can break the blade and neuer sindge the sheath: Can scorch an infant in the Womb to death; And neuer blemish, in one sort or other, Flesh, bone, or sinew of th' amazed Mother: Consume the shooes and neuer hurt the feet: Empty a Cask, and yer not perish it: My yonger eyes haue often seen a Dame, To whom the flash of Heav'ns fantastike flame Did els no harm, saue (in a moment's space) With windy Rasor shaue a secretplace.

Shall I omit a hundred Prodigies* 1.57 Oft seen in forehead of the frowning Skies? Somtimes a Fiery Circle doth appear Proceeding from the beautious beams and clear Of Sun and Moon, and other Stars aspect, Down-looking on a thick-round Cloud ditect; When, not of force to thrust their rayes through-out-it, In a round Crown they cast them round about-it: Like as (almost) a burning candle, put* 1.58 Into a Closet with the door close shut; Not able through the boords to send his light, Out at the edges round about shines bright.

But, in's declining, when Sols countenance Direct vpon a wat'rish Cloud doth glance (A wat'rish Cloud, which cannot easily Hold any longer her moist Tympany) On the moist Cloud he limns his lightsom front;* 1.59 And with a gawdy Pencill paints vpon't A blew-green-gilt Bowe bended ouer vs: For, th' aduerse Cloud, which first receiueth thus Apollos rayes, the same direct repells On the next Cloud, and with his gold it mells Her various coulours: like as when the Sun* 1.60 At a bay-window peepeth in vpon A boule of water, his bright beams aspect With trembling lustre it doth far reflect Against th' high seeling of the lightsom Hall With stately Fret-work ouer-crustod all.

On th' other side, if the Cloud side-long sit, And not beneath, or iustly opposite* 1.61 To Sun or Moon: then either of them Forms With strong aspect double or trebble Forms Vpon the same. The Vulgar's then affright To see at once three Chariots of the Light; And, in the Welkin on Nights gloomy Throne, To see at once more shining Moons then one.

But, O fond Mortals▪ Wherefore doo yee striue* 1.62 With reach of Sense, Gods wonders to retriue? What proud desire (rather what Furie's drift?) Boldens you God-less, all Gods works to sift? Ille not deny, but that a learned man May yeeld some Reason (if he list to scan) Of all that moues vnder Heav'ns hollow Cope; But not so sound as can all scruple stop: And though he could, yet should we euermore, Praysing these tools, extoll His fingers more Who works withall, and many-waies doth giue To deadest things (instantly) soules, to liue.* 1.63

Me thinks I hear, when I doo hear it Thunder, The voice that brings Swayns vp, and Caesars vnder: By that Towr-tearing stroak, I vnderstand Th' vndaunted strength of the Diuine right hand: When I behold the Lightning in the Skies, Me thinks I seeth' Almighties glorious eyes: When I perceiue it Rain-down timely showrs, Me thinks the Lord his horn of Plenty pours: When from the Clouds excessiue Water spins, Me thinks God weepes for our vnwept-for sins: And when in Heav'n I see the Rain-bow bent, I hold it for a Pledge and Argument, That neuer more shall Vniuersall Floods Presume to mount ouer the tops of Woods Which hoary Atlas in the Clouds doth hide, Or on the Crowns of Caucasus doo ride: But, aboue all, my perced soule inclines, When th' angry Heav'ns threat with Prodigious Signes;

When Natures order doth reuerse and change, Preposterously into disorder strange.

Let all the Wits, that euer suckt the brest* 1.64 Of sacred Pallas, in one Wit be prest, And let him tell me (if at least he can By rule of Nature, or meer reach of man) A sound and certain reason of the Cream, The Wooll, and Flesh, that from the Clouds did stream. Let him declare what cause could yerst beget, Amid the Aire, those drizzling showers of Wheate, Which in Carinthia, twice were seene to shed; Wherof that people made them store of Bread.

