The Second Week, Fourth Day, Book II: The Magnificence

THE ARGUMENT.

Death-summon'd DAVID, in his sacred Throne
Instals (instructs) his yong Son SALOMON:
His (pleas-God) Choice of WISEDOM, wins him Honor
And Health and Wealth (at-once) to wait vpon her:
His wondrous Doom, quick Babe's Claim to decide:
Mis-Matches taxt, in His with PHARAONIDE:
Their pompous Nuptials: Seav'n Heav'n-Masquers there.
The glorious TEMPLE, Builded richly-rare.
Salem's Renown drawes Saba to his Court:
King IAMES, to His, brings BARTAS, in like sort.

HAppy are You (ô You delicious Wits)
That stint your Studies, as your Fury fits:
That, in long Labours (full of pleasing pain)
Exhaust not wholly all your learned brain:
That, changing Note, now light, and grave anon,
Handle the Theam that first you light vpon:
That, here in Sonnets, there in Epigrams,
Euaporate your sweet Soule-boyling Flames.

But, my deer Honor, and my sacred Vows,
And Heav'ns decree (made in that Higher-House)
Hold me fast fetter'd (like a Gally-slaue)
To this hard Task. No other Care I haue,
Nought else I dream of; neither (night nor day)
Aim at ought else, or look I other-way:
But (alwayes busie) like a Mil-stone seem
Still turned round with the same rapid stream.
Thence is 't that oft (maugrè Apollos grace)
I humme so harsh; and in my Works in chase
Lame, crawling Lines, according to the Fire,
Which (more or lesse) the whirling P•les inspire:
And also mingle (Linsie-woolsie-wise)
This gold-ground Tissue with too-mean supplies.

You, all the year long, doo not spend your wing:
But, during only your delightfull Spring,
(Like Nightingales) from bush to bush you play,
From Tuneto Tune, from Myrtle spray to spray:
But, I too-bold, and like the Swallow right,
Not finding whereto rest me, at one flight
A bound-les ground-les Sea of Times I passe,
With Auster now, anon with Boreas.

Your quick Career is pleasant, short, and eath;
At each Lands-end you sit you down and breathe
On som green bank; or, to refresh you, finde
Som Rosie-arbour, from the Sun and winde:
But, end-les is my Course: for, now I glyde
On Ice; then (dazled) head-long down I slyde:
Now vp I climbe: then through the Woods I craul,
I stray, I stumble, somtimes down I fall.
And, as base Morter serveth to vnite
Red, white, gray Marble, Iasper, Galactite:
So, to con-nex my queint Discourse, somtimes
Imix loose, limping, and ill-polisht Rimes.

Yet wil I not this Work of mine giue o're.
The Labour's great; my Courage yet is more;
My hart's not yet all voyd of sacred heat:
Ther's nothing Glorious but is hard to get.
Hils were not seen but for the Vales betwixt:
The deep indentings artificiall mixt
Amid Musaïks (for more ornament)
Haue prizes, sizes, and dyes different.
And O, God grant, the greatest spot you spie
In all my Frame, may be but as the Fly,
Which on her Ruff (whiter than whitest snowes)
To whiten white, the fairest Virgin fowes:
(Or like the Veluet on her brow: or, like
The dunker Mole on Venus dainty Cheek:)
And, that a few faults may but lustre bring
To my high furies where I sweetest sing.

DAVID waxt old and cold; and's vitall Lamp,
Lacking it's oyl of Natiue moist, grew damp
(But by degrees); when with a dying voice
(But liuely vigor of Discretion choise)
He thus instructs his yong Son SALOMON,
And (as Heav'n cals) instals him in his Throne.

Whom, with-out Force, Vproar, or Ryualing,
Nature, and Law, and Fortune make a King;
Euen He (my Son) must be both Iust and Wise,
If long He look to Rule and Royalize:
But he, whom onely Fortunes Fauours rears
Vnto a Kingdom, by some new-found stairs;
He must appear more than a man; and cast
By rarest Worth to make his Crown sit fast.

My SALOMON, thou know'st thou art my Yongest:
Thou know'st, besides, out of what Bed thou sprungest:
Thou seest what loue all Izrael bears thy Brother:
To honour Thee, what wrong I doo to other;
Yea euen to Nature and our Natiue Law:
'Tis thy part therefore, in all points to draw
To full Perfection; and with rare effect
Of Noblest Vertues hide thy Births defect.

Thou, Izraels King, serue the great King of All,
And only on his Conducts pedestall
Found thine Affaires: vpon his Sacred Lore
Thine eyes and minde be fixed euermore:
The barking rage of bold Blasphemers hate:
Thy Soueraign's Manners (Vice-Roy) imitate.
Nor think, the thicknes of thy Palace Wals,
Thine iron Gates, and high gold-seeled Halls,
Can let his Eye to spie (in euery part)
The darkest Closets of thy Mazie Hart.

If birth or Fate (my Son) had made thee Prince
Of Idumeans or of Philistins,
If Pharaoh's Title had be-fall'n to thee,
If the Medes Myter bowed at thy knee,
Wert thou a Sophy; yet with Vertues lustre
Thou oughtst (at least) thy Greatnes to illustre:
But to Command the Seed of Abraham,
The Holy Nation to Controul and tame,
To bear a Iosuahs or a Samsons load,
To be Gods Vice-Roy, needs a Demi-God.

Before old Seruants giue not new the start
(Kings-Art consists in Action more then Art.)
Old Wine excelleth new: Nor (giddily)
Will a good Husband grub a goodly Tree
In his faire Orchards midst, whose fruitfull store
Hath graç't his Table twenty years and more;
To plant a Graft, yer e'r he taste the same,
Saue with the teeth of a (perhaps) false Fame.

These Parasites are euen the Pearls and Rings
(Pearls, said I? Perils) in the eares of Kings:
For O, what Mischief but their Wiles can work?
Sith euen within vs (to their aid) doth lurk
A smoother Soother, euen our owne Selfs-loue
(A malady that nothing can remoue)
Which, with these strangers, secretly Combin'd
In League offensiue (to the firmest Minde)
Perswades the Coward, he is Wisely-meek:
The drunkard, Stout: the Periure, Politick:
The cruel Tyrant, a iust Prince they call;
Sober, the Sot; the Lauish, Liberal.
And, quick-nos'd Beagles, senting right his lore
(Trans-form'd into him) euen his Faults adore.

Fly then those Monsters: and giue no accesse
To men infamous for their wickednesse:
Endure no Atheist, brook no Sorcerer
Within thy Court, nor Thief, nor Murderer:
Least the contagion of their banefull breath
Poyson the publike fountain, and to death
Infect Thy manners (more of force then Law)
The spring, whence Subiects good or bad will draw.

Rule thine Affects, thy fury, and thy fear:
Hee's no true King, who no self's-sway doth bear:
Not what thou could'st, but what thou shouldst, effect:
And to thy Lawes, first thine owne-self subiect.
For ay the Subiect will (fear set a-side)
Through thick and thin, hauing his King for guide.

Shew thy Self gracious, affable and meek;
And be not (proud) to those gay godlings like,
But once a year from their gilt Boxes tane,
To impetrate the Heav'ns long wisht-for raine.

To fail his Word, a King doth ill beseem:
Who breaks his faith, no faith is held with him,
Deceipt's deceiu'd: Iniustice meets vniust:
Disloy all Prince armes subiects with distrust;
And neighbour States will in their Leagues commend
A Lion, rather then a Foxe, for Friend.

Be prodigall of Vertues iust reward:
Of punishments be sparing (with regard).
Arm thou thy brest with rarest Fortitude;
Things Eminent are euer most pursu'd:
On highest Places, most disgraces threat:
The roughest windes on widest gates do beat.

Toil not the World with Wars ambitious spite:
But, if thine Honour must maintain thy Right,
Then shew thee DAVID's Son; and wisely-bold
Follow't as hot, as thou beginst it cold:
Watch, Work, Deuise, and with vn-weary limb,
Wade thorough Foords, and ouer Chanels swim.

Let tufted Planes for pleasant shades suffice,
In heat; in Cold, thy Fier be Exercise:
A Targe thy Table, and a Turf thy Bed:
Let not thy Mouth be ouer-dainty fed;
Let Labour be thy sauce, thy Cask thy Cup;
Whence, for thy Nectar some ditch-water sup:
Let Drums, and Trumpets, and shril Fifes and Flutes
Serue thee for Citterns, Virginals and Lutes:
Trot vp a Hill; Run a whole Feeld for Race;
Leap a large Dike; Tosse a long Pike, a space:
Perfume thy head with dust and sweat: appeer
Captain and Soldier. Soldiers are on fire,
Hauing their King (before them Marching forth)
Fellow in Fortune, witnes of their Worth.

