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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:53:34 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:53:34 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/30327-0.txt b/30327-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5260d26 --- /dev/null +++ b/30327-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3375 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30327 *** + +[This e-text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file +encoding, primarily Greek and a few words of Hebrew: + + Ἀγαθὸς ἦν τὸ πᾶν τόδε ὁ συνιστὰς + ... which is שׁמים + +If any of these characters do not display properly--in particular, +if the diacritic does not appear directly above the letter--or if the +apostrophes and quotation marks in this paragraph appear as garbage, +make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set +to Unicode (UTF-8). You may also need to change the default font. As a +last resort, use the Latin-1 version of the file instead. + +Roman (emphatic) type within italic body text is shown in =marks=. + +Unless otherwise noted, spelling, punctuation and capitalization in the +primary text are unchanged. The distinction between u (vowel) and v +(consonant) is as in the original. Typographical errors are listed at +the end of the e-text. + +The General Interpretation (“Interp. Gen.”) referenced in the +Particular Interpretation is not part of this text.] + + + + + The Augustan Reprint Society + + + HENRY MORE + + _Democritus + Platonissans_ + + (1646) + + + _Introduction by_ + + P. G. STANWOOD + + + Publication Number 130 + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY + University of California, Los Angeles + 1968 + + + + +GENERAL EDITORS + + George Robert Guffey, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Maximillian E. Novak, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Robert Vosper, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + +ADVISORY EDITORS + + Richard C. Boys, _University of Michigan_ + James L. Clifford, _Columbia University_ + Ralph Cohen, _University of Virginia_ + Vinton A. Dearing, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Arthur Friedman, _University of Chicago_ + Louis A. Landa, _Princeton University_ + Earl Miner, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Samuel H. Monk, _University of Minnesota_ + Everett T. Moore, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Lawrence Clark Powell, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + James Sutherland, _University College, London_ + H. T. Swedenberg, Jr., _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +CORRESPONDING SECRETARY + + Edna C. Davis, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Henry More (1614-1687), the most interesting member of that group +traditionally known as the Cambridge Platonists, lived conscientiously +and well. Having early set out on one course, he never thought to change +it; he devoted his whole life to the joy of celebrating, again and +again, “a firm and unshaken Belief of the Existence of GOD . . . , a God +infinitely Good, as well as infinitely Great . . . .”[1] Such faith was +for More the starting point of his rational understanding: “with the +most fervent Prayers” he beseeched God, in his autobiographical +“Praefatio Generalissima,” “to set me free from the dark Chains, and +this so sordid Captivity of my own Will.” More offered to faith all +which his reason could know, and so it happened that he “was got into a +most Joyous and Lucid State of Mind,” something quite ineffable; to +preserve these “Sensations and Experiences of my own Soul,” he wrote +“a pretty full Poem call’d _Psychozoia_” (or _A Christiano-Platonicall +display of Life_), an exercise begun about 1640 and designed for no +audience but himself. There were times, More continued in his +autobiographical remarks, when he thought of destroying _Psychozoia_ +because its style is rough and its language filled with archaisms. His +principal purpose in that poem was to demonstrate in detail the +spiritual foundation of all existence; Psyche, his heroine, is the +daughter of the Absolute, the general Soul who holds together the +metaphysical universe, against whom he sees reflected his own soul’s +mystical progress. More must, nevertheless, have been pleased with his +labor, for he next wrote _Psychathanasia Platonica: or Platonicall Poem +of the Immortality of Souls, especially Mans Soul_, in which he attempts +to demonstrate the immortality of the soul as a corrective to his age. +Then, he joined to that _Antipsychopannychia, or A Confutation of the +sleep of the Soul after death_, and _Antimonopsychia, or That all Souls +are not one_; at the urging of friends, he published the poems in +1642--his first literary work--as _Psychodia Platonica_. + +In his argument for the soul’s immortality toward the end of +_Psychathanasia_ (III.4), More had urged that there was no need to plead +for any extension of the infinite (“a contradiction,” and also, it would +seem, a fruitless inquiry); but he soon changed his mind. The preface to +_Democritus Platonissans_ reproduces those stanzas of the earlier poem +which deny infinity (34 to the end of the canto) with a new (formerly +concluding) stanza 39 and three further stanzas “for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto,” _i.e._, _Democritus +Platonissans_, which More clearly intended to be an addition, a fifth +canto to _Psychathanasia_ (Book III); and although _Democritus +Platonissans_ first appeared separately, More appended it to +_Psychathanasia_ in the second edition of his collected poems, this time +with English titles, the whole being called _A Platonick Song of the +Soul_ (1647). + +There is little relationship between _Democritus Platonissans_ and the +rest of More’s poetry; even the main work to which it supposedly forms a +final and conclusive canto provides only the slightest excuse for such a +continuation. Certainly, in _Psychathanasia_, More is excited by the new +astronomy; he praises the Copernican system throughout Book III, giving +an account of it according to the lessons of his study of Galileo’s +_Dialogo_, which he may have been reading even as he wrote.[2] Indeed, +More tries to harmonize the two poems--his habit was always to look for +unity. But even though _Democritus Platonissans_ explores an +astronomical subject, just as the third part of _Psychathanasia_ also +does, its attitude and theme are quite different; for More had meanwhile +been reading Descartes. + +More’s theory of the infinity of worlds and God’s plenitude evidently +owed a great deal to Descartes’ recent example; More responds +exuberantly to him, especially to his _Principes de la Philosophie_ +(1644); for in him he fancied having found a true ally. Steeped in +Platonic and neo-Platonic thought, and determined to reconcile Spirit +with the rational mind of man, More thought he had discovered in +Cartesian ‘intuition’ what was not necessarily there. Descartes had +enjoyed an ecstatic illumination, and so had Plotinus; but this was not +enough, as More may have wanted to imagine, to make Descartes a +neo-Platonist.[3] But the Platonic element implicit in Descartes, his +theory of innate ideas, and his proof of the existence of God from the +idea of God, all helped to make More so receptive to him. Nevertheless, +More did not really need Descartes, nor, as he himself was later to +discover, had he even understood him properly, for More had looked at +him only to find his own reflection. + +But there was nothing really new about the idea of infinite worlds which +More described in _Democritus Platonissans_; it surely was not a +conception unique to Descartes. The theory was a common one in Greek and +Renaissance thought. Democritus and the Epicureans, of course, advocated +the theme of infinite worlds in an infinite universe which More +accepted; but at the same time, he rejected their view of a mechanistic +and fortuitous creation. Although Plato specifically rejects the idea of +infinite worlds (in _Timaeus_), More imagines, as the title of his poem +implies, a Platonic universe, by which he really means neo-Platonic, +combined with a Democritean plurality of worlds. More filled space, not +with the infinite void of the Atomists, but with the Divine, ever active +immanence. More, in fact, in an early philosophic work, _An Antidote +against Atheisme_ (1652), and again in _Divine Dialogues_ (1668), +refutes Lucretius by asserting the usefulness of all created things in +God’s Providence and the essential design in Nature. His reference in +_Democritus Platonissans_ (st. 20) is typical: “though I detest the +sect/ of Epicurus for their manners vile,/ Yet what is true I may not +well reject.” In bringing together Democritus’ theories and neo-Platonic +thought, More obviously has attempted reconciliation of two exclusive +world views, but with dubious success. + +While More stands firmly before a familiar tradition, his belief in an +infinity of worlds evidently has little immediate connection with any +predecessors. Even Bruno’s work, or Thomas Digges,’ which could have +occupied an important place, seems to have had little, if any, direct +influence on More. It was Descartes who stimulated his thought at the +most receptive moment: in 1642 to have denied a theory which in 1646 he +proclaimed with such force evidently argues in favor of a most powerful +attachment. More responded enthusiastically to what he deemed a +congenial metaphysical system; as a champion of Descartes, he was first +to make him known in England and first in England to praise the infinity +of worlds, yet Descartes’ system could give to him little real solace. +More embraces God’s plenitude and infinity of worlds, he rejoices in the +variety and grandeur of the universe, and he worships it as he might God +Himself; but Descartes was fundamentally uninterested in such +enthusiasms and found them even repellant--as well as unnecessary--to +his thought. For More the doctrine of infinity was a proper corollary of +Copernican astronomy and neo-Platonism (as well as Cabbalistic +mysticism) and therefore a necessity to his whole elaborate and eclectic +view of the world. + +In introducing Cartesian thought into England, More emphasized +particular physical doctrines mainly described in _The Principles of +Philosophy_; he shows little interest in the _Discourse on the Method of +Rightly Conducting the Reason_ (1637), or in the _Meditations_ (1641), +both of which were also available to him when he wrote _Democritus +Platonissans_. In the preface to his poem, he refers to Descartes whom +he seems to have read hopefully: surely “infinitude” is the same as the +Cartesian “indefinite.” “_For what is his =mundus indefinitè extensus=, +but =extensus infinitè=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos=, but +=simpliciter finitus=_,” for there can be no space “_unstuffd with +Atoms_.” More thinks that Descartes seems “to mince it,” that difficulty +lies in the interpretation of a word, not in an essential idea. He is +referring to Part II, xxi, of _The Principles_, but he quotes, with +tacit approval, from Part III, i and ii, in the motto to the poem. More +undoubtedly knows the specific discussion of ‘infinity’ in Part I, +xxvi-xxviii, where he must first have felt uneasy delight on reading +“that it is not needful to enter into disputes regarding the infinite, +but merely to hold all that in which we can find no limits as +indefinite, such as the extension of the world . . . .”[4] More asked +Descartes to clarify his language in their correspondence of 1648-49, +the last year of Descartes’ life. + +_Democritus Platonissans_ is More’s earliest statement about absolute +space and time; by introducing these themes into English philosophy, he +contributed significantly to the intellectual history of the seventeenth +century. Newton, indeed, was able to make use of More’s forging efforts; +but of relative time or space and their measurement, which so much +concerned Newton, More had little to say. He was preoccupied with the +development of a theory which would show that immaterial substance, with +space and time as attributes, is as real and as absolute as the +Cartesian geometrical and spatial account of matter which he felt was +true but much in need of amplification. + +In his first letter to Descartes, of 11 December 1648, More wrote: +“. . . this indefinite extension is either _simpliciter_ infinite, or +only in respect to us. If you understand extension to be infinite +_simpliciter_, why do you obscure your thought by too low and too modest +words? If it is infinite only in respect to us, extension, in reality, +will be finite; for our mind is the measure neither of the things nor of +truth. . . .” Unsatisfied by his first answer from Descartes (5 February +1649), he urges his point again (5 March): if extension can describe +matter, the same quality must apply to the immaterial and yet be only +one of many attributes of Spirit. In his second letter to More +(15 April), Descartes answers firmly: “It is repugnant to my concept to +attribute any limit to the world, and I have no other measure than my +perception for what I have to assert or to deny. I say, therefore, that +the world is indeterminate or indefinite, because I do not recognize in +it any limits. But I dare not call it infinite as I perceive that God is +greater than the world, not in respect to His extension, because, as I +have already said, I do not acknowledge in God any proper [extension], +but in respect to His perfection . . . . It is repugnant to my mind +. . . it implies a contradiction, that the world be finite or limited, +because I cannot but conceive a space outside the boundaries of the +world wherever I presuppose them.” More plainly fails to understand the +basic dualism inherent in Cartesian philosophy and to sense the +irrelevance of his questions. While Descartes is really disposing of the +spiritual world in order to get on with his analysis of finite +experience, More is keenly attempting to reconcile neo-Platonism with +the lively claims of matter. His effort can be read as the brave attempt +to harmonize an older mode of thought with the urgency of the ‘new +philosophy’ which called the rest in doubt. More saw this conflict and +the implications of it with a kind of clarity that other men of his age +hardly possessed. But the way of Descartes, which at first seemed to him +so promising, certainly did not lead to the kind of harmony which he +sought. + +More’s original enthusiasm for Descartes declined as he understood +better that the Cartesian world in practice excluded spirits and souls. +Because Descartes could find no necessary place even for God Himself, +More styled him, in _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_ (1671), the “Prince of +the Nullibists”; these men “readily acknowledge there are such things as +_Incorporeal Beings_ or _Spirits_, yet do very peremptorily contend, +that they are _no where_ in the whole World [;] . . . because they so +boldly affirm that a Spirit is _Nullibi_, that is to say, _no where_,” +they deserve to be called _Nullibists_.[5] In contrast to these false +teachers, More describes absolute space by listing twenty epithets which +can be applied either to God or to pure extension, such as “Unum, +Simplex, Immobile . . . Incomprehensible ”[6] There is, however, +a great difficulty here; for while Space and Spirit are eternal and +uncreated, they yet contain material substance which has been created by +God. If the material world possesses infinite extension, as More +generally believes, that would preclude any need of its having a +creator. In order to avoid this dilemma, which _Democritus Platonissans_ +ignores, More must at last separate matter and space, seeing the latter +as an attribute of God through which He is able to contain a finite +world limited in space as well as in time. In writing that “this +infinite space because of its infinity is distinct from matter,”[7] More +reveals the direction of his conclusion; the dichotomy it embodies is +Cartesianism in reverse. + +While More always labored to describe the ineffable, his earliest work, +the poetry, may have succeeded in this wish most of all. Although he +felt that his poetry was aiming toward truths which his “_later and +better concocted Prose_”[8] reached, the effort cost him the +suggestiveness of figurative speech. In urging himself on toward an ever +more consistent statement of belief, he lost much of his beginning +exuberance (best expressed in the brief “Philosopher’s Devotion”) and +the joy of intellectual discovery. In the search “_to find out Words +which will prove faithful witnesses of the peculiarities of my +Thoughts_,” he staggers under the unsupportable burden of too many +words. In trying so desperately to clarify his thought, he rejected +poetic discourse as “slight”; only a language free of metaphor and +symbol could, he supposed, lead toward correctness. Indeed, More soon +renounced poetry; he apparently wrote no more after collecting it in +_Philosophical Poems_ (1647), when he gave up poetry for “more seeming +Substantial performances in solid _Prose_.”[9] “Cupids Conflict,” which +is “annexed” to _Democritus Platonissans_, is an interesting revelation +of the failure of poetry, as More felt it: he justifies his “rude rugged +uncouth style” by suggesting that sweet verses avoid telling important +truths; harshness and obscurity may at least remind one that there is a +significance beyond mere words. His lament is characteristic: “How ill +alas! with wisdome it accords/ To sell my living sense for liveless +words.” + +In spite of these downcast complaints, More was quite capable of lively +and meaningful poetic ideas. One is the striking image of the cone which +occurs in _Democritus Platonissans_ (especially in stanzas 7-8, 66-67, +and 88) and becomes the most essential symbol to More’s expression +of infinitude and extension. The figure first appears in +_Antipsychopannychia_ (II.9) where his purpose is to reconcile the world +Soul with Christian eschatology. In _Democritus Platonissans_, the cone +enables More to adapt the familiar Hermetic paradox: + + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib’d, whose Centre’s each where set, + But the low Cusp’s a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre’s every where. (st. 8) + +Every point on the circumference, or base of the cone, relates to the +single point at the top. The world, More wants to say, has no limits, no +center, yet there are bounds in its not having any. More recognizes the +contradiction when he fancies “some strong arm’d Archer” at the wide +world’s edge (st. 37). Where shall he send his shafts? Into “mere +vacuity”? But More hardly seems aware of the inappropriateness of the +cone: he uses a geometrical figure to locate space, time, and numberless +worlds within the universal sight of God, but matter is infinite, +“distinct/ And yet proceeding from the Deitie” (st. 68). Obviously, the +archer must forever be sending his arrows through an infinitely +expanding surface. Nevertheless, the cone has great value as a metaphor, +as a richly suggestive and fascinating conception. More, however, does +not want to speak metaphorically; he is attempting to disclose truths, +literal and plain, where pretty words and metaphors have no place. Even +as he is writing his most effective poetry, we are aware that More is +denying his poetic office; for he is pleading a reasoned case where the +words crack and strain, where poetic meaning gathers, only to be denied. + +But these objections momentarily disappear when More forgets himself +enough to let us feel his imagination and does not worry that we might +miss the proofs of his philosophy. _Democritus Platonissans_ concludes +with an apocalyptic vision wherein the poet imagines the reconciliation +of infinite worlds and time within God’s immensity. He is also +attempting to harmonize _Psychathanasia_, where he rejected infinitude, +with its sequel, _Democritus Platonissans_, where he has everywhere been +declaring it; thus we should think of endless worlds as we should think +of Nature and the Phoenix, dying yet ever regenerative, sustained by a +“centrall power/ Of hid spermatick life” which sucks “sweet heavenly +juice” from above (st. 101). More closes his poem on a vision of harmony +and ceaseless energy, a most fit ending for one who dared to believe +that the new philosophy sustained the old, that all coherence had not +gone out of the world, but was always there, only waiting to be +discovered afresh in this latter age. + +The University of British Columbia + + + + +NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION + +[Footnote 1: The quotations from More’s Latin autobiography occur in the +_Opera Omnia_ (London, 1675-79), portions of which Richard Ward +translated in _The Life of . . . Henry More_ (London, 1710). Cf. the +modern edition of this work, ed. M. F. Howard (London, 1911), pp. 61, +67-68, the text followed here. There is a recent reprint of the _Opera +Omnia_ in 3 volumes (Hildesheim, 1966) with an introduction by Serge +Hutin. The “Praefatio Generalissima” begins vol. II. 1. One passage in +it which Ward did not translate describes the genesis of _Democritus +Platonissans_. More writes that after finishing _Psychathanasia_, he +felt a change of heart: “Postea vero mutata sententia furore nescio quo +Poetico incitatus supra dictum Poema scripsi, ea potissimum innixus +ratione quod liquido constaret extensionem spacii dari infinitam, nec +majores absurditates pluresve contingere posse in Materia infinita, +infinitaque; Mundi duratione, quam in infinita Extensione spacii” +(p. ix).] + +[Footnote 2: Cf. Lee Haring’s unpub. diss., “Henry More’s +_Psychathanasia_ and _Democritus Platonissans_: A Critical Edition,” +(Columbia Univ., 1961), pp. 33-57.] + +[Footnote 3: Marjorie Hope Nicolson’s various articles and books which +in part deal with More are important to the discussion that follows, and +especially “The Early Stage of Cartesianism in England,” SP, XXVI +(1929), 356-379; _Mountain Gloom and Mountain Glory_ (Ithaca, 1959), pp. +113-143, and _The Breaking of the Circle_ (New York, 1960), pp. +158-165.] + +[Footnote 4: Cf. _The Meditations and Selections from the Principles of +René Descartes_, trans. John Veitch (Chicago, 1908), p. 143. The +quotations from the letters which follow occur in Alexandre Koyré’s very +helpful book, _From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe_ +(Baltimore, 1957), pp. 114, 122-123, but the complete and original texts +can be consulted in Descartes, _Correspondance avec Arnaud et Morus_, +ed. G. Lewis (Paris, 1953).] + +[Footnote 5: This passage occurs at the beginning of “The Easie, True, +and Genuine Notion, And consistent Explication Of the Nature of a +Spirit,” a free translation of _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, I. 27-28, by +John Collins which he included in Joseph Glanvil’s _Saducismus +Triumphatus_ (London, 1681). I quote from the text as given in +_Philosophical Writings of Henry More_, ed. F. I. MacKinnon (New York, +1925), p. 183.] + +[Footnote 6: Cf. _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 8, trans. Mary Whiton +Calkins and included in John Tull Baker, _An Historical and Critical +Examination of English Space and Time Theories_ . . . (Bronxville, N.Y., +1930), p. 12. For the original, cf. _Opera Omnia_, II. 1, p. 167.] + +[Footnote 7: “_Infinitum_ igitur hoc _Extensum_ à Materia distinctum,” +_Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 9, in _Opera Omnia, loc. cit._ Quoted +by MacKinnon, p. 262.] + +[Footnote 8: This and the following reference appear in _An Explanation +of the grand Mystery of Godliness_ (London, 1660), “To the Reader,” pp. +vi and v.] + +[Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52).] + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + + +The text of this edition is reproduced from a copy in the Henry E. +Huntington Library. + + + + + Democritus Platonissans, + + Or, + + _AN ESSAY_ + + Upon The + + INFINITY OF WORLDS + + Out Of + + PLATONICK PRINCIPLES. + + Hereunto is annexed + + CUPIDS CONFLICT + + together with + + THE PHILOSOPHERS DEVOTION: + + And a Particular Interpretation + appertaining to the three last books of the + _Song of the Soul_. + + + By _H. More_ Master of Arts, and Fellow of + Christs Colledge in Cambridge. + + + Ἀγαθὸς ἦν τὸ πᾶν τόδε ὁ συνιστὰς, ἀγαθῷ δὲ οὐδεὶς περὶ οὐδενὸς + οὐδέποτε ἐγγίνεται φθόνος. Τούτου δ’ ἐκτὸς ὢν πάντα ὁτι μάλιστα + ἐβουλήθη γενέσθαι παραπλήσια αὑτῷ. Plat. + + _Pythagoras Terram Planetam quendam esse censuit qui circa solem + in centro mundi defixum converteretur, Pythagorans secuti sunt + Philolaus, Seleucus, Cleanthes, &c. imò PLATO jam senex, ut + narrat Theophrastus._ Libert. Fromond, de Orbe terræ immobili. + + + _CAMBRIDGE_ + + Printed by ROGER DANIEL, Printer to + the UNIVERSITIE. 1646. + + + + +To the Reader. + + +READER, + +_If thou standest not to the judgement of thine eye more then of thy +reason, this fragment may passe favourably, though in the neglectfull +disguise of a fragment; if the strangenesse of the argument prove no +hinderance. INFINITIE of WORLDS! A thing monstrous if assented to, and +to be startled at, especially by them, whose thoughts this one have +alwayes so engaged, that they can find no leisure to think of any thing +else. But I onely make a bare proposall to more acute judgements, of +what my sportfull fancie, with pleasure hath suggested: following my old +designe of furnishing mens minds with varietie of apprehensions +concerning the most weightie points of Philosophie, that they may not +seem rashly to have settled in the truth, though it be the truth: +a thing as ill beseeming Philosophers, as hastie prejudicative sentence +Politicall Judges. But if I had relinquishd here my wonted self, in +proving Dogmaticall, I should have found very noble Patronage for the +cause among the ancients, =Epicurus=, =Democritus=, =Lucretius=, =&c.= +Or if justice may reach the dead, do them the right, as to shew, that +though they be hooted at, by the Rout of the learned, as men of +monstrous conceits, they were either very wise or exceeding fortunate to +light on so probable and specious an opinion, in which notwithstanding +there is so much difficultie and seeming inconsistencie._ + +_Nay and that sublime and subtil Mechanick too, =DesChartes=, though he +seem to mince it must hold infinitude of worlds, or which is as harsh +one infinite one. For what is his =mundus indefinitè extensus=, but +=extensus infinitè=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos= but +=simpliciter finitus=. But if any space be left out unstuffd with Atoms, +it will hazard the dissipation of the whole frame of Nature into +disjoynted dust. As may be proved by the Principles of his own +Philosophie. And that there is space whereever God is, or any actuall +and self-subsistent Being, seems to me no plainer then one of the κοιναί +ἔννοιαι._ + +_For mine own part I must confesse these apprehensions do plainly oppose +what heretofore I have conceived; but I have sworn more faithfull +friendship with Truth then with myself. And therefore without all +remorse lay batterie against mine own edifice: not sparing to shew how +weak that is, that my self now deems not impregnably strong. I have at +the latter end of the last Canto of =Psychathanasia=, not without +triumph concluded, that the world hath not continued =ab æterno=, from +this ground:_ + + Extension + That’s infinite implies a contradiction. + +_And this is in answer to an objection against my last argument of the +souls Immortalitie, =viz.= divine goodnesse, which I there make the +measure of his providence. That ground limits the essence of the world +as well as its duration, and satisfies the curiositie of the Opposer, by +shewing the incompossibilitie in the Creature, not want of goodnesse in +the Creatour to have staid the framing of the Universe. But now roused +up by a new Philosophick furie, I answer that difficultie by taking away +the Hypothesis of either the world or time being finite: defending the +infinitude of both, which though I had done with a great deal of vigour +and life, and semblance of assent, it would have agreed well enough with +the free beat of Poesie, and might have passed for a pleasant flourish: +but the severitie of my own judgement, and sad Genius hath cast in many +correctives and coolers into the Canto it self; so that it cannot amount +to more then a discussion. And discussion is no prejudice but an honour +to the truth: for then and never but then is she Victorious. And what a +glorious Trophee shall the finite world erect when it hath vanquished +the Infinite; a Pygmee a Giant._ + +_For the better understanding of the connexion of this Appendix, with +the Poem of the souls Immortalitie; I have taken off the last stanza’s +thereof, and added some few new ones to them for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto. =Psychathan. lib. 3. Cant. 4.=_ + + _Stanz._ 33d. + + But thou who ere thou art that thus dost strive + With fierce assault my groundwork to subvert, + And boldly dost into Gods secrets dive, + Base fear my manly face note make m’ avert. + In that odde question which thou first didst stert, + I’ll plainly prove thine incapacitie, + And force thy feeble feet back to revert, + That cannot climb so high a mysterie, + I’le shew thee strange perplexed inconsistencie. + + 34 + + Why was this world from all infinitie + Not made? say’st thou: why? could it be so made + Say I. For well observe the sequencie: + If this Out-world continually hath wade + Through a long long-spun-time that never had + Beginning, then there as few circulings + Have been in the quick Moon as Saturn sad; + And still more plainly this clear truth to sing, + As many years as dayes or flitting houres have been. + + 35 + + For things that we conceive are infinite, + One th’ other no’te surpasse in quantitie. + So I have prov’d with clear convincing light, + This world could never from infinitie + Been made. Certain deficiencie + Doth alwayes follow evolution: + Nought’s infinite but tight eternitie + Close thrust into itself: extension + That’s infinite implies a contradiction. + + 36 + + So then for ought we know this world was made + So soon as such a Nature could exist; + And though that it continue, never fade, + Yet never will it be that that long twist + Of time prove infinite, though ner’e desist + From running still. But we may safely say + Time past compar’d with this long future list + Doth show as if the world but yesterday + Were made, and in due time Gods glory out may ray. + + 37 + + Then this short night and ignorant dull ages + Will quite be swallowed in oblivion; + And though this hope by many surly Sages + Be now derided, yet they’ll all be gone + In a short time, like Bats and Owls yflone + At dayes approch. This will hap certainly + At this worlds shining conflagration. + Fayes, Satyrs, Goblins the night merrily + May spend, but ruddy Sol shall make them all to flie. + + 38 + + The roaring Lions and drad beasts of prey + Rule in the dark with pitious crueltie; + But harmlesse Man is matter of the day, + Which doth his work in pure simplicitie. + God blesse his honest usefull industrie. + But pride and covetize, ambition, + Riot, revenge, self-love, hypocrisie, + Contempt of goodnesse, forc’d opinion; + These and such like do breed the worlds confusion. + + 39 + + But sooth to say though my triumphant Muse + Seemeth to vant as in got victorie, + And with puissant stroke the head to bruize + Of her stiff so, and daze his phantasie, + Captive his reason, dead each facultie: + Yet in her self so strong a force withstands + That of her self afraid, she’ll not aby, + Nor keep the field. She’ll fall by her own hand + As _Ajax_ once laid _Ajax_ dead upon the strand. + + 40 + + For thus her-self by her own self’s oppos’d; + The Heavens the Earth the universall Frame + Of living Nature God so soon disclos’d + As He could do, or she receive the same. + All times delay since that must turn to blame, + And what cannot He do that can be done? + And what might let but by th’ all-powerfull Name + Or Word of God, the Worlds Creation + More suddenly were made then mans swift thought can run? + + 41 + + Wherefore that Heavenly Power or is as young + As this Worlds date; or else some needlesse space + Of time was spent, before the Earth did clung + So close unto her-self and seas embrace + Her hollow breast, and if that time surpasse + A finite number then Infinitie + Of years before this Worlds Creation passe. + So that the durance of the Deitie + We must contract or strait his full Benignitie. + + 42 + + But for the cradle of the _Cretian Jove_, + And guardians of his vagient Infancie + What sober man but sagely will reprove? + Or drown the noise of the fond _Dactyli_ + By laughter loud? Dated Divinitie + Certes is but the dream of a drie brain: + God maim’d in goodnesse, inconsistencie; + Wherefore my troubled mind is now in pain + Of a new birth, which this one Canto’ll not contain. + +_Now Reader, thou art arrived to the Canto it self, from which I have +kept thee off by too tedious Preface and Apologie, which is seldome made +without consciousnesse of some fault, which I professe I find not in my +self, unlesse this be it, that I am more tender of thy satisfaction then +mine own credit. As for that high sullen Poem, =Cupids Conflict=, I must +leave it to thy candour and favourable censure. The =Philosophers +Devotion= I cast in onely, that the latter pages should not be +unfurnished._ + + H. M. + + +_Nihil tamen frequentius inter Autores occurrit, quám ut omnia adeò ex +moduli ferè sensuum suorum æstiment, ut ea quæ insuper infinitis rerum +spatiis extare possunt, sive superbè sive imprudenter rejiciant; quin & +ea omnia in usum suum fabricata fuisse glorientur, perinde facientes ac +si pediculi humanum caput, aut pulices sinum muliebrem propter se solos +condita existimarent, eáque demum ex gradibus saltibúsve suis +metirentur. =The Lord Herbert in his De Causis Errorum.=_ + + +_De generali totius hujus mundi aspectabilis constructione ut rectè +Philosophemur duo sunt imprimis observanda: Unum ut attendentes ad +infinitam Dei potentiam & bonitatem nè vereamur nimis ampla & pulchra & +absoluta ejus opera imaginari: sed è contra caveamus, nè si quos fortè +limites nobis non certò cognitos, in ipsis supponamus, non satìs +magnificè de creatoris potentia sentire videamur._ + +_Alterum, ut etiam caveamus, nè nimis superbè de nobis ipsis sentiamus. +Quod fieret non modò, si quos limites nobis nullâ cognitos ratione, nec +divinà revelatione, mundo vellemus affingere, tanquam si vis nostra +cogitationis, ultra id quod à Deo revera factum est ferri posset; sed +etiam maximè, si res omnes propter nos solos, ab illo creatas esse +fingeremus. =Renatus DesCartes in his Princip. Philosoph. the third +part.=_ + + + + + THE ARGUMENT. + + _’Gainst boundlesse time th’ objections made, + And wast infinity + Of worlds, are with new reasons weigh’d, + Mens judgements are left free._ + + + 1 + + Hence, hence unhallowed ears and hearts more hard + Then Winter clods fast froze with Northern wind. + But most of all, foul tongue I thee discard + That blamest all that thy dark strait’ned mind, + Can not conceive: But that no blame thou find; + What e’re my pregnant Muse brings forth to light, + She’l not acknowledge to be of her kind, + Till Eagle-like she turn them to the sight + Of the eternall Word all deckt with glory bright. + + 2 + + Strange sights do straggle in my restlesse thoughts, + And lively forms with orient colours clad + Walk in my boundlesse mind, as men ybrought + Into some spacious room, who when they’ve had + A turn or two, go out, although unbad. + All these I see and know, but entertain + None to my friend but who’s most sober sad; + Although the time my roof doth them contain + Their pretence doth possesse me till they out again. + + 3 + + And thus possest in silver trump I found + Their guise, their shape, their gesture and array. + But as in silver trumpet nought is found + When once the piercing sound is past away, + (Though while the mighty blast therein did stay, + Its tearing noise so terribly did shrill, + That it the heavens did shake, and earth dismay) + As empty I of what my flowing quill + In heedlesse hast elswhere, or here, may hap to spill. + + 4 + + For ’tis of force and not of a set will. + Ne dare my wary mind afford assent + To what is plac’d above all mortall skill. + But yet our various thoughts to represent + Each gentle wight will deem of good intent. + Wherefore with leave th’ infinitie I’ll sing + Of time, Of Space: or without leave; I’m brent + With eagre rage, my heart for joy doth spring, + And all my spirits move with pleasant trembeling. + + 5 + + An inward triumph doth my soul up-heave + And spread abroad through endlesse ’spersed aire. + My nimble mind this clammie clod doth leave, + And lightly stepping on from starre to starre + Swifter then lightning, passeth wide and farre, + Measuring th’ unbounded Heavens and wastfull skie; + Ne ought she finds her passage to debarre, + For still the azure Orb as she draws nigh + Gives back, new starres appear, the worlds walls ’fore her flie. + + 6 + + For what can stand that is so badly staid? + Well may that fall whose ground-work is unsure. + And what hath wall’d the world but thoughts unweigh’d + In freer reason? That antiquate, secure, + And easie dull conceit of corporature; + Of matter; quantitie, and such like gear + Hath made this needlesse, thanklesse inclosure, + Which I in full disdain quite up will tear + And lay all ope, that as things are they may appear. + + 7 + + For other they appear from what they are + By reason that their Circulation + Cannot well represent entire from farre + Each portion of the _Cuspis_ of the Cone + (Whose nature is elsewhere more clearly shown) + I mean each globe, whether of glaring light + Or else opake, of which the earth is one. + If circulation could them well transmit + Numbers infinite of each would strike our ’stonishd sight; + + 8 + + All in just bignesse and right colours dight + But totall presence without all defect + ’Longs onely to that Trinitie by right, + _Ahad_, _Æon_, _Psyche_ with all graces deckt, + Whose nature well this riddle will detect; + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib’d, whose Centre’s each where set, + But the low Cusp’s a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre’s every where. + + 9 + + Wherefore who’ll judge the limits of the world + By what appears unto our failing sight + Appeals to sense, reason down headlong hurld + Out of her throne by giddie vulgar might. + But here base senses dictates they will dight + With specious title of Philosophie, + And stiffly will contend their cause is right + From rotten rolls of school antiquitie, + Who constantly denie corporall Infinitie. + + 10 + + But who can prove their corporalitie + Since matter which thereto’s essentiall + If rightly sifted ’s but a phantasie. + And quantitie who’s deem’d Originall + Is matter, must with matter likewise fall. + What ever is, is Life and Energie + From God, who is th’ Originall of all; + Who being everywhere doth multiplie + His own broad shade that endlesse throughout all doth lie. + + 11 + + He from the last projection of light + Ycleep’d _Shamajim_, which is liquid fire + (It _Æther_ eke and centrall _Tasis_ hight) + Hath made each shining globe and clumperd mire + Of dimmer Orbs. For Nature doth inspire + Spermatick life, but of a different kind. + Hence those congenit splendour doth attire + And lively heat, these darknesse dead doth bind, + And without borrowed rayes they be both cold and blind. + + 12 + + All these be knots of th’ universall stole + Of sacred _Psyche_; which at first was fine, + Pure, thin, and pervious till hid powers did pull + Together in severall points and did encline + The nearer parts in one clod to combine. + Those centrall spirits that the parts did draw + The measure of each globe did then define, + Made things impenetrable here below, + Gave colour, figure, motion, and each usuall law. + + 13 + + And what is done in this Terrestriall starre + The same is done in every Orb beside. + Each flaming Circle that we see from farre + Is but a knot in _Psyches_ garment tide. + From that lax shadow cast throughout the wide + And endlesse world, that low’st projection + Of universall life each thing’s deriv’d + What e’re appeareth in corporeall fashion; + For body’s but this spirit, fixt, grosse by conspissation. + + 14 + + And that which doth conspissate active is; + Wherefore not matter but some living sprite + Of nimble Nature which this lower mist + And immense field of Atoms doth excite, + And wake into such life as best doth fit + With his own self. As we change phantasies + The essence of our soul not chang’d a whit, + So do these Atoms change their energies + Themselves unchanged into new Centreïties. + + 15 + + And as our soul’s not superficially + Colourd by phantasms, nor doth them reflect + As doth a looking-glasse such imag’rie + As it to the beholder doth detect: + No more are these lightly or smear’d or deckt + With form or motion which in them we see, + But from their inmost Centre they project + Their vitall rayes, not merely passive be, + But by occasion wak’d rouze up themselves on high. + + 16 + + So that they’re life, form, sprite, not matter pure, + For matter pure is a pure nullitie, + What nought can act is nothing, I am sure; + And if all act, that is they’ll not denie + But all that is is form: so easily + By what is true, and by what they embrace + For truth, their feigned Corporalitie + Will vanish into smoke, but on I’ll passe, + More fully we have sung this in another place. + + 17 + + Wherefore more boldly now to represent + The nature of the world, how first things were + How now they are: This endlesse large Extent + Of lowest life (which I styled whileere + The _Cuspis_ of the _Cone_ that’s every where) + Was first all dark, till in this spacious Hall + Hideous through silent horrour torches clear + And lamping lights bright shining over all + Were set up in due distances proportionall. + + 18 + + Innumerable numbers of fair Lamps + Were rightly ranged in this hollow hole, + To warm the world and chace the shady damps + Of immense darknesse, rend her pitchie stole + Into short rags more dustie dimme then coal. + Which pieces then in severall were cast + (Abhorred reliques of that vesture foul) + Upon the Globes that round those torches trac’d, + Which still fast on them stick for all they run so fast. + + 19 + + Such an one is that which mortall men call Night, + A little shred of that unbounded shade. + And such a Globe is that which Earth is hight; + By witlesse Wizzards the sole centre made + Of all the world, and on strong pillars staid. + And such a lamp or light is this our Sun, + Whose firie beams the scortched Earth invade. + But infinite such as he, in heaven won, + And more then infinite Earths about those Suns do run; + + 20 + + And to speak out: though I detest the sect + Of _Epicurus_ for their manners vile, + Yet what is true I may not well reject. + Truth’s incorruptible, ne can the style + Of vitious pen her sacred worth defile. + If we no more of truth should deign t’ embrace + Then what unworthy mouths did never soyl, + No truths at all mongst men would finden place + But make them speedie wings and back to Heaven apace. + + 21 + + I will not say our world is infinite, + But that infinitie of worlds ther be. + The Centre of our world’s the lively light + Of the warm sunne, the visible Deitie + Of this externall Temple. _Mercurie_ + Next plac’d and warm’d more throughly by his rayes, + Right nimbly ’bout his golden head doth flie: + Then _Venus_ nothing slow about him strayes, + And next our _Earth_ though seeming sad full spritely playes. + + 22 + + And after her _Mars_ rangeth in a round + With firie locks and angry flaming eye, + And next to him mild _Jupiter_ is found, + But Saturn cold wons in our utmost skie. + The skirts of his large Kingdome surely lie + Near to the confines of some other worlds + Whose Centres are the fixed starres on high, + ’Bout which as their own proper Suns are hurld + _Joves_, _Earths_ and _Saturns_; round on their own axes twurld. + + 23 + + Little or nothing are those starres to us + Which in the azure Evening gay appear + (I mean for influence) but judicious + Nature and carefull Providence her dear + And matchlesse work did so contrive whileere, + That th’ Hearts or Centres in the wide world pight + Should such a distance each to other bear, + That the dull Planets with collated light + By neighbour suns might cheared be in dampish night. + + 24 + + And as the Planets in our world (of which + The sun’s the heart and kernell) do receive + Their nightly light from suns that do enrich + Their sable mantle with bright gemmes, and give + A goodly splendour, and sad men relieve + With their fair twinkling rayes, so our worlds sunne + Becomes a starre elsewhere, and doth derive + Joynt light with others, cheareth all that won + In those dim duskish Orbs round other suns that run. + + 25 + + This is the parergon of each noble fire + Of neighbour worlds to be the nightly starre, + But their main work is vitall heat t’ inspire + Into the frigid spheres that ’bout them fare, + Which of themselves quite dead and barren are. + But by the wakening warmth of kindly dayes, + And the sweet dewie nights they well declare + Their seminall virtue in due courses raise + Long hidden shapes and life, to their great Makers praise. + + 26 + + These with their suns I severall worlds do call, + Whereof the number I deem infinite: + Else infinite darknesse were in this great Hall + Of th’ endlesse Universe; For nothing finite + Could put that immense shadow unto flight. + But if that infinite Suns we shall admit, + Then infinite worlds follow in reason right. + For every Sun with Planets must be fit, + And have some mark for his farre-shining shafts to hit. + + 27 + + But if he shine all solitarie, alone, + What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + Of his existence? wherefore every one + Hath a due number of dim Orbs that wend + Around their centrall fire. But wrath will rend + This strange composure back’d with reason stout + And rasher tongues right speedily will spend + Their forward censure, that my wits run out + On wool-gathering, through infinite spaces all about. + + 28 + + What sober man will dare once to avouch + An infinite number of dispersed starres? + This one absurdity will make him crouch + And eat his words; Division nought impairs + The former whole, nor he augments that spares. + Strike every tenth out, that which doth remain, + An equall number with the former shares, + And let the tenth alone, th’ whole nought doth gain, + For infinite to infinite is ever the same. + + 29 + + The tenth is infinite as the other nine, + Or else, nor they, nor all the ten entire + Are infinite. Thus one infinite doth adjoyn + Others unto it and still riseth higher. + And if those single lights hither aspire, + This strange prodigious inconsistencie + Groweth still stranger, if each fixed fire + (I mean each starre) prove Sunnes, and Planets flie + About their flaming heads amid the thronged skie. + + 30 + + For whatsoever that their number be + Whether by seavens, or eighths, or fives, or nines, + They round each fixed lamp; Infinity + Will be redoubled thus by many times. + Besides each greater Planet th’ attendance finds + Of lesser. Our _Earths_ handmaid is the Moon, + Which to her darkned side right duly shines, + And _Jove_ hath foure, as hath been said aboven, + And _Saturn_ more then foure if the plain truth were known. + + 31 + + And if these globes be regions of life + And severall kinds of plants therein do grow, + Grasse, flowers, hearbs, trees, which the impartiall knife + Of all consuming Time still down doth mow, + And new again doth in succession show: + Which also ’s done in flies, birds, men and beasts; + Adde sand, pearls, pebbles, that the ground do strow + Leaves, quills, hairs, thorns, blooms, you may think the rest + Their kinds by mortall penne can not well be exprest: + + 32 + + And if their kinds no man may reckon well, + The summe of successive particulars + No mind conceive nor tongue can ever tell. + And yet this mist of numbers (as appears) + Belongs to one of these opacous sphears. + Suppose this _Earth_; what then will all those Rounds + Produce? No _Atlas_ such a load upbears. + In this huge endlesse heap o’rewhelmed, drownd, + Choak’d, stifled, lo! I lie, breathlesse, even quite confound. + + 33 + + Yet give me space a while but to respire, + And I my self shal fairly well out-wind; + Keep this position true, unhurt, entire, + That you no greater difficulty find + In this new old opinion here defin’d + Of infinite worlds, then one world doth imply. + For if we do with steddy patience mind + All is resolv’d int’ one absurdity, + The grant of something greater then infinitie. + + 34 + + That God is infinite all men confesse, + And that the Creature is some realty + Besides Gods self, though infinitely lesse. + Joyn now the world unto the Deity. + What? is there added no more entitie + By this conjunction, then there was before? + Is the broad breasted earth? the spacious skie + Spangled with silver light, and burning Ore? + And the wide bellowing seas, whose boyling billows roar, + + 35 + + Are all these nothing? But you will reply; + As is the question so we ought restrain + Our answer unto Corporeity. + But that the phantasie of the body’s vain + I did before unto you maken plain. + But that no man depart unsatisfi’d + A while this Universe here will we feigne + _Corporeall_, till we have gainly tride. + If ought that’s bodily may infinite abide. + + 36 + + What makes a body saving quantity? + What quantitie unlesse extension? + Extension if ’t admit infinity + Bodies admit boundlesse dimension. + That some extension forward on doth run + Withouten limits, endlesse, infinite + Is plane from Space, that ever paceth on + Unstop’d, unstaid, till it have filled quite + That immense infinite Orb where God himself doth sit. + + 37 + + But yet more sensibly this truth to show + If space be ended set upon that end + Some strong arm’d Archer with his Parthian bow, + That from that place with speedy force may send + His fleeter shafts, and so still forward wend. + Where? When shall he want room his strength to trie? + But here perversly subtill you’l contend + Nothing can move in mere vacuity, + And space is nought, so not extended properly. + + 38 + + To solve these knots I must call down from high + Some heavenly help, feather with angels wing + The sluggish arrow. If it will not flie, + Sent out from bow stiff-bent with even string, + Let angels on their backs it thither bring + Where your free mind appointed had before, + And then hold on, till in your travelling + You be well wearied, finding ever more + Free passage for their flight, and what they flying bore. + + 39 + + Now to that shift that sayes Vacuity + Is nought, and therefore not at all extent + We answer thus: There is a distancy + In empty space, though we be well content + To balk that question (for we never meant + Such needlesse niceties) whether that it be + A reall being; yet that there’s parts distent + One from another, no mans phantasie + Can e’re reject if well he weigh’t and warily. + + 40 + + For now conceive the aire and azure skie + All swept away from Saturn to the Sunne, + Which each is to be wrought by him on high. + Then in this place let all the Planets runne + (As erst they did before this feat was done) + If not by nature, yet by divine power, + Ne one hairs breadth their former circuits shun + And still for fuller proof, th’ Astronomer + Observe their hights as in the empty heavens they scoure. + + 41 + + Will then their Parallaxes prove all one + Or none, or different still as before? + If so, their distances by mortall men + Must be acknowledg’d such as were of yore, + Measur’d by leagues, miles, stades, nor lesse nor more + From circuit unto circuit shall be found + Then was before the sweeping of the floor. + That distance therefore hath most certain ground + In emptinesse we may conclude with reason sound. + + 42 + + If distance now so certainly attend + All emptinesse (as also mensuration + Attendeth distance) distance without end + Is wide disperst above imagination + (For emptinesse is void of limitation) + And this unbounded voidnesse doth admit + The least and greatest measures application; + The number thus of the greatest that doth fit + This infinite void space is likewise infinite. + + 43 + + But what so e’re that infinite number be, + A lesser number will a number give + So farre exceeding in infinity + That number as this measure we conceive + To fall short of the other. But I’ll leave + This present way and a new course will trie + Which at the same mark doth as fully drive + And with a great deal more facility. + Look on this endlesse Space as one whole quantity. + + 44 + + Which in your mind int’ equall parts divide, + Tens, hundreds, thousands or what pleaseth best. + Each part denominate doth still abide + An infinite portion, else nor all the rest + Makes one infinitude. + For if one thousandth part may be defin’d + By finite measures eas’ly well exprest, + A myriad suppose of miles assign’d + Then to a thousand myriads is the whole confin’d. + + 45 + + Wherefore this wide and wast Vacuity, + Which endlesse is outstretched thorough all, + And lies even equall with the Deity, + Nor is a thing meerly imaginall, + (For it doth farre mens phantasies forestall + Nothing beholden to our devicefull thought) + This inf’nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + And has as great perplexities ybrought + As if this empty space with bodies were yfraught. + + 46 + + Nor have we yet the face once to denie + But that it is although we mind it not; + For all once minded such perplexity + It doth create to puzzled reason, that + She sayes and unsayes, do’s she knows not what. + Why then should we the worlds infinity + Misdoubt, because when as we contemplate + Its nature, such strange inconsistency + And unexpected sequels, we therein descry? + + 47 + + Who dare gainsay but God is every where + Unbounded, measurelesse, all infinite; + Yet the same difficulties meet us here + Which erst us met and did so sore affright + With their strange vizards. This will follow right + Where ever we admit infinity + Every denominated part proves streight + A portion infinite, which if it be, + One infinite will into myriads multiply. + + 48 + + But with new argument to draw more near + Our purpos’d end. If God’s omnipotent + And this omnipotent God be every where, + Where e’re he is then can he eas’ly vent + His mighty virtue thorough all extent. + What then shall hinder but a roscid aire + With gentle heat each where be ’sperst and sprent. + Unlesse omnipotent power we will empair, + And say that empty space his working can debarre. + + 49 + + Where now this one supposed world is pight + Was not that space at first all vain and void? + Nor ought said; no, when he said, _Let ’t be light_. + Was this one space better then all beside, + And more obedient to what God decreed? + Or would not all that endlesse emptinesse + Gladly embrac’d (if he had ever tride) + His just command? and what might come to passe + Implies no contradictious inconsistentnesse. + + 50 + + Wherefore this precious sweet Ethereall dew + For ought we know God each where did distill, + And thorough all that hollow voidnesse threw + And the wide gaping drought therewith did fill, + His endlesse overflowing goodnesse spill + In every place; which streight he did contrive + Int’ infinite severall worlds, as his best skill + Did him direct and creatures could receive + For matter infinite needs infinite worlds must give. + + 51 + + The Centre of each severall world’s a sunne + With shining beams and kindly warming heat, + About whose radiant crown the Planets runne, + Like reeling moths around a candle light, + These all together, one world I conceit. + And that even infinite such worlds there be, + That inexhausted Good that God is bight + A full sufficient reason is to me, + Who simple Goodnesse make the highest Deity. + + 52 + + Als make himself the key of all his works + And eke the measure of his providence; + The piercing eye of truth to whom nought lurks + But lies wide ope unbar’d of all pretense. + But frozen hearts! away! flie farre from hence, + Unlesse you’l thaw at this celestiall fire + And melt into one minde and holy sense + With Him that doth all heavenly hearts inspire, + So may you with my soul in one assent conspire. + + 53 + + But what’s within, uneath is to convey + To narrow vessels that are full afore. + And yet this truth as wisely as I may + I will insinuate, from senses store + Borrowing a little aid. Tell me therefore + When you behold with your admiring eyes + Heavens Canopie all to bespangled o’re + With sprinkled starres, what can you well devize + Which causen may such carelesse order in the skies? + + 54 + + A peck of peasen rudely poured out + On plaister flore, from hasty heedlesse hond + Which lie all carelesse scattered about, + To sight do in as seemly order stond, + As those fair glistering lights in heaven are found. + If onely for this world they were intended, + Nature would have adorn’d this azure round + With better art, and easily have mended + This harsh disord’red order, and more beauty lended. + + 55 + + But though these lights do seem so rudely thrown + And scattered throughout the spacious skie, + Yet each most seemly sits in his own Throne + In distance due and comely Majesty; + And round their lordly seats their servants hie + Keeping a well-proportionated space + One from another, doing chearfully + Their dayly task. No blemmish may deface + The worlds in severall deckt with all art and grace. + + 56 + + But the appearance of the nightly starres + Is but the by-work of each neighbour sun; + Wherefore lesse marvell if it lightly shares + Of neater Art; and what proportion + Were fittest for to distance one from one + (Each world I mean from other) is not clear. + Wherefore it must remain as yet unknown + Why such perplexed distances appear + Mongst the dispersed lights in Heaven thrown here & there. + + 57 + + Again, that eminent similitude + Betwixt the starres and Phœbus fixed light, + They being both with steddinesse indu’d, + No whit removing whence they first were pight, + No serious man will count a reason slight + To prove them both, both fixed suns and starres + And Centres all of severall worlds by right, + For right it is that none a sun debarre + Of Planets which his just and due retinue are. + + 58 + + If starres be merely starres not centrall lights + Why swell they into so huge bignesses? + For many (as Astronomers do write) + Our sun in bignesse many times surpasse. + If both their number and their bulks were lesse + Yet lower placed, light and influence + Would flow as powerfully, and the bosome presse + Of the impregned Earth, that fruit from hence + As fully would arise, and lordly affluence. + + 59 + + Wherefore these fixed Fires mainly attend + Their proper charge in their own Universe, + And onely by the by of court’sie lend + Light to our world, as our world doth reverse + His thankfull rayes so farre as he can pierce + Back unto other worlds. But farre aboven + Further then furthest thought of man can traverse, + Still are new worlds aboven and still aboven. + In the endlesse hollow Heaven, and each world hath his sun. + + 60 + + An hint of this we have in winter-nights, + When reason may see clearer then our eye, + Small subtil starres appear unto our sights + As thick as pin-dust scattered in the skie. + Here we accuse our seeing facultie + Of weaknesse, and our sense of foul deceit, + We do accuse and yet we know not why. + But the plain truth is, from a vaster hight + The numerous upper worlds amaze our dazzled sight. + + 61 + + Now sith so farre as sense can ever trie + We find new worlds, that still new worlds there be, + And round about in infinite numbers lie, + Further then reach of mans weak phantasie + (Without suspition of temeritie) + We may conclude; as well as men conclude + That there is aire farre ’bove the mountains high, + Or that th’ Earth a sad substance doth include + Even to the Centre with like qualities indu’d. + + 62 + + For who did ever the Earths Centre pierce, + And felt or sand or gravell with his spade + At such a depth? what Histories rehearse + That ever wight did dare for to invade + Her bowels but one mile in dampish shade? + Yet I’ll be bold to say that few or none + But deem this globe even to the bottome made + Of solid earth, and that her nature’s one + Throughout, though plain experience hath it never shown. + + 63 + + But sith sad earth so farre as they have gone + They still descrie, eas’ly they do inferre + Without all check of reason, were they down + Never so deep, like substance would appear, + Ne dream of any hollow horrour there. + My mind with like uncurb’d facilitie + Concludes from what by sight is seen so clear + That ther’s no barren wast vacuitie + Above the worlds we see, but still new worlds there lie, + + 64 + + And still and still even to infinitie. + Which point since I so fitly have propos’d, + Abating well the inconsistencie + Of harsh infinitude therein supposd + And prov’d by reasons never to be loos’d + That infinite space and infinite worlds there be; + This load laid down, I’m freely now dispos’d + Awhile to sing of times infinitie, + May infinite Time afford me but his smallest fee. + + 65 + + For smallest fee of time will serve my turn + This part for to dispatch, sith endlesse space + (Whose perplext nature well mans brains might turn, + And weary wits disorder and misplace) + I have already passed: for like case + Is in them both. He that can well untie + The knots that in those infinite worlds found place, + May easily answer each perplexitie + Of these worlds infinite matters endlesse durancie. + + 66 + + The _Cuspis_ and the _Basis_ of the _Cone_ + Were both at once dispersed every where; + But the pure _Basis_ that is God alone: + Else would remotest sights as bigge appear + Unto our eyes as if we stood them near. + And if an Harper harped in the Moon, + His silver sound would touch our tickled eare: + Or if one hollowed from highest Heaven aboven, + In sweet still Evening-tide, his voice would hither roam. + + 67 + + This all would be if the _Cuspe_ of the _Cone_ + Were very God. Wherefore I rightly ’t deem + Onely a Creaturall projection, + Which flowing yet from God hath ever been, + Fill’d the vast empty space with its large streem. + But yet it is not totall every where + As was even now by reason rightly seen: + Wherefore not God, whose nature doth appear + Entirely omnipresent, weigh’d with judgement clear, + + 68 + + A reall infinite matter, distinct + And yet proceeding from the Deitie + Although with different form as then untinct + Has ever been from all Eternitie. + Now what delay can we suppose to be, + Since matter alway was at hand prepar’d + Before the filling of the boundlesse skie + With framed Worlds; for nought at all debar’d, + Nor was His strength ungrown, nor was His strength empair’d. + + 69 + + How long would God be forming of a flie? + Or the small wandring moats that play i’ th’ sun? + Least moment well will serve none can denie, + His _Fiat_ spoke and streight the thing is done. + And cannot He make all the World as soon? + For in each Atom of the matter wide + The totall Deitie doth entirely won, + His infinite presence doth therein reside, + And in this presence infinite powers do ever abide. + + 70 + + Wherefore at once from all eternitie + The infinite number of these Worlds He made, + And will conserve to all infinitie, + And still drive on their ever-moving trade, + And steddy hold what ever must be staid; + Ne must one mite be minish’d of the summe, + Ne must the smallest atom ever fade, + But still remain though it may change its room; + This truth abideth strong from everlasting doom. + + 71 + + Ne fear I what hard sequel after-wit + Will draw upon me; that the number’s one + Of years, moneths, dayes, houres, and of minutes fleet + Which from eternitie have still run on. + I plainly did confesse awhile agone + That be it what it will that’s infinite + More infinites will follow thereupon, + But that all infinites do justly fit + And equall be, my reason did not yet admit. + + 72 + + But as my emboldened mind, I know not how, + In empty Space and pregnant Deitie + Endlesse infinitude dares to allow, + Though it begets the like perplexitie: + So now my soul drunk with Divinitie, + And born away above her usuall bounds + With confidence concludes infinitie + Of Time of Worlds, of firie flaming Rounds; + Which sight in sober mood my spirits quite confounds. + + 73 + + And now I do awhile but interspire + A torrent of objections ’gainst me beat, + My boldnesse to represse and strength to tire. + But I will wipe them off like summer sweat, + And make their streams streight back again retreat. + If that these worlds, say they, were ever made + From infinite time, how comes ’t to passe that yet + Art is not perfected, nor metalls fade, + Nor mines of grimie coal low-hid in griesly shade. + + 74 + + But the remembrance of the ancient Floud + With ease will wash such arguments away. + Wherefore with greater might I am withstood. + The strongest stroke wherewith they can assay + To vanquish me is this; The Date or Day + Of the created World, which all admit; + Nor may my modest Muse this truth gainsay + In holy Oracles so plainly writ. + Wherefore the Worlds continuance is not infinite. + + 75 + + Now lend me, _Origen_! a little wit + This sturdy stroke right fairly to avoid, + Lest that my rasher rymes, while they ill fit + With _Moses_ pen, men justly may deride + And well accuse of ignorance or pride. + But thou, O holy Sage! with piercing sight + Who readst those sacred rolls, and hast well tride + With searching eye thereto what fitteth right + Thy self of former Worlds right learnedly dost write: + + 76 + + To weet that long ago these Earths have been + Peopled with men and beasts before this Earth, + And after this shall others be again + And other beasts and other humane birth. + Which once admit, no strength that reason bear’th + Of this worlds Date and Adams efformation, + Another Adam once received breath + And still another in endlesse repedation, + And this must perish once by finall conflagration. + + 77 + + Witnesse ye Heavens if what I say’s not true, + Ye flaming Comets wandering on high, + And new fixt starres found in that Circle blue, + The one espide in glittering _Cassiopie_, + The other near to _Ophiuchus_ thigh. + Both bigger then the biggest starres that are, + And yet as farre remov’d from mortall eye + As are the furthest, so those Arts declare + Unto whose reaching sight Heavens mysteries lie bare. + + 78 + + Wherefore these new-seen lights were greater once + By many thousand times then this our sphear + Wherein we live, ’twixt good and evil chance. + Which to my musing mind doth strange appear + If those large bodies then first shaped were. + For should so goodly things so soon decay? + Neither did last the full space of two year. + Wherefore I cannot deem that their first day + Of being, when to us they sent out shining ray. + + 79 + + But that they were created both of old, + And each in his due time did fair display + Themselves in radiant locks more bright then gold, + Or silver sheen purg’d from all drossie clay. + But how they could themselves in this array + Expose to humane sight, who did before + Lie hid, is that which well amazen may + The wisest man and puzzle evermore: + Yet my unwearied thoughts this search could not give o’re. + + 80 + + Which when I’d exercis’d in long pursuit + To finden out what might the best agree + With warie reason, at last I did conclude + That there’s no better probabilitie + Can be produc’d of that strange prodigie, + But that some mighty Planet that doth run + About some fixed starre in _Cassiopie_ + As _Saturn_ paceth round about our Sun, + Unusuall light and bignesse by strange fate had wonne. + + 81 + + Which I conceive no gainer way is done + Then by the siezing of devouring fire + On that dark Orb, which ’fore but dimly shone + With borrowed light, not lightened entire, + But halfed like the Moon. + And while the busie flame did sieze throughout, + And search the bowels of the lowest mire + Of that _Saturnian_ Earth; a mist broke out, + And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. + + 82 + + Which being gilded with the piercing rayes + Of its own sun and every neighbour starre, + It soon appear’d with shining silver blaze, + And then gan first be seen of men from farre. + Besides that firie flame that was so narre + The Planets self, which greedily did eat + The wastning mold, did contribute a share + Unto this brightnesse; and what I conceit + Of this starre doth with that of _Ophiuchus_ sit. + + 83 + + And like I would adventure to pronounce + Of all the Comets that above the Moon, + Amidst the higher Planets rudely dance + In course perplex, but that from this rash doom + I’m bett off by their beards and tails farre strown + Along the skie, pointing still opposite + Unto the sun, however they may roam; + Wherefore a cluster of small starres unite + These meteors some do deem, perhaps with judgement right. + + 84 + + And that these tayls are streams of the suns light + Breaking through their near bodies as through clouds. + Besides the Optick glasse has shown to sight + The dissolution of these starrie crouds. + Which thing if ’t once be granted and allow’d, + I think without all contradiction + They may conclude these Meteors are routs + Of wandring starres, which though they one by one + Cannot be seen, yet joyn’d, cause this strange vision. + + 85 + + And yet methinks, in my devicefull mind + Some reasons that may happily represse + These arguments it’s not uneath to find. + For how can the suns rayes that be transmisse + Through these loose knots in Comets, well expresse + Their beards or curld tayls utmost incurvation? + Beside, the conflux and congeries + Of lesser lights a double augmentation + Implies, and ’twixt them both a lessening coarctation. + + 86 + + For when as once these starres are come so nigh + As to seem one, the Comet must appear + In biggest show, because more loose they lie + Somewhat spread out, but as they draw more near + The compasse of his head away must wear, + Till he be brought to his least magnitude; + And then they passing crosse, he doth repair + Himself, and still from his last losse renew’d + Grows till he reach the measure which we first had view’d. + + 87 + + And then farre distanc’d they bid quite adiew, + Each holding on in solitude his way. + Ne any footsteps in the empty Blew + Is to be found of that farre-shining ray. + Which processe sith no man did yet bewray, + It seems unlikely that the Comets be + Synods of starres that in wide Heaven stray. + Their smallnesse eke and numerositie + Encreaseth doubt and lessens probabilitie. + + 88 + + A cluster of them makes not half a Moon, + What should such tennis-balls do in the skie? + And few ’ll not figure out the fashion + Of those round firie meteors on high. + Ne ought their beards much move us, that do lie + Ever cast forward from the Morning sunne, + Nor back cast tayls turn’d to our Evening-eye, + That fair appear when as the day is done. + This matter may lie hid in the starres shadowed Cone. + + 89 + + For in these Planets conflagration, + Although the smoke mount up exactly round, + Yet by the suns irradiation + Made thin and subtil no where else its found + By sight, save in the dim and duskish bound + Of the projected Pyramid opake, + Opake with darknesse, smoke and mists unsound. + Yet gilded like a foggie cloud doth make + Reflection of fair light that doth our senses take. + + 90 + + This is the reason of that constant site + Of Comets tayls and beards: And that their show’s + Not pure Pyramidall, nor their ends seem streight + But bow’d like brooms, is from the winds that blow, + I mean Ethereall winds, such as below + Men finden under th’ Equinoctiall line. + Their widend beards this aire so broad doth strow + Incurvate, and or more or lesse decline: + If not, let sharper wits more subtly here divine. + + 91 + + But that experiment of the Optick glasse + The greatest argument of all I deem, + Ne can I well encounter nor let passe + So strong a reason if I may esteem + The feat withouten fallacie to been, + Nor judge these little sparks and subtile lights + Some auncient fixed starres though now first seen, + That near the ruin’d Comets place were pight, + On which that Optic instrument by chance did light. + + 92 + + Nor finally an uncouth after-sport + Of th’ immense vapours that the searching fire + Had boyled out, which now themselves consort + In severall parts and closely do conspire, + Clumper’d in balls of clouds and globes entire + Of crudled smoke and heavy clunging mists; + Which when they’ve staid awhile at last expire; + But while they stay any may see that lists + So be that Optick Art his naturall sight assists. + + 93 + + If none of these wayes I may well decline + The urging weight of this hard argument, + Worst is but parting stakes and thus define: + Some Comets be but single Planets brent, + Others a synod joyn’d in due consent: + And that no new found Meteors they are: + Ne further may my wary mind assent + From one single experience solitaire, + Till all-discovering Time shall further truth declare. + + 94 + + But for the new fixt starres there’s no pretence, + Nor beard nor tail to take occasion by, + To bring in that unluckie inference + Which weaken might this new built mysterie. + Certes in raging fire they both did frie. + A signe whereof you rightly may aread + Their colours changeable varietie + First clear and white, then yellow, after red, + Then blewly pale, then duller still, till perfect dead. + + 95 + + And as the order of these colours went, + So still decreas’d that Cassiopean starre, + Till at the length to sight it was quite spent: + Which observations strong reasons are, + Consuming fire its body did empare + And turn to ashes. And the like will be + In all the darksome Planets wide and farre. + Ne can our Earth from this state standen free + A Planet as the rest, and Planets fate must trie. + + 96 + + Ne let the tender heart too harshly deem + Of this rude sentence: for what rigour more + Is in consuming fire then drowning stream + Of Noahs floud which all creaturs choak’d of yore, + Saving those few that were kept safe in store + In that well builded ship? All else beside + Men, birds, and beasts, the lion, buck, and bore + Dogs, kine, sheep, horses all that did abide + Upon the spacious earth, perish’d in waters wide. + + 97 + + Nor let the slow and misbelieving wight + Doubt how the fire on the hard earth may seize; + No more then how those waters erst did light + Upon the sinfull world. For as the seas + Boyling with swelling waves aloft did rise, + And met with mighty showers and pouring rain + From Heavens spouts; so the broad flashing skies + Thickned with brimstone and clouds of fiery bain + Shall meet with raging Etna’s and Vesuvius flame. + + 98 + + The burning bowels of this wasting ball + Shall gullup up great flakes of rolling fire, + And belch out pitchie flames, till over all + Having long rag’d, Vulcan himself shall tire + And (th’ earth an ashheap made) shall then expire: + Here Nature laid asleep in her own Urn + With gentle rest right easly will respire, + Till to her pristine task she do return + As fresh as Phenix young under th’ Arabian Morn. + + 99 + + O happy they that then the first are born, + While yet the world is in her vernall pride: + For old corruption quite away is worn + As metall pure so is her mold well tride. + Sweet dews, cool-breathing airs, and spaces wide + Of precious spicery wafted with soft wind: + Fair comely bodies goodly beautifi’d + Snow-limb’d, rose-cheek’d, ruby-lip’d, pearl-ted, star eyn’d + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin’d. + + 100 + + For all the while her purged ashes rest + These rellicks dry suck in the heavenly dew, + And roscid Manna rains upon her breast, + And fills with sacred milk sweet fresh and new, + Where all take life and doth the world renew; + And then renew’d with pleasure be yfed. + A green soft mantle doth her bosome strew + With fragrant herbs and flowers embellished, + Where without fault or shame all living creatures bed. + + 101 + + Ne ought we doubt how Nature may recover + In her own ashes long time buried, + For nought can ever consume that centrall power + Of hid spermatick life, which lies not dead + In that rude heap, but safely covered; + And doth by secret force suck from above + Sweet heavenly juice, and therewith nourished + Till her just bulk, she doth her life emprove, + Made mother of much children that about her move. + + 102 + + Witnesse that uncouth bird of Arabie + Which out of her own ruines doth revive + With all th’ exploits of skillfull Chymistrie, + Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. + Let universall Nature witnesse give + That what I sing ’s no feigned forgerie. + A needlesse task new fables to contrive, + But what I sing is seemly verity + Well suting with right reason and Philosophie. + + 103 + + But the fit time of this mutation + No man can finden out with all his pains. + For the small sphears of humane reason run + Too swift within his narrow compast brains. + But that vast Orb of Providence contains + A wider period; turneth still and slow. + Yet at the last his aimed end he gains. + And sure at last a fire will overflow + The aged Earth, and all must into ashes go. + + 104 + + Then all the stately works and monuments + Built on this bottome shall to ruine fall. + And all those goodly statues shall be brent + Which were erect to the memoriall + Of Kings Kæsars, ne may better ’fall + The boastfull works of brave Poetick pride + That promise life and fame perpetuall; + Ne better fate may these poor lines abide. + Betide what will to what may live no lenger tide! + + 105 + + This is the course that never-dying Nature + Might ever hold from all Eternitie, + Renuing still the faint decayed creature + Which would grow stark and drie as aged tree, + Unlesse by wise preventing Destinie + She were at certain periods of years + Reduced back unto her Infancie, + Which well fram’d argument (as plain appears) + My ship from those hard rocks and shelves right safely stears. + + 106 + + Lo! now my faithfull muse hath represented + Both frames of Providence to open view, + And hath each point in orient colours painted + Not to deceive the sight with seeming shew + But earnest to give either part their due; + Now urging th’ uncouth strange perplexitie + Of infinite worlds and Time, then of a new + Softening that harsher inconsistencie + To fit the immense goodnesse of the Deity. + + 107 + + And here by curious men ’t may be expected + That I this knot with judgement grave decide, + And then proceed to what else was objected. + But, ah! What mortall wit may dare t’ areed + Heavens counsels in eternall horrour hid? + And Cynthius pulls me by my tender ear + Such signes I must observe with wary heed: + Wherefore my restlesse Muse at length forbear. + Thy silver sounded Lute hang up in silence here. + + + FINIS. + + + + + Cupids Conflict. + + + _Mela._ _Cleanthes._ + + _Cl._ _Mela_ my dear! why been thy looks so sad + As if thy gentle heart were sunk with care? + Impart thy case; for be it good or bad + Friendship in either will bear equall share. + _Mel._ Not so; _Cleanthes_, for if bad it be + My self must bleed afresh by wounding thee. + + But what it is, my slow, uncertain wit + Cannot well judge. But thou shalt sentence give + How manfully of late my self I quit, + When with that lordly lad by chance I strive: + _Cl._ Of friendship _Mela_! let’s that story hear. + _Mel._ Sit down _Cleanthes_ then, and lend thine ear. + + Upon a day as best did please my mind + Walking abroad amidst the verdant field + Scattering my carefull thoughts i’ th’ wanton wind + The pleasure of my path so farre had till’d + My feeble feet that without timely rest + Uneath it were to reach my wonted nest. + + In secret shade farre moved from mortals sight + In lowly dale my wandring limbs I laid + On the cool grasse where Natures pregnant wit + A goodly bower of thickest trees had made. + Amongst the leaves the chearfull birds did fare + And sweetly carrol’d to the echoing air. + + Hard at my feet ran down a crystall spring + Which did the cumbrous pebbles hoarsly chide + For standing in the way. Though murmuring + The broken stream his course did rightly guide + And strongly pressing forward with disdain + The grassie flore divided into twain. + + The place a while did feed my foolish eye + As being new, and eke mine idle ear + Did listen oft to that wild harmonie + And oft my curious phansie would compare + How well agreed the Brooks low muttering Base, + With the birds trebbles pearch’d on higher place. + + But senses objects soon do glut the soul, + Or rather weary with their emptinesse; + So I, all heedlesse how the waters roll + And mindlesse of the mirth the birds expresse, + Into my self ’gin softly to retire + After hid heavenly pleasures to enquire. + + While I this enterprize do entertain; + Lo! on the other side in thickest bushes + A mighty noise! with that a naked swain + With blew and purple wings streight rudely rushes. + He leaps down light upon the flowry green, + Like sight before mine eyes had never seen. + + At’s snowy back the boy a quiver wore + Right fairly wrought and gilded all with gold. + A silver bow in his left hand he bore, + And in his right a ready shaft did hold. + Thus armed stood he and betwixt us tway + The labouring brook did break his toilsome way. + + The wanton lad whose sport is others pain + Did charge his bended bow with deadly dart, + And drawing to the head with might and main, + With fell intent he aim’d to hit my heart. + But ever as he shot his arrows still + In their mid course dropt down into the rill. + + Of wondrous virtues that in waters been + Is needlesse to rehearse, all books do ring + Of those strange rarities. But ne’re was seen + Such virtue as resided in this spring. + The novelty did make me much admire + But stirr’d the hasty youth to ragefull ire. + + As heedlesse fowls that take their per’lous flight + Over that bane of birds, _Averno lake_, + Do drop down dead: so dead his shafts did light + Amid this stream, which presently did slake + Their fiery points, and all their feathers wet + Which made the youngster Godling inly fret. + + Thus lustfull Love (this was that love I ween) + Was wholly changed to consuming ire. + And eath it was, sith they’re so near a kin + They be both born of one rebellious sire. + But he supprest his wrath and by and by + For feathered darts, he winged words let flie: + + Vain man! said he, and would thou wer’st not vain + That hid’st thy self in solitary shade + And spil’st thy precious youth in sad disdain + Hating this lifes delight! Hath god thee made + Part of this world, and wilt not thou partake + Of this worlds pleasure for its makers sake? + + Unthankfull wretch! Gods gifts thus to reject + And maken nought of Natures goodly dower + That milders still away through thy neglect + And dying fades like unregarded flower. + This life is good, what’s good thou must improve, + The highest improvement of this life is love. + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + Or Stygian vow, or thrice accursed charm + Should in this place free passage thus denie + Unto my shafts as messengers of harm! + Had I but once transfixt thy froward breast, + How would’st thou then----I staid not for the rest; + + But thus half angry to the boy replide: + How would’st thou then my soul of sense bereave! + I blinded, thee more blind should choose my guide! + How would’st thou then my muddied mind deceive + With fading shows, that in my errour vile, + Base lust; I love should tearm, vice, virtue stile. + + How should my wicked rymes then idolize + Thy wretched power, and with impious wit + Impute thy base born passions to the skies + And my souls sicknesse count an heavenly fit, + My weaknesse strength, my wisdome to be caught + My bane my blisse, mine ease to be o’rewraught. + + How often through my fondly feigning mind + And frantick phansie, in my Mistris eye + Should I a thousand fluttering Cupids find + Bathing their busie wings? How oft espie + Under the shadow of her eye-brows fair + Ten thousand Graces sit all naked bare? + + Thus haunted should I be with such feat fiends: + A pretty madnesse were my portion due. + Foolish my self I would not hear my friends. + Should deem the true for false, the false for true. + My way all dark more slippery then ice + My attendents, anger, pride, and jealousies. + + Unthankfull then to God I should neglect + All the whole world for one poor sorry wight, + Whose pestilent eye into my heart project + Would burn like poysonous Comet in my spright. + Aye me! how dismall then would prove that day + Whose onely light sprang from so fatall ray. + + Who seeks for pleasure in this mortall life + By diving deep into the body base + Shall loose true pleasure: But who gainly strive + Their sinking soul above this bulk to place + Enlarg’d delight they certainly shall find + Unbounded joyes to fill their boundlesse mind. + + When I my self from mine own self do quit + And each thing else; then an all-spreaden love + To the vast Universe my soul doth sit + Makes me half equall to all-seeing Jove. + My mighty wings high stretch’d then clapping light + I brush the starres and make them shine more bright. + + Then all the works of God with close embrace + I dearly hug in my enlarged arms + All the hid paths of heavenly Love I trace + And boldly listen to his secret charms. + Then clearly view I where true light doth rise, + And where eternall Night low-pressed lies. + + Thus lose I not by leaving small delight + But gain more joy, while I my self suspend + From this and that; for then with all unite + I all enjoy, and love that love commends. + That all is more then loves the partiall soul + Whose petty loves th’ impartiall fates controll. + + Ah son! said he, (and laughed very loud) + That trickst thy tongue with uncouth strange disguize, + Extolling highly that with speeches proud + To mortall men that humane state denies, + And rashly blaming what thou never knew + Let men experienc’d speak, if they’ll speak true. + + Had I once lanc’d thy froward flinty heart + And cruddled bloud had thawn with living fire + And prickt thy drousie sprite with gentle smart + How wouldst thou wake to kindly sweet desire, + Thy soul fill’d up with overflowing pleasures + Would dew thy lips with hony-dropping measures. + + Then wouldst thou caroll loud and sweetly sing + In honour of my sacred Deity + That all the woods and hollow hills would ring + Reechoing thy heavenly harmonie. + And eke the hardy rocks with full rebounds + Would faithfully return thy silver sounds. + + Next unto me would be thy Mistresse fair, + Whom thou might setten out with goodly skill + Her peerlesse beauty and her virtues rare, + That all would wonder at thy gracefull quill. + And lastly in us both thy self shouldst raise + And crown thy temples with immortall bayes. + + But now thy riddles all men do neglect, + Thy rugged lines of all do lie forlorn. + Unwelcome rymes that rudely do detect + The Readers ignorance. Men holden scorn + To be so often non-plusd or to spell, + And on one stanza a whole age to dwell. + + Besides this harsh and hard obscuritie + Of the hid sense, thy words are barbarous + And strangely new, and yet too frequently + Return, as usuall plain and obvious, + So that the show of the new thick-set patch + Marres all the old with which it ill doth match. + + But if thy haughty mind, forsooth, would deign + To stoop so low to hearken to my lore, + Then wouldst thou with trim lovers not disdeign + To adorn the outside, set the best before. + Nor rub nor wrinkle would thy verses spoil + Thy rymes should run as glib and smooth as oyl. + + If that be all, said I, thy reasons slight + Can never move my well establishd mind. + Full well I wote alwayes the present sprite, + Or life that doth possesse the soul, doth blind, + Shutting the windows ’gainst broad open day + Lest fairer sights its uglinesse bewray. + + The soul then loves that disposition best + Because no better comes unto her view. + The drunkard drunkennesse, the sluggard rest, + Th’ Ambitious honour and obeisance due. + So all the rest do love their vices base + ’Cause virtues beauty comes not into place. + + And looser love ’gainst Chastitie divine + Would shut the door that he might sit alone. + Then wholly should my mind to him incline: + And woxen strait, (since larger love was gone) + That paultrie sprite of low contracting lust + Would fit my soul as if ’t were made for ’t just. + + Then should I with my fellow bird or brute + So strangely metamorphis’d, either ney + Or bellow loud: or if ’t may better sute + Chirp out my joy pearch’d upon higher spray. + My passions fond with impudence rehearse, + Immortalize my madnesse in a verse. + + This is the summe of thy deceiving boast + That I vain ludenesse highly should admire, + When I the sense of better things have lost + And chang’d my heavenly heat for hellish fire, + Passion is blind, but virtues piercing eye + Approching danger can from farre espie. + + And what thou dost Pedantickly object + Concerning my rude rugged uncouth style, + As childish toy I manfully neglect, + And at thy hidden snares do inly smile. + How ill alas! with wisdome it accords + To sell my living sense for livelesse words. + + My thought ’s the fittest measure of my tongue, + Wherefore I’ll use what’s most significant, + And rather then my inward meaning wrong + Or my full-shining notion trimly scant, + I’ll conjure up old words out of their grave, + Or call fresh forrein force in if need crave. + + And these attending on my moving mind + Shall duly usher in the fitting sense. + As oft as meet occasion I find. + Unusuall words oft used give lesse offence; + Nor will the old contexture dim or marre, + For often us’d they’re next to old, thred-bare. + + And if the old seem in too rustie hew, + Then frequent rubbing makes them shine like gold, + And glister all with colour gayly new. + Wherefore to use them both we will be bold. + Thus lists me fondly with fond folk to toy, + And answer fools with equall foolerie. + + The meaner mind works with more nicetie, + As spiders wont to weave their idle web, + But braver spirits do all things gallantly + Of lesser failings nought at all affred: + So Natures carelesse pencill dipt in light + With sprinkled starres hath spattered the Night. + + And if my notions clear though rudely thrown + And loosely scattered in my poesie, + May lend men light till the dead Night be gone, + And Morning fresh with roses strew the skie: + It is enough, I meant no trimmer frame + Or by nice needle-work to seek a name. + + Vain man! that seekest name mongst earthly men + Devoid of God and all good virtuous lere; + Who groping in the dark do nothing ken + But mad; with griping care their souls do tear, + Or burst with hatred or with envie pine + Or burn with rage or melt out at their eyne. + + Thrice happy he whose name is writ above, + And doeth good though gaining infamie; + Requiteth evil turns with hearty love, + And recks not what befalls him outwardly: + Whose worth is in himself, and onely blisse + In his pure conscience that doth nought amisse. + + Who placeth pleasure in his purged soul + And virtuous life his treasure doth esteem; + Who can his passions master and controll, + And that true lordly manlinesse doth deem, + Who from this world himself hath clearly quit + Counts nought his own but what lives in his sprite. + + So when his sprite from this vain world shall flit + It bears all with it whatsoever was dear + Unto it self, passing in easie fit, + As kindly ripen’d corn comes out of th’ eare. + Thus mindlesse of what idle men will say + He takes his own and stilly goes his way. + + But the retinue of proud Lucifer, + Those blustering Poets that flie after fame + And deck themselves like the bright Morning-starre. + Alas! it is but all a crackling flame. + For death will strip them of that glorious plume + That airie blisse will vanish into fume. + + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + Return, or listen from the bowed skie + To heare how well their learned lines do take? + Or if they could; is Heavens felicitie + So small as by mans praise to be encreas’d, + Hells pain no greater then hence to be eas’d? + + Therefore once dead in vain shall I transmit + My shadow to gazing Posteritie; + Cast farre behind me I shall never see’t, + On Heavens fair Sunne having fast fixt mine eye. + Nor while I live, heed I what man doth praise + Or underprize mine unaffected layes. + + What moves thee then, said he, to take the pains + And spenden time if thou contemn’st the fruit? + Sweet fruit of fame, that fills the Poets brains + With high conceit and feeds his fainting wit. + How pleasant ’tis in honour here to live + And dead, thy name for ever to survive! + + Or is thy abject mind so basely bent + As of thy Muse to maken Merchandize? + (And well I wote this is no strange intent.) + The hopefull glimps of gold from chattering Pies, + From Daws and Crows, and Parots oft hath wrung + An unexpected Pegaseian song. + + Foul shame on him, quoth I, that shamefull thought + Doth entertain within his dunghill breast, + Both God and Nature hath my spirits wrought + To better temper and of old hath blest + My loftie soul with more divine aspires + Then to be touchd with such vile low desires. + + I hate and highly scorn that Kestrell kind + Of bastard scholars that subordinate + The precious choice induements of the mind + To wealth or worldly good. Adulterate + And cursed brood! Your wit and will are born + Of th’ earth and circling thither do return. + + Profit and honour be those measures scant + Of your slight studies and endeavours vain, + And when you once have got what you did want + You leave your learning to enjoy your gain. + Your brains grow low, your bellies swell up high, + Foul sluggish fat ditts up your dulled eye. + + Thus what the earth did breed, to th’ earth is gone, + Like fading hearb or feebly drooping flower, + By feet of men and beast quite trodden down, + The muck-sprung learning cannot long endure. + Back she returns lost in her filthy source, + Drown’d, chok’d or slocken by her cruell nurse. + + True virtue to her self’s the best reward, + Rich with her own and full of lively spirit, + Nothing cast down for want of due regard. + Or ’cause rude men acknowledge not her merit. + She knows her worth and stock from whence she sprung, + Spreads fair without the warmth of earthly dung, + + Dew’d with the drops of Heaven shall flourish long; + As long as day and night do share the skie, + And though that day and night should fail yet strong + And steddie, fixed on Eternitie + Shall bloom for ever. So the foul shall speed + That loveth virtue for no worldly meed. + + Though sooth to sayn, the worldly meed is due + To her more then to all the world beside. + Men ought do homage with affections true + And offer gifts for God doth there reside. + The wise and virtuous soul is his own seat + To such what’s given God himself doth get. + + But earthly minds whose sight’s seal’d up with mud + Discern not this flesh-clouded Deity, + Ne do acknowledge any other good + Then what their mole-warp hands can feel and trie + By groping touch; thus (worth of them unseen) + Of nothing worthy that true worth they ween. + + Wherefore the prudent Law-givers of old + Even in all Nations, with right sage foresight + Discovering from farre how clums and cold + The vulgar wight would be to yield what’s right + To virtuous learning, did by law designe + Great wealth and honour to that worth divine. + + But nought’s by law to Poesie due said he, + Ne doth the solemn Statesmans head take care + Of those that such impertinent pieces be + Of common-weals. Thou’d better then to spare + Thy uselesse vein. Or tell else, what may move + Thy busie use such fruitlesse pains to prove. + + No pains but pleasure to do the dictates dear + Of inward living nature. What doth move + The Nightingall to sing so sweet and clear + The Thrush, or Lark that mounting high above + Chants her shrill notes to heedlesse ears of corn + Heavily hanging in the dewy morn. + + When life can speak, it can not well withhold + T’ expresse its own impressions and hid life. + Or joy or grief that smoothered lie untold + Do vex the heart and wring with restlesse strife. + Then are my labours no true pains but ease + My souls unrest they gently do appease. + + Besides, that is not fruitlesse that no gains + Brings to my self. I others profit deem + Mine own: and if at these my heavenly flames + Others receiven light, right well I ween + My time’s not lost. Art thou now satisfide + Said I: to which the scoffing boy replide. + + Great hope indeed thy rymes should men enlight, + That be with clouds and darknesse all o’recast, + Harsh style and harder sense void of delight + The Readers wearied eye in vain do wast. + And when men win thy meaning with much pain, + Thy uncouth sense they coldly entertain. + + For wotst thou not that all the world is dead + Unto that Genius that moves in thy vein + Of poetrie! But like by like is fed. + Sing of my Trophees in triumphant strein, + Then correspondent life, thy powerfull verse + Shall strongly strike and with quick passion pierce. + + The tender frie of lads and lasses young + With thirstie eare thee compassing about, + Thy Nectar-dropping Muse, thy sugar’d song + Will swallow down with eagre hearty draught; + Relishing truly what thy rymes convey, + And highly praising thy soul-smiting lay. + + The mincing maid her mind will then bewray, + Her heart-bloud flaming up into her face, + Grave matrons will wex wanton and betray + Their unresolv’dnesse in their wonted grace; + Young boyes and girls would feel a forward spring, + And former youth to eld thou back wouldst bring. + + All Sexes, Ages, Orders, Occupations + Would listen to thee with attentive ear, + And eas’ly moved with thy sweet perswasions, + Thy pipe would follow with full merry chear. + While thou thy lively voice didst loud advance + Their tickled bloud for joy would inly dance. + + But now, alas! poore solitarie man! + In lonesome desert thou dost wander wide + To seek and serve thy disappearing Pan, + Whom no man living in the world hath eyde: + For Pan is dead but I am still alive, + And live in men who honour to me give: + + They honour also those that honour me + With sacred songs. But thou now singst to trees + To rocks to Hills, to Caves that senselesse be + And mindlesse quite of thy hid mysteries, + In the void aire thy idle voice is spread, + Thy Muse is musick to the deaf or dead. + + Now out alas! said I, and wele-away + The tale thou tellest I confesse too true. + Fond man so doteth on this living clay + His carcase dear, and doth its joyes pursue, + That of his precious soul he takes no keep + Heavens love and reasons light lie fast asleep. + + This bodies life vain shadow of the soul + With full desire they closely do embrace, + In fleshly mud like swine they wallow and roll, + The loftiest mind is proud but of the face + Or outward person; if men but adore + That walking sepulchre, cares for no more. + + This is the measure of mans industry + To wexen some body and getten grace + To ’s outward presence; though true majestie + Crown’d with that heavenly light and lively rayes + Of holy wesdome and Seraphick love, + From his deformed soul he farre remove. + + Slight knowledge and lesse virtue serves his turn + For this designe. If he hath trod the ring + Of pedling arts; in usuall pack-horse form + Keeping the rode; O! then ’t’s a learned thing. + If any chanc’d to write or speak what he + Conceives not ’t were a foul discourtesie. + + To cleanse the soul from sinne, and still diffide + Whether our reasons eye be clear enough + To intromit true light, that fain would glide + Into purg’d hearts, this way ’s too harsh and rough: + Therefore the clearest truths may well seem dark + When sloathfull men have eyes so dimme and stark. + + These be our times. But if my minds presage + Bear any moment, they can ne’re last long, + A three branch’d Flame will soon sweep clean the stage + Of this old dirty drosse and all wex young. + My words into this frozen air I throw + Will then grow vocall at that generall thaw. + + Nay, now thou ’rt perfect mad, said he, with scorn, + And full of foul derision quit the place. + The skie did rattle with his wings ytorn + Like to rent silk. But I in the mean space + Sent after him this message by the wind + Be ’t so I ’m mad, yet sure I am thou ’rt blind. + + By this the out-stretch’d shadows of the trees + Pointed me home-ward, and with one consent + Foretold the dayes descent. So straight I rise + Gathering my limbs from off the green pavement + Behind me leaving then the slooping Light. + _Cl._ And now let’s up, _Vesper_ brings on the Night. + + +_FINIS._ + +[Illustration] + + + + + _A Particular Interpretation appertaining to + the three last books of the Platonick + Song of the Soul._ + + +A + +_Atom-lives._ The same that Centrall lives. Both the terms denotate the +indivisibility of the inmost essence it self; the pure essentiall form I +mean, of plant, beast or man, yea of angels themselves, good or bad. + + _Apogee_, } + _Autokineticall_, } + _Ananke_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Acronycall_, } + _Alethea-land_, } + +_Animadversall. That lively inward animadversall._ It is the soul it +self, for I cannot conceive the body doth animadvert; when as objects +plainly exposed to the sight are not discovered till the soul takes +notice of them. + + +B + +_Body._ The ancient Philosophers have defined it, Τὸ τριχῇ διάστατον +μετ’ ἀντιτυπίας. _Sext. Emperic. Pyrrhon. Hypotyp. lib. 3. cap. 5._ Near +to this is that description, _Psychathan_, Cant. 2. Stanz. 12. lib. 2, +_Matter extent in three dimensions._ But for that ἀντιτυπία, simple +trinall distension doth not imply it, wherefore I declin’d it. But took +in _matter_ according to their conceit, that phansie _à Materia prima_, +I acknowledge none, and consequently no such _corpus naturale_ as our +Physiologist make the subject of that science. That Τριχῇ διάστατον +ἀντίτυπον is nothing but a fixt spirit, the conspissation or coagulation +of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone, which are indeed the Centrall +Tasis or inward essence of the sensible world. These be an infinite +number of vitall Atoms that may be wakened into diverse tinctures, or +energies, into fiery, watery, earthy, &c. And one divine _Fiat_ can +unloose them all into an universall mist, or turn them out of that sweat +into a drie and pure Etheriall temper. These be the last projections of +life from the soul of the world; and are act or form though debil and +indifferent, like that which they call the first matter. But they are +not meerly passive but meet their information half way, as I may so +speak: are radiant _ab intimo_ and awake into this or the other +operation, by the powerfull appulse of some superadvenient form. That +which change of Phantasmes is to the soul, that is alteration of rayes +to them. For their rayes are _ab intrinseco_, as the phantasmes of the +soul. These be the reall matter of which all supposed bodies are +compounded, and this matter (as I said) is form and life, so that all is +life and form what ever is in the world, as I have somewhere intimated +in _Antipsychopan_: But however I use the terme _body_ ordinarily in the +usuall and vulgar acception. And for that sense of the ancients, nearest +to which I have defined it in the place first above mentioned, that I +seem not to choose that same as most easie to proceed against in +disproving the corporeity of the soul, the arguments do as necessarily +conclude against such a naturall body as is ordinarily described in +Physiologie (as you may plainly discern if you list to observe) as also +against this body composed of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone. For +though they be Centrall lives, yet are they neither Plasticall, +Sensitive, or Rationall, so farre are they from proving to be the humane +soul whose nature is there discust. + + +C + +_Cone_: Is a solid figure made by the turning of a rectangular triangle, +about; one of the sides that include the right angle resting, which will +be then the Axis of the compleated Cone. But I take it sometimes for the +comprehension of all things, God himself not left out, whom I tearm the +_Basis_ of the _Cone_ or _Universe_. And because all from him descends, +καθ’ ὑποστολῆν, with abatement or contraction, I give the name of _Cone_ +to the Universe. And of Cone rather then Pyramid because of the +roundnesse of the figure, which the effluxes of all things imitate. + + _Chaos_, } + _Chronicall_, } See interpret· Gen. + _Clare_, } + +_Circulation_, The terme is taken from a toyish observation, _viz._ the +circling of water when a stone is cast into a standing pool. The motion +drives on circularly, the first rings are thickest, but the further they +go they grow the thinner, till they vanish into nothing. Such is the +diffusion of the species audible in the strucken aire, as also of the +visible species. In brief any thing is said to circulate that diffuseth +its image or species in a round. It might have been more significantly +called orbiculation; seeing this circumfusion makes not onely a circle, +but fills a sphere, which may be called the sphere of activity. Yet +Circulation more fitly sets out the diminution of activity, from those +ringes in the water which as they grow in compasse, abate in force and +thicknesse. But sometimes I use Circulate in an ordinary sense to turn +round, or return in a circle. + +_Centre_, _Centrall_, _Centrality_. When they are used out of their +ordinary sense, they signifie the depth or inmost being of any thing, +from whence its acts and energies flow forth. See _Atom-lives_. + +_Cuspis_ of the _Cone_. The multiplide Cuspis of the Cone is nothing but +the last projection of life from Psyche, which is שׁמים a liquid fire or +fire and water, which are the corporeall or materiall principles of all +things, changed or disgregated (if they be centrally distinguishable) +and again mingled by the virtue of Physis or Spermaticall life of the +world; of these are the Sunne and all the Planets, they being kned +together, and fixt by the Centrall power of each Planet and Sunne. The +volatile Ether is also of the same, and all the bodies of plants, beasts +and men. These are they which we handle and touch, a sufficient number +compact together. For neither is the noise of those little flies in a +summer-evening audible severally: but a full Quire of them strike the +ear with a pretty kind of buzzing. Strong and tumultuous pleasure and +scorching pain reside in these, they being essentiall and centrall, but +sight and hearing are onely of the images of these, See _Body_. + +_Eternitie._ Is the steddie comprehension of all things at once. See Æon +discribed in my Expos. upon Psychozoia. + +_Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. In my Interpret. Gen. +I expounded it Operation, Efflux, Activity. None of those words bear the +full sense of it. The examples there are fit, _viz._ the light of the +Sunne, the phantasms of the soul. We may collect the genuine sense of +the word by comparing severall places in the Philosopher. Ἔχει γὰρ +ἕκαστον τῶν ὄντων ἐνεργειαν, ἥ ἐστιν ὁμοίωμα αὐτοῦ, ὥστε αὐτοῦ ὄντος, +κἀκεῖνο εἶναι, καὶ μένοντος φθάνειν εἰς τὸ πόῤῥω, τὸ μὲν ἐπὶ πλέον, τὸ +δὲ εἰς ἔλαττον. Καὶ αἱ μὲν ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ἀμυδραὶ, αἱ δὲ καὶ λανθάνουσαι, +τῶν δ’ εἰσὶ μείζους καὶ εἰς τὸ πόῤῥω. _For every being hath its Energie, +which is the image of it self, so that it existing that Energie doth +also exist, and standing still is projected forward more or lesse. And +some of those energies are weak and obscure, others hid or +undiscernable, othersome greater and of a larger projection._ Plotin. +Ennead. 4. lib. 5. cap. 7. And again, Ennead. 3. lib. 4. Καὶ μένομεν τῷ +μὲν νοητῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἄνω· τῷ δὲ ἐσχάτῳ αὐτοῦ, πεπεδήμεθα τῷ κάτω, οἷον +ἀπόῤῥοιαν ἀπ’ ἐκείνου διδόντες εἰς τὸ κάτω, μᾶλλον δὲ ἐνέργειαν, ἐκείνου +οὐκ ἐλαττουμένου. _And we remain above by the Intellectuall man, but by +the extreme part of him we are held below, as it were yielding an efflux +from him to that which is below, or rather an energie he being not at +all lessened._ This curiositie Antoninus also observes, (lib. 8. +Meditat.) in the nature of the sun-beams, where although he admits of +χύσις, yet he doth not of ἀπόῤῥοια which is ἔκχυσις. Ὁ ἥλιος +κατακεχύσθαι δοκεῖ, καὶ πάντῇ γε κέχυται οὐ μὴν ἐκκέχυται. ἡ γὰρ χύσις +αὐτοῦ τάσις ἐστίν. ἀκτῖνες γοῦν αἱ αὐγαὶ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐκτείνεσθαι +λέγονται. _The sunne_, saith he, _is diffused, and his fusion is every +where but without effusion_, &c. I will onely adde one place more out of +Plotinus. Ennead. 3. lib. 6. Ἑκάστου δὲ μορίου ἡ ἐνέργεια ἡ κατὰ φύσιν +ζωὴ οὐκ ἐξιστᾶσα. _The naturall energie of each power of the soul is +life not parted from the soul though gone out of the soul, =viz.= into +act._ + +Comparing of all these places together, I cannot better explain this +Platonick term, _energie_, then by calling it the rayes of an essence, +or the beams of a vitall Centre. For essence is the Centre as it were of +that which is truly called Energie, and Energie the beams and rayes of +an essence. And as the _Radii_ of a circle leave not the centre by +touching the Circumference, no more doth that which is the pure Energie +of an essence, leave the essence by being called out into act, but is +ἐν-έργεια a working in the essence though it flow _out_ into act. So +that _Energie_ depends alwayes on essence, as _Lumen_ on _Lux_, or the +creature on God; Whom therefore Synesius in his Hymnes calls the Centre +of all things. + +_Entelecheia._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +F + +_Faith._ _Platonick faith in the first Good._ This faith is excellently +described in Proclus, where it is set above all ratiocination, nay, +Intellect it self. Πρὸς δὲ αὖ τὸ ἀγαθὸν οὐ γνώσεως ἔτι καὶ συνεργείας +δεῖ τοῖς συναφθῆναι σπεύδουσιν, ἀλλ’ ἱδρύσεως καὶ μονίμου καταστάσεως +καὶ ἠρεμίας. _But to them that endeavour to be joyned with the first +Good, there is no need of knowledge or multifarious cooperation, but +settlednesse, steddinesse, and rest._ lib. 1. cap. 24. Theolog. Platon. +And in the next chapter; Δεῖ γὰρ οὐ γνωστικῶς οὐδ’ ἀτελῶς τὸ ἀγαθὸν +ἐπιζητεῖν, ἀλλ’ ἐπιδόντας ἑαυτοὺς τῷ θείῳ φωτὶ καὶ μύσαντας, οὕτως +ἐνιδρύεσθαι τῇ ἀγνώστῳ καὶ κρυφίῳ τῶν ὄντων ἑνάδι. _For we must not seek +after that absolute or first Good cognoscitively or imperfectly, but +giving our selves up to the divine light, and winking_ (that is shutting +our eyes of reason and understanding) _so to place our selves steddily +in that hidden Unitie of all things_. After he preferres this faith +before the clear and present assent to the κοιναὶ ἔννοιαι, yea and the +νοερὰ ἁπλότης, so that he will not that any intellectuall operation +should come in comparison with it. Πολυειδὴς γὰρ αἵτη καὶ δι’ ἑτερότητος +χωριζομένη τῶν νοουμένων, καὶ ὅλως κίνησίς ἐστι νοερὰ περὶ τὸ νοητόν. +Δεῖ δὲ τὴν θείαν πίστιν ἑνοειδῆ καὶ ἤρεμον ὑπάρχειν ἐν τῷ τῆς ἀγαθότητος +ὁρμῷ τελείως ἱδρυθεῖσαν. _For the operation of the Intellect is +multiform and by diversitie separate from her objects, and is in a word, +intellectuall motion about the object intelligible. But the divine faith +must be simple and uniform, quiet and steddily resting in the haven of +Goodnesse._ And at last he summarily concludes, Ἐστί οὖν οὗτος ὅρμος +ἀσφαλὴς τῶν ὄντων ἁπάντων. See Procl. Theolog. Platonick. lib. 1. cap. +25. + + +H + +_Hyle._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +I + +_Intellect._ Sometimes it is to be interpreted _Soul_. Sometime the +intellectuall facultie of the soul. Sometimes Intellect is an absolute +essence shining into the soul: whose nature is this. A substance purely +immateriall, impeccable, actually omniform, or comprehending all things +at once, which the soul doth also being perfectly joyned with the +Intellect. Ἔχομεν οὖν καὶ τὰ εἴδη διχῶς, ἐν μὲν ψυχῇ οἷον μὲν +ἀνειλιγμένα καὶ οἷον κεχωρισμένα, ἐν δὲ τῷ νῷ ὁμοῦ τὰ πάντα. Plot. +Ennead. 1. lib. 1. cap. 8. _Ideas_, or _Idees_. Sometimes they are forms +in the Intellectuall world. _viz._ in _Æon_, or _On_, other sometimes, +phantasmes or representations in the soul. _Innate Idees_ are the souls +nature it self, her uniform essence, able by her _Fire_ to produce this +or that phantasme into act. + + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + + +L + +_Logos._ See Interpret. Gen. + +_Life._ The vitall operation of any soul. Sometime it is the soul it +self, be it sensitive, vegetative, or rationall. + +_Lower man._ The lower man is our enquickned body, into which our soul +comes, it being fitly prepared for the receiving of such a guest. The +manner of the production of souls, or rather their non-production is +admirably well set down in Plotinus, See, _Ennead. 6. lib. 4. cap. 14, +15_. + + +M + +_Monad._ See Interpr. Gen. + +_Mundane._ _Mundane spirit_, Is that which is the spirit of the world or +Universe. I mean by it not an intellectuall spirit, but a fine, unfixt, +attenuate, subtill, ethereall substance, the immediate vehicle of +plasticall or sensitive life. + +_Memory._ _Mundane memory._ Is that memory that is seated in the +_Mundane_ spirit of man, by a strong impression, or inustion of any +phantasme, or outward sensible object, upon that spirit. But there is a +Memory more subtill and abstract in the soul it self, without the help +of this spirit, which she also carries away with her having left the +body. + +_Magicall._ That is, attractive, or commanding by force of sympathy with +the life of this naturall world. + +_Moment._ Sometimes signifies an instant, as indivisible, as κίνημα, +which in motion answers to an instant in time, or a point in a line, +_Aristot. Phys._ In this sense I use it, Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 2. +stanz. 16; _But in a moment sol doth ray._ But Cant. the 3. Stanz. 45. +v. 2. I understand, as also doth Lansbergius, by a _moment_ one second +of a minute. In Antipsych. Cant. 2. Stanz. the 20. v. 2. by a _moment_ I +understand a minute, or indefinitely any small time. + + +O + +_Orb._ _Orb Intellectuall_, is nothing else but Æon or the Intellectuall +world. The Orbs generall mentioned Psycathan. lib. 1. cant. 3. stanz. +23. v. 2. I understand by them but so many universall orders of beings, +if I may so terme them all; for _Hyle_ hath little or nothing of being. + +_Omniformity._ The omniformity of the soul is the having in her nature +all forms, latent at least, and power of awaking them into act, upon +occasion. + +_Out-world._ and _Out-Heaven._ The sensible world, the visible Heaven. + + +P + + _Perigee_, } + _Psychicall_, } + _Pareties_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Parallax_, } + _Protopathy_. } + +_Parturient._ See, _Vaticinant_. + +_Phantasie._ _Lower phantasie_, is that which resides in the Mundane +spirit of a man, See _Memory_. + + +Q + +_Quantitative._ Forms _quantitative_, are such sensible energies as +arise from the complexion of many natures together, at whose discretion +they vanish. That’s the seventh Orb of things, though broken and not +filling all as the other do. But if you take it for the whole sensible +world, it is entire, and is the same that _Tasis_ in Psycozoia. But the +centre of _Tasis_, viz. the multiplication of the reall _Cuspis_ of the +_Cone_ (for _Hyle_ that is set for the most contract point of the +_Cuspis_ is scarce to be reckoned among realities) that immense +diffusion of atoms, is to be referred to _Psyche_, as an internall +vegetative act, and so belongs to _Physis_ the lowest order of life. For +as that warmth that the sense doth afford the body, is not rationall, +sensitive, or imaginative, but vegetative; So this, שׁמים _i.e._ liquid +fire, which _Psyche_ sends out, and is the outmost, last, and lowest +operation from her self, is also vegetative. + + +R + +_Rhomboides._ See Interpr. general. + +_Reason._ I understand by Reason, the deduction of one thing from +another, which I conceive proceeds from a kind of continuitie of +phantasmes: and is something like the moving of a cord at one end; the +parts next it rise with it. And by this concatenation of phantasmes I +conceive, that both brutes and men are moved in reasonable wayes and +methods in their ordinary externall actions. + +_Rayes._ The rayes of an essence is its energie. See _Energie_. + +_Reduplicative._ That is reduplicative, which is not onely in this +point, but also in another, having a kind of circumscribed ubiquitie, +_viz._ in its own sphear. And this is either by being in that sphear +omnipresent it self, as the soul is said to be in the body _tota in toto +& tota in qualibet parte_, or else at least by propagation of rayes, +which is the image of it self; and so are divers sensible objects +_Reduplicative_, as light, colours, sounds. And I make account either of +these wayes justly denominate any thing spirituall. Though the former is +most properly, at least more eminently spirituall. And whether any thing +be after that way spirituall saving the Divinitie, there is reason to +doubt. For what is entirely omnipresent in a sphear, whose diametre is +but three feet, I see not, why (that in the circumference being as fresh +and entire as that in the centre) it should stop there and not proceed +even _in infinitum_, if the circumference be still as fresh and entire +as the centre. But I define nothing. + + +S + +_Spermaticall._ It belongs properly to Plants, but is transferred also +to the Plasticall power in Animalls, I enlarge it to all magnetick power +whatsoever that doth immediately rule and actuate any body. For all +magnetick power is founded in _Physis_, and in reference to her, this +world is but one great Plant, (one λόγος σπερματικός giving it shape and +corporeall life) as in reference to _Psyche_, one happy and holy +Animall. + +_Spirit._ Sometimes it signifieth the soul, othersometime, the naturall +spirits in a mans body, which are _Vinculum animæ & corporis_, and the +souls vehicle: Sometimes life. See _Reduplicative_. + +_Soul._ When I speak of mans Soul, I understand that which _Moses_ saith +was inspired into the body, (fitted out and made of earth) by God, +Genes. 2. which is not that impeccable spirit that cannot sinne; but the +very same that the Platonists call ψυχή, a middle essence betwixt that +which they call νοῦς (and we would in the Christian language call +πνεῦμα) and the life of the body which is εἴδωλον ψυχῆς, a kind of an +umbratil vitalitie, that the soul imparts to the bodie in the enlivening +of it: That and the body together, we Christians would call σὰρξ, and +the suggestions of it, especially in its corrupt estate, φρόνημα σαρκός. +And that which God inspired into _Adam_ was no more then ψυχὴ, the soul, +not the spirit, though it be called נשמת חיים _Spiraculum vitæ_; is +plain out of the text; because it made man but become a living soul, נפש +חיה. But you will say, he was a dead soul before, and this was the +spirit of life, yea the spirit of God, the life of the soul that was +breathed into him. + +But if חיה implie such a life and spirit, you must acknowledge the same +to be also in the most stupid of all living creatures, even the fishes +(whose soul is but as salt to keep them from stinking, as Philo speaks) +for they are said to be נשמת חיים chap. 1. v. 20. 21. See 1 Cor. chap. +15, v. 45, 46. In brief therefore, that which in Platonisme is νοῦς, is +in Scripture πνεῦμα; what σὰρξ in one, τὸ θηρίον, the brute or beast in +the other, ψυχὴ the same in both. + +_Self-reduplicative._ See _Reduplicative_. + + +T + +_Tricentreitie._ Centre is put for essence, so _Tricentreitie_ must +implie a trinitie of essence. See _Centre_, and _Energie_. + + +V + +_Vaticinant._ The soul is said to be in a _vaticinant_ or _parturient_ +condition, when she hath some kind of sense and hovering knowledge of a +thing, but yet cannot distinctly and fully, and commandingly represent +it to her self, cannot plainly apprehend, much lesse comprehend the +matter. The phrase is borrowed of Proclus, who describing the +incomprehensiblenese of God, and the desire of all things towards him, +speaks thus; Ἄγνωστον γὰρ ὂν ποθεῖ τὰ ὄντα τὸ ἐφετὸν τοῦτο καὶ ἄληπτον, +μήτε οῦν γνῶναι μήτε ἑλεῖν ὁ ποθεῖ, δυνάμενα, περὶ αὐτὸ πάντα χορεύει +καὶ ὠδίνει μὲν αὐτὸ καὶ οἷον ἀπομαντεύεται. _Theolog. Platon. lib. 1. +cap. 21._ See _Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 3. stanz. 12. & 14._ + + + + +_The Philosophers Devotion._ + + + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + He the boundlesse Heavens has spread + All the vitall Orbs has kned; + He that on _Olympus_ high + Tends his flocks with watchfull eye, + And this eye has multiplide + Midst each flock for so reside. + Thus as round about they stray + Toucheth each with out-stretch’d ray, + Nimbly they hold on their way, + Shaping out their Night and Day. + Never slack they; none respires, + Dancing round their Centrall fires. + In due order as they move + Echo’s sweet be gently drove + Thorough Heavens vast Hollownesse, + Which unto all corners presse: + Musick that the heart of _Jove_ + Moves to joy and sportfull love; + Fills the listning saylers eares + Riding on the wandering Sphears. + Neither Speech nor Language is + Where their voice is not transmisse. + God is Good, is Wise, is Strong, + Witnesse all the creature-throng, + Is confess’d by every Tongue. + All things back from whence they sprong, + As the thankfull Rivers pay + What they borrowed of the Sea. + Now my self I do resigne, + Take me whole I all am thine. + Save me, God! from Self-desire, + Deaths pit, dark Hells raging fire, + Envy, Hatred, Vengeance, Ire. + Let not Lust my soul bemire. + Quit from these thy praise I’ll sing, + Loudly sweep the trembling string. + Bear a part, O Wisdomes sonnes! + Free’d from vain Relligions. + Lo! from farre I you salute, + Sweetly warbling on my Lute. + _Indie_, _Egypt_, _Arabie_, + _Asia_, _Greece_, and _Tartarie_, + _Carmel_-tracts, and _Lebanon_ + With the _Mountains_ of the _Moon_, + from whence muddie _Nile_ doth runne, + Or whereever else you won; + Breathing in one vitall aire, + One we are though distant farre. + Rise at once lett’s sacrifice + Odours sweet perfume the skies. + See how Heavenly lightning fires + Hearts inflam’d with high aspires! + All the substance of our souls + Up in clouds of Incense rolls. + Leave we nothing to our selves + Save a voice, what need we els! + Or an hand to wear and tire + On the thankfull Lute or Lyre. + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + + +_FINIS._ + + + + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK + MEMORIAL LIBRARY + UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES + + +PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT + +[Decoration] + + [Where available, Project Gutenberg e-text numbers are given in + brackets.] + + +1948-1949 + +16. Henry Nevil Payne, _The Fatal Jealousie_ (1673). [16916] + +18. Anonymous, “Of Genius,” in _The Occasional Paper_, Vol. III, No. 10 +(1719), and Aaron Hill, Preface to The Creation (1720). [15870] + + +1949-1950 + +19. Susanna Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709). [16740] + +20. Lewis Theobald, _Preface to the Works of Shakespeare_ (1734). +[16346] + +22. Samuel Johnson, _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749), and two +_Rambler_ papers (1750). [13350] + +23. John Dryden, _His Majesties Declaration Defended_ (1681). [15074] + + +1950-1951 + +26. Charles Macklin, _The Man of the World_ (1792). [14463] + + +1951-1952 + +31. Thomas Gray, _An Elegy Wrote in a Country Churchyard_ (1751), and +_The Eton College Manuscript_. [15409] + + +1952-1953 + +41. Bernard Mandeville, _A Letter to Dion_ (1732). [29478] + + +1962-1963 + +98. _Select Hymns Taken Out of Mr. Herbert’s Temple_ (1697). + + +1963-1964 + +104. Thomas D’Urfey, _Wonders in the Sun_; or, _The Kingdom of the +Birds_ (1706). + + +1964-1965 + +110. John Tutchin, _Selected Poems_ (1685-1700). [_In Preparation_] + +111. Anonymous, _Political Justice_ (1736). + +112. Robert Dodsley, _An Essay on Fable_ (1764). + +113. T. R., _An Essay Concerning Critical and Curious Learning_ (1698). + +114. _Two Poems Against Pope_: Leonard Welsted, _One Epistle to Mr. A. +Pope_ (1730), and Anonymous, _The Blatant Beast_ (1742). [21499] + + +1965-1966 + +115. Daniel Defoe and others, _Accounts of the Apparition of Mrs. Veal_. + +116. Charles Macklin, _The Covent Garden Theatre_ (1752). [_In +Preparation_] + +117. Sir Roger L’Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). [_In +Preparation_] + +118. Henry More, _Enthusiasmus Triumphatus_ (1662). + +119. Thomas Traherne, _Meditations on the Six Days of the Creation_ +(1717). + +120. Bernard Mandeville, _Aesop Dress’d or a Collection of Fables_ +(1704). [_In Preparation_] + + +1966-1967 + +122. James MacPherson, _Fragments of Ancient Poetry_ (1760). [8161] + +123. Edmond Malone, _Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to +Mr. Thomas Rowley_ (1782). [29116] + +124. Anonymous, _The Female Wits_ (1704). [_In Preparation_] + +125. Anonymous, _The Scribleriad_ (1742). Lord Hervey, _The Difference +Between Verbal and Practical Virtue_ (1742). [_In Preparation_] + +126. _Le Lutrin: an Heroick Poem, Written Originally in French by +Monsieur Boileau: Made English by N. O._ (1682). + + * * * * * + +Subsequent publications may be checked in the annual prospectus. + +Publications #1 through 90, of the first fifteen years of Augustan +Reprint Society, are available in bound units at $14.00 per unit of six +from: + + KRAUS REPRINT CORPORATION + 16 East 46th Street + New York, N.Y. 10017 + +Publications in print are available at the regular membership rate of +$5.00 yearly. 