The shepheards oracles delivered in certain eglogues. By Fra: Quarles.

THE SHEPHEARDS ORACLES.

EGLOGVE I.

• ...Gallio.
• ...Britannus.

GALL.

HEaven-blest Britannus; thou, whose Oaten Reed Sings thy True-Love, whilst thy proud flocks do feed Secure about thee, on this fruitfull Brow: Above all Shepheards, ô how blest art Thou! Your fruitfull Pastures flourish, and appeare Fresh, and in perfect verdure all the yeare: No Summers fire, nor Winters frost impaire Your thriving Plains, continuing fresh and faire, And full of vigor, like th' Elysian Lay, Where every season's like the month of May: Your milkwhite Ewes inrich your peacefull grounds, No snarles of Foxes, nor the yelps of Hounds

Disturbe their quiet; whilst your sporting Lambs, With bended knees, draw blessings from their dams. How happy! O how more then all the rest, In the wide world, are Britaine Shepheards blest.

BRIT.

True, Gallio, we poore Shepheards doe inherit A happinesse transcending farre our merit; We have no griefe, no misery but this; Senselesse we are, and blind to our owne Blisse: Goods without evills are oftentimes despis'd, And common happinesse is lowly priz'd: But tel me Gallio, make relation how Your pastures flourish, and what flocks have you: What kind of government doe you live under, That mak'st our State the object of your wonder.

GALL.

Ah, gentle Shepheard, there, there lyes the Corne That wrings poore Gallios toe: O! there's the thorne That stings my bleeding heart. The sad relation Of our dysasters, will revive such passion In my spent bosome, that each wounding word Will prove a dagger, and each line a sword: Come, sit thee downe beneath this shady Beech, And lend thine eare: Full hearts are eas'd by speech, I'le tell thee, whilst thy busie flocks doe feed.

BRIT.

Wounds fester, Swaine, the lesse, the more they bleed: Speake freely then, and this sad heart of mine Shall comfort thee, or else shall bleed with thine.

GALL.

Then, Shepheard, know: There was a time My heart even faints to think that word, There was alas! Wherein our fruitfull Pastures were as fair As faithfull Shepheards, by their fervent prayer, Could make them, trench'd, and quickset round about, Could neither Fox get in, nor Flocks get out: Deep were the Trenches, and divinely fill'd With living waters, waters that were still'd In heavens great Limbeck, whose celestiall power Exceeds a strong beliefe; but this short hower We have to spend, can onely give a touch In things of large discourse; Onely thus much, The German Spaw (nor yet your Britain Bath) Hath not such vertue, as this water hath: Now my Britannus, needs me not to tell How rare's the kernell, when so sweet's the shell; Amongst wise Shepheards is not often found Costly inclosures, and a barren ground; No, no, Britannus; the bright eye of day, That in twelve measur'd howers, does survay The moity of this earth, did ne'er behold More glorious Pastures: Nay, I dare be bold (With awefull reverence to our great God Pan) To say, that heaven could not devise on man A Good we had not, nor augment our store (If earth makes happy) with one blessing more: Our flocks were faire, and fruitfull, and stood sound; Our grounds enricht them; they enricht the ground: The Alpine mountaines could not boast nor show So pure a whitenesse, white surpassing snow:

Our ub'rous Ewes were evermore supply'd With twins, attending upon either side, Whose milk-abounding bags did overflow: They fed our Lambs, and fill'd our dayry too: In those past daies our Shepheards knew not what Red-water meant; that common language, Rott, Was neither fear'd, nor knowne; nor did they feare That heart-confounding name of Massacre: There was no putrid Scabbe to exercise The malice of the maggot-blowing flies, Whose Prince, Belzebub, (if report be true) Breath'd forth his loud Retreat, and raging drew His buzzing Army thence; and, for a time, Led them to forage in another Clime; And, to conclude, no Shepheard ere did keep More thriving grounds; nor grounds, more dainty sheep: O my Britannus, in those halcyon daies, Our jolly Shepheards thirsted after praise, Not servil wages; They were, then, ambitious Of Fame; whose flocks should be the most auspicious; Who, by most care, should most encrease their fold; They hunted after faire report, not Gold: They were good Shepheards, and they lov'd their sheep, Watch'd day and night: One eye would never sleep: Small Cottages would serve their turnes; That day Knew no such things as Robes: A Shepheards gray Would cloath their backs: for, being homly drest, Their sheep, whose fleece they wore, would know them best: They were good Shepheards; seldome durst they feed On Cates, or drink the Juice that does proceed From dangerous vines, for feare the fumes should steep Their braines too much, and they neglect their sheep:

They were good Shepheards; these would every day Twise tell their flocks, and, then, at night, convay A secret blessing, got by fervent prayer, Into their peacefull bosomes unaware: They were good Shepheards; They would even lay downe Their dearest lives, nay more, the eternall Crowne Of promis'd Immortality, to keep Their lambs from danger, and preserve their sheep: But now, ah! now, those precious daies are done With us poore Shepheards: ah! those times are gone, Gone like our joyes, and never to returne: Our joyes are gone, and we left here, to mourne: Let this relation of those times of old, Suffice; the rest were better be untold.

BRIT.

My dearest Gallio, had it pleased heaven, I wish no further matter had been given To thy discourse: it would have pleas'd mine eare, And eas'd thy tongue t'have pitch'd thy period here; But since our God, that can doe nothing ill, Hath sent a Change, we must submit our will; What he hath made the subject of thy story, Feare not to tell; his ends are his own glory: There's nothing constant here; the States of Kings, As well as Shepheards, are but tickle things: Good daies, on earth, continue but a while; We must have vinegar as well as oyle: There must be rubs; can earth admit all levell? The hist'ry of a State is good and evill. Speake then my Gallio, this attentive eare Can not heare worse then 'tis prepar'd to heare.

GALL.

Know'st thou Britannus, what, in daies of old, Our great God Pan, by Oracle foretold Of that brave City (whose proud buildings stood As firme as earth, till stain'd with Shepheards blood) That there's a time should come, wherein not one Should live to see a stone upon a stone? And is not, now, that prophecy made good? Growes not grasse there, where these proud buildings stood? Nay, my Britannus, what concernes us more, Did not that Oracle, in times of yore, Threaten to send his Foxes from their Holds, Into our Vines? and Wolves into our Folds? To breake our Fences, and to make a way For the wilde Boare to ramble, and to prey Where ere he pleas'd? O gentle Shepheard, thus, Thus that prophetick evill's made good in us: Our Hedge is broken, and our Pastures yeeld But slender profit: All's turn'd Common-field: Our Trenches are fill'd up: our crystall Springs Are choak'd with Earth, and Trash, and baser things: Our Shepheards are growne Plough-men all, and now Our generous Crooke is turn'd a crooked Plough: Shepheards build Halls, and carry Princely ports, Their woolls are chang'd to silks; their Cotts to Courts: They must have hospitable Barnes to keep Riot on foot: no matter now for Sheep; Turne them to graze upon the common Fallowes, Whilst the luxurious Shepheard swills, and wallowes In his own vomit: Having swallowed downe

Goblets of wine, he snorts in beds of Doun, Whilst his poore Lambs, his poore neglected Lambs Bend fruitless knees before their milkless Dams: Nay, my Britannus, now these pamper'd Swaines Are grown so idle, that they think it paines To sheare their fleeces: No, they must be pickt And rins'd in holy-water (they are strict To touch defiled things) must be presented Upon the knee, as if they had repented Their service, and for which they must deserve But what? A Dispensation now to sterve.

BRIT.

But stay, my Gallio, let not my attention Too farre exceed my slower apprehension; 'Tis better manners t'interrupt, then heare Things serious with an ill-instructed eare: Make me conceive your forain acceptation Of that ambiguous word of Dispensation.

GALL.

It is a tearm that forain Shepheards use Too much, (I was about to say, abuse.) In elder times, when Pastors tooke delight To feed their flocks, and not their appetite, It was a word exprest (now faln asleep To that true sense) A feeding of the sheep: But now 'tis alter'd, and it does appeare Diffring as much, as they from what they were: And if your gentle patience will excuse it;

A word too much shall tell you how they use it: In times of yore the pious minded Swaine Finding base Sodomy, and Incest raigne In looser brests, taught their obedient Sheep T'observe those laws that Goats refus'd to keep, Forbidding Twins to couple, and the Rams To take a ••arnall knowledge of their Dams: To which intent it was their studious care To severall such flocks as might not paire: So much those holy Swaines abominated Unnaturall Incest (as we finde related) That even among their sheep they thought it good To punish such enormous crimes with bloud, Not to be us'd for sacrifice, nor food: But now Britannus, times are growne more course, Declin'd from good to bad; from bad to worse: Those rules are broke by these licentious times, Lawes are esteem'd no lawes; and crimes no crimes. 'Tis true, our Rascall-sheep, whose fly-blown skin Hath lost her fleece, and brings no profit in, To such, the law continues firm and strict, On such the hand of justice does inflict The height of law; But those, whose fleecy loines Beare thriving burdens, there th' Edict injoines An easie penance: sisters with their brothers, And budding Rams may tup with their own mothers: (O! where the sacred bell of profit rings, Murthers are merits, Rapes are veniall things) Such may transgresse their pleasures, such may doe Their lists, be' incestuous with their Shepheard too. Such may have Pardons for elapsed crimes, And cheape Indulgences for present times:

Nay, more then that, a Twin-producing suitor Shall finde a Dispensation for the future: A liberty to sinne for yeares, or life, our Nation (In a more shadow'd tearm) tearms Dispensation.

BRIT.

Monsters of monsters! ô prodigious shame To all mankind, and staine to Shepheards name! I thought, our Shepheards had deserv'd the stile Of bad, till now; and (to speake truth) a while, Vpon the entrance of thy sad complaint, I fear'd thy gamesome wit began to paint, In shadow'd Scopticks, some that beare the Crook In our blest Island; to which end, I took Vngranted leave to hinder your relation, With a forc'd ignorance of Dispensation, To feele thy bent; But now my jealous eares Are made unhappy losers by their feares: But tell me Gallio, (for the eye of heaven Is yet unclos'd, and hath not quite made even With earth) where graze thy flocks, and to whose keep Hast thou committed thy absented sheep.

GALL.

Nor dare, nor can I tell, unlesse thine eares Will give me leave to mingle words with teares, And teares with blood, & blood with saddest moanes, And moanes with sobs, and sobs with deepest groanes: O my Britannus, 'tis not yet two yeares Twise fully told, since my abundant teares

Began to flow: I had, I had, till than, The fairest flock that ever eye of man Beheld, with envy; (ah! I had but few, My deare Britannus, if compar'd with you:) But 'twas a thriving flock: for bone and fleece, Arcadia, no nor all the plaines in Greece Could show the like: it was my onely griefe, That my report (exceeding all beliefe) Was counted fictious: when I made my boast, 'Twas thought but my affections voice, at most: Ah gentle Swaine, the poorest Lamb I had Did beare a fleece, nay such a fleece, as clad A naked brother, and the meanest Ewe In all my flock did suckle ne'er so few As Twins, besides the surplusage, that fed A leash of Orphans, in their mothers stead: Nay, (as these eyes can witnesse) on a day, One of my weaker yeanlings hapt to stray, Where, being fast upon a crooked Bryer, The rest came in, and gently did supply her With all the strength they could; I could not choose But smile, to see while some assaid to loose The prisoners bands, they hung as fast as shee, But in the end they set my yeanling free: O my Britannus, when they heard my voyce, How my poore Lambs would frisk, and even rejoyce To see their Shepheard! They would come and stand About me, and take Ivy from my hand; But ô my God, what patience shall I crave, To tell the rest! what patience shall I have! Vpon a night (It was a night as dark As was the deed; there was no glimm'ring spark

That would vouchsafe to shoot his feeble rayes From heaven, (alas! why did no Comet blaze Against such hideous things?) upon that night Rusht in a rout of Wolves (no Jesuite Was sharper bent to kill:) Into my Fold They rusht, they slue, they spar'd nor young nor old. O! the next morning all my flock lay dead, All but some few, that being wounded fled: My self, that held ten thousand lifes not deare To save my dearer flock, they wounded there, Upon the rescue: Ah! they grip'd me sore, Yet let me live, to wound my soule the more. But gentle Shepheard, I am lately told, Some of my scatter'd sheep have been so bold To seek for refuge in the British Fold: Long have I sought, like one that knowes not whither To guide his wandring steps, I hapned hither: O, canst thou tell me tidings? Canst thou give me At least some hopes of comfort to relieve me?

BRIT.

Towards bright Titans evening Court there lyes From hence ten miles not fully measur'd thrice, A glorious Citie, called by the name Of Troynovant, a place of noted fame Throughout the Christian world, of great renowne For charitable deeds, a place well knowne For good and gratious Government; in briefe, A place for common Refuge, and reliefe To banisht Shepheards, and their scatter'd Sheep; There our great Pans Vice-gerent now does keep

His royall Court, whose gracious hand hath store Of soverain Balsames apt for every sore: In that brave City, there be folds provided For Sheep of diverse Quarters, all divided One from the other, ready to receive Affrighed flocks, and bounteous to releive Their severall wants: Hast Gallio, hast thee thither, And if thou misse thy ends, returne thee hither, And make Britannus happy to enjoy thee, Vntill thy pleased God shall re-imploy thee.

GALL.

Thankes gentle Shepheard; let that God encrease Thy flocks: and give thy soule eternall peace.

EGLOGVE II.

• ...Brito.
• ...Luscus.

BRI.

GRaze on my Lambs, here's nothing to disquiet Your gentle peace, or interupt your diet: Why croud ye thus so neer your frighted dams? Here's neither Wolf, nor Fox; Graze on, my Lambs: Graze on, my Sheep; why gaze ye to and fro, As if ye fear'd some evill? Why gaze ye so? What serves your Shepheard for, if not to keep Your hearts secure from feares? Graze on, my sheep: Forbeare my Lambs, to feare ye know not what, And feed; your feeding makes your shepheard fat: But who comes yonder? 'Seemes farre off to be Our creeping Shepheard Luscus: and 'tis he: I thought my Lambs had something in the wind, They left to graze and lookt so oft behind: They love that Luscus, on the selfe same manner, As dogs, by instinct of nature, love the Tanner: See here he comes: Lord, how my lambs divide Their eching paces to the farther side!

LUSC.

The blessed Virgin, and S. Francis keep The joviall Shepheard, and his jolly sheep.

BRI.

Would not the blessed Virgins blessing doe, Without the blessing of S. Francis too?

LUSC.

Why, captious Brito, Store is held no Sore; And two Saints blessings make us blest the more.

BRI.

Is Luscus, then, my soule two blessings deep, Or am I joyn'd in Patent with my sheep? But tell me now, my Saint-imploring brother, One Cypher being added to another, What makes the totall summe?

LUSC.

No summe at all.

BRI.

Such were the blessings, thy late tongue let fall: But 'twas thy blinded love, and, to repend thee; That blessed Virgins blessed Son amend thee: But say, what ayl'st thou, Luscus, that thy skin Appeares so course, and thy pale cheekes so thin?

Me thinks thine eyes are dim, those eyes of thine, That lately were so radiant, and did shine Like blazing starres, (which oftentimes foreshow The fall of some great Prince, or overthrow Of prosperous States) how dull, how dead they look! As if the style of some new-answer'd Book Had overwatch'd them, or thy hollow cheek Had been at buffets with an Ember week.

LUSC.

Plump faces, Brito, are esteem'd the least Of Shepheards care; Good Shepheards may not feast, They must bin sober, keep their bodies chast; A Shepheards calling is to watch and fast: Their lips must tast no Cates; their eyes, no sleep; Such diet, Brito, Roman Shepheards keep,

BRI.

Or should, good Luscus: Shepheards love their ease Too well, to make a dye of that disease: Their faces are not alwayes faithfull signes Of hide-bound Ribs, and narrow wasted loynes: Shepheards can make Good-friday on their Cheeke, When their full hearts, at home, keep Easter weeke.

LUSC.

Curse on those Shepheards, that bin so untrue.

BRI.

That Curse, I feare, belongs to some of you:

Your Roman faces can look thin, by art, Their eye can weep teares, strangers to their heart.

LUS.

Rash are those censures, and those words misguided, Where Hearts and Charity, are so farre divided: But tell me, Brito; what have we misdone To earne so sharp a censure? Whereupon Ground'st thou thy harsh conceit? what has our nation Committed, worthy of so foul taxation?

BRI.

I'le tell thee if thy patience will but lend A quiet eare; Plain dealing speakes a friend.

LUS.

Speake freely then, Luscus shall find an eare; Thou shalt not speake, what Luscus will not heare.

BRI.

When our great Master-shepheard, (under whom We serve, being substituted in his roome) Forsooke this vale, and tooke his journey on, To take possession of his fathers Throne, He cal'd his under Shepheards, to whose care He lent his flocks, (those flocks he priz'd more deare Then his owne life) to them he recommended The highest trust that ever yet depended

On care of man: To them he did enlarge His strict Commands, to execute that charge, With greatest faith and loyalty, to keep His Lambs from danger, and to feed his Sheep; Nay, Luscus, the more fully to declare His gracious pleasure, and his tender care In that behalfe, what his desire did move His zeale did quicken on the Bands of love; Nay more, that word, whose accent had the power To ruine Heaven and Earth, and, in one hower, To build a thousand more, (whose very breath At the first motion could blow life or death) He thrice repeated, O my Shepheards keep My Flocks; O feed my Lambs; O fold my Sheep: Yet did our bounteous Master not regard His good alone; our Pan was not so hard, (Although our lifes, and all that we enjoy Lye prostrate at his pleasure) to imploy The busie hands of us poore Shepheard swaines, Or to require our unrewarded paines: He gives us peace, and freedome; He sustaines us With full and wholsome diet; He maintaines us In needfull raiment; keeps us sound in health; Gives us content; the very height of wealth: Besides, at every Shearing he allowes A golden Girland, to adorne our browes; And when our faithfull hands shall give account Of our improv'd endeavours, we shall mount Into our Masters joy, where, being drest In Robes, and Crownes, we shall enjoy that rest, Prepar'd for faithfull Shepheards, and there sing Perpetuall Past'rals to our Shepheard-King:

But they whose slumbring eyes have misattended Their wandring flocks, whose hands have not defended Their worried lambs, those Shepheards shal make good Their owne defaults, with their owne dearest blood.