I should inflame thy hart with Learnings loue;
Saue that, I know what diuine habits moue
Thy profound Spirit: only, let th' ornament
Of Letters wayt on th' Art of Regiment:
And take good heed, least as excesse of humor
In Plants, becomes their Flowring Lifes consumer;
So too-much Study, and delight in Arts,
Quench the quick vigour of thy Spiritual parts,
Make thee too-pensiue, ouer-dull thy Senses,
And draw thy Minde from Publike cares of Princes.
With a swift-winged soule, the Course suruay
Of Nights dim Taper and the Torch of Day:
Sound round the Cels of th' Ocean dreadly-deep:
Measure the Mountains snowie tops and steep:
Ferret all Corners of this nether Ball;
But, to admire the Makers Art in all,
His Power and Prudence: and, resemble not
Some simple Courtier, or the silly Sot
That in the base-Court all his time hath spent,
In gazing on the goodly Battlement,
The chamfred Pillers, Plinths, and antique Bosses,
Medals, Ascents, Statues, and strange Colosses;
Amaz'd and musing vpon euery piece
Of th' vniforme, fair, stately Frontispice;
Too-too-self-rapt (through too-self-humoring)
Losing him-self, while others finde the King.

Hold euen the Balance, with clean hands, clos'd eyes:
Reuenge seuerely Publike Iniuries;
Remit thine Owne, Heare the Cries, see the Tears
Of all distressed poor Petitioners.
Sit (oft) thy Self in Open Audience:
Who would not be a Iudge, should be no Prince.
For, Iustice Scepter and the Martiall Sword
Ought neuer seuer, by the Sacred Word.
Spare not the Great; neither despise the Small:
Let not thy Lawes be like the Spiders Caul,
Where little Flyes are caught and kild; but great
Passe at their pleasure, and pull-down the Net.

Away with Shepheards that their Flocks deface:
Chuse Magistrates that may adorn their Place,
Such as fear God, such as will iudge vprightly:
Men by the seruants iudge the Master lightly.
Giue to the Vertuous; but thy Crown-Demain
Diminish not: giue still to giue again:
For there too-deep to dip, is Prodigality;
And to dry-vp the Springs of Liberality.

But aboue all (for Gods sake) Son, beware,
Be not intrapt in Womens wylie snare.
I fear, alas (good Lord, supreamly sage,
Auert from Mine th' effect of this Praesage)
Alas! I fear that this sweet Poyson wil
My House here-after with all Idols fil.
But, if that neither Vertu's sacred loue,
Nor Feare of Shame thy wanton Minde can moue
To watch in Arms against the Charms of Those;
At least, be warned by thy Fathers Woes.

Fare-wel my Son: th' Almightie cals me hence:
I passe, by Death, to Lifes most excellence:
And, to go Raign in Heav'n (from World-cares free)
The Crown of Izrael I resigne to thee.

O thou that often (for a Princes Sin)
Transport'st the Scepter, euen from Kin to Kin,
From Land to Land; Let it remaine with Mine:
And, of my Sons Sons (in successiue Ligne)
Let that Al-Power full deer-drad Prince descend,
Whose glorious Kingdom neuer shal haue end;
Whose iron Rod shall Satans Rule vn-doo:
Whom Iacob trusts in; Whom I thirst for too.

'DAVID deceast: His Son (him tracking right)
With heart and voice worships the God of Might;
Enters his Kingdom by the Gate of Pietie;
Makes Hymns and Psalms in Laud of the true Deïtie;
Offers in Gabeon; where, in Spirit he sees
(While his Sense sleepes) the God of Maiesties,
The Lord of Hoasts; who, Crownd with radiant flames,
Offers him choise of these foure louely Dames.

First, Glory, shaking in her hand a Pike
(Not Maid-like Marching, but braue Souldier-like)
Among the Stars her stately head she beares,
A siluer Trumpet shril a slope she wears,
Whose Winde is Praise, and whose Stentorian sound
Doth far and wide o'r all the world redound.
Her wide-side Robes of Tissue passing price,
All Story-wrought with bloody Victories,
Tryumphs and Tropheis, Arches, Crowns and Rings;
And, at her feet, there sigh a thousand Kings.

Not far from her, coms Wealth, all rich-bedight
In Rhéa's, Thetis, Pluto's Treasures bright:
The glittering stuff which doth about her fold
Is rough with Rubies, stiff with beaten Gold.
With either hand from hollow steans she powrs
Pactolian surges and Argolian showrs.
Fortune, and Thrift, and Wakefulnes and Care,
And Diligence, her dayly Seruants are.

Then cheerfull Health. whose brow no wrinkle bears,
Whose cheek no palenesse, in whose eye no tears;
But like a Childe shee's pleasant, quick, and plump,
Shee seems to fly, to skip, to daunce, and iump:
And Life's bright Brand in her white hand doth shine:
Th' Arabian Birds •are plumage (platted •ine)
Serues her for Su•-coat: and her seemly ••ain,
Mirth, Exercise and Temperance sustain.

Last, Wisedom comes, with sober countenance:
To th' euer-Bowrs her oft a-loft t'aduance,
The light Mamuques wing-les wings she has:
Her gesture cool, as comly-graue her pase:
Where e'r she go, she neuer goes with-out
Compasse and Rule, Measure and Waights about:
And by her side (at a rich Belt of hers)
The Glasse of Nature and her-Self she wears.

Hauing beheld their Bewties bright, the Prince
Seems rapt all-ready euen to Heauen from hence;
Sees a whole Eden round about him shine:
And, 'mid so many Benefits Diuine,
Doubts which to chuse. At length he thus begun:
O Lord (sayth he) what hath thy Seruant don,
That so great Blessings I should take or touch,
Or thou shouldst daign to honour me so much?
Thou doost preuent my Merit: or (deer Father)
Delight'st to Conquer euen my Malice rather.

Fair Victorie's a noble Gift: and nought
Is more desired, or is sweeter thought,
Than euen to quench our Furie's thirst with blood,
In iust Reuenge on those that wrong our Good:
But oft (alas) foul Insolence comes after;
And, the long Custome of in humane Slaughter,
Transforms in time the myldest Conquerors
To Tigers, Panthers, Lions, Bears, and Boars.

Happy seems He, whose count-les Herds for Pasture
Dis-robe (alone) Mount Carmels moatly Vesture:
For whom alone a whole rich Countrey, torn
With timely Tools, brings forth both Wine and Corn:
That hath soft Sereans yellow Spoils, the Gems
And precious stones of the Arabian streams,
The Mines of Ophir, th' Entidorian Fruits,
The Saban Odours, and the Tyrian Sutes.
But yet we see, where Plenty chiefly sways,
There Pride increases, Industry decays:
Rich-men adore their Gold: whoso aspires
To lift to Heav'n his sight and Soules Desires,
He must be Poor (at least-wise like the Poor).
Riches and Fear are fellows euer-more.

I would liue long, and I would gladly see
My Nephews Nephews, and their Progeny:
But the long Cares I fear, and Cumbers rife,
Which commonly accompany Long-Life.
Who well liues, long liues: for, this age of ours
Should not be numbred by yeers, dayes, and howrs:
But by our braue Exploits: and, this Mortality
Is not a moment, to that Immortality.

But, in respect of Lady Wisedomes grace,
(Euen at their best) the rest are all but base.
Honour is but a puffe; Life but a vapour;
Wealth but a wish; Health but a sconce of paper:
A glistering Scepter but a Maple twig;
Gold, Drosse; Pearls, Dust, how-euer bright and big.
Shee's Gods owne Mirror, shee's a Light, whose glance
Springs from the Lightning of his Countenance:
Shee's mildest Heav'ns most sacred influence:
Neuer decays her Bewties excellence;
Aye like her-Self: and shee doth alwayes trace
Not only the same path, but the same pase.
Without her, Honour, Health, and Wealth would proue
Three Poisons to me. Wisedom (from aboue)
Is th' only Moderatrix, spring, and guide,
Organ and honour of all Gifts beside.

Her, her I like, her only (Lord) I craue,
Her Company for-euer let me haue:
Let me for-euer from her sacred lip,
Th' Ambrosial Nard, and rosial Nectar sip:
In euery Cause, let me consult with her:
And, when I Iudge, be Shee my Counsailer.
Let, with her Staffe, my yet-Youth gouern wel
In Pastures fair the Flock of Izrael,
A compt-les Flock, a Flock so great (indeed)
As of a Shepherd sent from Heav'n had need.
Lord, giue her me: alas. I pine, I die;
Or if I liue, I liue her Flame-bred-Flie:
And (new Farfalla) in her radiant shine,
Too-bold, I burne these tender wings of mine.