God, the great God of Heav'n, sometimes delights,* 1.65 From top to toe to alter Natures Rites; That his strange Works, to Nature contrary, May be fore-runners of some misery. The drops of Fire, which weeping Heav'n did showr Vpon Lucania, when Rome sent the Flowr* 1.66 Of Italy into the wealthy Clime, Which Euphrates fatts with his fruitfull slime; Persag'd, that Parthians should, the next yeer, tame The proud Lucanians, and nigh quench their Name. The clash of Arms, and clang of Trumpets heard High in the Aire, when valiant Romans warr'd Victoriously, on the (now-Canton'd) Suisses, Cymbrians, and Almans, hewing all in peeces; Gainst Epicures profane assertions, showe That 'tis not Fortune guides this World belowe. Thou that beheld'st from Heav'n, with triple Flashes, Cursed Olympius smitten all to ashes, For Blasphemies 'gainst Th' ONE Eternall-THREE? Dar'st thou yet belch against the TRINITIE? Dar'st thou, profane, spit in the face of God, Who for blasphemers hath so sharpe a rod?

Iews (no more Iews, no more of Abr'ham Sons; But Turks, Tartarians, Scythians, Lestrigons) Say what you thought; what thought you, when so long A flaming Sword ouer your Temple hung;

But that the Lord would with a mighty arm The righteous vengeance of his wrath perform On you, and yours? that what the Plague did leaue, Th' insatiate gorge of Famine should bereaue? And what the Plague and Famine both did spare, Should be clean gleaned by the hand of War? That sucking Infants crying for the teat, Self-cruell Mothers should vnkindely eat? And that (yer long) the share and coultar should Rub off their rust vpon your Roofs of gold? And all, because you (cursed) crucifi'd The Lord of life, who for our ransom dy'd.

The ruddy Fountain that with bloud did flowe: Th' huge Fiery Rock the thundring Heav'ns did throwe Into Liguria: and the Bloudy Crosses Seen on mens garments, seem'd with open voices To cry aloud, that the Turks swarming hoast Should pitch his proud Moons on the Genoan coast.* 1.67

O Frantick France! why dost not Thou make vse Of strangefull Signes, whereby the Heav'ns induce Thee to repentance? Canst thou tear-lesse gaze (Euen night by night) on that prodigious Blaze, That hairy Comet, that long streaming Star, Which threatens Earth with Famine, Plague, and War (Th' Almighty's Trident, and three-forked fire Wherwith he strikes vs in his greatest Ire)? But, what (alas!) can Heauens bear threatnings vrge? Sith all the sharpe Rods which so hourely scourge, Thy sens-lesse back, cannot so much as wrest One single sigh from thy obdurate brest? Thou drink'st thine own bloud, thine owne flesh thou eatest, In what most harms theethy delight is greatest. O sens-less Folk, sick of a Lethargy, Who to the death despise your Remedy! Like froward Iades that for no striking stur, But wax more restif still the more we spur: The more your wounds, more your securenes growes, Fat with afflictions, as an Asse with blowes:

And as the sledge hardens with strokes the steel; So, the more beaten, still the less ye feel.

And want on ENGLAND, why hast thou forgot* 1.68 Thy visitation, as thou hadst it not? Thou hast seen signes, and thou hast felt the rod Of the revenging wrathfull hand of God. The frowning Heav'ns in fearefull Sightes fore-spoke Thy Roman, Saxon, Dane, and Norman Yoak: And since (alas!) vnkinder wounds then those, The Ciuillrents of thy diuided ROSE: And, last of all the raging Wolues of Rome, Tearing thy limbs (Christs Lambs) in Martyrdom. Besides Great Plagues, and grieuous Dearths, which (yerst) Haue oft the Sinnews of thy strength reuerst.

But thou, more faulty more forgetfull art Then Boyes that fear but while they feel the smart: All this is past; and thou, past fear of it, In Peace and Plenty, as a Queen doost sit, Of Rods forgetfull, and for Rest ingratefull (That, sottish dulnes: this, a sinne most hatefull) Ingratefull to thy God, who all hath sent; And thy late Queen, his sacred Instrument, By whose pure hand, he hath more blessed Thine,* 1.69 Then yerst his owne Choice-planted Hebrew Vine: From whence hee look't for Grapes (as nov from thee); That bore him Crabs: Thouworse (if worse may be): That was destroy'd, the wilde Boar entred in: ENGLAND beware: Like punishment, like sinne.

