Pagina-afbeeldingen
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What fools then rise who never could be pleas'd,
Though setled owners of a fertile ground?
Where under them even thousands were well eas'd,
And, then their masters, more contentment found,
Whose trait'rous hopes still on new conquests seas'd
Till death did show how little might them bound:
That as all lands could but strict limits give,
Last for the seas (vaste like their minds) did strive.
Ah, for man's madnesse who enough can mourne,
From whom still pure that there may rest no place,
Who makes his rage even in the deeps to burne,
And (standing) runnes in walking woods his race;
Makes Neptune's azure all to crimson turne,
And fills with bloud the wrinckles of his face?
What thirst of mischiefe thus torments man still,
That it no sea can quench, nor land can fill?
The Grecian seas shall give those bodies back,
(When floting Athens camp'd in wooden walls)
Which mountains plains, and floods dry fields would
make,
[thralls,
Scourg'd all the windes, rank'd nature with their
Which all conspir'd seem'd to procure their wrack,
Both sea and land made famous by their falls,
As if that king who could not count his host,
Had sought all means by which they might be lost.

All Salamina's straits disgorge againe,
Those whom they swallow'd and digested had;
But broken squadrons are restor❜d in vaine,
Since with no armes, no, with no garment clad,
Whil'st both the parts then joyn'd in one remaine,
Great is the number, but the cause is bad:
Who striv'd for state, both as most abject bow:
Greeks and Barbarians no way differ now.

By this last blast those do assemble all,
At divers times who in the deeps fell dead,
By him almost preventing Persia's fall,
Who the Greeke empire had abortive made,
Who, charg'd with chains, lay for his father thrall,
An act more great then all his hosts to leade:
"From vertue's height this generous course did come,
A man most vitious armies might ore-come."

The last great act which Athens did intend,
Defrauded thousands of their funerall right,
Which did presage their greatnesse neere an end,
Whose state then chang'd, as having past the height:
Those to pursue that then did armies send,
From that time forth, did for their confines fight:
"A mighty towne whose growing nought could stay,
When com❜d to faile, doth vanish soone away.

Their greatest captaine fondly then remov'd,
The other cold, procur'd what he divin'd,
Who happy first, last, most unhappy prov❜d,
Whilst superstition vilified his minde;
But Siracusa yet to stand behov'd,
Whose conquest was for greater foes design'd;
And those by sea to get more land who striv'd,
Drown'd in the sea were of all land depriv'd.

Faire Sicile long still by great states was sought,
As fertile fields weake owners did entise,
The fatall lists where Rome and Carthage fought,
When all the world was made the victor's prise,
Thy bounds (oft bath'd with blood) was dearely
bought,

Which strangers still, else tyrants did surprise;

Thy sea, the stage where death oft act'd with wounds,

Must muster many when the trumpet sounds.

Earst Athens, Pyrrhus, Carthage, Rome in ire,
(Their hungry hopes whilst Ceres fill'd with
dreames)

To daunt that people proudly did aspire,
Not fearing Scilla, nor Charibdis' streames,
Nor thund'ring Ætna vomiting forth fire,
Nor Vulcan's forge, nor monstrous giants' names;
No, Plutoe's selfe, who wedded in those fields,
His conquer'd Hells to greedy men he yeelds.

Those whose great valour did so honour wrong,
That each eternall pen it yet renownes,
Who rivals liv'd in love of glory long,

And though but cities did dispose of crownes,
Those two by sea did strive who was most strong,
As all the Earth could not containe two townes:
"Each state the world lesse then it selfe contrives,

A just proportion ruine onely gives."

That haughty race which kings in triumph led, (All not well pleas'd with parting of the spoiles) That fishes might aswell as beasts be fed, (The land else glutted by their guilty broiles) Did on the sea a sea of blood once shed, Which (wash'd by waves away) might foile their foiles,

That them to plague no furie place could finde;
All objects raz'd which might upbraid the minde.

A spatious field the waters did afford,
Where floting armies might their forces try,
When free men fighting who should be their lord,
With too much valour did their bondage buy,
Whilst Eolus did rage, and Neptune roar'd
More cruell creatures then themselves to spy;
"Men of all else which this large circuite fill,
Most subtile are, and violent in ill.”