Hold, take her to thee, said the Lord: and sith
No Bewty else thy soule enamoreth;
For ready hand-maids to attend vpon her,
I'll giue thee also Health, and Wealth, and Honor;
(For'tis not meet, so High-descended Queen,
So great a Lady, should alone be seen)
The rather, that my Bounty may inuite
Thee, seruing Her, to serue Me day and night.

King SALOMON, awaked, plainly knew
That this Diuine strange Uision neuer grew
From the sweet Temper of his sound Complexion;
But that it was some Peece of more Perfection,
Some sacred Picture admirably draw'n
With Heav'nly pencil, by an Angels hand.
For (happy) He had (without Art) the Arts,
And learning (without learning) in all parts:
A more then humane Knowledge bewtifies
His princely actions: vp to Heav'n he flies,
He dyues to Hell, he sounds the Deeps, he enters
To th' in most Cels of the Worlds lowest Centers.

The secret Riddles of the sacred Writ
Are plain to him: and his deep-pearcing Wit,
Vpon few Words of the Heav'n-prompted stile,
In a few Dayes, large Volumes can compile.
He (learned) sees the Sun's Eclipse, sans terror:
He knowes the Planets neuer erring Error;
And, whether Nature, or some Angel moue
Their Sphears, at once with triple Dance aboue:
Whether the Sun self-shine; his Sister, not:
Whether, Spring, Winter, Autumn, Summer hot,
Be the Suns Sons: what kinde of mounting Vapor
Kindles the Comet and the long-taild Taper:
What boy strous Lungs the roaring Whirlers blow'n:
What burning Wings the Lightning rides vpon:
What Curb the Ocean in his bounds doth keep:
What power Night's-Princesse powrs vpon the Deep.
Whether the Heav'ns sweet-sweating Kisse appear
To be Pearls parent, and the Oyster's pheer;
And whether, dusk, it makes them dim withall;
Cleer, breeds the cleer; and stormy brings the pale.
Whether, from Sea the Amber-greece be sent;
Or be some Fishes pleasant excrement.
He knowes, why th' Earth's immoueable and round,
The lees of Nature, Center of the Mound:
He knowes her measure. And he knowes beside,
How Coloquintida (duely apply'd)
With-in the darknes of the Conduit-Pipes,
Amid the windings of our in-ward Tripes,
Can so discreetly the White humor take;
Rheubarb, the Yellow; Hellebore, the Black:
And, whether That in our weak Bulks be wrought,
By drawing 't to them; or by driuing't out.
In brief, from th' Hysop to the Cedar-Tree,
He knowes the Vertues of all Plants that be.
He knowes the Reason why the Woolfs fell tooth
Giues a Horse swiftnes; and his footing, sloath:
Why thy Sex-changing, fierce Hyena's eye
Puts curstest Curres to silence suddenly:
Why th' irefull Elephant becommeth tame
At the approaching of the fleecie Lamb:
Why th' eye-bold Eagle neuer fears the flash
Or force of Lightning, nor the Thunder-clash:
Why the wilde Fen-Goose (which keeps warm her egs
With her broad feet vnder her heatfull legs,
And, tongue-les, cries) as wing-lym'd, cannot flie,
Except she (glad) Seas brynie glasse descrie.
He knoweth also, whether that our Stone
Be baked Earth, or Exhalation:
Whether the Metals (that we dayly see)
Be made of Sulphur and of Mercurie;
Or, of some Liquor by long Cold condens't,
And by the Heat well purified and cleans'd;
Or, of a certain sharp and cindrous humor:
Or, whether He that made the Wauing Tumor,
The motly Earth; and th' Heav'nly Sphears refin'd,
All-mighty, made them such as now we finde.
He comprehends from whence it is proceeding,
That spotted Iasper-stones can staunch our bleeding:
Saphires, cure eyes: the Topaz to resist
The rage of Lust; of drink the Amethist:
And also, why the clearest Diamant
(Ielous) impugns the thefts of th' Adamant.

Tunes, Measures, Numbers, and Proportions
Of Bodies with their Shadowes, als' he kons;
And (fild with Nectar-Deaws, which Heav'n drips)
The Bees haue made Honie within his lips.
But he imbraceth much more earnestly
The gain-full Practice, than cold Theorie:
Nor reaks he so of a Sophistick pride
Of prattling Knowledge (too-self-magnifi'd)
As of that goodly Art to gouern well
The sacred Helms of Church and Common-weal,
And happily to entertain in either,
A harmony of Great and Small together.
Especially Hee's a good Iusticer,
And to the Lawes dooth Life and strength confer.
And, as the highest of Bigaurian Hils
Ay bears his head vp-right, and neuer yeelds
To either side, scorns Winde and Rain and Snowe,
Abides all weathers, with a cheerfull brow;
Laughs at a Storme, and brauely tramples vnder
His steddy Knees, the prowd, lowd, rowling Thunder:
So, Hee's a Iudge inflexibly-vpright.
No Loue, nor Hatred, of the Guilty wight
(What e'r he wear for Calling, small or great)
His Venging blade can either blunt or whet;
He spurneth Fauors, and he scorneth Fears,
And vnder foot he treadeth priuate Tears:
Gold's radiant Lustre neuer blears his Eye:
Nor is he led through Ignorance a-wry.
His Voice is held an Oracle of all:
The soule of Lawes he wisely can exhale:
In doubtfull Cases he can subtilize,
And wyliest pleaders harts anatomize.
Scarce fifteen times had Ceres (since his Birth)
With her gilt Tresses glorifi'd the Earth;
When he decides by happy Wisedoms means,
The famous Quarrel of Two crafty Queans.

Is't possible, O Earth, (thus cries the first)
But that (alas) thou should'st for anger burst,
And swallow quick this execreable Quean!
Is't possible (O gracious Soueraign)
That comming new from dooing such a deed
So horrible, she shame-les dares proceed
T' approach thy sight, thy sacred Throne t'abuse,
Not begging Pardon, but euen bent t'accuse?
Last night, with surfet and with sleep sur-cloyd,
This care-les step-dam her own Child o'r-layd:
And softly then (finding it cold and dead)
Layes it by me, and takes mine in the stead.
Here, old, bold strumpet, take thy bastard brat,
Hence with thy Carion, and restore me that,
Restore me mine, my louely liuing Boy,
My hope, my hap, my Loue, my life my Ioy.
O cruell Chance! O sacrilegious!
Shall thy foullips my little Angell busse?
At thy fond prattling, shall he pret'ly smile?
And tug, and touze thy greasie locks the-while?
And all his Child-hood fill thy soule with glee?
And, grow'n a man, sustaine thine age and thee?
While wretched I, haue only for my share,
His Births hard Trauail, and my burthen's Care,
His rest-les rocking, wyping, washing, wringing;
And to appease his way ward Cries with singing.
O most vnhappy of all Woman-kinde!
O Childe-les mother! O! why is my Minde
More passion-stirred, than my hand is strong?
But, rather, than I'll pocket vp this wrong,
To be reueng'd, I'll venter two for one,
I'll haue thy Life, although it cost mine owne.

O filthy Bitch! Vile Witch (sayes th' other tho)
O! who would think, that Wine could mad one so?
O impudent! though God thou fear'st not, fear
The Kings cleer iudgement, who Gods place doth bear.
Art not content t'haue call'd (or rather cry'd)
Me Whore, and Thief, Drunkard and Paricide:
But thou wilt also haue my Childe, my deer,
(Whom with so strong a knot Loue links so neer)
My Babe, my Blisse? Yea marry (Minks) and shall:
Who takes my Childe, shall take my life with-all.
Iust Dauids iust Son; for thy Father's sake,
For his deer loue, for all that he did make
Of thee a Childe, when he (re-childing) sought
With childish sport to still thy cryes, and taught
(Or'gan to teach) with language soft and weak,
Thy tender tongue some easie tearm to speak:
Or, when (all bloody, breath-les, hot) he came
Laden with spoils of Kings he ouercame,
He ran t'imbrace thee, rockt thee in his Targe,
And when thou Cry'dst, vpon his shoulder large
Did set thee vp, while thou his beard didst tug,
Play'dst with his nose, about his neck didst hug,
Gap'tst on his glittering Helm, and smil'dst to see
Another SALOMON there smile on thee:
And vnderneath his dancing Plume didst play
Like Bird in bush, sporting from spray to spray;
I doe adiure thee to attend my Plea:
By the sweet name of thy deer Bersabe,
Who in the night, shiuering for cold, so oft
Hath bow'd her self ouer thy Cradle soft;
Who both the Bottles of her Nectar white
Hath spent vpon thee, hundred times a night;
Who on thy head hath set hir pearly Crown,
And in Thy life liv'd more than in her Owne:
I doo adiure thee (O great King) by all
That in the World we sacred count or call,
To doo me Right: and if, too-mylde, alas,
Too mercifull thou wilt not Sentence passe
Of iust reuenge for my receiued wrong;
Yet, reaue me not what doth to me belong,
What liberall Nature hath bestow'd on me,
What I am seis'd-of (without thank to thee):
For pitty doo not my heart blood depriue,
Make me not Childe-les, hauing Childe a-liue.

