text,updated_at,metaphor,created_at,context,theme,reviewed_on,dictionary,comments,provenance,id,work_id
"O avarice! for Gold, and Silver's prize,
The golden Truth, thou 'ast turn'd to drossy Lyes!
Best things corrupted prove the worst of all:
By Rome's false Limbo, doth true LIMBO fall.
The Christian Churches first blest Founders sure,
Their Streams delated from the Fountain pure:
Heav'n put that breath into their mouths, which they
Inspired thus, to others did conveigh.
The holy Ghost upon them breath'd, nor was
Their Words corrupted by an humane glosse.
Then flourish'd Truth, and all our Hyerarchie
Rejoyc'd so pure a Church on Earth to see.
No pitchy clouds of error then did presse
'Twixt their eyes, and the Sun of Righteousnesse;
The Truth shon then as clear, as doth the Sun
Mounted in 's golden Chariot, at noon.
(Christs Church sees clearly still where e'r it be
Scatter'd, through others; and the Head is he)
But envious Sathan, when he saw Truth so
Extreamly spread, and o're the World to grow;
He sew'd his Tares of Errors, and did blind
With clouds of darknesse, Man's true eye, the Mind.
These faster than the true Wheat grew; this crop
Of evil weeds, did soon the Wheat o're-top.
Darknesse grew on apace; anon the Day
Could not its Light but here and there display,
Th'rough the small cranies of dark clouds: then 'twas
Pride, and Ambition in Rome's Church took place:
Then crept in all those Ceremonies; then
The Truth gave place unto the wiles of Men.
Then Avarice, with her hook'd Talons made
Such Laws, which turn'd Religion to a Trade,
And for the Love of Money did disguise
Fair Truth, and cloath'd her with a pack of Lies.
Something of precious Truth; something of Day,
Under disguise; under the clouds there lay.
Your Silver ISIS about Chelsy's not,
The same, as where his bubling springs do put
First forth their Crystal Heads near Thorlton, for
Churne's, Windrushe's, and Cherwell's waters there
And Tame's, Coln's, Brents, with his clear streams do run:
So on the other side he entertain
Doth Ock, Lad, Kennet, Surrie's Rivers too,
Whose severe Waters with his mingle do:
Yet with these may at Chelsy run the same
Pure waters, which from his clear spring-head came.
So pure Religion's streams, by this time had
With many of Hel's Stygian stream-lets spread,
Which were polluted with their Waters, yet
Amongst them Truth's pure Crystal streams did flit,
But so bemudded that they scarce were seen
But by those clear eyes who did dive for them.
The snowy flow'r is mixed with the Bran:
The chaff with Wheat; one sift the other fan
We must: not fling them both away, and make
Th' one uselesse for us, for the other's sake.
We must beware when that the Tares we cull,
Lest we with them the Wheat up also pull.
Fifteen Cent'ries, and two decades of years,
After Christ's death, from Isleben appears
A Light by which Rome's muddy streams were seen,
By which the Truth men strove to cull between
Error's black clouds; But Zeal them so possest,
They her rejected, 'cause by Rome's hands drest.
So fearful were they of a Romish dresse,
That Truth they 'ad rather leave, than her possesse
In that false Habit; many Truth's despis'd
Were thus, because by Rome they were disguis'd.
Among the rest, and not the least, this place,
This Region which thou now behold'st, one was:
And 'cause Rome's fopperies had obscur'd the Light
Of it, forsooth they it discarded quite:
And by the ears it from existence whorry,
For fear of entertaining Purgatory.",2011-12-21 18:10:56 UTC,"""He [Satan] sew'd his Tares of Errors, and did blind / With clouds of darknesse, Man's true eye, the Mind.""",2006-04-17 00:00:00 UTC,"",Mind's Eye,2011-12-21,Eye,"","Searching ""mind"" and ""eye"" in HDIS (Poetry)",9405,3620
"But mark that next Dish, where green Leaves inclose
Fruit which in scarlet Robes out-braves the Rose:
So fulgent Rubies court, and charm the eye,
When with clear Smuragds they invelop'd lye;
The Pestum flower peeps th'row her infant Skreen,
With paler blushes, wrap'd with duller green.
