Sir Richard Blackmore M. D. - Prince Arthur: Book III lyrics

Now the Victorious Sun the Night invades, Chasing from Hill to Hill, the flying Shades. Up rose the Princes, and were soon prepar'd To take their Way, attended with their Guard. In the same Chariot friendly they abide, And feeding grateful Conversation ride. The British Captains, and th' Armorick Train, On either Side their generous Coursers rein. They past not far, when Hoel thus addrest, With pleasing Looks, his Pious, British Guest. Your lofty Subject now, brave Prince, resume, How shall your Lord from Heav'n to Judgement come, What follows, what precedes the general Doom? The Briton then began. Before the Son of God appears on high, Prodigious Signs are seen thro' all the Sky. New lighted Comets shake their Fiery Hair, Or trail their flaming Trains along the Air. Vast Circling Flakes of Fire the World amaze, And intermixt, prodigious Meteors blaze. The Sky shines terrible with Lightning's Flame. And Thunder shakes the universal Frame Th' impetuous roar, o'erturns Heav'n's lofty Towers And starry Fragments fall in burning Showers, Rent Clouds, pour Seas of raging Sulphur down, Whose livid Flames th' extinguish'd Sun-beams drown. Cross the red Air the flaming Torrents fly, Gushing from all the fiery Springs on high. The melting Orbs, and Firmaments conspire, To make up one Tempestuous Sea of Fire. The glowing Sphears dissolve with Heat and all In mighty Floods of liquid Crystal fall. The lofty Digues gape wide, that stood around, And from the dark Abyss did Nature bound; Chaos comes pouring thro' the hideous Crack, And Nature's Ruins, and th' amazing Wreck Of burning Worlds, by floating on his Waves: Scarce its high Mounds th' Empyreal Region saves. Heav'n's spacious Balls are on each other hurl'd, Ruin with Ruin crush'd, and World o'erturn'd with World. Confusion, Noise, and Horror fill the Air, The Earth, loud Cries, Distraction, and Despair. Fierce Storms of raging Vapours, that aspire, Mixt with hot Steams, from subterranean Fire, That Lakes of Sulphur burning all beneath, That kindled Naphtha, and hot Metals Breath; The Earth's grip'd Bowels with Convulsions rack, And with loud Noise their trembling Prisons crack. Imprison'd Thunder roars for wider room, Proclaiming loud the World's approaching Doom. The Globe distorted, burst, disjoynted, rent, Gives to the burning Exhalations Vent. Thro' gaping Clefts, the flaming Tempest flies, And Hurricanes of Fire confound the Skies. Great Cities, Mountains, Rocks, and shatter'd Hills, Vast abrupt Tracks of Land, and sinking Isles, Sap'd by the Flame, that underneath destroys; Fall down with mighty Cracks, and dreadful Noise; Prodigious Ruine filling all the Caves, And dashing high the subterranean Waves. Ætna, Vesuvius, and fiery kind, Their Flames within blown up with stormy Wind; With dire Concussions, and loud roar complain Of deadly Gripes, and fierce consuming pain. The lab'ring Mounts Belch drossy Vomit out, And throw their melted Bowels round about. Broad Sheets of Flame, Pillars of Pitchy Smoak, And glowing Stones, the Airy Region choak. Down their scorcht Sides metallick Torrents flow, And form a dismal, flaming Sea below. The fiery Deluge rolls along the Ground, Dreadful for Colour, horrible for Sound. Huge Stones, and vast unmelted Cakes of Oar, The thick, unweildy Tyde encumber more. Horrour in Triumph, smear'd with Smoak and Blood, Rides cross the Ridge of the tremendous Flood. It burns new Channels riding o'er the Plain, And turns o'er Cities with its pond'rous Train. Down to the Deep it rolls its ma**y Waves, Outroars the Ocean, and its Waters braves. Plung'd in the Seas it unextinguish'd lies, And o'er the Waves the glowing Wedges rise. Th' affrighted Seas the burning Horrour fly, And the bare Shores beneath the Deluge Fry. Into the Air th' exhaling Ocean goes, Where Waters slept, a Lake of Sulphur glows. All the hot Seeds, and hidden Stores of Fire, From subterranean Prisons freed, conspire With their bright Arms to lay all Nature wast, And to the general Conflagration hast. A fiery Chaos Reigns with lawless Power, And unresisted Flames the World devour. These Signs first giv'n, amidst the Starry Shears, With all the Pomp of Heav'n the Judge appears. Before his Chariot Wheels that roll on high, Whirlwinds, and Clouds discharging Thunder fly, And curling Lightnings run along the Sky. Immortal Thrones, pour'd out from Heav'n's bright Gates, Dominions, Powers, Seraphic Potentates, Crown'd Saints, and Martyrs rang'd in glorious Rows, Attend his Chariot, and his State compose. The dazling Pomp stretches across the Sky, From utmost East to West, and pa**ing by The Heav'nly Orbs, comes on descending slow, Into the Airy Region here below. O'er all the Sky, Heav'n's mighty Army shines, And here it halts in deep embattel'd Lines. In bright Celestial Armour Clad, they stand, Their Swords of temper'd Flame drawn in their hand. They mark a Camp of spacious Circuit out, And cast up