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Anniversary Poems

<h2>OF THE <big>PROGRESSE</big> OF THE SOULE.</h2> Wherein, By occasion of the Religious death of Mistris Elizabeth Drvry, the incommodities of the Soule in this life, and her exaltation in the next, are contemplated. <hr class="mid" /> <h3 class="top0">The second Anniversary.</h3> <hr class="mid" /> <h3>The Harbinger to the PROGRESSE.</h3> <div class="poem width27"> <div class="stanza"> TWO Soules move here, and mine (a third) must move Paces of admiration, and of love; Thy Soule (deare virgin) whose this tribute is, Mov'd from this mortall Spheare to lively blisse;   5And yet moves still, and still aspires to see The worlds last day, thy glories full degree: Like as those starres which thou o'r-lookest farre, [page 250] Are in their place, and yet still moved are: No soule (whiles with the luggage of this clay 10It clogged is) can follow thee halfe way; Or see thy flight, which doth our thoughts outgoe So fast, that now the lightning moves but slow: But now thou art as high in heaven flowne As heaven's from us; what soule besides thine owne 15Can tell thy joyes, or say he can relate Thy glorious Journals in that blessed state? I envie thee (Rich soule) I envy thee, Although I cannot yet thy glory see: And thou (great spirit) which hers follow'd hast 20So fast, as none can follow thine so fast; So far, as none can follow thine so farre, (And if this flesh did not the passage barre Hadst caught her) let me wonder at thy flight Which long agone hadst lost the vulgar sight, 25And now mak'st proud the better eyes, that they Can see thee less'ned in thine ayery way; So while thou mak'st her soule by progresse knowne Thou mak'st a noble progresse of thine owne, From this worlds carkasse having mounted high 30To that pure life of immortalitie; Since thine aspiring thoughts themselves so raise That more may not beseeme a creatures praise, Yet still thou vow'st her more; and every yeare Mak'st a new progresse, while thou wandrest here; 35Still upward mount; and let thy Makers praise Honor thy Laura, and adorne thy laies. And since thy Muse her head in heaven shrouds, Oh let her never stoope below the clouds: And if those glorious sainted soules may know 40Or what wee doe, or what wee sing below, Those acts, those songs shall still content them best Which praise those awfull Powers that make them blest. </div> </div> <div class="ind1"> Of the Progresse &c. 1612-69: The second Anniversary. 1612-69 (in 1612-21 it stands at head of page) The Harbinger &c.] In 1612-25 this poem printed in italics 8 are:] are 1612-25 12 that now] as now 1635-69, Chambers 27 soule] soules 1612 28 owne, 1635-69: owne. 1612-33 34 while] whilst 1669 35 upward] upwards 1612 </div> <hr class="short" /> <h2>OF <big>THE PROGRESSE</big> OF THE SOULE.</h2> <h3>The second Anniversarie.</h3> <div class="poem width27"> <div class="stanza"> The entrance.1 NOTHING could make me sooner to confesse  That this world had an everlastingnesse, Then to consider, that a yeare is runne, Since both this lower world's, and the Sunnes Sunne,   5The Lustre, and the vigor of this All, Did set; 'twere blasphemie to say, did fall. But as a ship which hath strooke saile, doth runne By force of that force which before, it wonne: Or as sometimes in a beheaded man, 10Though at those two Red seas, which freely ranne, One from the Trunke, another from the Head, His soule be sail'd, to her eternall bed, His eyes will twinckle, and his tongue will roll, As though he beckned, and cal'd backe his soule, 15He graspes his hands, and he pulls up his feet, And seemes to reach, and to step forth to meet His soule; when all these motions which we saw, Are but as Ice, which crackles at a thaw: Or as a Lute, which in moist weather, rings 20Her knell alone, by cracking of her strings: So struggles this dead world, now shee is gone; For there is motion in corruption. [page 252] As some daies are at the Creation nam'd, Before the Sunne, the which fram'd daies, was fram'd, 25So after this Sunne's set, some shew appeares, And orderly vicissitude of yeares. Yet a new Deluge, and of Lethe flood, Hath drown'd us all, All have forgot all good, Forgetting her, the maine reserve of all. 30Yet in this deluge, grosse and generall, Thou seest me strive for life; my life shall bee, To be hereafter prais'd, for praysing thee; Immortall Maid, who though thou would'st refuse The name of Mother, be unto my Muse 35A Father, since her chast Ambition is, Yearely to bring forth such a child as this. These Hymnes may worke on future wits, and so May great Grand children of thy prayses grow. And so, though not revive, embalme and spice 40The world, which else would putrifie with vice. For thus, Man may extend thy progeny, Untill man doe but vanish, and not die. These Hymnes thy issue, may encrease so long, As till Gods great Venite change the song. A iust disestimation2 of this world. 