Laurel · Richard Crashaw · Steps to the Temple and Other Poems

Argomento

Richard Crashaw (c. 1613–1649) · 1646–1652

iambic pentameter · 536 lines · from Steps to the Temple and Other Poems

Casting the times with their strong signes,Death's master his owne death divines:Strugling for helpe, his best hope isHerod's suspition may heale his.Therefore he sends a fiend to wakeThe sleeping tyrant's fond mistake; foolishWho feares (in vaine) that He Whose birthMeanes Heav'n, should meddle with his Earth.

Muse, now the servant of soft loves no more,Hate is thy theame, and Herod, whose unblestHand (O what dares not jealous greatnesse?) toreA thousand sweet babes from their mothers' brest:The bloomes of martyrdome. O be a doreOf language to my infant lips, yee bestOf confessours: whose throates answering his swords,Gave forth your blood for breath, spoke soules for words.

Great Anthony! Spain's well-beseeming pride,Thou mighty branch of emperours and kings;The beauties of whose dawne what eye may bide?Which with the sun himselfe weigh's equall wings;Mappe of heroick worth! whom farre and wideTo the beleeving world, Fame boldly sings:Deigne thou to weare this humble wreath, that bowesTo be the sacred honour of thy browes.

Nor needs my Muse a blush, or these bright flowersOther than what their owne blest beauties bring:They were the smiling sons of those sweet bowersThat drink the deaw of life, whose deathlesse spring,Nor Sirian flame nor Borean frost deflowers:From whence heav'n-labouring bees with busie wing,Suck hidden sweets, which well-digested provesImmortall hony for the hive of loves.

Thou, whose strong hand with so transcendent worth,Holds high the reine of faire Parthenope,That neither Rome nor Athens can bring forthA name in noble deeds rivall to thee!Thy fame's full noise, makes proud the patient Earth,Farre more then, matter for my Muse and mee.The Tyrrhene Seas and shores sound all the sameAnd in their murmurs keepe thy mighty name.

Below the bottome of the great Abysse,There where one center reconciles all things:The World's profound heart pants; there placed isMischiefe's old master. Close about him clingsA curl'd knot of embracing snakes, that kisseHis correspondent cheekes: these loathsome stringsHold the perverse prince in eternall tiesFast bound, since first he forfeited the skies.

The judge of torments and the king of teares,He fills a burnisht throne of quenchlesse fire:And for his old faire roabes of light, he wearesA gloomy mantle of darke flames; the tireThat crownes his hated head on high appeares:Where seav'n tall hornes (his empire's pride) aspire.And to make up Hell's majesty, each horneSeav'n crested Hydras, horribly adorne.

His eyes, the sullen dens of Death and Night,Startle the dull ayre with a dismall red:Such his fell glances, as the fatall lightOf staring comets, that looke kingdomes dead.From his black nostrills, and blew lips, in spightOf Hell's owne stinke, a worser stench is spread.His breath Hell's lightning is: and each deepe groaneDisdaines to think that Heav'n thunders alone.

His flaming eyes' dire exhalation,Vnto a dreadfull pile gives fiery breath;Whose unconsum'd consumption preys uponThe never-dying life of a long death.In this sad house of slow destruction,(His shop of flames) hee fryes himself, beneathA masse of woes; his teeth for torment gnash,While his steele sides sound with his tayle's strong lash.

Three rigourous virgins waiting still behind,Assist the throne of th' iron-sceptred king.With whips of thornes and knotty vipers twin'dThey rouse him, when his ranke thoughts need a sting.Their lockes are beds of uncomb'd snakes that windAbout their shady browes in wanton rings.Thus reignes the wrathfull king, and while he reignes,His scepter and himselfe both he disdaines.

Disdainefull wretch! how hath one bold sinne costThee all the beauties of thy once bright eyes!How hath one black eclipse cancell'd, and crostThe glories that did gild thee in thy rise!Proud morning of a perverse day! how lostArt thou unto thy selfe, thou too selfe-wiseNarcissus! foolish Phaeton! who for allThy high-aym'd hopes, gaind'st but a flaming fall.

From Death's sad shades to the life-breathing ayre,This mortall enemy to mankind's good,Lifts his malignant eyes, wasted with care,To become beautifull in humane blood.Where Iordan melts his chrystall, to make faireThe fields of Palestine, with so pure a flood,There does he fixe his eyes: and there detectNew matter, to make good his great suspect.

He calls to mind th' old quarrell, and what sparkeSet the contending sons of Heav'n on fire:Oft in his deepe thought he revolves the darkeSibill's divining leaves: he does enquireInto th' old prophesies, trembling to markeHow many present prodigies conspire,To crowne their past predictions, both he layesTogether, in his pondrous mind both weighs.

Heaven's golden-winged herald, late he sawTo a poore Galilean virgin sent:How low the bright youth bow'd, and with what aweImmortall flowers to her faire hand present.He saw th' old Hebrewe's wombe, neglect the lawOf age and barrennesse, and her babe prevent anticipateHis birth by his devotion, who beganBetimes to be a saint, before a man.

He saw rich nectar-thawes, release the rigourOf th' icy North; from frost-bound Atlas hands,His adamantine fetters fall: green vigourGladding the Scythian rocks and Libian sands.He saw a vernall smile, sweetly disfigureWinter's sad face, and through the flowry landsOf faire Engaddi, hony-sweating fountainesWith manna, milk, and balm, new-broach the mountaines.

He saw how in that blest Day-bearing Night,The Heav'n-rebuked shades made hast away;How bright a dawne of angels with new lightAmaz'd the midnight world, and made a DayOf which the Morning knew not. Mad with spightHe markt how the poore shepheards ran to payTheir simple tribute to the Babe, Whose birthWas the great businesse both of Heav'n and Earth.

He saw a threefold Sun, with rich encreaseMake proud the ruby portalls of the East.He saw the Temple sacred to sweet Peace,Adore her Prince's birth, flat on her brest.He saw the falling idolls, all confesseA comming Deity: He saw the nestOf pois'nous and unnaturall loves, Earth-nurst,Toucht with the World's true antidote, to burst.

He saw Heav'n blossome with a new-borne light,On which, as on a glorious stranger gaz'dThe golden eyes of Night: whose beame made brightThe way to Beth'lem and as boldly blaz'd,(Nor askt leave of the sun) by day as night.By whom (as Heav'ns illustrious hand-maid) rais'd,Three kings (or what is more) three wise men wentWestward to find the World's true orient.

Strucke with these great concurrences of things,Symptomes so deadly unto Death and him;Faine would he have forgot what fatall stringsEternally bind each rebellious limbe.He shooke himselfe, and spread his spatious wings:Which like two bosom'd sailes, embrace the dimmeAire, with a dismall shade; but all in vaine:Of sturdy adamant is his strong chaine.

While thus Heav'n's highest counsails, by the lowFootsteps of their effects, he trac'd too well,He tost his troubled eyes: embers that glowNow with new rage, and wax too hot for Hell:With his foule clawes he fenc'd his furrowed brow,And gave a gastly shreeke, whose horrid yellRan trembling through the hollow vaults of Night,The while his twisted tayle he gnaw'd for spight.

Yet on the other side, faine would he startAbove his feares, and thinke it cannot be.He studies Scripture, strives to sound the heartAnd feele the pulse of every prophecy;He knows (but knowes not how, or by what art)The Heav'n-expecting ages hope to seeA mighty Babe, Whose pure, unspotted birthFrom a chast virgin wombe, should blesse the Earth.

But these vast mysteries his senses smother,And reason (for what's faith to him?) devoure.How she that is a maid should prove a mother,Yet keepe inviolate her virgin flower;How God's eternall Sonne should be Man's brother,Poseth his proudest intellectuall power.How a pure Spirit should incarnate bee,And Life it selfe weare Death's fraile livery.

That the great angell-blinding Light should shrinkeHis blaze, to shine in a poore shepherd's eye:That the unmeasur'd God so low should sinke,As pris'ner in a few poore rags to lye:That from His mother's brest He milke should drinke,Who feeds with nectar Heav'n's faire family:That a vile manger His low bed should prove,Who in a throne of stars thunders above.

That He Whom the sun serves, should faintly peepeThrough clouds of infant flesh: that He the oldEternall Word should be a child, and weepe:That He Who made the fire, should feare the cold:That Heav'n's high Majesty His court should keepeIn a clay-cottage, by each blast control'd:That Glorie's Self should serve our griefs and feares,And free Eternity, submit to yeares.

And further, that the Lawe's eternall GiverShould bleed in His Owne Lawe's obedience:And to the circumcising knife deliverHimselfe, the forfet of His slave's offence:That the unblemisht Lambe, blessed for ever,Should take the marke of sin, and paine of sence.These are the knotty riddles, whose darke doubtIntangles his lost thoughts, past getting out.

While new thoughts boyl'd in his enraged brest,His gloomy bosome's darkest characterWas in his shady forehead seen exprest:The forehead's shade in Griefe's expression there,Is what in signe of joy among the blestThe face's lightning, or a smile is here.Those stings of care that his strong heart opprest,A desperate, Oh mee! drew from his deepe brest.