While both, at once, thus to the King they Crie,
'Tis mine, 'Tis mine: thouly'st; and thou doost lie:
The partial People diuers Verdict spend;
Some fauour th' one, others the other friend:
As, when two Gamesters hazard (in a trice)
Fields, Vine-yards, Castles, on the Chance of Dice,
The standers-by, diuersly stird with-in,
Wish, some that This, and some that That maie win;
Wauer twixt Hope and Fear: and euery-one's
Moou'd, with the moouing of the guile-ful Bones.

Only, the King demurres: his prudent ears
Finde like, both reasons, both Complaints, both tears:
The Infants face could not discipher whether
Of both should be the very Mother: neither
Could calculation of their ages, cleer
The Iudges doubt: nor any proof appear.
Then, thus He waighs (but as in dreaming wise);
Th' industrious Iudge, when all proofs fail him, flies
Vnto Coniectures, drawn (the probablest)
Out of the book of Natures learned brest;
Or to the Rack: Now, Mothers loue (thinks he)
Is Natures owne vnchangeable Decree:
And there's no Torture that exceeds the pains
Which a kinde Mother in her Childe sustains.
Then (as awake) Come, come, no more a-doo,
Dispatch (saith he) Cleaue the quick Child in two,
Look that the Sword be sharp; in such a case,
Needs must our Pittie giue our Iustice place:
Iustice (yee see) can iudge him whole to neither:
Diuide him therefore, and giue half to either.
O difficult! but thus the King descries
Their harts deep secrets: all discouered lyes,
The vizor's off; their Tongues, sincerely prest
With true instinct, their very Thoughts exprest:

Bee't (said the stepdam) so, sith't must be so:
Diuide him iustly from the top to toe.
No (said the other) rather, I renounce
My Right in him, take thou him all at once,
Enjoy him all; I'll rather haue him Thine
A-liue, and whole, than dead and mangled Mine.
Thine (quoth the King) hee's Thine by Birth (I see)
Thine by thy Loue, and thine by my Decree.

Now, as with Gold growes in the self-same Mine
Much Chrysocolle, and also Siluer fine:
So, supream Honour, and Wealth (matcht by none)
Second the Wisedom of great SALOMON.
He far and neer commands by Land and Seas;
A hundred Crowns doo homage vnto His:
His neerest Bounds Nile's Sea and Sidon seem,
And Euphrates bows his moyst horns to him:
Peru, they say (supposing Ophir so)
By yeerly Fleets into his Fisk dooth flowe:
In Sion Gold's as common as the Sand,
As Pebbles, Pearls: Through-out all Iury-Land,
There seems an Ocean of all happinesse
To ouer-flowe; and all doo all possesse:
Each vnder his owne Vine and his owne Tree,
His Grapes and Figs may gather quietly.
Thus he abounds in Blisse. not so to change-ill
Man into Beast, but make of Man an Angel,
To praise th' Immortall, who to him hath giuen
Euen here a Taste of the delights of Heauen.
This great, wise, wealthy, and wel-spoken King
His sweet renown o'r all the World doth ring:
The Tyrian, for Confederate desires him:
Pharao for Son: th' Alien no lesse admires-him
Than his owne Subiect: and his eyes sweet flames,
As far as Nilus, fire the flower of Dames.

O SALOMON, see'st thou not (O miss-hap!)
This Marriage is no Marriage, but a Trap?
That such a mongrel Match of differing Creed,
Of mortall quarels is th' immortall seed?
That Oxe and Asse can neuer well be broak
To drawe one Plough together in one yoak?
Who-euer weds a Miscreant, forth-with
Diuorceth God: our Faith still wauereth;
It needs an Aide and not a Tempter nigh,
Not th' instrument of th' old Deceiuer slie,
Not deadly Poyson in our Couch to couch,
Sleep in our bosome, and our breast to touch,
And breathe into vs (in a kind of kissing)
An Ir-religion, of the Serpents hissing.
Shee that from Aegypt comes (O King) is none
Flesh of thy Flesh, nor yet Bone of thy Bone:
But a strange Bone, a barbarous Rib, a Peece
Impoysoned all with Memphian Leprosies.

But, thou wilt say, thy Loue hath stript yer-while
Her spotted suite of Idol-seruing Nile:
And clad her all, in Innocence, in White;
Becom'n by Faith a true-born Abramite.
It might be so: and to that side I take,
The rather, for that sacred Beauties sake,
Where-of she is a figure. Yet, I fear
Her Train will stain thy Kingdom euery-where,
Corrupt thy Court: and God will be offended,
To haue his People with strange People blended;
The mighty Lord, who hath precisely said,
You shall not Theirs, nor they your daughters wed.

Vnder the gentle Equinoctiall Line,
Faire amorous Nature waters freshly-fine
A little Groue clad in eternall green,
Where all the yeer longlusty May is seen,
Suiting the Lawnes in all her pomp and pride
Of liuely Colours, louely varyfied:
There smiles the ground, the starry-Flowers each one
There mount the more, the more th' are trod-vpon:
There, all growes toil-les; or, if tild it were,
Sweet Zphyrus is th' only Husband there.
There Auster neuer roars, nor Hail dis-leaues
Th' immortall Groue, nor any Branch bereaues.
There the straight Palm-Tree stoopeth in the Calm
To kisse his Spouse, his loyall Female Palm:
There with soft whispers whistling all the year
The Broad-leau'd Plane-Tree Courts the Plane his Pheer,
The Poplar wooes the Poplar, and the Vine
About the Elme her slender arms doth twine:
Th' Iuie about the Oak: there all doth proue,
That there, all springs, all growes, all liues in Loue.
Opinion's Porter, and the Gate she bars
Gainst Couetize, cold Age, and sullen Cares,
Except they leaue-off and lay-down before
Their troublous load of Reason at the doore;
But opens wide, to let-in Bashful-Boldnes,
Dumb-speaking Signes, Chill-Heat, and Kindled-Coldnes,
Smooth soothing Vows, deep Sorrows soon appeas'd,
Tears sudden dry'd, fel Angers quickly pleas'd,
Smiles, Wyly-Guiles, queint wittie-pretty Toyes,
Soft Idlenes, and ground-les, bound-les Ioyes,
Sweet Pleasure plunged ouer head and eares
In sugred Nectar, immateriall Fears,
Hoarse Waaks, late Walks, Pain-pleasing kindly cruell,
Aspiring Hope (Desire's immortall fuell)
Licentious Loosnesse, Prodigall Expence
Inchanting Songs, deep Sighs, and sweet Laments.

These frollike Louelings fraighted Nests doo make
The balmy Trees o'r-laden Boughs to crack;
Bewty layes, Fancie sits, th' inflamed heat
Of Loue dooth hatch their Couvies nicely-neat:
Some are but kindled yet, some quick appear,
Some on their backs carry their Cradles deer.
Some downie-clad, some (fledger) take a twig
To pearch-vpon, some hop, from sprig to sprig:
One, in the fresh shade of an Apple-Tree
Lets hang its Quiuer, while soft-pantingly
'Tex hales hot Vapour: one, against a Sparrow
Tries his stiff Bowe and Giant-stooping Arrow:
Another sly sets lime-twigs for the Wren,
Finch, Linot, Tit-mouse, Wag-Tail (Cock and Hen):
See, see how some their idle wings forsake,
And (turn'd, of Flyers, Riders) one doth take
A Thrush, another on a Parrot rides,
This mounts a Peacock, that a Swan bestrides,
That manageth a Phaisant: this doth make
The Ring-Doue turn, that brings the Culuer back:
See how a number of this wanton Fry
Doo fondly chase the gawdie Butter-Fly,
Some with their flowerie Hat, some with their hands,
Some with sweet Rose-boughs, som with Myrtle wands:
But, th' horned Bird, with nimble turns, beguiles
And scapes the snares of all these Loues a-whiles.
Leaue, Wags (Cryes Venus) leaue this wanton Play:
For so, in steed of Butter-Flyes, you may,
You may (my Chicks) a Child of Venus strike:
For, some of mine haue Horns and all alike.