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Correspondence concerning +editorial matters may be addressed to any of the general editors at the +same address. Manuscripts of introductions should conform to the +recommendations of the MLA _Style Sheet_. The membership fee is $5.00 a +year in the United States and Canada and 30/-- in Great Britain and +Europe. British and European prospective members should address B. H. +Blackwell, Broad Street, Oxford, England. Copies of back issues in print +may be obtained from the Corresponding Secretary. + + +PUBLICATIONS FOR 1967-1968 + +127-128. Charles Macklin, _A Will and No Will, or a Bone for the +Lawyers_ (1746). _The New Play Criticiz’d, or The Plague of Envy_ +(1747). Introduction by Jean B. Kern. [_In Preparation_] + +129. Lawrence Echard, Prefaces to _Terence’s Comedies_ (1694) and +_Plautus’s Comedies_ (1694). Introduction by John Barnard. [29684] + +130. Henry More, _Democritus Platonissans_ (1646). Introduction by P. G. +Stanwood. [_Present Text_] + +131. John Evelyn, _The History of ... Sabatai Sevi ... The Suppos’d +Messiah of the Jews_ (1669). Introduction by Christopher W. Grose. +[_In Preparation_] + +132. Walter Harte, _An Essay on Satire, Particularly on the Dunciad_ +(1730). Introduction by Thomas B. Gilmore. [29237] + + +ANNOUNCEMENTS: + +Next in the series of special publications by the Society will be a +volume including Elkanah Settle’s _The Empress of Morocco_ (1673) with +five plates; _Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco_ (1674) +by John Dryden, John Crowne and Thomas Shadwell; _Notes and Observations +on the Empress of Morocco Revised_ (1674) by Elkanah Settle; and _The +Empress of Morocco. A Farce_ (1674) by Thomas Duffet, with an +Introduction by Maximillian E. Novak. Already published in this series +are reprints of John Ogilby’s _The Fables of Aesop Paraphras’d in Verse_ +(1668), with an Introduction by Earl Miner and John Gay’s _Fables_ +(1727, 1738), with an Introduction by Vinton A. Dearing. Publication is +assisted by funds from the Chancellor of the University of California, +Los Angeles. Price to members of the Society, $2.50 for the first copy +and $3.25 for additional copies. Price to non-members, $4.00. + + * * * * * + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +William Andrews Clark Memorial Library + +2520 CIMARRON STREET AT WEST ADAMS BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA +90018 + +Make check or money order payable to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF +CALIFORNIA. + + * * * * * + * * * * + +Errors and Inconsistencies (noted by transcriber) + +The author used a number of forms that were unusual or archaic even in +1646, and might be mistaken for typographical errors: + + ne (_conjunction_) + won (stay, dwell, like German _wohnen_) + eath (easy, light; also “uneath”) + words in -en, especially verbs: + aboven, amazen, been (_infinitive_), causen, standen, withouten... + +Greek diacritics were consistently printed over the first vowel of an +initial diphthong. This has been silently regularized. + +Both occurrences of the name “DesCartes” or “DesChartes” are at line +break; the hyphen has been omitted conjecturally. In general, spellings +that appear more than once, such as “Psyc-” for “Psych-”, were assumed +to be intentional. + +The word “invisible” means that the letter is absent but there is an +appropriately sized blank space. + + +Modern Introduction: + + Immobile . . . Incomprehensible ”[6] + [_line-initial long space in the original, not explained in + the footnote_] + with its seque _Democritus Platonissans_ + [_l in “sequel” invisible at line-end_] + describes the genesis of + [_final s in “genesis” illegible at line-end_] + Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52). [II.xi. 5] + +To the Reader: + + in the neglectfull disguise of a fragment [of of] + or which is as harsh one infinite one. + [_. missing; text otherwise unchanged_] + defending the infinitude of both, [both.] + Unum ut attendentes ad infinitam Dei potentiam + [_first i in “infinitam” invisible_] + +Democritus Platonissans + + 7. Numbers infinite of each would strike our ’stonishd sight; + [_er in “Numbers” invisible_] + 25. This is the parergon of each noble fire [is is] + 27. What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + [_punctuation as printed_] + 45. This inf’nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + [_text cut off; “-all” conjectural_] + 47. With their strange vizards. This will follow right + [_text cut off; “-ht” conjectural_] + 55. Keeping a well-proportionated space [ptoportionated] + 81. And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. [mountiug] + 99. Snow-limb’d, rose-cheek’d, ruby-lip’d, pearl-ted, star eyn’d + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin’d. + [_text unchanged: possible hyphen in “star eyn’d”_] + 102. Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. [vnlgar] + 103. A wider period; turneth still and slow. [tnrneth] + +Cupids Conflict + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + [_mismatched parenthesis in original; closing parenthesis may + belong after “harm!” in 4th line of stanza_] + Who can his passions master and controll, [aud] + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + [_reading uncertain: may be “take” corrected by hand to “Lake”_] + +Particular Interpretation + + _Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. [_Energie,_] + _Faith._ ... excellently described in Proclus, [roclus.] + Ἐστί οὖν οὗτος ὅρμος ἀσφαλὴς τῶν ὄντων ἁπάντων. + [Εἰς οὖν ... τῶν ὅντων] + [_Original text could not be checked, but Εἰς is grammatically + impossible._] + _Intellect._ [_Intellect.._] + Ἔχομεν οὖν καὶ τὰ εἴδη διχῶς [εἶδη] + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + [_Printed as shown; may be damage or error for “Idea” or similar_] + _Omniformity._ [_Omniformity,_] + _Reduplicative._ ... as the centre. But I define nothing. + [_blank space at mid-line in original_] + _Soul._ ... And that which God inspired into _Adam_ [that that] + _Vaticinant._ ... Theolog. Platon. [Theolog Platon] + +Augustan Reprints + +Here as in e-texts 29237 and 29684 (from the same year), one or two +pages from the list of titles in print appear to be missing. The same +list should be present in any Augustan Reprint from a later year. + + [First page] UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES [. for,] + 117. Sir Roger L’Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). [Sir George] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Democritus Platonissans, by Henry More + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30327 *** diff --git a/30327-0.zip b/30327-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4970607 --- /dev/null +++ b/30327-0.zip diff --git a/30327-8.txt b/30327-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f3a136 --- /dev/null +++ b/30327-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3761 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Democritus Platonissans, by Henry More + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Democritus Platonissans + +Author: Henry More + +Editor: P. G. Stanwood + +Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30327] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEMOCRITUS PLATONISSANS *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +[This text is intended for users whose text readers cannot use the +"real" (Unicode/UTF-8) version of the file. The "oe" ligature has been +"unpacked" to separate letters. Transliterated Greek is shown between ++marks+, and Hebrew between #marks#. + +Roman (emphatic) type within italic body text is shown in =marks=. + +Unless otherwise noted, spelling, punctuation and capitalization in the +primary text are unchanged. The distinction between u (vowel) and v +(consonant) is as in the original. Typographical errors are listed at +the end of the e-text. + +The General Interpretation ("Interp. Gen.") referenced in the +Particular Interpretation is not part of this text.] + + + + + The Augustan Reprint Society + + + HENRY MORE + + _Democritus + Platonissans_ + + (1646) + + + _Introduction by_ + + P. G. STANWOOD + + + Publication Number 130 + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY + University of California, Los Angeles + 1968 + + + + +GENERAL EDITORS + + George Robert Guffey, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Maximillian E. Novak, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Robert Vosper, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + +ADVISORY EDITORS + + Richard C. Boys, _University of Michigan_ + James L. Clifford, _Columbia University_ + Ralph Cohen, _University of Virginia_ + Vinton A. Dearing, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Arthur Friedman, _University of Chicago_ + Louis A. Landa, _Princeton University_ + Earl Miner, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Samuel H. Monk, _University of Minnesota_ + Everett T. Moore, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Lawrence Clark Powell, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + James Sutherland, _University College, London_ + H. T. Swedenberg, Jr., _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +CORRESPONDING SECRETARY + + Edna C. Davis, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Henry More (1614-1687), the most interesting member of that group +traditionally known as the Cambridge Platonists, lived conscientiously +and well. Having early set out on one course, he never thought to change +it; he devoted his whole life to the joy of celebrating, again and +again, "afirm and unshaken Belief of the Existence of GOD ..., a God +infinitely Good, as well as infinitely Great...."[1] Such faith was +for More the starting point of his rational understanding: "with the +most fervent Prayers" he beseeched God, in his autobiographical +"Praefatio Generalissima," "to set me free from the dark Chains, and +this so sordid Captivity of my own Will." More offered to faith all +which his reason could know, and so it happened that he "was got into a +most Joyous and Lucid State of Mind," something quite ineffable; to +preserve these "Sensations and Experiences of my own Soul," he wrote +"apretty full Poem call'd _Psychozoia_" (or_A Christiano-Platonicall +display of Life_), an exercise begun about 1640 and designed for no +audience but himself. There were times, More continued in his +autobiographical remarks, when he thought of destroying _Psychozoia_ +because its style is rough and its language filled with archaisms. His +principal purpose in that poem was to demonstrate in detail the +spiritual foundation of all existence; Psyche, his heroine, is the +daughter of the Absolute, the general Soul who holds together the +metaphysical universe, against whom he sees reflected his own soul's +mystical progress. More must, nevertheless, have been pleased with his +labor, for he next wrote _Psychathanasia Platonica: or Platonicall Poem +of the Immortality of Souls, especially Mans Soul_, in which he attempts +to demonstrate the immortality of the soul as a corrective to his age. +Then, he joined to that _Antipsychopannychia, or A Confutation of the +sleep of the Soul after death_, and _Antimonopsychia, or That all Souls +are not one_; at the urging of friends, he published the poems in +1642--his first literary work--as _Psychodia Platonica_. + +In his argument for the soul's immortality toward the end of +_Psychathanasia_ (III.4), More had urged that there was no need to plead +for any extension of the infinite ("acontradiction," and also, it would +seem, afruitless inquiry); but he soon changed his mind. The preface to +_Democritus Platonissans_ reproduces those stanzas of the earlier poem +which deny infinity (34to the end of the canto) with a new (formerly +concluding) stanza 39 and three further stanzas "for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto," _i.e._, _Democritus +Platonissans_, which More clearly intended to be an addition, afifth +canto to _Psychathanasia_ (Book III); and although _Democritus +Platonissans_ first appeared separately, More appended it to +_Psychathanasia_ in the second edition of his collected poems, this time +with English titles, the whole being called _A Platonick Song of the +Soul_ (1647). + +There is little relationship between _Democritus Platonissans_ and the +rest of More's poetry; even the main work to which it supposedly forms a +final and conclusive canto provides only the slightest excuse for such a +continuation. Certainly, in _Psychathanasia_, More is excited by the new +astronomy; he praises the Copernican system throughout Book III, giving +an account of it according to the lessons of his study of Galileo's +_Dialogo_, which he may have been reading even as he wrote.[2] Indeed, +More tries to harmonize the two poems--his habit was always to look for +unity. But even though _Democritus Platonissans_ explores an +astronomical subject, just as the third part of _Psychathanasia_ also +does, its attitude and theme are quite different; for More had meanwhile +been reading Descartes. + +More's theory of the infinity of worlds and God's plenitude evidently +owed a great deal to Descartes' recent example; More responds +exuberantly to him, especially to his _Principes de la Philosophie_ +(1644); for in him he fancied having found a true ally. Steeped in +Platonic and neo-Platonic thought, and determined to reconcile Spirit +with the rational mind of man, More thought he had discovered in +Cartesian 'intuition' what was not necessarily there. Descartes had +enjoyed an ecstatic illumination, and so had Plotinus; but this was not +enough, as More may have wanted to imagine, to make Descartes a +neo-Platonist.[3] But the Platonic element implicit in Descartes, his +theory of innate ideas, and his proof of the existence of God from the +idea of God, all helped to make More so receptive to him. Nevertheless, +More did not really need Descartes, nor, as he himself was later to +discover, had he even understood him properly, for More had looked at +him only to find his own reflection. + +But there was nothing really new about the idea of infinite worlds which +More described in _Democritus Platonissans_; it surely was not a +conception unique to Descartes. The theory was a common one in Greek and +Renaissance thought. Democritus and the Epicureans, of course, advocated +the theme of infinite worlds in an infinite universe which More +accepted; but at the same time, he rejected their view of a mechanistic +and fortuitous creation. Although Plato specifically rejects the idea of +infinite worlds (in_Timaeus_), More imagines, as the title of his poem +implies, aPlatonic universe, by which he really means neo-Platonic, +combined with a Democritean plurality of worlds. More filled space, not +with the infinite void of the Atomists, but with the Divine, ever active +immanence. More, in fact, in an early philosophic work, _An Antidote +against Atheisme_ (1652), and again in _Divine Dialogues_ (1668), +refutes Lucretius by asserting the usefulness of all created things in +God's Providence and the essential design in Nature. His reference in +_Democritus Platonissans_ (st.20) is typical: "though I detest the +sect/ of Epicurus for their manners vile,/ Yet what is true I may not +well reject." In bringing together Democritus' theories and neo-Platonic +thought, More obviously has attempted reconciliation of two exclusive +world views, but with dubious success. + +While More stands firmly before a familiar tradition, his belief in an +infinity of worlds evidently has little immediate connection with any +predecessors. Even Bruno's work, or Thomas Digges,' which could have +occupied an important place, seems to have had little, if any, direct +influence on More. It was Descartes who stimulated his thought at the +most receptive moment: in 1642 to have denied a theory which in 1646 he +proclaimed with such force evidently argues in favor of a most powerful +attachment. More responded enthusiastically to what he deemed a +congenial metaphysical system; as a champion of Descartes, he was first +to make him known in England and first in England to praise the infinity +of worlds, yet Descartes' system could give to him little real solace. +More embraces God's plenitude and infinity of worlds, he rejoices in the +variety and grandeur of the universe, and he worships it as he might God +Himself; but Descartes was fundamentally uninterested in such +enthusiasms and found them even repellant--as well as unnecessary--to +his thought. For More the doctrine of infinity was a proper corollary of +Copernican astronomy and neo-Platonism (aswell as Cabbalistic +mysticism) and therefore a necessity to his whole elaborate and eclectic +view of the world. + +In introducing Cartesian thought into England, More emphasized +particular physical doctrines mainly described in _The Principles of +Philosophy_; he shows little interest in the _Discourse on the Method of +Rightly Conducting the Reason_ (1637), or in the _Meditations_ (1641), +both of which were also available to him when he wrote _Democritus +Platonissans_. In the preface to his poem, he refers to Descartes whom +he seems to have read hopefully: surely "infinitude" is the same as the +Cartesian "indefinite." "_For what is his =mundus indefinit extensus=, +but =extensus infinit=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos=, but +=simpliciter finitus=_," for there can be no space "_unstuffd with +Atoms_." More thinks that Descartes seems "to mince it," that difficulty +lies in the interpretation of a word, not in an essential idea. He is +referring to Part II, xxi, of _The Principles_, but he quotes, with +tacit approval, from Part III, iand ii, in the motto to the poem. More +undoubtedly knows the specific discussion of 'infinity' in Part I, +xxvi-xxviii, where he must first have felt uneasy delight on reading +"that it is not needful to enter into disputes regarding the infinite, +but merely to hold all that in which we can find no limits as +indefinite, such as the extension of the world...."[4] More asked +Descartes to clarify his language in their correspondence of 1648-49, +the last year of Descartes' life. + +_Democritus Platonissans_ is More's earliest statement about absolute +space and time; by introducing these themes into English philosophy, he +contributed significantly to the intellectual history of the seventeenth +century. Newton, indeed, was able to make use of More's forging efforts; +but of relative time or space and their measurement, which so much +concerned Newton, More had little to say. He was preoccupied with the +development of a theory which would show that immaterial substance, with +space and time as attributes, is as real and as absolute as the +Cartesian geometrical and spatial account of matter which he felt was +true but much in need of amplification. + +In his first letter to Descartes, of 11 December 1648, More wrote: +"...this indefinite extension is either _simpliciter_ infinite, or +only in respect to us. If you understand extension to be infinite +_simpliciter_, why do you obscure your thought by too low and too modest +words? If it is infinite only in respect to us, extension, in reality, +will be finite; for our mind is the measure neither of the things nor of +truth.. .." Unsatisfied by his first answer from Descartes (5February +1649), he urges his point again (5March): if extension can describe +matter, the same quality must apply to the immaterial and yet be only +one of many attributes of Spirit. In his second letter to More +(15April), Descartes answers firmly: "It is repugnant to my concept to +attribute any limit to the world, and I have no other measure than my +perception for what I have to assert or to deny. Isay, therefore, that +the world is indeterminate or indefinite, because I do not recognize in +it any limits. But I dare not call it infinite as I perceive that God is +greater than the world, not in respect to His extension, because, as I +have already said, Ido not acknowledge in God any proper [extension], +but in respect to His perfection.... It is repugnant to my mind +... it implies a contradiction, that the world be finite or limited, +because I cannot but conceive a space outside the boundaries of the +world wherever I presuppose them." More plainly fails to understand the +basic dualism inherent in Cartesian philosophy and to sense the +irrelevance of his questions. While Descartes is really disposing of the +spiritual world in order to get on with his analysis of finite +experience, More is keenly attempting to reconcile neo-Platonism with +the lively claims of matter. His effort can be read as the brave attempt +to harmonize an older mode of thought with the urgency of the 'new +philosophy' which called the rest in doubt. More saw this conflict and +the implications of it with a kind of clarity that other men of his age +hardly possessed. But the way of Descartes, which at first seemed to him +so promising, certainly did not lead to the kind of harmony which he +sought. + +More's original enthusiasm for Descartes declined as he understood +better that the Cartesian world in practice excluded spirits and souls. +Because Descartes could find no necessary place even for God Himself, +More styled him, in _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_ (1671), the "Prince of +the Nullibists"; these men "readily acknowledge there are such things as +_Incorporeal Beings_ or _Spirits_, yet do very peremptorily contend, +that they are _no where_ in the whole World [;] ... because they so +boldly affirm that a Spirit is _Nullibi_, that is to say, _no where_," +they deserve to be called _Nullibists_.[5] In contrast to these false +teachers, More describes absolute space by listing twenty epithets which +can be applied either to God or to pure extension, such as "Unum, +Simplex, Immobile ... Incomprehensible "[6] There is, however, +agreat difficulty here; for while Space and Spirit are eternal and +uncreated, they yet contain material substance which has been created by +God. If the material world possesses infinite extension, as More +generally believes, that would preclude any need of its having a +creator. In order to avoid this dilemma, which _Democritus Platonissans_ +ignores, More must at last separate matter and space, seeing the latter +as an attribute of God through which He is able to contain a finite +world limited in space as well as in time. In writing that "this +infinite space because of its infinity is distinct from matter,"[7] More +reveals the direction of his conclusion; the dichotomy it embodies is +Cartesianism in reverse. + +While More always labored to describe the ineffable, his earliest work, +the poetry, may have succeeded in this wish most of all. Although he +felt that his poetry was aiming toward truths which his "_later and +better concocted Prose_"[8] reached, the effort cost him the +suggestiveness of figurative speech. In urging himself on toward an ever +more consistent statement of belief, he lost much of his beginning +exuberance (best expressed in the brief "Philosopher's Devotion") and +the joy of intellectual discovery. In the search "_to find out Words +which will prove faithful witnesses of the peculiarities of my +Thoughts_," he staggers under the unsupportable burden of too many +words. In trying so desperately to clarify his thought, he rejected +poetic discourse as "slight"; only a language free of metaphor and +symbol could, he supposed, lead toward correctness. Indeed, More soon +renounced poetry; he apparently wrote no more after collecting it in +_Philosophical Poems_ (1647), when he gave up poetry for "more seeming +Substantial performances in solid _Prose_."[9] "Cupids Conflict," which +is "annexed" to _Democritus Platonissans_, is an interesting revelation +of the failure of poetry, as More felt it: he justifies his "rude rugged +uncouth style" by suggesting that sweet verses avoid telling important +truths; harshness and obscurity may at least remind one that there is a +significance beyond mere words. His lament is characteristic: "How ill +alas! with wisdome it accords/ To sell my living sense for liveless +words." + +In spite of these downcast complaints, More was quite capable of lively +and meaningful poetic ideas. One is the striking image of the cone which +occurs in _Democritus Platonissans_ (especially in stanzas 7-8, 66-67, +and88) and becomes the most essential symbol to More's expression +of infinitude and extension. The figure first appears in +_Antipsychopannychia_ (II.9) where his purpose is to reconcile the world +Soul with Christian eschatology. In _Democritus Platonissans_, the cone +enables More to adapt the familiar Hermetic paradox: + + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib'd, whose Centre's each where set, + But the low Cusp's a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre's every where. (st. 8) + +Every point on the circumference, or base of the cone, relates to the +single point at the top. The world, More wants to say, has no limits, no +center, yet there are bounds in its not having any. More recognizes the +contradiction when he fancies "some strong arm'd Archer" at the wide +world's edge (st.37). Where shall he send his shafts? Into "mere +vacuity"? But More hardly seems aware of the inappropriateness of the +cone: he uses a geometrical figure to locate space, time, and numberless +worlds within the universal sight of God, but matter is infinite, +"distinct/ And yet proceeding from the Deitie" (st.68). Obviously, the +archer must forever be sending his arrows through an infinitely +expanding surface. Nevertheless, the cone has great value as a metaphor, +as a richly suggestive and fascinating conception. More, however, does +not want to speak metaphorically; he is attempting to disclose truths, +literal and plain, where pretty words and metaphors have no place. Even +as he is writing his most effective poetry, we are aware that More is +denying his poetic office; for he is pleading a reasoned case where the +words crack and strain, where poetic meaning gathers, only to be denied. + +But these objections momentarily disappear when More forgets himself +enough to let us feel his imagination and does not worry that we might +miss the proofs of his philosophy. _Democritus Platonissans_ concludes +with an apocalyptic vision wherein the poet imagines the reconciliation +of infinite worlds and time within God's immensity. He is also +attempting to harmonize _Psychathanasia_, where he rejected infinitude, +with its sequel, _Democritus Platonissans_, where he has everywhere been +declaring it; thus we should think of endless worlds as we should think +of Nature and the Phoenix, dying yet ever regenerative, sustained by a +"centrall power/ Of hid spermatick life" which sucks "sweet heavenly +juice" from above (st.101). More closes his poem on a vision of harmony +and ceaseless energy, amost fit ending for one who dared to believe +that the new philosophy sustained the old, that all coherence had not +gone out of the world, but was always there, only waiting to be +discovered afresh in this latter age. + +The University of British Columbia + + + + +NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION + +[Footnote 1: The quotations from More's Latin autobiography occur in the +_Opera Omnia_ (London, 1675-79), portions of which Richard Ward +translated in _The Life of ... Henry More_ (London, 1710). Cf. the +modern edition of this work, ed. M.F. Howard (London, 1911), pp. 61, +67-68, the text followed here. There is a recent reprint of the _Opera +Omnia_ in 3 volumes (Hildesheim, 1966) with an introduction by Serge +Hutin. The "Praefatio Generalissima" begins vol. II.1. One passage in +it which Ward did not translate describes the genesis of _Democritus +Platonissans_. More writes that after finishing _Psychathanasia_, he +felt a change of heart: "Postea vero mutata sententia furore nescio quo +Poetico incitatus supra dictum Poema scripsi, ea potissimum innixus +ratione quod liquido constaret extensionem spacii dari infinitam, nec +majores absurditates pluresve contingere posse in Materia infinita, +infinitaque; Mundi duratione, quam in infinita Extensione spacii" +(p.ix).] + +[Footnote 2: Cf. Lee Haring's unpub. diss., "Henry More's +_Psychathanasia_ and _Democritus Platonissans_: A Critical Edition," +(Columbia Univ., 1961), pp. 33-57.] + +[Footnote 3: Marjorie Hope Nicolson's various articles and books which +in part deal with More are important to the discussion that follows, and +especially "The Early Stage of Cartesianism in England," SP, XXVI +(1929), 356-379; _Mountain Gloom and Mountain Glory_ (Ithaca, 1959), pp. +113-143, and _The Breaking of the Circle_ (New York, 1960), pp. +158-165.] + +[Footnote 4: Cf. _The Meditations and Selections from the Principles of +Ren Descartes_, trans. John Veitch (Chicago, 1908), p. 143. The +quotations from the letters which follow occur in Alexandre Koyr's very +helpful book, _From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe_ +(Baltimore, 1957), pp. 114, 122-123, but the complete and original texts +can be consulted in Descartes, _Correspondance avec Arnaud et Morus_, +ed. G. Lewis (Paris, 1953).] + +[Footnote 5: This passage occurs at the beginning of "The Easie, True, +and Genuine Notion, And consistent Explication Of the Nature of a +Spirit," afree translation of _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, I. 27-28, by +John Collins which he included in Joseph Glanvil's _Saducismus +Triumphatus_ (London, 1681). Iquote from the text as given in +_Philosophical Writings of Henry More_, ed. F.I. MacKinnon (New York, +1925), p.183.] + +[Footnote 6: Cf. _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 8, trans. Mary Whiton +Calkins and included in John Tull Baker, _An Historical and Critical +Examination of English Space and Time Theories_ ... (Bronxville, N.Y., +1930), p. 12. For the original, cf. _Opera Omnia_, II.1, p.167.] + +[Footnote 7: "_Infinitum_ igitur hoc _Extensum_ Materia distinctum," +_Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 9, in _Opera Omnia, loc. cit._ Quoted +by MacKinnon, p. 262.] + +[Footnote 8: This and the following reference appear in _An Explanation +of the grand Mystery of Godliness_ (London, 1660), "To the Reader," pp. +vi andv.] + +[Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52).] + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + + +The text of this edition is reproduced from a copy in the Henry E. +Huntington Library. + + + + + Democritus Platonissans, + + Or, + + _AN ESSAY_ + + Upon The + + INFINITY OF WORLDS + + Out Of + + PLATONICK PRINCIPLES. + + Hereunto is annexed + + CUPIDS CONFLICT + + together with + + THE PHILOSOPHERS DEVOTION: + + And a Particular Interpretation + appertaining to the three last books of the + _Song of the Soul_. + + + By _H. More_ Master of Arts, and Fellow of + Christs Colledge in Cambridge. + + + +Agathos n to pan tode ho sunistas, agathi de oudeis peri oudenos + oudepote enginetai phthonos. Toutou d' ektos n panta hoti malista + eboulth genesthai paraplsia hauti.+ Plat. + + _Pythagoras Terram Planetam quendam esse censuit qui circa solem + in centro mundi defixum converteretur, Pythagorans secuti sunt + Philolaus, Seleucus, Cleanthes, &c. im PLATO jam senex, ut + narrat Theophrastus._ Libert. Fromond, de Orbe terr immobili. + + + _CAMBRIDGE_ + + Printed by ROGER DANIEL, Printer to + the UNIVERSITIE. 1646. + + + + +To the Reader. + + +READER, + +_If thou standest not to the judgement of thine eye more then of thy +reason, this fragment may passe favourably, though in the neglectfull +disguise of afragment; if the strangenesse of the argument prove no +hinderance. INFINITIE of WORLDS! Athing monstrous if assented to, and +to be startled at, especially by them, whose thoughts this one have +alwayes so engaged, that they can find no leisure to think of any thing +else. But I onely make a bare proposall to more acute judgements, of +what my sportfull fancie, with pleasure hath suggested: following my old +designe of furnishing mens minds with varietie of apprehensions +concerning the most weightie points of Philosophie, that they may not +seem rashly to have settled in the truth, though it be the truth: +athing as ill beseeming Philosophers, as hastie prejudicative sentence +Politicall Judges. But if I had relinquishd here my wonted self, in +proving Dogmaticall, Ishould have found very noble Patronage for the +cause among the ancients, =Epicurus=, =Democritus=, =Lucretius=, =&c.= +Or if justice may reach the dead, do them the right, as to shew, that +though they be hooted at, by the Rout of the learned, as men of +monstrous conceits, they were either very wise or exceeding fortunate to +light on so probable and specious an opinion, in which notwithstanding +there is so much difficultie and seeming inconsistencie._ + +_Nay and that sublime and subtil Mechanick too, =DesChartes=, though he +seem to mince it must hold infinitude of worlds, or which is as harsh +one infinite one. For what is his =mundus indefinit extensus=, but +=extensus infinit=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos= but +=simpliciter finitus=. But if any space be left out unstuffd with Atoms, +it will hazard the dissipation of the whole frame of Nature into +disjoynted dust. As may be proved by the Principles of his own +Philosophie. And that there is space whereever God is, or any actuall +and self-subsistent Being, seems to me no plainer then one of the ++koinai ennoiai+._ + +_For mine own part I must confesse these apprehensions do plainly oppose +what heretofore I have conceived; but I have sworn more faithfull +friendship with Truth then with myself. And therefore without all +remorse lay batterie against mine own edifice: not sparing to shew how +weak that is, that my self now deems not impregnably strong. Ihave at +the latter end of the last Canto of =Psychathanasia=, not without +triumph concluded, that the world hath not continued =ab terno=, from +this ground:_ + + Extension + That's infinite implies a contradiction. + +_And this is in answer to an objection against my last argument of the +souls Immortalitie, =viz.= divine goodnesse, which I there make the +measure of his providence. That ground limits the essence of the world +as well as its duration, and satisfies the curiositie of the Opposer, by +shewing the incompossibilitie in the Creature, not want of goodnesse in +the Creatour to have staid the framing of the Universe. But now roused +up by a new Philosophick furie, Ianswer that difficultie by taking away +the Hypothesis of either the world or time being finite: defending the +infinitude of both, which though I had done with a great deal of vigour +and life, and semblance of assent, it would have agreed well enough with +the free beat of Poesie, and might have passed for a pleasant flourish: +but the severitie of my own judgement, and sad Genius hath cast in many +correctives and coolers into the Canto it self; so that it cannot amount +to more then a discussion. And discussion is no prejudice but an honour +to the truth: for then and never but then is she Victorious. And what a +glorious Trophee shall the finite world erect when it hath vanquished +the Infinite; aPygmee a Giant._ + +_For the better understanding of the connexion of this Appendix, with +the Poem of the souls Immortalitie; Ihave taken off the last stanza's +thereof, and added some few new ones to them for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto. =Psychathan. lib. 3. Cant. 4.=_ + + _Stanz._ 33d. + + But thou who ere thou art that thus dost strive + With fierce assault my groundwork to subvert, + And boldly dost into Gods secrets dive, + Base fear my manly face note make m' avert. + In that odde question which thou first didst stert, + I'll plainly prove thine incapacitie, + And force thy feeble feet back to revert, + That cannot climb so high a mysterie, + I'le shew thee strange perplexed inconsistencie. + + 34 + + Why was this world from all infinitie + Not made? say'st thou: why? could it be so made + Say I. For well observe the sequencie: + If this Out-world continually hath wade + Through a long long-spun-time that never had + Beginning, then there as few circulings + Have been in the quick Moon as Saturn sad; + And still more plainly this clear truth to sing, + As many years as dayes or flitting houres have been. + + 35 + + For things that we conceive are infinite, + One th' other no'te surpasse in quantitie. + So I have prov'd with clear convincing light, + This world could never from infinitie + Been made. Certain deficiencie + Doth alwayes follow evolution: + Nought's infinite but tight eternitie + Close thrust into itself: extension + That's infinite implies a contradiction. + + 36 + + So then for ought we know this world was made + So soon as such a Nature could exist; + And though that it continue, never fade, + Yet never will it be that that long twist + Of time prove infinite, though ner'e desist + From running still. But we may safely say + Time past compar'd with this long future list + Doth show as if the world but yesterday + Were made, and in due time Gods glory out may ray. + + 37 + + Then this short night and ignorant dull ages + Will quite be swallowed in oblivion; + And though this hope by many surly Sages + Be now derided, yet they'll all be gone + In a short time, like Bats and Owls yflone + At dayes approch. This will hap certainly + At this worlds shining conflagration. + Fayes, Satyrs, Goblins the night merrily + May spend, but ruddy Sol shall make them all to flie. + + 38 + + The roaring Lions and drad beasts of prey + Rule in the dark with pitious crueltie; + But harmlesse Man is matter of the day, + Which doth his work in pure simplicitie. + God blesse his honest usefull industrie. + But pride and covetize, ambition, + Riot, revenge, self-love, hypocrisie, + Contempt of goodnesse, forc'd opinion; + These and such like do breed the worlds confusion. + + 39 + + But sooth to say though my triumphant Muse + Seemeth to vant as in got victorie, + And with puissant stroke the head to bruize + Of her stiff so, and daze his phantasie, + Captive his reason, dead each facultie: + Yet in her self so strong a force withstands + That of her self afraid, she'll not aby, + Nor keep the field. She'll fall by her own hand + As _Ajax_ once laid _Ajax_ dead upon the strand. + + 40 + + For thus her-self by her own self's oppos'd; + The Heavens the Earth the universall Frame + Of living Nature God so soon disclos'd + As He could do, or she receive the same. + All times delay since that must turn to blame, + And what cannot He do that can be done? + And what might let but by th' all-powerfull Name + Or Word of God, the Worlds Creation + More suddenly were made then mans swift thought can run? + + 41 + + Wherefore that Heavenly Power or is as young + As this Worlds date; or else some needlesse space + Of time was spent, before the Earth did clung + So close unto her-self and seas embrace + Her hollow breast, and if that time surpasse + A finite number then Infinitie + Of years before this Worlds Creation passe. + So that the durance of the Deitie + We must contract or strait his full Benignitie. + + 42 + + But for the cradle of the _Cretian Jove_, + And guardians of his vagient Infancie + What sober man but sagely will reprove? + Or drown the noise of the fond _Dactyli_ + By laughter loud? Dated Divinitie + Certes is but the dream of a drie brain: + God maim'd in goodnesse, inconsistencie; + Wherefore my troubled mind is now in pain + Of a new birth, which this one Canto'll not contain. + +_Now Reader, thou art arrived to the Canto it self, from which I have +kept thee off by too tedious Preface and Apologie, which is seldome made +without consciousnesse of some fault, which I professe I find not in my +self, unlesse this be it, that I am more tender of thy satisfaction then +mine own credit. As for that high sullen Poem, =Cupids Conflict=, I must +leave it to thy candour and favourable censure. The =Philosophers +Devotion= I cast in onely, that the latter pages should not be +unfurnished._ + + H. M. + + +_Nihil tamen frequentius inter Autores occurrit, qum ut omnia ade ex +moduli fer sensuum suorum stiment, ut ea qu insuper infinitis rerum +spatiis extare possunt, sive superb sive imprudenter rejiciant; quin & +ea omnia in usum suum fabricata fuisse glorientur, perinde facientes ac +si pediculi humanum caput, aut pulices sinum muliebrem propter se solos +condita existimarent, eque demum ex gradibus saltibsve suis +metirentur. =The Lord Herbert in his De Causis Errorum.=_ + + +_De generali totius hujus mundi aspectabilis constructione ut rect +Philosophemur duo sunt imprimis observanda: Unum ut attendentes ad +infinitam Dei potentiam & bonitatem n vereamur nimis ampla & pulchra & +absoluta ejus opera imaginari: sed contra caveamus, n si quos fort +limites nobis non cert cognitos, in ipsis supponamus, non sats +magnific de creatoris potentia sentire videamur._ + +_Alterum, ut etiam caveamus, n nimis superb de nobis ipsis sentiamus. +Quod fieret non mod, si quos limites nobis null cognitos ratione, nec +divin revelatione, mundo vellemus affingere, tanquam si vis nostra +cogitationis, ultra id quod Deo revera factum est ferri posset; sed +etiam maxim, si res omnes propter nos solos, ab illo creatas esse +fingeremus. =Renatus DesCartes in his Princip. Philosoph. the third +part.=_ + + + + + THE ARGUMENT. + + _'Gainst boundlesse time th' objections made, + And wast infinity + Of worlds, are with new reasons weigh'd, + Mens judgements are left free._ + + + 1 + + Hence, hence unhallowed ears and hearts more hard + Then Winter clods fast froze with Northern wind. + But most of all, foul tongue I thee discard + That blamest all that thy dark strait'ned mind, + Can not conceive: But that no blame thou find; + What e're my pregnant Muse brings forth to light, + She'l not acknowledge to be of her kind, + Till Eagle-like she turn them to the sight + Of the eternall Word all deckt with glory bright. + + 2 + + Strange sights do straggle in my restlesse thoughts, + And lively forms with orient colours clad + Walk in my boundlesse mind, as men ybrought + Into some spacious room, who when they've had + A turn or two, go out, although unbad. + All these I see and know, but entertain + None to my friend but who's most sober sad; + Although the time my roof doth them contain + Their pretence doth possesse me till they out again. + + 3 + + And thus possest in silver trump I found + Their guise, their shape, their gesture and array. + But as in silver trumpet nought is found + When once the piercing sound is past away, + (Though while the mighty blast therein did stay, + Its tearing noise so terribly did shrill, + That it the heavens did shake, and earth dismay) + As empty I of what my flowing quill + In heedlesse hast elswhere, or here, may hap to spill. + + 4 + + For 'tis of force and not of a set will. + Ne dare my wary mind afford assent + To what is plac'd above all mortall skill. + But yet our various thoughts to represent + Each gentle wight will deem of good intent. + Wherefore with leave th' infinitie I'll sing + Of time, Of Space: or without leave; I'm brent + With eagre rage, my heart for joy doth spring, + And all my spirits move with pleasant trembeling. + + 5 + + An inward triumph doth my soul up-heave + And spread abroad through endlesse 'spersed aire. + My nimble mind this clammie clod doth leave, + And lightly stepping on from starre to starre + Swifter then lightning, passeth wide and farre, + Measuring th' unbounded Heavens and wastfull skie; + Ne ought she finds her passage to debarre, + For still the azure Orb as she draws nigh + Gives back, new starres appear, the worlds walls 'fore her flie. + + 6 + + For what can stand that is so badly staid? + Well may that fall whose ground-work is unsure. + And what hath wall'd the world but thoughts unweigh'd + In freer reason? That antiquate, secure, + And easie dull conceit of corporature; + Of matter; quantitie, and such like gear + Hath made this needlesse, thanklesse inclosure, + Which I in full disdain quite up will tear + And lay all ope, that as things are they may appear. + + 7 + + For other they appear from what they are + By reason that their Circulation + Cannot well represent entire from farre + Each portion of the _Cuspis_ of the Cone + (Whose nature is elsewhere more clearly shown) + I mean each globe, whether of glaring light + Or else opake, of which the earth is one. + If circulation could them well transmit + Numbers infinite of each would strike our 'stonishd sight; + + 8 + + All in just bignesse and right colours dight + But totall presence without all defect + 'Longs onely to that Trinitie by right, + _Ahad_, _on_, _Psyche_ with all graces deckt, + Whose nature well this riddle will detect; + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib'd, whose Centre's each where set, + But the low Cusp's a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre's every where. + + 9 + + Wherefore who'll judge the limits of the world + By what appears unto our failing sight + Appeals to sense, reason down headlong hurld + Out of her throne by giddie vulgar might. + But here base senses dictates they will dight + With specious title of Philosophie, + And stiffly will contend their cause is right + From rotten rolls of school antiquitie, + Who constantly denie corporall Infinitie. + + 10 + + But who can prove their corporalitie + Since matter which thereto's essentiall + If rightly sifted 's but a phantasie. + And quantitie who's deem'd Originall + Is matter, must with matter likewise fall. + What ever is, is Life and Energie + From God, who is th' Originall of all; + Who being everywhere doth multiplie + His own broad shade that endlesse throughout all doth lie. + + 11 + + He from the last projection of light + Ycleep'd _Shamajim_, which is liquid fire + (It _ther_ eke and centrall _Tasis_ hight) + Hath made each shining globe and clumperd mire + Of dimmer Orbs. For Nature doth inspire + Spermatick life, but of a different kind. + Hence those congenit splendour doth attire + And lively heat, these darknesse dead doth bind, + And without borrowed rayes they be both cold and blind. + + 12 + + All these be knots of th' universall stole + Of sacred _Psyche_; which at first was fine, + Pure, thin, and pervious till hid powers did pull + Together in severall points and did encline + The nearer parts in one clod to combine. + Those centrall spirits that the parts did draw + The measure of each globe did then define, + Made things impenetrable here below, + Gave colour, figure, motion, and each usuall law. + + 13 + + And what is done in this Terrestriall starre + The same is done in every Orb beside. + Each flaming Circle that we see from farre + Is but a knot in _Psyches_ garment tide. + From that lax shadow cast throughout the wide + And endlesse world, that low'st projection + Of universall life each thing's deriv'd + What e're appeareth in corporeall fashion; + For body's but this spirit, fixt, grosse by conspissation. + + 14 + + And that which doth conspissate active is; + Wherefore not matter but some living sprite + Of nimble Nature which this lower mist + And immense field of Atoms doth excite, + And wake into such life as best doth fit + With his own self. As we change phantasies + The essence of our soul not chang'd a whit, + So do these Atoms change their energies + Themselves unchanged into new Centreties. + + 15 + + And as our soul's not superficially + Colourd by phantasms, nor doth them reflect + As doth a looking-glasse such imag'rie + As it to the beholder doth detect: + No more are these lightly or smear'd or deckt + With form or motion which in them we see, + But from their inmost Centre they project + Their vitall rayes, not merely passive be, + But by occasion wak'd rouze up themselves on high. + + 16 + + So that they're life, form, sprite, not matter pure, + For matter pure is a pure nullitie, + What nought can act is nothing, I am sure; + And if all act, that is they'll not denie + But all that is is form: so easily + By what is true, and by what they embrace + For truth, their feigned Corporalitie + Will vanish into smoke, but on I'll passe, + More fully we have sung this in another place. + + 17 + + Wherefore more boldly now to represent + The nature of the world, how first things were + How now they are: This endlesse large Extent + Of lowest life (which I styled whileere + The _Cuspis_ of the _Cone_ that's every where) + Was first all dark, till in this spacious Hall + Hideous through silent horrour torches clear + And lamping lights bright shining over all + Were set up in due distances proportionall. + + 18 + + Innumerable numbers of fair Lamps + Were rightly ranged in this hollow hole, + To warm the world and chace the shady damps + Of immense darknesse, rend her pitchie stole + Into short rags more dustie dimme then coal. + Which pieces then in severall were cast + (Abhorred reliques of that vesture foul) + Upon the Globes that round those torches trac'd, + Which still fast on them stick for all they run so fast. + + 19 + + Such an one is that which mortall men call Night, + A little shred of that unbounded shade. + And such a Globe is that which Earth is hight; + By witlesse Wizzards the sole centre made + Of all the world, and on strong pillars staid. + And such a lamp or light is this our Sun, + Whose firie beams the scortched Earth invade. + But infinite such as he, in heaven won, + And more then infinite Earths about those Suns do run; + + 20 + + And to speak out: though I detest the sect + Of _Epicurus_ for their manners vile, + Yet what is true I may not well reject. + Truth's incorruptible, ne can the style + Of vitious pen her sacred worth defile. + If we no more of truth should deign t' embrace + Then what unworthy mouths did never soyl, + No truths at all mongst men would finden place + But make them speedie wings and back to Heaven apace. + + 21 + + I will not say our world is infinite, + But that infinitie of worlds ther be. + The Centre of our world's the lively light + Of the warm sunne, the visible Deitie + Of this externall Temple. _Mercurie_ + Next plac'd and warm'd more throughly by his rayes, + Right nimbly 'bout his golden head doth flie: + Then _Venus_ nothing slow about him strayes, + And next our _Earth_ though seeming sad full spritely playes. + + 22 + + And after her _Mars_ rangeth in a round + With firie locks and angry flaming eye, + And next to him mild _Jupiter_ is found, + But Saturn cold wons in our utmost skie. + The skirts of his large Kingdome surely lie + Near to the confines of some other worlds + Whose Centres are the fixed starres on high, + 'Bout which as their own proper Suns are hurld + _Joves_, _Earths_ and _Saturns_; round on their own axes twurld. + + 23 + + Little or nothing are those starres to us + Which in the azure Evening gay appear + (I mean for influence) but judicious + Nature and carefull Providence her dear + And matchlesse work did so contrive whileere, + That th' Hearts or Centres in the wide world pight + Should such a distance each to other bear, + That the dull Planets with collated light + By neighbour suns might cheared be in dampish night. + + 24 + + And as the Planets in our world (of which + The sun's the heart and kernell) do receive + Their nightly light from suns that do enrich + Their sable mantle with bright gemmes, and give + A goodly splendour, and sad men relieve + With their fair twinkling rayes, so our worlds sunne + Becomes a starre elsewhere, and doth derive + Joynt light with others, cheareth all that won + In those dim duskish Orbs round other suns that run. + + 25 + + This is the parergon of each noble fire + Of neighbour worlds to be the nightly starre, + But their main work is vitall heat t' inspire + Into the frigid spheres that 'bout them fare, + Which of themselves quite dead and barren are. + But by the wakening warmth of kindly dayes, + And the sweet dewie nights they well declare + Their seminall virtue in due courses raise + Long hidden shapes and life, to their great Makers praise. + + 26 + + These with their suns I severall worlds do call, + Whereof the number I deem infinite: + Else infinite darknesse were in this great Hall + Of th' endlesse Universe; For nothing finite + Could put that immense shadow unto flight. + But if that infinite Suns we shall admit, + Then infinite worlds follow in reason right. + For every Sun with Planets must be fit, + And have some mark for his farre-shining shafts to hit. + + 27 + + But if he shine all solitarie, alone, + What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + Of his existence? wherefore every one + Hath a due number of dim Orbs that wend + Around their centrall fire. But wrath will rend + This strange composure back'd with reason stout + And rasher tongues right speedily will spend + Their forward censure, that my wits run out + On wool-gathering, through infinite spaces all about. + + 28 + + What sober man will dare once to avouch + An infinite number of dispersed starres? + This one absurdity will make him crouch + And eat his words; Division nought impairs + The former whole, nor he augments that spares. + Strike every tenth out, that which doth remain, + An equall number with the former shares, + And let the tenth alone, th' whole nought doth gain, + For infinite to infinite is ever the same. + + 29 + + The tenth is infinite as the other nine, + Or else, nor they, nor all the ten entire + Are infinite. Thus one infinite doth adjoyn + Others unto it and still riseth higher. + And if those single lights hither aspire, + This strange prodigious inconsistencie + Groweth still stranger, if each fixed fire + (I mean each starre) prove Sunnes, and Planets flie + About their flaming heads amid the thronged skie. + + 30 + + For whatsoever that their number be + Whether by seavens, or eighths, or fives, or nines, + They round each fixed lamp; Infinity + Will be redoubled thus by many times. + Besides each greater Planet th' attendance finds + Of lesser. Our _Earths_ handmaid is the Moon, + Which to her darkned side right duly shines, + And _Jove_ hath foure, as hath been said aboven, + And _Saturn_ more then foure if the plain truth were known. + + 31 + + And if these globes be regions of life + And severall kinds of plants therein do grow, + Grasse, flowers, hearbs, trees, which the impartiall knife + Of all consuming Time still down doth mow, + And new again doth in succession show: + Which also 's done in flies, birds, men and beasts; + Adde sand, pearls, pebbles, that the ground do strow + Leaves, quills, hairs, thorns, blooms, you may think the rest + Their kinds by mortall penne can not well be exprest: + + 32 + + And if their kinds no man may reckon well, + The summe of successive particulars + No mind conceive nor tongue can ever tell. + And yet this mist of numbers (as appears) + Belongs to one of these opacous sphears. + Suppose this _Earth_; what then will all those Rounds + Produce? No _Atlas_ such a load upbears. + In this huge endlesse heap o'rewhelmed, drownd, + Choak'd, stifled, lo! I lie, breathlesse, even quite confound. + + 33 + + Yet give me space a while but to respire, + And I my self shal fairly well out-wind; + Keep this position true, unhurt, entire, + That you no greater difficulty find + In this new old opinion here defin'd + Of infinite worlds, then one world doth imply. + For if we do with steddy patience mind + All is resolv'd int' one absurdity, + The grant of something greater then infinitie. + + 34 + + That God is infinite all men confesse, + And that the Creature is some realty + Besides Gods self, though infinitely lesse. + Joyn now the world unto the Deity. + What? is there added no more entitie + By this conjunction, then there was before? + Is the broad breasted earth? the spacious skie + Spangled with silver light, and burning Ore? + And the wide bellowing seas, whose boyling billows roar, + + 35 + + Are all these nothing? But you will reply; + As is the question so we ought restrain + Our answer unto Corporeity. + But that the phantasie of the body's vain + I did before unto you maken plain. + But that no man depart unsatisfi'd + A while this Universe here will we feigne + _Corporeall_, till we have gainly tride. + If ought that's bodily may infinite abide. + + 36 + + What makes a body saving quantity? + What quantitie unlesse extension? + Extension if 't admit infinity + Bodies admit boundlesse dimension. + That some extension forward on doth run + Withouten limits, endlesse, infinite + Is plane from Space, that ever paceth on + Unstop'd, unstaid, till it have filled quite + That immense infinite Orb where God himself doth sit. + + 37 + + But yet more sensibly this truth to show + If space be ended set upon that end + Some strong arm'd Archer with his Parthian bow, + That from that place with speedy force may send + His fleeter shafts, and so still forward wend. + Where? When shall he want room his strength to trie? + But here perversly subtill you'l contend + Nothing can move in mere vacuity, + And space is nought, so not extended properly. + + 38 + + To solve these knots I must call down from high + Some heavenly help, feather with angels wing + The sluggish arrow. If it will not flie, + Sent out from bow stiff-bent with even string, + Let angels on their backs it thither bring + Where your free mind appointed had before, + And then hold on, till in your travelling + You be well wearied, finding ever more + Free passage for their flight, and what they flying bore. + + 39 + + Now to that shift that sayes Vacuity + Is nought, and therefore not at all extent + We answer thus: There is a distancy + In empty space, though we be well content + To balk that question (for we never meant + Such needlesse niceties) whether that it be + A reall being; yet that there's parts distent + One from another, no mans phantasie + Can e're reject if well he weigh't and warily. + + 40 + + For now conceive the aire and azure skie + All swept away from Saturn to the Sunne, + Which each is to be wrought by him on high. + Then in this place let all the Planets runne + (As erst they did before this feat was done) + If not by nature, yet by divine power, + Ne one hairs breadth their former circuits shun + And still for fuller proof, th' Astronomer + Observe their hights as in the empty heavens they scoure. + + 41 + + Will then their Parallaxes prove all one + Or none, or different still as before? + If so, their distances by mortall men + Must be acknowledg'd such as were of yore, + Measur'd by leagues, miles, stades, nor lesse nor more + From circuit unto circuit shall be found + Then was before the sweeping of the floor. + That distance therefore hath most certain ground + In emptinesse we may conclude with reason sound. + + 42 + + If distance now so certainly attend + All emptinesse (as also mensuration + Attendeth distance) distance without end + Is wide disperst above imagination + (For emptinesse is void of limitation) + And this unbounded voidnesse doth admit + The least and greatest measures application; + The number thus of the greatest that doth fit + This infinite void space is likewise infinite. + + 43 + + But what so e're that infinite number be, + A lesser number will a number give + So farre exceeding in infinity + That number as this measure we conceive + To fall short of the other. But I'll leave + This present way and a new course will trie + Which at the same mark doth as fully drive + And with a great deal more facility. + Look on this endlesse Space as one whole quantity. + + 44 + + Which in your mind int' equall parts divide, + Tens, hundreds, thousands or what pleaseth best. + Each part denominate doth still abide + An infinite portion, else nor all the rest + Makes one infinitude. + For if one thousandth part may be defin'd + By finite measures eas'ly well exprest, + A myriad suppose of miles assign'd + Then to a thousand myriads is the whole confin'd. + + 45 + + Wherefore this wide and wast Vacuity, + Which endlesse is outstretched thorough all, + And lies even equall with the Deity, + Nor is a thing meerly imaginall, + (For it doth farre mens phantasies forestall + Nothing beholden to our devicefull thought) + This inf'nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + And has as great perplexities ybrought + As if this empty space with bodies were yfraught. + + 46 + + Nor have we yet the face once to denie + But that it is although we mind it not; + For all once minded such perplexity + It doth create to puzzled reason, that + She sayes and unsayes, do's she knows not what. + Why then should we the worlds infinity + Misdoubt, because when as we contemplate + Its nature, such strange inconsistency + And unexpected sequels, we therein descry? + + 47 + + Who dare gainsay but God is every where + Unbounded, measurelesse, all infinite; + Yet the same difficulties meet us here + Which erst us met and did so sore affright + With their strange vizards. This will follow right + Where ever we admit infinity + Every denominated part proves streight + A portion infinite, which if it be, + One infinite will into myriads multiply. + + 48 + + But with new argument to draw more near + Our purpos'd end. If God's omnipotent + And this omnipotent God be every where, + Where e're he is then can he eas'ly vent + His mighty virtue thorough all extent. + What then shall hinder but a roscid aire + With gentle heat each where be 'sperst and sprent. + Unlesse omnipotent power we will empair, + And say that empty space his working can debarre. + + 49 + + Where now this one supposed world is pight + Was not that space at first all vain and void? + Nor ought said; no, when he said, _Let 't be light_. + Was this one space better then all beside, + And more obedient to what God decreed? + Or would not all that endlesse emptinesse + Gladly embrac'd (if he had ever tride) + His just command? and what might come to passe + Implies no contradictious inconsistentnesse. + + 50 + + Wherefore this precious sweet Ethereall dew + For ought we know God each where did distill, + And thorough all that hollow voidnesse threw + And the wide gaping drought therewith did fill, + His endlesse overflowing goodnesse spill + In every place; which streight he did contrive + Int' infinite severall worlds, as his best skill + Did him direct and creatures could receive + For matter infinite needs infinite worlds must give. + + 51 + + The Centre of each severall world's a sunne + With shining beams and kindly warming heat, + About whose radiant crown the Planets runne, + Like reeling moths around a candle light, + These all together, one world I conceit. + And that even infinite such worlds there be, + That inexhausted Good that God is bight + A full sufficient reason is to me, + Who simple Goodnesse make the highest Deity. + + 52 + + Als make himself the key of all his works + And eke the measure of his providence; + The piercing eye of truth to whom nought lurks + But lies wide ope unbar'd of all pretense. + But frozen hearts! away! flie farre from hence, + Unlesse you'l thaw at this celestiall fire + And melt into one minde and holy sense + With Him that doth all heavenly hearts inspire, + So may you with my soul in one assent conspire. + + 53 + + But what's within, uneath is to convey + To narrow vessels that are full afore. + And yet this truth as wisely as I may + I will insinuate, from senses store + Borrowing a little aid. Tell me therefore + When you behold with your admiring eyes + Heavens Canopie all to bespangled o're + With sprinkled starres, what can you well devize + Which causen may such carelesse order in the skies? + + 54 + + A peck of peasen rudely poured out + On plaister flore, from hasty heedlesse hond + Which lie all carelesse scattered about, + To sight do in as seemly order stond, + As those fair glistering lights in heaven are found. + If onely for this world they were intended, + Nature would have adorn'd this azure round + With better art, and easily have mended + This harsh disord'red order, and more beauty lended. + + 55 + + But though these lights do seem so rudely thrown + And scattered throughout the spacious skie, + Yet each most seemly sits in his own Throne + In distance due and comely Majesty; + And round their lordly seats their servants hie + Keeping a well-proportionated space + One from another, doing chearfully + Their dayly task. No blemmish may deface + The worlds in severall deckt with all art and grace. + + 56 + + But the appearance of the nightly starres + Is but the by-work of each neighbour sun; + Wherefore lesse marvell if it lightly shares + Of neater Art; and what proportion + Were fittest for to distance one from one + (Each world I mean from other) is not clear. + Wherefore it must remain as yet unknown + Why such perplexed distances appear + Mongst the dispersed lights in Heaven thrown here & there. + + 57 + + Again, that eminent similitude + Betwixt the starres and Phoebus fixed light, + They being both with steddinesse indu'd, + No whit removing whence they first were pight, + No serious man will count a reason slight + To prove them both, both fixed suns and starres + And Centres all of severall worlds by right, + For right it is that none a sun debarre + Of Planets which his just and due retinue are. + + 58 + + If starres be merely starres not centrall lights + Why swell they into so huge bignesses? + For many (as Astronomers do write) + Our sun in bignesse many times surpasse. + If both their number and their bulks were lesse + Yet lower placed, light and influence + Would flow as powerfully, and the bosome presse + Of the impregned Earth, that fruit from hence + As fully would arise, and lordly affluence. + + 59 + + Wherefore these fixed Fires mainly attend + Their proper charge in their own Universe, + And onely by the by of court'sie lend + Light to our world, as our world doth reverse + His thankfull rayes so farre as he can pierce + Back unto other worlds. But farre aboven + Further then furthest thought of man can traverse, + Still are new worlds aboven and still aboven. + In the endlesse hollow Heaven, and each world hath his sun. + + 60 + + An hint of this we have in winter-nights, + When reason may see clearer then our eye, + Small subtil starres appear unto our sights + As thick as pin-dust scattered in the skie. + Here we accuse our seeing facultie + Of weaknesse, and our sense of foul deceit, + We do accuse and yet we know not why. + But the plain truth is, from a vaster hight + The numerous upper worlds amaze our dazzled sight. + + 61 + + Now sith so farre as sense can ever trie + We find new worlds, that still new worlds there be, + And round about in infinite numbers lie, + Further then reach of mans weak phantasie + (Without suspition of temeritie) + We may conclude; as well as men conclude + That there is aire farre 'bove the mountains high, + Or that th' Earth a sad substance doth include + Even to the Centre with like qualities indu'd. + + 62 + + For who did ever the Earths Centre pierce, + And felt or sand or gravell with his spade + At such a depth? what Histories rehearse + That ever wight did dare for to invade + Her bowels but one mile in dampish shade? + Yet I'll be bold to say that few or none + But deem this globe even to the bottome made + Of solid earth, and that her nature's one + Throughout, though plain experience hath it never shown. + + 63 + + But sith sad earth so farre as they have gone + They still descrie, eas'ly they do inferre + Without all check of reason, were they down + Never so deep, like substance would appear, + Ne dream of any hollow horrour there. + My mind with like uncurb'd facilitie + Concludes from what by sight is seen so clear + That ther's no barren wast vacuitie + Above the worlds we see, but still new worlds there lie, + + 64 + + And still and still even to infinitie. + Which point since I so fitly have propos'd, + Abating well the inconsistencie + Of harsh infinitude therein supposd + And prov'd by reasons never to be loos'd + That infinite space and infinite worlds there be; + This load laid down, I'm freely now dispos'd + Awhile to sing of times infinitie, + May infinite Time afford me but his smallest fee. + + 65 + + For smallest fee of time will serve my turn + This part for to dispatch, sith endlesse space + (Whose perplext nature well mans brains might turn, + And weary wits disorder and misplace) + I have already passed: for like case + Is in them both. He that can well untie + The knots that in those infinite worlds found place, + May easily answer each perplexitie + Of these worlds infinite matters endlesse durancie. + + 66 + + The _Cuspis_ and the _Basis_ of the _Cone_ + Were both at once dispersed every where; + But the pure _Basis_ that is God alone: + Else would remotest sights as bigge appear + Unto our eyes as if we stood them near. + And if an Harper harped in the Moon, + His silver sound would touch our tickled eare: + Or if one hollowed from highest Heaven aboven, + In sweet still Evening-tide, his voice would hither roam. + + 67 + + This all would be if the _Cuspe_ of the _Cone_ + Were very God. Wherefore I rightly 't deem + Onely a Creaturall projection, + Which flowing yet from God hath ever been, + Fill'd the vast empty space with its large streem. + But yet it is not totall every where + As was even now by reason rightly seen: + Wherefore not God, whose nature doth appear + Entirely omnipresent, weigh'd with judgement clear, + + 68 + + A reall infinite matter, distinct + And yet proceeding from the Deitie + Although with different form as then untinct + Has ever been from all Eternitie. + Now what delay can we suppose to be, + Since matter alway was at hand prepar'd + Before the filling of the boundlesse skie + With framed Worlds; for nought at all debar'd, + Nor was His strength ungrown, nor was His strength empair'd. + + 69 + + How long would God be forming of a flie? + Or the small wandring moats that play i' th' sun? + Least moment well will serve none can denie, + His _Fiat_ spoke and streight the thing is done. + And cannot He make all the World as soon? + For in each Atom of the matter wide + The totall Deitie doth entirely won, + His infinite presence doth therein reside, + And in this presence infinite powers do ever abide. + + 70 + + Wherefore at once from all eternitie + The infinite number of these Worlds He made, + And will conserve to all infinitie, + And still drive on their ever-moving trade, + And steddy hold what ever must be staid; + Ne must one mite be minish'd of the summe, + Ne must the smallest atom ever fade, + But still remain though it may change its room; + This truth abideth strong from everlasting doom. + + 71 + + Ne fear I what hard sequel after-wit + Will draw upon me; that the number's one + Of years, moneths, dayes, houres, and of minutes fleet + Which from eternitie have still run on. + I plainly did confesse awhile agone + That be it what it will that's infinite + More infinites will follow thereupon, + But that all infinites do justly fit + And equall be, my reason did not yet admit. + + 72 + + But as my emboldened mind, I know not how, + In empty Space and pregnant Deitie + Endlesse infinitude dares to allow, + Though it begets the like perplexitie: + So now my soul drunk with Divinitie, + And born away above her usuall bounds + With confidence concludes infinitie + Of Time of Worlds, of firie flaming Rounds; + Which sight in sober mood my spirits quite confounds. + + 73 + + And now I do awhile but interspire + A torrent of objections 'gainst me beat, + My boldnesse to represse and strength to tire. + But I will wipe them off like summer sweat, + And make their streams streight back again retreat. + If that these worlds, say they, were ever made + From infinite time, how comes 't to passe that yet + Art is not perfected, nor metalls fade, + Nor mines of grimie coal low-hid in griesly shade. + + 74 + + But the remembrance of the ancient Floud + With ease will wash such arguments away. + Wherefore with greater might I am withstood. + The strongest stroke wherewith they can assay + To vanquish me is this; The Date or Day + Of the created World, which all admit; + Nor may my modest Muse this truth gainsay + In holy Oracles so plainly writ. + Wherefore the Worlds continuance is not infinite. + + 75 + + Now lend me, _Origen_! a little wit + This sturdy stroke right fairly to avoid, + Lest that my rasher rymes, while they ill fit + With _Moses_ pen, men justly may deride + And well accuse of ignorance or pride. + But thou, O holy Sage! with piercing sight + Who readst those sacred rolls, and hast well tride + With searching eye thereto what fitteth right + Thy self of former Worlds right learnedly dost write: + + 76 + + To weet that long ago these Earths have been + Peopled with men and beasts before this Earth, + And after this shall others be again + And other beasts and other humane birth. + Which once admit, no strength that reason bear'th + Of this worlds Date and Adams efformation, + Another Adam once received breath + And still another in endlesse repedation, + And this must perish once by finall conflagration. + + 77 + + Witnesse ye Heavens if what I say's not true, + Ye flaming Comets wandering on high, + And new fixt starres found in that Circle blue, + The one espide in glittering _Cassiopie_, + The other near to _Ophiuchus_ thigh. + Both bigger then the biggest starres that are, + And yet as farre remov'd from mortall eye + As are the furthest, so those Arts declare + Unto whose reaching sight Heavens mysteries lie bare. + + 78 + + Wherefore these new-seen lights were greater once + By many thousand times then this our sphear + Wherein we live, 'twixt good and evil chance. + Which to my musing mind doth strange appear + If those large bodies then first shaped were. + For should so goodly things so soon decay? + Neither did last the full space of two year. + Wherefore I cannot deem that their first day + Of being, when to us they sent out shining ray. + + 79 + + But that they were created both of old, + And each in his due time did fair display + Themselves in radiant locks more bright then gold, + Or silver sheen purg'd from all drossie clay. + But how they could themselves in this array + Expose to humane sight, who did before + Lie hid, is that which well amazen may + The wisest man and puzzle evermore: + Yet my unwearied thoughts this search could not give o're. + + 80 + + Which when I'd exercis'd in long pursuit + To finden out what might the best agree + With warie reason, at last I did conclude + That there's no better probabilitie + Can be produc'd of that strange prodigie, + But that some mighty Planet that doth run + About some fixed starre in _Cassiopie_ + As _Saturn_ paceth round about our Sun, + Unusuall light and bignesse by strange fate had wonne. + + 81 + + Which I conceive no gainer way is done + Then by the siezing of devouring fire + On that dark Orb, which 'fore but dimly shone + With borrowed light, not lightened entire, + But halfed like the Moon. + And while the busie flame did sieze throughout, + And search the bowels of the lowest mire + Of that _Saturnian_ Earth; a mist broke out, + And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. + + 82 + + Which being gilded with the piercing rayes + Of its own sun and every neighbour starre, + It soon appear'd with shining silver blaze, + And then gan first be seen of men from farre. + Besides that firie flame that was so narre + The Planets self, which greedily did eat + The wastning mold, did contribute a share + Unto this brightnesse; and what I conceit + Of this starre doth with that of _Ophiuchus_ sit. + + 83 + + And like I would adventure to pronounce + Of all the Comets that above the Moon, + Amidst the higher Planets rudely dance + In course perplex, but that from this rash doom + I'm bett off by their beards and tails farre strown + Along the skie, pointing still opposite + Unto the sun, however they may roam; + Wherefore a cluster of small starres unite + These meteors some do deem, perhaps with judgement right. + + 84 + + And that these tayls are streams of the suns light + Breaking through their near bodies as through clouds. + Besides the Optick glasse has shown to sight + The dissolution of these starrie crouds. + Which thing if 't once be granted and allow'd, + I think without all contradiction + They may conclude these Meteors are routs + Of wandring starres, which though they one by one + Cannot be seen, yet joyn'd, cause this strange vision. + + 85 + + And yet methinks, in my devicefull mind + Some reasons that may happily represse + These arguments it's not uneath to find. + For how can the suns rayes that be transmisse + Through these loose knots in Comets, well expresse + Their beards or curld tayls utmost incurvation? + Beside, the conflux and congeries + Of lesser lights a double augmentation + Implies, and 'twixt them both a lessening coarctation. + + 86 + + For when as once these starres are come so nigh + As to seem one, the Comet must appear + In biggest show, because more loose they lie + Somewhat spread out, but as they draw more near + The compasse of his head away must wear, + Till he be brought to his least magnitude; + And then they passing crosse, he doth repair + Himself, and still from his last losse renew'd + Grows till he reach the measure which we first had view'd. + + 87 + + And then farre distanc'd they bid quite adiew, + Each holding on in solitude his way. + Ne any footsteps in the empty Blew + Is to be found of that farre-shining ray. + Which processe sith no man did yet bewray, + It seems unlikely that the Comets be + Synods of starres that in wide Heaven stray. + Their smallnesse eke and numerositie + Encreaseth doubt and lessens probabilitie. + + 88 + + A cluster of them makes not half a Moon, + What should such tennis-balls do in the skie? + And few 'll not figure out the fashion + Of those round firie meteors on high. + Ne ought their beards much move us, that do lie + Ever cast forward from the Morning sunne, + Nor back cast tayls turn'd to our Evening-eye, + That fair appear when as the day is done. + This matter may lie hid in the starres shadowed Cone. + + 89 + + For in these Planets conflagration, + Although the smoke mount up exactly round, + Yet by the suns irradiation + Made thin and subtil no where else its found + By sight, save in the dim and duskish bound + Of the projected Pyramid opake, + Opake with darknesse, smoke and mists unsound. + Yet gilded like a foggie cloud doth make + Reflection of fair light that doth our senses take. + + 90 + + This is the reason of that constant site + Of Comets tayls and beards: And that their show's + Not pure Pyramidall, nor their ends seem streight + But bow'd like brooms, is from the winds that blow, + I mean Ethereall winds, such as below + Men finden under th' Equinoctiall line. + Their widend beards this aire so broad doth strow + Incurvate, and or more or lesse decline: + If not, let sharper wits more subtly here divine. + + 91 + + But that experiment of the Optick glasse + The greatest argument of all I deem, + Ne can I well encounter nor let passe + So strong a reason if I may esteem + The feat withouten fallacie to been, + Nor judge these little sparks and subtile lights + Some auncient fixed starres though now first seen, + That near the ruin'd Comets place were pight, + On which that Optic instrument by chance did light. + + 92 + + Nor finally an uncouth after-sport + Of th' immense vapours that the searching fire + Had boyled out, which now themselves consort + In severall parts and closely do conspire, + Clumper'd in balls of clouds and globes entire + Of crudled smoke and heavy clunging mists; + Which when they've staid awhile at last expire; + But while they stay any may see that lists + So be that Optick Art his naturall sight assists. + + 93 + + If none of these wayes I may well decline + The urging weight of this hard argument, + Worst is but parting stakes and thus define: + Some Comets be but single Planets brent, + Others a synod joyn'd in due consent: + And that no new found Meteors they are: + Ne further may my wary mind assent + From one single experience solitaire, + Till all-discovering Time shall further truth declare. + + 94 + + But for the new fixt starres there's no pretence, + Nor beard nor tail to take occasion by, + To bring in that unluckie inference + Which weaken might this new built mysterie. + Certes in raging fire they both did frie. + A signe whereof you rightly may aread + Their colours changeable varietie + First clear and white, then yellow, after red, + Then blewly pale, then duller still, till perfect dead. + + 95 + + And as the order of these colours went, + So still decreas'd that Cassiopean starre, + Till at the length to sight it was quite spent: + Which observations strong reasons are, + Consuming fire its body did empare + And turn to ashes. And the like will be + In all the darksome Planets wide and farre. + Ne can our Earth from this state standen free + A Planet as the rest, and Planets fate must trie. + + 96 + + Ne let the tender heart too harshly deem + Of this rude sentence: for what rigour more + Is in consuming fire then drowning stream + Of Noahs floud which all creaturs choak'd of yore, + Saving those few that were kept safe in store + In that well builded ship? All else beside + Men, birds, and beasts, the lion, buck, and bore + Dogs, kine, sheep, horses all that did abide + Upon the spacious earth, perish'd in waters wide. + + 97 + + Nor let the slow and misbelieving wight + Doubt how the fire on the hard earth may seize; + No more then how those waters erst did light + Upon the sinfull world. For as the seas + Boyling with swelling waves aloft did rise, + And met with mighty showers and pouring rain + From Heavens spouts; so the broad flashing skies + Thickned with brimstone and clouds of fiery bain + Shall meet with raging Etna's and Vesuvius flame. + + 98 + + The burning bowels of this wasting ball + Shall gullup up great flakes of rolling fire, + And belch out pitchie flames, till over all + Having long rag'd, Vulcan himself shall tire + And (th' earth an ashheap made) shall then expire: + Here Nature laid asleep in her own Urn + With gentle rest right easly will respire, + Till to her pristine task she do return + As fresh as Phenix young under th' Arabian Morn. + + 99 + + O happy they that then the first are born, + While yet the world is in her vernall pride: + For old corruption quite away is worn + As metall pure so is her mold well tride. + Sweet dews, cool-breathing airs, and spaces wide + Of precious spicery wafted with soft wind: + Fair comely bodies goodly beautifi'd + Snow-limb'd, rose-cheek'd, ruby-lip'd, pearl-ted, star eyn'd + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin'd. + + 100 + + For all the while her purged ashes rest + These rellicks dry suck in the heavenly dew, + And roscid Manna rains upon her breast, + And fills with sacred milk sweet fresh and new, + Where all take life and doth the world renew; + And then renew'd with pleasure be yfed. + A green soft mantle doth her bosome strew + With fragrant herbs and flowers embellished, + Where without fault or shame all living creatures bed. + + 101 + + Ne ought we doubt how Nature may recover + In her own ashes long time buried, + For nought can ever consume that centrall power + Of hid spermatick life, which lies not dead + In that rude heap, but safely covered; + And doth by secret force suck from above + Sweet heavenly juice, and therewith nourished + Till her just bulk, she doth her life emprove, + Made mother of much children that about her move. + + 102 + + Witnesse that uncouth bird of Arabie + Which out of her own ruines doth revive + With all th' exploits of skillfull Chymistrie, + Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. + Let universall Nature witnesse give + That what I sing 's no feigned forgerie. + A needlesse task new fables to contrive, + But what I sing is seemly verity + Well suting with right reason and Philosophie. + + 103 + + But the fit time of this mutation + No man can finden out with all his pains. + For the small sphears of humane reason run + Too swift within his narrow compast brains. + But that vast Orb of Providence contains + A wider period; turneth still and slow. + Yet at the last his aimed end he gains. + And sure at last a fire will overflow + The aged Earth, and all must into ashes go. + + 104 + + Then all the stately works and monuments + Built on this bottome shall to ruine fall. + And all those goodly statues shall be brent + Which were erect to the memoriall + Of Kings Ksars, ne may better 'fall + The boastfull works of brave Poetick pride + That promise life and fame perpetuall; + Ne better fate may these poor lines abide. + Betide what will to what may live no lenger tide! + + 105 + + This is the course that never-dying Nature + Might ever hold from all Eternitie, + Renuing still the faint decayed creature + Which would grow stark and drie as aged tree, + Unlesse by wise preventing Destinie + She were at certain periods of years + Reduced back unto her Infancie, + Which well fram'd argument (as plain appears) + My ship from those hard rocks and shelves right safely stears. + + 106 + + Lo! now my faithfull muse hath represented + Both frames of Providence to open view, + And hath each point in orient colours painted + Not to deceive the sight with seeming shew + But earnest to give either part their due; + Now urging th' uncouth strange perplexitie + Of infinite worlds and Time, then of a new + Softening that harsher inconsistencie + To fit the immense goodnesse of the Deity. + + 107 + + And here by curious men 't may be expected + That I this knot with judgement grave decide, + And then proceed to what else was objected. + But, ah! What mortall wit may dare t' areed + Heavens counsels in eternall horrour hid? + And Cynthius pulls me by my tender ear + Such signes I must observe with wary heed: + Wherefore my restlesse Muse at length forbear. + Thy silver sounded Lute hang up in silence here. + + + FINIS. + + + + + Cupids Conflict. + + + _Mela._ _Cleanthes._ + + _Cl._ _Mela_ my dear! why been thy looks so sad + As if thy gentle heart were sunk with care? + Impart thy case; for be it good or bad + Friendship in either will bear equall share. + _Mel._ Not so; _Cleanthes_, for if bad it be + My self must bleed afresh by wounding thee. + + But what it is, my slow, uncertain wit + Cannot well judge. But thou shalt sentence give + How manfully of late my self I quit, + When with that lordly lad by chance I strive: + _Cl._ Of friendship _Mela_! let's that story hear. + _Mel._ Sit down _Cleanthes_ then, and lend thine ear. + + Upon a day as best did please my mind + Walking abroad amidst the verdant field + Scattering my carefull thoughts i' th' wanton wind + The pleasure of my path so farre had till'd + My feeble feet that without timely rest + Uneath it were to reach my wonted nest. + + In secret shade farre moved from mortals sight + In lowly dale my wandring limbs I laid + On the cool grasse where Natures pregnant wit + A goodly bower of thickest trees had made. + Amongst the leaves the chearfull birds did fare + And sweetly carrol'd to the echoing air. + + Hard at my feet ran down a crystall spring + Which did the cumbrous pebbles hoarsly chide + For standing in the way. Though murmuring + The broken stream his course did rightly guide + And strongly pressing forward with disdain + The grassie flore divided into twain. + + The place a while did feed my foolish eye + As being new, and eke mine idle ear + Did listen oft to that wild harmonie + And oft my curious phansie would compare + How well agreed the Brooks low muttering Base, + With the birds trebbles pearch'd on higher place. + + But senses objects soon do glut the soul, + Or rather weary with their emptinesse; + So I, all heedlesse how the waters roll + And mindlesse of the mirth the birds expresse, + Into my self 'gin softly to retire + After hid heavenly pleasures to enquire. + + While I this enterprize do entertain; + Lo! on the other side in thickest bushes + A mighty noise! with that a naked swain + With blew and purple wings streight rudely rushes. + He leaps down light upon the flowry green, + Like sight before mine eyes had never seen. + + At's snowy back the boy a quiver wore + Right fairly wrought and gilded all with gold. + A silver bow in his left hand he bore, + And in his right a ready shaft did hold. + Thus armed stood he and betwixt us tway + The labouring brook did break his toilsome way. + + The wanton lad whose sport is others pain + Did charge his bended bow with deadly dart, + And drawing to the head with might and main, + With fell intent he aim'd to hit my heart. + But ever as he shot his arrows still + In their mid course dropt down into the rill. + + Of wondrous virtues that in waters been + Is needlesse to rehearse, all books do ring + Of those strange rarities. But ne're was seen + Such virtue as resided in this spring. + The novelty did make me much admire + But stirr'd the hasty youth to ragefull ire. + + As heedlesse fowls that take their per'lous flight + Over that bane of birds, _Averno lake_, + Do drop down dead: so dead his shafts did light + Amid this stream, which presently did slake + Their fiery points, and all their feathers wet + Which made the youngster Godling inly fret. + + Thus lustfull Love (this was that love I ween) + Was wholly changed to consuming ire. + And eath it was, sith they're so near a kin + They be both born of one rebellious sire. + But he supprest his wrath and by and by + For feathered darts, he winged words let flie: + + Vain man! said he, and would thou wer'st not vain + That hid'st thy self in solitary shade + And spil'st thy precious youth in sad disdain + Hating this lifes delight! Hath god thee made + Part of this world, and wilt not thou partake + Of this worlds pleasure for its makers sake? + + Unthankfull wretch! Gods gifts thus to reject + And maken nought of Natures goodly dower + That milders still away through thy neglect + And dying fades like unregarded flower. + This life is good, what's good thou must improve, + The highest improvement of this life is love. + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + Or Stygian vow, or thrice accursed charm + Should in this place free passage thus denie + Unto my shafts as messengers of harm! + Had I but once transfixt thy froward breast, + How would'st thou then----I staid not for the rest; + + But thus half angry to the boy replide: + How would'st thou then my soul of sense bereave! + I blinded, thee more blind should choose my guide! + How would'st thou then my muddied mind deceive + With fading shows, that in my errour vile, + Base lust; I love should tearm, vice, virtue stile. + + How should my wicked rymes then idolize + Thy wretched power, and with impious wit + Impute thy base born passions to the skies + And my souls sicknesse count an heavenly fit, + My weaknesse strength, my wisdome to be caught + My bane my blisse, mine ease to be o'rewraught. + + How often through my fondly feigning mind + And frantick phansie, in my Mistris eye + Should I a thousand fluttering Cupids find + Bathing their busie wings? How oft espie + Under the shadow of her eye-brows fair + Ten thousand Graces sit all naked bare? + + Thus haunted should I be with such feat fiends: + A pretty madnesse were my portion due. + Foolish my self I would not hear my friends. + Should deem the true for false, the false for true. + My way all dark more slippery then ice + My attendents, anger, pride, and jealousies. + + Unthankfull then to God I should neglect + All the whole world for one poor sorry wight, + Whose pestilent eye into my heart project + Would burn like poysonous Comet in my spright. + Aye me! how dismall then would prove that day + Whose onely light sprang from so fatall ray. + + Who seeks for pleasure in this mortall life + By diving deep into the body base + Shall loose true pleasure: But who gainly strive + Their sinking soul above this bulk to place + Enlarg'd delight they certainly shall find + Unbounded joyes to fill their boundlesse mind. + + When I my self from mine own self do quit + And each thing else; then an all-spreaden love + To the vast Universe my soul doth sit + Makes me half equall to all-seeing Jove. + My mighty wings high stretch'd then clapping light + I brush the starres and make them shine more bright. + + Then all the works of God with close embrace + I dearly hug in my enlarged arms + All the hid paths of heavenly Love I trace + And boldly listen to his secret charms. + Then clearly view I where true light doth rise, + And where eternall Night low-pressed lies. + + Thus lose I not by leaving small delight + But gain more joy, while I my self suspend + From this and that; for then with all unite + I all enjoy, and love that love commends. + That all is more then loves the partiall soul + Whose petty loves th' impartiall fates controll. + + Ah son! said he, (and laughed very loud) + That trickst thy tongue with uncouth strange disguize, + Extolling highly that with speeches proud + To mortall men that humane state denies, + And rashly blaming what thou never knew + Let men experienc'd speak, if they'll speak true. + + Had I once lanc'd thy froward flinty heart + And cruddled bloud had thawn with living fire + And prickt thy drousie sprite with gentle smart + How wouldst thou wake to kindly sweet desire, + Thy soul fill'd up with overflowing pleasures + Would dew thy lips with hony-dropping measures. + + Then wouldst thou caroll loud and sweetly sing + In honour of my sacred Deity + That all the woods and hollow hills would ring + Reechoing thy heavenly harmonie. + And eke the hardy rocks with full rebounds + Would faithfully return thy silver sounds. + + Next unto me would be thy Mistresse fair, + Whom thou might setten out with goodly skill + Her peerlesse beauty and her virtues rare, + That all would wonder at thy gracefull quill. + And lastly in us both thy self shouldst raise + And crown thy temples with immortall bayes. + + But now thy riddles all men do neglect, + Thy rugged lines of all do lie forlorn. + Unwelcome rymes that rudely do detect + The Readers ignorance. Men holden scorn + To be so often non-plusd or to spell, + And on one stanza a whole age to dwell. + + Besides this harsh and hard obscuritie + Of the hid sense, thy words are barbarous + And strangely new, and yet too frequently + Return, as usuall plain and obvious, + So that the show of the new thick-set patch + Marres all the old with which it ill doth match. + + But if thy haughty mind, forsooth, would deign + To stoop so low to hearken to my lore, + Then wouldst thou with trim lovers not disdeign + To adorn the outside, set the best before. + Nor rub nor wrinkle would thy verses spoil + Thy rymes should run as glib and smooth as oyl. + + If that be all, said I, thy reasons slight + Can never move my well establishd mind. + Full well I wote alwayes the present sprite, + Or life that doth possesse the soul, doth blind, + Shutting the windows 'gainst broad open day + Lest fairer sights its uglinesse bewray. + + The soul then loves that disposition best + Because no better comes unto her view. + The drunkard drunkennesse, the sluggard rest, + Th' Ambitious honour and obeisance due. + So all the rest do love their vices base + 'Cause virtues beauty comes not into place. + + And looser love 'gainst Chastitie divine + Would shut the door that he might sit alone. + Then wholly should my mind to him incline: + And woxen strait, (since larger love was gone) + That paultrie sprite of low contracting lust + Would fit my soul as if 't were made for 't just. + + Then should I with my fellow bird or brute + So strangely metamorphis'd, either ney + Or bellow loud: or if 't may better sute + Chirp out my joy pearch'd upon higher spray. + My passions fond with impudence rehearse, + Immortalize my madnesse in a verse. + + This is the summe of thy deceiving boast + That I vain ludenesse highly should admire, + When I the sense of better things have lost + And chang'd my heavenly heat for hellish fire, + Passion is blind, but virtues piercing eye + Approching danger can from farre espie. + + And what thou dost Pedantickly object + Concerning my rude rugged uncouth style, + As childish toy I manfully neglect, + And at thy hidden snares do inly smile. + How ill alas! with wisdome it accords + To sell my living sense for livelesse words. + + My thought 's the fittest measure of my tongue, + Wherefore I'll use what's most significant, + And rather then my inward meaning wrong + Or my full-shining notion trimly scant, + I'll conjure up old words out of their grave, + Or call fresh forrein force in if need crave. + + And these attending on my moving mind + Shall duly usher in the fitting sense. + As oft as meet occasion I find. + Unusuall words oft used give lesse offence; + Nor will the old contexture dim or marre, + For often us'd they're next to old, thred-bare. + + And if the old seem in too rustie hew, + Then frequent rubbing makes them shine like gold, + And glister all with colour gayly new. + Wherefore to use them both we will be bold. + Thus lists me fondly with fond folk to toy, + And answer fools with equall foolerie. + + The meaner mind works with more nicetie, + As spiders wont to weave their idle web, + But braver spirits do all things gallantly + Of lesser failings nought at all affred: + So Natures carelesse pencill dipt in light + With sprinkled starres hath spattered the Night. + + And if my notions clear though rudely thrown + And loosely scattered in my poesie, + May lend men light till the dead Night be gone, + And Morning fresh with roses strew the skie: + It is enough, I meant no trimmer frame + Or by nice needle-work to seek a name. + + Vain man! that seekest name mongst earthly men + Devoid of God and all good virtuous lere; + Who groping in the dark do nothing ken + But mad; with griping care their souls do tear, + Or burst with hatred or with envie pine + Or burn with rage or melt out at their eyne. + + Thrice happy he whose name is writ above, + And doeth good though gaining infamie; + Requiteth evil turns with hearty love, + And recks not what befalls him outwardly: + Whose worth is in himself, and onely blisse + In his pure conscience that doth nought amisse. + + Who placeth pleasure in his purged soul + And virtuous life his treasure doth esteem; + Who can his passions master and controll, + And that true lordly manlinesse doth deem, + Who from this world himself hath clearly quit + Counts nought his own but what lives in his sprite. + + So when his sprite from this vain world shall flit + It bears all with it whatsoever was dear + Unto it self, passing in easie fit, + As kindly ripen'd corn comes out of th' eare. + Thus mindlesse of what idle men will say + He takes his own and stilly goes his way. + + But the retinue of proud Lucifer, + Those blustering Poets that flie after fame + And deck themselves like the bright Morning-starre. + Alas! it is but all a crackling flame. + For death will strip them of that glorious plume + That airie blisse will vanish into fume. + + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + Return, or listen from the bowed skie + To heare how well their learned lines do take? + Or if they could; is Heavens felicitie + So small as by mans praise to be encreas'd, + Hells pain no greater then hence to be eas'd? + + Therefore once dead in vain shall I transmit + My shadow to gazing Posteritie; + Cast farre behind me I shall never see't, + On Heavens fair Sunne having fast fixt mine eye. + Nor while I live, heed I what man doth praise + Or underprize mine unaffected layes. + + What moves thee then, said he, to take the pains + And spenden time if thou contemn'st the fruit? + Sweet fruit of fame, that fills the Poets brains + With high conceit and feeds his fainting wit. + How pleasant 'tis in honour here to live + And dead, thy name for ever to survive! + + Or is thy abject mind so basely bent + As of thy Muse to maken Merchandize? + (And well I wote this is no strange intent.) + The hopefull glimps of gold from chattering Pies, + From Daws and Crows, and Parots oft hath wrung + An unexpected Pegaseian song. + + Foul shame on him, quoth I, that shamefull thought + Doth entertain within his dunghill breast, + Both God and Nature hath my spirits wrought + To better temper and of old hath blest + My loftie soul with more divine aspires + Then to be touchd with such vile low desires. + + I hate and highly scorn that Kestrell kind + Of bastard scholars that subordinate + The precious choice induements of the mind + To wealth or worldly good. Adulterate + And cursed brood! Your wit and will are born + Of th' earth and circling thither do return. + + Profit and honour be those measures scant + Of your slight studies and endeavours vain, + And when you once have got what you did want + You leave your learning to enjoy your gain. + Your brains grow low, your bellies swell up high, + Foul sluggish fat ditts up your dulled eye. + + Thus what the earth did breed, to th' earth is gone, + Like fading hearb or feebly drooping flower, + By feet of men and beast quite trodden down, + The muck-sprung learning cannot long endure. + Back she returns lost in her filthy source, + Drown'd, chok'd or slocken by her cruell nurse. + + True virtue to her self's the best reward, + Rich with her own and full of lively spirit, + Nothing cast down for want of due regard. + Or 'cause rude men acknowledge not her merit. + She knows her worth and stock from whence she sprung, + Spreads fair without the warmth of earthly dung, + + Dew'd with the drops of Heaven shall flourish long; + As long as day and night do share the skie, + And though that day and night should fail yet strong + And steddie, fixed on Eternitie + Shall bloom for ever. So the foul shall speed + That loveth virtue for no worldly meed. + + Though sooth to sayn, the worldly meed is due + To her more then to all the world beside. + Men ought do homage with affections true + And offer gifts for God doth there reside. + The wise and virtuous soul is his own seat + To such what's given God himself doth get. + + But earthly minds whose sight's seal'd up with mud + Discern not this flesh-clouded Deity, + Ne do acknowledge any other good + Then what their mole-warp hands can feel and trie + By groping touch; thus (worth of them unseen) + Of nothing worthy that true worth they ween. + + Wherefore the prudent Law-givers of old + Even in all Nations, with right sage foresight + Discovering from farre how clums and cold + The vulgar wight would be to yield what's right + To virtuous learning, did by law designe + Great wealth and honour to that worth divine. + + But nought's by law to Poesie due said he, + Ne doth the solemn Statesmans head take care + Of those that such impertinent pieces be + Of common-weals. Thou'd better then to spare + Thy uselesse vein. Or tell else, what may move + Thy busie use such fruitlesse pains to prove. + + No pains but pleasure to do the dictates dear + Of inward living nature. What doth move + The Nightingall to sing so sweet and clear + The Thrush, or Lark that mounting high above + Chants her shrill notes to heedlesse ears of corn + Heavily hanging in the dewy morn. + + When life can speak, it can not well withhold + T' expresse its own impressions and hid life. + Or joy or grief that smoothered lie untold + Do vex the heart and wring with restlesse strife. + Then are my labours no true pains but ease + My souls unrest they gently do appease. + + Besides, that is not fruitlesse that no gains + Brings to my self. I others profit deem + Mine own: and if at these my heavenly flames + Others receiven light, right well I ween + My time's not lost. Art thou now satisfide + Said I: to which the scoffing boy replide. + + Great hope indeed thy rymes should men enlight, + That be with clouds and darknesse all o'recast, + Harsh style and harder sense void of delight + The Readers wearied eye in vain do wast. + And when men win thy meaning with much pain, + Thy uncouth sense they coldly entertain. + + For wotst thou not that all the world is dead + Unto that Genius that moves in thy vein + Of poetrie! But like by like is fed. + Sing of my Trophees in triumphant strein, + Then correspondent life, thy powerfull verse + Shall strongly strike and with quick passion pierce. + + The tender frie of lads and lasses young + With thirstie eare thee compassing about, + Thy Nectar-dropping Muse, thy sugar'd song + Will swallow down with eagre hearty draught; + Relishing truly what thy rymes convey, + And highly praising thy soul-smiting lay. + + The mincing maid her mind will then bewray, + Her heart-bloud flaming up into her face, + Grave matrons will wex wanton and betray + Their unresolv'dnesse in their wonted grace; + Young boyes and girls would feel a forward spring, + And former youth to eld thou back wouldst bring. + + All Sexes, Ages, Orders, Occupations + Would listen to thee with attentive ear, + And eas'ly moved with thy sweet perswasions, + Thy pipe would follow with full merry chear. + While thou thy lively voice didst loud advance + Their tickled bloud for joy would inly dance. + + But now, alas! poore solitarie man! + In lonesome desert thou dost wander wide + To seek and serve thy disappearing Pan, + Whom no man living in the world hath eyde: + For Pan is dead but I am still alive, + And live in men who honour to me give: + + They honour also those that honour me + With sacred songs. But thou now singst to trees + To rocks to Hills, to Caves that senselesse be + And mindlesse quite of thy hid mysteries, + In the void aire thy idle voice is spread, + Thy Muse is musick to the deaf or dead. + + Now out alas! said I, and wele-away + The tale thou tellest I confesse too true. + Fond man so doteth on this living clay + His carcase dear, and doth its joyes pursue, + That of his precious soul he takes no keep + Heavens love and reasons light lie fast asleep. + + This bodies life vain shadow of the soul + With full desire they closely do embrace, + In fleshly mud like swine they wallow and roll, + The loftiest mind is proud but of the face + Or outward person; if men but adore + That walking sepulchre, cares for no more. + + This is the measure of mans industry + To wexen some body and getten grace + To 's outward presence; though true majestie + Crown'd with that heavenly light and lively rayes + Of holy wesdome and Seraphick love, + From his deformed soul he farre remove. + + Slight knowledge and lesse virtue serves his turn + For this designe. If he hath trod the ring + Of pedling arts; in usuall pack-horse form + Keeping the rode; O! then 't's a learned thing. + If any chanc'd to write or speak what he + Conceives not 't were a foul discourtesie. + + To cleanse the soul from sinne, and still diffide + Whether our reasons eye be clear enough + To intromit true light, that fain would glide + Into purg'd hearts, this way 's too harsh and rough: + Therefore the clearest truths may well seem dark + When sloathfull men have eyes so dimme and stark. + + These be our times. But if my minds presage + Bear any moment, they can ne're last long, + A three branch'd Flame will soon sweep clean the stage + Of this old dirty drosse and all wex young. + My words into this frozen air I throw + Will then grow vocall at that generall thaw. + + Nay, now thou 'rt perfect mad, said he, with scorn, + And full of foul derision quit the place. + The skie did rattle with his wings ytorn + Like to rent silk. But I in the mean space + Sent after him this message by the wind + Be 't so I 'm mad, yet sure I am thou 'rt blind. + + By this the out-stretch'd shadows of the trees + Pointed me home-ward, and with one consent + Foretold the dayes descent. So straight I rise + Gathering my limbs from off the green pavement + Behind me leaving then the slooping Light. + _Cl._ And now let's up, _Vesper_ brings on the Night. + + +_FINIS._ + +[Illustration] + + + + + _A Particular Interpretation appertaining to + the three last books of the Platonick + Song of the Soul._ + + +A + +_Atom-lives._ The same that Centrall lives. Both the terms denotate the +indivisibility of the inmost essence it self; the pure essentiall form I +mean, of plant, beast or man, yea of angels themselves, good or bad. + + _Apogee_, } + _Autokineticall_, } + _Ananke_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Acronycall_, } + _Alethea-land_, } + +_Animadversall. That lively inward animadversall._ It is the soul it +self, for I cannot conceive the body doth animadvert; when as objects +plainly exposed to the sight are not discovered till the soul takes +notice of them. + + +B + +_Body._ The ancient Philosophers have defined it, +To trichi diastaton +met' antitupias+. _Sext. Emperic. Pyrrhon. Hypotyp. lib. 3. cap. 5._ +Near to this is that description, _Psychathan_, Cant. 2. Stanz. 12. lib. +2, _Matter extent in three dimensions._ But for that +antitupia+, simple +trinall distension doth not imply it, wherefore I declin'd it. But took +in _matter_ according to their conceit, that phansie _ Materia prima_, +I acknowledge none, and consequently no such _corpus naturale_ as our +Physiologist make the subject of that science. That +Trichi diastaton +antitupon+ is nothing but a fixt spirit, the conspissation or +coagulation of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone, which are indeed the +Centrall Tasis or inward essence of the sensible world. These be an +infinite number of vitall Atoms that may be wakened into diverse +tinctures, or energies, into fiery, watery, earthy, &c. And one divine +_Fiat_ can unloose them all into an universall mist, or turn them out of +that sweat into a drie and pure Etheriall temper. These be the last +projections of life from the soul of the world; and are act or form +though debil and indifferent, like that which they call the first +matter. But they are not meerly passive but meet their information half +way, as I may so speak: are radiant _ab intimo_ and awake into this or +the other operation, by the powerfull appulse of some superadvenient +form. That which change of Phantasmes is to the soul, that is alteration +of rayes to them. For their rayes are _ab intrinseco_, as the phantasmes +of the soul. These be the reall matter of which all supposed bodies are +compounded, and this matter (asI said) is form and life, so that all is +life and form what ever is in the world, as I have somewhere intimated +in _Antipsychopan_: But however I use the terme _body_ ordinarily in the +usuall and vulgar acception. And for that sense of the ancients, nearest +to which I have defined it in the place first above mentioned, that I +seem not to choose that same as most easie to proceed against in +disproving the corporeity of the soul, the arguments do as necessarily +conclude against such a naturall body as is ordinarily described in +Physiologie (asyou may plainly discern if you list to observe) as also +against this body composed of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone. For +though they be Centrall lives, yet are they neither Plasticall, +Sensitive, or Rationall, so farre are they from proving to be the humane +soul whose nature is there discust. + + +C + +_Cone_: Is a solid figure made by the turning of a rectangular triangle, +about; one of the sides that include the right angle resting, which will +be then the Axis of the compleated Cone. But I take it sometimes for the +comprehension of all things, God himself not left out, whom I tearm the +_Basis_ of the _Cone_ or _Universe_. And because all from him descends, ++kath' hupostoln+, with abatement or contraction, Igive the name of +_Cone_ to the Universe. And of Cone rather then Pyramid because of the +roundnesse of the figure, which the effluxes of all things imitate. + + _Chaos_, } + _Chronicall_, } See interpret Gen. + _Clare_, } + +_Circulation_, The terme is taken from a toyish observation, _viz._ the +circling of water when a stone is cast into a standing pool. The motion +drives on circularly, the first rings are thickest, but the further they +go they grow the thinner, till they vanish into nothing. Such is the +diffusion of the species audible in the strucken aire, as also of the +visible species. In brief any thing is said to circulate that diffuseth +its image or species in a round. It might have been more significantly +called orbiculation; seeing this circumfusion makes not onely a circle, +but fills a sphere, which may be called the sphere of activity. Yet +Circulation more fitly sets out the diminution of activity, from those +ringes in the water which as they grow in compasse, abate in force and +thicknesse. But sometimes I use Circulate in an ordinary sense to turn +round, or return in a circle. + +_Centre_, _Centrall_, _Centrality_. When they are used out of their +ordinary sense, they signifie the depth or inmost being of any thing, +from whence its acts and energies flow forth. See _Atom-lives_. + +_Cuspis_ of the _Cone_. The multiplide Cuspis of the Cone is nothing +but the last projection of life from Psyche, which is #shamayim# a +liquid fire or fire and water, which are the corporeall or materiall +principles of all things, changed or disgregated (ifthey be centrally +distinguishable) and again mingled by the virtue of Physis or +Spermaticall life of the world; of these are the Sunne and all the +Planets, they being kned together, and fixt by the Centrall power of +each Planet and Sunne. The volatile Ether is also of the same, and all +the bodies of plants, beasts and men. These are they which we handle and +touch, asufficient number compact together. For neither is the noise of +those little flies in a summer-evening audible severally: but a full +Quire of them strike the ear with a pretty kind of buzzing. Strong and +tumultuous pleasure and scorching pain reside in these, they being +essentiall and centrall, but sight and hearing are onely of the images +of these, See _Body_. + +_Eternitie._ Is the steddie comprehension of all things at once. See on +discribed in my Expos. upon Psychozoia. + +_Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. In my Interpret. Gen. +Iexpounded it Operation, Efflux, Activity. None of those words bear the +full sense of it. The examples there are fit, _viz._ the light of the +Sunne, the phantasms of the soul. We may collect the genuine sense of +the word by comparing severall places in the Philosopher. +Echei gar +hekaston tn ontn energeian, h estin homoima autou, hste autou +ontos, kakeino einai, kai menontos phthanein eis to porrh, to men epi +pleon, to de eis elatton. Kai hai men astheneis kai amudrai, hai de kai +lanthanousai, tn d' eisi meizous kai eis to porrh.+ _For every being +hath its Energie, which is the image of it self, so that it existing +that Energie doth also exist, and standing still is projected forward +more or lesse. And some of those energies are weak and obscure, others +hid or undiscernable, othersome greater and of a larger projection._ +Plotin. Ennead. 4. lib. 5. cap. 7. And again, Ennead. 3. lib. 4. +Kai +menomen ti men noti anthrpi an; ti de eschati autou, pepedmetha +ti kat, hoion aporrhoian ap' ekeinou didontes eis to kat, mallon de +energeian, ekeinou ouk elattoumenou.+ _And we remain above by the +Intellectuall man, but by the extreme part of him we are held below, as +it were yielding an efflux from him to that which is below, or rather an +energie he being not at all lessened._ This curiositie Antoninus also +observes, (lib. 8. Meditat.) in the nature of the sun-beams, where +although he admits of +chusis+, yet he doth not of +aporrhoia+ which is ++ekchusis+. +Ho hlios katakechusthai dokei, kai panti ge kechutai ou +mn ekkechutai. h gar chusis autou tasis estin. aktines goun hai augai +autou apo tou ekteinesthai legontai.+ _The sunne_, saith he, _is +diffused, and his fusion is every where but without effusion_, &c. +Iwill onely adde one place more out of Plotinus. Ennead. 3. lib. 6. ++Hekastou de moriou h energeia h kata phusin z ouk existasa.+ _The +naturall energie of each power of the soul is life not parted from the +soul though gone out of the soul, =viz.= into act._ + +Comparing of all these places together, I cannot better explain this +Platonick term, _energie_, then by calling it the rayes of an essence, +or the beams of a vitall Centre. For essence is the Centre as it were of +that which is truly called Energie, and Energie the beams and rayes of +an essence. And as the _Radii_ of a circle leave not the centre by +touching the Circumference, no more doth that which is the pure Energie +of an essence, leave the essence by being called out into act, but is ++en-ergeia+ aworking in the essence though it flow _out_ into act. So +that _Energie_ depends alwayes on essence, as _Lumen_ on _Lux_, or the +creature on God; Whom therefore Synesius in his Hymnes calls the Centre +of all things. + +_Entelecheia._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +F + +_Faith._ _Platonick faith in the first Good._ This faith is excellently +described in Proclus, where it is set above all ratiocination, nay, +Intellect it self. +Pros de au to agathon ou gnses eti kai sunergeias +dei tois sunaphthnai speudousin, all' hidruses kai monimou katastases +kai remias.+ _But to them that endeavour to be joyned with the first +Good, there is no need of knowledge or multifarious cooperation, but +settlednesse, steddinesse, and rest._ lib. 1. cap. 24. Theolog. Platon. +And in the next chapter; +Dei gar ou gnstiks oud' atels to agathon +epiztein, all' epidontas heautous ti theii phti kai musantas, houts +enidruesthai ti agnsti kai kruphii tn ontn henadi.+ _For we must +not seek after that absolute or first Good cognoscitively or +imperfectly, but giving our selves up to the divine light, and winking_ +(that is shutting our eyes of reason and understanding) _so to place our +selves steddily in that hidden Unitie of all things_. After he preferres +this faith before the clear and present assent to the +koinai ennoiai+, +yea and the +noera haplots+, so that he will not that any intellectuall +operation should come in comparison with it. +Polueids gar hait kai +di' heterottos chrizomen tn nooumenn, kai hols kinsis esti noera +peri to noton. Dei de tn theian pistin henoeid kai remon huparchein +en ti ts agathottos hormi teleis hidrutheisan.+ _For the operation +of the Intellect is multiform and by diversitie separate from her +objects, and is in a word, intellectuall motion about the object +intelligible. But the divine faith must be simple and uniform, quiet and +steddily resting in the haven of Goodnesse._ And at last he summarily +concludes, +Esti oun houtos hormos asphals tn ontn hapantn.+ See +Procl. Theolog. Platonick. lib. 1. cap. 25. + + +H + +_Hyle._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +I + +_Intellect._ Sometimes it is to be interpreted _Soul_. Sometime the +intellectuall facultie of the soul. Sometimes Intellect is an absolute +essence shining into the soul: whose nature is this. Asubstance purely +immateriall, impeccable, actually omniform, or comprehending all things +at once, which the soul doth also being perfectly joyned with the +Intellect. +Echomen oun kai ta eid dichs, en men psuchi hoion men +aneiligmena kai hoion kechrismena, en de ti ni homou ta panta.+ Plot. +Ennead. 1. lib. 1. cap. 8. _Ideas_, or _Idees_. Sometimes they are forms +in the Intellectuall world. _viz._ in _on_, or _On_, other sometimes, +phantasmes or representations in the soul. _Innate Idees_ are the souls +nature it self, her uniform essence, able by her _Fire_ to produce this +or that phantasme into act. + + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + + +L + +_Logos._ See Interpret. Gen. + +_Life._ The vitall operation of any soul. Sometime it is the soul it +self, be it sensitive, vegetative, or rationall. + +_Lower man._ The lower man is our enquickned body, into which our soul +comes, it being fitly prepared for the receiving of such a guest. The +manner of the production of souls, or rather their non-production is +admirably well set down in Plotinus, See, _Ennead. 6. lib. 4. cap. 14, +15_. + + +M + +_Monad._ See Interpr. Gen. + +_Mundane._ _Mundane spirit_, Is that which is the spirit of the world or +Universe. Imean by it not an intellectuall spirit, but a fine, unfixt, +attenuate, subtill, ethereall substance, the immediate vehicle of +plasticall or sensitive life. + +_Memory._ _Mundane memory._ Is that memory that is seated in the +_Mundane_ spirit of man, by a strong impression, or inustion of any +phantasme, or outward sensible object, upon that spirit. But there is a +Memory more subtill and abstract in the soul it self, without the help +of this spirit, which she also carries away with her having left the +body. + +_Magicall._ That is, attractive, or commanding by force of sympathy with +the life of this naturall world. + +_Moment._ Sometimes signifies an instant, as indivisible, as +kinma+, +which in motion answers to an instant in time, or a point in a line, +_Aristot. Phys._ In this sense I use it, Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 2. +stanz. 16; _But in a moment sol doth ray._ But Cant. the 3. Stanz. 45. +v. 2.I understand, as also doth Lansbergius, by a _moment_ one second +of a minute. In Antipsych. Cant. 2. Stanz. the 20. v.2. by a _moment_ I +understand a minute, or indefinitely any small time. + + +O + +_Orb._ _Orb Intellectuall_, is nothing else but on or the Intellectuall +world. The Orbs generall mentioned Psycathan. lib. 1. cant. 3. stanz. +23. v. 2. Iunderstand by them but so many universall orders of beings, +if I may so terme them all; for _Hyle_ hath little or nothing of being. + +_Omniformity._ The omniformity of the soul is the having in her nature +all forms, latent at least, and power of awaking them into act, upon +occasion. + +_Out-world._ and _Out-Heaven._ The sensible world, the visible Heaven. + + +P + + _Perigee_, } + _Psychicall_, } + _Pareties_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Parallax_, } + _Protopathy_. } + +_Parturient._ See, _Vaticinant_. + +_Phantasie._ _Lower phantasie_, is that which resides in the Mundane +spirit of a man, See _Memory_. + + +Q + +_Quantitative._ Forms _quantitative_, are such sensible energies as +arise from the complexion of many natures together, at whose discretion +they vanish. That's the seventh Orb of things, though broken and not +filling all as the other do. But if you take it for the whole sensible +world, it is entire, and is the same that _Tasis_ in Psycozoia. But the +centre of _Tasis_, viz. the multiplication of the reall _Cuspis_ of the +_Cone_ (for _Hyle_ that is set for the most contract point of the +_Cuspis_ is scarce to be reckoned among realities) that immense +diffusion of atoms, is to be referred to _Psyche_, as an internall +vegetative act, and so belongs to _Physis_ the lowest order of life. For +as that warmth that the sense doth afford the body, is not rationall, +sensitive, or imaginative, but vegetative; So this, #shamayim# _i.e._ +liquid fire, which _Psyche_ sends out, and is the outmost, last, and +lowest operation from her self, is also vegetative. + + +R + +_Rhomboides._ See Interpr. general. + +_Reason._ I understand by Reason, the deduction of one thing from +another, which I conceive proceeds from a kind of continuitie of +phantasmes: and is something like the moving of a cord at one end; the +parts next it rise with it. And by this concatenation of phantasmes I +conceive, that both brutes and men are moved in reasonable wayes and +methods in their ordinary externall actions. + +_Rayes._ The rayes of an essence is its energie. See _Energie_. + +_Reduplicative._ That is reduplicative, which is not onely in this +point, but also in another, having a kind of circumscribed ubiquitie, +_viz._ in its own sphear. And this is either by being in that sphear +omnipresent it self, as the soul is said to be in the body _tota in toto +& tota in qualibet parte_, or else at least by propagation of rayes, +which is the image of it self; and so are divers sensible objects +_Reduplicative_, as light, colours, sounds. And I make account either of +these wayes justly denominate any thing spirituall. Though the former is +most properly, at least more eminently spirituall. And whether any thing +be after that way spirituall saving the Divinitie, there is reason to +doubt. For what is entirely omnipresent in a sphear, whose diametre is +but three feet, Isee not, why (that in the circumference being as fresh +and entire as that in the centre) it should stop there and not proceed +even _in infinitum_, if the circumference be still as fresh and entire +as the centre. But I define nothing. + + +S + +_Spermaticall._ It belongs properly to Plants, but is transferred also +to the Plasticall power in Animalls, Ienlarge it to all magnetick power +whatsoever that doth immediately rule and actuate any body. For all +magnetick power is founded in _Physis_, and in reference to her, this +world is but one great Plant, (one +logos spermatikos+ giving it shape +and corporeall life) as in reference to _Psyche_, one happy and holy +Animall. + +_Spirit._ Sometimes it signifieth the soul, othersometime, the naturall +spirits in a mans body, which are _Vinculum anim & corporis_, and the +souls vehicle: Sometimes life. See _Reduplicative_. + +_Soul._ When I speak of mans Soul, I understand that which _Moses_ saith +was inspired into the body, (fitted out and made of earth) by God, +Genes. 2. which is not that impeccable spirit that cannot sinne; but the +very same that the Platonists call +psuch+, amiddle essence betwixt +that which they call +nous+ (and we would in the Christian language call ++pneuma+) and the life of the body which is +eidlon psuchs+, akind of +an umbratil vitalitie, that the soul imparts to the bodie in the +enlivening of it: That and the body together, we Christians would call ++sarx+, and the suggestions of it, especially in its corrupt estate, ++phronma sarkos+. And that which God inspired into _Adam_ was no more +then +psuch+, the soul, not the spirit, though it be called #nishmat +chayim# _Spiraculum vit_; is plain out of the text; because it made man +but become a living soul, #nefesh chai#. But you will say, he was a dead +soul before, and this was the spirit of life, yea the spirit of God, the +life of the soul that was breathed into him. + +But if #chai# implie such a life and spirit, you must acknowledge the +same to be also in the most stupid of all living creatures, even the +fishes (whose soul is but as salt to keep them from stinking, as Philo +speaks) for they are said to be #nishmat chayim# chap.1. v.20. 21. See +1Cor. chap. 15, v.45, 46. In brief therefore, that which in Platonisme +is +nous+, is in Scripture +pneuma+; what +sarx+ in one, +to thrion+, +the brute or beast in the other, +psuch+ the same in both. + +_Self-reduplicative._ See _Reduplicative_. + + +T + +_Tricentreitie._ Centre is put for essence, so _Tricentreitie_ must +implie a trinitie of essence. See _Centre_, and _Energie_. + + +V + +_Vaticinant._ The soul is said to be in a _vaticinant_ or _parturient_ +condition, when she hath some kind of sense and hovering knowledge of a +thing, but yet cannot distinctly and fully, and commandingly represent +it to her self, cannot plainly apprehend, much lesse comprehend the +matter. The phrase is borrowed of Proclus, who describing the +incomprehensiblenese of God, and the desire of all things towards him, +speaks thus; +Agnston gar on pothei ta onta to epheton touto kai +alpton, mte oun gnnai mte helein ho pothei, dunamena, peri auto +panta choreuei kai dinei men auto kai hoion apomanteuetai.+ _Theolog. +Platon. lib. 1. cap. 21._ See _Psychathan. lib.3. cant.3. stanz. 