LUSC.

Brito, this night, the Moone begins to gain Her wanedlight; I feare, she threatens rain; These busie Gnats, I doubt, conspire together, To bring us tidings of some change of weather.

BRI.

Luscus, 'twere much for faithlesse Shepheards ease, If no worse Gnats might suck their blood then these.

LUSC.

The Sun shines hot; the Southern wind blows warme: But kindly showers would do these grounds no harme.

BRI.

Lesse harme, good Luscus, (if my thoughts bin true) Then this discourse (which you so baulk) does you: We talk of Shepheards; our discourse relates Of thriving flocks; and you of Showres and Gnats: A pleasing subject may command your eare, But what you like not you are slow to heare: A Roman Swain can heare, and yet can choose; His eares, like Jugglers, can play fast and loose,

For his advantage, nay, (and what appeares More strange) he can be deaf to what he heares.

LUSC.

What ayles this peevish Shepheard? I attended Till I was tyred, and his Tale was ended; What would'st thou more with my obtunded eare?

BRI.

That, Shepheard, which thou seem'st so loth to heare; That, which observed with attentive heed, Will make thy heart-strings crack, and thy heart bleed.

LUSC.

Speake, Shepheard, then, whilst I renew my eare: A Roman spirit scornes a childish Feare.

BRI.

I, Luscus, 'tis the want of Childish feare That makes thee lend a fear-disdaining eare: Thou art a Shepheard; (else, the fouler shame T'usurp the honour of so high a name) A Roman Shepheard too, that does professe To feed the flock; and yet does nothing lesse; You take the croppe; your flocks, alas, but gleane, And what makes you so fat, makes them so leane; God knows you feed your selves: by what Commission Plough you those Pastures, for your owne provision,

Which our good Shepheard sever'd out, to keep And to maintaine his poore deceived sheep? Who gave you licence thus, bold Swaines, to pinch Your Masters gracious bounty, and to inch His bounteous favours, that can but allow The Headlands, but the margents of your Plough, To feed so faire a flock? Nay, more then so, They are forbid those slender Headlands too, Vntill the slow-pac'd sythe, has shorne them downe So late, that winter flouds have overflowne Their saplesse swaths, and fill'd them so with sand And earthy trash, brought downe from th' upper land By th' unresisted current of the flood, That 'tis but flatter'd with the name of food: Nay, more then that, poore flocks, they are forbid To feed at large, as heretofore they did, They must betether'd now, must be bereaven Of the sweet moysture, of the dew of heaven: Nor must their slender food be simply such As heaven had made it; no, 'tmust have a touch Of new Invention, which our wise God Pan Ne're thought on; since, devis'd by wiser man: It must be mingled with fast growing Flagges, Mire-rooted rushes, sweet'ned with the Bragges Of pious Thrift; nor must the hungry flocks Take what they please; it must be serv'd in Locks, And Ostry Bottles; neither when they would They must be fed, nor yet with what they should: To day, they must be dieted, and fast From common food; no lesse then death, to tast: To morrow, pamper'd with excesse, (and nurst With a full hand) may ravin till they burst:

Brave Shepheards, Luscus; fit to serve such flocks! Where you command, Lambs need not feare the Fox.

LUS.

No wonder, Brito, that your Censures be So sharpe to us, that so much disagree Among your selves: you Britain Shepheards are So strangely factious, that you would even jarre With your owne shadowes, had no substance been Subjected to the venome of your spleen: Look, first at home, and seek to reconcile Your selves, that mixe like Vineger with Oyle: Then snarle: Till heaven shall send you such a season, It is your Faction speakes, and not your Reason.

BRI.

We have our factions, Swaine, you speake but true; They must have Itch that touch such Blanes as you: You broach new fangles; you devise new waies, And give more licence to licencious daies: You limit, you distinguish as you please; You take no paines but in contriving ease, And plotting how to pamper Flesh and Blood, Masking true Evills with apparent Good: Thus you corrupt our Shepheards, and even those That of themselves are apt enough (God knowes) To love their eases; Shepheard, when we jarre Among our selves, we doe but onely warre Against your Doctrines, which too much encrease Among us: No, such warres conclude a Peace.

LUSC.

Our doctrines, Brito? Recollect thy thought, Whose doctrin was it, that Swaine Luther taught? Who taught your wisdomes to forsake your flocks, And let them ramble on the barren Rocks, And wander God knowes where? who taught your hearts, (More hard then Marble) those well practis'd arts Of cruell Piety, to prize Conceit, And wilde Opinion at a higher rate Then all their lives, and rather beare the losse Of your whole flocks, then brand them with a Crosse, Our Masters Sheepmarke? These conceits are yours, Good Britain Swaine; These doctrines were not ours.

BRI.

Fanne not my smoth'ring Fiers, lest their flame Torment your neighb'ring shins: should I but name The Tithe of that base dunghill trash, brought in By your Dominicans, scaveng'd out agin By worse Franciscans; the perpetuall Jarres Twixt your hot Jesuits and your Seculars; How Thomas snarles at Scotus; and how hee Snarles back at Thomas; how your new Decree Confronts the old; and how your last does smother The first; and how one Councell thwarts another; 'Twould stop your mouth, and make you scorn the Or wisely pray for more encrease of fooles: But to conclude, the Shepheards charge is given schooles, To us; and if an Angel come from heaven,

And teach new wayes, whose rules should disaccord From what our Master-shepheard left by word To our performance, I would teach mine eare A scornfull deafnesse; or (if forc'd to heare) My tongue should find the courage to defye His words, and boldly give his face the lye: But see! the treble shades begin to damp The moystn'd earth; and the declining Lamp Invites our lips to silence; day growes old: 'Tis time to draw our willing flocks to fold: Hark, hark, my Wether rings his evening bell; I must away.

LUSC.

Shepheard Goodnight.

BRI.

Farewell.

EGLOGVE III.

• ...Pan.
• ...Gentilla.

GENT.

WHat ails my dearest Shepheard? what new change Has taught his heart-rejoycing eys such strange And dire aspects? what humor hath possest The Sanctuary of his troubled Brest? What mean these sullen frownes? 'gainst whom do'st thou Thus sternely bend thy discontented Brow? At whom does this Artil'ry of thine eye Levell such flames? Here's none but thee and I, Why dost thou turne aside? Why dost thou shun Gentilla? What has poore Gentilla done? Have I prov'd false? Say, did I ever bow To a new choyce, or started from my Vow? Have not my thoughts observ'd a holy Fast From new desires? Have not these eyes bin chast As th' eyes of Turtles? Did Gentilla's knee Ere bend to any, but her God, and Thee? If I be loyall; say, why doest thou shun me? Why doe thy causelesse browes thus frown upon me?

And if my faith be conscious of a blot, Why stand'st thou mute so long? why chid'st thou not? No, no, my dearest Shepheard, if there be Cause of suspect, that cause is given to me: How long (too too unkind!) hast thou deny'd Thy presence? Ah, how often have I cry'd In corners? Nay, how often have these eyes Bin drown'd with briny streames, that did arise From the full fountaine of a flowing heart? How often have I charm'd by the black Art Of all my sorrowes? Yet my Shepheards eares Were deafe; his eyes were blind to all my teares: And now thy wisht-for presence (the full Crowne Of all my joyes) is clouded with a Frowne.

PAN.

Thou know'st, Gentilla, when thy brests were green▪ Vnripe for Love, there past a Vow between Thy elder Sister Iudabell, and me, Whose onely portion was Virginitie; She had no beauty to enflame mine eyes, Nor wealth, nor birth, nor ought to make me prize Her naked love; her visage was uncomely, Her fortunes poore; her breeding, blunt and homely; I lov'd her for her selfe, and the direction To that deare love, was my own deare affection: In sacred bands of contract, we both ty'd Our folded hands, and she became my Bride: I made her supreame Queen of all my Vows, And set a Crowne of gold upon her Browes; I made her sole Commandresse of my keyes,

To shut and open, where, and when she please: I made her Mistresse of my Flocks, and gave What I could give, or what her soule could crave; She had what favours Bounty could confer; My life was but a Trifle, weigh'd with her: But she forsook me; Her false heart did prove Disloyall; took a surfeit of my love; She sleighted all my favours; falsely broke Her plighted Faith, and scorn'd my easie yoke; My dearest love she answer'd with disdaine, Cast am'rous eyes on every Vnder-swaine; I lov'd, she scorn'd, and what I gave, she slighted; Was never love so true, so ill requited.

GENT.

But stay, deare Shepheard, shall my sisters crimes, Or shall th' unjust Rebellions of her times Be plagu'd in me? Or shall thy lips demand The debts of Iudabell at Gentilla's hand? Stands it with justice, that those Vows which she Hath falsely broke, should be reveng'd on me?

PAN.

Thou know'st Gentilla, when thy Sisters brest Grew too obdurate for my deare request, When faire entreaties, and more hard Commands Found disrespect at her respectlesse hands, I left my vaine attempt, cal'd home my heart, And plac'd it (as I thought) on more desert; Those deare affections, and the love that she

Vnworthily despis'd, I fixt on thee: The selfe same priviledge, the selfe same power, Those very favours, and the selfe same dower, That was assured hers, while she was mine, Were by a second Contract, all made thine: What she hath left, thy Fortunes have engrost; Gentilla found what Iudabell has lost: But ô Gentilla, thou hast faild to prove A worthy object of so faire a Love; Thou hast thy Sisters frailty; Thou hast all Her Fortunes with her Faults, though not her Fall.

GENT.

Tell me, deare Shepheard, that I may amend them, I will acknowledge them, or not defend them.

PAN.

Did not I trust, Gentilla, to thy hand My Flocks, my substance, under whose command I left them charg'd? Say did I not submit My Shepheards to thy service, and commit My Sheep to their protection, to be Foder'd by them, and overseen by thee? Were not those Pastures faire enough, to keep My wained Lambs, and to maintaine my Sheep? Were they not sweet enough, and well sufficing Without that mixture, of your Swaines devising? Vnwholesome stuffe! whose very tast did rot, Or breed diseases where it poyson'd not; That insomuch, where ere I turn'd my head, I saw some Flocks a dying; and some, dead.

GENT.

True, gentle Shepheard, thus in former times We did; if Ignorance may salve our crimes, We have enough to plead: I bent my knee To a false Master then, and not to Thee.

PAN.

I thought, that Pan had had supreame Command; I thought, my Rules might had the grace to stand In full authority, and power; I thought, Those Georgicks which I writ, as well as taught By word of mouth, had been a full direction Both for my Flocks good diet, and protection: But you, and your disloyall Swaines (it's said) Have joyn'd in serious Councell, and have made Another Head, whose selfe-conceited waies I never knew; and Him your wisdomes raise Into a height above the height of Man, And plac'd Him in a Throne, which never Pan, When he kept earth, and govern'd here below, Had ere the Honour to be call'd into: Him yee advance with reverence and renown, His browes adorning with a triple Crown, When as a wreath of Willow, or of Thorne (For want of high priz'd metall) rudely torne From the next hedge, must serve my turne, and be A Crowne, thought fit, and good enough for me; Him ye observe, and, like a thing Divine, Him ye adore: His words must passe, not Mine;

His words are Oracles, and his Commands Are Laws, or Death; the power of his hands (Which he pretends to be deriv'd from me) Can reach from Peasants, to the high degree Of Princes, whom, by vertue of his Keyes, He can dis-crown, and murther when he please: My sacred Book, wherein these fingers writ The Shepheards Lawes, his nature-pleasing wit Has interlin'd with his owne bold devises, And made it now a starting-hole for Vices: His holy finger can put out, put in; Change, and on second thoughts, rechange agin: He can correct, distinguish, reconcile; And where a Gap stands faire, can make a Style: His lips can blesse, where I have curs'd; and curse, Whom I have blest, according as the Purse Feeles light or heavy; if the Tides but flow, What is't, he can? what is't, he cannot doe? This is that Head which your false hearts allow; This is that golden Calf, to whom yee bow Your sacrilegious knees; Him, him yee crown With honour, whil'st ye pull my Honour down: Him ye corrupt; His open fist ye greaze, And make your Oracle speake what you please: Thus are my poore abused Flocks beguil'd By your disguis'd Impostures; thus despoil'd Of their deare lifes, whil'st you grow plump and full, Fed with their Flesh, and cloathed in their Wooll.

GENT.

Ah dearest Shepheard, in those bloody daies, I was but young, and childish; and my waies

Were ill devis'd; alas, my tender yeares Were too too credulous; My abused eares Were open long before my judgement had Strength to know truth from falshood, good from bad; I knew no diff'rence twixt my Friend and Foe, Thought all was Gold, that made a golden show: I thought, those Swaines, to whose experienc'd care Thou left thy Flocks, had knowledge to prepare Covenient food; and judgement how to keep With most advantage, thy reposed Sheep.

PAN.

I, so they had, Gentilla, they could read A Book, could teach them how, and when to feed; The Book was faire, and pen'd without a blot: They knew there Masters Will, but did it not.

GENT.

I trusted them; but they abus'd mine eare, Told me faire tales, which youth was apt to heare: That little Book thou gav'st me, (when Pan woo'd His poore Gentilla, first) writ with thy blood, They pilfer'd from me; told me 'twas unfit To be the object of a womans wit: Sometimes, by snatches, they perus'd the Book; As once they read, my lingring eye-balls took A view, by stealth; and my deluded eare Was fill'd; with what? With nothing written there: O, thus they wrong'd my too-beleeving eares; And taking vantage of my easie yeares,

They kept me dark, for feare mine eyes behold Their gilded Trash, that's current now for Gold: Nay more, they knowing that the weaker sex By nature's apt to loose their servill necks From mans imperious yoke, and so to fly Aloft into the pitch of soveraignty, They did not blush, to weigh, at least to joyne Thy sacred Oracles, with poore words of mine; Whose later boldnesse ventur'd to debase Thy words authority, and give mine the place: All this my bolder Swaines presum'd to do; All this my prouder weaknes yeelded to. True, gentle Shepheard, 'tis confest, that we Made a new Power, but no Head but Thee; Our first intention was not simply evill, But accidentall; all things were unlevell, And rude disorder crept into our State: Swaine would contest with Swaine, and fierce debate Encreas'd among us: Every hand would feed His own devised way, which was the seed, The pregnant seed of Ruin, and Confusion To our green Government; till, in conclusion, We pickt the ablest Swaines from out the rest, And made them Chiefe, by whose discreeter brest, Next under Thee our Head, we did annorme Our Government, and made it uniforme: Thus, for a while, our State was well redrest; They were good Shepheards, and our State had rest: They were good Shepheards, and they scorn'd to keep Their lives upon the rescue of their sheep: But daies grew worse and worse, and after times As they encreas'd in age, encreas'd in Crimes:

These Pow'rs grew proud, Hereticall, did hold New-broach'd Opinions; Law was bought and sold, And Gospell too; new orders were erected: The Shepheards sought themselves; their Flocks neglected; Thus each succeeding Power at last, did add, A worse unto his Predecessors bad: Thus were my tender yeares, and trust abus'd; T'avoid confusion, thus we grew confus'd: O, they that follow a misguided Head, The farther goe, the more they are misled: But now my sad experience (dearely bought) Hath cal'd me off, and made me see my fault; My soule abhors the deeds of former times, They, they are past, but present are my Crimes: Let not my dearest Shepheard search my waies With too severe an eye: As the old daies Are swallow'd with the new, and past away, So let my faults be past as well as they: Close, chose thine eyes, or if thou needs must see, Look, look upon thy Goodnesse, and not me; Or if thine eyes will look on such a shame, Behold not what I was, but what I am.

PAN.

My deare Gentilla, dearer then my soule, Thy wounds are cur'd, thy Faith has made thee whole: Thy teares have scour'd thy trespasse; witnesse Heaven, Thou hast not done what Pan has not forgiven: Come, come into mine armes, my greedy brest Longs, longs to entertaine so faire a Guest: The poorest teare that wets thy lovely cheek

Has washt a world of faults; thou shalt not seek What thy prevailing language cannot find.

GENT.

O let me weep, untill I weep me blind! How can my frozen Gutters choose but run, And feel the beames of such a melting Sun!

PAN.

Enough, my sweet Gentilla, O forbeare To gaul my wounded heart! each pearly teare That trickles from thine eye, does make rebound Vpon my heart, and gives my heart the wound: What meanes my dearest Love to overflow My curious Garden, on whose banks doe grow Those flowres, whose sweetnesse does as far exceed Arabian sents, as they the foulest weed.

GENT.

No, no, my dearest deare; these slubber'd cheeks Call for more water; 'tis the work of weeks, To purge the Morphew from so foule a face; 'Tis not the labour of an howers space Can doe the deed.

PAN.

No leprosie can find So cleare a cure, but that some scurf behind Will yet remaine, Gentill•• may be sure, The worse being past, time will perfect the cure.

GENT.