But, O! what boots, or what auailes my song To this deaf Adder that hath slept so long, Snorting so loud on pillows of Securitie, Dread-less of danger, drowned in Impurity; Whose Senses all, all ouer-grow'n with Fat, Haue left no door for Fear to enter at? Yet once again (deer Country) must I call: ENGLAND repent; Fall, to preuent thy Fall. Though Thou be blinde, thy wakefull watchmen see Heav'ns Irefull vengeance hanging ouer thee

In fearfull Signes, threatning a thousand Woes To thy Sinn's Deluge, which allouer-flowes.

Thine vncontrold, bold, open Athëism: Close Idol-seruice: Cloaked Hypocrism: Common Blaspheming of Gods Name, in Oaths: Vsuall Profaning of his Sabbaoths: Thy blinde, dumb, Idol-shepheards, choakt with steeples, That fleece thy Flocks, and do not feed thy Peoples: Strife-full Ambition, Florentizing States: Bribes and Affection swaying Magistrates: Wealth's mercie-less Wrong, Vsury, Extortion: Poore's Idleness, Repining at their Portion: Thy drunken Surfets; and Excess in Diet: Thy Sensuall wallowing in Lascivious Riot: Thy huft, puft, painted, curld, purld, Wanton Pride (The Baud to Lust, and to all Sinns beside) These are thy Sinns: These are the Signes of Ruin, To euery State that doth the same pursue-in: Such, cost the Iews and Asians Desolation, Now turned Turks, that were the Holy Nation. Happy who take by others dangers warning: All that is writ, is written for our learning: So preach thy Prophets: But who heeds their cry? Or, who beleeues? Then much less hope haue I. Wherefore (Deer Bartas) hauing warned them; From this Digression, turn we to our Theam.

As our All-welcom SOVERAIN (Englands solace,* 1.70 Heav'ns care, Earths comfort) in his stately Palace, Hath next His Person, Princes of His Realms Next him in bloud, extract from Royall Stems; Next those, the Nobles; next, the Magistrates That serue him truly in their seuerall States; As more or less their diuers Dignity Coms neer the Greatnes of his Maiesty: So, next the Heav'ns, God marshall'd th' Element* 1.71 Which seconds them in swift bright Ornament: And then the rest, according as of kin To th' Azure Sphears, or th' Erring Fiers they bin.

Yet som (more crediting their eyes, then Reason) From's proper place this Essence doo disseisin;* 1.72 And vainly strive (after their Fanciessway) To cut the World's best Element away, The nimble, light, bright-flaming, heat-full Fire, Fountain of life, Smith, Founder, Purifier, Cook, Surgeon, Soldier, Gunner, Alchymist, The source of Motion: briefly, what not is't? Apt for all, acting all; whose arms embrace, Vnder Heav'ns arms, this Vniuersall Mass.

For, if (say they) the Fire were lodg'd between* 1.73 The Heav'ns and vs, it would by night be seen; Sith then, so far-off (as in Meads we pass)* 1.74 We see least Glow-wormsglister in the grass: Besides, how should we through the Fiery Tent, Perceiue the bright eys of the Firmament? Sith heer the soundest and the sharpest ey* 1.75 Can nothing through our Candle-flames descry.

O! hard-beleeuing Wits! if Zephyrus* 1.76 And Austers sighes were neuer felt of vs, You would suppose the space between Earth's Ball, And Heav'ns bright Arches, void and empty all: And then no more you would the Aire allow For Element, then th' hot-bright Flamer now.

Now ev'n as far as Phoebus light excels* 1.77 The light of Lamps, and every Taper els Wherewith wevse to lengthen th' After-noon Which Capricorn ducks in the Sea too soon; So far in pureness th' Elementall Flame Excels the Fire that for our vse we frame. For, ours is nothing but a dusky light, Gross, thick, and smoaky, enemy to sight: But, that aboue (for being neither blent With fumy mixture of gross nourishment, Nor tost with Windes, but far from vs) coms neer It's neighbour Heav'n, in nature pure and cleer.

But, of what substance shall I, after-thee* 1.78 (O match-less Master) make Heav'ns Canapey?

Vncertain, heer my resolutions rock And waver, like th' inconstant Weather-Cock Which, on a Towr turning with every blast, Changeth his Master, and his place as fast. Learned Lycaeum, now awhile, I walk-in: Then th' Academian sacred Shades I stalk-in.