Oh mee! (thus bellow'd he) Oh mee! what greatPortents before mine eyes their powers advance?And serves my purer sight, onely to beatDowne my proud thought, and leave it in a trance?Frowne I: and can great Nature keep her seat?And the gay starrs lead on their golden dance?Can His attempts above still prosp'rous be,Auspicious still, in spight of Hell and me?

Hee has my Heaven (what would He more?) whose brightAnd radiant scepter this bold hand should beare:And for the never-fading fields of light,My faire inheritance, He confines me hereTo this darke house of shades, horrour and night,To draw a long-liv'd death, where all my cheereIs the solemnity my sorrow weares,That mankind's torment waits upon my teares.

Darke, dusky Man, He needs would single forth,To make the partner of His Owne pure ray:And should we powers of Heav'n, spirits of worth,Bow our bright heads before a king of clay?It shall not be, said I, and clombe the North,Where never wing of angell yet made way:What though I mist my blow? yet I strooke high,And to dare something, is some victory.

Is He not satisfied? meanes He to wrestHell from me too, and sack my territories?Vile humane nature means He not t' invest(O my despight!) with His divinest glories?And rising with rich spoiles upon His brestWith His faire triumphs fill all future stories?Must the bright armes of Heav'n, rebuke these eyes?Mocke me, and dazle my darke mysteries?

Art thou not Lucifer? he to whom the drovesOf stars that gild the Morne, in charge were given?The nimblest of the lightning-winged loves,The fairest, and the first-borne smile of Heav'n?Looke in what pompe the mistrisse planet movesRev'rently circled by the lesser seaven:Such, and so rich, the flames that from thine eyes,Opprest the common-people of the skyes.

Ah wretch! what bootes thee to cast back thy eyes,Where dawning hope no beame of comfort showes?While the reflection of thy forepast joyes,Renders thee double to thy present woes:Rather make up to thy new miseries,And meet the mischiefe that upon thee growes.If Hell must mourne, Heav'n sure shall sympathize,What force cannot effect, fraud shall devise.

And yet whose force feare I? have I so lostMy selfe? my strength too with my innocence?Come try who dares, Heav'n, Earth, what ere doth boastA borrowed being, make thy bold defence.Come thy Creator too: What though it costMe yet a second fall? wee'd try our strengths:Heav'n saw us struggle once; as brave a fightEarth now should see, and tremble at the sight.

Thus spoke th' impatient prince, and made a pause:His foule hags rais'd their heads, and clapt their hands,And all the powers of Hell in full applauseFlourisht their snakes, and tost their flaming brands.We (said the horrid sisters) wait thy lawes,Th' obsequious handmaids of thy high commands:Be it thy part, Hell's mighty lord, to layOn us thy dread command, our's to obey.

What thy Alecto, what these hands can doe,Thou mad'st bold proofe upon the brow of Heav'n,Nor should'st thou bate in pride, because that nowTo these thy sooty kingdomes thou art driven.Let Heav'n's Lord chide above lowder than thouIn language of His thunder, thou art evenWith Him below: here thou art lord alone,Boundlesse and absolute: Hell is thine owne.

If usuall wit, and strength will doe no good,Vertues of stones, nor herbes: use stronger charmes,Anger and love, best hookes of humane blood.If all faile, wee'l put on our proudest armes,And pouring on Heav'n's face the Sea's huge floodQuench His curl'd fires: wee'l wake with our alarmesRuine, where e're she sleepes at Nature's feet:And crush the World till His wide corners meet.

Reply'd the proud king, O my crowne's defence,Stay of my strong hopes, you of whose brave worth,The frighted stars tooke faint experience,When 'gainst the Thunder's mouth we marched forth:Still you are prodigall of your Love's expenceIn our great projects, both 'gainst Heav'n and Earth:I thanke you all, but one must single out:Cruelty, she alone shall cure my doubt.

Fourth of the cursed knot of hags is shee,Or rather all the other three in one;Hell's shop of slaughter shee do's oversee,And still assist the execution.But chiefly there do's she delight to be,Where Hell's capacious cauldron is set on:And while the black soules boile in their own gore,To hold them down, and looke that none seeth o're.

Thrice howl'd the caves of Night, and thrice the sound,Thundring upon the bankes of those black lakes,Rung through the hollow vaults of Hell profound:At last her listning eares the noise o're takes,She lifts her sooty lampes, and looking round,A gen'rall hisse from the whole tire of snakesRebounding, through Hell's inmost cavernes came,In answer to her formidable name.

'Mongst all the palaces in Hell's command,No one so mercilesse as this of her's.The adamantine doors, for ever standImpenetrable, both to prai'rs and teares;The walls inexorable steele, no handOf Time, or teeth of hungry Ruine feares.Their ugly ornaments are the bloody stainesOf ragged limbs, torne sculls, and dasht-out braines.

There has the purple Vengeance a proud seatWhose ever-brandisht sword is sheath'd in blood:About her Hate, Wrath, Warre and Slaughter sweat;Bathing their hot limbs in life's pretious flood:There rude impetuous Rage do's storme and fret,And there as master of this murd'ring brood,Swinging a huge sith stands impartiall Death: scytheWith endlesse businesse almost out of breath.

For hangings and for curtaines, all alongThe walls (abominable ornaments!)Are tooles of wrath, anvills of torments hung;Fell executioners of foule intents,Nailes, hammers, hatchets sharpe, and halters strong,Swords, speares, with all the fatall instrumentsOf Sin and Death, twice dipt in the dire stainesOf brothers' mutuall blood, and fathers' braines.

The tables furnisht with a cursed feastWhich Harpyes, with leane Famine feed upon,Vnfill'd for ever. Here among the rest,Inhumane Erisicthon too makes one;Tantalus, Atreus, Progne, here are guests:Wolvish Lycaon here a place hath won.The cup they drinke in is Medusa's scull,Which mixt with gall and blood they quaffe brim-full.

The foule queen's most abhorred maids of honour,Medaea, Jezabell, many a meager witch,With Circe, Scylla, stand to wait upon her:But her best huswife's are the Parcae, whichStill worke for her, and have their wages from her:They prick a bleeding heart at every stitch.Her cruell cloathes of costly threds they weave,Which short-cut lives of murdred infants leave.

The house is hers'd about with a black wood, hearsedWhich nods with many a heavy-headed tree:Each flowers a pregnant poyson, try'd and good,Each herbe a plague. The wind's sighes timed beeBy a black fount, which weeps into a flood.Through the thick shades obscurely might you seeMinotaures, Cyclopses, with a darke droveOf Dragons, Hydraes, Sphinxes, fill the grove.

Here Diomed's horses, Phereus' dogs appeare,With the fierce lyons of Therodamas.Busiris has his bloody altar here:Here Sylla his severest prison has:The Lestrigonians here their table reare:Here strong Procrustes plants his bed of brasse:Here cruell Scyron boasts his bloody rockesAnd hatefull Schinis his so feared oakes.

What ever schemes of blood, fantastick FramesOf death, Mezentius or Geryon drew;Phalaris, Ochus, Ezelinus: namesMighty in mischiefe; with dread Nero too;Here are they all, here all the swords or flamesAssyrian tyrants or Egyptian knew.Such was the house, so furnisht was the hall,Whence the fourth Fury answer'd Pluto's call.

Scarce to this monster could the shady kingThe horrid summe of his intentions tell;But shee (swift as the momentary wingOf lightning, or the words he spoke) left Hell.She rose, and with her to our World did bringPale proofe of her fell presence; th' aire too wellWith a chang'd countenance witnest the sight,And poore fowles intercepted in their flight.

Heav'n saw her rise, and saw Hell in the sight:The fields' faire eyes saw her, and saw no more,But shut their flowry lids for ever: NightAnd Winter strow her way: yea, such a soreIs she to Nature, that a generall fright,An universal palsie spreading o'reThe face of things, from her dire eyes had run,Had not her thick snakes hid them from the sun.

Now had the Night's companion from her dew,Where all the busie day she close doth ly,With her soft wing wipt from the browes of menDay's sweat; and by a gentle tyrannyAnd sweet oppression, kindly cheating themOf all their cares, tam'd the rebellious eyeOf Sorrow, with a soft and downy hand,Sealing all brests in a Lethaean band.

When the Erinnys her black pineons spread,And came to Bethlem, where the cruell kingHad now retyr'd himselfe, and borrowedHis brest a while from Care's unquiet sting;Such as at Thebes' dire feast she shew'd her head,Her sulphur-breathed torches brandishing:Such to the frighted palace now she comes,And with soft feet searches the silent roomes.

By Herodnow was borneThe scepter, which of old great David swaid;Whose right by David's linage so long worne, lineageHimselfe a stranger to, his owne had made;And from the head of Judah's house quite torneThe crowne, for which upon their necks he laidA sad yoake, under which they sigh'd in vaine,And looking on their lost state sigh'd againe.

Vp, through the spatious pallace passed she,To where the king's proudly-reposed head(If any can be soft to TyrannyAnd selfe-tormenting sin) had a soft bed.She thinkes not fit, such, he her face should see,As it is seene in Hell, and seen with dread.To change her face's stile she doth devise,And in a pale ghost's shape to spare his eyes.