12. & +14._ + + + + +_The Philosophers Devotion._ + + + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + He the boundlesse Heavens has spread + All the vitall Orbs has kned; + He that on _Olympus_ high + Tends his flocks with watchfull eye, + And this eye has multiplide + Midst each flock for so reside. + Thus as round about they stray + Toucheth each with out-stretch'd ray, + Nimbly they hold on their way, + Shaping out their Night and Day. + Never slack they; none respires, + Dancing round their Centrall fires. + In due order as they move + Echo's sweet be gently drove + Thorough Heavens vast Hollownesse, + Which unto all corners presse: + Musick that the heart of _Jove_ + Moves to joy and sportfull love; + Fills the listning saylers eares + Riding on the wandering Sphears. + Neither Speech nor Language is + Where their voice is not transmisse. + God is Good, is Wise, is Strong, + Witnesse all the creature-throng, + Is confess'd by every Tongue. + All things back from whence they sprong, + As the thankfull Rivers pay + What they borrowed of the Sea. + Now my self I do resigne, + Take me whole I all am thine. + Save me, God! from Self-desire, + Deaths pit, dark Hells raging fire, + Envy, Hatred, Vengeance, Ire. + Let not Lust my soul bemire. + Quit from these thy praise I'll sing, + Loudly sweep the trembling string. + Bear a part, O Wisdomes sonnes! + Free'd from vain Relligions. + Lo! from farre I you salute, + Sweetly warbling on my Lute. + _Indie_, _Egypt_, _Arabie_, + _Asia_, _Greece_, and _Tartarie_, + _Carmel_-tracts, and _Lebanon_ + With the _Mountains_ of the _Moon_, + from whence muddie _Nile_ doth runne, + Or whereever else you won; + Breathing in one vitall aire, + One we are though distant farre. + Rise at once lett's sacrifice + Odours sweet perfume the skies. + See how Heavenly lightning fires + Hearts inflam'd with high aspires! + All the substance of our souls + Up in clouds of Incense rolls. + Leave we nothing to our selves + Save a voice, what need we els! + Or an hand to wear and tire + On the thankfull Lute or Lyre. + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + + +_FINIS._ + + + + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK + MEMORIAL LIBRARY + UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES + + +PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT + +[Decoration] + + [Where available, Project Gutenberg e-text numbers are given in + brackets.] + + +1948-1949 + +16. Henry Nevil Payne, _The Fatal Jealousie_ (1673). [16916] + +18. Anonymous, "Of Genius," in _The Occasional Paper_, Vol. III, No. 10 +(1719), and Aaron Hill, Preface to The Creation (1720). [15870] + + +1949-1950 + +19. Susanna Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709). [16740] + +20. Lewis Theobald, _Preface to the Works of Shakespeare_ (1734). +[16346] + +22. Samuel Johnson, _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749), and two +_Rambler_ papers (1750). [13350] + +23. John Dryden, _His Majesties Declaration Defended_ (1681). [15074] + + +1950-1951 + +26. Charles Macklin, _The Man of the World_ (1792). [14463] + + +1951-1952 + +31. Thomas Gray, _An Elegy Wrote in a Country Churchyard_ (1751), and +_The Eton College Manuscript_. [15409] + + +1952-1953 + +41. Bernard Mandeville, _A Letter to Dion_ (1732). [29478] + + +1962-1963 + +98. _Select Hymns Taken Out of Mr. Herbert's Temple_ (1697). + + +1963-1964 + +104. Thomas D'Urfey, _Wonders in the Sun_; or, _The Kingdom of the +Birds_ (1706). + + +1964-1965 + +110. John Tutchin, _Selected Poems_ (1685-1700). [_In Preparation_] + +111. Anonymous, _Political Justice_ (1736). + +112. Robert Dodsley, _An Essay on Fable_ (1764). + +113. T. R., _An Essay Concerning Critical and Curious Learning_ (1698). + +114. _Two Poems Against Pope_: Leonard Welsted, _One Epistle to Mr. A. +Pope_ (1730), and Anonymous, _The Blatant Beast_ (1742). [21499] + + +1965-1966 + +115. Daniel Defoe and others, _Accounts of the Apparition of Mrs. Veal_. + +116. Charles Macklin, _The Covent Garden Theatre_ (1752). [_In +Preparation_] + +117. Sir Roger L'Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). [_In +Preparation_] + +118. Henry More, _Enthusiasmus Triumphatus_ (1662). + +119. Thomas Traherne, _Meditations on the Six Days of the Creation_ +(1717). + +120. Bernard Mandeville, _Aesop Dress'd or a Collection of Fables_ +(1704). [_In Preparation_] + + +1966-1967 + +122. James MacPherson, _Fragments of Ancient Poetry_ (1760). [8161] + +123. Edmond Malone, _Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to +Mr. Thomas Rowley_ (1782). [29116] + +124. Anonymous, _The Female Wits_ (1704). [_In Preparation_] + +125. Anonymous, _The Scribleriad_ (1742). Lord Hervey, _The Difference +Between Verbal and Practical Virtue_ (1742). [_In Preparation_] + +126. _Le Lutrin: an Heroick Poem, Written Originally in French by +Monsieur Boileau: Made English by N.O._ (1682). + + * * * * * + +Subsequent publications may be checked in the annual prospectus. + +Publications #1 through 90, of the first fifteen years of Augustan +Reprint Society, are available in bound units at $14.00 per unit of six +from: + + KRAUS REPRINT CORPORATION + 16 East 46th Street + New York, N.Y. 10017 + +Publications in print are available at the regular membership rate of +$5.00 yearly. 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John Evelyn, _The History of ... Sabatai Sevi ... The Suppos'd +Messiah of the Jews_ (1669). Introduction by Christopher W. Grose. +[_In Preparation_] + +132. Walter Harte, _An Essay on Satire, Particularly on the Dunciad_ +(1730). Introduction by Thomas B. Gilmore. [29237] + + +ANNOUNCEMENTS: + +Next in the series of special publications by the Society will be a +volume including Elkanah Settle's _The Empress of Morocco_ (1673) with +five plates; _Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco_ (1674) +by John Dryden, John Crowne and Thomas Shadwell; _Notes and Observations +on the Empress of Morocco Revised_ (1674) by Elkanah Settle; and _The +Empress of Morocco. AFarce_ (1674) by Thomas Duffet, with an +Introduction by Maximillian E. Novak. Already published in this series +are reprints of John Ogilby's _The Fables of Aesop Paraphras'd in Verse_ +(1668), with an Introduction by Earl Miner and John Gay's _Fables_ +(1727, 1738), with an Introduction by Vinton A. Dearing. Publication is +assisted by funds from the Chancellor of the University of California, +Los Angeles. Price to members of the Society, $2.50 for the first copy +and $3.25 for additional copies. Price to non-members, $4.00. + + * * * * * + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +William Andrews Clark Memorial Library + +2520 CIMARRON STREET AT WEST ADAMS BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA +90018 + +Make check or money order payable to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF +CALIFORNIA. + + * * * * * + * * * * + +Errors and Inconsistencies (noted by transcriber) + +The author used a number of forms that were unusual or archaic even in +1646, and might be mistaken for typographical errors: + + ne (_conjunction_) + won (stay, dwell, like German _wohnen_) + eath (easy, light; also "uneath") + words in -en, especially verbs: + aboven, amazen, been (_infinitive_), causen, standen, withouten... + +Greek diacritics were consistently printed over the first vowel of an +initial diphthong. This has been silently regularized. + +Both occurrences of the name "DesCartes" or "DesChartes" are at line +break; the hyphen has been omitted conjecturally. In general, spellings +that appear more than once, such as "Psyc-" for "Psych-", were assumed +to be intentional. + +The word "invisible"means that the letter is absent but there is an +appropriately sized blank space. + + +Modern Introduction: + + Immobile ... Incomprehensible "[6] + [_line-initial long space in the original, not explained in + the footnote_] + with its seque _Democritus Platonissans_ + [_l in "sequel" invisible at line-end_] + describes the genesis of + [_final s in "genesis" illegible at line-end_] + Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52). [II.xi. 5] + +To the Reader: + + in the neglectfull disguise of afragment [of of] + or which is as harsh one infinite one. + [_. missing; text otherwise unchanged_] + defending the infinitude of both, [both.] + Unum ut attendentes ad infinitam Dei potentiam + [_first i in "infinitam" invisible_] + +Democritus Platonissans + + 7. Numbers infinite of each would strike our 'stonishd sight; + [_er in "Numbers" invisible_] + 25. This is the parergon of each noble fire [is is] + 27. What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + [_punctuation as printed_] + 45. This inf'nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + [_text cut off; "-all" conjectural_] + 47. With their strange vizards. This will follow right + [_text cut off; "-ht" conjectural_] + 55. Keeping a well-proportionated space [ptoportionated] + 81. And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. [mountiug] + 99. Snow-limb'd, rose-cheek'd, ruby-lip'd, pearl-ted, star eyn'd + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin'd. + [_text unchanged: possible hyphen in "star eyn'd"_] + 102. Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. [vnlgar] + 103. A wider period; turneth still and slow. [tnrneth] + +Cupids Conflict + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + [_mismatched parenthesis in original; closing parenthesis may + belong after "harm!" in 4th line of stanza_] + Who can his passions master and controll, [aud] + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + [_reading uncertain: may be "take" corrected by hand to "Lake"_] + +Particular Interpretation + + _Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. [_Energie,_] + _Faith._ ... excellently described in Proclus, [roclus.] + +Esti oun houtos hormos asphals tn ontn hapantn.+ + [+Eis oun ... tn hontn+] + [_Original text could not be checked, but +Eis+ is grammatically + impossible._] + _Intellect._ [_Intellect.._] + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + [_Printed as shown; may be damage or error for "Idea" or similar_] + _Omniformity._ [_Omniformity,_] + _Reduplicative._ ... as the centre. But I define nothing. + [_blank space at mid-line in original_] + _Soul._ ... And that which God inspired into _Adam_ [that that] + _Vaticinant._ ... Theolog. Platon. [Theolog Platon] + +Augustan Reprints + +Here as in e-texts 29237 and 29684 (from the same year), one or two +pages from the list of titles in print appear to be missing. The same +list should be present in any Augustan Reprint from a later year. + + [First page] UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES [. for,] + 117. Sir Roger L'Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). [Sir George] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Democritus Platonissans, by Henry More + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEMOCRITUS PLATONISSANS *** + +***** This file should be named 30327-8.txt or 30327-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/2/30327/ + +Produced by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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font-size: 90%; +font-style: normal; text-indent: 0;} +span.pagenum {right: 95%; font-weight: normal; text-align: right;} +span.folionum {left: 92%; right: 2%; font-weight: bold; +text-align: center;} + + +/* Transcriber's Note */ + +.mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; +font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 90%;} + +div.mynote {margin: 1em 5%; padding: .5em 1em 1em;} +p.mynote {margin: 1em 5%; padding: 1em;} +div.mynote a {text-decoration: none;} + +div.endnote {padding: .5em 1em 1em; margin: 2em 0; +border: 3px ridge #A9F; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 90%;} + +</style> +</head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30327 ***</div> + +<div class = "mynote"> + +<p><a name = "start" id = "start">This text</a> includes characters that +require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding, primarily Greek and a few words +of Hebrew:</p> + +<p class = "inset"><span class = "greek" title = "Agathos ên to pan tode ho sunistas">Ἀγαθὸς ἦν τὸ πᾶν τόδε ὁ συνιστὰς</span></p> + +<p class = "inset">... which is <span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" +title = "[Hebrew] shamayim">שׁמים</span></p> + +<p>If any of these characters do not display properly—in +particular, if the diacritic does not appear directly above the +letter—or if the apostrophes and quotation marks in this paragraph +appear as garbage, you may have an incompatible browser or unavailable +fonts. First, make sure that your browser’s “character set” or “file +encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8). You may also need to change the +default font. All Greek and Hebrew includes mouse-hover +transliterations, as above. Longer Greek passages are broken up at +punctuation.</p> + +<p>Page and folio numbers in [brackets] were added by the transcriber. +Verso (even, left-hand) pages are marked as ||.</p> + +<p>Unless otherwise noted, spelling, punctuation and capitalization in +the primary text are unchanged. The distinction between <b>u</b> (vowel) +and <b>v</b> (consonant) is as in the original. Typographical errors are +shown with <ins class = "correction">mouse-hover popups</ins>.</p> + +<p class = "center"> +<a href = "#intro">Introduction</a> (1968)</p> + +<p class = "center"> +<a href = "#preface">Author’s Preface</a><br> +<a href = "#democritus"><i>Democritus Platonissans</i></a><br> +<a href = "#cupid"><i>Cupids Conflict</i></a><br> +<a href = "#interp"><i>Particular Interpretation ...</i></a><br> +<a href = "#devotion"><i>Philosopher’s Devotion</i></a><br> +<a href = "#augustan">Augustan Reprint Society</a></p> + +<p class = "center"> +<a href = "#endnote">Transcriber’s Notes</a></p> + +<p>The General Inter­pretation (“Interp. Gen.”) referenced in the +Particular Inter­pretation is not part of this text.</p> +</div> + + +<!-- png 01 --> +<div class = "titlepage"> + +<h4 class = "smallcaps">The Augustan Reprint Society</h4> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<h2 class = "extended">HENRY MORE</h2> + +<h1><i>Democritus<br> +Platonissans</i></h1> + +<h4>(1646)</h4> + +<hr> + +<h5><i>Introduction by</i><br> +<span class = "smallcaps extended">P. G. Stanwood</span></h5> + +<hr> + +<h6><span class = "smaller">PUBLICATION NUMBER 130</span><br> +WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY<br> +<span class = "smallcaps">University of California, Los +Angeles</span></h6> + +<h5>1968</h5> + +</div> + +<hr> +<!-- png 02 --> + +<div class = "center"> + +<p> </p> + +<h5>GENERAL EDITORS</h5> + +<p>George Robert Guffey, <i>University of California, Los +Angeles</i></p> + +<p>Maximillian E. Novak, <i>University of California, Los +Angeles</i></p> + +<p>Robert Vosper, <i>William Andrews Clark Memorial Library</i></p> + +<p> </p> + +<h5>ADVISORY EDITORS</h5> + +<p>Richard C. Boys, <i>University of Michigan</i></p> + +<p>James L. Clifford, <i>Columbia University</i></p> + +<p>Ralph Cohen, <i>University of Virginia</i></p> + +<p>Vinton A. Dearing, <i>University of California, Los Angeles</i></p> + +<p>Arthur Friedman, <i>University of Chicago</i></p> + +<p>Louis A. Landa, <i>Princeton University</i></p> + +<p>Earl Miner, <i>University of California, Los Angeles</i></p> + +<p>Samuel H. Monk, <i>University of Minnesota</i></p> + +<p>Everett T. Moore, <i>University of California, Los Angeles</i></p> + +<p>Lawrence Clark Powell, <i>William Andrews Clark Memorial +Library</i></p> + +<p>James Sutherland, <i>University College, London</i></p> + +<p>H. T. Swedenberg, Jr., <i>University of California, Los +Angeles</i></p> + +<p> </p> + +<h5>CORRESPONDING SECRETARY</h5> + +<p>Edna C. Davis, <i>William Andrews Clark Memorial Library</i></p> + +</div> + +<div class = "intro"> + +<span class = "pagenum">i</span> +<!-- png 03 --> +<h3><a name = "intro" id = "intro">INTRODUCTION</a></h3> + + +<p>Henry More (1614-1687), the most interesting member of that group +traditionally known as the Cambridge Platonists, lived conscientiously +and well. Having early set out on one course, he never thought to change +it; he devoted his whole life to the joy of celebrating, again and +again, “a firm and unshaken Belief of the Existence of GOD +. . . , a God infinitely Good, as well as infinitely +Great . . . .”<a class = "tag" name = "tag1" id = +"tag1" href = "#note1">1</a> Such faith was for More the starting point +of his rational understanding: “with the most fervent Prayers” he +beseeched God, in his autobiographical “Praefatio Generalissima,” “to +set me free from the dark Chains, and this so sordid Captivity of my own +Will.” More offered to faith all which his reason could know, and so it +happened that he “was got into a most Joyous and Lucid State of Mind,” +something quite ineffable; to preserve these “Sensations and Experiences +of my own Soul,” he wrote “a pretty full Poem call’d +<i>Psychozoia</i>” (or <i>A Christiano-Platonicall display of +Life</i>), an exercise begun about 1640 and designed for no audience but +himself. There were times, More continued in his autobiographical +remarks, when he thought of destroying <i>Psychozoia</i> because its +style is rough and its language filled with archaisms. His principal +purpose in that poem was to demonstrate in detail the spiritual +foundation of all existence; Psyche, his heroine, is the daughter of the +Absolute, the general Soul who holds together the metaphysical universe, +against whom he sees reflected his own soul’s mystical progress. More +must, nevertheless, have been pleased with his labor, for he next wrote +<i>Psychathanasia Platonica: or Platonicall Poem of the Immortality of +Souls, especially Mans Soul</i>, in which he attempts to demonstrate the +immortality of the soul as a corrective to his age. Then, he joined to +that <i>Antipsychopannychia, or A Confutation of the sleep of the +Soul +<span class = "pagenum">ii</span> +<!-- png 04 --> +after death</i>, and <i>Antimonopsychia, or That all Souls are not +one</i>; at the urging of friends, he published the poems in +1642—his first literary work—as <i>Psychodia +Platonica</i>.</p> + +<p>In his argument for the soul’s immortality toward the end of +<i>Psychathanasia</i> (III.4), More had urged that there was no need to +plead for any extension of the infinite (“a contradiction,” and +also, it would seem, a fruitless inquiry); but he soon changed his +mind. The preface to <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> reproduces those +stanzas of the earlier poem which deny infinity (34 to the end of +the canto) with a new (formerly concluding) stanza 39 and three further +stanzas “for a more easie and naturall leading to the present Canto,” +<i>i.e.</i>, <i>Democritus Platonissans</i>, which More clearly intended +to be an addition, a fifth canto to <i>Psychathanasia</i> (Book +III); and although <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> first appeared +separately, More appended it to <i>Psychathanasia</i> in the second +edition of his collected poems, this time with English titles, the whole +being called <i>A Platonick Song of the Soul</i> (1647).</p> + +<p>There is little relationship between <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> +and the rest of More’s poetry; even the main work to which it supposedly +forms a final and conclusive canto provides only the slightest excuse +for such a continuation. Certainly, in <i>Psychathanasia</i>, More is +excited by the new astronomy; he praises the Copernican system +throughout Book III, giving an account of it according to the lessons of +his study of Galileo’s <i>Dialogo</i>, which he may have been reading +even as he wrote.<a class = "tag" name = "tag2" id = "tag2" href = +"#note2">2</a> Indeed, More tries to harmonize the two poems—his +habit was always to look for unity. But even though <i>Democritus +Platonissans</i> explores an astronomical subject, just as the third +part of <i>Psychathanasia</i> also does, its attitude and theme are +quite different; for More had meanwhile been reading Descartes.</p> + +<p>More’s theory of the infinity of worlds and God’s plenitude evidently +owed a great deal to Descartes’ recent example; More responds +exuberantly to him, especially to his <i>Principes de la Philosophie</i> +(1644); for in him he fancied having found a true ally. Steeped in +Platonic and neo-Platonic thought, and determined +<span class = "pagenum">iii</span> +<!-- png 05 --> +to reconcile Spirit with the rational mind of man, More thought he had +discovered in Cartesian ‘intuition’ what was not necessarily there. +Descartes had enjoyed an ecstatic illumination, and so had Plotinus; but +this was not enough, as More may have wanted to imagine, to make +Descartes a neo-Platonist.<a class = "tag" name = "tag3" id = "tag3" +href = "#note3">3</a> But the Platonic element implicit in Descartes, +his theory of innate ideas, and his proof of the existence of God from +the idea of God, all helped to make More so receptive to him. +Nevertheless, More did not really need Descartes, nor, as he himself was +later to discover, had he even understood him properly, for More had +looked at him only to find his own reflection.</p> + +<p>But there was nothing really new about the idea of infinite worlds +which More described in <i>Democritus Platonissans</i>; it surely was +not a conception unique to Descartes. The theory was a common one in +Greek and Renaissance thought. Democritus and the Epicureans, of course, +advocated the theme of infinite worlds in an infinite universe which +More accepted; but at the same time, he rejected their view of a +mechanistic and fortuitous creation. Although Plato specifically rejects +the idea of infinite worlds (in <i>Timaeus</i>), More imagines, as +the title of his poem implies, a Platonic universe, by which he +really means neo-Platonic, combined with a Democritean plurality of +worlds. More filled space, not with the infinite void of the Atomists, +but with the Divine, ever active immanence. More, in fact, in an early +philosophic work, <i>An Antidote against Atheisme</i> (1652), and again +in <i>Divine Dialogues</i> (1668), refutes Lucretius by asserting the +usefulness of all created things in God’s Providence and the essential +design in Nature. His reference in <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> +(st. 20) is typical: “though I detest the sect/ of Epicurus for +their manners vile,/ Yet what is true I may not well reject.” In +bringing together Democritus’ theories and neo-Platonic thought, More +obviously has attempted reconciliation of two exclusive world views, but +with dubious success.</p> + +<p>While More stands firmly before a familiar tradition, his belief in +an infinity of worlds evidently has little immediate +<span class = "pagenum">iv</span> +<!-- png 06 --> +connection with any predecessors. Even Bruno’s work, or Thomas Digges,’ +which could have occupied an important place, seems to have had little, +if any, direct influence on More. It was Descartes who stimulated his +thought at the most receptive moment: in 1642 to have denied a theory +which in 1646 he proclaimed with such force evidently argues in favor of +a most powerful attachment. More responded enthusiastically to what he +deemed a congenial metaphysical system; as a champion of Descartes, he +was first to make him known in England and first in England to praise +the infinity of worlds, yet Descartes’ system could give to him little +real solace. More embraces God’s plenitude and infinity of worlds, he +rejoices in the variety and grandeur of the universe, and he worships it +as he might God Himself; but Descartes was fundamentally uninterested in +such enthusiasms and found them even repellant—as well as +unnecessary—to his thought. For More the doctrine of infinity was +a proper corollary of Copernican astronomy and neo-Platonism +(as well as Cabbalistic mysticism) and therefore a necessity to his +whole elaborate and eclectic view of the world.</p> + +<p>In introducing Cartesian thought into England, More emphasized +particular physical doctrines mainly described in <i>The Principles of +Philosophy</i>; he shows little interest in the <i>Discourse on the +Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason</i> (1637), or in the +<i>Meditations</i> (1641), both of which were also available to him when +he wrote <i>Democritus Platonissans</i>. In the preface to his poem, he +refers to Descartes whom he seems to have read hopefully: surely +“infinitude” is the same as the Cartesian “indefinite.” “<i>For what is +his <em>mundus indefinitè extensus</em>, but <em>extensus infinitè</em>? +Else it sounds onely <em>infinitus quoad nos</em>, but <em>simpliciter +finitus</em></i>,” for there can be no space “<i>unstuffd with +Atoms</i>.” More thinks that Descartes seems “to mince it,” that +difficulty lies in the interpretation of a word, not in an essential +idea. He is referring to Part II, xxi, of <i>The Principles</i>, but he +quotes, with tacit approval, from Part III, i and ii, in the motto +to the poem. More undoubtedly knows the specific discussion of +‘infinity’ in Part I, xxvi-xxviii, where he must first +<span class = "pagenum">v</span> +<!-- png 07 --> +have felt uneasy delight on reading “that it is not needful to enter +into disputes regarding the infinite, but merely to hold all that in +which we can find no limits as indefinite, such as the extension of the +world . . . .”<a class = "tag" name = "tag4" id = +"tag4" href = "#note4">4</a> More asked Descartes to clarify his +language in their correspondence of 1648-49, the last year of Descartes’ +life.</p> + +<p><i>Democritus Platonissans</i> is More’s earliest statement about +absolute space and time; by introducing these themes into English +philosophy, he contributed significantly to the intellectual history of +the seventeenth century. Newton, indeed, was able to make use of More’s +forging efforts; but of relative time or space and their measurement, +which so much concerned Newton, More had little to say. He was +preoccupied with the development of a theory which would show that +immaterial substance, with space and time as attributes, is as real and +as absolute as the Cartesian geometrical and spatial account of matter +which he felt was true but much in need of amplification.</p> + +<p>In his first letter to Descartes, of 11 December 1648, More wrote: +“. . . this indefinite extension is either +<i>simpliciter</i> infinite, or only in respect to us. If you understand +extension to be infinite <i>simpliciter</i>, why do you obscure your +thought by too low and too modest words? If it is infinite only in +respect to us, extension, in reality, will be finite; for our mind is +the measure neither of the things nor of truth. . . .” +Unsatisfied by his first answer from Descartes (5 February 1649), +he urges his point again (5 March): if extension can describe +matter, the same quality must apply to the immaterial and yet be only +one of many attributes of Spirit. In his second letter to More +(15 April), Descartes answers firmly: “It is repugnant to my +concept to attribute any limit to the world, and I have no other measure +than my perception for what I have to assert or to deny. I say, +therefore, that the world is indeterminate or indefinite, because I do +not recognize in it any limits. But I dare not call it infinite as I +perceive that God is greater than the world, not in respect to His +extension, because, as I have already said, I do not acknowledge in +God any proper [extension], but in +<span class = "pagenum">vi</span> +<!-- png 08 --> +respect to His perfection . . . . It is repugnant to +my mind . . . it implies a contradiction, that the world be +finite or limited, because I cannot but conceive a space outside the +boundaries of the world wherever I presuppose them.” More plainly fails +to understand the basic dualism inherent in Cartesian philosophy and to +sense the irrelevance of his questions. While Descartes is really +disposing of the spiritual world in order to get on with his analysis of +finite experience, More is keenly attempting to reconcile neo-Platonism +with the lively claims of matter. His effort can be read as the brave +attempt to harmonize an older mode of thought with the urgency of the +‘new philosophy’ which called the rest in doubt. More saw this conflict +and the implications of it with a kind of clarity that other men of his +age hardly possessed. But the way of Descartes, which at first seemed to +him so promising, certainly did not lead to the kind of harmony which he +sought.</p> + +<p>More’s original enthusiasm for Descartes declined as he understood +better that the Cartesian world in practice excluded spirits and souls. +Because Descartes could find no necessary place even for God Himself, +More styled him, in <i>Enchiridion Metaphysicum</i> (1671), the “Prince +of the Nullibists”; these men “readily acknowledge there are such things +as <i>Incorporeal Beings</i> or <i>Spirits</i>, yet do very peremptorily +contend, that they are <i>no where</i> in the whole World [;] +. . . because they so boldly affirm that a Spirit is +<i>Nullibi</i>, that is to say, <i>no where</i>,” they deserve to be +called <i>Nullibists</i>.<a class = "tag" name = "tag5" id = "tag5" href += "#note5">5</a> In contrast to these false teachers, More describes +absolute space by listing twenty epithets which can be applied either to +God or to pure extension, such as “Unum, Simplex, Immobile +. . . Incomprehensible <ins class = "correction" title = +"space in original (not explained in footnote)">    </ins>”<a class = "tag" name = "tag6" +id = "tag6" href = "#note6">6</a> There is, however, a great +difficulty here; for while Space and Spirit are eternal and uncreated, +they yet contain material substance which has been created by God. If +the material world possesses infinite extension, as More generally +believes, that would preclude any need of its having a creator. In order +to avoid this dilemma, which <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> ignores, +More must at last separate matter and space, seeing the +<span class = "pagenum">vii</span> +<!-- png 09 --> +latter as an attribute of God through which He is able to contain a +finite world limited in space as well as in time. In writing that “this +infinite space because of its infinity is distinct from matter,”<a class += "tag" name = "tag7" id = "tag7" href = "#note7">7</a> More reveals the +direction of his conclusion; the dichotomy it embodies is Cartesianism +in reverse.</p> + +<p>While More always labored to describe the ineffable, his earliest +work, the poetry, may have succeeded in this wish most of all. Although +he felt that his poetry was aiming toward truths which his “<i>later and +better concocted Prose</i>”<a class = "tag" name = "tag8" id = "tag8" +href = "#note8">8</a> reached, the effort cost him the suggestiveness of +figurative speech. In urging himself on toward an ever more consistent +statement of belief, he lost much of his beginning exuberance (best +expressed in the brief “Philosopher’s Devotion”) and the joy of +intellectual discovery. In the search “<i>to find out Words which will +prove faithful witnesses of the peculiarities of my Thoughts</i>,” he +staggers under the unsupportable burden of too many words. In trying so +desperately to clarify his thought, he rejected poetic discourse as +“slight”; only a language free of metaphor and symbol could, he +supposed, lead toward correctness. Indeed, More soon renounced poetry; +he apparently wrote no more after collecting it in <i>Philosophical +Poems</i> (1647), when he gave up poetry for “more seeming Substantial +performances in solid <i>Prose</i>.”<a class = "tag" name = "tag9" id = +"tag9" href = "#note9">9</a> “Cupids Conflict,” which is “annexed” to +<i>Democritus Platonissans</i>, is an interesting revelation of the +failure of poetry, as More felt it: he justifies his “rude rugged +uncouth style” by suggesting that sweet verses avoid telling important +truths; harshness and obscurity may at least remind one that there is a +significance beyond mere words. His lament is characteristic: “How ill +alas! with wisdome it accords/ To sell my living sense for liveless +words.”</p> + +<p>In spite of these downcast complaints, More was quite capable of +lively and meaningful poetic ideas. One is the striking image of the +cone which occurs in <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> (especially in +stanzas 7-8, 66-67, and 88) and becomes the most essential symbol +to More’s expression of infinitude and extension. The figure first +appears in <i>Antipsychopannychia</i> +<span class = "pagenum">viii</span> +<!-- png 10 --> +(II.9) where his purpose is to reconcile the world Soul with Christian +eschatology. In <i>Democritus Platonissans</i>, the cone enables More to +adapt the familiar Hermetic paradox:</p> + +<div class = "verse"> +<p class = "indent">A Circle whose circumference no where</p> +<p class = "indent">Is circumscrib’d, whose Centre’s each where set,</p> +<p class = "indent">But the low Cusp’s a figure circular,</p> +<p>Whose compasse is ybound, but centre’s every where. (st. 8)</p> +</div> + +<p>Every point on the circumference, or base of the cone, relates to the +single point at the top. The world, More wants to say, has no limits, no +center, yet there are bounds in its not having any. More recognizes the +contradiction when he fancies “some strong arm’d Archer” at the wide +world’s edge (st. 37). Where shall he send his shafts? Into “mere +vacuity”? But More hardly seems aware of the inappropriateness of the +cone: he uses a geometrical figure to locate space, time, and numberless +worlds within the universal sight of God, but matter is infinite, +“distinct/ And yet proceeding from the Deitie” (st. 68). Obviously, +the archer must forever be sending his arrows through an infinitely +expanding surface. Nevertheless, the cone has great value as a metaphor, +as a richly suggestive and fascinating conception. More, however, does +not want to speak metaphorically; he is attempting to disclose truths, +literal and plain, where pretty words and metaphors have no place. Even +as he is writing his most effective poetry, we are aware that More is +denying his poetic office; for he is pleading a reasoned case where the +words crack and strain, where poetic meaning gathers, only to be +denied.</p> + +<p>But these objections momentarily disappear when More forgets himself +enough to let us feel his imagination and does not worry that we might +miss the proofs of his philosophy. <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> +concludes with an apocalyptic vision wherein the poet imagines the +reconciliation of infinite worlds and time within God’s immensity. He is +also attempting to harmonize +<span class = "pagenum">ix</span> +<!-- png 11 --> +<i>Psychathanasia</i>, where he rejected infinitude, with its <ins class += "correction" title = "l invisible at line-end">sequel</ins> +<i>Democritus Platonissans</i>, where he has everywhere been declaring +it; thus we should think of endless worlds as we should think of Nature +and the Phoenix, dying yet ever regenerative, sustained by a “centrall +power/ Of hid spermatick life” which sucks “sweet heavenly juice” from +above (st. 101). More closes his poem on a vision of harmony and +ceaseless energy, a most fit ending for one who dared to believe +that the new philosophy sustained the old, that all coherence had not +gone out of the world, but was always there, only waiting to be +discovered afresh in this latter age.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>The University of British Columbia</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">x</span> +<!-- png 12 --> + +<h4><a name = "intro_notes" id = "intro_notes"> +NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION</a></h4> + +<div class = "footnote"> + +<p><a name = "note1" id = "note1" href = "#tag1">1.</a> +The quotations from More’s Latin autobiography occur in the <i>Opera +Omnia</i> (London, 1675-79), portions of which Richard Ward translated +in <i>The Life of . . . Henry More</i> (London, 1710). Cf. the +modern edition of this work, ed. M. F. Howard (London, 1911), pp. +61, 67-68, the text followed here. There is a recent reprint of the +<i>Opera Omnia</i> in 3 volumes (Hildesheim, 1966) with an introduction +by Serge Hutin. The “Praefatio Generalissima” begins vol. II. 1. +One passage in it which Ward did not translate describes the <ins class += "correction" title = "final s illegible at line-end">genesis</ins> of +<i>Democritus Platonissans</i>. More writes that after finishing +<i>Psychathanasia</i>, he felt a change of heart: “Postea vero mutata +sententia furore nescio quo Poetico incitatus supra dictum Poema +scripsi, ea potissimum innixus ratione quod liquido constaret +extensionem spacii dari infinitam, nec majores absurditates pluresve +contingere posse in Materia infinita, infinitaque; Mundi duratione, quam +in infinita Extensione spacii” (p. ix).</p> + +<p><a name = "note2" id = "note2" href = "#tag2">2.</a> +Cf. Lee Haring’s unpub. diss., “Henry More’s <i>Psychathanasia</i> and +<i>Democritus Platonissans</i>: A Critical Edition,” (Columbia Univ., +1961), pp. 33-57.</p> + +<p><a name = "note3" id = "note3" href = "#tag3">3.</a> +Marjorie Hope Nicolson’s various articles and books which in part deal +with More are important to the discussion that follows, and especially +“The Early Stage of Cartesianism in England,” SP, XXVI (1929), 356-379; +<i>Mountain Gloom and Mountain Glory</i> (Ithaca, 1959), pp. 113-143, +and <i>The Breaking of the Circle</i> (New York, 1960), pp. 158-165.</p> + +<p><a name = "note4" id = "note4" href = "#tag4">4.</a> +Cf. <i>The Meditations and Selections from the Principles of René +Descartes</i>, trans. John Veitch (Chicago, 1908), p. 143. The +quotations from the letters which follow occur in Alexandre Koyré’s very +helpful book, <i>From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe</i> +(Baltimore, 1957), pp. 114, 122-123, but the complete and original texts +can be consulted in Descartes, <i>Correspondance avec Arnaud et +Morus</i>, ed. G. Lewis (Paris, 1953).</p> + +<p><a name = "note5" id = "note5" href = "#tag5">5.</a> +This passage occurs at the beginning of “The Easie, True, and Genuine +Notion, And consistent Explication Of the Nature of a Spirit,” +a free translation of <i>Enchiridion Metaphysicum</i>, +I. 27-28, by John Collins which he included in Joseph Glanvil’s +<i>Saducismus Triumphatus</i> (London, 1681). I quote from the text +as given in <i>Philosophical Writings of Henry More</i>, ed. F. I. +MacKinnon (New York, 1925), p. 183.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">xi</span> +<!-- png 13 --> +<p><a name = "note6" id = "note6" href = "#tag6">6.</a> +Cf. <i>Enchiridion Metaphysicum</i>, VIII. 8, trans. Mary Whiton Calkins +and included in John Tull Baker, <i>An Historical and Critical +Examination of English Space and Time Theories</i> . . . +(Bronxville, N.Y., 1930), p. 12. For the original, cf. <i>Opera +Omnia</i>, II. 1, p. 167.</p> + +<p><a name = "note7" id = "note7" href = "#tag7">7.</a> +“<i>Infinitum</i> igitur hoc <i>Extensum</i> à Materia distinctum,” +<i>Enchiridion Metaphysicum</i>, VIII. 9, in <i>Opera Omnia, loc. +cit.</i> Quoted by MacKinnon, p. 262.</p> + +<p><a name = "note8" id = "note8" href = "#tag8">8.</a> +This and the following reference appear in <i>An Explanation of the +grand Mystery of Godliness</i> (London, 1660), “To the Reader,” pp. vi +and v.</p> + +<p><a name = "note9" id = "note9" href = "#tag9">9.</a> +<i>Ibid.</i>, <ins class = "correction" +title = "text reads ‘II.xi. 5’ with mismatched spaces">II. xi. 5</ins> +(p. 52).</p> +</div> + + + +<span class = "pagenum">xii</span> +<!-- png 14 --> + +<h4><a name = "intro_bib" id = "intro_bib"> +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE</a></h4> + +<p>The text of this edition is reproduced from a copy in the Henry E. +Huntington Library.</p> + +</div> +<!-- end div intro --> + +<hr> + +<div class = "titlepage"> + +<span class = "folionum">[A]</span> +<!-- png 15 --> + +<h2><a name = "more" id = "more">Democritus Platonissans,</a></h2> + +<h6>OR,</h6> + +<h2 class = "super"><i>AN ESSAY</i></h2> + +<h6>UPON THE</h6> + +<h3 class = "extended">INFINITY OF WORLDS</h3> + +<h6>OUT OF</h6> + +<h3><span class = "smallcaps extended">Platonick Principles</span>.</h3> + +<h4>Hereunto is annexed</h4> + +<h3 class = "super">CUPIDS CONFLICT</h3> + +<h4>together with</h4> + +<h3 class = "smallcaps extended">The Philosophers Devotion:</h3> + +<h4>And a Particular Interpretation appertain-<br> +ing to the three last books of the<br> +<i>Song of the Soul</i>.</h4> + +<p> </p> + +<h4>By <i>H. More</i> Master of Arts, and Fellow of<br> +Christs Colledge in Cambridge.</h4> + +<p> </p> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "greek" title = "Agathos ên to pan tode ho sunistas, agathôi de oudeis peri oudenos oudepote enginetai phthonos.">Ἀγαθὸς ἦν +τὸ πᾶν τόδε ὁ συνιστὰς, ἀγαθῷ δὲ οὐδεὶς περὶ οὐδενὸς οὐδέποτε ἐγγίνεται +φθόνος.</span> +<span class = "greek" title = "Toutou d’ ektos ôn panta hoti malista eboulêthê genesthai paraplêsia hautôi.">Τούτου δ’ ἐκτὸς ὢν πάντα ὁτι +μάλιστα ἐβουλήθη γενέσθαι παραπλήσια αὑτῷ.</span> Plat.</p> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<i>Pythagoras Terram Planetam quendam esse censuit qui circa solem in +centro mundi defixum converteretur, Pythagorans secuti sunt Philolaus, +Seleucus, Cleanthes, &c. imò <span class = "extended">PLATO</span> +jam senex, ut narrat Theophrastus.</i> Libert. Fromond, de Orbe terræ +immobili.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h5 class = "super"><i>CAMBRIDGE</i></h5> + +<h5>Printed by <span class = "smallcaps extended">Roger Daniel</span>, +Printer to<br> +the <span class = "smallcaps extended">Universitie</span>. 1646.</h5> + +</div> + +<!-- png 16 --> + + +<span class = "pagenum">[i]</span> +<span class = "folionum">A2</span> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/headpiece.png" width = "396" height = "35" +alt = "decoration"></p> + +<!-- png 17 --> +<h3><a name = "preface" id = "preface">To the Reader.</a></h3> + +<p class = "inset"><span class = "larger extended">READER,</span></p> + +<div class = "ital"> + +<p><span class = "firstletter"> +<img src = "images/capI.png" width = "85" height = "85" +alt = "I (If)"></span><span class = "second">f</span> thou standest not +to the judgement of thine eye more then of thy reason, this fragment may +passe favourably, though in the neglectfull disguise <ins class = +"correction" title = "text reads ‘of of’">of</ins> a fragment; if +the strangenesse of the argument prove no hinderance. <span class = +"extended">INFINITIE</span> of <span class = "extended">WORLDS</span>! +A thing monstrous if assented to, and to be startled at, especially +by them, whose thoughts this one have alwayes so engaged, that they can +find no leisure to think of any thing else. But I onely make a bare +proposall to more acute judgements, of what my sportfull fancie, with +pleasure hath suggested: following my old designe of furnishing mens +minds with varietie of apprehensions concerning the most weightie points +of Philosophie, that they may not seem rashly to have settled in the +truth, though it be the truth: a thing as ill beseeming +Philosophers, as hastie prejudicative sentence Politicall Judges. But if +I had relinquishd here my wonted self, in proving Dogmaticall, +I should have found very noble Patronage for the cause among the +ancients, <em>Epicurus</em>, <em>Democritus</em>, <em>Lucretius</em>, +<em>&c.</em> Or if justice may reach the dead, do them the right, as +to shew, that though they be hooted at, by the Rout of the learned, as +men of monstrous conceits, they were either very wise or exceeding +fortunate to light on so probable and specious an opinion, in which +notwithstanding there is so much difficultie and seeming +inconsistencie.</p> + +<p>Nay and that sublime and subtil Mechanick too, <em>DesChartes</em>, +though he seem to mince it must hold infinitude of worlds, or which is +as harsh one infinite <ins class = "correction" title = ". missing (other text unchanged)">one.</ins> For what is his <em>mundus indefinitè +extensus</em>, but <em>extensus infinitè</em>? Else it sounds onely +<em>infinitus quoad nos</em> but <em>simpliciter finitus</em>. But if +any space be left out unstuffd with Atoms, it will hazard the +dissipation of the whole frame of Nature into disjoynted dust. As may be +proved by the Principles of his own Philosophie. +<span class = "pagenum">[ii]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 18 --> +And that there is space whereever God is, or any actuall and +self-subsistent Being, seems to me no plainer then one of the <span +class = "greek" title = "koinai ennoiai">κοιναί ἔννοιαι</span>.</p> + +<p>For mine own part I must confesse these apprehensions do plainly +oppose what heretofore I have conceived; but I have sworn more faithfull +friendship with Truth then with myself. And therefore without all +remorse lay batterie against mine own edifice: not sparing to shew how +weak that is, that my self now deems not impregnably strong. I have +at the latter end of the last Canto of <em>Psychathanasia</em>, not +without triumph concluded, that the world hath not continued <em>ab +æterno</em>, from this ground:</p> + +<div class = "verse"> +<p class = "halfway">Extension</p> +<p>That’s infinite implies a contradiction.</p> +</div> + +<p>And this is in answer to an objection against my last argument of the +souls Immortalitie, <em>viz.</em> divine goodnesse, which I there make +the measure of his providence. That ground limits the essence of the +world as well as its duration, and satisfies the curiositie of the +Opposer, by shewing the incompossibilitie in the Creature, not want of +goodnesse in the Creatour to have staid the framing of the Universe. But +now roused up by a new Philosophick furie, I answer that +difficultie by taking away the Hypothesis of either the world or time +being finite: defending the infinitude of <ins class = "correction" +title = "text has . for ,">both,</ins> which though I had done with a +great deal of vigour and life, and semblance of assent, it would have +agreed well enough with the free beat of Poesie, and might have passed +for a pleasant flourish: but the severitie of my own judgement, and sad +Genius hath cast in many correctives and coolers into the Canto it self; +so that it cannot amount to more then a discussion. And discussion is no +prejudice but an honour to the truth: for then and never but then is she +Victorious. And what a glorious Trophee shall the finite world erect +when it hath vanquished the Infinite; a Pygmee a Giant.</p> + +<p>For the better understanding of the connexion of this Appendix, with +the Poem of the souls Immortalitie; I have taken off the last +stanza’s thereof, and added some few new ones to them for a more easie +and naturall leading to the present Canto. <em>Psychathan. lib. 3. Cant. +4.</em></p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[iii]</span> +<span class = "folionum">A3</span> +<!-- png 19 --> + +<div class = "verse backset"> + +<h6><i>Stanz.</i> 33<sup>d.</sup></h6> + +<p>But thou who ere thou art that thus dost strive</p> +<p>With fierce assault my groundwork to subvert,</p> +<p>And boldly dost into Gods secrets dive,</p> +<p>Base fear my manly face note make m’ avert.</p> +<p>In that odde question which thou first didst stert,</p> +<p>I’ll plainly prove thine incapacitie,</p> +<p>And force thy feeble feet back to revert,</p> +<p>That cannot climb so high a mysterie,</p> +<p class = "backset">I’le shew thee strange perplexed +inconsistencie.</p> + +<h6>34</h6> + +<p>Why was this world from all infinitie</p> +<p>Not made? say’st thou: why? could it be so made</p> +<p>Say I. For well observe the sequencie:</p> +<p>If this Out-world continually hath wade</p> +<p>Through a long long-spun-time that never had</p> +<p>Beginning, then there as few circulings</p> +<p>Have been in the quick Moon as Saturn sad;</p> +<p>And still more plainly this clear truth to sing,</p> +<p class = "backset">As many years as dayes or flitting houres have +been.</p> + +<h6>35</h6> + +<p>For things that we conceive are infinite,</p> +<p>One th’ other no’te surpasse in quantitie.</p> +<p>So I have prov’d with clear convincing light,</p> +<p>This world could never from infinitie</p> +<p>Been made. Certain deficiencie</p> +<p>Doth alwayes follow evolution:</p> +<p>Nought’s infinite but tight eternitie</p> +<p>Close thrust into itself: extension</p> +<p class = "backset">That’s infinite implies a contradiction.</p> + +<h6>36</h6> + +<p>So then for ought we know this world was made</p> +<p>So soon as such a Nature could exist;</p> +<p>And though that it continue, never fade,</p> +<p>Yet never will it be that that long twist</p> +<p>Of time prove infinite, though ner’e desist</p> +<p>From running still. But we may safely say</p> +<p>Time past compar’d with this long future list</p> +<p>Doth show as if the world but yesterday</p> +<p class = "backset">Were made, and in due time Gods glory out may +ray.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[iv]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 20 --> +<h6>37</h6> + +<p>Then this short night and ignorant dull ages</p> +<p>Will quite be swallowed in oblivion;</p> +<p>And though this hope by many surly Sages</p> +<p>Be now derided, yet they’ll all be gone</p> +<p>In a short time, like Bats and Owls yflone</p> +<p>At dayes approch. This will hap certainly</p> +<p>At this worlds shining conflagration.</p> +<p>Fayes, Satyrs, Goblins the night merrily</p> +<p class = "backset">May spend, but ruddy Sol shall make them all to +flie.</p> + +<h6>38</h6> + +<p>The roaring Lions and drad beasts of prey</p> +<p>Rule in the dark with pitious crueltie;</p> +<p>But harmlesse Man is matter of the day,</p> +<p>Which doth his work in pure simplicitie.</p> +<p>God blesse his honest usefull industrie.</p> +<p>But pride and covetize, ambition,</p> +<p>Riot, revenge, self-love, hypocrisie,</p> +<p>Contempt of goodnesse, forc’d opinion;</p> +<p class = "backset">These and such like do breed the worlds +confusion.</p> + +<h6>39</h6> + +<p>But sooth to say though my triumphant Muse</p> +<p>Seemeth to vant as in got victorie,</p> +<p>And with puissant stroke the head to bruize</p> +<p>Of her stiff so, and daze his phantasie,</p> +<p>Captive his reason, dead each facultie:</p> +<p>Yet in her self so strong a force withstands</p> +<p>That of her self afraid, she’ll not aby,</p> +<p>Nor keep the field. She’ll fall by her own hand</p> +<p class = "backset">As <i>Ajax</i> once laid <i>Ajax</i> dead upon the +strand.</p> + +<h6>40</h6> + +<p>For thus her-self by her own self’s oppos’d;</p> +<p>The Heavens the Earth the universall Frame</p> +<p>Of living Nature God so soon disclos’d</p> +<p>As He could do, or she receive the same.</p> +<p>All times delay since that must turn to blame,</p> +<p>And what cannot He do that can be done?</p> +<p>And what might let but by th’ all-powerfull Name</p> +<p>Or Word of God, the Worlds Creation</p> +<p class = "backset">More suddenly were made then mans swift thought can +run?</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[v]</span> +<span class = "folionum">[A4]</span> +<!-- png 21 --> +<h6>41</h6> + +<p>Wherefore that Heavenly Power or is as young</p> +<p>As this Worlds date; or else some needlesse space</p> +<p>Of time was spent, before the Earth did clung</p> +<p>So close unto her-self and seas embrace</p> +<p>Her hollow breast, and if that time surpasse</p> +<p>A finite number then Infinitie</p> +<p>Of years before this Worlds Creation passe.</p> +<p>So that the durance of the Deitie</p> +<p class = "backset">We must contract or strait his full Benignitie.</p> + +<h6>42</h6> + +<p>But for the cradle of the <i>Cretian Jove</i>,</p> +<p>And guardians of his vagient Infancie</p> +<p>What sober man but sagely will reprove?</p> +<p>Or drown the noise of the fond <i>Dactyli</i></p> +<p>By laughter loud? Dated Divinitie</p> +<p>Certes is but the dream of a drie brain:</p> +<p>God maim’d in goodnesse, inconsistencie;</p> +<p>Wherefore my troubled mind is now in pain</p> +<p class = "backset">Of a new birth, which this one Canto’ll not +contain.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Now Reader, thou art arrived to the Canto it self, from which I have +kept thee off by too tedious Preface and Apologie, which is seldome made +without consciousnesse of some fault, which I professe I find not in my +self, unlesse this be it, that I am more tender of thy satisfaction then +mine own credit. As for that high sullen Poem, <em>Cupids Conflict</em>, +I must leave it to thy candour and favourable censure. The +<em>Philosophers Devotion</em> I cast in onely, that the latter pages +should not be unfurnished.</p> + +<p class = "right"><em>H. M.</em></p> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[vi]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 22 --> + +<p><i>Nihil tamen frequentius inter Autores occurrit, quám ut omnia adeò +ex moduli ferè sensuum suorum æstiment, ut ea quæ insuper infinitis +rerum spatiis extare possunt, sive superbè sive imprudenter rejiciant; +quin & ea omnia in usum suum fabricata fuisse glorientur, perinde +facientes ac si pediculi humanum caput, aut pulices sinum muliebrem +propter se solos condita existimarent, eáque demum ex gradibus +saltibúsve suis metirentur. <em>The Lord Herbert in his De Causis +Errorum.</em></i></p> + +<p class = "space"> +<i>De generali totius hujus mundi aspectabilis constructione ut rectè +Philosophemur duo sunt imprimis observanda: Unum ut attendentes ad <ins +class = "correction" title = "first i invisible">infinitam</ins> Dei +potentiam & bonitatem nè vereamur nimis ampla & pulchra & +absoluta ejus opera imaginari: sed è contra caveamus, nè si quos fortè +limites nobis non certò cognitos, in ipsis supponamus, non satìs +magnificè de creatoris potentia sentire videamur.</i></p> + +<p><i>Alterum, ut etiam caveamus, nè nimis superbè de nobis ipsis +sentiamus. Quod fieret non modò, si quos limites nobis nullâ cognitos +ratione, nec divinà revelatione, mundo vellemus affingere, tanquam si +vis nostra cogitationis, ultra id quod à Deo revera factum est ferri +posset; sed etiam maximè, si res omnes propter nos solos, ab illo +creatas esse fingeremus. <em>Renatus Des-Cartes in his Princip. +Philosoph. the third part.</em></i></p> + +</div> +<!-- end div ital --> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[1]</span> +<span class = "folionum">B</span> +<!-- png 23 --> + +<h5 class = "smallcaps extended"> +<a name = "democritus" id = "democritus">The Argument.</a></h5> + +<div class = "verse ital"> +<p>’Gainst boundlesse time th’ objections made,</p> +<p class = "indent">And wast infinity</p> +<p>Of worlds, are with new reasons weigh’d,</p> +<p class = "indent">Mens judgements are left free.</p> +</div> + +<div class = "verse backset"> +<h6>1</h6> + +<p class = "plain"><span class = "dropcap">H</span><span class = +"second">e</span>nce, hence unhallowed ears and hearts more hard</p> +<p class = "plain">Then Winter clods fast froze with Northern wind.</p> +<p class = "plain">But most of all, foul tongue I thee discard</p> +<p>That blamest all that thy dark strait’ned mind,</p> +<p>Can not conceive: But that no blame thou find;</p> +<p>What e’re my pregnant Muse brings forth to light,</p> +<p>She’l not acknowledge to be of her kind,</p> +<p>Till Eagle-like she turn them to the sight</p> +<p class = "backset">Of the eternall Word all deckt with glory +bright.</p> + +<h6>2</h6> + +<p>Strange sights do straggle in my restlesse thoughts,</p> +<p>And lively forms with orient colours clad</p> +<p>Walk in my boundlesse mind, as men ybrought</p> +<p>Into some spacious room, who when they’ve had</p> +<p>A turn or two, go out, although unbad.</p> +<p>All these I see and know, but entertain</p> +<p>None to my friend but who’s most sober sad;</p> +<p>Although the time my roof doth them contain</p> +<p class = "backset">Their pretence doth possesse me till they out +again.</p> + +<h6>3</h6> + +<p>And thus possest in silver trump I found</p> +<p>Their guise, their shape, their gesture and array.</p> +<p>But as in silver trumpet nought is found</p> +<p>When once the piercing sound is past away,</p> +<p>(Though while the mighty blast therein did stay,</p> +<p>Its tearing noise so terribly did shrill,</p> +<p>That it the heavens did shake, and earth dismay)</p> +<p>As empty I of what my flowing quill</p> +<p class = "backset">In heedlesse hast elswhere, or here, may hap to +spill.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[2]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 24 --> +<h6>4</h6> + +<p>For ’tis of force and not of a set will.</p> +<p>Ne dare my wary mind afford assent</p> +<p>To what is plac’d above all mortall skill.</p> +<p>But yet our various thoughts to represent</p> +<p>Each gentle wight will deem of good intent.</p> +<p>Wherefore with leave th’ infinitie I’ll sing</p> +<p>Of time, Of Space: or without leave; I’m brent</p> +<p>With eagre rage, my heart for joy doth spring,</p> +<p class = "backset">And all my spirits move with pleasant +trembeling.</p> + +<h6>5</h6> + +<p>An inward triumph doth my soul up-heave</p> +<p>And spread abroad through endlesse ’spersed aire.</p> +<p>My nimble mind this clammie clod doth leave,</p> +<p>And lightly stepping on from starre to starre</p> +<p>Swifter then lightning, passeth wide and farre,</p> +<p>Measuring th’ unbounded Heavens and wastfull skie;</p> +<p>Ne ought she finds her passage to debarre,</p> +<p>For still the azure Orb as she draws nigh</p> +<p class = "backset">Gives back, new starres appear, the worlds walls +’fore her flie.</p> + +<h6>6</h6> + +<p>For what can stand that is so badly staid?</p> +<p>Well may that fall whose ground-work is unsure.</p> +<p>And what hath wall’d the world but thoughts unweigh’d</p> +<p>In freer reason? That antiquate, secure,</p> +<p>And easie dull conceit of corporature;</p> +<p>Of matter; quantitie, and such like gear</p> +<p>Hath made this needlesse, thanklesse inclosure,</p> +<p>Which I in full disdain quite up will tear</p> +<p class = "backset">And lay all ope, that as things are they may +appear.</p> + +<h6>7</h6> + +<p>For other they appear from what they are</p> +<p>By reason that their Circulation</p> +<p>Cannot well represent entire from farre</p> +<p>Each portion of the <i>Cuspis</i> of the Cone</p> +<p>(Whose nature is elsewhere more clearly shown)</p> +<p>I mean each globe, whether of glaring light</p> +<p>Or else opake, of which the earth is one.</p> +<p>If circulation could them well transmit</p> +<p class = "backset"><ins class = "correction" title = "er invisible">Numbers</ins> infinite of each would strike our ’stonishd +sight;</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">3</span> +<span class = "folionum">B2</span> +<!-- png 25 --> +<h6>8</h6> + +<p>All in just bignesse and right colours dight</p> +<p>But totall presence without all defect</p> +<p>’Longs onely to that Trinitie by right,</p> +<p><i>Ahad</i>, <i>Æon</i>, <i>Psyche</i> with all graces deckt,</p> +<p>Whose nature well this riddle will detect;</p> +<p>A Circle whose circumference no where</p> +<p>Is circumscrib’d, whose Centre’s each where set,</p> +<p>But the low Cusp’s a figure circular,</p> +<p class = "backset">Whose compasse is ybound, but centre’s every +where.</p> + +<h6>9</h6> + +<p>Wherefore who’ll judge the limits of the world</p> +<p>By what appears unto our failing sight</p> +<p>Appeals to sense, reason down headlong hurld</p> +<p>Out of her throne by giddie vulgar might.</p> +<p>But here base senses dictates they will dight</p> +<p>With specious title of Philosophie,</p> +<p>And stiffly will contend their cause is right</p> +<p>From rotten rolls of school antiquitie,</p> +<p class = "backset">Who constantly denie corporall Infinitie.</p> + +<h6>10</h6> + +<p>But who can prove their corporalitie</p> +<p>Since matter which thereto’s essentiall</p> +<p>If rightly sifted ’s but a phantasie.</p> +<p>And quantitie who’s deem’d Originall</p> +<p>Is matter, must with matter likewise fall.</p> +<p>What ever is, is Life and Energie</p> +<p>From God, who is th’ Originall of all;</p> +<p>Who being everywhere doth multiplie</p> +<p class = "backset">His own broad shade that endlesse throughout all +doth lie.</p> + +<h6>11</h6> + +<p>He from the last projection of light</p> +<p>Ycleep’d <i>Shamajim</i>, which is liquid fire</p> +<p>(It <i>Æther</i> eke and centrall <i>Tasis</i> hight)</p> +<p>Hath made each shining globe and clumperd mire</p> +<p>Of dimmer Orbs. For Nature doth inspire</p> +<p>Spermatick life, but of a different kind.</p> +<p>Hence those congenit splendour doth attire</p> +<p>And lively heat, these darknesse dead doth bind,</p> +<p class = "backset">And without borrowed rayes they be both cold and +blind.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">4</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 26 --> +<h6>12</h6> + +<p>All these be knots of th’ universall stole</p> +<p>Of sacred <i>Psyche</i>; which at first was fine,</p> +<p>Pure, thin, and pervious till hid powers did pull</p> +<p>Together in severall points and did encline</p> +<p>The nearer parts in one clod to combine.</p> +<p>Those centrall spirits that the parts did draw</p> +<p>The measure of each globe did then define,</p> +<p>Made things impenetrable here below,</p> +<p class = "backset">Gave colour, figure, motion, and each usuall +law.</p> + +<h6>13</h6> + +<p>And what is done in this Terrestriall starre</p> +<p>The same is done in every Orb beside.</p> +<p>Each flaming Circle that we see from farre</p> +<p>Is but a knot in <i>Psyches</i> garment tide.</p> +<p>From that lax shadow cast throughout the wide</p> +<p>And endlesse world, that low’st projection</p> +<p>Of universall life each thing’s deriv’d</p> +<p>What e’re appeareth in corporeall fashion;</p> +<p class = "backset">For body’s but this spirit, fixt, grosse by +conspissation.</p> + +<h6>14</h6> + +<p>And that which doth conspissate active is;</p> +<p>Wherefore not matter but some living sprite</p> +<p>Of nimble Nature which this lower mist</p> +<p>And immense field of Atoms doth excite,</p> +<p>And wake into such life as best doth fit</p> +<p>With his own self. As we change phantasies</p> +<p>The essence of our soul not chang’d a whit,</p> +<p>So do these Atoms change their energies</p> +<p class = "backset">Themselves unchanged into new Centreïties.</p> + +<h6>15</h6> + +<p>And as our soul’s not superficially</p> +<p>Colourd by phantasms, nor doth them reflect</p> +<p>As doth a looking-glasse such imag’rie</p> +<p>As it to the beholder doth detect:</p> +<p>No more are these lightly or smear’d or deckt</p> +<p>With form or motion which in them we see,</p> +<p>But from their inmost Centre they project</p> +<p>Their vitall rayes, not merely passive be,</p> +<p class = "backset">But by occasion wak’d rouze up themselves on +high.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[5]</span> +<span class = "folionum">B3</span> +<!-- png 27 --> +<h6>16</h6> + +<p>So that they’re life, form, sprite, not matter pure,</p> +<p>For matter pure is a pure nullitie,</p> +<p>What nought can act is nothing, I am sure;</p> +<p>And if all act, that is they’ll not denie</p> +<p>But all that is is form: so easily</p> +<p>By what is true, and by what they embrace</p> +<p>For truth, their feigned Corporalitie</p> +<p>Will vanish into smoke, but on I’ll passe,</p> +<p class = "backset">More fully we have sung this in another place.</p> + +<h6>17</h6> + +<p>Wherefore more boldly now to represent</p> +<p>The nature of the world, how first things were</p> +<p>How now they are: This endlesse large Extent</p> +<p>Of lowest life (which I styled whileere</p> +<p>The <i>Cuspis</i> of the <i>Cone</i> that’s every where)</p> +<p>Was first all dark, till in this spacious Hall</p> +<p>Hideous through silent horrour torches clear</p> +<p>And lamping lights bright shining over all</p> +<p class = "backset">Were set up in due distances proportionall.</p> + +<h6>18</h6> + +<p>Innumerable numbers of fair Lamps</p> +<p>Were rightly ranged in this hollow hole,</p> +<p>To warm the world and chace the shady damps</p> +<p>Of immense darknesse, rend her pitchie stole</p> +<p>Into short rags more dustie dimme then coal.</p> +<p>Which pieces then in severall were cast</p> +<p>(Abhorred reliques of that vesture foul)</p> +<p>Upon the Globes that round those torches trac’d,</p> +<p class = "backset">Which still fast on them stick for all they run so +fast.</p> + +<h6>19</h6> + +<p>Such an one is that which mortall men call Night,</p> +<p>A little shred of that unbounded shade.</p> +<p>And such a Globe is that which Earth is hight;</p> +<p>By witlesse Wizzards the sole centre made</p> +<p>Of all the world, and on strong pillars staid.</p> +<p>And such a lamp or light is this our Sun,</p> +<p>Whose firie beams the scortched Earth invade.</p> +<p>But infinite such as he, in heaven won,</p> +<p class = "backset">And more then infinite Earths about those Suns do +run;</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[6]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 28 --> +<h6>20</h6> + +<p>And to speak out: though I detest the sect</p> +<p>Of <i>Epicurus</i> for their manners vile,</p> +<p>Yet what is true I may not well reject.</p> +<p>Truth’s incorruptible, ne can the style</p> +<p>Of vitious pen her sacred worth defile.</p> +<p>If we no more of truth should deign t’ embrace</p> +<p>Then what unworthy mouths did never soyl,</p> +<p>No truths at all mongst men would finden place</p> +<p class = "backset">But make them speedie wings and back to Heaven +apace.</p> + +<h6>21</h6> + +<p>I will not say our world is infinite,</p> +<p>But that infinitie of worlds ther be.</p> +<p>The Centre of our world’s the lively light</p> +<p>Of the warm sunne, the visible Deitie</p> +<p>Of this externall Temple. <i>Mercurie</i></p> +<p>Next plac’d and warm’d more throughly by his rayes,</p> +<p>Right nimbly ’bout his golden head doth flie:</p> +<p>Then <i>Venus</i> nothing slow about him strayes,</p> +<p class = "backset">And next our <i>Earth</i> though seeming sad full +spritely playes.</p> + +<h6>22</h6> + +<p>And after her <i>Mars</i> rangeth in a round</p> +<p>With firie locks and angry flaming eye,</p> +<p>And next to him mild <i>Jupiter</i> is found,</p> +<p>But Saturn cold wons in our utmost skie.</p> +<p>The skirts of his large Kingdome surely lie</p> +<p>Near to the confines of some other worlds</p> +<p>Whose Centres are the fixed starres on high,</p> +<p>’Bout which as their own proper Suns are hurld</p> +<p class = "backset"><i>Joves</i>, <i>Earths</i> and <i>Saturns</i>; +round on their own axes twurld.</p> + +<h6>23</h6> + +<p>Little or nothing are those starres to us</p> +<p>Which in the azure Evening gay appear</p> +<p>(I mean for influence) but judicious</p> +<p>Nature and carefull Providence her dear</p> +<p>And matchlesse work did so contrive whileere,</p> +<p>That th’ Hearts or Centres in the wide world pight</p> +<p>Should such a distance each to other bear,</p> +<p>That the dull Planets with collated light</p> +<p class = "backset">By neighbour suns might cheared be in dampish +night.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[7]</span> +<span class = "folionum">B4</span> +<!-- png 29 --> +<h6>24</h6> + +<p>And as the Planets in our world (of which</p> +<p>The sun’s the heart and kernell) do receive</p> +<p>Their nightly light from suns that do enrich</p> +<p>Their sable mantle with bright gemmes, and give</p> +<p>A goodly splendour, and sad men relieve</p> +<p>With their fair twinkling rayes, so our worlds sunne</p> +<p>Becomes a starre elsewhere, and doth derive</p> +<p>Joynt light with others, cheareth all that won</p> +<p class = "backset">In those dim duskish Orbs round other suns that +run.</p> + +<h6>25</h6> + +<p>This <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘is is’">is</ins> +the parergon of each noble fire</p> +<p>Of neighbour worlds to be the nightly starre,</p> +<p>But their main work is vitall heat t’ inspire</p> +<p>Into the frigid spheres that ’bout them fare,</p> +<p>Which of themselves quite dead and barren are.</p> +<p>But by the wakening warmth of kindly dayes,</p> +<p>And the sweet dewie nights they well declare</p> +<p>Their seminall virtue in due courses raise</p> +<p class = "backset">Long hidden shapes and life, to their great Makers +praise.</p> + +<h6>26</h6> + +<p>These with their suns I severall worlds do call,</p> +<p>Whereof the number I deem infinite:</p> +<p>Else infinite darknesse were in this great Hall</p> +<p>Of th’ endlesse Universe; For nothing finite</p> +<p>Could put that immense shadow unto flight.</p> +<p>But if that infinite Suns we shall admit,</p> +<p>Then infinite worlds follow in reason right.</p> +<p>For every Sun with Planets must be fit,</p> +<p class = "backset">And have some mark for his farre-shining shafts to +hit.</p> + +<h6>27</h6> + +<p>But if he shine all solitarie, alone,</p> +<p>What mark is <ins class = "correction" title = "punctuation as printed">left,?</ins> what aimed scope or end</p> +<p>Of his existence? wherefore every one</p> +<p>Hath a due number of dim Orbs that wend</p> +<p>Around their centrall fire. But wrath will rend</p> +<p>This strange composure back’d with reason stout</p> +<p>And rasher tongues right speedily will spend</p> +<p>Their forward censure, that my wits run out</p> +<p class = "backset">On wool-gathering, through infinite spaces all +about.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">8</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 30 --> +<h6>28</h6> + +<p>What sober man will dare once to avouch</p> +<p>An infinite number of dispersed starres?</p> +<p>This one absurdity will make him crouch</p> +<p>And eat his words; Division nought impairs</p> +<p>The former whole, nor he augments that spares.</p> +<p>Strike every tenth out, that which doth remain,</p> +<p>An equall number with the former shares,</p> +<p>And let the tenth alone, th’ whole nought doth gain,</p> +<p class = "backset">For infinite to infinite is ever the same.</p> + +<h6>29</h6> + +<p>The tenth is infinite as the other nine,</p> +<p>Or else, nor they, nor all the ten entire</p> +<p>Are infinite. Thus one infinite doth adjoyn</p> +<p>Others unto it and still riseth higher.</p> +<p>And if those single lights hither aspire,</p> +<p>This strange prodigious inconsistencie</p> +<p>Groweth still stranger, if each fixed fire</p> +<p>(I mean each starre) prove Sunnes, and Planets flie</p> +<p class = "backset">About their flaming heads amid the thronged +skie.</p> + +<h6>30</h6> + +<p>For whatsoever that their number be</p> +<p>Whether by seavens, or eighths, or fives, or nines,</p> +<p>They round each fixed lamp; Infinity</p> +<p>Will be redoubled thus by many times.</p> +<p>Besides each greater Planet th’ attendance finds</p> +<p>Of lesser. Our <i>Earths</i> handmaid is the Moon,</p> +<p>Which to her darkned side right duly shines,</p> +<p>And <i>Jove</i> hath foure, as hath been said aboven,</p> +<p class = "backset">And <i>Saturn</i> more then foure if the plain +truth were known.</p> + +<h6>31</h6> + +<p>And if these globes be regions of life</p> +<p>And severall kinds of plants therein do grow,</p> +<p>Grasse, flowers, hearbs, trees, which the impartiall knife</p> +<p>Of all consuming Time still down doth mow,</p> +<p>And new again doth in succession show:</p> +<p>Which also ’s done in flies, birds, men and beasts;</p> +<p>Adde sand, pearls, pebbles, that the ground do strow</p> +<p>Leaves, quills, hairs, thorns, blooms, you may think the rest</p> +<p class = "backset">Their kinds by mortall penne can not well be +exprest:</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">9</span> +<span class = "folionum">[B5]</span> +<!-- png 31 --> +<h6>32</h6> + +<p>And if their kinds no man may reckon well,</p> +<p>The summe of successive particulars</p> +<p>No mind conceive nor tongue can ever tell.</p> +<p>And yet this mist of numbers (as appears)</p> +<p>Belongs to one of these opacous sphears.</p> +<p>Suppose this <i>Earth</i>; what then will all those Rounds</p> +<p>Produce? No <i>Atlas</i> such a load upbears.</p> +<p>In this huge endlesse heap o’rewhelmed, drownd,</p> +<p class = "backset">Choak’d, stifled, lo! I lie, breathlesse, even +quite confound.</p> + +<h6>33</h6> + +<p>Yet give me space a while but to respire,</p> +<p>And I my self shal fairly well out-wind;</p> +<p>Keep this position true, unhurt, entire,</p> +<p>That you no greater difficulty find</p> +<p>In this new old opinion here defin’d</p> +<p>Of infinite worlds, then one world doth imply.</p> +<p>For if we do with steddy patience mind</p> +<p>All is resolv’d int’ one absurdity,</p> +<p class = "backset">The grant of something greater then infinitie.</p> + +<h6>34</h6> + +<p>That God is infinite all men confesse,</p> +<p>And that the Creature is some realty</p> +<p>Besides Gods self, though infinitely lesse.</p> +<p>Joyn now the world unto the Deity.</p> +<p>What? is there added no more entitie</p> +<p>By this conjunction, then there was before?</p> +<p>Is the broad breasted earth? the spacious skie</p> +<p>Spangled with silver light, and burning Ore?</p> +<p class = "backset">And the wide bellowing seas, whose boyling billows +roar,</p> + +<h6>35</h6> + +<p>Are all these nothing? But you will reply;</p> +<p>As is the question so we ought restrain</p> +<p>Our answer unto Corporeity.</p> +<p>But that the phantasie of the body’s vain</p> +<p>I did before unto you maken plain.</p> +<p>But that no man depart unsatisfi’d</p> +<p>A while this Universe here will we feigne</p> +<p><i>Corporeall</i>, till we have gainly tride.</p> +<p class = "backset">If ought that’s bodily may infinite abide.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">10</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 32 --> +<h6>36</h6> + +<p>What makes a body saving quantity?</p> +<p>What quantitie unlesse extension?</p> +<p>Extension if ’t admit infinity</p> +<p>Bodies admit boundlesse dimension.</p> +<p>That some extension forward on doth run</p> +<p>Withouten limits, endlesse, infinite</p> +<p>Is plane from Space, that ever paceth on</p> +<p>Unstop’d, unstaid, till it have filled quite</p> +<p class = "backset">That immense infinite Orb where God himself doth +sit.</p> + +<h6>37</h6> + +<p>But yet more sensibly this truth to show</p> +<p>If space be ended set upon that end</p> +<p>Some strong arm’d Archer with his Parthian bow,</p> +<p>That from that place with speedy force may send</p> +<p>His fleeter shafts, and so still forward wend.</p> +<p>Where? When shall he want room his strength to trie?</p> +<p>But here perversly subtill you’l contend</p> +<p>Nothing can move in mere vacuity,</p> +<p class = "backset">And space is nought, so not extended properly.</p> + +<h6>38</h6> + +<p>To solve these knots I must call down from high</p> +<p>Some heavenly help, feather with angels wing</p> +<p>The sluggish arrow. If it will not flie,</p> +<p>Sent out from bow stiff-bent with even string,</p> +<p>Let angels on their backs it thither bring</p> +<p>Where your free mind appointed had before,</p> +<p>And then hold on, till in your travelling</p> +<p>You be well wearied, finding ever more</p> +<p class = "backset">Free passage for their flight, and what they flying +bore.</p> + +<h6>39</h6> + +<p>Now to that shift that sayes Vacuity</p> +<p>Is nought, and therefore not at all extent</p> +<p>We answer thus: There is a distancy</p> +<p>In empty space, though we be well content</p> +<p>To balk that question (for we never meant</p> +<p>Such needlesse niceties) whether that it be</p> +<p>A reall being; yet that there’s parts distent</p> +<p>One from another, no mans phantasie</p> +<p class = "backset">Can e’re reject if well he weigh’t and warily.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">11</span> +<span class = "folionum">[B6]</span> +<!-- png 33 --> +<h6>40</h6> + +<p>For now conceive the aire and azure skie</p> +<p>All swept away from Saturn to the Sunne,</p> +<p>Which each is to be wrought by him on high.</p> +<p>Then in this place let all the Planets runne</p> +<p>(As erst they did before this feat was done)</p> +<p>If not by nature, yet by divine power,</p> +<p>Ne one hairs breadth their former circuits shun</p> +<p>And still for fuller proof, th’ Astronomer</p> +<p class = "backset">Observe their hights as in the empty heavens they +scoure.</p> + +<h6>41</h6> + +<p>Will then their Parallaxes prove all one</p> +<p>Or none, or different still as before?</p> +<p>If so, their distances by mortall men</p> +<p>Must be acknowledg’d such as were of yore,</p> +<p>Measur’d by leagues, miles, stades, nor lesse nor more</p> +<p>From circuit unto circuit shall be found</p> +<p>Then was before the sweeping of the floor.</p> +<p>That distance therefore hath most certain ground</p> +<p class = "backset">In emptinesse we may conclude with reason +sound.</p> + +<h6>42</h6> + +<p>If distance now so certainly attend</p> +<p>All emptinesse (as also mensuration</p> +<p>Attendeth distance) distance without end</p> +<p>Is wide disperst above imagination</p> +<p>(For emptinesse is void of limitation)</p> +<p>And this unbounded voidnesse doth admit</p> +<p>The least and greatest measures application;</p> +<p>The number thus of the greatest that doth fit</p> +<p class = "backset">This infinite void space is likewise infinite.</p> + +<h6>43</h6> + +<p>But what so e’re that infinite number be,</p> +<p>A lesser number will a number give</p> +<p>So farre exceeding in infinity</p> +<p>That number as this measure we conceive</p> +<p>To fall short of the other. But I’ll leave</p> +<p>This present way and a new course will trie</p> +<p>Which at the same mark doth as fully drive</p> +<p>And with a great deal more facility.</p> +<p class = "backset">Look on this endlesse Space as one whole +quantity.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">12</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 34 --> +<h6>44</h6> + +<p>Which in your mind int’ equall parts divide,</p> +<p>Tens, hundreds, thousands or what pleaseth best.</p> +<p>Each part denominate doth still abide</p> +<p>An infinite portion, else nor all the rest</p> +<p>Makes one infinitude.</p> +<p>For if one thousandth part may be defin’d</p> +<p>By finite measures eas’ly well exprest,</p> +<p>A myriad suppose of miles assign’d</p> +<p class = "backset">Then to a thousand myriads is the whole +confin’d.</p> + +<h6>45</h6> + +<p>Wherefore this wide and wast Vacuity,</p> +<p>Which endlesse is outstretched thorough all,</p> +<p>And lies even equall with the Deity,</p> +<p>Nor is a thing meerly imaginall,</p> +<p>(For it doth farre mens phantasies forestall</p> +<p>Nothing beholden to our devicefull thought)</p> +<p>This inf’nite voidnesse as much our mind doth <ins class = +"correction" title = "‘all‘ conjectural: text cut off">gall</ins></p> +<p>And has as great perplexities ybrought</p> +<p class = "backset">As if this empty space with bodies were +yfraught.</p> + +<h6>46</h6> + +<p>Nor have we yet the face once to denie</p> +<p>But that it is although we mind it not;</p> +<p>For all once minded such perplexity</p> +<p>It doth create to puzzled reason, that</p> +<p>She sayes and unsayes, do’s she knows not what.</p> +<p>Why then should we the worlds infinity</p> +<p>Misdoubt, because when as we contemplate</p> +<p>Its nature, such strange inconsistency</p> +<p class = "backset">And unexpected sequels, we therein descry?</p> + +<h6>47</h6> + +<p>Who dare gainsay but God is every where</p> +<p>Unbounded, measurelesse, all infinite;</p> +<p>Yet the same difficulties meet us here</p> +<p>Which erst us met and did so sore affright</p> +<p>With their strange vizards. This will follow <ins class = +"correction" title = "‘ht‘ conjectural: text cut off">right</ins></p> +<p>Where ever we admit infinity</p> +<p>Every denominated part proves streight</p> +<p>A portion infinite, which if it be,</p> +<p class = "backset">One infinite will into myriads multiply.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">13</span> +<span class = "folionum">[B7]</span> +<!-- png 35 --> +<h6>48</h6> + +<p>But with new argument to draw more near</p> +<p>Our purpos’d end. If God’s omnipotent</p> +<p>And this omnipotent God be every where,</p> +<p>Where e’re he is then can he eas’ly vent</p> +<p>His mighty virtue thorough all extent.</p> +<p>What then shall hinder but a roscid aire</p> +<p>With gentle heat each where be ’sperst and sprent.</p> +<p>Unlesse omnipotent power we will empair,</p> +<p class = "backset">And say that empty space his working can +debarre.</p> + +<h6>49</h6> + +<p>Where now this one supposed world is pight</p> +<p>Was not that space at first all vain and void?</p> +<p>Nor ought said; no, when he said, <i>Let ’t be light</i>.</p> +<p>Was this one space better then all beside,</p> +<p>And more obedient to what God decreed?</p> +<p>Or would not all that endlesse emptinesse</p> +<p>Gladly embrac’d (if he had ever tride)</p> +<p>His just command? and what might come to passe</p> +<p class = "backset">Implies no contradictious inconsistentnesse.</p> + +<h6>50</h6> + +<p>Wherefore this precious sweet Ethereall dew</p> +<p>For ought we know God each where did distill,</p> +<p>And thorough all that hollow voidnesse threw</p> +<p>And the wide gaping drought therewith did fill,</p> +<p>His endlesse overflowing goodnesse spill</p> +<p>In every place; which streight he did contrive</p> +<p>Int’ infinite severall worlds, as his best skill</p> +<p>Did him direct and creatures could receive</p> +<p class = "backset">For matter infinite needs infinite worlds must +give.</p> + +<h6>51</h6> + +<p>The Centre of each severall world’s a sunne</p> +<p>With shining beams and kindly warming heat,</p> +<p>About whose radiant crown the Planets runne,</p> +<p>Like reeling moths around a candle light,</p> +<p>These all together, one world I conceit.</p> +<p>And that even infinite such worlds there be,</p> +<p>That inexhausted Good that God is bight</p> +<p>A full sufficient reason is to me,</p> +<p class = "backset">Who simple Goodnesse make the highest Deity.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum"><ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘41’">14</ins></span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 36 --> +<h6>52</h6> + +<p>Als make himself the key of all his works</p> +<p>And eke the measure of his providence;</p> +<p>The piercing eye of truth to whom nought lurks</p> +<p>But lies wide ope unbar’d of all pretense.</p> +<p>But frozen hearts! away! flie farre from hence,</p> +<p>Unlesse you’l thaw at this celestiall fire</p> +<p>And melt into one minde and holy sense</p> +<p>With Him that doth all heavenly hearts inspire,</p> +<p class = "backset">So may you with my soul in one assent conspire.</p> + +<h6>53</h6> + +<p>But what’s within, uneath is to convey</p> +<p>To narrow vessels that are full afore.</p> +<p>And yet this truth as wisely as I may</p> +<p>I will insinuate, from senses store</p> +<p>Borrowing a little aid. Tell me therefore</p> +<p>When you behold with your admiring eyes</p> +<p>Heavens Canopie all to bespangled o’re</p> +<p>With sprinkled starres, what can you well devize</p> +<p class = "backset">Which causen may such carelesse order in the +skies?</p> + +<h6>54</h6> + +<p>A peck of peasen rudely poured out</p> +<p>On plaister flore, from hasty heedlesse hond</p> +<p>Which lie all carelesse scattered about,</p> +<p>To sight do in as seemly order stond,</p> +<p>As those fair glistering lights in heaven are found.</p> +<p>If onely for this world they were intended,</p> +<p>Nature would have adorn’d this azure round</p> +<p>With better art, and easily have mended</p> +<p class = "backset">This harsh disord’red order, and more beauty +lended.</p> + +<h6>55</h6> + +<p>But though these lights do seem so rudely thrown</p> +<p>And scattered throughout the spacious skie,</p> +<p>Yet each most seemly sits in his own Throne</p> +<p>In distance due and comely Majesty;</p> +<p>And round their lordly seats their servants hie</p> +<p>Keeping a well-<ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘ptoportionated’">proportionated</ins> space</p> +<p>One from another, doing chearfully</p> +<p>Their dayly task. No blemmish may deface</p> +<p class = "backset">The worlds in severall deckt with all art and +grace.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">15</span> +<span class = "folionum">[B8]</span> +<!-- png 37 --> +<h6>56</h6> + +<p>But the appearance of the nightly starres</p> +<p>Is but the by-work of each neighbour sun;</p> +<p>Wherefore lesse marvell if it lightly shares</p> +<p>Of neater Art; and what proportion</p> +<p>Were fittest for to distance one from one</p> +<p>(Each world I mean from other) is not clear.</p> +<p>Wherefore it must remain as yet unknown</p> +<p>Why such perplexed distances appear</p> +<p class = "backset">Mongst the dispersed lights in Heaven thrown here +& there.</p> + +<h6>57</h6> + +<p>Again, that eminent similitude</p> +<p>Betwixt the starres and Phœbus fixed light,</p> +<p>They being both with steddinesse indu’d,</p> +<p>No whit removing whence they first were pight,</p> +<p>No serious man will count a reason slight</p> +<p>To prove them both, both fixed suns and starres</p> +<p>And Centres all of severall worlds by right,</p> +<p>For right it is that none a sun debarre</p> +<p class = "backset">Of Planets which his just and due retinue are.</p> + +<h6>58</h6> + +<p>If starres be merely starres not centrall lights</p> +<p>Why swell they into so huge bignesses?</p> +<p>For many (as Astronomers do write)</p> +<p>Our sun in bignesse many times surpasse.</p> +<p>If both their number and their bulks were lesse</p> +<p>Yet lower placed, light and influence</p> +<p>Would flow as powerfully, and the bosome presse</p> +<p>Of the impregned Earth, that fruit from hence</p> +<p class = "backset">As fully would arise, and lordly affluence.</p> + +<h6>59</h6> + +<p>Wherefore these fixed Fires mainly attend</p> +<p>Their proper charge in their own Universe,</p> +<p>And onely by the by of court’sie lend</p> +<p>Light to our world, as our world doth reverse</p> +<p>His thankfull rayes so farre as he can pierce</p> +<p>Back unto other worlds. But farre aboven</p> +<p>Further then furthest thought of man can traverse,</p> +<p>Still are new worlds aboven and still aboven.</p> +<p class = "backset">In the endlesse hollow Heaven, and each world hath +his sun.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">16</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 38 --> +<h6>60</h6> + +<p>An hint of this we have in winter-nights,</p> +<p>When reason may see clearer then our eye,</p> +<p>Small subtil starres appear unto our sights</p> +<p>As thick as pin-dust scattered in the skie.</p> +<p>Here we accuse our seeing facultie</p> +<p>Of weaknesse, and our sense of foul deceit,</p> +<p>We do accuse and yet we know not why.</p> +<p>But the plain truth is, from a vaster hight</p> +<p class = "backset">The numerous upper worlds amaze our dazzled +sight.</p> + +<h6>61</h6> + +<p>Now sith so farre as sense can ever trie</p> +<p>We find new worlds, that still new worlds there be,</p> +<p>And round about in infinite numbers lie,</p> +<p>Further then reach of mans weak phantasie</p> +<p>(Without suspition of temeritie)</p> +<p>We may conclude; as well as men conclude</p> +<p>That there is aire farre ’bove the mountains high,</p> +<p>Or that th’ Earth a sad substance doth include</p> +<p class = "backset">Even to the Centre with like qualities indu’d.</p> + +<h6>62</h6> + +<p>For who did ever the Earths Centre pierce,</p> +<p>And felt or sand or gravell with his spade</p> +<p>At such a depth? what Histories rehearse</p> +<p>That ever wight did dare for to invade</p> +<p>Her bowels but one mile in dampish shade?</p> +<p>Yet I’ll be bold to say that few or none</p> +<p>But deem this globe even to the bottome made</p> +<p>Of solid earth, and that her nature’s one</p> +<p class = "backset">Throughout, though plain experience hath it never +shown.</p> + +<h6>63</h6> + +<p>But sith sad earth so farre as they have gone</p> +<p>They still descrie, eas’ly they do inferre</p> +<p>Without all check of reason, were they down</p> +<p>Never so deep, like substance would appear,</p> +<p>Ne dream of any hollow horrour there.</p> +<p>My mind with like uncurb’d facilitie</p> +<p>Concludes from what by sight is seen so clear</p> +<p>That ther’s no barren wast vacuitie</p> +<p class = "backset">Above the worlds we see, but still new worlds there +lie,</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">17</span> +<span class = "folionum">C</span> +<!-- png 39 --> +<h6>64</h6> + +<p>And still and still even to infinitie.</p> +<p>Which point since I so fitly have propos’d,</p> +<p>Abating well the inconsistencie</p> +<p>Of harsh infinitude therein supposd</p> +<p>And prov’d by reasons never to be loos’d</p> +<p>That infinite space and infinite worlds there be;</p> +<p>This load laid down, I’m freely now dispos’d</p> +<p>Awhile to sing of times infinitie,</p> +<p class = "backset">May infinite Time afford me but his smallest +fee.</p> + +<h6>65</h6> + +<p>For smallest fee of time will serve my turn</p> +<p>This part for to dispatch, sith endlesse space</p> +<p>(Whose perplext nature well mans brains might turn,</p> +<p>And weary wits disorder and misplace)</p> +<p>I have already passed: for like case</p> +<p>Is in them both. He that can well untie</p> +<p>The knots that in those infinite worlds found place,</p> +<p>May easily answer each perplexitie</p> +<p class = "backset">Of these worlds infinite matters endlesse +durancie.</p> + +<h6>66</h6> + +<p>The <i>Cuspis</i> and the <i>Basis</i> of the <i>Cone</i></p> +<p>Were both at once dispersed every where;</p> +<p>But the pure <i>Basis</i> that is God alone:</p> +<p>Else would remotest sights as bigge appear</p> +<p>Unto our eyes as if we stood them near.</p> +<p>And if an Harper harped in the Moon,</p> +<p>His silver sound would touch our tickled eare:</p> +<p>Or if one hollowed from highest Heaven aboven,</p> +<p class = "backset">In sweet still Evening-tide, his voice would hither +roam.</p> + +<h6>67</h6> + +<p>This all would be if the <i>Cuspe</i> of the <i>Cone</i></p> +<p>Were very God. Wherefore I rightly ’t deem</p> +<p>Onely a Creaturall projection,</p> +<p>Which flowing yet from God hath ever been,</p> +<p>Fill’d the vast empty space with its large streem.</p> +<p>But yet it is not totall every where</p> +<p>As was even now by reason rightly seen:</p> +<p>Wherefore not God, whose nature doth appear</p> +<p class = "backset">Entirely omnipresent, weigh’d with judgement +clear,</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">18</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 40 --> +<h6>68</h6> + +<p>A reall infinite matter, distinct</p> +<p>And yet proceeding from the Deitie</p> +<p>Although with different form as then untinct</p> +<p>Has ever been from all Eternitie.</p> +<p>Now what delay can we suppose to be,</p> +<p>Since matter alway was at hand prepar’d</p> +<p>Before the filling of the boundlesse skie</p> +<p>With framed Worlds; for nought at all debar’d,</p> +<p class = "backset">Nor was His strength ungrown, nor was His strength +empair’d.</p> + +<h6>69</h6> + +<p>How long would God be forming of a flie?</p> +<p>Or the small wandring moats that play i’ th’ sun?</p> +<p>Least moment well will serve none can denie,</p> +<p>His <i>Fiat</i> spoke and streight the thing is done.</p> +<p>And cannot He make all the World as soon?</p> +<p>For in each Atom of the matter wide</p> +<p>The totall Deitie doth entirely won,</p> +<p>His infinite presence doth therein reside,</p> +<p class = "backset">And in this presence infinite powers do ever +abide.</p> + +<h6>70</h6> + +<p>Wherefore at once from all eternitie</p> +<p>The infinite number of these Worlds He made,</p> +<p>And will conserve to all infinitie,</p> +<p>And still drive on their ever-moving trade,</p> +<p>And steddy hold what ever must be staid;</p> +<p>Ne must one mite be minish’d of the summe,</p> +<p>Ne must the smallest atom ever fade,</p> +<p>But still remain though it may change its room;</p> +<p class = "backset">This truth abideth strong from everlasting +doom.</p> + +<h6>71</h6> + +<p>Ne fear I what hard sequel after-wit</p> +<p>Will draw upon me; that the number’s one</p> +<p>Of years, moneths, dayes, houres, and of minutes fleet</p> +<p>Which from eternitie have still run on.</p> +<p>I plainly did confesse awhile agone</p> +<p>That be it what it will that’s infinite</p> +<p>More infinites will follow thereupon,</p> +<p>But that all infinites do justly fit</p> +<p class = "backset">And equall be, my reason did not yet admit.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">19</span> +<span class = "folionum">C2</span> +<!-- png 41 --> +<h6>72</h6> + +<p>But as my emboldened mind, I know not how,</p> +<p>In empty Space and pregnant Deitie</p> +<p>Endlesse infinitude dares to allow,</p> +<p>Though it begets the like perplexitie:</p> +<p>So now my soul drunk with Divinitie,</p> +<p>And born away above her usuall bounds</p> +<p>With confidence concludes infinitie</p> +<p>Of Time of Worlds, of firie flaming Rounds;</p> +<p class = "backset">Which sight in sober mood my spirits quite +confounds.</p> + +<h6>73</h6> + +<p>And now I do awhile but interspire</p> +<p>A torrent of objections ’gainst me beat,</p> +<p>My boldnesse to represse and strength to tire.</p> +<p>But I will wipe them off like summer sweat,</p> +<p>And make their streams streight back again retreat.</p> +<p>If that these worlds, say they, were ever made</p> +<p>From infinite time, how comes ’t to passe that yet</p> +<p>Art is not perfected, nor metalls fade,</p> +<p class = "backset">Nor mines of grimie coal low-hid in griesly +shade.</p> + +<h6>74</h6> + +<p>But the remembrance of the ancient Floud</p> +<p>With ease will wash such arguments away.</p> +<p>Wherefore with greater might I am withstood.</p> +<p>The strongest stroke wherewith they can assay</p> +<p>To vanquish me is this; The Date or Day</p> +<p>Of the created World, which all admit;</p> +<p>Nor may my modest Muse this truth gainsay</p> +<p>In holy Oracles so plainly writ.</p> +<p class = "backset">Wherefore the Worlds continuance is not +infinite.</p> + +<h6>75</h6> + +<p>Now lend me, <i>Origen</i>! a little wit</p> +<p>This sturdy stroke right fairly to avoid,</p> +<p>Lest that my rasher rymes, while they ill fit</p> +<p>With <i>Moses</i> pen, men justly may deride</p> +<p>And well accuse of ignorance or pride.</p> +<p>But thou, O holy Sage! with piercing sight</p> +<p>Who readst those sacred rolls, and hast well tride</p> +<p>With searching eye thereto what fitteth right</p> +<p class = "backset">Thy self of former Worlds right learnedly dost +write:</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">20</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 42 --> +<h6>76</h6> + +<p>To weet that long ago these Earths have been</p> +<p>Peopled with men and beasts before this Earth,</p> +<p>And after this shall others be again</p> +<p>And other beasts and other humane birth.</p> +<p>Which once admit, no strength that reason bear’th</p> +<p>Of this worlds Date and Adams efformation,</p> +<p>Another Adam once received breath</p> +<p>And still another in endlesse repedation,</p> +<p class = "backset">And this must perish once by finall +conflagration.</p> + +<h6>77</h6> + +<p>Witnesse ye Heavens if what I say’s not true,</p> +<p>Ye flaming Comets wandering on high,</p> +<p>And new fixt starres found in that Circle blue,</p> +<p>The one espide in glittering <i>Cassiopie</i>,</p> +<p>The other near to <i>Ophiuchus</i> thigh.</p> +<p>Both bigger then the biggest starres that are,</p> +<p>And yet as farre remov’d from mortall eye</p> +<p>As are the furthest, so those Arts declare</p> +<p class = "backset">Unto whose reaching sight Heavens mysteries lie +bare.</p> + +<h6>78</h6> + +<p>Wherefore these new-seen lights were greater once</p> +<p>By many thousand times then this our sphear</p> +<p>Wherein we live, ’twixt good and evil chance.</p> +<p>Which to my musing mind doth strange appear</p> +<p>If those large bodies then first shaped were.</p> +<p>For should so goodly things so soon decay?</p> +<p>Neither did last the full space of two year.</p> +<p>Wherefore I cannot deem that their first day</p> +<p class = "backset">Of being, when to us they sent out shining ray.</p> + +<h6>79</h6> + +<p>But that they were created both of old,</p> +<p>And each in his due time did fair display</p> +<p>Themselves in radiant locks more bright then gold,</p> +<p>Or silver sheen purg’d from all drossie clay.</p> +<p>But how they could themselves in this array</p> +<p>Expose to humane sight, who did before</p> +<p>Lie hid, is that which well amazen may</p> +<p>The wisest man and puzzle evermore:</p> +<p class = "backset">Yet my unwearied thoughts this search could not +give o’re.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">21</span> +<span class = "folionum">C3</span> +<!-- png 43 --> +<h6>80</h6> + +<p>Which when I’d exercis’d in long pursuit</p> +<p>To finden out what might the best agree</p> +<p>With warie reason, at last I did conclude</p> +<p>That there’s no better probabilitie</p> +<p>Can be produc’d of that strange prodigie,</p> +<p>But that some mighty Planet that doth run</p> +<p>About some fixed starre in <i>Cassiopie</i></p> +<p>As <i>Saturn</i> paceth round about our Sun,</p> +<p class = "backset">Unusuall light and bignesse by strange fate had +wonne.</p> + +<h6>81</h6> + +<p>Which I conceive no gainer way is done</p> +<p>Then by the siezing of devouring fire</p> +<p>On that dark Orb, which ’fore but dimly shone</p> +<p>With borrowed light, not lightened entire,</p> +<p>But halfed like the Moon.</p> +<p>And while the busie flame did sieze throughout,</p> +<p>And search the bowels of the lowest mire</p> +<p>Of that <i>Saturnian</i> Earth; a mist broke out,</p> +<p class = "backset">And immense <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘mountiug’">mounting</ins> smoke arose all round about.</p> + +<h6>82</h6> + +<p>Which being gilded with the piercing rayes</p> +<p>Of its own sun and every neighbour starre,</p> +<p>It soon appear’d with shining silver blaze,</p> +<p>And then gan first be seen of men from farre.</p> +<p>Besides that firie flame that was so narre</p> +<p>The Planets self, which greedily did eat</p> +<p>The wastning mold, did contribute a share</p> +<p>Unto this brightnesse; and what I conceit</p> +<p class = "backset">Of this starre doth with that of <i>Ophiuchus</i> +sit.</p> + +<h6>83</h6> + +<p>And like I would adventure to pronounce</p> +<p>Of all the Comets that above the Moon,</p> +<p>Amidst the higher Planets rudely dance</p> +<p>In course perplex, but that from this rash doom</p> +<p>I’m bett off by their beards and tails farre strown</p> +<p>Along the skie, pointing still opposite</p> +<p>Unto the sun, however they may roam;</p> +<p>Wherefore a cluster of small starres unite</p> +<p class = "backset">These meteors some do deem, perhaps with judgement +right.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">22</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 44 --> +<h6>84</h6> + +<p>And that these tayls are streams of the suns light</p> +<p>Breaking through their near bodies as through clouds.</p> +<p>Besides the Optick glasse has shown to sight</p> +<p>The dissolution of these starrie crouds.</p> +<p>Which thing if ’t once be granted and allow’d,</p> +<p>I think without all contradiction</p> +<p>They may conclude these Meteors are routs</p> +<p>Of wandring starres, which though they one by one</p> +<p class = "backset">Cannot be seen, yet joyn’d, cause this strange +vision.</p> + +<h6>85</h6> + +<p>And yet methinks, in my devicefull mind</p> +<p>Some reasons that may happily represse</p> +<p>These arguments it’s not uneath to find.</p> +<p>For how can the suns rayes that be transmisse</p> +<p>Through these loose knots in Comets, well expresse</p> +<p>Their beards or curld tayls utmost incurvation?</p> +<p>Beside, the conflux and congeries</p> +<p>Of lesser lights a double augmentation</p> +<p class = "backset">Implies, and ’twixt them both a lessening +coarctation.</p> + +<h6>86</h6> + +<p>For when as once these starres are come so nigh</p> +<p>As to seem one, the Comet must appear</p> +<p>In biggest show, because more loose they lie</p> +<p>Somewhat spread out, but as they draw more near</p> +<p>The compasse of his head away must wear,</p> +<p>Till he be brought to his least magnitude;</p> +<p>And then they passing crosse, he doth repair</p> +<p>Himself, and still from his last losse renew’d</p> +<p class = "backset">Grows till he reach the measure which we first had +view’d.</p> + +<h6>87</h6> + +<p>And then farre distanc’d they bid quite adiew,</p> +<p>Each holding on in solitude his way.</p> +<p>Ne any footsteps in the empty Blew</p> +<p>Is to be found of that farre-shining ray.</p> +<p>Which processe sith no man did yet bewray,</p> +<p>It seems unlikely that the Comets be</p> +<p>Synods of starres that in wide Heaven stray.</p> +<p>Their smallnesse eke and numerositie</p> +<p class = "backset">Encreaseth doubt and lessens probabilitie.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum"><ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘32’">23</ins></span> +<span class = "folionum">C4</span> +<!-- png 45 --> +<h6>88</h6> + +<p>A cluster of them makes not half a Moon,</p> +<p>What should such tennis-balls do in the skie?</p> +<p>And few ’ll not figure out the fashion</p> +<p>Of those round firie meteors on high.</p> +<p>Ne ought their beards much move us, that do lie</p> +<p>Ever cast forward from the Morning sunne,</p> +<p>Nor back cast tayls turn’d to our Evening-eye,</p> +<p>That fair appear when as the day is done.</p> +<p class = "backset">This matter may lie hid in the starres shadowed +Cone.</p> + +<h6>89</h6> + +<p>For in these Planets conflagration,</p> +<p>Although the smoke mount up exactly round,</p> +<p>Yet by the suns irradiation</p> +<p>Made thin and subtil no where else its found</p> +<p>By sight, save in the dim and duskish bound</p> +<p>Of the projected Pyramid opake,</p> +<p>Opake with darknesse, smoke and mists unsound.</p> +<p>Yet gilded like a foggie cloud doth make</p> +<p class = "backset">Reflection of fair light that doth our senses +take.</p> + +<h6>90</h6> + +<p>This is the reason of that constant site</p> +<p>Of Comets tayls and beards: And that their show’s</p> +<p>Not pure Pyramidall, nor their ends seem streight</p> +<p>But bow’d like brooms, is from the winds that blow,</p> +<p>I mean Ethereall winds, such as below</p> +<p>Men finden under th’ Equinoctiall line.</p> +<p>Their widend beards this aire so broad doth strow</p> +<p>Incurvate, and or more or lesse decline:</p> +<p class = "backset">If not, let sharper wits more subtly here +divine.</p> + +<h6>91</h6> + +<p>But that experiment of the Optick glasse</p> +<p>The greatest argument of all I deem,</p> +<p>Ne can I well encounter nor let passe</p> +<p>So strong a reason if I may esteem</p> +<p>The feat withouten fallacie to been,</p> +<p>Nor judge these little sparks and subtile lights</p> +<p>Some auncient fixed starres though now first seen,</p> +<p>That near the ruin’d Comets place were pight,</p> +<p class = "backset">On which that Optic instrument by chance did +light.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">24</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 46 --> +<h6>92</h6> + +<p>Nor finally an uncouth after-sport</p> +<p>Of th’ immense vapours that the searching fire</p> +<p>Had boyled out, which now themselves consort</p> +<p>In severall parts and closely do conspire,</p> +<p>Clumper’d in balls of clouds and globes entire</p> +<p>Of crudled smoke and heavy clunging mists;</p> +<p>Which when they’ve staid awhile at last expire;</p> +<p>But while they stay any may see that lists</p> +<p class = "backset">So be that Optick Art his naturall sight +assists.</p> + +<h6>93</h6> + +<p>If none of these wayes I may well decline</p> +<p>The urging weight of this hard argument,</p> +<p>Worst is but parting stakes and thus define:</p> +<p>Some Comets be but single Planets brent,</p> +<p>Others a synod joyn’d in due consent:</p> +<p>And that no new found Meteors they are:</p> +<p>Ne further may my wary mind assent</p> +<p>From one single experience solitaire,</p> +<p class = "backset">Till all-discovering Time shall further truth +declare.</p> + +<h6>94</h6> + +<p>But for the new fixt starres there’s no pretence,</p> +<p>Nor beard nor tail to take occasion by,</p> +<p>To bring in that unluckie inference</p> +<p>Which weaken might this new built mysterie.</p> +<p>Certes in raging fire they both did frie.</p> +<p>A signe whereof you rightly may aread</p> +<p>Their colours changeable varietie</p> +<p>First clear and white, then yellow, after red,</p> +<p class = "backset">Then blewly pale, then duller still, till perfect +dead.</p> + +<h6>95</h6> + +<p>And as the order of these colours went,</p> +<p>So still decreas’d that Cassiopean starre,</p> +<p>Till at the length to sight it was quite spent:</p> +<p>Which observations strong reasons are,</p> +<p>Consuming fire its body did empare</p> +<p>And turn to ashes. And the like will be</p> +<p>In all the darksome Planets wide and farre.</p> +<p>Ne can our Earth from this state standen free</p> +<p class = "backset">A Planet as the rest, and Planets fate must +trie.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">25</span> +<span class = "folionum">[C5]</span> +<!-- png 47 --> +<h6>96</h6> + +<p>Ne let the tender heart too harshly deem</p> +<p>Of this rude sentence: for what rigour more</p> +<p>Is in consuming fire then drowning stream</p> +<p>Of Noahs floud which all creaturs choak’d of yore,</p> +<p>Saving those few that were kept safe in store</p> +<p>In that well builded ship? All else beside</p> +<p>Men, birds, and beasts, the lion, buck, and bore</p> +<p>Dogs, kine, sheep, horses all that did abide</p> +<p class = "backset">Upon the spacious earth, perish’d in waters +wide.</p> + +<h6>97</h6> + +<p>Nor let the slow and misbelieving wight</p> +<p>Doubt how the fire on the hard earth may seize;</p> +<p>No more then how those waters erst did light</p> +<p>Upon the sinfull world. For as the seas</p> +<p>Boyling with swelling waves aloft did rise,</p> +<p>And met with mighty showers and pouring rain</p> +<p>From Heavens spouts; so the broad flashing skies</p> +<p>Thickned with brimstone and clouds of fiery bain</p> +<p class = "backset">Shall meet with raging Etna’s and Vesuvius +flame.</p> + +<h6>98</h6> + +<p>The burning bowels of this wasting ball</p> +<p>Shall gullup up great flakes of rolling fire,</p> +<p>And belch out pitchie flames, till over all</p> +<p>Having long rag’d, Vulcan himself shall tire</p> +<p>And (th’ earth an ashheap made) shall then expire:</p> +<p>Here Nature laid asleep in her own Urn</p> +<p>With gentle rest right easly will respire,</p> +<p>Till to her pristine task she do return</p> +<p class = "backset">As fresh as Phenix young under th’ Arabian +Morn.</p> + +<h6>99</h6> + +<p>O happy they that then the first are born,</p> +<p>While yet the world is in her vernall pride:</p> +<p>For old corruption quite away is worn</p> +<p>As metall pure so is her mold well tride.</p> +<p>Sweet dews, cool-breathing airs, and spaces wide</p> +<p>Of precious spicery wafted with soft wind:</p> +<p>Fair comely bodies goodly beautifi’d</p> +<p>Snow-limb’d, rose-cheek’d, ruby-lip’d, pearl-ted, <ins class = +"correction" title = "possible hyphen">star eyn’d</ins></p> +<p class = "backset">Their parts each fair in fit proportion all <ins +class = "correction" title = "spelling unchanged">conbin’d.</ins></p> + +<span class = "pagenum">26</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 48 --> +<h6>100</h6> + +<p>For all the while her purged ashes rest</p> +<p>These rellicks dry suck in the heavenly dew,</p> +<p>And roscid Manna rains upon her breast,</p> +<p>And fills with sacred milk sweet fresh and new,</p> +<p>Where all take life and doth the world renew;</p> +<p>And then renew’d with pleasure be yfed.</p> +<p>A green soft mantle doth her bosome strew</p> +<p>With fragrant herbs and flowers embellished,</p> +<p class = "backset">Where without fault or shame all living creatures +bed.</p> + +<h6>101</h6> + +<p>Ne ought we doubt how Nature may recover</p> +<p>In her own ashes long time buried,</p> +<p>For nought can ever consume that centrall power</p> +<p>Of hid spermatick life, which lies not dead</p> +<p>In that rude heap, but safely covered;</p> +<p>And doth by secret force suck from above</p> +<p>Sweet heavenly juice, and therewith nourished</p> +<p>Till her just bulk, she doth her life emprove,</p> +<p class = "backset">Made mother of much children that about her +move.</p> + +<h6>102</h6> + +<p>Witnesse that uncouth bird of Arabie</p> +<p>Which out of her own ruines doth revive</p> +<p>With all th’ exploits of skillfull Chymistrie,</p> +<p>Such as no <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘vnlgar’">vulgar</ins> wit can well believe.</p> +<p>Let universall Nature witnesse give</p> +<p>That what I sing ’s no feigned forgerie.</p> +<p>A needlesse task new fables to contrive,</p> +<p>But what I sing is seemly verity</p> +<p class = "backset">Well suting with right reason and Philosophie.</p> + +<h6>103</h6> + +<p>But the fit time of this mutation</p> +<p>No man can finden out with all his pains.</p> +<p>For the small sphears of humane reason run</p> +<p>Too swift within his narrow compast brains.</p> +<p>But that vast Orb of Providence contains</p> +<p>A wider period; <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘tnrneth’">turneth</ins> still and slow.</p> +<p>Yet at the last his aimed end he gains.</p> +<p>And sure at last a fire will overflow</p> +<p class = "backset">The aged Earth, and all must into ashes go.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">27</span> +<span class = "folionum">[C6]</span> +<!-- png 49 --> +<h6>104</h6> + +<p>Then all the stately works and monuments</p> +<p>Built on this bottome shall to ruine fall.</p> +<p>And all those goodly statues shall be brent</p> +<p>Which were erect to the memoriall</p> +<p>Of Kings Kæsars, ne may better ’fall</p> +<p>The boastfull works of brave Poetick pride</p> +<p>That promise life and fame perpetuall;</p> +<p>Ne better fate may these poor lines abide.</p> +<p class = "backset">Betide what will to what may live no lenger +tide!</p> + +<h6>105</h6> + +<p>This is the course that never-dying Nature</p> +<p>Might ever hold from all Eternitie,</p> +<p>Renuing still the faint decayed creature</p> +<p>Which would grow stark and drie as aged tree,</p> +<p>Unlesse by wise preventing Destinie</p> +<p>She were at certain periods of years</p> +<p>Reduced back unto her Infancie,</p> +<p>Which well fram’d argument (as plain appears)</p> +<p class = "backset">My ship from those hard rocks and shelves right +safely stears.</p> + +<h6>106</h6> + +<p>Lo! now my faithfull muse hath represented</p> +<p>Both frames of Providence to open view,</p> +<p>And hath each point in orient colours painted</p> +<p>Not to deceive the sight with seeming shew</p> +<p>But earnest to give either part their due;</p> +<p>Now urging th’ uncouth strange perplexitie</p> +<p>Of infinite worlds and Time, then of a new</p> +<p>Softening that harsher inconsistencie</p> +<p class = "backset">To fit the immense goodnesse of the Deity.</p> + +<h6>107</h6> + +<p>And here by curious men ’t may be expected</p> +<p>That I this knot with judgement grave decide,</p> +<p>And then proceed to what else was objected.</p> +<p>But, ah! What mortall wit may dare t’ areed</p> +<p>Heavens counsels in eternall horrour hid?</p> +<p>And Cynthius pulls me by my tender ear</p> +<p>Such signes I must observe with wary heed:</p> +<p>Wherefore my restlesse Muse at length forbear.</p> +<p class = "backset">Thy silver sounded Lute hang up in silence +here.</p> + +</div> + +<h5 class = "final"><span class = "super">FINIS</span>.</h5> + + +<!-- png 50 --> +<span class = "pagenum">[1]</span> +<span class = "folionum">[C7]</span> +<!-- png 51 --> + +<h3><a name = "cupid" id = "cupid">Cupids Conflict.</a></h3> + +<h4><i>Mela.</i> <i>Cleanthes.</i></h4> + +<div class = "verse midsize"> + +<p class = "plain"><span class = "before"><i>Cl.</i></span> +<i><span class = "dropcap">M</span> +<span class = "second">e</span>la</i> my dear! why been thy looks so +sad</p> +<p class = "plain">As if thy gentle heart were sunk with care?</p> +<p class = "plain">Impart thy case; for be it good or bad</p> +<p>Friendship in either will bear equall share.</p> +<p class = "indent"><i>Mel.</i> Not so; <i>Cleanthes</i>, for if bad it +be</p> +<p class = "indent">My self must bleed afresh by wounding thee.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But what it is, my slow, uncertain wit</p> +<p>Cannot well judge. But thou shalt sentence give</p> +<p>How manfully of late my self I quit,</p> +<p>When with that lordly lad by chance I strive:</p> +<p class = "indent"><i>Cl.</i> Of friendship <i>Mela</i>! let’s that +story hear.</p> +<p class = "indent"><i>Mel.</i> Sit down <i>Cleanthes</i> then, and lend +thine ear.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Upon a day as best did please my mind</p> +<p>Walking abroad amidst the verdant field</p> +<p>Scattering my carefull thoughts i’ th’ wanton wind</p> +<p>The pleasure of my path so farre had till’d</p> +<p class = "indent">My feeble feet that without timely rest</p> +<p class = "indent">Uneath it were to reach my wonted nest.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +In secret shade farre moved from mortals sight</p> +<p>In lowly dale my wandring limbs I laid</p> +<p>On the cool grasse where Natures pregnant wit</p> +<p>A goodly bower of thickest trees had made.</p> +<p class = "indent">Amongst the leaves the chearfull birds did fare</p> +<p class = "indent">And sweetly carrol’d to the echoing air.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Hard at my feet ran down a crystall spring</p> +<p>Which did the cumbrous pebbles hoarsly chide</p> +<p>For standing in the way. Though murmuring</p> +<p>The broken stream his course did rightly guide</p> +<p class = "indent">And strongly pressing forward with disdain</p> +<p class = "indent">The grassie flore divided into twain.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">2</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 52 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +The place a while did feed my foolish eye</p> +<p>As being new, and eke mine idle ear</p> +<p>Did listen oft to that wild harmonie</p> +<p>And oft my curious phansie would compare</p> +<p class = "indent">How well agreed the Brooks low muttering Base,</p> +<p class = "indent">With the birds trebbles pearch’d on higher +place.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But senses objects soon do glut the soul,</p> +<p>Or rather weary with their emptinesse;</p> +<p>So I, all heedlesse how the waters roll</p> +<p>And mindlesse of the mirth the birds expresse,</p> +<p class = "indent">Into my self ’gin softly to retire</p> +<p class = "indent">After hid heavenly pleasures to enquire.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +While I this enterprize do entertain;</p> +<p>Lo! on the other side in thickest bushes</p> +<p>A mighty noise! with that a naked swain</p> +<p>With blew and purple wings streight rudely rushes.</p> +<p class = "indent">He leaps down light upon the flowry green,</p> +<p class = "indent">Like sight before mine eyes had never seen.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +At’s snowy back the boy a quiver wore</p> +<p>Right fairly wrought and gilded all with gold.</p> +<p>A silver bow in his left hand he bore,</p> +<p>And in his right a ready shaft did hold.</p> +<p class = "indent">Thus armed stood he and betwixt us tway</p> +<p class = "indent">The labouring brook did break his toilsome way.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +The wanton lad whose sport is others pain</p> +<p>Did charge his bended bow with deadly dart,</p> +<p>And drawing to the head with might and main,</p> +<p>With fell intent he aim’d to hit my heart.</p> +<p class = "indent">But ever as he shot his arrows still</p> +<p class = "indent">In their mid course dropt down into the rill.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Of wondrous virtues that in waters been</p> +<p>Is needlesse to rehearse, all books do ring</p> +<p>Of those strange rarities. But ne’re was seen</p> +<p>Such virtue as resided in this spring.</p> +<p class = "indent">The novelty did make me much admire</p> +<p class = "indent">But stirr’d the hasty youth to ragefull ire.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">3</span> +<span class = "folionum">[C8]</span> +<!-- png 53 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +As heedlesse fowls that take their per’lous flight</p> +<p>Over that bane of birds, <i>Averno lake</i>,</p> +<p>Do drop down dead: so dead his shafts did light</p> +<p>Amid this stream, which presently did slake</p> +<p class = "indent">Their fiery points, and all their feathers wet</p> +<p class = "indent">Which made the youngster Godling inly fret.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Thus lustfull Love (this was that love I ween)</p> +<p>Was wholly changed to consuming ire.</p> +<p>And eath it was, sith they’re so near a kin</p> +<p>They be both born of one rebellious sire.</p> +<p class = "indent">But he supprest his wrath and by and by</p> +<p class = "indent">For feathered darts, he winged words let flie:</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Vain man! said he, and would thou wer’st not vain</p> +<p>That hid’st thy self in solitary shade</p> +<p>And spil’st thy precious youth in sad disdain</p> +<p>Hating this lifes delight! Hath god thee made</p> +<p class = "indent">Part of this world, and wilt not thou partake</p> +<p class = "indent">Of this worlds pleasure for its makers sake?</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Unthankfull wretch! Gods gifts thus to reject</p> +<p>And maken nought of Natures goodly dower</p> +<p>That milders still away through thy neglect</p> +<p>And dying fades like unregarded flower.</p> +<p class = "indent">This life is good, what’s good thou must +improve,</p> +<p class = "indent">The highest improvement of this life is love.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Had I <ins class = "correction" title = "mismatched parenthesis in original">(but</ins> O that envious Destinie,</p> +<p>Or Stygian vow, or thrice accursed charm</p> +<p>Should in this place free passage thus denie</p> +<p>Unto my shafts as messengers of <ins class = "correction" title = +"closing parenthesis may belong here">harm!</ins></p> +<p class = "indent">Had I but once transfixt thy froward breast,</p> +<p class = "indent">How would’st thou then——I staid not for +the rest;</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But thus half angry to the boy replide:</p> +<p>How would’st thou then my soul of sense bereave!</p> +<p>I blinded, thee more blind should choose my guide!</p> +<p>How would’st thou then my muddied mind deceive</p> +<p class = "indent">With fading shows, that in my errour vile,</p> +<p class = "indent">Base lust; I love should tearm, vice, virtue +stile.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">4</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 54 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +How should my wicked rymes then idolize</p> +<p>Thy wretched power, and with impious wit</p> +<p>Impute thy base born passions to the skies</p> +<p>And my souls sicknesse count an heavenly fit,</p> +<p class = "indent">My weaknesse strength, my wisdome to be caught</p> +<p class = "indent">My bane my blisse, mine ease to be o’rewraught.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +How often through my fondly feigning mind</p> +<p>And frantick phansie, in my Mistris eye</p> +<p>Should I a thousand fluttering Cupids find</p> +<p>Bathing their busie wings? How oft espie</p> +<p class = "indent">Under the shadow of her eye-brows fair</p> +<p class = "indent">Ten thousand Graces sit all naked bare?</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Thus haunted should I be with such feat fiends:</p> +<p>A pretty madnesse were my portion due.</p> +<p>Foolish my self I would not hear my friends.</p> +<p>Should deem the true for false, the false for true.</p> +<p class = "indent">My way all dark more slippery then ice</p> +<p class = "indent">My attendents, anger, pride, and jealousies.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Unthankfull then to God I should neglect</p> +<p>All the whole world for one poor sorry wight,</p> +<p>Whose pestilent eye into my heart project</p> +<p>Would burn like poysonous Comet in my spright.</p> +<p class = "indent">Aye me! how dismall then would prove that day</p> +<p class = "indent">Whose onely light sprang from so fatall ray.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Who seeks for pleasure in this mortall life</p> +<p>By diving deep into the body base</p> +<p>Shall loose true pleasure: But who gainly strive</p> +<p>Their sinking soul above this bulk to place</p> +<p class = "indent">Enlarg’d delight they certainly shall find</p> +<p class = "indent">Unbounded joyes to fill their boundlesse mind.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +When I my self from mine own self do quit</p> +<p>And each thing else; then an all-spreaden love</p> +<p>To the vast Universe my soul doth sit</p> +<p>Makes me half equall to all-seeing Jove.</p> +<p class = "indent">My mighty wings high stretch’d then clapping +light</p> +<p class = "indent">I brush the starres and make them shine more +bright.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">5</span> +<span class = "folionum">D</span> +<!-- png 55 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +Then all the works of God with close embrace</p> +<p>I dearly hug in my enlarged arms</p> +<p>All the hid paths of heavenly Love I trace</p> +<p>And boldly listen to his secret charms.</p> +<p class = "indent">Then clearly view I where true light doth rise,</p> +<p class = "indent">And where eternall Night low-pressed lies.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Thus lose I not by leaving small delight</p> +<p>But gain more joy, while I my self suspend</p> +<p>From this and that; for then with all unite</p> +<p>I all enjoy, and love that love commends.</p> +<p class = "indent">That all is more then loves the partiall soul</p> +<p class = "indent">Whose petty loves th’ impartiall fates controll.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Ah son! said he, (and laughed very loud)</p> +<p>That trickst thy tongue with uncouth strange disguize,</p> +<p>Extolling highly that with speeches proud</p> +<p>To mortall men that humane state denies,</p> +<p class = "indent">And rashly blaming what thou never knew</p> +<p class = "indent">Let men experienc’d speak, if they’ll speak +true.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Had I once lanc’d thy froward flinty heart</p> +<p>And cruddled bloud had thawn with living fire</p> +<p>And prickt thy drousie sprite with gentle smart</p> +<p>How wouldst thou wake to kindly sweet desire,</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy soul fill’d up with overflowing pleasures</p> +<p class = "indent">Would dew thy lips with hony-dropping measures.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Then wouldst thou caroll loud and sweetly sing</p> +<p>In honour of my sacred Deity</p> +<p>That all the woods and hollow hills would ring</p> +<p>Reechoing thy heavenly harmonie.</p> +<p class = "indent">And eke the hardy rocks with full rebounds</p> +<p class = "indent">Would faithfully return thy silver sounds.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Next unto me would be thy Mistresse fair,</p> +<p>Whom thou might setten out with goodly skill</p> +<p>Her peerlesse beauty and her virtues rare,</p> +<p>That all would wonder at thy gracefull quill.</p> +<p class = "indent">And lastly in us both thy self shouldst raise</p> +<p class = "indent">And crown thy temples with immortall bayes.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">6</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 56 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +But now thy riddles all men do neglect,</p> +<p>Thy rugged lines of all do lie forlorn.</p> +<p>Unwelcome rymes that rudely do detect</p> +<p>The Readers ignorance. Men holden scorn</p> +<p class = "indent">To be so often non-plusd or to spell,</p> +<p class = "indent">And on one stanza a whole age to dwell.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Besides this harsh and hard obscuritie</p> +<p>Of the hid sense, thy words are barbarous</p> +<p>And strangely new, and yet too frequently</p> +<p>Return, as usuall plain and obvious,</p> +<p class = "indent">So that the show of the new thick-set patch</p> +<p class = "indent">Marres all the old with which it ill doth match.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But if thy haughty mind, forsooth, would deign</p> +<p>To stoop so low to hearken to my lore,</p> +<p>Then wouldst thou with trim lovers not disdeign</p> +<p>To adorn the outside, set the best before.</p> +<p class = "indent">Nor rub nor wrinkle would thy verses spoil</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy rymes should run as glib and smooth as oyl.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +If that be all, said I, thy reasons slight</p> +<p>Can never move my well establishd mind.</p> +<p>Full well I wote alwayes the present sprite,</p> +<p>Or life that doth possesse the soul, doth blind,</p> +<p class = "indent">Shutting the windows ’gainst broad open day</p> +<p class = "indent">Lest fairer sights its uglinesse bewray.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +The soul then loves that disposition best</p> +<p>Because no better comes unto her view.</p> +<p>The drunkard drunkennesse, the sluggard rest,</p> +<p>Th’ Ambitious honour and obeisance due.</p> +<p class = "indent">So all the rest do love their vices base</p> +<p class = "indent">’Cause virtues beauty comes not into place.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +And looser love ’gainst Chastitie divine</p> +<p>Would shut the door that he might sit alone.</p> +<p>Then wholly should my mind to him incline:</p> +<p>And woxen strait, (since larger love was gone)</p> +<p class = "indent">That paultrie sprite of low contracting lust</p> +<p class = "indent">Would fit my soul as if ’t were made for ’t +just.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">7</span> +<span class = "folionum">D2</span> +<!-- png 57 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +Then should I with my fellow bird or brute</p> +<p>So strangely metamorphis’d, either ney</p> +<p>Or bellow loud: or if ’t may better sute</p> +<p>Chirp out my joy pearch’d upon higher spray.</p> +<p class = "indent">My passions fond with impudence rehearse,</p> +<p class = "indent">Immortalize my madnesse in a verse.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +This is the summe of thy deceiving boast</p> +<p>That I vain ludenesse highly should admire,</p> +<p>When I the sense of better things have lost</p> +<p>And chang’d my heavenly heat for hellish fire,</p> +<p class = "indent">Passion is blind, but virtues piercing eye</p> +<p class = "indent">Approching danger can from farre espie.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +And what thou dost Pedantickly object</p> +<p>Concerning my rude rugged uncouth style,</p> +<p>As childish toy I manfully neglect,</p> +<p>And at thy hidden snares do inly smile.</p> +<p class = "indent">How ill alas! with wisdome it accords</p> +<p class = "indent">To sell my living sense for livelesse words.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +My thought ’s the fittest measure of my tongue,</p> +<p>Wherefore I’ll use what’s most significant,</p> +<p>And rather then my inward meaning wrong</p> +<p>Or my full-shining notion trimly scant,</p> +<p class = "indent">I’ll conjure up old words out of their grave,</p> +<p class = "indent">Or call fresh forrein force in if need crave.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +And these attending on my moving mind</p> +<p>Shall duly usher in the fitting sense.</p> +<p>As oft as meet occasion I find.</p> +<p>Unusuall words oft used give lesse offence;</p> +<p class = "indent">Nor will the old contexture dim or marre,</p> +<p class = "indent">For often us’d they’re next to old, thred-bare.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +And if the old seem in too rustie hew,</p> +<p>Then frequent rubbing makes them shine like gold,</p> +<p>And glister all with colour gayly new.</p> +<p>Wherefore to use them both we will be bold.</p> +<p class = "indent">Thus lists me fondly with fond folk to toy,</p> +<p class = "indent">And answer fools with equall foolerie.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">8</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 58 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +The meaner mind works with more nicetie,</p> +<p>As spiders wont to weave their idle web,</p> +<p>But braver spirits do all things gallantly</p> +<p>Of lesser failings nought at all affred:</p> +<p class = "indent">So Natures carelesse pencill dipt in light</p> +<p class = "indent">With sprinkled starres hath spattered the Night.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +And if my notions clear though rudely thrown</p> +<p>And loosely scattered in my poesie,</p> +<p>May lend men light till the dead Night be gone,</p> +<p>And Morning fresh with roses strew the skie:</p> +<p class = "indent">It is enough, I meant no trimmer frame</p> +<p class = "indent">Or by nice needle-work to seek a name.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Vain man! that seekest name mongst earthly men</p> +<p>Devoid of God and all good virtuous lere;</p> +<p>Who groping in the dark do nothing ken</p> +<p>But mad; with griping care their souls do tear,</p> +<p class = "indent">Or burst with hatred or with envie pine</p> +<p class = "indent">Or burn with rage or melt out at their eyne.