Treading the way that Aristotle went, I doo depriue the Heav'ns of Element, And mixture too; and think, th' omnipotence Of God did make them of a Quint-Essence; Sith of the Elements, two still erect* 1.79 Their motion vp; two euer down direct: But the Heav'ns course, not wandring vp nor down, Continually turns onely roundly round. The Elements haue no eternal race, But settle ay in their assigned place: But th' azure Circle without taking breath, His certain course for euer gallopeth; It keeps one pase, and mov'd with waight-les waights, It neuer takes fresh horse, nor neuer baits.

Things that consist of th' Elements vniting, Are euer tost with an intestin fighting; Whence, springs (in time) their life and their deceasing,* 1.80 Their diuers change, their waxing and decreasing: So that, of all that is, or may be seen With mortall eyes, vnder Nights horned Queen, Nothing retaineth the same form and face, Hardly the half of half an howrs space. But, the Heav'ns feel not Fates impartiall rigour: Years add not to their stature nor their vigour: Vse wears them not; but their green-euer Age Is all in all still like their Pupillage.

Then sodainly, turnd studious Platonist, I hold, the Heav'ns of Elements consist:* 1.81 'Tis Earth, whose firm parts make their Lamps apparant, Their bodies fast; Aire makes them all transparant; Fire makes their rest-les circles pure, and cleer, Hot, lighsom, light, and quick in their career:

And Water, 'nointing with cold-moist the brims Of th' enter-kissing turning Globes extreams, Tempers the heat (caus'd by their rapid turning) Which els would set all th' elements a-burning.

Not, that I doo compare or match the Matter* 1.82 Whence I compose th' All-compassing Theater, To those gross Elements which heer belowe Our hand and ey doth touch and see and knowe: 'T's all fair, all pure; a sacred harmony Those bodies bindes in end-less Vnity: That Aier's not flitting, nor that Water floating, Nor Fire inflaming, nor Earth dully doating: Nor one to other aught offensiue neither, But (to conclude) Celestiall altogether.

See, see the rage of humane Arrogance:* 1.83 See how far dares man's erring ignorance, That with vnbridled tongue (as if it oft Had try'd the mettle of that vpper Loft) Dares, without proof or without reason yeelded, Tell of what timber God his Palace builded. But, in these doubts much rather rest had I, Then with mine errour draw my Readerwry; Till a Saint Paule doore-descend from Heav'n, Or till my self (this sinfull roab be reav'n, This rebell Flesh, whose counterpoize oppresses My pilgrim Soule, and euer it depresses) Shall see the beauties of that Blessed Place: If (then) I ought shall see, saue Gods bright Face.

But ev'n as many (or more) quarrels cumber* 1.84 Th' old Heathen Schools about the Heav'ns number: One holds but one; making the Worlds Eys shine Through the thin-thicknes of that Crystal line (As through the Oceans cleer and liquid Flood The slippery Fishes vp and down doos••ud.) Another, iudging certain by his ey, And seeing Seav'n bright Lamps (moov'd diversly) 'Turn this and that way: and, on th' other side, That all the rest of the Heav'ns twinkling pride

Keep all one course; ingeniously, he varies The Heav'ns rich building into eight round Stories. Others, amid the Starriest Orb perceiuing A triple cadence, and withall conceiuing That but one naturall course one body goes, Count nine, som ten; not numbring yet (with those) Th' empyreall Palace, where th' eternall Treasures Of Nectar flowe, where ever-lasting Pleasures Are heaped-vp, where an immortall May In bliss-full beauties flourisheth for ay, Where Life still liues, where God his * 1.85 Sises holds, Environ'd round with Seraphins, and Soules Bought with his precious blood, whose glorious Flight Yerst mounted Earth above the Heav'ns bright. Nor shall my faint and humble Muse presume So high a Song and Subiect to assume.