This said: eft soons two twins whose gold-head darts
Are neuer steeped but in Royal hearts;
Come, Brother deer (said either) come let's to 't,
Let's each a shaft at yon two bosoms shoot.
Their winged words th' effect ensues as wight,
Two or three steps they make to take their flight,
And quick-thick shaking on their sinnewie side
There long strong sarcels, richly triple-died
Gold-Azurè-Crimsin; th' one aloft doth soar
To Palestine, th' other to Nilus shoar.

Pharao's faire daughter (wonder of her Time)
Then in the blooming of her Beauties Prime,
Was queintly dressing of her Tress-full head
Which round about her to the ground did spred:
And, in a rich gold-seeled Cabinet,
Three Noble Mayds attend her in the feat;
One with a peece of double dented Box
Combs out at length her goodly golden locks:
Another 'noynts them with Perfumes of price:
Th' other with bodkin or with fingers nice,
Frizles and Furls in Curls and Rings a part;
The rest, loose dangling without seeming Art,
Waue to and fro, with cunning negligence
Gracing the more her Beauties excellence:
When, armd with Arrows burning, brightly keen,
Swift Swallow-like, one of these Twins comes in;
And, with his left wing hiding still his Bowe,
Into her bosome shot (I woat not how).
O, my side! oh! my hart (the Royal Maid Cries out)
O! I am slaine: but, searching all about,
When she perceiu'd no blood, nor bruise; alas,
It is no wound; but sleeping in the grasse,
Some Snake (saith she) hath crept into me quick,
It gnawes my hart: ah, help me, I am sick,
Haue me to bed: ay me, a freezing-Frying,
A burning-cold torments me liuing-dying.

O cruell Boy, alas, how mickle gal
Thy baenfull shaft mingles my Mel withall!
The Royal Maide, which with her Mates was wont
Smile, Skip, and dance on Fields inammeld front,
Loues solenesse, sadnes, and Self-priuacie;
Sighes, sobs, and throbs, and yet she knowes not why:
The sumptuous pride of massie Piramides
Presents her eyes with Towers of Iebusides;
In Niles cleer Crystall she doth Iordan see;
In Memphis, Salem; and vn-warily
Her hand (vn-bidden) in her Sampler sets
The King of Iuda's Name and Counterfets:
Who, mediting the Sacred TEMPLE's Plot,
By th' other Twin at the same time is shot:
The shaft sticks fast, the wound's within his veines:
Sleep cannot bring a-sleep his pleasing pains;
PHARONIDA's his hart, PHARONIDA
Is all his Theam to talk-of, night and day:
With-in his soule a ciuill War he feeds:
Th' all-seeing Sun, now early backs his Steeds,
Now mounts his Mid-day, and then Setteth soon:
But still his Loue stands at the hot high Noon.
He Rides not his braue Coursers (as he wont),
Nor Reads, nor Wrights, nor in his Throne doth mount,
To hear the Widdow's Cause: neglects his Court,
Neglects his Rule; Loue rules him in such sort.

You prudent Legats, Agents for this Marriage,
Of Rings and Tablets you may spare the Cariage:
For, wittie Loue hath with his louely shaft
In eithers hart grav'n others liuely Draught:
Each Liues in other, and they haue (O strange!)
Made of their burning harts a happy Change.
Better abroad, then home, their harts delight;
Yet long their bodies to their hoasts t'vnite.

Which soon ensues: the Virgin's shortly had
From Mothers armes imbracing gladly-sad:
And th' aged Father, weeping as he spake,
Bids thus adieu when she her leaue doth take.
Sweet Daughter deer, O siris be thy guide,
And Louing Isis blesse thee and thy Bride,
With golden Fruit; and dayly with-out cease
Your mutuall Loues may as your yeers increase.

Wiues, Maides, and Children, yong & old, each-where,
With looks and vowes from Turrets follow her:
Calme Nilus calmer then it wont is grow'n,
Her Ships haue merrie windes, the Seas haue none:
Her footing makes the ground all fragrant-fresh:
Her sight re-flowres th' Arabian Wildernes:
Iurie reioyces, and in all the way
Nothing but trumpets, Fifes, and Timbrels play:
The Flower-crownd People, swarming on the Green,
Cry still, God saue, God saue, God saue the Queen:
May she be like a scion, pale and sick
Through th' ouer-shading of a Sire two thick:
Which being Transplanted, free, sweet ayre doth sup,
To th' sweating Clouds her grouie top sends vp,
And prospers so in the strange soil, that tild,
Her golden Apples all the Orchard gild.

No streets are seen in rich IERVSALEM.
For, vnder-foot fine Skarlet paueth them,
Silks hang the sides, and ouer-head they hold
Archt Canapeis of glistering Cloth of gold:
They throng, they thrust, an ebbing-flowing Tide,
A Sea of Folk follows th' adored Bride:
The ioyfull Ladies from their windows shed
Sweet showres of flowres vpon her radiant head;
Yet ielous, least (dy'd in their natiue grain)
Her Rosie Cheeks should Natures Roses stain.

But lo, at last, th' honor of Maiestie,
Glory of Kings, King SALOMON drawes nigh:
Lo now both Louers, enter-glauncing sweet
(Like Sun and Moon, when at full view they meet
In the mid-month) with amorous rayes reflection
Send mutuall Welcoms from their deep affection:
Both a-like yong, like beautifull, like braue,
Both grac't a-like; so like, that whoso haue
Not neer observ'd their heads vnlikenesses,
Think them two Adons or two Venusses.

These nouice Louers at their first arriue
Are bashfull both; their passions strangely striue:
Their soules sweet Fier his ruddy flames doth flush
Into their Faces in a modest blush:
Their tongues are tyed, their star-bright eyes seem vail'd
With shame-faç't Cipres; all their senses faild.

But, pompous Hymen, whither am I brought?
Am not I (heathen) vnder th' happie Vault
Where all the Gods, with glorious mirth Inhaunst,
At Thetis Nuptials eat, and drank, and daunç't?

Heer, th' Idumeans mighty Ioue treads vnder
His tripping feet, his bright-light burning Thunder;
A-while, he laies his Maiestie a-side,
To Court, and sport, and reuel with his Bride;
King, playes the Courtier; Soueraign, Sutor comes;
And seems but equal with his Chamber-Groomes:
But yet, whate'r he doo, or can deuise,
Disguised Glorie shineth in his eyes.
Heer, many a Phoebus, and heer many a Muse
On heav'nly Layes so rarely-sweet doo vse
Their golden bowes, that with the rapting sound
Th' Arches and Columns wel-nigh dance the Round.
Heer, many a Iuno, many a Pallas heer,
Heer many a Venus, and Diana cleer,
Catch many a gallant Lord, according as
Wealth, Bewtie, Honour, their affection drawes.
Heer, many an Hebé fair, heer more then one
Quick-seruing Chiron neatly waits vpon
The Beds and Boords, and pliant bears about
The boules of Nectar quickly turned out;
And th' ouer-burthned Tables bend with waight
Of their Ambrosial ouer-filled fraight.
Heer, many a Mars vn-bloody Combats fights,
Heer, many a Hermes finds out new delights,
Heer, many a horned Satyre, many a Pan,
Heer, Wood-Nymphs, Flood-Nymphs, many a Faerie Faune
With lustie frisks and liuely bounds bring-in
Th' Antike, Morisko, and the Mattachine.
For euen Gods Seruants (God knowes how) haue supt
The sugred baen of Pagan Rites corrupt.

But, with so many liuely Types, at will
His rich rare Arras shall som other fill:
Of all the Sports, I'll only chuse one Measure,
One stately Mask compos'd of sage-sweet pleasure;
A Dance so chaste, so sacred, and so graue
(And yet so gracefull, and so lofty-braue)
As may beseem (except I me abuse)
Great SALOMON, and my celestiall Muse.