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Thrice happy he whose name is writ above,</p> +<p>And doeth good though gaining infamie;</p> +<p>Requiteth evil turns with hearty love,</p> +<p>And recks not what befalls him outwardly:</p> +<p class = "indent">Whose worth is in himself, and onely blisse</p> +<p class = "indent">In his pure conscience that doth nought amisse.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Who placeth pleasure in his purged soul</p> +<p>And virtuous life his treasure doth esteem;</p> +<p>Who can his passions master <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘aud’">and</ins> controll,</p> +<p>And that true lordly manlinesse doth deem,</p> +<p class = "indent">Who from this world himself hath clearly quit</p> +<p class = "indent">Counts nought his own but what lives in his +sprite.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +So when his sprite from this vain world shall flit</p> +<p>It bears all with it whatsoever was dear</p> +<p>Unto it self, passing in easie fit,</p> +<p>As kindly ripen’d corn comes out of th’ eare.</p> +<p class = "indent">Thus mindlesse of what idle men will say</p> +<p class = "indent">He takes his own and stilly goes his way.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">9</span> +<span class = "folionum">D3</span> +<!-- png 59 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +But the retinue of proud Lucifer,</p> +<p>Those blustering Poets that flie after fame</p> +<p>And deck themselves like the bright Morning-starre.</p> +<p>Alas! it is but all a crackling flame.</p> +<p class = "indent">For death will strip them of that glorious plume</p> +<p class = "indent">That airie blisse will vanish into fume.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo <ins class = "correction" title += "text unclear: looks like ‘take’ corrected by hand to ‘Lake’">take</ins></p> +<p>Return, or listen from the bowed skie</p> +<p>To heare how well their learned lines do take?</p> +<p>Or if they could; is Heavens felicitie</p> +<p class = "indent">So small as by mans praise to be encreas’d,</p> +<p class = "indent">Hells pain no greater then hence to be eas’d?</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Therefore once dead in vain shall I transmit</p> +<p>My shadow to gazing Posteritie;</p> +<p>Cast farre behind me I shall never see’t,</p> +<p>On Heavens fair Sunne having fast fixt mine eye.</p> +<p class = "indent">Nor while I live, heed I what man doth praise</p> +<p class = "indent">Or underprize mine unaffected layes.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +What moves thee then, said he, to take the pains</p> +<p>And spenden time if thou contemn’st the fruit?</p> +<p>Sweet fruit of fame, that fills the Poets brains</p> +<p>With high conceit and feeds his fainting wit.</p> +<p class = "indent">How pleasant ’tis in honour here to live</p> +<p class = "indent">And dead, thy name for ever to survive!</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Or is thy abject mind so basely bent</p> +<p>As of thy Muse to maken Merchandize?</p> +<p>(And well I wote this is no strange intent.)</p> +<p>The hopefull glimps of gold from chattering Pies,</p> +<p>From Daws and Crows, and Parots oft hath wrung</p> +<p>An unexpected Pegaseian song.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Foul shame on him, quoth I, that shamefull thought</p> +<p>Doth entertain within his dunghill breast,</p> +<p>Both God and Nature hath my spirits wrought</p> +<p>To better temper and of old hath blest</p> +<p class = "indent">My loftie soul with more divine aspires</p> +<p class = "indent">Then to be touchd with such vile low desires.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">10</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 60 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +I hate and highly scorn that Kestrell kind</p> +<p>Of bastard scholars that subordinate</p> +<p>The precious choice induements of the mind</p> +<p>To wealth or worldly good. Adulterate</p> +<p class = "indent">And cursed brood! Your wit and will are born</p> +<p class = "indent">Of th’ earth and circling thither do return.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Profit and honour be those measures scant</p> +<p>Of your slight studies and endeavours vain,</p> +<p>And when you once have got what you did want</p> +<p>You leave your learning to enjoy your gain.</p> +<p class = "indent">Your brains grow low, your bellies swell up +high,</p> +<p class = "indent">Foul sluggish fat ditts up your dulled eye.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Thus what the earth did breed, to th’ earth is gone,</p> +<p>Like fading hearb or feebly drooping flower,</p> +<p>By feet of men and beast quite trodden down,</p> +<p>The muck-sprung learning cannot long endure.</p> +<p class = "indent">Back she returns lost in her filthy source,</p> +<p class = "indent">Drown’d, chok’d or slocken by her cruell nurse.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +True virtue to her self’s the best reward,</p> +<p>Rich with her own and full of lively spirit,</p> +<p>Nothing cast down for want of due regard.</p> +<p>Or ’cause rude men acknowledge not her merit.</p> +<p class = "indent">She knows her worth and stock from whence she +sprung,</p> +<p class = "indent">Spreads fair without the warmth of earthly dung,</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Dew’d with the drops of Heaven shall flourish long;</p> +<p>As long as day and night do share the skie,</p> +<p>And though that day and night should fail yet strong</p> +<p>And steddie, fixed on Eternitie</p> +<p class = "indent">Shall bloom for ever. So the foul shall speed</p> +<p class = "indent">That loveth virtue for no worldly meed.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Though sooth to sayn, the worldly meed is due</p> +<p>To her more then to all the world beside.</p> +<p>Men ought do homage with affections true</p> +<p>And offer gifts for God doth there reside.</p> +<p class = "indent">The wise and virtuous soul is his own seat</p> +<p class = "indent">To such what’s given God himself doth get.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">11</span> +<span class = "folionum">D4</span> +<!-- png 61 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +But earthly minds whose sight’s seal’d up with mud</p> +<p>Discern not this flesh-clouded Deity,</p> +<p>Ne do acknowledge any other good</p> +<p>Then what their mole-warp hands can feel and trie</p> +<p class = "indent">By groping touch; thus (worth of them unseen)</p> +<p class = "indent">Of nothing worthy that true worth they ween.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Wherefore the prudent Law-givers of old</p> +<p>Even in all Nations, with right sage foresight</p> +<p>Discovering from farre how clums and cold</p> +<p>The vulgar wight would be to yield what’s right</p> +<p class = "indent">To virtuous learning, did by law designe</p> +<p class = "indent">Great wealth and honour to that worth divine.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But nought’s by law to Poesie due said he,</p> +<p>Ne doth the solemn Statesmans head take care</p> +<p>Of those that such impertinent pieces be</p> +<p>Of common-weals. Thou’d better then to spare</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy uselesse vein. Or tell else, what may move</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy busie use such fruitlesse pains to prove.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +No pains but pleasure to do the dictates dear</p> +<p>Of inward living nature. What doth move</p> +<p>The Nightingall to sing so sweet and clear</p> +<p>The Thrush, or Lark that mounting high above</p> +<p class = "indent">Chants her shrill notes to heedlesse ears of +corn</p> +<p class = "indent">Heavily hanging in the dewy morn.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +When life can speak, it can not well withhold</p> +<p>T’ expresse its own impressions and hid life.</p> +<p>Or joy or grief that smoothered lie untold</p> +<p>Do vex the heart and wring with restlesse strife.</p> +<p class = "indent">Then are my labours no true pains but ease</p> +<p class = "indent">My souls unrest they gently do appease.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Besides, that is not fruitlesse that no gains</p> +<p>Brings to my self. I others profit deem</p> +<p>Mine own: and if at these my heavenly flames</p> +<p>Others receiven light, right well I ween</p> +<p class = "indent">My time’s not lost. Art thou now satisfide</p> +<p class = "indent">Said I: to which the scoffing boy replide.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">12</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 62 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +Great hope indeed thy rymes should men enlight,</p> +<p>That be with clouds and darknesse all o’recast,</p> +<p>Harsh style and harder sense void of delight</p> +<p>The Readers wearied eye in vain do wast.</p> +<p class = "indent">And when men win thy meaning with much pain,</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy uncouth sense they coldly entertain.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +For wotst thou not that all the world is dead</p> +<p>Unto that Genius that moves in thy vein</p> +<p>Of poetrie! But like by like is fed.</p> +<p>Sing of my Trophees in triumphant strein,</p> +<p class = "indent">Then correspondent life, thy powerfull verse</p> +<p class = "indent">Shall strongly strike and with quick passion +pierce.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +The tender frie of lads and lasses young</p> +<p>With thirstie eare thee compassing about,</p> +<p>Thy Nectar-dropping Muse, thy sugar’d song</p> +<p>Will swallow down with eagre hearty draught;</p> +<p class = "indent">Relishing truly what thy rymes convey,</p> +<p class = "indent">And highly praising thy soul-smiting lay.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +The mincing maid her mind will then bewray,</p> +<p>Her heart-bloud flaming up into her face,</p> +<p>Grave matrons will wex wanton and betray</p> +<p>Their unresolv’dnesse in their wonted grace;</p> +<p class = "indent">Young boyes and girls would feel a forward +spring,</p> +<p class = "indent">And former youth to eld thou back wouldst bring.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +All Sexes, Ages, Orders, Occupations</p> +<p>Would listen to thee with attentive ear,</p> +<p>And eas’ly moved with thy sweet perswasions,</p> +<p>Thy pipe would follow with full merry chear.</p> +<p class = "indent">While thou thy lively voice didst loud advance</p> +<p class = "indent">Their tickled bloud for joy would inly dance.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But now, alas! poore solitarie man!</p> +<p>In lonesome desert thou dost wander wide</p> +<p>To seek and serve thy disappearing Pan,</p> +<p>Whom no man living in the world hath eyde:</p> +<p class = "indent">For Pan is dead but I am still alive,</p> +<p class = "indent">And live in men who honour to me give:</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">13</span> +<span class = "folionum">[D5]</span> +<!-- png 63 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +They honour also those that honour me</p> +<p>With sacred songs. But thou now singst to trees</p> +<p>To rocks to Hills, to Caves that senselesse be</p> +<p>And mindlesse quite of thy hid mysteries,</p> +<p class = "indent">In the void aire thy idle voice is spread,</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy Muse is musick to the deaf or dead.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Now out alas! said I, and wele-away</p> +<p>The tale thou tellest I confesse too true.</p> +<p>Fond man so doteth on this living clay</p> +<p>His carcase dear, and doth its joyes pursue,</p> +<p class = "indent">That of his precious soul he takes no keep</p> +<p class = "indent">Heavens love and reasons light lie fast asleep.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +This bodies life vain shadow of the soul</p> +<p>With full desire they closely do embrace,</p> +<p>In fleshly mud like swine they wallow and roll,</p> +<p>The loftiest mind is proud but of the face</p> +<p class = "indent">Or outward person; if men but adore</p> +<p class = "indent">That walking sepulchre, cares for no more.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +This is the measure of mans industry</p> +<p>To wexen some body and getten grace</p> +<p>To ’s outward presence; though true majestie</p> +<p>Crown’d with that heavenly light and lively rayes</p> +<p class = "indent">Of holy wesdome and Seraphick love,</p> +<p class = "indent">From his deformed soul he farre remove.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Slight knowledge and lesse virtue serves his turn</p> +<p>For this designe. If he hath trod the ring</p> +<p>Of pedling arts; in usuall pack-horse form</p> +<p>Keeping the rode; O! then ’t’s a learned thing.</p> +<p class = "indent">If any chanc’d to write or speak what he</p> +<p class = "indent">Conceives not ’t were a foul discourtesie.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +To cleanse the soul from sinne, and still diffide</p> +<p>Whether our reasons eye be clear enough</p> +<p>To intromit true light, that fain would glide</p> +<p>Into purg’d hearts, this way ’s too harsh and rough:</p> +<p class = "indent">Therefore the clearest truths may well seem dark</p> +<p class = "indent">When sloathfull men have eyes so dimme and +stark.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">14</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 64 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +These be our times. But if my minds presage</p> +<p>Bear any moment, they can ne’re last long,</p> +<p>A three branch’d Flame will soon sweep clean the stage</p> +<p>Of this old dirty drosse and all wex young.</p> +<p class = "indent">My words into this frozen air I throw</p> +<p class = "indent">Will then grow vocall at that generall thaw.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Nay, now thou ’rt perfect mad, said he, with scorn,</p> +<p>And full of foul derision quit the place.</p> +<p>The skie did rattle with his wings ytorn</p> +<p>Like to rent silk. But I in the mean space</p> +<p class = "indent">Sent after him this message by the wind</p> +<p class = "indent">Be ’t so I ’m mad, yet sure I am thou ’rt blind.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +By this the out-stretch’d shadows of the trees</p> +<p>Pointed me home-ward, and with one consent</p> +<p>Foretold the dayes descent. So straight I rise</p> +<p>Gathering my limbs from off the green pavement</p> +<p class = "indent">Behind me leaving then the slooping Light.</p> +<p><i>Cl.</i> And now let’s up, <i>Vesper</i> brings on the Night.</p> + +</div> + +<h5 class = "final"><i><span class = "super">FINIS</span>.</i></h5> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/tailpiece64.png" width = "166" height = "166" +alt = "decoration"></p> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<div class = "interpret"> + +<span class = "pagenum">[1]</span> +<span class = "folionum">[D6]</span> +<!-- png 65 --> + +<h4><i><a name = "interp" id = "interp"> +A Particular Interpretation</a> appertaining to<br> +the three last books of the Platonick<br> +Song of the Soul.</i></h4> + + +<h5>A</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">A</span> +<span class = "second">t</span>om-lives.</i> The same that Centrall +lives. Both the terms denotate the indivisibility of the inmost essence +it self; the pure essentiall form I mean, of plant, beast or man, yea of +angels themselves, good or bad.</p> + +<table class = "bracket"> +<tr> +<td class = "ital"> +Apogee,<br> +Autokineticall,<br> +Ananke,<br> +Acronycall,<br> +Alethea-land,</td> +<td class = "bracket five"> +<img src = "images/largecurly.png" height = "90%" alt = "}"> +</td> +<td>See Interpret. Gen.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><i>Animadversall. That lively inward animadversall.</i> It is the +soul it self, for I cannot conceive the body doth animadvert; when as +objects plainly exposed to the sight are not discovered till the soul +takes notice of them.</p> + + +<h5>B</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">B</span> +<span class = "second">o</span>dy.</i> The ancient Philosophers have +defined it, <span class = "greek" title = "To trichêi diastaton met’ antitupias">Τὸ τριχῇ διάστατον μετ’ ἀντιτυπίας</span>. <i>Sext. Emperic. +Pyrrhon. Hypotyp. lib. 3. cap. 5.</i> Near to this is that description, +<i>Psychathan</i>, Cant. 2. Stanz. 12. lib. 2, <i>Matter extent in three +dimensions.</i> But for that <span class = "greek" title = +"antitupia">ἀντιτυπία</span>, simple trinall distension doth not imply +it, wherefore I declin’d it. But took in <i>matter</i> according to +their conceit, that phansie <i>à Materia prima</i>, I acknowledge none, +and consequently no such <i>corpus naturale</i> as our Physiologist make +the subject of that science. That <span class = "greek" title = "Trichêi diastaton antitupon">Τριχῇ διάστατον ἀντίτυπον</span> is nothing but a +fixt spirit, the conspissation or coagulation of the Cuspidall particles +of the Cone, which are indeed the Centrall Tasis or inward essence of +the sensible world. These be an infinite number of vitall Atoms that may +be wakened into diverse tinctures, or energies, into fiery, watery, +earthy, &c. And one divine <i>Fiat</i> can unloose them all into an +universall mist, or turn them out of that sweat into a drie and pure +Etheriall temper. These be the last projections of life from the soul of +the world; and are act or form though debil and indifferent, like that +which they call the first matter. But they are not meerly passive +<span class = "pagenum">[2]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 66 --> +but meet their information half way, as I may so speak: are radiant +<i>ab intimo</i> and awake into this or the other operation, by the +powerfull appulse of some superadvenient form. That which change of +Phantasmes is to the soul, that is alteration of rayes to them. For +their rayes are <i>ab intrinseco</i>, as the phantasmes of the soul. +These be the reall matter of which all supposed bodies are compounded, +and this matter (as I said) is form and life, so that all is life +and form what ever is in the world, as I have somewhere intimated in +<i>Antipsychopan</i>: But however I use the terme <i>body</i> ordinarily +in the usuall and vulgar acception. And for that sense of the ancients, +nearest to which I have defined it in the place first above mentioned, +that I seem not to choose that same as most easie to proceed against in +disproving the corporeity of the soul, the arguments do as necessarily +conclude against such a naturall body as is ordinarily described in +Physiologie (as you may plainly discern if you list to observe) as +also against this body composed of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone. +For though they be Centrall lives, yet are they neither Plasticall, +Sensitive, or Rationall, so farre are they from proving to be the humane +soul whose nature is there discust.</p> + + +<h5>C</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">C</span> +<span class = "second">o</span>ne</i>: Is a solid figure made by the +turning of a rectangular triangle, about; one of the sides that include +the right angle resting, which will be then the Axis of the compleated +Cone. But I take it sometimes for the comprehension of all things, God +himself not left out, whom I tearm the <i>Basis</i> of the <i>Cone</i> +or <i>Universe</i>. And because all from him descends, <span class = +"greek" title = "kath’ hupostolên">καθ’ ὑποστολῆν</span>, with abatement +or contraction, I give the name of <i>Cone</i> to the Universe. And +of Cone rather then Pyramid because of the roundnesse of the figure, +which the effluxes of all things imitate.</p> + +<table class = "bracket"> +<tr> +<td class = "ital"> +Chaos,<br> +Chronicall,<br> +Clare,</td> +<td class = "bracket three"> +<img src = "images/largecurly.png" height = "90%" alt = "}"> +</td> +<td>See interpret· Gen.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><i>Circulation</i>, The terme is taken from a toyish observation, +<i>viz.</i> the circling of water when a stone is cast into a standing +pool. The motion drives on circularly, the first rings are thickest, but +the further they go they grow the thinner, till they vanish into +nothing. Such is the diffusion of +<span class = "pagenum">[3]</span> +<span class = "folionum">[D7]</span> +<!-- png 67 --> +the species audible in the strucken aire, as also of the visible +species. In brief any thing is said to circulate that diffuseth its +image or species in a round. It might have been more significantly +called orbiculation; seeing this circumfusion makes not onely a circle, +but fills a sphere, which may be called the sphere of activity. Yet +Circulation more fitly sets out the diminution of activity, from those +ringes in the water which as they grow in compasse, abate in force and +thicknesse. But sometimes I use Circulate in an ordinary sense to turn +round, or return in a circle.</p> + +<p><i>Centre</i>, <i>Centrall</i>, <i>Centrality</i>. When they are used +out of their ordinary sense, they signifie the depth or inmost being of +any thing, from whence its acts and energies flow forth. See +<i>Atom-lives</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Cuspis</i> of the <i>Cone</i>. The multiplide Cuspis of the Cone +is nothing but the last projection of life from Psyche, which is <span +class = "greek" dir = "rtl" title = "[Hebrew] shamayim">שׁמים</span> +a liquid fire or fire and water, which are the corporeall or +materiall principles of all things, changed or disgregated (if they +be centrally distinguishable) and again mingled by the virtue of Physis +or Spermaticall life of the world; of these are the Sunne and all the +Planets, they being kned together, and fixt by the Centrall power of +each Planet and Sunne. The volatile Ether is also of the same, and all +the bodies of plants, beasts and men. These are they which we handle and +touch, a sufficient number compact together. For neither is the +noise of those little flies in a summer-evening audible severally: but a +full Quire of them strike the ear with a pretty kind of buzzing. Strong +and tumultuous pleasure and scorching pain reside in these, they being +essentiall and centrall, but sight and hearing are onely of the images +of these, See <i>Body</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Eternitie.</i> Is the steddie comprehension of all things at once. +See Æon discribed in my Expos. upon Psychozoia.</p> + +<p><ins class = "correction" title = "text has , for ."><i>Energie.</i></ins> It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. In my +Interpret. Gen. I expounded it Operation, Efflux, Activity. None of +those words bear the full sense of it. The examples there are fit, +<i>viz.</i> the light of the Sunne, the phantasms of the soul. We may +collect the genuine sense of the word by comparing severall places in +the Philosopher. <span class = "greek" title = "Echei gar hekaston tôn ontôn energeian,">Ἔχει γὰρ ἕκαστον τῶν ὄντων ἐνεργειαν,</span> <span +class = "greek" title = "Ehê estin homoiôma autou, hôste autou ontos,">ἥ +ἐστιν ὁμοίωμα αὐτοῦ, ὥστε αὐτοῦ ὄντος,</span> +<span class = "pagenum">[4]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 68 --> +<span class = "greek" title = "kakeino einai, kai menontos phthanein eis to porrhô, to men epi pleon, to de eis elatton.">κἀκεῖνο εἶναι, καὶ +μένοντος φθάνειν εἰς τὸ πόῤῥω, τὸ μὲν ἐπὶ πλέον, τὸ δὲ εἰς +ἔλαττον.</span> <span class = "greek" title = "Kai hai men astheneis kai amudrai, hai de kai lanthanousai,">Καὶ αἱ μὲν ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ἀμυδραὶ, αἱ +δὲ καὶ λανθάνουσαι,</span> <span class = "greek" title = "tôn d’ eisi meizous kai eis to porrhô.">τῶν δ’ εἰσὶ μείζους καὶ εἰς τὸ πόῤῥω.</span> +<i>For every being hath its Energie, which is the image of it self, so +that it existing that Energie doth also exist, and standing still is +projected forward more or lesse. And some of those energies are weak and +obscure, others hid or undiscernable, othersome greater and of a larger +projection.</i> Plotin. Ennead. 4. lib. 5. cap. 7. And again, Ennead. 3. +lib. 4. <span class = "greek" title = "Kai menomen tôi men noêtôi anthrôpôi anô;">Καὶ μένομεν τῷ μὲν νοητῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἄνω·</span> <span class += "greek" title = "tôi de eschatôi autou, pepedêmetha tôi katô,">τῷ δὲ +ἐσχάτῳ αὐτοῦ, πεπεδήμεθα τῷ κάτω,</span> <span class = "greek" title = +"hoion aporrhoian ap’ ekeinou didontes eis to katô,">οἷον ἀπόῤῥοιαν ἀπ’ +ἐκείνου διδόντες εἰς τὸ κάτω,</span> <span class = "greek" title = +"mallon de energeian, ekeinou ouk elattoumenou.">μᾶλλον δὲ ἐνέργειαν, +ἐκείνου οὐκ ἐλαττουμένου.</span> <i>And we remain above by the +Intellectuall man, but by the extreme part of him we are held below, as +it were yielding an efflux from him to that which is below, or rather an +energie he being not at all lessened.</i> This curiositie Antoninus also +observes, (lib. 8. Meditat.) in the nature of the sun-beams, where +although he admits of <span class = "greek" title = +"chusis">χύσις</span>, yet he doth not of <span class = "greek" title = +"aporrhoia">ἀπόῤῥοια</span> which is <span class = "greek" title = +"ekchusis">ἔκχυσις</span>. <span class = "greek" title = "Ho hêlios katakechusthai dokei, kai pantêi ge kechutai ou mên ekkechutai.">Ὁ ἥλιος +κατακεχύσθαι δοκεῖ, καὶ πάντῇ γε κέχυται οὐ μὴν ἐκκέχυται.</span> <span +class = "greek" title = "hê gar chusis autou tasis estin.">ἡ γὰρ χύσις +αὐτοῦ τάσις ἐστίν.</span> <span class = "greek" title = "aktines goun hai augai autou apo tou ekteinesthai legontai.">ἀκτῖνες γοῦν αἱ αὐγαὶ +αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐκτείνεσθαι λέγονται.</span> <i>The sunne</i>, saith he, +<i>is diffused, and his fusion is every where but without effusion</i>, +&c. I will onely adde one place more out of Plotinus. Ennead. +3. lib. 6. <span class = "greek" title = "Hekastou de moriou hê energeia hê kata phusin zôê ouk existasa.">Ἑκάστου δὲ μορίου ἡ ἐνέργεια ἡ κατὰ +φύσιν ζωὴ οὐκ ἐξιστᾶσα.</span> <i>The naturall energie of each power of +the soul is life not parted from the soul though gone out of the soul, +<em>viz.</em> into act.</i></p> + +<p>Comparing of all these places together, I cannot better explain this +Platonick term, <i>energie</i>, then by calling it the rayes of an +essence, or the beams of a vitall Centre. For essence is the Centre as +it were of that which is truly called Energie, and Energie the beams and +rayes of an essence. And as the <i>Radii</i> of a circle leave not the +centre by touching the Circumference, no more doth that which is the +pure Energie of an essence, leave the essence by being called out into +act, but is <span class = "greek" title = "en-ergeia">ἐν-έργεια</span> +a working in the essence though it flow <i>out</i> into act. So +that <i>Energie</i> depends alwayes on essence, as <i>Lumen</i> on +<i>Lux</i>, or the creature on God; Whom therefore Synesius in his +Hymnes calls the Centre of all things.</p> + +<p><i>Entelecheia.</i> See Interpret. Gen.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">[5]</span> +<span class = "folionum">[D8]</span> +<!-- png 69 --> +<h5>F</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">F</span> +<span class = "second">a</span>ith.</i> <i>Platonick faith in the first +Good.</i> This faith is excellently described in <ins class = +"correction" title = "text has . for ,">Proclus.</ins> where it is set +above all ratiocination, nay, Intellect it self. <span class = "greek" +title = "Pros de au to agathon ou gnôseôs eti kai sunergeias dei tois sunaphthênai speudousin,">Πρὸς δὲ αὖ τὸ ἀγαθὸν οὐ γνώσεως ἔτι καὶ +συνεργείας δεῖ τοῖς συναφθῆναι σπεύδουσιν,</span> <span class = "greek" +title = "all’ hidruseôs kai monimou katastaseôs kai êremias.">ἀλλ’ +ἱδρύσεως καὶ μονίμου καταστάσεως καὶ ἠρεμίας.</span> <i>But to them that +endeavour to be joyned with the first Good, there is no need of +knowledge or multifarious cooperation, but settlednesse, steddinesse, +and rest.</i> lib. 1. cap. 24. Theolog. Platon. And in the next chapter; +<span class = "greek" title = "Dei gar ou gnôstikôs oud’ atelôs to agathon epizêtein,">Δεῖ γὰρ οὐ γνωστικῶς οὐδ’ ἀτελῶς τὸ ἀγαθὸν +ἐπιζητεῖν,</span> <span class = "greek" title = "all’ epidontas heautous tôi theiôi phôti kai musantas,">ἀλλ’ ἐπιδόντας ἑαυτοὺς τῷ θείῳ φωτὶ καὶ +μύσαντας,</span> <span class = "greek" title = "houtôs enidruesthai têi agnôstôi kai kruphiôi tôn ontôn henadi.">οὕτως ἐνιδρύεσθαι τῇ ἀγνώστῳ +καὶ κρυφίῳ τῶν ὄντων ἑνάδι.</span> <i>For we must not seek after that +absolute or first Good cognoscitively or imperfectly, but giving our +selves up to the divine light, and winking</i> (that is shutting our +eyes of reason and understanding) <i>so to place our selves steddily in +that hidden Unitie of all things</i>. After he preferres this faith +before the clear and present assent to the <span class = "greek" title = +"koinai ennoiai">κοιναὶ ἔννοιαι</span>, yea and the <span class = +"greek" title = "noera haplotês">νοερὰ ἁπλότης</span>, so that he will +not that any intellectuall operation should come in comparison with it. +<span class = "greek" title = "Polueidês gar haitê kai di’ heterotêtos chôrizomenê tôn nooumenôn,">Πολυειδὴς γὰρ αἵτη καὶ δι’ ἑτερότητος +χωριζομένη τῶν νοουμένων,</span> <span class = "greek" title = "kai holôs kinêsis esti noera peri to noêton.">καὶ ὅλως κίνησίς ἐστι νοερὰ +περὶ τὸ νοητόν.</span> <span class = "greek" title = "Dei de tên theian +pistin henoeidê kai êremon huparchein en tôi tês agathotêtos hormôi teleiôs hidrutheisan.">Δεῖ δὲ τὴν θείαν πίστιν ἑνοειδῆ καὶ ἤρεμον +ὑπάρχειν ἐν τῷ τῆς ἀγαθότητος ὁρμῷ τελείως ἱδρυθεῖσαν.</span> <i>For the +operation of the Intellect is multiform and by diversitie separate from +her objects, and is in a word, intellectuall motion about the object +intelligible. But the divine faith must be simple and uniform, quiet and +steddily resting in the haven of Goodnesse.</i> And at last he summarily +concludes, <span class = "greek" title = "Esti oun houtos hormos asphalês tôn ontôn hapantôn."><ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘Εἰς’ [Eis]">Ἐστί</ins> οὐν οὗτος ὅρμος ἀσφαλὴς τῶν <ins class = +"correction" title = "text reads ‘ὅντων’ [hontôn]">ὄντων</ins> +ἁπάντων.</span> See Procl. Theolog. Platonick. lib. 1. cap. 25.</p> + + +<h5>H</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">H</span> +<span class = "second">y</span>le.</i> See Interpret. Gen.</p> + + +<h5>I</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">I</span> +<span class = "second">n</span>tell<ins class = "correction" title = +"text has double ..">ect.</ins></i> Sometimes it is to be interpreted +<i>Soul</i>. Sometime the intellectuall facultie of the soul. Sometimes +Intellect is an absolute essence shining into the soul: whose nature is +this. A substance purely immateriall, impeccable, actually +omniform, or comprehending all things at once, which the soul doth also +being perfectly joyned with the Intellect. <span class = "greek" title = +"Echomen oun kai ta eidê dichôs, en men psuchêi hoion men">Ἔχομεν οὖν +καὶ τὰ <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘εἶδη‘">εἴδη</ins> +διχῶς, ἐν μὲν ψυχῇ οἷον μὲν</span> +<span class = "pagenum">[6]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 70 --> +<span class = "greek" title = "aneiligmena kai hoion kechôrismena, en de tôi nôi homou ta panta.">ἀνειλιγμένα καὶ οἷον κεχωρισμένα, ἐν δὲ τῷ νῷ +ὁμοῦ τὰ πάντα.</span> Plot. Ennead. 1. lib. 1. cap. 8. <i>Ideas</i>, or +<i>Idees</i>. Sometimes they are forms in the Intellectuall world. +<i>viz.</i> in <i>Æon</i>, or <i>On</i>, other sometimes, phantasmes or +representations in the soul. <i>Innate Idees</i> are the souls nature it +self, her uniform essence, able by her <i>Fire</i> to produce this or +that phantasme into act.</p> + +<table class = "bracket"> +<tr> +<td class = "ital"> +Idiopathy.<br> +<ins class = "correction" title = "text unclear: error or damage for ‘Idea’ or similar?"><i>Iao</i></ins></td> +<td class = "bracket two"> +<img src = "images/largecurly.png" height = "90%" alt = "}"> +</td> +<td>See Interpret. Gen.</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<h5>L</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">L</span> +<span class = "second">o</span>gos.</i> See Interpret. Gen.</p> + +<p><i>Life.</i> The vitall operation of any soul. Sometime it is the +soul it self, be it sensitive, vegetative, or rationall.</p> + +<p><i>Lower man.</i> The lower man is our enquickned body, into which +our soul comes, it being fitly prepared for the receiving of such a +guest. The manner of the production of souls, or rather their +non-production is admirably well set down in Plotinus, See, <i>Ennead. +6. lib. 4. cap. 14, 15</i>.</p> + + +<h5>M</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">M</span> +<span class = "second">o</span>nad.</i> See Interpr. Gen.</p> + +<p><i>Mundane.</i> <i>Mundane spirit</i>, Is that which is the spirit of +the world or Universe. I mean by it not an intellectuall spirit, +but a fine, unfixt, attenuate, subtill, ethereall substance, the +immediate vehicle of plasticall or sensitive life.</p> + +<p><i>Memory.</i> <i>Mundane memory.</i> Is that memory that is seated +in the <i>Mundane</i> spirit of man, by a strong impression, or inustion +of any phantasme, or outward sensible object, upon that spirit. But +there is a Memory more subtill and abstract in the soul it self, without +the help of this spirit, which she also carries away with her having +left the body.</p> + +<p><i>Magicall.</i> That is, attractive, or commanding by force of +sympathy with the life of this naturall world.</p> + +<p><i>Moment.</i> Sometimes signifies an instant, as indivisible, as +<span class = "greek" title = "kinêma">κίνημα</span>, which in motion +answers to an instant in time, or a point in a line, <i>Aristot. +Phys.</i> In this sense I use it, Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 2. stanz. +16; <i>But in a moment sol doth ray.</i> But Cant. the 3. Stanz. 45. v. +2. I understand, as also doth Lansbergius, by a <i>moment</i> one +second of a minute. In Antipsych. Cant. 2. Stanz. the 20. v. 2. by +a <i>moment</i> I understand a minute, or indefinitely any small +time.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">[7]</span> +<span class = "folionum">E</span> +<!-- png 71 --> +<h5>O</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">O</span> +<span class = "second">r</span>b.</i> <i>Orb Intellectuall</i>, is +nothing else but Æon or the Intellectuall world. The Orbs generall +mentioned Psycathan. lib. 1. cant. 3. stanz. 23. v. 2. I understand +by them but so many universall orders of beings, if I may so terme them +all; for <i>Hyle</i> hath little or nothing of being.</p> + +<p><ins class = "correction" title = "text has , for ."><i>Omniformity.</i></ins> The omniformity of the soul is the having +in her nature all forms, latent at least, and power of awaking them into +act, upon occasion.</p> + +<p><i>Out-world.</i> and <i>Out-Heaven.</i> The sensible world, the +visible Heaven.</p> + + +<h5>P</h5> + +<table class = "bracket"> +<tr> +<td class = "dropcap">P</td> +<td class = "ital"> +<span class = "second">e</span>rigee,<br> +Psychicall,<br> +Pareties,<br> +Parallax,<br> +Protopathy.</td> +<td class = "bracket five"> +<img src = "images/largecurly.png" height = "90%" alt = "}"> +</td> +<td>See Interpret. Gen.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><i>Parturient.</i> See, <i>Vaticinant</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Phantasie.</i> <i>Lower phantasie</i>, is that which resides in +the Mundane spirit of a man, See <i>Memory</i>.</p> + + +<h5>Q</h5> + +<p><i>Quantitative.</i> Forms <i>quantitative</i>, are such sensible +energies as arise from the complexion of many natures together, at whose +discretion they vanish. That’s the seventh Orb of things, though broken +and not filling all as the other do. But if you take it for the whole +sensible world, it is entire, and is the same that <i>Tasis</i> in +Psycozoia. But the centre of <i>Tasis</i>, viz. the multiplication of +the reall <i>Cuspis</i> of the <i>Cone</i> (for <i>Hyle</i> that is set +for the most contract point of the <i>Cuspis</i> is scarce to be +reckoned among realities) that immense diffusion of atoms, is to be +referred to <i>Psyche</i>, as an internall vegetative act, and so +belongs to <i>Physis</i> the lowest order of life. For as that warmth +that the sense doth afford the body, is not rationall, sensitive, or +imaginative, but vegetative; So this, <span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" +title = "[Hebrew] shamayim">שׁמים</span> <i>i.e.</i> liquid fire, which +<i>Psyche</i> sends out, and is the outmost, last, and lowest operation +from her self, is also vegetative.</p> + + +<h5>R</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">R</span> +<span class = "second">h</span>omboides.</i> See Interpr. general.</p> + +<p><i>Reason.</i> I understand by Reason, the deduction of one +<span class = "pagenum">[8]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 72 --> +thing from another, which I conceive proceeds from a kind of continuitie +of phantasmes: and is something like the moving of a cord at one end; +the parts next it rise with it. And by this concatenation of phantasmes +I conceive, that both brutes and men are moved in reasonable wayes and +methods in their ordinary externall actions.</p> + +<p><i>Rayes.</i> The rayes of an essence is its energie. See +<i>Energie</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Reduplicative.</i> That is reduplicative, which is not onely in +this point, but also in another, having a kind of circumscribed +ubiquitie, <i>viz.</i> in its own sphear. And this is either by being in +that sphear omnipresent it self, as the soul is said to be in the body +<i>tota in toto & tota in qualibet parte</i>, or else at least by +propagation of rayes, which is the image of it self; and so are divers +sensible objects <i>Reduplicative</i>, as light, colours, sounds. And I +make account either of these wayes justly denominate any thing +spirituall. Though the former is most properly, at least more eminently +spirituall. And whether any thing be after that way spirituall saving +the Divinitie, there is reason to doubt. For what is entirely +omnipresent in a sphear, whose diametre is but three feet, I see +not, why (that in the circumference being as fresh and entire as that in +the centre) it should stop there and not proceed even <i>in +infinitum</i>, if the circumference be still as fresh and entire as the +centre. <ins class = "correction" title = "space at mid-line in original">  </ins> But I define nothing.</p> + + +<h5>S</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">S</span> +<span class = "second">p</span>ermaticall.</i> It belongs properly to +Plants, but is transferred also to the Plasticall power in Animalls, +I enlarge it to all magnetick power whatsoever that doth +immediately rule and actuate any body. For all magnetick power is +founded in <i>Physis</i>, and in reference to her, this world is but one +great Plant, (one <span class = "greek" title = "logos spermatikos">λόγος σπερματικός</span> giving it shape and corporeall +life) as in reference to <i>Psyche</i>, one happy and holy Animall.</p> + +<p><i>Spirit.</i> Sometimes it signifieth the soul, othersometime, the +naturall spirits in a mans body, which are <i>Vinculum animæ & +corporis</i>, and the souls vehicle: Sometimes life. See +<i>Reduplicative</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Soul.</i> When I speak of mans Soul, I understand that which +<i>Moses</i> saith was inspired into the body, (fitted out and made of +earth) by God, Genes. 2. which is not that +<span class = "pagenum">[9]</span> +<span class = "folionum">E2</span> +<!-- png 73 --> +impeccable spirit that cannot sinne; but the very same that the +Platonists call <span class = "greek" title = "psuchê">ψυχή</span>, +a middle essence betwixt that which they call <span class = "greek" +title = "nous">νοῦς</span> (and we would in the Christian language call +<span class = "greek" title = "pneuma">πνεῦμα</span>) and the life of +the body which is <span class = "greek" title = "eidôlon psuchês">εἴδωλον ψυχῆς</span>, a kind of an umbratil vitalitie, +that the soul imparts to the bodie in the enlivening of it: That and the +body together, we Christians would call <span class = "greek" title = +"sarx">σὰρξ</span>, and the suggestions of it, especially in its corrupt +estate, <span class = "greek" title = "phronêma sarkos">φρόνημα +σαρκός</span>. And <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘that that’">that</ins> which God inspired into <i>Adam</i> was no more then +<span class = "greek" title = "psuchê">ψυχὴ</span>, the soul, not the +spirit, though it be called <span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" title = +"[Hebrew] nishmat chayim">נשמת חיים</span> <i>Spiraculum vitæ</i>; is +plain out of the text; because it made man but become a living soul, +<span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" title = "[Hebrew] nefesh chai">נפש +חיה</span>. But you will say, he was a dead soul before, and this was +the spirit of life, yea the spirit of God, the life of the soul that was +breathed into him.</p> + +<p>But if <span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" title = "[Hebrew] chai">חיה</span> implie such a life and spirit, you must acknowledge the +same to be also in the most stupid of all living creatures, even the +fishes (whose soul is but as salt to keep them from stinking, as Philo +speaks) for they are said to be <span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" title += "[Hebrew] nishmat chayim">נשמת חיים</span> chap. 1. v. 20. +21. See 1 Cor. chap. 15, v. 45, 46. In brief therefore, that +which in Platonisme is <span class = "greek" title = "nous">νοῦς</span>, +is in Scripture <span class = "greek" title = "pneuma">πνεῦμα</span>; +what <span class = "greek" title = "sarx">σὰρξ</span> in one, <span +class = "greek" title = "to thêrion">τὸ θηρίον</span>, the brute or +beast in the other, <span class = "greek" title = "psuchê">ψυχὴ</span> +the same in both.</p> + +<p><i>Self-reduplicative.</i> See <i>Reduplicative</i>.</p> + + +<h5>T</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">T</span> +<span class = "second">r</span>icentreitie.</i> Centre is put for +essence, so <i>Tricentreitie</i> must implie a trinitie of essence. See +<i>Centre</i>, and <i>Energie</i>.</p> + + +<h5>V</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">V</span> +<span class = "second">a</span>ticinant.</i> The soul is said to be in a +<i>vaticinant</i> or <i>parturient</i> condition, when she hath some +kind of sense and hovering knowledge of a thing, but yet cannot +distinctly and fully, and commandingly represent it to her self, cannot +plainly apprehend, much lesse comprehend the matter. The phrase is +borrowed of Proclus, who describing the incomprehensiblenese of God, and +the desire of all things towards him, speaks thus; <span class = "greek" +title = "Agnôston gar on pothei ta onta to epheton touto kai alêpton,">Ἄγνωστον γὰρ ὂν ποθεῖ τὰ ὄντα τὸ ἐφετὸν τοῦτο καὶ +ἄληπτον,</span> <span class = "greek" title = "mête oun gnônai mête helein ho pothei, dunamena,">μήτε οῦν γνῶναι μήτε ἑλεῖν ὁ ποθεῖ,</span> +<span class = "greek" title = "dunamena, peri auto panta choreuei kai ôdinei men auto kai hoion apomanteuetai.">δυνάμενα, περὶ αὐτὸ πάντα +χορεύει καὶ ὠδίνει μὲν αὐτὸ καὶ οἷον ἀπομαντεύεται.</span> <i><ins class += "correction" title = "both . missing">Theolog. Platon.</ins> +lib. 1. cap. 21.</i> See <i>Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 3. +stanz. 12. & 14.</i></p> + +</div> + +<!-- png 74 --> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[1]</span> +<span class = "folionum">E3</span> +<!-- png 75 --> +<h5><a name = "devotion" id = "devotion"> +<i>The Philosophers Devotion.</i></a></h5> + +<div class = "verse narrow"> + +<p class = "plain"><span class = "dropcap">S</span> +<span class = "second">i</span>ng aloud his praise rehearse</p> +<p class = "plain">Who hath made the Universe.</p> +<p>He the boundlesse Heavens has spread</p> +<p>All the vitall Orbs has kned;</p> +<p>He that on <i>Olympus</i> high</p> +<p>Tends his flocks with watchfull eye,</p> +<p>And this eye has multiplide</p> +<p>Midst each flock for so reside.</p> +<p>Thus as round about they stray</p> +<p>Toucheth each with out-stretch’d ray,</p> +<p>Nimbly they hold on their way,</p> +<p>Shaping out their Night and Day.</p> +<p>Never slack they; none respires,</p> +<p>Dancing round their Centrall fires.</p> +<p class = "indent">In due order as they move</p> +<p>Echo’s sweet be gently drove</p> +<p>Thorough Heavens vast Hollownesse,</p> +<p>Which unto all corners presse:</p> +<p>Musick that the heart of <i>Jove</i></p> +<p>Moves to joy and sportfull love;</p> +<p>Fills the listning saylers eares</p> +<p>Riding on the wandering Sphears.</p> +<p>Neither Speech nor Language is</p> +<p>Where their voice is not transmisse.</p> +<p class = "indent">God is Good, is Wise, is Strong,</p> +<p>Witnesse all the creature-throng,</p> +<p>Is confess’d by every Tongue.</p> +<p>All things back from whence they sprong,</p> +<p>As the thankfull Rivers pay</p> +<p>What they borrowed of the Sea.</p> +<p class = "indent">Now my self I do resigne,</p> +<p>Take me whole I all am thine.</p> +<p>Save me, God! from Self-desire,</p> +<p>Deaths pit, dark Hells raging fire,</p> +<p>Envy, Hatred, Vengeance, Ire.</p> +<p>Let not Lust my soul bemire.</p> +<p class = "indent">Quit from these thy praise I’ll sing,</p> +<p>Loudly sweep the trembling string.</p> +<span class = "pagenum">[2]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 76 --> +<p>Bear a part, O Wisdomes sonnes!</p> +<p>Free’d from vain Relligions.</p> +<p>Lo! from farre I you salute,</p> +<p>Sweetly warbling on my Lute.</p> +<p><i>Indie</i>, <i>Egypt</i>, <i>Arabie</i>,</p> +<p><i>Asia</i>, <i>Greece</i>, and <i>Tartarie</i>,</p> +<p><i>Carmel</i>-tracts, and <i>Lebanon</i></p> +<p>With the <i>Mountains</i> of the <i>Moon</i>,</p> +<p>from whence muddie <i>Nile</i> doth runne,</p> +<p>Or whereever else you won;</p> +<p>Breathing in one vitall aire,</p> +<p>One we are though distant farre.</p> +<p class = "indent">Rise at once lett’s sacrifice</p> +<p>Odours sweet perfume the skies.</p> +<p>See how Heavenly lightning fires</p> +<p>Hearts inflam’d with high aspires!</p> +<p>All the substance of our souls</p> +<p>Up in clouds of Incense rolls.</p> +<p>Leave we nothing to our selves</p> +<p>Save a voice, what need we els!</p> +<p>Or an hand to wear and tire</p> +<p>On the thankfull Lute or Lyre.</p> +<p class = "indent">Sing aloud his praise rehearse</p> +<p>Who hath made the Universe.</p> + +</div> + +<h5 class = "final"><i><span class = "super">FINIS</span>.</i></h5> + +<!-- png 77 --> + + +<!-- png 78 --> + +<hr> + +<!-- png 79 --> +<h3 class = "smallcaps"><a name = "augustan" id = "augustan"> +The Augustan Reprint Society</a></h3> + +<h4>WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK<br> +MEMORIAL LIBRARY</h4> + +<h5>UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA<ins class = "correction" title = ". for ,">, </ins>LOS ANGELES</h5> + +<p> </p> + +<h6>PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT</h6> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/ars_dec.gif" width = "66" height = "40" +alt = "decoration"></p> + +<p class = "mynote"> +Where available, Project Gutenberg e-text numbers are included as +links.</p> + +<div class = "ars_list"> + +<h5>1948-1949</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16916">16.</a> +Henry Nevil Payne, <i>The Fatal Jealousie</i> (1673).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15870">18.</a> +Anonymous, “Of Genius,” in <i>The Occasional Paper</i>, Vol. III, No. 10 +(1719), and Aaron Hill, Preface to <i>The Creation</i> (1720).</p> + +<h5>1949-1950</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16740">19.</a> +Susanna Centlivre, <i>The Busie Body</i> (1709).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16346">20.</a> +Lewis Theobald, <i>Preface to the Works of Shakespeare</i> (1734).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13350">22.</a> +Samuel Johnson, <i>The Vanity of Human Wishes</i> (1749), and two +<i>Rambler</i> papers (1750).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15074">23.</a> +John Dryden, <i>His Majesties Declaration Defended</i> (1681).</p> + +<h5>1950-1951</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/14463">26.</a> +Charles Macklin, <i>The Man of the World</i> (1792).</p> + +<h5>1951-1952</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15409">31.</a> +Thomas Gray, <i>An Elegy Wrote in a Country Churchyard</i> (1751), and +<i>The Eton College Manuscript</i>.</p> + +<h5>1952-1953</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/29478">41.</a> +Bernard Mandeville, <i>A Letter to Dion</i> (1732).</p> +</div> + +<p class = "mynote"> +Here as in e-texts 29237 and 29684 (from the same year), one or two +pages from the list of titles in print appear to be missing. The same +list should be present in any Augustan Reprint from a later year.</p> + +<div class = "ars_list"> +<!-- png 80 --> +<h5>1962-1963</h5> + +<p>98. <i>Select Hymns Taken Out of Mr. Herbert’s Temple</i> (1697).</p> + +<h5>1963-1964</h5> + +<p>104. Thomas D’Urfey, <i>Wonders in the Sun: or, The Kingdom of the +Birds</i> (1706).</p> + +<h5>1964-1965</h5> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">110.</ins> +John Tutchin, <i>Selected Poems</i> (1685-1700).</p> + +<p>111. Anonymous, <i>Political Justice</i> (1736).</p> + +<p>112. Robert Dodsley, <i>An Essay on Fable</i> (1764).</p> + +<p>113. T. R., <i>An Essay Concerning Critical and Curious Learning</i> +(1698).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/21499">114.</a> +<i>Two Poems Against Pope</i>: Leonard Welsted, <i>One Epistle to Mr. A. +Pope</i> (1730), and Anonymous, <i>The Blatant Beast</i> (1742).</p> + +<h5>1965-1966</h5> + +<p>115. Daniel Defoe and others, <i>Accounts of the Apparition of Mrs. +Veal</i>.</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">116.</ins> +Charles Macklin, <i>The Covent Garden Theatre</i> (1752).</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">117.</ins> +Sir <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘George’">Roger</ins> +L’Estrange, <i>Citt and Bumpkin</i> (1680).</p> + +<p>118. Henry More, <i>Enthusiasmus Triumphatus</i> (1662).</p> + +<p>119. Thomas Traherne, <i>Meditations on the Six Days of the +Creation</i> (1717).</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">120.</ins> +Bernard Mandeville, <i>Aesop Dress’d or a Collection of Fables</i> +(1704).</p> + +<h5>1966-1967</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/8161">122.</a> +James MacPherson, <i>Fragments of Ancient Poetry</i> (1760).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/29116">123.</a> +Edmond Malone, <i>Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to Mr. +Thomas Rowley</i> (1782).</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">124.</ins> +Anonymous, <i>The Female Wits</i> (1704).</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">125.</ins> +Anonymous, <i>The Scribleriad</i> (1742). Lord Hervey, <i>The Difference +Between Verbal and Practical Virtue</i> (1742).</p> + +<p>126. <i>Le Lutrin: an Heroick Poem, Written Originally in French by +Monsieur Boileau: Made English by N. O.</i> (1682).</p> + +</div> + +<hr class = "mid"> + +<p>Subsequent publications may be checked in the annual prospectus.</p> + +<p>Publications #1 through 90, of the first fifteen years of Augustan +Reprint Society, are available in bound units at $14.00 per unit of six +from:</p> + +<table> +<tr><td> +KRAUS REPRINT CORPORATION<br> +16 East 46th Street<br> +New York, N.Y. 10017 +</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Publications in print are available at the regular membership rate of +$5.00 yearly. Prices of single issues may be obtained upon request.</p> + +<hr> + +<p> </p> + +<!-- png 81 --> +<h5>William Andrews Clark Memorial Library: University of California, +Los Angeles</h5> + +<h3 class = "smallcaps">The Augustan Reprint Society</h3> + +<p class = "center"> +<i>General Editors</i>: George Robert Guffey, University of California, +Los Angeles;<br> +Maximillian E. Novak, University of California, Los Angeles; Robert +Vosper, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library.<br> +<i>Corresponding Secretary</i>: Mrs. Edna C. Davis, William Andrews +Clark Memorial Library.</p> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/ars_decline1.png" width = "106" height = "5" +alt = "decoration"></p> + +<p>The Society’s purpose is to publish reprints (usually facsimile +reproductions) of rare seventeenth and eighteenth century works. All +income of the Society is devoted to defraying costs of publication and +mailing.</p> + +<p>Correspondence concerning memberships in the United States and Canada +should be addressed to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, 2520 +Cimarron St., Los Angeles, California. Correspondence concerning +editorial matters may be addressed to any of the general editors at the +same address. Manuscripts of introductions should conform to the +recommendations of the MLA <i>Style Sheet</i>. The membership fee is +$5.00 a year in the United States and Canada and 30/— in Great +Britain and Europe. British and European prospective members should +address B. H. Blackwell, Broad Street, Oxford, England. Copies of +back issues in print may be obtained from the Corresponding +Secretary.</p> + +<h5>PUBLICATIONS FOR 1967-1968</h5> + +<div class = "ars_list"> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">127-128.</ins> +Charles Macklin, <i>A Will and No Will, or a Bone for the Lawyers</i> +(1746). <i>The New Play Criticiz’d, or The Plague of Envy</i> (1747). +Introduction by Jean B. Kern.</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/29684">129.</a> Lawrence +Echard, Prefaces to <i>Terence’s Comedies</i> (1694) and <i>Plautus’s +Comedies</i> (1694). Introduction by John Barnard.</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "Present Text">130.</ins> Henry +More, <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> (1646). Introduction by P. G. +Stanwood.</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">131.</ins> John +Evelyn, <i>The History of . . . Sabatai Sevi . . . The +Suppos’d Messiah of the Jews</i> (1669). Introduction by Christopher W. +Grose.</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/29237">132.</a> Walter +Harte, <i>An Essay on Satire, Particularly on the Dunciad</i> (1730). +Introduction by Thomas B. Gilmore.</p> + +</div> + +<h5>ANNOUNCEMENTS:</h5> + +<p>Next in the series of special publications by the Society will be a +volume including Elkanah Settle’s <i>The Empress of Morocco</i> (1673) +with five plates; <i>Notes and Observations on the Empress of +Morocco</i> (1674) by John Dryden, John Crowne and Thomas Shadwell; +<i>Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco Revised</i> (1674) +by Elkanah Settle; and <i>The Empress of Morocco. A Farce</i> +(1674) by Thomas Duffet, with an Introduction by Maximillian E. Novak. +Already published in this series are reprints of John Ogilby’s <i>The +Fables of Aesop Paraphras’d in Verse</i> (1668), with an Introduction by +Earl Miner and John Gay’s <i>Fables</i> (1727, 1738), with an +Introduction by Vinton A. Dearing. Publication is assisted by funds from +the Chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles. Price to +members of the Society, $2.50 for the first copy and $3.25 for +additional copies. Price to non-members, $4.00.</p> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/ars_decline1.png" width = "106" height = "5" +alt = "decoration"></p> + +<h5 class = "extended">THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY</h5> + +<h5>William Andrews Clark Memorial Library</h5> + +<h6>2520 CIMARRON STREET AT WEST ADAMS BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, +CALIFORNIA 90018</h6> + +<p class = "center smaller"> +Make check or money order payable to <span class = "smallcaps">The +Regents of the University of California</span>.</p> + +<div class = "endnote"> + +<h5><a name = "endnote" id = "endnote">Spelling and Language</a></h5> + +<p>The author used a number of forms that were unusual or archaic even +in +1646, and might be mistaken for typographical errors:</p> + +<div class = "hanging"> +<p><b>ne</b> (conjunction)</p> +<p><b>won</b><br> +<i>stay, dwell</i> (like German <i>wohnen</i>)</p> +<p><b>eath</b><br> +<i>easy, light</i>; also <b>uneath</b></p> +</div> + +<p>Words in <b>-en</b>, especially verbs:</p> + +<p class = "inset"> +<b>aboven</b>, <b>amazen</b>, <b>been</b> (<i>infinitive</i>), +<b>causen</b>, <b>standen</b>, <b>withouten</b>...</p> + +<p>Both occurrences of the name “DesCartes” or “DesChartes” are at line +break; the hyphen has been omitted conjecturally. In general, spellings +that appear more than once, such as “Psyc-” for “Psych-”, were assumed +to be inten­tional. In corrections, the word “invisible” means that +the letter is absent but there is an appropriately sized blank +space.</p> + +<p>Greek diacritics were consistently printed over the first vowel of an +initial diphthong. This has been silently regularized.</p> + +<h5>Pagination</h5> + +<p><i>Democritus Platonissans</i> and <i>Cupids Conflict</i> were each +paginated from 1; other parts of the original have no visible page +numbers. Individual missing numbers may have been too near the margin to +be included in the facsimile. Folio numbers (signatures) are continuous +for the whole text. Gaps in the sequence represent blank pages, except +that A was probably a half-octavo (4 leaves instead of 8).</p> + +</div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30327 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/30327-h/images/ars_dec.gif b/30327-h/images/ars_dec.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..639e99e --- /dev/null +++ b/30327-h/images/ars_dec.gif diff --git a/30327-h/images/ars_decline1.png b/30327-h/images/ars_decline1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd5de6a --- /dev/null +++ b/30327-h/images/ars_decline1.png diff --git a/30327-h/images/capI.png b/30327-h/images/capI.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9773389 --- /dev/null +++ b/30327-h/images/capI.png diff --git a/30327-h/images/headpiece.png b/30327-h/images/headpiece.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..13f92b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/30327-h/images/headpiece.png diff --git a/30327-h/images/largecurly.png b/30327-h/images/largecurly.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..05e44a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/30327-h/images/largecurly.png diff --git a/30327-h/images/tailpiece64.png b/30327-h/images/tailpiece64.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b870a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/30327-h/images/tailpiece64.png diff --git a/30327-h/images/tailpiece76.png b/30327-h/images/tailpiece76.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3b301c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/30327-h/images/tailpiece76.png diff --git a/30327.txt b/30327.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f6860ce --- /dev/null +++ b/30327.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3761 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Democritus Platonissans, by Henry More + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Democritus Platonissans + +Author: Henry More + +Editor: P. G. Stanwood + +Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30327] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEMOCRITUS PLATONISSANS *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +[This text is intended for users whose text readers cannot use the +"real" (Unicode/UTF-8) version of the file. The "oe" ligature has been +"unpacked" to separate letters. Transliterated Greek is shown between ++marks+, and Hebrew between #marks#. + +Roman (emphatic) type within italic body text is shown in =marks=. + +Unless otherwise noted, spelling, punctuation and capitalization in the +primary text are unchanged. The distinction between u (vowel) and v +(consonant) is as in the original. Typographical errors are listed at +the end of the e-text. + +The General Interpretation ("Interp. Gen.") referenced in the +Particular Interpretation is not part of this text.] + + + + + The Augustan Reprint Society + + + HENRY MORE + + _Democritus + Platonissans_ + + (1646) + + + _Introduction by_ + + P. G. STANWOOD + + + Publication Number 130 + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY + University of California, Los Angeles + 1968 + + + + +GENERAL EDITORS + + George Robert Guffey, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Maximillian E. Novak, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Robert Vosper, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + +ADVISORY EDITORS + + Richard C. Boys, _University of Michigan_ + James L. Clifford, _Columbia University_ + Ralph Cohen, _University of Virginia_ + Vinton A. Dearing, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Arthur Friedman, _University of Chicago_ + Louis A. Landa, _Princeton University_ + Earl Miner, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Samuel H. Monk, _University of Minnesota_ + Everett T. Moore, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Lawrence Clark Powell, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + James Sutherland, _University College, London_ + H. T. Swedenberg, Jr., _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +CORRESPONDING SECRETARY + + Edna C. Davis, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Henry More (1614-1687), the most interesting member of that group +traditionally known as the Cambridge Platonists, lived conscientiously +and well. Having early set out on one course, he never thought to change +it; he devoted his whole life to the joy of celebrating, again and +again, "a firm and unshaken Belief of the Existence of GOD . . . , a God +infinitely Good, as well as infinitely Great . . . ."[1] Such faith was +for More the starting point of his rational understanding: "with the +most fervent Prayers" he beseeched God, in his autobiographical +"Praefatio Generalissima," "to set me free from the dark Chains, and +this so sordid Captivity of my own Will." More offered to faith all +which his reason could know, and so it happened that he "was got into a +most Joyous and Lucid State of Mind," something quite ineffable; to +preserve these "Sensations and Experiences of my own Soul," he wrote +"a pretty full Poem call'd _Psychozoia_" (or _A Christiano-Platonicall +display of Life_), an exercise begun about 1640 and designed for no +audience but himself. There were times, More continued in his +autobiographical remarks, when he thought of destroying _Psychozoia_ +because its style is rough and its language filled with archaisms. His +principal purpose in that poem was to demonstrate in detail the +spiritual foundation of all existence; Psyche, his heroine, is the +daughter of the Absolute, the general Soul who holds together the +metaphysical universe, against whom he sees reflected his own soul's +mystical progress. More must, nevertheless, have been pleased with his +labor, for he next wrote _Psychathanasia Platonica: or Platonicall Poem +of the Immortality of Souls, especially Mans Soul_, in which he attempts +to demonstrate the immortality of the soul as a corrective to his age. +Then, he joined to that _Antipsychopannychia, or A Confutation of the +sleep of the Soul after death_, and _Antimonopsychia, or That all Souls +are not one_; at the urging of friends, he published the poems in +1642--his first literary work--as _Psychodia Platonica_. + +In his argument for the soul's immortality toward the end of +_Psychathanasia_ (III.4), More had urged that there was no need to plead +for any extension of the infinite ("a contradiction," and also, it would +seem, a fruitless inquiry); but he soon changed his mind. The preface to +_Democritus Platonissans_ reproduces those stanzas of the earlier poem +which deny infinity (34 to the end of the canto) with a new (formerly +concluding) stanza 39 and three further stanzas "for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto," _i.e._, _Democritus +Platonissans_, which More clearly intended to be an addition, a fifth +canto to _Psychathanasia_ (Book III); and although _Democritus +Platonissans_ first appeared separately, More appended it to +_Psychathanasia_ in the second edition of his collected poems, this time +with English titles, the whole being called _A Platonick Song of the +Soul_ (1647). + +There is little relationship between _Democritus Platonissans_ and the +rest of More's poetry; even the main work to which it supposedly forms a +final and conclusive canto provides only the slightest excuse for such a +continuation. Certainly, in _Psychathanasia_, More is excited by the new +astronomy; he praises the Copernican system throughout Book III, giving +an account of it according to the lessons of his study of Galileo's +_Dialogo_, which he may have been reading even as he wrote.[2] Indeed, +More tries to harmonize the two poems--his habit was always to look for +unity. But even though _Democritus Platonissans_ explores an +astronomical subject, just as the third part of _Psychathanasia_ also +does, its attitude and theme are quite different; for More had meanwhile +been reading Descartes. + +More's theory of the infinity of worlds and God's plenitude evidently +owed a great deal to Descartes' recent example; More responds +exuberantly to him, especially to his _Principes de la Philosophie_ +(1644); for in him he fancied having found a true ally. Steeped in +Platonic and neo-Platonic thought, and determined to reconcile Spirit +with the rational mind of man, More thought he had discovered in +Cartesian 'intuition' what was not necessarily there. Descartes had +enjoyed an ecstatic illumination, and so had Plotinus; but this was not +enough, as More may have wanted to imagine, to make Descartes a +neo-Platonist.[3] But the Platonic element implicit in Descartes, his +theory of innate ideas, and his proof of the existence of God from the +idea of God, all helped to make More so receptive to him. Nevertheless, +More did not really need Descartes, nor, as he himself was later to +discover, had he even understood him properly, for More had looked at +him only to find his own reflection. + +But there was nothing really new about the idea of infinite worlds which +More described in _Democritus Platonissans_; it surely was not a +conception unique to Descartes. The theory was a common one in Greek and +Renaissance thought. Democritus and the Epicureans, of course, advocated +the theme of infinite worlds in an infinite universe which More +accepted; but at the same time, he rejected their view of a mechanistic +and fortuitous creation. Although Plato specifically rejects the idea of +infinite worlds (in _Timaeus_), More imagines, as the title of his poem +implies, a Platonic universe, by which he really means neo-Platonic, +combined with a Democritean plurality of worlds. More filled space, not +with the infinite void of the Atomists, but with the Divine, ever active +immanence. More, in fact, in an early philosophic work, _An Antidote +against Atheisme_ (1652), and again in _Divine Dialogues_ (1668), +refutes Lucretius by asserting the usefulness of all created things in +God's Providence and the essential design in Nature. His reference in +_Democritus Platonissans_ (st. 20) is typical: "though I detest the +sect/ of Epicurus for their manners vile,/ Yet what is true I may not +well reject." In bringing together Democritus' theories and neo-Platonic +thought, More obviously has attempted reconciliation of two exclusive +world views, but with dubious success. + +While More stands firmly before a familiar tradition, his belief in an +infinity of worlds evidently has little immediate connection with any +predecessors. Even Bruno's work, or Thomas Digges,' which could have +occupied an important place, seems to have had little, if any, direct +influence on More. It was Descartes who stimulated his thought at the +most receptive moment: in 1642 to have denied a theory which in 1646 he +proclaimed with such force evidently argues in favor of a most powerful +attachment. More responded enthusiastically to what he deemed a +congenial metaphysical system; as a champion of Descartes, he was first +to make him known in England and first in England to praise the infinity +of worlds, yet Descartes' system could give to him little real solace. +More embraces God's plenitude and infinity of worlds, he rejoices in the +variety and grandeur of the universe, and he worships it as he might God +Himself; but Descartes was fundamentally uninterested in such +enthusiasms and found them even repellant--as well as unnecessary--to +his thought. For More the doctrine of infinity was a proper corollary of +Copernican astronomy and neo-Platonism (as well as Cabbalistic +mysticism) and therefore a necessity to his whole elaborate and eclectic +view of the world. + +In introducing Cartesian thought into England, More emphasized +particular physical doctrines mainly described in _The Principles of +Philosophy_; he shows little interest in the _Discourse on the Method of +Rightly Conducting the Reason_ (1637), or in the _Meditations_ (1641), +both of which were also available to him when he wrote _Democritus +Platonissans_. In the preface to his poem, he refers to Descartes whom +he seems to have read hopefully: surely "infinitude" is the same as the +Cartesian "indefinite." "_For what is his =mundus indefinite extensus=, +but =extensus infinite=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos=, but +=simpliciter finitus=_," for there can be no space "_unstuffd with +Atoms_." More thinks that Descartes seems "to mince it," that difficulty +lies in the interpretation of a word, not in an essential idea. He is +referring to Part II, xxi, of _The Principles_, but he quotes, with +tacit approval, from Part III, i and ii, in the motto to the poem. More +undoubtedly knows the specific discussion of 'infinity' in Part I, +xxvi-xxviii, where he must first have felt uneasy delight on reading +"that it is not needful to enter into disputes regarding the infinite, +but merely to hold all that in which we can find no limits as +indefinite, such as the extension of the world . . . ."[4] More asked +Descartes to clarify his language in their correspondence of 1648-49, +the last year of Descartes' life. + +_Democritus Platonissans_ is More's earliest statement about absolute +space and time; by introducing these themes into English philosophy, he +contributed significantly to the intellectual history of the seventeenth +century. Newton, indeed, was able to make use of More's forging efforts; +but of relative time or space and their measurement, which so much +concerned Newton, More had little to say. He was preoccupied with the +development of a theory which would show that immaterial substance, with +space and time as attributes, is as real and as absolute as the +Cartesian geometrical and spatial account of matter which he felt was +true but much in need of amplification. + +In his first letter to Descartes, of 11 December 1648, More wrote: +". . . this indefinite extension is either _simpliciter_ infinite, or +only in respect to us. If you understand extension to be infinite +_simpliciter_, why do you obscure your thought by too low and too modest +words? If it is infinite only in respect to us, extension, in reality, +will be finite; for our mind is the measure neither of the things nor of +truth. . . ." Unsatisfied by his first answer from Descartes (5 February +1649), he urges his point again (5 March): if extension can describe +matter, the same quality must apply to the immaterial and yet be only +one of many attributes of Spirit. In his second letter to More +(15 April), Descartes answers firmly: "It is repugnant to my concept to +attribute any limit to the world, and I have no other measure than my +perception for what I have to assert or to deny. I say, therefore, that +the world is indeterminate or indefinite, because I do not recognize in +it any limits. But I dare not call it infinite as I perceive that God is +greater than the world, not in respect to His extension, because, as I +have already said, I do not acknowledge in God any proper [extension], +but in respect to His perfection . . . . It is repugnant to my mind +. . . it implies a contradiction, that the world be finite or limited, +because I cannot but conceive a space outside the boundaries of the +world wherever I presuppose them." More plainly fails to understand the +basic dualism inherent in Cartesian philosophy and to sense the +irrelevance of his questions. While Descartes is really disposing of the +spiritual world in order to get on with his analysis of finite +experience, More is keenly attempting to reconcile neo-Platonism with +the lively claims of matter. His effort can be read as the brave attempt +to harmonize an older mode of thought with the urgency of the 'new +philosophy' which called the rest in doubt. More saw this conflict and +the implications of it with a kind of clarity that other men of his age +hardly possessed. But the way of Descartes, which at first seemed to him +so promising, certainly did not lead to the kind of harmony which he +sought. + +More's original enthusiasm for Descartes declined as he understood +better that the Cartesian world in practice excluded spirits and souls. +Because Descartes could find no necessary place even for God Himself, +More styled him, in _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_ (1671), the "Prince of +the Nullibists"; these men "readily acknowledge there are such things as +_Incorporeal Beings_ or _Spirits_, yet do very peremptorily contend, +that they are _no where_ in the whole World [;] . . . because they so +boldly affirm that a Spirit is _Nullibi_, that is to say, _no where_," +they deserve to be called _Nullibists_.[5] In contrast to these false +teachers, More describes absolute space by listing twenty epithets which +can be applied either to God or to pure extension, such as "Unum, +Simplex, Immobile . . . Incomprehensible "[6] There is, however, +a great difficulty here; for while Space and Spirit are eternal and +uncreated, they yet contain material substance which has been created by +God. If the material world possesses infinite extension, as More +generally believes, that would preclude any need of its having a +creator. In order to avoid this dilemma, which _Democritus Platonissans_ +ignores, More must at last separate matter and space, seeing the latter +as an attribute of God through which He is able to contain a finite +world limited in space as well as in time. In writing that "this +infinite space because of its infinity is distinct from matter,"[7] More +reveals the direction of his conclusion; the dichotomy it embodies is +Cartesianism in reverse. + +While More always labored to describe the ineffable, his earliest work, +the poetry, may have succeeded in this wish most of all. Although he +felt that his poetry was aiming toward truths which his "_later and +better concocted Prose_"[8] reached, the effort cost him the +suggestiveness of figurative speech. In urging himself on toward an ever +more consistent statement of belief, he lost much of his beginning +exuberance (best expressed in the brief "Philosopher's Devotion") and +the joy of intellectual discovery. In the search "_to find out Words +which will prove faithful witnesses of the peculiarities of my +Thoughts_," he staggers under the unsupportable burden of too many +words. In trying so desperately to clarify his thought, he rejected +poetic discourse as "slight"; only a language free of metaphor and +symbol could, he supposed, lead toward correctness. Indeed, More soon +renounced poetry; he apparently wrote no more after collecting it in +_Philosophical Poems_ (1647), when he gave up poetry for "more seeming +Substantial performances in solid _Prose_."[9] "Cupids Conflict," which +is "annexed" to _Democritus Platonissans_, is an interesting revelation +of the failure of poetry, as More felt it: he justifies his "rude rugged +uncouth style" by suggesting that sweet verses avoid telling important +truths; harshness and obscurity may at least remind one that there is a +significance beyond mere words. His lament is characteristic: "How ill +alas! with wisdome it accords/ To sell my living sense for liveless +words." + +In spite of these downcast complaints, More was quite capable of lively +and meaningful poetic ideas. One is the striking image of the cone which +occurs in _Democritus Platonissans_ (especially in stanzas 7-8, 66-67, +and 88) and becomes the most essential symbol to More's expression +of infinitude and extension. The figure first appears in +_Antipsychopannychia_ (II.9) where his purpose is to reconcile the world +Soul with Christian eschatology. In _Democritus Platonissans_, the cone +enables More to adapt the familiar Hermetic paradox: + + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib'd, whose Centre's each where set, + But the low Cusp's a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre's every where. (st. 8) + +Every point on the circumference, or base of the cone, relates to the +single point at the top. The world, More wants to say, has no limits, no +center, yet there are bounds in its not having any. More recognizes the +contradiction when he fancies "some strong arm'd Archer" at the wide +world's edge (st. 37). Where shall he send his shafts? Into "mere +vacuity"? But More hardly seems aware of the inappropriateness of the +cone: he uses a geometrical figure to locate space, time, and numberless +worlds within the universal sight of God, but matter is infinite, +"distinct/ And yet proceeding from the Deitie" (st. 68). Obviously, the +archer must forever be sending his arrows through an infinitely +expanding surface. Nevertheless, the cone has great value as a metaphor, +as a richly suggestive and fascinating conception. More, however, does +not want to speak metaphorically; he is attempting to disclose truths, +literal and plain, where pretty words and metaphors have no place. Even +as he is writing his most effective poetry, we are aware that More is +denying his poetic office; for he is pleading a reasoned case where the +words crack and strain, where poetic meaning gathers, only to be denied. + +But these objections momentarily disappear when More forgets himself +enough to let us feel his imagination and does not worry that we might +miss the proofs of his philosophy. _Democritus Platonissans_ concludes +with an apocalyptic vision wherein the poet imagines the reconciliation +of infinite worlds and time within God's immensity. He is also +attempting to harmonize _Psychathanasia_, where he rejected infinitude, +with its sequel, _Democritus Platonissans_, where he has everywhere been +declaring it; thus we should think of endless worlds as we should think +of Nature and the Phoenix, dying yet ever regenerative, sustained by a +"centrall power/ Of hid spermatick life" which sucks "sweet heavenly +juice" from above (st. 101). More closes his poem on a vision of harmony +and ceaseless energy, a most fit ending for one who dared to believe +that the new philosophy sustained the old, that all coherence had not +gone out of the world, but was always there, only waiting to be +discovered afresh in this latter age. + +The University of British Columbia + + + + +NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION + +[Footnote 1: The quotations from More's Latin autobiography occur in the +_Opera Omnia_ (London, 1675-79), portions of which Richard Ward +translated in _The Life of . . . Henry More_ (London, 1710). Cf. the +modern edition of this work, ed. M. F. Howard (London, 1911), pp. 61, +67-68, the text followed here. There is a recent reprint of the _Opera +Omnia_ in 3 volumes (Hildesheim, 1966) with an introduction by Serge +Hutin. The "Praefatio Generalissima" begins vol. II. 1. One passage in +it which Ward did not translate describes the genesis of _Democritus +Platonissans_. More writes that after finishing _Psychathanasia_, he +felt a change of heart: "Postea vero mutata sententia furore nescio quo +Poetico incitatus supra dictum Poema scripsi, ea potissimum innixus +ratione quod liquido constaret extensionem spacii dari infinitam, nec +majores absurditates pluresve contingere posse in Materia infinita, +infinitaque; Mundi duratione, quam in infinita Extensione spacii" +(p. ix).] + +[Footnote 2: Cf. Lee Haring's unpub. diss., "Henry More's +_Psychathanasia_ and _Democritus Platonissans_: A Critical Edition," +(Columbia Univ., 1961), pp. 33-57.] + +[Footnote 3: Marjorie Hope Nicolson's various articles and books which +in part deal with More are important to the discussion that follows, and +especially "The Early Stage of Cartesianism in England," SP, XXVI +(1929), 356-379; _Mountain Gloom and Mountain Glory_ (Ithaca, 1959), pp. +113-143, and _The Breaking of the Circle_ (New York, 1960), pp. +158-165.] + +[Footnote 4: Cf. _The Meditations and Selections from the Principles of +Rene Descartes_, trans. John Veitch (Chicago, 1908), p. 143. The +quotations from the letters which follow occur in Alexandre Koyre's very +helpful book, _From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe_ +(Baltimore, 1957), pp. 114, 122-123, but the complete and original texts +can be consulted in Descartes, _Correspondance avec Arnaud et Morus_, +ed. G. Lewis (Paris, 1953).] + +[Footnote 5: This passage occurs at the beginning of "The Easie, True, +and Genuine Notion, And consistent Explication Of the Nature of a +Spirit," a free translation of _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, I. 27-28, by +John Collins which he included in Joseph Glanvil's _Saducismus +Triumphatus_ (London, 1681). I quote from the text as given in +_Philosophical Writings of Henry More_, ed. F. I. MacKinnon (New York, +1925), p. 183.] + +[Footnote 6: Cf. _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 8, trans. Mary Whiton +Calkins and included in John Tull Baker, _An Historical and Critical +Examination of English Space and Time Theories_ . . . (Bronxville, N.Y., +1930), p. 12. For the original, cf. _Opera Omnia_, II. 1, p. 167.] + +[Footnote 7: "_Infinitum_ igitur hoc _Extensum_ a Materia distinctum," +_Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 9, in _Opera Omnia, loc. cit._ Quoted +by MacKinnon, p. 262.] + +[Footnote 8: This and the following reference appear in _An Explanation +of the grand Mystery of Godliness_ (London, 1660), "To the Reader," pp. +vi and v.] + +[Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52).] + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + + +The text of this edition is reproduced from a copy in the Henry E. +Huntington Library. + + + + + Democritus Platonissans, + + Or, + + _AN ESSAY_ + + Upon The + + INFINITY OF WORLDS + + Out Of + + PLATONICK PRINCIPLES. + + Hereunto is annexed + + CUPIDS CONFLICT + + together with + + THE PHILOSOPHERS DEVOTION: + + And a Particular Interpretation + appertaining to the three last books of the + _Song of the Soul_. + + + By _H. More_ Master of Arts, and Fellow of + Christs Colledge in Cambridge. + + + +Agathos en to pan tode ho sunistas, agathoi de oudeis peri oudenos + oudepote enginetai phthonos. Toutou d' ektos on panta hoti malista + eboulethe genesthai paraplesia hautoi.+ Plat. + + _Pythagoras Terram Planetam quendam esse censuit qui circa solem + in centro mundi defixum converteretur, Pythagorans secuti sunt + Philolaus, Seleucus, Cleanthes, &c. imo PLATO jam senex, ut + narrat Theophrastus._ Libert. Fromond, de Orbe terrae immobili. + + + _CAMBRIDGE_ + + Printed by ROGER DANIEL, Printer to + the UNIVERSITIE. 1646. + + + + +To the Reader. + + +READER, + +_If thou standest not to the judgement of thine eye more then of thy +reason, this fragment may passe favourably, though in the neglectfull +disguise of a fragment; if the strangenesse of the argument prove no +hinderance. INFINITIE of WORLDS! A thing monstrous if assented to, and +to be startled at, especially by them, whose thoughts this one have +alwayes so engaged, that they can find no leisure to think of any thing +else. But I onely make a bare proposall to more acute judgements, of +what my sportfull fancie, with pleasure hath suggested: following my old +designe of furnishing mens minds with varietie of apprehensions +concerning the most weightie points of Philosophie, that they may not +seem rashly to have settled in the truth, though it be the truth: +a thing as ill beseeming Philosophers, as hastie prejudicative sentence +Politicall Judges. But if I had relinquishd here my wonted self, in +proving Dogmaticall, I should have found very noble Patronage for the +cause among the ancients, =Epicurus=, =Democritus=, =Lucretius=, =&c.= +Or if justice may reach the dead, do them the right, as to shew, that +though they be hooted at, by the Rout of the learned, as men of +monstrous conceits, they were either very wise or exceeding fortunate to +light on so probable and specious an opinion, in which notwithstanding +there is so much difficultie and seeming inconsistencie._ + +_Nay and that sublime and subtil Mechanick too, =DesChartes=, though he +seem to mince it must hold infinitude of worlds, or which is as harsh +one infinite one. For what is his =mundus indefinite extensus=, but +=extensus infinite=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos= but +=simpliciter finitus=. But if any space be left out unstuffd with Atoms, +it will hazard the dissipation of the whole frame of Nature into +disjoynted dust. As may be proved by the Principles of his own +Philosophie. And that there is space whereever God is, or any actuall +and self-subsistent Being, seems to me no plainer then one of the ++koinai ennoiai+._ + +_For mine own part I must confesse these apprehensions do plainly oppose +what heretofore I have conceived; but I have sworn more faithfull +friendship with Truth then with myself. And therefore without all +remorse lay batterie against mine own edifice: not sparing to shew how +weak that is, that my self now deems not impregnably strong. I have at +the latter end of the last Canto of =Psychathanasia=, not without +triumph concluded, that the world hath not continued =ab aeterno=, from +this ground:_ + + Extension + That's infinite implies a contradiction. + +_And this is in answer to an objection against my last argument of the +souls Immortalitie, =viz.= divine goodnesse, which I there make the +measure of his providence. That ground limits the essence of the world +as well as its duration, and satisfies the curiositie of the Opposer, by +shewing the incompossibilitie in the Creature, not want of goodnesse in +the Creatour to have staid the framing of the Universe. But now roused +up by a new Philosophick furie, I answer that difficultie by taking away +the Hypothesis of either the world or time being finite: defending the +infinitude of both, which though I had done with a great deal of vigour +and life, and semblance of assent, it would have agreed well enough with +the free beat of Poesie, and might have passed for a pleasant flourish: +but the severitie of my own judgement, and sad Genius hath cast in many +correctives and coolers into the Canto it self; so that it cannot amount +to more then a discussion. And discussion is no prejudice but an honour +to the truth: for then and never but then is she Victorious. And what a +glorious Trophee shall the finite world erect when it hath vanquished +the Infinite; a Pygmee a Giant._ + +_For the better understanding of the connexion of this Appendix, with +the Poem of the souls Immortalitie; I have taken off the last stanza's +thereof, and added some few new ones to them for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto. =Psychathan. lib. 3. Cant. 4.=_ + + _Stanz._ 33d. + + But thou who ere thou art that thus dost strive + With fierce assault my groundwork to subvert, + And boldly dost into Gods secrets dive, + Base fear my manly face note make m' avert. + In that odde question which thou first didst stert, + I'll plainly prove thine incapacitie, + And force thy feeble feet back to revert, + That cannot climb so high a mysterie, + I'le shew thee strange perplexed inconsistencie. + + 34 + + Why was this world from all infinitie + Not made? say'st thou: why? could it be so made + Say I. For well observe the sequencie: + If this Out-world continually hath wade + Through a long long-spun-time that never had + Beginning, then there as few circulings + Have been in the quick Moon as Saturn sad; + And still more plainly this clear truth to sing, + As many years as dayes or flitting houres have been. + + 35 + + For things that we conceive are infinite, + One th' other no'te surpasse in quantitie. + So I have prov'd with clear convincing light, + This world could never from infinitie + Been made. Certain deficiencie + Doth alwayes follow evolution: + Nought's infinite but tight eternitie + Close thrust into itself: extension + That's infinite implies a contradiction. + + 36 + + So then for ought we know this world was made + So soon as such a Nature could exist; + And though that it continue, never fade, + Yet never will it be that that long twist + Of time prove infinite, though ner'e desist + From running still. But we may safely say + Time past compar'd with this long future list + Doth show as if the world but yesterday + Were made, and in due time Gods glory out may ray. + + 37 + + Then this short night and ignorant dull ages + Will quite be swallowed in oblivion; + And though this hope by many surly Sages + Be now derided, yet they'll all be gone + In a short time, like Bats and Owls yflone + At dayes approch. This will hap certainly + At this worlds shining conflagration. + Fayes, Satyrs, Goblins the night merrily + May spend, but ruddy Sol shall make them all to flie. + + 38 + + The roaring Lions and drad beasts of prey + Rule in the dark with pitious crueltie; + But harmlesse Man is matter of the day, + Which doth his work in pure simplicitie. + God blesse his honest usefull industrie. + But pride and covetize, ambition, + Riot, revenge, self-love, hypocrisie, + Contempt of goodnesse, forc'd opinion; + These and such like do breed the worlds confusion. + + 39 + + But sooth to say though my triumphant Muse + Seemeth to vant as in got victorie, + And with puissant stroke the head to bruize + Of her stiff so, and daze his phantasie, + Captive his reason, dead each facultie: + Yet in her self so strong a force withstands + That of her self afraid, she'll not aby, + Nor keep the field. She'll fall by her own hand + As _Ajax_ once laid _Ajax_ dead upon the strand. + + 40 + + For thus her-self by her own self's oppos'd; + The Heavens the Earth the universall Frame + Of living Nature God so soon disclos'd + As He could do, or she receive the same. + All times delay since that must turn to blame, + And what cannot He do that can be done? + And what might let but by th' all-powerfull Name + Or Word of God, the Worlds Creation + More suddenly were made then mans swift thought can run? + + 41 + + Wherefore that Heavenly Power or is as young + As this Worlds date; or else some needlesse space + Of time was spent, before the Earth did clung + So close unto her-self and seas embrace + Her hollow breast, and if that time surpasse + A finite number then Infinitie + Of years before this Worlds Creation passe. + So that the durance of the Deitie + We must contract or strait his full Benignitie. + + 42 + + But for the cradle of the _Cretian Jove_, + And guardians of his vagient Infancie + What sober man but sagely will reprove? + Or drown the noise of the fond _Dactyli_ + By laughter loud? Dated Divinitie + Certes is but the dream of a drie brain: + God maim'd in goodnesse, inconsistencie; + Wherefore my troubled mind is now in pain + Of a new birth, which this one Canto'll not contain. + +_Now Reader, thou art arrived to the Canto it self, from which I have +kept thee off by too tedious Preface and Apologie, which is seldome made +without consciousnesse of some fault, which I professe I find not in my +self, unlesse this be it, that I am more tender of thy satisfaction then +mine own credit. As for that high sullen Poem, =Cupids Conflict=, I must +leave it to thy candour and favourable censure. The =Philosophers +Devotion= I cast in onely, that the latter pages should not be +unfurnished._ + + H. M. + + +_Nihil tamen frequentius inter Autores occurrit, quam ut omnia adeo ex +moduli fere sensuum suorum aestiment, ut ea quae insuper infinitis rerum +spatiis extare possunt, sive superbe sive imprudenter rejiciant; quin & +ea omnia in usum suum fabricata fuisse glorientur, perinde facientes ac +si pediculi humanum caput, aut pulices sinum muliebrem propter se solos +condita existimarent, eaque demum ex gradibus saltibusve suis +metirentur. =The Lord Herbert in his De Causis Errorum.=_ + + +_De generali totius hujus mundi aspectabilis constructione ut recte +Philosophemur duo sunt imprimis observanda: Unum ut attendentes ad +infinitam Dei potentiam & bonitatem ne vereamur nimis ampla & pulchra & +absoluta ejus opera imaginari: sed e contra caveamus, ne si quos forte +limites nobis non certo cognitos, in ipsis supponamus, non satis +magnifice de creatoris potentia sentire videamur._ + +_Alterum, ut etiam caveamus, ne nimis superbe de nobis ipsis sentiamus. +Quod fieret non modo, si quos limites nobis nulla cognitos ratione, nec +divina revelatione, mundo vellemus affingere, tanquam si vis nostra +cogitationis, ultra id quod a Deo revera factum est ferri posset; sed +etiam maxime, si res omnes propter nos solos, ab illo creatas esse +fingeremus. =Renatus DesCartes in his Princip. Philosoph. the third +part.=_ + + + + + THE ARGUMENT. + + _'Gainst boundlesse time th' objections made, + And wast infinity + Of worlds, are with new reasons weigh'd, + Mens judgements are left free._ + + + 1 + + Hence, hence unhallowed ears and hearts more hard + Then Winter clods fast froze with Northern wind. + But most of all, foul tongue I thee discard + That blamest all that thy dark strait'ned mind, + Can not conceive: But that no blame thou find; + What e're my pregnant Muse brings forth to light, + She'l not acknowledge to be of her kind, + Till Eagle-like she turn them to the sight + Of the eternall Word all deckt with glory bright. + + 2 + + Strange sights do straggle in my restlesse thoughts, + And lively forms with orient colours clad + Walk in my boundlesse mind, as men ybrought + Into some spacious room, who when they've had + A turn or two, go out, although unbad. + All these I see and know, but entertain + None to my friend but who's most sober sad; + Although the time my roof doth them contain + Their pretence doth possesse me till they out again. + + 3 + + And thus possest in silver trump I found + Their guise, their shape, their gesture and array. + But as in silver trumpet nought is found + When once the piercing sound is past away, + (Though while the mighty blast therein did stay, + Its tearing noise so terribly did shrill, + That it the heavens did shake, and earth dismay) + As empty I of what my flowing quill + In heedlesse hast elswhere, or here, may hap to spill. + + 4 + + For 'tis of force and not of a set will. + Ne dare my wary mind afford assent + To what is plac'd above all mortall skill. + But yet our various thoughts to represent + Each gentle wight will deem of good intent. + Wherefore with leave th' infinitie I'll sing + Of time, Of Space: or without leave; I'm brent + With eagre rage, my heart for joy doth spring, + And all my spirits move with pleasant trembeling. + + 5 + + An inward triumph doth my soul up-heave + And spread abroad through endlesse 'spersed aire. + My nimble mind this clammie clod doth leave, + And lightly stepping on from starre to starre + Swifter then lightning, passeth wide and farre, + Measuring th' unbounded Heavens and wastfull skie; + Ne ought she finds her passage to debarre, + For still the azure Orb as she draws nigh + Gives back, new starres appear, the worlds walls 'fore her flie. + + 6 + + For what can stand that is so badly staid? + Well may that fall whose ground-work is unsure. + And what hath wall'd the world but thoughts unweigh'd + In freer reason? That antiquate, secure, + And easie dull conceit of corporature; + Of matter; quantitie, and such like gear + Hath made this needlesse, thanklesse inclosure, + Which I in full disdain quite up will tear + And lay all ope, that as things are they may appear. + + 7 + + For other they appear from what they are + By reason that their Circulation + Cannot well represent entire from farre + Each portion of the _Cuspis_ of the Cone + (Whose nature is elsewhere more clearly shown) + I mean each globe, whether of glaring light + Or else opake, of which the earth is one. + If circulation could them well transmit + Numbers infinite of each would strike our 'stonishd sight; + + 8 + + All in just bignesse and right colours dight + But totall presence without all defect + 'Longs onely to that Trinitie by right, + _Ahad_, _AEon_, _Psyche_ with all graces deckt, + Whose nature well this riddle will detect; + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib'd, whose Centre's each where set, + But the low Cusp's a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre's every where. + + 9 + + Wherefore who'll judge the limits of the world + By what appears unto our failing sight + Appeals to sense, reason down headlong hurld + Out of her throne by giddie vulgar might. + But here base senses dictates they will dight + With specious title of Philosophie, + And stiffly will contend their cause is right + From rotten rolls of school antiquitie, + Who constantly denie corporall Infinitie. + + 10 + + But who can prove their corporalitie + Since matter which thereto's essentiall + If rightly sifted 's but a phantasie. + And quantitie who's deem'd Originall + Is matter, must with matter likewise fall. + What ever is, is Life and Energie + From God, who is th' Originall of all; + Who being everywhere doth multiplie + His own broad shade that endlesse throughout all doth lie. + + 11 + + He from the last projection of light + Ycleep'd _Shamajim_, which is liquid fire + (It _AEther_ eke and centrall _Tasis_ hight) + Hath made each shining globe and clumperd mire + Of dimmer Orbs. For Nature doth inspire + Spermatick life, but of a different kind. + Hence those congenit splendour doth attire + And lively heat, these darknesse dead doth bind, + And without borrowed rayes they be both cold and blind. + + 12 + + All these be knots of th' universall stole + Of sacred _Psyche_; which at first was fine, + Pure, thin, and pervious till hid powers did pull + Together in severall points and did encline + The nearer parts in one clod to combine. + Those centrall spirits that the parts did draw + The measure of each globe did then define, + Made things impenetrable here below, + Gave colour, figure, motion, and each usuall law. + + 13 + + And what is done in this Terrestriall starre + The same is done in every Orb beside. + Each flaming Circle that we see from farre + Is but a knot in _Psyches_ garment tide. + From that lax shadow cast throughout the wide + And endlesse world, that low'st projection + Of universall life each thing's deriv'd + What e're appeareth in corporeall fashion; + For body's but this spirit, fixt, grosse by conspissation. + + 14 + + And that which doth conspissate active is; + Wherefore not matter but some living sprite + Of nimble Nature which this lower mist + And immense field of Atoms doth excite, + And wake into such life as best doth fit + With his own self. As we change phantasies + The essence of our soul not chang'd a whit, + So do these Atoms change their energies + Themselves unchanged into new Centreities. + + 15 + + And as our soul's not superficially + Colourd by phantasms, nor doth them reflect + As doth a looking-glasse such imag'rie + As it to the beholder doth detect: + No more are these lightly or smear'd or deckt + With form or motion which in them we see, + But from their inmost Centre they project + Their vitall rayes, not merely passive be, + But by occasion wak'd rouze up themselves on high. + + 16 + + So that they're life, form, sprite, not matter pure, + For matter pure is a pure nullitie, + What nought can act is nothing, I am sure; + And if all act, that is they'll not denie + But all that is is form: so easily + By what is true, and by what they embrace + For truth, their feigned Corporalitie + Will vanish into smoke, but on I'll passe, + More fully we have sung this in another place. + + 17 + + Wherefore more boldly now to represent + The nature of the world, how first things were + How now they are: This endlesse large Extent + Of lowest life (which I styled whileere + The _Cuspis_ of the _Cone_ that's every where) + Was first all dark, till in this spacious Hall + Hideous through silent horrour torches clear + And lamping lights bright shining over all + Were set up in due distances proportionall. + + 18 + + Innumerable numbers of fair Lamps + Were rightly ranged in this hollow hole, + To warm the world and chace the shady damps + Of immense darknesse, rend her pitchie stole + Into short rags more dustie dimme then coal. + Which pieces then in severall were cast + (Abhorred reliques of that vesture foul) + Upon the Globes that round those torches trac'd, + Which still fast on them stick for all they run so fast. + + 19 + + Such an one is that which mortall men call Night, + A little shred of that unbounded shade. + And such a Globe is that which Earth is hight; + By witlesse Wizzards the sole centre made + Of all the world, and on strong pillars staid. + And such a lamp or light is this our Sun, + Whose firie beams the scortched Earth invade. + But infinite such as he, in heaven won, + And more then infinite Earths about those Suns do run; + + 20 + + And to speak out: though I detest the sect + Of _Epicurus_ for their manners vile, + Yet what is true I may not well reject. + Truth's incorruptible, ne can the style + Of vitious pen her sacred worth defile. + If we no more of truth should deign t' embrace + Then what unworthy mouths did never soyl, + No truths at all mongst men would finden place + But make them speedie wings and back to Heaven apace. + + 21 + + I will not say our world is infinite, + But that infinitie of worlds ther be. + The Centre of our world's the lively light + Of the warm sunne, the visible Deitie + Of this externall Temple. _Mercurie_ + Next plac'd and warm'd more throughly by his rayes, + Right nimbly 'bout his golden head doth flie: + Then _Venus_ nothing slow about him strayes, + And next our _Earth_ though seeming sad full spritely playes. + + 22 + + And after her _Mars_ rangeth in a round + With firie locks and angry flaming eye, + And next to him mild _Jupiter_ is found, + But Saturn cold wons in our utmost skie. + The skirts of his large Kingdome surely lie + Near to the confines of some other worlds + Whose Centres are the fixed starres on high, + 'Bout which as their own proper Suns are hurld + _Joves_, _Earths_ and _Saturns_; round on their own axes twurld. + + 23 + + Little or nothing are those starres to us + Which in the azure Evening gay appear + (I mean for influence) but judicious + Nature and carefull Providence her dear + And matchlesse work did so contrive whileere, + That th' Hearts or Centres in the wide world pight + Should such a distance each to other bear, + That the dull Planets with collated light + By neighbour suns might cheared be in dampish night. + + 24 + + And as the Planets in our world (of which + The sun's the heart and kernell) do receive + Their nightly light from suns that do enrich + Their sable mantle with bright gemmes, and give + A goodly splendour, and sad men relieve + With their fair twinkling rayes, so our worlds sunne + Becomes a starre elsewhere, and doth derive + Joynt light with others, cheareth all that won + In those dim duskish Orbs round other suns that run. + + 25 + + This is the parergon of each noble fire + Of neighbour worlds to be the nightly starre, + But their main work is vitall heat t' inspire + Into the frigid spheres that 'bout them fare, + Which of themselves quite dead and barren are. + But by the wakening warmth of kindly dayes, + And the sweet dewie nights they well declare + Their seminall virtue in due courses raise + Long hidden shapes and life, to their great Makers praise. + + 26 + + These with their suns I severall worlds do call, + Whereof the number I deem infinite: + Else infinite darknesse were in this great Hall + Of th' endlesse Universe; For nothing finite + Could put that immense shadow unto flight. + But if that infinite Suns we shall admit, + Then infinite worlds follow in reason right. + For every Sun with Planets must be fit, + And have some mark for his farre-shining shafts to hit. + + 27 + + But if he shine all solitarie, alone, + What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + Of his existence? wherefore every one + Hath a due number of dim Orbs that wend + Around their centrall fire. But wrath will rend + This strange composure back'd with reason stout + And rasher tongues right speedily will spend + Their forward censure, that my wits run out + On wool-gathering, through infinite spaces all about. + + 28 + + What sober man will dare once to avouch + An infinite number of dispersed starres? + This one absurdity will make him crouch + And eat his words; Division nought impairs + The former whole, nor he augments that spares. + Strike every tenth out, that which doth remain, + An equall number with the former shares, + And let the tenth alone, th' whole nought doth gain, + For infinite to infinite is ever the same. + + 29 + + The tenth is infinite as the other nine, + Or else, nor they, nor all the ten entire + Are infinite. Thus one infinite doth adjoyn + Others unto it and still riseth higher. + And if those single lights hither aspire, + This strange prodigious inconsistencie + Groweth still stranger, if each fixed fire + (I mean each starre) prove Sunnes, and Planets flie + About their flaming heads amid the thronged skie. + + 30 + + For whatsoever that their number be + Whether by seavens, or eighths, or fives, or nines, + They round each fixed lamp; Infinity + Will be redoubled thus by many times. + Besides each greater Planet th' attendance finds + Of lesser. Our _Earths_ handmaid is the Moon, + Which to her darkned side right duly shines, + And _Jove_ hath foure, as hath been said aboven, + And _Saturn_ more then foure if the plain truth were known. + + 31 + + And if these globes be regions of life + And severall kinds of plants therein do grow, + Grasse, flowers, hearbs, trees, which the impartiall knife + Of all consuming Time still down doth mow, + And new again doth in succession show: + Which also 's done in flies, birds, men and beasts; + Adde sand, pearls, pebbles, that the ground do strow + Leaves, quills, hairs, thorns, blooms, you may think the rest + Their kinds by mortall penne can not well be exprest: + + 32 + + And if their kinds no man may reckon well, + The summe of successive particulars + No mind conceive nor tongue can ever tell. + And yet this mist of numbers (as appears) + Belongs to one of these opacous sphears. + Suppose this _Earth_; what then will all those Rounds + Produce? No _Atlas_ such a load upbears. + In this huge endlesse heap o'rewhelmed, drownd, + Choak'd, stifled, lo! I lie, breathlesse, even quite confound. + + 33 + + Yet give me space a while but to respire, + And I my self shal fairly well out-wind; + Keep this position true, unhurt, entire, + That you no greater difficulty find + In this new old opinion here defin'd + Of infinite worlds, then one world doth imply. + For if we do with steddy patience mind + All is resolv'd int' one absurdity, + The grant of something greater then infinitie. + + 34 + + That God is infinite all men confesse, + And that the Creature is some realty + Besides Gods self, though infinitely lesse. + Joyn now the world unto the Deity. + What? is there added no more entitie + By this conjunction, then there was before? + Is the broad breasted earth? the spacious skie + Spangled with silver light, and burning Ore? + And the wide bellowing seas, whose boyling billows roar, + + 35 + + Are all these nothing? But you will reply; + As is the question so we ought restrain + Our answer unto Corporeity. + But that the phantasie of the body's vain + I did before unto you maken plain. + But that no man depart unsatisfi'd + A while this Universe here will we feigne + _Corporeall_, till we have gainly tride. + If ought that's bodily may infinite abide. + + 36 + + What makes a body saving quantity? + What quantitie unlesse extension? + Extension if 't admit infinity + Bodies admit boundlesse dimension. + That some extension forward on doth run + Withouten limits, endlesse, infinite + Is plane from Space, that ever paceth on + Unstop'd, unstaid, till it have filled quite + That immense infinite Orb where God himself doth sit. + + 37 + + But yet more sensibly this truth to show + If space be ended set upon that end + Some strong arm'd Archer with his Parthian bow, + That from that place with speedy force may send + His fleeter shafts, and so still forward wend. + Where? When shall he want room his strength to trie? + But here perversly subtill you'l contend + Nothing can move in mere vacuity, + And space is nought, so not extended properly. + + 38 + + To solve these knots I must call down from high + Some heavenly help, feather with angels wing + The sluggish arrow. If it will not flie, + Sent out from bow stiff-bent with even string, + Let angels on their backs it thither bring + Where your free mind appointed had before, + And then hold on, till in your travelling + You be well wearied, finding ever more + Free passage for their flight, and what they flying bore. + + 39 + + Now to that shift that sayes Vacuity + Is nought, and therefore not at all extent + We answer thus: There is a distancy + In empty space, though we be well content + To balk that question (for we never meant + Such needlesse niceties) whether that it be + A reall being; yet that there's parts distent + One from another, no mans phantasie + Can e're reject if well he weigh't and warily. + + 40 + + For now conceive the aire and azure skie + All swept away from Saturn to the Sunne, + Which each is to be wrought by him on high. + Then in this place let all the Planets runne + (As erst they did before this feat was done) + If not by nature, yet by divine power, + Ne one hairs breadth their former circuits shun + And still for fuller proof, th' Astronomer + Observe their hights as in the empty heavens they scoure. + + 41 + + Will then their Parallaxes prove all one + Or none, or different still as before? + If so, their distances by mortall men + Must be acknowledg'd such as were of yore, + Measur'd by leagues, miles, stades, nor lesse nor more + From circuit unto circuit shall be found + Then was before the sweeping of the floor. + That distance therefore hath most certain ground + In emptinesse we may conclude with reason sound. + + 42 + + If distance now so certainly attend + All emptinesse (as also mensuration + Attendeth distance) distance without end + Is wide disperst above imagination + (For emptinesse is void of limitation) + And this unbounded voidnesse doth admit + The least and greatest measures application; + The number thus of the greatest that doth fit + This infinite void space is likewise infinite. + + 43 + + But what so e're that infinite number be, + A lesser number will a number give + So farre exceeding in infinity + That number as this measure we conceive + To fall short of the other. But I'll leave + This present way and a new course will trie + Which at the same mark doth as fully drive + And with a great deal more facility. + Look on this endlesse Space as one whole quantity. + + 44 + + Which in your mind int' equall parts divide, + Tens, hundreds, thousands or what pleaseth best. + Each part denominate doth still abide + An infinite portion, else nor all the rest + Makes one infinitude. + For if one thousandth part may be defin'd + By finite measures eas'ly well exprest, + A myriad suppose of miles assign'd + Then to a thousand myriads is the whole confin'd. + + 45 + + Wherefore this wide and wast Vacuity, + Which endlesse is outstretched thorough all, + And lies even equall with the Deity, + Nor is a thing meerly imaginall, + (For it doth farre mens phantasies forestall + Nothing beholden to our devicefull thought) + This inf'nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + And has as great perplexities ybrought + As if this empty space with bodies were yfraught. + + 46 + + Nor have we yet the face once to denie + But that it is although we mind it not; + For all once minded such perplexity + It doth create to puzzled reason, that + She sayes and unsayes, do's she knows not what. + Why then should we the worlds infinity + Misdoubt, because when as we contemplate + Its nature, such strange inconsistency + And unexpected sequels, we therein descry? + + 47 + + Who dare gainsay but God is every where + Unbounded, measurelesse, all infinite; + Yet the same difficulties meet us here + Which erst us met and did so sore affright + With their strange vizards. This will follow right + Where ever we admit infinity + Every denominated part proves streight + A portion infinite, which if it be, + One infinite will into myriads multiply. + + 48 + + But with new argument to draw more near + Our purpos'd end. If God's omnipotent + And this omnipotent God be every where, + Where e're he is then can he eas'ly vent + His mighty virtue thorough all extent. + What then shall hinder but a roscid aire + With gentle heat each where be 'sperst and sprent. + Unlesse omnipotent power we will empair, + And say that empty space his working can debarre. + + 49 + + Where now this one supposed world is pight + Was not that space at first all vain and void? + Nor ought said; no, when he said, _Let 't be light_. + Was this one space better then all beside, + And more obedient to what God decreed? + Or would not all that endlesse emptinesse + Gladly embrac'd (if he had ever tride) + His just command? and what might come to passe + Implies no contradictious inconsistentnesse. + + 50 + + Wherefore this precious sweet Ethereall dew + For ought we know God each where did distill, + And thorough all that hollow voidnesse threw + And the wide gaping drought therewith did fill, + His endlesse overflowing goodnesse spill + In every place; which streight he did contrive + Int' infinite severall worlds, as his best skill + Did him direct and creatures could receive + For matter infinite needs infinite worlds must give. + + 51 + + The Centre of each severall world's a sunne + With shining beams and kindly warming heat, + About whose radiant crown the Planets runne, + Like reeling moths around a candle light, + These all together, one world I conceit. + And that even infinite such worlds there be, + That inexhausted Good that God is bight + A full sufficient reason is to me, + Who simple Goodnesse make the highest Deity. + + 52 + + Als make himself the key of all his works + And eke the measure of his providence; + The piercing eye of truth to whom nought lurks + But lies wide ope unbar'd of all pretense. + But frozen hearts! away! flie farre from hence, + Unlesse you'l thaw at this celestiall fire + And melt into one minde and holy sense + With Him that doth all heavenly hearts inspire, + So may you with my soul in one assent conspire. + + 53 + + But what's within, uneath is to convey + To narrow vessels that are full afore. + And yet this truth as wisely as I may + I will insinuate, from senses store + Borrowing a little aid. Tell me therefore + When you behold with your admiring eyes + Heavens Canopie all to bespangled o're + With sprinkled starres, what can you well devize + Which causen may such carelesse order in the skies? + + 54 + + A peck of peasen rudely poured out + On plaister flore, from hasty heedlesse hond + Which lie all carelesse scattered about, + To sight do in as seemly order stond, + As those fair glistering lights in heaven are found. + If onely for this world they were intended, + Nature would have adorn'd this azure round + With better art, and easily have mended + This harsh disord'red order, and more beauty lended. + + 55 + + But though these lights do seem so rudely thrown + And scattered throughout the spacious skie, + Yet each most seemly sits in his own Throne + In distance due and comely Majesty; + And round their lordly seats their servants hie + Keeping a well-proportionated space + One from another, doing chearfully + Their dayly task. No blemmish may deface + The worlds in severall deckt with all art and grace. + + 56 + + But the appearance of the nightly starres + Is but the by-work of each neighbour sun; + Wherefore lesse marvell if it lightly shares + Of neater Art; and what proportion + Were fittest for to distance one from one + (Each world I mean from other) is not clear. + Wherefore it must remain as yet unknown + Why such perplexed distances appear + Mongst the dispersed lights in Heaven thrown here & there. + + 57 + + Again, that eminent similitude + Betwixt the starres and Phoebus fixed light, + They being both with steddinesse indu'd, + No whit removing whence they first were pight, + No serious man will count a reason slight + To prove them both, both fixed suns and starres + And Centres all of severall worlds by right, + For right it is that none a sun debarre + Of Planets which his just and due retinue are. + + 58 + + If starres be merely starres not centrall lights + Why swell they into so huge bignesses? + For many (as Astronomers do write) + Our sun in bignesse many times surpasse. + If both their number and their bulks were lesse + Yet lower placed, light and influence + Would flow as powerfully, and the bosome presse + Of the impregned Earth, that fruit from hence + As fully would arise, and lordly affluence. + + 59 + + Wherefore these fixed Fires mainly attend + Their proper charge in their own Universe, + And onely by the by of court'sie lend + Light to our world, as our world doth reverse + His thankfull rayes so farre as he can pierce + Back unto other worlds. But farre aboven + Further then furthest thought of man can traverse, + Still are new worlds aboven and still aboven. + In the endlesse hollow Heaven, and each world hath his sun. + + 60 + + An hint of this we have in winter-nights, + When reason may see clearer then our eye, + Small subtil starres appear unto our sights + As thick as pin-dust scattered in the skie. + Here we accuse our seeing facultie + Of weaknesse, and our sense of foul deceit, + We do accuse and yet we know not why. + But the plain truth is, from a vaster hight + The numerous upper worlds amaze our dazzled sight. + + 61 + + Now sith so farre as sense can ever trie + We find new worlds, that still new worlds there be, + And round about in infinite numbers lie, + Further then reach of mans weak phantasie + (Without suspition of temeritie) + We may conclude; as well as men conclude + That there is aire farre 'bove the mountains high, + Or that th' Earth a sad substance doth include + Even to the Centre with like qualities indu'd. + + 62 + + For who did ever the Earths Centre pierce, + And felt or sand or gravell with his spade + At such a depth? what Histories rehearse + That ever wight did dare for to invade + Her bowels but one mile in dampish shade? + Yet I'll be bold to say that few or none + But deem this globe even to the bottome made + Of solid earth, and that her nature's one + Throughout, though plain experience hath it never shown. + + 63 + + But sith sad earth so farre as they have gone + They still descrie, eas'ly they do inferre + Without all check of reason, were they down + Never so deep, like substance would appear, + Ne dream of any hollow horrour there. + My mind with like uncurb'd facilitie + Concludes from what by sight is seen so clear + That ther's no barren wast vacuitie + Above the worlds we see, but still new worlds there lie, + + 64 + + And still and still even to infinitie. + Which point since I so fitly have propos'd, + Abating well the inconsistencie + Of harsh infinitude therein supposd + And prov'd by reasons never to be loos'd + That infinite space and infinite worlds there be; + This load laid down, I'm freely now dispos'd + Awhile to sing of times infinitie, + May infinite Time afford me but his smallest fee. + + 65 + + For smallest fee of time will serve my turn + This part for to dispatch, sith endlesse space + (Whose perplext nature well mans brains might turn, + And weary wits disorder and misplace) + I have already passed: for like case + Is in them both. He that can well untie + The knots that in those infinite worlds found place, + May easily answer each perplexitie + Of these worlds infinite matters endlesse durancie. + + 66 + + The _Cuspis_ and the _Basis_ of the _Cone_ + Were both at once dispersed every where; + But the pure _Basis_ that is God alone: + Else would remotest sights as bigge appear + Unto our eyes as if we stood them near. + And if an Harper harped in the Moon, + His silver sound would touch our tickled eare: + Or if one hollowed from highest Heaven aboven, + In sweet still Evening-tide, his voice would hither roam. + + 67 + + This all would be if the _Cuspe_ of the _Cone_ + Were very God. Wherefore I rightly 't deem + Onely a Creaturall projection, + Which flowing yet from God hath ever been, + Fill'd the vast empty space with its large streem. + But yet it is not totall every where + As was even now by reason rightly seen: + Wherefore not God, whose nature doth appear + Entirely omnipresent, weigh'd with judgement clear, + + 68 + + A reall infinite matter, distinct + And yet proceeding from the Deitie + Although with different form as then untinct + Has ever been from all Eternitie. + Now what delay can we suppose to be, + Since matter alway was at hand prepar'd + Before the filling of the boundlesse skie + With framed Worlds; for nought at all debar'd, + Nor was His strength ungrown, nor was His strength empair'd. + + 69 + + How long would God be forming of a flie? + Or the small wandring moats that play i' th' sun? + Least moment well will serve none can denie, + His _Fiat_ spoke and streight the thing is done. + And cannot He make all the World as soon? + For in each Atom of the matter wide + The totall Deitie doth entirely won, + His infinite presence doth therein reside, + And in this presence infinite powers do ever abide. + + 70 + + Wherefore at once from all eternitie + The infinite number of these Worlds He made, + And will conserve to all infinitie, + And still drive on their ever-moving trade, + And steddy hold what ever must be staid; + Ne must one mite be minish'd of the summe, + Ne must the smallest atom ever fade, + But still remain though it may change its room; + This truth abideth strong from everlasting doom. + + 71 + + Ne fear I what hard sequel after-wit + Will draw upon me; that the number's one + Of years, moneths, dayes, houres, and of minutes fleet + Which from eternitie have still run on. + I plainly did confesse awhile agone + That be it what it will that's infinite + More infinites will follow thereupon, + But that all infinites do justly fit + And equall be, my reason did not yet admit. + + 72 + + But as my emboldened mind, I know not how, + In empty Space and pregnant Deitie + Endlesse infinitude dares to allow, + Though it begets the like perplexitie: + So now my soul drunk with Divinitie, + And born away above her usuall bounds + With confidence concludes infinitie + Of Time of Worlds, of firie flaming Rounds; + Which sight in sober mood my spirits quite confounds. + + 73 + + And now I do awhile but interspire + A torrent of objections 'gainst me beat, + My boldnesse to represse and strength to tire. + But I will wipe them off like summer sweat, + And make their streams streight back again retreat. + If that these worlds, say they, were ever made + From infinite time, how comes 't to passe that yet + Art is not perfected, nor metalls fade, + Nor mines of grimie coal low-hid in griesly shade. + + 74 + + But the remembrance of the ancient Floud + With ease will wash such arguments away. + Wherefore with greater might I am withstood. + The strongest stroke wherewith they can assay + To vanquish me is this; The Date or Day + Of the created World, which all admit; + Nor may my modest Muse this truth gainsay + In holy Oracles so plainly writ. + Wherefore the Worlds continuance is not infinite. + + 75 + + Now lend me, _Origen_! a little wit + This sturdy stroke right fairly to avoid, + Lest that my rasher rymes, while they ill fit + With _Moses_ pen, men justly may deride + And well accuse of ignorance or pride. + But thou, O holy Sage! with piercing sight + Who readst those sacred rolls, and hast well tride + With searching eye thereto what fitteth right + Thy self of former Worlds right learnedly dost write: + + 76 + + To weet that long ago these Earths have been + Peopled with men and beasts before this Earth, + And after this shall others be again + And other beasts and other humane birth. + Which once admit, no strength that reason bear'th + Of this worlds Date and Adams efformation, + Another Adam once received breath + And still another in endlesse repedation, + And this must perish once by finall conflagration. + + 77 + + Witnesse ye Heavens if what I say's not true, + Ye flaming Comets wandering on high, + And new fixt starres found in that Circle blue, + The one espide in glittering _Cassiopie_, + The other near to _Ophiuchus_ thigh. + Both bigger then the biggest starres that are, + And yet as farre remov'd from mortall eye + As are the furthest, so those Arts declare + Unto whose reaching sight Heavens mysteries lie bare. + + 78 + + Wherefore these new-seen lights were greater once + By many thousand times then this our sphear + Wherein we live, 'twixt good and evil chance. + Which to my musing mind doth strange appear + If those large bodies then first shaped were. + For should so goodly things so soon decay? + Neither did last the full space of two year. + Wherefore I cannot deem that their first day + Of being, when to us they sent out shining ray. + + 79 + + But that they were created both of old, + And each in his due time did fair display + Themselves in radiant locks more bright then gold, + Or silver sheen purg'd from all drossie clay. + But how they could themselves in this array + Expose to humane sight, who did before + Lie hid, is that which well amazen may + The wisest man and puzzle evermore: + Yet my unwearied thoughts this search could not give o're. + + 80 + + Which when I'd exercis'd in long pursuit + To finden out what might the best agree + With warie reason, at last I did conclude + That there's no better probabilitie + Can be produc'd of that strange prodigie, + But that some mighty Planet that doth run + About some fixed starre in _Cassiopie_ + As _Saturn_ paceth round about our Sun, + Unusuall light and bignesse by strange fate had wonne. + + 81 + + Which I conceive no gainer way is done + Then by the siezing of devouring fire + On that dark Orb, which 'fore but dimly shone + With borrowed light, not lightened entire, + But halfed like the Moon. + And while the busie flame did sieze throughout, + And search the bowels of the lowest mire + Of that _Saturnian_ Earth; a mist broke out, + And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. + + 82 + + Which being gilded with the piercing rayes + Of its own sun and every neighbour starre, + It soon appear'd with shining silver blaze, + And then gan first be seen of men from farre. + Besides that firie flame that was so narre + The Planets self, which greedily did eat + The