Ponce de Leon: or, The rival slain A tragical dream in K. Harry's walk.

SIR!

I O'er the lower Regions reign as King, And by a higher Commission, here do bring (For an Example) my infernal Crew, To take and Carbonade what is my Due; So soon as sinful Man falls down and dyes, So soon his wretched Soul with horror flyes, Before it's Judge, where Conscience strait obtains A Mittimus to bind the Soul in Chains, And haul it down before m'Imperial Seat, Justly, t'receive a Punishment so great As e'er it's Crimes were big: Behold, (said he, Pointing unto the Trunk, his Scepter'd Key)

Within that Trunk a naked Soul lyes, stript Of all Relief, and by it's Conscience Whipt. Hark! how it Groans under a Burden, which Compounded's up with Floods of boiling Pitch; Which brings so many perjur'd Oathes to sight, As none can tell the horror of it right: This is the Carcass of that Soul, which lyes Lock'd under damn'd dispairing Agonies; Of which Possession I am come to take, And carry Soul and Body to that Lake, Where it will see, no difference I can show 'Twixt high-born Princes, and the Peasants low. Stand still: (and you shall see all ended soon) For 'tis not in my Pow'r to do you wrong; Virtue I never touch; for that I hate As bad as Poyson; 'Tis Vice, on which I bate, And feast my Paunch: And therefore, Sir, as due, Thanks for this Morsel I return to you.

No sooner was this done, but quickly he Went to the Trunk, and putting in his Key, Unlock'd the same; whereat, a hellish shout Welcom'd the tortur'd Soul and Conscience out; Who fiercely flew to sieze upon their Prey, (The Carcass of my Rival Duke) who lay Besmear'd with Blood. No sooner had he took Possession, but the Body strait awoke, And trembling stood, gnashing it's Teeth thro' Fear, Whilst Devils with their Prongs the Flesh did Tare: A Vulture siez'd his Bowels; and his Tongue (Foaming beneath his Chin) some Inches hung: His Eyes to me seem'd Ovens; and his Throat Cerberus tore with a damn'd howling Note: And here, methoughts, Compassion siez'd my Soul, And mov'd me much his misery to Condole;

But all too late; for greedily he stood, Sucking, thro' Thirst, his very own Hearts-blood: Which made the Devil offer him a Cup Of boyling-brimstone, mixt with Pitch, to Sup; The which his Thirsty Tongue lapp'd up so fast, That he had like t'have drank the Cup for hast, Had it not been united to a Chain, By which the Devil pull'd it back again: This made me very curious to know What sort of Liquor 'twas he goggl'd so; And then I gave the Devil a Word and Wink, Who said, 'twas Call'd, Damnation Dyet-Drink. And then they dragg'd him to the Grid-Iron, where His Soul did belch forth nothing but Dispair. Heavens! what horror was his Conscience in? How did his quicken'd Memory begin To call to mind, the many Curst Intriegues, The Falshoods, Flatteries, and broken Leagues: The Oathes, the Vows, with which he did betray Fair Amoretta and Hortoria? Tongue cannot tell th'Extremity of Pain This Soul was in, when Pluto took a Chain, And sternly lock'd it to the Grid-Iron, when His Vassals took it on their Backs agen; Marching away, whilst the three Furies came Lashing the back of Conscience with a Flame: Next stifled Conscience pressing to obtain Some Respite, gall'd the Soul with horrid Pain: The Soul, that fell upon the Body, and Fretted it's Vitals with a racking Band Of Lusts and Pleasures, (called once, Delight) Which forc'd his gnashing poys'nous Teeth, to bite It's Ven'mous Tongue. And thus this hellish Crew, In damn'd Disorder, to the place with-drew, From whence I saw 'em come; where, at a stay, In Smoke these Devils vanish'd quite away.

Bless me! you cannot guess what great surprise My Soul was left in, when these Deities Sunk with my Rival Duke amidst their Paws, Beneath the Earth into Hell's gaping Jaws! Nor was my Senses to be govern'd by That Reason now, to which they us'd to lye Prostrate before: Had not a num'rous Train Of glorious Angels, clear'd the Air again: Calm'd all my Turb'lent Thoughts, and brought my sight To feast on Objects full of choice Delight.