O fair, fiue-double Round, sloath's Foe apparant,* 1.86 Life of the World, Dayes, Months, and yeers own Parent▪ Thine own selfs model, never shifting place, And yet, thy pure wings with so swift a pase Fly over vs, that but our Thought alone Can (as thy babe) pursue thy motion: Infinite finite; free from growth and grief, Discord and death; dance-louer; to be brief, Still like thy self, all thine own in thee all, Transparent, cleer, light; law of this lowe Ball: Which in thy wide bout, bound-les all doost bound, And clasp••st all, vnder, or in thy Round; Throne of th' Almighty, I would fain rehearse Thy various Dauies in this very Verse, If it were time, and but my bounded Song Doubteth to make this Second Day too-long. For, notwithstanding, yet another day I fear som Critick will not stick to say, My babbling Muse did sail with every gale, And mingled yarn to length her web withall.

But knowe, what e'r thou be, that heer I gather* 1.87 Iustly so many of Gods works together,

Because by th' Orbe of th' ample Firmament Which round This-Day th' Eternall Fingers pent Between the lower Waters and the higher; I mean the Heav'ns, the Aire, and th' vpper Fire, Which separate the Oceans waters salt. From those which God pour'd o'r th' Ethereal Vault.

Yet haue I not so little seen and sought* 1.88 The Volums, which our Age hath chiefest thought, But that I knowe how suttly greatest Clarks Presume to argue in their learned Works, T'o 'r-whelm these Floods, this Crystal to deface, And dry this Ocean, which doth all imbrace. But, as the beauty of a modest Dame, Who, well-content with Natures comly Frame, And native Fair (as it is freely giv'n In fit proportion by the hand of Heav'n) Doth not, with painting▪ prank, nor set-it-out With helps of Art, sufficient Fair without; Is more prayse-worthy, then the wanton glance, Th' affected gait, th' alluring countenance, The Mart of Pride, the Periwigs and painting, Whence Courtisans refresh their beauties fainting:* 1.89 So doe I more the sacred Tongue esteem, Though plain and rurall it doe rather seem, Then school'd Athenian; and Diuinity, For onely varnish, have but Verity; Then all the golden Wit-pride of Humanity, Wherewith men burnish their erroneous vanity.

I'l rather give a thousand times the ly* 1.90 To mine own Reason, then but once defy The sacred voice of th' ever-lasting Spirit, Which doth so often and so loud averr-it, That God, above the shining Firmament,* 1.91 I wot not, I, what kinde of Waters pent: Whether, that pure, super-celestiall Water, With our inferiour haue no likely nature: Whether, turnd Vapour, it haue round embow'd Heav'ns highest stage in a transparent Cloud:

Or whether (as they say) a Crystall case Do (round about) the Heav'nly Orb embrace. But, with coniectures wherefore strive I thus? Can doubtfull proofs the certainty discuss? I see not, why Mans reason should withstand,* 1.92 Or not beleeve, that Hee whose powrfull hand Bay'd-vp the Red-Sea with a double Wall, That Israels Hoast might scape Egyptian thrall, Could prop as sure so many waves on high Above the Heav'n Star-spangled Canapy.

See we not hanging in the Clouds each howr So many Seas, still threatning down to pour,* 1.93 Supported only by th' Aier's agitation (Selfly too weak for the least waight's foundation)? See wee not also, that this Sea belowe, Which round about our Earthly Globe doth flowe, Remains still round; and maugre all the surly Aeolian Slaves and Water's hurly burly, Dares not (to levell her proud liquid Heap) Neuer so little past her limits leap? Why then beleeue we not, that vpper Sphear May (without falling) such an Ocean bear?

Vncircumcised! O hard hearts! at least Lett's think that God those Waters doth digest In that steep place: for, if that, Nature heer* 1.94 Can form firm Pearl and Crystall shining cleer Of liquid substance; let's beleeue it rather Much more in God (the Heav'ns and Natur's Father) Let vs much more, much more lett's peiz and ponder Th' Almighties Works, and at his Wisedom wonder: Let vs obserue, and double-waigh it well, That this proud Palace whear we rule and dwell (Though built with match-less Art) had fall'n long since, Had 't not ben seel'd-round with moist Elements. For, like as (in Man's Little-World) the Brain Doth highest place of all our Frame retain, And tempers with it's moistfull coldnes so Th' excessive heat of th' other parts belowe:

Th' eternall Builder of this beautious Frame To enter-mingle meetly Frost with Flame, And cool the great heat of the Great-Worlds Torches, This-Day spred Water over Heav'ns bright Arches.