wastning mold, did contribute a share + Unto this brightnesse; and what I conceit + Of this starre doth with that of _Ophiuchus_ sit. + + 83 + + And like I would adventure to pronounce + Of all the Comets that above the Moon, + Amidst the higher Planets rudely dance + In course perplex, but that from this rash doom + I'm bett off by their beards and tails farre strown + Along the skie, pointing still opposite + Unto the sun, however they may roam; + Wherefore a cluster of small starres unite + These meteors some do deem, perhaps with judgement right. + + 84 + + And that these tayls are streams of the suns light + Breaking through their near bodies as through clouds. + Besides the Optick glasse has shown to sight + The dissolution of these starrie crouds. + Which thing if 't once be granted and allow'd, + I think without all contradiction + They may conclude these Meteors are routs + Of wandring starres, which though they one by one + Cannot be seen, yet joyn'd, cause this strange vision. + + 85 + + And yet methinks, in my devicefull mind + Some reasons that may happily represse + These arguments it's not uneath to find. + For how can the suns rayes that be transmisse + Through these loose knots in Comets, well expresse + Their beards or curld tayls utmost incurvation? + Beside, the conflux and congeries + Of lesser lights a double augmentation + Implies, and 'twixt them both a lessening coarctation. + + 86 + + For when as once these starres are come so nigh + As to seem one, the Comet must appear + In biggest show, because more loose they lie + Somewhat spread out, but as they draw more near + The compasse of his head away must wear, + Till he be brought to his least magnitude; + And then they passing crosse, he doth repair + Himself, and still from his last losse renew'd + Grows till he reach the measure which we first had view'd. + + 87 + + And then farre distanc'd they bid quite adiew, + Each holding on in solitude his way. + Ne any footsteps in the empty Blew + Is to be found of that farre-shining ray. + Which processe sith no man did yet bewray, + It seems unlikely that the Comets be + Synods of starres that in wide Heaven stray. + Their smallnesse eke and numerositie + Encreaseth doubt and lessens probabilitie. + + 88 + + A cluster of them makes not half a Moon, + What should such tennis-balls do in the skie? + And few 'll not figure out the fashion + Of those round firie meteors on high. + Ne ought their beards much move us, that do lie + Ever cast forward from the Morning sunne, + Nor back cast tayls turn'd to our Evening-eye, + That fair appear when as the day is done. + This matter may lie hid in the starres shadowed Cone. + + 89 + + For in these Planets conflagration, + Although the smoke mount up exactly round, + Yet by the suns irradiation + Made thin and subtil no where else its found + By sight, save in the dim and duskish bound + Of the projected Pyramid opake, + Opake with darknesse, smoke and mists unsound. + Yet gilded like a foggie cloud doth make + Reflection of fair light that doth our senses take. + + 90 + + This is the reason of that constant site + Of Comets tayls and beards: And that their show's + Not pure Pyramidall, nor their ends seem streight + But bow'd like brooms, is from the winds that blow, + I mean Ethereall winds, such as below + Men finden under th' Equinoctiall line. + Their widend beards this aire so broad doth strow + Incurvate, and or more or lesse decline: + If not, let sharper wits more subtly here divine. + + 91 + + But that experiment of the Optick glasse + The greatest argument of all I deem, + Ne can I well encounter nor let passe + So strong a reason if I may esteem + The feat withouten fallacie to been, + Nor judge these little sparks and subtile lights + Some auncient fixed starres though now first seen, + That near the ruin'd Comets place were pight, + On which that Optic instrument by chance did light. + + 92 + + Nor finally an uncouth after-sport + Of th' immense vapours that the searching fire + Had boyled out, which now themselves consort + In severall parts and closely do conspire, + Clumper'd in balls of clouds and globes entire + Of crudled smoke and heavy clunging mists; + Which when they've staid awhile at last expire; + But while they stay any may see that lists + So be that Optick Art his naturall sight assists. + + 93 + + If none of these wayes I may well decline + The urging weight of this hard argument, + Worst is but parting stakes and thus define: + Some Comets be but single Planets brent, + Others a synod joyn'd in due consent: + And that no new found Meteors they are: + Ne further may my wary mind assent + From one single experience solitaire, + Till all-discovering Time shall further truth declare. + + 94 + + But for the new fixt starres there's no pretence, + Nor beard nor tail to take occasion by, + To bring in that unluckie inference + Which weaken might this new built mysterie. + Certes in raging fire they both did frie. + A signe whereof you rightly may aread + Their colours changeable varietie + First clear and white, then yellow, after red, + Then blewly pale, then duller still, till perfect dead. + + 95 + + And as the order of these colours went, + So still decreas'd that Cassiopean starre, + Till at the length to sight it was quite spent: + Which observations strong reasons are, + Consuming fire its body did empare + And turn to ashes. And the like will be + In all the darksome Planets wide and farre. + Ne can our Earth from this state standen free + A Planet as the rest, and Planets fate must trie. + + 96 + + Ne let the tender heart too harshly deem + Of this rude sentence: for what rigour more + Is in consuming fire then drowning stream + Of Noahs floud which all creaturs choak'd of yore, + Saving those few that were kept safe in store + In that well builded ship? All else beside + Men, birds, and beasts, the lion, buck, and bore + Dogs, kine, sheep, horses all that did abide + Upon the spacious earth, perish'd in waters wide. + + 97 + + Nor let the slow and misbelieving wight + Doubt how the fire on the hard earth may seize; + No more then how those waters erst did light + Upon the sinfull world. For as the seas + Boyling with swelling waves aloft did rise, + And met with mighty showers and pouring rain + From Heavens spouts; so the broad flashing skies + Thickned with brimstone and clouds of fiery bain + Shall meet with raging Etna's and Vesuvius flame. + + 98 + + The burning bowels of this wasting ball + Shall gullup up great flakes of rolling fire, + And belch out pitchie flames, till over all + Having long rag'd, Vulcan himself shall tire + And (th' earth an ashheap made) shall then expire: + Here Nature laid asleep in her own Urn + With gentle rest right easly will respire, + Till to her pristine task she do return + As fresh as Phenix young under th' Arabian Morn. + + 99 + + O happy they that then the first are born, + While yet the world is in her vernall pride: + For old corruption quite away is worn + As metall pure so is her mold well tride. + Sweet dews, cool-breathing airs, and spaces wide + Of precious spicery wafted with soft wind: + Fair comely bodies goodly beautifi'd + Snow-limb'd, rose-cheek'd, ruby-lip'd, pearl-ted, star eyn'd + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin'd. + + 100 + + For all the while her purged ashes rest + These rellicks dry suck in the heavenly dew, + And roscid Manna rains upon her breast, + And fills with sacred milk sweet fresh and new, + Where all take life and doth the world renew; + And then renew'd with pleasure be yfed. + A green soft mantle doth her bosome strew + With fragrant herbs and flowers embellished, + Where without fault or shame all living creatures bed. + + 101 + + Ne ought we doubt how Nature may recover + In her own ashes long time buried, + For nought can ever consume that centrall power + Of hid spermatick life, which lies not dead + In that rude heap, but safely covered; + And doth by secret force suck from above + Sweet heavenly juice, and therewith nourished + Till her just bulk, she doth her life emprove, + Made mother of much children that about her move. + + 102 + + Witnesse that uncouth bird of Arabie + Which out of her own ruines doth revive + With all th' exploits of skillfull Chymistrie, + Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. + Let universall Nature witnesse give + That what I sing 's no feigned forgerie. + A needlesse task new fables to contrive, + But what I sing is seemly verity + Well suting with right reason and Philosophie. + + 103 + + But the fit time of this mutation + No man can finden out with all his pains. + For the small sphears of humane reason run + Too swift within his narrow compast brains. + But that vast Orb of Providence contains + A wider period; turneth still and slow. + Yet at the last his aimed end he gains. + And sure at last a fire will overflow + The aged Earth, and all must into ashes go. + + 104 + + Then all the stately works and monuments + Built on this bottome shall to ruine fall. + And all those goodly statues shall be brent + Which were erect to the memoriall + Of Kings Kaesars, ne may better 'fall + The boastfull works of brave Poetick pride + That promise life and fame perpetuall; + Ne better fate may these poor lines abide. + Betide what will to what may live no lenger tide! + + 105 + + This is the course that never-dying Nature + Might ever hold from all Eternitie, + Renuing still the faint decayed creature + Which would grow stark and drie as aged tree, + Unlesse by wise preventing Destinie + She were at certain periods of years + Reduced back unto her Infancie, + Which well fram'd argument (as plain appears) + My ship from those hard rocks and shelves right safely stears. + + 106 + + Lo! now my faithfull muse hath represented + Both frames of Providence to open view, + And hath each point in orient colours painted + Not to deceive the sight with seeming shew + But earnest to give either part their due; + Now urging th' uncouth strange perplexitie + Of infinite worlds and Time, then of a new + Softening that harsher inconsistencie + To fit the immense goodnesse of the Deity. + + 107 + + And here by curious men 't may be expected + That I this knot with judgement grave decide, + And then proceed to what else was objected. + But, ah! What mortall wit may dare t' areed + Heavens counsels in eternall horrour hid? + And Cynthius pulls me by my tender ear + Such signes I must observe with wary heed: + Wherefore my restlesse Muse at length forbear. + Thy silver sounded Lute hang up in silence here. + + + FINIS. + + + + + Cupids Conflict. + + + _Mela._ _Cleanthes._ + + _Cl._ _Mela_ my dear! why been thy looks so sad + As if thy gentle heart were sunk with care? + Impart thy case; for be it good or bad + Friendship in either will bear equall share. + _Mel._ Not so; _Cleanthes_, for if bad it be + My self must bleed afresh by wounding thee. + + But what it is, my slow, uncertain wit + Cannot well judge. But thou shalt sentence give + How manfully of late my self I quit, + When with that lordly lad by chance I strive: + _Cl._ Of friendship _Mela_! let's that story hear. + _Mel._ Sit down _Cleanthes_ then, and lend thine ear. + + Upon a day as best did please my mind + Walking abroad amidst the verdant field + Scattering my carefull thoughts i' th' wanton wind + The pleasure of my path so farre had till'd + My feeble feet that without timely rest + Uneath it were to reach my wonted nest. + + In secret shade farre moved from mortals sight + In lowly dale my wandring limbs I laid + On the cool grasse where Natures pregnant wit + A goodly bower of thickest trees had made. + Amongst the leaves the chearfull birds did fare + And sweetly carrol'd to the echoing air. + + Hard at my feet ran down a crystall spring + Which did the cumbrous pebbles hoarsly chide + For standing in the way. Though murmuring + The broken stream his course did rightly guide + And strongly pressing forward with disdain + The grassie flore divided into twain. + + The place a while did feed my foolish eye + As being new, and eke mine idle ear + Did listen oft to that wild harmonie + And oft my curious phansie would compare + How well agreed the Brooks low muttering Base, + With the birds trebbles pearch'd on higher place. + + But senses objects soon do glut the soul, + Or rather weary with their emptinesse; + So I, all heedlesse how the waters roll + And mindlesse of the mirth the birds expresse, + Into my self 'gin softly to retire + After hid heavenly pleasures to enquire. + + While I this enterprize do entertain; + Lo! on the other side in thickest bushes + A mighty noise! with that a naked swain + With blew and purple wings streight rudely rushes. + He leaps down light upon the flowry green, + Like sight before mine eyes had never seen. + + At's snowy back the boy a quiver wore + Right fairly wrought and gilded all with gold. + A silver bow in his left hand he bore, + And in his right a ready shaft did hold. + Thus armed stood he and betwixt us tway + The labouring brook did break his toilsome way. + + The wanton lad whose sport is others pain + Did charge his bended bow with deadly dart, + And drawing to the head with might and main, + With fell intent he aim'd to hit my heart. + But ever as he shot his arrows still + In their mid course dropt down into the rill. + + Of wondrous virtues that in waters been + Is needlesse to rehearse, all books do ring + Of those strange rarities. But ne're was seen + Such virtue as resided in this spring. + The novelty did make me much admire + But stirr'd the hasty youth to ragefull ire. + + As heedlesse fowls that take their per'lous flight + Over that bane of birds, _Averno lake_, + Do drop down dead: so dead his shafts did light + Amid this stream, which presently did slake + Their fiery points, and all their feathers wet + Which made the youngster Godling inly fret. + + Thus lustfull Love (this was that love I ween) + Was wholly changed to consuming ire. + And eath it was, sith they're so near a kin + They be both born of one rebellious sire. + But he supprest his wrath and by and by + For feathered darts, he winged words let flie: + + Vain man! said he, and would thou wer'st not vain + That hid'st thy self in solitary shade + And spil'st thy precious youth in sad disdain + Hating this lifes delight! Hath god thee made + Part of this world, and wilt not thou partake + Of this worlds pleasure for its makers sake? + + Unthankfull wretch! Gods gifts thus to reject + And maken nought of Natures goodly dower + That milders still away through thy neglect + And dying fades like unregarded flower. + This life is good, what's good thou must improve, + The highest improvement of this life is love. + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + Or Stygian vow, or thrice accursed charm + Should in this place free passage thus denie + Unto my shafts as messengers of harm! + Had I but once transfixt thy froward breast, + How would'st thou then----I staid not for the rest; + + But thus half angry to the boy replide: + How would'st thou then my soul of sense bereave! + I blinded, thee more blind should choose my guide! + How would'st thou then my muddied mind deceive + With fading shows, that in my errour vile, + Base lust; I love should tearm, vice, virtue stile. + + How should my wicked rymes then idolize + Thy wretched power, and with impious wit + Impute thy base born passions to the skies + And my souls sicknesse count an heavenly fit, + My weaknesse strength, my wisdome to be caught + My bane my blisse, mine ease to be o'rewraught. + + How often through my fondly feigning mind + And frantick phansie, in my Mistris eye + Should I a thousand fluttering Cupids find + Bathing their busie wings? How oft espie + Under the shadow of her eye-brows fair + Ten thousand Graces sit all naked bare? + + Thus haunted should I be with such feat fiends: + A pretty madnesse were my portion due. + Foolish my self I would not hear my friends. + Should deem the true for false, the false for true. + My way all dark more slippery then ice + My attendents, anger, pride, and jealousies. + + Unthankfull then to God I should neglect + All the whole world for one poor sorry wight, + Whose pestilent eye into my heart project + Would burn like poysonous Comet in my spright. + Aye me! how dismall then would prove that day + Whose onely light sprang from so fatall ray. + + Who seeks for pleasure in this mortall life + By diving deep into the body base + Shall loose true pleasure: But who gainly strive + Their sinking soul above this bulk to place + Enlarg'd delight they certainly shall find + Unbounded joyes to fill their boundlesse mind. + + When I my self from mine own self do quit + And each thing else; then an all-spreaden love + To the vast Universe my soul doth sit + Makes me half equall to all-seeing Jove. + My mighty wings high stretch'd then clapping light + I brush the starres and make them shine more bright. + + Then all the works of God with close embrace + I dearly hug in my enlarged arms + All the hid paths of heavenly Love I trace + And boldly listen to his secret charms. + Then clearly view I where true light doth rise, + And where eternall Night low-pressed lies. + + Thus lose I not by leaving small delight + But gain more joy, while I my self suspend + From this and that; for then with all unite + I all enjoy, and love that love commends. + That all is more then loves the partiall soul + Whose petty loves th' impartiall fates controll. + + Ah son! said he, (and laughed very loud) + That trickst thy tongue with uncouth strange disguize, + Extolling highly that with speeches proud + To mortall men that humane state denies, + And rashly blaming what thou never knew + Let men experienc'd speak, if they'll speak true. + + Had I once lanc'd thy froward flinty heart + And cruddled bloud had thawn with living fire + And prickt thy drousie sprite with gentle smart + How wouldst thou wake to kindly sweet desire, + Thy soul fill'd up with overflowing pleasures + Would dew thy lips with hony-dropping measures. + + Then wouldst thou caroll loud and sweetly sing + In honour of my sacred Deity + That all the woods and hollow hills would ring + Reechoing thy heavenly harmonie. + And eke the hardy rocks with full rebounds + Would faithfully return thy silver sounds. + + Next unto me would be thy Mistresse fair, + Whom thou might setten out with goodly skill + Her peerlesse beauty and her virtues rare, + That all would wonder at thy gracefull quill. + And lastly in us both thy self shouldst raise + And crown thy temples with immortall bayes. + + But now thy riddles all men do neglect, + Thy rugged lines of all do lie forlorn. + Unwelcome rymes that rudely do detect + The Readers ignorance. Men holden scorn + To be so often non-plusd or to spell, + And on one stanza a whole age to dwell. + + Besides this harsh and hard obscuritie + Of the hid sense, thy words are barbarous + And strangely new, and yet too frequently + Return, as usuall plain and obvious, + So that the show of the new thick-set patch + Marres all the old with which it ill doth match. + + But if thy haughty mind, forsooth, would deign + To stoop so low to hearken to my lore, + Then wouldst thou with trim lovers not disdeign + To adorn the outside, set the best before. + Nor rub nor wrinkle would thy verses spoil + Thy rymes should run as glib and smooth as oyl. + + If that be all, said I, thy reasons slight + Can never move my well establishd mind. + Full well I wote alwayes the present sprite, + Or life that doth possesse the soul, doth blind, + Shutting the windows 'gainst broad open day + Lest fairer sights its uglinesse bewray. + + The soul then loves that disposition best + Because no better comes unto her view. + The drunkard drunkennesse, the sluggard rest, + Th' Ambitious honour and obeisance due. + So all the rest do love their vices base + 'Cause virtues beauty comes not into place. + + And looser love 'gainst Chastitie divine + Would shut the door that he might sit alone. + Then wholly should my mind to him incline: + And woxen strait, (since larger love was gone) + That paultrie sprite of low contracting lust + Would fit my soul as if 't were made for 't just. + + Then should I with my fellow bird or brute + So strangely metamorphis'd, either ney + Or bellow loud: or if 't may better sute + Chirp out my joy pearch'd upon higher spray. + My passions fond with impudence rehearse, + Immortalize my madnesse in a verse. + + This is the summe of thy deceiving boast + That I vain ludenesse highly should admire, + When I the sense of better things have lost + And chang'd my heavenly heat for hellish fire, + Passion is blind, but virtues piercing eye + Approching danger can from farre espie. + + And what thou dost Pedantickly object + Concerning my rude rugged uncouth style, + As childish toy I manfully neglect, + And at thy hidden snares do inly smile. + How ill alas! with wisdome it accords + To sell my living sense for livelesse words. + + My thought 's the fittest measure of my tongue, + Wherefore I'll use what's most significant, + And rather then my inward meaning wrong + Or my full-shining notion trimly scant, + I'll conjure up old words out of their grave, + Or call fresh forrein force in if need crave. + + And these attending on my moving mind + Shall duly usher in the fitting sense. + As oft as meet occasion I find. + Unusuall words oft used give lesse offence; + Nor will the old contexture dim or marre, + For often us'd they're next to old, thred-bare. + + And if the old seem in too rustie hew, + Then frequent rubbing makes them shine like gold, + And glister all with colour gayly new. + Wherefore to use them both we will be bold. + Thus lists me fondly with fond folk to toy, + And answer fools with equall foolerie. + + The meaner mind works with more nicetie, + As spiders wont to weave their idle web, + But braver spirits do all things gallantly + Of lesser failings nought at all affred: + So Natures carelesse pencill dipt in light + With sprinkled starres hath spattered the Night. + + And if my notions clear though rudely thrown + And loosely scattered in my poesie, + May lend men light till the dead Night be gone, + And Morning fresh with roses strew the skie: + It is enough, I meant no trimmer frame + Or by nice needle-work to seek a name. + + Vain man! that seekest name mongst earthly men + Devoid of God and all good virtuous lere; + Who groping in the dark do nothing ken + But mad; with griping care their souls do tear, + Or burst with hatred or with envie pine + Or burn with rage or melt out at their eyne. + + Thrice happy he whose name is writ above, + And doeth good though gaining infamie; + Requiteth evil turns with hearty love, + And recks not what befalls him outwardly: + Whose worth is in himself, and onely blisse + In his pure conscience that doth nought amisse. + + Who placeth pleasure in his purged soul + And virtuous life his treasure doth esteem; + Who can his passions master and controll, + And that true lordly manlinesse doth deem, + Who from this world himself hath clearly quit + Counts nought his own but what lives in his sprite. + + So when his sprite from this vain world shall flit + It bears all with it whatsoever was dear + Unto it self, passing in easie fit, + As kindly ripen'd corn comes out of th' eare. + Thus mindlesse of what idle men will say + He takes his own and stilly goes his way. + + But the retinue of proud Lucifer, + Those blustering Poets that flie after fame + And deck themselves like the bright Morning-starre. + Alas! it is but all a crackling flame. + For death will strip them of that glorious plume + That airie blisse will vanish into fume. + + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + Return, or listen from the bowed skie + To heare how well their learned lines do take? + Or if they could; is Heavens felicitie + So small as by mans praise to be encreas'd, + Hells pain no greater then hence to be eas'd? + + Therefore once dead in vain shall I transmit + My shadow to gazing Posteritie; + Cast farre behind me I shall never see't, + On Heavens fair Sunne having fast fixt mine eye. + Nor while I live, heed I what man doth praise + Or underprize mine unaffected layes. + + What moves thee then, said he, to take the pains + And spenden time if thou contemn'st the fruit? + Sweet fruit of fame, that fills the Poets brains + With high conceit and feeds his fainting wit. + How pleasant 'tis in honour here to live + And dead, thy name for ever to survive! + + Or is thy abject mind so basely bent + As of thy Muse to maken Merchandize? + (And well I wote this is no strange intent.) + The hopefull glimps of gold from chattering Pies, + From Daws and Crows, and Parots oft hath wrung + An unexpected Pegaseian song. + + Foul shame on him, quoth I, that shamefull thought + Doth entertain within his dunghill breast, + Both God and Nature hath my spirits wrought + To better temper and of old hath blest + My loftie soul with more divine aspires + Then to be touchd with such vile low desires. + + I hate and highly scorn that Kestrell kind + Of bastard scholars that subordinate + The precious choice induements of the mind + To wealth or worldly good. Adulterate + And cursed brood! Your wit and will are born + Of th' earth and circling thither do return. + + Profit and honour be those measures scant + Of your slight studies and endeavours vain, + And when you once have got what you did want + You leave your learning to enjoy your gain. + Your brains grow low, your bellies swell up high, + Foul sluggish fat ditts up your dulled eye. + + Thus what the earth did breed, to th' earth is gone, + Like fading hearb or feebly drooping flower, + By feet of men and beast quite trodden down, + The muck-sprung learning cannot long endure. + Back she returns lost in her filthy source, + Drown'd, chok'd or slocken by her cruell nurse. + + True virtue to her self's the best reward, + Rich with her own and full of lively spirit, + Nothing cast down for want of due regard. + Or 'cause rude men acknowledge not her merit. + She knows her worth and stock from whence she sprung, + Spreads fair without the warmth of earthly dung, + + Dew'd with the drops of Heaven shall flourish long; + As long as day and night do share the skie, + And though that day and night should fail yet strong + And steddie, fixed on Eternitie + Shall bloom for ever. So the foul shall speed + That loveth virtue for no worldly meed. + + Though sooth to sayn, the worldly meed is due + To her more then to all the world beside. + Men ought do homage with affections true + And offer gifts for God doth there reside. + The wise and virtuous soul is his own seat + To such what's given God himself doth get. + + But earthly minds whose sight's seal'd up with mud + Discern not this flesh-clouded Deity, + Ne do acknowledge any other good + Then what their mole-warp hands can feel and trie + By groping touch; thus (worth of them unseen) + Of nothing worthy that true worth they ween. + + Wherefore the prudent Law-givers of old + Even in all Nations, with right sage foresight + Discovering from farre how clums and cold + The vulgar wight would be to yield what's right + To virtuous learning, did by law designe + Great wealth and honour to that worth divine. + + But nought's by law to Poesie due said he, + Ne doth the solemn Statesmans head take care + Of those that such impertinent pieces be + Of common-weals. Thou'd better then to spare + Thy uselesse vein. Or tell else, what may move + Thy busie use such fruitlesse pains to prove. + + No pains but pleasure to do the dictates dear + Of inward living nature. What doth move + The Nightingall to sing so sweet and clear + The Thrush, or Lark that mounting high above + Chants her shrill notes to heedlesse ears of corn + Heavily hanging in the dewy morn. + + When life can speak, it can not well withhold + T' expresse its own impressions and hid life. + Or joy or grief that smoothered lie untold + Do vex the heart and wring with restlesse strife. + Then are my labours no true pains but ease + My souls unrest they gently do appease. + + Besides, that is not fruitlesse that no gains + Brings to my self. I others profit deem + Mine own: and if at these my heavenly flames + Others receiven light, right well I ween + My time's not lost. Art thou now satisfide + Said I: to which the scoffing boy replide. + + Great hope indeed thy rymes should men enlight, + That be with clouds and darknesse all o'recast, + Harsh style and harder sense void of delight + The Readers wearied eye in vain do wast. + And when men win thy meaning with much pain, + Thy uncouth sense they coldly entertain. + + For wotst thou not that all the world is dead + Unto that Genius that moves in thy vein + Of poetrie! But like by like is fed. + Sing of my Trophees in triumphant strein, + Then correspondent life, thy powerfull verse + Shall strongly strike and with quick passion pierce. + + The tender frie of lads and lasses young + With thirstie eare thee compassing about, + Thy Nectar-dropping Muse, thy sugar'd song + Will swallow down with eagre hearty draught; + Relishing truly what thy rymes convey, + And highly praising thy soul-smiting lay. + + The mincing maid her mind will then bewray, + Her heart-bloud flaming up into her face, + Grave matrons will wex wanton and betray + Their unresolv'dnesse in their wonted grace; + Young boyes and girls would feel a forward spring, + And former youth to eld thou back wouldst bring. + + All Sexes, Ages, Orders, Occupations + Would listen to thee with attentive ear, + And eas'ly moved with thy sweet perswasions, + Thy pipe would follow with full merry chear. + While thou thy lively voice didst loud advance + Their tickled bloud for joy would inly dance. + + But now, alas! poore solitarie man! + In lonesome desert thou dost wander wide + To seek and serve thy disappearing Pan, + Whom no man living in the world hath eyde: + For Pan is dead but I am still alive, + And live in men who honour to me give: + + They honour also those that honour me + With sacred songs. But thou now singst to trees + To rocks to Hills, to Caves that senselesse be + And mindlesse quite of thy hid mysteries, + In the void aire thy idle voice is spread, + Thy Muse is musick to the deaf or dead. + + Now out alas! said I, and wele-away + The tale thou tellest I confesse too true. + Fond man so doteth on this living clay + His carcase dear, and doth its joyes pursue, + That of his precious soul he takes no keep + Heavens love and reasons light lie fast asleep. + + This bodies life vain shadow of the soul + With full desire they closely do embrace, + In fleshly mud like swine they wallow and roll, + The loftiest mind is proud but of the face + Or outward person; if men but adore + That walking sepulchre, cares for no more. + + This is the measure of mans industry + To wexen some body and getten grace + To 's outward presence; though true majestie + Crown'd with that heavenly light and lively rayes + Of holy wesdome and Seraphick love, + From his deformed soul he farre remove. + + Slight knowledge and lesse virtue serves his turn + For this designe. If he hath trod the ring + Of pedling arts; in usuall pack-horse form + Keeping the rode; O! then 't's a learned thing. + If any chanc'd to write or speak what he + Conceives not 't were a foul discourtesie. + + To cleanse the soul from sinne, and still diffide + Whether our reasons eye be clear enough + To intromit true light, that fain would glide + Into purg'd hearts, this way 's too harsh and rough: + Therefore the clearest truths may well seem dark + When sloathfull men have eyes so dimme and stark. + + These be our times. But if my minds presage + Bear any moment, they can ne're last long, + A three branch'd Flame will soon sweep clean the stage + Of this old dirty drosse and all wex young. + My words into this frozen air I throw + Will then grow vocall at that generall thaw. + + Nay, now thou 'rt perfect mad, said he, with scorn, + And full of foul derision quit the place. + The skie did rattle with his wings ytorn + Like to rent silk. But I in the mean space + Sent after him this message by the wind + Be 't so I 'm mad, yet sure I am thou 'rt blind. + + By this the out-stretch'd shadows of the trees + Pointed me home-ward, and with one consent + Foretold the dayes descent. So straight I rise + Gathering my limbs from off the green pavement + Behind me leaving then the slooping Light. + _Cl._ And now let's up, _Vesper_ brings on the Night. + + +_FINIS._ + +[Illustration] + + + + + _A Particular Interpretation appertaining to + the three last books of the Platonick + Song of the Soul._ + + +A + +_Atom-lives._ The same that Centrall lives. Both the terms denotate the +indivisibility of the inmost essence it self; the pure essentiall form I +mean, of plant, beast or man, yea of angels themselves, good or bad. + + _Apogee_, } + _Autokineticall_, } + _Ananke_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Acronycall_, } + _Alethea-land_, } + +_Animadversall. That lively inward animadversall._ It is the soul it +self, for I cannot conceive the body doth animadvert; when as objects +plainly exposed to the sight are not discovered till the soul takes +notice of them. + + +B + +_Body._ The ancient Philosophers have defined it, +To trichei diastaton +met' antitupias+. _Sext. Emperic. Pyrrhon. Hypotyp. lib. 3. cap. 5._ +Near to this is that description, _Psychathan_, Cant. 2. Stanz. 12. lib. +2, _Matter extent in three dimensions._ But for that +antitupia+, simple +trinall distension doth not imply it, wherefore I declin'd it. But took +in _matter_ according to their conceit, that phansie _a Materia prima_, +I acknowledge none, and consequently no such _corpus naturale_ as our +Physiologist make the subject of that science. That +Trichei diastaton +antitupon+ is nothing but a fixt spirit, the conspissation or +coagulation of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone, which are indeed the +Centrall Tasis or inward essence of the sensible world. These be an +infinite number of vitall Atoms that may be wakened into diverse +tinctures, or energies, into fiery, watery, earthy, &c. And one divine +_Fiat_ can unloose them all into an universall mist, or turn them out of +that sweat into a drie and pure Etheriall temper. These be the last +projections of life from the soul of the world; and are act or form +though debil and indifferent, like that which they call the first +matter. But they are not meerly passive but meet their information half +way, as I may so speak: are radiant _ab intimo_ and awake into this or +the other operation, by the powerfull appulse of some superadvenient +form. That which change of Phantasmes is to the soul, that is alteration +of rayes to them. For their rayes are _ab intrinseco_, as the phantasmes +of the soul. These be the reall matter of which all supposed bodies are +compounded, and this matter (as I said) is form and life, so that all is +life and form what ever is in the world, as I have somewhere intimated +in _Antipsychopan_: But however I use the terme _body_ ordinarily in the +usuall and vulgar acception. And for that sense of the ancients, nearest +to which I have defined it in the place first above mentioned, that I +seem not to choose that same as most easie to proceed against in +disproving the corporeity of the soul, the arguments do as necessarily +conclude against such a naturall body as is ordinarily described in +Physiologie (as you may plainly discern if you list to observe) as also +against this body composed of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone. For +though they be Centrall lives, yet are they neither Plasticall, +Sensitive, or Rationall, so farre are they from proving to be the humane +soul whose nature is there discust. + + +C + +_Cone_: Is a solid figure made by the turning of a rectangular triangle, +about; one of the sides that include the right angle resting, which will +be then the Axis of the compleated Cone. But I take it sometimes for the +comprehension of all things, God himself not left out, whom I tearm the +_Basis_ of the _Cone_ or _Universe_. And because all from him descends, ++kath' hupostolen+, with abatement or contraction, I give the name of +_Cone_ to the Universe. And of Cone rather then Pyramid because of the +roundnesse of the figure, which the effluxes of all things imitate. + + _Chaos_, } + _Chronicall_, } See interpret. Gen. + _Clare_, } + +_Circulation_, The terme is taken from a toyish observation, _viz._ the +circling of water when a stone is cast into a standing pool. The motion +drives on circularly, the first rings are thickest, but the further they +go they grow the thinner, till they vanish into nothing. Such is the +diffusion of the species audible in the strucken aire, as also of the +visible species. In brief any thing is said to circulate that diffuseth +its image or species in a round. It might have been more significantly +called orbiculation; seeing this circumfusion makes not onely a circle, +but fills a sphere, which may be called the sphere of activity. Yet +Circulation more fitly sets out the diminution of activity, from those +ringes in the water which as they grow in compasse, abate in force and +thicknesse. But sometimes I use Circulate in an ordinary sense to turn +round, or return in a circle. + +_Centre_, _Centrall_, _Centrality_. When they are used out of their +ordinary sense, they signifie the depth or inmost being of any thing, +from whence its acts and energies flow forth. See _Atom-lives_. + +_Cuspis_ of the _Cone_. The multiplide Cuspis of the Cone is nothing +but the last projection of life from Psyche, which is #shamayim# a +liquid fire or fire and water, which are the corporeall or materiall +principles of all things, changed or disgregated (if they be centrally +distinguishable) and again mingled by the virtue of Physis or +Spermaticall life of the world; of these are the Sunne and all the +Planets, they being kned together, and fixt by the Centrall power of +each Planet and Sunne. The volatile Ether is also of the same, and all +the bodies of plants, beasts and men. These are they which we handle and +touch, a sufficient number compact together. For neither is the noise of +those little flies in a summer-evening audible severally: but a full +Quire of them strike the ear with a pretty kind of buzzing. Strong and +tumultuous pleasure and scorching pain reside in these, they being +essentiall and centrall, but sight and hearing are onely of the images +of these, See _Body_. + +_Eternitie._ Is the steddie comprehension of all things at once. See AEon +discribed in my Expos. upon Psychozoia. + +_Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. In my Interpret. Gen. +I expounded it Operation, Efflux, Activity. None of those words bear the +full sense of it. The examples there are fit, _viz._ the light of the +Sunne, the phantasms of the soul. We may collect the genuine sense of +the word by comparing severall places in the Philosopher. +Echei gar +hekaston ton onton energeian, he estin homoioma autou, hoste autou +ontos, kakeino einai, kai menontos phthanein eis to porrho, to men epi +pleon, to de eis elatton. Kai hai men astheneis kai amudrai, hai de kai +lanthanousai, ton d' eisi meizous kai eis to porrho.+ _For every being +hath its Energie, which is the image of it self, so that it existing +that Energie doth also exist, and standing still is projected forward +more or lesse. And some of those energies are weak and obscure, others +hid or undiscernable, othersome greater and of a larger projection._ +Plotin. Ennead. 4. lib. 5. cap. 7. And again, Ennead. 3. lib. 4. +Kai +menomen toi men noetoi anthropoi ano; toi de eschatoi autou, pepedemetha +toi kato, hoion aporrhoian ap' ekeinou didontes eis to kato, mallon de +energeian, ekeinou ouk elattoumenou.+ _And we remain above by the +Intellectuall man, but by the extreme part of him we are held below, as +it were yielding an efflux from him to that which is below, or rather an +energie he being not at all lessened._ This curiositie Antoninus also +observes, (lib. 8. Meditat.) in the nature of the sun-beams, where +although he admits of +chusis+, yet he doth not of +aporrhoia+ which is ++ekchusis+. +Ho helios katakechusthai dokei, kai pantei ge kechutai ou +men ekkechutai. he gar chusis autou tasis estin. aktines goun hai augai +autou apo tou ekteinesthai legontai.+ _The sunne_, saith he, _is +diffused, and his fusion is every where but without effusion_, &c. +I will onely adde one place more out of Plotinus. Ennead. 3. lib. 6. ++Hekastou de moriou he energeia he kata phusin zoe ouk existasa.+ _The +naturall energie of each power of the soul is life not parted from the +soul though gone out of the soul, =viz.= into act._ + +Comparing of all these places together, I cannot better explain this +Platonick term, _energie_, then by calling it the rayes of an essence, +or the beams of a vitall Centre. For essence is the Centre as it were of +that which is truly called Energie, and Energie the beams and rayes of +an essence. And as the _Radii_ of a circle leave not the centre by +touching the Circumference, no more doth that which is the pure Energie +of an essence, leave the essence by being called out into act, but is ++en-ergeia+ a working in the essence though it flow _out_ into act. So +that _Energie_ depends alwayes on essence, as _Lumen_ on _Lux_, or the +creature on God; Whom therefore Synesius in his Hymnes calls the Centre +of all things. + +_Entelecheia._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +F + +_Faith._ _Platonick faith in the first Good._ This faith is excellently +described in Proclus, where it is set above all ratiocination, nay, +Intellect it self. +Pros de au to agathon ou gnoseos eti kai sunergeias +dei tois sunaphthenai speudousin, all' hidruseos kai monimou katastaseos +kai eremias.+ _But to them that endeavour to be joyned with the first +Good, there is no need of knowledge or multifarious cooperation, but +settlednesse, steddinesse, and rest._ lib. 1. cap. 24. Theolog. Platon. +And in the next chapter; +Dei gar ou gnostikos oud' atelos to agathon +epizetein, all' epidontas heautous toi theioi photi kai musantas, houtos +enidruesthai tei agnostoi kai kruphioi ton onton henadi.+ _For we must +not seek after that absolute or first Good cognoscitively or +imperfectly, but giving our selves up to the divine light, and winking_ +(that is shutting our eyes of reason and understanding) _so to place our +selves steddily in that hidden Unitie of all things_. After he preferres +this faith before the clear and present assent to the +koinai ennoiai+, +yea and the +noera haplotes+, so that he will not that any intellectuall +operation should come in comparison with it. +Polueides gar haite kai +di' heterotetos chorizomene ton nooumenon, kai holos kinesis esti noera +peri to noeton. Dei de ten theian pistin henoeide kai eremon huparchein +en toi tes agathotetos hormoi teleios hidrutheisan.+ _For the operation +of the Intellect is multiform and by diversitie separate from her +objects, and is in a word, intellectuall motion about the object +intelligible. But the divine faith must be simple and uniform, quiet and +steddily resting in the haven of Goodnesse._ And at last he summarily +concludes, +Esti oun houtos hormos asphales ton onton hapanton.+ See +Procl. Theolog. Platonick. lib. 1. cap. 25. + + +H + +_Hyle._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +I + +_Intellect._ Sometimes it is to be interpreted _Soul_. Sometime the +intellectuall facultie of the soul. Sometimes Intellect is an absolute +essence shining into the soul: whose nature is this. A substance purely +immateriall, impeccable, actually omniform, or comprehending all things +at once, which the soul doth also being perfectly joyned with the +Intellect. +Echomen oun kai ta eide dichos, en men psuchei hoion men +aneiligmena kai hoion kechorismena, en de toi noi homou ta panta.+ Plot. +Ennead. 1. lib. 1. cap. 8. _Ideas_, or _Idees_. Sometimes they are forms +in the Intellectuall world. _viz._ in _AEon_, or _On_, other sometimes, +phantasmes or representations in the soul. _Innate Idees_ are the souls +nature it self, her uniform essence, able by her _Fire_ to produce this +or that phantasme into act. + + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + + +L + +_Logos._ See Interpret. Gen. + +_Life._ The vitall operation of any soul. Sometime it is the soul it +self, be it sensitive, vegetative, or rationall. + +_Lower man._ The lower man is our enquickned body, into which our soul +comes, it being fitly prepared for the receiving of such a guest. The +manner of the production of souls, or rather their non-production is +admirably well set down in Plotinus, See, _Ennead. 6. lib. 4. cap. 14, +15_. + + +M + +_Monad._ See Interpr. Gen. + +_Mundane._ _Mundane spirit_, Is that which is the spirit of the world or +Universe. I mean by it not an intellectuall spirit, but a fine, unfixt, +attenuate, subtill, ethereall substance, the immediate vehicle of +plasticall or sensitive life. + +_Memory._ _Mundane memory._ Is that memory that is seated in the +_Mundane_ spirit of man, by a strong impression, or inustion of any +phantasme, or outward sensible object, upon that spirit. But there is a +Memory more subtill and abstract in the soul it self, without the help +of this spirit, which she also carries away with her having left the +body. + +_Magicall._ That is, attractive, or commanding by force of sympathy with +the life of this naturall world. + +_Moment._ Sometimes signifies an instant, as indivisible, as +kinema+, +which in motion answers to an instant in time, or a point in a line, +_Aristot. Phys._ In this sense I use it, Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 2. +stanz. 16; _But in a moment sol doth ray._ But Cant. the 3. Stanz. 45. +v. 2. I understand, as also doth Lansbergius, by a _moment_ one second +of a minute. In Antipsych. Cant. 2. Stanz. the 20. v. 2. by a _moment_ I +understand a minute, or indefinitely any small time. + + +O + +_Orb._ _Orb Intellectuall_, is nothing else but AEon or the Intellectuall +world. The Orbs generall mentioned Psycathan. lib. 1. cant. 3. stanz. +23. v. 2. I understand by them but so many universall orders of beings, +if I may so terme them all; for _Hyle_ hath little or nothing of being. + +_Omniformity._ The omniformity of the soul is the having in her nature +all forms, latent at least, and power of awaking them into act, upon +occasion. + +_Out-world._ and _Out-Heaven._ The sensible world, the visible Heaven. + + +P + + _Perigee_, } + _Psychicall_, } + _Pareties_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Parallax_, } + _Protopathy_. } + +_Parturient._ See, _Vaticinant_. + +_Phantasie._ _Lower phantasie_, is that which resides in the Mundane +spirit of a man, See _Memory_. + + +Q + +_Quantitative._ Forms _quantitative_, are such sensible energies as +arise from the complexion of many natures together, at whose discretion +they vanish. That's the seventh Orb of things, though broken and not +filling all as the other do. But if you take it for the whole sensible +world, it is entire, and is the same that _Tasis_ in Psycozoia. But the +centre of _Tasis_, viz. the multiplication of the reall _Cuspis_ of the +_Cone_ (for _Hyle_ that is set for the most contract point of the +_Cuspis_ is scarce to be reckoned among realities) that immense +diffusion of atoms, is to be referred to _Psyche_, as an internall +vegetative act, and so belongs to _Physis_ the lowest order of life. For +as that warmth that the sense doth afford the body, is not rationall, +sensitive, or imaginative, but vegetative; So this, #shamayim# _i.e._ +liquid fire, which _Psyche_ sends out, and is the outmost, last, and +lowest operation from her self, is also vegetative. + + +R + +_Rhomboides._ See Interpr. general. + +_Reason._ I understand by Reason, the deduction of one thing from +another, which I conceive proceeds from a kind of continuitie of +phantasmes: and is something like the moving of a cord at one end; the +parts next it rise with it. And by this concatenation of phantasmes I +conceive, that both brutes and men are moved in reasonable wayes and +methods in their ordinary externall actions. + +_Rayes._ The rayes of an essence is its energie. See _Energie_. + +_Reduplicative._ That is reduplicative, which is not onely in this +point, but also in another, having a kind of circumscribed ubiquitie, +_viz._ in its own sphear. And this is either by being in that sphear +omnipresent it self, as the soul is said to be in the body _tota in toto +& tota in qualibet parte_, or else at least by propagation of rayes, +which is the image of it self; and so are divers sensible objects +_Reduplicative_, as light, colours, sounds. And I make account either of +these wayes justly denominate any thing spirituall. Though the former is +most properly, at least more eminently spirituall. And whether any thing +be after that way spirituall saving the Divinitie, there is reason to +doubt. For what is entirely omnipresent in a sphear, whose diametre is +but three feet, I see not, why (that in the circumference being as fresh +and entire as that in the centre) it should stop there and not proceed +even _in infinitum_, if the circumference be still as fresh and entire +as the centre. But I define nothing. + + +S + +_Spermaticall._ It belongs properly to Plants, but is transferred also +to the Plasticall power in Animalls, I enlarge it to all magnetick power +whatsoever that doth immediately rule and actuate any body. For all +magnetick power is founded in _Physis_, and in reference to her, this +world is but one great Plant, (one +logos spermatikos+ giving it shape +and corporeall life) as in reference to _Psyche_, one happy and holy +Animall. + +_Spirit._ Sometimes it signifieth the soul, othersometime, the naturall +spirits in a mans body, which are _Vinculum animae & corporis_, and the +souls vehicle: Sometimes life. See _Reduplicative_. + +_Soul._ When I speak of mans Soul, I understand that which _Moses_ saith +was inspired into the body, (fitted out and made of earth) by God, +Genes. 2. which is not that impeccable spirit that cannot sinne; but the +very same that the Platonists call +psuche+, a middle essence betwixt +that which they call +nous+ (and we would in the Christian language call ++pneuma+) and the life of the body which is +eidolon psuches+, a kind of +an umbratil vitalitie, that the soul imparts to the bodie in the +enlivening of it: That and the body together, we Christians would call ++sarx+, and the suggestions of it, especially in its corrupt estate, ++phronema sarkos+. And that which God inspired into _Adam_ was no more +then +psuche+, the soul, not the spirit, though it be called #nishmat +chayim# _Spiraculum vitae_; is plain out of the text; because it made man +but become a living soul, #nefesh chai#. But you will say, he was a dead +soul before, and this was the spirit of life, yea the spirit of God, the +life of the soul that was breathed into him. + +But if #chai# implie such a life and spirit, you must acknowledge the +same to be also in the most stupid of all living creatures, even the +fishes (whose soul is but as salt to keep them from stinking, as Philo +speaks) for they are said to be #nishmat chayim# chap. 1. v. 20. 21. See +1 Cor. chap. 15, v. 45, 46. In brief therefore, that which in Platonisme +is +nous+, is in Scripture +pneuma+; what +sarx+ in one, +to therion+, +the brute or beast in the other, +psuche+ the same in both. + +_Self-reduplicative._ See _Reduplicative_. + + +T + +_Tricentreitie._ Centre is put for essence, so _Tricentreitie_ must +implie a trinitie of essence. See _Centre_, and _Energie_. + + +V + +_Vaticinant._ The soul is said to be in a _vaticinant_ or _parturient_ +condition, when she hath some kind of sense and hovering knowledge of a +thing, but yet cannot distinctly and fully, and commandingly represent +it to her self, cannot plainly apprehend, much lesse comprehend the +matter. The phrase is borrowed of Proclus, who describing the +incomprehensiblenese of God, and the desire of all things towards him, +speaks thus; +Agnoston gar on pothei ta onta to epheton touto kai +alepton, mete oun gnonai mete helein ho pothei, dunamena, peri auto +panta choreuei kai odinei men auto kai hoion apomanteuetai.+ _Theolog. +Platon. lib. 1. cap. 21._ See _Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 3. stanz. 12. & +14._ + + + + +_The Philosophers Devotion._ + + + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + He the boundlesse Heavens has spread + All the vitall Orbs has kned; + He that on _Olympus_ high + Tends his flocks with watchfull eye, + And this eye has multiplide + Midst each flock for so reside. + Thus as round about they stray + Toucheth each with out-stretch'd ray, + Nimbly they hold on their way, + Shaping out their Night and Day. + Never slack they; none respires, + Dancing round their Centrall fires. + In due order as they move + Echo's sweet be gently drove + Thorough Heavens vast Hollownesse, + Which unto all corners presse: + Musick that the heart of _Jove_ + Moves to joy and sportfull love; + Fills the listning saylers eares + Riding on the wandering Sphears. + Neither Speech nor Language is + Where their voice is not transmisse. + God is Good, is Wise, is Strong, + Witnesse all the creature-throng, + Is confess'd by every Tongue. + All things back from whence they sprong, + As the thankfull Rivers pay + What they borrowed of the Sea. + Now my self I do resigne, + Take me whole I all am thine. + Save me, God! from Self-desire, + Deaths pit, dark Hells raging fire, + Envy, Hatred, Vengeance, Ire. + Let not Lust my soul bemire. + Quit from these thy praise I'll sing, + Loudly sweep the trembling string. + Bear a part, O Wisdomes sonnes! + Free'd from vain Relligions. + Lo! from farre I you salute, + Sweetly warbling on my Lute. + _Indie_, _Egypt_, _Arabie_, + _Asia_, _Greece_, and _Tartarie_, + _Carmel_-tracts, and _Lebanon_ + With the _Mountains_ of the _Moon_, + from whence muddie _Nile_ doth runne, + Or whereever else you won; + Breathing in one vitall aire, + One we are though distant farre. + Rise at once lett's sacrifice + Odours sweet perfume the skies. + See how Heavenly lightning fires + Hearts inflam'd with high aspires! + All the substance of our souls + Up in clouds of Incense rolls. + Leave we nothing to our selves + Save a voice, what need we els! + Or an hand to wear and tire + On the thankfull Lute or Lyre. + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + + +_FINIS._ + + + + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK + MEMORIAL LIBRARY + UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES + + +PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT + +[Decoration] + + [Where available, Project Gutenberg e-text numbers are given in + brackets.] + + +1948-1949 + +16. Henry Nevil Payne, _The Fatal Jealousie_ (1673). [16916] + +18. Anonymous, "Of Genius," in _The Occasional Paper_, Vol. III, No. 10 +(1719), and Aaron Hill, Preface to The Creation (1720). [15870] + + +1949-1950 + +19. Susanna Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709). [16740] + +20. Lewis Theobald, _Preface to the Works of Shakespeare_ (1734). +[16346] + +22. Samuel Johnson, _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749), and two +_Rambler_ papers (1750). [13350] + +23. John Dryden, _His Majesties Declaration Defended_ (1681). [15074] + + +1950-1951 + +26. Charles Macklin, _The Man of the World_ (1792). [14463] + + +1951-1952 + +31. Thomas Gray, _An Elegy Wrote in a Country Churchyard_ (1751), and +_The Eton College Manuscript_. [15409] + + +1952-1953 + +41. Bernard Mandeville, _A Letter to Dion_ (1732). [29478] + + +1962-1963 + +98. _Select Hymns Taken Out of Mr. Herbert's Temple_ (1697). + + +1963-1964 + +104. 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James MacPherson, _Fragments of Ancient Poetry_ (1760). [8161] + +123. Edmond Malone, _Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to +Mr. Thomas Rowley_ (1782). [29116] + +124. Anonymous, _The Female Wits_ (1704). [_In Preparation_] + +125. Anonymous, _The Scribleriad_ (1742). Lord Hervey, _The Difference +Between Verbal and Practical Virtue_ (1742). [_In Preparation_] + +126. _Le Lutrin: an Heroick Poem, Written Originally in French by +Monsieur Boileau: Made English by N. O._ (1682). + + * * * * * + +Subsequent publications may be checked in the annual prospectus. + +Publications #1 through 90, of the first fifteen years of Augustan +Reprint Society, are available in bound units at $14.00 per unit of six +from: + + KRAUS REPRINT CORPORATION + 16 East 46th Street + New York, N.Y. 10017 + +Publications in print are available at the regular membership rate of +$5.00 yearly. 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John Evelyn, _The History of ... Sabatai Sevi ... The Suppos'd +Messiah of the Jews_ (1669). Introduction by Christopher W. Grose. +[_In Preparation_] + +132. Walter Harte, _An Essay on Satire, Particularly on the Dunciad_ +(1730). Introduction by Thomas B. Gilmore. [29237] + + +ANNOUNCEMENTS: + +Next in the series of special publications by the Society will be a +volume including Elkanah Settle's _The Empress of Morocco_ (1673) with +five plates; _Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco_ (1674) +by John Dryden, John Crowne and Thomas Shadwell; _Notes and Observations +on the Empress of Morocco Revised_ (1674) by Elkanah Settle; and _The +Empress of Morocco. A Farce_ (1674) by Thomas Duffet, with an +Introduction by Maximillian E. Novak. Already published in this series +are reprints of John Ogilby's _The Fables of Aesop Paraphras'd in Verse_ +(1668), with an Introduction by Earl Miner and John Gay's _Fables_ +(1727, 1738), with an Introduction by Vinton A. Dearing. Publication is +assisted by funds from the Chancellor of the University of California, +Los Angeles. Price to members of the Society, $2.50 for the first copy +and $3.25 for additional copies. Price to non-members, $4.00. + + * * * * * + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +William Andrews Clark Memorial Library + +2520 CIMARRON STREET AT WEST ADAMS BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA +90018 + +Make check or money order payable to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF +CALIFORNIA. + + * * * * * + * * * * + +Errors and Inconsistencies (noted by transcriber) + +The author used a number of forms that were unusual or archaic even in +1646, and might be mistaken for typographical errors: + + ne (_conjunction_) + won (stay, dwell, like German _wohnen_) + eath (easy, light; also "uneath") + words in -en, especially verbs: + aboven, amazen, been (_infinitive_), causen, standen, withouten... + +Greek diacritics were consistently printed over the first vowel of an +initial diphthong. This has been silently regularized. + +Both occurrences of the name "DesCartes" or "DesChartes" are at line +break; the hyphen has been omitted conjecturally. In general, spellings +that appear more than once, such as "Psyc-" for "Psych-", were assumed +to be intentional. + +The word "invisible" means that the letter is absent but there is an +appropriately sized blank space. + + +Modern Introduction: + + Immobile . . . Incomprehensible "[6] + [_line-initial long space in the original, not explained in + the footnote_] + with its seque _Democritus Platonissans_ + [_l in "sequel" invisible at line-end_] + describes the genesis of + [_final s in "genesis" illegible at line-end_] + Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52). [II.xi. 5] + +To the Reader: + + in the neglectfull disguise of a fragment [of of] + or which is as harsh one infinite one. + [_. missing; text otherwise unchanged_] + defending the infinitude of both, [both.] + Unum ut attendentes ad infinitam Dei potentiam + [_first i in "infinitam" invisible_] + +Democritus Platonissans + + 7. Numbers infinite of each would strike our 'stonishd sight; + [_er in "Numbers" invisible_] + 25. This is the parergon of each noble fire [is is] + 27. What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + [_punctuation as printed_] + 45. This inf'nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + [_text cut off; "-all" conjectural_] + 47. With their strange vizards. This will follow right + [_text cut off; "-ht" conjectural_] + 55. Keeping a well-proportionated space [ptoportionated] + 81. And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. [mountiug] + 99. Snow-limb'd, rose-cheek'd, ruby-lip'd, pearl-ted, star eyn'd + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin'd. + [_text unchanged: possible hyphen in "star eyn'd"_] + 102. Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. [vnlgar] + 103. A wider period; turneth still and slow. [tnrneth] + +Cupids Conflict + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + [_mismatched parenthesis in original; closing parenthesis may + belong after "harm!" in 4th line of stanza_] + Who can his passions master and controll, [aud] + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + [_reading uncertain: may be "take" corrected by hand to "Lake"_] + +Particular Interpretation + + _Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. [_Energie,_] + _Faith._ ... excellently described in Proclus, [roclus.] + +Esti oun houtos hormos asphales ton onton hapanton.+ + [+Eis oun ... ton honton+] + [_Original text could not be checked, but +Eis+ is grammatically + impossible._] + _Intellect._ [_Intellect.._] + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + [_Printed as shown; may be damage or error for "Idea" or similar_] + _Omniformity._ [_Omniformity,_] + _Reduplicative._ ... as the centre. But I define nothing. + [_blank space at mid-line in original_] + _Soul._ ... And that which God inspired into _Adam_ [that that] + _Vaticinant._ ... Theolog. Platon. [Theolog Platon] + +Augustan Reprints + +Here as in e-texts 29237 and 29684 (from the same year), one or two +pages from the list of titles in print appear to be missing. The same +list should be present in any Augustan Reprint from a later year. + + [First page] UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES [. for,] + 117. Sir Roger L'Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). [Sir George] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Democritus Platonissans, by Henry More + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEMOCRITUS PLATONISSANS *** + +***** This file should be named 30327.txt or 30327.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/2/30327/ + +Produced by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..093b81b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #30327 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30327) diff --git a/old/30327-0.txt b/old/30327-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..88076ab --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30327-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3768 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Democritus Platonissans, by Henry More + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Democritus Platonissans + +Author: Henry More + +Editor: P. G. Stanwood + +Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30327] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEMOCRITUS PLATONISSANS *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +[This e-text includes characters that require UTF-8 (Unicode) file +encoding, primarily Greek and a few words of Hebrew: + + Ἀγαθὸς ἦν τὸ πᾶν τόδε ὁ συνιστὰς + ... which is שׁמים + +If any of these characters do not display properly--in particular, +if the diacritic does not appear directly above the letter--or if the +apostrophes and quotation marks in this paragraph appear as garbage, +make sure your text reader’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set +to Unicode (UTF-8). You may also need to change the default font. As a +last resort, use the Latin-1 version of the file instead. + +Roman (emphatic) type within italic body text is shown in =marks=. + +Unless otherwise noted, spelling, punctuation and capitalization in the +primary text are unchanged. The distinction between u (vowel) and v +(consonant) is as in the original. Typographical errors are listed at +the end of the e-text. + +The General Interpretation (“Interp. Gen.”) referenced in the +Particular Interpretation is not part of this text.] + + + + + The Augustan Reprint Society + + + HENRY MORE + + _Democritus + Platonissans_ + + (1646) + + + _Introduction by_ + + P. G. STANWOOD + + + Publication Number 130 + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY + University of California, Los Angeles + 1968 + + + + +GENERAL EDITORS + + George Robert Guffey, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Maximillian E. Novak, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Robert Vosper, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + +ADVISORY EDITORS + + Richard C. Boys, _University of Michigan_ + James L. Clifford, _Columbia University_ + Ralph Cohen, _University of Virginia_ + Vinton A. Dearing, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Arthur Friedman, _University of Chicago_ + Louis A. Landa, _Princeton University_ + Earl Miner, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Samuel H. Monk, _University of Minnesota_ + Everett T. Moore, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Lawrence Clark Powell, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + James Sutherland, _University College, London_ + H. T. Swedenberg, Jr., _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +CORRESPONDING SECRETARY + + Edna C. Davis, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Henry More (1614-1687), the most interesting member of that group +traditionally known as the Cambridge Platonists, lived conscientiously +and well. Having early set out on one course, he never thought to change +it; he devoted his whole life to the joy of celebrating, again and +again, “a firm and unshaken Belief of the Existence of GOD . . . , a God +infinitely Good, as well as infinitely Great . . . .”[1] Such faith was +for More the starting point of his rational understanding: “with the +most fervent Prayers” he beseeched God, in his autobiographical +“Praefatio Generalissima,” “to set me free from the dark Chains, and +this so sordid Captivity of my own Will.” More offered to faith all +which his reason could know, and so it happened that he “was got into a +most Joyous and Lucid State of Mind,” something quite ineffable; to +preserve these “Sensations and Experiences of my own Soul,” he wrote +“a pretty full Poem call’d _Psychozoia_” (or _A Christiano-Platonicall +display of Life_), an exercise begun about 1640 and designed for no +audience but himself. There were times, More continued in his +autobiographical remarks, when he thought of destroying _Psychozoia_ +because its style is rough and its language filled with archaisms. His +principal purpose in that poem was to demonstrate in detail the +spiritual foundation of all existence; Psyche, his heroine, is the +daughter of the Absolute, the general Soul who holds together the +metaphysical universe, against whom he sees reflected his own soul’s +mystical progress. More must, nevertheless, have been pleased with his +labor, for he next wrote _Psychathanasia Platonica: or Platonicall Poem +of the Immortality of Souls, especially Mans Soul_, in which he attempts +to demonstrate the immortality of the soul as a corrective to his age. +Then, he joined to that _Antipsychopannychia, or A Confutation of the +sleep of the Soul after death_, and _Antimonopsychia, or That all Souls +are not one_; at the urging of friends, he published the poems in +1642--his first literary work--as _Psychodia Platonica_. + +In his argument for the soul’s immortality toward the end of +_Psychathanasia_ (III.4), More had urged that there was no need to plead +for any extension of the infinite (“a contradiction,” and also, it would +seem, a fruitless inquiry); but he soon changed his mind. The preface to +_Democritus Platonissans_ reproduces those stanzas of the earlier poem +which deny infinity (34 to the end of the canto) with a new (formerly +concluding) stanza 39 and three further stanzas “for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto,” _i.e._, _Democritus +Platonissans_, which More clearly intended to be an addition, a fifth +canto to _Psychathanasia_ (Book III); and although _Democritus +Platonissans_ first appeared separately, More appended it to +_Psychathanasia_ in the second edition of his collected poems, this time +with English titles, the whole being called _A Platonick Song of the +Soul_ (1647). + +There is little relationship between _Democritus Platonissans_ and the +rest of More’s poetry; even the main work to which it supposedly forms a +final and conclusive canto provides only the slightest excuse for such a +continuation. Certainly, in _Psychathanasia_, More is excited by the new +astronomy; he praises the Copernican system throughout Book III, giving +an account of it according to the lessons of his study of Galileo’s +_Dialogo_, which he may have been reading even as he wrote.[2] Indeed, +More tries to harmonize the two poems--his habit was always to look for +unity. But even though _Democritus Platonissans_ explores an +astronomical subject, just as the third part of _Psychathanasia_ also +does, its attitude and theme are quite different; for More had meanwhile +been reading Descartes. + +More’s theory of the infinity of worlds and God’s plenitude evidently +owed a great deal to Descartes’ recent example; More responds +exuberantly to him, especially to his _Principes de la Philosophie_ +(1644); for in him he fancied having found a true ally. Steeped in +Platonic and neo-Platonic thought, and determined to reconcile Spirit +with the rational mind of man, More thought he had discovered in +Cartesian ‘intuition’ what was not necessarily there. Descartes had +enjoyed an ecstatic illumination, and so had Plotinus; but this was not +enough, as More may have wanted to imagine, to make Descartes a +neo-Platonist.[3] But the Platonic element implicit in Descartes, his +theory of innate ideas, and his proof of the existence of God from the +idea of God, all helped to make More so receptive to him. Nevertheless, +More did not really need Descartes, nor, as he himself was later to +discover, had he even understood him properly, for More had looked at +him only to find his own reflection. + +But there was nothing really new about the idea of infinite worlds which +More described in _Democritus Platonissans_; it surely was not a +conception unique to Descartes. The theory was a common one in Greek and +Renaissance thought. Democritus and the Epicureans, of course, advocated +the theme of infinite worlds in an infinite universe which More +accepted; but at the same time, he rejected their view of a mechanistic +and fortuitous creation. Although Plato specifically rejects the idea of +infinite worlds (in _Timaeus_), More imagines, as the title of his poem +implies, a Platonic universe, by which he really means neo-Platonic, +combined with a Democritean plurality of worlds. More filled space, not +with the infinite void of the Atomists, but with the Divine, ever active +immanence. More, in fact, in an early philosophic work, _An Antidote +against Atheisme_ (1652), and again in _Divine Dialogues_ (1668), +refutes Lucretius by asserting the usefulness of all created things in +God’s Providence and the essential design in Nature. His reference in +_Democritus Platonissans_ (st. 20) is typical: “though I detest the +sect/ of Epicurus for their manners vile,/ Yet what is true I may not +well reject.” In bringing together Democritus’ theories and neo-Platonic +thought, More obviously has attempted reconciliation of two exclusive +world views, but with dubious success. + +While More stands firmly before a familiar tradition, his belief in an +infinity of worlds evidently has little immediate connection with any +predecessors. Even Bruno’s work, or Thomas Digges,’ which could have +occupied an important place, seems to have had little, if any, direct +influence on More. It was Descartes who stimulated his thought at the +most receptive moment: in 1642 to have denied a theory which in 1646 he +proclaimed with such force evidently argues in favor of a most powerful +attachment. More responded enthusiastically to what he deemed a +congenial metaphysical system; as a champion of Descartes, he was first +to make him known in England and first in England to praise the infinity +of worlds, yet Descartes’ system could give to him little real solace. +More embraces God’s plenitude and infinity of worlds, he rejoices in the +variety and grandeur of the universe, and he worships it as he might God +Himself; but Descartes was fundamentally uninterested in such +enthusiasms and found them even repellant--as well as unnecessary--to +his thought. For More the doctrine of infinity was a proper corollary of +Copernican astronomy and neo-Platonism (as well as Cabbalistic +mysticism) and therefore a necessity to his whole elaborate and eclectic +view of the world. + +In introducing Cartesian thought into England, More emphasized +particular physical doctrines mainly described in _The Principles of +Philosophy_; he shows little interest in the _Discourse on the Method of +Rightly Conducting the Reason_ (1637), or in the _Meditations_ (1641), +both of which were also available to him when he wrote _Democritus +Platonissans_. In the preface to his poem, he refers to Descartes whom +he seems to have read hopefully: surely “infinitude” is the same as the +Cartesian “indefinite.” “_For what is his =mundus indefinitè extensus=, +but =extensus infinitè=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos=, but +=simpliciter finitus=_,” for there can be no space “_unstuffd with +Atoms_.” More thinks that Descartes seems “to mince it,” that difficulty +lies in the interpretation of a word, not in an essential idea. He is +referring to Part II, xxi, of _The Principles_, but he quotes, with +tacit approval, from Part III, i and ii, in the motto to the poem. More +undoubtedly knows the specific discussion of ‘infinity’ in Part I, +xxvi-xxviii, where he must first have felt uneasy delight on reading +“that it is not needful to enter into disputes regarding the infinite, +but merely to hold all that in which we can find no limits as +indefinite, such as the extension of the world . . . .”[4] More asked +Descartes to clarify his language in their correspondence of 1648-49, +the last year of Descartes’ life. + +_Democritus Platonissans_ is More’s earliest statement about absolute +space and time; by introducing these themes into English philosophy, he +contributed significantly to the intellectual history of the seventeenth +century. Newton, indeed, was able to make use of More’s forging efforts; +but of relative time or space and their measurement, which so much +concerned Newton, More had little to say. He was preoccupied with the +development of a theory which would show that immaterial substance, with +space and time as attributes, is as real and as absolute as the +Cartesian geometrical and spatial account of matter which he felt was +true but much in need of amplification. + +In his first letter to Descartes, of 11 December 1648, More wrote: +“. . . this indefinite extension is either _simpliciter_ infinite, or +only in respect to us. If you understand extension to be infinite +_simpliciter_, why do you obscure your thought by too low and too modest +words? If it is infinite only in respect to us, extension, in reality, +will be finite; for our mind is the measure neither of the things nor of +truth. . . .” Unsatisfied by his first answer from Descartes (5 February +1649), he urges his point again (5 March): if extension can describe +matter, the same quality must apply to the immaterial and yet be only +one of many attributes of Spirit. In his second letter to More +(15 April), Descartes answers firmly: “It is repugnant to my concept to +attribute any limit to the world, and I have no other measure than my +perception for what I have to assert or to deny. I say, therefore, that +the world is indeterminate or indefinite, because I do not recognize in +it any limits. But I dare not call it infinite as I perceive that God is +greater than the world, not in respect to His extension, because, as I +have already said, I do not acknowledge in God any proper [extension], +but in respect to His perfection . . . . It is repugnant to my mind +. . . it implies a contradiction, that the world be finite or limited, +because I cannot but conceive a space outside the boundaries of the +world wherever I presuppose them.” More plainly fails to understand the +basic dualism inherent in Cartesian philosophy and to sense the +irrelevance of his questions. While Descartes is really disposing of the +spiritual world in order to get on with his analysis of finite +experience, More is keenly attempting to reconcile neo-Platonism with +the lively claims of matter. His effort can be read as the brave attempt +to harmonize an older mode of thought with the urgency of the ‘new +philosophy’ which called the rest in doubt. More saw this conflict and +the implications of it with a kind of clarity that other men of his age +hardly possessed. But the way of Descartes, which at first seemed to him +so promising, certainly did not lead to the kind of harmony which he +sought. + +More’s original enthusiasm for Descartes declined as he understood +better that the Cartesian world in practice excluded spirits and souls. +Because Descartes could find no necessary place even for God Himself, +More styled him, in _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_ (1671), the “Prince of +the Nullibists”; these men “readily acknowledge there are such things as +_Incorporeal Beings_ or _Spirits_, yet do very peremptorily contend, +that they are _no where_ in the whole World [;] . . . because they so +boldly affirm that a Spirit is _Nullibi_, that is to say, _no where_,” +they deserve to be called _Nullibists_.[5] In contrast to these false +teachers, More describes absolute space by listing twenty epithets which +can be applied either to God or to pure extension, such as “Unum, +Simplex, Immobile . . . Incomprehensible ”[6] There is, however, +a great difficulty here; for while Space and Spirit are eternal and +uncreated, they yet contain material substance which has been created by +God. If the material world possesses infinite extension, as More +generally believes, that would preclude any need of its having a +creator. In order to avoid this dilemma, which _Democritus Platonissans_ +ignores, More must at last separate matter and space, seeing the latter +as an attribute of God through which He is able to contain a finite +world limited in space as well as in time. In writing that “this +infinite space because of its infinity is distinct from matter,”[7] More +reveals the direction of his conclusion; the dichotomy it embodies is +Cartesianism in reverse. + +While More always labored to describe the ineffable, his earliest work, +the poetry, may have succeeded in this wish most of all. Although he +felt that his poetry was aiming toward truths which his “_later and +better concocted Prose_”[8] reached, the effort cost him the +suggestiveness of figurative speech. In urging himself on toward an ever +more consistent statement of belief, he lost much of his beginning +exuberance (best expressed in the brief “Philosopher’s Devotion”) and +the joy of intellectual discovery. In the search “_to find out Words +which will prove faithful witnesses of the peculiarities of my +Thoughts_,” he staggers under the unsupportable burden of too many +words. In trying so desperately to clarify his thought, he rejected +poetic discourse as “slight”; only a language free of metaphor and +symbol could, he supposed, lead toward correctness. Indeed, More soon +renounced poetry; he apparently wrote no more after collecting it in +_Philosophical Poems_ (1647), when he gave up poetry for “more seeming +Substantial performances in solid _Prose_.”[9] “Cupids Conflict,” which +is “annexed” to _Democritus Platonissans_, is an interesting revelation +of the failure of poetry, as More felt it: he justifies his “rude rugged +uncouth style” by suggesting that sweet verses avoid telling important +truths; harshness and obscurity may at least remind one that there is a +significance beyond mere words. His lament is characteristic: “How ill +alas! with wisdome it accords/ To sell my living sense for liveless +words.” + +In spite of these downcast complaints, More was quite capable of lively +and meaningful poetic ideas. One is the striking image of the cone which +occurs in _Democritus Platonissans_ (especially in stanzas 7-8, 66-67, +and 88) and becomes the most essential symbol to More’s expression +of infinitude and extension. The figure first appears in +_Antipsychopannychia_ (II.9) where his purpose is to reconcile the world +Soul with Christian eschatology. In _Democritus Platonissans_, the cone +enables More to adapt the familiar Hermetic paradox: + + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib’d, whose Centre’s each where set, + But the low Cusp’s a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre’s every where. (st. 8) + +Every point on the circumference, or base of the cone, relates to the +single point at the top. The world, More wants to say, has no limits, no +center, yet there are bounds in its not having any. More recognizes the +contradiction when he fancies “some strong arm’d Archer” at the wide +world’s edge (st. 37). Where shall he send his shafts? Into “mere +vacuity”? But More hardly seems aware of the inappropriateness of the +cone: he uses a geometrical figure to locate space, time, and numberless +worlds within the universal sight of God, but matter is infinite, +“distinct/ And yet proceeding from the Deitie” (st. 68). Obviously, the +archer must forever be sending his arrows through an infinitely +expanding surface. Nevertheless, the cone has great value as a metaphor, +as a richly suggestive and fascinating conception. More, however, does +not want to speak metaphorically; he is attempting to disclose truths, +literal and plain, where pretty words and metaphors have no place. Even +as he is writing his most effective poetry, we are aware that More is +denying his poetic office; for he is pleading a reasoned case where the +words crack and strain, where poetic meaning gathers, only to be denied. + +But these objections momentarily disappear when More forgets himself +enough to let us feel his imagination and does not worry that we might +miss the proofs of his philosophy. _Democritus Platonissans_ concludes +with an apocalyptic vision wherein the poet imagines the reconciliation +of infinite worlds and time within God’s immensity. He is also +attempting to harmonize _Psychathanasia_, where he rejected infinitude, +with its sequel, _Democritus Platonissans_, where he has everywhere been +declaring it; thus we should think of endless worlds as we should think +of Nature and the Phoenix, dying yet ever regenerative, sustained by a +“centrall power/ Of hid spermatick life” which sucks “sweet heavenly +juice” from above (st. 101). More closes his poem on a vision of harmony +and ceaseless energy, a most fit ending for one who dared to believe +that the new philosophy sustained the old, that all coherence had not +gone out of the world, but was always there, only waiting to be +discovered afresh in this latter age. + +The University of British Columbia + + + + +NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION + +[Footnote 1: The quotations from More’s Latin autobiography occur in the +_Opera Omnia_ (London, 1675-79), portions of which Richard Ward +translated in _The Life of . . . Henry More_ (London, 1710). Cf. the +modern edition of this work, ed. M. F. Howard (London, 1911), pp. 61, +67-68, the text followed here. There is a recent reprint of the _Opera +Omnia_ in 3 volumes (Hildesheim, 1966) with an introduction by Serge +Hutin. The “Praefatio Generalissima” begins vol. II. 1. One passage in +it which Ward did not translate describes the genesis of _Democritus +Platonissans_. More writes that after finishing _Psychathanasia_, he +felt a change of heart: “Postea vero mutata sententia furore nescio quo +Poetico incitatus supra dictum Poema scripsi, ea potissimum innixus +ratione quod liquido constaret extensionem spacii dari infinitam, nec +majores absurditates pluresve contingere posse in Materia infinita, +infinitaque; Mundi duratione, quam in infinita Extensione spacii” +(p. ix).] + +[Footnote 2: Cf. Lee Haring’s unpub. diss., “Henry More’s +_Psychathanasia_ and _Democritus Platonissans_: A Critical Edition,” +(Columbia Univ., 1961), pp. 33-57.] + +[Footnote 3: Marjorie Hope Nicolson’s various articles and books which +in part deal with More are important to the discussion that follows, and +especially “The Early Stage of Cartesianism in England,” SP, XXVI +(1929), 356-379; _Mountain Gloom and Mountain Glory_ (Ithaca, 1959), pp. +113-143, and _The Breaking of the Circle_ (New York, 1960), pp. +158-165.] + +[Footnote 4: Cf. _The Meditations and Selections from the Principles of +René Descartes_, trans. John Veitch (Chicago, 1908), p. 143. The +quotations from the letters which follow occur in Alexandre Koyré’s very +helpful book, _From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe_ +(Baltimore, 1957), pp. 114, 122-123, but the complete and original texts +can be consulted in Descartes, _Correspondance avec Arnaud et Morus_, +ed. G. Lewis (Paris, 1953).] + +[Footnote 5: This passage occurs at the beginning of “The Easie, True, +and Genuine Notion, And consistent Explication Of the Nature of a +Spirit,” a free translation of _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, I. 27-28, by +John Collins which he included in Joseph Glanvil’s _Saducismus +Triumphatus_ (London, 1681). I quote from the text as given in +_Philosophical Writings of Henry More_, ed. F. I. MacKinnon (New York, +1925), p. 183.] + +[Footnote 6: Cf. _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 8, trans. Mary Whiton +Calkins and included in John Tull Baker, _An Historical and Critical +Examination of English Space and Time Theories_ . . . (Bronxville, N.Y., +1930), p. 12. For the original, cf. _Opera Omnia_, II. 1, p. 167.] + +[Footnote 7: “_Infinitum_ igitur hoc _Extensum_ à Materia distinctum,” +_Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 9, in _Opera Omnia, loc. cit._ Quoted +by MacKinnon, p. 262.] + +[Footnote 8: This and the following reference appear in _An Explanation +of the grand Mystery of Godliness_ (London, 1660), “To the Reader,” pp. +vi and v.] + +[Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52).] + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + + +The text of this edition is reproduced from a copy in the Henry E. +Huntington Library. + + + + + Democritus Platonissans, + + Or, + + _AN ESSAY_ + + Upon The + + INFINITY OF WORLDS + + Out Of + + PLATONICK PRINCIPLES. + + Hereunto is annexed + + CUPIDS CONFLICT + + together with + + THE PHILOSOPHERS DEVOTION: + + And a Particular Interpretation + appertaining to the three last books of the + _Song of the Soul_. + + + By _H. More_ Master of Arts, and Fellow of + Christs Colledge in Cambridge. + + + Ἀγαθὸς ἦν τὸ πᾶν τόδε ὁ συνιστὰς, ἀγαθῷ δὲ οὐδεὶς περὶ οὐδενὸς + οὐδέποτε ἐγγίνεται φθόνος. Τούτου δ’ ἐκτὸς ὢν πάντα ὁτι μάλιστα + ἐβουλήθη γενέσθαι παραπλήσια αὑτῷ. Plat. + + _Pythagoras Terram Planetam quendam esse censuit qui circa solem + in centro mundi defixum converteretur, Pythagorans secuti sunt + Philolaus, Seleucus, Cleanthes, &c. imò PLATO jam senex, ut + narrat Theophrastus._ Libert. Fromond, de Orbe terræ immobili. + + + _CAMBRIDGE_ + + Printed by ROGER DANIEL, Printer to + the UNIVERSITIE. 1646. + + + + +To the Reader. + + +READER, + +_If thou standest not to the judgement of thine eye more then of thy +reason, this fragment may passe favourably, though in the neglectfull +disguise of a fragment; if the strangenesse of the argument prove no +hinderance. INFINITIE of WORLDS! A thing monstrous if assented to, and +to be startled at, especially by them, whose thoughts this one have +alwayes so engaged, that they can find no leisure to think of any thing +else. But I onely make a bare proposall to more acute judgements, of +what my sportfull fancie, with pleasure hath suggested: following my old +designe of furnishing mens minds with varietie of apprehensions +concerning the most weightie points of Philosophie, that they may not +seem rashly to have settled in the truth, though it be the truth: +a thing as ill beseeming Philosophers, as hastie prejudicative sentence +Politicall Judges. But if I had relinquishd here my wonted self, in +proving Dogmaticall, I should have found very noble Patronage for the +cause among the ancients, =Epicurus=, =Democritus=, =Lucretius=, =&c.= +Or if justice may reach the dead, do them the right, as to shew, that +though they be hooted at, by the Rout of the learned, as men of +monstrous conceits, they were either very wise or exceeding fortunate to +light on so probable and specious an opinion, in which notwithstanding +there is so much difficultie and seeming inconsistencie._ + +_Nay and that sublime and subtil Mechanick too, =DesChartes=, though he +seem to mince it must hold infinitude of worlds, or which is as harsh +one infinite one. For what is his =mundus indefinitè extensus=, but +=extensus infinitè=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos= but +=simpliciter finitus=. But if any space be left out unstuffd with Atoms, +it will hazard the dissipation of the whole frame of Nature into +disjoynted dust. As may be proved by the Principles of his own +Philosophie. And that there is space whereever God is, or any actuall +and self-subsistent Being, seems to me no plainer then one of the κοιναί +ἔννοιαι._ + +_For mine own part I must confesse these apprehensions do plainly oppose +what heretofore I have conceived; but I have sworn more faithfull +friendship with Truth then with myself. And therefore without all +remorse lay batterie against mine own edifice: not sparing to shew how +weak that is, that my self now deems not impregnably strong. I have at +the latter end of the last Canto of =Psychathanasia=, not without +triumph concluded, that the world hath not continued =ab æterno=, from +this ground:_ + + Extension + That’s infinite implies a contradiction. + +_And this is in answer to an objection against my last argument of the +souls Immortalitie, =viz.= divine goodnesse, which I there make the +measure of his providence. That ground limits the essence of the world +as well as its duration, and satisfies the curiositie of the Opposer, by +shewing the incompossibilitie in the Creature, not want of goodnesse in +the Creatour to have staid the framing of the Universe. But now roused +up by a new Philosophick furie, I answer that difficultie by taking away +the Hypothesis of either the world or time being finite: defending the +infinitude of both, which though I had done with a great deal of vigour +and life, and semblance of assent, it would have agreed well enough with +the free beat of Poesie, and might have passed for a pleasant flourish: +but the severitie of my own judgement, and sad Genius hath cast in many +correctives and coolers into the Canto it self; so that it cannot amount +to more then a discussion. And discussion is no prejudice but an honour +to the truth: for then and never but then is she Victorious. And what a +glorious Trophee shall the finite world erect when it hath vanquished +the Infinite; a Pygmee a Giant._ + +_For the better understanding of the connexion of this Appendix, with +the Poem of the souls Immortalitie; I have taken off the last stanza’s +thereof, and added some few new ones to them for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto. =Psychathan. lib. 3. Cant. 4.=_ + + _Stanz._ 33d. + + But thou who ere thou art that thus dost strive + With fierce assault my groundwork to subvert, + And boldly dost into Gods secrets dive, + Base fear my manly face note make m’ avert. + In that odde question which thou first didst stert, + I’ll plainly prove thine incapacitie, + And force thy feeble feet back to revert, + That cannot climb so high a mysterie, + I’le shew thee strange perplexed inconsistencie. + + 34 + + Why was this world from all infinitie + Not made? say’st thou: why? could it be so made + Say I. For well observe the sequencie: + If this Out-world continually hath wade + Through a long long-spun-time that never had + Beginning, then there as few circulings + Have been in the quick Moon as Saturn sad; + And still more plainly this clear truth to sing, + As many years as dayes or flitting houres have been. + + 35 + + For things that we conceive are infinite, + One th’ other no’te surpasse in quantitie. + So I have prov’d with clear convincing light, + This world could never from infinitie + Been made. Certain deficiencie + Doth alwayes follow evolution: + Nought’s infinite but tight eternitie + Close thrust into itself: extension + That’s infinite implies a contradiction. + + 36 + + So then for ought we know this world was made + So soon as such a Nature could exist; + And though that it continue, never fade, + Yet never will it be that that long twist + Of time prove infinite, though ner’e desist + From running still. But we may safely say + Time past compar’d with this long future list + Doth show as if the world but yesterday + Were made, and in due time Gods glory out may ray. + + 37 + + Then this short night and ignorant dull ages + Will quite be swallowed in oblivion; + And though this hope by many surly Sages + Be now derided, yet they’ll all be gone + In a short time, like Bats and Owls yflone + At dayes approch. This will hap certainly + At this worlds shining conflagration. + Fayes, Satyrs, Goblins the night merrily + May spend, but ruddy Sol shall make them all to flie. + + 38 + + The roaring Lions and drad beasts of prey + Rule in the dark with pitious crueltie; + But harmlesse Man is matter of the day, + Which doth his work in pure simplicitie. + God blesse his honest usefull industrie. + But pride and covetize, ambition, + Riot, revenge, self-love, hypocrisie, + Contempt of goodnesse, forc’d opinion; + These and such like do breed the worlds confusion. + + 39 + + But sooth to say though my triumphant Muse + Seemeth to vant as in got victorie, + And with puissant stroke the head to bruize + Of her stiff so, and daze his phantasie, + Captive his reason, dead each facultie: + Yet in her self so strong a force withstands + That of her self afraid, she’ll not aby, + Nor keep the field. She’ll fall by her own hand + As _Ajax_ once laid _Ajax_ dead upon the strand. + + 40 + + For thus her-self by her own self’s oppos’d; + The Heavens the Earth the universall Frame + Of living Nature God so soon disclos’d + As He could do, or she receive the same. + All times delay since that must turn to blame, + And what cannot He do that can be done? + And what might let but by th’ all-powerfull Name + Or Word of God, the Worlds Creation + More suddenly were made then mans swift thought can run? + + 41 + + Wherefore that Heavenly Power or is as young + As this Worlds date; or else some needlesse space + Of time was spent, before the Earth did clung + So close unto her-self and seas embrace + Her hollow breast, and if that time surpasse + A finite number then Infinitie + Of years before this Worlds Creation passe. + So that the durance of the Deitie + We must contract or strait his full Benignitie. + + 42 + + But for the cradle of the _Cretian Jove_, + And guardians of his vagient Infancie + What sober man but sagely will reprove? + Or drown the noise of the fond _Dactyli_ + By laughter loud? Dated Divinitie + Certes is but the dream of a drie brain: + God maim’d in goodnesse, inconsistencie; + Wherefore my troubled mind is now in pain + Of a new birth, which this one Canto’ll not contain. + +_Now Reader, thou art arrived to the Canto it self, from which I have +kept thee off by too tedious Preface and Apologie, which is seldome made +without consciousnesse of some fault, which I professe I find not in my +self, unlesse this be it, that I am more tender of thy satisfaction then +mine own credit. As for that high sullen Poem, =Cupids Conflict=, I must +leave it to thy candour and favourable censure. The =Philosophers +Devotion= I cast in onely, that the latter pages should not be +unfurnished._ + + H. M. + + +_Nihil tamen frequentius inter Autores occurrit, quám ut omnia adeò ex +moduli ferè sensuum suorum æstiment, ut ea quæ insuper infinitis rerum +spatiis extare possunt, sive superbè sive imprudenter rejiciant; quin & +ea omnia in usum suum fabricata fuisse glorientur, perinde facientes ac +si pediculi humanum caput, aut pulices sinum muliebrem propter se solos +condita existimarent, eáque demum ex gradibus saltibúsve suis +metirentur. =The Lord Herbert in his De Causis Errorum.=_ + + +_De generali totius hujus mundi aspectabilis constructione ut rectè +Philosophemur duo sunt imprimis observanda: Unum ut attendentes ad +infinitam Dei potentiam & bonitatem nè vereamur nimis ampla & pulchra & +absoluta ejus opera imaginari: sed è contra caveamus, nè si quos fortè +limites nobis non certò cognitos, in ipsis supponamus, non satìs +magnificè de creatoris potentia sentire videamur._ + +_Alterum, ut etiam caveamus, nè nimis superbè de nobis ipsis sentiamus. +Quod fieret non modò, si quos limites nobis nullâ cognitos ratione, nec +divinà revelatione, mundo vellemus affingere, tanquam si vis nostra +cogitationis, ultra id quod à Deo revera factum est ferri posset; sed +etiam maximè, si res omnes propter nos solos, ab illo creatas esse +fingeremus. =Renatus DesCartes in his Princip. Philosoph. the third +part.=_ + + + + + THE ARGUMENT. + + _’Gainst boundlesse time th’ objections made, + And wast infinity + Of worlds, are with new reasons weigh’d, + Mens judgements are left free._ + + + 1 + + Hence, hence unhallowed ears and hearts more hard + Then Winter clods fast froze with Northern wind. + But most of all, foul tongue I thee discard + That blamest all that thy dark strait’ned mind, + Can not conceive: But that no blame thou find; + What e’re my pregnant Muse brings forth to light, + She’l not acknowledge to be of her kind, + Till Eagle-like she turn them to the sight + Of the eternall Word all deckt with glory bright. + + 2 + + Strange sights do straggle in my restlesse thoughts, + And lively forms with orient colours clad + Walk in my boundlesse mind, as men ybrought + Into some spacious room, who when they’ve had + A turn or two, go out, although unbad. + All these I see and know, but entertain + None to my friend but who’s most sober sad; + Although the time my roof doth them contain + Their pretence doth possesse me till they out again. + + 3 + + And thus possest in silver trump I found + Their guise, their shape, their gesture and array. + But as in silver trumpet nought is found + When once the piercing sound is past away, + (Though while the mighty blast therein did stay, + Its tearing noise so terribly did shrill, + That it the heavens did shake, and earth dismay) + As empty I of what my flowing quill + In heedlesse hast elswhere, or here, may hap to spill. + + 4 + + For ’tis of force and not of a set will. + Ne dare my wary mind afford assent + To what is plac’d above all mortall skill. + But yet our various thoughts to represent + Each gentle wight will deem of good intent. + Wherefore with leave th’ infinitie I’ll sing + Of time, Of Space: or without leave; I’m brent + With eagre rage, my heart for joy doth spring, + And all my spirits move with pleasant trembeling. + + 5 + + An inward triumph doth my soul up-heave + And spread abroad through endlesse ’spersed aire. + My nimble mind this clammie clod doth leave, + And lightly stepping on from starre to starre + Swifter then lightning, passeth wide and farre, + Measuring th’ unbounded Heavens and wastfull skie; + Ne ought she finds her passage to debarre, + For still the azure Orb as she draws nigh + Gives back, new starres appear, the worlds walls ’fore her flie. + + 6 + + For what can stand that is so badly staid? + Well may that fall whose ground-work is unsure. + And what hath wall’d the world but thoughts unweigh’d + In freer reason? That antiquate, secure, + And easie dull conceit of corporature; + Of matter; quantitie, and such like gear + Hath made this needlesse, thanklesse inclosure, + Which I in full disdain quite up will tear + And lay all ope, that as things are they may appear. + + 7 + + For other they appear from what they are + By reason that their Circulation + Cannot well represent entire from farre + Each portion of the _Cuspis_ of the Cone + (Whose nature is elsewhere more clearly shown) + I mean each globe, whether of glaring light + Or else opake, of which the earth is one. + If circulation could them well transmit + Numbers infinite of each would strike our ’stonishd sight; + + 8 + + All in just bignesse and right colours dight + But totall presence without all defect + ’Longs onely to that Trinitie by right, + _Ahad_, _Æon_, _Psyche_ with all graces deckt, + Whose nature well this riddle will detect; + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib’d, whose Centre’s each where set, + But the low Cusp’s a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre’s every where. + + 9 + + Wherefore who’ll judge the limits of the world + By what appears unto our failing sight + Appeals to sense, reason down headlong hurld + Out of her throne by giddie vulgar might. + But here base senses dictates they will dight + With specious title of Philosophie, + And stiffly will contend their cause is right + From rotten rolls of school antiquitie, + Who constantly denie corporall Infinitie. + + 10 + + But who can prove their corporalitie + Since matter which thereto’s essentiall + If rightly sifted ’s but a phantasie. + And quantitie who’s deem’d Originall + Is matter, must with matter likewise fall. + What ever is, is Life and Energie + From God, who is th’ Originall of all; + Who being everywhere doth multiplie + His own broad shade that endlesse throughout all doth lie. + + 11 + + He from the last projection of light + Ycleep’d _Shamajim_, which is liquid fire + (It _Æther_ eke and centrall _Tasis_ hight) + Hath made each shining globe and clumperd mire + Of dimmer Orbs. For Nature doth inspire + Spermatick life, but of a different kind. + Hence those congenit splendour doth attire + And lively heat, these darknesse dead doth bind, + And without borrowed rayes they be both cold and blind. + + 12 + + All these be knots of th’ universall stole + Of sacred _Psyche_; which at first was fine, + Pure, thin, and pervious till hid powers did pull + Together in severall points and did encline + The nearer parts in one clod to combine. + Those centrall spirits that the parts did draw + The measure of each globe did then define, + Made things impenetrable here below, + Gave colour, figure, motion, and each usuall law. + + 13 + + And what is done in this Terrestriall starre + The same is done in every Orb beside. + Each flaming Circle that we see from farre + Is but a knot in _Psyches_ garment tide. + From that lax shadow cast throughout the wide + And endlesse world, that low’st projection + Of universall life each thing’s deriv’d + What e’re appeareth in corporeall fashion; + For body’s but this spirit, fixt, grosse by conspissation. + + 14 + + And that which doth conspissate active is; + Wherefore not matter but some living sprite + Of nimble Nature which this lower mist + And immense field of Atoms doth excite, + And wake into such life as best doth fit + With his own self. As we change phantasies + The essence of our soul not chang’d a whit, + So do these Atoms change their energies + Themselves unchanged into new Centreïties. + + 15 + + And as our soul’s not superficially + Colourd by phantasms, nor doth them reflect + As doth a looking-glasse such imag’rie + As it to the beholder doth detect: + No more are these lightly or smear’d or deckt + With form or motion which in them we see, + But from their inmost Centre they project + Their vitall rayes, not merely passive be, + But by occasion wak’d rouze up themselves on high. + + 16 + + So that they’re life, form, sprite, not matter pure, + For matter pure is a pure nullitie, + What nought can act is nothing, I am sure; + And if all act, that is they’ll not denie + But all that is is form: so easily + By what is true, and by what they embrace + For truth, their feigned Corporalitie + Will vanish into smoke, but on I’ll passe, + More fully we have sung this in another place. + + 17 + + Wherefore more boldly now to represent + The nature of the world, how first things were + How now they are: This endlesse large Extent + Of lowest life (which I styled whileere + The _Cuspis_ of the _Cone_ that’s every where) + Was first all dark, till in this spacious Hall + Hideous through silent horrour torches clear + And lamping lights bright shining over all + Were set up in due distances proportionall. + + 18 + + Innumerable numbers of fair Lamps + Were rightly ranged in this hollow hole, + To warm the world and chace the shady damps + Of immense darknesse, rend her pitchie stole + Into short rags more dustie dimme then coal. + Which pieces then in severall were cast + (Abhorred reliques of that vesture foul) + Upon the Globes that round those torches trac’d, + Which still fast on them stick for all they run so fast. + + 19 + + Such an one is that which mortall men call Night, + A little shred of that unbounded shade. + And such a Globe is that which Earth is hight; + By witlesse Wizzards the sole centre made + Of all the world, and on strong pillars staid. + And such a lamp or light is this our Sun, + Whose firie beams the scortched Earth invade. + But infinite such as he, in heaven won, + And more then infinite Earths about those Suns do run; + + 20 + + And to speak out: though I detest the sect + Of _Epicurus_ for their manners vile, + Yet what is true I may not well reject. + Truth’s incorruptible, ne can the style + Of vitious pen her sacred worth defile. + If we no more of truth should deign t’ embrace + Then what unworthy mouths did never soyl, + No truths at all mongst men would finden place + But make them speedie wings and back to Heaven apace. + + 21 + + I will not say our world is infinite, + But that infinitie of worlds ther be. + The Centre of our world’s the lively light + Of the warm sunne, the visible Deitie + Of this externall Temple. _Mercurie_ + Next plac’d and warm’d more throughly by his rayes, + Right nimbly ’bout his golden head doth flie: + Then _Venus_ nothing slow about him strayes, + And next our _Earth_ though seeming sad full spritely playes. + + 22 + + And after her _Mars_ rangeth in a round + With firie locks and angry flaming eye, + And next to him mild _Jupiter_ is found, + But Saturn cold wons in our utmost skie. + The skirts of his large Kingdome surely lie + Near to the confines of some other worlds + Whose Centres are the fixed starres on high, + ’Bout which as their own proper Suns are hurld + _Joves_, _Earths_ and _Saturns_; round on their own axes twurld. + + 23 + + Little or nothing are those starres to us + Which in the azure Evening gay appear + (I mean for influence) but judicious + Nature and carefull Providence her dear + And matchlesse work did so contrive whileere, + That th’ Hearts or Centres in the wide world pight + Should such a distance each to other bear, + That the dull Planets with collated light + By neighbour suns might cheared be in dampish night. + + 24 + + And as the Planets in our world (of which + The sun’s the heart and kernell) do receive + Their nightly light from suns that do enrich + Their sable mantle with bright gemmes, and give + A goodly splendour, and sad men relieve + With their fair twinkling rayes, so our worlds sunne + Becomes a starre elsewhere, and doth derive + Joynt light with others, cheareth all that won + In those dim duskish Orbs round other suns that run. + + 25 + + This is the parergon of each noble fire + Of neighbour worlds to be the nightly starre, + But their main work is vitall heat t’ inspire + Into the frigid spheres that ’bout them fare, + Which of themselves quite dead and barren are. + But by the wakening warmth of kindly dayes, + And the sweet dewie nights they well declare + Their seminall virtue in due courses raise + Long hidden shapes and life, to their great Makers praise. + + 26 + + These with their suns I severall worlds do call, + Whereof the number I deem infinite: + Else infinite darknesse were in this great Hall + Of th’ endlesse Universe; For nothing finite + Could put that immense shadow unto flight. + But if that infinite Suns we shall admit, + Then infinite worlds follow in reason right. + For every Sun with Planets must be fit, + And have some mark for his farre-shining shafts to hit. + + 27 + + But if he shine all solitarie, alone, + What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + Of his existence? wherefore every one + Hath a due number of dim Orbs that wend + Around their centrall fire. But wrath will rend + This strange composure back’d with reason stout + And rasher tongues right speedily will spend + Their forward censure, that my wits run out + On wool-gathering, through infinite spaces all about. + + 28 + + What sober man will dare once to avouch + An infinite number of dispersed starres? + This one absurdity will make him crouch + And eat his words; Division nought impairs + The former whole, nor he augments that spares. + Strike every tenth out, that which doth remain, + An equall number with the former shares, + And let the tenth alone, th’ whole nought doth gain, + For infinite to infinite is ever the same. + + 29 + + The tenth is infinite as the other nine, + Or else, nor they, nor all the ten entire + Are infinite. Thus one infinite doth adjoyn + Others unto it and still riseth higher. + And if those single lights hither aspire, + This strange prodigious inconsistencie + Groweth still stranger, if each fixed fire + (I mean each starre) prove Sunnes, and Planets flie + About their flaming heads amid the thronged skie. + + 30 + + For whatsoever that their number be + Whether by seavens, or eighths, or fives, or nines, + They round each fixed lamp; Infinity + Will be redoubled thus by many times. + Besides each greater Planet th’ attendance finds + Of lesser. Our _Earths_ handmaid is the Moon, + Which to her darkned side right duly shines, + And _Jove_ hath foure, as hath been said aboven, + And _Saturn_ more then foure if the plain truth were known. + + 31 + + And if these globes be regions of life + And severall kinds of plants therein do grow, + Grasse, flowers, hearbs, trees, which the impartiall knife + Of all consuming Time still down doth mow, + And new again doth in succession show: + Which also ’s done in flies, birds, men and beasts; + Adde sand, pearls, pebbles, that the ground do strow + Leaves, quills, hairs, thorns, blooms, you may think the rest + Their kinds by mortall penne can not well be exprest: + + 32 + + And if their kinds no man may reckon well, + The summe of successive particulars + No mind conceive nor tongue can ever tell. + And yet this mist of numbers (as appears) + Belongs to one of these opacous sphears. + Suppose this _Earth_; what then will all those Rounds + Produce? No _Atlas_ such a load upbears. + In this huge endlesse heap o’rewhelmed, drownd, + Choak’d, stifled, lo! I lie, breathlesse, even quite confound. + + 33 + + Yet give me space a while but to respire, + And I my self shal fairly well out-wind; + Keep this position true, unhurt, entire, + That you no greater difficulty find + In this new old opinion here defin’d + Of infinite worlds, then one world doth imply. + For if we do with steddy patience mind + All is resolv’d int’ one absurdity, + The grant of something greater then infinitie. + + 34 + + That God is infinite all men confesse, + And that the Creature is some realty + Besides Gods self, though infinitely lesse. + Joyn now the world unto the Deity. + What? is there added no more entitie + By this conjunction, then there was before? + Is the broad breasted earth? the spacious skie + Spangled with silver light, and burning Ore? + And the wide bellowing seas, whose boyling billows roar, + + 35 + + Are all these nothing? But you will reply; + As is the question so we ought restrain + Our answer unto Corporeity. + But that the phantasie of the body’s vain + I did before unto you maken plain. + But that no man depart unsatisfi’d + A while this Universe here will we feigne + _Corporeall_, till we have gainly tride. + If ought that’s bodily may infinite abide. + + 36 + + What makes a body saving quantity? + What quantitie unlesse extension? + Extension if ’t admit infinity + Bodies admit boundlesse dimension. + That some extension forward on doth run + Withouten limits, endlesse, infinite + Is plane from Space, that ever paceth on + Unstop’d, unstaid, till it have filled quite + That immense infinite Orb where God himself doth sit. + + 37 + + But yet more sensibly this truth to show + If space be ended set upon that end + Some strong arm’d Archer with his Parthian bow, + That from that place with speedy force may send + His fleeter shafts, and so still forward wend. + Where? When shall he want room his strength to trie? + But here perversly subtill you’l contend + Nothing can move in mere vacuity, + And space is nought, so not extended properly. + + 38 + + To solve these knots I must call down from high + Some heavenly help, feather with angels wing + The sluggish arrow. If it will not flie, + Sent out from bow stiff-bent with even string, + Let angels on their backs it thither bring + Where your free mind appointed had before, + And then hold on, till in your travelling + You be well wearied, finding ever more + Free passage for their flight, and what they flying bore. + + 39 + + Now to that shift that sayes Vacuity + Is nought, and therefore not at all extent + We answer thus: There is a distancy + In empty space, though we be well content + To balk that question (for we never meant + Such needlesse niceties) whether that it be + A reall being; yet that there’s parts distent + One from another, no mans phantasie + Can e’re reject if well he weigh’t and warily. + + 40 + + For now conceive the aire and azure skie + All swept away from Saturn to the Sunne, + Which each is to be wrought by him on high. + Then in this place let all the Planets runne + (As erst they did before this feat was done) + If not by nature, yet by divine power, + Ne one hairs breadth their former circuits shun + And still for fuller proof, th’ Astronomer + Observe their hights as in the empty heavens they scoure. + + 41 + + Will then their Parallaxes prove all one + Or none, or different still as before? + If so, their distances by mortall men + Must be acknowledg’d such as were of yore, + Measur’d by leagues, miles, stades, nor lesse nor more + From circuit unto circuit shall be found + Then was before the sweeping of the floor. + That distance therefore hath most certain ground + In emptinesse we may conclude with reason sound. + + 42 + + If distance now so certainly attend + All emptinesse (as also mensuration + Attendeth distance) distance without end + Is wide disperst above imagination + (For emptinesse is void of limitation) + And this unbounded voidnesse doth admit + The least and greatest measures application; + The number thus of the greatest that doth fit + This infinite void space is likewise infinite. + + 43 + + But what so e’re that infinite number be, + A lesser number will a number give + So farre exceeding in infinity + That number as this measure we conceive + To fall short of the other. But I’ll leave + This present way and a new course will trie + Which at the same mark doth as fully drive + And with a great deal more facility. + Look on this endlesse Space as one whole quantity. + + 44 + + Which in your mind int’ equall parts divide, + Tens, hundreds, thousands or what pleaseth best. + Each part denominate doth still abide + An infinite portion, else nor all the rest + Makes one infinitude. + For if one thousandth part may be defin’d + By finite measures eas’ly well exprest, + A myriad suppose of miles assign’d + Then to a thousand myriads is the whole confin’d. + + 45 + + Wherefore this wide and wast Vacuity, + Which endlesse is outstretched thorough all, + And lies even equall with the Deity, + Nor is a thing meerly imaginall, + (For it doth farre mens phantasies forestall + Nothing beholden to our devicefull thought) + This inf’nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + And has as great perplexities ybrought + As if this empty space with bodies were yfraught. + + 46 + + Nor have we yet the face once to denie + But that it is although we mind it not; + For all once minded such perplexity + It doth create to puzzled reason, that + She sayes and unsayes, do’s she knows not what. + Why then should we the worlds infinity + Misdoubt, because when as we contemplate + Its nature, such strange inconsistency + And unexpected sequels, we therein descry? + + 47 + + Who dare gainsay but God is every where + Unbounded, measurelesse, all infinite; + Yet the same difficulties meet us here + Which erst us met and did so sore affright + With their strange vizards. This will follow right + Where ever we admit infinity + Every denominated part proves streight + A portion infinite, which if it be, + One infinite will into myriads multiply. + + 48 + + But with new argument to draw more near + Our purpos’d end. If God’s omnipotent + And this omnipotent God be every where, + Where e’re he is then can he eas’ly vent + His mighty virtue thorough all extent. + What then shall hinder but a roscid aire + With gentle heat each where be ’sperst and sprent. + Unlesse omnipotent power we will empair, + And say that empty space his working can debarre. + + 49 + + Where now this one supposed world is pight + Was not that space at first all vain and void? + Nor ought said; no, when he said, _Let ’t be light_. + Was this one space better then all beside, + And more obedient to what God decreed? + Or would not all that endlesse emptinesse + Gladly embrac’d (if he had ever tride) + His just command? and what might come to passe + Implies no contradictious inconsistentnesse. + + 50 + + Wherefore this precious sweet Ethereall dew + For ought we know God each where did distill, + And thorough all that hollow voidnesse threw + And the wide gaping drought therewith did fill, + His endlesse overflowing goodnesse spill + In every place; which streight he did contrive + Int’ infinite severall worlds, as his best skill + Did him direct and creatures could receive + For matter infinite needs infinite worlds must give. + + 51 + + The Centre of each severall world’s a sunne + With shining beams and kindly warming heat, + About whose radiant crown the Planets runne, + Like reeling moths around a candle light, + These all together, one world I conceit. + And that even infinite such worlds there be, + That inexhausted Good that God is bight + A full sufficient reason is to me, + Who simple Goodnesse make the highest Deity. + + 52 + + Als make himself the key of all his works + And eke the measure of his providence; + The piercing eye of truth to whom nought lurks + But lies wide ope unbar’d of all pretense. + But frozen hearts! away! flie farre from hence, + Unlesse you’l thaw at this celestiall fire + And melt into one minde and holy sense + With Him that doth all heavenly hearts inspire, + So may you with my soul in one assent conspire. + + 53 + + But what’s within, uneath is to convey + To narrow vessels that are full afore. + And yet this truth as wisely as I may + I will insinuate, from senses store + Borrowing a little aid. Tell me therefore + When you behold with your admiring eyes + Heavens Canopie all to bespangled o’re + With sprinkled starres, what can you well devize + Which causen may such carelesse order in the skies? + + 54 + + A peck of peasen rudely poured out + On plaister flore, from hasty heedlesse hond + Which lie all carelesse scattered about, + To sight do in as seemly order stond, + As those fair glistering lights in heaven are found. + If onely for this world they were intended, + Nature would have adorn’d this azure round + With better art, and easily have mended + This harsh disord’red order, and more beauty lended. + + 55 + + But though these lights do seem so rudely thrown + And scattered throughout the spacious skie, + Yet each most seemly sits in his own Throne + In distance due and comely Majesty; + And round their lordly seats their servants hie + Keeping a well-proportionated space + One from another, doing chearfully + Their dayly task. No blemmish may deface + The worlds in severall deckt with all art and grace. + + 56 + + But the appearance of the nightly starres + Is but the by-work of each neighbour sun; + Wherefore lesse marvell if it lightly shares + Of neater Art; and what proportion + Were fittest for to distance one from one + (Each world I mean from other) is not clear. + Wherefore it must remain as yet unknown + Why such perplexed distances appear + Mongst the dispersed lights in Heaven thrown here & there. + + 57 + + Again, that eminent similitude + Betwixt the starres and Phœbus fixed light, + They being both with steddinesse indu’d, + No whit removing whence they first were pight, + No serious man will count a reason slight + To prove them both, both fixed suns and starres + And Centres all of severall worlds by right, + For right it is that none a sun debarre + Of Planets which his just and due retinue are. + + 58 + + If starres be merely starres not centrall lights + Why swell they into so huge bignesses? + For many (as Astronomers do write) + Our sun in bignesse many times surpasse. + If both their number and their bulks were lesse + Yet lower placed, light and influence + Would flow as powerfully, and the bosome presse + Of the impregned Earth, that fruit from hence + As fully would arise, and lordly affluence. + + 59 + + Wherefore these fixed Fires mainly attend + Their proper charge in their own Universe, + And onely by the by of court’sie lend + Light to our world, as our world doth reverse + His thankfull rayes so farre as he can pierce + Back unto other worlds. But farre aboven + Further then furthest thought of man can traverse, + Still are new worlds aboven and still aboven. + In the endlesse hollow Heaven, and each world hath his sun. + + 60 + + An hint of this we have in winter-nights, + When reason may see clearer then our eye, + Small subtil starres appear unto our sights + As thick as pin-dust scattered in the skie. + Here we accuse our seeing facultie + Of weaknesse, and our sense of foul deceit, + We do accuse and yet we know not why. + But the plain truth is, from a vaster hight + The numerous upper worlds amaze our dazzled sight. + + 61 + + Now sith so farre as sense can ever trie + We find new worlds, that still new worlds there be, + And round about in infinite numbers lie, + Further then reach of mans weak phantasie + (Without suspition of temeritie) + We may conclude; as well as men conclude + That there is aire farre ’bove the mountains high, + Or that th’ Earth a sad substance doth include + Even to the Centre with like qualities indu’d. + + 62 + + For who did ever the Earths Centre pierce, + And felt or sand or gravell with his spade + At such a depth? what Histories rehearse + That ever wight did dare for to invade + Her bowels but one mile in dampish shade? + Yet I’ll be bold to say that few or none + But deem this globe even to the bottome made + Of solid earth, and that her nature’s one + Throughout, though plain experience hath it never shown. + + 63 + + But sith sad earth so farre as they have gone + They still descrie, eas’ly they do inferre + Without all check of reason, were they down + Never so deep, like substance would appear, + Ne dream of any hollow horrour there. + My mind with like uncurb’d facilitie + Concludes from what by sight is seen so clear + That ther’s no barren wast vacuitie + Above the worlds we see, but still new worlds there lie, + + 64 + + And still and still even to infinitie. + Which point since I so fitly have propos’d, + Abating well the inconsistencie + Of harsh infinitude therein supposd + And prov’d by reasons never to be loos’d + That infinite space and infinite worlds there be; + This load laid down, I’m freely now dispos’d + Awhile to sing of times infinitie, + May infinite Time afford me but his smallest fee. + + 65 + + For smallest fee of time will serve my turn + This part for to dispatch, sith endlesse space + (Whose perplext nature well mans brains might turn, + And weary wits disorder and misplace) + I have already passed: for like case + Is in them both. He that can well untie + The knots that in those infinite worlds found place, + May easily answer each perplexitie + Of these worlds infinite matters endlesse durancie. + + 66 + + The _Cuspis_ and the _Basis_ of the _Cone_ + Were both at once dispersed every where; + But the pure _Basis_ that is God alone: + Else would remotest sights as bigge appear + Unto our eyes as if we stood them near. + And if an Harper harped in the Moon, + His silver sound would touch our tickled eare: + Or if one hollowed from highest Heaven aboven, + In sweet still Evening-tide, his voice would hither roam. + + 67 + + This all would be if the _Cuspe_ of the _Cone_ + Were very God. Wherefore I rightly ’t deem + Onely a Creaturall projection, + Which flowing yet from God hath ever been, + Fill’d the vast empty space with its large streem. + But yet it is not totall every where + As was even now by reason rightly seen: + Wherefore not God, whose nature doth appear + Entirely omnipresent, weigh’d with judgement clear, + + 68 + + A reall infinite matter, distinct + And yet proceeding from the Deitie + Although with different form as then untinct + Has ever been from all Eternitie. + Now what delay can we suppose to be, + Since matter alway was at hand prepar’d + Before the filling of the boundlesse skie + With framed Worlds; for nought at all debar’d, + Nor was His strength ungrown, nor was His strength empair’d. + + 69 + + How long would God be forming of a flie? + Or the small wandring moats that play i’ th’ sun? + Least moment well will serve none can denie, + His _Fiat_ spoke and streight the thing is done. + And cannot He make all the World as soon? + For in each Atom of the matter wide + The totall Deitie doth entirely won, + His infinite presence doth therein reside, + And in this presence infinite powers do ever abide. + + 70 + + Wherefore at once from all eternitie + The infinite number of these Worlds He made, + And will conserve to all infinitie, + And still drive on their ever-moving trade, + And steddy hold what ever must be staid; + Ne must one mite be minish’d of the summe, + Ne must the smallest atom ever fade, + But still remain though it may change its room; + This truth abideth strong from everlasting doom. + + 71 + + Ne fear I what hard sequel after-wit + Will draw upon me; that the number’s one + Of years, moneths, dayes, houres, and of minutes fleet + Which from eternitie have still run on. + I plainly did confesse awhile agone + That be it what it will that’s infinite + More infinites will follow thereupon, + But that all infinites do justly fit + And equall be, my reason did not yet admit. + + 72 + + But as my emboldened mind, I know not how, + In empty Space and pregnant Deitie + Endlesse infinitude dares to allow, + Though it begets the like perplexitie: + So now my soul drunk with Divinitie, + And born away above her usuall bounds + With confidence concludes infinitie + Of Time of Worlds, of firie flaming Rounds; + Which sight in sober mood my spirits quite confounds. + + 73 + + And now I do awhile but interspire + A torrent of objections ’gainst me beat, + My boldnesse to represse and strength to tire. + But I will wipe them off like summer sweat, + And make their streams streight back again retreat. + If that these worlds, say they, were ever made + From infinite time, how comes ’t to passe that yet + Art is not perfected, nor metalls fade, + Nor mines of grimie coal low-hid in griesly