SIONS SONETS.

Sung By SOLOMON the King, And PERIPHRAS'D By FRA. QVARLES.

LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for Thomas Dewe, and are to bee sold at his shoppe in Saint Dunstanes Church-yard. 1625.

TO THE TRVLY NOBLE AND NO LESSE GOOD THEN GREAT LORD, IAMES, MARQVES Hamleton.

SIR,

HAd these Lines beene loose, and lasciuious, I had either pickt out a lesse honorable Patron, or stood to the courtesie of euery wanton Reader; But being (as [Page] they are) of a diuine subiect, therefore subiect to the ill-digested humours of light heads, by your fauour (thrice noble Lord) you are bound to protect it, being the knowne Patron to goodnesse. There are too few such: This makes glorious Vice so bold, and bashfull Vertue so in­glorious. You are a bright Starre in our Orbe; on which, all good eyes are fixt, and by the speciall influence of which, these presented Lines, had their conce­ption, their birth, their being; and now crept forth, repay themselues to You, hope to receiue honour from You, and sue for protection vnder You. So I commit them to the honour of so great a fortune.

SIR,
The true honourer of your admired worth, FRANCIS QVARLES.

To the Readers.

REaders, now you haue them. May the end of my paines be the beginning of your pleasures. Excuse me for soaring so high, else giue me leaue to excuse my selfe; Indeed I flue with Eagles feathers; other­wise I had not flowne, or falne. It is the Song of Songs, I here present you with: The Au­thor, King SOLOMON, the wisest of Kings; The matter mysticall, the diuinest of sub­iects: The Speakers, CHRIST, the Bridegroome; the CHVRCH, the Bride; The end, to invite you all to the weddïng. Farewell.

AN EPITHALME TO THE BRIDE­GROOME.

HOSANNA to the Highest. Ioy betide
The heauenly Bridegroome, and his holy Bride:
Let Heauen aboue be fill'd with songs,
Let Earth triumph below;
For euer silent be those tongues,
That can be silent now.
You Rocks, and Stones, I charge you all to breake
Your flintie silence, if men cease to speake.
You, that professe that sacred Art,
Or now, or neuer show it,
Pleade not, your Muse is out of heart,
Here's that creates a Poet.
Be rauish'd Earth, to see this contract driuen,
'Twixt sinfull Man, and reconciled Heauen.
Dismount you Quire of Angels; come,
With Men, your joyes diuide;
Heauen neuer show'd so sweet a GROOME,
Nor Earth, so faire a BRIDE.

SIONS SONETS.

BRIDE. SONET I.

1.
O That the bountie of those lips diuine,
CAP. 1.
Would seale their fauours, on these lips of mine,
That by those welcome
Sensible gra­ces.
kisses, I might see
The mutuall loue, betwixt my Loue and mee,
For truer blisse, no worldly ioy allowes,
Then sacred Kisses, from so sweet a Spouse,
With which, no earthly pleasures may compare,
Riche Wines are not so delicate as thay're.
2.
NOr Myrrhe, nor Cassia, nor the choice perfumes
Of vnctious Narde, or Aromatick fumes
Or hot Arabia, doe enrich the aire
With more delitious sweetnesse, then the faire
Reports, that crowne the merits of thy Name,
With heauenly Laurels of eternall fame,
Which makes the
Pure in heart.
Virgins fixe their eyes vpon thee,
And all that view thee, are enamour'd on thee.
3.
O, Let the beautie of thy Sunne-like face
Inflame my soule, and let thy glorie chace
Disloyall thoughts; Let not the World allure
My chaste desires, from a Spouse, so pure;
But when as Time shall place me on thy
The Kingdom of Heauen.
Throne,
My feares will cease, and interrupt by none,
I shall transcend the stile of Transitorie,
And full of glorie, still be fill'd with glorie.
4.
BVt you, my curious (and too nice) Allyes,
That view my fortunes, with two narrow eyes,
You say my face is
Through ap­parant infirmi­ties.
blacke, and foule; 'tis true;
I'm beauteous, to my Loue, though black to you,
My censure stands not vpon your esteeme,
He sees me as I
Glorious in him.
am; you, as I seeme;
You see the Cloudes, but he discernes the Skie;
Know, 'Tis my
Weaknesse of the flesh.
Maske that lookes so blacke, not I.
5.
VVHat if Afflictions doe dis-imbellish
My naturall glorie, and denie the rellish
Of my adjourned beautie, yet disdaine not
Her, by whose necessarie losse, you gaine not;
I was enforc'd to swelter in
Afflictions.
the Sunne,
And
Forced to I­dolatrous super­stitions.
keepe a strangers Vine, left mine alone;
I left mine owne, and kept a strangers Vine;
The fault was
By reason of my weaknesse.
mine, but was
Being sedu­ced by false prophets.
not onely mine.
6.
O Thou, whose loue I prize aboue my life,
More worthy farre t'enjoy a fairer wife,
Tell mee, to what coole shade, dost thou resort?
Where graze thy Sheepe, where doe thy Lambs disport
Free from the scortching of this
Persecutions.
sowltrie weather?
O tell thy Loue, and let thy Loue come thither:
Say (gentle Shephard) fits it thee, to cherish
Thy priuate Flocks, and let thy true Loue
By Idolatrie.
perish?

BRIDEGROOME. SONET. II.

ILlustrious Bride, more radiant and more
Through my merits and thy sanctification.
bright,
Then th' eye of Noone, thrice fairer then the light;
Thou dearest off-spring of my dying blood,
And treasure of my soule, why hast thou stood
Parching so long in those ambitious beames?
Come, come and coole thee in these siluer
The doctrine of the true Pro­phets.
streames;
Vnshade thy Face, cast backe those golden Locks,
And I will make thee
Teacher of my Congrega­tions.
Mistris of my Flocks.
2.
O Thou, the Center of my choise desires,
In whom I rest, in whom my soule respires;
Thou art the flowre of beautie, and I prize thee
Aboue the World, how e're the World disprize thee:
The blinde imagins all things black, by kinde;
Thou art as beautifull, as they are blinde:
And as the fairest troopes of Pharoes Steeds
Exceed the rest, so Thou, the rest exceeds.
3.
THy
Thy most vi­sable parts.
Cheeke (the garden where fresh beautie plants
Her choysest flowers) no adorning wants;
There wants no relish of
Sanctification
diuiner grace,
To summe compleatnesse, in so sweet a face;
Thy Neck, without a blemish, without blot,
Then pearle's more orient, cleare from staine or spot;
Thy Gemmes and Iewels, full of curious art,
Imply the sacred treasures of thy heart.
4.
THe Sunne-bright glorie of thy resounding fame,
Addes glorie, to the glorie of my Name;
The more's thy honour (Loue) the more thou striu'st
To honour me; Thou gaynest, what thou giu'st:
My Father (whom our Contract hath made thine)
Will giue thee large endowments of
The riebes of his holy Spirit.
diuine,
And euerlasting treasure; Thus by mee
Thou shalt be rich, that am thus rich, in Thee.