Her selfe a while she layes aside, and makesReady to personate a mortall part.Ioseph, the king's dead brother's shape, she takes:What he by nature was, is she by art.She comes to th' king, and with her cold hand slakesHis spirits (the sparkes of life) and chills his heart,Life's forge; fain'd is her voice, and false too, beHer words: 'sleep'st thou, fond man? sleep'st thou?' said she.

So sleeps a pilot, whose poore barke is prestWith many a mercylesse o're-mastring wave;For whom (as dead) the wrathfull winds contestWhich of them deep'st shall digge her watry grave.Why dost thou let thy brave soule lye supprestIn death-like slumbers, while thy dangers craveA waking eye and hand? looke vp and seeThe Fates ripe, in their great conspiracy.

Know'st thou not how of th' Hebrewes' royall stemme(That old dry stocke) a despair'd branch is sprung:A most strange Babe! Who here conceal'd by themIn a neglected stable lies, amongBeasts and base straw: Already is the streameQuite turn'd: th' ingratefull rebells, this their youngMaster (with voyce free as the trumpe of Fame)Their new King, and thy Successour proclame.

What busy motions, what wild engines standOn tiptoe in their giddy braynes! th' have fireAlready in their bosomes, and their handAlready reaches at a sword; they hirePoysons to speed thee; yet through all the LandWhat one comes to reveale what they conspire?Goe now, make much of these; wage still their warsAnd bring home on thy brest, more thanklesse scarrs.

Why did I spend my life, and spill my blood,That thy firme hand for ever might sustaineA well-pois'd scepter? does it now seeme goodThy brother's blood be spilt, life spent in vaine?'Gainst thy owne sons and brothers thou hast stoodIn armes, when lesser cause was to complaine:And now crosse Fates a watch about thee keepe,Can'st thou be carelesse now? now can'st thou sleep?

Where art thou man? what cowardly mistakeOf thy great selfe, hath stolne king Herod from thee?O call thy selfe home to thy self, wake, wake,And fence the hanging sword Heav'n throws upon thee.Redeeme a worthy wrath, rouse thee, and shakeThy selfe into a shape that may become thee.Be Herod, and thou shalt not misse from meeImmortall stings to thy great thoughts, and thee.

So said, her richest snake, which to her wristFor a beseeming bracelet she had ty'd(A speciall worme it was as ever kistThe foamy lips of Cerberus) she apply'dTo the king's heart: the snake no sooner hist,But Vertue heard it, and away she hy'd:Dire flames diffuse themselves through every veine:This done, home to her Hell she hy'd amaine.

He wakes, and with him (ne're to sleepe) new feares:His sweat-bedewed bed hath now betraid himTo a vast field of thornes; ten thousand spearesAll pointed in his heart seem'd to invade him:So mighty were th' amazing charactersWith which his feeling dreame had thus dismay'd him,He his owne fancy-framed foes defies:In rage, My armes, give me my armes, he cryes.

As when a pile of food-preparing fire,The breath of artificiall lungs embraves,The caldron-prison'd waters streight conspireAnd beat the hot brasse with rebellious waves;He murmurs, and rebukes their bold desire;Th' impatient liquor frets, and foames, and raves,Till his o're-flowing pride suppresse the flameWhence all his high spirits and hot courage came.

So boyles the fired Herod's blood-swolne brest,Not to be slak't but by a sea of blood:His faithlesse crowne he feeles loose on his crest,Which a false tyrant's head ne're firmely stood.The worme of jealous envy and unrestTo which his gnaw'd heart is the growing food,Makes him, impatient of the lingring light,Hate the sweet peace of all-composing Night.

A thousand prophecies that talke strange thingsHad sowne of old these doubts in his deepe brest.And now of late came tributary kings,Bringing him nothing but new feares from th' East,More deepe suspicions, and more deadly stings,With which his feav'rous cares their cold increast.And now his dream (Hel's fireband) still more bright,Shew'd him his feares, and kill'd him with the sight.

No sooner therefore shall the Morning see(Night hangs yet heavy on the lids of Day)But all the counsellours must summon'd bee,To meet their troubled lord: without delayHeralds and messengers immediatelyAre sent about, who poasting every wayTo th' heads and officers of every band,Declare who sends, and what is his command.

Why art thou troubled, Herod? what vaine feareThy blood-revolving brest to rage doth move?Heaven's King, Who doffs Himselfe weak flesh to weare,Comes not to rule in wrath, but serve in love.Nor would He this thy fear'd crown from thee teare,But give thee a better with Himselfe above.Poor jealousie! why should He wish to preyVpon thy crowne, Who gives His owne away?

Make to thy reason, man, and mock thy doubts,Looke how below thy feares their causes are;Thou art a souldier, Herod; send thy scouts,See how Hee's furnish't for so fear'd a warre?What armour does He weare? A few thin clouts.His trumpets? tender cries; His men to dareSo much? rude shepheards: what His steeds? alasPoore beasts! a slow oxe and a simple asse.