Just as you'ave seen, a weeping Lady lye Prostrate before her Lord, condemn'd to dye; When nothing else is lookt for, but to see The Execution done immediately; When at the very instant that the Blow Is to be keenly struck, there comes one, who Has Orders from the King to save his Life: Can you imagine how the ravish'd Wife, Transported is with Joy? Her Sorrows look No more within the Leaves of Death's pale Book, But all the Scene is past; when, thro' the Charms Of Joy Extatic, she Swoons within the Arms Of her dear Lord; who with a soft Imbrace, Kisses the Pearly drops from off her Face; Which chears her fainting Spirits, and inspires Into her glowing Brest, more ard'rous Fires.

So Joy transported all my Senses, when The Hemisphere from Clouds was freed agen: Instead of seeing sulph'rous Devils roast A damned Soul, my Eyes beheld a Host Of flitting Spirits, coming from above, To carry fair Hortoria to Jove. First flew a Seraphim with Roses sweet, To strow upon Hortoria's Head and Feet:

Next came two Cherubims, whose Faces shone So gloriously transparant like the Sun, Each of them bearing Flags of white to show 'Twas Peace they brought unto the Corps below. Presently after them most gently flew A glorious Orb of Happiness, that shew, Ingrav'd upon the top, these Words in Gold; Permanent Happiness is never Sold, Nor Bought by Mortals; those who wou'd it have, Must first Repentance for their Actions crave! Then came a pretious Chariot, in the which Was sate a King, whose Garments seem'd more rich, Than ever from the Costly Indies came; With Pearls and Rubies stuck about the same, Most gorgeously. The Chariot was drawn By six fine Steeds, Trapp'd up in milk-white Lawn. Heavens! I fell amaz'd to see this sight! How gloriously each shone like Chrystal bright: Down from his Chariot, quick he did ascend, And took the speechless Lady, by the Hand; Saying Arise! at which sh'awoke, when he Most gently rais'd her up, and cry'd, Come, see The Recompence that is prepar'd for you? And so they to the Chariot both with-drew. Bless me! what Musick did these Spirits make? How did the Seraphims and Cherubs quake And Quiv'r in Chorus, when Hortoria fair Was in the Chariot cutting thro' the Air. The Banners were Displaid; the Orb that plac't It's self within the Center of her Brest, How did she shine in Beauty! Every part Throughout her Body, was refin'd 'bove Art, Lovely Meanders deckt her azure Veins, And Virtues hung about her Neck like Chains Of Gold. In fine Hortoria seem'd to be Of Heav'n's abode, a large Epitome.

And up the Chariot, with it's num'rous Train More swift than Time, to'ards Heaven soar'd again.

All being o'er, and nothing to be seen But my transported self within the Green, Then my revolving Thoughts began to call Over again, (with more Sedateness) all The past Transactions, till methoughts, the Day Cry'd loudly in my Ears to hast away. Wherat I turned to the Path, and hy'd, With all Celerity to'ards Almahide: But scarce had I Three Furlongs went, before I spy'd a Lady with her Hair all tore About her naked Brests; her Hands, and Eyes Lift up, imploring of the Deities: Ye mighty Pow'rs! Ah! won't ye Slay, and Damn That base, perfidious, perjur'd Creature Man? Whose Oathes are only Rhetorick, t'entice Innocent Virgins to the Snares of Vice! Heav'ns Confound 'em all! — (cry'd she) And here Stopping, she turn'd about, and saw me near; When up she 'rose, and ran so fast, until Ev'n out of breath, upon a bank she fell; To whom I hasten'd up, Crying out, Why, Madam, do you Invoke the Deity To pour down Vengeance on us Mortals, when 'Tis but some few, perfidious, wretched Men, (As you do term 'em) that have thus betray'd Your Sex's Virtue; and as dearly paid For ev'ry jot.— To which she nothing said, But look'd Severe; when quickly to her aid Some Ladies came, giving me t'understand, That she was Amoretta's Sister; and How being by Infantada beguil'd, Thro' Grief had poyson'd both her self and Child. Whereat I told 'em All, and bid 'em tell Her ev'ry Circumstance that had befel

The wretched Duke. And then again I hy'd, T'enjoy, and feast my self with Almahide; Where I no sooner was arriv'd, and had Access into her Chamber, but she said, (After some chaste Imbraces) Ponce! Tell Me now, I do Conjure you, what befell The Duke and You? — At which, b'ing fearful lest A rash Account might discompose her brest, And tend to bad Effect, briskly reply'd, Nothing material, fair Almahide. And to divert her from so black a Scene, I made this Love-Digression intervene.