These Seas (they say) leagu'd with the Seas belowe, Hiding the highest of the Mountains tho, Had drown'd the whole World had not Noah builded A holy Vessell, where his house was shielded:* 1.95 Where, by direction of the King of Kings, He sav'd a seed-payr of all liuing things; No sooner ship••, but instantly the Lord Down to th' Aeolian dungeon him bestirr'd, There muzled close Cloud-chasing Boreas, And let loose Auster, and his lowring race, Who soon set forward with a dropping wing; Vpon their beard for every hair a spring, A night of Clouds muffled their brows about, Their wattled locks gusht all in Rivers out; And both their hands, wringing thick Clouds asunder, Send forth fierce lightning, tempest, rain and thunder. Brooks, Lakes, and Floods, Rivers, and foaming Torrents Sodainly swell; and their confused Currents, Losing their old bounds, break a neerer way To run at randon with their spoyls to Sea. Th' Earth shakes for fear, and (sweating) doth consume her, And in her veins leaues not a drop of humour. And thou thy self, O Heav'n, didst set wideope (Through all the Marshes in thy spacious cope) All thy large sluces, thy vast Seas to shed In sodain spouts on thy proud sisters head; Whose aw-less, law-less, shame-les life abhord, Onely delighted to despight the Lord.

Th' Earth shrinks & sinks; now th' Ocean hath no shore: Now Rivers run to serue the Sea no more; Themselues are Sea: the many sundry Streams, Of sundry names (deriv'd from sundry Realms) Make now but one great Sea: the World it self Is nothing now but a great standing Gulf,

Whose swelling surges strive to mix their Water With th' other Waves above this round Theater. The Sturgeon, coasting over Castles, muses (Vnder the Sea) to see so many houses. The Indian Manat and the Mullet float O'r Mountain tops, where yerst the bearded Goat Did bound and brouz the crooked Dolphin seuds O'r th' highest branches of the hugest Woods. Nought boots the Tigre, or the Hart or Hors, Or Hare, or Grey-hound, their swift speedy cours; For, seeking Land, the more they strain & breath them, The more (alas) it shrinks and sinks beneath them. The Otter, Tortois, and fell Crocodile Which did enioy a double house yer-while, Must be content with only water now. The Wolf and Lamb, Lions and Buçks, do rowe Vpon the Waters, side by side, suspect-less. The Glead and Swallow, laboring long (effect-less) 'Gainst certain death, with wearied wings fall down (For want of Perch) and with the rest do drown.

And, for mankinde, imagine som get vp To som high Mountains over-hanging top; Som to a Towr, som to a Cedar tree, (Whence round about a World of deaths they see) But wheresoeuer their pale fears aspire For hope of safety, th' Ocean surgeth higher, And still-still mounting as they still do mount, When they cease mounting, doth them soon surmount. One therefore ventures on a Plank to rowe, One in a Chest, another in a Trough: Another, yet half-sleeping, scarce perceives How's bed and breath, the Flood at once bereaves; Another labouring with his feet and hands, A while the fury of the Flood withstands, (Which by his side hath newly droun'd his Mother, His Wife, his Son, his Sister, Sire, and Brother): But tyr'd and spent, weary and wanting strength, He needs must yeeld (too) to the Seas at length;

All, all must die then: but * 1.96 th' impartiall Maids, Who wont to vse so sundry tools for ayds, In execution of their fatall slaughters, Had only now the furious foaming Waters.

Safely the while, the sacred Ship did float On the proud shoulders of that boundless-Moat, Though mast-les, oar-les, and from Harbour far; For God was both her Steers-man, and her Star. Thrice fifty dayes that Vniuersall Flood Wasted the World; which then the Lord thought good To re-erect, in his Compassion great. No sooner sounds he to the Seas retreat, But instantly wave into wave did sink With sodain speed, all Rivers gan to shrink; Th' Ocean retires him to his wonted prison; The Woods are seen; the Mountain tops are risen Out of their slimy Bed: the Fields increase And spread apace, so fast the waters cease. And (briefly) th' onely thundring hand of God Now Earth to Heav'n, Heav'n vnto Earth re-show'd; That he again Panchaian Fumes might see Sacred on Altars to his Maiesty.* 1.97

Lord, sith't hath pleas'd thee likewise, in our Age, To saue thy Ship from Tyrants stormy rage, Increase in Number (Lord) thy little Flock; But more in Faith, to build on thee, the Rock.