Words in this poem 112

meddle v. i.: To mix; to mingle. [OE. medlen to mix, OF. medler, mesler, F. mêler, LL. misculare, a dim. fr. L. miscere to mix. Mix, and cf. Medley, Mellay.]
unblest a.: Not blest; excluded from benediction; hence, accursed; wretched. [Pref. un- not + blessed, blest.]
tore n.: The dead grass that remains on mowing land in winter and spring. Mortimer. [Probably from the root of tear; cf. W. tór a break, cut, tóri to break, cut.]
dore v. t.: One who does; one performs or executes; one who is wont and ready to act; an actor; an agent. [From Do, v. t. & i.]
spoke n.: The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly. [OE. spoke, spake, AS, spaca; akin to D. speek, LG. speke, OHG. speihha, G. speiche. sq. root170. Cf. Spike a nail.]
beseeming n.: Appearance; look; garb.
bide v. i.: To dwell; to inhabit; to abide; to stay. [OE. biden, AS. bidan; akin to OHG. bitan, Goth. beidan, Icel. bi; perh. orig., to wait with trust, and akin to bid. See Bid, v. t., and cf. Abide.]
farre n.: A young pig, or a litter of pigs. [See Farrow.]
boldly adv.: In a bold manner. [AS. bealdlice.]
honour n.: Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
needs adv.: Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and equivalent to of need. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. - wards.]
immortall a.: Not mortal; exempt from liability to die; undying; imperishable; lasting forever; having unlimited, or eternal, existance. [L. immortalis; pref. im- not + mortalis mortal: cf. F. immortel. See Mortal, and cf. Immortelle.]
parthenope n.: One of the Sirens, who threw herself into the sea, in despair at not being able to beguile Ulysses by her songs.
rivall n.: A person having a common right or privilege with another; a partner. [F. rival (cf. It. rivale), L. rivales two neigbors having the same brook in common, rivals, fr. rivalis belonging to a brook, fr. rivus a brook. Cf. Rivulet, Re]
eternall a.: Without beginning or end of existence; always existing. [F. éternel, L. aeternalis, fr. aeternus. See Etern.]
aspire v. t.: To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to.
horribly adv.: In a manner to excite horror; dreadfully; terribly.
sullen a.: Lonely; solitary; desolate. Wyclif (Job iii. 14). [OE. solein, solain, lonely, sullen; through Old French fr. (assumed) LL. solanus solitary, fr. L. solus alone. See Sole, a.]
dismall a.: Fatal; ill-omened; unlucky. [Formerly a noun; e. g., "I trow it was in the dismalle." Chaucer. Of uncertain origin; but perh. (as suggested by Skeat) from OF. disme, F. dîme, tithe, the phr]
fatall a.: Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or destiny; necessary; inevitable. [L. fatalis, fr. fatum: cf. F. fatal. See Fate.]
spight n.: A woodpecker. See Speight.
stench v. t.: To stanch. Harvey.
dire a.: Ill-boding; portentous; as, dire omens. [L. dirus; of uncertain origin.]
dreadfull a.: Full of dread or terror; fearful.
masse n.: A stroke made with the cue held vertically.
gnash v. t.: To strike together, as in anger or pain; as, to gnash the teeth. [OE. gnasten, gnaisten, cf. Icel. gnastan a gnashing, gn to gnash, Dan.knaske, Sw. gnissla, D. knarsen, G. knirschen.]
wrathfull a.: Full of wrath; very angry; greatly incensed; ireful; passionate; as, a wrathful man.
sinne adv.: Old form of Since. [Obs. or Prov.Eng. & Scot.]
narcissus n.: A genus of endogenous bulbous plants with handsome flowers, having a cup-shaped crown within the six-lobed perianth, and comprising the daffodils and jonquils of several kinds. [L. narcissus, and (personified) Narcissus, Gr. na`rkissos, Na`rkissos, fr. na`rkh torpor, in allusion to the narcotic properties of the flower. Cf. Narcotic.]
phaeton n.: A four-wheeled carriage (with or without a top), open, or having no side pieces, in front of the seat. It is drawn by one or two horses. [F. phaéton a kind of carriage, fr. Phaéthon Phaëthon, the son of Helios. See Phaëthon.]
mortall a.: Subject to death; destined to die; as, man is mortal. [F. mortel, L. mortalis, from mors, mortis, death, fr. moriri 8die; akin to E. murder. See Murder, and cf. Filemot, Mere a lake, Mortgage.]
beautifull a.: Having the qualities which constitute beauty; pleasing to the sight or the mind.
humane a.: Pertaining to man; human. Jer. Taylor. [L. humanus: cf. F. humain. See Human.]
quarrell n.: An arrow for a crossbow; -- so named because it commonly had a square head. [OE. quarel, OF. quarrel, F. carreau, LL. quadrellus, from L. quadrus square. See Quadrate, and cf. Quadrel, Quarry an arrow, Carrel.]
galilean a.: Of or pertaining to Galileo; as, the Galilean telescope. See Telescope.
babe n.: An infant; a young child of either sex; a baby. [Cf. Ir. bab, baban, W. baban, maban.]
betimes adv.: In good season or time; before it is late; seasonably; early. [Pref. be- (for by) + time; that is, by the proper time. The -s is an adverbial ending.]
rigour n.: Rigidity; stiffness. [L. See Rigor., below.]
vigour v. t.: To invigorate. Feltham.
vernall a.: Of or pertaining to the spring; appearing in the spring; as, vernal bloom. [L. vernalis, fr. vernus vernal, ver spring; akin to Gr. vasanta, Icel. var, and E. Easter, east.]
hast: , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
encrease v. t.: i. See Increase.
adore v. t.: To worship with profound reverence; to pay divine honors to; to honor as deity or as divine. [OE. aouren, anouren, adoren, OF. aorer, adorer, F. adorer, fr. L. adorare; ad + orare to speak, pray, os, oris, mouth. In OE. confused with honor, the French pr]
unnaturall a.: Not natural; contrary, or not conforming, to the order of nature; being without natural traits; as, unnatural crimes.
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
went n.: Course; way; path; journey; direction.
eternally adv.: In an eternal manner.
rebellious a.: Engaged in rebellion; disposed to rebel of the nature of rebels or of rebellion; resisting government or lawful authority by force.
dimme a.: Not bright or distinct; wanting luminousness or clearness; obscure in luster or sound; dusky; darkish; obscure; indistinct; overcast; tarnished. [AS. dim; akin to OFries. dim, Icel. dimmr: cf. MHG. timmer, timber; of uncertain origin.]
horrid a.: Rough; rugged; bristling. [L. horridus. See Horror, and cf. Ordure.]
unspotted a.: Not spotted; free from spot or stain; especially, free from moral stain; unblemished; immaculate; as, an unspotted reputation.
inviolate a.: Not violated; uninjured; unhurt; unbroken. [L. inviolatus. See In- not, and Violate.]
sonne n.: A male child; the male issue, or offspring, of a parent, father or mother. [OE. sone, sune, AS. sunu; akin to D. zoon, OS., OFries., & OHG. sunu, G. sohn, Icel. sonr, Sw. son, Dan. sön, Goth. sunus, Lith. sunus, Russ. suin', Skr. sunu (]
intellectuall a.: Belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental; as, intellectual powers, activities, etc. [L. intellectualis: cf. F. intellectuel.]
incarnate a.: Not in the flesh; spiritual. [Pref. in- not + carnate.]
manger n.: A trough or open box in which fodder is placed for horses or cattle to eat. [F. mangeoire, fr. manger to eat, fr. L. manducare, fr. mandere to chew. Cf. Mandible, Manducate.]
giver n.: One who gives; a donor; a bestower; a grantor; one who imparts or distributes.
offence n.: The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury. [F., fr. L. offensa. See Offend.]
desperate a.: Without hope; given to despair; hopeless. [L. desperatus, p. p. of desperare. See Despair, and cf. Desperado.]
horrour n.: A bristling up; a rising into roughness; tumultuous movement. [Formerly written horrour.]
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
morne a.: Of or pertaining to the morn; morning.
circled a.: Having the form of a circle; round.
mourne n.: The armed or feruled end of a staff; in a sheephook, the end of the staff to which the hook is attached. Sir P. Sidney. [See 2d Morne.]
sympathize v. t.: To experience together.
defence n.: The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger. [F. défense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. Fence.]
obsequious a.: Promptly obedient, or submissive, to the will of another; compliant; yielding to the desires of another; devoted. [L.obsequiosus, fr. obsequium compliance, fr. obsequi, fr. obsequi: cf. F. obséquieux, See Obsequent, and cf. Obsequy.]
bate n.: Strife; contention. [Prob. abbrev. from debate.]
usuall a.: Such as is in common use; such as occurs in ordinary practice, or in the ordinary course of events; customary; ordinary; habitual; common. [L. usualis, from usus use: cf. F. usuel. See Use, n.]
cursed a.: Deserving a curse; execrable; hateful; detestable; abominable.
oversee v. i.: To see too or too much; hence, to be deceived.
rung n.: A floor timber in a ship. [OE. ronge, AS. hrung, a staff, rod, pole; akin to G. runge a short, thick piece of iron or wood, OD. ronghe a prop, support, Icel. röng a rib in a ship, Goth. H]
hisse pron.: Belonging or pertaining to him; -- used as a pronominal adjective or adjective pronoun; as, tell John his papers are ready; formerly used also for its, but this use is now obsolete. [AS. his of him, his, gen. masc. & neut. of h, neut. hit. See He.]
inmost a.: Deepest within; farthest from the surface or external part; innermost. [OE. innemest, AS. innemest, a double superlative form fr. inne within, fr. in in. The modern form is due to confusion with most. See In, and cf. Aftermost, Fore]
sith prep.: Since; afterwards; seeing that. [See Since.]
impartiall a.: Not partial; not favoring one more than another; treating all alike; unprejudiced; unbiased; disinterested; equitable; fair; just. [Pref. im- not + partial: cf. F. impartial.]
mutuall a.: Reciprocally acting or related; reciprocally receiving and giving; reciprocally given and received; reciprocal; interchanged; as, a mutual love, advantage, assistance, aversion, etc. [F. mutuel, L. mutuus, orig., exchanged, borrowed, lent; akin to mutare to change. See Mutable.]
famine n.: General scarcity of food; dearth; a want of provisions; destitution. [F. famine, fr. L. fames hunger; cf. Gr. hani loss, lack, ha to leave.]
scull n.: A shoal of fish. [See 1st School.]
parcae n.: The Fates. See Fate, 4. [L.]
cruell a.: Disposed to give pain to others; willing or pleased to hurt, torment, or afflict; destitute of sympathetic kindness and pity; savage; inhuman; hard-hearted; merciless. [F. cruel, fr. L. crudelis, fr. crudus. See Crude.]
drove n.: A collection of cattle driven, or cattle collected for driving; a number of animals, as oxen, sheep, or swine, driven in a body. [AS. draf, fr. drifan to drive. See Drive.]
brasse n.: A spotted European fish of the genus Lucioperca, resembling a perch. [Perh. a transposition of barse; but cf. LG. brasse the bream, G. brassen Cf. Bream.]
hatefull a.: Manifesting hate or hatred; malignant; malevolent.
nero n.: A Roman emperor notorius for debauchery and barbarous cruelty; hence, any profligate and cruel ruler or merciless tyrant.
scarce a.: Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
summe n.: The aggregate of two or more numbers, magnitudes, quantities, or particulars; the amount or whole of any number of individuals or particulars added together; as, the sum of 5 and 7 is 12. [OE. summe, somme, OF. sume, some, F. somme, L. summa, fr. summus highest, a superlative from sub under. See Sub-, and cf. Supreme.]
generall a.: Relating to a genus or kind; pertaining to a whole class or order; as, a general law of animal or vegetable economy. [F. général, fr. L. generalis. See Genus.]
unquiet v. t.: To disquiet. Ld. Herbert. [1st pref. un- + quiet.]
stile n.: A pin set on the face of a dial, to cast a shadow; a style. See Style. Moxon. [See Style.]
personate v. t.: To celebrate loudly; to extol; to praise. [L. personare to cry out, LL., to extol. See Person.]
prest a.: Ready; prompt; prepared. [OF. prest, F. prêt, fr. L. praestus ready. Cf. Presto.]
digge v. t.: To turn up, or delve in, (earth) with a spade or a hoe; to open, loosen, or break up (the soil) with a spade, or other sharp instrument; to pierce, open, or loosen, as if with a spade.
crave v. t.: To ask with earnestness or importunity; to ask with submission or humility; to beg; to entreat; to beseech; to implore. [AS. crafian; akin to Icel. krefia, Sw. kr, Dan. kr.]
royall a.: Kingly; pertaining to the crown or the sovereign; suitable for a king or queen; regal; as, royal power or prerogative; royal domains; the royal family; royal state. [OE. roial, riall, real, OF. roial. reial, F. royal, fr. L. regalis, fr. rex, regis, king. See Rich, and cf. regal, real a coin, Rial.]
stemme n.: A gleam of light; flame.
ingratefull a.: Ungrateful; thankless; unappreciative. [L. ingratus ingrateful (pref. in- not + gratus beloved, dear, grateful) + -ful: cf. F. ingrat. See Grateful.]
successour n.: One who succeeds or follows; one who takes the place which another has left, and sustains the like part or character; -- correlative to predecessor; as, the successor of a deceased king. [OE. successour, OF. successur, successor, F. successeur, L. successor. See Succeed.]
tiptoe n.: The end, or tip, of the toe.
wage v. i.: To bind one's self; to engage.
spill n.: A bit of wood split off; a splinter. [sq. root170. Cf. Spell a splinter.]
crosse n.: The implement with which the ball is thrown and caught in the game of lacrosse.
shalt: 2d per. sing. of Shall.
speciall n.: A particular. Hammond.
kist n.: A chest; hence, a coffin. Jamieson. [See Chest.]
cerberus n.: A monster, in the shape, of a three-headed dog, guarding the entrance into the infernal regions, Hence: Any vigilant custodian or guardian, esp. if surly.
amazing a.: Causing amazement; very wonderful; as, amazing grace.
artificiall a.: Made or contrived by art; produced or modified by human skill and labor, in opposition to natural; as, artificial heat or light, gems, salts, minerals, fountains, flowers. [L. artificialis, fr. artificium: cf. F. artificiel. See Artifice.]
unrest n.: Want of rest or repose; unquietness; sleeplessness; uneasiness; disquietude.
armour n.: Defensive arms for the body; any clothing or covering worn to protect one's person in battle. [OE. armure, fr. F. armure, OF. armeure, fr. L. armatura. See Armature.]
trumpets n.: A plant (Sarracenia flava) with long, hollow leaves.
asse n.: A small foxlike animal (Vulpes cama) of South Africa, valued for its fur.