Crystal Ramparts round about. On some fit Eminence, they raise on high Their Lord's August Pavilion in the Sky. His bright, sublime Tribunal here they place, On which he sits, with awful, God-like Grace. Such Flames of Fire, wheeling in Clouds of Smoak, Issue from thence, as from Mount Sinai broke. Array'd with Majesty, and cloath'd with Light, He Glory darts too fierce for Angels Sight. In Hallelujahs they his Greatness sing, And the shook Sphears, with loud Hosannahs Ring. Thus on the Throne, the Saviour sits prepar'd, To Judge the World, to punish and reward. And now th' unnumber'd Armies ready stand, Grasping revenging Firebrands in their Hand, And only wait their Leader's high Command. The Signal giv'n, a general Shout, shall shake The Heav'n's around, greater than Armies make Rushing to Battel, or was heard in Rome, When conquering Cæsar came in Triumph home. Their furious Arms devouring Tempests throw On all the guilty, trembling World below. They pour down mighty, fiery Cataracts, Flaming Bitumen, and Sulphurous Lakes; Red showers of fiery Arrows hissing fly, And flashing Lightning flames around the Sky. Fires from above, combin'd with Fires below, O'er all the Earth in ruddy Torrents flow. Vengeance Divine, wasts Nature's burning Store, And drowns the Earth in Fire, all drown'd in Guilt before. The Heat dissolves the Fabrick of the World, The broken parts fall down, confusedly hurl'd: Chaos restor'd does in wild Triumph reign, And ruin'd Worlds his hideous Throne sustain. Some great Archangel now springs forth on high, And with the loudest Trumpet of the Sky, Summons th' astonish'd, gazing World to come To Judgment, and the Universal Doom. The dreadful Noise shakes Heav'n's Etherial Mounds, And in loud Ecchoes from the Sphears rebounds. In Ecchoes terrible, and piercing Shrill, That the low World with dire Amazement fill. The guilty Fiends shreek out at these Alarms, That in the Air fly thick in murmuring Swarms. Their Prince himself trembles, and dares not stay, But spreads his broad, dun Wings, and shoots away. They sink confounded to th' Infernal Deep, Or into Clefts, and hollow Mountains creep. They find the fatal Hour's arriv'd at last, That shall revenge their bold Rebellions past. When to their Torments they shall be Restrain'd, And lye beneath, on flaming Billows chain'd. When Hell no more its Pris'ners shall release, And Sin's black Empire must for ever cease. No less the dreadful Sound, and awful Sight, Confound proud Tyrants, and their Guards affright. What Horrour now distracts each guilty Soul, In their sad Breasts, what Storms of Vengeance roll. How will they bear this dismal Scene of Wo, Where will they stay secure, or whither go? Terrour, Distraction, Anguish, fierce Despair Drink up their Vitals, and their Heart-strings tear. Ten Thousand poison'd Darts strike thro' their Reins, And wound them with unsufferable Pains. The Vulture bred within their Bowels gnaws, And Conscience gripes them with her Harpys Claws. Such Wounds, such Stings, such Pangs must now be born, Of everlasting d**h, the sad Forlorn. What strange Confusion in their Looks appears, What wild Amazement, Guilt and deadly Fears. What howling Lamentation, what dire Cries, What doleful Shreeks, and Yellings fill the Skies? Besides, the Trumpet shakes the trembling ground, The startled Dead awakwn at the Sound. The Grave resigns its ancient Spoils, and all d**h's Adamantine Prisons burst, and fall. The Souls that did their forc'd Departure mourn, To the same Bodies with swift Flight return. Whose scatter'd Parts God calls together, they To their appointed Meeting hast away. The crowding Atoms re-unite apace, All without tumult, know, and take their place. Th' a**embled Bones leap quick into their Frame, And the warm Blood renews a brighter Flame. The quicken'd Dust feels fresh and youthful Heats, While its old Task, the beating Heart repeats. The Eyes enliven'd with new Vital Light, Open, admiring whence they had their sight. The Veins too, twine their bloddy Arms around The Limbs, and with red, leaping Life abound. Hard twisted Nerves new brace, and faster bind The close knit Joynts, no more to be disjoyn'd. Strong, new-spun Threds Immortal Muscles make, That justly fixt, their ancient Figure take. Brisk Spirits take their upper Seats, and dart Thro' their known Channels thence, to every part. The Men now draw their long forgotten Breath, And striving break th' unweildy Chains of d**h. Victorious Life to every Grave resorts, And rifles d**h's unhospitable Courts. Its Vigour thro' those dark Dominions spread, From all their gloomy Mansions frees the Dead. Now ripe Conceptions thro' the Earth abound, And new sprung Men stand thick on all the ground. The Sepulchres are quick, and every Tomb Labours with Life, and grows a fruitful Womb. But how the Dead are chang'd, their Bodies more Unlike each other, than their Souls before! How monstrous foul the guilty Dead arise, Each struck with Horrour from his Neighbour