And over all her cloth of State was fpred, Not of rich tiffew; nor of cloth of gold,
Nor of ought elfe, that may be richest red, But like a cloud, as likeft may be told,
That her broad fpreading wings did wide unfold; Whoes fkirts were bordered with bright funny
(beames, Gliftring like gold, amongst the plights enrold, And here and there fhooting forth filver streames, Mongft which crept little Angels thro' the glittering (gleames.
Seemed thofe little Angels did uphold
The cloth of State, and on their purpled wings
Did bear the pendants, through their nimblefs bold, Befides a thousand more of fuch, as fings
Hymnes to high God, and carols heavenly things,
Encompaffed the Throne, on which she fate:
She angel like, the heir of antient Kings
And mighty conquerors, in royal State,
Whilft Kings and Cæfars at her feet did them pro
Thus fhe did fit in fovereign majeftie, Holding a Scepter in her royal hand,
The facred pledge of peace and clemencie, With which high God had bleft her happy land, Maugre fo many Foes which did withstand.
But at her feet her fword was likewife layd, Whoes long reft rufted the bright fteedly brand, Yet when as Foes enforc't, or Friends fought ayde, She could it sternly draw, that all the world dismaide;
And round about before her feet there fate A beautie of fair Virgins clad in white, That goodly feem'd t' adorne her royal State, All lovely Daughters of high Jove, that hight Lite, by him begot in Loves delight,
Upon the righteous Themis : thofe they fay Upon Jove's Judgment-feat waite day and night,
And when in wrath he threats the worlds decay; They doe his anger calme, and cruel vengeance ftay.
They also doe, by his divine permission, Upon the Thrones of mortal Princes tend,
And often treat for pardon and remiffion To Suppliants through frailtie which offend : Those did upon Marcillae's Throne attend :
Just Dice, wise Eunomie, mild Eirene ;
And them amongft her glory to commend,
Sate goodly Temperance, in garments clene,
And facred Reverance, yborne of heavenly strene.
Some Clerkes doe doubt in their deviceful art,
Whether this heavenly thing, whereof I treat,
To weeten, Mercy, be of Justice part,
Or drawne forth from her by divine extreate.
This well I wote, that sure she is as great,
As meriteth to have as high a Place,
Sith in th' Almighties everlasting Seat
She first was bred, and borne of heavenly race ; From thence pour'd down on Men, by Influence of
(grace. For if that Virtue be of that great might, Which from just verdict will for nothing start,
But to preserve inviolated right,
Oft spoils the principal to save the part;
So much more then is that of powre and art,
That seckes to save the Subject of her skill,
Yet never doth from doom of right depart :
As it is greater praise to save, than spill;
And better to reforme, then to cut off the ill.
(Spen.
Off-spring Divine ! in Heav'n the most belov'j;
By whom ev'n Fate unchangeable is mov'd :
Her Looks so moving, tuch celestial Grace,
So mild and sweet an Air dwells on her face :
So
So tender and engaging all her Charms,
That oft th' Almighty's Fury fhe difarms;
Her Language melts Omnipotence, arrefts
His Hand, and thence the vengeful Lightning wrests.
To Threats the ftubborn Sinner oft is hard,
Wrap'd in his Crimes, against the Storm prepar'd,
But when the milder Beams of Mercy play,
He melts; and throws his cumb'rous Cloak away.
Lightning and Thunder, Heav'n's Artillery,
As Harbingers, before th' Almighty fly:
Thofe but proclaim his Style, and difappear;
The ftiller Sound fucceeds; and God is there.
Heav'n has but
Our Sorrow for our Sins, and then delights.
To pardon erring Man; fweet Mercy feems
Its darling Attribute, which limits Justice;
As if there were Degrees in Infinite;
And Infinite would rather want Perfection,
Than punish to Extent.
The God obeys, and to his Feet applies
Thofe golden Wings that cut the yielding Skies;
His ample Hat his beamy Locks o'er-fpread,
And veil the ftarry Glories of his Head:
He feiz'd his Wand that caufes Sleep to fly,
Or in foft Slumbers feals the wakeful Eye;
That drives the Dead to dark Tartarean Coafts,
Or back to Life compels the wandring Ghofts.