45Thirst for that time, O my insatiate soule, And serve thy thirst, with Gods safe-sealing Bowle. Be thirstie still, and drinke still till thou goe To th'only Health, to be Hydroptique so. Forget this rotten world; And unto thee 50Let thine owne times as an old storie bee. Be not concern'd: studie not why, nor when; Doe not so much as not beleeve a man. For though to erre, be worst, to try truths forth, [page 253] Is far more businesse, then this world is worth. 55The world is but a carkasse; thou art fed By it, but as a worme, that carkasse bred; And why should'st thou, poore worme, consider more, When this world will grow better then before, Then those thy fellow wormes doe thinke upon 60That carkasses last resurrection. Forget this world, and scarce thinke of it so, As of old clothes, cast off a yeare agoe. To be thus stupid is Alacritie; Men thus Lethargique have best Memory. 65Look upward; that's towards her, whose happy state We now lament not, but congratulate. Shee, to whom all this world was but a stage, Where all sat harkning how her youthfull age Should be emploi'd, because in all shee did, 70Some Figure of the Golden times was hid. Who could not lacke, what e'r this world could give, Because shee was the forme, that made it live; Nor could complaine, that this world was unfit To be staid in, then when shee was in it; 75Shee that first tried indifferent desires By vertue, and vertue by religious fires, Shee to whose person Paradise adher'd, As Courts to Princes, shee whose eyes ensphear'd Star-light enough, t'have made the South controule, 80(Had shee beene there) the Star-full Northerne Pole, Shee, shee is gone; she is gone; when thou knowest this, What fragmentary rubbidge this world is Thou knowest, and that it is not worth a thought; He honors it too much that thinkes it nought. Contemplation of our state in our death-bed. 85Thinke then, my soule, that death is but a Groome, Which brings a Taper to the outward roome, Whence thou spiest first a little glimmering light, And after brings it nearer to thy sight: For such approaches doth heaven make in death. 90Thinke thy selfe labouring now with broken breath, [page 254] And thinke those broken and soft Notes to bee Division, and thy happyest Harmonie. Thinke thee laid on thy death-bed, loose and slacke; And thinke that, but unbinding of a packe, 95To take one precious thing, thy soule from thence. Thinke thy selfe parch'd with fevers violence, Anger thine ague more, by calling it Thy Physicke; chide the slacknesse of the fit. Thinke that thou hear'st thy knell, and think no more, 100But that, as Bels cal'd thee to Church before, So this, to the Triumphant Church, calls thee. Thinke Satans Sergeants round about thee bee, And thinke that but for Legacies they thrust; Give one thy Pride, to'another give thy Lust: 105Give them those sinnes which they gave thee before, And trust th'immaculate blood to wash thy score. Thinke thy friends weeping round, and thinke that they Weepe but because they goe not yet thy way. Thinke that they close thine eyes, and thinke in this, 110That they confesse much in the world, amisse, Who dare not trust a dead mans eye with that, Which they from God, and Angels cover not. Thinke that they shroud thee up, and think from thence They reinvest thee in white innocence. 115Thinke that thy body rots, and (if so low, Thy soule exalted so, thy thoughts can goe,) Think thee a Prince, who of themselves create Wormes which insensibly devoure their State. Thinke that they bury thee, and thinke that right 120Laies thee to sleepe but a Saint Lucies night. Thinke these things cheerefully: and if thou bee Drowsie or slacke, remember then that shee, Shee whose Complexion was so even made, That which of her Ingredients should invade [page 255] 125The other three, no Feare, no Art could guesse: So far were all remov'd from more or lesse. But as in Mithridate, or just perfumes, Where all good things being met, no one presumes To governe, or to triumph on the rest, 130Only because all were, no part was best. And as, though all doe know, that quantities Are made of lines, and lines from Points arise, None can these lines or