Heavenly pastime, or, Pleasant observations on all the most remarkable passages throughout the Holy Bible of the Old and New Testament newly allegoriz'd in several delightful dialogues, poems, similitudes, and divine fancies / by John Dunton, author of The sickmans passing-bell.

CHAP. IX. Giveing an account of Noahs being over ta••en with Wine. (Book 9)

Gen. 9.

Naked and Drunk a sleep Cam, Noah saw, He mocks and jeers him against natures Law; Sem and Japheth cover his nakedness, Cam he doth curse, Sem and Japheth doth bless.

IT is true; that Men were never more at Pe••ce, the Earth never more pure, and Heaven never powred down so many savours as it shed upon the Earth and the Children of Noah. Nevertheless in the mid'st of Pleasure, Peace, Concord, Love, Joy, and all sorts of Benedictions, this poor Man, whom all the Waters of the World, and of the Deluge, could not vanquish, was drown'd at last in a Glass of Wine.

O God! What scandall, what shame, what dis∣quiet, and what disorder in the Family of Noah? This good old Man, fell cold and stiff on the ground, and it is not known whether he be dead or alive. His Children run presently to help him, but as if the s••••ne of the Wine, which their Father-had

taken too inconsiderately, had dazel'd and blinded the youngest of them; instead of casting ashes, and Water on the Flaming Coals, which consum'd his poor Father, he made a Bone-fire of Mirth, and scorn about his Nakedness: And with an unparal∣leld impudence discover'd to the Eyes of all his Bre∣thren, what Nature hath concealed. His Brothers nevertheless were more respectfull, and prudent than himself: For immediatly Piety cast veyls over their Eyes, and Love, though Blind, found out Ar∣tifices to cover an Object which was neither decent nor Lawfull to behold. It was in recompence of these chast duties, that No••h being returne•• out of that Abyss, into whi••h Wi••e had precipitated him, open'd the Eyes of his Bo••y, and Soul, and a••ter∣wards perceiving the unnatural impudence of Cham, he darted forth the Thunder of his malediction against his Son Canaan, beseeching likewise God to bless, and fill Sem, Iaphet, and all their Progeny, with his Graces. It was from their Posterity all the Generations of the World are descended; and they were the Persons who laid the foundation of Sodom, Ninivie, Salem, and Gomorrha; as also of so many other Famous Cities, from whence afterwards Arts, ••epublicks, Policies, Governments, and all the Empires of the Universe took their Rise.

Noah being willing to beguile the rage, of bitter griefs that vext his feeble age; To see with Mud so many Roofes o're grown, And him left alm••st in the World alone; One day a little from his strictness shrunk, ••nd making Merry, drinking over Drunk: A•••• silly thinking in that Honey-••a••l, To drown his woes he drowns his wits and all. His Head grows giddy, and his Foot in••ents.* 1.1 A mighty f••me his troubled brain tormen••s,

His idle poattle from the purpose quite, Is abrupt Suttering all confusd' and light, His Wine stuft Stomach wrung with Wine he feels, His trembling Tent all topsey turvey wheeles; At last not able on his Legs to stand; More like a foul Swine then a sober Man; Opprest with Sleep, he wallows on the Ground, His shameless snorting Trunk so deeply dround In self Oblivion that he did not hide, Those parts that Caesar covered when he dy'd.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A descrip∣tion of a Drun∣ken Man.