The broken heavens dispart with fearful noise, Well knew the Dragon that all-quelling blast, And soon perceived that day must be his last, Which struck his frightened heart and all his troops aghast. Yet full of malice and of stubborn pride, Though oft had strove, and had been foiled as oft, Boldly his death and certain fate defied; And, mounted on his flaggy sails aloft, With boundless spite he longed to try again A second loss, and new death;-glad and fain To shew his poisonous hate, though ever shewed in vain. So up he arose upon his stretched sails, Fearless expecting his approaching death; So up he arose, as doth a thunder-cloud, Which all the earth with shadows black doth shroud; Now his Almighty foe far off he spies, Whose sun-like arms dazzled the eclipsed day, Which never can be seen but by immortal sight. His threatening eyes shine like that dreadful flame Which neither earth nor heaven could understand: A hundred crowns, like towers, be set around His conquering head; well may they there abound, When all his limbs and troops with gold are richly crowned. His armour all was dyed in purple blood, (In purple blood of thousand rebel kings,) In vain their stubborn powers his aim withstood; Their proud necks chained he now in triumph brings, Was fairly writ, "The King of kings, and Lord of lords.' His snow-white steed was born of heavenly kind, And (which his foes with fear and horror fills,) The Dragon, wounded with his flaming brand, They take, and in strong bonds and fetters tie: So now he's bound in adamantine chain : He storms, he roars, he yells for high disdain; Soon at this sight the knights revive again, As fresh as when the flowers from winter's tomb, Peep out again from their fresh mother's womb: The prince, who saw his long imprisonment Now end in never-ending liberty, To meet the victor from his castle went, And falling down, clasping his royal knee, Victory having thus been obtained over the Vices, the poet describes the Marriage of Christ and his Church. The fair Eclecta, that with widowed brow Whose silver spangles sparkle 'gainst the day: (Drawing their beams from his most glorious face,) Which with a crystal mixed must mend his grace; The golden stars a garland fair did frame, To crown her locks; the sun lay hid for shame, And yielded all his beams to her more glorious flame. While bolder joy, and humble majesty, In either cheek had kindled graceful fire. And like a watery sun her gladsome face appears. To seat themselves upon her thankful tongue, First in her eyes they sudden flashes dart, Then forth i' th' music of her voice they throng: 'My hope, my love, my joy, my life, my bliss! (Whom to enjoy is heaven, but hell to miss,) What are the world's false joys, what heaven's true joys to this? "Ah, dearest Lord! does my rapt soul behold Thee? Am I awake, and sure I do not dream? Do these thrice-blessed arms again infold Thee? Too much delight makes true things feigned seem. Thee, Thee I see! Thou, Thou thus folded art; For deep thy stamp is printed in my heart, And thousand ne'er-felt joys stream in each melting part." Thus with glad sorrow did she sweetly plain her, Upon his neck, a welcome load, depending; Herself her champions highly all commending. So all in triumph to his palace went, Whose work in narrow words may not be pent; There sweet delights, which know nor end nor measure; Fulness of sweets excludes not more receiving; The soul still big with joy, yet still conceiving Beyond slow tongue's report, beyond quick thought's perceiving. There are they gone; there will they ever bide; Swimming in waves of joy, and heavenly loving: He still a bridegroom, she a gladsome bride; Their hearts in love, like spheres, still constant moving. No change, no grief, no age can them befall; Their bridal bed is in that heavenly hall, Where all days are but one, and only one is all. And as in state they thus in triumph ride, The boys and damsels their just praises chant : The boys the bridegroom sing, the maids the bride, While all the hills glad hymens loudly vaunt; Heaven's winged hosts, greeting this glorious spring, Attune their higher notes and hymens sing: Each thought to pass, and each did pass thought's loftiest wing. Upon his lightning brow Love proudly sitting, Flames out in power, shines out in majesty ; There full of strength, in lordly arms He stands, And every heart and every soul commands: No heart, no soul, his strength and lordly power withstands Upon her forehead, thousand cheerful graces Upon her cheek doth beauty's self implant The freshest garden of her choicest flowers; On which, if Envy might but glance askant, Her eyes would swell and burst and melt in showers: Thrice fairer, both, than ever fairest eyed, Full of his Father shines his glorious face, As far the sun surpassing in his light, Sweet influence streaming from his quickening sight; All heaven shines forth in her sweet face's frame; These two fair suns in heavenly spheres are placed, Her mid-day bliss no future night admits; But in the mirrors of her spouse's eyes |