quantities unjoynt, And say this is a line, or this a point, 135So though the Elements and Humors were In her, one could not say, this governes there. Whose even constitution might have wonne Any disease to venter on the Sunne, Rather then her: and make a spirit feare, 140That hee to disuniting subject were. To whose proportions if we would compare Cubes, th'are unstable; Circles, Angular; She who was such a chaine as Fate employes To bring mankinde all Fortunes it enjoyes; 145So fast, so even wrought, as one would thinke, No Accident could threaten any linke; Shee, shee embrac'd a sicknesse, gave it meat, The purest blood, and breath, that e'r it eate; And hath taught us, that though a good man hath 150Title to heaven, and plead it by his Faith, And though he may pretend a conquest, since Heaven was content to suffer violence, Yea though hee plead a long possession too, (For they're in heaven on earth who heavens workes do) 155Though hee had right and power and place, before, Yet Death must usher, and unlocke the doore. Incommodities of the Soule in the Body.3 Thinke further on thy selfe, my Soule, and thinke How thou at first wast made but in a sinke; Thinke that it argued some infirmitie, [page 256] 160That those two soules, which then thou foundst in me, Thou fedst upon, and drewst into thee, both My second soule of sense, and first of growth. Thinke but how poore thou wast, how obnoxious; Whom a small lumpe of flesh could poyson thus. 165This curded milke, this poore unlittered whelpe My body, could, beyond escape or helpe, Infect thee with Originall sinne, and thou Couldst neither then refuse, nor leave it now. Thinke that no stubborne sullen Anchorit, 170Which fixt to a pillar, or a grave, doth sit Bedded, and bath'd in all his ordures, dwels So fowly as our Soules in their first-built Cels. Thinke in how poore a prison thou didst lie After, enabled but to suck, and crie. 175Thinke, when'twas growne to most,'twas a poore Inne, A Province pack'd up in two yards of skinne, And that usurp'd or threatned with the rage Of sicknesses, or their true mother, Age. But thinke that Death hath now enfranchis'd thee, Her liberty by death. 180Thou hast thy'expansion now, and libertie; Thinke that a rustie Peece, discharg'd, is flowne In peeces, and the bullet is his owne, And freely flies: This to thy Soule allow, Thinke thy shell broke, thinke thy Soule hatch'd but now. 185And think this slow-pac'd soule, which late did cleave To'a body, and went but by the bodies leave, Twenty, perchance, or thirty mile a day, Dispatches in a minute all the way Twixt heaven, and earth; she stayes not in the ayre, 190To looke what Meteors there themselves prepare; She carries no desire to know, nor sense, Whether th'ayres middle region be intense; [page 257] For th'Element of fire, she doth not know, Whether she past by such a place or no; 195She baits not at the Moone, nor cares to trie Whether in that new world, men live, and die. Venus retards her not, to'enquire, how shee Can, (being one starre) Hesper, and Vesper bee; Hee that charm'd Argus eyes, sweet Mercury, 200Workes not on her, who now is growne all eye; Who, if she meet the body of the Sunne, Goes through, not staying till his course be runne; Who findes in Mars his Campe no corps of Guard; Nor is by Iove, nor by his father barr'd; 205But ere she can consider how she went, At once is at, and through the Firmament. And as these starres were but so many beads Strung on one string, speed undistinguish'd leads Her through those Spheares, as through the beads, a string, 210Whose quick succession makes it still one thing: As doth the pith, which, lest our bodies slacke, Strings fast the little bones of necke, and backe; So by the Soule doth death string Heaven and Earth; For when our Soule enjoyes this her third birth, 215(Creation gave her one, a second, grace,) Heaven is as neare, and present to her face, As colours are, and objects, in a roome Where darknesse was before, when Tapers come. This must, my Soule, thy long-short Progresse bee; 220To'advance these thoughts, remember then, that she, She; whose faire body no such prison was, But that a Soule might well be pleas'd to passe An age in her; she whose rich beauty lent Mintage to other beauties, for they went 225But for so much as they were like to her; Shee, in whose body (if we dare preferre [page 258] This low world, to so high a marke as shee,) The Westerne treasure, Easterne spicerie, Europe, and Afrique, and the unknowne rest 230Were easily found, or what in them was best; And