shade. + + 74 + + But the remembrance of the ancient Floud + With ease will wash such arguments away. + Wherefore with greater might I am withstood. + The strongest stroke wherewith they can assay + To vanquish me is this; The Date or Day + Of the created World, which all admit; + Nor may my modest Muse this truth gainsay + In holy Oracles so plainly writ. + Wherefore the Worlds continuance is not infinite. + + 75 + + Now lend me, _Origen_! a little wit + This sturdy stroke right fairly to avoid, + Lest that my rasher rymes, while they ill fit + With _Moses_ pen, men justly may deride + And well accuse of ignorance or pride. + But thou, O holy Sage! with piercing sight + Who readst those sacred rolls, and hast well tride + With searching eye thereto what fitteth right + Thy self of former Worlds right learnedly dost write: + + 76 + + To weet that long ago these Earths have been + Peopled with men and beasts before this Earth, + And after this shall others be again + And other beasts and other humane birth. + Which once admit, no strength that reason bear’th + Of this worlds Date and Adams efformation, + Another Adam once received breath + And still another in endlesse repedation, + And this must perish once by finall conflagration. + + 77 + + Witnesse ye Heavens if what I say’s not true, + Ye flaming Comets wandering on high, + And new fixt starres found in that Circle blue, + The one espide in glittering _Cassiopie_, + The other near to _Ophiuchus_ thigh. + Both bigger then the biggest starres that are, + And yet as farre remov’d from mortall eye + As are the furthest, so those Arts declare + Unto whose reaching sight Heavens mysteries lie bare. + + 78 + + Wherefore these new-seen lights were greater once + By many thousand times then this our sphear + Wherein we live, ’twixt good and evil chance. + Which to my musing mind doth strange appear + If those large bodies then first shaped were. + For should so goodly things so soon decay? + Neither did last the full space of two year. + Wherefore I cannot deem that their first day + Of being, when to us they sent out shining ray. + + 79 + + But that they were created both of old, + And each in his due time did fair display + Themselves in radiant locks more bright then gold, + Or silver sheen purg’d from all drossie clay. + But how they could themselves in this array + Expose to humane sight, who did before + Lie hid, is that which well amazen may + The wisest man and puzzle evermore: + Yet my unwearied thoughts this search could not give o’re. + + 80 + + Which when I’d exercis’d in long pursuit + To finden out what might the best agree + With warie reason, at last I did conclude + That there’s no better probabilitie + Can be produc’d of that strange prodigie, + But that some mighty Planet that doth run + About some fixed starre in _Cassiopie_ + As _Saturn_ paceth round about our Sun, + Unusuall light and bignesse by strange fate had wonne. + + 81 + + Which I conceive no gainer way is done + Then by the siezing of devouring fire + On that dark Orb, which ’fore but dimly shone + With borrowed light, not lightened entire, + But halfed like the Moon. + And while the busie flame did sieze throughout, + And search the bowels of the lowest mire + Of that _Saturnian_ Earth; a mist broke out, + And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. + + 82 + + Which being gilded with the piercing rayes + Of its own sun and every neighbour starre, + It soon appear’d with shining silver blaze, + And then gan first be seen of men from farre. + Besides that firie flame that was so narre + The Planets self, which greedily did eat + The wastning mold, did contribute a share + Unto this brightnesse; and what I conceit + Of this starre doth with that of _Ophiuchus_ sit. + + 83 + + And like I would adventure to pronounce + Of all the Comets that above the Moon, + Amidst the higher Planets rudely dance + In course perplex, but that from this rash doom + I’m bett off by their beards and tails farre strown + Along the skie, pointing still opposite + Unto the sun, however they may roam; + Wherefore a cluster of small starres unite + These meteors some do deem, perhaps with judgement right. + + 84 + + And that these tayls are streams of the suns light + Breaking through their near bodies as through clouds. + Besides the Optick glasse has shown to sight + The dissolution of these starrie crouds. + Which thing if ’t once be granted and allow’d, + I think without all contradiction + They may conclude these Meteors are routs + Of wandring starres, which though they one by one + Cannot be seen, yet joyn’d, cause this strange vision. + + 85 + + And yet methinks, in my devicefull mind + Some reasons that may happily represse + These arguments it’s not uneath to find. + For how can the suns rayes that be transmisse + Through these loose knots in Comets, well expresse + Their beards or curld tayls utmost incurvation? + Beside, the conflux and congeries + Of lesser lights a double augmentation + Implies, and ’twixt them both a lessening coarctation. + + 86 + + For when as once these starres are come so nigh + As to seem one, the Comet must appear + In biggest show, because more loose they lie + Somewhat spread out, but as they draw more near + The compasse of his head away must wear, + Till he be brought to his least magnitude; + And then they passing crosse, he doth repair + Himself, and still from his last losse renew’d + Grows till he reach the measure which we first had view’d. + + 87 + + And then farre distanc’d they bid quite adiew, + Each holding on in solitude his way. + Ne any footsteps in the empty Blew + Is to be found of that farre-shining ray. + Which processe sith no man did yet bewray, + It seems unlikely that the Comets be + Synods of starres that in wide Heaven stray. + Their smallnesse eke and numerositie + Encreaseth doubt and lessens probabilitie. + + 88 + + A cluster of them makes not half a Moon, + What should such tennis-balls do in the skie? + And few ’ll not figure out the fashion + Of those round firie meteors on high. + Ne ought their beards much move us, that do lie + Ever cast forward from the Morning sunne, + Nor back cast tayls turn’d to our Evening-eye, + That fair appear when as the day is done. + This matter may lie hid in the starres shadowed Cone. + + 89 + + For in these Planets conflagration, + Although the smoke mount up exactly round, + Yet by the suns irradiation + Made thin and subtil no where else its found + By sight, save in the dim and duskish bound + Of the projected Pyramid opake, + Opake with darknesse, smoke and mists unsound. + Yet gilded like a foggie cloud doth make + Reflection of fair light that doth our senses take. + + 90 + + This is the reason of that constant site + Of Comets tayls and beards: And that their show’s + Not pure Pyramidall, nor their ends seem streight + But bow’d like brooms, is from the winds that blow, + I mean Ethereall winds, such as below + Men finden under th’ Equinoctiall line. + Their widend beards this aire so broad doth strow + Incurvate, and or more or lesse decline: + If not, let sharper wits more subtly here divine. + + 91 + + But that experiment of the Optick glasse + The greatest argument of all I deem, + Ne can I well encounter nor let passe + So strong a reason if I may esteem + The feat withouten fallacie to been, + Nor judge these little sparks and subtile lights + Some auncient fixed starres though now first seen, + That near the ruin’d Comets place were pight, + On which that Optic instrument by chance did light. + + 92 + + Nor finally an uncouth after-sport + Of th’ immense vapours that the searching fire + Had boyled out, which now themselves consort + In severall parts and closely do conspire, + Clumper’d in balls of clouds and globes entire + Of crudled smoke and heavy clunging mists; + Which when they’ve staid awhile at last expire; + But while they stay any may see that lists + So be that Optick Art his naturall sight assists. + + 93 + + If none of these wayes I may well decline + The urging weight of this hard argument, + Worst is but parting stakes and thus define: + Some Comets be but single Planets brent, + Others a synod joyn’d in due consent: + And that no new found Meteors they are: + Ne further may my wary mind assent + From one single experience solitaire, + Till all-discovering Time shall further truth declare. + + 94 + + But for the new fixt starres there’s no pretence, + Nor beard nor tail to take occasion by, + To bring in that unluckie inference + Which weaken might this new built mysterie. + Certes in raging fire they both did frie. + A signe whereof you rightly may aread + Their colours changeable varietie + First clear and white, then yellow, after red, + Then blewly pale, then duller still, till perfect dead. + + 95 + + And as the order of these colours went, + So still decreas’d that Cassiopean starre, + Till at the length to sight it was quite spent: + Which observations strong reasons are, + Consuming fire its body did empare + And turn to ashes. And the like will be + In all the darksome Planets wide and farre. + Ne can our Earth from this state standen free + A Planet as the rest, and Planets fate must trie. + + 96 + + Ne let the tender heart too harshly deem + Of this rude sentence: for what rigour more + Is in consuming fire then drowning stream + Of Noahs floud which all creaturs choak’d of yore, + Saving those few that were kept safe in store + In that well builded ship? All else beside + Men, birds, and beasts, the lion, buck, and bore + Dogs, kine, sheep, horses all that did abide + Upon the spacious earth, perish’d in waters wide. + + 97 + + Nor let the slow and misbelieving wight + Doubt how the fire on the hard earth may seize; + No more then how those waters erst did light + Upon the sinfull world. For as the seas + Boyling with swelling waves aloft did rise, + And met with mighty showers and pouring rain + From Heavens spouts; so the broad flashing skies + Thickned with brimstone and clouds of fiery bain + Shall meet with raging Etna’s and Vesuvius flame. + + 98 + + The burning bowels of this wasting ball + Shall gullup up great flakes of rolling fire, + And belch out pitchie flames, till over all + Having long rag’d, Vulcan himself shall tire + And (th’ earth an ashheap made) shall then expire: + Here Nature laid asleep in her own Urn + With gentle rest right easly will respire, + Till to her pristine task she do return + As fresh as Phenix young under th’ Arabian Morn. + + 99 + + O happy they that then the first are born, + While yet the world is in her vernall pride: + For old corruption quite away is worn + As metall pure so is her mold well tride. + Sweet dews, cool-breathing airs, and spaces wide + Of precious spicery wafted with soft wind: + Fair comely bodies goodly beautifi’d + Snow-limb’d, rose-cheek’d, ruby-lip’d, pearl-ted, star eyn’d + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin’d. + + 100 + + For all the while her purged ashes rest + These rellicks dry suck in the heavenly dew, + And roscid Manna rains upon her breast, + And fills with sacred milk sweet fresh and new, + Where all take life and doth the world renew; + And then renew’d with pleasure be yfed. + A green soft mantle doth her bosome strew + With fragrant herbs and flowers embellished, + Where without fault or shame all living creatures bed. + + 101 + + Ne ought we doubt how Nature may recover + In her own ashes long time buried, + For nought can ever consume that centrall power + Of hid spermatick life, which lies not dead + In that rude heap, but safely covered; + And doth by secret force suck from above + Sweet heavenly juice, and therewith nourished + Till her just bulk, she doth her life emprove, + Made mother of much children that about her move. + + 102 + + Witnesse that uncouth bird of Arabie + Which out of her own ruines doth revive + With all th’ exploits of skillfull Chymistrie, + Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. + Let universall Nature witnesse give + That what I sing ’s no feigned forgerie. + A needlesse task new fables to contrive, + But what I sing is seemly verity + Well suting with right reason and Philosophie. + + 103 + + But the fit time of this mutation + No man can finden out with all his pains. + For the small sphears of humane reason run + Too swift within his narrow compast brains. + But that vast Orb of Providence contains + A wider period; turneth still and slow. + Yet at the last his aimed end he gains. + And sure at last a fire will overflow + The aged Earth, and all must into ashes go. + + 104 + + Then all the stately works and monuments + Built on this bottome shall to ruine fall. + And all those goodly statues shall be brent + Which were erect to the memoriall + Of Kings Kæsars, ne may better ’fall + The boastfull works of brave Poetick pride + That promise life and fame perpetuall; + Ne better fate may these poor lines abide. + Betide what will to what may live no lenger tide! + + 105 + + This is the course that never-dying Nature + Might ever hold from all Eternitie, + Renuing still the faint decayed creature + Which would grow stark and drie as aged tree, + Unlesse by wise preventing Destinie + She were at certain periods of years + Reduced back unto her Infancie, + Which well fram’d argument (as plain appears) + My ship from those hard rocks and shelves right safely stears. + + 106 + + Lo! now my faithfull muse hath represented + Both frames of Providence to open view, + And hath each point in orient colours painted + Not to deceive the sight with seeming shew + But earnest to give either part their due; + Now urging th’ uncouth strange perplexitie + Of infinite worlds and Time, then of a new + Softening that harsher inconsistencie + To fit the immense goodnesse of the Deity. + + 107 + + And here by curious men ’t may be expected + That I this knot with judgement grave decide, + And then proceed to what else was objected. + But, ah! What mortall wit may dare t’ areed + Heavens counsels in eternall horrour hid? + And Cynthius pulls me by my tender ear + Such signes I must observe with wary heed: + Wherefore my restlesse Muse at length forbear. + Thy silver sounded Lute hang up in silence here. + + + FINIS. + + + + + Cupids Conflict. + + + _Mela._ _Cleanthes._ + + _Cl._ _Mela_ my dear! why been thy looks so sad + As if thy gentle heart were sunk with care? + Impart thy case; for be it good or bad + Friendship in either will bear equall share. + _Mel._ Not so; _Cleanthes_, for if bad it be + My self must bleed afresh by wounding thee. + + But what it is, my slow, uncertain wit + Cannot well judge. But thou shalt sentence give + How manfully of late my self I quit, + When with that lordly lad by chance I strive: + _Cl._ Of friendship _Mela_! let’s that story hear. + _Mel._ Sit down _Cleanthes_ then, and lend thine ear. + + Upon a day as best did please my mind + Walking abroad amidst the verdant field + Scattering my carefull thoughts i’ th’ wanton wind + The pleasure of my path so farre had till’d + My feeble feet that without timely rest + Uneath it were to reach my wonted nest. + + In secret shade farre moved from mortals sight + In lowly dale my wandring limbs I laid + On the cool grasse where Natures pregnant wit + A goodly bower of thickest trees had made. + Amongst the leaves the chearfull birds did fare + And sweetly carrol’d to the echoing air. + + Hard at my feet ran down a crystall spring + Which did the cumbrous pebbles hoarsly chide + For standing in the way. Though murmuring + The broken stream his course did rightly guide + And strongly pressing forward with disdain + The grassie flore divided into twain. + + The place a while did feed my foolish eye + As being new, and eke mine idle ear + Did listen oft to that wild harmonie + And oft my curious phansie would compare + How well agreed the Brooks low muttering Base, + With the birds trebbles pearch’d on higher place. + + But senses objects soon do glut the soul, + Or rather weary with their emptinesse; + So I, all heedlesse how the waters roll + And mindlesse of the mirth the birds expresse, + Into my self ’gin softly to retire + After hid heavenly pleasures to enquire. + + While I this enterprize do entertain; + Lo! on the other side in thickest bushes + A mighty noise! with that a naked swain + With blew and purple wings streight rudely rushes. + He leaps down light upon the flowry green, + Like sight before mine eyes had never seen. + + At’s snowy back the boy a quiver wore + Right fairly wrought and gilded all with gold. + A silver bow in his left hand he bore, + And in his right a ready shaft did hold. + Thus armed stood he and betwixt us tway + The labouring brook did break his toilsome way. + + The wanton lad whose sport is others pain + Did charge his bended bow with deadly dart, + And drawing to the head with might and main, + With fell intent he aim’d to hit my heart. + But ever as he shot his arrows still + In their mid course dropt down into the rill. + + Of wondrous virtues that in waters been + Is needlesse to rehearse, all books do ring + Of those strange rarities. But ne’re was seen + Such virtue as resided in this spring. + The novelty did make me much admire + But stirr’d the hasty youth to ragefull ire. + + As heedlesse fowls that take their per’lous flight + Over that bane of birds, _Averno lake_, + Do drop down dead: so dead his shafts did light + Amid this stream, which presently did slake + Their fiery points, and all their feathers wet + Which made the youngster Godling inly fret. + + Thus lustfull Love (this was that love I ween) + Was wholly changed to consuming ire. + And eath it was, sith they’re so near a kin + They be both born of one rebellious sire. + But he supprest his wrath and by and by + For feathered darts, he winged words let flie: + + Vain man! said he, and would thou wer’st not vain + That hid’st thy self in solitary shade + And spil’st thy precious youth in sad disdain + Hating this lifes delight! Hath god thee made + Part of this world, and wilt not thou partake + Of this worlds pleasure for its makers sake? + + Unthankfull wretch! Gods gifts thus to reject + And maken nought of Natures goodly dower + That milders still away through thy neglect + And dying fades like unregarded flower. + This life is good, what’s good thou must improve, + The highest improvement of this life is love. + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + Or Stygian vow, or thrice accursed charm + Should in this place free passage thus denie + Unto my shafts as messengers of harm! + Had I but once transfixt thy froward breast, + How would’st thou then----I staid not for the rest; + + But thus half angry to the boy replide: + How would’st thou then my soul of sense bereave! + I blinded, thee more blind should choose my guide! + How would’st thou then my muddied mind deceive + With fading shows, that in my errour vile, + Base lust; I love should tearm, vice, virtue stile. + + How should my wicked rymes then idolize + Thy wretched power, and with impious wit + Impute thy base born passions to the skies + And my souls sicknesse count an heavenly fit, + My weaknesse strength, my wisdome to be caught + My bane my blisse, mine ease to be o’rewraught. + + How often through my fondly feigning mind + And frantick phansie, in my Mistris eye + Should I a thousand fluttering Cupids find + Bathing their busie wings? How oft espie + Under the shadow of her eye-brows fair + Ten thousand Graces sit all naked bare? + + Thus haunted should I be with such feat fiends: + A pretty madnesse were my portion due. + Foolish my self I would not hear my friends. + Should deem the true for false, the false for true. + My way all dark more slippery then ice + My attendents, anger, pride, and jealousies. + + Unthankfull then to God I should neglect + All the whole world for one poor sorry wight, + Whose pestilent eye into my heart project + Would burn like poysonous Comet in my spright. + Aye me! how dismall then would prove that day + Whose onely light sprang from so fatall ray. + + Who seeks for pleasure in this mortall life + By diving deep into the body base + Shall loose true pleasure: But who gainly strive + Their sinking soul above this bulk to place + Enlarg’d delight they certainly shall find + Unbounded joyes to fill their boundlesse mind. + + When I my self from mine own self do quit + And each thing else; then an all-spreaden love + To the vast Universe my soul doth sit + Makes me half equall to all-seeing Jove. + My mighty wings high stretch’d then clapping light + I brush the starres and make them shine more bright. + + Then all the works of God with close embrace + I dearly hug in my enlarged arms + All the hid paths of heavenly Love I trace + And boldly listen to his secret charms. + Then clearly view I where true light doth rise, + And where eternall Night low-pressed lies. + + Thus lose I not by leaving small delight + But gain more joy, while I my self suspend + From this and that; for then with all unite + I all enjoy, and love that love commends. + That all is more then loves the partiall soul + Whose petty loves th’ impartiall fates controll. + + Ah son! said he, (and laughed very loud) + That trickst thy tongue with uncouth strange disguize, + Extolling highly that with speeches proud + To mortall men that humane state denies, + And rashly blaming what thou never knew + Let men experienc’d speak, if they’ll speak true. + + Had I once lanc’d thy froward flinty heart + And cruddled bloud had thawn with living fire + And prickt thy drousie sprite with gentle smart + How wouldst thou wake to kindly sweet desire, + Thy soul fill’d up with overflowing pleasures + Would dew thy lips with hony-dropping measures. + + Then wouldst thou caroll loud and sweetly sing + In honour of my sacred Deity + That all the woods and hollow hills would ring + Reechoing thy heavenly harmonie. + And eke the hardy rocks with full rebounds + Would faithfully return thy silver sounds. + + Next unto me would be thy Mistresse fair, + Whom thou might setten out with goodly skill + Her peerlesse beauty and her virtues rare, + That all would wonder at thy gracefull quill. + And lastly in us both thy self shouldst raise + And crown thy temples with immortall bayes. + + But now thy riddles all men do neglect, + Thy rugged lines of all do lie forlorn. + Unwelcome rymes that rudely do detect + The Readers ignorance. Men holden scorn + To be so often non-plusd or to spell, + And on one stanza a whole age to dwell. + + Besides this harsh and hard obscuritie + Of the hid sense, thy words are barbarous + And strangely new, and yet too frequently + Return, as usuall plain and obvious, + So that the show of the new thick-set patch + Marres all the old with which it ill doth match. + + But if thy haughty mind, forsooth, would deign + To stoop so low to hearken to my lore, + Then wouldst thou with trim lovers not disdeign + To adorn the outside, set the best before. + Nor rub nor wrinkle would thy verses spoil + Thy rymes should run as glib and smooth as oyl. + + If that be all, said I, thy reasons slight + Can never move my well establishd mind. + Full well I wote alwayes the present sprite, + Or life that doth possesse the soul, doth blind, + Shutting the windows ’gainst broad open day + Lest fairer sights its uglinesse bewray. + + The soul then loves that disposition best + Because no better comes unto her view. + The drunkard drunkennesse, the sluggard rest, + Th’ Ambitious honour and obeisance due. + So all the rest do love their vices base + ’Cause virtues beauty comes not into place. + + And looser love ’gainst Chastitie divine + Would shut the door that he might sit alone. + Then wholly should my mind to him incline: + And woxen strait, (since larger love was gone) + That paultrie sprite of low contracting lust + Would fit my soul as if ’t were made for ’t just. + + Then should I with my fellow bird or brute + So strangely metamorphis’d, either ney + Or bellow loud: or if ’t may better sute + Chirp out my joy pearch’d upon higher spray. + My passions fond with impudence rehearse, + Immortalize my madnesse in a verse. + + This is the summe of thy deceiving boast + That I vain ludenesse highly should admire, + When I the sense of better things have lost + And chang’d my heavenly heat for hellish fire, + Passion is blind, but virtues piercing eye + Approching danger can from farre espie. + + And what thou dost Pedantickly object + Concerning my rude rugged uncouth style, + As childish toy I manfully neglect, + And at thy hidden snares do inly smile. + How ill alas! with wisdome it accords + To sell my living sense for livelesse words. + + My thought ’s the fittest measure of my tongue, + Wherefore I’ll use what’s most significant, + And rather then my inward meaning wrong + Or my full-shining notion trimly scant, + I’ll conjure up old words out of their grave, + Or call fresh forrein force in if need crave. + + And these attending on my moving mind + Shall duly usher in the fitting sense. + As oft as meet occasion I find. + Unusuall words oft used give lesse offence; + Nor will the old contexture dim or marre, + For often us’d they’re next to old, thred-bare. + + And if the old seem in too rustie hew, + Then frequent rubbing makes them shine like gold, + And glister all with colour gayly new. + Wherefore to use them both we will be bold. + Thus lists me fondly with fond folk to toy, + And answer fools with equall foolerie. + + The meaner mind works with more nicetie, + As spiders wont to weave their idle web, + But braver spirits do all things gallantly + Of lesser failings nought at all affred: + So Natures carelesse pencill dipt in light + With sprinkled starres hath spattered the Night. + + And if my notions clear though rudely thrown + And loosely scattered in my poesie, + May lend men light till the dead Night be gone, + And Morning fresh with roses strew the skie: + It is enough, I meant no trimmer frame + Or by nice needle-work to seek a name. + + Vain man! that seekest name mongst earthly men + Devoid of God and all good virtuous lere; + Who groping in the dark do nothing ken + But mad; with griping care their souls do tear, + Or burst with hatred or with envie pine + Or burn with rage or melt out at their eyne. + + Thrice happy he whose name is writ above, + And doeth good though gaining infamie; + Requiteth evil turns with hearty love, + And recks not what befalls him outwardly: + Whose worth is in himself, and onely blisse + In his pure conscience that doth nought amisse. + + Who placeth pleasure in his purged soul + And virtuous life his treasure doth esteem; + Who can his passions master and controll, + And that true lordly manlinesse doth deem, + Who from this world himself hath clearly quit + Counts nought his own but what lives in his sprite. + + So when his sprite from this vain world shall flit + It bears all with it whatsoever was dear + Unto it self, passing in easie fit, + As kindly ripen’d corn comes out of th’ eare. + Thus mindlesse of what idle men will say + He takes his own and stilly goes his way. + + But the retinue of proud Lucifer, + Those blustering Poets that flie after fame + And deck themselves like the bright Morning-starre. + Alas! it is but all a crackling flame. + For death will strip them of that glorious plume + That airie blisse will vanish into fume. + + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + Return, or listen from the bowed skie + To heare how well their learned lines do take? + Or if they could; is Heavens felicitie + So small as by mans praise to be encreas’d, + Hells pain no greater then hence to be eas’d? + + Therefore once dead in vain shall I transmit + My shadow to gazing Posteritie; + Cast farre behind me I shall never see’t, + On Heavens fair Sunne having fast fixt mine eye. + Nor while I live, heed I what man doth praise + Or underprize mine unaffected layes. + + What moves thee then, said he, to take the pains + And spenden time if thou contemn’st the fruit? + Sweet fruit of fame, that fills the Poets brains + With high conceit and feeds his fainting wit. + How pleasant ’tis in honour here to live + And dead, thy name for ever to survive! + + Or is thy abject mind so basely bent + As of thy Muse to maken Merchandize? + (And well I wote this is no strange intent.) + The hopefull glimps of gold from chattering Pies, + From Daws and Crows, and Parots oft hath wrung + An unexpected Pegaseian song. + + Foul shame on him, quoth I, that shamefull thought + Doth entertain within his dunghill breast, + Both God and Nature hath my spirits wrought + To better temper and of old hath blest + My loftie soul with more divine aspires + Then to be touchd with such vile low desires. + + I hate and highly scorn that Kestrell kind + Of bastard scholars that subordinate + The precious choice induements of the mind + To wealth or worldly good. Adulterate + And cursed brood! Your wit and will are born + Of th’ earth and circling thither do return. + + Profit and honour be those measures scant + Of your slight studies and endeavours vain, + And when you once have got what you did want + You leave your learning to enjoy your gain. + Your brains grow low, your bellies swell up high, + Foul sluggish fat ditts up your dulled eye. + + Thus what the earth did breed, to th’ earth is gone, + Like fading hearb or feebly drooping flower, + By feet of men and beast quite trodden down, + The muck-sprung learning cannot long endure. + Back she returns lost in her filthy source, + Drown’d, chok’d or slocken by her cruell nurse. + + True virtue to her self’s the best reward, + Rich with her own and full of lively spirit, + Nothing cast down for want of due regard. + Or ’cause rude men acknowledge not her merit. + She knows her worth and stock from whence she sprung, + Spreads fair without the warmth of earthly dung, + + Dew’d with the drops of Heaven shall flourish long; + As long as day and night do share the skie, + And though that day and night should fail yet strong + And steddie, fixed on Eternitie + Shall bloom for ever. So the foul shall speed + That loveth virtue for no worldly meed. + + Though sooth to sayn, the worldly meed is due + To her more then to all the world beside. + Men ought do homage with affections true + And offer gifts for God doth there reside. + The wise and virtuous soul is his own seat + To such what’s given God himself doth get. + + But earthly minds whose sight’s seal’d up with mud + Discern not this flesh-clouded Deity, + Ne do acknowledge any other good + Then what their mole-warp hands can feel and trie + By groping touch; thus (worth of them unseen) + Of nothing worthy that true worth they ween. + + Wherefore the prudent Law-givers of old + Even in all Nations, with right sage foresight + Discovering from farre how clums and cold + The vulgar wight would be to yield what’s right + To virtuous learning, did by law designe + Great wealth and honour to that worth divine. + + But nought’s by law to Poesie due said he, + Ne doth the solemn Statesmans head take care + Of those that such impertinent pieces be + Of common-weals. Thou’d better then to spare + Thy uselesse vein. Or tell else, what may move + Thy busie use such fruitlesse pains to prove. + + No pains but pleasure to do the dictates dear + Of inward living nature. What doth move + The Nightingall to sing so sweet and clear + The Thrush, or Lark that mounting high above + Chants her shrill notes to heedlesse ears of corn + Heavily hanging in the dewy morn. + + When life can speak, it can not well withhold + T’ expresse its own impressions and hid life. + Or joy or grief that smoothered lie untold + Do vex the heart and wring with restlesse strife. + Then are my labours no true pains but ease + My souls unrest they gently do appease. + + Besides, that is not fruitlesse that no gains + Brings to my self. I others profit deem + Mine own: and if at these my heavenly flames + Others receiven light, right well I ween + My time’s not lost. Art thou now satisfide + Said I: to which the scoffing boy replide. + + Great hope indeed thy rymes should men enlight, + That be with clouds and darknesse all o’recast, + Harsh style and harder sense void of delight + The Readers wearied eye in vain do wast. + And when men win thy meaning with much pain, + Thy uncouth sense they coldly entertain. + + For wotst thou not that all the world is dead + Unto that Genius that moves in thy vein + Of poetrie! But like by like is fed. + Sing of my Trophees in triumphant strein, + Then correspondent life, thy powerfull verse + Shall strongly strike and with quick passion pierce. + + The tender frie of lads and lasses young + With thirstie eare thee compassing about, + Thy Nectar-dropping Muse, thy sugar’d song + Will swallow down with eagre hearty draught; + Relishing truly what thy rymes convey, + And highly praising thy soul-smiting lay. + + The mincing maid her mind will then bewray, + Her heart-bloud flaming up into her face, + Grave matrons will wex wanton and betray + Their unresolv’dnesse in their wonted grace; + Young boyes and girls would feel a forward spring, + And former youth to eld thou back wouldst bring. + + All Sexes, Ages, Orders, Occupations + Would listen to thee with attentive ear, + And eas’ly moved with thy sweet perswasions, + Thy pipe would follow with full merry chear. + While thou thy lively voice didst loud advance + Their tickled bloud for joy would inly dance. + + But now, alas! poore solitarie man! + In lonesome desert thou dost wander wide + To seek and serve thy disappearing Pan, + Whom no man living in the world hath eyde: + For Pan is dead but I am still alive, + And live in men who honour to me give: + + They honour also those that honour me + With sacred songs. But thou now singst to trees + To rocks to Hills, to Caves that senselesse be + And mindlesse quite of thy hid mysteries, + In the void aire thy idle voice is spread, + Thy Muse is musick to the deaf or dead. + + Now out alas! said I, and wele-away + The tale thou tellest I confesse too true. + Fond man so doteth on this living clay + His carcase dear, and doth its joyes pursue, + That of his precious soul he takes no keep + Heavens love and reasons light lie fast asleep. + + This bodies life vain shadow of the soul + With full desire they closely do embrace, + In fleshly mud like swine they wallow and roll, + The loftiest mind is proud but of the face + Or outward person; if men but adore + That walking sepulchre, cares for no more. + + This is the measure of mans industry + To wexen some body and getten grace + To ’s outward presence; though true majestie + Crown’d with that heavenly light and lively rayes + Of holy wesdome and Seraphick love, + From his deformed soul he farre remove. + + Slight knowledge and lesse virtue serves his turn + For this designe. If he hath trod the ring + Of pedling arts; in usuall pack-horse form + Keeping the rode; O! then ’t’s a learned thing. + If any chanc’d to write or speak what he + Conceives not ’t were a foul discourtesie. + + To cleanse the soul from sinne, and still diffide + Whether our reasons eye be clear enough + To intromit true light, that fain would glide + Into purg’d hearts, this way ’s too harsh and rough: + Therefore the clearest truths may well seem dark + When sloathfull men have eyes so dimme and stark. + + These be our times. But if my minds presage + Bear any moment, they can ne’re last long, + A three branch’d Flame will soon sweep clean the stage + Of this old dirty drosse and all wex young. + My words into this frozen air I throw + Will then grow vocall at that generall thaw. + + Nay, now thou ’rt perfect mad, said he, with scorn, + And full of foul derision quit the place. + The skie did rattle with his wings ytorn + Like to rent silk. But I in the mean space + Sent after him this message by the wind + Be ’t so I ’m mad, yet sure I am thou ’rt blind. + + By this the out-stretch’d shadows of the trees + Pointed me home-ward, and with one consent + Foretold the dayes descent. So straight I rise + Gathering my limbs from off the green pavement + Behind me leaving then the slooping Light. + _Cl._ And now let’s up, _Vesper_ brings on the Night. + + +_FINIS._ + +[Illustration] + + + + + _A Particular Interpretation appertaining to + the three last books of the Platonick + Song of the Soul._ + + +A + +_Atom-lives._ The same that Centrall lives. Both the terms denotate the +indivisibility of the inmost essence it self; the pure essentiall form I +mean, of plant, beast or man, yea of angels themselves, good or bad. + + _Apogee_, } + _Autokineticall_, } + _Ananke_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Acronycall_, } + _Alethea-land_, } + +_Animadversall. That lively inward animadversall._ It is the soul it +self, for I cannot conceive the body doth animadvert; when as objects +plainly exposed to the sight are not discovered till the soul takes +notice of them. + + +B + +_Body._ The ancient Philosophers have defined it, Τὸ τριχῇ διάστατον +μετ’ ἀντιτυπίας. _Sext. Emperic. Pyrrhon. Hypotyp. lib. 3. cap. 5._ Near +to this is that description, _Psychathan_, Cant. 2. Stanz. 12. lib. 2, +_Matter extent in three dimensions._ But for that ἀντιτυπία, simple +trinall distension doth not imply it, wherefore I declin’d it. But took +in _matter_ according to their conceit, that phansie _à Materia prima_, +I acknowledge none, and consequently no such _corpus naturale_ as our +Physiologist make the subject of that science. That Τριχῇ διάστατον +ἀντίτυπον is nothing but a fixt spirit, the conspissation or coagulation +of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone, which are indeed the Centrall +Tasis or inward essence of the sensible world. These be an infinite +number of vitall Atoms that may be wakened into diverse tinctures, or +energies, into fiery, watery, earthy, &c. And one divine _Fiat_ can +unloose them all into an universall mist, or turn them out of that sweat +into a drie and pure Etheriall temper. These be the last projections of +life from the soul of the world; and are act or form though debil and +indifferent, like that which they call the first matter. But they are +not meerly passive but meet their information half way, as I may so +speak: are radiant _ab intimo_ and awake into this or the other +operation, by the powerfull appulse of some superadvenient form. That +which change of Phantasmes is to the soul, that is alteration of rayes +to them. For their rayes are _ab intrinseco_, as the phantasmes of the +soul. These be the reall matter of which all supposed bodies are +compounded, and this matter (as I said) is form and life, so that all is +life and form what ever is in the world, as I have somewhere intimated +in _Antipsychopan_: But however I use the terme _body_ ordinarily in the +usuall and vulgar acception. And for that sense of the ancients, nearest +to which I have defined it in the place first above mentioned, that I +seem not to choose that same as most easie to proceed against in +disproving the corporeity of the soul, the arguments do as necessarily +conclude against such a naturall body as is ordinarily described in +Physiologie (as you may plainly discern if you list to observe) as also +against this body composed of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone. For +though they be Centrall lives, yet are they neither Plasticall, +Sensitive, or Rationall, so farre are they from proving to be the humane +soul whose nature is there discust. + + +C + +_Cone_: Is a solid figure made by the turning of a rectangular triangle, +about; one of the sides that include the right angle resting, which will +be then the Axis of the compleated Cone. But I take it sometimes for the +comprehension of all things, God himself not left out, whom I tearm the +_Basis_ of the _Cone_ or _Universe_. And because all from him descends, +καθ’ ὑποστολῆν, with abatement or contraction, I give the name of _Cone_ +to the Universe. And of Cone rather then Pyramid because of the +roundnesse of the figure, which the effluxes of all things imitate. + + _Chaos_, } + _Chronicall_, } See interpret· Gen. + _Clare_, } + +_Circulation_, The terme is taken from a toyish observation, _viz._ the +circling of water when a stone is cast into a standing pool. The motion +drives on circularly, the first rings are thickest, but the further they +go they grow the thinner, till they vanish into nothing. Such is the +diffusion of the species audible in the strucken aire, as also of the +visible species. In brief any thing is said to circulate that diffuseth +its image or species in a round. It might have been more significantly +called orbiculation; seeing this circumfusion makes not onely a circle, +but fills a sphere, which may be called the sphere of activity. Yet +Circulation more fitly sets out the diminution of activity, from those +ringes in the water which as they grow in compasse, abate in force and +thicknesse. But sometimes I use Circulate in an ordinary sense to turn +round, or return in a circle. + +_Centre_, _Centrall_, _Centrality_. When they are used out of their +ordinary sense, they signifie the depth or inmost being of any thing, +from whence its acts and energies flow forth. See _Atom-lives_. + +_Cuspis_ of the _Cone_. The multiplide Cuspis of the Cone is nothing but +the last projection of life from Psyche, which is שׁמים a liquid fire or +fire and water, which are the corporeall or materiall principles of all +things, changed or disgregated (if they be centrally distinguishable) +and again mingled by the virtue of Physis or Spermaticall life of the +world; of these are the Sunne and all the Planets, they being kned +together, and fixt by the Centrall power of each Planet and Sunne. The +volatile Ether is also of the same, and all the bodies of plants, beasts +and men. These are they which we handle and touch, a sufficient number +compact together. For neither is the noise of those little flies in a +summer-evening audible severally: but a full Quire of them strike the +ear with a pretty kind of buzzing. Strong and tumultuous pleasure and +scorching pain reside in these, they being essentiall and centrall, but +sight and hearing are onely of the images of these, See _Body_. + +_Eternitie._ Is the steddie comprehension of all things at once. See Æon +discribed in my Expos. upon Psychozoia. + +_Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. In my Interpret. Gen. +I expounded it Operation, Efflux, Activity. None of those words bear the +full sense of it. The examples there are fit, _viz._ the light of the +Sunne, the phantasms of the soul. We may collect the genuine sense of +the word by comparing severall places in the Philosopher. Ἔχει γὰρ +ἕκαστον τῶν ὄντων ἐνεργειαν, ἥ ἐστιν ὁμοίωμα αὐτοῦ, ὥστε αὐτοῦ ὄντος, +κἀκεῖνο εἶναι, καὶ μένοντος φθάνειν εἰς τὸ πόῤῥω, τὸ μὲν ἐπὶ πλέον, τὸ +δὲ εἰς ἔλαττον. Καὶ αἱ μὲν ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ἀμυδραὶ, αἱ δὲ καὶ λανθάνουσαι, +τῶν δ’ εἰσὶ μείζους καὶ εἰς τὸ πόῤῥω. _For every being hath its Energie, +which is the image of it self, so that it existing that Energie doth +also exist, and standing still is projected forward more or lesse. And +some of those energies are weak and obscure, others hid or +undiscernable, othersome greater and of a larger projection._ Plotin. +Ennead. 4. lib. 5. cap. 7. And again, Ennead. 3. lib. 4. Καὶ μένομεν τῷ +μὲν νοητῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἄνω· τῷ δὲ ἐσχάτῳ αὐτοῦ, πεπεδήμεθα τῷ κάτω, οἷον +ἀπόῤῥοιαν ἀπ’ ἐκείνου διδόντες εἰς τὸ κάτω, μᾶλλον δὲ ἐνέργειαν, ἐκείνου +οὐκ ἐλαττουμένου. _And we remain above by the Intellectuall man, but by +the extreme part of him we are held below, as it were yielding an efflux +from him to that which is below, or rather an energie he being not at +all lessened._ This curiositie Antoninus also observes, (lib. 8. +Meditat.) in the nature of the sun-beams, where although he admits of +χύσις, yet he doth not of ἀπόῤῥοια which is ἔκχυσις. Ὁ ἥλιος +κατακεχύσθαι δοκεῖ, καὶ πάντῇ γε κέχυται οὐ μὴν ἐκκέχυται. ἡ γὰρ χύσις +αὐτοῦ τάσις ἐστίν. ἀκτῖνες γοῦν αἱ αὐγαὶ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐκτείνεσθαι +λέγονται. _The sunne_, saith he, _is diffused, and his fusion is every +where but without effusion_, &c. I will onely adde one place more out of +Plotinus. Ennead. 3. lib. 6. Ἑκάστου δὲ μορίου ἡ ἐνέργεια ἡ κατὰ φύσιν +ζωὴ οὐκ ἐξιστᾶσα. _The naturall energie of each power of the soul is +life not parted from the soul though gone out of the soul, =viz.= into +act._ + +Comparing of all these places together, I cannot better explain this +Platonick term, _energie_, then by calling it the rayes of an essence, +or the beams of a vitall Centre. For essence is the Centre as it were of +that which is truly called Energie, and Energie the beams and rayes of +an essence. And as the _Radii_ of a circle leave not the centre by +touching the Circumference, no more doth that which is the pure Energie +of an essence, leave the essence by being called out into act, but is +ἐν-έργεια a working in the essence though it flow _out_ into act. So +that _Energie_ depends alwayes on essence, as _Lumen_ on _Lux_, or the +creature on God; Whom therefore Synesius in his Hymnes calls the Centre +of all things. + +_Entelecheia._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +F + +_Faith._ _Platonick faith in the first Good._ This faith is excellently +described in Proclus, where it is set above all ratiocination, nay, +Intellect it self. Πρὸς δὲ αὖ τὸ ἀγαθὸν οὐ γνώσεως ἔτι καὶ συνεργείας +δεῖ τοῖς συναφθῆναι σπεύδουσιν, ἀλλ’ ἱδρύσεως καὶ μονίμου καταστάσεως +καὶ ἠρεμίας. _But to them that endeavour to be joyned with the first +Good, there is no need of knowledge or multifarious cooperation, but +settlednesse, steddinesse, and rest._ lib. 1. cap. 24. Theolog. Platon. +And in the next chapter; Δεῖ γὰρ οὐ γνωστικῶς οὐδ’ ἀτελῶς τὸ ἀγαθὸν +ἐπιζητεῖν, ἀλλ’ ἐπιδόντας ἑαυτοὺς τῷ θείῳ φωτὶ καὶ μύσαντας, οὕτως +ἐνιδρύεσθαι τῇ ἀγνώστῳ καὶ κρυφίῳ τῶν ὄντων ἑνάδι. _For we must not seek +after that absolute or first Good cognoscitively or imperfectly, but +giving our selves up to the divine light, and winking_ (that is shutting +our eyes of reason and understanding) _so to place our selves steddily +in that hidden Unitie of all things_. After he preferres this faith +before the clear and present assent to the κοιναὶ ἔννοιαι, yea and the +νοερὰ ἁπλότης, so that he will not that any intellectuall operation +should come in comparison with it. Πολυειδὴς γὰρ αἵτη καὶ δι’ ἑτερότητος +χωριζομένη τῶν νοουμένων, καὶ ὅλως κίνησίς ἐστι νοερὰ περὶ τὸ νοητόν. +Δεῖ δὲ τὴν θείαν πίστιν ἑνοειδῆ καὶ ἤρεμον ὑπάρχειν ἐν τῷ τῆς ἀγαθότητος +ὁρμῷ τελείως ἱδρυθεῖσαν. _For the operation of the Intellect is +multiform and by diversitie separate from her objects, and is in a word, +intellectuall motion about the object intelligible. But the divine faith +must be simple and uniform, quiet and steddily resting in the haven of +Goodnesse._ And at last he summarily concludes, Ἐστί οὖν οὗτος ὅρμος +ἀσφαλὴς τῶν ὄντων ἁπάντων. See Procl. Theolog. Platonick. lib. 1. cap. +25. + + +H + +_Hyle._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +I + +_Intellect._ Sometimes it is to be interpreted _Soul_. Sometime the +intellectuall facultie of the soul. Sometimes Intellect is an absolute +essence shining into the soul: whose nature is this. A substance purely +immateriall, impeccable, actually omniform, or comprehending all things +at once, which the soul doth also being perfectly joyned with the +Intellect. Ἔχομεν οὖν καὶ τὰ εἴδη διχῶς, ἐν μὲν ψυχῇ οἷον μὲν +ἀνειλιγμένα καὶ οἷον κεχωρισμένα, ἐν δὲ τῷ νῷ ὁμοῦ τὰ πάντα. Plot. +Ennead. 1. lib. 1. cap. 8. _Ideas_, or _Idees_. Sometimes they are forms +in the Intellectuall world. _viz._ in _Æon_, or _On_, other sometimes, +phantasmes or representations in the soul. _Innate Idees_ are the souls +nature it self, her uniform essence, able by her _Fire_ to produce this +or that phantasme into act. + + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + + +L + +_Logos._ See Interpret. Gen. + +_Life._ The vitall operation of any soul. Sometime it is the soul it +self, be it sensitive, vegetative, or rationall. + +_Lower man._ The lower man is our enquickned body, into which our soul +comes, it being fitly prepared for the receiving of such a guest. The +manner of the production of souls, or rather their non-production is +admirably well set down in Plotinus, See, _Ennead. 6. lib. 4. cap. 14, +15_. + + +M + +_Monad._ See Interpr. Gen. + +_Mundane._ _Mundane spirit_, Is that which is the spirit of the world or +Universe. I mean by it not an intellectuall spirit, but a fine, unfixt, +attenuate, subtill, ethereall substance, the immediate vehicle of +plasticall or sensitive life. + +_Memory._ _Mundane memory._ Is that memory that is seated in the +_Mundane_ spirit of man, by a strong impression, or inustion of any +phantasme, or outward sensible object, upon that spirit. But there is a +Memory more subtill and abstract in the soul it self, without the help +of this spirit, which she also carries away with her having left the +body. + +_Magicall._ That is, attractive, or commanding by force of sympathy with +the life of this naturall world. + +_Moment._ Sometimes signifies an instant, as indivisible, as κίνημα, +which in motion answers to an instant in time, or a point in a line, +_Aristot. Phys._ In this sense I use it, Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 2. +stanz. 16; _But in a moment sol doth ray._ But Cant. the 3. Stanz. 45. +v. 2. I understand, as also doth Lansbergius, by a _moment_ one second +of a minute. In Antipsych. Cant. 2. Stanz. the 20. v. 2. by a _moment_ I +understand a minute, or indefinitely any small time. + + +O + +_Orb._ _Orb Intellectuall_, is nothing else but Æon or the Intellectuall +world. The Orbs generall mentioned Psycathan. lib. 1. cant. 3. stanz. +23. v. 2. I understand by them but so many universall orders of beings, +if I may so terme them all; for _Hyle_ hath little or nothing of being. + +_Omniformity._ The omniformity of the soul is the having in her nature +all forms, latent at least, and power of awaking them into act, upon +occasion. + +_Out-world._ and _Out-Heaven._ The sensible world, the visible Heaven. + + +P + + _Perigee_, } + _Psychicall_, } + _Pareties_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Parallax_, } + _Protopathy_. } + +_Parturient._ See, _Vaticinant_. + +_Phantasie._ _Lower phantasie_, is that which resides in the Mundane +spirit of a man, See _Memory_. + + +Q + +_Quantitative._ Forms _quantitative_, are such sensible energies as +arise from the complexion of many natures together, at whose discretion +they vanish. That’s the seventh Orb of things, though broken and not +filling all as the other do. But if you take it for the whole sensible +world, it is entire, and is the same that _Tasis_ in Psycozoia. But the +centre of _Tasis_, viz. the multiplication of the reall _Cuspis_ of the +_Cone_ (for _Hyle_ that is set for the most contract point of the +_Cuspis_ is scarce to be reckoned among realities) that immense +diffusion of atoms, is to be referred to _Psyche_, as an internall +vegetative act, and so belongs to _Physis_ the lowest order of life. For +as that warmth that the sense doth afford the body, is not rationall, +sensitive, or imaginative, but vegetative; So this, שׁמים _i.e._ liquid +fire, which _Psyche_ sends out, and is the outmost, last, and lowest +operation from her self, is also vegetative. + + +R + +_Rhomboides._ See Interpr. general. + +_Reason._ I understand by Reason, the deduction of one thing from +another, which I conceive proceeds from a kind of continuitie of +phantasmes: and is something like the moving of a cord at one end; the +parts next it rise with it. And by this concatenation of phantasmes I +conceive, that both brutes and men are moved in reasonable wayes and +methods in their ordinary externall actions. + +_Rayes._ The rayes of an essence is its energie. See _Energie_. + +_Reduplicative._ That is reduplicative, which is not onely in this +point, but also in another, having a kind of circumscribed ubiquitie, +_viz._ in its own sphear. And this is either by being in that sphear +omnipresent it self, as the soul is said to be in the body _tota in toto +& tota in qualibet parte_, or else at least by propagation of rayes, +which is the image of it self; and so are divers sensible objects +_Reduplicative_, as light, colours, sounds. And I make account either of +these wayes justly denominate any thing spirituall. Though the former is +most properly, at least more eminently spirituall. And whether any thing +be after that way spirituall saving the Divinitie, there is reason to +doubt. For what is entirely omnipresent in a sphear, whose diametre is +but three feet, I see not, why (that in the circumference being as fresh +and entire as that in the centre) it should stop there and not proceed +even _in infinitum_, if the circumference be still as fresh and entire +as the centre. But I define nothing. + + +S + +_Spermaticall._ It belongs properly to Plants, but is transferred also +to the Plasticall power in Animalls, I enlarge it to all magnetick power +whatsoever that doth immediately rule and actuate any body. For all +magnetick power is founded in _Physis_, and in reference to her, this +world is but one great Plant, (one λόγος σπερματικός giving it shape and +corporeall life) as in reference to _Psyche_, one happy and holy +Animall. + +_Spirit._ Sometimes it signifieth the soul, othersometime, the naturall +spirits in a mans body, which are _Vinculum animæ & corporis_, and the +souls vehicle: Sometimes life. See _Reduplicative_. + +_Soul._ When I speak of mans Soul, I understand that which _Moses_ saith +was inspired into the body, (fitted out and made of earth) by God, +Genes. 2. which is not that impeccable spirit that cannot sinne; but the +very same that the Platonists call ψυχή, a middle essence betwixt that +which they call νοῦς (and we would in the Christian language call +πνεῦμα) and the life of the body which is εἴδωλον ψυχῆς, a kind of an +umbratil vitalitie, that the soul imparts to the bodie in the enlivening +of it: That and the body together, we Christians would call σὰρξ, and +the suggestions of it, especially in its corrupt estate, φρόνημα σαρκός. +And that which God inspired into _Adam_ was no more then ψυχὴ, the soul, +not the spirit, though it be called נשמת חיים _Spiraculum vitæ_; is +plain out of the text; because it made man but become a living soul, נפש +חיה. But you will say, he was a dead soul before, and this was the +spirit of life, yea the spirit of God, the life of the soul that was +breathed into him. + +But if חיה implie such a life and spirit, you must acknowledge the same +to be also in the most stupid of all living creatures, even the fishes +(whose soul is but as salt to keep them from stinking, as Philo speaks) +for they are said to be נשמת חיים chap. 1. v. 20. 21. See 1 Cor. chap. +15, v. 45, 46. In brief therefore, that which in Platonisme is νοῦς, is +in Scripture πνεῦμα; what σὰρξ in one, τὸ θηρίον, the brute or beast in +the other, ψυχὴ the same in both. + +_Self-reduplicative._ See _Reduplicative_. + + +T + +_Tricentreitie._ Centre is put for essence, so _Tricentreitie_ must +implie a trinitie of essence. See _Centre_, and _Energie_. + + +V + +_Vaticinant._ The soul is said to be in a _vaticinant_ or _parturient_ +condition, when she hath some kind of sense and hovering knowledge of a +thing, but yet cannot distinctly and fully, and commandingly represent +it to her self, cannot plainly apprehend, much lesse comprehend the +matter. The phrase is borrowed of Proclus, who describing the +incomprehensiblenese of God, and the desire of all things towards him, +speaks thus; Ἄγνωστον γὰρ ὂν ποθεῖ τὰ ὄντα τὸ ἐφετὸν τοῦτο καὶ ἄληπτον, +μήτε οῦν γνῶναι μήτε ἑλεῖν ὁ ποθεῖ, δυνάμενα, περὶ αὐτὸ πάντα χορεύει +καὶ ὠδίνει μὲν αὐτὸ καὶ οἷον ἀπομαντεύεται. _Theolog. Platon. lib. 1. +cap. 21._ See _Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 3. stanz. 12. & 14._ + + + + +_The Philosophers Devotion._ + + + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + He the boundlesse Heavens has spread + All the vitall Orbs has kned; + He that on _Olympus_ high + Tends his flocks with watchfull eye, + And this eye has multiplide + Midst each flock for so reside. + Thus as round about they stray + Toucheth each with out-stretch’d ray, + Nimbly they hold on their way, + Shaping out their Night and Day. + Never slack they; none respires, + Dancing round their Centrall fires. + In due order as they move + Echo’s sweet be gently drove + Thorough Heavens vast Hollownesse, + Which unto all corners presse: + Musick that the heart of _Jove_ + Moves to joy and sportfull love; + Fills the listning saylers eares + Riding on the wandering Sphears. + Neither Speech nor Language is + Where their voice is not transmisse. + God is Good, is Wise, is Strong, + Witnesse all the creature-throng, + Is confess’d by every Tongue. + All things back from whence they sprong, + As the thankfull Rivers pay + What they borrowed of the Sea. + Now my self I do resigne, + Take me whole I all am thine. + Save me, God! from Self-desire, + Deaths pit, dark Hells raging fire, + Envy, Hatred, Vengeance, Ire. + Let not Lust my soul bemire. + Quit from these thy praise I’ll sing, + Loudly sweep the trembling string. + Bear a part, O Wisdomes sonnes! + Free’d from vain Relligions. + Lo! from farre I you salute, + Sweetly warbling on my Lute. + _Indie_, _Egypt_, _Arabie_, + _Asia_, _Greece_, and _Tartarie_, + _Carmel_-tracts, and _Lebanon_ + With the _Mountains_ of the _Moon_, + from whence muddie _Nile_ doth runne, + Or whereever else you won; + Breathing in one vitall aire, + One we are though distant farre. + Rise at once lett’s sacrifice + Odours sweet perfume the skies. + See how Heavenly lightning fires + Hearts inflam’d with high aspires! + All the substance of our souls + Up in clouds of Incense rolls. + Leave we nothing to our selves + Save a voice, what need we els! + Or an hand to wear and tire + On the thankfull Lute or Lyre. + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + + +_FINIS._ + + + + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK + MEMORIAL LIBRARY + UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES + + +PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT + +[Decoration] + + [Where available, Project Gutenberg e-text numbers are given in + brackets.] + + +1948-1949 + +16. Henry Nevil Payne, _The Fatal Jealousie_ (1673). [16916] + +18. Anonymous, “Of Genius,” in _The Occasional Paper_, Vol. III, No. 10 +(1719), and Aaron Hill, Preface to The Creation (1720). [15870] + + +1949-1950 + +19. Susanna Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709). [16740] + +20. Lewis Theobald, _Preface to the Works of Shakespeare_ (1734). +[16346] + +22. Samuel Johnson, _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749), and two +_Rambler_ papers (1750). [13350] + +23. John Dryden, _His Majesties Declaration Defended_ (1681). [15074] + + +1950-1951 + +26. Charles Macklin, _The Man of the World_ (1792). [14463] + + +1951-1952 + +31. Thomas Gray, _An Elegy Wrote in a Country Churchyard_ (1751), and +_The Eton College Manuscript_. [15409] + + +1952-1953 + +41. Bernard Mandeville, _A Letter to Dion_ (1732). [29478] + + +1962-1963 + +98. _Select Hymns Taken Out of Mr. Herbert’s Temple_ (1697). + + +1963-1964 + +104. 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James MacPherson, _Fragments of Ancient Poetry_ (1760). [8161] + +123. Edmond Malone, _Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to +Mr. Thomas Rowley_ (1782). [29116] + +124. Anonymous, _The Female Wits_ (1704). [_In Preparation_] + +125. Anonymous, _The Scribleriad_ (1742). Lord Hervey, _The Difference +Between Verbal and Practical Virtue_ (1742). [_In Preparation_] + +126. _Le Lutrin: an Heroick Poem, Written Originally in French by +Monsieur Boileau: Made English by N. O._ (1682). + + * * * * * + +Subsequent publications may be checked in the annual prospectus. + +Publications #1 through 90, of the first fifteen years of Augustan +Reprint Society, are available in bound units at $14.00 per unit of six +from: + + KRAUS REPRINT CORPORATION + 16 East 46th Street + New York, N.Y. 10017 + +Publications in print are available at the regular membership rate of +$5.00 yearly. 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John Evelyn, _The History of ... Sabatai Sevi ... The Suppos’d +Messiah of the Jews_ (1669). Introduction by Christopher W. Grose. +[_In Preparation_] + +132. Walter Harte, _An Essay on Satire, Particularly on the Dunciad_ +(1730). Introduction by Thomas B. Gilmore. [29237] + + +ANNOUNCEMENTS: + +Next in the series of special publications by the Society will be a +volume including Elkanah Settle’s _The Empress of Morocco_ (1673) with +five plates; _Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco_ (1674) +by John Dryden, John Crowne and Thomas Shadwell; _Notes and Observations +on the Empress of Morocco Revised_ (1674) by Elkanah Settle; and _The +Empress of Morocco. A Farce_ (1674) by Thomas Duffet, with an +Introduction by Maximillian E. Novak. Already published in this series +are reprints of John Ogilby’s _The Fables of Aesop Paraphras’d in Verse_ +(1668), with an Introduction by Earl Miner and John Gay’s _Fables_ +(1727, 1738), with an Introduction by Vinton A. Dearing. Publication is +assisted by funds from the Chancellor of the University of California, +Los Angeles. Price to members of the Society, $2.50 for the first copy +and $3.25 for additional copies. Price to non-members, $4.00. + + * * * * * + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +William Andrews Clark Memorial Library + +2520 CIMARRON STREET AT WEST ADAMS BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA +90018 + +Make check or money order payable to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF +CALIFORNIA. + + * * * * * + * * * * + +Errors and Inconsistencies (noted by transcriber) + +The author used a number of forms that were unusual or archaic even in +1646, and might be mistaken for typographical errors: + + ne (_conjunction_) + won (stay, dwell, like German _wohnen_) + eath (easy, light; also “uneath”) + words in -en, especially verbs: + aboven, amazen, been (_infinitive_), causen, standen, withouten... + +Greek diacritics were consistently printed over the first vowel of an +initial diphthong. This has been silently regularized. + +Both occurrences of the name “DesCartes” or “DesChartes” are at line +break; the hyphen has been omitted conjecturally. In general, spellings +that appear more than once, such as “Psyc-” for “Psych-”, were assumed +to be intentional. + +The word “invisible” means that the letter is absent but there is an +appropriately sized blank space. + + +Modern Introduction: + + Immobile . . . Incomprehensible ”[6] + [_line-initial long space in the original, not explained in + the footnote_] + with its seque _Democritus Platonissans_ + [_l in “sequel” invisible at line-end_] + describes the genesis of + [_final s in “genesis” illegible at line-end_] + Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52). [II.xi. 5] + +To the Reader: + + in the neglectfull disguise of a fragment [of of] + or which is as harsh one infinite one. + [_. missing; text otherwise unchanged_] + defending the infinitude of both, [both.] + Unum ut attendentes ad infinitam Dei potentiam + [_first i in “infinitam” invisible_] + +Democritus Platonissans + + 7. Numbers infinite of each would strike our ’stonishd sight; + [_er in “Numbers” invisible_] + 25. This is the parergon of each noble fire [is is] + 27. What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + [_punctuation as printed_] + 45. This inf’nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + [_text cut off; “-all” conjectural_] + 47. With their strange vizards. This will follow right + [_text cut off; “-ht” conjectural_] + 55. Keeping a well-proportionated space [ptoportionated] + 81. And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. [mountiug] + 99. Snow-limb’d, rose-cheek’d, ruby-lip’d, pearl-ted, star eyn’d + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin’d. + [_text unchanged: possible hyphen in “star eyn’d”_] + 102. Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. [vnlgar] + 103. A wider period; turneth still and slow. [tnrneth] + +Cupids Conflict + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + [_mismatched parenthesis in original; closing parenthesis may + belong after “harm!” in 4th line of stanza_] + Who can his passions master and controll, [aud] + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + [_reading uncertain: may be “take” corrected by hand to “Lake”_] + +Particular Interpretation + + _Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. [_Energie,_] + _Faith._ ... excellently described in Proclus, [roclus.] + Ἐστί οὖν οὗτος ὅρμος ἀσφαλὴς τῶν ὄντων ἁπάντων. + [Εἰς οὖν ... τῶν ὅντων] + [_Original text could not be checked, but Εἰς is grammatically + impossible._] + _Intellect._ [_Intellect.._] + Ἔχομεν οὖν καὶ τὰ εἴδη διχῶς [εἶδη] + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + [_Printed as shown; may be damage or error for “Idea” or similar_] + _Omniformity._ [_Omniformity,_] + _Reduplicative._ ... as the centre. But I define nothing. + [_blank space at mid-line in original_] + _Soul._ ... And that which God inspired into _Adam_ [that that] + _Vaticinant._ ... Theolog. Platon. [Theolog Platon] + +Augustan Reprints + +Here as in e-texts 29237 and 29684 (from the same year), one or two +pages from the list of titles in print appear to be missing. The same +list should be present in any Augustan Reprint from a later year. + + [First page] UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES [. for,] + 117. Sir Roger L’Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). [Sir George] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Democritus Platonissans, by Henry More + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEMOCRITUS PLATONISSANS *** + +***** This file should be named 30327-0.txt or 30327-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/2/30327/ + +Produced by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/30327-0.zip b/old/30327-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4970607 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30327-0.zip diff --git a/old/30327-8.txt b/old/30327-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f3a136 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30327-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3761 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Democritus Platonissans, by Henry More + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Democritus Platonissans + +Author: Henry More + +Editor: P. G. Stanwood + +Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30327] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEMOCRITUS PLATONISSANS *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +[This text is intended for users whose text readers cannot use the +"real" (Unicode/UTF-8) version of the file. The "oe" ligature has been +"unpacked" to separate letters. Transliterated Greek is shown between ++marks+, and Hebrew between #marks#. + +Roman (emphatic) type within italic body text is shown in =marks=. + +Unless otherwise noted, spelling, punctuation and capitalization in the +primary text are unchanged. The distinction between u (vowel) and v +(consonant) is as in the original. Typographical errors are listed at +the end of the e-text. + +The General Interpretation ("Interp. Gen.") referenced in the +Particular Interpretation is not part of this text.] + + + + + The Augustan Reprint Society + + + HENRY MORE + + _Democritus + Platonissans_ + + (1646) + + + _Introduction by_ + + P. G. STANWOOD + + + Publication Number 130 + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY + University of California, Los Angeles + 1968 + + + + +GENERAL EDITORS + + George Robert Guffey, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Maximillian E. Novak, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Robert Vosper, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + +ADVISORY EDITORS + + Richard C. Boys, _University of Michigan_ + James L. Clifford, _Columbia University_ + Ralph Cohen, _University of Virginia_ + Vinton A. Dearing, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Arthur Friedman, _University of Chicago_ + Louis A. Landa, _Princeton University_ + Earl Miner, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Samuel H. Monk, _University of Minnesota_ + Everett T. Moore, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Lawrence Clark Powell, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + James Sutherland, _University College, London_ + H. T. Swedenberg, Jr., _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +CORRESPONDING SECRETARY + + Edna C. Davis, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Henry More (1614-1687), the most interesting member of that group +traditionally known as the Cambridge Platonists, lived conscientiously +and well. Having early set out on one course, he never thought to change +it; he devoted his whole life to the joy of celebrating, again and +again, "afirm and unshaken Belief of the Existence of GOD ..., a God +infinitely Good, as well as infinitely Great...."[1] Such faith was +for More the starting point of his rational understanding: "with the +most fervent Prayers" he beseeched God, in his autobiographical +"Praefatio Generalissima," "to set me free from the dark Chains, and +this so sordid Captivity of my own Will." More offered to faith all +which his reason could know, and so it happened that he "was got into a +most Joyous and Lucid State of Mind," something quite ineffable; to +preserve these "Sensations and Experiences of my own Soul," he wrote +"apretty full Poem call'd _Psychozoia_" (or_A Christiano-Platonicall +display of Life_), an exercise begun about 1640 and designed for no +audience but himself. There were times, More continued in his +autobiographical remarks, when he thought of destroying _Psychozoia_ +because its style is rough and its language filled with archaisms. His +principal purpose in that poem was to demonstrate in detail the +spiritual foundation of all existence; Psyche, his heroine, is the +daughter of the Absolute, the general Soul who holds together the +metaphysical universe, against whom he sees reflected his own soul's +mystical progress. More must, nevertheless, have been pleased with his +labor, for he next wrote _Psychathanasia Platonica: or Platonicall Poem +of the Immortality of Souls, especially Mans Soul_, in which he attempts +to demonstrate the immortality of the soul as a corrective to his age. +Then, he joined to that _Antipsychopannychia, or A Confutation of the +sleep of the Soul after death_, and _Antimonopsychia, or That all Souls +are not one_; at the urging of friends, he published the poems in +1642--his first literary work--as _Psychodia Platonica_. + +In his argument for the soul's immortality toward the end of +_Psychathanasia_ (III.4), More had urged that there was no need to plead +for any extension of the infinite ("acontradiction," and also, it would +seem, afruitless inquiry); but he soon changed his mind. The preface to +_Democritus Platonissans_ reproduces those stanzas of the earlier poem +which deny infinity (34to the end of the canto) with a new (formerly +concluding) stanza 39 and three further stanzas "for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto," _i.e._, _Democritus +Platonissans_, which More clearly intended to be an addition, afifth +canto to _Psychathanasia_ (Book III); and although _Democritus +Platonissans_ first appeared separately, More appended it to +_Psychathanasia_ in the second edition of his collected poems, this time +with English titles, the whole being called _A Platonick Song of the +Soul_ (1647). + +There is little relationship between _Democritus Platonissans_ and the +rest of More's poetry; even the main work to which it supposedly forms a +final and conclusive canto provides only the slightest excuse for such a +continuation. Certainly, in _Psychathanasia_, More is excited by the new +astronomy; he praises the Copernican system throughout Book III, giving +an account of it according to the lessons of his study of Galileo's +_Dialogo_, which he may have been reading even as he wrote.[2] Indeed, +More tries to harmonize the two poems--his habit was always to look for +unity. But even though _Democritus Platonissans_ explores an +astronomical subject, just as the third part of _Psychathanasia_ also +does, its attitude and theme are quite different; for More had meanwhile +been reading Descartes. + +More's theory of the infinity of worlds and God's plenitude evidently +owed a great deal to Descartes' recent example; More responds +exuberantly to him, especially to his _Principes de la Philosophie_ +(1644); for in him he fancied having found a true ally. Steeped in +Platonic and neo-Platonic thought, and determined to reconcile Spirit +with the rational mind of man, More thought he had discovered in +Cartesian 'intuition' what was not necessarily there. Descartes had +enjoyed an ecstatic illumination, and so had Plotinus; but this was not +enough, as More may have wanted to imagine, to make Descartes a +neo-Platonist.[3] But the Platonic element implicit in Descartes, his +theory of innate ideas, and his proof of the existence of God from the +idea of God, all helped to make More so receptive to him. Nevertheless, +More did not really need Descartes, nor, as he himself was later to +discover, had he even understood him properly, for More had looked at +him only to find his own reflection. + +But there was nothing really new about the idea of infinite worlds which +More described in _Democritus Platonissans_; it surely was not a +conception unique to Descartes. The theory was a common one in Greek and +Renaissance thought. Democritus and the Epicureans, of course, advocated +the theme of infinite worlds in an infinite universe which More +accepted; but at the same time, he rejected their view of a mechanistic +and fortuitous creation. Although Plato specifically rejects the idea of +infinite worlds (in_Timaeus_), More imagines, as the title of his poem +implies, aPlatonic universe, by which he really means neo-Platonic, +combined with a Democritean plurality of worlds. More filled space, not +with the infinite void of the Atomists, but with the Divine, ever active +immanence. More, in fact, in an early philosophic work, _An Antidote +against Atheisme_ (1652), and again in _Divine Dialogues_ (1668), +refutes Lucretius by asserting the usefulness of all created things in +God's Providence and the essential design in Nature. His reference in +_Democritus Platonissans_ (st.20) is typical: "though I detest the +sect/ of Epicurus for their manners vile,/ Yet what is true I may not +well reject." In bringing together Democritus' theories and neo-Platonic +thought, More obviously has attempted reconciliation of two exclusive +world views, but with dubious success. + +While More stands firmly before a familiar tradition, his belief in an +infinity of worlds evidently has little immediate connection with any +predecessors. Even Bruno's work, or Thomas Digges,' which could have +occupied an important place, seems to have had little, if any, direct +influence on More. It was Descartes who stimulated his thought at the +most receptive moment: in 1642 to have denied a theory which in 1646 he +proclaimed with such force evidently argues in favor of a most powerful +attachment. More responded enthusiastically to what he deemed a +congenial metaphysical system; as a champion of Descartes, he was first +to make him known in England and first in England to praise the infinity +of worlds, yet Descartes' system could give to him little real solace. +More embraces God's plenitude and infinity of worlds, he rejoices in the +variety and grandeur of the universe, and he worships it as he might God +Himself; but Descartes was fundamentally uninterested in such +enthusiasms and found them even repellant--as well as unnecessary--to +his thought. For More the doctrine of infinity was a proper corollary of +Copernican astronomy and neo-Platonism (aswell as Cabbalistic +mysticism) and therefore a necessity to his whole elaborate and eclectic +view of the world. + +In introducing Cartesian thought into England, More emphasized +particular physical doctrines mainly described in _The Principles of +Philosophy_; he shows little interest in the _Discourse on the Method of +Rightly Conducting the Reason_ (1637), or in the _Meditations_ (1641), +both of which were also available to him when he wrote _Democritus +Platonissans_. In the preface to his poem, he refers to Descartes whom +he seems to have read hopefully: surely "infinitude" is the same as the +Cartesian "indefinite." "_For what is his =mundus indefinit extensus=, +but =extensus infinit=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos=, but +=simpliciter finitus=_," for there can be no space "_unstuffd with +Atoms_." More thinks that Descartes seems "to mince it," that difficulty +lies in the interpretation of a word, not in an essential idea. He is +referring to Part II, xxi, of _The Principles_, but he quotes, with +tacit approval, from Part III, iand ii, in the motto to the poem. More +undoubtedly knows the specific discussion of 'infinity' in Part I, +xxvi-xxviii, where he must first have felt uneasy delight on reading +"that it is not needful to enter into disputes regarding the infinite, +but merely to hold all that in which we can find no limits as +indefinite, such as the extension of the world...."[4] More asked +Descartes to clarify his language in their correspondence of 1648-49, +the last year of Descartes' life. + +_Democritus Platonissans_ is More's earliest statement about absolute +space and time; by introducing these themes into English philosophy, he +contributed significantly to the intellectual history of the seventeenth +century. Newton, indeed, was able to make use of More's forging efforts; +but of relative time or space and their measurement, which so much +concerned Newton, More had little to say. He was preoccupied with the +development of a theory which would show that immaterial substance, with +space and time as attributes, is as real and as absolute as the +Cartesian geometrical and spatial account of matter which he felt was +true but much in need of amplification. + +In his first letter to Descartes, of 11 December 1648, More wrote: +"...this indefinite extension is either _simpliciter_ infinite, or +only in respect to us. If you understand extension to be infinite +_simpliciter_, why do you obscure your thought by too low and too modest +words? If it is infinite only in respect to us, extension, in reality, +will be finite; for our mind is the measure neither of the things nor of +truth.. .." Unsatisfied by his first answer from Descartes (5February +1649), he urges his point again (5March): if extension can describe +matter, the same quality must apply to the immaterial and yet be only +one of many attributes of Spirit. In his second letter to More +(15April), Descartes answers firmly: "It is repugnant to my concept to +attribute any limit to the world, and I have no other measure than my +perception for what I have to assert or to deny. Isay, therefore, that +the world is indeterminate or indefinite, because I do not recognize in +it any limits. But I dare not call it infinite as I perceive that God is +greater than the world, not in respect to His extension, because, as I +have already said, Ido not acknowledge in God any proper [extension], +but in respect to His perfection.... It is repugnant to my mind +... it implies a contradiction, that the world be finite or limited, +because I cannot but conceive a space outside the boundaries of the +world wherever I presuppose them." More plainly fails to understand the +basic dualism inherent in Cartesian philosophy and to sense the +irrelevance of his questions. While Descartes is really disposing of the +spiritual world in order to get on with his analysis of finite +experience, More is keenly attempting to reconcile neo-Platonism with +the lively claims of matter. His effort can be read as the brave attempt +to harmonize an older mode of thought with the urgency of the 'new +philosophy' which called the rest in doubt. More saw this conflict and +the implications of it with a kind of clarity that other men of his age +hardly possessed. But the way of Descartes, which at first seemed to him +so promising, certainly did not lead to the kind of harmony which he +sought. + +More's original enthusiasm for Descartes declined as he understood +better that the Cartesian world in practice excluded spirits and souls. +Because Descartes could find no necessary place even for God Himself, +More styled him, in _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_ (1671), the "Prince of +the Nullibists"; these men "readily acknowledge there are such things as +_Incorporeal Beings_ or _Spirits_, yet do very peremptorily contend, +that they are _no where_ in the whole World [;] ... because they so +boldly affirm that a Spirit is _Nullibi_, that is to say, _no where_," +they deserve to be called _Nullibists_.[5] In contrast to these false +teachers, More describes absolute space by listing twenty epithets which +can be applied either to God or to pure extension, such as "Unum, +Simplex, Immobile ... Incomprehensible "[6] There is, however, +agreat difficulty here; for while Space and Spirit are eternal and +uncreated, they yet contain material substance which has been created by +God. If the material world possesses infinite extension, as More +generally believes, that would preclude any need of its having a +creator. In order to avoid this dilemma, which _Democritus Platonissans_ +ignores, More must at last separate matter and space, seeing the latter +as an attribute of God through which He is able to contain a finite +world limited in space as well as in time. In writing that "this +infinite space because of its infinity is distinct from matter,"[7] More +reveals the direction of his conclusion; the dichotomy it embodies is +Cartesianism in reverse. + +While More always labored to describe the ineffable, his earliest work, +the poetry, may have succeeded in this wish most of all. Although he +felt that his poetry was aiming toward truths which his "_later and +better concocted Prose_"[8] reached, the effort cost him the +suggestiveness of figurative speech. In urging himself on toward an ever +more consistent statement of belief, he lost much of his beginning +exuberance (best expressed in the brief "Philosopher's Devotion") and +the joy of intellectual discovery. In the search "_to find out Words +which will prove faithful witnesses of the peculiarities of my +Thoughts_," he staggers under the unsupportable burden of too many +words. In trying so desperately to clarify his thought, he rejected +poetic discourse as "slight"; only a language free of metaphor and +symbol could, he supposed, lead toward correctness. Indeed, More soon +renounced poetry; he apparently wrote no more after collecting it in +_Philosophical Poems_ (1647), when he gave up poetry for "more seeming +Substantial performances in solid _Prose_."[9] "Cupids Conflict," which +is "annexed" to _Democritus Platonissans_, is an interesting revelation +of the failure of poetry, as More felt it: he justifies his "rude rugged +uncouth style" by suggesting that sweet verses avoid telling important +truths; harshness and obscurity may at least remind one that there is a +significance beyond mere words. His lament is characteristic: "How ill +alas! with wisdome it accords/ To sell my living sense for liveless +words." + +In spite of these downcast complaints, More was quite capable of lively +and meaningful poetic ideas. One is the striking image of the cone which +occurs in _Democritus Platonissans_ (especially in stanzas 7-8, 66-67, +and88) and becomes the most essential symbol to More's expression +of infinitude and extension. The figure first appears in +_Antipsychopannychia_ (II.9) where his purpose is to reconcile the world +Soul with Christian eschatology. In _Democritus Platonissans_, the cone +enables More to adapt the familiar Hermetic paradox: + + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib'd, whose Centre's each where set, + But the low Cusp's a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre's every where. (st. 8) + +Every point on the circumference, or base of the cone, relates to the +single point at the top. The world, More wants to say, has no limits, no +center, yet there are bounds in its not having any. More recognizes the +contradiction when he fancies "some strong arm'd Archer" at the wide +world's edge (st.37). Where shall he send his shafts? Into "mere +vacuity"? But More hardly seems aware of the inappropriateness of the +cone: he uses a geometrical figure to locate space, time, and numberless +worlds within the universal sight of God, but matter is infinite, +"distinct/ And yet proceeding from the Deitie" (st.68). Obviously, the +archer must forever be sending his arrows through an infinitely +expanding surface. Nevertheless, the cone has great value as a metaphor, +as a richly suggestive and fascinating conception. More, however, does +not want to speak metaphorically; he is attempting to disclose truths, +literal and plain, where pretty words and metaphors have no place. Even +as he is writing his most effective poetry, we are aware that More is +denying his poetic office; for he is pleading a reasoned case where the +words crack and strain, where poetic meaning gathers, only to be denied. + +But these objections momentarily disappear when More forgets himself +enough to let us feel his imagination and does not worry that we might +miss the proofs of his philosophy. _Democritus Platonissans_ concludes +with an apocalyptic vision wherein the poet imagines the reconciliation +of infinite worlds and time within God's immensity. He is also +attempting to harmonize _Psychathanasia_, where he rejected infinitude, +with its sequel, _Democritus Platonissans_, where he has everywhere been +declaring it; thus we should think of endless worlds as we should think +of Nature and the Phoenix, dying yet ever regenerative, sustained by a +"centrall power/ Of hid spermatick life" which sucks "sweet heavenly +juice" from above (st.101). More closes his poem on a vision of harmony +and ceaseless energy, amost fit ending for one who dared to believe +that the new philosophy sustained the old, that all coherence had not +gone out of the world, but was always there, only waiting to be +discovered afresh in this latter age. + +The University of British Columbia + + + + +NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION + +[Footnote 1: The quotations from More's Latin autobiography occur in the +_Opera Omnia_ (London, 1675-79), portions of which Richard Ward +translated in _The Life of ... Henry More_ (London, 1710). Cf. the +modern edition of this work, ed. M.F. Howard (London, 1911), pp. 61, +67-68, the text followed here. There is a recent reprint of the _Opera +Omnia_ in 3 volumes (Hildesheim, 1966) with an introduction by Serge +Hutin. The "Praefatio Generalissima" begins vol. II.1. One passage in +it which Ward did not translate describes the genesis of _Democritus +Platonissans_. More writes that after finishing _Psychathanasia_, he +felt a change of heart: "Postea vero mutata sententia furore nescio quo +Poetico incitatus supra dictum Poema scripsi, ea potissimum innixus +ratione quod liquido constaret extensionem spacii dari infinitam, nec +majores absurditates pluresve contingere posse in Materia infinita, +infinitaque; Mundi duratione, quam in infinita Extensione spacii" +(p.ix).] + +[Footnote 2: Cf. Lee Haring's unpub. diss., "Henry More's +_Psychathanasia_ and _Democritus Platonissans_: A Critical Edition," +(Columbia Univ., 1961), pp. 33-57.] + +[Footnote 3: Marjorie Hope Nicolson's various articles and books which +in part deal with More are important to the discussion that follows, and +especially "The Early Stage of Cartesianism in England," SP, XXVI +(1929), 356-379; _Mountain Gloom and Mountain Glory_ (Ithaca, 1959), pp. +113-143, and _The Breaking of the Circle_ (New York, 1960), pp. +158-165.] + +[Footnote 4: Cf. _The Meditations and Selections from the Principles of +Ren Descartes_, trans. John Veitch (Chicago, 1908), p. 143. The +quotations from the letters which follow occur in Alexandre Koyr's very +helpful book, _From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe_ +(Baltimore, 1957), pp. 114, 122-123, but the complete and original texts +can be consulted in Descartes, _Correspondance avec Arnaud et Morus_, +ed. G. Lewis (Paris, 1953).] + +[Footnote 5: This passage occurs at the beginning of "The Easie, True, +and Genuine Notion, And consistent Explication Of the Nature of a +Spirit," afree translation of _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, I. 27-28, by +John Collins which he included in Joseph Glanvil's _Saducismus +Triumphatus_ (London, 1681). Iquote from the text as given in +_Philosophical Writings of Henry More_, ed. F.I. MacKinnon (New York, +1925), p.183.] + +[Footnote 6: Cf. _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 8, trans. Mary Whiton +Calkins and included in John Tull Baker, _An Historical and Critical +Examination of English Space and Time Theories_ ... (Bronxville, N.Y., +1930), p. 12. For the original, cf. _Opera Omnia_, II.1, p.167.] + +[Footnote 7: "_Infinitum_ igitur hoc _Extensum_ Materia distinctum," +_Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 9, in _Opera Omnia, loc. cit._ Quoted +by MacKinnon, p. 262.] + +[Footnote 8: This and the following reference appear in _An Explanation +of the grand Mystery of Godliness_ (London, 1660), "To the Reader," pp. +vi andv.] + +[Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52).] + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + + +The text of this edition is reproduced from a copy in the Henry E. +Huntington Library. + + + + + Democritus Platonissans, + + Or, + + _AN ESSAY_ + + Upon The + + INFINITY OF WORLDS + + Out Of + + PLATONICK PRINCIPLES. + + Hereunto is annexed + + CUPIDS CONFLICT + + together with + + THE PHILOSOPHERS DEVOTION: + + And a Particular Interpretation + appertaining to the three last books of the + _Song of the Soul_. + + + By _H. More_ Master of Arts, and Fellow of + Christs Colledge in Cambridge. + + + +Agathos n to pan tode ho sunistas, agathi de oudeis peri oudenos + oudepote enginetai phthonos. Toutou d' ektos n panta hoti malista + eboulth genesthai paraplsia hauti.+ Plat. + + _Pythagoras Terram Planetam quendam esse censuit qui circa solem + in centro mundi defixum converteretur, Pythagorans secuti sunt + Philolaus, Seleucus, Cleanthes, &c. im PLATO jam senex, ut + narrat Theophrastus._ Libert. Fromond, de Orbe terr immobili. + + + _CAMBRIDGE_ + + Printed by ROGER DANIEL, Printer to + the UNIVERSITIE. 1646. + + + + +To the Reader. + + +READER, + +_If thou standest not to the judgement of thine eye more then of thy +reason, this fragment may passe favourably, though in the neglectfull +disguise of afragment; if the strangenesse of the argument prove no +hinderance. INFINITIE of WORLDS! Athing monstrous if assented to, and +to be startled at, especially by them, whose thoughts this one have +alwayes so engaged, that they can find no leisure to think of any thing +else. But I onely make a bare proposall to more acute judgements, of +what my sportfull fancie, with pleasure hath suggested: following my old +designe of furnishing mens minds with varietie of apprehensions +concerning the most weightie points of Philosophie, that they may not +seem rashly to have settled in the truth, though it be the truth: +athing as ill beseeming Philosophers, as hastie prejudicative sentence +Politicall Judges. But if I had relinquishd here my wonted self, in +proving Dogmaticall, Ishould have found very noble Patronage for the +cause among the ancients, =Epicurus=, =Democritus=, =Lucretius=, =&c.= +Or if justice may reach the dead, do them the right, as to shew, that +though they be hooted at, by the Rout of the learned, as men of +monstrous conceits, they were either very wise or exceeding fortunate to +light on so probable and specious an opinion, in which notwithstanding +there is so much difficultie and seeming inconsistencie._ + +_Nay and that sublime and subtil Mechanick too, =DesChartes=, though he +seem to mince it must hold infinitude of worlds, or which is as harsh +one infinite one. For what is his =mundus indefinit extensus=, but +=extensus infinit=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos= but +=simpliciter finitus=. But if any space be left out unstuffd with Atoms, +it will hazard the dissipation of the whole frame of Nature into +disjoynted dust. As may be proved by the Principles of his own +Philosophie. And that there is space whereever God is, or any actuall +and self-subsistent Being, seems to me no plainer then one of the ++koinai ennoiai+._ + +_For mine own part I must confesse these apprehensions do plainly oppose +what heretofore I have conceived; but I have sworn more faithfull +friendship with Truth then with myself. And therefore without all +remorse lay batterie against mine own edifice: not sparing to shew how +weak that is, that my self now deems not impregnably strong. Ihave at +the latter end of the last Canto of =Psychathanasia=, not without +triumph concluded, that the world hath not continued =ab terno=, from +this ground:_ + + Extension + That's infinite implies a contradiction. + +_And this is in answer to an objection against my last argument of the +souls Immortalitie, =viz.= divine goodnesse, which I there make the +measure of his providence. That ground limits the essence of the world +as well as its duration, and satisfies the curiositie of the Opposer, by +shewing the incompossibilitie in the Creature, not want of goodnesse in +the Creatour to have staid the framing of the Universe. But now roused +up by a new Philosophick furie, Ianswer that difficultie by taking away +the Hypothesis of either the world or time being finite: defending the +infinitude of both, which though I had done with a great deal of vigour +and life, and semblance of assent, it would have agreed well enough with +the free beat of Poesie, and might have passed for a pleasant flourish: +but the severitie of my own judgement, and sad Genius hath cast in many +correctives and coolers into the Canto it self; so that it cannot amount +to more then a discussion. And discussion is no prejudice but an honour +to the truth: for then and never but then is she Victorious. And what a +glorious Trophee shall the finite world erect when it hath vanquished +the Infinite; aPygmee a Giant._ + +_For the better understanding of the connexion of this Appendix, with +the Poem of the souls Immortalitie; Ihave taken off the last stanza's +thereof, and added some few new ones to them for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto. =Psychathan. lib. 3. Cant. 4.=_ + + _Stanz._ 33d. + + But thou who ere thou art that thus dost strive + With fierce assault my groundwork to subvert, + And boldly dost into Gods secrets dive, + Base fear my manly face note make m' avert. + In that odde question which thou first didst stert, + I'll plainly prove thine incapacitie, + And force thy feeble feet back to revert, + That cannot climb so high a mysterie, + I'le shew thee strange perplexed inconsistencie. + + 34 + + Why was this world from all infinitie + Not made? say'st thou: why? could it be so made + Say I. For well observe the sequencie: + If this Out-world continually hath wade + Through a long long-spun-time that never had + Beginning, then there as few circulings + Have been in the quick Moon as Saturn sad; + And still more plainly this clear truth to sing, + As many years as dayes or flitting houres have been. + + 35 + + For things that we conceive are infinite, + One th' other no'te surpasse in quantitie. + So I have prov'd with clear convincing light, + This world could never from infinitie + Been made. Certain deficiencie + Doth alwayes follow evolution: + Nought's infinite but tight eternitie + Close thrust into itself: extension + That's infinite implies a contradiction. + + 36 + + So then for ought we know this world was made + So soon as such a Nature could exist; + And though that it continue, never fade, + Yet never will it be that that long twist + Of time prove infinite, though ner'e desist + From running still. But we may safely say + Time past compar'd with this long future list + Doth show as if the world but yesterday + Were made, and in due time Gods glory out may ray. + + 37 + + Then this short night and ignorant dull ages + Will quite be swallowed in oblivion; + And though this hope by many surly Sages + Be now derided, yet they'll all be gone + In a short time, like Bats and Owls yflone + At dayes approch. This will hap certainly + At this worlds shining conflagration. + Fayes, Satyrs, Goblins the night merrily + May spend, but ruddy Sol shall make them all to flie. + + 38 + + The roaring Lions and drad beasts of prey + Rule in the dark with pitious crueltie; + But harmlesse Man is matter of the day, + Which doth his work in pure simplicitie. + God blesse his honest usefull industrie. + But pride and covetize, ambition, + Riot, revenge, self-love, hypocrisie, + Contempt of goodnesse, forc'd opinion; + These and such like do breed the worlds confusion. + + 39 + + But sooth to say though my triumphant Muse + Seemeth to vant as in got victorie, + And with puissant stroke the head to bruize + Of her stiff so, and daze his phantasie, + Captive his reason, dead each facultie: + Yet in her self so strong a force withstands + That of her self afraid, she'll not aby, + Nor keep the field. She'll fall by her own hand + As _Ajax_ once laid _Ajax_ dead upon the strand. + + 40 + + For thus her-self by her own self's oppos'd; + The Heavens the Earth the universall Frame + Of living Nature God so soon disclos'd + As He could do, or she receive the same. + All times delay since that must turn to blame, + And what cannot He do that can be done? + And what might let but by th' all-powerfull Name + Or Word of God, the Worlds Creation + More suddenly were made then mans swift thought can run? + + 41 + + Wherefore that Heavenly Power or is as young + As this Worlds date; or else some needlesse space + Of time was spent, before the Earth did clung + So close unto her-self and seas embrace + Her hollow breast, and if that time surpasse + A finite number then Infinitie + Of years before this Worlds Creation passe. + So that the durance of the Deitie + We must contract or strait his full Benignitie. + + 42 + + But for the cradle of the _Cretian Jove_, + And guardians of his vagient Infancie + What sober man but sagely will reprove? + Or drown the noise of the fond _Dactyli_ + By laughter loud? Dated Divinitie + Certes is but the dream of a drie brain: + God maim'd in goodnesse, inconsistencie; + Wherefore my troubled mind is now in pain + Of a new birth, which this one Canto'll not contain. + +_Now Reader, thou art arrived to the Canto it self, from which I have +kept thee off by too tedious Preface and Apologie, which is seldome made +without consciousnesse of some fault, which I professe I find not in my +self, unlesse this be it, that I am more tender of thy satisfaction then +mine own credit. As for that high sullen Poem, =Cupids Conflict=, I must +leave it to thy candour and favourable censure. The =Philosophers +Devotion= I cast in onely, that the latter pages should not be +unfurnished._ + + H. M. + + +_Nihil tamen frequentius inter Autores occurrit, qum ut omnia ade ex +moduli fer sensuum suorum stiment, ut ea qu insuper infinitis rerum +spatiis extare possunt, sive superb sive imprudenter rejiciant; quin & +ea omnia in usum suum fabricata fuisse glorientur, perinde facientes ac +si pediculi humanum caput, aut pulices sinum muliebrem propter se solos +condita existimarent, eque demum ex gradibus saltibsve suis +metirentur. =The Lord Herbert in his De Causis Errorum.=_ + + +_De generali totius hujus mundi aspectabilis constructione ut rect +Philosophemur duo sunt imprimis observanda: Unum ut attendentes ad +infinitam Dei potentiam & bonitatem n vereamur nimis ampla & pulchra & +absoluta ejus opera imaginari: sed contra caveamus, n si quos fort +limites nobis non cert cognitos, in ipsis supponamus, non sats +magnific de creatoris potentia sentire videamur._ + +_Alterum, ut etiam caveamus, n nimis superb de nobis ipsis sentiamus. +Quod fieret non mod, si quos limites nobis null cognitos ratione, nec +divin revelatione, mundo vellemus affingere, tanquam si vis nostra +cogitationis, ultra id quod Deo revera factum est ferri posset; sed +etiam maxim, si res omnes propter nos solos, ab illo creatas esse +fingeremus. =Renatus DesCartes in his Princip. Philosoph. the third +part.=_ + + + + + THE ARGUMENT. + + _'Gainst boundlesse time th' objections made, + And wast infinity + Of worlds, are with new reasons weigh'd, + Mens judgements are left free._ + + + 1 + + Hence, hence unhallowed ears and hearts more hard + Then Winter clods fast froze with Northern wind. + But most of all, foul tongue I thee discard + That blamest all that thy dark strait'ned mind, + Can not conceive: But that no blame thou find; + What e're my pregnant Muse brings forth to light, + She'l not acknowledge to be of her kind, + Till Eagle-like she turn them to the sight + Of the eternall Word all deckt with glory bright. + + 2 + + Strange sights do straggle in my restlesse thoughts, + And lively forms with orient colours clad + Walk in my boundlesse mind, as men ybrought + Into some spacious room, who when they've had + A turn or two, go out, although unbad. + All these I see and know, but entertain + None to my friend but who's most sober sad; + Although the time my roof doth them contain + Their pretence doth possesse me till they out again. + + 3 + + And thus possest in silver trump I found + Their guise, their shape, their gesture and array. + But as in silver trumpet nought is found + When once the piercing sound is past away, + (Though while the mighty blast therein did stay, + Its tearing noise so terribly did shrill, + That it the heavens did shake, and earth dismay) + As empty I of what my flowing quill + In heedlesse hast elswhere, or here, may hap to spill. + + 4 + + For 'tis of force and not of a set will. + Ne dare my wary mind afford assent + To what is plac'd above all mortall skill. + But yet our various thoughts to represent + Each gentle wight will deem of good intent. + Wherefore with leave th' infinitie I'll sing + Of time, Of Space: or without leave; I'm brent + With eagre rage, my heart for joy doth spring, + And all my spirits move with pleasant trembeling. + + 5 + + An inward triumph doth my soul up-heave + And spread abroad through endlesse 'spersed aire. + My nimble mind this clammie clod doth leave, + And lightly stepping on from starre to starre + Swifter then lightning, passeth wide and farre, + Measuring th' unbounded Heavens and wastfull skie; + Ne ought she finds her passage to debarre, + For still the azure Orb as she draws nigh + Gives back, new starres appear, the worlds walls 'fore her flie. + + 6 + + For what can stand that is so badly staid? + Well may that fall whose ground-work is unsure. + And what hath wall'd the world but thoughts unweigh'd + In freer reason? That antiquate, secure, + And easie dull conceit of corporature; + Of matter; quantitie, and such like gear + Hath made this needlesse, thanklesse inclosure, + Which I in full disdain quite up will tear + And lay all ope, that as things are they may appear. + + 7 + + For other they appear from what they are + By reason that their Circulation + Cannot well represent entire from farre + Each portion of the _Cuspis_ of the Cone + (Whose nature is elsewhere more clearly shown) + I mean each globe, whether of glaring light + Or else opake, of which the earth is one. + If circulation could them well transmit + Numbers infinite of each would strike our 'stonishd sight; + + 8 + + All in just bignesse and right colours dight + But totall presence without all defect + 'Longs onely to that Trinitie by right, + _Ahad_, _on_, _Psyche_ with all graces deckt, + Whose nature well this riddle will detect; + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib'd, whose Centre's each where set, + But the low Cusp's a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre's every where. + + 9 + + Wherefore who'll judge the limits of the world + By what appears unto our failing sight + Appeals to sense, reason down headlong hurld + Out of her throne by giddie vulgar might. + But here base senses dictates they will dight + With specious title of Philosophie, + And stiffly will contend their cause is right + From rotten rolls of school antiquitie, + Who constantly denie corporall Infinitie. + + 10 + + But who can prove their corporalitie + Since matter which thereto's essentiall + If rightly sifted 's but a phantasie. + And quantitie who's deem'd Originall + Is matter, must with matter likewise fall. + What ever is, is Life and Energie + From God, who is th' Originall of all; + Who being everywhere doth multiplie + His own broad shade that endlesse throughout all doth lie. + + 11 + + He from the last projection of light + Ycleep'd _Shamajim_, which is liquid fire + (It _ther_ eke and centrall _Tasis_ hight) + Hath made each shining globe and clumperd mire + Of dimmer Orbs. For Nature doth inspire + Spermatick life, but of a different kind. + Hence those congenit splendour doth attire + And lively heat, these darknesse dead doth bind, + And without borrowed rayes they be both cold and blind. + + 12 + + All these be knots of th' universall stole + Of sacred _Psyche_; which at first was fine, + Pure, thin, and pervious till hid powers did pull + Together in severall points and did encline + The nearer parts in one clod to combine. + Those centrall spirits that the parts did draw + The measure of each globe did then define, + Made things impenetrable here below, + Gave colour, figure, motion, and each usuall law. + + 13 + + And what is done in this Terrestriall starre + The same is done in every Orb beside. + Each flaming Circle that we see from farre + Is but a knot in _Psyches_ garment tide. + From that lax shadow cast throughout the wide + And endlesse world, that low'st projection + Of universall life each thing's deriv'd + What e're appeareth in corporeall fashion; + For body's but this spirit, fixt, grosse by conspissation. + + 14 + + And that which doth conspissate active is; + Wherefore not matter but some living sprite + Of nimble Nature which this lower mist + And immense field of Atoms doth excite, + And wake into such life as best doth fit + With his own self. As we change phantasies + The essence of our soul not chang'd a whit, + So do these Atoms change their energies + Themselves unchanged into new Centreties. + + 15 + + And as our soul's not superficially + Colourd by phantasms, nor doth them reflect + As doth a looking-glasse such imag'rie + As it to the beholder doth detect: + No more are these lightly or smear'd or deckt + With form or motion which in them we see, + But from their inmost Centre they project + Their vitall rayes, not merely passive be, + But by occasion wak'd rouze up themselves on high. + + 16 + + So that they're life, form, sprite, not matter pure, + For matter pure is a pure nullitie, + What nought can act is nothing, I am sure; + And if all act, that is they'll not denie + But all that is is form: so easily + By what is true, and by what they embrace + For truth, their feigned Corporalitie + Will vanish into smoke, but on I'll passe, + More fully we have sung this in another place. + + 17 + + Wherefore more boldly now to represent + The nature of the world, how first things were + How now they are: This endlesse large Extent + Of lowest life (which I styled whileere + The _Cuspis_ of the _Cone_ that's every where) + Was first all dark, till in this spacious Hall + Hideous through silent horrour torches clear + And lamping lights bright shining over all + Were set up in due distances proportionall. + + 18 + + Innumerable numbers of fair Lamps + Were rightly ranged in this hollow hole, + To warm the world and chace the shady damps + Of immense darknesse, rend her pitchie stole + Into short rags more dustie dimme then coal. + Which pieces then in severall were cast + (Abhorred reliques of that vesture foul) + Upon the Globes that round those torches trac'd, + Which still fast on them stick for all they run so fast. + + 19 + + Such an one is that which mortall men call Night, + A little shred of that unbounded shade. + And such a Globe is that which Earth is hight; + By witlesse Wizzards the sole centre made + Of all the world, and on strong pillars staid. + And such a lamp or light is this our Sun, + Whose firie beams the scortched Earth invade. + But infinite such as he, in heaven won, + And more then infinite Earths about those Suns do run; + + 20 + + And to speak out: though I detest the sect + Of _Epicurus_ for their manners vile, + Yet what is true I may not well reject. + Truth's incorruptible, ne can the style + Of vitious pen her sacred worth defile. + If we no more of truth should deign t' embrace + Then what unworthy mouths did never soyl, + No truths at all mongst men would finden place + But make them speedie wings and back to Heaven apace. + + 21 + + I will not say our world is infinite, + But that infinitie of worlds ther be. + The Centre of our world's the lively light + Of the warm sunne, the visible Deitie + Of this externall Temple. _Mercurie_ + Next plac'd and warm'd more throughly by his rayes, + Right nimbly 'bout his golden head doth flie: + Then _Venus_ nothing slow about him strayes, + And next our _Earth_ though seeming sad full spritely playes. + + 22 + + And after her _Mars_ rangeth in a round + With firie locks and angry flaming eye, + And next to him mild _Jupiter_ is found, + But Saturn cold wons in our utmost skie. + The skirts of his large Kingdome surely lie + Near to the confines of some other worlds + Whose Centres are the fixed starres on high, + 'Bout which as their own proper Suns are hurld + _Joves_, _Earths_ and _Saturns_; round on their own axes twurld. + + 23 + + Little or nothing are those starres to us + Which in the azure Evening gay appear + (I mean for influence) but judicious + Nature and carefull Providence her dear + And matchlesse work did so contrive whileere, + That th' Hearts or Centres in the wide world pight + Should such a distance each to other bear, + That the dull Planets with collated light + By neighbour suns might cheared be in dampish night. + + 24 + + And as the Planets in our world (of which + The sun's the heart and kernell) do receive + Their nightly light from suns that do enrich + Their sable mantle with bright gemmes, and give + A goodly splendour, and sad men relieve + With their fair twinkling rayes, so our worlds sunne + Becomes a starre elsewhere, and doth derive + Joynt light with others, cheareth all that won + In those dim duskish Orbs round other suns that run. + + 25 + + This is the parergon of each noble fire + Of neighbour worlds to be the nightly starre, + But their main work is vitall heat t' inspire + Into the frigid spheres that 'bout them fare, + Which of themselves quite dead and barren are. + But by the wakening warmth of kindly dayes, + And the sweet dewie nights they well declare + Their seminall virtue in due courses raise + Long hidden shapes and life, to their great Makers praise. + + 26 + + These with their suns I severall worlds do call, + Whereof the number I deem infinite: + Else infinite darknesse were in this great Hall + Of th' endlesse Universe; For nothing finite + Could put that immense shadow unto flight. + But if that infinite Suns we shall admit, + Then infinite worlds follow in reason right. + For every Sun with Planets must be fit, + And have some mark for his farre-shining shafts to hit. + + 27 + + But if he shine all solitarie, alone, + What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + Of his existence? wherefore every one + Hath a due number of dim Orbs that wend + Around their centrall fire. But wrath will rend + This strange composure back'd with reason stout + And rasher tongues right speedily will spend + Their forward censure, that my wits run out + On wool-gathering, through infinite spaces all about. + + 28 + + What sober man will dare once to avouch + An infinite number of dispersed starres? + This one absurdity will make him crouch + And eat his words; Division nought impairs + The former whole, nor he augments that spares. + Strike every tenth out, that which doth remain, + An equall number with the former shares, + And let the tenth alone, th' whole nought doth gain, + For infinite to infinite is ever the same. + + 29 + + The tenth is infinite as the other nine, + Or else, nor they, nor all the ten entire + Are infinite. Thus one infinite doth adjoyn + Others unto it and still riseth higher. + And if those single lights hither aspire, + This strange prodigious inconsistencie + Groweth still stranger, if each fixed fire + (I mean each starre) prove Sunnes, and Planets flie + About their flaming heads amid the thronged skie. + + 30 + + For whatsoever that their number be + Whether by seavens, or eighths, or fives, or nines, + They round each fixed lamp; Infinity + Will be redoubled thus by many times. + Besides each greater Planet th' attendance finds + Of lesser. Our _Earths_ handmaid is the Moon, + Which to her darkned side right duly shines, + And _Jove_ hath foure, as hath been said aboven, + And _Saturn_ more then foure if the plain truth were known. + + 31 + + And if these globes be regions of life + And severall kinds of plants therein do grow, + Grasse, flowers, hearbs, trees, which the impartiall knife + Of all consuming Time still down doth mow, + And new again doth in succession show: + Which also 's done in flies, birds, men and beasts; + Adde sand, pearls, pebbles, that the ground do strow + Leaves, quills, hairs, thorns, blooms, you may think the rest + Their kinds by mortall penne can not well be exprest: + + 32 + + And if their kinds no man may reckon well, + The summe of successive particulars + No mind conceive nor tongue can ever tell. + And yet this mist of numbers (as appears) + Belongs to one of these opacous sphears. + Suppose this _Earth_; what then will all those Rounds + Produce? No _Atlas_ such a load upbears. + In this huge endlesse heap o'rewhelmed, drownd, + Choak'd, stifled, lo! I lie, breathlesse, even quite confound. + + 33 + + Yet give me space a while but to respire, + And I my self shal fairly well out-wind; + Keep this position true, unhurt, entire, + That you no greater difficulty find + In this new old opinion here defin'd + Of infinite worlds, then one world doth imply. + For if we do with steddy patience mind + All is resolv'd int' one absurdity, + The grant of something greater then infinitie. + + 34 + + That God is infinite all men confesse, + And that the Creature is some realty + Besides Gods self, though infinitely lesse. + Joyn now the world unto the Deity. + What? is there added no more entitie + By this conjunction, then there was before? + Is the broad breasted earth? the spacious skie + Spangled with silver light, and burning Ore? + And the wide bellowing seas, whose boyling billows roar, + + 35 + + Are all these nothing? But you will reply; + As is the question so we ought restrain + Our answer unto Corporeity. + But that the phantasie of the body's vain + I did before unto you maken plain. + But that no man depart unsatisfi'd + A while this Universe here will we feigne + _Corporeall_, till we have gainly tride. + If ought that's bodily may infinite abide. + + 36 + + What makes a body saving quantity? + What quantitie unlesse extension? + Extension if 't admit infinity + Bodies admit boundlesse dimension. + That some extension forward on doth run + Withouten limits, endlesse, infinite + Is plane from Space, that ever paceth on + Unstop'd, unstaid, till it have filled quite + That immense infinite Orb where God himself doth sit. + + 37 + + But yet more sensibly this truth to show + If space be ended set upon that end + Some strong arm'd Archer with his Parthian bow, + That from that place with speedy force may send + His fleeter shafts, and so still forward wend. + Where? When shall he want room his strength to trie? + But here perversly subtill you'l contend + Nothing can move in mere vacuity, + And space is nought, so not extended properly. + + 38 + + To solve these knots I must call down from high + Some heavenly help, feather with angels wing + The sluggish arrow. If it will not flie, + Sent out from bow stiff-bent with even string, + Let angels on their backs it thither bring + Where your free mind appointed had before, + And then hold on, till in your travelling + You be well wearied, finding ever more + Free passage for their flight, and what they flying bore. + + 39 + + Now to that shift that sayes Vacuity + Is nought, and therefore not at all extent + We answer thus: There is a distancy + In empty space, though we be well content + To balk that question (for we never meant + Such needlesse niceties) whether that it be + A reall being; yet that there's parts distent + One from another, no mans phantasie + Can e're reject if well he weigh't and warily. + + 40 + + For now conceive the aire and azure skie + All swept away from Saturn to the Sunne, + Which each is to be wrought by him on high. + Then in this place let all the Planets runne + (As erst they did before this feat was done) + If not by nature, yet by divine power, + Ne one hairs breadth their former circuits shun + And still for fuller proof, th' Astronomer + Observe their hights as in the empty heavens they scoure. + + 41 + + Will then their Parallaxes prove all one + Or none, or different still as before? + If so, their distances by mortall men + Must be acknowledg'd such as were of yore, + Measur'd by leagues, miles, stades, nor lesse nor more + From circuit unto circuit shall be found + Then was before the sweeping of the floor. + That distance therefore hath most certain ground + In emptinesse we may conclude with reason sound. + + 42 + + If distance now so certainly attend + All emptinesse (as also mensuration + Attendeth distance) distance without end + Is wide disperst above imagination + (For emptinesse is void of limitation) + And this unbounded voidnesse doth admit + The least and greatest measures application; + The number thus of the greatest that doth fit + This infinite void space is likewise infinite. + + 43 + + But what so e're that infinite number be, + A lesser number will a number give + So farre exceeding in infinity + That number as this measure we conceive + To fall short of the other. But I'll leave + This present way and a new course will trie + Which at the same mark doth as fully drive + And with a great deal more facility. + Look on this endlesse Space as one whole quantity. + + 44 + + Which in your mind int' equall parts divide, + Tens, hundreds, thousands or what pleaseth best. + Each part denominate doth still abide + An infinite portion, else nor all the rest + Makes one infinitude. + For if one thousandth part may be defin'd + By finite measures eas'ly well exprest, + A myriad suppose of miles assign'd + Then to a thousand myriads is the whole confin'd. + + 45 + + Wherefore this wide and wast Vacuity, + Which endlesse is outstretched thorough all, + And lies even equall with the Deity, + Nor is a thing meerly imaginall, + (For it doth farre mens phantasies forestall + Nothing beholden to our devicefull thought) + This inf'nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + And has as great perplexities ybrought + As if this empty space with bodies were yfraught. + + 46 + + Nor have we yet the face once to denie + But that it is although we mind it not; + For all once minded such perplexity + It doth create to puzzled reason, that + She sayes and unsayes, do's she knows not what. + Why then should we the worlds infinity + Misdoubt, because when as we contemplate + Its nature, such strange inconsistency + And unexpected sequels, we therein descry? + + 47 + + Who dare gainsay but God is every where + Unbounded, measurelesse, all infinite; + Yet the same difficulties meet us here + Which erst us met and did so sore affright + With their strange vizards. This will follow right + Where ever we admit infinity + Every denominated part proves streight + A portion infinite, which if it be, + One infinite will into myriads multiply. + + 48 + + But with new argument to draw more near + Our purpos'd end. If God's omnipotent + And this omnipotent God be every where, + Where e're he is then can he eas'ly vent + His mighty virtue thorough all extent. + What then shall hinder but a roscid aire + With gentle heat each where be 'sperst and sprent. + Unlesse omnipotent power we will empair, + And say that empty space his working can debarre. + + 49 + + Where now this one supposed world is pight + Was not that space at first all vain and void? + Nor ought said; no, when he said, _Let 't be light_. + Was this one space better then all beside, + And more obedient to what God decreed? + Or would not all that endlesse emptinesse + Gladly embrac'd (if he had ever tride) + His just command? and what might come to passe + Implies no contradictious inconsistentnesse. + + 50 + + Wherefore this precious sweet Ethereall dew + For ought we know God each where did distill, + And thorough all that hollow voidnesse threw + And the wide gaping drought therewith did fill, + His endlesse overflowing goodnesse spill + In every place; which streight he did contrive + Int' infinite severall worlds, as his best skill + Did him direct and creatures could receive + For matter infinite needs infinite worlds must give. + + 51 + + The Centre of each severall world's a sunne + With shining beams and kindly warming heat, + About whose radiant crown the Planets runne, + Like reeling moths around a candle light, + These all together, one world I conceit. + And that even infinite such worlds there be, + That inexhausted Good that God is bight + A full sufficient reason is to me, + Who simple Goodnesse make the highest Deity. + + 52 + + Als make himself the key of all his works + And eke the measure of his providence; + The piercing eye of truth to whom nought lurks + But lies wide ope unbar'd of all pretense. + But frozen hearts! away! flie farre from hence, + Unlesse you'l thaw at this celestiall fire + And melt into one minde and holy sense + With Him that doth all heavenly hearts inspire, + So may you with my soul in one assent conspire. + + 53 + + But what's within, uneath is to convey + To narrow vessels that are full afore. + And yet this truth as wisely as I may + I will insinuate, from senses store + Borrowing a little aid. Tell me therefore + When you behold with your admiring eyes + Heavens Canopie all to bespangled o're + With sprinkled starres, what can you well devize + Which causen may such carelesse order in the skies? + + 54 + + A peck of peasen rudely poured out + On plaister flore, from hasty heedlesse hond + Which lie all carelesse scattered about, + To sight do in as seemly order stond, + As those fair glistering lights in heaven are found. + If onely for this world they were intended, + Nature would have adorn'd this azure round + With better art, and easily have mended + This harsh disord'red order, and more beauty lended. + + 55 + + But though these lights do seem so rudely thrown + And scattered throughout the spacious skie, + Yet each most seemly sits in his own Throne + In distance due and comely Majesty; + And round their lordly seats their servants hie + Keeping a well-proportionated space + One from another, doing chearfully + Their dayly task. No blemmish may deface + The worlds in severall deckt with all art and grace. + + 56 + + But the appearance of the nightly starres + Is but the by-work of each neighbour sun; + Wherefore lesse marvell if it lightly shares + Of neater Art; and what proportion + Were fittest for to distance one from one + (Each world I mean from other) is not clear. + Wherefore it must remain as yet unknown + Why such perplexed distances appear + Mongst the dispersed lights in Heaven thrown here & there. + + 57 + + Again, that eminent similitude + Betwixt the starres and Phoebus fixed light, + They being both with steddinesse indu'd, + No whit removing whence they first were pight, + No serious man will count a reason slight + To prove them both, both fixed suns and starres + And Centres all of severall worlds by right, + For right it is that none a sun debarre + Of Planets which his just and due retinue are. + + 58 + + If starres be merely starres not centrall lights + Why swell they into so huge bignesses? + For many (as Astronomers do write) + Our sun in bignesse many times surpasse. + If both their number and their bulks were lesse + Yet lower placed, light and influence + Would flow as powerfully, and the bosome presse + Of the impregned Earth, that fruit from hence + As fully would arise, and lordly affluence. + + 59 + + Wherefore these fixed Fires mainly attend + Their proper charge in their own Universe, + And onely by the by of court'sie lend + Light to our world, as our world doth reverse + His thankfull rayes so farre as he can pierce + Back unto other worlds. But farre aboven + Further then furthest thought of man can traverse, + Still are new worlds aboven and still aboven. + In the endlesse hollow Heaven, and each world hath his sun. + + 60 + + An hint of this we have in winter-nights, + When reason may see clearer then our eye, + Small subtil starres appear unto our sights + As thick as pin-dust scattered in the skie. + Here we accuse our seeing facultie + Of weaknesse, and our sense of foul deceit, + We do accuse and yet we know not why. + But the plain truth is, from a vaster hight + The numerous upper worlds amaze our dazzled sight. + + 61 + + Now sith so farre as sense can ever trie + We find new worlds, that still new worlds there be, + And round about in infinite numbers lie, + Further then reach of mans weak phantasie + (Without suspition of temeritie) + We may conclude; as well as men conclude + That there is aire farre 'bove the mountains high, + Or that th' Earth a sad substance doth include + Even to the Centre with like qualities indu'd. + + 62 + + For who did ever the Earths Centre pierce, + And felt or sand or gravell with his spade + At such a depth? what Histories rehearse + That ever wight did dare for to invade + Her bowels but one mile in dampish shade? + Yet I'll be bold to say that few or none + But deem this globe even to the bottome made + Of solid earth, and that her nature's one + Throughout, though plain experience hath it never shown. + + 63 + + But sith sad earth so farre as they have gone + They still descrie, eas'ly they do inferre + Without all check of reason, were they down + Never so deep, like substance would appear, + Ne dream of any hollow horrour there. + My mind with like uncurb'd facilitie + Concludes from what by sight is seen so clear + That ther's no barren wast vacuitie + Above the worlds we see, but still new worlds there lie, + + 64 + + And still and still even to infinitie. + Which point since I so fitly have propos'd, + Abating well the inconsistencie + Of harsh infinitude therein supposd + And prov'd by reasons never to be loos'd + That infinite space and infinite worlds there be; + This load laid down, I'm freely now dispos'd + Awhile to sing of times infinitie, + May infinite Time afford me but his smallest fee. + + 65 + + For smallest fee of time will serve my turn + This part for to dispatch, sith endlesse space + (Whose perplext nature well mans brains might turn, + And weary wits disorder and misplace) + I have already passed: for like case + Is in them both. He that can well untie + The knots that in those infinite worlds found place, + May easily answer each perplexitie + Of these worlds infinite matters endlesse durancie. + + 66 + + The _Cuspis_ and the _Basis_ of the _Cone_ + Were both at once dispersed every where; + But the pure _Basis_ that is God alone: + Else would