Now with this troupe Volteius passage finds,
From liquid fields were carcasses are rife,
Who were more bold then fortunate in strife,
And dying did triumph ore foes, waves, winds,
Of fame too greedie, prodigall of life,

As those whose soules were strangers to their minds; "Who lose their owne to gaine from others breath, Life by opinion seeke, for certaine death."

When as two brothers that were bound in law,
Did pledge their lives who onely should be free,
Pale Neptune once at Actium wondring saw,
His crystall walkes all as congeal'd in tree,
Which from their kingdomes diverse kings did draw,
To know whose slaves they were ordayn'd to be;
As both (till clear'd) from what they crav'd would

stand;

Two on the sea did fight for all the land.

To save themselves, or others to confound,
When lofty legions did a purpose take,

Of winds, waves, armes, oares, shouts, blows groanes, the sound,

Gave bold men courage, made the cowards quake,
Whilst floating forests mutually did wound,
Which Neptune, Mars, and Eolas made shake;
The bellies (big with men) abortive burst,
By thundring engines violated first.

When this encounter had made many smart,
A stately meeting, terrible to thinke,

Ships without kindnesse kiss'd, yet loath to part,
Stood strugling long which should the other sinke,
Till some oft pierc'd, and past all hope of art,
For poyson last (as desp'rat) flouds did drinke;
And that none might their conquer'd ensignes claime,
Slipt under seas, as if to hide their shame.

But haughtie Romans storm'd to be with-stood,
And us'd to conquer, marvel'd to be match'd;
From flouds in vaine some drinking back their blood,
Halfe kill'd, halfe drown'd, death by two darts dis-
patch'd;
[flood,
There where they fought whil'st bodies pav'd the
Till emptie first, no wooden cave was catch'd: [books,
"O how that life seemes foule which blots fame's
In glorie's glasse whil'st generous courage looks!"

Whil'st Mars as yet a doubtful iudge did prove,
The barbarous queene fled with Pelusian slaves,
And who lov'd her, did straight with her remove,
Not fearing, no, as who in feavers raves :
He fled not foes, but follow'd on his love,
For whom the hope of all the world he leaves:
Who vanquish'd armies oft, a woman foil'd,
Who all of all, him of himselfe she spoil'd.

The seas surrender at that dreadfull blast,
Troups of all lands which in their deeps did fall,
In discord then, but rise in league at last,

The cause growne common which doth joyne them all;
Not only ancients famous in times past,
But Turks and Christians thence a voice doth call,
Whom even when raging, raging floods supprest,
That waves might tosse them still who would not rest.

What turband band abandons Thetis' bowres,
By their misfortune fortunate to fame,
Who by a royall pen's eternall powers, [claime?
Reft back from death, life, whil'st men breath do
How those (still Turks) were baptiz'd in few houres,
Where azure fields foam'd forth a hoarie streame :
This my great Phœbus tun'd to trumpets' sounds,
Whose stately accents each strange tongue rebounds.

Not onely thus by barbarous hands ore-throwne,
Some whom Christ bought a floting tombe confines,
But by themselves (like Pagans spoil'd) though
In liquid plaines a number breath resignes, [knowne,
Whil'st those who toile to make the world their owne,
Do with devotion paint most damn'd designes :
That they when all things else have fail'd for baits,
May superstition use to angle states.

When haughtie Philip with this isle in love,
Whose rage to raigne no reason could appease;
As oft by fraud, it last by force would prove,
To barren Spaine whose fertile fields did please;
He sent huge hulks which did like mountains move,
As townes for traffique, palaces for ease;
And of all sorts did furnish forth a band,
As if to people, not to win, a land.

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For pride disdain'd, for cruelty abhorr'd,
Spaine beg'd (a slave) where looking to be lord.

O happie those for whom the Heavens will fight,
Of angels armies campe about them still, [light,
Whil'st haile and thunder from Heaven's store-house
Arm'd winters are pour'd out, sterne tempests kill;
The stormy winds conjur'd in time charge right,
As train❜d in watre to spend their power with skill.
"Still to the author mischiefe doth return,
And in the fires they make the wicked burn.”

The tumid region numbers doth afford,
And avarice hath it with many stor'd,
Who onely there could quench ambition's fire;
Who onely there could bound their vaste desire;
Though each of them had of much wealth beene lord,
Who by no meanes contentment could acquire,
Till (like themselves) still taking, fill'd with nought,
The sea and Hell them to abundance brought.