when w'have made this large discoverie Of all, in her some one part then will bee Twenty such parts, whose plenty and riches is Enough to make twenty such worlds as this; 235Shee, whom had they knowne who did first betroth The Tutelar Angels, and assign'd one, both To Nations, Cities, and to Companies, To Functions, Offices, and Dignities, And to each severall man, to him, and him, 240They would have given her one for every limbe; She, of whose soule, if wee may say, 'twas Gold, Her body was th'Electrum, and did hold Many degrees of that; wee understood Her by her sight; her pure, and eloquent blood 245Spoke in her cheekes, and so distinctly wrought, That one might almost say, her body thought; Shee, shee, thus richly and largely hous'd, is gone: And chides us slow-pac'd snailes who crawle upon Our prisons prison, earth, nor thinke us well, 250Longer, then whil'st wee beare our brittle shell. Her ignorance in this life and knowledge in the next.4 But 'twere but little to have chang'd our roome, If, as we were in this our living Tombe Oppress'd with ignorance, wee still were so. Poore soule, in this thy flesh what dost thou know? 255Thou know'st thy selfe so little, as thou know'st not, How thou didst die, nor how thou wast begot. Thou neither know'st, how thou at first cam'st in, Nor how thou took'st the poyson of mans sinne. Nor dost thou, (though thou know'st, that thou art so) 260By what way thou art made immortall, know. Thou art too narrow, wretch, to comprehend [page 259] Even thy selfe: yea though thou wouldst but bend To know thy body. Have not all soules thought For many ages, that our body'is wrought 265Of Ayre, and Fire, and other Elements? And now they thinke of new ingredients, And one Soule thinkes one, and another way Another thinkes, and 'tis an even lay. Knowst thou but how the stone doth enter in 270The bladders cave, and never breake the skinne? Know'st thou how blood, which to the heart doth flow, Doth from one ventricle to th'other goe? And for the putrid stuffe, which thou dost spit, Know'st thou how thy lungs have attracted it? 275There are no passages, so that there is (For ought thou know'st) piercing of substances. And of those many opinions which men raise Of Nailes and Haires, dost thou know which to praise? What hope have wee to know our selves, when wee 280Know not the least things, which for our use be? Wee see in Authors, too stiffe to recant, A hundred controversies of an Ant; And yet one watches, starves, freeses, and sweats, To know but Catechismes and Alphabets 285Of unconcerning things, matters of fact; How others on our stage their parts did Act; What Cæsar did, yea, and what Cicero said. Why grasse is greene, or why our blood is red, Are mysteries which none have reach'd unto. 290In this low forme, poore soule, what wilt thou doe? When wilt thou shake off this Pedantery, Of being taught by sense, and Fantasie? Thou look'st through spectacles; small things seeme great Below; But up unto the watch-towre get, 295And see all things despoyl'd of fallacies: Thou shalt not peepe through lattices of eyes, [page 260] Nor heare through Labyrinths of eares, nor learne By circuit, or collections to discerne. In heaven thou straight know'st all, concerning it, 300And what concernes it not, shalt straight forget. There thou (but in no other schoole) maist bee Perchance, as learned, and as full, as shee, Shee who all libraries had throughly read At home in her owne thoughts, and practised 305So much good as would make as many more: Shee whose example they must all implore, Who would or doe, or thinke well, and confesse That all the vertuous Actions they expresse, Are but a new, and worse edition 310Of her some one thought, or one action: She who in th'art of knowing Heaven, was growne Here upon earth, to such perfection, That she hath, ever since to Heaven she came, (In a far fairer print,) but read the same: 315Shee, shee not satisfied with all this waight, (For so much knowledge, as would over-fraight Another, did but ballast her) is gone As well t'enjoy, as get perfection. And cals us after her, in that shee tooke, 320(Taking her selfe) our best, and worthiest booke. Of our company in this life, and in the next. Returne not, my Soule, from this extasie, And meditation of what thou shalt bee, To earthly thoughts, till it to thee appeare, With whom thy conversation must be there. 