flies! How much deform'd they look, all stain'd with Sin, Black and mis-shap'd without, but more within. Ugly and Fiend-like, from their Graves they Crawl, And on the ground, like bloated Vermin, sprawl. And like them too, their Bodies have their Birth, From putred Damps and Vapours in the Earth. So Serpents that entangled lay asleep, From out their Beds disturb'd, and waken'd creep. They hiss, and cast their fiery Eyes around, And with their loathsome Bellies mark the ground. For flight their poisonous Volumes they display, And urg'd with Fear and Anguish, hast away. So this foul Brood are forc'd their Graves to leave, And to the Ground their grov'ling Bellies cleave. Earthy and Black, confin'd so long to Night, They dread the Horrours of the chearful Light. Amazing change! see, some of these were they, Whose Heads were Crown'd, whose Hands did Scepters sway. These did rich Purple, and fine Linnen wear, And every Meal fed on delicious Fare. That hideous Thing, that for a Covert seeks, With hollow Eyes, fal'n Jaws, and ghastly Cheeks, That monstrous Thing, was once, when kept with Care, Proud of its Beauty, and look'd wondrous Fair. Set off with all the Ornaments, that please The Eye, and pamper'd with Luxurious Ease. But how the guilty Crowd, wreckt with Despair, With dismal Cries fill all the Ecchoing Air; When they the Trumpet's dreadful Summons hear, And find the Universal Judgment near! Back to their Graves, the ugly Monsters fly, And in those Coverts would for ever ly. They call aloud for d**h, and wish they might Melt to thin Air, be drown'd, and lost in Night. But when Blest Minds their Bodies meet, no Pair Can look more Beautiful, and charming Fair. The happy Souls shoot swiftly thro' the Sky, And to the Graves and Sepulchers they fly. Where they their long forsaken Bodies greet, Which, like old Friends, they with fresh Pleasure meet. Bodies, that seem, they are so Pure and Bright, All thicken'd Glory, close compacted Light; Purg'd and refin'd from all that's course and gross, As melted Gold throws off the baser Dross. Smiling they rise, such Charms, so sweet a Grace They shew, as dwell not on a Mortal Face. These rising Stars their Heav'nly Beams display, Bright Harbingers of Everlasting Day. Such Beauties, such mild Glories shall we see, In the glad Spring of Immortality. Yet these blest Sons of Light, that Angel-like, Would mortal Eyes, with deadly Lustre strike, Were those, that once their Excellence disguis'd, Liv'd here oppress'd, and like their Lord, despis'd. Welcom to them this long expected Hour, Safe by their Judge's Favour, from his Power. High Tides of Joy into their Bosoms run, And Everlasting Life they feel begun. This shall past Griefs in deep Oblivion drown, Compleat their Triumphs, and their Virtues Crown. These in the Spring, great Care and Toil bestow'd, And water'd with their Tears, the Seed they sow'd. The Harvest now their happy Hours employs, In reaping Pleasures and Immortal Joys. Bright Cherubims descending thro' the Air To these blest Men with speedy Flight Repair, Then to the gen'ral Doom aloft they fly, And on their Wings convey them thro' the Sky. In all the way encouraging their Charge, Telling of all the Joys of Heav'n at large. Plac'd in the Presence of their Lord they stand In their appointed Seats, at his Right-hand. Whilst other Angels from the Deep of Hell, Drive up the Fiends that in those Regions dwell. With Swords of keenest Flame compelling some, And dragging others to the gen'ral Doom. In Anguish and Despair, the yelling Fiends Curse, Gnash, and Bite th' Eternal Chain that binds So close, and strait, then turn their Heads away, From the fierce Terrour of so bright a Day. And impious Men in no less Horror fly To all the Shades, and Coverts they descry. Mountains and Rocks their fruitless Cries invite, To fall, and hide them from the Judge's Sight, For rise they must, and lose their vain Desire, Caught up in Whirlwinds, and in Storms of Fire. Before the Judge the Pris'ners stand in Sight, And take the Left-hand, as the Just the Right. Th' Eternal Books before the Judge are brought, Where all Mens long-forgotten Deeds are wrote. And first are read the Vertues of the Just, Their Zeal for Heav'n, their Courage, Hope, and Trust. The Prayers, the Tears, the Alms themselves conceal'd, Before applauding Angels are reveal'd. The righteous Judge thier Innocence declar'd, Allots the glorious Kingdom, he prepar'd For pure and holy Minds a blest Reward. Their Guardian Angels at their Lord's Command, Crown the glad Saints with an Officious Hand. Who now in perfect Bliss, their time employ Discoursing, to promote their mutual Joy, How first they left the pleasurable way, Where wanton Streams of soft Delights convey Charm'd Souls, that with the treach'rous Tyde must go, To the dead Lake of Pain and endless Wo. How first they lik'd the dark and lonesome Road That leads to Bliss, and the blest Minds Abode. How when in Shades they mourn'd, a Heav'nly Ray Darted