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Argomento is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume I, Project Gutenberg ebook #38549; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Richard Crashaw, Argomento, in Steps to the Temple and Other Poems (1646–1652), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #38549, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/crashaw-poems/argomento.html, id L12070.

Form and metre

Argomento is 536 lines in 67 stanzas of 8 lines each. The commonest rhyme scheme is ABABABCC, in 20 of the 67 stanzas; the rest vary or could not be confirmed. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 86%). 95% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.1 syllables. 58 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 34% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.

See other poems in iambic pentameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 AABB--CC signes^A · divines^A · is^B · his^B · wake · foolish · birth^C · earth^C
2 ABABAB-- more^A · unblest^B · tore^A · brest^B · dore^A · best^B · swords · words
3 ABABAB-- pride^A · kings^B · bide^A · wings^B · wide^A · sings^B · bowes · browes
4 ABABAB-- flowers^A · bring^B · bowers^A · spring^B · deflowers^A · wing^B · proves · loves
5 A--BABCC worth^A · parthenope · forth · thee^B · earth^A · mee^B · same^C · name^C
6 -A-A-ABB abysse · things^A · is · clings^A · kisse · strings^A · ties^B · skies^B
7 ABAB--CC teares^A · fire^B · weares^A · tire^B · appeares · aspire · horne^C · adorne^C
8 ABABABCC night^A · red^B · light^A · dead^B · spight^A · spread^B · groane^C · alone^C
9 ABABA-CC exhalation^A · breath^B · upon^A · death^B · destruction^A · beneath · gnash^C · lash^C
10 ABABA-CC behind^A · king^B · twin'd^A · sting^B · wind^A · rings · reignes^C · disdaines^C
11 ABABABCC cost^A · eyes^B · crost^A · rise^B · lost^A · wise^B · all^C · fall^C
12 ABABABCC ayre^A · good^B · care^A · blood^B · faire^A · flood^B · detect^C · suspect^C
13 ABABABCC sparke^A · fire^B · darke^A · enquire^B · marke^A · conspire^B · layes^C · weighs^C
14 ABABA-CC saw^A · sent^B · awe^A · present^B · law^A · anticipate · began^C · man^C
15 ABAB-BCC rigour^A · hands^B · vigour^A · sands^B · disfigure · lands^B · fountaines^C · mountaines^C
16 ABABABCC night^A · away^B · light^A · day^B · spight^A · pay^B · birth^C · earth^C
17 A-AB-BCC encrease^A · east · peace^A · brest^B · confesse · nest^B · nurst^C · burst^C
18 ABABABCC light^A · gaz'd^B · bright^A · blaz'd^B · night^A · rais'd^B · went^C · orient^C
19 ABA-ABCC things^A · him^B · strings^A · limbe · wings^A · dimme^B · vaine^C · chaine^C
20 ABAB-BCC low^A · well^B · glow^A · hell^B · brow · yell^B · night^C · spight^C
21 ABA-ABCC start^A · be^B · heart^A · prophecy · art^A · see^B · birth^C · earth^C
22 A-ABAB-- smother^A · devoure · mother^A · flower^B · brother^A · power^B · bee · livery
23 ABABA-CC shrinke^A · eye^B · sinke^A · lye^B · drinke^A · family · prove^C · above^C
24 ABABABCC peepe^A · old^B · weepe^A · cold^B · keepe^A · control'd^B · feares^C · yeares^C
25 A-AB-BCC giver^A · obedience · deliver^A · offence^B · ever · sence^B · doubt^C · out^C
26 A-ABABAA brest^A · character · exprest^A · there^B · blest^A · here^B · opprest^A · brest^A
27 -ABABACC great · advance^A · beat^B · trance^A · seat^B · dance^A · be^C · me^C
28 ABABABCC bright^A · beare^B · light^A · here^B · night^A · cheere^B · weares^C · teares^C
29 AB-BAB-- forth^A · ray^B · worth · clay^B · north^A · way^B · high · victory
30 ABABABBB wrest^A · territories^B · invest^A · glories^B · brest^A · stories^B · eyes^B · mysteries^B
31 ------AA droves · given · loves · heav'n · moves · seaven · eyes^A · skyes^A
32 AB-BABAA eyes^A · showes^B · joyes · woes^B · miseries^A · growes^B · sympathize^A · devise^A
33 AB-BA-CC lost^A · innocence^B · boast · defence^B · cost^A · strengths · fight^C · sight^C
34 ABABABCC pause^A · hands^B · applause^A · brands^B · lawes^A · commands^B · lay^C · obey^C
35 --ABABB- doe · heav'n · now^A · driven^B · thou^A · even^B · alone^B · owne
36 ABABABCC good^A · charmes^B · blood^A · armes^B · flood^A · alarmes^B · feet^C · meet^C
37 ABA-ABCC defence^A · worth^B · experience^A · forth · expence^A · earth^B · out^C · doubt^C
38 ABABABCC shee^A · one^B · oversee^A · execution^B · be^A · on^B · gore^C · o're^C
39 ABABABCC sound^A · lakes^B · profound^A · takes^B · round^A · snakes^B · came^C · name^C
40 A-A-A-BB command^A · her's · stand^A · teares · hand^A · feares · staines^B · braines^B
41 -ABAB--- seat · blood^A · sweat^B · flood^A · fret^B · brood · scythe · breath
42 AB-BABCC along^A · ornaments^B · hung · intents^B · strong^A · instruments^B · staines^C · braines^C
43 -A-A-A-- feast · upon^A · rest · one^A · guests · won^A · scull · full
44 -ABABACC honour · witch^A · her^B · which^A · her^B · stitch^A · weave^C · leave^C
45 -ABABACC hearsed · tree^A · good^B · bee^A · flood^B · see^A · drove^C · grove^C
46 A-A-A--- appeare^A · therodamas · here^A · has · reare^A · brasse · rockes · oakes
47 ABABABCC frames^A · drew^B · names^A · too^B · flames^A · knew^B · hall^C · call^C
48 ABABABCC king^A · tell^B · wing^A · hell^B · bring^A · well^B · sight^C · flight^C
49 ABABABCC sight^A · more^B · night^A · sore^B · fright^A · o're^B · run^C · sun^C
50 -A---ABB dew · ly^A · men · tyranny · them · eye^A · hand^B · band^B
51 AB-BAB-- spread^A · king^B · borrowed · sting^B · head^A · brandishing^B · comes · roomes
52 AB-BABCC borne^A · swaid^B · lineage · made^B · torne^A · laid^B · vaine^C · againe^C
53 AB-BABCC she^A · head^B · tyranny · bed^B · see^A · dread^B · devise^C · eyes^C
54 ABABABCC makes^A · part^B · takes^A · art^B · slakes^A · heart^B · be^C · she^C
55 ABABAB-- prest^A · wave^B · contest^A · grave^B · supprest^A · crave^B · see · conspiracy
56 ABABCBCC stemme^A · sprung^B · them^A · among^B · streame^C · young^B · fame^C · proclame^C
57 ABABAB-- stand^A · fire^B · hand^A · hire^B · land^A · conspire^B · wars · scarrs
58 ABABABCC blood^A · sustaine^B · good^A · vaine^B · stood^A · complaine^B · keepe^C · sleep^C
59 ABABABBB mistake^A · thee^B · wake^A · thee^B · shake^A · thee^B · mee^B · thee^B
60 ABABAB-- wrist^A · ty'd^B · kist^A · apply'd^B · hist^A · hy'd^B · veine · amaine
61 ABABCBCC feares^A · him^B · speares^A · him^B · characters^C · him^B · defies^C · cryes^C
62 ABABABCC fire^A · embraves^B · conspire^A · waves^B · desire^A · raves^B · flame^C · came^C
63 ABABA-CC brest^A · blood^B · crest^A · stood^B · unrest^A · food · light^C · night^C
64 ABABABCC things^A · brest^B · kings^A · east^B · stings^A · increast^B · bright^C · sight^C
65 ABAB-BCC see^A · day^B · bee^A · delay^B · immediately · way^B · band^C · command^C
66 ABABABCC feare^A · move^B · weare^A · love^B · teare^A · above^B · prey^C · away^C
67 A-A----- doubts^A · are · scouts^A · warre · clouts · dare · alas · asse