325With whom wilt thou converse? what station Canst thou choose out, free from infection, That will not give thee theirs, nor drinke in thine? Shalt thou not finde a spungie slacke Divine Drinke and sucke in th'instructions of Great men, 330And for the word of God, vent them agen? Are there not some Courts (and then, no things bee [page 261] So like as Courts) which, in this let us see, That wits and tongues of Libellers are weake, Because they do more ill, then these can speake? 335The poyson's gone through all, poysons affect Chiefly the chiefest parts, but some effect In nailes, and haires, yea excrements, will show; So lyes the poyson of sinne in the most low. Up, up, my drowsie Soule, where thy new eare 340Shall in the Angels songs no discord heare; Where thou shalt see the blessed Mother-maid Joy in not being that, which men have said. Where she is exalted more for being good, Then for her interest of Mother-hood. 345Up to those Patriarchs, which did longer sit Expecting Christ, then they'have enjoy'd him yet. Up to those Prophets, which now gladly see Their Prophesies growne to be Historie. Up to th'Apostles, who did bravely runne 350All the Suns course, with more light then the Sunne. Up to those Martyrs, who did calmly bleed Oyle to th'Apostles Lamps, dew to their seed. Up to those Virgins, who thought, that almost They made joyntenants with the Holy Ghost, 355If they to any should his Temple give. Up, up, for in that squadron there doth live She, who hath carried thither new degrees (As to their number) to their dignities. Shee, who being to her selfe a State, injoy'd 360All royalties which any State employ'd; For shee made warres, and triumph'd; reason still Did not o'rthrow, but rectifie her will: And she made peace, for no peace is like this, That beauty, and chastity together kisse: 365She did high justice, for she crucified Every first motion of rebellious pride: [page 262] And she gave pardons, and was liberall, For, onely her selfe except, she pardon'd all: Shee coy'nd, in this, that her impressions gave 370To all our actions all the worth they have: She gave protections; the thoughts of her brest Satans rude Officers could ne'r arrest. As these prerogatives being met in one, Made her a soveraigne State; religion 375Made her a Church; and these two made her all. She who was all this All, and could not fall To worse, by company, (for she was still More Antidote, then all the world was ill,) Shee, shee doth leave it, and by Death, survive 380All this, in Heaven; whither who doth not strive The more, because shees there, he doth not know That accidentall joyes in Heaven doe grow. But pause, my soule; And study, ere thou fall On accidentall joyes, th'essentiall. Of essentiall joy in this life and in the next. 385Still before Accessories doe abide A triall, must the principall be tride. And what essentiall joy can'st thou expect Here upon earth? what permanent effect Of transitory causes? Dost thou love 390Beauty? (And beauty worthy'st is to move) Poore cousened cousenor, that she, and that thou, Which did begin to love, are neither now; You are both fluid, chang'd since yesterday; Next day repaires, (but ill) last dayes decay. 395Nor are, (although the river keepe the name) Yesterdaies waters, and to daies the same. So flowes her face, and thine eyes, neither now That Saint, nor Pilgrime, which your loving vow Concern'd, remaines; but whil'st you thinke you bee 400Constant, you'are hourely in inconstancie. Honour may have pretence unto our love,[page 263] Because that God did live so long above Without this Honour, and then lov'd it so, That he at last made Creatures to bestow 405Honour on him; not that he needed it, But that, to his hands, man might grow more fit. But since all Honours from inferiours flow, (For they doe give it; Princes doe but shew Whom they would have so honor'd) and that this 410On such opinions, and capacities Is built, as rise and fall, to more and lesse: Alas, 'tis but a casuall happinesse. Hath ever any man to'himselfe assign'd This or that happinesse to'arrest his minde, 415But that another man which takes a worse, Thinks him a foole for having tane that course? They who did labour Babels tower to'erect, Might have considered, that for that effect, All this whole solid Earth could not allow 420Nor furnish forth materialls enow; And that this Center, to raise such a place, Was farre too little, to have beene the Base; No more affords this world, foundation To erect true joy, were all the meanes in one. 425But as the Heathen made them severall gods, Of all Gods Benefits, and all his Rods, (For as the Wine, and Corne, and Onions are Gods unto them, so Agues bee, and Warre) And as by changing that whole precious Gold 430To such small Copper coynes, they lost the old, And lost their only God, who ever must Be sought alone, and not in such a thrust: [page 264] So much mankinde true happinesse mistakes; No Joy enjoyes that man, that many makes. 