a welcome, tho imperfect Day. How Vertue's guidance they impolor'd and gain'd, And what blest Converse with her they maintain'd. How thro' dark Paths she did their Feet conduct, Correct the wanderers, and the rest instruct. How by her Aids they bore tempestuous Shocks, Climb'd o'er opposing Hills, and hanging Rocks Till they at length the Peaceful Realms did gain, Where Joys Divine, and endless Transports Reign. How sweet and fair Crown'd Innocence appears, No more tost on the Waves of Hopes and Fears? On mortal Face such Beauties never shone, Like those of Virtue, seated on her Throne. Next this, th' Apostate Angels are accus'd, That open Force, or secret Arts they us'd To set their Leader, on th' Eternal's Throne, Subvert Christ's Empire and advance their own. That Man by them seduc'd, did first Rebel, Relinquish'd Heav'n, and to their Party fell. That they the curst Defection did support, And new Born Men, to new Rebellions Court. That they, with indefatigable Care, Fresh Heats fomented, and renew'd the War. Whence Plagues and Desolation wide, and vast, And uncontroll'd Destruction laid all waste Hence Noah's universal Deluge came, And hence the World lies now o'erwhelm'd in Flame. For these black Crimes they're sentenc'd to the pains, Of fiercer Fire, and doom'd to heavier Chains. Next Cain's Rebellious Offspring are accus'd, As Heav'n's inveterate Foes, who long abus'd Goodness Divine, whom Everlasting Love And Life Eternal, had no Charms to move. They would no reconciling Terms embrace, Alike by Threats unchang'd, or Acts of Grace. They did with Wine and Noise the Method find, To Calm a Conscious, self-revenging Mind. To lay asleep th' uneasie Judge within, Till they with Care and Pains, grew bold in Sin. For when the sacred Spirit did convey Into their Breasts, a secret Heav'nly Ray, That did, where cherish'd, soon bring on the Day: With hasty Care they choak'd the new-sprung Light, Calling to Aid the Shades of Hell, and Night. Divine Compa**ion's Force they never felt, Nor would in Flames of Love Eternal melt. Their Hearts untouch'd did all Heav'n's strokes repel, Temper'd, and harden'd in the Forge of Hell. No Overtures of Peace, no Offers made, Tho' of an endless Kingdom, could perswade The unrelenting Rebels, to lay down Their impious Arms, to take a Heav'nly Crown. They still a**erted with their latest Breath, Their fixt Confed'racy with Hell, and d**h. 'Tis on them charg'd, that others too that fell, Drawn by their Arts, embark'd for d**h and Hell. They led them to the flowry Banks, and show'd The flatt'ring Tide, where smiling Pleasures flow'd. Where the charm'd Voyagers did careless ride, Bewitching Syren's singing on their side. Till the false Flood betray'd them thither, where It falls into the Gulph of black Despair. Here secret Crimes are publish'd, and his Name Who lov'd the Sin, but fear'd th' attendant Shame. The sly Adulterer, that till the late Approach of Night, and silent Shades did wait, For the Caresses of the Harlot's Fed, And at the early dawn of Twilight fled; Is here upbraided, for his careful flight Of Mens, whilst he contemn'd th' Almighty's sight. Th' audacious Wretch that did Heav'n's Laws deride, And all its Thunder and dire Threats defy'd; That did cloy'd Nature to fresh Guilt excite, Beyond her own ev'n Vicious Appetite: Anti-Platonic that could pleasure take In naked Vice, and sinn'd for sinning's sake; That could abstracted from Enjoyment, sport, With Guilt, and Vice ev'n in Idea court. That did himself, so much he lov'd the Fame, The secret Triumphs of his Lusts proclaim, Strives in the Crowd to hide his guilty Head, Whilst his high Charge, and black Indictment's read. Th' astonish'd Wretch Sinks, Trembles, Dies to see Enrag'd Omnipotence, and frowning Majesty. Such deadly Torments on his Bowels feed, Such Agonies he feels, as far exceed All Shapes of Horrour, Mortals ever saw, Poets invent, or troubl'd Fancies draw. That there's a God, he gives a full Assent, On the most sure, but saddest Argument. He can his Being, and his Power attest, From the Almighty Vengeance in his Breast. Thus he at last believes, and trembles too, On the same grounds that tortur'd Spirits do. The Droll'ry that derided Heav'n's just Cause, He hears repeated, but without Applause. His Jests and bold Discourses will not fit This place, nor pa**, ev'n with his Friends, for Wit. Will he his feeble Arguments produce, And make them here, renew their former Use? Will he a**ert his Innocence, and plead 'Twas only harmless Nature he obey'd? That he to Vice did not his Mind enslave, But only pleas'd the Appetites Heav'n gave. Will he inform the Judge, it cannot be A Being Good, and Merciful, as He, Can so much Rigour to his Errors show, And make a Creature for Eternal Wo? The Wretch's bold Objections will appear, His wanton Fancy's wild Capriches here. Able no more to stifle with their Night, The Natural Dictates of his inbred Light. They can't the deadly Stings within controul, Nor