BRIDE. SONET III.

OH, how my soule is rauisht with the joyes,
That spring like fountains frō my true loues voice!
How cordiall are his lips! How sweet his tongue!
Each word, he breathes, is a melodious song;
Hee absent (ah) how is my glorie dimme!
I haue no beautie, not deriu'd from Him;
What e're I haue, from Him alone, I haue,
And Hee takes pleasure in those gifts, hee gaue.
2.
AS fragrant Myrrhe, within the bosome hid,
Sents more delitious, then (before) it did,
And yet receiues no sweetnesse, from that brest,
That prooues the sweeter, for so sweet a guest;
Euen so, the fauour of my dearest Spouse,
Thus priz'd, and placed in my heart, endowes
My ardent soule, with sweetnesse, and inspires
With heauenly rauishment, my rapt desires.
3.
VVHo euer smelt the breath of morning flowres,
New sweerned with the dash of twilight showres,
Or pounded Amber, or the flowring Thyme,
Or purple Violets, in their proudest prime,
Or swelling Clusters, from the Cypresse tree?
So sweet's my Loue; I, farre more sweet is Hee:
So faire, so sweet, that heauens bright eye is dim,
And flowers haue no sent, compar'd with Him.

BRIDEGROOME. SONET IIII.

O Thou, the joyes of my suff [...]ed heart,
The more thou think'st me faire, the more thou art;
Looke in the Crystall mirrours of mine eyes,
And view thy beautie; there thy beautie lyes:
See there, th'vnmated glorie of thy Face,
Well mixt with Spirit, and diuinest grace;
The eyes of Doues, are nor so faire, as thine:
O, how those eyes, instanie these eyes of mine
The holy Prophets.

BRIDE. SONET V.

MOst radiant, and refulgent Lampe of light,
Whose midday beautie, yet ne're found a night,
'Tis thou, 'tis onely thou art faire; from Thee
Reflect those
The holy Spi­rit.
rayes, that haue englightned mee,
And as bright Cynthia's borrow'd beames doe shine
From Titan's glorie, so doe I, from thine;
So daily flourishes our fresh delight,
In daily
In giuing grace and re­ceiuing glorie.
giuing, and receiuing light.
2.
NOr does thy glorie shine to me alone;
What place, wherein thy glorie hath not shone?
But ô, how fragrant with rich odour, smells
That
The Congre­gation of Saints
sacred House, where thou my true Loue dwells?
Nor is it strange; How can those places bee
But fill'd with sweetnesse, if possest with Thee!
My heart's a Heauen, for Thou art in that heart,
Thy presence makes a Heauen, where e're thou art.

BRIDEGROOME. SONET VI.

THou soueraigne Lady' of my select desires,
CAP. II.
I, I am Hee, whom thy chaste soule admires;
The Rose, for smell; the Lilly, to the eye,
Is not so sweet, is not so faire as I;
My vailed beautie's not the glorious prize
Not in out­ward glorie.
Of common sight;
In inward graces.
within, my beautie lies;
Yet ne'rethelesse, my glorie were but small,
If I should want, to honour thee withall.
2.
NOr doe I boast my Excellence alone,
But thine (deare Spouse) as whom, the world hath none
So true to Faith, so pure in loue, as whome
Liues not a Bride so fits, so chaste a Groome;
And as the fairest Lilly doth exceede
The fruitlesse Bramble, or the foulest weede,
So farre (my Loue) dost thou exceede the rest,
In perfect beautie, of a loyall brest.

BRIDE. SONET VII.

LOoke how the fruitfull Tree (whose laden boughs,
With swelling pride, crowne Autumnes smiling brows
Surpasses idle shrubs; euen so, in worth,
My loue transcends the Worthies of the earth:
He was my Shore, in Shipwrack; and my Shelter
In Stormes; my Shade, when I began to Swelter;
If hungrie, he was Foode; and if opprest
With wrongs, my Aduocate; with toile, my Rest.
2.
I Thirsted; and, full charged to the brinke,
He gaue me
The holy Scriptures.
boules of Nectar, for my drinke,
And in his Sides, he broacht me (for a signe
Of dearest loue) a Sacramentall wine;
He freely gaue; I freely dranke my fill;
The more I dranke, the more remayned still:
Did neuer Souldier, to his Colours proue
More chaste, then I, to so entire a Loue.
3.
O How his beautie sets my soule on fire!
My spirits languish, with extreame desire;
Desires, exceeding limits, are too lauish,
And wanting meanes to be effected, rauish;
Then let thy
Thy sweet Promises.
breath, like flaggons of strong wine,
Releeue and comfort this poore heart of mine;
For I am sicke, till time (that doth delay
Our Mariage) bring our joyfull Mariage day.
4.
TIll then, ô let my dearest Lord, by whome,
These pleasing paines of my sweet sorrowes come,
Performe his vowes, and with his due resort,
Blesse me, to make the sullen time seeme short:
In his sweet presence, may I still be blest,
Debarr'd from whom, my soule can finde no rest;
O let all times be prosp'rous, and all places
Be witnesse to our vndefil'd Embraces.
5.
ALl you, whose seeming fauours haue profest
The true affection of a loyall brest,
I charge you all, by the true loue you beare
To friendship, or what else yee count most deare,
Vexe not his Spirit with your sinnes.
Disturbe yee not my Loue; O doe not reiue
Him of his joyes, that is so apt to grieue;
Dare not to breake his quiet slumbers, lest
You rowze a raging Lion from his rest.
6.
HArke, harke, I heare that thrice-celestiall voyce,
Wherein my spirits, rapt with joyes, rejoyce;
A voice, that tells me, my beloued's nigh;
I know the Musicke, by the Majestie:
Behold he comes; 'Tis not my
The imperfe­ctions of my pre­sent state.
blemisht face,
Can slake the swiftnesse of his winged pace;
Behold he comes; His Trumpet doth proclaime,
He comes with speede; A truer loue ne're came.
7.
BEhold the fleetnesse of his nimble feet;
The Roe-bucke, and the Hart were ne're so fleet:
The word I spake, flue not so speedie from me,
As Hee, the treasure of my soule comes to me;
Hee stands behind my Wall, as if in doubt
Of welcome; Ah, this
The weaknes of my flesh.
Wall debarres him out:
O, how injurious is this Wall of sin,
That barres my Louer out, and bolts me in!