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
Casting the times with their strong signes,	8	/˘······
Death's master his owne death divines:	8	·/˘···˘/
Strugling for helpe, his best hope is	8	········
Herod's suspition may heale his.	9	/˘·······
Therefore he sends a fiend to wake	8	········
The sleeping tyrant's fond mistake; foolish	10	·/˘/˘·˘//˘
Who feares (in vaine) that He Whose birth	8	········
Meanes Heav'n, should meddle with his Earth.	8	···/˘···
Muse, now the servant of soft loves no more,	10	···/˘·····
Hate is thy theame, and Herod, whose unblest	10	·····/˘···
Hand (O what dares not jealous greatnesse?) tore	10	·····/˘···
A thousand sweet babes from their mothers' brest:	10	·/˘····/˘·
The bloomes of martyrdome. O be a dore	10	··········
Of language to my infant lips, yee best	10	·/˘··/˘···
Of confessours: whose throates answering his swords,	10	······/˘··
Gave forth your blood for breath, spoke soules for words.	10	··········
Great Anthony! Spain's well-beseeming pride,	10	·/˘˘··˘/˘·
Thou mighty branch of emperours and kings;	10	·/˘··/˘˘··
The beauties of whose dawne what eye may bide?	10	·/˘·······
Which with the sun himselfe weigh's equall wings;	10	·······/˘·
Mappe of heroick worth! whom farre and wide	9	·········
To the beleeving world, Fame boldly sings:	10	·······/˘·
Deigne thou to weare this humble wreath, that bowes	10	·····/˘···
To be the sacred honour of thy browes.	10	···/˘/˘···
Nor needs my Muse a blush, or these bright flowers	11	·········/˘
Other than what their owne blest beauties bring:	10	/˘·····/˘·
They were the smiling sons of those sweet bowers	11	···/˘····/˘
That drink the deaw of life, whose deathlesse spring,	10	··········
Nor Sirian flame nor Borean frost deflowers:	11	···········
From whence heav'n-labouring bees with busie wing,	10	···/˘·····
Suck hidden sweets, which well-digested proves	10	·/˘···/·˘·
Immortall hony for the hive of loves.	10	˘/˘·······
Thou, whose strong hand with so transcendent worth,	10	······˘/˘·
Holds high the reine of faire Parthenope,	9	·········
That neither Rome nor Athens can bring forth	10	·/˘··/˘···
A name in noble deeds rivall to thee!	10	···/˘·/˘··
Thy fame's full noise, makes proud the patient Earth,	10	·······/˘·
Farre more then, matter for my Muse and mee.	10	···/˘·····
The Tyrrhene Seas and shores sound all the same	10	··········
And in their murmurs keepe thy mighty name.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Below the bottome of the great Abysse,	10	··········
There where one center reconciles all things:	10	···/˘/˘···
The World's profound heart pants; there placed is	10	··˘/····˘·
Mischiefe's old master. Close about him clings	10	···/˘·····
A curl'd knot of embracing snakes, that kisse	10	····˘/˘···
His correspondent cheekes: these loathsome strings	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Hold the perverse prince in eternall ties	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
Fast bound, since first he forfeited the skies.	10	·····/˘˘··
The judge of torments and the king of teares,	10	···/······
He fills a burnisht throne of quenchlesse fire:	11	·········/˘
And for his old faire roabes of light, he weares	10	··········
A gloomy mantle of darke flames; the tire	11	·/˘/˘····/˘
That crownes his hated head on high appeares:	10	···/˘···˘/
Where seav'n tall hornes (his empire's pride) aspire.	10	·····/˘·˘/
And to make up Hell's majesty, each horne	10	·····/˘˘··
Seav'n crested Hydras, horribly adorne.	10	·/˘/˘/˘˘··
His eyes, the sullen dens of Death and Night,	10	···/˘·····
Startle the dull ayre with a dismall red:	10	/˘·····/˘·
Such his fell glances, as the fatall light	10	···/˘··/˘·
Of staring comets, that looke kingdomes dead.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
From his black nostrills, and blew lips, in spight	10	···/˘·····
Of Hell's owne stinke, a worser stench is spread.	10	·····/˘···
His breath Hell's lightning is: and each deepe groane	10	···/˘·····
Disdaines to think that Heav'n thunders alone.	10	˘/····/˘˘/
His flaming eyes' dire exhalation,	9	·/˘···˘/˘
Vnto a dreadfull pile gives fiery breath;	10	··/˘··/˘˘·
Whose unconsum'd consumption preys upon	10	····˘/˘···
The never-dying life of a long death.	10	·/˘/˘·····
In this sad house of slow destruction,	9	······˘/˘
(His shop of flames) hee fryes himself, beneath	10	······˘/··
A masse of woes; his teeth for torment gnash,	10	·······/··
While his steele sides sound with his tayle's strong lash.	10	··········
Three rigourous virgins waiting still behind,	11	····/˘/˘···
Assist the throne of th' iron-sceptred king.	10	˘/···/˘/˘·
With whips of thornes and knotty vipers twin'd	10	·····/˘/˘·
They rouse him, when his ranke thoughts need a sting.	10	··········
Their lockes are beds of uncomb'd snakes that wind	10	··········
About their shady browes in wanton rings.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Thus reignes the wrathfull king, and while he reignes,	10	··········
His scepter and himselfe both he disdaines.	10	········˘/
Disdainefull wretch! how hath one bold sinne cost	11	···········
Thee all the beauties of thy once bright eyes!	10	···/˘·····
How hath one black eclipse cancell'd, and crost	10	····˘//˘··
The glories that did gild thee in thy rise!	10	·/˘·······
Proud morning of a perverse day! how lost	10	·/˘··˘/···
Art thou unto thy selfe, thou too selfe-wise	10	··········
Narcissus! foolish Phaeton! who for all	10	˘/˘/˘·····
Thy high-aym'd hopes, gaind'st but a flaming fall.	10	·······/˘·
From Death's sad shades to the life-breathing ayre,	10	·······/˘·
This mortall enemy to mankind's good,	10	·/˘/˘˘·//·
Lifts his malignant eyes, wasted with care,	10	··˘/˘·/˘··
To become beautifull in humane blood.	10	·˘//˘˘·˘/·
Where Iordan melts his chrystall, to make faire	10	·····/˘···
The fields of Palestine, with so pure a flood,	11	···/˘······
There does he fixe his eyes: and there detect	10	········˘/
New matter, to make good his great suspect.	10	·/˘·····˘/
He calls to mind th' old quarrell, and what sparke	10	·····/˘···
Set the contending sons of Heav'n on fire:	11	··˘/˘····/˘
Oft in his deepe thought he revolves the darke	10	······˘/··
Sibill's divining leaves: he does enquire	11	/˘˘/˘···˘/˘
Into th' old prophesies, trembling to marke	10	···/˘/˘˘··
How many present prodigies conspire,	11	·/˘/˘/˘˘˘/˘
To crowne their past predictions, both he layes	10	····˘/˘···
Together, in his pondrous mind both weighs.	10	˘/˘·······
Heaven's golden-winged herald, late he saw	10	/˘/˘·/˘···
To a poore Galilean virgin sent:	10	····˘/˘/˘·
How low the bright youth bow'd, and with what awe	10	··········
Immortall flowers to her faire hand present.	11	˘/˘/˘····/˘
He saw th' old Hebrewe's wombe, neglect the law	10	······˘/··
Of age and barrennesse, and her babe prevent anticipate	15	·········˘/˘/˘·
His birth by his devotion, who began	10	····˘/˘·˘/
Betimes to be a saint, before a man.	10	··········
He saw rich nectar-thawes, release the rigour	11	···/˘·˘/·/˘
Of th' icy North; from frost-bound Atlas hands,	10	·/˘····/˘·
His adamantine fetters fall: green vigour	11	·····/˘··/˘
Gladding the Scythian rocks and Libian sands.	10	/˘·/˘·····
He saw a vernall smile, sweetly disfigure	11	···/˘·/˘˘/˘
Winter's sad face, and through the flowry lands	10	/˘········
Of faire Engaddi, hony-sweating fountaines	11	·······/˘/˘
With manna, milk, and balm, new-broach the mountaines.	11	·/˘······/˘
He saw how in that blest Day-bearing Night,	10	·······/˘·
The Heav'n-rebuked shades made hast away;	10	··˘/˘···˘/
How bright a dawne of angels with new light	10	·····/˘···
Amaz'd the midnight world, and made a Day	10	˘/·/······
Of which the Morning knew not. Mad with spight	10	···/˘·····
He markt how the poore shepheards ran to pay	10	·····/˘···
Their simple tribute to the Babe, Whose birth	10	·/˘/˘·····
Was the great businesse both of Heav'n and Earth.	11	···········
He saw a threefold Sun, with rich encrease	10	···/····˘/
Make proud the ruby portalls of the East.	10	···/˘/˘···
He saw the Temple sacred to sweet Peace,	10	···/˘/˘···
Adore her Prince's birth, flat on her brest.	10	˘/·/˘·····
He saw the falling idolls, all confesse	10	···/˘/˘···
A comming Deity: He saw the nest	10	·/˘/˘˘····