The Tables voyded of their various Cates,
They rise at once; and suiting their Estates,
Each takes a Dame, and then to Dance they come
Into a stately, rich, round-arched Room,
So large and light-some that it (right) they call
The Vniuersall, or The Worlds great Hall.
O what delight, to see so rich a Showe
Of Lords and Ladies dancing in a rowe
All in a Round, reaching so far and wide
O'rall the Hall to foot-it side by side!
Their eyes sweet splendor seems a Pharos bright,
With clinquant Rayes their Body's clothed light:
'Tis not a Dance, but rather a smooth slyding,
All moue a-like, after the Musicks guiding:
Their Tune-skill'd feet in so true Time doo fall,
That one would swear one Spirit doth bear them all:
They poste vn-moouing; and though swift they passe
'Tis not perceiv'd: of hundred thousand pase,
One single back they: Round on Round they dance;
And, as they trauerse, cast a fruitfull glance.

Iust in the middle of the Hall, a-sloap
(Euen from the floor vnto the very top)
A broad rich Baldrik there extendeth round,
In-laid with gold vpon an azure ground,
Where (couer'd all with Flames) with wondrous Art
Fiue Lords, two Ladies dance; but each a-part.

Heer trips an old-man in a Mantle dy'd
Deep Leaden-hue, and round about him ty'd
With a Snake-girdle byting off her tayl.
With-in his Robe's stuff (in a winding trayl)
Creeps Mandrake, Comin, Rue, and Hellebore;
With liuely figures of the Bear and Boar,
Cammel, and Asse (about to bray wel-nigh):
There the Strimonian Foul seems euen to crie,
The Peacock euen to prank. For Tablet fine,
About his neck hangs a great Cornaline,
Where some rare Artist (curiousing vpon't)
Hath deeply cut Times triple-formed Front:
His pase is heauy, and his face seuere;
His Body heer; but yet his minde els-where.

There the Lord Zedec him more sprightly bears,
Milde, fair, and pleasant; on his back he wears
Tin-colour'd Tissue, figur'd all with Oaks,
Eares, Violets, Lillies, Oliues, Apricocks;
Bordred with Phaisants, Egles winged-black,
And Elephants, with Turrets on their back,
Pointed with Dimonds, powdered and imbost
With Emeralds, perfum'd with wondrous Cost.

The third leads quicker on the self same Arch
His Pyrrhik Galiard, like a War-like March:
His Face is fierie: Many an Amethist,
And many a Iaspire of the perfectest
Doth brightly glister in the double gilt
Of the rich Pommel and the pretious Hilt
Of his huge Fauchin, bow'd from hand to heel:
His boistrous body shines in burnisht Steel:
His Shield flames bright with gold, imbossed high
With Wolues and Horse seem-running swiftly by,
And freng'd about with sprigs of Scammonie,
And of Euphorbium, forged cunningly.

But O fair Faerie, who art thou, whose eyes
Inflame the Seas, the Ayre, the Earth and Skies?
Tell vs, what art thou, O thou fairest fair,
That trimm'st the Trammels of thy golden hair.
With Myrtle, Thyme, and Roses; and thy Brest
Gird'st with a rich and odoriferous Cest,
Where all the wanton brood of sweetest Loues
Doo nestle close; on whom the Turtle-Doues,
Pigeons, and Sparrowes day and night attend,
Cooing and wooing, wherso'er thou wend:
Whose Robe's imbrodered with Pomgranet boughs,
Button'd with Saphires, edg'd with Beryl rowes:
Whose capering foot, about the starrie floor,
The Dance-guide Prince, now followes, now's before?
Art thou not Shee, that with a chaste-sweet flame
Didst both our Brides harts into one hart frame?

And, was not He, that with so curious steps,
Next after thee, so nimblie turns and leaps,
Say, was not He the wittie Messenger,
Their eloquent and quick Interpreter?
How strange a suit. His medly Mantle seems
Scarlet, Waue-laced with Quick-siluer streams,
And th' end of euery Lace, for tuft hath on
A pretious Porphyre, or an Agate stone:
A Cry of Hownds haue heer a Deer in Chase,
There a false Foxe, heer a swift Kid they trace:
There Larks, and Linots-and sweet Nightingals
(Fain'd vpon fayned Trees) with wings and tails
Loose hanging, seem to swell their little throats,
And with their warblings, shame the Cornets notes.
Light Fumitorie, Parsly, Burnets blade
And winding leaf his crispie Locks beshade.
Hee's light and liuely, al in Turns and Tricks;
In his great Round, hee many small doth mixe:
His giddy course seems wandring in disorder,
And yet there's found in this disorder, order.

Auoid base Vulgar, back Profane, stand-by;
These sacred Reuels are not for your eye:
Come, gentle Gentiles, Noble Spirits draw neer,
Preace through the Preace, come take your places heer,
To see at full the Bride-groom and the Bride,
A louely paire, exactly bewtifi'd
With rare perfections, passing all the rest,
Sole-happy Causes of this sumptuous Feast.
Lo where they come: O what a splendor bright!
Mine eyes doo dazle. O thou primer Light!
Sun of the Sun, thy Rayes keen point rebate,
Thy dread-spread Fire a little temperate:
O, dart (direct) on thy fair Spouse a-space
Thine eyes pure light, the lustre of thy Face:
For I no longer can endure it, I
Am burnt to ashes: ô I faint, I dye.
But (blessed Couple) sith (alas) I may-not
Behold you both vnmasked, nor I can-not;
Yet in these Verses let me tell (I pray)
Your Dance, your Courting, and your rich Aray.

The Queen's adorn'd down to her very heels
In her fair hair (whence still sweet deaw distils)
Half changing down; the rest in rings and curls,
Platted with strings of great, round, orient Pearls:
Her gown is Damask of a Siluer-ground,
With Siluer Seas all deeply-frenged round;
With Gourds and Moon-wort branched richly-fair,
Flourisht with Beasts that only eat the Aier.

But why (my Muse) with Pencil so precise
Seek'st thou to paint all her rich Rarities?
Of all the Bewties, Graces, Honors, Richesse
Where-with rich Hev'n these Maskers all inriches,
Shee's even the Mother: and then, as a Glasse,
On the Beholders their effects she casts.

A Garland braided with the Flowry folds
Of yellow Citrons, Turn-Sols, Mary-golds,
Beset with Bal'nites, Rubies, Chrysolites,
The royall Bride-groom's radiant brows be-dights:
His saffron'd Ruffe is edged richly-neat
With burning Carbuncles, and every set
Wrought rarely-fine with branches (draw'n vpon)
Of Laurel, Cedar, Balm, and Cinamon:
On his Gold-grounded Robe the Swan so white
Seems to his honour som new Song t'indight,
The Phoenix there builds both her nest and toomb,
The Crocodile out of the Waues doth come,
Th' amazed Reaper down his Sickle flings
And soudain Fear grafts to his Ankles wings:
There the fierce Lion, from his furious eyes,
His mouth and nosthrils fierie-Flames let-flyes,
Seems with his whisking train his rage to whet,
And, wrath-full ramping, ready even to set
Vpon a Heard of fragrant Leopards:
When lo, the Cock (that light his rage reguards)
A purple Plume tymbers his stately Crest,
On his high Gorget and broad hardy Brest
A rich Coat-Armour (Or and Azure) shines,
A frenge of raveld gold about his Loins:
In lieu of bases. Beard as red as blood;
A short Beak bending like the Egles brood:
Green-yellow eyes, where Terrors Tent is pight:
A martiall gaite, and spurred as a Knight:
Into two arches his prowd Train diuides,
With painted wings he claps his cheerfull sides,
Sounds his shrill Trumpet, and seems with his sight
The Lions courage to haue danted quight.

These happy Lovers, with a practiz'd pase
For-ward and back-ward and a-side do trace;
They seem to dance the Spanish Pauane right:
And yet their Dance, so quick and liuely-light,
Doth never passe the Baldricks bounds (at all)
Which grav'n with Star-Beasts ouer-thwarts the Hall.

When the braue Bride-groom towards Mount Silo traces,
A thousand Flowers spring in his spright-full pases:
When towards Mount Oliu•t he slides, there growes
Vnder his Feet a thousand Frosty Snowes:
For, the Floor, beaten with his Measures ever,
Seems like the Footing of the nimble Weaver.

This louely Couple, now kisse, now recoil,
Now with a lowring eye, now with a smile:
Now Face to Face they Dance, now side by side,
With Course vn-equall: and the tender Bride
Receiues strange Changes in her Countenance,
After her Lovers divers-seeming glance.
If vnawares som Enuious come between
Her and her Loue, then is she sad be-seen,
She shuts her eye, she seems even to depart:
Such force hath true Loue in a noble hart.
But all that's nothing to their musicke choice:
Tuning the warbles of their Angel-Voice
To Foot and Viole, and Care-charming Lute,
In amorous Ditty they doo thus dispute.