The BRIDE in the person of the BRIDE­GROOME. SONET VIII.

HArke, harke, me thinks I heare my true Loue say,
Breake down that enuious barre, and come away;
Arise (my dearest Spouse) and dispossesse
The soule of doubtfull feares, nor ouer-presse
Thy tender spirits, with the dull despaire
Of thy demerits; (Loue) thou art as faire,
As earth will suffer; Time will make thee clearer;
Come forth (my Loue) then whom, my life's not dearer.
2.
COme forth (my Ioy;) What bold affront of feare
Can fright thy soule, and I, thy Champion, here?
'Tis I that calls, 'tis I, thy Bridegroome, calls thee,
Betide it me, what euer euill befalls thee:
The winter of thy sharpe Affliction's gone;
Why fear'st thou cold, and art so neere the Sunne?
I am thy Sunne, if thou be cold, draw nearer;
Come forth (my Loue) then whom, my life's not dearer.
3.
COme forth (my deare) the spring of joyes inuite thee,
The
The Elect.
Flowres contend for beautie, to delight thee,
Their sweet ambition's onely, which might bee
Most sweet, most faire, because most like to thee:
The
Angels.
Birds (sweet Heralds of so sweet a Spring)
Warble high notes, and Hymenaeans sing;
All sing, with joy, t'injoy so sweet a Hearer;
Come forth (my Loue) then whom, my life's not dearer.
4.
THe prosp'rous
The Congre­gation of the faithfull.
Vine, which this deare hād did plāt,
Tenders due seruice to so sweet a Saint:
Her hidden Clusters swell with sacred pride,
To
To offer vp the frist fruits of obedience.
kisse the lips of so, so faire a Bride;
Masqu'd in their leafes, they lurke, fearing to bee
Discryde by any, till first seene by Thee;
The Clowds are past; the Heauens cannot be clearer;
Come forth (dear loue) then whom, my life's not dearer.
5.
MY Doue, whom daily
Persecutions.
dangers teach new shifts,
That, like a Doue, do'st haunt the secret Clifts
Of solitarie Rocks; How e're thou bee
Reseru'd from others, bee not strange to mee,
Call me to rescue, and this brawnie Arme
Shall quell thy Foe, and fence thy soule, from harme;
Speake (Loue;) Thy voice is sweet; What if thy face
Be drencht with teares? Each teare's a seuerall grace.
6.
ALl you, that wish prosperitie, and peace,
To crowne our Contract, with a long encrease
Of future joyes, ô shield my simple Loue,
From those that seeke her ruine, and remoue
The base Opposers of her best designes;
Destroy those Foxes, that destroy her Vines;
Her Vines are fruitfull, but her tender grapes
Are spoil'd by Foxes, clad in humane shapes:

The BRIDE in her owne person. SONET IX.

WHat greater joy can blesse my soule, then this,
That my Beloued's mine, and I am His!
Our soules are knit; the world cannot vntwine
The joyfull vnion of His heart, and Mine;
In Him, I liue; in Him, my soule's possest
With heauenly solace, and eternall rest:
Heauen onely knowes the blisse, my soule enjoyes;
Fond earth's to dull, to apprehend such joyes.
2.
THou sweet perfection of my full delights,
Till that bright
The day of Iudgement.
Day, deuoted to the rites
Of our solemniz'd Nuptials, shall come,
Come liue with me, and make this heart, thy Home:
Disdaine me not: Although my face appeare
Deform'd and clowdie, yet my heart is
By sanctifica­tion.
cleare;
Make haste: Let not the swift-foot Roe-buck flee
The following Hounds so fast, as thou, to mee.
3.
I Thought my Loue had taken vp his rest,
CAP. III.
Within the secret
In my soule.
Cabin of my brest;
I thought the closed Curtaines did immure
His gentle slumbers, but was too secure;
For (driuen with loue) to the false bed I
By strict exa­mination.
stept,
To view his slumbring beautie, as he slept,
But he was gone; yet plainly there was seene
The curious dint, where he had lately beene.
4.
IMpatient of his absence, thus bereauen
Of him, then whom, I had no other heauen,
I rau'd a while; not able to digest
So great a losse, to lose so faire a Guest:
I left no path vntrac'd; no
Amongst the wisest world­lings.
place vnsought;
No secret Cell vnsearcht; no way vnthought;
I ask'd the Shade, but shadowes could not hide him;
I ask'd the World, but all the World denyde him.
5.
MY jealous Loue, distemp'red with distraction,
Made fierce with feare, vnapt for satisfaction,
Applyes fresh fuell, to my flaming fires,
With Eagles wings supplyes my quick desires;
Vp to the walls I rambled, where I spyde
The
The Ministers of the Word.
Citie watch, to whom, with teares, I cryde;
Ah gentle Watchmen, you aloft descry
What's darke to vs; Did not my Loue passe by?
6.
AT length, when dull despaire had gain'd the ground
Of tyred hopes, my Faith fell in a swound;
But Hee, whose sympathizing heart did finde
The tyrant passion, of my troubled minde,
Forthwith appear'd; What Angels tongue can let
The World conceiue our pleasures, when we met?
And till the joyes of our espoused hearts
Be made
At the Re­surrection.
compleat, the World ne're more shall part's.

BRIDEGROOME. SONET X.

NOw rests my Loue: Till now, her tender brest
Wanting her joy, could finde no peace, nor rest:
I charge you all, by the true loue, you beare
To friendship, or what else you count most deare,
Disturbe her not, but let her sleepe her fill;
I charge you all, vpon your lifes, be still:
O, may that lab'ring soule, that liues opprest
For me; in me, receiue eternall rest.
2.
VVHat curious face is this? What mortall birth
Can show a beautie, thus
Through san­ctification by my merits.
vnstayn'd with earth!
What glorious Angell wanders thus alone,
From earths foule Dungeon, to my Fathers Throne!
It is my Loue; my loue that hath denyde
The world, for me; It is my fairest Bride:
How fragrant is her breath! How heauenly faire
Her Angell face! Each glorifying the Aire.