What heavy thoughts their quaking hearts do move,
When with each wave a wound Death seemes to give;
Which rais'd up high like battering engines prove,
That so to charge do for advantage strive,
(Save sudden lightnings flash out from above)
Clouds masking Heaven, ore all do darknesse drive.
That whilst they nothing see, and too much heare,
Falne on the deeps Hell's shaddow doth appeare.

[maine,

Some scap'd such stormes, whil'st they secure re-
Surpris'd by pirats suddenly despaire,
Whose cruell avarice to render vaine,
They yeeld (as faint) till they to them repaire,
Then powder kindled by a lingring traine,
Straight all at once are thundred through the ayre:
In water burn'd, weake thralls kill victors strong,
And suffring, act, revenge preventing wrong.

Thus by the sea a number is bewray'd,
Whose dying eyes a friend did never close,
Which had when dead no part where to repose,
Not in their fathers', no, in no tombe lay'd,
But are by waves to every rocke betray'd,
Till this last day doe of all flesh dispose,
Whom th' earth not burdens, winding-sheets not
Which as would seeme most ready those may finde,
binde.

Who for last lodgings could not get a grave,
The face of th' earth like those a number yeelds,
Yet where they fell, as having wonne the fields,
Them (dead a time) from all who liv'd did reave,
Throwne in the dust, drawne from their bloudy
shields,

Whil'st naked there, they what they clad did save:
Till beasts with some did runne, with some fowles flye:
As bodies first, bones bare at last did lye.

The bloud of some did staine that golden age,
To strike with iron ere malice did invent,
On ruine's altar offring up to rage,
[bent;"
"Wrath wants not weapons when for mischiefe
Then indignation mortals did asswage, [rent,

With stones, sharpe stings, and what by force was
From gored bellies, bowels did gush out,

And heads with braines were compassed about.

But when men spy'd whil'st venging wrong by chance,

That life was lodg'd in such a fortresse fraile,
To court vaine-glory which to fooles did glance,
Some (as for sport) their neighbours did assaile;
Then last, their state of purpose to advance,
Stray'd valour would by violence prevaile:
All armies first were by ambition led,
Till avarice a greater fury bred.

Who first from death by deeds redeem'd their
And eminent magnanimously grew, [names,
(Their fancies frying in ambition's flames)
They onely praise, not profit did pursue;
And as for glory, who contend at games,
Sought others to exceell, not to subdue:
Such Scythia one, another Egypt gave,
From conquer'd lands who did but honour crave.

Those weapons first were found, which piere'd or bruis'd,

Fre dreadful Cyclops made their hammers reele;
Of Mars chiefe minions, sword and launce were us'd,
Ere men did march (as statues) all of steele;
What fury in proud mindes this rage infus'd,
That they would suffer to make others feele,
And strive to further, ere to hinder ill,
Then save themselves, more bent their mates to kill?

What mountains were of murd'red bodies made,
Which till falne dust, the dust did not receive,
Of Ashur, Persia, Greekes and Romans dead, [have,
Who whil'st that they more earth, them earth would
Whil'st of the world each striving to be head,
Those members maim'd which it to rule did crave?
Then though all lands one onely did adore,
As pent in too strict bounds, yet one sought more.

Of bones unburied, what huge heaps were rear'd
By Tentons, Cimbers, Gaules, great by doing harmes,
By Vandals, Allans, Hunnes, and Goths long fear'd,
Danes, Longobards, and Sarazens in swarmes ?
For which long time those fields could not be ear'd,
Where they to death had offred up their armes :
Whil'st where to live, to winne more lands then set,
Where they might dye, who onely land could get.

Then Nature strong, as in her perfect age,
As bees their swarmes, lands colonies sent forth,
Which forc'd by wants, or mov'd by generous rage,
In tempests huge inunded from the north;
Else that high hopes dream'd riches might asswage,
They sought the south as held of greatest worth:
To what it pleas'd, whil'st power a right did claime,
Oft with their dwellers, countries chang'd the name.
That heathenish host by Iuda so abhorr'd,
Whose captaine's railings vengeance to contrive,
A godly king did spread before the Lord,
Whose wrong his soule did most of peace deprive,
Till that an angell with just fury stor❜d,

Did kill of thousands thrice threescore and five:
Those who blaspheming God by him were slaine,
Must rise with feare to looke on God againe.
Thence thousands rise with strangers, or their owne,
Where still to broyles the Grecians were inclin'd,
Where all the world at fortune's dice was throwne,
'Twixt sire and sonne in law, not love combin'd;
By vertues clients fall, which fields were knowne,
Of all, who onely the state's good design'd:

"None vertue should adore, all.reverence must, Men should delight in it, not in it trust."

