COMO

This physic cures not me. It is not strong of poison, to fetch up Thats baked within: my gall is overflown, My blood grown rank and fowl: And inflammation Of rage, and madness so burns up my liver, That even my heartstrings crack (as in a furnace) And all my nerves into my eyeballs shrink, To shoot those bullets, and my brains at once Against her soul that ha half damned us: falls Fetched High, and near to heaven, light on no ground, But in hels bottom, take their first rebound. I could be glad to lose the divine office Of my creation, to be turned into A dog, so I might lick up but her blood, That thrusts us from our vineyards. And it shall. But how? we will not (as the head supreme Over all nations, counselleth) lick the dust The Fairy treads on, nor (Like serpents) creep Upon our bellies in humility: This were (with Fencers) basely to give ground, When the first bowt may speed: or to found parley, While they within, get swords to cut our throats: No, weel at one blow strike the heart through. No. No. Neither. Thus—let's consult—nay you shall hear. You know that all the springs in Fairy land Ran once to one head: from that head, to us: The mountain and the valley paid us fruit; The field her corn, the country felt no heat But from our fires: Plenty still spread our boards, And Charity took away. We stepped not forth But with a godlike adoration All knees bowed low unto us: why was this? Why were our gardens Eden? why our bowers Built Like to those in Paradise? I shall tell you, It was because the Law most mystical, Was not made common: therefore was not vile; It was because in the great Prophets Phanes And hallowed Temples, we were Choristers: It was because (wise Pilots) we from rocks, And gulfs infernal, safely set on shore Men's souls at yonder haven: or (being shipwracked) Strong lines forth cast we, suffering none to sink To that Abyss, which some hold bottomless. But now our very graves Cannot save dead men's bones from shame and bruzes. The monumental marble Urns of bodies (Laid to rest long ago) unreverently Are turned to troughs of water now for jades: Vast Charnel-houses, where our father's heads Slept on the cold hard pillows of the earth, Are emptied now, and changed to drinking rooms, Or vaults for baser office. This must be done: This shall be done: They hunted us Like wolves, Out of their Fairy forests, whipped us away (As vagabonds) mocked us, and said our fallen Could not be dangerous, because we boar Our gods upon our backs: now must we whip them, But wiselier. Thus: those that fill our rooms, Hold Beacons in their eyes (blazing with fire Of a hot-seeming zeal) to watch our entrance, And to arm all against us: these we must quench: They are counted wells of knowledge, poison these wells: They are the kingdoms music, they the Organs, Unto whose found her Anthems now are sung, Set them but out of tune, alls out of square, Pull down the Church, and none can it repair, But he that builds it: this is the faggot band That binds all fast: do't, undo the land— You therefore (the best consort of the soul) Shepherds (whose flocks are men, lambs, Angels,) you That hold the roof of yond Starchamber up, From dropping down to grind the world to dust, You shall to Fairy land. Those that sing there the holy Hymns, as yet Have not their voices clear, the stream of ceremony Is scarcely settled, trouble it more: bait hooks To take some, some to choke: cast out your net At first, for all the fry: let us spread sails To draw unto our shores the Fairy whale's. That Truth, whose standardbearer Babylon, And all we are, is not clean driven from thence, Whither we send you: there sheeliues, but lives A widow; steps not forth, dares not be seen During her month of mourning: here we write you How, and with whom to find her: what she bids, That do: your hire's above. And when you see those Fairy fishermen Row in your streams, when they grow cold in working, And weary of their own waters, that the sails (Which stiffly bear them up) flag and hang low, And that (Like redes, playing with a pair of winds.) They promise facill pliance, then, then shake The trees by the root, then'le make the branches blow, And drop their mellowed fruits, even at your feet, Gather them they are our own, then is the hour, To wean those sons of black Apostasi From her. (their stepdame) and to make them take, A blessing from our reverend mother's hands, Be happy go. Stay: ere you shift Air, Sprinkle your selves all over with sacred drops, Take Periapts, Pentacles, and potent Charms To conjure down fowl fiend, that will be razed To vex you, tempt you, and betray your blood, About your necks hang hallowed Amulets, That may Conserve you from the plagues of Error Which will strike at you. How no more seen in Babylon, 'tis but one lost, If Babylon subscribe to our wise-doom, She shall lodge Double-Dealing in his room. No more: your music must be dumb. Only to employ them As Bees while they have stings, & bring thighs laden With honey, hive them, when they are drones, destroy them. Could dwarves beat Giants? Sharp chastizment, leave the Mother And be the steptdame; wanton her no more On your Indulgent knee, sign no more pardons To her Off-fallings and her flyings out, But let it be a meritorious Act: Make it a ladder for the soul to climb, Lift from the hinges all the gates of heaven; To make way for him that shall kill her. Give him and office in you Star -chamber, Or else a Saints place and Canonise him; So Sanctify the arm that takes her life, That sylly souls may go on pilgrimage, Only to kiss the Instrument (that strikes) As a most reverent relic. Beside such voluntaries as will serve Under your holy cullors and forsake The Fairy standard, all such fugitives Whose hearts are Babyloni ed: all the Mu ers All the damned Crew, that would for gold tear off The devils beard: All scholars that do eat The bred of sorrow, want, and discontent, Wise Satryan takes up, presses, apparels, (woves, Their backs