BRIDE. SONET XI.

O, How I'm
By heauenly contemplation.
rauisht with eternall blisse!
Who e're thought heauen a joy, cōpar'd to this?
How doe the pleasures of his glorious Face,
Adde glorie to the glorie of this place!
See, how Kings Courts surmount poore Shephards cells,
So this, the pride of Solomon, excells;
Rich wreathes of glorie crowne his royall Head,
And troopes of Angels waite vpon his Bed.
2.
THe Court of Princely Solomon was guarded
With able men at armes; their faith rewarded
With fading honours, subject to the fate
Of Fortune, and the jealous frownes of State;
But here th' harmonious Quire of heauen attend,
Whose prize is glorie, glorie without end,
Vnmixt without doubtings, or degenerous feare;
A greater Prince, then Solomon, is here.
3.
THe Bridall bed of Princely Solomon,
(Whose beautie' amaz'd the greedie lookers on,
Which all the world admired to behold)
Was but of Cedar; and her Sted of gold;
Her Pillars siluer; and her Canopie
Of silkes, but richly stayn'd with puple die;
Her Curtaines wrought in workes, workes rarely led
By th' needles art; such was the bridall bed.
4.
SVch was the bridall bed, which Time, or Age
Durst neuer warrant from th' opprobrious rage
Of enuious fate; Earths measure's but a minit;
Earth fades; all fades vpon it; all, within it;
O, but the glorie' of this diuiner place,
No Age can injure, nor yet Time deface;
To bright an obiect, for weake eyes to bide,
Or tongues t'expresse: Who euer saw't, but dyde?
5.
VVHo e're beheld the royall Crowne, set on
The nuptiall browes of Princely Solomon?
His glorious pompe, whose honour did display
The noysed Triumphs of his Marriage day?
A greater Prince, then Solomon, is here,
The beautie of whose Nuptials, shall appeare
More glorious farre, transcending his, as farre
As heauens bright Lamp out-shines th' obscurest Starre.

BRIDEGROOME SONET XII.

HOw orient is thy
Through the gifts of my Spirit.
beautie!
CAP. IIII.
How diuine!
How darke's the glorie of the earth, to thine!
Thy vailed
The modestie and puritie of thy iudgement.
eyes out-shine heauens greater light,
Vnconquer'd by the shadie Clowd of night;
The curious
Ornaments of necessarie ceremonies.
Tresses dangle, all vnbound
With vnaffected order, to the ground:
How orient is thy beautie! How diuine!
How darke's the glorie of the earth, to thine!
2.
THy Iuorie
Sincere Mi­nisters.
Teeth in whitenesse doe out-goe
The downe of Swans, or Winters driuen snowe,
Whose euen proportions liuely represent
Th' harmonious Musicke of vnite consent,
Whose perfect whitnesse, Time could neuer blot,
Nor Age (the Canker of destruction) not:
How orient is thy beautie! How diuine!
How darke's the glorie of the earth, to thine!
3.
THe rubie Portalls of thy ballane'd
Doctrine of thy holy Pre­phets.
words,
Send forth a welcome relish, which affords
A heauen of blisse, and makes the earth rejoyce,
To heare the Accent of thy heauenly voyce;
The maiden blushes of thy
Modest graces of the Spirit.
Cheekes, proclaime
A shame of guilt, but not a guilt of shame:
How orient is thy beautie! How diuine!
How darke's the glorie of the earth, to thine!
4.
THy
Magistrates.
Necke (vnbeautifyde with borrow'd grace)
Is whiter then the Lillies of thy face,
If whiter may; for beautie, and for powre,
'Tis like the glorie of Dauids princely Towre:
What vassall spirit could despaire, or faint,
Finding protection from so sure a Saint?
How orient is thy beautie! How diuine!
How darke's the glorie of the earth, to Thine!
5.
THe deare-bought fruit of that forbidden Tree,
Was not so daintie, as thy Apples bee,
These curious Apples of thy snowy
The old and new Testaments.
brests,
Wherein a Paradise of pleasure rests;
They breathe such life into the rauisht
The sanctified and zealous reader.
Eye,
That the inflam'd beholder, cannot
The second Death.
die:
How orient is thy beautie! How diuine!
How darke's the glorie of the earth, to Thine!
6.
MY dearest Spouse, I'll
I will with­draw my bodily presence.
hye me to my home,
And till that long-expected
The day of iudgement.
Day shall come,
The light whereof, shall chace the night, that showdes
Thy vailed beautie, in these enuious
Infirmities of the flesh.
Clowdes;
Till then, I goe, and in my Throne, prouide
A glorious welcome, for my fairest Bride;
Chapplets of conqu'ring Palme, and Laurell boughs
Shall crowne thy Temples, and adorne thy browes.
7.
VVOuld beautie fayne be flatter'd with a grace
Shee neuer had? May shee behold thy face:
Enuie would burst, had shee no other taske,
Then to behold this face, without a Maske;
No spot, no veniall blemish could shee finde,
To feede the famin of her ranc'rous minde;
Thou art the flowre of beauties Crowne, and thay're
Much worse then foule, that thinke thee lesse then fayre.
8.
FEare not (my Loue) for when those sacred bands
Of wedlock shall conjoyne our promis'd hands,
I'll come, and quit thee from this redious
This vale of miserie.
place,
Where thou art forc'd to sojourne for a space;
No forrein Angle of the vtmost Lands,
Nor seas Abysse shall hide thee from my hands;
No night shall shade thee from my curious eye,
I'll rowze the graues, although grim Death stand by.
9.
ILlustrious beames shot from thy flaming
Thime eye of Faith.
eye,
Made fierce with zeale, and soueraigne Majestie
Haue scorcht my soule, and like a fierie dart
Transfixt the Center of my wounded heart;
The Virgin sweetnesse of thy heauenly grace
Hath made mine eyes glad pris'ners to thy face;
The beautie of thine eye-balls hath bereft
Me of my heart: O sweet, ô sacred theft!
10.
O Thou, the deare Inflamer of mine eyes,
Life of my soule, and hearts eternall prize,
How delectable is thy loue! How pure!
How apt to rauish, able to allure
A frozen soule, and with thy secret fire,
T' affect dull spirits with extreame desire!
How doe thy ioyes (though in their greatest dearth)
Transcend the proudest pleasures of the earth!
11.
THy lips (my dearest Spouse) are the full treasures
Of sacred
Diuine har­monie.
Poesie, whose heauenly measures
Rauish with joy the willing heart, that heares,
But strike a deafnesse in rebellious eares:
Thy wordes, like Milke and Honie, doe requite
The season'd soule, with profit and delight:
Heauens higher Palace, and those lower places
Of dungeon-earth are sweetned with thy graces.
12.
MY Loue is like a Garden, full of flowres,
Whose sunny bankes, and choice of shadie bowres
Giue change of pleasures, pleasures wall'd about
With armed Angels, to keepe Ruine out;
And from
The two Testaments.
her Brests
Riddles to prophane rea­ders.
(enclosed from the ill
Of looser eyes) pure
Celestiall comforts.
Crystall drops distill,
The fruitfull sweetnesse of whose gentle showres
Inrich her flowres with beautie', and banks with flowres.
13.
MY loue is like a Paradise, a beset
With rarest grifts, whose fruits (but tender yet)
The world nere tasted, dainties farre more rare
Then Edens tempting Apple, and more faire:
Myrhe, Alloes, Incese, and the Cypresse tree
Can boast no sweetnesse, but is breath'd from thee;
Dainties, for taste; and flowers, for the smell
Spring all from Thee, whose sweets, all sweets excell.

