Volume Vi Part 15 (1/2)

[PHILOLOGUS.]

Come on, my children dear, to me, and let us talk awhile Of worldly goods, which I have got, and of my pleasant state Which fortune hath installed me, who on me cheerly smile, So that unto the top of wheel she doth me elevate.

I have escaped all mishaps of which my Conscience did prate, And where before I ruled was, as is the common sort, Now as a judge within this land I bear a ruler's port.

GISBERTUS.

Indeed, good father, we have cause to praise your gravity, Who did both save yourself from woe, and us from begging state; Where if you had persevered still, as we did fear greatly, Your good from us your children should to legate be confiscate: Our glorious pomps, then, should we have been glad for to abate.

PAPHINITIUS.

But now not only that you had for us, but also have Such offices, whereby more gains you year by year shall save.

PHILOLOGUS.

I was at point once very near to have been quite forlorn, Had not Suggestion of the flesh from folly me reclaimed, And set this gla.s.s of worldly joys my sight and eyes beforn, The sight whereof did cause all things of me to be disdained.

I thought I had felicity when it I had obtained; And to say truth, I do not care what to my soul betide, So long as this prosperity and wealth by me abide.

But let us homeward go again, some pastime there to make: My whole delight in sport and games of pleasure I repose.

[_Enter_ HORROR.]

HORROR.

Nay, stay thy journey here awhile: I do thee prisoner take.

I shall abate thy pleasures soon--yea, too soon, thou wilt suppose.

PHILOLOGUS.

What is thy name? whence comest thou? wherefore? to me disclose--

HORROR.

My name is call'd Confusion and Horror of the mind, And to correct impenitents of G.o.d I am a.s.sign'd, And for because thou dost despise G.o.d's mercy and his grace, And wouldst no admonition take by them that did thee warn, Neither when Conscience counselled thee, thou wouldst his words embrace, Who would have had thee unto G.o.d obedience true to learn; Nor couldst between Suggestion's craft and Conscience' truth discern: Behold, therefore, thou shalt of me another lesson hear, Which (will thou, nill thou,) with torment of Conscience thou shalt bear.

And where thou hast extinguished the Holy Spirit of G.o.d, And made him weary with thy sins, which daily thou hast done, He will no longer in thy soul and spirit make abode, But with the graces, which he gave to thee, now is he gone: So that to G.o.dward by Christ's death rejoicing thou hast none.

The peace of Conscience faded is; instead whereof I bring The spirit of Satan, blasphemy, confusion and cursing.

The gla.s.s likewise of vanities, which is thine only joy, I will transform into the gla.s.s of deadly desperation, By looking in the which thou shalt conceive a great annoy.

Thus have I caught thee in thy pride, and brought thee to d.a.m.nation; So that thou art a pattern true of G.o.d's just indignation: Whereby each man may warned be the like sins to eschew, Lest the same torments they incur, which in thee they shall view.

PHILOLOGUS.

O painful pain of deep disdain, O griping grief of h.e.l.l!

O horror huge, O soul suppress'd, and slain with desperation!

O heap of sins, the sum whereof no man can number well!

O death, O furious flames of h.e.l.l, my just recompensation!

O wretched wight, O creature curs'd, O child of condemnation!

O angry G.o.d and merciless, most fearful to behold!

O Christ, thou art no Lamb to me, but Lion fierce and bold!

GISBERTUS.

Alas, dear father! what doth move and cause you to lament?

PHILOLOGUS.

My sins, alas! which in this gla.s.s appear innumerable, For which I shall no pardon get; for G.o.d is fully bent In fury for to punish me with pains intolerable.

Neither to call to him for grace or pardon am I able.