Thus thro' the parting Clouds, the Son of May,
Wings on the whistling Winds his rapid Way;
Now fmoothly Steers thro' Air his equal Flight,
Now fprings aloft, and tow'rs th' Etherial Hight,
Then wheeling down the Steep of Heav'n he flies,
And draws a radiant Circle o'er the Skies.
Hermes obeys; with golden Pinions binds
His Aying Feet, and mounts the Western Winds.
M 3
But first he grafps within his awful Hand,
The Mark of Sov'reign Pow'r, his magick Wand :
With this he draws the Ghofts from hollow Graves,
With this he drives them down to Stygian Waves :
With this he feals in Sleep the wakeful Sight,
And Eyes, tho' clos'd in Death, reftores to Light.
Thus arm'd, the God begins his airy Race,
And drives the racking Clouds along the liquid Space.
Now fees the Top of Atlas as he flies,
Where, pois'd upon his Wings, the God defcends:
Then, refted thus, he from the tow'ring Height
Plung'd downward, with precipitated Flight:
Lights on the Seas, and skims along the Flood,
As Water-Fowl, who feek their fishy Food,
Lefs and yet lefs to diftant Profpect fhow,
By Turns they dance aloft, and dive below:
Like these the Steerage of his Wings he plies,
And near the Surface of the Waters flies:
'Till having pafs'd the Seas, and crofs'd the Sands,
He clos'd his Wings, and ftopp'd on Lybian Lands.
(Dryd. Virg.
The Herald of the Gods.
His Hat, adorn'd with Wings, difclos'd the God;
And in his Hand he bore his Sleep-compelling Rod.
Such as he feem'd, when, at his Sire's Command,
On Argus Head he laid the fnaky Wand.
Now thofe profounder Regions they explore,
Where Metals ripen in vaft Cakes of Ore:
Here, fullen to the Sight, at large is fpread
The dull, unwieldy Mafs of lumpish Lead.
There, glimm'ring in their dawning Beds, are feen
The more afpiring Seeds of fprightly Tin.
The Copper Iparkles next in ruddy Streaks,
And in the Gloom betrays its glowing Cheeks.
The Silver then, with bright and burnish'd Grace,
Youth, and a blooming Luftre in its Face,
To th' Arms of thofe more yielding Metals flies,
And in the Folds of their Embraces lies.
So clofe they cling, fo ftubbornly retire,
Their Love's more vi'lent than the Chymifts Fire.Gar.
A Way there is in Heav'n's expanded Plain, Which, when the Skies are clear, is feen below, And Mortals, by the Name of Milky, know: The Ground-work is of Stars; thro' which the Road Lies to the Thunderer's Abode.
A broad and ample Road, whofe Duft is Gold, And Pavement Stars, as Stars to us appear
Seen in the Galaxy, that Milky-Way,
Like to a circling Zone, powder'd with Stars. Milt.
But if external Features may furprise,
And a juft Texture charm th' unweary'd Eyes;
What are the God-like Beauties we admire,
When confcious Souls within themfeives retire ?
Th' Angelic Natures, tho' a while immur'd,
Yet know they are from Age and Death fecur'd.
Matter, however moulded or refin'd;
Can ne'er be thought to form a thinking Mind,
When the fick, weak, diffolving Body lies,
And rigid Death has fix'd the languid Eyes;
Freed from thofe irksom Bands, th' immortal Fair
Mounts up anfeen, and fpurns the grosser Air.
Brutes by mere Senfe, or fecret Impulfe move,
Hate without Thought, and without Reafon love.
But the from fimple Terms Conclufions draws,
Notions abftract, and univerfal Laws,
And from th' Effect pursues th' undoubted Cause.
Too bright for Senfe, fuch Notions are innate ;
Heav'n muft at firft imprint, or Souls create.
With Pleasure these th' attentive Mind employ,
And, confcious of her felf, the feels a fecret Joy.
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