BRIDE. SONET. XIII.

O Thou (my deare) whose sweets, all sweets excell,
Frō whom my fruits receiue their tast, their smel,
How can my thriuing
The Faithfull
Plants refuse to grow,
Thus quickned with so sweet a
The Sonne of righteousnesse.
Sun as thou?
How can my flowers, which thy Ewers nourish
With showers of liuing waters, choose but flourish?
O thou, the Spring, from whence these waters burst,
Did euer any taste thy streames, and thurst?
2.
AM I a Garden? May my Flowers be
So highly honour'd to bee smelt by Thee,
Inspire them with thy sacred breath, and then
Receiue from them, thy borrowed breath agen;
Frequent thy Garden, whose rare fruit inuites
Thy welcome presence, to his choise Delights;
Taste where thou list, and take thy full repaste,
Here's that will please thy smell, thine eye, thy taste.

BRIDEGROOME. SONET XIIII.

THou sacred Center of my soule,
CAP. V.
in whome
I rest, behold thy wisht-for Loue is come;
Refresht with thy delights, I haue repasted
Vpon thy
Obedience.
pleasures, my full soule hath tasted
Thy
Strong workes of Faith.
rip'ned dainties, and hath freely beene
Pleas'd with those Fruits, that are (as yet) but
The new born fruites of the Spirit.
greene:
All you that loue the honour of my Bride,
Come taste her Vyands, and bee diefide.

BRIDE. SONET XV.

IT was a
Too much se­curitie.
night, a night as darke, as foule
As that blacke Errour, that entraunc'd my Soule,
When as my best beloued came and knoct
At my
My heart.
dull gates, too too securely lockt;
Vnbolt (said hee) these churlish doores (my Doue,)
Let not false
The pleasures of the Flesh.
slumbers bribe thee from thy loue;
Heare him, that for thy gentle sake came hither,
Long iniur'd by this
Thy hardhear­ted vnkindnesse
nights vngentle wether.
2.
I Heard the voice, but the perfidious pleasure
Of my sweet slumbers, could not finde the leasure
To ope my drowsie doores; My Spirit could speake
Words faire enough; but ah, my flesh was weake,
And fond excuses taught me to betray
My sacred vowes to a secure delay:
Perfidious slumbers, how haue you the might
To blind true Pleasures, with a false delight!
3.
WHen as my Loue, with oft repeated knocks
Could not auaile, shaking his dewie locks,
Highly displeas'd, he could no longer bide
My sleight neglect, but went away denyde;
No sooner gone, but my dull soule discern'd
Her drowzie error; my grieu'd spirit
Repented.
yearn'd
To finde him out; these seiled eyes that slept
So soundly fast, awak'd, much faster wept.
4.
THus rays'd, and rowz'd from my deceitfull rest,
I op'd my doores, where my departed Guest
Had beene; I thrust the churlish Portalls from me
That so denyde my dearest Bridegroome to me;
But when I smelt of my returned hand,
My soule was rapt, my powers all did stand
Amazed as the
The sweetnes of his graces.
sweetnesse they did finde,
Which my neglected Loue had left behinde.
5.
I Op'd my doore, my Myrrhe-distilling doore,
But ah, my Guest was gone, had giuen me o're:
What curious Pen, what Artist can define
A matelesse sorrow; Such, ah, such was mine;
Doubts and despaire had of my life depriu'd mee
Had not strong hopes of his returne reuiu'd mee,
I sought, but he refused to appeare,
I call'd but he would nor be heard, nor heare.
6.
THus, with the Tyrannie of griefe distraught,
I rang'd around, no place I left vnsought,
No eare vnask'd; The
False teachers.
Watchmen of the Citie
With their false doctrines.
Wounded my soule, without remorse or pitie
To Virgin teares; They taught my feet to stay,
Whose steps were apt enough to lose their way,
With taunts and scornes they check me, and derided,
And call'd me Whoore, because I walkt, vnguided.
7.
YOu hallowed Virgins, you, whose tender hearts
Ere felt th'impression of
Diuine loue.
loues secret darts,
I charge you all, by the deare faith you owe
To Virgin purenesse, and your Vestall vow,
Commend me to my Loue, if ere you meet him,
O tell him, that his loue-sicke Spouse doth greet him,
O let him know, I languish with desire
T' enjoy that heart, that sets this heart on fire.

VIRGINS. SONET XVI.

O Thou the fairest flowre of mortall birth,
If such a beautie may be borne of earth,
Angell or Virgin, which? or both in one,
Angell by beautie, Virgin by the mone,
Say, who is Hee that may deserue these teares,
These precious drops? Who is't can stop his eares
At these faire lips? Speake Lady, speake at large,
Who is't? For whom giu'st thou so strict a Charge?

BRIDE. SONET XVII.