My dearest Pan, such desperate sores as these Requier fresh supplies: O! my disease Enjoynes me to goe wash nine times, at least, In Jordans streames till it be quite redrest.

PAN.

Be not deluded with traditious dreames; 'Tis Pan that cures thee, and not Jordan-streames: Let not thy Morphew plunge thy soule too farre In needlesse griefe; deep wounds will leave a scarre: Vexe not thy selfe, and let no chill despaire Perplex thy troubled heart; Thou art as faire, As earth will suffer: My contented eies Take pleasure in thy beauty, which I prize Above the world: and when the time shall come, Wherein thy Shepheard shall conduct thee home Into my Fathers Palace, where I dwell, I'le give thee water, (water shall excell The streames of Jordan) whose diviner power Shall cleanse thy staines, and in a moment soower Thy Morphew so, that heavens Meridian eye Shall vaile, to see thy greater Glory by: Till then, my dearest, let these chast embraces Twine us a while, then to our severall places Depart we both.

GENT.

Then let Gentilla dye, If ought can part my dearest Pan and I:

These twined armes shall hold thee; if thou go, My Pan shall draw his own Gentilla too.

PAN.

Forbeare Gentilla, for I must be gone, I have a Father to attend upon, And thou a Flock; the time will come, wherein We shall re-meet, and never part agin.

GENT.

I'le drive my Flocks, whil'st we walk hand in hand; And I will feed them on thy Fathers land.

PAN.

Not so Gentilla, when thy Flocks are thriven In fat and fleece, then, then they shall be driven Vnto my Fathers Court; where, on thy knee, Thou shalt present them as a gift from thee; And at that day thy Shepheard shall come hither, And hand in hand conduct Gentilla thither.

GENT.

If needs we must, Farewell▪ But see thou keep▪ Thy promis'd word.

PAN.

Farewell; and feed my Sheep.

EGLOGVE IIII.

• ...Nullifidius.
• ...Pseudo-catholicus.

NULL.

HO, Shepheard ho! What aile thine eyes to take Such early slumbers? Shepheard, ho, awake: Ho, Shepheard, ho! Lord how secure he lies! What, not a word? For shame, for shame, arise: Ho, Shepheard, ho! I think, his drouzy head Is nail'd to th' ground, I think our Shepheard's dead: Ho, Shepheard, ho!

PSEUD.

I prithee leave thy hoing.

NULL.

Then leave this sleeping, Shepheard, cease thy blowing,expand_less Shaexpand_lesske off dull slumb••r, and disclose thine eyes: Ho, Shepheard, ho! 'Tis time, 'tis time to rise: Til thou leave snorting Swaine, I'le ne'er leave calling; Ho, Shepheard, ho!

PSEUD.

I prithee leave thy bauling.

NULL.

Then Shepheard wake, there is a Wolf broke in Among thy sheep; what fallen asleep agin? Ho, Shepheard, ho!

PSEUD.

I prithee, let me sleep, P'sh, what care I for either Wolf or Sheep?

NULL.

Look, Shepheard, look, here flowes a curious Cup Of dainty sparkling Nectar, full charg'd up To th' brim; see how her sprightly dancing bubbles Defie degenerous feares, and the dull troubles Of poore afflicted hearts; look how they swell In proud disdain, as if they threaten'd Hell With bold defiance, or would undertake A prosperous duell with th' infernall Lake: See how she mantles; see with what a grace She lookes upon thee; smiles upon thy face: Ho, Shepheard, ho!

PSEUD.

I, there's a voice, would raise A dying soule, and give the dead new daies; I, there's a Rapture! what blest Angels tongue Has broke my slumbers with so sweet a song? What Nullifidius! O, the sweetest straine, That e're was sung! But, where's the Nectar, Swaine? Sure jolly Shepheard, Pan will turn my friend; I never dreame, but still my dreames portend

Some good or other; As I lay asleep Beneath this shrub, me thought my thirsty Sheep Demanded water; in my troubled dreames, Me thought I sent them to the flowing streames, To drink their fill; with that, they made reply, There is no water, for the streames are dry: So having said, me thought that one among The flock unstopt my Bottle, whence there sprung Cleare cry stall streames, that water did abound; Me thought those streames no sooner felt the ground But turn'd to blood; whereat being sore affraid, Me thought, I Crost my selfe, and after said Three Ave Maries, and three Creeds; and then, The blood turn'd water, and grew cleare agen: And there I wak'd, as I was e'en about To dreame the rest: And now my dreame is out.

NULL.

Faith, so's my Nectar, Swaine; my Nectar's ended; Look, here's the Shrine, but the sweet Saint's ascended: See'st thou this empty bottle? Hence did flow Those rare, those precious streames of late; but now Dri'd up; I sipt, and call'd, and sipt agin; I told thee that a Wolf was broken in, Among thy flocks, and yet no art could rate Thee from thy slumbers, till it grew too late; At last I rouz'd thee with a potent Charme; Advanc'd my voice as stoutly as my arme, I rais'd both arme and voice to th' height, and so Thy slumber's ended, and my Nectar too.

PSEUD.

The Cramp, the Murre, for ever blesse such armes And tongues, that can attempt no earlier charmes.

NULL.

Sure Pan's no friend of thine, that gives no theames But Blood and Water to thy empty dreames: Had'st thou but dream'd of Wine —. But Shepheard Swaine, I have a project to re-entertaine Thy next attempt; lye down and dreame againe; Meane while, these hands shall be imploi'd to fill My bottle at the foot of yonder hill; I'le brim my bottle with those crystall streames; (Second thoughts thrive, & why not second dreames?) Perchance (deare Swain) those second dreams of thine, May Transubstantiate Water into Wine.

PSEUD.

I prithee doe, and swill it for thy paines: 'Twill wring thy bowels, ere it wrong thy braines.

NULL.

You Roman Shepheards have prodigious dreames: Can change your Bread to Flesh; your Wine to streames Of purest Blood: You can convert a dish Of Steakes to Roots; Surloines to Joules of Fish; Your full cram'd Capons, on your Friday table

(As Shepheards saine, and Shepheards will not fable) Forget their fleshly natures; their smooth skins Turn to rough scales, their wings and legs to fins: Plump Partridge turns to Pike; your smaller dishes Of Quailes and costly Knots, to lesser fishes: But tell me, Swaine, what meane your learned Schools To tell such tales?

PSEUD.

To make you Shepheards fools.

NULL.

That's not the mark ye levell at, you glance Your shafts but there, ye hit but there by chance; Come tell me, Swaine, this shady place is free From ill-digesting eares; here's none but we: I have an Ewe, now grazing on my plain, Whose bounteous Bags, thrice every day I strain, Well struck in flesh, and of a noble race; She has more white about her then her face: Black is her fleece, but silk is not so soft, Shee's th' onely glory of my fruitfull croft: Repose this secret in my brest, and thou Shalt be the owner of this dainty Ewe.

PSEUD.

I know the Ewe; how fortune made her thine, I know not; but, I'm sure, that Ewe was mine: But come, my Swaine, I know thy peacefull brest Is slow to strife; thou car'st not to contest Of Shepheards Lawes; I know thou art none of those

That will maintain an argument with blowes: I know, th' indifferent Faith does not rely On stiffe opinion; That mans No, or I Are both alike to thee; thou car'st not whether It raine or shine, thy tongue keeps temperate wether: And to say troth, but that that pretty thing, Call'd Profit, lends a little fleeter wing To our desires, no doubt but we should joine In that good, honest, harmlesse way of thine: I tell thee, Swaine, these darker clouds of ours Are full of stormes, but send down golden showers: Thou know'st, the vulgar sort are apt to admire Things strange; what's most unlikely, they desire Most to beleeve, and onely that applaud: Now what we whisper they divulge abroad: (For they are Fooles, and Women most) whereby, If ought be found i'th' Suburbs of a lye, 'Tis shuffled off from us, from whence it came, And lai'd upon the common breath of Fame: But seldom't comes to that; such fooles as they (Bound to beleeve, not question what we say) Ne'er sift our Tales too near, but make them good (In spight of Reason) with their dearest blood: All such, for feare lest wisdome should, by chance, Get th' upperhand, we traine in Ignorance: There's none must read a book, but onely he That's able to corrupt as well as we: But Shepheard, know, that these we keep so short, Are but the women and the simpler sort; These are our new-milch-cowes, that doe maintain Our house, these bring but slow, yet constant gain: Now, there's a wiser sort; but they attend

In higher regions; some their worths commend (And some their fortunes) to superiour powers; Some stand on their own legs, and some on ours: These are our greater Pillars; men of action, And stout maintainers of our prosperous faction: These are our Plush Atturnies; these befriend Our desperate suites; these day and night attend Our thriving Causes, whil'st we sleep secure; Nay, when our selfe made wounds, implore a cure, These are our Surgeons too; these stand our baile, If need require, and drag us from the Jayle.

NULL.

But dearest Swaine, me thinks such high degrees Of brave Atturnies should expect high fees: Gamesters say, Nothing draw, if nothing stake, And men of Plush are friends but where they take: Sure, such Atturnies labour not for pleasure; Tell me what pen'worths does their friendship measure?

PSEUD.

Some, as I told thee, are of higher blood; Some creatures of our owne, whom we thought good To recommend; To those we crouch the knee, And make a Catholique face; these ask no fee.

NULL.

But tell me, Swaine, how come you to engage Such great ones to your faction?

PSEUD.

In this age, The price of Pleasure's rais'd to a high pitch; 'Tis a faire traffique, now a daies, and rich To those that sell; no gold is held too deare To purchase but a Licence for a yeare, To sin securely, or to swim in pleasure But twice six monthes; the very height of treasure Will stoop to this; our everlasting trade Will ne'er be dead, till Sin and Pleasure fade.

NULL.

But tell me Swaine, does any such foole dwell Within our pale, that thinks you Swaines can sell Such priviledg? Can any mortall heart Be so befool'd?

PSEUD.

Why, Shepheard, there's the art, The depth of all our trade; whereon depends The whole designe; whereby we work our ends: When silly birds have toucht the twigs, who is't That cannot hand and take them as they lift? Wherein t'acquaint thee fully, thou shalt know Not onely what is done, but how we do; I'le lay some grounds, and when those grounds be lai'd Practice will make thee master in our trade: Two sort of Birds doe use to make resort Into our cage; A wise, a simpler sort; To those we teach Obedience; to these Dark Ignorance, and Charity, when we please: The simpler sort, are hatch'd, and bred our owne,

We clime their nests, and take them in their doune: We feed them, and we bring them up by hand, And make them infant Slaves to our Command; We discipline them, teach them how to prate, Like Parakitoes, words they know not what; We keep them close, we never let them know, The aiery freedome they were borne unto; We teach them to forget their wilder note They have b'instinct, and tune our songs by rote: We onely keep them dark, and then, with ease We make them sing what notes soe're we please: They feed on Rape-seed, or the crums that fall From off our trenchers at a Festivall. But there's a wiser sort; and such are they That spread their stronger wings, and use to prey For their own selves; that can behold the Sun, Like Joves own bird, and when the day is done, Can roost themselves; these kind of birds are wary Where they frequent, their hagard eyes are chary Near whom th' approach: for these the Shepherd plants His close-laid Gins; their common food are Wants, And fucking Lev'rets; often time they stoop At their own shades, fly thousands in a troop: We bait our Gins with fleshly Recreations, Larded with Pardons, drest with Dispensations: Oft times we take; but taken, there's the skill, How to reclaim their wildnesse to our will: At first, they'l strive and struggle out of breath; If we use force, they'l beat themselves to death: They will not brook the dark, whose Eagle eyes Have view'd the Sun; Here, Swain, we must be wise; They must have freedome, Shepheard, yet not so

But that their freedome may appeare to grow From our permission; then they must be fed With dainties, whereunto they ne'er were bred; And 'tis the nature of these birds to feed So long, till their dull wings can find no speed, Nor they, their wings; Howe'r, put case, they try Their wings are clipt, unknown; they cannot fly; Thus kept with feeding, and with gentle handing, And made familiar with our wanton dandling, They'l make themselves our Slaves; & in strong bands Will yeild themselves close prisoners to our hands; They'l fall before thee, and like water spilt, Maist draw them with a finger where thou wilt: Now we begin to work, our smoother brow Growes more severe; our wanton favours, now, Wax more reserv'd; they that before we dandled Like looser Minions, they must now be handled Like servill stuffe; they now must know their distance; Where we command, there must be no resistance: They must not question now; and what we say, They must beleeve; what we enjoyne, obey: These are the Hawks we fly with; and our Game Is Gold and Glory, and an honour'd name: These are the generous Spaniels that retrive Imperiall Crownes, and swallow Kings alive: The simpler sort maintain us plump and fat, But these advance the Glory of our State: The Eyas Faulcon's not so fierce in Game, As th' high pitch'd Hagard, whom our hands reclaime: These are brave dayes; and these brave dayes we live: This is the trade that Roman Shepheards drive.

NULL.

But tell me, Swaine, what busie eyes attend Thy flocks the while? What courses doe they bend?

PSEUD.

Graze where they please; if they will feed, they may; Our Musick twangs upon a higher kay: They doe but meerely serve to draw mens eyes From spying where our greater profit lyes; They are like Switches in a beggers hand, To counterfeit a Calling; No, we stand On higher termes; The habit of a Swaine Seemes holy; gives advantage to obtaine Those glorious ends, that we pursue so fast; They must been chary, Swaine, that be not chast; This russet thred-bare weed, that now I weare, Can startle Monarchs, bow a Princes eare: These very Hems be kist, and skirts ador'd: And every Button shall command a Lord.

NULL.

Farewell my Flocks; Goe seek another Swain: Farewell my Office, and my glorious gain Of twenty Marks per annum; I'le goe wash More thriving cattel; leave to haberdash In such small pedling wares; come jolly Swain, I'le trade with thee, and try another strain: We'l fish for Kingdomes, and Imperiall powers;

Come gentle Swaine, the Gold of Ophir's ours.

PSEUD.

No more, good Shepheard; It growes dark and late: At th' Popes-head-taverne, there's a posterne gate Will give us way; where flowing cups of wine Shall re-confirme thy Brotherhood, and mine.

EGLOGVE V.

• ...Vigilius.
• ...Evangelus.

VIG.

WHat strange affrights are these, that thus arrest My lab'ring soule, and spoile me of my rest? Before my meeting eyelids can conclude A long desired league, the war's renew'd: I cannot rest; sometimes me thinks I heare Loud whoopes of Triumphs, sounding in mine eare: Sometimes the musick of celestiall numbers Sweetens my thoughts, and casts my soule in slumbers; And then the discords of infernall cryes And horrid shreekes awake my closing eyes: Me thinks my trembling Cot does not allow Such restfull ease, as it was wont to doe: Pray God my Flocks be safe: My dreames foretell Some strange designes; pray God, that all be well: I'le up (for sure the wasted night growes old) And, if that need require, secure my Fold: Lord how the heavens be spangled! How each spark Contends for greater brightnes, to undark

The shades of night; and in a silent story, Declare the greatnesse of their Makers glory! But hark! am I deceiv'd? or does mine eare Perceive a noise of footsteps, drawing neare? What midnight-wanderer is grown so bold At such a seas'n, to ramble near my Fold? Sure, tis some Pilgrime, burthen'd with the grief Of a lost way, or else some nightly Thief: Or else, perchance, some Shepheard that doth fly From his affrighted Rest, as well as I: No, tis some Friend; Or else my dog had nere Bin silent half so long; Hoe! who goes there?

EVANG.

Vigilius? Is the Swain I sought so nigh? Fear not Vigilius; it is none but I.

VIG.

Evangelus? What businesse has divided Thy steps this way? Or bin thy steps misguided?

EVANG.

O, my Vigilius, I am come to bring A true relation of the strangest thing; The sweetest Tidings, and the rarest wonder This night brought forth, as ever broke in sunder The lips of panting Fame: I had no power To keep it undisclos'd another hower.

VIG.

What is't? Speak, speak; Vigilius eares are mad To know the newes: Say, is it good, or bad?

EVANG.

O my Vigilius, 'tis as good as true; True, true as heaven it self; and good to you: 'Tis good to wise and simple; rich and poore; 'Tis good to me; 'tis good to thousands more; The greatest good that ever fell to man Since earth had beeing, since the world began.

VIG.

Speake, welcome Shepheard; let thy tongue proceed To make thy tydings sweeter by thy speed: Breake ope thy lips, and let thy tongue diffuse Her welcome errand: Shepheard, what's the news?

EVANG.

Thou know'st, Vigilius, Davids Bethlem, now, Swarmes with much people, and does overflow With tides of strangers, that attend the pleasure And soveraigne will of sole-commanding Cesar: In this concourse, there's one, among the rest, A Galilean Maid, a Virgin guest, Whose radiant beauty (if we may relye On Fames report) strikes every gazing eye

stark blind, and keeps th' amaz'd beholder under The stupid tyranny of Love and wonder: And (what does more embellish so divine, So rare a creature) she drawes out the line Of princely David longer by her birth, And keeps his blood alive upon the earth; Nay, what compleats both linage and complexion, And heapes perfection more upon perfection, Mounting her Glory to the upper staire, She is as perfect chast, as perfect faire; So pure a soule inflames her Virgin brest, That most conceive, she is an Angel drest In flesh and blood; at least some Saint reviv'd; Some say, (if their report may passe believ'd) She hath no sins at all; at most, so few, That very Scriptures are but barely true; Her name is Mary; and if every one May owne their right, right heire to Davids Throne: She's now at Bethlem (where being newly come) This very night, her pregnant Virgin-womb, Without the throwes of childbed or the grone Of the sick chaire, has borne, brought forth a Son.

VIG.