ease the Horrors of his tortur'd Soul. And now less hardy Pris'ners are Arraign'd, That had not this obdurate temper gain'd. Of such a Pendulous, Distracted Mind, That oft to Heav'n, and oft to Hell inclin'd. To make up Peace, they would with neither part, But shar'd between them a divided Heart. These travell'd on so long the happy Way, That leads to Life, and pure Etherial Day: Till they reach'd Heav'n's bright Confines, could descry The Peaceful World of Immortality. But then, discourag'd at the steep Ascent, And the strait Gate, thro' which the Trav'llers went, Gave back, and did of their past Toil repent. But how they now abhor the Cowardize, That made them almost Conquerors, miss the Prize: Made them desert a prosperous Cause as lost, That could so many Spoils, and Triumphs boast. Curst Sloth, that could perswade them to forsake Christ's Camp, when such a Kingdom was at Stake. Each hears his aggravated Crimes at large, Devils accuse, and Conscience backs the Charge. They can't excuse, or hide their Crimes, nor fly, Nor what's the Refuge of the wretched, dy. Now let their past Enjoyments Succour give, Let Wit, and Wine their deadly Fears relieve. Let their dear Riches their Assistance lend, Hounour and Pomp th' ambitious Man defend. Let them solicite with their loudest Cries, Those Gods, they serv'd, to save their Votaries. Blest Heav'n, that Man with such a swift Career, Pursues those Toys which are so useless here. The Judge will all his Terrors now a**ume, And thus pronounce the Pris'ners dreadful Doom. For ever cursed Souls from me depart, As you did oft my Cause, I you desert. Go, burn in Everlasting Fire, prepar'd For Devils, take that sad, but just Reward. Sink to the Bottomless Abyss of Hell, Where Agonies, and endless Sorrow dwell. Go to those Mansions of Despair, and lie In never ceasing Torments, go, and die. The Rebels this expected Sentence past, With Thunder and Tempestuous Fire are chas'd, To Hell's black Gulph, thro' all th' Etherial Wast. Where they shall see no chearful Ray of Light, Doom'd to the Horrours of Eternal Night. Th' Almighty's Arrows Fester in their Heart, Drink up their Blood, and gall with deadly Smart. His Wrath consumes the wretch, his Power sustains, And like fierce Poison o'er their Vitals, Reigns. They waste their Souls in Cries, and howling Moans, And spend Eternity in fruitless Groans. Now the abstrusest Paths of Providence, That gave the wisest Men so great Offence, Are so unriddl'd, and made easie here; The Night dispell'd, they shine as Noon-day, clear. Justice that did till now her Graces shrowd, And walk'd on Earth, encircled with a Cloud; That did such by, and uncouth Ways frequent, Perplex'd with Windings, frightful for Ascent; See this bright Goddess to her Throne restor'd, Unveils her Majesty to be ador'd. Her Cloud thrown off, her Form is all Divine, No Lustre now, her Glory can out-shine. Such are the Beauties of her Charming Face, Fair Mercy's Self, looks not with sweeter Grace. Rivals no longer, they are here combin'd, And in so strict a Bond of Friendship joyn'd; They seem distinguish'd only by their Name, Their Charms alike, their Votaries the fame, And both are Worship'd with an equal Flame. Justice to all in such due measures shown, The Judge returns to his Celestial Throne. And as he goes, crown'd Saints, and Seraphs sing Loud Songs of Praise to their Triumphant King. He enters Heav'n attended with his Train, Who in the new Jerusalem shall Reign. The City stands on pure expanded Fields Of rising Ether, that wide Prospect yields O'er all the Gulph, and outstretcht Vales below, O'er all th' Inferiour, spacious Orbs can show. The Walls are Marble of the richest Vein, And their high Towers o'er-look the Azure Plain. Of polish'd Gold the glorious Structures rise, With gilded Spires, and Turrets in the Skies. From Heav'nly Quarries on their Front appear Rich Stones, like Winter Stars, but far more clear. Immortal Rubies, Diamonds, Saphirs meet, In beauteous Mixture, and bright Orders set Rare Works, where Cost immense, and Art combine, Built and adorn'd by th' Architect Divine, To be for Holy Minds a blest Abode, Th' Imperial Seat, and Residence of God. The Streets are all of fine, Etherial Gla**, Pure, like the spotless Minds, that thro' them pa**. Thro' these Eternal, living Rivers flow, Trees on their Banks, in goodly Ranges grow, That with their golden Fruit, immortal Health bestow. Twelve Gates of Orient Pearl unshaken stand, Shut, and unbarr'd by the Almighty's Hand. A steepy Gulph is plac'd beneath the Walls, And down as low as Hell's Abyss, it falls; Lest Hostile Fiends should leave their burning Lake, And bold Excursions to these Regions make. The Air's Serene, and fit for happy Minds, Secure from Thunder, and th' Assaults of Winds. No Clouds, but those of curling Incense rise, By playing Zephirs tost about the Skies; That with their gentle Breath sweet Odours blow, That from Blest Woods, and Heav'nly Gardens flow. No noxious