Thence (never buried) many bodie springs,
Where of all lands oft armies did contend,
Kill'd by the senate, emperours, or kings,
But most by him who did to Carthage send,
(Reft from Rome's nobles) bushels full of rings,
And by barbarians lords of all in th' end:
Thus Italy all nations did obey,

And to all nations was expos'd a prey.

That field yeelds thousands, where wrong squaring right,

(For famous captaines twise a fatall stage) Great Pompey did with Mithridates fight, And Tamberlaine the terrour of that age, On lightning Baiazet did thund'ring light, Tam'd for foot-stoole in an iron cage: Thus that great monarch was made worse then thrall,

"Pride hated stands, and doth unpittied fall.”

All then must march at this last trumpet's sound, Who fields entomb'd, damn'd flouds, and ditches fill'd,

Whil'st Ottoman to make his crescent round,
Bloud (as but water) prodigally spill'd;
His bassaes now rise groning from the ground,
Which oft by him, or else for him were kil'd:
And as for bondage borne (free but from graves)
Did live to him, and dyed to Satan slaves.

By violence, death divers did surprise,
Still since the world first peopled did remaine,
But men in mischiefe fondly growne more wise,
By bolts unseene, some now of late are slaine,
Since some new Sulmons, no, divels did devise,
Those sulphurous engines bragging God againe :
Which men, yea towres, and townes, in pieces teare,
Then thunder now, men more the canon feare.

Those soone start up which fell, whil'st as lesse strong

By Vulcan forc'd succumbing Thetis ror'd,
And thundring forth the horrour of her wrong,
The burden urg'd, straight in disdaine restor❜d,
The ayery region raging all along,

Which death to them did suddenly afford:
And by a blow most strange, no scarre then found
The bones all broken, and the flesh still sound.

Those whom of th' earth the superfice as forc'd,
Did beare, not bury, suffer, not receive,
By men even dead (as oft alive) extorc'd,
To avarice, else cruelty, still slave,
Those shall from dust no sooner be divorc'd,
Then they who sought the centre for a grave;
Whose bodies with their soules did seeme to strive,
Which first at Hell should with most haste arrive.

The mutinous Hebrewes, who gainst him repinde,
Whose face (as glorie's rayes reflecting still)
Com'd from the thunderer like cleare lightning
shin'd,

God's secretary who first penn'd his will;
As soone as they whose dust no weight confin'd,
They rise whom th' earth did bury first, then kill:
To offer bent (pride burning in their breasts)
As like himselfe, whom Pluto tooke for priests.

That scorn'd diviner is with them expos'd,
(Fooles who fore-know, not for their fate provide)
Who by his wife, when lurking was disclos'd,
And whom at last the earth did as strangely hide,
And that the cave which burn'd might so be clos'd,
He as Rome's best who under ground did ride:
There greedy to doe good, or fame to give,
That where his body dyed, his name might live.

Some feaver strange, when surfeits seeme to move,
Those of the earth, who in the entrails dwell,
Whil'st it (though trembling) raging seemes to prove,
If it may drinke the world, and spue forth Hell,
They from the dust as quickly shall remove,
As those by powder, who in powder fell:
By tyrants fierce whil'st pin'd, no, freed from paine,
Who falne on th' earth, or toss'd through th' ayre
remain.

Now Orpheus shall not need (as poets faine)
To charm the Furies with harmonious sounds,
Nor Hercules by violence in vaine,

To force the dungeons of the shadowy bounds,
The guests below, shall once turne backe againe,
To see (what they have lost) superior rounds:
The prince of darknesse will be pleas'd with this,
Since sure to have them judg'd for ever his.