A Virgin beare a Son? What busie tongue Has done thine eares, and easie faith that wrong? Borne without pain? And of a Virgins womb? Thou art befool'd: where heard'st thou this? of whom?

EVANG.

Shepheard; It is the common voic'd report Of every tongue, and sent to Caesars Court; I come from Bethlem, where the dead of night Is wak'd in every Corner, with th' affright Of sudden voices, and the hasty feet Of wond'ring people, trampling in the street; Wind-blazing Tapours hurry to and fro, And every Window's turn'd a Lanthorn too; The streets are fill'd; Some ramble up and down To know the news; and some to make it known: Here one man trudges; There another tramples; Some whoop for joy; and some, by their Examples: Some softly whisper: Others stand and muse, Some bawl aloud; no need to aske the news: One while, the multitude is fallen at strife; Some say, she is a Virgin; some, a wife; Some neither; Others, that best know, aver She is espoused to a Carpenter, Who finding her too great before her Day, Brought her to Bethlem, secretly to lay The Charge upon the Town, and steal away.

VIG.

All this may be, and yet no Virgin, Swain; Can Virgins bear? Or births be freed from pain?

EVANG.

Know, faithlesse Shepheard, then, that there appear'd An Angel to me, from whose lips I heard The news I tell thee; Swain, he did unfold Not onely this, but what remains untold: Nor was't to me alone, the news was brought, For then my slow beleef might well have thought Mine ears had bin abus'd; The thing was told To many Shepheards more, that dare be bold To call it Truth; to Shepheards, that were by, That heard, and saw, and shook as well as I. His face was like the visage of a Childe, Round, smooth, and plump, and oftentimes it smil'd; It glow'd like fier, and his rowling eyes Cast flames, like Lightning darted from the skyes; His haire was long, and curl'd, and did infold Like knots of wire, compos'd of burnisht Gold; His body was uncloath'd; His skin did show More white then Iv'ry, or the new-faln snow, Whose perfect whitenesse made a circling light, That where it stood, it silverd o're the night; And, as he spake, his wings would now and then Spread, as he meant to flye, then close agen; This news he brought; 'Twas neither Fame, nor I That forg'd it, Swain; Good Angels cannot lye: Canst thou beleeve it? If thy faith be strong, My greater Tidings shall enlarge my tongue.

VIG.

I doe Evangelus, though for a season, My faith was tyding on the streames of reason: Yet now, the gale of thy report shall drive Her sailes another course; my thoughts shall strive Against that streame; and what I cannot under∣stand with my heart, I will beleeve and wonder: But tell me, Swaine, what happinesse accrews From this? Or else, relate thy better news.

EVANG.

Then know Vigilius, whilst the Angell spake, My spirits trembled, and my loines did ake; Horror and heart-amazing feares possest The fainting powers of my troubled brest, And struck my frighted soule into a swound, That I lay senselesse prostrate on the ground; With that he stretcht his life-restoring arme, He rais'd me up and bid me feare no harme;

Feare not, said he; I come not to affright Thy gaster'd soule with terrours of the night; My errand (Shepheard) is not to abuse Thine eyes with horrid shapes; I bring thee news, Tidings of joy, and everlasting peace: Stand up and let thy faithlesse trembling cease; Collect thy scatter'd senses, Swaine, and heare The happiest newes that ever beg'd an eare; Such news, whereat th' harmonious quire of heaven, Archangels, Angels, and the other seven

"Of those Celestiall Hierarchies, the troop Of glorious Saints, and soules of Prophets stoop Their joyfull eares, and being fully freight With joyes, sing forth Hosanna's to the height: This night a Virgin hath brought forth a Son, A perfect God, though clad in flesh and bone, Like mortall man, th' eternall Prince of Rest, And Peace, in whom all nations shall be blest: This night a Virgin hath brought forth a Child, A perfect Man, but pure, and undefil'd With guilt of sin; like you in shape and fashion, And for your sakes, as subject to your passion: A perfect God, whose selfe-subsisting nature Required not the help of a Creator: A perfect man, conceived by the power Of th' holy Ghost, and borne this very hower: A perfect God; beyond the comprehending Of man; and infinite, without an ending: A perfect man; objected to the eye, And touch of Flesh and Blood; and borne to dye: Like God, eternall; yet his life a span, Like yours; a perfect God, a perfect man: To you a Son is given; the heire of glory, Whose Kingdome's endlesse and untransitory: To you a child is borne, that shall succeed That princely David, and of Davids seed: A Son is given, whose name redeem'd the earth A world of daies before his mothers birth: A Child is borne, whose last expiring breath Shall give new dayes; and dying, conquer death: A Son, a Child; compos'd of Earth, and Heaven; To you a Child is borne, a Son is given:

"We blessed Angels have no need at all Of such a Saviour, for we cannnot fall: The damned spirits of th' Infernall Throne Receive no profit by this Childe, this Son; To you the glory of so great a gain Belongs; To you these tidings appertain; To you, thrice happy sons of men, we bring This welcome errand from th' eternall King Of endlesse mercy, the great Lord of Heaven; To you this Childe is born; this Son is given. Goe, Shepheards, goe to Bethlem, and your eyes Shall see the Babe; The blessed Infant lyes In a poor Stable, swadled in a Manger; Goe, Swains, and entertain this heavenly Stranger, Upon your bended knees; See, yonder Starre Shall be your Pilot, where these wonders are;

And as he spake that word, (not fully ended) Ten thousand Angels in a Troop descended; But here my tongue must fail, not having might To tell the glory of that glorious sight: Nay, had I power, thine ears would prove as weak To apprehend, as my poor tongue's to speak. They joyn'd their warbling notes, and in a height Beyond the curious frailty of conceit, Their voices sweetned our delighted fears, And with this Caroll blest our ravisht ears. GLory to God on high; and jolly mirth Twixt man and man; and peace on earth: This night a childe is born; This night a Son is given; This Son, this Childe

Hath reconcil'd Poor man that was forlorne, And th' angry God of heaven: Hosanna, sing Hosanna. Now, now that joyfull Day, That blessed howre is come, That was foretold In dayes of old, Wherein all nations may Blesse, blesse the Virgins wombe: Hosanna, sing Hosanna. Let heaven triumph above, Let earth rejoyce below, Let heaven and earth Be fill'd with mirth; For peace and lasting love Atones your God, and you: Hosanna, sing Hosanna. With that, their Air-dividing plumes they spred, And, with Hosanna, in their mouths, they fled: But, Shepheard, ah how far does my report, Ah how extreamly my poor words come short To blaze such glory! How have I transgrest, T'expresse such Raptures, not to be exprest!

VIG.

O, Swain, how could I lose my self to hear Thy blest discourse! O how my greedy ear Clings to thy cordiall lips, whose soveraign breath Brings Antidotes against the fangs of death!

How happy are these times! How blest are wee Above all ages, that are born to see This joyfull day, whose glory was deny'd To Kings and holy Prophets, that rely'd Upon the self-same hopes! How more then they Are we poor Shepheards blest to see this day!

EVANG.

O Shepheard, had our Princely David seen This happy how'r, how had his spirit been Inflam'd with Joy, and Zeal! What heavenly skill Had passion lent to his diviner Quill! What Odes! what Lyrick Raptures had inspir'd His ravisht soul, that was already fir'd With hopes alone; that these rare things should bee In after days, which now his eyes should see!

VIG.

No question, but an infinite delight Had easily sprung from so divine a sight: It had bin Joy sufficient, that a Sonne Was born to sit upon his Princely Throne; O, but that Son, to be a Saviour too, Able to conquer death, and overthrow The very Gates of Hell, and by his breath, To drag his soul from the deep Jaile of death, Had bin a Joy too high to be exprest By tongues, or trusted to a common brest: But hold! whilst we endevour to make known Anothers Joy, we o're neglect our own:

The day is broke; The Eastern Lamps begin To fail, and draw their nightly glory in: Let's up to Bethlem; though our happy eyes But see the Building where our Saviour lyes; Perchance our prosp'rous Journey may find grace To kisse his hand, or see his lovely face.

EVANG.

Come, haste we then, Vigilius, let's away, And gain th' advantage of the early day.

VIG.

Come, Shepheard; O how blest are thee and I, That may behold our Saviour ere we dye!

EGLOGVE VI.

• ...Arminius.
• ...Philamnus.

ARMIN.

SHepheard, well met; Our losse hath made me bold To search thy Dounes: Five weathers of our Fold Have straggled from our Pastures, and have stray'd.

PHILAM.

'Twas soundly watcht the whil'st: But have you made Search no where else?

ARMIN.

My hopes first led me hither; His way lies every where that kens not whither; Small moment, Shepheard, guides a doubtfull breast; Our sheep oft turn their faces to the East, Which led my hopefull fears (perchance too bold) To make enquiry in your Eastern Fold.

PHILAM.

And welcome: But me thinks the Roman Swains Should tell you news: It had bin lesser pains And to more purpose, (if my thoughts be cleare) For you t' have made your first enquiry there: There's but a slender ruinous hedge that bounds And slightly limits your contiguous Grounds; So poor a Fense, young Swain, that 'tis suppos'd Yee feed in Common, though yee seem enclos'd: Goe make a speedy Triall, and search there.

ARMIN.

My hopes renue.

PHILAM.

And I renue my feare.

ARMINIUS.

But gentle Shepheard, Here a second thought Puzles my quickning hopes, and I am brought Into a greater doubt: The Roman Brand Is so, so like to ours; nay, ev'n doth stand In th' selfe same place, that my unskilfull tongue Dare make no Challenge: I am yet but young And too too green to judge, and yet not made Acquainted with the secrets of our Trade: I'm doubtfull what to doe: It is all one Not to make search, as seek, and finde unknowne.

PHILAM.

Then, Swain, take my advice; If what I say Please not thy fancy, try a better way.

ARMIN.

Thanks, gentle Shepheard; you shall much endear Your thankfull servant, and command his ear.

PHILAM.

But Swain, acquaint me first (for it appears Thou art as yet no Shepheard by thy years) How often doth thy Master Shepheard feed His numerous Flocks; They are a jolly Breed, And well come on; How often doe they stand Before his eye, and number'd by his hand?

ARMIN.

Once in seven dayes, his food-providing care Gives them a full Repast of dainty fare, But for their daily diet, his command Refers their welfare to my carefull hand.

PHILAM.

Which of the seav'n may his grave wisdome keep For this Repast? Or doe his ready sheep Expect his Call, and wholly leave the day

To his wise pleasure?

ARMIN.

What he will, he may: The day is alterable; Pow'r is given To him, to choose, so he choose one in seaven: But yet his wisdome for the fashion sake And his own quiet, hath bin pleas'd to make Choice of the first.

PHILAM.

Feeds he for by-respect? Folds he for fashion? Better, quite neglect: But does he totally devote that day To his fair Flock?

ARMIN.

He sends them pleas'd away, Full fed with dainties, mingled with delight: All day, they feed, and when the drooping Light Begins to trebble the encreasing shades, The Musick of the Oaten Reeds perswades Their hearts to mirth; His wanton Rams grow brisk; His Ewes begin to trip; his Lambs to frisk; And whilst they sport and dance, the Love-sick Swains Compose Rush-rings and Myrtleberry Chains, And stuck with glorious King-cups, and their Bonnets Adorn'd with Lawrell slips, chaunt their Love-sonnets To stir the fires, and to encrease the flames In the cold hearts of their beloved Dames.

PHILAM.

Your Shepheard takes great pains; but his Reward Will prove as heavy as his pains are hard:

But tell me, Swain, what dainty food is that That makes your thriving flocks, so plump, so fat? They make rich Shepheards, and encrease their stock; Pan grant, your Shepheard make as rich a flock: But what's that dainty food? here's none but wee, I am no Sive: I prithee Swain, be free.

ARMINIUS.

I know not, why; but I stand full possest, My secrets finde a closet in thy brest; Where I'le repose them: Know then, Shepheard, know, There is a glorious Plant, that once did grow In Priestly Arons Garden, in the dayes Of Legall worship; this fair Plant did rayse A swelling Husk, in whose rich womb there lay Large Grains of Orient Pearl, which (as they say) Rip'ned, but nere disclos'd till that blest morn Wherein our good, our great God Pan was born; Just then it open'd; and th' enclosed Grain Unknownly vanisht; and then, clos'd again: This wondrous Plant still flourisht, and her strength Maintain'd her empty Husks, untill at length, Ah me! our great Pan dyed, and then it droopt; And had not brain-dissolved mortals stoopt And watred her dry Roots with floods of tears, 'T had dyed, a fable to our faithlesse ears; Which blessed Plant, whom these salt showres repair, Was by a Roman-Shepheards holy Pray'r And some days Fast, transplanted to the Lay Of Roman Shepheards, fruitfull to this day.

PHILAM.

But have those Pray'rs restor'd the Pearl again?

ARMIN.

The Husks are plump; but yet they bear no Grain:

PHILAM.

Those Husk-like Pray'rs, which vain devotion swels, Come short for things of price, but home for shels. But tell me, Swain, to what prodigious end May these miraculous discourses tend?

ARMIN.

Shepheard, I'le now perform (as you require) My faithfull promise, and your fair desire: These swellings Husks, which heretofore retain'd This vanisht Pearl, for many years remain'd Uselesse and vain, untill an after Age More wisely curious, and maturely sage, Made further search, and by experience found Their vast and wide extended wombs abound With precious oyle, whose aromatick sent, Like fatning Amber, nourisht where it went: This odoriferous, this unctious Juice Our Roman Shepheards husband to their use A thousand ways: with this their sacred hands Varnish their painted Folds, manure their lands,

Sweeten their putrid Fodder, and improve Their wel-contented Flocks in fear, and love: Now gentle Shepheard; we, whose bord'ring bounds Are ev'n contiguous with those Roman grounds, Have secret traffick, and a fair commerce; Though seeming foes, we under hand converse: We plot, contrive, consult, we enterchange Both wares and hearts, and yet are seeming strange; This precious Oyle, (the hint of our discourse) We hold in Common, without pray'r, or purse: With this, our thriving Shepheards every day Anoint their formall Temples, which display Their glorious frowns, at whose severer brow Their croutching Flocks doe tremble, fawn, and bow Their curved bodies, and with reverence, stand Creating Idols at their strict command: With this restoring Oyle, they dulcifye The meanest trash that ever Shepheards eye Disdain'd; nay, oftentimes their flocks doe fare No better then Chameleons in the ayre: Not having substance; but with forc'd content, Making their Maundy with an empty sent.

PHILAM.

But Swain, me thinks, such kind of food should keep The thriving Shepheard fatter then his sheep.

ARMIN.

True, Shepheard; they seem lusty, though not full; But what they want in flesh, they find in wooll.

PHILAM.

But Swain, I wonder much they make not bold, Sometimes to straggle to another Fold, To mend so mean a diet?

ARMIN.

Every day, If not well watcht, some one or other stray To your rich Plains: where if by chance ere found They rue it dearely, though they scape the Pound.

PHILAM.

We are poor Tenants, Swain; the Pound's not ours, The Pound belongs to you; The Lordship's yours.

ARMIN.

But Shepheard, when our rambling flocks oppresse Your vally pastures, they as well transgresse Our Mountain laws, which when our Swains present, Our righteous scales weighs out the punishment Companion to th' offence; Sometimes we fine, Sometimes impound, and sometimes discipline With sharper Censures: But what wrong is made To you, our Lordship's sure to see you paid.

PHILAM.

W'are paid indeed! your Lordship is so just That smooth-fac'd mercy oftentimes is thrust

From your too just Assemblies; But young Swain, What if some stragglers in your fleecy train Should chance to wander to the Roman Fold?

ARMIN.

As oft they doe: Why, Shepheard, we still hold A fair compliance there; Alas, we stand On equall tearms, not diff••ring much in Brand, Nor soil, nor bone, nor number; Our proud Rams Oft tup their Ewes, and then we share their Lambs; And their's, by stealth, sometimes tup ours; and thus As we did share their Lambs, they share with us; That insomuch, not twice two Moons full past, Unseen, I heard some conference at last, It was their mutuall vote, That that sleight Fense Which parts their neighb'ring hils were taken thence By some indifferent hand; at length, concluded That swift wing'd Time (whose crooked sithe intruded Into the state of transitory things) Would doe the deed.

PHILAM.

Heav'n close or clip his wings. But tell me Swain, (since thine own fair desert Hath taught thee so much trust as to impart Thy treasur'd secrets in my faithfull eare) What are thy Shepheards ways? Are they severe, Reserv'd, and strict? Or gives he free'r raines To mirth and sports, as on our frolique Plaines We Shepheards use?

ARMIN.

Shepheard, the early days

Of my lifes Kalender can hardly rayse So high a reck'ning to inform your eare What his first ways and new-launcht courses were; Nor can my credit warrant the report Of doubtfull Fame, which oftentimes comes short, And oft exceeds the letter of the Truth; But here 'tis voic'd that his ingenious youth Was tutor'd first, and trained up in sweet And sacred Learning at Gamaliels feet Under that famous Chappell, (which they say Was since repair'd, whose memory to this day Is fresh in our Records) where twice at least In every twice twelve howres he came and blest His hopefull fortunes; led a temp'rate life, As far from idlenesse, as factious strife; He was a painfull Shepheard, strict, severe, And by report, a little too austere Against those harmlesse sports and past'rall songs And ceremonious Quintils, that belongs To Shepheards rurall mirth; nay, more then so, If same be true, he was a Zelot too. But since promotion rais'd him from the plaines To Mountain service, where his flock remains Committed to my charge, his zeale abates, And richly cloth'd with Lordly silks he waites In Courts of Princes, reveling out his dayes In lavish feasts and frolique Roundelayes, Carousing liberall healths to the deare name Of this rare Beauty, or that Courtly Dame; Commands, controls, usurps a power unknown, Makes Laws, and puffs, and Lords it up and down:

That insomuch the Course he first began Is quite forgot, and he another man.

