Democritus Platonissans Part 7

95

And as the order of these colours went, So still decreas'd that Ca.s.siopean starre, Till at the length to sight it was quite spent: Which observations strong reasons are, Consuming fire its body did empare And turn to ashes. And the like will be In all the darksome Planets wide and farre.

Ne can our Earth from this state standen free A Planet as the rest, and Planets fate must trie.

96

Ne let the tender heart too harshly deem Of this rude sentence: for what rigour more Is in consuming fire then drowning stream Of Noahs floud which all creaturs choak'd of yore, Saving those few that were kept safe in store In that well builded ship? All else beside Men, birds, and beasts, the lion, buck, and bore Dogs, kine, sheep, horses all that did abide Upon the s.p.a.cious earth, perish'd in waters wide.

97

Nor let the slow and misbelieving wight Doubt how the fire on the hard earth may seize; No more then how those waters erst did light Upon the sinfull world. For as the seas Boyling with swelling waves aloft did rise, And met with mighty showers and pouring rain From Heavens spouts; so the broad flashing skies Thickned with brimstone and clouds of fiery bain Shall meet with raging Etna's and Vesuvius flame.

98

The burning bowels of this wasting ball Shall gullup up great flakes of rolling fire, And belch out pitchie flames, till over all Having long rag'd, Vulcan himself shall tire And (th' earth an ashheap made) shall then expire: Here Nature laid asleep in her own Urn With gentle rest right easly will respire, Till to her pristine task she do return As fresh as Phenix young under th' Arabian Morn.

99

O happy they that then the first are born, While yet the world is in her vernall pride: For old corruption quite away is worn As metall pure so is her mold well tride.

Sweet dews, cool-breathing airs, and s.p.a.ces wide Of precious spicery wafted with soft wind: Fair comely bodies goodly beautifi'd Snow-limb'd, rose-cheek'd, ruby-lip'd, pearl-ted, star eyn'd Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin'd.

100

For all the while her purged ashes rest These rellicks dry suck in the heavenly dew, And roscid Manna rains upon her breast, And fills with sacred milk sweet fresh and new, Where all take life and doth the world renew; And then renew'd with pleasure be yfed.

A green soft mantle doth her bosome strew With fragrant herbs and flowers embellished, Where without fault or shame all living creatures bed.

101

Ne ought we doubt how Nature may recover In her own ashes long time buried, For nought can ever consume that centrall power Of hid spermatick life, which lies not dead In that rude heap, but safely covered; And doth by secret force suck from above Sweet heavenly juice, and therewith nourished Till her just bulk, she doth her life emprove, Made mother of much children that about her move.

102

Witnesse that uncouth bird of Arabie Which out of her own ruines doth revive With all th' exploits of skillfull Chymistrie, Such as no vulgar wit can well believe.

Let universall Nature witnesse give That what I sing 's no feigned forgerie.

A needlesse task new fables to contrive, But what I sing is seemly verity Well suting with right reason and Philosophie.

103

But the fit time of this mutation No man can finden out with all his pains.

For the small sphears of humane reason run Too swift within his narrow compast brains.

But that vast Orb of Providence contains A wider period; turneth still and slow.

Yet at the last his aimed end he gains.

And sure at last a fire will overflow The aged Earth, and all must into ashes go.

104

Then all the stately works and monuments Built on this bottome shall to ruine fall.

And all those goodly statues shall be brent Which were erect to the memoriall Of Kings Kaesars, ne may better 'fall The boastfull works of brave Poetick pride That promise life and fame perpetuall; Ne better fate may these poor lines abide.

Betide what will to what may live no lenger tide!

105

This is the course that never-dying Nature Might ever hold from all Eternitie, Renuing still the faint decayed creature Which would grow stark and drie as aged tree, Unlesse by wise preventing Destinie She were at certain periods of years Reduced back unto her Infancie, Which well fram'd argument (as plain appears) My ship from those hard rocks and shelves right safely stears.

106

Lo! now my faithfull muse hath represented Both frames of Providence to open view, And hath each point in orient colours painted Not to deceive the sight with seeming shew But earnest to give either part their due; Now urging th' uncouth strange perplexitie Of infinite worlds and Time, then of a new Softening that harsher inconsistencie To fit the immense goodnesse of the Deity.

107

And here by curious men 't may be expected That I this knot with judgement grave decide, And then proceed to what else was objected.

But, ah! What mortall wit may dare t' areed Heavens counsels in eternall horrour hid?

And Cynthius pulls me by my tender ear Such signes I must observe with wary heed: Wherefore my restlesse Muse at length forbear.

Thy silver sounded Lute hang up in silence here.

FINIS.

Cupids Conflict.

_Mela._ _Cleanthes._

_Cl._ _Mela_ my dear! why been thy looks so sad As if thy gentle heart were sunk with care?

Impart thy case; for be it good or bad Friendship in either will bear equall share.

_Mel._ Not so; _Cleanthes_, for if bad it be My self must bleed afresh by wounding thee.

But what it is, my slow, uncertain wit Cannot well judge. But thou shalt sentence give How manfully of late my self I quit, When with that lordly lad by chance I strive: _Cl._ Of friendship _Mela_! let's that story hear.

_Mel._ Sit down _Cleanthes_ then, and lend thine ear.

Upon a day as best did please my mind Walking abroad amidst the verdant field Scattering my carefull thoughts i' th' wanton wind The pleasure of my path so farre had till'd My feeble feet that without timely rest Uneath it were to reach my wonted nest.

In secret shade farre moved from mortals sight In lowly dale my wandring limbs I laid On the cool gra.s.se where Natures pregnant wit A goodly bower of thickest trees had made.

Amongst the leaves the chearfull birds did fare And sweetly carrol'd to the echoing air.

Hard at my feet ran down a crystall spring Which did the c.u.mbrous pebbles h.o.a.rsly chide For standing in the way. Though murmuring The broken stream his course did rightly guide And strongly pressing forward with disdain The gra.s.sie flore divided into twain.

The place a while did feed my foolish eye As being new, and eke mine idle ear Did listen oft to that wild harmonie And oft my curious phansie would compare How well agreed the Brooks low muttering Base, With the birds trebbles pearch'd on higher place.

But senses objects soon do glut the soul, Or rather weary with their emptinesse; So I, all heedlesse how the waters roll And mindlesse of the mirth the birds expresse, Into my self 'gin softly to retire After hid heavenly pleasures to enquire.

While I this enterprize do entertain; Lo! on the other side in thickest bushes A mighty noise! with that a naked swain With blew and purple wings streight rudely rushes.

He leaps down light upon the flowry green, Like sight before mine eyes had never seen.

At's snowy back the boy a quiver wore Right fairly wrought and gilded all with gold.

A silver bow in his left hand he bore, And in his right a ready shaft did hold.