Of pois'nous and unnaturall loves, Earth-nurst,	10	····˘/˘···
Toucht with the World's true antidote, to burst.	10	·····/˘···
He saw Heav'n blossome with a new-borne light,	10	··········
On which, as on a glorious stranger gaz'd	10	·····/˘/˘·
The golden eyes of Night: whose beame made bright	10	·/˘·······
The way to Beth'lem and as boldly blaz'd,	10	·······/˘·
(Nor askt leave of the sun) by day as night.	10	··········
By whom (as Heav'ns illustrious hand-maid) rais'd,	10	····˘/˘···
Three kings (or what is more) three wise men went	10	··········
Westward to find the World's true orient.	10	/˘·····/˘·
Strucke with these great concurrences of things,	10	····˘/˘˘··
Symptomes so deadly unto Death and him;	10	/˘·/˘·····
Faine would he have forgot what fatall strings	10	····˘/·/˘·
Eternally bind each rebellious limbe.	10	˘/˘˘··˘/˘·
He shooke himselfe, and spread his spatious wings:	10	··········
Which like two bosom'd sailes, embrace the dimme	10	······˘/··
Aire, with a dismall shade; but all in vaine:	10	···/˘·····
Of sturdy adamant is his strong chaine.	10	·/˘/˘˘····
While thus Heav'n's highest counsails, by the low	10	···/˘·····
Footsteps of their effects, he trac'd too well,	10	/···/˘····
He tost his troubled eyes: embers that glow	10	···/˘·/˘··
Now with new rage, and wax too hot for Hell:	10	··········
With his foule clawes he fenc'd his furrowed brow,	11	··/˘····/˘·
And gave a gastly shreeke, whose horrid yell	10	·······/˘·
Ran trembling through the hollow vaults of Night,	10	·/˘··/˘···
The while his twisted tayle he gnaw'd for spight.	11	···/˘······
Yet on the other side, faine would he start	10	···/˘·····
Above his feares, and thinke it cannot be.	10	·······/˘·
He studies Scripture, strives to sound the heart	10	·/˘/˘·····
And feele the pulse of every prophecy;	11	······/˘/˘˘
He knows (but knowes not how, or by what art)	10	··········
The Heav'n-expecting ages hope to see	10	··˘/˘/˘···
A mighty Babe, Whose pure, unspotted birth	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
From a chast virgin wombe, should blesse the Earth.	10	···/˘·····
But these vast mysteries his senses smother,	11	···/˘˘·/˘/˘
And reason (for what's faith to him?) devoure.	10	·/˘·······
How she that is a maid should prove a mother,	11	·········/˘
Yet keepe inviolate her virgin flower;	11	··˘/˘˘·/˘/˘
How God's eternall Sonne should be Man's brother,	11	··˘/˘····/˘
Poseth his proudest intellectuall power.	10	···/˘·˘/˘/
How a pure Spirit should incarnate bee,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
And Life it selfe weare Death's fraile livery.	11	········/˘˘
That the great angell-blinding Light should shrinke	10	···/˘/˘···
His blaze, to shine in a poore shepherd's eye:	10	·······/˘·
That the unmeasur'd God so low should sinke,	10	··········
As pris'ner in a few poore rags to lye:	10	··········
That from His mother's brest He milke should drinke,	10	···/˘·····
Who feeds with nectar Heav'n's faire family:	10	···/˘··/˘˘
That a vile manger His low bed should prove,	10	···/˘·····
Who in a throne of stars thunders above.	10	······/˘··
That He Whom the sun serves, should faintly peepe	10	·······/˘·
Through clouds of infant flesh: that He the old	10	···/˘·····
Eternall Word should be a child, and weepe:	10	˘/˘·······
That He Who made the fire, should feare the cold:	10	·····/····
That Heav'n's high Majesty His court should keepe	10	···/˘˘····
In a clay-cottage, by each blast control'd:	10	···/˘·····
That Glorie's Self should serve our griefs and feares,	10	·/˘···/···
And free Eternity, submit to yeares.	10	··˘/˘˘˘/··
And further, that the Lawe's eternall Giver	11	·/˘···˘/˘/˘
Should bleed in His Owne Lawe's obedience:	10	······˘/˘˘
And to the circumcising knife deliver	11	···/˘·˘·˘/˘
Himselfe, the forfet of His slave's offence:	10	········˘/
That the unblemisht Lambe, blessed for ever,	10	········/˘
Should take the marke of sin, and paine of sence.	10	··········
These are the knotty riddles, whose darke doubt	10	···/˘/˘···
Intangles his lost thoughts, past getting out.	9	······/˘·
While new thoughts boyl'd in his enraged brest,	10	······˘/˘·
His gloomy bosome's darkest character	10	·/˘··/˘/˘˘
Was in his shady forehead seen exprest:	10	···/˘/˘···
The forehead's shade in Griefe's expression there,	10	·/····˘/˘·
Is what in signe of joy among the blest	10	··········
The face's lightning, or a smile is here.	10	·/˘/˘·····
Those stings of care that his strong heart opprest,	11	········/˘˘
A desperate, Oh mee! drew from his deepe brest.	10	·/˘·······
Oh mee! (thus bellow'd he) Oh mee! what great	10	···/˘·····
Portents before mine eyes their powers advance?	10	/······/˘/
And serves my purer sight, onely to beat	10	···/˘·/˘··
Downe my proud thought, and leave it in a trance?	10	··········
Frowne I: and can great Nature keep her seat?	10	·····/˘···
And the gay starrs lead on their golden dance?	10	·······/˘·
Can His attempts above still prosp'rous be,	10	··˘/······
Auspicious still, in spight of Hell and me?	10	˘/˘·······
Hee has my Heaven (what would He more?) whose bright	10	···/······
And radiant scepter this bold hand should beare:	10	·/˘·······
And for the never-fading fields of light,	10	···/˘/˘···
My faire inheritance, He confines me here	10	··˘/˘·˘/··
To this darke house of shades, horrour and night,	10	······/˘··
To draw a long-liv'd death, where all my cheere	10	··········
Is the solemnity my sorrow weares,	10	··˘/˘˘·/˘·
That mankind's torment waits upon my teares.	10	·//˘/·····
Darke, dusky Man, He needs would single forth,	10	·/˘····/˘·
To make the partner of His Owne pure ray:	10	···/˘·····
And should we powers of Heav'n, spirits of worth,	10	···/··/˘··
Bow our bright heads before a king of clay?	10	·/········
It shall not be, said I, and clombe the North,	10	··········
Where never wing of angell yet made way:	10	·/˘··/˘···
What though I mist my blow? yet I strooke high,	10	··········
And to dare something, is some victory.	10	···/˘··/˘˘
Is He not satisfied? meanes He to wrest	10	···/˘·····
Hell from me too, and sack my territories?	11	·······/˘·˘
Vile humane nature means He not t' invest	11	·˘//˘····˘/
(O my despight!) with His divinest glories?	11	······˘/˘/˘
And rising with rich spoiles upon His brest	10	·/˘·······
With His faire triumphs fill all future stories?	11	···/˘··/˘/˘
Must the bright armes of Heav'n, rebuke these eyes?	10	······˘/··
Mocke me, and dazle my darke mysteries?	10	·······/˘˘
Art thou not Lucifer? he to whom the droves	10	···/˘·····
Of stars that gild the Morne, in charge were given?	11	·····/˘···/
The nimblest of the lightning-winged loves,	10	·/˘˘··/˘··
The fairest, and the first-borne smile of Heav'n?	10	·/˘·······
Looke in what pompe the mistrisse planet moves	10	·······/˘·
Rev'rently circled by the lesser seaven:	11	···/˘··/˘··
Such, and so rich, the flames that from thine eyes,	10	··········
Opprest the common-people of the skyes.	10	/˘·/˘/˘···
Ah wretch! what bootes thee to cast back thy eyes,	10	··········
Where dawning hope no beame of comfort showes?	10	·/˘····/˘·
While the reflection of thy forepast joyes,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Renders thee double to thy present woes:	10	/˘·/˘··/˘·
Rather make up to thy new miseries,	10	/˘·····/˘˘
And meet the mischiefe that upon thee growes.	10	··········
If Hell must mourne, Heav'n sure shall sympathize,	10	·······/˘·
What force cannot effect, fraud shall devise.	10	··˘/˘/··˘/
And yet whose force feare I? have I so lost	10	··········
My selfe? my strength too with my innocence?	10	·······/˘˘
Come try who dares, Heav'n, Earth, what ere doth boast	10	··········
A borrowed being, make thy bold defence.	10	·/·/˘···˘/
Come thy Creator too: What though it cost	10	··˘/˘·····
Me yet a second fall? wee'd try our strengths:	10	···/˘···/·
Heav'n saw us struggle once; as brave a fight	10	···/˘·····
Earth now should see, and tremble at the sight.	10	·····/˘···
Thus spoke th' impatient prince, and made a pause:	10	··˘/˘·····
His foule hags rais'd their heads, and clapt their hands,	11	·/˘········
And all the powers of Hell in full applause	10	···/····˘/
Flourisht their snakes, and tost their flaming brands.	10	·······/˘·
We (said the horrid sisters) wait thy lawes,	10	···/˘/˘···
Th' obsequious handmaids of thy high commands:	10	˘/˘·····˘/