PHILAM.

O Swain, me thinks these rufflings ill befit A Shepheards cloth; The Riots they commit, Methinks should bring a scandall, and defame Their publique callings, and their private name.

ARMINIUS.

Ah Shepheard, were their glory not too bright For scandall to eclipse, 'twould soon be night With their Profession; but the Clouds that rise Upon their darkned names so blurre the eies Of their repute, that neighb'ring Swains deride The bubling folly of their babling Pride, Whilst passers by cry shame, when they behold Such burly Shepheards and so bare a Fold. Ah gentle Shepheard, how it gripes and wounds My bleeding soul to see our mossy grounds Parcht up and burnt, for want of timely show'rs, Bought with our painfull Shepheards pray'rs, whilst yours Flourish and prosper, watred with the dew Of pleased heav'ns that blesse both them and you!

PHILAM.

True Swain, the gracious hand of heav'n hath blest Our fruitfull Plains; my thriving flocks have rest

And down-right feeding; what we gain we spend With thankfull hearts, and what we spare we lend: Roots are our food, and Russet is our clothing; We have but little, and we want for nothing: Streams quench our thirst, nor taste we what's delici∣ous; Our brain's not busie; nor our breasts ambitious, We charm our cares, and chaunt away, our sorrow, We live to day, and care not for to morrow: Thrice blessed be our great God Pan, that takes A gracious pleasure in our pains, and makes Our labours prosp'rous, and with sparing hand Lends us enough, and courage to withstand The gripes of fortune, and her frowns, for which Our lowly hearts shall fly as high a pitch, As they that impe their more ambitious wings With Eagles plumes, and mount to Thrones of Kings. But Swain, I am transported, and I fear Too long delay hath wrong'd your patient ear; My promise hath engag'd me as your guide To search your stragglers that have stray'd aside.

ARMIN.

Your blest example hath prescrib'd a way To find my selfe that am the greater stray, For which fair Shepheard, may the heav'ns encrease Your perfect welfare in eternall peace.

PHILAM.

Thanks gentle Swain; And if our homely Plains May give you pleasure, purchas'd by our pains, Enjoy it freely: But the evening damp Begins to fall, and heavens declining Lamp Bespeaks the doubtfull Twilight: Day (grown old) Invites the fowls to Roost; my Sheep to Fold.

EGLOGVE VII.

• ...Schismaticus.
• ...Adelphus.

SCHIS.

HOw fare thy Flocks, Adelphus? Doe they stand All sound? And doe they prosper in thy hand▪

ADEL.

I hope they doe; their Pasture's green and fresh; They'r of good bone, and meetly struck in flesh: They bring faire Lambs, and fleeces white as snow, Their Lambs are faire ones, and their fleeces too.

SCHIS.

What makes thee then so sad? Thy flocks so faire And fleeces too, what makes thy fleece so bare? Thy cheekes so hollow, and thy sides so thin, As if thy girdle had been taken in By famine, for the want of Belly stuffe To fill them up?

ADEL.

The Shepheard's fat enough That owes the flock; I doe but dresse his vine, And tread the Presse; 'tis he that drinks the wine.

SCHIS.

Art thou his Lad? Or do'st thou serve for Fee? Wert ever bound to th'trade? Or art thou free?

ADEL.

Seaven yeares compleat, I serv'd a jolly dame Yclept Cantabria, whose illustrious name Has fill'd the world, whose memorable Glory Is made the subject of all Shepheards story: For frolick Roundelayes, and past'rall Songs, And all those quaint devises that belongs To Shepheards mirth, she bore the bell away; Had Thracian Orpheus liv'd to seen her day, How had the glory of his Art been dim! Sure, he had follow'd her, as beasts did him: Seaven yeares I serv'd this jolly Dame, and she At seaven yeares end was pleas'd to set me free: Ere since I fisht in troubled streams, to get Some poor imployment, as she thought me fit (After my seaven yeares bonds) to entertain; Out fisht my patience, and yet fisht again: My float lay still, whil'st other anglers took: Indeed, I fisht not with a golden hook, As others did; whereby I was compel'd To flag my sailes, which late ambition swel'd

Above the power of my purse, and serve, Like a poore hireling: better stoop then sterve.

SCHIS.

'Tis true, Adelphus; times are grown so bad, Without that hook, there's nothing to be had; But say, young Swaine, what stipend does reward Thy yearely paines? I know thy paines are hard.

ADEL.

There's nothing cheaper now, then poor mens sweat; Indeed my paines are not esteem'd too great For twice ten yearly Royalls to requite, And yet I ward all day, and watch all night.

SCHIS.

Gold, dearely purchas'd! Does thy paines obtain No by-commendaes, no collaterall gain, To raise and heighten up the slender wall Of thy low fortunes?

ADEL.

Shepheard, none at all; And that which grieves me most, my straggling sheep Are apt to roame abroad; they will not keep Their owne appointed limits; But they stray, Rambling some one; and some, another way: They love to change, & wander, God knowes whither, Like other flocks, they seldome feed together; Whereby, to my great grief, they neither show their Good will to me, nor loves to one another.

SCHIS.

Thou art but greene, Adelphus, and as yet A very Novice in the trade of wit: Time was, Adelphus, that my wants would whine And whimper in poore rags as well as thine; As small a girdle circled, and embrac'd The empty casket of my hidebound wast; My visage was as thin, my hollow cheeks As faithfull Almanacks of Emberweeks; But wise Experience, the beloved child Of Time and Observation, soone exil'd My green wit folly, and endu'd my heart With the true knowledge of the Shepheards art; She taught me new devises, to enrich My flocks and me; (waies far above the pitch Of plaine, and triviall wits, and far exceeding The downright discipline of common feeding) I tell thee, Swaine; before I learn'd this way, My rambling flocks would never fadge to stay Within my pastures; every thorne would beare A costly witnesse that they had been there; I sought about, but often sought in vaine; Some would be lost, and ne'er come home againe: Others, unsought for, would perchance return With bags new strain'd, and fleeces newly shorn; Some hang'd on crooked bryers, where, unfed, Some were discover'd dying, others dead: Thus being a foole, like thee, I lost my sheep; They could not keep me, that I could not keep: But when as wise Experience had school'd me,

And purg'd that common error that befool'd me, My flocks could love their feed, and leave to roame; In stead of straying, there would thousands come From other folds, that daily su'd to be Accounted mine; and own'd no Swaine, but me: That in short time, my fold was grown so full That lamb was held no dainty; and my wooll Waxt so abundant, that one moity fill'd A spacious room, which tother halfe did build.

ADEL.

I envy not not thy wel-deserved store, Ingenious Shepheard; I admire more The secret of thy art, which if it be To be repos'd, repose the trust in me: My better'd fortunes, shall have cause to pay Their vowes, and blesse thy soule another day.

SCHIS.

Come then, sit down, Adelphus, and attend; Thou hast desir'd, thou hast obtain'd a friend, Who, in a word, shall give thee briefe direction, Wherein, thy practice must produce perfection: There is a glorious Island, cal'd by name, The Isle of Man, a place of noted fame For Merchants trading, rich and fairely stor'd With all that forain Kingdomes can afford; Vpon that Island is a City cal'd By th' name of Kephalon, round, richly wal'd With polisht Ivory, wherein does stand

The beauty and the strength of all the land; At th' upper end of Microcosmos streit, Neare to the Palace, where the Muses meet In counsell, (as the heathnish Poets fain) There dwels, (wel known to many a Shepheard swain) A man, by trade a Gardner, hight by name Phantasmus; one, whose curious hand can frame Rare knots, and quaint devises; that can make Confounding Labyrinths; will undertake To carve the lively shapes of fowle or beast In running streames; nay, what exceeds the rest, Will make ye gardens full of dainty flowers, Of strawbery banks, and sun-resisting bowers, Like cobwebs flying in the flitting aire; There is no seed of any thing that's rare, Forein or native, which by sea or land, Is not conveigh'd to his enquiring hand: Among the rest, (to draw a step more neare To what suspends thy long expecting eare) This Gardner has a seed, which schollers call Idea; sweet in tast, and very small; It is a seed well known, and much despis'd By vulgar judgments, but as highly priz'd By men of art; a seed of wondrous might, And soverain vertue, being us'd aright; But most of all to Shepheards, that have care T'encrease their flocks, and keep their pastures faire.

ADEL.

Neglect of what is good, is goods abuse: But tell me how it makes for Shepheards use?

SCHIS.

This seed being scatter'd on the barest grounds, Shoots up a sudden leafe, which leafe abounds With pretious moisture; 'Tis, at first, but slender, Like spiney grasse of nature soft and tender, And apt to chill with every blast of aire, Vnlesse the skilfull Swaine take speciall care To keep it close, and cover'd from the blast Of Easterne winds; and then it thrives so fast, And spreads abroad so rank, that frost nor fire Can make it fade; and trod, it mounts the higher; 'Tis call'd Opinion; 'Tis a curious feed That sheep doe most delight in, and indeed, Is so delicious pleasing to the tast, That they account it but a second fast To feed, or graze on any food but that; It makes them in a fortnights space as fat, As full of thriving moisture, and appeare As faire, as those that pasture all the yeare: It is so fragrant, that the sent provokes The lingring appetite of neighb'ring flocks To prove unknown delight; nor hedge, nor ditch, Can be a fence sufficient to the Itch Of their invited stomacks; they will come From other folds, and make thy fold their home.

ADEL.

But wher's the profit, Shepheard, where's the gains? He feedes but ill, that finds no price, but pains.

SCHIS.

He's but a silly Cook that wists not how To lick his fingers; she deserves no Cow That kens not how to milke; nor he, a fold, That cannot sheare; he that complaines of cold, And has a lib'rall woodstack in his yard, May freeze, unpitied; and lament, unheard.

ADEL.

True, gentle Shepheard; but ill gotten wealth Ill thrives; better be cold then warm by stealth.

SCHIS.

Thou art a novice, Swaine, thou need'st not take Vngiven; nor yet, with humble suits awake Their charity; when they have found the smack Of thy delicious pasture, thou shalt lack No good, that they can give; one every bryer They'l hang their fleeces for thee; they'l conspire To yeane their jolly lambs within thy cot, To make them thine; In briefe, what wil they not?

ADEL.

But tell me, Shepheard, will this dainty feed Make them but seeming fat, or fat indeed?

SCHIS.

What's that to us, if they appear but so? Their Lambs are fair; their Fleeces white as snow; They thrive; are fruitfull, and encrease our store; What need a curious Shepheard question more? What, if their skins be puft? no eye can see't; What, if their flesh be ranck? Their Lambs are sweet: If plump and fruitfull, whether bloat, or fat, We take no care; let Butchers look to that: They bear nor fleece, nor lamkin being flead; Swain, 'tis the quick we live by, not the dead.

ADELPH.

But I have heard some learned Shepheards say, There is a statute, that forbids this way Of feeding sheep: there dwels, not far from hence, A Shepheard, lately question'd for th' offence.

SCHIS.

Let tim'rous fooles fear statutes; Swain, I know The worst that Statutes have the pow'r to doe; They speak big words, will threaten to deprive, Imprison, fine, and then perchance connive: Twice have I star'd the stern-brow'd high Cōmission In th' open face, in levell opposition; The first time they depriv'd me of my Crook; Dispoil'd me of my fruitfull flocks; they took My thriving pastures from me; even proceeding

To the height of law, to bind my hands from feeding; But 'twas no high Commission cords could tie My hands so fast, in publique, but that I Could slip the knot in private; I did keep No flocks abroad; but, then, I hous'd my sheep; I fed in Corners; slipt my wethers Bell From off his lofty crest, that none could tell Our secret meetings; There, my flocks would come, Sometimes, perchance, and toll an Ewe from home, T'enrich my Fold; and now my gaines were more, Being thus depriv'd; then ere they were before: But soon my private practice was discry'd By a false-hearted brother, who envy'd My prosp'rous state; and, under-hand did call My yeelding cause to try a second fall With th' high Commission, whose tempestuous blast Confin'd me, fin'd me, and severely past, Next market day, betwixt mine eares and me, A firm divorce perpetually to be.

ADELP.

Gain dearly bought! In my opinion, Swain, The profit counterpoyses not the pain: I hold more sweetnesse in a poor estate, Then treasure, purchas'd at so deare a rate: The day was fair, till the foul evening soil'd it; The Play was good, untill the last Act spoil'd it: 'Tis a false Trade, that flatters at the first With peace, and wealth, and makes last days the worst.

SCHIS.

Be not deceiv'd, Adelphus; bolts and chains Make Shepheards pris'ners, but enlarge their gains: Where wealth comes trowling, pains are princely sports; Bands are but goldē bracelets; Jails, but Courts; I tell thee, Swain, (I speak it to the praise Of Charity) I never breath'd such dayes, As when the voice of law enjoyn'd my feet To tread the curious Lab'rinth of the Fleet; Full diet came, unsought; my bounteous dish Deny'd no delicates, that flesh or fish Could yeeld; the sporting Lamb, the frisking Kid, The tripping Fawn, the sucking Lev'ret did Present themselves before my smiling eyes, A morning, or an evening sacrifice: The Sea-born Sturgeon, and the broad-side Bream, The wary Trout, that thrives against the stream; The well-grown Carp, full laden with her spawn; The scarlet Lobster, and the pricknos'd Prawn; Oyle-steep'd Anchovis, landed from his brine, Came freely swimming in red seas of wine; The brawny Capon, and the full egg'd Hen, The stream-fed Swan, the Malard of the Fen, The coasting Plover, and the mounting Lark, Furnisht my Table like an other Ark: Come, come, Adelphus, prisons are no more Then scare-bugs to fright children from the dore Of their preferment; Linits in the Cage Sit warm, and full, when Flyers feel the rage Of Frost, and Famine; They can sit, and sing

Whilst others droop, and hang the feeble wing: Besides, the name of Prison breeds remorse In such as meerly know it by discourse; It moves compassion from the tender City, When we deserve their envy, more then pity.

ADELPH.

I, but me thinks, such bulk-improving ease, Join'd with such pamp'ring delicates as these, Should boulster up thy brawny cheeks, and place Such lusty characters upon the face Of prosp'rous welfare, that an easie eye Could find no object for her charity.

SCHIS.

Who cannot force complaint without a grief, May grieve in earn'st, and pine without relief: When gentle Novices bring their bounties in, We suck our cheeks, to make our cheeks look thin; Put on our fustian night-caps, and compose Strange rufull faces; whimper in the nose; Turn up the eye, and justifie our Cause Against the strictnesse of severer lawes; O, how these tender-hearted fools partake In our distresse! how sadly they will shake Their sorrow-palsi'd heads, and sigh and whine, To see poor hunger-bitten Christians pine In the sad Jayle! whereas we spend the day As frolick, feast, and sleep as soft as they.

ADELP.

If Prisons be so gainfull, what offence Took thy discretion to remove thee thence?

SCHIS.

Fair hopes of fairer fortunes; which, in short, My tongue shall take the freedome to report; There was a hopefull voyage (late intended For new Plantation) to a place commended By common voice, and blaz'd above all other For fat, and fruitfull soile (the joyfull mother Of fair and peacefull plenty) call'd by name Nov' Anglia; If the partiall blast of fame Be not too vainly lavish, and out-blowes The truth too much, it is a Land that flowes With milke and hony, and (conceiv'd of some) By good manuring, may, in time, become A second Land of Canaan; to which end There is a holy people, that intend To sell intire estates, and to remove Their faithfull housholds thither, to improve Their better'd fortunes, being resolv'd to keep (As our forefathers did in Canaan) sheep; This hopefull voyage was the cord, that drew me From Prison; but this voyage overthrew me: I thought that my delicious kind of feed Had bin a dainty there; I thought, my seed Had bin unknown in that unplanted clime; I hop'd, that in the small extent of time,

(Being out of reach of Law, and uncontroll'd By high Commissions) my frequented Fold Might soon ingrost the flocks of every soile, And made me supream Lord of all the Isle; But when I came to practice, every Swain Was master of my Art, and every Plain Brought forth my secret; now, the common Pasture Of all the Land; and every Hind's a Master.

ADELPH.

Thanks, gentle Shepheard, for thy fair discourse; The fiery Chariot now declines her course, And hot-mouth'd Phlegon bowes his Crest, to coole His flaming nosthrils in the Western Poole: My closed lips must plead a debt, and pray Your courteous patience till another day; I fear, my flocks will think their Swain too bold To keep them longer from their quiet Fold.

EGLOGVE VIII.

• ...Anarchus.
• ...Canonicus.

ANAR.

GRaze on my sheep; and let your soules defye The food of common shepheards; Come not nigh The Babylonish Pastures of this Nation; They are all heathenish; all abomination: Their Pastors are prophane, and they have trod The steps of Belial, not the ways of God. You are a chosen, a peculiar crew, That blessed handfull, that selected few That shall have entrance; set apart and gifted For holy exercises, cleans'd and sifted, Like Flowre from Bran, and separated from the Coats Of the unsanctified, like sheep from goats. But who comes here? My Lambs, why gaze ye thus? Why stand yee frighted? 'Tis Canonicus.

CAN.

God-morrow, Swain; God keep thee from the sorrow Of a sad day; What speechlesse? Swain, God-morrow: What, Shepheard, not a word to entertain The wishes of a friend? God morrow, Swain: Not yet? What mean these silent Common-places Of strange aspects? what mean these antick faces? I fear, his costive words, too great for vent, Stick in his throat; how like a Jack-a-lent He stands, for boyes to spend their shrovetide throws, Or like a Puppit, made to frighten Crows!