remotest sights as bigge appear + Unto our eyes as if we stood them near. + And if an Harper harped in the Moon, + His silver sound would touch our tickled eare: + Or if one hollowed from highest Heaven aboven, + In sweet still Evening-tide, his voice would hither roam. + + 67 + + This all would be if the _Cuspe_ of the _Cone_ + Were very God. Wherefore I rightly 't deem + Onely a Creaturall projection, + Which flowing yet from God hath ever been, + Fill'd the vast empty space with its large streem. + But yet it is not totall every where + As was even now by reason rightly seen: + Wherefore not God, whose nature doth appear + Entirely omnipresent, weigh'd with judgement clear, + + 68 + + A reall infinite matter, distinct + And yet proceeding from the Deitie + Although with different form as then untinct + Has ever been from all Eternitie. + Now what delay can we suppose to be, + Since matter alway was at hand prepar'd + Before the filling of the boundlesse skie + With framed Worlds; for nought at all debar'd, + Nor was His strength ungrown, nor was His strength empair'd. + + 69 + + How long would God be forming of a flie? + Or the small wandring moats that play i' th' sun? + Least moment well will serve none can denie, + His _Fiat_ spoke and streight the thing is done. + And cannot He make all the World as soon? + For in each Atom of the matter wide + The totall Deitie doth entirely won, + His infinite presence doth therein reside, + And in this presence infinite powers do ever abide. + + 70 + + Wherefore at once from all eternitie + The infinite number of these Worlds He made, + And will conserve to all infinitie, + And still drive on their ever-moving trade, + And steddy hold what ever must be staid; + Ne must one mite be minish'd of the summe, + Ne must the smallest atom ever fade, + But still remain though it may change its room; + This truth abideth strong from everlasting doom. + + 71 + + Ne fear I what hard sequel after-wit + Will draw upon me; that the number's one + Of years, moneths, dayes, houres, and of minutes fleet + Which from eternitie have still run on. + I plainly did confesse awhile agone + That be it what it will that's infinite + More infinites will follow thereupon, + But that all infinites do justly fit + And equall be, my reason did not yet admit. + + 72 + + But as my emboldened mind, I know not how, + In empty Space and pregnant Deitie + Endlesse infinitude dares to allow, + Though it begets the like perplexitie: + So now my soul drunk with Divinitie, + And born away above her usuall bounds + With confidence concludes infinitie + Of Time of Worlds, of firie flaming Rounds; + Which sight in sober mood my spirits quite confounds. + + 73 + + And now I do awhile but interspire + A torrent of objections 'gainst me beat, + My boldnesse to represse and strength to tire. + But I will wipe them off like summer sweat, + And make their streams streight back again retreat. + If that these worlds, say they, were ever made + From infinite time, how comes 't to passe that yet + Art is not perfected, nor metalls fade, + Nor mines of grimie coal low-hid in griesly shade. + + 74 + + But the remembrance of the ancient Floud + With ease will wash such arguments away. + Wherefore with greater might I am withstood. + The strongest stroke wherewith they can assay + To vanquish me is this; The Date or Day + Of the created World, which all admit; + Nor may my modest Muse this truth gainsay + In holy Oracles so plainly writ. + Wherefore the Worlds continuance is not infinite. + + 75 + + Now lend me, _Origen_! a little wit + This sturdy stroke right fairly to avoid, + Lest that my rasher rymes, while they ill fit + With _Moses_ pen, men justly may deride + And well accuse of ignorance or pride. + But thou, O holy Sage! with piercing sight + Who readst those sacred rolls, and hast well tride + With searching eye thereto what fitteth right + Thy self of former Worlds right learnedly dost write: + + 76 + + To weet that long ago these Earths have been + Peopled with men and beasts before this Earth, + And after this shall others be again + And other beasts and other humane birth. + Which once admit, no strength that reason bear'th + Of this worlds Date and Adams efformation, + Another Adam once received breath + And still another in endlesse repedation, + And this must perish once by finall conflagration. + + 77 + + Witnesse ye Heavens if what I say's not true, + Ye flaming Comets wandering on high, + And new fixt starres found in that Circle blue, + The one espide in glittering _Cassiopie_, + The other near to _Ophiuchus_ thigh. + Both bigger then the biggest starres that are, + And yet as farre remov'd from mortall eye + As are the furthest, so those Arts declare + Unto whose reaching sight Heavens mysteries lie bare. + + 78 + + Wherefore these new-seen lights were greater once + By many thousand times then this our sphear + Wherein we live, 'twixt good and evil chance. + Which to my musing mind doth strange appear + If those large bodies then first shaped were. + For should so goodly things so soon decay? + Neither did last the full space of two year. + Wherefore I cannot deem that their first day + Of being, when to us they sent out shining ray. + + 79 + + But that they were created both of old, + And each in his due time did fair display + Themselves in radiant locks more bright then gold, + Or silver sheen purg'd from all drossie clay. + But how they could themselves in this array + Expose to humane sight, who did before + Lie hid, is that which well amazen may + The wisest man and puzzle evermore: + Yet my unwearied thoughts this search could not give o're. + + 80 + + Which when I'd exercis'd in long pursuit + To finden out what might the best agree + With warie reason, at last I did conclude + That there's no better probabilitie + Can be produc'd of that strange prodigie, + But that some mighty Planet that doth run + About some fixed starre in _Cassiopie_ + As _Saturn_ paceth round about our Sun, + Unusuall light and bignesse by strange fate had wonne. + + 81 + + Which I conceive no gainer way is done + Then by the siezing of devouring fire + On that dark Orb, which 'fore but dimly shone + With borrowed light, not lightened entire, + But halfed like the Moon. + And while the busie flame did sieze throughout, + And search the bowels of the lowest mire + Of that _Saturnian_ Earth; a mist broke out, + And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. + + 82 + + Which being gilded with the piercing rayes + Of its own sun and every neighbour starre, + It soon appear'd with shining silver blaze, + And then gan first be seen of men from farre. + Besides that firie flame that was so narre + The Planets self, which greedily did eat + The wastning mold, did contribute a share + Unto this brightnesse; and what I conceit + Of this starre doth with that of _Ophiuchus_ sit. + + 83 + + And like I would adventure to pronounce + Of all the Comets that above the Moon, + Amidst the higher Planets rudely dance + In course perplex, but that from this rash doom + I'm bett off by their beards and tails farre strown + Along the skie, pointing still opposite + Unto the sun, however they may roam; + Wherefore a cluster of small starres unite + These meteors some do deem, perhaps with judgement right. + + 84 + + And that these tayls are streams of the suns light + Breaking through their near bodies as through clouds. + Besides the Optick glasse has shown to sight + The dissolution of these starrie crouds. + Which thing if 't once be granted and allow'd, + I think without all contradiction + They may conclude these Meteors are routs + Of wandring starres, which though they one by one + Cannot be seen, yet joyn'd, cause this strange vision. + + 85 + + And yet methinks, in my devicefull mind + Some reasons that may happily represse + These arguments it's not uneath to find. + For how can the suns rayes that be transmisse + Through these loose knots in Comets, well expresse + Their beards or curld tayls utmost incurvation? + Beside, the conflux and congeries + Of lesser lights a double augmentation + Implies, and 'twixt them both a lessening coarctation. + + 86 + + For when as once these starres are come so nigh + As to seem one, the Comet must appear + In biggest show, because more loose they lie + Somewhat spread out, but as they draw more near + The compasse of his head away must wear, + Till he be brought to his least magnitude; + And then they passing crosse, he doth repair + Himself, and still from his last losse renew'd + Grows till he reach the measure which we first had view'd. + + 87 + + And then farre distanc'd they bid quite adiew, + Each holding on in solitude his way. + Ne any footsteps in the empty Blew + Is to be found of that farre-shining ray. + Which processe sith no man did yet bewray, + It seems unlikely that the Comets be + Synods of starres that in wide Heaven stray. + Their smallnesse eke and numerositie + Encreaseth doubt and lessens probabilitie. + + 88 + + A cluster of them makes not half a Moon, + What should such tennis-balls do in the skie? + And few 'll not figure out the fashion + Of those round firie meteors on high. + Ne ought their beards much move us, that do lie + Ever cast forward from the Morning sunne, + Nor back cast tayls turn'd to our Evening-eye, + That fair appear when as the day is done. + This matter may lie hid in the starres shadowed Cone. + + 89 + + For in these Planets conflagration, + Although the smoke mount up exactly round, + Yet by the suns irradiation + Made thin and subtil no where else its found + By sight, save in the dim and duskish bound + Of the projected Pyramid opake, + Opake with darknesse, smoke and mists unsound. + Yet gilded like a foggie cloud doth make + Reflection of fair light that doth our senses take. + + 90 + + This is the reason of that constant site + Of Comets tayls and beards: And that their show's + Not pure Pyramidall, nor their ends seem streight + But bow'd like brooms, is from the winds that blow, + I mean Ethereall winds, such as below + Men finden under th' Equinoctiall line. + Their widend beards this aire so broad doth strow + Incurvate, and or more or lesse decline: + If not, let sharper wits more subtly here divine. + + 91 + + But that experiment of the Optick glasse + The greatest argument of all I deem, + Ne can I well encounter nor let passe + So strong a reason if I may esteem + The feat withouten fallacie to been, + Nor judge these little sparks and subtile lights + Some auncient fixed starres though now first seen, + That near the ruin'd Comets place were pight, + On which that Optic instrument by chance did light. + + 92 + + Nor finally an uncouth after-sport + Of th' immense vapours that the searching fire + Had boyled out, which now themselves consort + In severall parts and closely do conspire, + Clumper'd in balls of clouds and globes entire + Of crudled smoke and heavy clunging mists; + Which when they've staid awhile at last expire; + But while they stay any may see that lists + So be that Optick Art his naturall sight assists. + + 93 + + If none of these wayes I may well decline + The urging weight of this hard argument, + Worst is but parting stakes and thus define: + Some Comets be but single Planets brent, + Others a synod joyn'd in due consent: + And that no new found Meteors they are: + Ne further may my wary mind assent + From one single experience solitaire, + Till all-discovering Time shall further truth declare. + + 94 + + But for the new fixt starres there's no pretence, + Nor beard nor tail to take occasion by, + To bring in that unluckie inference + Which weaken might this new built mysterie. + Certes in raging fire they both did frie. + A signe whereof you rightly may aread + Their colours changeable varietie + First clear and white, then yellow, after red, + Then blewly pale, then duller still, till perfect dead. + + 95 + + And as the order of these colours went, + So still decreas'd that Cassiopean starre, + Till at the length to sight it was quite spent: + Which observations strong reasons are, + Consuming fire its body did empare + And turn to ashes. And the like will be + In all the darksome Planets wide and farre. + Ne can our Earth from this state standen free + A Planet as the rest, and Planets fate must trie. + + 96 + + Ne let the tender heart too harshly deem + Of this rude sentence: for what rigour more + Is in consuming fire then drowning stream + Of Noahs floud which all creaturs choak'd of yore, + Saving those few that were kept safe in store + In that well builded ship? All else beside + Men, birds, and beasts, the lion, buck, and bore + Dogs, kine, sheep, horses all that did abide + Upon the spacious earth, perish'd in waters wide. + + 97 + + Nor let the slow and misbelieving wight + Doubt how the fire on the hard earth may seize; + No more then how those waters erst did light + Upon the sinfull world. For as the seas + Boyling with swelling waves aloft did rise, + And met with mighty showers and pouring rain + From Heavens spouts; so the broad flashing skies + Thickned with brimstone and clouds of fiery bain + Shall meet with raging Etna's and Vesuvius flame. + + 98 + + The burning bowels of this wasting ball + Shall gullup up great flakes of rolling fire, + And belch out pitchie flames, till over all + Having long rag'd, Vulcan himself shall tire + And (th' earth an ashheap made) shall then expire: + Here Nature laid asleep in her own Urn + With gentle rest right easly will respire, + Till to her pristine task she do return + As fresh as Phenix young under th' Arabian Morn. + + 99 + + O happy they that then the first are born, + While yet the world is in her vernall pride: + For old corruption quite away is worn + As metall pure so is her mold well tride. + Sweet dews, cool-breathing airs, and spaces wide + Of precious spicery wafted with soft wind: + Fair comely bodies goodly beautifi'd + Snow-limb'd, rose-cheek'd, ruby-lip'd, pearl-ted, star eyn'd + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin'd. + + 100 + + For all the while her purged ashes rest + These rellicks dry suck in the heavenly dew, + And roscid Manna rains upon her breast, + And fills with sacred milk sweet fresh and new, + Where all take life and doth the world renew; + And then renew'd with pleasure be yfed. + A green soft mantle doth her bosome strew + With fragrant herbs and flowers embellished, + Where without fault or shame all living creatures bed. + + 101 + + Ne ought we doubt how Nature may recover + In her own ashes long time buried, + For nought can ever consume that centrall power + Of hid spermatick life, which lies not dead + In that rude heap, but safely covered; + And doth by secret force suck from above + Sweet heavenly juice, and therewith nourished + Till her just bulk, she doth her life emprove, + Made mother of much children that about her move. + + 102 + + Witnesse that uncouth bird of Arabie + Which out of her own ruines doth revive + With all th' exploits of skillfull Chymistrie, + Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. + Let universall Nature witnesse give + That what I sing 's no feigned forgerie. + A needlesse task new fables to contrive, + But what I sing is seemly verity + Well suting with right reason and Philosophie. + + 103 + + But the fit time of this mutation + No man can finden out with all his pains. + For the small sphears of humane reason run + Too swift within his narrow compast brains. + But that vast Orb of Providence contains + A wider period; turneth still and slow. + Yet at the last his aimed end he gains. + And sure at last a fire will overflow + The aged Earth, and all must into ashes go. + + 104 + + Then all the stately works and monuments + Built on this bottome shall to ruine fall. + And all those goodly statues shall be brent + Which were erect to the memoriall + Of Kings Ksars, ne may better 'fall + The boastfull works of brave Poetick pride + That promise life and fame perpetuall; + Ne better fate may these poor lines abide. + Betide what will to what may live no lenger tide! + + 105 + + This is the course that never-dying Nature + Might ever hold from all Eternitie, + Renuing still the faint decayed creature + Which would grow stark and drie as aged tree, + Unlesse by wise preventing Destinie + She were at certain periods of years + Reduced back unto her Infancie, + Which well fram'd argument (as plain appears) + My ship from those hard rocks and shelves right safely stears. + + 106 + + Lo! now my faithfull muse hath represented + Both frames of Providence to open view, + And hath each point in orient colours painted + Not to deceive the sight with seeming shew + But earnest to give either part their due; + Now urging th' uncouth strange perplexitie + Of infinite worlds and Time, then of a new + Softening that harsher inconsistencie + To fit the immense goodnesse of the Deity. + + 107 + + And here by curious men 't may be expected + That I this knot with judgement grave decide, + And then proceed to what else was objected. + But, ah! What mortall wit may dare t' areed + Heavens counsels in eternall horrour hid? + And Cynthius pulls me by my tender ear + Such signes I must observe with wary heed: + Wherefore my restlesse Muse at length forbear. + Thy silver sounded Lute hang up in silence here. + + + FINIS. + + + + + Cupids Conflict. + + + _Mela._ _Cleanthes._ + + _Cl._ _Mela_ my dear! why been thy looks so sad + As if thy gentle heart were sunk with care? + Impart thy case; for be it good or bad + Friendship in either will bear equall share. + _Mel._ Not so; _Cleanthes_, for if bad it be + My self must bleed afresh by wounding thee. + + But what it is, my slow, uncertain wit + Cannot well judge. But thou shalt sentence give + How manfully of late my self I quit, + When with that lordly lad by chance I strive: + _Cl._ Of friendship _Mela_! let's that story hear. + _Mel._ Sit down _Cleanthes_ then, and lend thine ear. + + Upon a day as best did please my mind + Walking abroad amidst the verdant field + Scattering my carefull thoughts i' th' wanton wind + The pleasure of my path so farre had till'd + My feeble feet that without timely rest + Uneath it were to reach my wonted nest. + + In secret shade farre moved from mortals sight + In lowly dale my wandring limbs I laid + On the cool grasse where Natures pregnant wit + A goodly bower of thickest trees had made. + Amongst the leaves the chearfull birds did fare + And sweetly carrol'd to the echoing air. + + Hard at my feet ran down a crystall spring + Which did the cumbrous pebbles hoarsly chide + For standing in the way. Though murmuring + The broken stream his course did rightly guide + And strongly pressing forward with disdain + The grassie flore divided into twain. + + The place a while did feed my foolish eye + As being new, and eke mine idle ear + Did listen oft to that wild harmonie + And oft my curious phansie would compare + How well agreed the Brooks low muttering Base, + With the birds trebbles pearch'd on higher place. + + But senses objects soon do glut the soul, + Or rather weary with their emptinesse; + So I, all heedlesse how the waters roll + And mindlesse of the mirth the birds expresse, + Into my self 'gin softly to retire + After hid heavenly pleasures to enquire. + + While I this enterprize do entertain; + Lo! on the other side in thickest bushes + A mighty noise! with that a naked swain + With blew and purple wings streight rudely rushes. + He leaps down light upon the flowry green, + Like sight before mine eyes had never seen. + + At's snowy back the boy a quiver wore + Right fairly wrought and gilded all with gold. + A silver bow in his left hand he bore, + And in his right a ready shaft did hold. + Thus armed stood he and betwixt us tway + The labouring brook did break his toilsome way. + + The wanton lad whose sport is others pain + Did charge his bended bow with deadly dart, + And drawing to the head with might and main, + With fell intent he aim'd to hit my heart. + But ever as he shot his arrows still + In their mid course dropt down into the rill. + + Of wondrous virtues that in waters been + Is needlesse to rehearse, all books do ring + Of those strange rarities. But ne're was seen + Such virtue as resided in this spring. + The novelty did make me much admire + But stirr'd the hasty youth to ragefull ire. + + As heedlesse fowls that take their per'lous flight + Over that bane of birds, _Averno lake_, + Do drop down dead: so dead his shafts did light + Amid this stream, which presently did slake + Their fiery points, and all their feathers wet + Which made the youngster Godling inly fret. + + Thus lustfull Love (this was that love I ween) + Was wholly changed to consuming ire. + And eath it was, sith they're so near a kin + They be both born of one rebellious sire. + But he supprest his wrath and by and by + For feathered darts, he winged words let flie: + + Vain man! said he, and would thou wer'st not vain + That hid'st thy self in solitary shade + And spil'st thy precious youth in sad disdain + Hating this lifes delight! Hath god thee made + Part of this world, and wilt not thou partake + Of this worlds pleasure for its makers sake? + + Unthankfull wretch! Gods gifts thus to reject + And maken nought of Natures goodly dower + That milders still away through thy neglect + And dying fades like unregarded flower. + This life is good, what's good thou must improve, + The highest improvement of this life is love. + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + Or Stygian vow, or thrice accursed charm + Should in this place free passage thus denie + Unto my shafts as messengers of harm! + Had I but once transfixt thy froward breast, + How would'st thou then----I staid not for the rest; + + But thus half angry to the boy replide: + How would'st thou then my soul of sense bereave! + I blinded, thee more blind should choose my guide! + How would'st thou then my muddied mind deceive + With fading shows, that in my errour vile, + Base lust; I love should tearm, vice, virtue stile. + + How should my wicked rymes then idolize + Thy wretched power, and with impious wit + Impute thy base born passions to the skies + And my souls sicknesse count an heavenly fit, + My weaknesse strength, my wisdome to be caught + My bane my blisse, mine ease to be o'rewraught. + + How often through my fondly feigning mind + And frantick phansie, in my Mistris eye + Should I a thousand fluttering Cupids find + Bathing their busie wings? How oft espie + Under the shadow of her eye-brows fair + Ten thousand Graces sit all naked bare? + + Thus haunted should I be with such feat fiends: + A pretty madnesse were my portion due. + Foolish my self I would not hear my friends. + Should deem the true for false, the false for true. + My way all dark more slippery then ice + My attendents, anger, pride, and jealousies. + + Unthankfull then to God I should neglect + All the whole world for one poor sorry wight, + Whose pestilent eye into my heart project + Would burn like poysonous Comet in my spright. + Aye me! how dismall then would prove that day + Whose onely light sprang from so fatall ray. + + Who seeks for pleasure in this mortall life + By diving deep into the body base + Shall loose true pleasure: But who gainly strive + Their sinking soul above this bulk to place + Enlarg'd delight they certainly shall find + Unbounded joyes to fill their boundlesse mind. + + When I my self from mine own self do quit + And each thing else; then an all-spreaden love + To the vast Universe my soul doth sit + Makes me half equall to all-seeing Jove. + My mighty wings high stretch'd then clapping light + I brush the starres and make them shine more bright. + + Then all the works of God with close embrace + I dearly hug in my enlarged arms + All the hid paths of heavenly Love I trace + And boldly listen to his secret charms. + Then clearly view I where true light doth rise, + And where eternall Night low-pressed lies. + + Thus lose I not by leaving small delight + But gain more joy, while I my self suspend + From this and that; for then with all unite + I all enjoy, and love that love commends. + That all is more then loves the partiall soul + Whose petty loves th' impartiall fates controll. + + Ah son! said he, (and laughed very loud) + That trickst thy tongue with uncouth strange disguize, + Extolling highly that with speeches proud + To mortall men that humane state denies, + And rashly blaming what thou never knew + Let men experienc'd speak, if they'll speak true. + + Had I once lanc'd thy froward flinty heart + And cruddled bloud had thawn with living fire + And prickt thy drousie sprite with gentle smart + How wouldst thou wake to kindly sweet desire, + Thy soul fill'd up with overflowing pleasures + Would dew thy lips with hony-dropping measures. + + Then wouldst thou caroll loud and sweetly sing + In honour of my sacred Deity + That all the woods and hollow hills would ring + Reechoing thy heavenly harmonie. + And eke the hardy rocks with full rebounds + Would faithfully return thy silver sounds. + + Next unto me would be thy Mistresse fair, + Whom thou might setten out with goodly skill + Her peerlesse beauty and her virtues rare, + That all would wonder at thy gracefull quill. + And lastly in us both thy self shouldst raise + And crown thy temples with immortall bayes. + + But now thy riddles all men do neglect, + Thy rugged lines of all do lie forlorn. + Unwelcome rymes that rudely do detect + The Readers ignorance. Men holden scorn + To be so often non-plusd or to spell, + And on one stanza a whole age to dwell. + + Besides this harsh and hard obscuritie + Of the hid sense, thy words are barbarous + And strangely new, and yet too frequently + Return, as usuall plain and obvious, + So that the show of the new thick-set patch + Marres all the old with which it ill doth match. + + But if thy haughty mind, forsooth, would deign + To stoop so low to hearken to my lore, + Then wouldst thou with trim lovers not disdeign + To adorn the outside, set the best before. + Nor rub nor wrinkle would thy verses spoil + Thy rymes should run as glib and smooth as oyl. + + If that be all, said I, thy reasons slight + Can never move my well establishd mind. + Full well I wote alwayes the present sprite, + Or life that doth possesse the soul, doth blind, + Shutting the windows 'gainst broad open day + Lest fairer sights its uglinesse bewray. + + The soul then loves that disposition best + Because no better comes unto her view. + The drunkard drunkennesse, the sluggard rest, + Th' Ambitious honour and obeisance due. + So all the rest do love their vices base + 'Cause virtues beauty comes not into place. + + And looser love 'gainst Chastitie divine + Would shut the door that he might sit alone. + Then wholly should my mind to him incline: + And woxen strait, (since larger love was gone) + That paultrie sprite of low contracting lust + Would fit my soul as if 't were made for 't just. + + Then should I with my fellow bird or brute + So strangely metamorphis'd, either ney + Or bellow loud: or if 't may better sute + Chirp out my joy pearch'd upon higher spray. + My passions fond with impudence rehearse, + Immortalize my madnesse in a verse. + + This is the summe of thy deceiving boast + That I vain ludenesse highly should admire, + When I the sense of better things have lost + And chang'd my heavenly heat for hellish fire, + Passion is blind, but virtues piercing eye + Approching danger can from farre espie. + + And what thou dost Pedantickly object + Concerning my rude rugged uncouth style, + As childish toy I manfully neglect, + And at thy hidden snares do inly smile. + How ill alas! with wisdome it accords + To sell my living sense for livelesse words. + + My thought 's the fittest measure of my tongue, + Wherefore I'll use what's most significant, + And rather then my inward meaning wrong + Or my full-shining notion trimly scant, + I'll conjure up old words out of their grave, + Or call fresh forrein force in if need crave. + + And these attending on my moving mind + Shall duly usher in the fitting sense. + As oft as meet occasion I find. + Unusuall words oft used give lesse offence; + Nor will the old contexture dim or marre, + For often us'd they're next to old, thred-bare. + + And if the old seem in too rustie hew, + Then frequent rubbing makes them shine like gold, + And glister all with colour gayly new. + Wherefore to use them both we will be bold. + Thus lists me fondly with fond folk to toy, + And answer fools with equall foolerie. + + The meaner mind works with more nicetie, + As spiders wont to weave their idle web, + But braver spirits do all things gallantly + Of lesser failings nought at all affred: + So Natures carelesse pencill dipt in light + With sprinkled starres hath spattered the Night. + + And if my notions clear though rudely thrown + And loosely scattered in my poesie, + May lend men light till the dead Night be gone, + And Morning fresh with roses strew the skie: + It is enough, I meant no trimmer frame + Or by nice needle-work to seek a name. + + Vain man! that seekest name mongst earthly men + Devoid of God and all good virtuous lere; + Who groping in the dark do nothing ken + But mad; with griping care their souls do tear, + Or burst with hatred or with envie pine + Or burn with rage or melt out at their eyne. + + Thrice happy he whose name is writ above, + And doeth good though gaining infamie; + Requiteth evil turns with hearty love, + And recks not what befalls him outwardly: + Whose worth is in himself, and onely blisse + In his pure conscience that doth nought amisse. + + Who placeth pleasure in his purged soul + And virtuous life his treasure doth esteem; + Who can his passions master and controll, + And that true lordly manlinesse doth deem, + Who from this world himself hath clearly quit + Counts nought his own but what lives in his sprite. + + So when his sprite from this vain world shall flit + It bears all with it whatsoever was dear + Unto it self, passing in easie fit, + As kindly ripen'd corn comes out of th' eare. + Thus mindlesse of what idle men will say + He takes his own and stilly goes his way. + + But the retinue of proud Lucifer, + Those blustering Poets that flie after fame + And deck themselves like the bright Morning-starre. + Alas! it is but all a crackling flame. + For death will strip them of that glorious plume + That airie blisse will vanish into fume. + + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + Return, or listen from the bowed skie + To heare how well their learned lines do take? + Or if they could; is Heavens felicitie + So small as by mans praise to be encreas'd, + Hells pain no greater then hence to be eas'd? + + Therefore once dead in vain shall I transmit + My shadow to gazing Posteritie; + Cast farre behind me I shall never see't, + On Heavens fair Sunne having fast fixt mine eye. + Nor while I live, heed I what man doth praise + Or underprize mine unaffected layes. + + What moves thee then, said he, to take the pains + And spenden time if thou contemn'st the fruit? + Sweet fruit of fame, that fills the Poets brains + With high conceit and feeds his fainting wit. + How pleasant 'tis in honour here to live + And dead, thy name for ever to survive! + + Or is thy abject mind so basely bent + As of thy Muse to maken Merchandize? + (And well I wote this is no strange intent.) + The hopefull glimps of gold from chattering Pies, + From Daws and Crows, and Parots oft hath wrung + An unexpected Pegaseian song. + + Foul shame on him, quoth I, that shamefull thought + Doth entertain within his dunghill breast, + Both God and Nature hath my spirits wrought + To better temper and of old hath blest + My loftie soul with more divine aspires + Then to be touchd with such vile low desires. + + I hate and highly scorn that Kestrell kind + Of bastard scholars that subordinate + The precious choice induements of the mind + To wealth or worldly good. Adulterate + And cursed brood! Your wit and will are born + Of th' earth and circling thither do return. + + Profit and honour be those measures scant + Of your slight studies and endeavours vain, + And when you once have got what you did want + You leave your learning to enjoy your gain. + Your brains grow low, your bellies swell up high, + Foul sluggish fat ditts up your dulled eye. + + Thus what the earth did breed, to th' earth is gone, + Like fading hearb or feebly drooping flower, + By feet of men and beast quite trodden down, + The muck-sprung learning cannot long endure. + Back she returns lost in her filthy source, + Drown'd, chok'd or slocken by her cruell nurse. + + True virtue to her self's the best reward, + Rich with her own and full of lively spirit, + Nothing cast down for want of due regard. + Or 'cause rude men acknowledge not her merit. + She knows her worth and stock from whence she sprung, + Spreads fair without the warmth of earthly dung, + + Dew'd with the drops of Heaven shall flourish long; + As long as day and night do share the skie, + And though that day and night should fail yet strong + And steddie, fixed on Eternitie + Shall bloom for ever. So the foul shall speed + That loveth virtue for no worldly meed. + + Though sooth to sayn, the worldly meed is due + To her more then to all the world beside. + Men ought do homage with affections true + And offer gifts for God doth there reside. + The wise and virtuous soul is his own seat + To such what's given God himself doth get. + + But earthly minds whose sight's seal'd up with mud + Discern not this flesh-clouded Deity, + Ne do acknowledge any other good + Then what their mole-warp hands can feel and trie + By groping touch; thus (worth of them unseen) + Of nothing worthy that true worth they ween. + + Wherefore the prudent Law-givers of old + Even in all Nations, with right sage foresight + Discovering from farre how clums and cold + The vulgar wight would be to yield what's right + To virtuous learning, did by law designe + Great wealth and honour to that worth divine. + + But nought's by law to Poesie due said he, + Ne doth the solemn Statesmans head take care + Of those that such impertinent pieces be + Of common-weals. Thou'd better then to spare + Thy uselesse vein. Or tell else, what may move + Thy busie use such fruitlesse pains to prove. + + No pains but pleasure to do the dictates dear + Of inward living nature. What doth move + The Nightingall to sing so sweet and clear + The Thrush, or Lark that mounting high above + Chants her shrill notes to heedlesse ears of corn + Heavily hanging in the dewy morn. + + When life can speak, it can not well withhold + T' expresse its own impressions and hid life. + Or joy or grief that smoothered lie untold + Do vex the heart and wring with restlesse strife. + Then are my labours no true pains but ease + My souls unrest they gently do appease. + + Besides, that is not fruitlesse that no gains + Brings to my self. I others profit deem + Mine own: and if at these my heavenly flames + Others receiven light, right well I ween + My time's not lost. Art thou now satisfide + Said I: to which the scoffing boy replide. + + Great hope indeed thy rymes should men enlight, + That be with clouds and darknesse all o'recast, + Harsh style and harder sense void of delight + The Readers wearied eye in vain do wast. + And when men win thy meaning with much pain, + Thy uncouth sense they coldly entertain. + + For wotst thou not that all the world is dead + Unto that Genius that moves in thy vein + Of poetrie! But like by like is fed. + Sing of my Trophees in triumphant strein, + Then correspondent life, thy powerfull verse + Shall strongly strike and with quick passion pierce. + + The tender frie of lads and lasses young + With thirstie eare thee compassing about, + Thy Nectar-dropping Muse, thy sugar'd song + Will swallow down with eagre hearty draught; + Relishing truly what thy rymes convey, + And highly praising thy soul-smiting lay. + + The mincing maid her mind will then bewray, + Her heart-bloud flaming up into her face, + Grave matrons will wex wanton and betray + Their unresolv'dnesse in their wonted grace; + Young boyes and girls would feel a forward spring, + And former youth to eld thou back wouldst bring. + + All Sexes, Ages, Orders, Occupations + Would listen to thee with attentive ear, + And eas'ly moved with thy sweet perswasions, + Thy pipe would follow with full merry chear. + While thou thy lively voice didst loud advance + Their tickled bloud for joy would inly dance. + + But now, alas! poore solitarie man! + In lonesome desert thou dost wander wide + To seek and serve thy disappearing Pan, + Whom no man living in the world hath eyde: + For Pan is dead but I am still alive, + And live in men who honour to me give: + + They honour also those that honour me + With sacred songs. But thou now singst to trees + To rocks to Hills, to Caves that senselesse be + And mindlesse quite of thy hid mysteries, + In the void aire thy idle voice is spread, + Thy Muse is musick to the deaf or dead. + + Now out alas! said I, and wele-away + The tale thou tellest I confesse too true. + Fond man so doteth on this living clay + His carcase dear, and doth its joyes pursue, + That of his precious soul he takes no keep + Heavens love and reasons light lie fast asleep. + + This bodies life vain shadow of the soul + With full desire they closely do embrace, + In fleshly mud like swine they wallow and roll, + The loftiest mind is proud but of the face + Or outward person; if men but adore + That walking sepulchre, cares for no more. + + This is the measure of mans industry + To wexen some body and getten grace + To 's outward presence; though true majestie + Crown'd with that heavenly light and lively rayes + Of holy wesdome and Seraphick love, + From his deformed soul he farre remove. + + Slight knowledge and lesse virtue serves his turn + For this designe. If he hath trod the ring + Of pedling arts; in usuall pack-horse form + Keeping the rode; O! then 't's a learned thing. + If any chanc'd to write or speak what he + Conceives not 't were a foul discourtesie. + + To cleanse the soul from sinne, and still diffide + Whether our reasons eye be clear enough + To intromit true light, that fain would glide + Into purg'd hearts, this way 's too harsh and rough: + Therefore the clearest truths may well seem dark + When sloathfull men have eyes so dimme and stark. + + These be our times. But if my minds presage + Bear any moment, they can ne're last long, + A three branch'd Flame will soon sweep clean the stage + Of this old dirty drosse and all wex young. + My words into this frozen air I throw + Will then grow vocall at that generall thaw. + + Nay, now thou 'rt perfect mad, said he, with scorn, + And full of foul derision quit the place. + The skie did rattle with his wings ytorn + Like to rent silk. But I in the mean space + Sent after him this message by the wind + Be 't so I 'm mad, yet sure I am thou 'rt blind. + + By this the out-stretch'd shadows of the trees + Pointed me home-ward, and with one consent + Foretold the dayes descent. So straight I rise + Gathering my limbs from off the green pavement + Behind me leaving then the slooping Light. + _Cl._ And now let's up, _Vesper_ brings on the Night. + + +_FINIS._ + +[Illustration] + + + + + _A Particular Interpretation appertaining to + the three last books of the Platonick + Song of the Soul._ + + +A + +_Atom-lives._ The same that Centrall lives. Both the terms denotate the +indivisibility of the inmost essence it self; the pure essentiall form I +mean, of plant, beast or man, yea of angels themselves, good or bad. + + _Apogee_, } + _Autokineticall_, } + _Ananke_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Acronycall_, } + _Alethea-land_, } + +_Animadversall. That lively inward animadversall._ It is the soul it +self, for I cannot conceive the body doth animadvert; when as objects +plainly exposed to the sight are not discovered till the soul takes +notice of them. + + +B + +_Body._ The ancient Philosophers have defined it, +To trichi diastaton +met' antitupias+. _Sext. Emperic. Pyrrhon. Hypotyp. lib. 3. cap. 5._ +Near to this is that description, _Psychathan_, Cant. 2. Stanz. 12. lib. +2, _Matter extent in three dimensions._ But for that +antitupia+, simple +trinall distension doth not imply it, wherefore I declin'd it. But took +in _matter_ according to their conceit, that phansie _ Materia prima_, +I acknowledge none, and consequently no such _corpus naturale_ as our +Physiologist make the subject of that science. That +Trichi diastaton +antitupon+ is nothing but a fixt spirit, the conspissation or +coagulation of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone, which are indeed the +Centrall Tasis or inward essence of the sensible world. These be an +infinite number of vitall Atoms that may be wakened into diverse +tinctures, or energies, into fiery, watery, earthy, &c. And one divine +_Fiat_ can unloose them all into an universall mist, or turn them out of +that sweat into a drie and pure Etheriall temper. These be the last +projections of life from the soul of the world; and are act or form +though debil and indifferent, like that which they call the first +matter. But they are not meerly passive but meet their information half +way, as I may so speak: are radiant _ab intimo_ and awake into this or +the other operation, by the powerfull appulse of some superadvenient +form. That which change of Phantasmes is to the soul, that is alteration +of rayes to them. For their rayes are _ab intrinseco_, as the phantasmes +of the soul. These be the reall matter of which all supposed bodies are +compounded, and this matter (asI said) is form and life, so that all is +life and form what ever is in the world, as I have somewhere intimated +in _Antipsychopan_: But however I use the terme _body_ ordinarily in the +usuall and vulgar acception. And for that sense of the ancients, nearest +to which I have defined it in the place first above mentioned, that I +seem not to choose that same as most easie to proceed against in +disproving the corporeity of the soul, the arguments do as necessarily +conclude against such a naturall body as is ordinarily described in +Physiologie (asyou may plainly discern if you list to observe) as also +against this body composed of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone. For +though they be Centrall lives, yet are they neither Plasticall, +Sensitive, or Rationall, so farre are they from proving to be the humane +soul whose nature is there discust. + + +C + +_Cone_: Is a solid figure made by the turning of a rectangular triangle, +about; one of the sides that include the right angle resting, which will +be then the Axis of the compleated Cone. But I take it sometimes for the +comprehension of all things, God himself not left out, whom I tearm the +_Basis_ of the _Cone_ or _Universe_. And because all from him descends, ++kath' hupostoln+, with abatement or contraction, Igive the name of +_Cone_ to the Universe. And of Cone rather then Pyramid because of the +roundnesse of the figure, which the effluxes of all things imitate. + + _Chaos_, } + _Chronicall_, } See interpret Gen. + _Clare_, } + +_Circulation_, The terme is taken from a toyish observation, _viz._ the +circling of water when a stone is cast into a standing pool. The motion +drives on circularly, the first rings are thickest, but the further they +go they grow the thinner, till they vanish into nothing. Such is the +diffusion of the species audible in the strucken aire, as also of the +visible species. In brief any thing is said to circulate that diffuseth +its image or species in a round. It might have been more significantly +called orbiculation; seeing this circumfusion makes not onely a circle, +but fills a sphere, which may be called the sphere of activity. Yet +Circulation more fitly sets out the diminution of activity, from those +ringes in the water which as they grow in compasse, abate in force and +thicknesse. But sometimes I use Circulate in an ordinary sense to turn +round, or return in a circle. + +_Centre_, _Centrall_, _Centrality_. When they are used out of their +ordinary sense, they signifie the depth or inmost being of any thing, +from whence its acts and energies flow forth. See _Atom-lives_. + +_Cuspis_ of the _Cone_. The multiplide Cuspis of the Cone is nothing +but the last projection of life from Psyche, which is #shamayim# a +liquid fire or fire and water, which are the corporeall or materiall +principles of all things, changed or disgregated (ifthey be centrally +distinguishable) and again mingled by the virtue of Physis or +Spermaticall life of the world; of these are the Sunne and all the +Planets, they being kned together, and fixt by the Centrall power of +each Planet and Sunne. The volatile Ether is also of the same, and all +the bodies of plants, beasts and men. These are they which we handle and +touch, asufficient number compact together. For neither is the noise of +those little flies in a summer-evening audible severally: but a full +Quire of them strike the ear with a pretty kind of buzzing. Strong and +tumultuous pleasure and scorching pain reside in these, they being +essentiall and centrall, but sight and hearing are onely of the images +of these, See _Body_. + +_Eternitie._ Is the steddie comprehension of all things at once. See on +discribed in my Expos. upon Psychozoia. + +_Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. In my Interpret. Gen. +Iexpounded it Operation, Efflux, Activity. None of those words bear the +full sense of it. The examples there are fit, _viz._ the light of the +Sunne, the phantasms of the soul. We may collect the genuine sense of +the word by comparing severall places in the Philosopher. +Echei gar +hekaston tn ontn energeian, h estin homoima autou, hste autou +ontos, kakeino einai, kai menontos phthanein eis to porrh, to men epi +pleon, to de eis elatton. Kai hai men astheneis kai amudrai, hai de kai +lanthanousai, tn d' eisi meizous kai eis to porrh.+ _For every being +hath its Energie, which is the image of it self, so that it existing +that Energie doth also exist, and standing still is projected forward +more or lesse. And some of those energies are weak and obscure, others +hid or undiscernable, othersome greater and of a larger projection._ +Plotin. Ennead. 4. lib. 5. cap. 7. And again, Ennead. 3. lib. 4. +Kai +menomen ti men noti anthrpi an; ti de eschati autou, pepedmetha +ti kat, hoion aporrhoian ap' ekeinou didontes eis to kat, mallon de +energeian, ekeinou ouk elattoumenou.+ _And we remain above by the +Intellectuall man, but by the extreme part of him we are held below, as +it were yielding an efflux from him to that which is below, or rather an +energie he being not at all lessened._ This curiositie Antoninus also +observes, (lib. 8. Meditat.) in the nature of the sun-beams, where +although he admits of +chusis+, yet he doth not of +aporrhoia+ which is ++ekchusis+. +Ho hlios katakechusthai dokei, kai panti ge kechutai ou +mn ekkechutai. h gar chusis autou tasis estin. aktines goun hai augai +autou apo tou ekteinesthai legontai.+ _The sunne_, saith he, _is +diffused, and his fusion is every where but without effusion_, &c. +Iwill onely adde one place more out of Plotinus. Ennead. 3. lib. 6. ++Hekastou de moriou h energeia h kata phusin z ouk existasa.+ _The +naturall energie of each power of the soul is life not parted from the +soul though gone out of the soul, =viz.= into act._ + +Comparing of all these places together, I cannot better explain this +Platonick term, _energie_, then by calling it the rayes of an essence, +or the beams of a vitall Centre. For essence is the Centre as it were of +that which is truly called Energie, and Energie the beams and rayes of +an essence. And as the _Radii_ of a circle leave not the centre by +touching the Circumference, no more doth that which is the pure Energie +of an essence, leave the essence by being called out into act, but is ++en-ergeia+ aworking in the essence though it flow _out_ into act. So +that _Energie_ depends alwayes on essence, as _Lumen_ on _Lux_, or the +creature on God; Whom therefore Synesius in his Hymnes calls the Centre +of all things. + +_Entelecheia._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +F + +_Faith._ _Platonick faith in the first Good._ This faith is excellently +described in Proclus, where it is set above all ratiocination, nay, +Intellect it self. +Pros de au to agathon ou gnses eti kai sunergeias +dei tois sunaphthnai speudousin, all' hidruses kai monimou katastases +kai remias.+ _But to them that endeavour to be joyned with the first +Good, there is no need of knowledge or multifarious cooperation, but +settlednesse, steddinesse, and rest._ lib. 1. cap. 24. Theolog. Platon. +And in the next chapter; +Dei gar ou gnstiks oud' atels to agathon +epiztein, all' epidontas heautous ti theii phti kai musantas, houts +enidruesthai ti agnsti kai kruphii tn ontn henadi.+ _For we must +not seek after that absolute or first Good cognoscitively or +imperfectly, but giving our selves up to the divine light, and winking_ +(that is shutting our eyes of reason and understanding) _so to place our +selves steddily in that hidden Unitie of all things_. After he preferres +this faith before the clear and present assent to the +koinai ennoiai+, +yea and the +noera haplots+, so that he will not that any intellectuall +operation should come in comparison with it. +Polueids gar hait kai +di' heterottos chrizomen tn nooumenn, kai hols kinsis esti noera +peri to noton. Dei de tn theian pistin henoeid kai remon huparchein +en ti ts agathottos hormi teleis hidrutheisan.+ _For the operation +of the Intellect is multiform and by diversitie separate from her +objects, and is in a word, intellectuall motion about the object +intelligible. But the divine faith must be simple and uniform, quiet and +steddily resting in the haven of Goodnesse._ And at last he summarily +concludes, +Esti oun houtos hormos asphals tn ontn hapantn.+ See +Procl. Theolog. Platonick. lib. 1. cap. 25. + + +H + +_Hyle._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +I + +_Intellect._ Sometimes it is to be interpreted _Soul_. Sometime the +intellectuall facultie of the soul. Sometimes Intellect is an absolute +essence shining into the soul: whose nature is this. Asubstance purely +immateriall, impeccable, actually omniform, or comprehending all things +at once, which the soul doth also being perfectly joyned with the +Intellect. +Echomen oun kai ta eid dichs, en men psuchi hoion men +aneiligmena kai hoion kechrismena, en de ti ni homou ta panta.+ Plot. +Ennead. 1. lib. 1. cap. 8. _Ideas_, or _Idees_. Sometimes they are forms +in the Intellectuall world. _viz._ in _on_, or _On_, other sometimes, +phantasmes or representations in the soul. _Innate Idees_ are the souls +nature it self, her uniform essence, able by her _Fire_ to produce this +or that phantasme into act. + + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + + +L + +_Logos._ See Interpret. Gen. + +_Life._ The vitall operation of any soul. Sometime it is the soul it +self, be it sensitive, vegetative, or rationall. + +_Lower man._ The lower man is our enquickned body, into which our soul +comes, it being fitly prepared for the receiving of such a guest. The +manner of the production of souls, or rather their non-production is +admirably well set down in Plotinus, See, _Ennead. 6. lib. 4. cap. 14, +15_. + + +M + +_Monad._ See Interpr. Gen. + +_Mundane._ _Mundane spirit_, Is that which is the spirit of the world or +Universe. Imean by it not an intellectuall spirit, but a fine, unfixt, +attenuate, subtill, ethereall substance, the immediate vehicle of +plasticall or sensitive life. + +_Memory._ _Mundane memory._ Is that memory that is seated in the +_Mundane_ spirit of man, by a strong impression, or inustion of any +phantasme, or outward sensible object, upon that spirit. But there is a +Memory more subtill and abstract in the soul it self, without the help +of this spirit, which she also carries away with her having left the +body. + +_Magicall._ That is, attractive, or commanding by force of sympathy with +the life of this naturall world. + +_Moment._ Sometimes signifies an instant, as indivisible, as +kinma+, +which in motion answers to an instant in time, or a point in a line, +_Aristot. Phys._ In this sense I use it, Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 2. +stanz. 16; _But in a moment sol doth ray._ But Cant. the 3. Stanz. 45. +v. 2.I understand, as also doth Lansbergius, by a _moment_ one second +of a minute. In Antipsych. Cant. 2. Stanz. the 20. v.2. by a _moment_ I +understand a minute, or indefinitely any small time. + + +O + +_Orb._ _Orb Intellectuall_, is nothing else but on or the Intellectuall +world. The Orbs generall mentioned Psycathan. lib. 1. cant. 3. stanz. +23. v. 2. Iunderstand by them but so many universall orders of beings, +if I may so terme them all; for _Hyle_ hath little or nothing of being. + +_Omniformity._ The omniformity of the soul is the having in her nature +all forms, latent at least, and power of awaking them into act, upon +occasion. + +_Out-world._ and _Out-Heaven._ The sensible world, the visible Heaven. + + +P + + _Perigee_, } + _Psychicall_, } + _Pareties_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Parallax_, } + _Protopathy_. } + +_Parturient._ See, _Vaticinant_. + +_Phantasie._ _Lower phantasie_, is that which resides in the Mundane +spirit of a man, See _Memory_. + + +Q + +_Quantitative._ Forms _quantitative_, are such sensible energies as +arise from the complexion of many natures together, at whose discretion +they vanish. That's the seventh Orb of things, though broken and not +filling all as the other do. But if you take it for the whole sensible +world, it is entire, and is the same that _Tasis_ in Psycozoia. But the +centre of _Tasis_, viz. the multiplication of the reall _Cuspis_ of the +_Cone_ (for _Hyle_ that is set for the most contract point of the +_Cuspis_ is scarce to be reckoned among realities) that immense +diffusion of atoms, is to be referred to _Psyche_, as an internall +vegetative act, and so belongs to _Physis_ the lowest order of life. For +as that warmth that the sense doth afford the body, is not rationall, +sensitive, or imaginative, but vegetative; So this, #shamayim# _i.e._ +liquid fire, which _Psyche_ sends out, and is the outmost, last, and +lowest operation from her self, is also vegetative. + + +R + +_Rhomboides._ See Interpr. general. + +_Reason._ I understand by Reason, the deduction of one thing from +another, which I conceive proceeds from a kind of continuitie of +phantasmes: and is something like the moving of a cord at one end; the +parts next it rise with it. And by this concatenation of phantasmes I +conceive, that both brutes and men are moved in reasonable wayes and +methods in their ordinary externall actions. + +_Rayes._ The rayes of an essence is its energie. See _Energie_. + +_Reduplicative._ That is reduplicative, which is not onely in this +point, but also in another, having a kind of circumscribed ubiquitie, +_viz._ in its own sphear. And this is either by being in that sphear +omnipresent it self, as the soul is said to be in the body _tota in toto +& tota in qualibet parte_, or else at least by propagation of rayes, +which is the image of it self; and so are divers sensible objects +_Reduplicative_, as light, colours, sounds. And I make account either of +these wayes justly denominate any thing spirituall. Though the former is +most properly, at least more eminently spirituall. And whether any thing +be after that way spirituall saving the Divinitie, there is reason to +doubt. For what is entirely omnipresent in a sphear, whose diametre is +but three feet, Isee not, why (that in the circumference being as fresh +and entire as that in the centre) it should stop there and not proceed +even _in infinitum_, if the circumference be still as fresh and entire +as the centre. But I define nothing. + + +S + +_Spermaticall._ It belongs properly to Plants, but is transferred also +to the Plasticall power in Animalls, Ienlarge it to all magnetick power +whatsoever that doth immediately rule and actuate any body. For all +magnetick power is founded in _Physis_, and in reference to her, this +world is but one great Plant, (one +logos spermatikos+ giving it shape +and corporeall life) as in reference to _Psyche_, one happy and holy +Animall. + +_Spirit._ Sometimes it signifieth the soul, othersometime, the naturall +spirits in a mans body, which are _Vinculum anim & corporis_, and the +souls vehicle: Sometimes life. See _Reduplicative_. + +_Soul._ When I speak of mans Soul, I understand that which _Moses_ saith +was inspired into the body, (fitted out and made of earth) by God, +Genes. 2. which is not that impeccable spirit that cannot sinne; but the +very same that the Platonists call +psuch+, amiddle essence betwixt +that which they call +nous+ (and we would in the Christian language call ++pneuma+) and the life of the body which is +eidlon psuchs+, akind of +an umbratil vitalitie, that the soul imparts to the bodie in the +enlivening of it: That and the body together, we Christians would call ++sarx+, and the suggestions of it, especially in its corrupt estate, ++phronma sarkos+. And that which God inspired into _Adam_ was no more +then +psuch+, the soul, not the spirit, though it be called #nishmat +chayim# _Spiraculum vit_; is plain out of the text; because it made man +but become a living soul, #nefesh chai#. But you will say, he was a dead +soul before, and this was the spirit of life, yea the spirit of God, the +life of the soul that was breathed into him. + +But if #chai# implie such a life and spirit, you must acknowledge the +same to be also in the most stupid of all living creatures, even the +fishes (whose soul is but as salt to keep them from stinking, as Philo +speaks) for they are said to be #nishmat chayim# chap.1. v.20. 21. See +1Cor. chap. 15, v.45, 46. In brief therefore, that which in Platonisme +is +nous+, is in Scripture +pneuma+; what +sarx+ in one, +to thrion+, +the brute or beast in the other, +psuch+ the same in both. + +_Self-reduplicative._ See _Reduplicative_. + + +T + +_Tricentreitie._ Centre is put for essence, so _Tricentreitie_ must +implie a trinitie of essence. See _Centre_, and _Energie_. + + +V + +_Vaticinant._ The soul is said to be in a _vaticinant_ or _parturient_ +condition, when she hath some kind of sense and hovering knowledge of a +thing, but yet cannot distinctly and fully, and commandingly represent +it to her self, cannot plainly apprehend, much lesse comprehend the +matter. The phrase is borrowed of Proclus, who describing the +incomprehensiblenese of God, and the desire of all things towards him, +speaks thus; +Agnston gar on pothei ta onta to epheton touto kai +alpton, mte oun gnnai mte helein ho pothei, dunamena, peri auto +panta choreuei kai dinei men auto kai hoion apomanteuetai.+ _Theolog. +Platon. lib. 1. cap. 21._ See _Psychathan. lib.3. cant.3. stanz. 12. & +14._ + + + + +_The Philosophers Devotion._ + + + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + He the boundlesse Heavens has spread + All the vitall Orbs has kned; + He that on _Olympus_ high + Tends his flocks with watchfull eye, + And this eye has multiplide + Midst each flock for so reside. + Thus as round about they stray + Toucheth each with out-stretch'd ray, + Nimbly they hold on their way, + Shaping out their Night and Day. + Never slack they; none respires, + Dancing round their Centrall fires. + In due order as they move + Echo's sweet be gently drove + Thorough Heavens vast Hollownesse, + Which unto all corners presse: + Musick that the heart of _Jove_ + Moves to joy and sportfull love; + Fills the listning saylers eares + Riding on the wandering Sphears. + Neither Speech nor Language is + Where their voice is not transmisse. + God is Good, is Wise, is Strong, + Witnesse all the creature-throng, + Is confess'd by every Tongue. + All things back from whence they sprong, + As the thankfull Rivers pay + What they borrowed of the Sea. + Now my self I do resigne, + Take me whole I all am thine. + Save me, God! from Self-desire, + Deaths pit, dark Hells raging fire, + Envy, Hatred, Vengeance, Ire. + Let not Lust my soul bemire. + Quit from these thy praise I'll sing, + Loudly sweep the trembling string. + Bear a part, O Wisdomes sonnes! + Free'd from vain Relligions. + Lo! from farre I you salute, + Sweetly warbling on my Lute. + _Indie_, _Egypt_, _Arabie_, + _Asia_, _Greece_, and _Tartarie_, + _Carmel_-tracts, and _Lebanon_ + With the _Mountains_ of the _Moon_, + from whence muddie _Nile_ doth runne, + Or whereever else you won; + Breathing in one vitall aire, + One we are though distant farre. + Rise at once lett's sacrifice + Odours sweet perfume the skies. + See how Heavenly lightning fires + Hearts inflam'd with high aspires! + All the substance of our souls + Up in clouds of Incense rolls. + Leave we nothing to our selves + Save a voice, what need we els! + Or an hand to wear and tire + On the thankfull Lute or Lyre. + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + + +_FINIS._ + + + + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK + MEMORIAL LIBRARY + UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES + + +PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT + +[Decoration] + + [Where available, Project Gutenberg e-text numbers are given in + brackets.] + + +1948-1949 + +16. Henry Nevil Payne, _The Fatal Jealousie_ (1673). [16916] + +18. Anonymous, "Of Genius," in _The Occasional Paper_, Vol. III, No. 10 +(1719), and Aaron Hill, Preface to The Creation (1720). [15870] + + +1949-1950 + +19. Susanna Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709). [16740] + +20. Lewis Theobald, _Preface to the Works of Shakespeare_ (1734). +[16346] + +22. Samuel Johnson, _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749), and two +_Rambler_ papers (1750). [13350] + +23. John Dryden, _His Majesties Declaration Defended_ (1681). [15074] + + +1950-1951 + +26. Charles Macklin, _The Man of the World_ (1792). [14463] + + +1951-1952 + +31. Thomas Gray, _An Elegy Wrote in a Country Churchyard_ (1751), and +_The Eton College Manuscript_. [15409] + + +1952-1953 + +41. Bernard Mandeville, _A Letter to Dion_ (1732). [29478] + + +1962-1963 + +98. _Select Hymns Taken Out of Mr. Herbert's Temple_ (1697). + + +1963-1964 + +104. Thomas D'Urfey, _Wonders in the Sun_; or, _The Kingdom of the +Birds_ (1706). + + +1964-1965 + +110. John Tutchin, _Selected Poems_ (1685-1700). [_In Preparation_] + +111. Anonymous, _Political Justice_ (1736). + +112. Robert Dodsley, _An Essay on Fable_ (1764). + +113. T. R., _An Essay Concerning Critical and Curious Learning_ (1698). + +114. _Two Poems Against Pope_: Leonard Welsted, _One Epistle to Mr. A. +Pope_ (1730), and Anonymous, _The Blatant Beast_ (1742). [21499] + + +1965-1966 + +115. Daniel Defoe and others, _Accounts of the Apparition of Mrs. Veal_. + +116. Charles Macklin, _The Covent Garden Theatre_ (1752). [_In +Preparation_] + +117. Sir Roger L'Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). [_In +Preparation_] + +118. Henry More, _Enthusiasmus Triumphatus_ (1662). + +119. Thomas Traherne, _Meditations on the Six Days of the Creation_ +(1717). + +120. Bernard Mandeville, _Aesop Dress'd or a Collection of Fables_ +(1704). [_In Preparation_] + + +1966-1967 + +122. James MacPherson, _Fragments of Ancient Poetry_ (1760). [8161] + +123. Edmond Malone, _Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to +Mr. Thomas Rowley_ (1782). [29116] + +124. Anonymous, _The Female Wits_ (1704). [_In Preparation_] + +125. Anonymous, _The Scribleriad_ (1742). Lord Hervey, _The Difference +Between Verbal and Practical Virtue_ (1742). [_In Preparation_] + +126. _Le Lutrin: an Heroick Poem, Written Originally in French by +Monsieur Boileau: Made English by N.O._ (1682). + + * * * * * + +Subsequent publications may be checked in the annual prospectus. + +Publications #1 through 90, of the first fifteen years of Augustan +Reprint Society, are available in bound units at $14.00 per unit of six +from: + + KRAUS REPRINT CORPORATION + 16 East 46th Street + New York, N.Y. 10017 + +Publications in print are available at the regular membership rate of +$5.00 yearly. Prices of single issues may be obtained upon request. + + + + + William Andrews Clark Memorial Library: + University of California, Los Angeles + + THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + _General Editors_: George Robert Guffey, University of California, + Los Angeles; Maximillian E. Novak, University of California, Los + Angeles; Robert Vosper, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library. + _Corresponding Secretary_: Mrs. Edna C. Davis, William Andrews Clark + Memorial Library. + + * * * * * + +The Society's purpose is to publish reprints (usually facsimile +reproductions) of rare seventeenth and eighteenth century works. All +income of the Society is devoted to defraying costs of publication and +mailing. + +Correspondence concerning memberships in the United States and Canada +should be addressed to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, 2520 +Cimarron St., Los Angeles, California. Correspondence concerning +editorial matters may be addressed to any of the general editors at the +same address. Manuscripts of introductions should conform to the +recommendations of the MLA _Style Sheet_. The membership fee is $5.00 a +year in the United States and Canada and 30/-- in Great Britain and +Europe. British and European prospective members should address B.H. +Blackwell, Broad Street, Oxford, England. Copies of back issues in print +may be obtained from the Corresponding Secretary. + + +PUBLICATIONS FOR 1967-1968 + +127-128. Charles Macklin, _A Will and No Will, or a Bone for the +Lawyers_ (1746). _The New Play Criticiz'd, or The Plague of Envy_ +(1747). Introduction by Jean B. Kern. [_In Preparation_] + +129. Lawrence Echard, Prefaces to _Terence's Comedies_ (1694) and +_Plautus's Comedies_ (1694). Introduction by John Barnard. [29684] + +130. Henry More, _Democritus Platonissans_ (1646). Introduction by P.G. +Stanwood. [_Present Text_] + +131. John Evelyn, _The History of ... Sabatai Sevi ... The Suppos'd +Messiah of the Jews_ (1669). Introduction by Christopher W. Grose. +[_In Preparation_] + +132. Walter Harte, _An Essay on Satire, Particularly on the Dunciad_ +(1730). Introduction by Thomas B. Gilmore. [29237] + + +ANNOUNCEMENTS: + +Next in the series of special publications by the Society will be a +volume including Elkanah Settle's _The Empress of Morocco_ (1673) with +five plates; _Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco_ (1674) +by John Dryden, John Crowne and Thomas Shadwell; _Notes and Observations +on the Empress of Morocco Revised_ (1674) by Elkanah Settle; and _The +Empress of Morocco. AFarce_ (1674) by Thomas Duffet, with an +Introduction by Maximillian E. Novak. Already published in this series +are reprints of John Ogilby's _The Fables of Aesop Paraphras'd in Verse_ +(1668), with an Introduction by Earl Miner and John Gay's _Fables_ +(1727, 1738), with an Introduction by Vinton A. Dearing. Publication is +assisted by funds from the Chancellor of the University of California, +Los Angeles. Price to members of the Society, $2.50 for the first copy +and $3.25 for additional copies. Price to non-members, $4.00. + + * * * * * + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +William Andrews Clark Memorial Library + +2520 CIMARRON STREET AT WEST ADAMS BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA +90018 + +Make check or money order payable to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF +CALIFORNIA. + + * * * * * + * * * * + +Errors and Inconsistencies (noted by transcriber) + +The author used a number of forms that were unusual or archaic even in +1646, and might be mistaken for typographical errors: + + ne (_conjunction_) + won (stay, dwell, like German _wohnen_) + eath (easy, light; also "uneath") + words in -en, especially verbs: + aboven, amazen, been (_infinitive_), causen, standen, withouten... + +Greek diacritics were consistently printed over the first vowel of an +initial diphthong. This has been silently regularized. + +Both occurrences of the name "DesCartes" or "DesChartes" are at line +break; the hyphen has been omitted conjecturally. In general, spellings +that appear more than once, such as "Psyc-" for "Psych-", were assumed +to be intentional. + +The word "invisible"means that the letter is absent but there is an +appropriately sized blank space. + + +Modern Introduction: + + Immobile ... Incomprehensible "[6] + [_line-initial long space in the original, not explained in + the footnote_] + with its seque _Democritus Platonissans_ + [_l in "sequel" invisible at line-end_] + describes the genesis of + [_final s in "genesis" illegible at line-end_] + Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52). [II.xi. 5] + +To the Reader: + + in the neglectfull disguise of afragment [of of] + or which is as harsh one infinite one. + [_. missing; text otherwise unchanged_] + defending the infinitude of both, [both.] + Unum ut attendentes ad infinitam Dei potentiam + [_first i in "infinitam" invisible_] + +Democritus Platonissans + + 7. Numbers infinite of each would strike our 'stonishd sight; + [_er in "Numbers" invisible_] + 25. This is the parergon of each noble fire [is is] + 27. What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + [_punctuation as printed_] + 45. This inf'nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + [_text cut off; "-all" conjectural_] + 47. With their strange vizards. This will follow right + [_text cut off; "-ht" conjectural_] + 55. Keeping a well-proportionated space [ptoportionated] + 81. And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. [mountiug] + 99. Snow-limb'd, rose-cheek'd, ruby-lip'd, pearl-ted, star eyn'd + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin'd. + [_text unchanged: possible hyphen in "star eyn'd"_] + 102. Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. [vnlgar] + 103. A wider period; turneth still and slow. [tnrneth] + +Cupids Conflict + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + [_mismatched parenthesis in original; closing parenthesis may + belong after "harm!" in 4th line of stanza_] + Who can his passions master and controll, [aud] + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + [_reading uncertain: may be "take" corrected by hand to "Lake"_] + +Particular Interpretation + + _Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. [_Energie,_] + _Faith._ ... excellently described in Proclus, [roclus.] + +Esti oun houtos hormos asphals tn ontn hapantn.+ + [+Eis oun ... tn hontn+] + [_Original text could not be checked, but +Eis+ is grammatically + impossible._] + _Intellect._ [_Intellect.._] + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + [_Printed as shown; may be damage or error for "Idea" or similar_] + _Omniformity._ [_Omniformity,_] + _Reduplicative._ ... as the centre. But I define nothing. + [_blank space at mid-line in original_] + _Soul._ ... And that which God inspired into _Adam_ [that that] + _Vaticinant._ ... Theolog. Platon. [Theolog Platon] + +Augustan Reprints + +Here as in e-texts 29237 and 29684 (from the same year), one or two +pages from the list of titles in print appear to be missing. The same +list should be present in any Augustan Reprint from a later year. + + [First page] UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES [. for,] + 117. Sir Roger L'Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). [Sir George] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Democritus Platonissans, by Henry More + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEMOCRITUS PLATONISSANS *** + +***** This file should be named 30327-8.txt or 30327-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/2/30327/ + +Produced by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Democritus Platonissans + +Author: Henry More + +Editor: P. G. Stanwood + +Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30327] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEMOCRITUS PLATONISSANS *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class = "mynote"> + +<p><a name = "start" id = "start">This text</a> includes characters that +require UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding, primarily Greek and a few words +of Hebrew:</p> + +<p class = "inset"><span class = "greek" title = "Agathos ên to pan tode ho sunistas">Ἀγαθὸς ἦν τὸ πᾶν τόδε ὁ συνιστὰς</span></p> + +<p class = "inset">... which is <span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" +title = "[Hebrew] shamayim">שׁמים</span></p> + +<p>If any of these characters do not display properly—in +particular, if the diacritic does not appear directly above the +letter—or if the apostrophes and quotation marks in this paragraph +appear as garbage, you may have an incompatible browser or unavailable +fonts. First, make sure that your browser’s “character set” or “file +encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8). You may also need to change the +default font. All Greek and Hebrew includes mouse-hover +transliterations, as above. Longer Greek passages are broken up at +punctuation.</p> + +<p>Page and folio numbers in [brackets] were added by the transcriber. +Verso (even, left-hand) pages are marked as ||.</p> + +<p>Unless otherwise noted, spelling, punctuation and capitalization in +the primary text are unchanged. The distinction between <b>u</b> (vowel) +and <b>v</b> (consonant) is as in the original. Typographical errors are +shown with <ins class = "correction">mouse-hover popups</ins>.</p> + +<p class = "center"> +<a href = "#intro">Introduction</a> (1968)</p> + +<p class = "center"> +<a href = "#preface">Author’s Preface</a><br> +<a href = "#democritus"><i>Democritus Platonissans</i></a><br> +<a href = "#cupid"><i>Cupids Conflict</i></a><br> +<a href = "#interp"><i>Particular Interpretation ...</i></a><br> +<a href = "#devotion"><i>Philosopher’s Devotion</i></a><br> +<a href = "#augustan">Augustan Reprint Society</a></p> + +<p class = "center"> +<a href = "#endnote">Transcriber’s Notes</a></p> + +<p>The General Inter­pretation (“Interp. Gen.”) referenced in the +Particular Inter­pretation is not part of this text.</p> +</div> + + +<!-- png 01 --> +<div class = "titlepage"> + +<h4 class = "smallcaps">The Augustan Reprint Society</h4> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<h2 class = "extended">HENRY MORE</h2> + +<h1><i>Democritus<br> +Platonissans</i></h1> + +<h4>(1646)</h4> + +<hr> + +<h5><i>Introduction by</i><br> +<span class = "smallcaps extended">P. G. Stanwood</span></h5> + +<hr> + +<h6><span class = "smaller">PUBLICATION NUMBER 130</span><br> +WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY<br> +<span class = "smallcaps">University of California, Los +Angeles</span></h6> + +<h5>1968</h5> + +</div> + +<hr> +<!-- png 02 --> + +<div class = "center"> + +<p> </p> + +<h5>GENERAL EDITORS</h5> + +<p>George Robert Guffey, <i>University of California, Los +Angeles</i></p> + +<p>Maximillian E. Novak, <i>University of California, Los +Angeles</i></p> + +<p>Robert Vosper, <i>William Andrews Clark Memorial Library</i></p> + +<p> </p> + +<h5>ADVISORY EDITORS</h5> + +<p>Richard C. Boys, <i>University of Michigan</i></p> + +<p>James L. Clifford, <i>Columbia University</i></p> + +<p>Ralph Cohen, <i>University of Virginia</i></p> + +<p>Vinton A. Dearing, <i>University of California, Los Angeles</i></p> + +<p>Arthur Friedman, <i>University of Chicago</i></p> + +<p>Louis A. Landa, <i>Princeton University</i></p> + +<p>Earl Miner, <i>University of California, Los Angeles</i></p> + +<p>Samuel H. Monk, <i>University of Minnesota</i></p> + +<p>Everett T. Moore, <i>University of California, Los Angeles</i></p> + +<p>Lawrence Clark Powell, <i>William Andrews Clark Memorial +Library</i></p> + +<p>James Sutherland, <i>University College, London</i></p> + +<p>H. T. Swedenberg, Jr., <i>University of California, Los +Angeles</i></p> + +<p> </p> + +<h5>CORRESPONDING SECRETARY</h5> + +<p>Edna C. Davis, <i>William Andrews Clark Memorial Library</i></p> + +</div> + +<div class = "intro"> + +<span class = "pagenum">i</span> +<!-- png 03 --> +<h3><a name = "intro" id = "intro">INTRODUCTION</a></h3> + + +<p>Henry More (1614-1687), the most interesting member of that group +traditionally known as the Cambridge Platonists, lived conscientiously +and well. Having early set out on one course, he never thought to change +it; he devoted his whole life to the joy of celebrating, again and +again, “a firm and unshaken Belief of the Existence of GOD +. . . , a God infinitely Good, as well as infinitely +Great . . . .”<a class = "tag" name = "tag1" id = +"tag1" href = "#note1">1</a> Such faith was for More the starting point +of his rational understanding: “with the most fervent Prayers” he +beseeched God, in his autobiographical “Praefatio Generalissima,” “to +set me free from the dark Chains, and this so sordid Captivity of my own +Will.” More offered to faith all which his reason could know, and so it +happened that he “was got into a most Joyous and Lucid State of Mind,” +something quite ineffable; to preserve these “Sensations and Experiences +of my own Soul,” he wrote “a pretty full Poem call’d +<i>Psychozoia</i>” (or <i>A Christiano-Platonicall display of +Life</i>), an exercise begun about 1640 and designed for no audience but +himself. There were times, More continued in his autobiographical +remarks, when he thought of destroying <i>Psychozoia</i> because its +style is rough and its language filled with archaisms. His principal +purpose in that poem was to demonstrate in detail the spiritual +foundation of all existence; Psyche, his heroine, is the daughter of the +Absolute, the general Soul who holds together the metaphysical universe, +against whom he sees reflected his own soul’s mystical progress. More +must, nevertheless, have been pleased with his labor, for he next wrote +<i>Psychathanasia Platonica: or Platonicall Poem of the Immortality of +Souls, especially Mans Soul</i>, in which he attempts to demonstrate the +immortality of the soul as a corrective to his age. Then, he joined to +that <i>Antipsychopannychia, or A Confutation of the sleep of the +Soul +<span class = "pagenum">ii</span> +<!-- png 04 --> +after death</i>, and <i>Antimonopsychia, or That all Souls are not +one</i>; at the urging of friends, he published the poems in +1642—his first literary work—as <i>Psychodia +Platonica</i>.</p> + +<p>In his argument for the soul’s immortality toward the end of +<i>Psychathanasia</i> (III.4), More had urged that there was no need to +plead for any extension of the infinite (“a contradiction,” and +also, it would seem, a fruitless inquiry); but he soon changed his +mind. The preface to <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> reproduces those +stanzas of the earlier poem which deny infinity (34 to the end of +the canto) with a new (formerly concluding) stanza 39 and three further +stanzas “for a more easie and naturall leading to the present Canto,” +<i>i.e.</i>, <i>Democritus Platonissans</i>, which More clearly intended +to be an addition, a fifth canto to <i>Psychathanasia</i> (Book +III); and although <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> first appeared +separately, More appended it to <i>Psychathanasia</i> in the second +edition of his collected poems, this time with English titles, the whole +being called <i>A Platonick Song of the Soul</i> (1647).</p> + +<p>There is little relationship between <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> +and the rest of More’s poetry; even the main work to which it supposedly +forms a final and conclusive canto provides only the slightest excuse +for such a continuation. Certainly, in <i>Psychathanasia</i>, More is +excited by the new astronomy; he praises the Copernican system +throughout Book III, giving an account of it according to the lessons of +his study of Galileo’s <i>Dialogo</i>, which he may have been reading +even as he wrote.<a class = "tag" name = "tag2" id = "tag2" href = +"#note2">2</a> Indeed, More tries to harmonize the two poems—his +habit was always to look for unity. But even though <i>Democritus +Platonissans</i> explores an astronomical subject, just as the third +part of <i>Psychathanasia</i> also does, its attitude and theme are +quite different; for More had meanwhile been reading Descartes.</p> + +<p>More’s theory of the infinity of worlds and God’s plenitude evidently +owed a great deal to Descartes’ recent example; More responds +exuberantly to him, especially to his <i>Principes de la Philosophie</i> +(1644); for in him he fancied having found a true ally. Steeped in +Platonic and neo-Platonic thought, and determined +<span class = "pagenum">iii</span> +<!-- png 05 --> +to reconcile Spirit with the rational mind of man, More thought he had +discovered in Cartesian ‘intuition’ what was not necessarily there. +Descartes had enjoyed an ecstatic illumination, and so had Plotinus; but +this was not enough, as More may have wanted to imagine, to make +Descartes a neo-Platonist.<a class = "tag" name = "tag3" id = "tag3" +href = "#note3">3</a> But the Platonic element implicit in Descartes, +his theory of innate ideas, and his proof of the existence of God from +the idea of God, all helped to make More so receptive to him. +Nevertheless, More did not really need Descartes, nor, as he himself was +later to discover, had he even understood him properly, for More had +looked at him only to find his own reflection.</p> + +<p>But there was nothing really new about the idea of infinite worlds +which More described in <i>Democritus Platonissans</i>; it surely was +not a conception unique to Descartes. The theory was a common one in +Greek and Renaissance thought. Democritus and the Epicureans, of course, +advocated the theme of infinite worlds in an infinite universe which +More accepted; but at the same time, he rejected their view of a +mechanistic and fortuitous creation. Although Plato specifically rejects +the idea of infinite worlds (in <i>Timaeus</i>), More imagines, as +the title of his poem implies, a Platonic universe, by which he +really means neo-Platonic, combined with a Democritean plurality of +worlds. More filled space, not with the infinite void of the Atomists, +but with the Divine, ever active immanence. More, in fact, in an early +philosophic work, <i>An Antidote against Atheisme</i> (1652), and again +in <i>Divine Dialogues</i> (1668), refutes Lucretius by asserting the +usefulness of all created things in God’s Providence and the essential +design in Nature. His reference in <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> +(st. 20) is typical: “though I detest the sect/ of Epicurus for +their manners vile,/ Yet what is true I may not well reject.” In +bringing together Democritus’ theories and neo-Platonic thought, More +obviously has attempted reconciliation of two exclusive world views, but +with dubious success.</p> + +<p>While More stands firmly before a familiar tradition, his belief in +an infinity of worlds evidently has little immediate +<span class = "pagenum">iv</span> +<!-- png 06 --> +connection with any predecessors. Even Bruno’s work, or Thomas Digges,’ +which could have occupied an important place, seems to have had little, +if any, direct influence on More. It was Descartes who stimulated his +thought at the most receptive moment: in 1642 to have denied a theory +which in 1646 he proclaimed with such force evidently argues in favor of +a most powerful attachment. More responded enthusiastically to what he +deemed a congenial metaphysical system; as a champion of Descartes, he +was first to make him known in England and first in England to praise +the infinity of worlds, yet Descartes’ system could give to him little +real solace. More embraces God’s plenitude and infinity of worlds, he +rejoices in the variety and grandeur of the universe, and he worships it +as he might God Himself; but Descartes was fundamentally uninterested in +such enthusiasms and found them even repellant—as well as +unnecessary—to his thought. For More the doctrine of infinity was +a proper corollary of Copernican astronomy and neo-Platonism +(as well as Cabbalistic mysticism) and therefore a necessity to his +whole elaborate and eclectic view of the world.</p> + +<p>In introducing Cartesian thought into England, More emphasized +particular physical doctrines mainly described in <i>The Principles of +Philosophy</i>; he shows little interest in the <i>Discourse on the +Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason</i> (1637), or in the +<i>Meditations</i> (1641), both of which were also available to him when +he wrote <i>Democritus Platonissans</i>. In the preface to his poem, he +refers to Descartes whom he seems to have read hopefully: surely +“infinitude” is the same as the Cartesian “indefinite.” “<i>For what is +his <em>mundus indefinitè extensus</em>, but <em>extensus infinitè</em>? +Else it sounds onely <em>infinitus quoad nos</em>, but <em>simpliciter +finitus</em></i>,” for there can be no space “<i>unstuffd with +Atoms</i>.” More thinks that Descartes seems “to mince it,” that +difficulty lies in the interpretation of a word, not in an essential +idea. He is referring to Part II, xxi, of <i>The Principles</i>, but he +quotes, with tacit approval, from Part III, i and ii, in the motto +to the poem. More undoubtedly knows the specific discussion of +‘infinity’ in Part I, xxvi-xxviii, where he must first +<span class = "pagenum">v</span> +<!-- png 07 --> +have felt uneasy delight on reading “that it is not needful to enter +into disputes regarding the infinite, but merely to hold all that in +which we can find no limits as indefinite, such as the extension of the +world . . . .”<a class = "tag" name = "tag4" id = +"tag4" href = "#note4">4</a> More asked Descartes to clarify his +language in their correspondence of 1648-49, the last year of Descartes’ +life.</p> + +<p><i>Democritus Platonissans</i> is More’s earliest statement about +absolute space and time; by introducing these themes into English +philosophy, he contributed significantly to the intellectual history of +the seventeenth century. Newton, indeed, was able to make use of More’s +forging efforts; but of relative time or space and their measurement, +which so much concerned Newton, More had little to say. He was +preoccupied with the development of a theory which would show that +immaterial substance, with space and time as attributes, is as real and +as absolute as the Cartesian geometrical and spatial account of matter +which he felt was true but much in need of amplification.</p> + +<p>In his first letter to Descartes, of 11 December 1648, More wrote: +“. . . this indefinite extension is either +<i>simpliciter</i> infinite, or only in respect to us. If you understand +extension to be infinite <i>simpliciter</i>, why do you obscure your +thought by too low and too modest words? If it is infinite only in +respect to us, extension, in reality, will be finite; for our mind is +the measure neither of the things nor of truth. . . .” +Unsatisfied by his first answer from Descartes (5 February 1649), +he urges his point again (5 March): if extension can describe +matter, the same quality must apply to the immaterial and yet be only +one of many attributes of Spirit. In his second letter to More +(15 April), Descartes answers firmly: “It is repugnant to my +concept to attribute any limit to the world, and I have no other measure +than my perception for what I have to assert or to deny. I say, +therefore, that the world is indeterminate or indefinite, because I do +not recognize in it any limits. But I dare not call it infinite as I +perceive that God is greater than the world, not in respect to His +extension, because, as I have already said, I do not acknowledge in +God any proper [extension], but in +<span class = "pagenum">vi</span> +<!-- png 08 --> +respect to His perfection . . . . It is repugnant to +my mind . . . it implies a contradiction, that the world be +finite or limited, because I cannot but conceive a space outside the +boundaries of the world wherever I presuppose them.” More plainly fails +to understand the basic dualism inherent in Cartesian philosophy and to +sense the irrelevance of his questions. While Descartes is really +disposing of the spiritual world in order to get on with his analysis of +finite experience, More is keenly attempting to reconcile neo-Platonism +with the lively claims of matter. His effort can be read as the brave +attempt to harmonize an older mode of thought with the urgency of the +‘new philosophy’ which called the rest in doubt. More saw this conflict +and the implications of it with a kind of clarity that other men of his +age hardly possessed. But the way of Descartes, which at first seemed to +him so promising, certainly did not lead to the kind of harmony which he +sought.</p> + +<p>More’s original enthusiasm for Descartes declined as he understood +better that the Cartesian world in practice excluded spirits and souls. +Because Descartes could find no necessary place even for God Himself, +More styled him, in <i>Enchiridion Metaphysicum</i> (1671), the “Prince +of the Nullibists”; these men “readily acknowledge there are such things +as <i>Incorporeal Beings</i> or <i>Spirits</i>, yet do very peremptorily +contend, that they are <i>no where</i> in the whole World [;] +. . . because they so boldly affirm that a Spirit is +<i>Nullibi</i>, that is to say, <i>no where</i>,” they deserve to be +called <i>Nullibists</i>.<a class = "tag" name = "tag5" id = "tag5" href += "#note5">5</a> In contrast to these false teachers, More describes +absolute space by listing twenty epithets which can be applied either to +God or to pure extension, such as “Unum, Simplex, Immobile +. . . Incomprehensible <ins class = "correction" title = +"space in original (not explained in footnote)">    </ins>”<a class = "tag" name = "tag6" +id = "tag6" href = "#note6">6</a> There is, however, a great +difficulty here; for while Space and Spirit are eternal and uncreated, +they yet contain material substance which has been created by God. If +the material world possesses infinite extension, as More generally +believes, that would preclude any need of its having a creator. In order +to avoid this dilemma, which <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> ignores, +More must at last separate matter and space, seeing the +<span class = "pagenum">vii</span> +<!-- png 09 --> +latter as an attribute of God through which He is able to contain a +finite world limited in space as well as in time. In writing that “this +infinite space because of its infinity is distinct from matter,”<a class += "tag" name = "tag7" id = "tag7" href = "#note7">7</a> More reveals the +direction of his conclusion; the dichotomy it embodies is Cartesianism +in reverse.</p> + +<p>While More always labored to describe the ineffable, his earliest +work, the poetry, may have succeeded in this wish most of all. Although +he felt that his poetry was aiming toward truths which his “<i>later and +better concocted Prose</i>”<a class = "tag" name = "tag8" id = "tag8" +href = "#note8">8</a> reached, the effort cost him the suggestiveness of +figurative speech. In urging himself on toward an ever more consistent +statement of belief, he lost much of his beginning exuberance (best +expressed in the brief “Philosopher’s Devotion”) and the joy of +intellectual discovery. In the search “<i>to find out Words which will +prove faithful witnesses of the peculiarities of my Thoughts</i>,” he +staggers under the unsupportable burden of too many words. In trying so +desperately to clarify his thought, he rejected poetic discourse as +“slight”; only a language free of metaphor and symbol could, he +supposed, lead toward correctness. Indeed, More soon renounced poetry; +he apparently wrote no more after collecting it in <i>Philosophical +Poems</i> (1647), when he gave up poetry for “more seeming Substantial +performances in solid <i>Prose</i>.”<a class = "tag" name = "tag9" id = +"tag9" href = "#note9">9</a> “Cupids Conflict,” which is “annexed” to +<i>Democritus Platonissans</i>, is an interesting revelation of the +failure of poetry, as More felt it: he justifies his “rude rugged +uncouth style” by suggesting that sweet verses avoid telling important +truths; harshness and obscurity may at least remind one that there is a +significance beyond mere words. His lament is characteristic: “How ill +alas! with wisdome it accords/ To sell my living sense for liveless +words.”</p> + +<p>In spite of these downcast complaints, More was quite capable of +lively and meaningful poetic ideas. One is the striking image of the +cone which occurs in <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> (especially in +stanzas 7-8, 66-67, and 88) and becomes the most essential symbol +to More’s expression of infinitude and extension. The figure first +appears in <i>Antipsychopannychia</i> +<span class = "pagenum">viii</span> +<!-- png 10 --> +(II.9) where his purpose is to reconcile the world Soul with Christian +eschatology. In <i>Democritus Platonissans</i>, the cone enables More to +adapt the familiar Hermetic paradox:</p> + +<div class = "verse"> +<p class = "indent">A Circle whose circumference no where</p> +<p class = "indent">Is circumscrib’d, whose Centre’s each where set,</p> +<p class = "indent">But the low Cusp’s a figure circular,</p> +<p>Whose compasse is ybound, but centre’s every where. (st. 8)</p> +</div> + +<p>Every point on the circumference, or base of the cone, relates to the +single point at the top. The world, More wants to say, has no limits, no +center, yet there are bounds in its not having any. More recognizes the +contradiction when he fancies “some strong arm’d Archer” at the wide +world’s edge (st. 37). Where shall he send his shafts? Into “mere +vacuity”? But More hardly seems aware of the inappropriateness of the +cone: he uses a geometrical figure to locate space, time, and numberless +worlds within the universal sight of God, but matter is infinite, +“distinct/ And yet proceeding from the Deitie” (st. 68). Obviously, +the archer must forever be sending his arrows through an infinitely +expanding surface. Nevertheless, the cone has great value as a metaphor, +as a richly suggestive and fascinating conception. More, however, does +not want to speak metaphorically; he is attempting to disclose truths, +literal and plain, where pretty words and metaphors have no place. Even +as he is writing his most effective poetry, we are aware that More is +denying his poetic office; for he is pleading a reasoned case where the +words crack and strain, where poetic meaning gathers, only to be +denied.</p> + +<p>But these objections momentarily disappear when More forgets himself +enough to let us feel his imagination and does not worry that we might +miss the proofs of his philosophy. <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> +concludes with an apocalyptic vision wherein the poet imagines the +reconciliation of infinite worlds and time within God’s immensity. He is +also attempting to harmonize +<span class = "pagenum">ix</span> +<!-- png 11 --> +<i>Psychathanasia</i>, where he rejected infinitude, with its <ins class += "correction" title = "l invisible at line-end">sequel</ins> +<i>Democritus Platonissans</i>, where he has everywhere been declaring +it; thus we should think of endless worlds as we should think of Nature +and the Phoenix, dying yet ever regenerative, sustained by a “centrall +power/ Of hid spermatick life” which sucks “sweet heavenly juice” from +above (st. 101). More closes his poem on a vision of harmony and +ceaseless energy, a most fit ending for one who dared to believe +that the new philosophy sustained the old, that all coherence had not +gone out of the world, but was always there, only waiting to be +discovered afresh in this latter age.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>The University of British Columbia</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">x</span> +<!-- png 12 --> + +<h4><a name = "intro_notes" id = "intro_notes"> +NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION</a></h4> + +<div class = "footnote"> + +<p><a name = "note1" id = "note1" href = "#tag1">1.</a> +The quotations from More’s Latin autobiography occur in the <i>Opera +Omnia</i> (London, 1675-79), portions of which Richard Ward translated +in <i>The Life of . . . Henry More</i> (London, 1710). Cf. the +modern edition of this work, ed. M. F. Howard (London, 1911), pp. +61, 67-68, the text followed here. There is a recent reprint of the +<i>Opera Omnia</i> in 3 volumes (Hildesheim, 1966) with an introduction +by Serge Hutin. The “Praefatio Generalissima” begins vol. II. 1. +One passage in it which Ward did not translate describes the <ins class += "correction" title = "final s illegible at line-end">genesis</ins> of +<i>Democritus Platonissans</i>. More writes that after finishing +<i>Psychathanasia</i>, he felt a change of heart: “Postea vero mutata +sententia furore nescio quo Poetico incitatus supra dictum Poema +scripsi, ea potissimum innixus ratione quod liquido constaret +extensionem spacii dari infinitam, nec majores absurditates pluresve +contingere posse in Materia infinita, infinitaque; Mundi duratione, quam +in infinita Extensione spacii” (p. ix).</p> + +<p><a name = "note2" id = "note2" href = "#tag2">2.</a> +Cf. Lee Haring’s unpub. diss., “Henry More’s <i>Psychathanasia</i> and +<i>Democritus Platonissans</i>: A Critical Edition,” (Columbia Univ., +1961), pp. 33-57.</p> + +<p><a name = "note3" id = "note3" href = "#tag3">3.</a> +Marjorie Hope Nicolson’s various articles and books which in part deal +with More are important to the discussion that follows, and especially +“The Early Stage of Cartesianism in England,” SP, XXVI (1929), 356-379; +<i>Mountain Gloom and Mountain Glory</i> (Ithaca, 1959), pp. 113-143, +and <i>The Breaking of the Circle</i> (New York, 1960), pp. 158-165.</p> + +<p><a name = "note4" id = "note4" href = "#tag4">4.</a> +Cf. <i>The Meditations and Selections from the Principles of René +Descartes</i>, trans. John Veitch (Chicago, 1908), p. 143. The +quotations from the letters which follow occur in Alexandre Koyré’s very +helpful book, <i>From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe</i> +(Baltimore, 1957), pp. 114, 122-123, but the complete and original texts +can be consulted in Descartes, <i>Correspondance avec Arnaud et +Morus</i>, ed. G. Lewis (Paris, 1953).</p> + +<p><a name = "note5" id = "note5" href = "#tag5">5.</a> +This passage occurs at the beginning of “The Easie, True, and Genuine +Notion, And consistent Explication Of the Nature of a Spirit,” +a free translation of <i>Enchiridion Metaphysicum</i>, +I. 27-28, by John Collins which he included in Joseph Glanvil’s +<i>Saducismus Triumphatus</i> (London, 1681). I quote from the text +as given in <i>Philosophical Writings of Henry More</i>, ed. F. I. +MacKinnon (New York, 1925), p. 183.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">xi</span> +<!-- png 13 --> +<p><a name = "note6" id = "note6" href = "#tag6">6.</a> +Cf. <i>Enchiridion Metaphysicum</i>, VIII. 8, trans. Mary Whiton Calkins +and included in John Tull Baker, <i>An Historical and Critical +Examination of English Space and Time Theories</i> . . . +(Bronxville, N.Y., 1930), p. 12. For the original, cf. <i>Opera +Omnia</i>, II. 1, p. 167.</p> + +<p><a name = "note7" id = "note7" href = "#tag7">7.</a> +“<i>Infinitum</i> igitur hoc <i>Extensum</i> à Materia distinctum,” +<i>Enchiridion Metaphysicum</i>, VIII. 9, in <i>Opera Omnia, loc. +cit.</i> Quoted by MacKinnon, p. 262.</p> + +<p><a name = "note8" id = "note8" href = "#tag8">8.</a> +This and the following reference appear in <i>An Explanation of the +grand Mystery of Godliness</i> (London, 1660), “To the Reader,” pp. vi +and v.</p> + +<p><a name = "note9" id = "note9" href = "#tag9">9.</a> +<i>Ibid.</i>, <ins class = "correction" +title = "text reads ‘II.xi. 5’ with mismatched spaces">II. xi. 5</ins> +(p. 52).</p> +</div> + + + +<span class = "pagenum">xii</span> +<!-- png 14 --> + +<h4><a name = "intro_bib" id = "intro_bib"> +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE</a></h4> + +<p>The text of this edition is reproduced from a copy in the Henry E. +Huntington Library.</p> + +</div> +<!-- end div intro --> + +<hr> + +<div class = "titlepage"> + +<span class = "folionum">[A]</span> +<!-- png 15 --> + +<h2><a name = "more" id = "more">Democritus Platonissans,</a></h2> + +<h6>OR,</h6> + +<h2 class = "super"><i>AN ESSAY</i></h2> + +<h6>UPON THE</h6> + +<h3 class = "extended">INFINITY OF WORLDS</h3> + +<h6>OUT OF</h6> + +<h3><span class = "smallcaps extended">Platonick Principles</span>.</h3> + +<h4>Hereunto is annexed</h4> + +<h3 class = "super">CUPIDS CONFLICT</h3> + +<h4>together with</h4> + +<h3 class = "smallcaps extended">The Philosophers Devotion:</h3> + +<h4>And a Particular Interpretation appertain-<br> +ing to the three last books of the<br> +<i>Song of the Soul</i>.</h4> + +<p> </p> + +<h4>By <i>H. More</i> Master of Arts, and Fellow of<br> +Christs Colledge in Cambridge.</h4> + +<p> </p> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<span class = "greek" title = "Agathos ên to pan tode ho sunistas, agathôi de oudeis peri oudenos oudepote enginetai phthonos.">Ἀγαθὸς ἦν +τὸ πᾶν τόδε ὁ συνιστὰς, ἀγαθῷ δὲ οὐδεὶς περὶ οὐδενὸς οὐδέποτε ἐγγίνεται +φθόνος.</span> +<span class = "greek" title = "Toutou d’ ektos ôn panta hoti malista eboulêthê genesthai paraplêsia hautôi.">Τούτου δ’ ἐκτὸς ὢν πάντα ὁτι +μάλιστα ἐβουλήθη γενέσθαι παραπλήσια αὑτῷ.</span> Plat.</p> + +<p class = "hanging"> +<i>Pythagoras Terram Planetam quendam esse censuit qui circa solem in +centro mundi defixum converteretur, Pythagorans secuti sunt Philolaus, +Seleucus, Cleanthes, &c. imò <span class = "extended">PLATO</span> +jam senex, ut narrat Theophrastus.</i> Libert. Fromond, de Orbe terræ +immobili.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h5 class = "super"><i>CAMBRIDGE</i></h5> + +<h5>Printed by <span class = "smallcaps extended">Roger Daniel</span>, +Printer to<br> +the <span class = "smallcaps extended">Universitie</span>. 1646.</h5> + +</div> + +<!-- png 16 --> + + +<span class = "pagenum">[i]</span> +<span class = "folionum">A2</span> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/headpiece.png" width = "396" height = "35" +alt = "decoration"></p> + +<!-- png 17 --> +<h3><a name = "preface" id = "preface">To the Reader.</a></h3> + +<p class = "inset"><span class = "larger extended">READER,</span></p> + +<div class = "ital"> + +<p><span class = "firstletter"> +<img src = "images/capI.png" width = "85" height = "85" +alt = "I (If)"></span><span class = "second">f</span> thou standest not +to the judgement of thine eye more then of thy reason, this fragment may +passe favourably, though in the neglectfull disguise <ins class = +"correction" title = "text reads ‘of of’">of</ins> a fragment; if +the strangenesse of the argument prove no hinderance. <span class = +"extended">INFINITIE</span> of <span class = "extended">WORLDS</span>! +A thing monstrous if assented to, and to be startled at, especially +by them, whose thoughts this one have alwayes so engaged, that they can +find no leisure to think of any thing else. But I onely make a bare +proposall to more acute judgements, of what my sportfull fancie, with +pleasure hath suggested: following my old designe of furnishing mens +minds with varietie of apprehensions concerning the most weightie points +of Philosophie, that they may not seem rashly to have settled in the +truth, though it be the truth: a thing as ill beseeming +Philosophers, as hastie prejudicative sentence Politicall Judges. But if +I had relinquishd here my wonted self, in proving Dogmaticall, +I should have found very noble Patronage for the cause among the +ancients, <em>Epicurus</em>, <em>Democritus</em>, <em>Lucretius</em>, +<em>&c.</em> Or if justice may reach the dead, do them the right, as +to shew, that though they be hooted at, by the Rout of the learned, as +men of monstrous conceits, they were either very wise or exceeding +fortunate to light on so probable and specious an opinion, in which +notwithstanding there is so much difficultie and seeming +inconsistencie.</p> + +<p>Nay and that sublime and subtil Mechanick too, <em>DesChartes</em>, +though he seem to mince it must hold infinitude of worlds, or which is +as harsh one infinite <ins class = "correction" title = ". missing (other text unchanged)">one.</ins> For what is his <em>mundus indefinitè +extensus</em>, but <em>extensus infinitè</em>? Else it sounds onely +<em>infinitus quoad nos</em> but <em>simpliciter finitus</em>. But if +any space be left out unstuffd with Atoms, it will hazard the +dissipation of the whole frame of Nature into disjoynted dust. As may be +proved by the Principles of his own Philosophie. +<span class = "pagenum">[ii]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 18 --> +And that there is space whereever God is, or any actuall and +self-subsistent Being, seems to me no plainer then one of the <span +class = "greek" title = "koinai ennoiai">κοιναί ἔννοιαι</span>.</p> + +<p>For mine own part I must confesse these apprehensions do plainly +oppose what heretofore I have conceived; but I have sworn more faithfull +friendship with Truth then with myself. And therefore without all +remorse lay batterie against mine own edifice: not sparing to shew how +weak that is, that my self now deems not impregnably strong. I have +at the latter end of the last Canto of <em>Psychathanasia</em>, not +without triumph concluded, that the world hath not continued <em>ab +æterno</em>, from this ground:</p> + +<div class = "verse"> +<p class = "halfway">Extension</p> +<p>That’s infinite implies a contradiction.</p> +</div> + +<p>And this is in answer to an objection against my last argument of the +souls Immortalitie, <em>viz.</em> divine goodnesse, which I there make +the measure of his providence. That ground limits the essence of the +world as well as its duration, and satisfies the curiositie of the +Opposer, by shewing the incompossibilitie in the Creature, not want of +goodnesse in the Creatour to have staid the framing of the Universe. But +now roused up by a new Philosophick furie, I answer that +difficultie by taking away the Hypothesis of either the world or time +being finite: defending the infinitude of <ins class = "correction" +title = "text has . for ,">both,</ins> which though I had done with a +great deal of vigour and life, and semblance of assent, it would have +agreed well enough with the free beat of Poesie, and might have passed +for a pleasant flourish: but the severitie of my own judgement, and sad +Genius hath cast in many correctives and coolers into the Canto it self; +so that it cannot amount to more then a discussion. And discussion is no +prejudice but an honour to the truth: for then and never but then is she +Victorious. And what a glorious Trophee shall the finite world erect +when it hath vanquished the Infinite; a Pygmee a Giant.</p> + +<p>For the better understanding of the connexion of this Appendix, with +the Poem of the souls Immortalitie; I have taken off the last +stanza’s thereof, and added some few new ones to them for a more easie +and naturall leading to the present Canto. <em>Psychathan. lib. 3. Cant. +4.</em></p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[iii]</span> +<span class = "folionum">A3</span> +<!-- png 19 --> + +<div class = "verse backset"> + +<h6><i>Stanz.</i> 33<sup>d.</sup></h6> + +<p>But thou who ere thou art that thus dost strive</p> +<p>With fierce assault my groundwork to subvert,</p> +<p>And boldly dost into Gods secrets dive,</p> +<p>Base fear my manly face note make m’ avert.</p> +<p>In that odde question which thou first didst stert,</p> +<p>I’ll plainly prove thine incapacitie,</p> +<p>And force thy feeble feet back to revert,</p> +<p>That cannot climb so high a mysterie,</p> +<p class = "backset">I’le shew thee strange perplexed +inconsistencie.</p> + +<h6>34</h6> + +<p>Why was this world from all infinitie</p> +<p>Not made? say’st thou: why? could it be so made</p> +<p>Say I. For well observe the sequencie:</p> +<p>If this Out-world continually hath wade</p> +<p>Through a long long-spun-time that never had</p> +<p>Beginning, then there as few circulings</p> +<p>Have been in the quick Moon as Saturn sad;</p> +<p>And still more plainly this clear truth to sing,</p> +<p class = "backset">As many years as dayes or flitting houres have +been.</p> + +<h6>35</h6> + +<p>For things that we conceive are infinite,</p> +<p>One th’ other no’te surpasse in quantitie.</p> +<p>So I have prov’d with clear convincing light,</p> +<p>This world could never from infinitie</p> +<p>Been made. Certain deficiencie</p> +<p>Doth alwayes follow evolution:</p> +<p>Nought’s infinite but tight eternitie</p> +<p>Close thrust into itself: extension</p> +<p class = "backset">That’s infinite implies a contradiction.</p> + +<h6>36</h6> + +<p>So then for ought we know this world was made</p> +<p>So soon as such a Nature could exist;</p> +<p>And though that it continue, never fade,</p> +<p>Yet never will it be that that long twist</p> +<p>Of time prove infinite, though ner’e desist</p> +<p>From running still. But we may safely say</p> +<p>Time past compar’d with this long future list</p> +<p>Doth show as if the world but yesterday</p> +<p class = "backset">Were made, and in due time Gods glory out may +ray.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[iv]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 20 --> +<h6>37</h6> + +<p>Then this short night and ignorant dull ages</p> +<p>Will quite be swallowed in oblivion;</p> +<p>And though this hope by many surly Sages</p> +<p>Be now derided, yet they’ll all be gone</p> +<p>In a short time, like Bats and Owls yflone</p> +<p>At dayes approch. This will hap certainly</p> +<p>At this worlds shining conflagration.</p> +<p>Fayes, Satyrs, Goblins the night merrily</p> +<p class = "backset">May spend, but ruddy Sol shall make them all to +flie.</p> + +<h6>38</h6> + +<p>The roaring Lions and drad beasts of prey</p> +<p>Rule in the dark with pitious crueltie;</p> +<p>But harmlesse Man is matter of the day,</p> +<p>Which doth his work in pure simplicitie.</p> +<p>God blesse his honest usefull industrie.</p> +<p>But pride and covetize, ambition,</p> +<p>Riot, revenge, self-love, hypocrisie,</p> +<p>Contempt of goodnesse, forc’d opinion;</p> +<p class = "backset">These and such like do breed the worlds +confusion.</p> + +<h6>39</h6> + +<p>But sooth to say though my triumphant Muse</p> +<p>Seemeth to vant as in got victorie,</p> +<p>And with puissant stroke the head to bruize</p> +<p>Of her stiff so, and daze his phantasie,</p> +<p>Captive his reason, dead each facultie:</p> +<p>Yet in her self so strong a force withstands</p> +<p>That of her self afraid, she’ll not aby,</p> +<p>Nor keep the field. She’ll fall by her own hand</p> +<p class = "backset">As <i>Ajax</i> once laid <i>Ajax</i> dead upon the +strand.</p> + +<h6>40</h6> + +<p>For thus her-self by her own self’s oppos’d;</p> +<p>The Heavens the Earth the universall Frame</p> +<p>Of living Nature God so soon disclos’d</p> +<p>As He could do, or she receive the same.</p> +<p>All times delay since that must turn to blame,</p> +<p>And what cannot He do that can be done?</p> +<p>And what might let but by th’ all-powerfull Name</p> +<p>Or Word of God, the Worlds Creation</p> +<p class = "backset">More suddenly were made then mans swift thought can +run?</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[v]</span> +<span class = "folionum">[A4]</span> +<!-- png 21 --> +<h6>41</h6> + +<p>Wherefore that Heavenly Power or is as young</p> +<p>As this Worlds date; or else some needlesse space</p> +<p>Of time was spent, before the Earth did clung</p> +<p>So close unto her-self and seas embrace</p> +<p>Her hollow breast, and if that time surpasse</p> +<p>A finite number then Infinitie</p> +<p>Of years before this Worlds Creation passe.</p> +<p>So that the durance of the Deitie</p> +<p class = "backset">We must contract or strait his full Benignitie.</p> + +<h6>42</h6> + +<p>But for the cradle of the <i>Cretian Jove</i>,</p> +<p>And guardians of his vagient Infancie</p> +<p>What sober man but sagely will reprove?</p> +<p>Or drown the noise of the fond <i>Dactyli</i></p> +<p>By laughter loud? Dated Divinitie</p> +<p>Certes is but the dream of a drie brain:</p> +<p>God maim’d in goodnesse, inconsistencie;</p> +<p>Wherefore my troubled mind is now in pain</p> +<p class = "backset">Of a new birth, which this one Canto’ll not +contain.</p> + +</div> + +<p>Now Reader, thou art arrived to the Canto it self, from which I have +kept thee off by too tedious Preface and Apologie, which is seldome made +without consciousnesse of some fault, which I professe I find not in my +self, unlesse this be it, that I am more tender of thy satisfaction then +mine own credit. As for that high sullen Poem, <em>Cupids Conflict</em>, +I must leave it to thy candour and favourable censure. The +<em>Philosophers Devotion</em> I cast in onely, that the latter pages +should not be unfurnished.</p> + +<p class = "right"><em>H. M.</em></p> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[vi]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 22 --> + +<p><i>Nihil tamen frequentius inter Autores occurrit, quám ut omnia adeò +ex moduli ferè sensuum suorum æstiment, ut ea quæ insuper infinitis +rerum spatiis extare possunt, sive superbè sive imprudenter rejiciant; +quin & ea omnia in usum suum fabricata fuisse glorientur, perinde +facientes ac si pediculi humanum caput, aut pulices sinum muliebrem +propter se solos condita existimarent, eáque demum ex gradibus +saltibúsve suis metirentur. <em>The Lord Herbert in his De Causis +Errorum.</em></i></p> + +<p class = "space"> +<i>De generali totius hujus mundi aspectabilis constructione ut rectè +Philosophemur duo sunt imprimis observanda: Unum ut attendentes ad <ins +class = "correction" title = "first i invisible">infinitam</ins> Dei +potentiam & bonitatem nè vereamur nimis ampla & pulchra & +absoluta ejus opera imaginari: sed è contra caveamus, nè si quos fortè +limites nobis non certò cognitos, in ipsis supponamus, non satìs +magnificè de creatoris potentia sentire videamur.</i></p> + +<p><i>Alterum, ut etiam caveamus, nè nimis superbè de nobis ipsis +sentiamus. Quod fieret non modò, si quos limites nobis nullâ cognitos +ratione, nec divinà revelatione, mundo vellemus affingere, tanquam si +vis nostra cogitationis, ultra id quod à Deo revera factum est ferri +posset; sed etiam maximè, si res omnes propter nos solos, ab illo +creatas esse fingeremus. <em>Renatus Des-Cartes in his Princip. +Philosoph. the third part.</em></i></p> + +</div> +<!-- end div ital --> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[1]</span> +<span class = "folionum">B</span> +<!-- png 23 --> + +<h5 class = "smallcaps extended"> +<a name = "democritus" id = "democritus">The Argument.</a></h5> + +<div class = "verse ital"> +<p>’Gainst boundlesse time th’ objections made,</p> +<p class = "indent">And wast infinity</p> +<p>Of worlds, are with new reasons weigh’d,</p> +<p class = "indent">Mens judgements are left free.</p> +</div> + +<div class = "verse backset"> +<h6>1</h6> + +<p class = "plain"><span class = "dropcap">H</span><span class = +"second">e</span>nce, hence unhallowed ears and hearts more hard</p> +<p class = "plain">Then Winter clods fast froze with Northern wind.</p> +<p class = "plain">But most of all, foul tongue I thee discard</p> +<p>That blamest all that thy dark strait’ned mind,</p> +<p>Can not conceive: But that no blame thou find;</p> +<p>What e’re my pregnant Muse brings forth to light,</p> +<p>She’l not acknowledge to be of her kind,</p> +<p>Till Eagle-like she turn them to the sight</p> +<p class = "backset">Of the eternall Word all deckt with glory +bright.</p> + +<h6>2</h6> + +<p>Strange sights do straggle in my restlesse thoughts,</p> +<p>And lively forms with orient colours clad</p> +<p>Walk in my boundlesse mind, as men ybrought</p> +<p>Into some spacious room, who when they’ve had</p> +<p>A turn or two, go out, although unbad.</p> +<p>All these I see and know, but entertain</p> +<p>None to my friend but who’s most sober sad;</p> +<p>Although the time my roof doth them contain</p> +<p class = "backset">Their pretence doth possesse me till they out +again.</p> + +<h6>3</h6> + +<p>And thus possest in silver trump I found</p> +<p>Their guise, their shape, their gesture and array.</p> +<p>But as in silver trumpet nought is found</p> +<p>When once the piercing sound is past away,</p> +<p>(Though while the mighty blast therein did stay,</p> +<p>Its tearing noise so terribly did shrill,</p> +<p>That it the heavens did shake, and earth dismay)</p> +<p>As empty I of what my flowing quill</p> +<p class = "backset">In heedlesse hast elswhere, or here, may hap to +spill.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[2]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 24 --> +<h6>4</h6> + +<p>For ’tis of force and not of a set will.</p> +<p>Ne dare my wary mind afford assent</p> +<p>To what is plac’d above all mortall skill.</p> +<p>But yet our various thoughts to represent</p> +<p>Each gentle wight will deem of good intent.</p> +<p>Wherefore with leave th’ infinitie I’ll sing</p> +<p>Of time, Of Space: or without leave; I’m brent</p> +<p>With eagre rage, my heart for joy doth spring,</p> +<p class = "backset">And all my spirits move with pleasant +trembeling.</p> + +<h6>5</h6> + +<p>An inward triumph doth my soul up-heave</p> +<p>And spread abroad through endlesse ’spersed aire.</p> +<p>My nimble mind this clammie clod doth leave,</p> +<p>And lightly stepping on from starre to starre</p> +<p>Swifter then lightning, passeth wide and farre,</p> +<p>Measuring th’ unbounded Heavens and wastfull skie;</p> +<p>Ne ought she finds her passage to debarre,</p> +<p>For still the azure Orb as she draws nigh</p> +<p class = "backset">Gives back, new starres appear, the worlds walls +’fore her flie.</p> + +<h6>6</h6> + +<p>For what can stand that is so badly staid?</p> +<p>Well may that fall whose ground-work is unsure.</p> +<p>And what hath wall’d the world but thoughts unweigh’d</p> +<p>In freer reason? That antiquate, secure,</p> +<p>And easie dull conceit of corporature;</p> +<p>Of matter; quantitie, and such like gear</p> +<p>Hath made this needlesse, thanklesse inclosure,</p> +<p>Which I in full disdain quite up will tear</p> +<p class = "backset">And lay all ope, that as things are they may +appear.</p> + +<h6>7</h6> + +<p>For other they appear from what they are</p> +<p>By reason that their Circulation</p> +<p>Cannot well represent entire from farre</p> +<p>Each portion of the <i>Cuspis</i> of the Cone</p> +<p>(Whose nature is elsewhere more clearly shown)</p> +<p>I mean each globe, whether of glaring light</p> +<p>Or else opake, of which the earth is one.</p> +<p>If circulation could them well transmit</p> +<p class = "backset"><ins class = "correction" title = "er invisible">Numbers</ins> infinite of each would strike our ’stonishd +sight;</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">3</span> +<span class = "folionum">B2</span> +<!-- png 25 --> +<h6>8</h6> + +<p>All in just bignesse and right colours dight</p> +<p>But totall presence without all defect</p> +<p>’Longs onely to that Trinitie by right,</p> +<p><i>Ahad</i>, <i>Æon</i>, <i>Psyche</i> with all graces deckt,</p> +<p>Whose nature well this riddle will detect;</p> +<p>A Circle whose circumference no where</p> +<p>Is circumscrib’d, whose Centre’s each where set,</p> +<p>But the low Cusp’s a figure circular,</p> +<p class = "backset">Whose compasse is ybound, but centre’s every +where.</p> + +<h6>9</h6> + +<p>Wherefore who’ll judge the limits of the world</p> +<p>By what appears unto our failing sight</p> +<p>Appeals to sense, reason down headlong hurld</p> +<p>Out of her throne by giddie vulgar might.</p> +<p>But here base senses dictates they will dight</p> +<p>With specious title of Philosophie,</p> +<p>And stiffly will contend their cause is right</p> +<p>From rotten rolls of school antiquitie,</p> +<p class = "backset">Who constantly denie corporall Infinitie.</p> + +<h6>10</h6> + +<p>But who can prove their corporalitie</p> +<p>Since matter which thereto’s essentiall</p> +<p>If rightly sifted ’s but a phantasie.</p> +<p>And quantitie who’s deem’d Originall</p> +<p>Is matter, must with matter likewise fall.</p> +<p>What ever is, is Life and Energie</p> +<p>From God, who is th’ Originall of all;</p> +<p>Who being everywhere doth multiplie</p> +<p class = "backset">His own broad shade that endlesse throughout all +doth lie.</p> + +<h6>11</h6> + +<p>He from the last projection of light</p> +<p>Ycleep’d <i>Shamajim</i>, which is liquid fire</p> +<p>(It <i>Æther</i> eke and centrall <i>Tasis</i> hight)</p> +<p>Hath made each shining globe and clumperd mire</p> +<p>Of dimmer Orbs. For Nature doth inspire</p> +<p>Spermatick life, but of a different kind.</p> +<p>Hence those congenit splendour doth attire</p> +<p>And lively heat, these darknesse dead doth bind,</p> +<p class = "backset">And without borrowed rayes they be both cold and +blind.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">4</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 26 --> +<h6>12</h6> + +<p>All these be knots of th’ universall stole</p> +<p>Of sacred <i>Psyche</i>; which at first was fine,</p> +<p>Pure, thin, and pervious till hid powers did pull</p> +<p>Together in severall points and did encline</p> +<p>The nearer parts in one clod to combine.</p> +<p>Those centrall spirits that the parts did draw</p> +<p>The measure of each globe did then define,</p> +<p>Made things impenetrable here below,</p> +<p class = "backset">Gave colour, figure, motion, and each usuall +law.</p> + +<h6>13</h6> + +<p>And what is done in this Terrestriall starre</p> +<p>The same is done in every Orb beside.</p> +<p>Each flaming Circle that we see from farre</p> +<p>Is but a knot in <i>Psyches</i> garment tide.</p> +<p>From that lax shadow cast throughout the wide</p> +<p>And endlesse world, that low’st projection</p> +<p>Of universall life each thing’s deriv’d</p> +<p>What e’re appeareth in corporeall fashion;</p> +<p class = "backset">For body’s but this spirit, fixt, grosse by +conspissation.</p> + +<h6>14</h6> + +<p>And that which doth conspissate active is;</p> +<p>Wherefore not matter but some living sprite</p> +<p>Of nimble Nature which this lower mist</p> +<p>And immense field of Atoms doth excite,</p> +<p>And wake into such life as best doth fit</p> +<p>With his own self. As we change phantasies</p> +<p>The essence of our soul not chang’d a whit,</p> +<p>So do these Atoms change their energies</p> +<p class = "backset">Themselves unchanged into new Centreïties.</p> + +<h6>15</h6> + +<p>And as our soul’s not superficially</p> +<p>Colourd by phantasms, nor doth them reflect</p> +<p>As doth a looking-glasse such imag’rie</p> +<p>As it to the beholder doth detect:</p> +<p>No more are these lightly or smear’d or deckt</p> +<p>With form or motion which in them we see,</p> +<p>But from their inmost Centre they project</p> +<p>Their vitall rayes, not merely passive be,</p> +<p class = "backset">But by occasion wak’d rouze up themselves on +high.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[5]</span> +<span class = "folionum">B3</span> +<!-- png 27 --> +<h6>16</h6> + +<p>So that they’re life, form, sprite, not matter pure,</p> +<p>For matter pure is a pure nullitie,</p> +<p>What nought can act is nothing, I am sure;</p> +<p>And if all act, that is they’ll not denie</p> +<p>But all that is is form: so easily</p> +<p>By what is true, and by what they embrace</p> +<p>For truth, their feigned Corporalitie</p> +<p>Will vanish into smoke, but on I’ll passe,</p> +<p class = "backset">More fully we have sung this in another place.</p> + +<h6>17</h6> + +<p>Wherefore more boldly now to represent</p> +<p>The nature of the world, how first things were</p> +<p>How now they are: This endlesse large Extent</p> +<p>Of lowest life (which I styled whileere</p> +<p>The <i>Cuspis</i> of the <i>Cone</i> that’s every where)</p> +<p>Was first all dark, till in this spacious Hall</p> +<p>Hideous through silent horrour torches clear</p> +<p>And lamping lights bright shining over all</p> +<p class = "backset">Were set up in due distances proportionall.</p> + +<h6>18</h6> + +<p>Innumerable numbers of fair Lamps</p> +<p>Were rightly ranged in this hollow hole,</p> +<p>To warm the world and chace the shady damps</p> +<p>Of immense darknesse, rend her pitchie stole</p> +<p>Into short rags more dustie dimme then coal.</p> +<p>Which pieces then in severall were cast</p> +<p>(Abhorred reliques of that vesture foul)</p> +<p>Upon the Globes that round those torches trac’d,</p> +<p class = "backset">Which still fast on them stick for all they run so +fast.</p> + +<h6>19</h6> + +<p>Such an one is that which mortall men call Night,</p> +<p>A little shred of that unbounded shade.</p> +<p>And such a Globe is that which Earth is hight;</p> +<p>By witlesse Wizzards the sole centre made</p> +<p>Of all the world, and on strong pillars staid.</p> +<p>And such a lamp or light is this our Sun,</p> +<p>Whose firie beams the scortched Earth invade.</p> +<p>But infinite such as he, in heaven won,</p> +<p class = "backset">And more then infinite Earths about those Suns do +run;</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[6]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 28 --> +<h6>20</h6> + +<p>And to speak out: though I detest the sect</p> +<p>Of <i>Epicurus</i> for their manners vile,</p> +<p>Yet what is true I may not well reject.</p> +<p>Truth’s incorruptible, ne can the style</p> +<p>Of vitious pen her sacred worth defile.</p> +<p>If we no more of truth should deign t’ embrace</p> +<p>Then what unworthy mouths did never soyl,</p> +<p>No truths at all mongst men would finden place</p> +<p class = "backset">But make them speedie wings and back to Heaven +apace.</p> + +<h6>21</h6> + +<p>I will not say our world is infinite,</p> +<p>But that infinitie of worlds ther be.</p> +<p>The Centre of our world’s the lively light</p> +<p>Of the warm sunne, the visible Deitie</p> +<p>Of this externall Temple. <i>Mercurie</i></p> +<p>Next plac’d and warm’d more throughly by his rayes,</p> +<p>Right nimbly ’bout his golden head doth flie:</p> +<p>Then <i>Venus</i> nothing slow about him strayes,</p> +<p class = "backset">And next our <i>Earth</i> though seeming sad full +spritely playes.</p> + +<h6>22</h6> + +<p>And after her <i>Mars</i> rangeth in a round</p> +<p>With firie locks and angry flaming eye,</p> +<p>And next to him mild <i>Jupiter</i> is found,</p> +<p>But Saturn cold wons in our utmost skie.</p> +<p>The skirts of his large Kingdome surely lie</p> +<p>Near to the confines of some other worlds</p> +<p>Whose Centres are the fixed starres on high,</p> +<p>’Bout which as their own proper Suns are hurld</p> +<p class = "backset"><i>Joves</i>, <i>Earths</i> and <i>Saturns</i>; +round on their own axes twurld.</p> + +<h6>23</h6> + +<p>Little or nothing are those starres to us</p> +<p>Which in the azure Evening gay appear</p> +<p>(I mean for influence) but judicious</p> +<p>Nature and carefull Providence her dear</p> +<p>And matchlesse work did so contrive whileere,</p> +<p>That th’ Hearts or Centres in the wide world pight</p> +<p>Should such a distance each to other bear,</p> +<p>That the dull Planets with collated light</p> +<p class = "backset">By neighbour suns might cheared be in dampish +night.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[7]</span> +<span class = "folionum">B4</span> +<!-- png 29 --> +<h6>24</h6> + +<p>And as the Planets in our world (of which</p> +<p>The sun’s the heart and kernell) do receive</p> +<p>Their nightly light from suns that do enrich</p> +<p>Their sable mantle with bright gemmes, and give</p> +<p>A goodly splendour, and sad men relieve</p> +<p>With their fair twinkling rayes, so our worlds sunne</p> +<p>Becomes a starre elsewhere, and doth derive</p> +<p>Joynt light with others, cheareth all that won</p> +<p class = "backset">In those dim duskish Orbs round other suns that +run.