435Then, Soule, to thy first pitch worke up againe; Know that all lines which circles doe containe, For once that they the Center touch, doe touch Twice the circumference; and be thou such; Double on heaven thy thoughts on earth emploid; 440All will not serve; Only who have enjoy'd The sight of God, in fulnesse, can thinke it; For it is both the object, and the wit. This is essentiall joy, where neither hee Can suffer diminution, nor wee; 445'Tis such a full, and such a filling good; Had th'Angels once look'd on him, they had stood. To fill the place of one of them, or more, Shee whom wee celebrate, is gone before. She, who had Here so much essentiall joy, 450As no chance could distract, much lesse destroy; Who with Gods presence was acquainted so, (Hearing, and speaking to him) as to know His face in any naturall Stone, or Tree, Better then when in Images they bee: 455Who kept by diligent devotion, Gods Image, in such reparation, Within her heart, that what decay was growne, Was her first Parents fault, and not her owne: Who being solicited to any act, 460Still heard God pleading his safe precontract; Who by a faithfull confidence, was here Betroth'd to God, and now is married there; Whose twilights were more cleare, then our mid-day; Who dreamt devoutlier, then most use to pray; 465Who being here fil'd with grace, yet strove to bee, Both where more grace, and more capacitie At once is given: she to Heaven is gone, Who made this world in some proportion [page 265] A heaven, and here, became unto us all, 470Joy, (as our joyes admit) essentiall. Of accidentall joys in both places. But could this low world joyes essentiall touch, Heavens accidentall joyes would passe them much. How poore and lame, must then our casuall bee? If thy Prince will his subjects to call thee 475My Lord, and this doe swell thee, thou art than, By being greater, growne to bee lesse Man. When no Physitian of redresse can speake, A joyfull casuall violence may breake A dangerous Apostem in thy breast; 480And whil'st thou joyest in this, the dangerous rest, The bag may rise up, and so strangle thee. What e'r was casuall, may ever bee. What should the nature change? Or make the same Certaine, which was but casuall, when it came? 485All casuall joy doth loud and plainly say, Only by comming, that it can away. Only in Heaven joyes strength is never spent; And accidentall things are permanent. Joy of a soules arrivall ne'r decaies; 490For that soule ever joyes and ever staies. Joy that their last great Consummation Approaches in the resurrection; When earthly bodies more celestiall Shall be, then Angels were, for they could fall; 495This kinde of joy doth every day admit Degrees of growth, but none of losing it. In this fresh joy, 'tis no small part, that shee, Shee, in whose goodnesse, he that names degree, Doth injure her; ('Tis losse to be cal'd best, 500There where the stuffe is not such as the rest) Shee, who left such a bodie, as even shee Only in Heaven could learne, how it can bee Made better; for shee rather was two soules, [page 266] Or like to full on both sides written Rols, 505Where eyes might reade upon the outward skin, As strong Records for God, as mindes within; Shee, who by making full perfection grow, Peeces a Circle, and still keepes it so, Long'd for, and longing for it, to heaven is gone, 510Where shee receives, and gives addition. Conclusion. Here in a place, where mis-devotion frames A thousand Prayers to Saints, whose very names The ancient Church knew not, Heaven knows not yet: And where, what lawes of Poetry admit, 515Lawes of Religion have at least the same, Immortall Maide, I might invoke thy name. Could any Saint provoke that appetite, Thou here should'st make me a French convertite. But thou would'st not; nor would'st thou be content, 520To take this, for my second yeares true Rent, Did this Coine beare any other stampe, then his, That gave thee power to doe, me, to say this. Since his will is, that to posteritie, Thou should'st for life, and death, a patterne bee, 525And that the world should notice have of this, The purpose, and th'authoritie is his; Thou art the Proclamation; and I am The Trumpet, at whose voyce the people came. </div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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