MY Loue is the perfection of delight,
Roses, and Doues are not so red, so white,
Vnpattern'd beautie summon'd euery grace
To the composure of so sweet a face;
His body is Heauen, for in his brest,
The perfect Essence of a God doth rest;
The brighter eye of heauen did neuer shine
Vpon an other glorie, so diuine.
2.
HIs
His Deitie.
Head is farre more glorious, to behold,
Then fruitfull Ophyres oft refined gold,
'Tis the rich Magazen of secret treasure,
Whence Graces spring in vnconfined measure;
His curl'd and dangling
His Huma­nitie.
Tresses doe proclaime
A Nazarite, on whom ne're Rasor came,
Whose Rauen-black colour giues a curious rellish
To that, which beautie did so much imbellish.
3.
LIke to the eyes of Doues are his faire
His iudgment and care of his Church.
Eyes,
Wherein sterne Iustice, mixt with Mercy, lyes;
His eyes are simple, yet Majesticall,
In motion nimble, and yet chaste withall,
Flaming like fire, and yet burne they not,
Vnblemisht, vndistayned with a spot,
Blazing with pretious beames, and to behold,
Like two rich Diamonds in a frame of gold.
4.
HIs
The discouery of him in his Word.
Cheeks are like two fruitfull beds, o're-growne
With Aromatick flowers newly blowne,
Whose odours, beautie, please the smell, the sight,
And doubling pleasures, double the delight:
His
His promises.
lips are like a Crystall spring, from whence
Flow sweetned streames of sacred Eloquence,
Whose drops into the eare distill'd, doe giue
Life to
Those that die to sinne.
the Dead, true joyes to
That liue to righteousnesse.
them that liue.
5.
HIs
His actions.
Hands are deckt with rings of
With purenes.
gold; the rings,
With costly Iewels, fitting none but Kings.
Which (of themselues though glorious, yet) receiue
More glorie from those fingers, then they gaue;
His
His secret counsells.
Breast's like Iuorie, circled round about
With
Inwardly glorious.
veines, like Saphyres, winding in and out,
Whose beautie is (though darkned from the eye)
Full of diuine, and secret Majestie
6.
HIs
His wayes constant, firme, and pure.
Legs like purest Marble, strong and white,
Of curious shape, (though quick) vnapt for flight:
His Feet (as gold that's oft refined) are
Like his vpright proceedings, pure and faire;
His
His whole carriage.
Portis Princely, and his Stature tall,
And, like the Cedar, stout, yet sweet withall:
O, who would not repose his life, his blisse,
Vpon a Base so faire, so firme as this!
7.
HIs Mouth-But stay; What need my lips be lauish,
In choice of wordes, when one alone will rauish?
But shall, in briefe, my ruder tongue discouer
The speaking Image of my absent Louer?
Then let the curious hand of Art refine
The race of Vertues morall, and diuine,
From whence, by heauen let there extracted bee
A perfect Quintessence; Euen such is Hee.

VIRGINS. SONET XVIII.

THrice fairer then the fairest, whose sad teares,
And smiling words, haue charm'd our eies, our eares;
Say, whither is this prize of beautie gone,
More faire then kinde, to let thee weepe alone?
Thy tempting lips haue whet our dull desire,
And till wee see Him, wee are all on fire;
Wee'le finde him out; if thou wilt be our guide:
The next way to the Bridegroome, is the
The Church is the way to Christ
Bride.

BRIDE. SONET. XIX.

IF Error leade not my dull thoughts amisse,
CAP. VI.
My Genius tells me, where my true Loue is;
Hee's busie lab'ring on his flowrie
Congregation of the faithfull.
banks,
Giuing graces.
Inspiring sweetnesse, and
Receiuing glorie.
receiuing thanks,
Wat'ring those plants, whose tender rootes are
Despairing soules.
drie,
And pruning such, whose Crests aspire
Not yet tho­rowly humbled.
too high,
Transplanting, grafting, reaping fruits from some,
And couering others, that are
Strengthning the weake in spirit.
newly come.
2.
VVHat if the frailtie of my feebler part,
Lockt vp the Portalls of my drowsie heart?
He knowes the weaknesse of the flesh incumbers
Th'vnwilling spirit, with sense-bereauing slumbers;
My hopes assure me, in despight of this,
That my Beloued's mine, and I am His;
My hopes are firme, (which Time shall ne're remoue)
That Hee is mine, by Faith; I, His, by loue.

BRIDEGROOME. SONET XX.