ANAR.

Thou art a limb of Satan; and thy throat A sink of poyson; thy Canonicall coat Is nothing but a Liv'ry of the Beast; Thy language is prophane, and I detest Thy sinfull greetings, and that heath'nish fashion Of this your Antichristian salutation; In brief, God keep me from the greater sorrow Of thee; and from the curse of thy God-morrow.

CAN.

How now, Anarchus? Has thy hungry zeale Devoured all thy manners at a meale? No Scraps remain? Or has th' unfruitfull year Made charity so scarce, and love so dear, That none's allow'd, upon the sleight occasion

Of enterview, or civill salutation? Is thy store hoarded up? or is it spent? Wilt thou vent none? or hast thou none to vent? The curse of my God-morrow? Tis most true, Gods blessing proves a curse to such as you.

ANAR.

To such as we? Goe, save your breath, to blow Your vain Cathedrall Bagpipes▪ and bestow Your triviall pray'rs on those that cannot pray Without their spectacles; that cannot say Their unregarded prayers, unlesse they hold The Let'ny, or the charms of Sorrocold Before their purblind eyes; that disinherit Their soules of freedome, and renounce the Spirit; Perchance, your idle prayers may finde an eare With them; Go spend your vain God-morrows there.

CAN.

Art thou thy self, Anarchus? Is thy heart Acquainted with that tongue, that does impart This brain-sick language? Could thy passion lend No sleighter subject, for thy breath to spend Her Aspine venome at, but that, alone, That shuts and opens the Eternall Throne Of the Eternall God? Is prayer become So poor a guest, to be deny'd a roome In thy opinion? To be scorn'd, contemn'd, Like school-boyes Theams, whose errors have con∣demn'd

The guilty Truant to the Masters Rod? Can that displease thee, that delights thy God?

ANAR.

Thou childe of wrath, and fierbrand of Hell, Flows wholesome water from a tainted Well? Or can those prayers be pleasing, that proceed From unregen'rate breasts? Can a foul weed Delight the smell? or ugly shapes, the view? I say, your prayers are all prophane, like you; They'r like that heath'nish Ruffe of thine, that perks Upon thy stiffe-neckt coller, pranckt with Ferks Of studied wit, startcht with strong lines, and put In a set Form, of th' Antichristian Cut.

CAN.

Consult with Reason, Shepheard, and advise; Call home thy Senses; and cast back thine eyes On former dayes; No doubt, but there were they That liv'd as sanctimonious, that could pray, Lift up as holy hands, and did inherit As great a share, and freedome of the Spirit, As you; and these could count it no disgrace To their profession, in a publique place, To use set Forms; did not their wisdomes doe What you contemn, nay more prescribe it too, (Yet neither quench'd, nor wrong'd the sacred motion Of the prompt Spirit) as helps to dull devotion? Nay, more; Has not th' unanimous consent Of all reformed Churches (to prevent

Confused babling, and to disenorm Pre post'rous Service) bred us to a Form Of Common Prayer; Prayers so divinely penn'd, That humane Eloquence does even contend With heavenly Majesty, whilst both conspire To kindle zeal, and to inflame desire?

ANAR.

The Book of Common Prayer? what tell'st thou me Of that? My soul defies both that and thee: Thou art Baals Priest; and that vain Book's no more Then a meer Relique of the Romane Whore: Me thinks a Christian tongue should be asham'd To name such trash; I spit to hear it nam'd: Tell me of Common Prayers? The midnight yelp Of Bal my Bandog is as great a help To raise devotion in a Christians breast, As that; the very language of the Beast; That old worn Masse-book of the new Edition; That Romish rabble, full of Superstition; That paper Idol; that inchaunting Spell; That printed Image, sent from Rome, from Hell; That broad-fac'd Owle, upon a carved Perch; That Bel and Dragon of the English Church.

CAN.

Be not too lavish, Shepheard; half this stuffe Will make a Coat, to prove thee fool enough: Hold, hold: thy brain-sick language does bewray The self-same spirit, whether rayle or pray:

For fooles that rave, and rage, not knowing, why, A scourge is far more fit, then a reply: But say, Anarchus, (If it be not treason Against discretion, to demand a reason From frantick tongues) resolve me, Shepheard, why This book is grown so odious in thine eye?

ANAR.

Because it is an Idoll, whereunto You bend your idle knees, as Papists doe To their lewd Images.

CAN.

I; but we pray Not to, but by it;

ANAR.

Just so, Papists say: Say, in what place th' Apostles ever did Command Set Forme?

CAN.

Where was Set Forme forbid? What Text commanded you to exercise Your Function over Tables? Or baptise In Basons? What Apostle taught your tongue To gibe at Bishops? Or to vex and wrong Your Mother Church? Who taught yee to oppose Your Rulers? Or to whimper in the nose? But since you call for Precedents, (although 'Tis more then our safe practice need to show) Read, to what Blessing that blest Saint commends The holy Church, saluted at the ends Of all his sweet Epistles; Or if these

Suffice not, may your greater wisdomes please To step into the Law, and read th' expresse Commanded Form, wherein the Priest must blesse The parting people; Can thy brazen brow Deny all this? What refuge have yee now? Y' are gone by Law and Gospel; They both us'd Set Forme; What Scripture now must be abus'd?

ANAR.

Well, if the Lord be pleased to allow Set Formes to Prophets, are they set to you? Or have yee so much boldnesse to compare A Prelats pratling, to a Prophets Pray'r?

CAN.

O, that some equall hearer now were by To laugh his treble share, as well as I! Examples are demanded; which, being given, We must not follow: Giddy brains! bereaven Of common sense! Where heaven does make no mentiō, You style it with the term of mans invention: Where heaven commandeth, and is pleas'd to hallow With blest Examples, there we must not follow.

ANAR.

So heaven (by blest Examples) did enjoin, Your bended knees to worship Bread, and Wine?

CAN.

When your crosse-garted knees fall down before Your Parlour-Table, what doe you adore?

ANAR.

So heaven commands, by conjuring words to bring Vow'd hands together, with a hallow'd Ring?

CAN.

'Tis true; your fiery zeals cannot abide Long circumstance; your doctrine's, Vp and Ride.

ANAR.

So heaven commanded, that religious praise Be given to Saints, and worship to their dayes?

CAN.

Whom you contemn, because they did not preach Those Doctrines, that your Western Parlours teach.

ANAR.

So heaven commanded Bishops, and the rest Of that lewd Rank, ranck members of the Beast?

CAN.

I, heaven commanded such, and gave them power To scourge, and check suchill-pac'd Beasts as you are:

ANAR.

So heaven commanded, that the high Commission Should plague poor Christians, like the Inquisition?

CAN.

Your plagues are what your own behaviours urge; None, but the guilty, raile against the Scourge.

ANAR.

So heaven commands your prayers, that buried dust Of Whores and Theeves should triumph with the Just?

CAN.

Man may not censure by externall view; Forbear; we, sometimes, pray for some of you.

ANAR.

So heaven commands your Paintings, Pipes, & Copes, Us'd in your Churches, and ordain'd by Popes?

CAN.

Where Popish hands have rais'd in every Town A Parish Church, shall we pull Churches down? But come, Anarchus, let us leave to play At childish Pushpin; Come, let not the day Be lost in Trifles, to a fruitlesse end; Let's fall to hotter service, and contend By more substantiall argument, whose weight May vindicate the truth from light conceit; Let's try a Syllogisme; (Art infuses Spirit into the children of the Muses) Whereby, stout error shall be forc'd to yield, And Truth shall sit sole Mistresse of the Field.

ANAR.

Art me no Arts; That which the Sp'rit infuses Shall edge my tongue: What tell'st thou me of Muses, Those Pagan Gods; the Authours of your Schismes? P'sh! tell not me of Arts, and Silisismes; I care not for your Quirks, and new devices Of studied wit: We use to play our prizes, With common weapons; and, with downright knocks, We beat down sin, and error, like an Oxe; And cut the throat of heath'nish Pop'ry too, Like Calves, prepar'd for slaughter; so we doe: We rash in sunder Heresie, like an Ell Of Sarc'net, then convey it down to Hell: We take just measure of a Christians heart, By th' yard of Judgement; then, by dextrous Art,

We cut out doctrines, and from notch, to notch We fit our holy Stuffe, (we doe not botch Like you; but make it jump, that it be neither Too wide nor straight) then stitch it up together, And make a Robe of Sanctity, to fit The childe of Grace; we medle not with wit: These be the meanes that overthrow our Schismes, And build Religion, without Sigilismes.

CAN.

A rare device! But tell me, wert thou made A Butcher, or a Tayler by thy trade? I look'd for Schollership; but it appears, Hoods make no Monks; nor Beards, Philosophers.

ANAR.

Surely, I was, at first, by Occupation, A Merchant Tayler, till that lender fashion Of Spanish Cassocks grew into request; When having left that Calling, I profest A Chaunler, where I was enforc'd to vent That hellish smoake, whose most unsavory scent Perfum'd my garments so, that I began To be conceiv'd an Unregenerate man: Which cal'd me from that course of life, to trade In tape and inckle; ere I year'd and day'd This new imployment, O a strange mischance Ore threw my dealings, which did disadvance My meane estate; and whereupon, I fled To Amsterdam; where being trencher-fed

By holy Brethren, liv'd in great respect, S^r Rev'rence, footing stockings for th' Elect: Surely the savour of the Brethrens feet, Perfum'd with commings in, is very sweet: There, twise six monthes I had not led my life, But I became an Husband to an Wife, The widow of an Elder; in whose stead, I was, (though I could neither write, nor read) Accounted worthy (though I say't) and able To preach the Gospel at our holy Table.

CAN.

But say, what strange mischance was that, did move thee To flee thy native soile? What mischief drove thee? What dire dysaster urg'd thy skilfull hand To find imployment in a forain Land?

ANAR.

Surely, I was, when that mischance befell, But poore in purse, and was constrain'd to sell Cadice and Inckle; now because my trade Requir'd an help, I entertain'd a Maide; An able Christian; (though I say't) Begot Of holy Parents; (though the nuptiall knot Of ceremonious Mariage never tyed Their joyned hands) She was a Sanctified And undefiled Vessell; She would pray, When others slept; and work when others play: She was of exc'lent knowledg; and, indeed, She could expound, and preach too, for a need:

She was my servant, and set up my trade With her owne hands; her skilfull fingers made The Tape and Inckle, where withall she stor'd My thriving shop; whereby, I did afford My Brethren better pennyworths; nay, more, She had a gift, (was all the City ore Well known) in making Puddings, whose meer view Would make a Proselyte, and convert a Jew; Whose new Religion would proclaim our Hogs As clean and holy as their Synagogues; These would she beare from house to house, and sell To holy Brethren, who would please her well; For under that pretence, she oft repeated Some close preacht Sermon; oftentimes entreated Of holy Discipline; sometimes gave warning Of some rare Lecture held next Thursday morning: I know not how, (fraile flesh and blood ye know Can doe no more then flesh and blood can doe) But to be short, she would so often fig From place to place, that she was grown too big To be conceal'd from wicked neighb'ring eyes; T'avoid the scandall, I thought good t'arise, And flee to Amsterdam, till I could gather, By information, the reputed Father.

CAN.

A wholsome Hist'ry! able to transforme Abus'd Religions sunshine to a storme Of direfull Thunderbolts, to overthrow All Christian Rulers, that dare longer ow Confusion to the Varlets, and not grind them

To dust, and send them to the place design'd them: Had'st thou that impudence, that brazen face, In the fag end of thy unsav'ry, base, Triobular trades (foule beast;) nay, piping hot From thy close Strumpet, thus to soile, and blot The beauty of Religion, and to wrong The Gospels name with thy illiterate tongue?

ANAR.

Were not th' Apostles Fishers, and not fly Their trades, and preach'd the word as well as I?

CAN.

Avoid, presumptuous Varlet; urge no more My tyred patience; Goe, seeke out thy Whore, Thy fit Compere, and exercise thy trade Vpon her ruin'd stockings, much decaid With long pursuit, and trudging all about To find the Father of her Bastard out; Whil'st I remove my Zenith, and go hence, To waile this fruitlesse howers misexpence, And pray to heaven, that heaven would please to keep Such Goats still separated from my sheep.

EGLOGVE IX.

• ...Iudex.
• ...Romastix.
• ...Flambello.

JUD.

THis is the place, the hower; this the tree, Beneath whose hospitable shades, must be This challeng'd combat; But the champions stay Exceeds their limits; 'Tis an equall lay That neither come: they were so hot last night, 'Tis like their quarrell ended with the light: But who comes yonder? Look, methinks't should be, By's gate, Romastix; No, 'tis not; 'tis he: Me thinks his posture prophecies of Palmes Before th' encounter; see, how sweat imbalmes His varnisht Temples! How each envious pace Vies to be first, and eches for the place! He's neer at hand; Champion let faire applause Crown your intended combat, let your Cause Thrive as it merits; let this morning jarre

Bring forth an Evening peace, the Child of warre; Let Truth prevaile, at last, and let heaven send, First, a faire Enemy; next, a faithfull Friend.

ROM.

Thanks, gentle Iudex; for the last, I durst Assure my selfe in thee: but where's the first? Where's our brave Enemy? whose very breath, Last night, could puffe an Heretick to death, Then by the vertue of S^t. Francis name, Could snatch a well broyl'd soule from the sad flame Of Purgatory, from the sulph'rous flashes Of hells hot Suburbs, and inspire his ashes With a new Catholike soule; whose knee shall gain Salvation from a Puppit, for the pain Of twenty Pater nosters, and thrice seaven Repeated Ave's to the Queen of heaven: But look; Am I deceiv'd? Or doe I see Our Boanarges comming?

JUD.

Sure 'tis hee.

ROM.

'Tis he, Heaven grant that his discourse may trace A measure, but as sober as his pace: Lord, how his tongue last evening shot at rover! Sometimes, how wide it shot! How, sometimes, over! How like a new broke Colt, he pranc'd about! Sometimes stept orderly; sometimes flew out: His hot-mouth'd argument, would for a space

Srike a good stroke; then straight forsake his pace: How his discretion sunk, while his tongue floted! His wit falsegallop'd, while his judgment trotted. But here he comes.

JUD.

The blessings of the day Greets thee.

FLAM.

And let the glory of the fray Crown my triumphant Browes with conquest.

ROM.

stay, Take my God-morrow, first, and then inherit stay, The Crown that shall be purchas'd by thy merit, And justnesse of thy well defended cause.

FLAM.

The like to thee.

JUD.

But let the chief applause Be given to Truth; which must and will prevaile, How ever you defend, or he assaile: She does not like a thredbare Client, sue For help, nor does her cause subsist by you: But like a Queen, sits in her Palace royall, To judge betwixt the Rebel and the Loyall: Then quit your selves, and let the day proclame, Who's the true Subject: Truth is still the same: Romastix this your first arrivall here, Gives you precedence: you shall truely sweare,

No private grudge; nor no malicious end Of base revenge did move you to contend In these fair lists, no itch of vaine applause, But a true thirst, t'advance the publike cause.

ROM.

I doe.

JUD.

And you Flambello too, shall sweare, You try this combat, with a conscience cleare From by-respects of preadvised hate, Or spleen, of later, or of elder date; And that you aime not at a private foe, But at the glory of the Truth.

FLAM.

I doe.

JUD.

Then Champions, too't; you cannot be too stern, In Truths behalfe; 'tis best to be altern; For mutuall language works a faire conclusion: Truth is the Queene of order; not confusion.

ROM.

I here appeach Flambello, as a High- Traitor to the sacred Crown, and dignity Of Soveraign Truth, a Rebel to her Lawes, A private Iudas to the publike Cause.

FLAM.

Blisters oth' tongue that speaks it! He that durst Proclaim, and not maintain it, be accurst.

ROM.

They'r Traitours, rob their Soveraign of their due; You doe the same; and therefore such are you.

FLAM.

You argue with lesse Charity, then Art; Your halting Minor's false as your own heart.

ROM.

He that invests another in the Throne Of Truth; or owns a Prince, but Truth alone, Robs his own Soveraign; But such are you, You therefore rob your Soveraign of her due.

FLAM.

You plead for Truth; and yet you speak beside The Text of Truth: your Minor is denyed.

ROM.

They that prefer their own brain-bred Traditions Before her perfect Laws; make, here, additions;

And, there, Abstractions from her sacred hests, Depose the old, and a new Prince invests; But you prefer Traditions; therefore you Depose the old Prince, and invest a new.

FLAM.

The selfe-same Spirit that inspir'd the words Of holy Prophets, in old time affords Vndoubted Truth to the most just Traditions Of holy Councels, whose divine Commissions Make it a perfect Truth, which they averre Confirmed by a Head that cannot erre.

ROM.

Admit all this! Can very Truth take place Of very Truth? Has Truth a double face? How can the wav'ring will of man be guided Betwixt two Sp'rits; at least, one Sp'rit divided? But say; upon what shoulders grows that Head That cannot erre: that cannot be misled? What is he? Where is his abode? That I May bow my knees, and worship ere I dye.

FLAM.

It is our holy Father; He, that keeps The keys of heaven, and of th' Infernall deeps; He that has power, with those sacred keyes, To open heaven, and lock it when he please; To open Hels broad portals, and let out

His dire Anathemaes to scourge the stout Rebellious heart; and Legions, to devour All such as will not prostrate to his Powre, And high Omnipotency, but rebell Against the Chamberlain of Heaven:

ROM.

And Hell: But tell me to what sort of souls does he Expand the Gates of heaven?