Damps, the Region's so sublime, From Hell's Infernal Caves, can hither Climb. No foul terrestrial Steams pollute the Air, No Breaths ascend, but those of Praise, and Prayer. Essential Glory from th' Almighty's Face, With its resplendent Efflux, lights the Place. All Heav'n's fair Orbs, thin'd and beat out in Light, Would not spread out a Day, so pure and bright, As that, the Saints Illustrious Order sheds, From the encircling Glory round their Heads. The vanquish'd Sun would there seem Dark, his Light Whence our course Day proceeds, would there make Night. So Glorious are the Dwellings of the Saints, Outdone by nothing, but th' Inhabitants. On lofty Thrones the Heav'nly Princes sit, In Robes as white, as new-fall'n Snow, and writ In Golden Characters, their Foreheads bear Their Saviour'sName, their Breasts his Image wear. Immortal Vigour shines on ev'ry Face, They look with Mild, but with Majestick Grace. Thick Beams of Light stream out from ev'ry Head, Each Saint does his own Heav'n about him spread, His radiant Feet on pointed Glory tread. Safe on the Shore with Pleasure they behold, How the thick Waves are on each other rowl'd. What Dangers of a strange amazing Shape, What fatal Rocks, they scarcely did escape. They hear the Winds grow loud and turbulent, See Clouds swoln big, with Thunder in 'em pent, With which the lowring Sky is over-cast, Hang down upon the Seas which they have past. Viewing these Woes themselves did once endure, They stand surpriz'd, as if not yet secure. Amaz'd at all the Glory they possess, Wonder almost suspends their Happiness. They on so sweet, and rich a Climate thrown, Forget their Dangers, now for ever gone. Th' Almighty they enjoy, at whose Right Hand Fulness of Joy, and Life Eternal stand. Down from his Throne, as Light does from the Sun, Rivers of fresh Delight for ever run. With ravish'd Eyes they drink in Heav'nly Beams, That from his Face flow down in Glorious Streams. They gaze so on the Beatifick Sight, Till they become all Intellectual Light. So long they his substantial Brightness view, Till they all grow Divine, and God-like too. So quick they feel the mighty Influx come, The most Capacious, thirsty Souls want room. They widen and extend themselves, to hold Those Floods of Joys, that to their Breasts are roll'd; Till they a vast, unmeasur'd Bliss possess, And strive beneath th' unweildy Happiness. If but a Glimpse of Heav'n, whose Glory streams Thro' the thick Clouds in weak, refracted Beams, Can please so much, what Joys have those above, Where perfect Knowledgekindles perfect Love? Transports Ineffable their Minds employ Delug'd in Glory, lost in Tides of Joy. Here Innocence will all its Lustre show, The mournful Looks thrown off, it wore below. Sorrows for ever banish'd hence repair To the low, Guilty Regions of the Air. There no black Clouds of Discontent appear, That spread themselves o'er these dark Vallies here. No Groans are heard , no Tears fall down the Face, To interrupt the Joy, of this blest Place. No crossing Arms, or sad dejected Eyes, Seek out the secret Corners of the Skies. If Course, Terrestrial Pleasures, court the Sense With such strong Charms, that few can make Defence, When backward Nature's forc'd by Wit, and Art, All her delicious Treasures to impart. When the short Days in all Delights are spent, That soft, Luxurious Asia can invent. What are the Nobler Pleasures, that transport The blest, that reign in this Celestial Court? That no Decay, or Intermission know, Debas'd, when liken'd to the best below. The Clouds all broke, the Tempest chas'd away, The Smiling Skies disclose a chearful Day. They've changed the Desart's dry and barren Sand, For all the Riches of a fruitful Land: Where with Immortal Food they're ever fed, And drink pure Pleasures at the Fountain's Head. Hatred, Distress, and Grief, are banish'd hence, The sad Companions once, of Innocence. No dying Martyrs Flames, or private Cries Of Innocents opprest, disturb the Skies. Here our Delights are mixt with base Allay, We have at best but a Tempestuous Day. Our Sweets are still attended with a Sting, And great Enjoyments, greater Sorrows brings. Delights, those Beautiful Illustrious, play Around us, and, when grasp'd, they glide away. Here tempting Joys, our fond Embraces fly, Choice, Forraign Flowers, they only Blow, and Die. They shew themselves, but will not with us dwell, But, like hot Gleams, approaching Storms foretel. Pure unmixt Pleasures on us never flow'd, But Stream, like watry Sun-beams, thro' a Cloud. But those above, see no unlovely Day, Their Joys no mixture know, nor fear Decay. In those blest Realms they know no thoughtful Care, Ever to Triumph is th' Employment there. There's no Vicissitude of Day, and Night, No Years, or Ages, measure Heav'n's Delight; Time has quite finish'd, and gone thro' its Round, It did their Grief, but can't their Pleasure Bound. Its Streams here disembogued for ever ly Lost in th' Abyss of Immortality. They no sad fears