The Earth her entrails quickly shall discharge,
That God at once all who had soules may see,
All prisoners at last, death must enlarge,
At that great iubily, as once set free,
Who were so long in passing Charon's barge,
Soone from oblivion's floud, brought backe shall be:
Ere Cerberus can barke, all shall be gone,
And ere they can be miss'd, turn'd every one.
Those whom soft Egypt, alwaies slave to lust,
By spices, oyntments, balmes, and odours rare,
To scorne corruption, and to mocke the dust,
Did keep (when lost) with a ridiculous care,
And us'd as pledges oft to purchase trust,
Their bones worth nought when clad, worth lesse

when bare,

Their vailes renu'd, no sooner they resume,
Then whom at first corruption did consume.
Those pyramides whose points seem'd (threatning
Not solitary tombes, but courted thrones; [Heaven)
The huge Mausoleum, one of wonders seaven;
That obeliske, which grac'd Augustus' bones;
Late monuments those æmulous to eaven,
Of marble, porphyr, iaspe, aud precious stones:
None hides his guest from this great Judge's sight,
Nor yet him sends more gorgeous to the light.

Of place the distance, distant time not breeds,
Some who a field impurpled by their fall,
Whose entrails straight another mansion needs,
Lest else corruption might encroach on all,
Their bodies, friends (as oft for pompe succeeds)
Not seeme (farre borne) to burie, but enstall:
But though each part a severall kingdome takes,
A sudden union now one moment makes.

That dreame-diviner by two tribes call'd Syre,
(Though by them lost) who did his brothers save,
His dust from Goshen quickly shall retire,
And with the rest, a second Hymen have,
Where though long dead, as faith did first inspire,
His bones for his, possession did receive:

Or since by him so benefited once,
That land ingrate to frustrate of his bones,

The third time then some live, from tombes rais'd
(Their resurrection represented else) [twice,
Whom death (it seem'd) did but a while disguise,
For acting wonders which amazement tels;
When wak'd by force, as who did drousie rise,
They drawne from Lethe, or oblivion's cels:
Straight with the place all priviledge did leave,
Made as who dream'd, or in high feavers rave.

Till soar'd from hence, where they so long have striv'd,

Still charg'd with flesh, all soules infirme remaine;
And with their burdens those who were reviv'd,
Their former frailties did resume againe;
So that unknowing where a space they liv'd,
Maym'd memory was bounded by the braine :
Through earthly organs spectacles impure,
Soules reach but objects, such as they procure.

Some fondly curious, would have then enquir'd,
What lodgings last those both-world-guests did leave,
Which (if remembred) reverenc'd, and admir'd,
They would not wrong by words what none con-
ceive;

Great Paul (whose selfe could not tell how) retir'd,
Whom the third Heaven (when ravish'd) did receive:
He what he saw return'd, could not relate,
Past mortals' senses, to immortals great.

Such soules when last to their first tents turn'd backe,
Their toiles thereby, and others' glory grew, [make,
Whilst to the world that way, God cleare would
That faith (when firme) might death it selfe subdue;
But then they flesh as when first left did take,
Which now at last the Lord will all renue,
Their resurection when no time confines, [signes.
Whil'st rais'd, ripe fruits, of what they first were

Thus the great Tisbit strangely did restore,
(That none might trouble have who gave him rest)
Hersonne whose victuals did when waste, grow more;
Like to the like, when in like state distrest,
That prophet did, who crav'd his sprit in store,
Not to be press'd by such a second guest, [sleep,
Whose grave wak'd one, that there he might not
Where he (when dead) a quickening power did
keep.

The blest Bethanian highly shall rejoyce,
When next he cals who show'd such tender love.
As even to weep for him, as a chiefe choice,
Till he was brought (free from white bands) above,
The first who in the grave did heare that voice,
Which from all graves must make their guests

remove:

And greater power when glorified may show, Then from fraile flesh, when but breath'd forth below.

Those soone start up, who quickly come to light,
As to applaud what was accomplish't knowne,
Christ's acting sufferings (when most low) at height,
That the last part on this world's stage was showne;
Else to upbraid, as a prodigious sight,

Them who did haste what bent to have ore-throwne:
And others all thus rais'd, more glad doe rise,
Of soules birth once, then of their bodies thrice.

There come those two, from whence no flesh can know,
Yet not more soone then whom fraile eyes saw dead,
Of which as types one to each world did show,
That mortals might be straight immortall made,
Grosse bodies mount, and some death not orethrow,
A labyrinth whence nature none can leade:
In most evill times most good to be mark'd so,
Those did from hence man's common way not goe.

That godly man, by God judg'd just to be,
Translated was, that he might not see death,
Since it kill'd him, his Lord despis'd to see,
Whil'st poyson'd with vile men's blasphemous breath;
Or else at last from pangs and horrours free,
He priviledg'd from all the signes of wrath,
Did part, not dye, from sinne, not life estrang'd;
"Soules must remove, else have their lodging
chang'd."