Like Innocent Lambs, their minds Like Rubs over their tongues with poison, which they spot Against their own anointed; their own Country, Their very parent. And thus shippes'em hither. To make em yours. And hear you, If climbing up to this haught enterprise The foot slip, and (ith'fal) with death you meet— A Saints winding sheet, Farewell: Mount all the engines of your wit When darts are sent from all parts, some must hit. There is a fellow to whom, because he dare Not be a slave to greatness, nor is moulded Of Court dow (flattering) but (should it thunder) To his father. doing ill, (would speak ill) our Empress, Hath given this name. (Plain Dealing): this plain dealing Have I shipd hence, and is long since arrived Upon the fairy strnod: from him I expect, Intelligence of all Occurrences, He for the names sake, shall perhaps be welcome, Into that Harlots Company (whom the fairies Think honest, and swear deeply, she is Truth. That Strumpet by enticement heel bring over, Then be your self, (a woman) change those over tur S You made to her of and unusual peace, To and unused defiance: give your revenge, A full and swelling sail, as from your greatness You took, in yling to her: you have been Too cold in punishment, too soft in hiding, And Like a mother (cause her years are green) Have winck't at Errors, hoping time, or council, Oh her own gilded (sing how she goes awry,) Would streigtenall.—you find the contrary. Our eyes have lusted for you, and your presence Comes as the light to day, showers to the spring, Or health to sick men. The dancers revel in steel. Ere we take ship, we must to Court. Nay, which is more, suppose that all these torre ̄ ts Which from your sea of Greatness, you (for your partly) And all those straggling floods which we have driven With full and stiff winds to the Fairy Stronds, Should all break in at once, and in a deluge Of Innovation, rough rebellion, factions, Of massacres, and pale destruction Swallow the kingdom up, and that the blood Even of Titania's heart should in deep crimson Die all these waters: what of this? what share Is yours? what land shall you recover? All! Your pardon: but who'le swear this may not be? Thus; to fell down their Q. is but one stroke; Our axe must cleave the kingdom, that's the Oak. Easy: whilst our thunderbolts Are anuiling abroad, call Satyran home, He in his fathom metes vast Argoziet, Huge Galleasses, and such wooden Castles, As by enchantment of the waters move: To his, marry yours and ours; and of them all Create a brave Armado, such a Fleet, That may break Neptune's back to carry it: Such for variety, number, puissance, As may fetch all the Fairy Land in turfs, To make a green for you to walk upon In Babylon. Now when the volley of those murdering shot That are to play first on Titania's breast, And (yet) lean on their rests, go off and kill her, So that the very Alverado given, Sounds the least hope of conquest; then, then show Your warlike Pageants dancing on the waves, Yours is the Land, the Nation are your slaves. You do: you ride there now this is your Sphere, Earth is all one with heaven when you are here. You shall with rods of iron scourge these treasons. Our Galleons, Galleasses, Zabraes, Galleys, Ships, Pynaces, Pataches, huge Caruiles, For number, rib and belly are so great, That should they want a Sea near Fairy land Of depth to bear them up, they in their wombs Might swim with a sea thither: here are breifes Of your imperial Armies. In the first Squadron twelve great Galleons: Float Like twelve moving Castles: Zabraes two. Habilimented gloriously for war, With Soldiers, Seamen, shot, and ordinance: This Squadron stout Medyna does command: Who of the main is Captain General. The second Squadron brave Ricalde leads, Being Admiral to fouretene Galleons. Flores de Ualdes guides, the third, the fourth Follows the silken streamers of the haughty Pedro de Valdes that tried warrior. Oquendo in the fifth front cries a Charge. Bretandona brings up the Levantines With his sixth Squadron: Gomes de Medyna Waftes up the seventh Like the God of war, The eighth obeys Mendoza: and the ninth Fierce Vgo de Montada: all these Squadrons, For vessel, numbered are one hundred thirty, The sighed of Soldiers, Mariners, and Slaves Twenty nine thousand, eight hundred thirty three. Pieces of brass for battery these, Six hundred thirty: add to these Galleons Twenty Caruiles, and Saluees ten: which make The whole Armada, eightscore lusty sail. Add to all these your Generals of Armies, Your Captains, Ensign bearer, (which in role, Are eightscore and eleven) the Voluntaries, With officers and servants, then the Regiments That are in pay: to these, all men of order, All ministers of justice: and to these Supplies of forces that must second us, And last that host of stars which from the Moon Will fallen to guide us on: these totald up, You shall a hundred thousand swords behold Brandished at once, whose—stands Men will seem born with weapons in their hands. Some line sea cards, that know not the seas taste, Nor scarce the colour: by your charms I gather You have seen Fairy land—but in a Map: Can tell how't stands: but if you giue't a fallen, You must get bigger bones: for let me whisper This to your ear; though you bait hooks with gold, Ten thousand may be nibbling, when none bites, And those you take for Angels, you'll find Sprites. Say that Titania were now drawing short breath, (As that's the Cone and Button that together Clasps all our Hope's) out of her ashes may A second K. James. Phoenix rise, of larger wing, Of stronger talon, of more dreadful beak, Who swooping through the air, may with his beating So well command the winds, that all those trees Where fit birds of our hatching (now fled thither) Will tremble, & (through fear struck dead) to earth, Throw those that fit and sing there, or in flocks Driven them from thence, yea and perhaps his talon May be so bony and so large of gripe, That it may shake all Babylon.