THy timely griefe, (my teares-baptized Loue)
Compels mine eares to heare, thy teares, to moue;
Thy blubber'd beautie, to mine eye appeares
More bright then't was: Such is the
The force of Repentance.
strength of Teares:
Beautie, and Terror, meeting in thine eye,
Haue made thy face the Throne of Majestie,
Whose awfull beames, the proudest heart will moue
To loue for feare, vntill it feare for loue.
2.
REpresse those flames, that furnace from thine eye,
They rauish with too bright a Tyrannie;
Thy fires are too too fierce: O turne them from me,
They pierce my soule, and with their rayes o'recome me,
Thy curious * Tresses dangle, all vnbound
With vnaffected order, to the ground:
How orient is thy beautie! How diuine!
How darke's the glorie of the earth, to Thine!
3.
THy Iuorie
Sincere Mi­nisters.
Teeth in whitenesse doe out-goe
The downe of Swans, or Winters driuen snowe;
Whose euen proportions liuely represent
Th' harmonious Musicke of vnite consent;
Whose perfect whitenesse, Time could neuer blot,
Nor Age (the enuious Worme of Ruine) rot:
How orient is thy beautie! How diuine!
How darke's the glorie of the earth, to thine!
4.
THy
Thy visible parts.
Temples, are the Temples of chaste loue,
Where beautie sacrifis'd her milke-white Doue,
Vpon whose Azure pathes, are alwayes found
The heauen-borne Graces dancing in a round:
Thy maiden
Modestie, and zeale.
Blushes gently doe proclaime
A shame of guilt, but not a guilt of shame:
How orient is thy beautie! How diuine!
How darke's the glorie of the earth, to thine!
5.
YOu, you braue spirits, whose emperiall hand
Enforces, what your lookes cannot command,
Bring forth your pamper'd Queenes, the lustfull prize,
And curious wrecks of your imperious eyes;
Surround the Circle of the Earth, and leuie
The fairest Virgins in loues fairest beuie,
Then take from each to make one perfect Grace,
Yet would my Loue out shine that borrow'd face.
6.
I Thou art shee, corriuall'd with no other,
Thou glorious Daughter of thy glorious Mother
The new Ierusalem, whose Virgin-birth
Shall Diefie, the
The pure in heart.
Virgins of the earth:
The Virgins of the Earth haue seene thy beautie,
And stood amaz'd, and in a prostrate dutie
Haue sued to kisse thy hand, making thine eyes
Their Lampes to light them, till the Bridegroome rise.
7.
HArke, how the Virgins hallow'd with thy fire
And wonder smitten with thy beames, admire.
Who, who is this (say they) whose cheekes resemble
Aurora's blush, whose Eye heauens lights dissemble?
Whose face is brighter then the silent Lampe
That lights the earth, to breathe her nightlie dampe;
Vpon whose brow sits dreadfull Majestie,
The frowne whereof commands a Victorie.
8.
FAire Bride, why was thy troubled soule dejected,
When I was absent? was my Faith suspected
Which I so firmelie plighted? Couldst thou thinke
My loue could shake, or such a Vow could shrinke?
I did but walke among my tender Plants,
To smell their Odours, and supplie their wants,
To see my Stockes, so latelie grifted, sprout,
Or if my vines began to burgen out.
9.
THough gone was I,
My Spirit.
my heart was in thy brest,
Although to thee (perchance) an vnkowne guest,
'T was that, that gaue such wings to thy desire,
T' enioy thy loue, and set thy soule on fire;
But my returne was quicke, and with a minde
More nimble (yet more constant) then the winde,
I came; and as the winged shaft doth flie
With vndescerned speed; Euen so did I.
10.
REturne, (O then returne) thou childe of Peace
To thy first ioyes, O let thy teares surcease;
Returne thee to thy Loue; let not the
Securitie.
night
With flatt'ring
Worldly plea­sures.
slumbers, tempt thy true delight;
Returne thee to my bosome, let my brest.
Bee still thy Tent; Take there eternall rest;
Returne, ô Thou, in whose enchaunted eye,
Are Darts enough, to make an armie flie.
11.
FAire Daughter of the highest King,
CAP. VII.
how sweet
Are th' vnaffected graces of thy
Thy wages.
Feet!
From euery step, true Maiestie doth spring,
Fitting the Daughter of so high a King:
Thy Waste is circled with a
The girdle of truth.
Virgin Zone,
Imbellisht round with many a precious
The precious guifts of the [...]pirit.
Stone,
Wherein the curious Workeman did fulfill
The vtmost glorie of his Diuiner skill.
12.
THy
Wherby there is a receit of spi­rituall Concep­tions.
Nauell, where thy holie Embrion doth
Receiue sweet nourishment, and heauenly growth,
Is like a Christall spring, whose fresh supplie
Of liuing waters, Sunne, nor Drought can drie:
Thy
Increase of the Faithfull.
fruitfull Wombe is like a winnow'd heape
Of purest graine, which heauens blest hand did reape,
With Lillies fenc'd: True Embleme of rare treasure;
Whose graine denotes increase; whose Lillies, pleasure.
13.
THy daintie
The Old and New Testament
Brests, are like faire Twins, both swel­ling
In equall Maiestie; in hue excelling
The new-falne Snow vpon th' vntrodden Mountaines,
From whence there flowes, as frō exub'rous Fountaines,
Riuers of heauenly Nectar, to allay
The holy thirst of Soules: Thrice happie they,
And more then thrice, whose blest affections bring
Their thirstie palats to so sweet a Spring.
14.
THy
Magistrates.
Necke doth represent an yuorie Tower,
In perfect purenesse, and munited power,
Thine
Teachers.
Eyes (like pooles at a frequented gate
For euerie commer, to draw water at)
Are common treasures, and like Christall glasses,
Showes each his liuely visage, as he passes:
Thy
Glorious in all parts.
Nose, the curious Organ of thy Sent,
Wants nothing more, for vse, for ornament.
15.
THy Tyres of gold (inricht with glorious Gemmes,
The Ceremo­nies of the Church.
Rare Diamonds, and Princely Diadems,)
Adorne thy browes, and with their natiue worth
Aduance thy glorie, and set thy beautie forth;
So perfect are thy Grace, so Diuine,
And full of heauen, are those faire lookes of thine.
That I'm inflamed with the double fire
Of thy full beautie, and my fierce desire.
16.
O Sacred Simetrie! O rare Connexion
Of many perfects, to make one perfection!
O heauenly Musicke, where all parts doe meete
In one sweet straine, to make one perfect sweete!
O glorious Members, whose each seuerall feature
Diuine, compose so, so diuine a Creature!
Faire soule, as all thy parts vnited, bee
Entire, so summ'd are all my ioyes in thee.
17.
THy curious Fabricke, and erected stature
Is like the generous Palme, whose loftie nature
In spight of enuious violence, will aspire,
When most supprest, the more it mounts the higher:
Thy louely Brests, (whose beautie reinuites
My oft remembrance to her oft delights)
Are like the swelling Clusters of the vine,
So full of sweetnesse are those brests of thine.
18.
ARt thou my Palme? My busie hand shall nourish
Thy fruitfull roots, and make thy branches flourish:
Art thou my Vine? my skilfull arme shall dresse,
Thy
Despairing soules.
dying Plants; my liuing Springs shall blesse
Thy
Young Con­uerts.
infant Buddes; my blasting breath shall quell
Opposers of the Truth.
Presumptuous weedes, and make thy Clusters swell:
And all that loue thee, shall attayne the fauour
To taste thy sweetnesse, and to smell thy sauour.
19.
THose Oracles that from thy lippes proceed,
With sweet Euangels, shall delight and feed
Th' attentiue eare, and like the Trumpets voyce
Amaze faint hearts, but make braue Spirits rejoyce:
Thy breath, whose Dialect is most Diuine,
Incends quicke flames, where Ember'd sparkes but shine;
It strikes the Pleaders Reth'ricke with derision,
And makes the dullest Soule a Rethoritian.

BRIDE. SONET XXI.

