Part 24 (2/2)

The sun, which by his p.r.o.ne descent Seems westward in the evening bent, Doth nightly by an unseen way Haste to the East, and bring up day.

Thus all things long for their first state, And gladly to't return, though late.

Nor is there here to anything A course allow'd, but in a ring: Which, where it first began, must end, And to that point directly tend.

LIB. IV. METRUM VI.

Who would unclouded see the laws Of the supreme, eternal Cause, Let him with careful thoughts and eyes Observe the high and s.p.a.cious skies.

There in one league of love the stars Keep their old peace, and show our wars.

The sun, though flaming still and hot, The cold, pale moon annoyeth not.

Arcturus with his sons--though they See other stars go a far way, And out of sight--yet still are found Near the North Pole, their noted bound.

Bright Hesper--at set times--delights To usher in the dusky nights: And in the East again attends To warn us, when the day ascends.

So alternate Love supplies Eternal courses still, and vies Mutual kindness; that no jars Nor discord can disturb the stars.

The same sweet concord here below Makes the fierce elements to flow And circle without quarrel still, Though temper'd diversely; thus will The hot a.s.sist the cold; the dry Is a friend to humidity: And by the law of kindness they The like relief to them repay.

The fire, which active is and bright, Tends upward, and from thence gives light.

The earth allows it all that s.p.a.ce And makes choice of the lower place; For things of weight haste to the centre, A fall to them is no adventure.

From these kind turns and circulation Seasons proceed, and generation.

This makes the Spring to yield us flow'rs, And melts the clouds to gentle show'rs.

The Summer thus matures all seeds And ripens both the corn and weeds.

This brings on Autumn, which recruits Our old, spent store, with new fresh fruits.

And the cold Winter's bl.u.s.t'ring season Hath snow and storms for the same reason.

This temper and wise mixture breed And bring forth ev'ry living seed.

And when their strength and substance spend --For while they live, they drive and tend Still to a change--it takes them hence And s.h.i.+fts their dress! and to our sense Their course is over, as their birth: And hid from us they turn to earth.

But all this while the Prince of life Sits without loss, or change, or strife: Holding the reins, by which all move --And those His wisdom, power, love And justice are--and still what He The first life bids, that needs must be, And live on for a time; that done He calls it back, merely to shun The mischief, which His creature might Run into by a further flight.

For if this dear and tender sense Of His preventing providence, Did not restrain and call things back, Both heav'n and earth would go to rack, And from their great Preserver part; As blood let out forsakes the heart And perisheth, but what returns With fresh and brighter spirits burns.

This is the cause why ev'ry living Creature affects an endless being.

A grain of this bright love each thing Had giv'n at first by their great King; And still they creep--drawn on by this-- And look back towards their first bliss.

For, otherwise, it is most sure, Nothing that liveth could endure: Unless its love turn'd retrograde Sought that First Life, which all things made.

LIB. IV. METRUM III.

If old tradition hath not fail'd, Ulysses, when from Troy he sail'd Was by a tempest forc'd to land Where beauteous Circe did command.

Circe, the daughter of the sun, Which had with charms and herbs undone Many poor strangers, and could then Turn into beasts the bravest men.

Such magic in her potions lay, That whosoever pa.s.sed that way And drank, his shape was quickly lost.

Some into swine she turn'd, but most To lions arm'd with teeth and claws; Others like wolves with open jaws Did howl; but some--more savage--took The tiger's dreadful shape and look.

But wise Ulysses, by the aid Of Hermes, had to him convey'd A flow'r, whose virtue did suppress The force of charms, and their success: While his mates drank so deep, that they Were turn'd to swine, which fed all day On mast, and human food had left, Of shape and voice at once bereft; Only the mind--above all charms-- Unchang'd did mourn those monstrous harms.

O, worthless herbs, and weaker arts, To change their limbs, but not their hearts!

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