of future Sorrows know, Compleatly Happy, and for ever so. For Ever! We strive in vain to hold this Boundless Space; Too wide and vast, for Mortals to Embrace. Our Arms may clasp the Earth with greater Ease, And spread themselves ashore round all the Seas. When Ages have their widest Circle run, Heav'n wears not, still its Joys are but begun. The Heros here forget their toil and pain, And in Eternal Peace, and Triumph reign. No more the Scoffer mocks their pious Care, As Native Dulness, and ungrounded Fear. How different Fate he and the Impious Kind, Chain'd in the dark Infernal Prisons, find? Near the wild Deep where restless Atoms fight, And th' unfrequented Coasts of ancient Night, Where Nature ne'er on Pregnant Matter sate, To hatch warm Life, and its straight Bounds dilate. There stands the vast, unbottom'd Gulph of Hell, Where Sin and d**h, in all their Terrors dwell. Beyond the Verge of Day, these Regions ly, As low and black, as Heav'n is bright and high. Horror, and Night hand dismal o'er the place, And grizly Forms fill all the gloomy space. Dead Seas of pond'rous Darkness lie around, And the sad Realms, from Light's grey Frontiers bound. Darkness that blunts the sharpest pointed Ray, And unannoy'd, repels th' Invading Day. The sluggish Air is choak'd with soultry Gleams, With poisonous Damps, and suffocating Steams; That from wide Lakes of boiling Sulphur rise, Laden with Groans, and Everlasting Cries. No such malignant Breaths, such deadly Reeks, The delving Miner that hid Treasure seeks, E'er let out from a Subterranean Cell, As those which break from the black mouth of Hell. A fiery Sea burns fiercely all beneath, Blown up, and kindled by th' Almighty's Breath. In flaming Heaps the livid Ocean rolls, And scalding Waves involve despairing Souls. The boiling Floods terrific Colours shew, Some deeply Red, and others faintly Blue. These with the Shades contend, but can't dispel The Darkness that surrounds the burning Cell. Or if they do, they dart pale, dismal Light, Worse than the Horrors of the blackest Night. The troubled Whirlpool belches Burnings out, And throws red Seas of Sulphur round about. Columns of Smoke, with spiral Flames of Fire Inwreath'd, from wide-mouth'd Furnaces aspire. Hence the black Region is annoy'd with Fumes, Stench, Reeks, and Flame, that k**s, but not consumes. So when a Mount, hot with Metallic Seeds, In its rich Sides a secret Burning feeds; Soultring within, it casts up Pitchy Smoke, And the dead Air ascending Vapours choak. In mighty Floods, the wide Volcano's throw Their melted Treasures out, and overflow With glowing Torrents all the Neighbouring ground, That lies beneath a burning Deluge drown'd. Thro' all the Air the liquid Riches fly, And Floods of Fire dash thick against the Sky. All Hope for ever banish'd flies this place, And fixt Despair sits Pale on every Face. Grief, Anguish, Terrour, Shame, Confusion here, In Forms more terrible than d**h, appear. Here hateful Sin throws off its flatt'ring Charms, And shews a Monster in the Sinner's Arms. It now no more can please awaken'd Eyes, Stript of stoll'n Beauties, and the fair Disguise Of promis'd Good, it does it's self disclose Its hideous Shape, and ghastly Visage shows. Th' affrighted sinner seeing, fain would fly Th' Embraces of such foul Deformity He would forget their past Endearments now, And from the Monster strives in hast to go. But 'twill not be; those Friends on Earth must dwell For ever, sad Companions too, in Hell. This fiery Gulph, was as their just reward, For Lucifer, and his black Host prepar'd; Where now the Fiends, once fairest Sons of Light, Lye plung'd in Flame, chain'd in Eternal Night. These wretched Minds, once pure and free from Stain, In the brightest Palaces of Heav'n did Reign. Array'd with dazling Brightness, there they dwelt, Blest with their great Creator's sight, and felt The beaming Influx breaking from his Face, And shar'd the Pleasures of that Blissful Place. Till with the task of blest Obedience tir'd, They to th' Eternal's Sacred Throne aspir'd. Incens'd with such Ambitious Aims, their Lord Strikes thro' the Rebels with his flaming Sword. Headlong he casts them from the Seats above, No longer now, the Creatures of his Love. Flaming, and Thunder-struck, the Traytors fell, And sunk down to the fiery Jaws of Hell. As when strong-rising Flames resistance find, Beat downwards, by a fierce, impetuous Wind: The liquid Pyramids, with labour bend Their tops, and sink still struggling to ascend. So did these Beings of a Heav'nly Race, Fall from the Regions of their Native Place. Still working up, they sunk in Pain and Toil, For downwards thrown, their Natures still recoil. So difficult's an Angel's Fall, and thus Sinking's to them, what rising is to us. But who has Strength t'oppose th' Almighty's Hand, Who can against his deadly Terrours stand? He with a single Word, an angry Frown, Subdu'd this Host, and cast them headlong down. Confounded, and amaz'd they sink, and