FLAM.

To such as be Obedient to his laws; whose purged hearts Have felt the flames of Purgatory, and smarts Of holy Penance, that observe and do All things his Holinesse enjoyns them to: The Gates of Heaven stand ope for such as these.

ROM.

If he be paid for turning of the keyes: What sort of sins unlock the gates of Hell?

FLAM.

The disobedient hearts, that puffe and swell Against his Government; To such as dare Question the Councels of our holy Chaire: To Hereticks; and such as plot revenge; These are the Card'nall sins, that greaze the henge.

ROM.

But what betides to riotous Gluttons, then, Hell-tutor'd Sorcerers, and incestuous men? Unnat'rall Sodomites, and the brasse-brow'd Lyer? Those that give false Commissions, nay, and hyer Perverted subjects to dissolve their bands Of abjur'd Loyalty, and lay violent hands On their own Princes? Are th' Infernall keys Lesse nimble to unlock Hels gate for these?

FLAM.

These break the dores, and rend the Portals ope, Unlesse the grace of our Lord God the Pope Give former Dispensation; or at least An after Pardon.

ROM.

I conceiv'd, the best Your Al-sufficient Popes could doe, had bin, God-like to pardon a forsaken sin, But to afford a Dispensation too For after crimes, is more then heaven will doe: No wonder, then, the Councels of your Chaire Claim the right hand, and your Traditions dare Take place of Scripture, when that God of yours, That cannot erre, is stronger arm'd, then ours.

FLAM.

It stands not with obedience to aspire

Unto such holy heights, as to enquire Into the sacred secrets of the Chaire; All Champions must lay down their weapons, there: Doubts cool devotion; And the good digestion Of Catholiques faith is hinder'd, where we question.

ROMAST.

Such dainty stomachs, as are daily fill'd With costly delicates, are eas'ly chill'd; When faith can feed upon no lower things Then Crowns dissolv'd, and drink the blood of Kings, Experience tels, that oftentimes digestion Finds strange obstructions, where Indictments questiō: But since your guilt (beneath the fair pretence Of filiall silence) leaves yee no defence From your reposed weapons; breathe a space And take up new ones, which may plead your case (With the quick spirit of a keener edge) Against the foule reproach of Sacriledge: That Bread of life; which, with a lib'rall hand, Heaven made a common gift, you countermand; And what his bounty carv'd to every one, You falsly challenge to your selves alone; He gives his children loaves; where you afford But crums, being fed, like dogs, beneath your board; That holy draught, that Sacramentall Cup, Which heaven divides among them, you drink up: You are Impostors, and delude poor soules, And what your pamper'd Prelates swill in Bowles, Like fooles, you send them to exhaust from dead And pallid veines of your Incarnate Bread.

FLAM.

First, for the Bread, which your false tongues averre We ravish from the childrens lips, you erre: Your censures misinterpret our intent; We doe but dresse the Grist, that heaven hath sent; And, by our mixture, raise a sweeter Paste, To adde a pleasure to the childrens taste: Next; for that sacred Blood, you grosly term, By th' name of Wine; which, rudely you affirm, Our pamper'd Prelates swill in lusty Bowles, And after, send our poor deluded soules To suck; to suck in vain from out the dead And pallid veins of our Incarnate Bread; You show your wisdomes: It is living Flesh, Wherein are living Streams, that doe refresh The drooping soul; A perfect Sacrifice Of perfect Flesh and Blood, in Breads disguise.

ROM.

Your double answer wants a single force: And is the Grist of heaven become so course To need your sifting? Can your mixtures adde A sweetnesse to it, which it never had? Your Chaire (whose brow hath brasse enough, to call Saint Pauls Epistles, Heresies, and Saint Paul A hare-brain'd Schismatick, and once projected, To have his Errors purg'd, and Text corrected) May eas'ly tax, and censure all the rest, Being all indited by the selfe-same brest:

But is that Body living, that ye tear With your ranck teeth? How worse doe you appear Then Canibals, to be an Vndertaker In that foul act, to eat, to grinde your Maker! Your double answer does abridge the story Of the true Passion of the Lord of glory; Your first condemns him; and, (the sentence past) You boldly crucifie him, in your last: But is it reall Flesh, ye thus devour; Timber'd with bones; and like this flesh of our? Say; doe you eat, and grind it, Flesh and Bone? Or like an unchew'd Pill, but swallow't down? If onely swallow; Champion, you compleat not Your work: You take the Body, but you eat not: If eat; you falsifie what heaven hath spoken; Can you eat bones, and yet a bone not broken? But tell me, tell me, what was he that first Did make so bold, to make himself accurst, To rob the Decalogue, and to withdraw The second Statute from the Morall law? Why was that Statute thought a worse offence Then all the rest? Could not your Chair dispence With that as safely as with all the rest? What has that Statute done? wherein transgrest, That you have made the Tables too too hot To hold it? Champion, speak; why speakst thou not?

FLAM.

Superiour powers, that have large Commission To judge, conceive it but a repetition Of the first Statute, and thought fit to take

It thence for brevity, for corruption sake.

ROM.

Corruption sake? Did never word disclose From Roman lips more true: what tongue ere chose A term more proper, that more full exprest Th' Idea of a well-composed brest? I wish no greater Conquest, or Concession Of a fair truth, then from a foes Confession.

FLAM.

You boast too soon: Take heed your vain conceit Befools you not with a false Antidate: Ill-grounded triumphs are but breaths expense; Fools catch at words; but wise men at the sense.

ROM.

Content thee, Champion; every gamester knows, That Falsifies are Play, as well as blows: But tell me now; If each Abstraction draws A curse upon th' Abstractor from those laws, How can your Councels scape this judgement then, That have exil'd the Second from the Ten?

FLAM.

Their number's nere the lesse; for where we smother One Statute, we dichotomize another.

ROM.

Then, Champion; there's a double curse, you know: One, for abstracting; one, for adding to: But to proceed; what law of God denies The bands of mariage? What exceptionties That undefil'd, that honourable life From Priestly Orders? Aaron had his wife; And he, from whom yee claim (but claim amiss) The free succession of your keys, had his. Heavens Statute qualifies all sorts of men; How came yee to repeal that Statute then?

FLAM.

Mariage is but an Antidote for lust, It is ordain'd for such as dare not trust The frailty of their bodies, or want art To quench the roving tempters fiery dart: But such, whose vessels Prayer, and Fasting keeps Unsoild and pure, where idle blood nere creeps Into their wanton veines; that can restrain Base lust; to such, this Antidote is vain: Such be our sacred Priests, whose horned knees Are seldome streight, but pay their howrely fees To the worn ground, whose Emb'ring lips send up Perpetuall vows; whose wine-abjuring Cup Yeelds no delight; whose stomachs are content To celebrate an everlasting Lent.

ROM.

Say, Champion then, for what respects? for whom, Are Brothels licenc'd by the lawes of Rome? Laymen may wed; there, licence is unjust, Where Law allowes a remedy for lust: But if your Priesthood be so undefil'd How came that pamper'd Pope, (the onely child Of his long since deceased Syre) to own So many jolly Nephewes, whose unknown And doubtfull Parentage, truth fear'd to blaze, Vntill the next succeeding Prelates daies? How is't such vaulted Entries have been found, Affording secret passage, under ground, (With pathes deluding Argus thousand eyes) Betwixt your Abbies, and your Nunneries? How come the depths of your deep throated Wells, (Where utter shades, and empty horror dwells) To yeeld such Reliques; and in stead of stones, To be impav'd with new-borne Infants bones?

FLAM.

Plagues, Horror, Madnesse, and th' Infernall troops Of hells Anathema's; the schreeching whoops Of damned soules; this present worlds disdain, And that worse world to come's eternall pain; Our holy Vrbans execrable curse, Or (if unthought on) any plague be worse, Confound these base, these upstart Luth'ran tongues, That spit such poyson, and project these wrongs

Against our Church.

ROM.

A Curse sufficient! hold, And lend my tongue your patience, to unfold Your Catholike Church; & when my words shal end, Speake you your pleasure, while mine eares attend: Your Church is like a Market; where, for Gold, Both Sinnes and Pardons, may be bought and sold: It is a Jugglers shop, whose Master showes Fine tricks at Fast and Loose, with Oathes and vowes: It is a Mill; wherein, the Laity grind For the fat Clergy, being still kept blind: It is a Schoole, whose Schollers, ill directed, Are once a yeare, by their own hands corrected: It is a Magazine, wherein are lai'd More choice of Scriptures, then their Maker made: It is a Church, depraves the Text; and then, Pins the Authority on the sleeves of men: It is a slaughter-house, where Butchers bring 〈…〉〈…〉 All sorts of men; and now and then, a King: It is a sort of people, doe unthrone The living God, and deifie a stone: It is a Woman, that in youth, has bin A Whore; and now in age, a Baud to sin: It damnes poore Infants, to eternall fire, For want of what they liv'd not to desire: It dare assure us sound before the cure, And bids despaire, where we should most assure: It leads poore Women captive, does contrary The lawfull use of Meats; forbids to marry.

JUD.

Hold, Champions, hold; 'Tis needlesse to renue Your fight; The day grows hot, as well as you: It is against the course of Martiall Lawes To deal a blow in a decided Cause: Sheath up your sanguine blades; These wars have cost Much bloud and sweat: The field is won and lost; And we adjudge the Palms triumphant Bow Of Conquest to renown'd Romastix brow; And, with our shrill-mouth'd Trumpet we proclame Eternall honour to his honour'd name, Who shall be styl'd, to his perpetuall prayse, Truths faithfull Champion till the last of dayes: Queen Truth shall prosper, when her Pleader fails: Great is the Truth; and that great Truth prevails.

EGLOGVE X.

• ...Orthodoxus.
• ...Catholicus.
• ...Nuncius.

ORTH.

WHat news, Catholicus? You lately came From the great City: what's the voice of Fame?

CATH.

The greatest part of what my sense receives, Is the least part of what my Faith believes: I search for none: If ought, perchance, I hear Unaskt, it often dies within my eare, Untold; What this man, or what that man saith, Can hardly make a Packhorse on my Faith: But, now I think on't; There's great talk about A strange predictious Star, long since, found out By learned Ticho-brachy, whose portents Reach, to these Times, they say, and tels th' events

Of strange adventures, whose successe shall bring Illustrious fame, to a victorious King, Born in Northern parts; whose glorious arme Shall draw a sword, a sword that shall be warm With Austrian blood, & whose loud beaten drum Shall send, beyond the walls of Christendome, Her royall-conquering Marches, to controle (Even from the Artick, to th' Antartick pole) The spaun of Antichrist, and to engore Those Bald-pate Panders of proud Babels Whore.

ORTH.

May these portents be sure, as they are great; And may that drum ne're sound her faint retreat, Till these things take effect: But tell me, Swaine, How hapt this lucky Comet to remaine So long in silence, and, at length, to blaze With us, and be the rumor of our daies.

CATH.

There is a Prince, new risen from the North, Of mighty spirit, and renowned worth; Prudent and pious; for heroick deeds, At least a Caesar; in whose heart, the seeds Of true Religion were so timely sown, That they are sprung to height, and he is grown The wonder of his daies; whose louder name Has blast enough to split the Trump of Fame: Hast thou beheld the heavens greater eye, Maskt in a swarthy cloud, how, by and by,

It breaketh forth; and, with his glorious ray, Gives glory to the discontented day? So this illustrious Prince, scarce nam'd among The rank of common Princes, bravely sprung From his dark Throne; and with his brighter story Hast soil'd the lustre of preceding glory: This is that Man, on whom the common eye Is turn'd; on his adventure does relye The worlds discourse; this is that flame of fire We hope shall burn (we hope as we desire) Proud Babel: this, the arme that shall unhenge Th' incestuous gates of Sodom, and revenge The blood of blessed Martyrs spilt, and frying In flames; (blood, that has been this age a crying For slow-pac'd vengeance) this is he, whose Throne This blazing Prophet bent his eye upon.

ORTH.

And well it may; The kalender, whereby We rurall Shepheards calculate, and forespy Things future, Good or Evill, hath late descry'd That evill affected planet Mars, ally'd To temporizing Mercury, conjoyn'd I'th' house of Death; whereby we Shepheards find Strange showres of blood, arising from the North, And flying Southward, likely to breake forth Vpon the Austrian parts, and raise a flood, To overwhelm that bloody House, with Blood: That House; which like a Sun in this our Orbe, Whiffes up the Belgick fumes, and does absorbe From every Soile rich vapours, and exhale

From Sea and Land, within our Christian pale; A Sun, the beams of whose Meridian glory Fill eyes with wonder, and all tongues with story.

CATH.

But there's a Viall, to be emptyed out Vpon this glorious Planet; which, no doubt, Thine eye and mine shall see, within these few Approaching days; (if Shepheards signes be true) No doubt, the lingring times are sliding on, Wherein, this House shall flame, and this bright Sun Shall lose his light, shall lose his light, and never Shine more, but be eclips'd, eclips'd for ever: O Shepheard; If the pray'rs of many a Swain Have audience, and our hopes be not in vain, This is that Prince, whose conqu'ring Drum shal beat Through the proud streets of Room, and shall unseat The Man of sin; and, with his sword unthrone The Beast, and trample on his triple Crown: This is that Angel, whose full hand does grasp That threatned Viall, and whose fingers clasp This flaming Fauchin, which shall hew and burn The lims of Antichrist, and nere return Into his quiet sheath, till that proud Whore, That perks so high, lye groveling on the Flore.

ORTH.

Shepheard; Me thinks, when my glad ears attends Vpon his fair successe, his Actions, Ends, His Valour, Wisdome, Piety, when I scan

All this, me thinks, I think on more then Man: O, how my soul lies down before the feet Of this brave Prince! O, how my blessings greet Each obvious action, whose loud breath I dare Not hear, unprosper'd with my better pray'r: I must forget the peace of Sion, when I cease to honour this brave Man of men: Had Plutarch liv'd till now, to blazon forth His life, (as sure he would) what Prince of worth, Or Greek, or Roman, had his single story Selected out to parallel his Glory?

CATH.

O Shepheard, he, whose service is employ'd In heavens high battels, can doe nothing void Of fame, and wonder; nothing, lesse then glorious: Heavens Champion must prevail; must be victorious: But, O, what hap! what happinesse have wee, The last, and dregs of Ages, thus to see These hopefull Times; nay more, of sit beneath, Beneath our quiet Vines, and think of death By leisure, when Spring-tides of blood o'rewhelms The interrupted peace of forain Realms! Our painfull Oxen plough our peacefull grounds; Our quiet streets nere startle at the sounds Of Drums or Trumpets; neither Wolf, nor Fox Disturb the Folds of our encreasing Flocks: Our Kids, and sweet-fac'd Lambs can frisk, and feed In our fresh Pastures, whilst our Oaten Reed Can breath her merry strains, and voice can sing Her frolick Past'rals to our Shepheard-King.

ORTH.

'Tis not for our deserts; or that our ways Are more upright, then theirs of former days: We lay the Pelion of our new Transgressions Upon our Fathers Ossa: The Confessions Of our offences; nay, our very pray'rs Are more corrupt then the worst sins of theirs: Sure, Swain, the streams of Mercy run more clear Then they were wont; Her smiling eyes appear More gracious now, in these our Borean climes, Then other Nations, or in former times.

CATH.

Shepheard; Perchance, some fifty righteous men, Perchance, but thirty; Peradventure, ten Have made our peace: Perchance, th' Almighties eare Has found a Moses, or some Phineas, here.

ORTH.

Vengeance, that threatned sinfull Israels crime, For Davids sake, nere stirr'd all Davids time: 'Twas Davids piety did suspend the blow Of Vengeance: Have not we a David too? A Prince; whose worth, what our poor tongues can scatter, May rather wrong for want of height, then flatter; A pious Prince; whose very Actions preach Rare Doctrines; does, what others doe but teach: A Prince; whom neither flames of youth can fire, Nor beauty adde the least to his desire; Whose eyes are like the eyes of Turtles, chast; Can view ten thousand dainties, and yet tast

But one; but in that dainty, can digest The perfect Quintessence of all the rest: A Prince, that (briefly to characterize him) Wants nothing, but a People, how to prize him. Evill Princes, oft, draw plagues upon the Times, Whereas good Princes salve their peoples Crimes.

CATH.

Thou hast not spoken many things, but much; Such is our People, and our Prince is such: Such fierce temptations still attend upon The glitt'ring Pompe of the Imperiall Throne, I, either wonder Princes should be good, Or else conceive them not of Flesh and Blood: What change of pleasure can his soul command, And not obtain, being Lord of all the Land? What bold? what ventrous spirit dare enquire Into the lawfulnesse of his desire? What Crown-controlling Nathan dare begin To question Vice? or call his sin, a sin? Who is't, that will not undertake to be His sins Attorney? Nay, what man is he That will not temporize, and fan the fire T' encrease the flames of his unblown desire? What place may not be secret? or what eye Dare (under pain of putting out) once pry Into his Closet? or what season will Not wait upon his pleasure, to fulfill His royall lust? what chast Sophronia would Wound her own heart, for fear her Soverain should? O Shepheard, what a Prince have we, that can

Continue just, and yet continue Man! No doubt, but vengeance would confound these times, Were not his Goodnesse far above our crimes: Alas; Our happy Age (that has enjoy'd The best, the best of Princes, and is cloy'd With prosp'rous Plenty, and the sweet increase Of right-hand Blessings) in this glut of peace, Loaths very Quails and Manna; we are strangers To those hard evils, to those continuall dangers That cleave to States, wherein poor subjects grone Beneath the Vices of th' Imperiall Throne: They cannot prize good Princes, that nere had The too too dear experience of a bad: Who knows not Pharoh? Or the plagues, that brake Upon the people for hard Pharohs sake?

