La scala santa, or, A scale of devotions musical and gradual being descants on the fifteen Psalms of Degrees, in metre : with contemplations and collects upon them, in prose, 1670.

TO THE Right Honourable THE LEARNED AUTHOR.

A PINDARIQƲE ODE.

I.

ROuze up dull Quill, and never Dormant lye Upon thy Cotton Pillow, stiff and dry; Useless, and void of all Activity. I'le not disturb thy Rest To travel long, in quest Of some impertinent Romance, To Ape the fond or sighing Lover: No; for by chance I lately did discover, In a fair view upon the Prospect-Land, Greatness and Goodness walking hand in hand.

II.

By the safe Conduct of a gentle Muse I trac'd a Royal Court, Which led me to the Sacred Fort, Where Strength and Beauty might amuse,

Fifteen Ascents of fair and precious Stone, (Not such as here are found) Did mount me from the lower Ground, To view a large and wond'rous Throne; Whereon I spy'd a David, and a Jonathan.

III.

A Jonathan, who whilom did employ His Quill, to imp his Dart; Whereby not to annoy Young Jesse's Heart: But Love, and needful Secrets to impart. One who is able to engage With the Goliahs of the Age: Those Debauchees, who complement A Cloud; and labour to entice The very Principles of Vertue into Vice, With gaudy and prophane Embellishment. Now, for the wanton Fancy's sake, Their Souls lye canker'd in the Rust Of Ease ill-manag'd; now they make Greatness a Pander unto Lust. If ever Prophecy did nick the Times, David foresaw their* 1.1 Dytherambique Rhimes; For when he counts his Injuries and Wrongs, He adds,* 1.2 On me the Drunkards make their Songs.

IV.

Oft have I seen the Sun's declining Light Drowsily nod down to the Lap of Night; But when (next Morn) the Champion wakes, (For 'tis not long he Dreams) About the Globe's wide Lists a gallant Ring he takes, (Brandishing his Lance of Beams:) And when he manages a well-drest Ray, The Night-Mare Sleep (as frighted) starts away. Old Darkness is dismounted by the brisk young Day: The World's call'd up again, and Men revive With a more strong assurance that they live. Thus when the shades of Drollery possest The Seat, where Virgin Muses once did rest: When we despair'd that pious Lays, Or useful Rhimes should e're more guild our Days; A Star strangely propitious did appear, Darting its Splendors from the wise Men's Hemisphere; They'd much of Goodness, much of heav'nly Grace, As far as that can mix with humane Race; And did portend the overthrow Of fordid Wit, (if that be Wit that some call'd so.)

V.

Their low-born Muse, arm'd with Poetic Rage, And License, basely congeed to the Stage; They trod mean Paths, whose whole Design and Wit Could reach no farther than the Neighb'ring Pit. When as your tow'ring Soul, Leaving us beneath, All humane Passions doth controul, And mount into those Regions, where Is nought but pure and subtle Air, Where common Mortals cannot breath.

VI.

Go on, thou noble Hero, who dost know The Paths of Honour, and of Vertue too; A Soul so Skilful! so inur'd to Good! Never proud Greek or Roman understood: They only built a gaudy Theater Sacred to Vertue; thou hast rais'd thy self to her: Such a clean Lodging ev'ry Soul may boast, Who bears the Temple of the Holy-Ghost. Others for Pomp or Safety may provide Against their fatal Day, A costly Dungeon, or a Memphian Pyramid (T' inclose their Souls too with their mould'ring Clay;) While by the Virtue of thy sacred Fire, (Decree'd not to expire) Your Honour shall (surviving Fame) Live in a heav'nly Cone of Flame.

VII.

When I peruse the Comment, and the Text, Nothing I find so dubious, or perplext, * 1.3 By Jewish Fables, or Conceits of Men; But your unerring Pen Dictator doth Commence, And reconcile King David's sense, With such Illustrations there, As if thou wert his Privy-Counsellor: Your Version modest, and yet faithful too, Shews what thou dost, and able art to do.

VIII.

My Numbers must fall short, of what is due To such pure Zeal, and depth of Judgment too: Fifteen Degrees! Henceforth shall every Psalm Boast, that it can Receive the Honour of thy skilful Name, THE CHIEF MUSICIAN. Then, Pardon Sir, if I aspire To kiss the lowest Step of your advanced Quire.

S. H.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Seurrilis Cant. de Da∣vide & Bath. non ita pridem compos.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 69.12.
• * 1.3

  Tit. 1.14.