all Heav'n's Plagues, and Wrath, pursu'd them in their Fall. Here they must lie far from the Coasts of Bliss, Chain'd in the Dungeons of the dark Abyss: Where now they feel what Guilt's Demerits are, Weltring in Fire, and tortur'd with Despair. How much they curse the sad Exchange, black Night, And endless d**h, for Heav'nly Joy and Light. Sunk deep in liquid Fire they lift their Eyes, Red both with Heat and Anguish, to the Skies. Then rave aloud, to think what Joys they've lost, To think how dear their bold Rebellion cost. Nor is the Change of these two Dwellings such, So great, but they themselves, are chang'd as much. See how deform'd they are, to what before, Stript of the Glory that in Heav'n they wore. How much they look too like their guilty State, How foul, and how unlike themselves of late. Such fatal Changes one bold Crime can make, Heav'n's lost, nay more left for a burning Lake. Man's Crime th' Infernal Gates did open lay, And rais'd, and pav'd, a broad and easie Way; Leading a-cross the Gulph from Earth to Hell, Where now, lost Men, with impious Spirits dwell. A Way that's throng'd with mighty Crowds of those, That for Delight and Ease, this Pa**age chose. In Sports and Mirth they journey on, and find All the Delights that please a Vicious Mind. The Way's so wondrous smooth, so prone and broad, They rather fall, than travel down this Road. But how surprizing is their Journey's End, To what dire Seats does this smooth Pa**age tend? Down to th' Infernal Gulph they sporting glide, Born on enchanting Pleasures wanton Tyde. A sad Exchange they meet, outrageous Seas Of Sulphurous Fire, for Luxury and Ease. In Darkness chain'd, on flaming Billows tost, Too late they find themselves for ever lost; Hopeless they rave, and curse the easie Way, That did their Feet to these sad Realms betray. Hither the damn'd, the final Sentence past, With Cherubs bright, revenging Swords are chas'd. Pursu'd with everlasting Wrath, they take Their woful Refuge, in the burning Lake. Transfixt on unextinguish'd Fire they ly, Burn without Wast, without expiring dy. Those Agonies, those Terrors here they know; That from a self-revenging Conscience flow. Grip'd with the sad Remembrance of their Sin, They feel the Stygian Viper gnaw within. With deadly Stings, th' Almighty wounds their Hearts, And in their Breasts sticks deep his fiery Darts. Along their Veins tempestuous Vengeance rolls, Pouring Despair, and Horrour on their Souls. Who can with everlasting Burnings dwell, And bear the Guilt, and Punishment of Hell? What Strength or Courage can support the Load Of Wrath, inflicted by th' Almighty God? Hear how the Damn'd devour'd with Plagues, begin To Curse aloud their Judge, Themselves, their Sin. Transported with their Anguish, Grief, and Shame, They gnash their Teeth, and bite the raging Flame. Then sunk in deep Despair, such Sighs they breath, Such dismal Groans, which but to hear, is d**h. A secret Fire their Breasts, like Ætna, feed, And like that too, do their own Thunder breed. Their Hellish Nature its own punishment, Is a worse Plague, than Furies can invent. Their Lusts, like Vulture, tear their inward parts, And never-ceasing Torments, rend their Hearts. Their vicious Appetites, not yet destroy'd Still crave the Pleasures, they on Earth enjoy'd: Though those are gone, the fierce, untam'd Desire Remains, and burns worse than their Lake of Fire. But what's the most afflicting Plague of Hell, With all these Woes, they must for ever dwell. For Ever! fatal State, for Ever who Can bear the Doom of Everlasting Wo? What deadly Pangs, what fierce Convulsions rend Their Breasts, who know their Pains shall never end. How the despairing Damn'd cry out, is this The Place we chose, instead of Heav'nly Bliss? Is this black Prison, these tormenting Chains, This Lake of Fire, these Eternal Pains, The dismal Recompence our Crimes afford, And must we thus curst, tortur'd, and abhor'd, In these consuming Flames, these Torments ly, To all the Ages of Eternity? Curst be the fatal Crimes, that we obey'd, That stole our Hearts, and have our Lives betray'd. Curst be the transient false Delights that shew'd The Charms, which we so greedily pursu'd; Till down the steepy Precipice, we fell Into this deep Abyss of d**h, and Hell; Curst be the treacherous Joys, that leave us now Doom'd to Despair, lost in Eternal Wo. He ended, Hoel highly pleas'd, exprest The grateful Sense, which fill'd his joyful Breast. Methinks he cry'd, I view th' Infernal Caves, And see the damn'd float on the raging Waves In the dire Lake, where flaming Brimstone rolls, And hear the dismal Groans of tortur'd Souls. Then looking up, I see the Blest above, Dissolv'd in Raptures of Eternal Love. I seem to view their bright, triumphant Throngs, And hear their Harps, and sweet Harmonious Songs. Then he the Briton various questions asks, Who with great Joy performs the pious Tasks, He teaches sacred Myst'ries yet behind, And stamps the Christian Image on his Mind.