So, Morn and Euen the second Day conclude, And God perceiu'd that All his Works were good.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A iust reproof of wanton & lasci∣••ious Poets of our Time.
• * 1.2

  The danger of their seduced Readers.
• * 1.3

  Our Poets mo∣dest purpose.
• * 1.4

  Again, he calleth vpon God, for assistance in the descriptiō of the 2. Dayes worke.
• * 1.5

  Which is, thè Fir mament mētio∣ned by Mose•• in the 1. Ch. of Gen. V. 6, 7, 8. Com∣prehending the Heauens, and all the Elementary Region. Of the foure Ele∣ments, simple in thēselues: wherof all things subiect to our sense, are composed.
• * 1.6

  Diuers similes.
• * 1.7

  A vicissitude of the Elements praedominance.
• * 1.8

  Excellēt Similes shewing the com∣modity or discō∣modity of the proportiō, or ex∣cesse of euery of the Elemente.
• * 1.9

  Excesse of moi∣sture.
• * 1.10

  Of Drought.
• * 1.11

  Of Heate.
• * 1.12

  Of Colde.
• * 1.13

  Of the continu∣ance of the Ele∣ments; maintai∣ning that whatso euer is now n••w formed, hath stil his substance frō the Materia prima: & what soeuer dissolues, resolues into the same; changing onely forme: And also consu∣ting the contrary Errors.
• * 1.14

  By an apt simili∣tude, he sheweth the continuall Change of the World, in the matter and form therof, according to Gods pleasure; in such sort, yet, that the matter remaines, though it receiue infinite Formes.
• * 1.15

  Sundry Similes to that purpose.
• * 1.16

  The chief motiue of this change of Formet in the matter.
• * 1.17

  Enigma.
• * 1.18

  Of the Situation of the Elements, & of the effects therof, compared to the Notes of Musick & to the letters of the Al∣phabet.
• * 1.19

  A simile liuely representing the separation of the Elements.
• * 1.20

  Situation of the earth, and fire.
• * 1.21

  Of aire & water plac't between the earth & fire.
• * 1.22

  Why the aire was lodged next the Element of Fire.
• * 1.23

  The disposing & combining of the Elements.
• * 1.24

  A Similitude.
• * 1.25

  Why the Earth is the lowest, and enuironed with the other three Elements, wher∣of it is the center.
• * 1.26

  Simile.
• * 1.27

  Simile.
• * 1.28

  The Water, be∣tween the Earth and Aire.
• * 1.29

  Leauing the Earth and Sea till the next Booke, hee comes to treate of the Aire.
• * 1.30

  The Aire distin∣guished into 3 Regions.
• * 1.31

  The High.
• * 1.32

  The Lowe.
• * 1.33

  The Middle Re∣gion of the Aire.
• * 1.34

  Of the causes of Haile.
• * 1.35

  Contrary Circumstance. The effects the•• of in the middle Region of the Aire.
• * 1.36

  Why the air was thus distingui∣shed in the 3. Regions.
• * 1.37

  Of exhalations and whereunto they are appro∣priate, by the Sun and the Regions of the Aire.
• * 1.38

  Of Mist.
• * 1.39

  Of Deaw and Ice.
• * 1.40

  Of Rain.
• * 1.41

  Diuers Similes shewing how the Rain is caused through the in∣counter of the Cloudes, which are the matter of it.
• * 1.42

  Whence it pro∣ceedeth, that sometimes it rai∣neth Frogs.
• * 1.43

  Of Snow.
• * 1.44

  Of Haile.
• * 1.45

  Of fume, Va∣pours, or exhala∣tions whirling in the Lowe and Middle Regions of the aire, and whereof the windes are in∣gendred.
• * 1.46

  Of the Windes, whereof there are foure princi∣pall, compared to the foure Sea∣sons, the foure Complexions, the foure Elements, and the foure Ages of man: & assigned to the foure Corners of the World: And called East, West North & South
• * 1.47