The juyce of these impregnates strait the Brain,
Not with discourses Kicksie, nor with vain
Disputes: true Logic art it doth diffuse,
And teaches Syllogisms how to use
For Heav'n's own int'rest: True Dilemma's too
Can by infusion to the Taster shew.
This doth the understanding purge; the eye
O'th' Soul, the Mind from Motes do purifie:
This Reason doth illuminate, and shews
How the true Dialectic Art to use:
Reason's corruptions, spots, and fallacies
This purgeth out: and gives it purer eyes.
This giveth Armes unto Truth's Champions, and
Inables them in Dispute's Wars to stand.
This unto Paul was borne by some of us,
When He with Beasts battail'd at Ephesus:
By this at Athens, to the Schoole he flew,
And th' Epicures, and Stoicks overthrew
With solid Arguments. This means did show
His persecutors how to overthrow:
The Jewish Rabbies, Gentile Doctors, Mute
At last were made: 'gainst him was no dispute.",2011-12-21 18:09:13 UTC,"""This doth the understanding purge; the eye / O'th' Soul, the Mind from Motes do purifie.""",2006-04-17 00:00:00 UTC,"",Mind's Eye,,Eye,"","Searching ""mind"" and ""eye"" in HDIS (Poetry)",9406,3620
"That third Dish where in Seas of Beauties wallow
The slick-skin fruits; bestrip't with Red, and Yellow;
Screening their Virtues, in a double fold,
Of Crimson, Satin, and of yellow Gold:
The ground is Gold, upon whose face is spread
A thousand striplets of a grain-dy'd Red.
That Dish contains fruit of unvalued prize,
Whose sacred virtue makes man truly wise.
That Magic makes, and true Philosophers,
That Wisdom, and true Knowledge still infers.
Those Fruits unlock the fast-shut Cabinet
Of Nature, and her Treasures open set:
Nature's true Jewels rol'd in pitch do lye,
Not to be seen but by an Heav'nly Eye
And such an one these give: an Eye that looks
Upon, and reads her most mysterious Books.
An Eye that thorow Neptune's Region goes,
And all things in his brinish Kingdom knows,
An Eye that walketh thorow all the Mines,
An Eye that to Earth's solid Centre shines:
An Eye which doth perspicuously see,
What virtues, in all Vegitables be;
That the true Nature of all things that grow,
From the tall Cedar, to the shrub, doth know:
An Eye that from the Earth to Heav'n doth rise,
And rangeth th'rough the myst'ries of the Skies:
That views the stations of the Wanderers,
That sees the mansion of the Northern Bears:
That knows the nature of those glittering Fires,
That reads their Lectures: and Heav'n's Hand admires;
That knows their good, and evil influence,
They on the World, and Mortals do dispence;
That knows the causes of all natural things,
Seas, and Earth's motions, and the Winds swift wings;
The streaming Metours, and the blazing Stars,
The hairy Comets sad predicts of Wars;
That truly sees, and knoweth all the parts
O'th' Ptolomic, and Eucledean Arts.
These sacred Fruits besides all these disclose
Nature's hid Magic, which th' unwise oppose,
The Ancients wisdom, whereby they could do
Things wonderful, yet natural, and true;
Not jugling tricks: nor by ill Spirits might,
But by Dame Nature's just, and sacred Light;
Almost extinct now in the World; unknown
'Cause men have sought præstigiæ of their own,
And following airy Notions caught the shade,
Whilst the true substance did their hands evade.
Such are the Virtues of these Fruits divine,
Which with such matchless lustrous Beauties shines.
Of these the Father of the Faithful eat,
Sucking true Wisdom from the blessed meat,
And those who liv'd nine Ages to descry
The Planets dances in the azure Skye.
Great Salomon that mighty Magus had
His Wisdom and his Rnowledge from this food:
This sacred Fruit was lovely to his eyes,
For he this more than 's Crown, or Gold did prize.
He wisely said, For all things there a Time
Was; did but Mortals on the Earthly clime
Exactly know the same, they would not err
So oft, and toys to precious Gemms prefer:
Of Wisdom it no Mean part is to know,
The means not only but the Time to do:
For what these blessed Fruits so freely give,
Men in all Ages after deeply dive,
Nor is't unlawful for them to do so,
Did they true Time take, and right Wayes to go;
Else all is vanity: For what's all this
If Man should know 't, and yet ignore his Blisse?