"O bright-ey'd Virgin! ô how fair thou art!
"O how I loue thee, My Snowe-winged Doue!
"O how I loue thee! Thou hast rapt my hart:
"For thee I Die: For thee I liue, my Loue.

" How fair art thou my Deer! How dear to me!
"Deer Soule (awake) I faint, I sink, I sownd,
"At thy deer Sight: and when I sleep; for Thee,
"Within my brest still wakes my sharp-sweet Wound.

"My Loue, what Odours thy sweet Tresse it yeelds!
"What Amber-greece, what Incense breath'st thou out
"From purple fillets! and what Myrrhe distils
"Still from thy Fingers, ring'd with Gold about!

"Sweet-Hart, how sweet is th' Odour of thy Prayse!
"O what sweet aiers doth thy sweet air deliuer
"Vnto my burning Soule! What hony Layes
"Flowe from thy throat, thy throat a golden River.

"Among the Flowers, my Flower's a Rose, a Lilly;
"A Rose, a Lilly; this a Bud, that blow'n:
"This fragrant Flower first of all gather wil-I,
"Smell to it, kisse it, wear it as mine owne.

"Among the Trees, my Loue's an Apple-Tree,
"Thy fruit-full Stem bears Flower and Fruit together:
"I'll smell thy Flower, thy Fruit shall nourish me,
"And in thy Shadow will I rest forever.

While Hesperus, in azure Waggon brought
Millions of Tapers ouer all the Vault,
These gorgeous Revels to sweet Rest giue place,
And the Earths Venus doth Heav'ns Venus trace.

These Spousals past: the King doth nothing minde
But the Lords House; there is his Care confin'd:
His Checker's open, he no Cost respects)
But sets a-work the wittiest Architects.

Millions of hands be busie labouring;
Through all the Woods, wedges and beetles ring:
The Tufted Tops of sacred Libanon,
To climb Mount Sion, down the stream are gon:
Forests are saw'd in Transomes, Beams, and Somers:
Great Rocks made little, what with Sawes and Hammers:
The sturdy Quar-man with steel-headed Cones
And massie Sledges slenteth out the Stones,
Digs through the bowels of th' earth baked stiff,
Cuts a wide Window through a horned Cliff
Of ruddy Porphire, or white Alabaster,
And masters Marble, which no Time can Master.
One melts the White-stone with the force of Fire:
Another, leveld by the Lesbian Squire,
Deep vnder ground (for the Foundation) ioynes
Wel-polisht Marble, in long massie Coines;
Such both for stuff, and for rare artifice,
As mought beseem som royall Frontispice.
This heaws a Chapter; that a Frize doth frame;
This Carues a Cornich; that prepares a Iambe,
This formes a Plynth; that fits an Architraue;
This planes a Plank; and that the same doth graue,
Giues life to Cedars dead, and cunningly
Makes Wood to moue, to sigh and speak wel-nigh:
And others, rearing high the sacred Wal,
By their bold Labours Heav'n it self appall:
Cheerly they work, and ply it in such sort
As if they thought long Summer-dayes too-short.

As in Grape-Harvest, with vnweary pains,
A willing Troup of merry-singing Swains,
With crooked hooks the strouting Clusters cut,
In Frails and Flaskets them as quickly put,
Run bow'd with burthens to the fragrant Fat,
Tumble them in, and after pit-a-pat,
Vp to the Waste; and dauncing in the Must
To th' vnder-Tub a flowry Shower doo thrust:
They work a-vie, to th' eye their Work doth growe,
Who saw't i'th' Morning, scarce at Night can knowe
It for the same: and God himself doth seem
T'haue ta'en to Taske this Work, and work for them,
While in the Night sweet Sleep restores with rest
The weary limbs of Work-men ouer-prest.

Great King, whence came this Courage (Titan-like)
So many Hils to heap vpon a rick?
What mighty Rowlers, and what massie Cars
Could bring so far so many monstrous Quars?
And, what huge strength of hanging Vaults embow'd
Bears such a waight aboue the winged Clowde?

If on the out-side I doo cast mine eye,
The Stones are ioyn'd so artificially,
That if the Maçon had not checkerd fine,
Syre's Alabaster with hard Serpentine,
And hundred Marbles no lesse fair than firm;
The whole, a whole Quar one might rightly tearm.

If I look In, then scorn I all with-out:
Surpassing Riches shineth all about:
Floore, Sides, and Seeling, couerd triple-fold,
Stone lyn'd with Cedar, cedar limn'd with Gold:
And all the Parget carv'd and branched trim
With Flowrs and Fruits, and winged Cherubim.

I over-passe the sacred Implements,
In worth far passing all these Ornaments:
Th' Art answers to the stuff, the stuff to th' vse.
O! perfect Artist, thou for Mould didst chuse
The Worlds Idea: For, as first the same
Was sever'd in a Three-fold divers Frame,
And God Almighty rightly did Ordain
One all Divine, one Heav'nly, one Terrene;
Decking with Vertues one, with Stars another,
With Flowrs and Fruits, and Beasts, and Birds the other:
And playd the Painter, when he did so gild
The turning Globes, blew'd Seas, and green'd the field,
Gaue precious Stones so many-coloured lustre,
Enameld Flowers, made Metals beam and glister:
The Caruer, when he cut in leaues and stems
Of Plants, such veins, such figures, files and hems:
The Founder, when he cast so many Forms
Of winged Fouls, of Fish, of Beasts, of Worms:

Thou doost divide this Sacred House in Three;
Th' HOLY OF HOLIES, wher-in none may bee
But God, the Cherubims, and (once a yeer)
The Sacred Figure of Perfection deer,
Of Gods eternall Son (Sins sin-les check)
The ever-lasting true MELCHISEDEC:
The fair mid-TEMPLE, which is ope alone
To Sun-bright Leuites, who on Izrael shone
With Rayes of Doctrine; and who, feeding well
On the Lawes Hony, seem in Heav'n to dwell:
And th' vtter PORCH, the Peoples residence,
The Vulgars Ile, the World of Elements:
And various Artist honour'st all the Parts
With Myron's, Phydias, and Apelles Arts.

This Pattern pleas'd thee so, th' hast fram'd by it,
Th' eternall Watch-births of thy sacred Wit:
Thy pithy Book of Prouerbs richly-graue,
Vnto the PORCH may rich relation haue:
For that it giues vs Oeconomike Lawes,
Rules Politike, and Priuate civill Sawes;
And for (the most) those Lessons general
At Humane matters aim the most of all.
Ecclesiastes the Mid-TEMPLE seems:
It treadeth down what ever Flesh esteems
Fair, pleasant, precious, glorious, good, or great;
Drawes vs from earth, and vs in Heav'n doth seat;
And, all the World proclaiming Uain of Vains,
Mans happinesse in Gods true Fear maintains.
SANCTVM-SANCTORVM, is thy Song of Songs,
Where, in Mysterious Verse (as meet belongs)
Thou Mariest Iacob to Heav'ns glorious King:
Where, thou (devoted) doost divinely sing
CHRIST'S and his CHVRCHES Epithalamie:
Where (sweetly rapt in sacred Extasie)
The faith-full Soule talks with her God immense,
Hears his sweet Voice, her self doth quintessence
In the pure flames of his sweet-pearcing eyes
(The Cabinets where Grace and Glory lies)
Enioyes her Ioy, in her chaste bed doth kisse
His holy lips (the Loue of Loues) her Blisse.

When he had finisht and had furnisht full
The House of God, so rich, so bewtifull:
O God (sayd Salomon) great Only-Trine!
Which of this Mystike sacred House of Thine
Hast made me Builder; build Mee in the same
A living Stone. For thy deer DAVIDS name,
On DAVIDS branches DAVIDS blisse reviue;
That on his Throne his Issue still may thriue.
O All-comprising, None-comprised Prince,
Which art in Heav'n by thy Magnificence,
In Hell by Iustice, each-where by thy Powers:
Dwell here (deer Father) by thy Grace (to Ours).
If, in a doubtfull Case, one needs must swear,
Loose thou the Knot, and punish thou severe
Th' audacious Periure; that hence-forth none chance
Taxe thee of Malice, or of Ignorance.
If our dis-flowred Trees, our Fields Hail-torn,
Our empty Ears, our light and blasted Corn,
Presage vs Famine; if with ten-fold chain,
Thy hand hath lockt thy Water-gates of Rain;
And, towards this House we humbled cast our eye,
Hear vs (O Lord) hear our complaint and cry.
If Captiues we in a strange Land bewayl,
If in the Wars our Force and Fortune fail;
And, towards this House we humbled cast our eye,
Hear vs (O Lord) hear our complaint and cry.
If Strangers, moov'd with rumor of thy Miracles,
Com heer to Offer, to consult thine Oracles,
And in this House to kneel religiously,
Hear them, O Lord, hear their complaint and cry:
Hear them from Heav'n; and by thy Favors prest,
Draw to Thy TEMPLE, North, South, East, and West.