ORTH.

The Acts of Princes mount with Eagle-wings: Few know th' Alliance between God and Kings.

CATH.

Look, Shepheard, look! Whose hasty feet are they That trace the Plains so quick? They bend this way.

ORTH.

His steps divide apace; Pray God, his hast Be good: Good tidings seldome come so fast.

CATH.

I think 'tis Nuncius.

ORTH.

Nuncius never uses To come unnews'd.

CATH.

I wonder what the news is?

ORTH.

See, how he strikes his breast!

CATH.

Good Lord, how sad His countenance seems!

ORTH.

What, Nuncius, good or bad?

CA••H.

Bad! Worse! The worst of worsts! The heaviest news That lips ere broach'd, or language can diffuse! O, earths bright Sun's eclips'd! Ah me! is drench'd In blood! His flames are quench'd, for ever quench'd: That light, which wondring Shepheards did adore, Is out; will never shine on Shepheard more: Expect no Sunshine from the beams of Suede; Sueden, the glory of the world, is dead: Our strength is broke, and all our hopes are vain; Sueden, the glory of the world, is slain: Our Sun is set, and earth now wants a Sun;

Sueden, the glory of the earth is gone: Gone, gone for ever to eternall night; Earth wants her Sueden; and the world, her light.

CATH.

Fond hopes! why damp ye not my dull belief, To lend a little respite to my grief? What ailes my passion to beleeve so soon The Evill it feares? Can Phoebus, in the noon Of his Meridian glory, cease to shine, Before his Solstice leaves him to decline The least degree? Can brave Adolphus fall, And heaven not give us warning? none at all? There was no Comet blaz'd: no apparition Of kindled Meteors, lent the least suspition: Me thinks, the heavens should flame, and earths foun∣dation, Should shake, against so great an alteration.

ORTH.

But is it certain, Nuncius?

NUN.

I, too sure: The wounds of death admit no hopes of cure:

ORTH.

God knows his own designs: His sacred brest Knows where to propagate his glory best: His hidden ways agree not with our eyes: His wars must prosper, though his Champion dyes:

We must not question Fate: where heaven thinks fit To doe, we must be silent, and submit: We must not look too near; we must not prye; Perhaps, young Joshuah lives, though Moses dye: Give Suede his honour, and enroll his name Among the Worthies, in the book of Fame: Give him the honour of his double story, Begun in Grace, and perfected in Glory: But let our fond Indulgence be adviz'd, In hon'ring Sueden, heaven be not dispriz'd: We must not languish, in a morall thirst, T' advance the second Cause, and sleight the first; We must not droop, for want of Suedes Alarm, As if that heaven were bound to Suedens Arm: That God, that hath recall'd our Sueden, can Make a new Sueden of a common Man.

CATH.

But see! The drooping day begins to do'n His mourning weeds; The sullen night draws on: 'Tis time to fold our sheep; They little know, Or feel those sorrows, their poor Shepheards do: Shepheards, farewell; Perchance the morrow light May shine forth better news:

ORTH.

God night.

NUN.

God night.

FINIS.

EGLOGVE XI.

• ...Philarchus.
• ...Philorthus.
• ...Anarchus.

PHILAR.

SHepheard, ah Shepheard, what sad days have wee (More sad then these sad days) surviv'd to see! How is the guilt of our forefathers crimes, Reveng'd on us in these distracted times! How is the Shepheards honour that while ere Shone like the morning Star; and did appeare To all the world, like Heraulds to make known Th' approaching Glory of the rising Sun! How is that honour dim! how is her light Clouded in shades of Ignorance and night! How is our Calling sleighted, and that power Our Master lent us, threatned every hower! How are our worried Names become the scorn Of every base Mechanick! rent and torn In every vulgar mouth? reproacht and made

Delinquents judg'd by every triviall Trade! How are our persons scorn'd, contemn'd, revil'd, Nay, even by him, whose schoole-instructed child Ieers at his ignorance; and oft by him, Whose sinking fortunes teaches how to swim With zealous Bladders, being apt to steale Advantage from the times, and trade in zeale! How are wee growne the By-word of the land, Commanded now, where late we did command! Prest like a Vintage, banded like a Ball! Despis'd of many, and dispris'd of all!

PHILOR.

True my Philarchus; Shepheards never found So hard a time, Ah, fortune never frown'd So sterne till now; Presumptuous Ignorance Had nere till now the boldnesse to advance Her beetle browes; or once to tread the Stage Of this blest Island in so bright an Age. But ah! when Lights grow dim and dull, what hand Can keepe out darkenesse? who can countermand The melancholy shades of ugly night, When heaven wants Lamps, or when those Lamps want light? Come Shepheard, come, (here's none but Thee and I) We taxe the Times, but could the Times reply They'd vindicate their evils, and lay their crimes On us poore Shepheards that thus taxe the Times. Had we burnt bright, had our refulgent Rayes Given lustre to the world, and fill'd our dayes With glorious brightnesse, how had darknesse found A place for entrance? where could shadowes ground

Their ayery errands? or what soule could taint Our Sun-bright names? what evill could cause com∣plaint? How blest! how more then blest, had Shepheards been Had Shepheards beene so happy to have seen But their owne happinesse; Had the waxen wings Of their ambitious thoughts not aym'd at things Beyond their pitch; Had they beene wise to move In their owne Orbes, and not like Phaeton rove Through the wild Labyrinth of th' Olympick tower And search'd the secrets of too vast a power, Their Glory had not found so short a Date, Nor caus'd combustion in so calme a State.

PHILAR.

Admit all this Philorthus, (for who can Consider frailty, and not thinke of Man?) Shall some few staines in the full Lampe of night Cry downe the Moone, and wooe the Stars for light? What if thy too neglected Soile abound With noysome Weeds? wilt thou disclaime the ground? Or wouldst thou dry the earths full breast, that feeds Thy fragrant Flowers, because it fosters Weeds? Ah my Philorthus, thus the cause now stands With us poore Swaynes; The power of our hands Entrusted there by our all-wise God Pan, (To whom the frailties of collapsed Man Was knowne too well) for some disorders growne Among us Swaines is cry'd, is voted downe; And that fair Livelyhood that late maintain'd Those love-preserving Festivals which chain'd Our mutuall hearts in links of love; which clad

The naked Orphan, and reliev'd the sad Afflicted widow, and releas'd the bands Of the lean Prisoner grip'd with the hard hands Of his too just oppressor; this they say Is to be shortned, if not snatcht away.

PHILOR.

Ah, gentle Shepheard, heaven, ah, heavens forefend, Those Tydes should ebb that flow to such an end; But some we fear bin more corrupt then so; They'r two things, what they should, & what they do.

PHILAR.

True my Philorthus, some lewd Swains there bee That have more Bags then Bowels, that can see Pale misery panting at their Lordly gates, Answerd with Statutes, and repulsive Rates; Whose hard, whose Adamantine eare can brook The sad Complaints of those (who cannot look Beyond the Prospect of consuming Grief) Without Remorse at all, without Relief; Whose wanton tables, deckt with costly fare, Pamper their idle bodies, and prepare Oyl for their lust, whose craving thoughts, made poore With too much wealth, condemn themselves to more; And such they be Philorthus whose lewd fames And lives have poyson'd the illustrious names Of reverend Shepheards, whose ambitious pride Hath brought contempt, and made the world deride What late it honour'd, now disdain'd, abhorr'd

By whom they were as much, ere while, ador'd. Ah Shepheard, these are they whose vain ambition Made us sad Partners in the worlds derision; But that which wounds my soul beyond redresse, And aggravates my grief above excesse, Those Past'rall staves wherewith those reverend Sages Of former times have rul'd so many ages, And by a settled Government, exilde Confus'd disorder, the prodigious Childe Of factious Anarchie, Those Rods of power That rul'd our Swains by day, and did secure Their Folds by night, are threatned from our hands, And all our Flocks to bow to new Commands.

PHILOR.

It cannot be, the great Assembly's wise; Has many Heads, and twice as many Eyes, Eyes bright as day, that view both things and times, Fast clos'd to persons, open to their crimes: Judgement, nor Fancy, moves in that bright Sphere; There are no Ends, no by-Respects are there: The care of Truth, and zeal of publique Rest Rests in their restlesse, their united brest: Heav'n be their Guide, and may their pains encrease Heav'ns glory, and this glorious Islands peace; Ah, thinkst thou Shepheard, their heav'n-guided heart Will venture to decline his ways, or start From Heav'ns Example? Heav'n was pleas'd to beare With very Sodom, had but ten been there That had been righteous; loath to mixe the blood Of guilty thousands, with some few of good:

No question, Shepheard, but the enormous crimes Of our Profession, heightened with the times, Are foule enough; nor could such Actions lye Conceal'd and clos'd before so cleare an Eye; And being seene, how could they choose but grate The groaning Feoffees of our tottering State? How could our growing greatnesse choose but blow And quicken up their zealous flames? or how Could our untam'd Ambition hope to stand Against the power of so great a hand? But they are just and wise, and wisdome still Shews rather what it can, then what it will. When publick Iustice threatens, it propounds Way for amendment, rather then confounds: And far lesse cost and dammage vvill ensue To vveed old Gardens, then to dig a nevv.

PHILAR.

True, Shepheard, But they plead for want of dressing Our Garden's forfeited, and they are pressing Hard for Reentry; They have seal'd a Deed Vpon the ground, intending to proceed Next Tearme t'Ejectment, by which means they'l stand A new possest and re-enjoy the Land.

PHILOR.

Shepheard, we hold in Terme from great god Pan; His Counsell drew the Lease; If wiser Man Can find a flaw, our weaknesse must appeale To Pan's Vicegerent; He will vouch the seale

Faire and authentick: If the Common Lawes Condemne our Right, by vertue of that Clause Of heedlesse Forfeiture, O then we fly To be reliev'd in the high Chancery, That uncorrupted Court that now does rest In the great Chamber of the Assemblies brest: Ther's Iudgement there, which idle heaps of gold Despaires to bribe, and Conscience there unsold: Poore Shepheards, there, shall find as faire accesse, As Peers, as Princes, and as just redresse.

PHILAR.

Heav'n be our great Protection, and close Their suits-attending ears against all those, Whom rayling Ignorance, and frantick Zeale Hath only taught the way to say, and seale, And set their marks, not having skill to shape A Letter; or, without a Lye, to scape The danger of Non legit, whose profession Is only to scorne Lambeth, and discretion: These be fit men, Philorthus, to descend Into these Lists, sweet Champions to contend About these Myst'ries, likely to confound Those famous Worthies that have searcht the ground Of sage Antiquity; wherein of old, The Government was wrapt, and still enroll'd.

PHILAR.

Come Shepheard, come, our great Assemblie's wise, And for a while, in policy complies

With the rude Multitude, who must have day, To breath their humors, which would else break way, Like earth-imprisoned Aire, whose sudden birth Startles the world, and shakes the shivering earth: It is the nature of the vulgar brest Still to mislike, and count that State the best Which they enjoy not; Pleas'd with Novelties, They grow impatient of the old, and prize What's next in hope; more happy in expectation Then when possest; all fire to Alteration: But Shepheard know; our grave Assembly pryes Where they nere view'd, and looks with clearer eyes; Their wisdoms know, what sudden Change portends: Things rash begun, too oft in danger ends; But unavoided ruine daily waites On suddain change of fundamentall States.

PHILAR.

I, but Philorthus, whilst the State complies With the tumultuous Vulgar, tumults rise, And rude disorder creeps into our plains, Swains will be Shepheards, Coblers will be Swains; Flocks are disturb'd, and pastures are defac'd; Swains are despis'd, and Shepheards are disgrac'd, Orders are laught to scorn; and, in conclusion, Our Kingdome's turn'd a Chaos of confusion.

PHILOR.

Why Shepheard, there's the Plot: the surest way To take the Fish, is give her leave to play,

And yeeld her Line; He best can cure the Cause That marks th' effect; Evill manners breed good Laws: The wise Assembly knowing well the length Of the rude popular foot, with what a strength The vulgar fancy still pursues the Toy That's last presented, leaves them to enjoy Their uncontrolled wils, untill they tire And quickly surfeit on their own desire, Whose wild disorders secretly confesse Needfull support of what they'd most suppresse: But who comes here? Anarchus?

PHILAR.

'Tis the same;

PHILOR.

How like a Meteor made of zeal and flame The man appears?

PHILAR.

Or like a blazing Star, Portending change of State, or some sad War; Or death of some good Prince.

PHILAR.

He is the trouble Of three sad Kingdomes.

PHILAR.

Even the very Bubble, The froth of troubled waters.

PHILOR.

Hee's a Page Fill'd with Errata's of the present Age;

PHILAR.

The Churches Scourge;

PHILOR.

The devils Enchiridion.

PHILAR.

The Squib, the Ignis fatuus of Religion: But hee' at hànd: Anarchus what's the newes?

PHILOR.

In a Browne studie?

PHILAR.

Speechlesse?

PHILOR.

In a Muse?

ANAR.

Man, if thou be'st a Babe of Grace, And of an holy Seed, I will reply incontinent, And in my words proceed; But if thou art a Child of wrath, And lewd in conversation, I will not then converse with thee, Nor hold communication.

PHILOR.

I trust Anarchus, wee all three inherit

The selfe same Gifts, and share the selfe same Spirit.

ANAR.

Know then my brethren, heav'n is clear, And all the Clouds are gone; The Righteous now shall flourish, and Good dayes are comming on; Come then, my Brethren, and be glad, And eke rejoyce with me; Lawn Sleeves and Rochets shall go down, And, hey! then up goe we.

Wee'l breake the windows which the Whore Of Babylon hath painted, And when the Popish Saints are downe, Then Barow shall be Sainted; There's neither Cr••sse nor Crucifixe Shall stand for men to see; Romes trash and trump'ries shall goe downe, And, hey! then up goe we.

What ere the Popish hands have built Our Hammers shall undoe; Wee'l breake their Pipes & burn their Copes, And pull downe Churches too: Wee'l exercise within the Gr••ves, And teach beneath a Tree; Wee'l make a Pulpit of a Cart, And, hey! then up goe wee.

Wee'l down with all the Varsities, Where Learning is profest, Because they practise and maintain The Language of the Beast: Wee'l drive the Doctors out of doores, And Arts what ere they be, Wee'l cry both Arts, and Learning down, And, hey! then up goe we.

Wee'l down with Deans and Prebends too, But I rejoyce to tell ye, How then we will eat Pig our fill, And Cap••n by the belly: Wee'l burn the Fathers witty Tomes, And make the Schoole-men flee, Wee'l down with all that s••els of wit, And, hey! then up go wee.

If once that Antichristian crew Be crusht and overthrown, Wee'l teach the Nobles how to croutch, And keep the Gentry down; Good manners have an evill report, And turns to pride we see; Wee'l therefore cry good manners down, And, hey! then up goe wee.

The name of Lord shall be abhorr'd, For every man's a brother, No reason why in Church or State, One man should rule another: But when the change of Government Shall set our fingers free,

Wee'l make the wanton Sisters stoop, And, hey! then up go we.

Our Coblers shall translate their soules From Caves obscure and shady, Wee'l make Tom T— as good as my Lord, And Joan as good as my Lady. Wee'l crush and fling the marriage ring Into the Romane See; Wee'l ask no bands, but even clap hands And, hey! then up goe wee.

PHILAR.

Heaven keep such vermin hence; If sinfull dust May boldly chuse a punishment, and trust Their own desires, let Famine, Plague or Sword, A treacherous friend, or (what is more abhorr'd) A foolish, false, contentious wife, first seise On our sad souls, then such wilde beasts as these.

ANAR.

Surely thou art an Hypocrite, A lewd false-hearted Brother; I find thou art a Childe of Rome, And smell the whore thy Mother.

PHILOR.

Away false varlet; come not nere my flocks; Thou taint'st my pastures; Neither Wolfe nor Fox

Is halfe so furious; They, by stealth, can prey, Perchance, upon a Lambe, and so away; But thy blood-thirsty malice is so bold, Before my face to poison all my fold: I warn thee hence, come not within my list; Be still, what thou art thought, a Separatist.

ANAR.

Thou art the spawn of Antichrist, And so is this thy Brother; Thou art a man of Belial, And he is such another: I say thou art a Priest of Baal, And surely I defie thee; To Satan I will leave thy soul, And never more come nigh thee.

PHILAR.

A gentle riddance: O may never crosse Fall heavier on this Land, then such a losse!

PHILOR.

But think'st thou Swain, the great Assemblies eye Beholds not these base Sycophants that lye Close gnawing at the root, as well as those, That with the Romish Axe, strike downright blows On the main body of Religions tree? Think'st thou their sharp ey'd Providence can see The Chamber Councels, and the close designes

Of forain Princes, and their secret Mines Of State Invention? Can their wisedomes rome Through all the world, and yet be blinde at home? No, no; Philarchus, the Assemblies hand Feels but, as yet, the Pulses of the Land, Seeks out the ev'll; and, with a skilfull eye, Enquiers where the peccant humours lye; But when th' apparent Symptomes shall disclose The certain griefs that vex and discompose Our universall Body; then, no doubt, Their active Wisdomes soon will cast about, To make a glorious Cure, which shall enhance Heav'ns greater glory, settle and advance The rest of groaning Sion, to th' encrease Of their own honour, and great Britains peace.

PHILAR.

My bended knee shall never rise till then.

PHILOR.

Heav'n nere shall rest, till Heav'n shall say Amen.

FINIS.

Notes

• Numb. 6.23.