On this the King pitched his Mind's clear eye,
When he cry'd out, all things are vanity.
What are these Jewels, though they Jewels be,
If Man's not lure of Æternity?
These are no means to gain the Heav'nly Race,
These are but Crowns for those that gaine the space.
They are unwise who first do seek those Arts,
Before that they have circumcis'd their Hearts:
For what they gain before is vanity,
What afterwards our King doth sanctifie.
What men acquire, they usually abuse it,
What Heav'n himself gives, he shews how to use it.
Let Man therefore the Time observe, and see
To gain Heav'n first: these but additions be.",2009-09-14 19:34:12 UTC,"""On this the King pitched his Mind's clear eye, / When he cry'd out, all things are vanity.""",2006-04-17 00:00:00 UTC,"",Mind's Eye,,Eye,"","Searching ""mind"" and ""eye"" in HDIS (Poetry)",9407,3620
"The Poets Soliloquy
Why do I droop, like flowers opprest with rain?
What cloud of sorrow doth my colour stain?
I like a Sparrow on the house alone
Do sit, and like a Dove I mourn and groan:
Doth discontent, or sad affliction bind,
And stop the freedom of my Nobler mind?
No, no, I know the cause; I do retire,
To quench old flames, and kindle better fire:
It is my comfort to escape the rude
And sluttish trouble of the multitude:
Flowers, rivers, woods, the pleasant air and wind,
With Sacred thoughts, do feed my serious mind:
My active soul doth not consume with rust,
I have been rub'd, and now are free from dust.
Let moderation rule my pensive way;
Students may leave their books, and sometimes play",2011-05-23 17:15:34 UTC,"""Flowers, rivers, woods, the pleasant air and wind, / With Sacred thoughts, do feed my serious mind.""",2004-03-11 00:00:00 UTC,I've included the whole poem,Soliloquy,2011-05-23,"",•Published in Flamma Sine Fumo (1662),HDIS (Poetry),9408,3621
"Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought:
And thus the Godlike Angel answered mild.
This also thy request, with caution asked,
Obtain; though to recount almighty works
What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,
Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?
Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve
To glorify the Maker, and infer
Thee also happier, shall not be withheld
Thy hearing; such commission from above
I have received, to answer thy desire
Of knowledge within bounds; beyond, abstain
To ask; nor let thine own inventions hope
Things not revealed, which the invisible King,
Only Omniscient, hath suppressed in night;
To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:
Enough is left besides to search and know.
But knowledge is as food, and needs no less
Her temperance over appetite, to know
In measure what the mind may well contain;
Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns
Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind.
(Bk. VII, ll. 109-130)",2013-06-10 18:11:28 UTC,"""But knowledge is as food, and needs no less / Her temperance over appetite, to know / In measure what the mind may well contain; / Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns / Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind.""",2003-08-19 00:00:00 UTC,Book VII,"",2004-01-28,"","•Adam wants to know how the world was created. The note in the Longman PL reads ""The metaphor implicit in earlier uses of savoury (see e.g., v 84-5n) is now made an explicit simile. Cp. Davenant, Gondibert (1651) II viii 22: 'For thought Books serve as Diet of the Minde; / If knowledg, early got, self vallew breeds, / By false digestion it is turn'd to winde; / And what should nourish, on the Eater feeds.'"" (p.364). I should enter Davenant in the database.
•I'm not sure I am happy with the proposition. Should this be two entries? REVISIT (10/22/2003)",HDIS (Poetry),9437,3636
"Mammon led them on--
Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell
From Heaven; for even in Heaven his looks and thoughts
Were always downward bent, admiring more
The riches of heaven's pavement, trodden gold,
Than aught divine or holy else enjoyed
In vision beatific. By him first
Men also, and by his suggestion taught,
Ransacked the centre, and with impious hands
Rifled the bowels of their mother Earth
For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew
Opened into the hill a spacious wound,
And digged out ribs of gold. Let none admire
That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best
Deserve the precious bane. And here let those
Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell
Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings,
Learn how their greatest monuments of fame
And strength, and art, are easily outdone
By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour
What in an age they, with incessant toil
And hands innumerable, scarce perform.
