CHORUS: THE ILL

Are you afraid poor Souls? Else why do you descend To question, or confer with us, to whom you are no friends? Who fear their own Estates do commonly first speak, As they again put goodness on, who find their party weak. We do but what we did, which is increase our might; And as on earth, so in the air; cry down your borrowed light. We, that were as you are, know well what you can be; Where you, that never were Like us, what can you in us see? Why did not you defend that which was once your own? Between us two, the odds of worth, by odds of power is known. Beside, Map clearly out your infinite extent, Even in the infancy of time, when much was innocent; Could this world then yield ought to envy, or desire, Where pride of courage made men fallen, and baseness raised them higher? Where they that would be great, to be so, must be least? And where to bear, and suffer wrong, was virtues nam tiue crest? Men skin, was then his silk; the world's wild fruit, his food; His wisdom, poor simplicity; his Trophies inward good. No Majesty, for power; nor glories, for men worth; Nor any end, but (as the plants) to bring each other forth. Temples, and vessels fit for outward sacrifice, As they came in, so go they out, with that which you count Vice. The Priesthood few, and poor; No Throne, but open air: For that which you call good, allows of nothing that is fair. No Pyramid raised up above the force of Thunder, Nor Babel -walls by Greatness built, for Littleness a wone der. No Conquest testifying wit, with courage mixed; As wheels whereon the world must run, and never can be fixed. No Arts, or Characters to read the great God in; Nor stories of acts done; for these all entered with the sin. A lasy calm, wherein each fool a pilot is: The glory of the skilful shines, where men may go amiss. Till we came in, there was no trial of your might, And since we were; in men, your selves presume of little right. Then cease to blast the earth with your abstracted dreams And strive no more to carry men against affections streams. Nay rather tempt, and prove, if long life make them wise, That must, to have their beauty's seen, put out all fleshly eyes. Or when they be no more, Eternal then to be, Neglect the joy, and glorious use of times felicity. Cast out these thin-weaved lines, and catch some little flies; The greater spirits, which are ours, feel not these nimble yes. In Alaham for instance, plead your power, or right; Entice him from a mortal Crown, with your Crown in finite. Prove if he will forbear unnatural Parricide, To see who in the sea of humours shall the Sceptre guide. Try if proud Hala will forget the death of Cain, And reconciled, in duty, with her own Lord live, and reign. Move Celica, that spirit reputed for your own, To see if she, to save her life, would have her fame un known. Work Zophi (that poor soul) though blind, to leave his breath: We only make things cheap, or deer, as Lords of life, and death. Lastly, persuade the King to live, and save his Crown; And all the world shall see we raise, and we pull Princes down. So that your beings here are but a tincture cast (Like crests upon the Egypt Pharos ) to disguise, not last. Beside; take from the world that which you reckon Sin; And she must be, as at the first, for ever to begin. A glorious, spacious womb framed to contain but one; Since he, that in it will be yours, is sure to be alone. Keep therefore where you are; descend not, but ascend: For, underneath the Sun, be sure no brave State is your friend.