Whil'st him, save God, who ought disdain'd to feare,
Vile Baal's scourge, of kings who scorn'd the ire,
With flaming steeds a burning coach did beare,
The winde made wagoner, an angell squire,
"Twixt this grosse globe, and the celestiall sphere,
Zeale triumph did, even as it fought, with fire:
That Heaven and Earth both might his glory know,
As earst his toiles, when but contemn'd below.

As where he lives or lyes, to turne, or stay,
To dispute easie is, hard to conclude;
The Lord perchance committed him to clay,
As one with whom he on Mount Tabor stood:
Else not dissolv'd, but chang'd when borne away,
And (some thinke) kept a part yet to doe good:
For without all, no saints perfected be,
The maid-borne body so Heavens onely see.

A loud alarme, still doubling from above,
(The word eternall may make breath abound)
All this vast circuit doth a trumpet prove,
Whose concave wastes not, but maintains the sound,
At the first blast, nought else save it did move,
As driry silence had prepar'd the ground;
But till all ears be fill'd it higher swels,
A horrid echo roaring from the Hells.

Those guilty soules what further comfort shields,
From sleepe whose conscience with the body starts,
Even when they see (as grasse) ov'r all the fields,
Men grow about them? O what frozen hearts!
Earth labour'd long, a monstrous harvest yeelds,
Which straight Heaven's husband, loe, grinds, sifts,

and parts:

Who can but thinke how such endure this sight?
And yet what they attend, makes it seeme light.
He who them hates when God the just doth grace,
Both griefe and envy torture him at once,
Of two who rest companions in one place,
Th' one pleas'd, is glad, the other desp'rate, mones;
Th' one parts as pointed for eternall peace,
The other sign'd for paine, stayes, howls, and groanes.
Thus of the godlie's good the first degree,
Is, from the wicked that they parted be.
Those creatures who by death did never fall,
That fatall summons do no sooner heare,
Then those whom it forth from the dust doth call,
Where they had slept even many a hundred yeare,
Soules' lodgings thus which had been ruin'd all,
Straight builded then, first perfect do appeare.

The just they first, the reprobate last move,
Which sink below, whil'st th' others flie above.

Those temples then which not dissolv'd still stay,
(A mystery difficult to conceive)
All debt of death (not dying) shall defray,
The other life straight com'd, ere this them leave,
The bodies then (all frailty burn'd away)
Well quintessenc'd, new qualities receive, [dead,
Which though still quicke, yet in their sinnes quite
Ere mortall prov'd, shall be immortall made.

If oft to gaze a multitude remaines,
To hold his court whil'st it some prince attends;
When being met with many stately traines,
He makes a musters of imagin'd friends:
(As by small brooks a floud swolne when it raines)
Till that on him it seemes the world depends.
That pompe to all a reverent awe imparts,
And strikes with terrour malefactors' hearts.

Thinke with what glory Christ his course doth runne,
Whil'st thundring terrour, and yet lightning grace,
He might come clad with starres, crown'd with the
Sunne,
But to his brightnesse such (as base) give place:
His court at first of heavenly hosts begun,
From hence enlarg'd is in a little space.

O what strange noise doth all the world rebound,
Whil'st angels sing, saints shout, and trumpets sound.

My ravish'd soule (transcending reason's reach) So earnest is to surfet on this sight,

That it disdaines what may high thoughts impeach,
Whil'st mounting up to contemplation's height;
Which flight so farre doth passe the power of speech,
That onely silence can pursue it right.

And that my sprit may be refresh'd that way,
It must a space amid'st dumbe pleasures stray.

DOOMES-DAY;

OR,

THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD'S IVDGMENT.

THE FIFTH HOURE.

THE ARGUMENT.

A great assembly doth with state begin,
And of some soules the processe is surveigh'd,
So more to tax the Iews', and Christians' sinne,
Here in the balance is before them layd,
Each Ethnick's part to be compar'd, brought in
In judgment now, their errours to upbraid:
Yet all excuses, which such can revolve,
Do damne but others, not themselves absolve.

O WHAT strange sight! what monstrous' meeting
One moment musters all the ages gone; [now?
Borne, flown, driv'n, or drawn up, I wot not how,
Large is that crowne which compasses the throne;
All for each time whom Nature did allow,
What numbers must they make when joyn'd in one?

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