The passe-Man Wisedom of th' Isacian Prince,
A Light so bright, set in such eminence
(Vn-hideable by envious Arrogance,
Vnder the Bushell of black Ignorance)
Shines every where, illustres every place;
Among the rest it Lightens in the Face
Of the fair Princesse, that with prudent hand
The soft Arabian Scepter doth command,
The Queen of Saba, where continuall Spring
Red Cinamom, Incense, and Myrrhe doth bring;
Where private men doo Prince-like Treasures hold,
Where Pots be Silver, Bedsteds beaten Gold,
Where Wals are rough-cast with the richest Stones
Cast in Deuises, Emblems, Scutchions.
Yet, leaving all this Greatnesse of her owne,
She comes to view the State of SALOMON,
To hear his Wisedom, and to see his Citty,
Refuge of Vertues, School of Faith and Pitty.

You, that doo shut your eyes against the rayes
Of glorious Light, which shineth in our dayes;
Whose spirits self-obstin'd in old musty Error,
Repulse the Truth (Th' Almighties sacred Mirror)
Which day and night at your deaf Doors doth knock;
Whose stubbornnesse will not at all vn-lock
The sacred Bible, nor so much as look,
To talke with God, into his holy Book:
O, fear you not that this great Princesse shall
Of thank-les Sloath one-day condemn you all?
Who (both a Woman, Queen, and Pagan born)
Ease, Pleasures, Treasures, doth despise and scorn;
To passe with great pains, and with great expence,
Long weary Iourneys full of diffidence:
And nobly trauels to another Land
To hear the words but of a (mortall) Man?

Her Time's not lost: there (rapt) she doth contemple
The sumptuous bewties of a stately TEMPLE,
The lofty Towers of hundred Towns in one,
A pompous Palace, and a peer-les Throne,
Wals rich with-out; furnisht in richer sort:
Number of Servants doth adorn the Court,
But more their Order; there, no noise is heard,
Each his owne Office only doth reguard:
And, (in one instant) as the quaverings
Of a quick Thumb, moues all the divers strings
Of a sweet Guittern; and, its skill to grace,
Causeth a Trebble sound, a Mean, a Base:
So SALOMON, discreetly with a beck,
A wink a word, doth all the Troop direct:
Each of his Servants hath his proper Lesson,
And (after his Degree) each hath his fashion.

This Queen, yer parting from her fragrant Iles,
Arm'd her with Riddles and with witty Wyles,
T' appose the King; and she resolues she wil
With curious Questions sift and sound his Skill.
But lo what Oedipus! The Law-learn'd Sage,
Which at the Bar hath almost spent his age,
Cannot so soon a common Doubt decide,
Where Statutes, Customs. and Book-Cases guide,
As he dissolues her Gordian-knots, and sees
Through all her nights, and even at pleasure frees
Such Doubts, as doubt-les might haue taskt, t'vntwist,
The Brachman, Druïde, and Gymnosophist:
And knowing, Good becomes more Good, the more
It is en-common'd, he applies there-fore
T'instruct her in the Faith; and (enuious-idle)
His brains rich Talent buries not in Idle.

Alas, I pity you: alas (quoth He)
Poore Soules besotted in Idolatry,
Who worship Gold and Silver, Stocks and Stones,
Mens workmanship, and Fiends Illusions;
And, who (by your sage Mages Lore miss-led)
So-many Godlings haue imagined:
Madame, there is but one sole God, most-High,
Th' Eternall King, nay, self-Eternity,
Infinite, All in all, yet out of all,
Of Ends the End, of Firsts Originall,
Of Lights the Light, Essencesur-passing Essence,
Of Powers pure Act, of Acts the very Puissance,
Cause of all Causes, Ocean of all Good,
The Life of Life, and of all Bewty Flood:
None-seen All-Seer, Starr's-guide, Sight of Seeing,
The Vni-forme, which giues all Formes their Beeing.
God, and One, is all One; whoso the Vnitie
Denies, he (Atheist) disannuls Diuinity:
Th' Vnity dwels in God, ith' Fiend the Twine:
The greater World hath but one Sun to shine,
The lesser but one Soule, both but one God,
In Essence One, in Person Trinely-odde.
Of this great Frame, the Parts so due-devis'd,
This Body, tun'd so, measur'd, sympathiz'd,
This TEMPLE, wheresuch Wealth and Order meet,
This Art in every part, cannot proceed
But from one Pattern; and that but from one
Author of all, who all preserues alone.
Else should we see in set Batalions
A hundred thousand furious Partizans,
The World would nource civill intestine Wars,
And wrack itself in itselfs factious Iars.
Besides, God is an Infinite Divinity:
And who can think of more than one Infinity?
Seeing the one restrains the others might,
Or rather reaues its name and being quight.
Therfore (O Pagans) why doo you confine
The Infinite in narrow Walls of lime?
Why shut you Him in a base Trunk or Tree?
Why paint you Whom no mortall eye can see?
Why offer you your carnall seruices
Vnto the Lord, who a meer Spirit is?

Why then doo you (sayd she) by our example,
Incloseth' Immortall in this Earthly TEMPLE?
Lock him within an Arke? and, worse than we
Feed him with Fumes, and bloody Butcherie?

This Sacred House so fair (reply'd he then)
Is not to contain God, but godly men
Which worship him: and, we doo not suppose
That He, whose Arms doo Heav'n and Earth inclose,
Is closed in a Chest; but th' ancient Pact,
The solemne Couenant, and the sure Contract,
Which leagues vs with our God, and each with other,
And (holy Bond) holds Heav'n and Earth together.
As for our Incense, Washings, Sacrifices,
They are not (as is thought) Our vain Devices;
But, God's their Aurthor, and himself Ordains
These Elements, wherby he entertains
And feeds our vnderstanding in the hope
Of his deer Son (of all these Things the Scope);
Setting before vs th' Only Sacrifice,
Which in CHRIST'S Blood shall wash-out all our vice.
Come then, O Lord, Come thou Lawes finisher,
Great King, great Prophet, great Selfs-Offerer:
Come, come, thou thrice-Great Refuge of our State,
Come, thou out Ran çome, Iudge, and Advocate:
Milde Lambe, Salue-Serpent, Lion generous,
Vn-challeng'd Vmpire betwixt Heav'n and Vs,
Come thou, the Trueth, the Substance and the End
Of all our Offrings, (whither, all doo tend):
Come ô MESSIAS, and doo now begin
To Raign in Sion, to triumph of Sinne;
And, worshipped in Spirit and Truth, restore
Vpon the Earth the Golden Age of yore:
Accept this Queen, as of all Heathen Princes
The deer First-Fruits: take on thee our Offences,
That, stript of Adam's Sinfull sute, in fine
With sacred Angels we in Heav'n may shine.

The Queen, nigh sunk in an Amaze-full Swoun,
Bespake him thus: My Lord, prattling Renown
Is wont in flying to increase so far,
That she proclaims things greater than they are:
And, rarest Spirits resemble Pictures right,
Wherof the rarest seem more exquisite,
Far-off, then neer: but, so far as thy Fame
Ezcels all Kings, thy Vertues passe the same:
Thy peer-les Prayse stoops to thy Learned tongue,
And envious bruit hath done thy Wisedom wrong.

So may I say, even so (ô SCOTISH King)
Thy winged Fame, which far and wide doth ring,
From th' edge of Spain hath made me venturously
To crosse the Seas thy Britain's end to see:
Where (Lord!) what saw I? nay, what saw I not?
O King (Heav'n-chosen, for som special Plot)
Worlds Miracle, ô Oracle of Princes?
I saw so much, my Soule mistrusts my Senses.
A gray-beards Wisedom in an amber-bush,
A Mars-like Courage in a Maid-like blush,
A settled Iudgement with a supple Wit,
A quick Discourse, profound and pleasing yet;
Virgil and Tully, in one spirit infus'd,
And all Heav'ns Gifts into one Head diffus'd.

Persist, O King, glory on glory mount;
And as thy Vertues thine owne Fame surmount,
So let thy future passe thy former more,
And go-before those that haue gone-before:
Excell thy Self: and braue, graue, godly Prince,
Confirme my Songs eternall Euidence.