Be it thy part, Hell's mighty lord, to lay	10	·····/˘···
On us thy dread command, our's to obey.	10	····˘//·˘/
What thy Alecto, what these hands can doe,	10	··········
Thou mad'st bold proofe upon the brow of Heav'n,	10	··········
Nor should'st thou bate in pride, because that now	10	··········
To these thy sooty kingdomes thou art driven.	11	···/˘/˘··/˘
Let Heav'n's Lord chide above lowder than thou	10	······/˘··
In language of His thunder, thou art even	11	·/˘··/˘··/˘
With Him below: here thou art lord alone,	10	········˘/
Boundlesse and absolute: Hell is thine owne.	10	···/˘·····
If usuall wit, and strength will doe no good,	10	·/˘·······
Vertues of stones, nor herbes: use stronger charmes,	9	······/˘·
Anger and love, best hookes of humane blood.	10	/˘·····˘/·
If all faile, wee'l put on our proudest armes,	10	······//˘·
And pouring on Heav'n's face the Sea's huge flood	10	·/˘·······
Quench His curl'd fires: wee'l wake with our alarmes	10	···/···/˘/
Ruine, where e're she sleepes at Nature's feet:	9	······/˘·
And crush the World till His wide corners meet.	10	·······/˘·
Reply'd the proud king, O my crowne's defence,	10	········˘/
Stay of my strong hopes, you of whose brave worth,	10	··········
The frighted stars tooke faint experience,	10	·/˘···˘/˘˘
When 'gainst the Thunder's mouth we marched forth:	10	···/˘···˘·
Still you are prodigall of your Love's expence	10	···/˘·····
In our great projects, both 'gainst Heav'n and Earth:	10	·/·/˘·····
I thanke you all, but one must single out:	10	·······/˘·
Cruelty, she alone shall cure my doubt.	9	/˘·˘/····
Fourth of the cursed knot of hags is shee,	10	····˘·····
Or rather all the other three in one;	10	·/˘··/˘···
Hell's shop of slaughter shee do's oversee,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And still assist the execution.	9	··˘/··˘/˘
But chiefly there do's she delight to be,	10	·/˘···˘/··
Where Hell's capacious cauldron is set on:	10	··˘/˘/˘···
And while the black soules boile in their own gore,	11	···········
To hold them down, and looke that none seeth o're.	10	··········
Thrice howl'd the caves of Night, and thrice the sound,	10	··········
Thundring upon the bankes of those black lakes,	10	/˘········
Rung through the hollow vaults of Hell profound:	10	···/˘···˘/
At last her listning eares the noise o're takes,	10	··········
She lifts her sooty lampes, and looking round,	10	···/˘··/˘·
A gen'rall hisse from the whole tire of snakes	10	·······/··
Rebounding, through Hell's inmost cavernes came,	10	˘/˘··/˘/˘·
In answer to her formidable name.	10	·/˘··/˘˘˘·
'Mongst all the palaces in Hell's command,	10	···/˘˘··˘/
No one so mercilesse as this of her's.	10	··········
The adamantine doors, for ever stand	10	·······/˘·
Impenetrable, both to prai'rs and teares;	10	˘/˘˘˘·····
The walls inexorable steele, no hand	10	···/˘˘˘···
Of Time, or teeth of hungry Ruine feares.	9	·····/˘··
Their ugly ornaments are the bloody staines	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Of ragged limbs, torne sculls, and dasht-out braines.	10	·/˘·······
There has the purple Vengeance a proud seat	10	···/˘/˘···
Whose ever-brandisht sword is sheath'd in blood:	10	·/˘·······
About her Hate, Wrath, Warre and Slaughter sweat;	10	·······/˘·
Bathing their hot limbs in life's pretious flood:	10	/˘········
There rude impetuous Rage do's storme and fret,	10	··˘/˘·····
And there as master of this murd'ring brood,	10	···/˘·····
Swinging a huge sith stands impartiall Death: scythe	11	/˘····˘/˘··
With endlesse businesse almost out of breath.	11	······/····
For hangings and for curtaines, all along	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
The walls (abominable ornaments!)	10	··˘/˘˘˘/˘˘
Are tooles of wrath, anvills of torments hung;	10	····/˘·/··
Fell executioners of foule intents,	10	··˘/˘·/˘˘/
Nailes, hammers, hatchets sharpe, and halters strong,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Swords, speares, with all the fatall instruments	10	·····/˘/˘˘
Of Sin and Death, twice dipt in the dire staines	10	··········
Of brothers' mutuall blood, and fathers' braines.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
The tables furnisht with a cursed feast	10	·/˘·····˘·
Which Harpyes, with leane Famine feed upon,	9	····/˘···
Vnfill'd for ever. Here among the rest,	9	··/˘·····
Inhumane Erisicthon too makes one;	10	˘˘/·······
Tantalus, Atreus, Progne, here are guests:	10	/˘˘··/˘···
Wolvish Lycaon here a place hath won.	9	/˘·······
The cup they drinke in is Medusa's scull,	10	······˘/˘·
Which mixt with gall and blood they quaffe brim-full.	10	··········
The foule queen's most abhorred maids of honour,	11	·/˘··˘/··/˘
Medaea, Jezabell, many a meager witch,	10	·····/·/˘·
With Circe, Scylla, stand to wait upon her:	10	··/˘······
But her best huswife's are the Parcae, which	10	·······/˘·
Still worke for her, and have their wages from her:	11	·······/˘··
They prick a bleeding heart at every stitch.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Her cruell cloathes of costly threds they weave,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Which short-cut lives of murdred infants leave.	10	·····/˘/˘·
The house is hers'd about with a black wood, hearsed	11	···········
Which nods with many a heavy-headed tree:	10	···/·/˘/˘·
Each flowers a pregnant poyson, try'd and good,	10	·/·/˘·····
Each herbe a plague. The wind's sighes timed bee	10	········˘·
By a black fount, which weeps into a flood.	10	··········
Through the thick shades obscurely might you see	10	····˘/˘···
Minotaures, Cyclopses, with a darke drove	10	···/·˘····
Of Dragons, Hydraes, Sphinxes, fill the grove.	10	·/˘/˘/˘···
Here Diomed's horses, Phereus' dogs appeare,	10	···/˘·····
With the fierce lyons of Therodamas.	10	···/˘·····
Busiris has his bloody altar here:	10	·····/˘/˘·
Here Sylla his severest prison has:	10	·/˘·˘/˘/˘·
The Lestrigonians here their table reare:	10	·······/˘·
Here strong Procrustes plants his bed of brasse:	10	··˘/˘·····
Here cruell Scyron boasts his bloody rockes	10	·/˘····/˘·
And hatefull Schinis his so feared oakes.	10	·/˘·····˘·
What ever schemes of blood, fantastick Frames	10	·/˘·······
Of death, Mezentius or Geryon drew;	9	·········
Phalaris, Ochus, Ezelinus: names	10	··········
Mighty in mischiefe; with dread Nero too;	10	/˘·····/˘·
Here are they all, here all the swords or flames	10	··········
Assyrian tyrants or Egyptian knew.	10	˘/˘/˘·˘/˘·
Such was the house, so furnisht was the hall,	10	··········
Whence the fourth Fury answer'd Pluto's call.	10	···/˘/˘/˘·
Scarce to this monster could the shady king	10	···/˘··/˘·
The horrid summe of his intentions tell;	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
But shee (swift as the momentary wing	10	·····/˘·˘·
Of lightning, or the words he spoke) left Hell.	10	·/˘·······
She rose, and with her to our World did bring	10	······/···
Pale proofe of her fell presence; th' aire too well	10	·····/˘···
With a chang'd countenance witnest the sight,	10	···/˘˘····
And poore fowles intercepted in their flight.	11	··/˘·˘/˘···
Heav'n saw her rise, and saw Hell in the sight:	10	··········
The fields' faire eyes saw her, and saw no more,	10	··········
But shut their flowry lids for ever: Night	10	·······/˘·
And Winter strow her way: yea, such a sore	10	·/˘·······
Is she to Nature, that a generall fright,	10	···/˘··/˘·
An universal palsie spreading o're	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
The face of things, from her dire eyes had run,	10	··········
Had not her thick snakes hid them from the sun.	10	··········
Now had the Night's companion from her dew,	10	····˘/˘···
Where all the busie day she close doth ly,	10	··········
With her soft wing wipt from the browes of men	10	··········
Day's sweat; and by a gentle tyranny	10	·····/˘/˘˘
And sweet oppression, kindly cheating them	10	··˘/˘/˘/˘·
Of all their cares, tam'd the rebellious eye	10	······˘/˘·
Of Sorrow, with a soft and downy hand,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Sealing all brests in a Lethaean band.	9	/˘·······

The first 400 of 536 lines; the reader marks them all.

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

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