He wakes, and with him (ne'er to sleep) new fears: His sweat-bedewed bed had now betray'd him, To a vast field of thorns; ten thousand spears All pointed in his heart seem'd to invade him : So mighty were th' amazing characters With which his feeling dream had thus dismay'd him, He his own fancy-framed foes defies; In rage, "My arms! give me my arms!" he cries. As when a pile of food-preparing fire, The breath of artificial lungs embraves, The cauldron-prison'd waters strait conspire, And beat the hot brass with rebellious waves: He murmurs and rebukes their bold desire; Th' impatient liquor frets, and foams, and raves; Till his o'erflowing pride suppress the flame, Whence all his high spirits and hot courage came;— So boils the fired Herod's blood-swoll'n breast, To which his gnawed heart is the growing food, A thousand prophecies, that talk strange things, Had sown of old these doubts in his deep breast; And now of late came tributary kings, Bringing him nothing but new fears from th' East, More deep suspicions, and more deadly stings; With which his fev'rous cares their cold increas'd: And now his dream (hell's firebrand) still more bright, Show'd him his fears, and kill'd him with the sight. No sooner therefore shall the morning see, (Night hangs yet heavy on the lids of day,) Are sent about; who, posting every way Why art thou troubled, Herod? what vain fear Thy blood-revolving breast to rage doth move; Heaven's King, who doffs himself weak flesh to wear, Comes not to rule in wrath, but serve in love; Nor would he this thy fear'd crown from thee tear, But give thee a better with himself above. Poor jealousy! why should he wish to prey Upon thy crown, who gives his own away. Make to thy reason, man, and mock thy doubts; ON A PRAYER BOOK SENT TO MRS. M. R. Lo here a little volume, but great book, (Fear it not, sweet, It is no hypocrite,) Much larger in itself than in its look. It is love's great artillery, Which here contracts itself and comes to lie Close couch'd in your white bosom, and from thence, As from a snowy fortress of defence, Let constant use but keep it bright, You'll find it yields To holy hands and humble hearts, More swords and shields Than sin hath snares, or hell hath darts. Only be sure, The hands be pure That hold these weapons, and the eyes Wakeful and wise: Here is a friend shall fight for you; But, oh, the heart That studies this high art, Dear soul, be strong, Mercy will come ere long, And bring her bosom full of blessings,- To make immortal dressings For worthy souls whose wise embraces But if the noble Bridegroom, when he comes, Amongst the gay mates of the god of flies To dance in the sunshine of some smiling Sphere of sweet and sugar'd lies, Of false, perhaps as fair, And stepping in before, Will take possession of the sacred store (These tumultuous shops of noise,) The soul itself more feels than hears ;- Spiritual and soul-piercing glances, Whose pure and subtle lightning flies Home to the heart, and sets the house on fire, And melts it down in sweet desire, Yet doth not stay To ask the window's leave to pass that way; Of soul, dear and divine annihilations, Of joys and rarified delights; An hundred thousand loves and graces, Which the divine embraces Of the dear Spouse of spirits with them will bring, For which it is no shame, That dull mortality must not know a name : Of all this hidden store Of blessings, and ten thousand more, If when he come He find the heart from home, Doubtless he will unload Himself some otherwhere; And pour abroad His precious sweets, On the fair soul whom first he meets. O, fair! O, fortunate! O, rich! O, dear! Whoe'er she be, Whose early love, R |