.. . 195 To the Nightingale, .......... 191 On his being arrived at the age of twenty-three, 191 When the assault was intended to the City, . . 192 To a virtuous Young Lady, .. . . . . . 192 To the Lady Margaret Ley, . . . . . . . 193 On the detraction which followed upon the writ- ting certain treatises, . . . . . . . 194 To Mr. H. Lawes, on his airs, . . . . . . 195 On the religious memory of Mrs. Catharine Thomson, , . ......... . . . . 196 To the Lord General Fairfax, ........196 To the Lord General Cromwell, ....... 197 To Sir Henry Vane the younger, ... On the late massacre in Piedmont, . . o · 198 On his blindness, . . . ... ... . . . 199 To Mr. Lawrence, . . . . : : : To Cyriac Skinner, . . . . . . . . . 200 To the same, ...... ... . ... . . . 201 I who erewhile the happy garden sung, Thou spirit who ledst this glorious Eremite Now had the great Proclaimer, with a voice More awful than the sound of trumpét, cried Repentance, and heav'n's kingdom nigh at hand To all baptiz'd: to this great baptism flock'd With awe the regions round, and with them came From Nazareth the son of Joseph deem'd, To the flood Jordan, came as then obscure, Unmark'd, unknown; but him the Baptist soon Descried, divinely warn'd, and witness bore O ancient powers of air and this wide world, Destin'd to this, is late of woman born: His birth to our just fear gave no small cause, But his growth now to youth's full flower, displaying All virtue, grace, and wisdom, to achieve Things highest, greatest, multiplies my fear. Before him a great prophet, to proclaim His coming, is sent harbinger, who all Invites, and in the consecrated stream Pretends to wash off sin, and fit them so Purified, to receive him pure; or ratherTo do him honour as their king: all come, And he himself among them was baptiz'd; Not thence to be more pure, but to receive The testimony of heaven, that who he is .' Thenceforth the nations may not doubt. I saw The prophet do him reverence, on him rising Out of the water, heaven above the clouds Unfold her chrystal doors, thence on his head A perfect dove descend, whate'er it meant, And out of heaven the Sov'reign voice I heard, This is my Son belov'd, in him am pleas’d. His mother then is mortal, but his sire - ' He who obtains the monarchy of heaven, And what will he not do t'advance his Son ? His first-begot we know and sore have felt, When his fierce thunder drove us to the deep; Who this is we must learn, for man he seems 'In all his lineaments, though in his face The glimpses of his Father's glory shine. Ye see our danger on the utmost edge . Of hazard, which admits no long debate, But must with something sudden be oppos'd, Not force, but well couch'd fraud, well woven snares Ere in the head of nations he appear . Their king, their leader, and supreme on earth. I, when no other durst, sole undertook The dismal expedition to find out And ruin Adam, and th’exploit perform'd Successfully; a calmer voyage now Will waft me: 'and the way found prosp'rous once, Induces best to hope of like success. He ended, and his words impression left ; Of much amazement to the infernal crew, Distracted and surpris'd with deep dismay At these sad tidings; but no time was then For long indulgence to their fears or grief: . Unanimous they all commit the care And management of this main enterprise To him their great dictator, whose attempt At first against mankind so well had thriv'd In Adam's overthrow, and led their march From hell's deep-vaulted den to dwell in light, Regents and potentates, and kings, yea gods . Of many a pleasant realm and province wide. So to the coast of Jordan he directs His easy steps, so ded with snaky wiles, , Where he might likeliest find this new declar'd, This Man of men, attested Son of God, as Temptation, and all guile, on him to try; So to subvert whom he suspected rais'd To end his reign on earth, so long enjoy'd ; But contrary, unweeting he fulfillid The purpos'd counsel, pre-ordain'd and fix'd es Of the Most high, who in full frequence bright Of angels, thus to Gabriel, smiling, spake : Gabriel this day by proof thou shalt behold, Thou and all angels conversant on earth With man or men's affairs, how I begin To verify that solemn message late, si On which I sent thee to the Virgin pure : In Galilee, that she should bear a Son i Great in renown, and call'd the Son of God; Then told'st her doubting how these things could be To her a virgin, that on her should come The Holy Ghost, and the power of the Highest O'er-shadow her; this Man born, and now upgrown, To show him worthy of his birth divine And high prediction, henceforth I expose |