(Bk. I, ll. 678-99)",2010-01-06 05:18:16 UTC,"""Mammon led them on-- / Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell / From Heaven; for even in Heaven his looks and thoughts / Were always downward bent.""",2003-08-21 00:00:00 UTC,Book I,Mammon,,"","",HDIS (Poetry),9452,3636
"Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell
Of fancy, my internal sight; by which,
Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw,
Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape
Still glorious before whom awake I stood:
Who stooping opened my left side, and took
From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm,
And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound,
But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed:
The rib he formed and fashioned with his hands;
Under his forming hands a creature grew,
Man-like, but different sex; so lovely fair,
That what seemed fair in all the world, seemed now
Mean, or in her summed up, in her contained
And in her looks; which from that time infused
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before,
And into all things from her air inspired
The spirit of love and amorous delight.
(Bk. VIII, ll. 459-77)",2009-09-14 19:34:14 UTC,"""Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell / Of fancy, my internal sight""",2003-08-21 00:00:00 UTC,Adam relates the creation of Eve to Raphael,"",,"","•I've included twice: Internal Sight and Cell
•The cell of fancy also appears in VIII.105-9.
•Johnson uses these lines in his illustration of the 4th sense of ""CELL:"" ""Any small place of residence."" ",HDIS (Poetry),9457,3636
"When his disciples feet our Saviour scour'd,
Water into a Bason first he pour'd:
We are by nature Base ones, Lord pour in
Thy grace, & from our souls feet wash off sin.
",2012-01-28 18:15:53 UTC,"""We are by nature Base ones, Lord pour in / Thy grace, & from our souls feet wash off sin.""",2005-05-31 00:00:00 UTC,I've included the entire poem,"",2012-01-28,"","•A footnote (to souls feet) gives, ""The Affections are the feet of our souls.""",Searching in HDIS (Poetry),9485,3657
"The Conscience was ever, and is still
The fountain of all actions, good or ill;
And all the actings, whether foul or fair,
Of men, are as their Consciences are.
Conscience goes with us where e're we go,
To bear record of whatsoe're we do.
Conscience is Gods Vice-Roy in the Soul,
And all are liable to its controul.
Conscience is Christs Vicar in mans heart,
It keeps Court there, and acts the Judges part.
Its verdict can be by no pow'r repeal'd,
Its stroaks are wounds that never can be heal'd:
It's the Souls Anchor, boldness it maintains
In judgment, and is of unwearied pains.
Conscience is most like God, it is supreme,
But under God this Jewel, O esteem
For its great worth, as rarest next to Christ;
It is our Patron, our Apologist;
It is impartial, active, and sincere,
Gods Register in us; his Harbinger
For to prepare his way; this is beside
Mans faithful Surety, Treasurer and Guide.
The evidence of a good Conscience will
Find with the judge of hearts acceptance still;
Good Conscience is the only Ark that can
Ding down the Dagons of all deeds prophane.
A Conscience unstain'd with blushing crimes,
Holds out in all changes of States and Times.
Mount Sion and good Conscience abide
For ever, and tentations can deride.
A Conscience that is kept free from blame,
Laughs at the false reports of long-tongu'd fame.
Good Conscience will speak within, when all breath,
The doors are shut to ev'ry vocal call.
When riches, husband, wife, parents, friends, breath,
Life, patience, firm hope, assured faith
Have left us; a good Conscience is so fast
A friend, that it sticks to us till the last.
A right good Conscience term this we may,
To live therein until our dying day.
Good Conscience still keeps Holy-day, is bent
To feasting ev'ry day; there is no Lent,
No Fasting-days that interrupt this Feast,
But still the chear is more and more encreas'd.
Who keeps his Conscience from offences clear,
That man keeps Hil'ry Term throughout the year
But he that shipwracks a good Conscience shall
Let in great riches, but the Devil withal.
Good Conscience, as Davids Instrument,
Drives away th'evil Spirit of discontent.
Good Conscience can suck content divine,
From bitt'rest drugs, turn Marah into Wine.
Can sweetly smile, ev'n in afflictions sharp,
This made Pauls Prisons-songs, tun'd Davids harp.
It is a Paradise with pleasures fraught,
All our best duties are without it naught.
It's to the Castle of the Heart a Wall
Of Brass: it is a Christians coat of Mail,
How many do for want of it miscarry!
It is a cordial Electuary:
And very many good ingredients go
Therein, Meat, Drink, Sleep, Ease, Refreshment too.