MY Faith, not merites hath assur'd thee, mine,
Thy Loue, not my Desert hath made me, thine:
Vnworthie I, whose drowsie soule rejected
Thy precious fauours, and (secure) neglected
Thy glorious presence, how am I become
A Bride befitting so diuine a Groome!
It is no merite, no desert of mine,
Thy loue, thy loue alone, hath made me thine.
2.
SInce then the bountie of thy deare election
Hath styl'd me thine, ô let the sweet reflection
Of thy illustrious beames, my soule inspire,
And with thy Spirit, inflame my hot desire;
Vnite our Soules; O let thy Spirit rest
And make perpetuall home within my brest;
Instruct me so, that I may gaine the skill,
To suite my seruice to thy sacred will.
3.
COme, come (my Soules preseruer) thou that art
Th' vnited joyes of my vnited heart,
Come, let vs visit, with the morning light
Our prosp'rous
Congregation of the Faithfull
Vines; with mutuall delight
Let's view those Grapes, whose Clusters being
By afliction.
prest,
Shall make rich wines, to serue our Marriage feast,
That by the thriuing plants it may appeare,
Our joyes-perfecting Marriage draweth neere.
4
BEhold my
Yong Conuerts
new disclosed Flowres present
Before thy gates, their tributarie Sent,
Reserue themselues for Garlands, that they may
Adorne the Bridegroome, on his Mariage day:
My
Assemblies.
Garden's full of
Faithfull.
Trees, and euery Tree
Laden with
Faith and good Workes.
Fruit, which I deuote to thee,
Eternall joyes betide that happie guest,
That tastes the dainties of the Bridgroomes feast.
5.
O Would to God mind eyes,
CAP. VIII.
(these fainting Eyes
Whose eager appetite could ne're deuise
A dearer object) might but once behold
My loue (as I am) clad in fleshly mold,
That each may corporally conuerse with other,
As friend to friend; as sister to her brother,
O how mine eyes could welcome such a sight;
How would my soule dissolue, with ore-delight!
6.
THen should this hand conduct my fairest Spouse
To taste a Banquet at my Mothers
The vniuersal Church.
House;
Our fruitfull Garden should present thine eyes
With sweet delights, her trees should sacrifice
Their earely fruits to thee; our tender Vine
Should cheare thy palate with her vnprest Wine;
Thy hand should teach my liuing Plants to thriue;
And such, as are a dying, to reuiue.
7.
THen should my Soule enioy within this brest,
A holy Sabbath of eternall Rest;
Then should my Cause that suffers through despight
Of Errour, and rude Ignorance, haue right;
Then should these
Teares and sorrowes.
streames, whose Tides so often rise,
Bee ebb'd away, from my suffused eyes;
Then should my spirits, fill'd with heauenly mirth,
Tryumph o're Hell, and find a Heauen on Earth.
8.
ALl you, that wish the bountifull encrease
Of dearest pleasures, and diuinest peace,
I charge you all (if ought my charge may moue
Your tender hearts)
Not to vexe and grieue his holy Spirit.
not to disturbe my Loue;
Vexe not his gentle spirit, nor bereiue
Him of his joyes, that is so apt to greiue;
Dare not to breake his quiet slumbers, lest
You rouze a raging Lyon from his rest.
9.
WHo euer lou'd, that euer lou'd as I
That for his sake renounce my selfe, denie
The worlds best Ioyes, and haue the world forgone?
Who euer lou'd so deare, as I haue done?
I sought my Loue, and found him
In humilitie.
lowly laide
Beneath the tree of Loue, in whose sweet shade
Hee rested; there his eye sent forth the fire,
That first enflam'd my amorous desire.
10.
MY dearest Spouse, O seale me on thy heart
So sure, that enuious Earth may neuer part
Our joyned Soules; let not the world remoue
My chaste desires, from so choise a Loue;
For, O, my loue's not sleight, her flames are serious,
Was neuer Death so powerfull, so imperious;
My jealous zeale is a consuming fire,
That burnes my soule, through feare and fierce desire.
11.
FIres may be quencht, and flames, though ne'r so great,
With many drops shall faint, and lose their heat;
But these quicke fires of loue, the more supprest,
The more they flame, in my inflamed brest;
How darke is Honour! how obscure and dimme
Is earths bright glorie, but compar'd with Him!
How foule is Beautie! what a toyle is Pleasure!
How base is Wealth! how base a thing is Treasure?
12.
I Haue a
The Church of the Gentiles then vncalled.
Sister, which by thy diuine
And bounteous Grace, our Marriage shall make thine;
Shee is mine owne, myne onely Sister, whome
My mother bare, the youngest of her Wombe:
Shee's yet a
Vncall'd to the Truth.
Childe, her beautie may improue,
Her brests and small, and yet too greene for loue;
When Time and Yeares shall adde perfection to her,
Say (dearest Loue) what honour wilt thou doe her?

BRIDEGROOME. SONET XXII.

IF shee be faire, and with her beautie, proue
As chaste, as loyall to her virgin-Loue,
As thou hast bin, then in that high degree
I'le honour her, as I haue honour'd thee:
Be shee as constant to her Vestall vow,
And true to her deuoted Faith, as Thou,
I'le Crowne her head, and fill her hand with Power,
And giue a Kingdome to her for a Dower.

BRIDE. SONET XXIII.

WHen Time shall ripen these her greene desires,
And holy Loue, shall breath her heauenly fires
Into her Virgin brest, her heart shall bee
As true to loue, as I am true to thee:
O, when thy boundlesse bountie shall conjoyne
Her equall-glorious Maiestie, with mine,
My joyes are perfect; then, in Sacred bands
Wedlocke shall couple our espoused hands.

BRIDEGROOME. SONET. XXIIII.

I Am thy Gard'ner, Thou my fruitfull. Vine,
Whose rip'ned Clusters swell with richest Wine;
The vines of Solomon were not so faire,
His Grapes were not so precious, as thine are;
His vines are subiect, to the vulgar will
Of hired hands, and mercinarie skill;
Corrupted Carles are merrie with his Vines,
And at a price, returne their batter'd Wines.
2.
BVt mine's a Vineyard, which no ruder hand
Shall touch, subjected to my sole command;
My selfe, with this laborious arme, will dresse it,
My presence with a busie eye shall blesse it;
O Princely Solomon, thy thriuing vine
Is not so faire, so bountifull as mine;
Thy greedie sharers claime an earned hire,
But mine's reseru'd, and to my selfe entire.
3.
O Thou, that dwellest
In the great Congregation.
where th'eternall fame
Of my renowne so glorifies my name,
Illustrious Bride, in whose coelestiall tongue,
Are Sacred spells t'enchaunt, the ruder throng;
O let thy lippes, like a perpetuall storie
Diuulge my graces, and declare my glorie;
Direct those hearts, that Errour leades astray,
Dissolue the
The penitent.
Waxe, but make obdure the
The pre­sumptious.
Clay.

BRIDE. SONET. XXV.

MOst glorious Loue, and honourable Lord,
My heart's the vowed Seruant of thy Word,
But I am weake, and as a tender Vine
Shall fall, vnpropt by that deare hand of thine:
Assist me therefore, that I may fulfill
What thou command'st, and then command thy will;
O leaue thy sacred Spirit in my brest,
As earnest of an euerlasting Rest.
FINIS.

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