  Diuers effects of the Windes.
• * 1.48

  Diuers effect of hot exhalations.
• * 1.49

  Of Come••s.
• * 1.50

  Of other fiery impressions in the regions of the Aire.
• * 1.51

  A liuely descrip∣tion of thunder and lightning.
• * 1.52

  How they are ingendred.
• * 1.53

  A simile.
• * 1.54

  Their effects.
• * 1.55

  Simile.
• * 1.56

  Admirable ef∣fects of light∣ning.
• * 1.57

  Of Crownes and circles about the Sunne, Moone, and other Pla∣nets.
• * 1.58

  Simile.
• * 1.59

  Of the Rainbow and how it is made.
• * 1.60

  Simile.
• * 1.61

  How it comes to passe that some∣times appear di∣uers Suns and Moones at once.
• * 1.62

  A check to mans Pride in striuing to yeeld reason in Nature, of all these accidents.
• * 1.63

  True Philoso∣phy for Christi∣ans, to apply all to their consci∣ence for amend∣ment of life.
• * 1.64

  All the learned in the World cannot out of the school of Nature giue reason for many things that are created in the High and Middle Regiōs of the Aire.
• * 1.65

  The true cause of these Prodigies.
• * 1.66

  Exāples drawne out of the Histo∣rie of the Romās, Iews, Turks, & French, both Ec∣clesiasticall and profane.
• * 1.67

  The Poet seuere ly taxeth his Countrymen for not marking, or not making vse of strange & ex∣extrarordinary tokens of Gods imminent dis∣pleasure.
• * 1.68

  Vpon like consi∣deration the Trāslator sharp ly citeth Eng. & to rouze her frō her present se∣curitie, proposeth fearfull exāples of her own trou∣blous changes, & others terrible Chastisements.
• * 1.69

  Esay Chap. 5. •• 2. 3. &c.▪
• * 1.70

  Simile.
• * 1.71

  Hauing suffici∣ently discoursed of the Aire, he begins to handle the Element of Fire.
• * 1.72

  Against such as deny the Fire to be an Element.
• * 1.73

  Their Reasons.
• * 1.74

  1
• * 1.75

  2
• * 1.76

  Aunsweres.
• * 1.77

  Difference be∣tween th' Ele∣mentary fire and ours.
• * 1.78

  Heere for con∣clusion of this second booke, hee commeth to dis∣course of the Heauens, & first intreateth of their matter and Essence. According to the opinions of the Philosophers.
• * 1.79

  Their course.
• * 1.80

  Heauen not subiect to altera∣tion, as are the Elements.
• * 1.81

  What vse of E∣lements in the Heauens.
• * 1.82

  Difference be∣tween the Ele∣ments, whereof the Heauens are composed, and these inferiour Elements.
• * 1.83

  Detesting the presumption of those curious wits searching these secrets, He limits him∣selfe within the bounds of Chri∣stian Sobriety.
• * 1.84

  Diuers opinions of the number of the Heauens.
• * 1.85

  Assises.
• * 1.86

  He stoppeth at the contemplati∣on and praise of the Heauens. Which he consi∣dereth as distin∣guished into ten stages or Hea∣uens.
• * 1.87

  The summe of what hath been handled in this booke, & what is to be vnderstood by the firmament which Moyses describeth in the first of Gen. ••. 6
• * 1.88

  Against those that think there are no waters a∣boue the firma∣ment: Whom he confuteth by diuers Reasons. Simile.
• * 1.89

  1. The word of God to be preser red before the voice of man.
• * 1.90

  2. Gods word mētioneth wa∣ters aboue the firmament.
• * 1.91

  Gen. 1, 7 Psal. 104, 3 Psal. 148, 4
• * 1.92

  3. The power of God ought to be of greater au∣thority then Mans Reason.
• * 1.93

  4. The conside∣ration of the wa∣ters which hang in the Aire, and of the Sea which compasseth the Earth.
• * 1.94

  5. Diuers effects continual & ad∣mirable in Na∣ture.
• * 1.95

  Taking occasiō by his former dis∣course he trea∣teth of the incoū ter of the vpper waters with the lower: whence followed the ge∣neral stood in the daies of Noah: Which h••re he liuely represen∣teth.
• * 1.96

  Parcae, à non parcendo: Thenone-sparing Fates; that is to say, Death.
• * 1.97

  He concludeth with a most god∣ly prayer accom∣modated to the state of the Church in our time.