Good Conscience on God it self can roul;
'Tis Aquavitæ to the swouning soul.
A Conscience that from wickedness is pure,
Can in the Cannons mouth repose secure.
No such provision 'gainst an evil day,
As a good Conscience; this is they say
A constant Feast; who hath a Conscience good,
Fares well although he have no other Food.
A sincere heart will not do any thing
'Gainst Conscience, is bold in suffering;
But ah! fearful of sin, such as upright
would walk, must have God always in their sight.
",2009-09-14 19:34:16 UTC,"""It's to the Castle of the Heart a Wall / Of Brass: it is a Christians coat of Mail, / How many do for want of it miscarry!""",2005-06-07 00:00:00 UTC,"",Conscience,,"","•Rich stanza. I've included thrice: Castle, Wall of Brass and Coat of Mail.","Searching ""heart"" and ""brass"" in HDIS (Poetry); ",9501,3640
"The Conscience was ever, and is still
The fountain of all actions, good or ill;
And all the actings, whether foul or fair,
Of men, are as their Consciences are.
Conscience goes with us where e're we go,
To bear record of whatsoe're we do.
Conscience is Gods Vice-Roy in the Soul,
And all are liable to its controul.
Conscience is Christs Vicar in mans heart,
It keeps Court there, and acts the Judges part.
Its verdict can be by no pow'r repeal'd,
Its stroaks are wounds that never can be heal'd:
It's the Souls Anchor, boldness it maintains
In judgment, and is of unwearied pains.
Conscience is most like God, it is supreme,
But under God this Jewel, O esteem
For its great worth, as rarest next to Christ;
It is our Patron, our Apologist;
It is impartial, active, and sincere,
Gods Register in us; his Harbinger
For to prepare his way; this is beside
Mans faithful Surety, Treasurer and Guide.
The evidence of a good Conscience will
Find with the judge of hearts acceptance still;
Good Conscience is the only Ark that can
Ding down the Dagons of all deeds prophane.
A Conscience unstain'd with blushing crimes,
Holds out in all changes of States and Times.
Mount Sion and good Conscience abide
For ever, and tentations can deride.
A Conscience that is kept free from blame,
Laughs at the false reports of long-tongu'd fame.
Good Conscience will speak within, when all breath,
The doors are shut to ev'ry vocal call.
When riches, husband, wife, parents, friends, breath,
Life, patience, firm hope, assured faith
Have left us; a good Conscience is so fast
A friend, that it sticks to us till the last.
A right good Conscience term this we may,
To live therein until our dying day.
Good Conscience still keeps Holy-day, is bent
To feasting ev'ry day; there is no Lent,
No Fasting-days that interrupt this Feast,
But still the chear is more and more encreas'd.
Who keeps his Conscience from offences clear,
That man keeps Hil'ry Term throughout the year
But he that shipwracks a good Conscience shall
Let in great riches, but the Devil withal.
Good Conscience, as Davids Instrument,
Drives away th'evil Spirit of discontent.
Good Conscience can suck content divine,
From bitt'rest drugs, turn Marah into Wine.
Can sweetly smile, ev'n in afflictions sharp,
This made Pauls Prisons-songs, tun'd Davids harp.
It is a Paradise with pleasures fraught,
All our best duties are without it naught.
It's to the Castle of the Heart a Wall
Of Brass: it is a Christians coat of Mail,
How many do for want of it miscarry!
It is a cordial Electuary:
And very many good ingredients go
Therein, Meat, Drink, Sleep, Ease, Refreshment too.
Good Conscience on God it self can roul;
'Tis Aquavitæ to the swouning soul.
A Conscience that from wickedness is pure,
Can in the Cannons mouth repose secure.
No such provision 'gainst an evil day,
As a good Conscience; this is they say
A constant Feast; who hath a Conscience good,
Fares well although he have no other Food.
A sincere heart will not do any thing
'Gainst Conscience, is bold in suffering;
But ah! fearful of sin, such as upright
would walk, must have God always in their sight.
",2011-05-23 17:17:37 UTC,"""Good Conscience on God it self can roul; / 'Tis Aquavitæ to the swouning soul.""",2005-06-07 00:00:00 UTC,"",Conscience,,"",•Rich stanza.,Searching in HDIS (Poetry),9505,3640