</p> + +<h6>25</h6> + +<p>This <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘is is’">is</ins> +the parergon of each noble fire</p> +<p>Of neighbour worlds to be the nightly starre,</p> +<p>But their main work is vitall heat t’ inspire</p> +<p>Into the frigid spheres that ’bout them fare,</p> +<p>Which of themselves quite dead and barren are.</p> +<p>But by the wakening warmth of kindly dayes,</p> +<p>And the sweet dewie nights they well declare</p> +<p>Their seminall virtue in due courses raise</p> +<p class = "backset">Long hidden shapes and life, to their great Makers +praise.</p> + +<h6>26</h6> + +<p>These with their suns I severall worlds do call,</p> +<p>Whereof the number I deem infinite:</p> +<p>Else infinite darknesse were in this great Hall</p> +<p>Of th’ endlesse Universe; For nothing finite</p> +<p>Could put that immense shadow unto flight.</p> +<p>But if that infinite Suns we shall admit,</p> +<p>Then infinite worlds follow in reason right.</p> +<p>For every Sun with Planets must be fit,</p> +<p class = "backset">And have some mark for his farre-shining shafts to +hit.</p> + +<h6>27</h6> + +<p>But if he shine all solitarie, alone,</p> +<p>What mark is <ins class = "correction" title = "punctuation as printed">left,?</ins> what aimed scope or end</p> +<p>Of his existence? wherefore every one</p> +<p>Hath a due number of dim Orbs that wend</p> +<p>Around their centrall fire. But wrath will rend</p> +<p>This strange composure back’d with reason stout</p> +<p>And rasher tongues right speedily will spend</p> +<p>Their forward censure, that my wits run out</p> +<p class = "backset">On wool-gathering, through infinite spaces all +about.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">8</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 30 --> +<h6>28</h6> + +<p>What sober man will dare once to avouch</p> +<p>An infinite number of dispersed starres?</p> +<p>This one absurdity will make him crouch</p> +<p>And eat his words; Division nought impairs</p> +<p>The former whole, nor he augments that spares.</p> +<p>Strike every tenth out, that which doth remain,</p> +<p>An equall number with the former shares,</p> +<p>And let the tenth alone, th’ whole nought doth gain,</p> +<p class = "backset">For infinite to infinite is ever the same.</p> + +<h6>29</h6> + +<p>The tenth is infinite as the other nine,</p> +<p>Or else, nor they, nor all the ten entire</p> +<p>Are infinite. Thus one infinite doth adjoyn</p> +<p>Others unto it and still riseth higher.</p> +<p>And if those single lights hither aspire,</p> +<p>This strange prodigious inconsistencie</p> +<p>Groweth still stranger, if each fixed fire</p> +<p>(I mean each starre) prove Sunnes, and Planets flie</p> +<p class = "backset">About their flaming heads amid the thronged +skie.</p> + +<h6>30</h6> + +<p>For whatsoever that their number be</p> +<p>Whether by seavens, or eighths, or fives, or nines,</p> +<p>They round each fixed lamp; Infinity</p> +<p>Will be redoubled thus by many times.</p> +<p>Besides each greater Planet th’ attendance finds</p> +<p>Of lesser. Our <i>Earths</i> handmaid is the Moon,</p> +<p>Which to her darkned side right duly shines,</p> +<p>And <i>Jove</i> hath foure, as hath been said aboven,</p> +<p class = "backset">And <i>Saturn</i> more then foure if the plain +truth were known.</p> + +<h6>31</h6> + +<p>And if these globes be regions of life</p> +<p>And severall kinds of plants therein do grow,</p> +<p>Grasse, flowers, hearbs, trees, which the impartiall knife</p> +<p>Of all consuming Time still down doth mow,</p> +<p>And new again doth in succession show:</p> +<p>Which also ’s done in flies, birds, men and beasts;</p> +<p>Adde sand, pearls, pebbles, that the ground do strow</p> +<p>Leaves, quills, hairs, thorns, blooms, you may think the rest</p> +<p class = "backset">Their kinds by mortall penne can not well be +exprest:</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">9</span> +<span class = "folionum">[B5]</span> +<!-- png 31 --> +<h6>32</h6> + +<p>And if their kinds no man may reckon well,</p> +<p>The summe of successive particulars</p> +<p>No mind conceive nor tongue can ever tell.</p> +<p>And yet this mist of numbers (as appears)</p> +<p>Belongs to one of these opacous sphears.</p> +<p>Suppose this <i>Earth</i>; what then will all those Rounds</p> +<p>Produce? No <i>Atlas</i> such a load upbears.</p> +<p>In this huge endlesse heap o’rewhelmed, drownd,</p> +<p class = "backset">Choak’d, stifled, lo! I lie, breathlesse, even +quite confound.</p> + +<h6>33</h6> + +<p>Yet give me space a while but to respire,</p> +<p>And I my self shal fairly well out-wind;</p> +<p>Keep this position true, unhurt, entire,</p> +<p>That you no greater difficulty find</p> +<p>In this new old opinion here defin’d</p> +<p>Of infinite worlds, then one world doth imply.</p> +<p>For if we do with steddy patience mind</p> +<p>All is resolv’d int’ one absurdity,</p> +<p class = "backset">The grant of something greater then infinitie.</p> + +<h6>34</h6> + +<p>That God is infinite all men confesse,</p> +<p>And that the Creature is some realty</p> +<p>Besides Gods self, though infinitely lesse.</p> +<p>Joyn now the world unto the Deity.</p> +<p>What? is there added no more entitie</p> +<p>By this conjunction, then there was before?</p> +<p>Is the broad breasted earth? the spacious skie</p> +<p>Spangled with silver light, and burning Ore?</p> +<p class = "backset">And the wide bellowing seas, whose boyling billows +roar,</p> + +<h6>35</h6> + +<p>Are all these nothing? But you will reply;</p> +<p>As is the question so we ought restrain</p> +<p>Our answer unto Corporeity.</p> +<p>But that the phantasie of the body’s vain</p> +<p>I did before unto you maken plain.</p> +<p>But that no man depart unsatisfi’d</p> +<p>A while this Universe here will we feigne</p> +<p><i>Corporeall</i>, till we have gainly tride.</p> +<p class = "backset">If ought that’s bodily may infinite abide.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">10</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 32 --> +<h6>36</h6> + +<p>What makes a body saving quantity?</p> +<p>What quantitie unlesse extension?</p> +<p>Extension if ’t admit infinity</p> +<p>Bodies admit boundlesse dimension.</p> +<p>That some extension forward on doth run</p> +<p>Withouten limits, endlesse, infinite</p> +<p>Is plane from Space, that ever paceth on</p> +<p>Unstop’d, unstaid, till it have filled quite</p> +<p class = "backset">That immense infinite Orb where God himself doth +sit.</p> + +<h6>37</h6> + +<p>But yet more sensibly this truth to show</p> +<p>If space be ended set upon that end</p> +<p>Some strong arm’d Archer with his Parthian bow,</p> +<p>That from that place with speedy force may send</p> +<p>His fleeter shafts, and so still forward wend.</p> +<p>Where? When shall he want room his strength to trie?</p> +<p>But here perversly subtill you’l contend</p> +<p>Nothing can move in mere vacuity,</p> +<p class = "backset">And space is nought, so not extended properly.</p> + +<h6>38</h6> + +<p>To solve these knots I must call down from high</p> +<p>Some heavenly help, feather with angels wing</p> +<p>The sluggish arrow. If it will not flie,</p> +<p>Sent out from bow stiff-bent with even string,</p> +<p>Let angels on their backs it thither bring</p> +<p>Where your free mind appointed had before,</p> +<p>And then hold on, till in your travelling</p> +<p>You be well wearied, finding ever more</p> +<p class = "backset">Free passage for their flight, and what they flying +bore.</p> + +<h6>39</h6> + +<p>Now to that shift that sayes Vacuity</p> +<p>Is nought, and therefore not at all extent</p> +<p>We answer thus: There is a distancy</p> +<p>In empty space, though we be well content</p> +<p>To balk that question (for we never meant</p> +<p>Such needlesse niceties) whether that it be</p> +<p>A reall being; yet that there’s parts distent</p> +<p>One from another, no mans phantasie</p> +<p class = "backset">Can e’re reject if well he weigh’t and warily.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">11</span> +<span class = "folionum">[B6]</span> +<!-- png 33 --> +<h6>40</h6> + +<p>For now conceive the aire and azure skie</p> +<p>All swept away from Saturn to the Sunne,</p> +<p>Which each is to be wrought by him on high.</p> +<p>Then in this place let all the Planets runne</p> +<p>(As erst they did before this feat was done)</p> +<p>If not by nature, yet by divine power,</p> +<p>Ne one hairs breadth their former circuits shun</p> +<p>And still for fuller proof, th’ Astronomer</p> +<p class = "backset">Observe their hights as in the empty heavens they +scoure.</p> + +<h6>41</h6> + +<p>Will then their Parallaxes prove all one</p> +<p>Or none, or different still as before?</p> +<p>If so, their distances by mortall men</p> +<p>Must be acknowledg’d such as were of yore,</p> +<p>Measur’d by leagues, miles, stades, nor lesse nor more</p> +<p>From circuit unto circuit shall be found</p> +<p>Then was before the sweeping of the floor.</p> +<p>That distance therefore hath most certain ground</p> +<p class = "backset">In emptinesse we may conclude with reason +sound.</p> + +<h6>42</h6> + +<p>If distance now so certainly attend</p> +<p>All emptinesse (as also mensuration</p> +<p>Attendeth distance) distance without end</p> +<p>Is wide disperst above imagination</p> +<p>(For emptinesse is void of limitation)</p> +<p>And this unbounded voidnesse doth admit</p> +<p>The least and greatest measures application;</p> +<p>The number thus of the greatest that doth fit</p> +<p class = "backset">This infinite void space is likewise infinite.</p> + +<h6>43</h6> + +<p>But what so e’re that infinite number be,</p> +<p>A lesser number will a number give</p> +<p>So farre exceeding in infinity</p> +<p>That number as this measure we conceive</p> +<p>To fall short of the other. But I’ll leave</p> +<p>This present way and a new course will trie</p> +<p>Which at the same mark doth as fully drive</p> +<p>And with a great deal more facility.</p> +<p class = "backset">Look on this endlesse Space as one whole +quantity.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">12</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 34 --> +<h6>44</h6> + +<p>Which in your mind int’ equall parts divide,</p> +<p>Tens, hundreds, thousands or what pleaseth best.</p> +<p>Each part denominate doth still abide</p> +<p>An infinite portion, else nor all the rest</p> +<p>Makes one infinitude.</p> +<p>For if one thousandth part may be defin’d</p> +<p>By finite measures eas’ly well exprest,</p> +<p>A myriad suppose of miles assign’d</p> +<p class = "backset">Then to a thousand myriads is the whole +confin’d.</p> + +<h6>45</h6> + +<p>Wherefore this wide and wast Vacuity,</p> +<p>Which endlesse is outstretched thorough all,</p> +<p>And lies even equall with the Deity,</p> +<p>Nor is a thing meerly imaginall,</p> +<p>(For it doth farre mens phantasies forestall</p> +<p>Nothing beholden to our devicefull thought)</p> +<p>This inf’nite voidnesse as much our mind doth <ins class = +"correction" title = "‘all‘ conjectural: text cut off">gall</ins></p> +<p>And has as great perplexities ybrought</p> +<p class = "backset">As if this empty space with bodies were +yfraught.</p> + +<h6>46</h6> + +<p>Nor have we yet the face once to denie</p> +<p>But that it is although we mind it not;</p> +<p>For all once minded such perplexity</p> +<p>It doth create to puzzled reason, that</p> +<p>She sayes and unsayes, do’s she knows not what.</p> +<p>Why then should we the worlds infinity</p> +<p>Misdoubt, because when as we contemplate</p> +<p>Its nature, such strange inconsistency</p> +<p class = "backset">And unexpected sequels, we therein descry?</p> + +<h6>47</h6> + +<p>Who dare gainsay but God is every where</p> +<p>Unbounded, measurelesse, all infinite;</p> +<p>Yet the same difficulties meet us here</p> +<p>Which erst us met and did so sore affright</p> +<p>With their strange vizards. This will follow <ins class = +"correction" title = "‘ht‘ conjectural: text cut off">right</ins></p> +<p>Where ever we admit infinity</p> +<p>Every denominated part proves streight</p> +<p>A portion infinite, which if it be,</p> +<p class = "backset">One infinite will into myriads multiply.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">13</span> +<span class = "folionum">[B7]</span> +<!-- png 35 --> +<h6>48</h6> + +<p>But with new argument to draw more near</p> +<p>Our purpos’d end. If God’s omnipotent</p> +<p>And this omnipotent God be every where,</p> +<p>Where e’re he is then can he eas’ly vent</p> +<p>His mighty virtue thorough all extent.</p> +<p>What then shall hinder but a roscid aire</p> +<p>With gentle heat each where be ’sperst and sprent.</p> +<p>Unlesse omnipotent power we will empair,</p> +<p class = "backset">And say that empty space his working can +debarre.</p> + +<h6>49</h6> + +<p>Where now this one supposed world is pight</p> +<p>Was not that space at first all vain and void?</p> +<p>Nor ought said; no, when he said, <i>Let ’t be light</i>.</p> +<p>Was this one space better then all beside,</p> +<p>And more obedient to what God decreed?</p> +<p>Or would not all that endlesse emptinesse</p> +<p>Gladly embrac’d (if he had ever tride)</p> +<p>His just command? and what might come to passe</p> +<p class = "backset">Implies no contradictious inconsistentnesse.</p> + +<h6>50</h6> + +<p>Wherefore this precious sweet Ethereall dew</p> +<p>For ought we know God each where did distill,</p> +<p>And thorough all that hollow voidnesse threw</p> +<p>And the wide gaping drought therewith did fill,</p> +<p>His endlesse overflowing goodnesse spill</p> +<p>In every place; which streight he did contrive</p> +<p>Int’ infinite severall worlds, as his best skill</p> +<p>Did him direct and creatures could receive</p> +<p class = "backset">For matter infinite needs infinite worlds must +give.</p> + +<h6>51</h6> + +<p>The Centre of each severall world’s a sunne</p> +<p>With shining beams and kindly warming heat,</p> +<p>About whose radiant crown the Planets runne,</p> +<p>Like reeling moths around a candle light,</p> +<p>These all together, one world I conceit.</p> +<p>And that even infinite such worlds there be,</p> +<p>That inexhausted Good that God is bight</p> +<p>A full sufficient reason is to me,</p> +<p class = "backset">Who simple Goodnesse make the highest Deity.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum"><ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘41’">14</ins></span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 36 --> +<h6>52</h6> + +<p>Als make himself the key of all his works</p> +<p>And eke the measure of his providence;</p> +<p>The piercing eye of truth to whom nought lurks</p> +<p>But lies wide ope unbar’d of all pretense.</p> +<p>But frozen hearts! away! flie farre from hence,</p> +<p>Unlesse you’l thaw at this celestiall fire</p> +<p>And melt into one minde and holy sense</p> +<p>With Him that doth all heavenly hearts inspire,</p> +<p class = "backset">So may you with my soul in one assent conspire.</p> + +<h6>53</h6> + +<p>But what’s within, uneath is to convey</p> +<p>To narrow vessels that are full afore.</p> +<p>And yet this truth as wisely as I may</p> +<p>I will insinuate, from senses store</p> +<p>Borrowing a little aid. Tell me therefore</p> +<p>When you behold with your admiring eyes</p> +<p>Heavens Canopie all to bespangled o’re</p> +<p>With sprinkled starres, what can you well devize</p> +<p class = "backset">Which causen may such carelesse order in the +skies?</p> + +<h6>54</h6> + +<p>A peck of peasen rudely poured out</p> +<p>On plaister flore, from hasty heedlesse hond</p> +<p>Which lie all carelesse scattered about,</p> +<p>To sight do in as seemly order stond,</p> +<p>As those fair glistering lights in heaven are found.</p> +<p>If onely for this world they were intended,</p> +<p>Nature would have adorn’d this azure round</p> +<p>With better art, and easily have mended</p> +<p class = "backset">This harsh disord’red order, and more beauty +lended.</p> + +<h6>55</h6> + +<p>But though these lights do seem so rudely thrown</p> +<p>And scattered throughout the spacious skie,</p> +<p>Yet each most seemly sits in his own Throne</p> +<p>In distance due and comely Majesty;</p> +<p>And round their lordly seats their servants hie</p> +<p>Keeping a well-<ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘ptoportionated’">proportionated</ins> space</p> +<p>One from another, doing chearfully</p> +<p>Their dayly task. No blemmish may deface</p> +<p class = "backset">The worlds in severall deckt with all art and +grace.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">15</span> +<span class = "folionum">[B8]</span> +<!-- png 37 --> +<h6>56</h6> + +<p>But the appearance of the nightly starres</p> +<p>Is but the by-work of each neighbour sun;</p> +<p>Wherefore lesse marvell if it lightly shares</p> +<p>Of neater Art; and what proportion</p> +<p>Were fittest for to distance one from one</p> +<p>(Each world I mean from other) is not clear.</p> +<p>Wherefore it must remain as yet unknown</p> +<p>Why such perplexed distances appear</p> +<p class = "backset">Mongst the dispersed lights in Heaven thrown here +& there.</p> + +<h6>57</h6> + +<p>Again, that eminent similitude</p> +<p>Betwixt the starres and Phœbus fixed light,</p> +<p>They being both with steddinesse indu’d,</p> +<p>No whit removing whence they first were pight,</p> +<p>No serious man will count a reason slight</p> +<p>To prove them both, both fixed suns and starres</p> +<p>And Centres all of severall worlds by right,</p> +<p>For right it is that none a sun debarre</p> +<p class = "backset">Of Planets which his just and due retinue are.</p> + +<h6>58</h6> + +<p>If starres be merely starres not centrall lights</p> +<p>Why swell they into so huge bignesses?</p> +<p>For many (as Astronomers do write)</p> +<p>Our sun in bignesse many times surpasse.</p> +<p>If both their number and their bulks were lesse</p> +<p>Yet lower placed, light and influence</p> +<p>Would flow as powerfully, and the bosome presse</p> +<p>Of the impregned Earth, that fruit from hence</p> +<p class = "backset">As fully would arise, and lordly affluence.</p> + +<h6>59</h6> + +<p>Wherefore these fixed Fires mainly attend</p> +<p>Their proper charge in their own Universe,</p> +<p>And onely by the by of court’sie lend</p> +<p>Light to our world, as our world doth reverse</p> +<p>His thankfull rayes so farre as he can pierce</p> +<p>Back unto other worlds. But farre aboven</p> +<p>Further then furthest thought of man can traverse,</p> +<p>Still are new worlds aboven and still aboven.</p> +<p class = "backset">In the endlesse hollow Heaven, and each world hath +his sun.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">16</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 38 --> +<h6>60</h6> + +<p>An hint of this we have in winter-nights,</p> +<p>When reason may see clearer then our eye,</p> +<p>Small subtil starres appear unto our sights</p> +<p>As thick as pin-dust scattered in the skie.</p> +<p>Here we accuse our seeing facultie</p> +<p>Of weaknesse, and our sense of foul deceit,</p> +<p>We do accuse and yet we know not why.</p> +<p>But the plain truth is, from a vaster hight</p> +<p class = "backset">The numerous upper worlds amaze our dazzled +sight.</p> + +<h6>61</h6> + +<p>Now sith so farre as sense can ever trie</p> +<p>We find new worlds, that still new worlds there be,</p> +<p>And round about in infinite numbers lie,</p> +<p>Further then reach of mans weak phantasie</p> +<p>(Without suspition of temeritie)</p> +<p>We may conclude; as well as men conclude</p> +<p>That there is aire farre ’bove the mountains high,</p> +<p>Or that th’ Earth a sad substance doth include</p> +<p class = "backset">Even to the Centre with like qualities indu’d.</p> + +<h6>62</h6> + +<p>For who did ever the Earths Centre pierce,</p> +<p>And felt or sand or gravell with his spade</p> +<p>At such a depth? what Histories rehearse</p> +<p>That ever wight did dare for to invade</p> +<p>Her bowels but one mile in dampish shade?</p> +<p>Yet I’ll be bold to say that few or none</p> +<p>But deem this globe even to the bottome made</p> +<p>Of solid earth, and that her nature’s one</p> +<p class = "backset">Throughout, though plain experience hath it never +shown.</p> + +<h6>63</h6> + +<p>But sith sad earth so farre as they have gone</p> +<p>They still descrie, eas’ly they do inferre</p> +<p>Without all check of reason, were they down</p> +<p>Never so deep, like substance would appear,</p> +<p>Ne dream of any hollow horrour there.</p> +<p>My mind with like uncurb’d facilitie</p> +<p>Concludes from what by sight is seen so clear</p> +<p>That ther’s no barren wast vacuitie</p> +<p class = "backset">Above the worlds we see, but still new worlds there +lie,</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">17</span> +<span class = "folionum">C</span> +<!-- png 39 --> +<h6>64</h6> + +<p>And still and still even to infinitie.</p> +<p>Which point since I so fitly have propos’d,</p> +<p>Abating well the inconsistencie</p> +<p>Of harsh infinitude therein supposd</p> +<p>And prov’d by reasons never to be loos’d</p> +<p>That infinite space and infinite worlds there be;</p> +<p>This load laid down, I’m freely now dispos’d</p> +<p>Awhile to sing of times infinitie,</p> +<p class = "backset">May infinite Time afford me but his smallest +fee.</p> + +<h6>65</h6> + +<p>For smallest fee of time will serve my turn</p> +<p>This part for to dispatch, sith endlesse space</p> +<p>(Whose perplext nature well mans brains might turn,</p> +<p>And weary wits disorder and misplace)</p> +<p>I have already passed: for like case</p> +<p>Is in them both. He that can well untie</p> +<p>The knots that in those infinite worlds found place,</p> +<p>May easily answer each perplexitie</p> +<p class = "backset">Of these worlds infinite matters endlesse +durancie.</p> + +<h6>66</h6> + +<p>The <i>Cuspis</i> and the <i>Basis</i> of the <i>Cone</i></p> +<p>Were both at once dispersed every where;</p> +<p>But the pure <i>Basis</i> that is God alone:</p> +<p>Else would remotest sights as bigge appear</p> +<p>Unto our eyes as if we stood them near.</p> +<p>And if an Harper harped in the Moon,</p> +<p>His silver sound would touch our tickled eare:</p> +<p>Or if one hollowed from highest Heaven aboven,</p> +<p class = "backset">In sweet still Evening-tide, his voice would hither +roam.</p> + +<h6>67</h6> + +<p>This all would be if the <i>Cuspe</i> of the <i>Cone</i></p> +<p>Were very God. Wherefore I rightly ’t deem</p> +<p>Onely a Creaturall projection,</p> +<p>Which flowing yet from God hath ever been,</p> +<p>Fill’d the vast empty space with its large streem.</p> +<p>But yet it is not totall every where</p> +<p>As was even now by reason rightly seen:</p> +<p>Wherefore not God, whose nature doth appear</p> +<p class = "backset">Entirely omnipresent, weigh’d with judgement +clear,</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">18</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 40 --> +<h6>68</h6> + +<p>A reall infinite matter, distinct</p> +<p>And yet proceeding from the Deitie</p> +<p>Although with different form as then untinct</p> +<p>Has ever been from all Eternitie.</p> +<p>Now what delay can we suppose to be,</p> +<p>Since matter alway was at hand prepar’d</p> +<p>Before the filling of the boundlesse skie</p> +<p>With framed Worlds; for nought at all debar’d,</p> +<p class = "backset">Nor was His strength ungrown, nor was His strength +empair’d.</p> + +<h6>69</h6> + +<p>How long would God be forming of a flie?</p> +<p>Or the small wandring moats that play i’ th’ sun?</p> +<p>Least moment well will serve none can denie,</p> +<p>His <i>Fiat</i> spoke and streight the thing is done.</p> +<p>And cannot He make all the World as soon?</p> +<p>For in each Atom of the matter wide</p> +<p>The totall Deitie doth entirely won,</p> +<p>His infinite presence doth therein reside,</p> +<p class = "backset">And in this presence infinite powers do ever +abide.</p> + +<h6>70</h6> + +<p>Wherefore at once from all eternitie</p> +<p>The infinite number of these Worlds He made,</p> +<p>And will conserve to all infinitie,</p> +<p>And still drive on their ever-moving trade,</p> +<p>And steddy hold what ever must be staid;</p> +<p>Ne must one mite be minish’d of the summe,</p> +<p>Ne must the smallest atom ever fade,</p> +<p>But still remain though it may change its room;</p> +<p class = "backset">This truth abideth strong from everlasting +doom.</p> + +<h6>71</h6> + +<p>Ne fear I what hard sequel after-wit</p> +<p>Will draw upon me; that the number’s one</p> +<p>Of years, moneths, dayes, houres, and of minutes fleet</p> +<p>Which from eternitie have still run on.</p> +<p>I plainly did confesse awhile agone</p> +<p>That be it what it will that’s infinite</p> +<p>More infinites will follow thereupon,</p> +<p>But that all infinites do justly fit</p> +<p class = "backset">And equall be, my reason did not yet admit.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">19</span> +<span class = "folionum">C2</span> +<!-- png 41 --> +<h6>72</h6> + +<p>But as my emboldened mind, I know not how,</p> +<p>In empty Space and pregnant Deitie</p> +<p>Endlesse infinitude dares to allow,</p> +<p>Though it begets the like perplexitie:</p> +<p>So now my soul drunk with Divinitie,</p> +<p>And born away above her usuall bounds</p> +<p>With confidence concludes infinitie</p> +<p>Of Time of Worlds, of firie flaming Rounds;</p> +<p class = "backset">Which sight in sober mood my spirits quite +confounds.</p> + +<h6>73</h6> + +<p>And now I do awhile but interspire</p> +<p>A torrent of objections ’gainst me beat,</p> +<p>My boldnesse to represse and strength to tire.</p> +<p>But I will wipe them off like summer sweat,</p> +<p>And make their streams streight back again retreat.</p> +<p>If that these worlds, say they, were ever made</p> +<p>From infinite time, how comes ’t to passe that yet</p> +<p>Art is not perfected, nor metalls fade,</p> +<p class = "backset">Nor mines of grimie coal low-hid in griesly +shade.</p> + +<h6>74</h6> + +<p>But the remembrance of the ancient Floud</p> +<p>With ease will wash such arguments away.</p> +<p>Wherefore with greater might I am withstood.</p> +<p>The strongest stroke wherewith they can assay</p> +<p>To vanquish me is this; The Date or Day</p> +<p>Of the created World, which all admit;</p> +<p>Nor may my modest Muse this truth gainsay</p> +<p>In holy Oracles so plainly writ.</p> +<p class = "backset">Wherefore the Worlds continuance is not +infinite.</p> + +<h6>75</h6> + +<p>Now lend me, <i>Origen</i>! a little wit</p> +<p>This sturdy stroke right fairly to avoid,</p> +<p>Lest that my rasher rymes, while they ill fit</p> +<p>With <i>Moses</i> pen, men justly may deride</p> +<p>And well accuse of ignorance or pride.</p> +<p>But thou, O holy Sage! with piercing sight</p> +<p>Who readst those sacred rolls, and hast well tride</p> +<p>With searching eye thereto what fitteth right</p> +<p class = "backset">Thy self of former Worlds right learnedly dost +write:</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">20</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 42 --> +<h6>76</h6> + +<p>To weet that long ago these Earths have been</p> +<p>Peopled with men and beasts before this Earth,</p> +<p>And after this shall others be again</p> +<p>And other beasts and other humane birth.</p> +<p>Which once admit, no strength that reason bear’th</p> +<p>Of this worlds Date and Adams efformation,</p> +<p>Another Adam once received breath</p> +<p>And still another in endlesse repedation,</p> +<p class = "backset">And this must perish once by finall +conflagration.</p> + +<h6>77</h6> + +<p>Witnesse ye Heavens if what I say’s not true,</p> +<p>Ye flaming Comets wandering on high,</p> +<p>And new fixt starres found in that Circle blue,</p> +<p>The one espide in glittering <i>Cassiopie</i>,</p> +<p>The other near to <i>Ophiuchus</i> thigh.</p> +<p>Both bigger then the biggest starres that are,</p> +<p>And yet as farre remov’d from mortall eye</p> +<p>As are the furthest, so those Arts declare</p> +<p class = "backset">Unto whose reaching sight Heavens mysteries lie +bare.</p> + +<h6>78</h6> + +<p>Wherefore these new-seen lights were greater once</p> +<p>By many thousand times then this our sphear</p> +<p>Wherein we live, ’twixt good and evil chance.</p> +<p>Which to my musing mind doth strange appear</p> +<p>If those large bodies then first shaped were.</p> +<p>For should so goodly things so soon decay?</p> +<p>Neither did last the full space of two year.</p> +<p>Wherefore I cannot deem that their first day</p> +<p class = "backset">Of being, when to us they sent out shining ray.</p> + +<h6>79</h6> + +<p>But that they were created both of old,</p> +<p>And each in his due time did fair display</p> +<p>Themselves in radiant locks more bright then gold,</p> +<p>Or silver sheen purg’d from all drossie clay.</p> +<p>But how they could themselves in this array</p> +<p>Expose to humane sight, who did before</p> +<p>Lie hid, is that which well amazen may</p> +<p>The wisest man and puzzle evermore:</p> +<p class = "backset">Yet my unwearied thoughts this search could not +give o’re.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">21</span> +<span class = "folionum">C3</span> +<!-- png 43 --> +<h6>80</h6> + +<p>Which when I’d exercis’d in long pursuit</p> +<p>To finden out what might the best agree</p> +<p>With warie reason, at last I did conclude</p> +<p>That there’s no better probabilitie</p> +<p>Can be produc’d of that strange prodigie,</p> +<p>But that some mighty Planet that doth run</p> +<p>About some fixed starre in <i>Cassiopie</i></p> +<p>As <i>Saturn</i> paceth round about our Sun,</p> +<p class = "backset">Unusuall light and bignesse by strange fate had +wonne.</p> + +<h6>81</h6> + +<p>Which I conceive no gainer way is done</p> +<p>Then by the siezing of devouring fire</p> +<p>On that dark Orb, which ’fore but dimly shone</p> +<p>With borrowed light, not lightened entire,</p> +<p>But halfed like the Moon.</p> +<p>And while the busie flame did sieze throughout,</p> +<p>And search the bowels of the lowest mire</p> +<p>Of that <i>Saturnian</i> Earth; a mist broke out,</p> +<p class = "backset">And immense <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘mountiug’">mounting</ins> smoke arose all round about.</p> + +<h6>82</h6> + +<p>Which being gilded with the piercing rayes</p> +<p>Of its own sun and every neighbour starre,</p> +<p>It soon appear’d with shining silver blaze,</p> +<p>And then gan first be seen of men from farre.</p> +<p>Besides that firie flame that was so narre</p> +<p>The Planets self, which greedily did eat</p> +<p>The wastning mold, did contribute a share</p> +<p>Unto this brightnesse; and what I conceit</p> +<p class = "backset">Of this starre doth with that of <i>Ophiuchus</i> +sit.</p> + +<h6>83</h6> + +<p>And like I would adventure to pronounce</p> +<p>Of all the Comets that above the Moon,</p> +<p>Amidst the higher Planets rudely dance</p> +<p>In course perplex, but that from this rash doom</p> +<p>I’m bett off by their beards and tails farre strown</p> +<p>Along the skie, pointing still opposite</p> +<p>Unto the sun, however they may roam;</p> +<p>Wherefore a cluster of small starres unite</p> +<p class = "backset">These meteors some do deem, perhaps with judgement +right.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">22</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 44 --> +<h6>84</h6> + +<p>And that these tayls are streams of the suns light</p> +<p>Breaking through their near bodies as through clouds.</p> +<p>Besides the Optick glasse has shown to sight</p> +<p>The dissolution of these starrie crouds.</p> +<p>Which thing if ’t once be granted and allow’d,</p> +<p>I think without all contradiction</p> +<p>They may conclude these Meteors are routs</p> +<p>Of wandring starres, which though they one by one</p> +<p class = "backset">Cannot be seen, yet joyn’d, cause this strange +vision.</p> + +<h6>85</h6> + +<p>And yet methinks, in my devicefull mind</p> +<p>Some reasons that may happily represse</p> +<p>These arguments it’s not uneath to find.</p> +<p>For how can the suns rayes that be transmisse</p> +<p>Through these loose knots in Comets, well expresse</p> +<p>Their beards or curld tayls utmost incurvation?</p> +<p>Beside, the conflux and congeries</p> +<p>Of lesser lights a double augmentation</p> +<p class = "backset">Implies, and ’twixt them both a lessening +coarctation.</p> + +<h6>86</h6> + +<p>For when as once these starres are come so nigh</p> +<p>As to seem one, the Comet must appear</p> +<p>In biggest show, because more loose they lie</p> +<p>Somewhat spread out, but as they draw more near</p> +<p>The compasse of his head away must wear,</p> +<p>Till he be brought to his least magnitude;</p> +<p>And then they passing crosse, he doth repair</p> +<p>Himself, and still from his last losse renew’d</p> +<p class = "backset">Grows till he reach the measure which we first had +view’d.</p> + +<h6>87</h6> + +<p>And then farre distanc’d they bid quite adiew,</p> +<p>Each holding on in solitude his way.</p> +<p>Ne any footsteps in the empty Blew</p> +<p>Is to be found of that farre-shining ray.</p> +<p>Which processe sith no man did yet bewray,</p> +<p>It seems unlikely that the Comets be</p> +<p>Synods of starres that in wide Heaven stray.</p> +<p>Their smallnesse eke and numerositie</p> +<p class = "backset">Encreaseth doubt and lessens probabilitie.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum"><ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘32’">23</ins></span> +<span class = "folionum">C4</span> +<!-- png 45 --> +<h6>88</h6> + +<p>A cluster of them makes not half a Moon,</p> +<p>What should such tennis-balls do in the skie?</p> +<p>And few ’ll not figure out the fashion</p> +<p>Of those round firie meteors on high.</p> +<p>Ne ought their beards much move us, that do lie</p> +<p>Ever cast forward from the Morning sunne,</p> +<p>Nor back cast tayls turn’d to our Evening-eye,</p> +<p>That fair appear when as the day is done.</p> +<p class = "backset">This matter may lie hid in the starres shadowed +Cone.</p> + +<h6>89</h6> + +<p>For in these Planets conflagration,</p> +<p>Although the smoke mount up exactly round,</p> +<p>Yet by the suns irradiation</p> +<p>Made thin and subtil no where else its found</p> +<p>By sight, save in the dim and duskish bound</p> +<p>Of the projected Pyramid opake,</p> +<p>Opake with darknesse, smoke and mists unsound.</p> +<p>Yet gilded like a foggie cloud doth make</p> +<p class = "backset">Reflection of fair light that doth our senses +take.</p> + +<h6>90</h6> + +<p>This is the reason of that constant site</p> +<p>Of Comets tayls and beards: And that their show’s</p> +<p>Not pure Pyramidall, nor their ends seem streight</p> +<p>But bow’d like brooms, is from the winds that blow,</p> +<p>I mean Ethereall winds, such as below</p> +<p>Men finden under th’ Equinoctiall line.</p> +<p>Their widend beards this aire so broad doth strow</p> +<p>Incurvate, and or more or lesse decline:</p> +<p class = "backset">If not, let sharper wits more subtly here +divine.</p> + +<h6>91</h6> + +<p>But that experiment of the Optick glasse</p> +<p>The greatest argument of all I deem,</p> +<p>Ne can I well encounter nor let passe</p> +<p>So strong a reason if I may esteem</p> +<p>The feat withouten fallacie to been,</p> +<p>Nor judge these little sparks and subtile lights</p> +<p>Some auncient fixed starres though now first seen,</p> +<p>That near the ruin’d Comets place were pight,</p> +<p class = "backset">On which that Optic instrument by chance did +light.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">24</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 46 --> +<h6>92</h6> + +<p>Nor finally an uncouth after-sport</p> +<p>Of th’ immense vapours that the searching fire</p> +<p>Had boyled out, which now themselves consort</p> +<p>In severall parts and closely do conspire,</p> +<p>Clumper’d in balls of clouds and globes entire</p> +<p>Of crudled smoke and heavy clunging mists;</p> +<p>Which when they’ve staid awhile at last expire;</p> +<p>But while they stay any may see that lists</p> +<p class = "backset">So be that Optick Art his naturall sight +assists.</p> + +<h6>93</h6> + +<p>If none of these wayes I may well decline</p> +<p>The urging weight of this hard argument,</p> +<p>Worst is but parting stakes and thus define:</p> +<p>Some Comets be but single Planets brent,</p> +<p>Others a synod joyn’d in due consent:</p> +<p>And that no new found Meteors they are:</p> +<p>Ne further may my wary mind assent</p> +<p>From one single experience solitaire,</p> +<p class = "backset">Till all-discovering Time shall further truth +declare.</p> + +<h6>94</h6> + +<p>But for the new fixt starres there’s no pretence,</p> +<p>Nor beard nor tail to take occasion by,</p> +<p>To bring in that unluckie inference</p> +<p>Which weaken might this new built mysterie.</p> +<p>Certes in raging fire they both did frie.</p> +<p>A signe whereof you rightly may aread</p> +<p>Their colours changeable varietie</p> +<p>First clear and white, then yellow, after red,</p> +<p class = "backset">Then blewly pale, then duller still, till perfect +dead.</p> + +<h6>95</h6> + +<p>And as the order of these colours went,</p> +<p>So still decreas’d that Cassiopean starre,</p> +<p>Till at the length to sight it was quite spent:</p> +<p>Which observations strong reasons are,</p> +<p>Consuming fire its body did empare</p> +<p>And turn to ashes. And the like will be</p> +<p>In all the darksome Planets wide and farre.</p> +<p>Ne can our Earth from this state standen free</p> +<p class = "backset">A Planet as the rest, and Planets fate must +trie.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">25</span> +<span class = "folionum">[C5]</span> +<!-- png 47 --> +<h6>96</h6> + +<p>Ne let the tender heart too harshly deem</p> +<p>Of this rude sentence: for what rigour more</p> +<p>Is in consuming fire then drowning stream</p> +<p>Of Noahs floud which all creaturs choak’d of yore,</p> +<p>Saving those few that were kept safe in store</p> +<p>In that well builded ship? All else beside</p> +<p>Men, birds, and beasts, the lion, buck, and bore</p> +<p>Dogs, kine, sheep, horses all that did abide</p> +<p class = "backset">Upon the spacious earth, perish’d in waters +wide.</p> + +<h6>97</h6> + +<p>Nor let the slow and misbelieving wight</p> +<p>Doubt how the fire on the hard earth may seize;</p> +<p>No more then how those waters erst did light</p> +<p>Upon the sinfull world. For as the seas</p> +<p>Boyling with swelling waves aloft did rise,</p> +<p>And met with mighty showers and pouring rain</p> +<p>From Heavens spouts; so the broad flashing skies</p> +<p>Thickned with brimstone and clouds of fiery bain</p> +<p class = "backset">Shall meet with raging Etna’s and Vesuvius +flame.</p> + +<h6>98</h6> + +<p>The burning bowels of this wasting ball</p> +<p>Shall gullup up great flakes of rolling fire,</p> +<p>And belch out pitchie flames, till over all</p> +<p>Having long rag’d, Vulcan himself shall tire</p> +<p>And (th’ earth an ashheap made) shall then expire:</p> +<p>Here Nature laid asleep in her own Urn</p> +<p>With gentle rest right easly will respire,</p> +<p>Till to her pristine task she do return</p> +<p class = "backset">As fresh as Phenix young under th’ Arabian +Morn.</p> + +<h6>99</h6> + +<p>O happy they that then the first are born,</p> +<p>While yet the world is in her vernall pride:</p> +<p>For old corruption quite away is worn</p> +<p>As metall pure so is her mold well tride.</p> +<p>Sweet dews, cool-breathing airs, and spaces wide</p> +<p>Of precious spicery wafted with soft wind:</p> +<p>Fair comely bodies goodly beautifi’d</p> +<p>Snow-limb’d, rose-cheek’d, ruby-lip’d, pearl-ted, <ins class = +"correction" title = "possible hyphen">star eyn’d</ins></p> +<p class = "backset">Their parts each fair in fit proportion all <ins +class = "correction" title = "spelling unchanged">conbin’d.</ins></p> + +<span class = "pagenum">26</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 48 --> +<h6>100</h6> + +<p>For all the while her purged ashes rest</p> +<p>These rellicks dry suck in the heavenly dew,</p> +<p>And roscid Manna rains upon her breast,</p> +<p>And fills with sacred milk sweet fresh and new,</p> +<p>Where all take life and doth the world renew;</p> +<p>And then renew’d with pleasure be yfed.</p> +<p>A green soft mantle doth her bosome strew</p> +<p>With fragrant herbs and flowers embellished,</p> +<p class = "backset">Where without fault or shame all living creatures +bed.</p> + +<h6>101</h6> + +<p>Ne ought we doubt how Nature may recover</p> +<p>In her own ashes long time buried,</p> +<p>For nought can ever consume that centrall power</p> +<p>Of hid spermatick life, which lies not dead</p> +<p>In that rude heap, but safely covered;</p> +<p>And doth by secret force suck from above</p> +<p>Sweet heavenly juice, and therewith nourished</p> +<p>Till her just bulk, she doth her life emprove,</p> +<p class = "backset">Made mother of much children that about her +move.</p> + +<h6>102</h6> + +<p>Witnesse that uncouth bird of Arabie</p> +<p>Which out of her own ruines doth revive</p> +<p>With all th’ exploits of skillfull Chymistrie,</p> +<p>Such as no <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘vnlgar’">vulgar</ins> wit can well believe.</p> +<p>Let universall Nature witnesse give</p> +<p>That what I sing ’s no feigned forgerie.</p> +<p>A needlesse task new fables to contrive,</p> +<p>But what I sing is seemly verity</p> +<p class = "backset">Well suting with right reason and Philosophie.</p> + +<h6>103</h6> + +<p>But the fit time of this mutation</p> +<p>No man can finden out with all his pains.</p> +<p>For the small sphears of humane reason run</p> +<p>Too swift within his narrow compast brains.</p> +<p>But that vast Orb of Providence contains</p> +<p>A wider period; <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘tnrneth’">turneth</ins> still and slow.</p> +<p>Yet at the last his aimed end he gains.</p> +<p>And sure at last a fire will overflow</p> +<p class = "backset">The aged Earth, and all must into ashes go.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">27</span> +<span class = "folionum">[C6]</span> +<!-- png 49 --> +<h6>104</h6> + +<p>Then all the stately works and monuments</p> +<p>Built on this bottome shall to ruine fall.</p> +<p>And all those goodly statues shall be brent</p> +<p>Which were erect to the memoriall</p> +<p>Of Kings Kæsars, ne may better ’fall</p> +<p>The boastfull works of brave Poetick pride</p> +<p>That promise life and fame perpetuall;</p> +<p>Ne better fate may these poor lines abide.</p> +<p class = "backset">Betide what will to what may live no lenger +tide!</p> + +<h6>105</h6> + +<p>This is the course that never-dying Nature</p> +<p>Might ever hold from all Eternitie,</p> +<p>Renuing still the faint decayed creature</p> +<p>Which would grow stark and drie as aged tree,</p> +<p>Unlesse by wise preventing Destinie</p> +<p>She were at certain periods of years</p> +<p>Reduced back unto her Infancie,</p> +<p>Which well fram’d argument (as plain appears)</p> +<p class = "backset">My ship from those hard rocks and shelves right +safely stears.</p> + +<h6>106</h6> + +<p>Lo! now my faithfull muse hath represented</p> +<p>Both frames of Providence to open view,</p> +<p>And hath each point in orient colours painted</p> +<p>Not to deceive the sight with seeming shew</p> +<p>But earnest to give either part their due;</p> +<p>Now urging th’ uncouth strange perplexitie</p> +<p>Of infinite worlds and Time, then of a new</p> +<p>Softening that harsher inconsistencie</p> +<p class = "backset">To fit the immense goodnesse of the Deity.</p> + +<h6>107</h6> + +<p>And here by curious men ’t may be expected</p> +<p>That I this knot with judgement grave decide,</p> +<p>And then proceed to what else was objected.</p> +<p>But, ah! What mortall wit may dare t’ areed</p> +<p>Heavens counsels in eternall horrour hid?</p> +<p>And Cynthius pulls me by my tender ear</p> +<p>Such signes I must observe with wary heed:</p> +<p>Wherefore my restlesse Muse at length forbear.</p> +<p class = "backset">Thy silver sounded Lute hang up in silence +here.</p> + +</div> + +<h5 class = "final"><span class = "super">FINIS</span>.</h5> + + +<!-- png 50 --> +<span class = "pagenum">[1]</span> +<span class = "folionum">[C7]</span> +<!-- png 51 --> + +<h3><a name = "cupid" id = "cupid">Cupids Conflict.</a></h3> + +<h4><i>Mela.</i> <i>Cleanthes.</i></h4> + +<div class = "verse midsize"> + +<p class = "plain"><span class = "before"><i>Cl.</i></span> +<i><span class = "dropcap">M</span> +<span class = "second">e</span>la</i> my dear! why been thy looks so +sad</p> +<p class = "plain">As if thy gentle heart were sunk with care?</p> +<p class = "plain">Impart thy case; for be it good or bad</p> +<p>Friendship in either will bear equall share.</p> +<p class = "indent"><i>Mel.</i> Not so; <i>Cleanthes</i>, for if bad it +be</p> +<p class = "indent">My self must bleed afresh by wounding thee.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But what it is, my slow, uncertain wit</p> +<p>Cannot well judge. But thou shalt sentence give</p> +<p>How manfully of late my self I quit,</p> +<p>When with that lordly lad by chance I strive:</p> +<p class = "indent"><i>Cl.</i> Of friendship <i>Mela</i>! let’s that +story hear.</p> +<p class = "indent"><i>Mel.</i> Sit down <i>Cleanthes</i> then, and lend +thine ear.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Upon a day as best did please my mind</p> +<p>Walking abroad amidst the verdant field</p> +<p>Scattering my carefull thoughts i’ th’ wanton wind</p> +<p>The pleasure of my path so farre had till’d</p> +<p class = "indent">My feeble feet that without timely rest</p> +<p class = "indent">Uneath it were to reach my wonted nest.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +In secret shade farre moved from mortals sight</p> +<p>In lowly dale my wandring limbs I laid</p> +<p>On the cool grasse where Natures pregnant wit</p> +<p>A goodly bower of thickest trees had made.</p> +<p class = "indent">Amongst the leaves the chearfull birds did fare</p> +<p class = "indent">And sweetly carrol’d to the echoing air.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Hard at my feet ran down a crystall spring</p> +<p>Which did the cumbrous pebbles hoarsly chide</p> +<p>For standing in the way. Though murmuring</p> +<p>The broken stream his course did rightly guide</p> +<p class = "indent">And strongly pressing forward with disdain</p> +<p class = "indent">The grassie flore divided into twain.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">2</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 52 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +The place a while did feed my foolish eye</p> +<p>As being new, and eke mine idle ear</p> +<p>Did listen oft to that wild harmonie</p> +<p>And oft my curious phansie would compare</p> +<p class = "indent">How well agreed the Brooks low muttering Base,</p> +<p class = "indent">With the birds trebbles pearch’d on higher +place.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But senses objects soon do glut the soul,</p> +<p>Or rather weary with their emptinesse;</p> +<p>So I, all heedlesse how the waters roll</p> +<p>And mindlesse of the mirth the birds expresse,</p> +<p class = "indent">Into my self ’gin softly to retire</p> +<p class = "indent">After hid heavenly pleasures to enquire.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +While I this enterprize do entertain;</p> +<p>Lo! on the other side in thickest bushes</p> +<p>A mighty noise! with that a naked swain</p> +<p>With blew and purple wings streight rudely rushes.</p> +<p class = "indent">He leaps down light upon the flowry green,</p> +<p class = "indent">Like sight before mine eyes had never seen.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +At’s snowy back the boy a quiver wore</p> +<p>Right fairly wrought and gilded all with gold.</p> +<p>A silver bow in his left hand he bore,</p> +<p>And in his right a ready shaft did hold.</p> +<p class = "indent">Thus armed stood he and betwixt us tway</p> +<p class = "indent">The labouring brook did break his toilsome way.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +The wanton lad whose sport is others pain</p> +<p>Did charge his bended bow with deadly dart,</p> +<p>And drawing to the head with might and main,</p> +<p>With fell intent he aim’d to hit my heart.</p> +<p class = "indent">But ever as he shot his arrows still</p> +<p class = "indent">In their mid course dropt down into the rill.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Of wondrous virtues that in waters been</p> +<p>Is needlesse to rehearse, all books do ring</p> +<p>Of those strange rarities. But ne’re was seen</p> +<p>Such virtue as resided in this spring.</p> +<p class = "indent">The novelty did make me much admire</p> +<p class = "indent">But stirr’d the hasty youth to ragefull ire.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">3</span> +<span class = "folionum">[C8]</span> +<!-- png 53 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +As heedlesse fowls that take their per’lous flight</p> +<p>Over that bane of birds, <i>Averno lake</i>,</p> +<p>Do drop down dead: so dead his shafts did light</p> +<p>Amid this stream, which presently did slake</p> +<p class = "indent">Their fiery points, and all their feathers wet</p> +<p class = "indent">Which made the youngster Godling inly fret.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Thus lustfull Love (this was that love I ween)</p> +<p>Was wholly changed to consuming ire.</p> +<p>And eath it was, sith they’re so near a kin</p> +<p>They be both born of one rebellious sire.</p> +<p class = "indent">But he supprest his wrath and by and by</p> +<p class = "indent">For feathered darts, he winged words let flie:</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Vain man! said he, and would thou wer’st not vain</p> +<p>That hid’st thy self in solitary shade</p> +<p>And spil’st thy precious youth in sad disdain</p> +<p>Hating this lifes delight! Hath god thee made</p> +<p class = "indent">Part of this world, and wilt not thou partake</p> +<p class = "indent">Of this worlds pleasure for its makers sake?</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Unthankfull wretch! Gods gifts thus to reject</p> +<p>And maken nought of Natures goodly dower</p> +<p>That milders still away through thy neglect</p> +<p>And dying fades like unregarded flower.</p> +<p class = "indent">This life is good, what’s good thou must +improve,</p> +<p class = "indent">The highest improvement of this life is love.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Had I <ins class = "correction" title = "mismatched parenthesis in original">(but</ins> O that envious Destinie,</p> +<p>Or Stygian vow, or thrice accursed charm</p> +<p>Should in this place free passage thus denie</p> +<p>Unto my shafts as messengers of <ins class = "correction" title = +"closing parenthesis may belong here">harm!</ins></p> +<p class = "indent">Had I but once transfixt thy froward breast,</p> +<p class = "indent">How would’st thou then——I staid not for +the rest;</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But thus half angry to the boy replide:</p> +<p>How would’st thou then my soul of sense bereave!</p> +<p>I blinded, thee more blind should choose my guide!</p> +<p>How would’st thou then my muddied mind deceive</p> +<p class = "indent">With fading shows, that in my errour vile,</p> +<p class = "indent">Base lust; I love should tearm, vice, virtue +stile.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">4</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 54 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +How should my wicked rymes then idolize</p> +<p>Thy wretched power, and with impious wit</p> +<p>Impute thy base born passions to the skies</p> +<p>And my souls sicknesse count an heavenly fit,</p> +<p class = "indent">My weaknesse strength, my wisdome to be caught</p> +<p class = "indent">My bane my blisse, mine ease to be o’rewraught.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +How often through my fondly feigning mind</p> +<p>And frantick phansie, in my Mistris eye</p> +<p>Should I a thousand fluttering Cupids find</p> +<p>Bathing their busie wings? How oft espie</p> +<p class = "indent">Under the shadow of her eye-brows fair</p> +<p class = "indent">Ten thousand Graces sit all naked bare?</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Thus haunted should I be with such feat fiends:</p> +<p>A pretty madnesse were my portion due.</p> +<p>Foolish my self I would not hear my friends.</p> +<p>Should deem the true for false, the false for true.</p> +<p class = "indent">My way all dark more slippery then ice</p> +<p class = "indent">My attendents, anger, pride, and jealousies.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Unthankfull then to God I should neglect</p> +<p>All the whole world for one poor sorry wight,</p> +<p>Whose pestilent eye into my heart project</p> +<p>Would burn like poysonous Comet in my spright.</p> +<p class = "indent">Aye me! how dismall then would prove that day</p> +<p class = "indent">Whose onely light sprang from so fatall ray.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Who seeks for pleasure in this mortall life</p> +<p>By diving deep into the body base</p> +<p>Shall loose true pleasure: But who gainly strive</p> +<p>Their sinking soul above this bulk to place</p> +<p class = "indent">Enlarg’d delight they certainly shall find</p> +<p class = "indent">Unbounded joyes to fill their boundlesse mind.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +When I my self from mine own self do quit</p> +<p>And each thing else; then an all-spreaden love</p> +<p>To the vast Universe my soul doth sit</p> +<p>Makes me half equall to all-seeing Jove.</p> +<p class = "indent">My mighty wings high stretch’d then clapping +light</p> +<p class = "indent">I brush the starres and make them shine more +bright.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">5</span> +<span class = "folionum">D</span> +<!-- png 55 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +Then all the works of God with close embrace</p> +<p>I dearly hug in my enlarged arms</p> +<p>All the hid paths of heavenly Love I trace</p> +<p>And boldly listen to his secret charms.</p> +<p class = "indent">Then clearly view I where true light doth rise,</p> +<p class = "indent">And where eternall Night low-pressed lies.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Thus lose I not by leaving small delight</p> +<p>But gain more joy, while I my self suspend</p> +<p>From this and that; for then with all unite</p> +<p>I all enjoy, and love that love commends.</p> +<p class = "indent">That all is more then loves the partiall soul</p> +<p class = "indent">Whose petty loves th’ impartiall fates controll.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Ah son! said he, (and laughed very loud)</p> +<p>That trickst thy tongue with uncouth strange disguize,</p> +<p>Extolling highly that with speeches proud</p> +<p>To mortall men that humane state denies,</p> +<p class = "indent">And rashly blaming what thou never knew</p> +<p class = "indent">Let men experienc’d speak, if they’ll speak +true.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Had I once lanc’d thy froward flinty heart</p> +<p>And cruddled bloud had thawn with living fire</p> +<p>And prickt thy drousie sprite with gentle smart</p> +<p>How wouldst thou wake to kindly sweet desire,</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy soul fill’d up with overflowing pleasures</p> +<p class = "indent">Would dew thy lips with hony-dropping measures.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Then wouldst thou caroll loud and sweetly sing</p> +<p>In honour of my sacred Deity</p> +<p>That all the woods and hollow hills would ring</p> +<p>Reechoing thy heavenly harmonie.</p> +<p class = "indent">And eke the hardy rocks with full rebounds</p> +<p class = "indent">Would faithfully return thy silver sounds.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Next unto me would be thy Mistresse fair,</p> +<p>Whom thou might setten out with goodly skill</p> +<p>Her peerlesse beauty and her virtues rare,</p> +<p>That all would wonder at thy gracefull quill.</p> +<p class = "indent">And lastly in us both thy self shouldst raise</p> +<p class = "indent">And crown thy temples with immortall bayes.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">6</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 56 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +But now thy riddles all men do neglect,</p> +<p>Thy rugged lines of all do lie forlorn.</p> +<p>Unwelcome rymes that rudely do detect</p> +<p>The Readers ignorance. Men holden scorn</p> +<p class = "indent">To be so often non-plusd or to spell,</p> +<p class = "indent">And on one stanza a whole age to dwell.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Besides this harsh and hard obscuritie</p> +<p>Of the hid sense, thy words are barbarous</p> +<p>And strangely new, and yet too frequently</p> +<p>Return, as usuall plain and obvious,</p> +<p class = "indent">So that the show of the new thick-set patch</p> +<p class = "indent">Marres all the old with which it ill doth match.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But if thy haughty mind, forsooth, would deign</p> +<p>To stoop so low to hearken to my lore,</p> +<p>Then wouldst thou with trim lovers not disdeign</p> +<p>To adorn the outside, set the best before.</p> +<p class = "indent">Nor rub nor wrinkle would thy verses spoil</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy rymes should run as glib and smooth as oyl.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +If that be all, said I, thy reasons slight</p> +<p>Can never move my well establishd mind.</p> +<p>Full well I wote alwayes the present sprite,</p> +<p>Or life that doth possesse the soul, doth blind,</p> +<p class = "indent">Shutting the windows ’gainst broad open day</p> +<p class = "indent">Lest fairer sights its uglinesse bewray.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +The soul then loves that disposition best</p> +<p>Because no better comes unto her view.</p> +<p>The drunkard drunkennesse, the sluggard rest,</p> +<p>Th’ Ambitious honour and obeisance due.</p> +<p class = "indent">So all the rest do love their vices base</p> +<p class = "indent">’Cause virtues beauty comes not into place.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +And looser love ’gainst Chastitie divine</p> +<p>Would shut the door that he might sit alone.</p> +<p>Then wholly should my mind to him incline:</p> +<p>And woxen strait, (since larger love was gone)</p> +<p class = "indent">That paultrie sprite of low contracting lust</p> +<p class = "indent">Would fit my soul as if ’t were made for ’t +just.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">7</span> +<span class = "folionum">D2</span> +<!-- png 57 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +Then should I with my fellow bird or brute</p> +<p>So strangely metamorphis’d, either ney</p> +<p>Or bellow loud: or if ’t may better sute</p> +<p>Chirp out my joy pearch’d upon higher spray.</p> +<p class = "indent">My passions fond with impudence rehearse,</p> +<p class = "indent">Immortalize my madnesse in a verse.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +This is the summe of thy deceiving boast</p> +<p>That I vain ludenesse highly should admire,</p> +<p>When I the sense of better things have lost</p> +<p>And chang’d my heavenly heat for hellish fire,</p> +<p class = "indent">Passion is blind, but virtues piercing eye</p> +<p class = "indent">Approching danger can from farre espie.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +And what thou dost Pedantickly object</p> +<p>Concerning my rude rugged uncouth style,</p> +<p>As childish toy I manfully neglect,</p> +<p>And at thy hidden snares do inly smile.</p> +<p class = "indent">How ill alas! with wisdome it accords</p> +<p class = "indent">To sell my living sense for livelesse words.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +My thought ’s the fittest measure of my tongue,</p> +<p>Wherefore I’ll use what’s most significant,</p> +<p>And rather then my inward meaning wrong</p> +<p>Or my full-shining notion trimly scant,</p> +<p class = "indent">I’ll conjure up old words out of their grave,</p> +<p class = "indent">Or call fresh forrein force in if need crave.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +And these attending on my moving mind</p> +<p>Shall duly usher in the fitting sense.</p> +<p>As oft as meet occasion I find.</p> +<p>Unusuall words oft used give lesse offence;</p> +<p class = "indent">Nor will the old contexture dim or marre,</p> +<p class = "indent">For often us’d they’re next to old, thred-bare.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +And if the old seem in too rustie hew,</p> +<p>Then frequent rubbing makes them shine like gold,</p> +<p>And glister all with colour gayly new.</p> +<p>Wherefore to use them both we will be bold.</p> +<p class = "indent">Thus lists me fondly with fond folk to toy,</p> +<p class = "indent">And answer fools with equall foolerie.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">8</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 58 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +The meaner mind works with more nicetie,</p> +<p>As spiders wont to weave their idle web,</p> +<p>But braver spirits do all things gallantly</p> +<p>Of lesser failings nought at all affred:</p> +<p class = "indent">So Natures carelesse pencill dipt in light</p> +<p class = "indent">With sprinkled starres hath spattered the Night.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +And if my notions clear though rudely thrown</p> +<p>And loosely scattered in my poesie,</p> +<p>May lend men light till the dead Night be gone,</p> +<p>And Morning fresh with roses strew the skie:</p> +<p class = "indent">It is enough, I meant no trimmer frame</p> +<p class = "indent">Or by nice needle-work to seek a name.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Vain man! that seekest name mongst earthly men</p> +<p>Devoid of God and all good virtuous lere;</p> +<p>Who groping in the dark do nothing ken</p> +<p>But mad; with griping care their souls do tear,</p> +<p class = "indent">Or burst with hatred or with envie pine</p> +<p class = "indent">Or burn with rage or melt out at their eyne.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Thrice happy he whose name is writ above,</p> +<p>And doeth good though gaining infamie;</p> +<p>Requiteth evil turns with hearty love,</p> +<p>And recks not what befalls him outwardly:</p> +<p class = "indent">Whose worth is in himself, and onely blisse</p> +<p class = "indent">In his pure conscience that doth nought amisse.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Who placeth pleasure in his purged soul</p> +<p>And virtuous life his treasure doth esteem;</p> +<p>Who can his passions master <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘aud’">and</ins> controll,</p> +<p>And that true lordly manlinesse doth deem,</p> +<p class = "indent">Who from this world himself hath clearly quit</p> +<p class = "indent">Counts nought his own but what lives in his +sprite.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +So when his sprite from this vain world shall flit</p> +<p>It bears all with it whatsoever was dear</p> +<p>Unto it self, passing in easie fit,</p> +<p>As kindly ripen’d corn comes out of th’ eare.</p> +<p class = "indent">Thus mindlesse of what idle men will say</p> +<p class = "indent">He takes his own and stilly goes his way.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">9</span> +<span class = "folionum">D3</span> +<!-- png 59 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +But the retinue of proud Lucifer,</p> +<p>Those blustering Poets that flie after fame</p> +<p>And deck themselves like the bright Morning-starre.</p> +<p>Alas! it is but all a crackling flame.</p> +<p class = "indent">For death will strip them of that glorious plume</p> +<p class = "indent">That airie blisse will vanish into fume.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo <ins class = "correction" title += "text unclear: looks like ‘take’ corrected by hand to ‘Lake’">take</ins></p> +<p>Return, or listen from the bowed skie</p> +<p>To heare how well their learned lines do take?</p> +<p>Or if they could; is Heavens felicitie</p> +<p class = "indent">So small as by mans praise to be encreas’d,</p> +<p class = "indent">Hells pain no greater then hence to be eas’d?</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Therefore once dead in vain shall I transmit</p> +<p>My shadow to gazing Posteritie;</p> +<p>Cast farre behind me I shall never see’t,</p> +<p>On Heavens fair Sunne having fast fixt mine eye.</p> +<p class = "indent">Nor while I live, heed I what man doth praise</p> +<p class = "indent">Or underprize mine unaffected layes.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +What moves thee then, said he, to take the pains</p> +<p>And spenden time if thou contemn’st the fruit?</p> +<p>Sweet fruit of fame, that fills the Poets brains</p> +<p>With high conceit and feeds his fainting wit.</p> +<p class = "indent">How pleasant ’tis in honour here to live</p> +<p class = "indent">And dead, thy name for ever to survive!</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Or is thy abject mind so basely bent</p> +<p>As of thy Muse to maken Merchandize?</p> +<p>(And well I wote this is no strange intent.)</p> +<p>The hopefull glimps of gold from chattering Pies,</p> +<p>From Daws and Crows, and Parots oft hath wrung</p> +<p>An unexpected Pegaseian song.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Foul shame on him, quoth I, that shamefull thought</p> +<p>Doth entertain within his dunghill breast,</p> +<p>Both God and Nature hath my spirits wrought</p> +<p>To better temper and of old hath blest</p> +<p class = "indent">My loftie soul with more divine aspires</p> +<p class = "indent">Then to be touchd with such vile low desires.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">10</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 60 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +I hate and highly scorn that Kestrell kind</p> +<p>Of bastard scholars that subordinate</p> +<p>The precious choice induements of the mind</p> +<p>To wealth or worldly good. Adulterate</p> +<p class = "indent">And cursed brood! Your wit and will are born</p> +<p class = "indent">Of th’ earth and circling thither do return.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Profit and honour be those measures scant</p> +<p>Of your slight studies and endeavours vain,</p> +<p>And when you once have got what you did want</p> +<p>You leave your learning to enjoy your gain.</p> +<p class = "indent">Your brains grow low, your bellies swell up +high,</p> +<p class = "indent">Foul sluggish fat ditts up your dulled eye.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Thus what the earth did breed, to th’ earth is gone,</p> +<p>Like fading hearb or feebly drooping flower,</p> +<p>By feet of men and beast quite trodden down,</p> +<p>The muck-sprung learning cannot long endure.</p> +<p class = "indent">Back she returns lost in her filthy source,</p> +<p class = "indent">Drown’d, chok’d or slocken by her cruell nurse.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +True virtue to her self’s the best reward,</p> +<p>Rich with her own and full of lively spirit,</p> +<p>Nothing cast down for want of due regard.</p> +<p>Or ’cause rude men acknowledge not her merit.</p> +<p class = "indent">She knows her worth and stock from whence she +sprung,</p> +<p class = "indent">Spreads fair without the warmth of earthly dung,</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Dew’d with the drops of Heaven shall flourish long;</p> +<p>As long as day and night do share the skie,</p> +<p>And though that day and night should fail yet strong</p> +<p>And steddie, fixed on Eternitie</p> +<p class = "indent">Shall bloom for ever. So the foul shall speed</p> +<p class = "indent">That loveth virtue for no worldly meed.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Though sooth to sayn, the worldly meed is due</p> +<p>To her more then to all the world beside.</p> +<p>Men ought do homage with affections true</p> +<p>And offer gifts for God doth there reside.</p> +<p class = "indent">The wise and virtuous soul is his own seat</p> +<p class = "indent">To such what’s given God himself doth get.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">11</span> +<span class = "folionum">D4</span> +<!-- png 61 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +But earthly minds whose sight’s seal’d up with mud</p> +<p>Discern not this flesh-clouded Deity,</p> +<p>Ne do acknowledge any other good</p> +<p>Then what their mole-warp hands can feel and trie</p> +<p class = "indent">By groping touch; thus (worth of them unseen)</p> +<p class = "indent">Of nothing worthy that true worth they ween.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Wherefore the prudent Law-givers of old</p> +<p>Even in all Nations, with right sage foresight</p> +<p>Discovering from farre how clums and cold</p> +<p>The vulgar wight would be to yield what’s right</p> +<p class = "indent">To virtuous learning, did by law designe</p> +<p class = "indent">Great wealth and honour to that worth divine.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But nought’s by law to Poesie due said he,</p> +<p>Ne doth the solemn Statesmans head take care</p> +<p>Of those that such impertinent pieces be</p> +<p>Of common-weals. Thou’d better then to spare</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy uselesse vein. Or tell else, what may move</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy busie use such fruitlesse pains to prove.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +No pains but pleasure to do the dictates dear</p> +<p>Of inward living nature. What doth move</p> +<p>The Nightingall to sing so sweet and clear</p> +<p>The Thrush, or Lark that mounting high above</p> +<p class = "indent">Chants her shrill notes to heedlesse ears of +corn</p> +<p class = "indent">Heavily hanging in the dewy morn.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +When life can speak, it can not well withhold</p> +<p>T’ expresse its own impressions and hid life.</p> +<p>Or joy or grief that smoothered lie untold</p> +<p>Do vex the heart and wring with restlesse strife.</p> +<p class = "indent">Then are my labours no true pains but ease</p> +<p class = "indent">My souls unrest they gently do appease.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Besides, that is not fruitlesse that no gains</p> +<p>Brings to my self. I others profit deem</p> +<p>Mine own: and if at these my heavenly flames</p> +<p>Others receiven light, right well I ween</p> +<p class = "indent">My time’s not lost. Art thou now satisfide</p> +<p class = "indent">Said I: to which the scoffing boy replide.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">12</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 62 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +Great hope indeed thy rymes should men enlight,</p> +<p>That be with clouds and darknesse all o’recast,</p> +<p>Harsh style and harder sense void of delight</p> +<p>The Readers wearied eye in vain do wast.</p> +<p class = "indent">And when men win thy meaning with much pain,</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy uncouth sense they coldly entertain.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +For wotst thou not that all the world is dead</p> +<p>Unto that Genius that moves in thy vein</p> +<p>Of poetrie! But like by like is fed.</p> +<p>Sing of my Trophees in triumphant strein,</p> +<p class = "indent">Then correspondent life, thy powerfull verse</p> +<p class = "indent">Shall strongly strike and with quick passion +pierce.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +The tender frie of lads and lasses young</p> +<p>With thirstie eare thee compassing about,</p> +<p>Thy Nectar-dropping Muse, thy sugar’d song</p> +<p>Will swallow down with eagre hearty draught;</p> +<p class = "indent">Relishing truly what thy rymes convey,</p> +<p class = "indent">And highly praising thy soul-smiting lay.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +The mincing maid her mind will then bewray,</p> +<p>Her heart-bloud flaming up into her face,</p> +<p>Grave matrons will wex wanton and betray</p> +<p>Their unresolv’dnesse in their wonted grace;</p> +<p class = "indent">Young boyes and girls would feel a forward +spring,</p> +<p class = "indent">And former youth to eld thou back wouldst bring.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +All Sexes, Ages, Orders, Occupations</p> +<p>Would listen to thee with attentive ear,</p> +<p>And eas’ly moved with thy sweet perswasions,</p> +<p>Thy pipe would follow with full merry chear.</p> +<p class = "indent">While thou thy lively voice didst loud advance</p> +<p class = "indent">Their tickled bloud for joy would inly dance.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +But now, alas! poore solitarie man!</p> +<p>In lonesome desert thou dost wander wide</p> +<p>To seek and serve thy disappearing Pan,</p> +<p>Whom no man living in the world hath eyde:</p> +<p class = "indent">For Pan is dead but I am still alive,</p> +<p class = "indent">And live in men who honour to me give:</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">13</span> +<span class = "folionum">[D5]</span> +<!-- png 63 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +They honour also those that honour me</p> +<p>With sacred songs. But thou now singst to trees</p> +<p>To rocks to Hills, to Caves that senselesse be</p> +<p>And mindlesse quite of thy hid mysteries,</p> +<p class = "indent">In the void aire thy idle voice is spread,</p> +<p class = "indent">Thy Muse is musick to the deaf or dead.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Now out alas! said I, and wele-away</p> +<p>The tale thou tellest I confesse too true.</p> +<p>Fond man so doteth on this living clay</p> +<p>His carcase dear, and doth its joyes pursue,</p> +<p class = "indent">That of his precious soul he takes no keep</p> +<p class = "indent">Heavens love and reasons light lie fast asleep.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +This bodies life vain shadow of the soul</p> +<p>With full desire they closely do embrace,</p> +<p>In fleshly mud like swine they wallow and roll,</p> +<p>The loftiest mind is proud but of the face</p> +<p class = "indent">Or outward person; if men but adore</p> +<p class = "indent">That walking sepulchre, cares for no more.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +This is the measure of mans industry</p> +<p>To wexen some body and getten grace</p> +<p>To ’s outward presence; though true majestie</p> +<p>Crown’d with that heavenly light and lively rayes</p> +<p class = "indent">Of holy wesdome and Seraphick love,</p> +<p class = "indent">From his deformed soul he farre remove.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Slight knowledge and lesse virtue serves his turn</p> +<p>For this designe. If he hath trod the ring</p> +<p>Of pedling arts; in usuall pack-horse form</p> +<p>Keeping the rode; O! then ’t’s a learned thing.</p> +<p class = "indent">If any chanc’d to write or speak what he</p> +<p class = "indent">Conceives not ’t were a foul discourtesie.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +To cleanse the soul from sinne, and still diffide</p> +<p>Whether our reasons eye be clear enough</p> +<p>To intromit true light, that fain would glide</p> +<p>Into purg’d hearts, this way ’s too harsh and rough:</p> +<p class = "indent">Therefore the clearest truths may well seem dark</p> +<p class = "indent">When sloathfull men have eyes so dimme and +stark.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum">14</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 64 --> +<p class = "stanza"> +These be our times. But if my minds presage</p> +<p>Bear any moment, they can ne’re last long,</p> +<p>A three branch’d Flame will soon sweep clean the stage</p> +<p>Of this old dirty drosse and all wex young.</p> +<p class = "indent">My words into this frozen air I throw</p> +<p class = "indent">Will then grow vocall at that generall thaw.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +Nay, now thou ’rt perfect mad, said he, with scorn,</p> +<p>And full of foul derision quit the place.</p> +<p>The skie did rattle with his wings ytorn</p> +<p>Like to rent silk. But I in the mean space</p> +<p class = "indent">Sent after him this message by the wind</p> +<p class = "indent">Be ’t so I ’m mad, yet sure I am thou ’rt blind.</p> + +<p class = "stanza"> +By this the out-stretch’d shadows of the trees</p> +<p>Pointed me home-ward, and with one consent</p> +<p>Foretold the dayes descent. So straight I rise</p> +<p>Gathering my limbs from off the green pavement</p> +<p class = "indent">Behind me leaving then the slooping Light.</p> +<p><i>Cl.</i> And now let’s up, <i>Vesper</i> brings on the Night.</p> + +</div> + +<h5 class = "final"><i><span class = "super">FINIS</span>.</i></h5> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/tailpiece64.png" width = "166" height = "166" +alt = "decoration"></p> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<div class = "interpret"> + +<span class = "pagenum">[1]</span> +<span class = "folionum">[D6]</span> +<!-- png 65 --> + +<h4><i><a name = "interp" id = "interp"> +A Particular Interpretation</a> appertaining to<br> +the three last books of the Platonick<br> +Song of the Soul.</i></h4> + + +<h5>A</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">A</span> +<span class = "second">t</span>om-lives.</i> The same that Centrall +lives. Both the terms denotate the indivisibility of the inmost essence +it self; the pure essentiall form I mean, of plant, beast or man, yea of +angels themselves, good or bad.</p> + +<table class = "bracket"> +<tr> +<td class = "ital"> +Apogee,<br> +Autokineticall,<br> +Ananke,<br> +Acronycall,<br> +Alethea-land,</td> +<td class = "bracket five"> +<img src = "images/largecurly.png" height = "90%" alt = "}"> +</td> +<td>See Interpret. Gen.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><i>Animadversall. That lively inward animadversall.</i> It is the +soul it self, for I cannot conceive the body doth animadvert; when as +objects plainly exposed to the sight are not discovered till the soul +takes notice of them.</p> + + +<h5>B</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">B</span> +<span class = "second">o</span>dy.</i> The ancient Philosophers have +defined it, <span class = "greek" title = "To trichêi diastaton met’ antitupias">Τὸ τριχῇ διάστατον μετ’ ἀντιτυπίας</span>. <i>Sext. Emperic. +Pyrrhon. Hypotyp. lib. 3. cap. 5.</i> Near to this is that description, +<i>Psychathan</i>, Cant. 2. Stanz. 12. lib. 2, <i>Matter extent in three +dimensions.</i> But for that <span class = "greek" title = +"antitupia">ἀντιτυπία</span>, simple trinall distension doth not imply +it, wherefore I declin’d it. But took in <i>matter</i> according to +their conceit, that phansie <i>à Materia prima</i>, I acknowledge none, +and consequently no such <i>corpus naturale</i> as our Physiologist make +the subject of that science. That <span class = "greek" title = "Trichêi diastaton antitupon">Τριχῇ διάστατον ἀντίτυπον</span> is nothing but a +fixt spirit, the conspissation or coagulation of the Cuspidall particles +of the Cone, which are indeed the Centrall Tasis or inward essence of +the sensible world. These be an infinite number of vitall Atoms that may +be wakened into diverse tinctures, or energies, into fiery, watery, +earthy, &c. And one divine <i>Fiat</i> can unloose them all into an +universall mist, or turn them out of that sweat into a drie and pure +Etheriall temper. These be the last projections of life from the soul of +the world; and are act or form though debil and indifferent, like that +which they call the first matter. But they are not meerly passive +<span class = "pagenum">[2]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 66 --> +but meet their information half way, as I may so speak: are radiant +<i>ab intimo</i> and awake into this or the other operation, by the +powerfull appulse of some superadvenient form. That which change of +Phantasmes is to the soul, that is alteration of rayes to them. For +their rayes are <i>ab intrinseco</i>, as the phantasmes of the soul. +These be the reall matter of which all supposed bodies are compounded, +and this matter (as I said) is form and life, so that all is life +and form what ever is in the world, as I have somewhere intimated in +<i>Antipsychopan</i>: But however I use the terme <i>body</i> ordinarily +in the usuall and vulgar acception. And for that sense of the ancients, +nearest to which I have defined it in the place first above mentioned, +that I seem not to choose that same as most easie to proceed against in +disproving the corporeity of the soul, the arguments do as necessarily +conclude against such a naturall body as is ordinarily described in +Physiologie (as you may plainly discern if you list to observe) as +also against this body composed of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone. +For though they be Centrall lives, yet are they neither Plasticall, +Sensitive, or Rationall, so farre are they from proving to be the humane +soul whose nature is there discust.</p> + + +<h5>C</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">C</span> +<span class = "second">o</span>ne</i>: Is a solid figure made by the +turning of a rectangular triangle, about; one of the sides that include +the right angle resting, which will be then the Axis of the compleated +Cone. But I take it sometimes for the comprehension of all things, God +himself not left out, whom I tearm the <i>Basis</i> of the <i>Cone</i> +or <i>Universe</i>. And because all from him descends, <span class = +"greek" title = "kath’ hupostolên">καθ’ ὑποστολῆν</span>, with abatement +or contraction, I give the name of <i>Cone</i> to the Universe. And +of Cone rather then Pyramid because of the roundnesse of the figure, +which the effluxes of all things imitate.</p> + +<table class = "bracket"> +<tr> +<td class = "ital"> +Chaos,<br> +Chronicall,<br> +Clare,</td> +<td class = "bracket three"> +<img src = "images/largecurly.png" height = "90%" alt = "}"> +</td> +<td>See interpret· Gen.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><i>Circulation</i>, The terme is taken from a toyish observation, +<i>viz.</i> the circling of water when a stone is cast into a standing +pool. The motion drives on circularly, the first rings are thickest, but +the further they go they grow the thinner, till they vanish into +nothing. Such is the diffusion of +<span class = "pagenum">[3]</span> +<span class = "folionum">[D7]</span> +<!-- png 67 --> +the species audible in the strucken aire, as also of the visible +species. In brief any thing is said to circulate that diffuseth its +image or species in a round. It might have been more significantly +called orbiculation; seeing this circumfusion makes not onely a circle, +but fills a sphere, which may be called the sphere of activity. Yet +Circulation more fitly sets out the diminution of activity, from those +ringes in the water which as they grow in compasse, abate in force and +thicknesse. But sometimes I use Circulate in an ordinary sense to turn +round, or return in a circle.</p> + +<p><i>Centre</i>, <i>Centrall</i>, <i>Centrality</i>. When they are used +out of their ordinary sense, they signifie the depth or inmost being of +any thing, from whence its acts and energies flow forth. See +<i>Atom-lives</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Cuspis</i> of the <i>Cone</i>. The multiplide Cuspis of the Cone +is nothing but the last projection of life from Psyche, which is <span +class = "greek" dir = "rtl" title = "[Hebrew] shamayim">שׁמים</span> +a liquid fire or fire and water, which are the corporeall or +materiall principles of all things, changed or disgregated (if they +be centrally distinguishable) and again mingled by the virtue of Physis +or Spermaticall life of the world; of these are the Sunne and all the +Planets, they being kned together, and fixt by the Centrall power of +each Planet and Sunne. The volatile Ether is also of the same, and all +the bodies of plants, beasts and men. These are they which we handle and +touch, a sufficient number compact together. For neither is the +noise of those little flies in a summer-evening audible severally: but a +full Quire of them strike the ear with a pretty kind of buzzing. Strong +and tumultuous pleasure and scorching pain reside in these, they being +essentiall and centrall, but sight and hearing are onely of the images +of these, See <i>Body</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Eternitie.</i> Is the steddie comprehension of all things at once. +See Æon discribed in my Expos. upon Psychozoia.</p> + +<p><ins class = "correction" title = "text has , for ."><i>Energie.</i></ins> It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. In my +Interpret. Gen. I expounded it Operation, Efflux, Activity. None of +those words bear the full sense of it. The examples there are fit, +<i>viz.</i> the light of the Sunne, the phantasms of the soul. We may +collect the genuine sense of the word by comparing severall places in +the Philosopher. <span class = "greek" title = "Echei gar hekaston tôn ontôn energeian,">Ἔχει γὰρ ἕκαστον τῶν ὄντων ἐνεργειαν,</span> <span +class = "greek" title = "Ehê estin homoiôma autou, hôste autou ontos,">ἥ +ἐστιν ὁμοίωμα αὐτοῦ, ὥστε αὐτοῦ ὄντος,</span> +<span class = "pagenum">[4]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 68 --> +<span class = "greek" title = "kakeino einai, kai menontos phthanein eis to porrhô, to men epi pleon, to de eis elatton.">κἀκεῖνο εἶναι, καὶ +μένοντος φθάνειν εἰς τὸ πόῤῥω, τὸ μὲν ἐπὶ πλέον, τὸ δὲ εἰς +ἔλαττον.</span> <span class = "greek" title = "Kai hai men astheneis kai amudrai, hai de kai lanthanousai,">Καὶ αἱ μὲν ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ἀμυδραὶ, αἱ +δὲ καὶ λανθάνουσαι,</span> <span class = "greek" title = "tôn d’ eisi meizous kai eis to porrhô.">τῶν δ’ εἰσὶ μείζους καὶ εἰς τὸ πόῤῥω.</span> +<i>For every being hath its Energie, which is the image of it self, so +that it existing that Energie doth also exist, and standing still is +projected forward more or lesse. And some of those energies are weak and +obscure, others hid or undiscernable, othersome greater and of a larger +projection.</i> Plotin. Ennead. 4. lib. 5. cap. 7. And again, Ennead. 3. +lib. 4. <span class = "greek" title = "Kai menomen tôi men noêtôi anthrôpôi anô;">Καὶ μένομεν τῷ μὲν νοητῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἄνω·</span> <span class += "greek" title = "tôi de eschatôi autou, pepedêmetha tôi katô,">τῷ δὲ +ἐσχάτῳ αὐτοῦ, πεπεδήμεθα τῷ κάτω,</span> <span class = "greek" title = +"hoion aporrhoian ap’ ekeinou didontes eis to katô,">οἷον ἀπόῤῥοιαν ἀπ’ +ἐκείνου διδόντες εἰς τὸ κάτω,</span> <span class = "greek" title = +"mallon de energeian, ekeinou ouk elattoumenou.">μᾶλλον δὲ ἐνέργειαν, +ἐκείνου οὐκ ἐλαττουμένου.</span> <i>And we remain above by the +Intellectuall man, but by the extreme part of him we are held below, as +it were yielding an efflux from him to that which is below, or rather an +energie he being not at all lessened.</i> This curiositie Antoninus also +observes, (lib. 8. Meditat.) in the nature of the sun-beams, where +although he admits of <span class = "greek" title = +"chusis">χύσις</span>, yet he doth not of <span class = "greek" title = +"aporrhoia">ἀπόῤῥοια</span> which is <span class = "greek" title = +"ekchusis">ἔκχυσις</span>. <span class = "greek" title = "Ho hêlios katakechusthai dokei, kai pantêi ge kechutai ou mên ekkechutai.">Ὁ ἥλιος +κατακεχύσθαι δοκεῖ, καὶ πάντῇ γε κέχυται οὐ μὴν ἐκκέχυται.</span> <span +class = "greek" title = "hê gar chusis autou tasis estin.">ἡ γὰρ χύσις +αὐτοῦ τάσις ἐστίν.</span> <span class = "greek" title = "aktines goun hai augai autou apo tou ekteinesthai legontai.">ἀκτῖνες γοῦν αἱ αὐγαὶ +αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐκτείνεσθαι λέγονται.</span> <i>The sunne</i>, saith he, +<i>is diffused, and his fusion is every where but without effusion</i>, +&c. I will onely adde one place more out of Plotinus. Ennead. +3. lib. 6. <span class = "greek" title = "Hekastou de moriou hê energeia hê kata phusin zôê ouk existasa.">Ἑκάστου δὲ μορίου ἡ ἐνέργεια ἡ κατὰ +φύσιν ζωὴ οὐκ ἐξιστᾶσα.</span> <i>The naturall energie of each power of +the soul is life not parted from the soul though gone out of the soul, +<em>viz.</em> into act.</i></p> + +<p>Comparing of all these places together, I cannot better explain this +Platonick term, <i>energie</i>, then by calling it the rayes of an +essence, or the beams of a vitall Centre. For essence is the Centre as +it were of that which is truly called Energie, and Energie the beams and +rayes of an essence. And as the <i>Radii</i> of a circle leave not the +centre by touching the Circumference, no more doth that which is the +pure Energie of an essence, leave the essence by being called out into +act, but is <span class = "greek" title = "en-ergeia">ἐν-έργεια</span> +a working in the essence though it flow <i>out</i> into act. So +that <i>Energie</i> depends alwayes on essence, as <i>Lumen</i> on +<i>Lux</i>, or the creature on God; Whom therefore Synesius in his +Hymnes calls the Centre of all things.</p> + +<p><i>Entelecheia.</i> See Interpret. Gen.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">[5]</span> +<span class = "folionum">[D8]</span> +<!-- png 69 --> +<h5>F</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">F</span> +<span class = "second">a</span>ith.</i> <i>Platonick faith in the first +Good.</i> This faith is excellently described in <ins class = +"correction" title = "text has . for ,">Proclus.</ins> where it is set +above all ratiocination, nay, Intellect it self. <span class = "greek" +title = "Pros de au to agathon ou gnôseôs eti kai sunergeias dei tois sunaphthênai speudousin,">Πρὸς δὲ αὖ τὸ ἀγαθὸν οὐ γνώσεως ἔτι καὶ +συνεργείας δεῖ τοῖς συναφθῆναι σπεύδουσιν,</span> <span class = "greek" +title = "all’ hidruseôs kai monimou katastaseôs kai êremias.">ἀλλ’ +ἱδρύσεως καὶ μονίμου καταστάσεως καὶ ἠρεμίας.</span> <i>But to them that +endeavour to be joyned with the first Good, there is no need of +knowledge or multifarious cooperation, but settlednesse, steddinesse, +and rest.</i> lib. 1. cap. 24. Theolog. Platon. And in the next chapter; +<span class = "greek" title = "Dei gar ou gnôstikôs oud’ atelôs to agathon epizêtein,">Δεῖ γὰρ οὐ γνωστικῶς οὐδ’ ἀτελῶς τὸ ἀγαθὸν +ἐπιζητεῖν,</span> <span class = "greek" title = "all’ epidontas heautous tôi theiôi phôti kai musantas,">ἀλλ’ ἐπιδόντας ἑαυτοὺς τῷ θείῳ φωτὶ καὶ +μύσαντας,</span> <span class = "greek" title = "houtôs enidruesthai têi agnôstôi kai kruphiôi tôn ontôn henadi.">οὕτως ἐνιδρύεσθαι τῇ ἀγνώστῳ +καὶ κρυφίῳ τῶν ὄντων ἑνάδι.</span> <i>For we must not seek after that +absolute or first Good cognoscitively or imperfectly, but giving our +selves up to the divine light, and winking</i> (that is shutting our +eyes of reason and understanding) <i>so to place our selves steddily in +that hidden Unitie of all things</i>. After he preferres this faith +before the clear and present assent to the <span class = "greek" title = +"koinai ennoiai">κοιναὶ ἔννοιαι</span>, yea and the <span class = +"greek" title = "noera haplotês">νοερὰ ἁπλότης</span>, so that he will +not that any intellectuall operation should come in comparison with it. +<span class = "greek" title = "Polueidês gar haitê kai di’ heterotêtos chôrizomenê tôn nooumenôn,">Πολυειδὴς γὰρ αἵτη καὶ δι’ ἑτερότητος +χωριζομένη τῶν νοουμένων,</span> <span class = "greek" title = "kai holôs kinêsis esti noera peri to noêton.">καὶ ὅλως κίνησίς ἐστι νοερὰ +περὶ τὸ νοητόν.</span> <span class = "greek" title = "Dei de tên theian +pistin henoeidê kai êremon huparchein en tôi tês agathotêtos hormôi teleiôs hidrutheisan.">Δεῖ δὲ τὴν θείαν πίστιν ἑνοειδῆ καὶ ἤρεμον +ὑπάρχειν ἐν τῷ τῆς ἀγαθότητος ὁρμῷ τελείως ἱδρυθεῖσαν.</span> <i>For the +operation of the Intellect is multiform and by diversitie separate from +her objects, and is in a word, intellectuall motion about the object +intelligible. But the divine faith must be simple and uniform, quiet and +steddily resting in the haven of Goodnesse.</i> And at last he summarily +concludes, <span class = "greek" title = "Esti oun houtos hormos asphalês tôn ontôn hapantôn."><ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘Εἰς’ [Eis]">Ἐστί</ins> οὐν οὗτος ὅρμος ἀσφαλὴς τῶν <ins class = +"correction" title = "text reads ‘ὅντων’ [hontôn]">ὄντων</ins> +ἁπάντων.</span> See Procl. Theolog. Platonick. lib. 1. cap. 25.</p> + + +<h5>H</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">H</span> +<span class = "second">y</span>le.</i> See Interpret. Gen.</p> + + +<h5>I</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">I</span> +<span class = "second">n</span>tell<ins class = "correction" title = +"text has double ..">ect.</ins></i> Sometimes it is to be interpreted +<i>Soul</i>. Sometime the intellectuall facultie of the soul. Sometimes +Intellect is an absolute essence shining into the soul: whose nature is +this. A substance purely immateriall, impeccable, actually +omniform, or comprehending all things at once, which the soul doth also +being perfectly joyned with the Intellect. <span class = "greek" title = +"Echomen oun kai ta eidê dichôs, en men psuchêi hoion men">Ἔχομεν οὖν +καὶ τὰ <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘εἶδη‘">εἴδη</ins> +διχῶς, ἐν μὲν ψυχῇ οἷον μὲν</span> +<span class = "pagenum">[6]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 70 --> +<span class = "greek" title = "aneiligmena kai hoion kechôrismena, en de tôi nôi homou ta panta.">ἀνειλιγμένα καὶ οἷον κεχωρισμένα, ἐν δὲ τῷ νῷ +ὁμοῦ τὰ πάντα.</span> Plot. Ennead. 1. lib. 1. cap. 8. <i>Ideas</i>, or +<i>Idees</i>. Sometimes they are forms in the Intellectuall world. +<i>viz.</i> in <i>Æon</i>, or <i>On</i>, other sometimes, phantasmes or +representations in the soul. <i>Innate Idees</i> are the souls nature it +self, her uniform essence, able by her <i>Fire</i> to produce this or +that phantasme into act.</p> + +<table class = "bracket"> +<tr> +<td class = "ital"> +Idiopathy.<br> +<ins class = "correction" title = "text unclear: error or damage for ‘Idea’ or similar?"><i>Iao</i></ins></td> +<td class = "bracket two"> +<img src = "images/largecurly.png" height = "90%" alt = "}"> +</td> +<td>See Interpret. Gen.</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<h5>L</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">L</span> +<span class = "second">o</span>gos.</i> See Interpret. Gen.</p> + +<p><i>Life.</i> The vitall operation of any soul. Sometime it is the +soul it self, be it sensitive, vegetative, or rationall.</p> + +<p><i>Lower man.</i> The lower man is our enquickned body, into which +our soul comes, it being fitly prepared for the receiving of such a +guest. The manner of the production of souls, or rather their +non-production is admirably well set down in Plotinus, See, <i>Ennead. +6. lib. 4. cap. 14, 15</i>.</p> + + +<h5>M</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">M</span> +<span class = "second">o</span>nad.</i> See Interpr. Gen.</p> + +<p><i>Mundane.</i> <i>Mundane spirit</i>, Is that which is the spirit of +the world or Universe. I mean by it not an intellectuall spirit, +but a fine, unfixt, attenuate, subtill, ethereall substance, the +immediate vehicle of plasticall or sensitive life.</p> + +<p><i>Memory.</i> <i>Mundane memory.</i> Is that memory that is seated +in the <i>Mundane</i> spirit of man, by a strong impression, or inustion +of any phantasme, or outward sensible object, upon that spirit. But +there is a Memory more subtill and abstract in the soul it self, without +the help of this spirit, which she also carries away with her having +left the body.</p> + +<p><i>Magicall.</i> That is, attractive, or commanding by force of +sympathy with the life of this naturall world.</p> + +<p><i>Moment.</i> Sometimes signifies an instant, as indivisible, as +<span class = "greek" title = "kinêma">κίνημα</span>, which in motion +answers to an instant in time, or a point in a line, <i>Aristot. +Phys.</i> In this sense I use it, Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 2. stanz. +16; <i>But in a moment sol doth ray.</i> But Cant. the 3. Stanz. 45. v. +2. I understand, as also doth Lansbergius, by a <i>moment</i> one +second of a minute. In Antipsych. Cant. 2. Stanz. the 20. v. 2. by +a <i>moment</i> I understand a minute, or indefinitely any small +time.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum">[7]</span> +<span class = "folionum">E</span> +<!-- png 71 --> +<h5>O</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">O</span> +<span class = "second">r</span>b.</i> <i>Orb Intellectuall</i>, is +nothing else but Æon or the Intellectuall world. The Orbs generall +mentioned Psycathan. lib. 1. cant. 3. stanz. 23. v. 2. I understand +by them but so many universall orders of beings, if I may so terme them +all; for <i>Hyle</i> hath little or nothing of being.</p> + +<p><ins class = "correction" title = "text has , for ."><i>Omniformity.</i></ins> The omniformity of the soul is the having +in her nature all forms, latent at least, and power of awaking them into +act, upon occasion.</p> + +<p><i>Out-world.</i> and <i>Out-Heaven.</i> The sensible world, the +visible Heaven.</p> + + +<h5>P</h5> + +<table class = "bracket"> +<tr> +<td class = "dropcap">P</td> +<td class = "ital"> +<span class = "second">e</span>rigee,<br> +Psychicall,<br> +Pareties,<br> +Parallax,<br> +Protopathy.</td> +<td class = "bracket five"> +<img src = "images/largecurly.png" height = "90%" alt = "}"> +</td> +<td>See Interpret. Gen.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><i>Parturient.</i> See, <i>Vaticinant</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Phantasie.</i> <i>Lower phantasie</i>, is that which resides in +the Mundane spirit of a man, See <i>Memory</i>.</p> + + +<h5>Q</h5> + +<p><i>Quantitative.</i> Forms <i>quantitative</i>, are such sensible +energies as arise from the complexion of many natures together, at whose +discretion they vanish. That’s the seventh Orb of things, though broken +and not filling all as the other do. But if you take it for the whole +sensible world, it is entire, and is the same that <i>Tasis</i> in +Psycozoia. But the centre of <i>Tasis</i>, viz. the multiplication of +the reall <i>Cuspis</i> of the <i>Cone</i> (for <i>Hyle</i> that is set +for the most contract point of the <i>Cuspis</i> is scarce to be +reckoned among realities) that immense diffusion of atoms, is to be +referred to <i>Psyche</i>, as an internall vegetative act, and so +belongs to <i>Physis</i> the lowest order of life. For as that warmth +that the sense doth afford the body, is not rationall, sensitive, or +imaginative, but vegetative; So this, <span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" +title = "[Hebrew] shamayim">שׁמים</span> <i>i.e.</i> liquid fire, which +<i>Psyche</i> sends out, and is the outmost, last, and lowest operation +from her self, is also vegetative.</p> + + +<h5>R</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">R</span> +<span class = "second">h</span>omboides.</i> See Interpr. general.</p> + +<p><i>Reason.</i> I understand by Reason, the deduction of one +<span class = "pagenum">[8]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 72 --> +thing from another, which I conceive proceeds from a kind of continuitie +of phantasmes: and is something like the moving of a cord at one end; +the parts next it rise with it. And by this concatenation of phantasmes +I conceive, that both brutes and men are moved in reasonable wayes and +methods in their ordinary externall actions.</p> + +<p><i>Rayes.</i> The rayes of an essence is its energie. See +<i>Energie</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Reduplicative.</i> That is reduplicative, which is not onely in +this point, but also in another, having a kind of circumscribed +ubiquitie, <i>viz.</i> in its own sphear. And this is either by being in +that sphear omnipresent it self, as the soul is said to be in the body +<i>tota in toto & tota in qualibet parte</i>, or else at least by +propagation of rayes, which is the image of it self; and so are divers +sensible objects <i>Reduplicative</i>, as light, colours, sounds. And I +make account either of these wayes justly denominate any thing +spirituall. Though the former is most properly, at least more eminently +spirituall. And whether any thing be after that way spirituall saving +the Divinitie, there is reason to doubt. For what is entirely +omnipresent in a sphear, whose diametre is but three feet, I see +not, why (that in the circumference being as fresh and entire as that in +the centre) it should stop there and not proceed even <i>in +infinitum</i>, if the circumference be still as fresh and entire as the +centre. <ins class = "correction" title = "space at mid-line in original">  </ins> But I define nothing.</p> + + +<h5>S</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">S</span> +<span class = "second">p</span>ermaticall.</i> It belongs properly to +Plants, but is transferred also to the Plasticall power in Animalls, +I enlarge it to all magnetick power whatsoever that doth +immediately rule and actuate any body. For all magnetick power is +founded in <i>Physis</i>, and in reference to her, this world is but one +great Plant, (one <span class = "greek" title = "logos spermatikos">λόγος σπερματικός</span> giving it shape and corporeall +life) as in reference to <i>Psyche</i>, one happy and holy Animall.</p> + +<p><i>Spirit.</i> Sometimes it signifieth the soul, othersometime, the +naturall spirits in a mans body, which are <i>Vinculum animæ & +corporis</i>, and the souls vehicle: Sometimes life. See +<i>Reduplicative</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Soul.</i> When I speak of mans Soul, I understand that which +<i>Moses</i> saith was inspired into the body, (fitted out and made of +earth) by God, Genes. 2. which is not that +<span class = "pagenum">[9]</span> +<span class = "folionum">E2</span> +<!-- png 73 --> +impeccable spirit that cannot sinne; but the very same that the +Platonists call <span class = "greek" title = "psuchê">ψυχή</span>, +a middle essence betwixt that which they call <span class = "greek" +title = "nous">νοῦς</span> (and we would in the Christian language call +<span class = "greek" title = "pneuma">πνεῦμα</span>) and the life of +the body which is <span class = "greek" title = "eidôlon psuchês">εἴδωλον ψυχῆς</span>, a kind of an umbratil vitalitie, +that the soul imparts to the bodie in the enlivening of it: That and the +body together, we Christians would call <span class = "greek" title = +"sarx">σὰρξ</span>, and the suggestions of it, especially in its corrupt +estate, <span class = "greek" title = "phronêma sarkos">φρόνημα +σαρκός</span>. And <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘that that’">that</ins> which God inspired into <i>Adam</i> was no more then +<span class = "greek" title = "psuchê">ψυχὴ</span>, the soul, not the +spirit, though it be called <span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" title = +"[Hebrew] nishmat chayim">נשמת חיים</span> <i>Spiraculum vitæ</i>; is +plain out of the text; because it made man but become a living soul, +<span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" title = "[Hebrew] nefesh chai">נפש +חיה</span>. But you will say, he was a dead soul before, and this was +the spirit of life, yea the spirit of God, the life of the soul that was +breathed into him.</p> + +<p>But if <span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" title = "[Hebrew] chai">חיה</span> implie such a life and spirit, you must acknowledge the +same to be also in the most stupid of all living creatures, even the +fishes (whose soul is but as salt to keep them from stinking, as Philo +speaks) for they are said to be <span class = "greek" dir = "rtl" title += "[Hebrew] nishmat chayim">נשמת חיים</span> chap. 1. v. 20. +21. See 1 Cor. chap. 15, v. 45, 46. In brief therefore, that +which in Platonisme is <span class = "greek" title = "nous">νοῦς</span>, +is in Scripture <span class = "greek" title = "pneuma">πνεῦμα</span>; +what <span class = "greek" title = "sarx">σὰρξ</span> in one, <span +class = "greek" title = "to thêrion">τὸ θηρίον</span>, the brute or +beast in the other, <span class = "greek" title = "psuchê">ψυχὴ</span> +the same in both.</p> + +<p><i>Self-reduplicative.</i> See <i>Reduplicative</i>.</p> + + +<h5>T</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">T</span> +<span class = "second">r</span>icentreitie.</i> Centre is put for +essence, so <i>Tricentreitie</i> must implie a trinitie of essence. See +<i>Centre</i>, and <i>Energie</i>.</p> + + +<h5>V</h5> + +<p><i><span class = "dropcap">V</span> +<span class = "second">a</span>ticinant.</i> The soul is said to be in a +<i>vaticinant</i> or <i>parturient</i> condition, when she hath some +kind of sense and hovering knowledge of a thing, but yet cannot +distinctly and fully, and commandingly represent it to her self, cannot +plainly apprehend, much lesse comprehend the matter. The phrase is +borrowed of Proclus, who describing the incomprehensiblenese of God, and +the desire of all things towards him, speaks thus; <span class = "greek" +title = "Agnôston gar on pothei ta onta to epheton touto kai alêpton,">Ἄγνωστον γὰρ ὂν ποθεῖ τὰ ὄντα τὸ ἐφετὸν τοῦτο καὶ +ἄληπτον,</span> <span class = "greek" title = "mête oun gnônai mête helein ho pothei, dunamena,">μήτε οῦν γνῶναι μήτε ἑλεῖν ὁ ποθεῖ,</span> +<span class = "greek" title = "dunamena, peri auto panta choreuei kai ôdinei men auto kai hoion apomanteuetai.">δυνάμενα, περὶ αὐτὸ πάντα +χορεύει καὶ ὠδίνει μὲν αὐτὸ καὶ οἷον ἀπομαντεύεται.</span> <i><ins class += "correction" title = "both . missing">Theolog. Platon.</ins> +lib. 1. cap. 21.</i> See <i>Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 3. +stanz. 12. & 14.</i></p> + +</div> + +<!-- png 74 --> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<span class = "pagenum">[1]</span> +<span class = "folionum">E3</span> +<!-- png 75 --> +<h5><a name = "devotion" id = "devotion"> +<i>The Philosophers Devotion.</i></a></h5> + +<div class = "verse narrow"> + +<p class = "plain"><span class = "dropcap">S</span> +<span class = "second">i</span>ng aloud his praise rehearse</p> +<p class = "plain">Who hath made the Universe.</p> +<p>He the boundlesse Heavens has spread</p> +<p>All the vitall Orbs has kned;</p> +<p>He that on <i>Olympus</i> high</p> +<p>Tends his flocks with watchfull eye,</p> +<p>And this eye has multiplide</p> +<p>Midst each flock for so reside.</p> +<p>Thus as round about they stray</p> +<p>Toucheth each with out-stretch’d ray,</p> +<p>Nimbly they hold on their way,</p> +<p>Shaping out their Night and Day.</p> +<p>Never slack they; none respires,</p> +<p>Dancing round their Centrall fires.</p> +<p class = "indent">In due order as they move</p> +<p>Echo’s sweet be gently drove</p> +<p>Thorough Heavens vast Hollownesse,</p> +<p>Which unto all corners presse:</p> +<p>Musick that the heart of <i>Jove</i></p> +<p>Moves to joy and sportfull love;</p> +<p>Fills the listning saylers eares</p> +<p>Riding on the wandering Sphears.</p> +<p>Neither Speech nor Language is</p> +<p>Where their voice is not transmisse.</p> +<p class = "indent">God is Good, is Wise, is Strong,</p> +<p>Witnesse all the creature-throng,</p> +<p>Is confess’d by every Tongue.</p> +<p>All things back from whence they sprong,</p> +<p>As the thankfull Rivers pay</p> +<p>What they borrowed of the Sea.</p> +<p class = "indent">Now my self I do resigne,</p> +<p>Take me whole I all am thine.</p> +<p>Save me, God! from Self-desire,</p> +<p>Deaths pit, dark Hells raging fire,</p> +<p>Envy, Hatred, Vengeance, Ire.</p> +<p>Let not Lust my soul bemire.</p> +<p class = "indent">Quit from these thy praise I’ll sing,</p> +<p>Loudly sweep the trembling string.</p> +<span class = "pagenum">[2]</span> +<span class = "folionum">||</span> +<!-- png 76 --> +<p>Bear a part, O Wisdomes sonnes!</p> +<p>Free’d from vain Relligions.</p> +<p>Lo! from farre I you salute,</p> +<p>Sweetly warbling on my Lute.</p> +<p><i>Indie</i>, <i>Egypt</i>, <i>Arabie</i>,</p> +<p><i>Asia</i>, <i>Greece</i>, and <i>Tartarie</i>,</p> +<p><i>Carmel</i>-tracts, and <i>Lebanon</i></p> +<p>With the <i>Mountains</i> of the <i>Moon</i>,</p> +<p>from whence muddie <i>Nile</i> doth runne,</p> +<p>Or whereever else you won;</p> +<p>Breathing in one vitall aire,</p> +<p>One we are though distant farre.</p> +<p class = "indent">Rise at once lett’s sacrifice</p> +<p>Odours sweet perfume the skies.</p> +<p>See how Heavenly lightning fires</p> +<p>Hearts inflam’d with high aspires!</p> +<p>All the substance of our souls</p> +<p>Up in clouds of Incense rolls.</p> +<p>Leave we nothing to our selves</p> +<p>Save a voice, what need we els!</p> +<p>Or an hand to wear and tire</p> +<p>On the thankfull Lute or Lyre.</p> +<p class = "indent">Sing aloud his praise rehearse</p> +<p>Who hath made the Universe.</p> + +</div> + +<h5 class = "final"><i><span class = "super">FINIS</span>.</i></h5> + +<!-- png 77 --> + + +<!-- png 78 --> + +<hr> + +<!-- png 79 --> +<h3 class = "smallcaps"><a name = "augustan" id = "augustan"> +The Augustan Reprint Society</a></h3> + +<h4>WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK<br> +MEMORIAL LIBRARY</h4> + +<h5>UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA<ins class = "correction" title = ". for ,">, </ins>LOS ANGELES</h5> + +<p> </p> + +<h6>PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT</h6> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/ars_dec.gif" width = "66" height = "40" +alt = "decoration"></p> + +<p class = "mynote"> +Where available, Project Gutenberg e-text numbers are included as +links.</p> + +<div class = "ars_list"> + +<h5>1948-1949</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16916">16.</a> +Henry Nevil Payne, <i>The Fatal Jealousie</i> (1673).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15870">18.</a> +Anonymous, “Of Genius,” in <i>The Occasional Paper</i>, Vol. III, No. 10 +(1719), and Aaron Hill, Preface to <i>The Creation</i> (1720).</p> + +<h5>1949-1950</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16740">19.</a> +Susanna Centlivre, <i>The Busie Body</i> (1709).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16346">20.</a> +Lewis Theobald, <i>Preface to the Works of Shakespeare</i> (1734).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13350">22.</a> +Samuel Johnson, <i>The Vanity of Human Wishes</i> (1749), and two +<i>Rambler</i> papers (1750).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15074">23.</a> +John Dryden, <i>His Majesties Declaration Defended</i> (1681).</p> + +<h5>1950-1951</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/14463">26.</a> +Charles Macklin, <i>The Man of the World</i> (1792).</p> + +<h5>1951-1952</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15409">31.</a> +Thomas Gray, <i>An Elegy Wrote in a Country Churchyard</i> (1751), and +<i>The Eton College Manuscript</i>.</p> + +<h5>1952-1953</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/29478">41.</a> +Bernard Mandeville, <i>A Letter to Dion</i> (1732).</p> +</div> + +<p class = "mynote"> +Here as in e-texts 29237 and 29684 (from the same year), one or two +pages from the list of titles in print appear to be missing. The same +list should be present in any Augustan Reprint from a later year.</p> + +<div class = "ars_list"> +<!-- png 80 --> +<h5>1962-1963</h5> + +<p>98. <i>Select Hymns Taken Out of Mr. Herbert’s Temple</i> (1697).</p> + +<h5>1963-1964</h5> + +<p>104. Thomas D’Urfey, <i>Wonders in the Sun: or, The Kingdom of the +Birds</i> (1706).</p> + +<h5>1964-1965</h5> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">110.</ins> +John Tutchin, <i>Selected Poems</i> (1685-1700).</p> + +<p>111. Anonymous, <i>Political Justice</i> (1736).</p> + +<p>112. Robert Dodsley, <i>An Essay on Fable</i> (1764).</p> + +<p>113. T. R., <i>An Essay Concerning Critical and Curious Learning</i> +(1698).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/21499">114.</a> +<i>Two Poems Against Pope</i>: Leonard Welsted, <i>One Epistle to Mr. A. +Pope</i> (1730), and Anonymous, <i>The Blatant Beast</i> (1742).</p> + +<h5>1965-1966</h5> + +<p>115. Daniel Defoe and others, <i>Accounts of the Apparition of Mrs. +Veal</i>.</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">116.</ins> +Charles Macklin, <i>The Covent Garden Theatre</i> (1752).</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">117.</ins> +Sir <ins class = "correction" title = "text reads ‘George’">Roger</ins> +L’Estrange, <i>Citt and Bumpkin</i> (1680).</p> + +<p>118. Henry More, <i>Enthusiasmus Triumphatus</i> (1662).</p> + +<p>119. Thomas Traherne, <i>Meditations on the Six Days of the +Creation</i> (1717).</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">120.</ins> +Bernard Mandeville, <i>Aesop Dress’d or a Collection of Fables</i> +(1704).</p> + +<h5>1966-1967</h5> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/8161">122.</a> +James MacPherson, <i>Fragments of Ancient Poetry</i> (1760).</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/29116">123.</a> +Edmond Malone, <i>Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to Mr. +Thomas Rowley</i> (1782).</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">124.</ins> +Anonymous, <i>The Female Wits</i> (1704).</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">125.</ins> +Anonymous, <i>The Scribleriad</i> (1742). Lord Hervey, <i>The Difference +Between Verbal and Practical Virtue</i> (1742).</p> + +<p>126. <i>Le Lutrin: an Heroick Poem, Written Originally in French by +Monsieur Boileau: Made English by N. O.</i> (1682).</p> + +</div> + +<hr class = "mid"> + +<p>Subsequent publications may be checked in the annual prospectus.</p> + +<p>Publications #1 through 90, of the first fifteen years of Augustan +Reprint Society, are available in bound units at $14.00 per unit of six +from:</p> + +<table> +<tr><td> +KRAUS REPRINT CORPORATION<br> +16 East 46th Street<br> +New York, N.Y. 10017 +</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Publications in print are available at the regular membership rate of +$5.00 yearly. Prices of single issues may be obtained upon request.</p> + +<hr> + +<p> </p> + +<!-- png 81 --> +<h5>William Andrews Clark Memorial Library: University of California, +Los Angeles</h5> + +<h3 class = "smallcaps">The Augustan Reprint Society</h3> + +<p class = "center"> +<i>General Editors</i>: George Robert Guffey, University of California, +Los Angeles;<br> +Maximillian E. Novak, University of California, Los Angeles; Robert +Vosper, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library.<br> +<i>Corresponding Secretary</i>: Mrs. Edna C. Davis, William Andrews +Clark Memorial Library.</p> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/ars_decline1.png" width = "106" height = "5" +alt = "decoration"></p> + +<p>The Society’s purpose is to publish reprints (usually facsimile +reproductions) of rare seventeenth and eighteenth century works. All +income of the Society is devoted to defraying costs of publication and +mailing.</p> + +<p>Correspondence concerning memberships in the United States and Canada +should be addressed to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, 2520 +Cimarron St., Los Angeles, California. Correspondence concerning +editorial matters may be addressed to any of the general editors at the +same address. Manuscripts of introductions should conform to the +recommendations of the MLA <i>Style Sheet</i>. The membership fee is +$5.00 a year in the United States and Canada and 30/— in Great +Britain and Europe. British and European prospective members should +address B. H. Blackwell, Broad Street, Oxford, England. Copies of +back issues in print may be obtained from the Corresponding +Secretary.</p> + +<h5>PUBLICATIONS FOR 1967-1968</h5> + +<div class = "ars_list"> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">127-128.</ins> +Charles Macklin, <i>A Will and No Will, or a Bone for the Lawyers</i> +(1746). <i>The New Play Criticiz’d, or The Plague of Envy</i> (1747). +Introduction by Jean B. Kern.</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/29684">129.</a> Lawrence +Echard, Prefaces to <i>Terence’s Comedies</i> (1694) and <i>Plautus’s +Comedies</i> (1694). Introduction by John Barnard.</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "Present Text">130.</ins> Henry +More, <i>Democritus Platonissans</i> (1646). Introduction by P. G. +Stanwood.</p> + +<p><ins class = "notation" title = "In Preparation">131.</ins> John +Evelyn, <i>The History of . . . Sabatai Sevi . . . The +Suppos’d Messiah of the Jews</i> (1669). Introduction by Christopher W. +Grose.</p> + +<p><a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/29237">132.</a> Walter +Harte, <i>An Essay on Satire, Particularly on the Dunciad</i> (1730). +Introduction by Thomas B. Gilmore.</p> + +</div> + +<h5>ANNOUNCEMENTS:</h5> + +<p>Next in the series of special publications by the Society will be a +volume including Elkanah Settle’s <i>The Empress of Morocco</i> (1673) +with five plates; <i>Notes and Observations on the Empress of +Morocco</i> (1674) by John Dryden, John Crowne and Thomas Shadwell; +<i>Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco Revised</i> (1674) +by Elkanah Settle; and <i>The Empress of Morocco. A Farce</i> +(1674) by Thomas Duffet, with an Introduction by Maximillian E. Novak. +Already published in this series are reprints of John Ogilby’s <i>The +Fables of Aesop Paraphras’d in Verse</i> (1668), with an Introduction by +Earl Miner and John Gay’s <i>Fables</i> (1727, 1738), with an +Introduction by Vinton A. Dearing. Publication is assisted by funds from +the Chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles. Price to +members of the Society, $2.50 for the first copy and $3.25 for +additional copies. Price to non-members, $4.00.</p> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/ars_decline1.png" width = "106" height = "5" +alt = "decoration"></p> + +<h5 class = "extended">THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY</h5> + +<h5>William Andrews Clark Memorial Library</h5> + +<h6>2520 CIMARRON STREET AT WEST ADAMS BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, +CALIFORNIA 90018</h6> + +<p class = "center smaller"> +Make check or money order payable to <span class = "smallcaps">The +Regents of the University of California</span>.</p> + +<div class = "endnote"> + +<h5><a name = "endnote" id = "endnote">Spelling and Language</a></h5> + +<p>The author used a number of forms that were unusual or archaic even +in +1646, and might be mistaken for typographical errors:</p> + +<div class = "hanging"> +<p><b>ne</b> (conjunction)</p> +<p><b>won</b><br> +<i>stay, dwell</i> (like German <i>wohnen</i>)</p> +<p><b>eath</b><br> +<i>easy, light</i>; also <b>uneath</b></p> +</div> + +<p>Words in <b>-en</b>, especially verbs:</p> + +<p class = "inset"> +<b>aboven</b>, <b>amazen</b>, <b>been</b> (<i>infinitive</i>), +<b>causen</b>, <b>standen</b>, <b>withouten</b>...</p> + +<p>Both occurrences of the name “DesCartes” or “DesChartes” are at line +break; the hyphen has been omitted conjecturally. In general, spellings +that appear more than once, such as “Psyc-” for “Psych-”, were assumed +to be inten­tional. In corrections, the word “invisible” means that +the letter is absent but there is an appropriately sized blank +space.</p> + +<p>Greek diacritics were consistently printed over the first vowel of an +initial diphthong. This has been silently regularized.</p> + +<h5>Pagination</h5> + +<p><i>Democritus Platonissans</i> and <i>Cupids Conflict</i> were each +paginated from 1; other parts of the original have no visible page +numbers. Individual missing numbers may have been too near the margin to +be included in the facsimile. Folio numbers (signatures) are continuous +for the whole text. Gaps in the sequence represent blank pages, except +that A was probably a half-octavo (4 leaves instead of 8).</p> + +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Democritus Platonissans, by Henry More + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEMOCRITUS PLATONISSANS *** + +***** This file should be named 30327-h.htm or 30327-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/2/30327/ + +Produced by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Democritus Platonissans + +Author: Henry More + +Editor: P. G. Stanwood + +Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30327] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEMOCRITUS PLATONISSANS *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +[This text is intended for users whose text readers cannot use the +"real" (Unicode/UTF-8) version of the file. The "oe" ligature has been +"unpacked" to separate letters. Transliterated Greek is shown between ++marks+, and Hebrew between #marks#. + +Roman (emphatic) type within italic body text is shown in =marks=. + +Unless otherwise noted, spelling, punctuation and capitalization in the +primary text are unchanged. The distinction between u (vowel) and v +(consonant) is as in the original. Typographical errors are listed at +the end of the e-text. + +The General Interpretation ("Interp. Gen.") referenced in the +Particular Interpretation is not part of this text.] + + + + + The Augustan Reprint Society + + + HENRY MORE + + _Democritus + Platonissans_ + + (1646) + + + _Introduction by_ + + P. G. STANWOOD + + + Publication Number 130 + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY + University of California, Los Angeles + 1968 + + + + +GENERAL EDITORS + + George Robert Guffey, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Maximillian E. Novak, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Robert Vosper, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + +ADVISORY EDITORS + + Richard C. Boys, _University of Michigan_ + James L. Clifford, _Columbia University_ + Ralph Cohen, _University of Virginia_ + Vinton A. Dearing, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Arthur Friedman, _University of Chicago_ + Louis A. Landa, _Princeton University_ + Earl Miner, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Samuel H. Monk, _University of Minnesota_ + Everett T. Moore, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + Lawrence Clark Powell, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + James Sutherland, _University College, London_ + H. T. Swedenberg, Jr., _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +CORRESPONDING SECRETARY + + Edna C. Davis, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Henry More (1614-1687), the most interesting member of that group +traditionally known as the Cambridge Platonists, lived conscientiously +and well. Having early set out on one course, he never thought to change +it; he devoted his whole life to the joy of celebrating, again and +again, "a firm and unshaken Belief of the Existence of GOD . . . , a God +infinitely Good, as well as infinitely Great . . . ."[1] Such faith was +for More the starting point of his rational understanding: "with the +most fervent Prayers" he beseeched God, in his autobiographical +"Praefatio Generalissima," "to set me free from the dark Chains, and +this so sordid Captivity of my own Will." More offered to faith all +which his reason could know, and so it happened that he "was got into a +most Joyous and Lucid State of Mind," something quite ineffable; to +preserve these "Sensations and Experiences of my own Soul," he wrote +"a pretty full Poem call'd _Psychozoia_" (or _A Christiano-Platonicall +display of Life_), an exercise begun about 1640 and designed for no +audience but himself. There were times, More continued in his +autobiographical remarks, when he thought of destroying _Psychozoia_ +because its style is rough and its language filled with archaisms. His +principal purpose in that poem was to demonstrate in detail the +spiritual foundation of all existence; Psyche, his heroine, is the +daughter of the Absolute, the general Soul who holds together the +metaphysical universe, against whom he sees reflected his own soul's +mystical progress. More must, nevertheless, have been pleased with his +labor, for he next wrote _Psychathanasia Platonica: or Platonicall Poem +of the Immortality of Souls, especially Mans Soul_, in which he attempts +to demonstrate the immortality of the soul as a corrective to his age. +Then, he joined to that _Antipsychopannychia, or A Confutation of the +sleep of the Soul after death_, and _Antimonopsychia, or That all Souls +are not one_; at the urging of friends, he published the poems in +1642--his first literary work--as _Psychodia Platonica_. + +In his argument for the soul's immortality toward the end of +_Psychathanasia_ (III.4), More had urged that there was no need to plead +for any extension of the infinite ("a contradiction," and also, it would +seem, a fruitless inquiry); but he soon changed his mind. The preface to +_Democritus Platonissans_ reproduces those stanzas of the earlier poem +which deny infinity (34 to the end of the canto) with a new (formerly +concluding) stanza 39 and three further stanzas "for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto," _i.e._, _Democritus +Platonissans_, which More clearly intended to be an addition, a fifth +canto to _Psychathanasia_ (Book III); and although _Democritus +Platonissans_ first appeared separately, More appended it to +_Psychathanasia_ in the second edition of his collected poems, this time +with English titles, the whole being called _A Platonick Song of the +Soul_ (1647). + +There is little relationship between _Democritus Platonissans_ and the +rest of More's poetry; even the main work to which it supposedly forms a +final and conclusive canto provides only the slightest excuse for such a +continuation. Certainly, in _Psychathanasia_, More is excited by the new +astronomy; he praises the Copernican system throughout Book III, giving +an account of it according to the lessons of his study of Galileo's +_Dialogo_, which he may have been reading even as he wrote.[2] Indeed, +More tries to harmonize the two poems--his habit was always to look for +unity. But even though _Democritus Platonissans_ explores an +astronomical subject, just as the third part of _Psychathanasia_ also +does, its attitude and theme are quite different; for More had meanwhile +been reading Descartes. + +More's theory of the infinity of worlds and God's plenitude evidently +owed a great deal to Descartes' recent example; More responds +exuberantly to him, especially to his _Principes de la Philosophie_ +(1644); for in him he fancied having found a true ally. Steeped in +Platonic and neo-Platonic thought, and determined to reconcile Spirit +with the rational mind of man, More thought he had discovered in +Cartesian 'intuition' what was not necessarily there. Descartes had +enjoyed an ecstatic illumination, and so had Plotinus; but this was not +enough, as More may have wanted to imagine, to make Descartes a +neo-Platonist.[3] But the Platonic element implicit in Descartes, his +theory of innate ideas, and his proof of the existence of God from the +idea of God, all helped to make More so receptive to him. Nevertheless, +More did not really need Descartes, nor, as he himself was later to +discover, had he even understood him properly, for More had looked at +him only to find his own reflection. + +But there was nothing really new about the idea of infinite worlds which +More described in _Democritus Platonissans_; it surely was not a +conception unique to Descartes. The theory was a common one in Greek and +Renaissance thought. Democritus and the Epicureans, of course, advocated +the theme of infinite worlds in an infinite universe which More +accepted; but at the same time, he rejected their view of a mechanistic +and fortuitous creation. Although Plato specifically rejects the idea of +infinite worlds (in _Timaeus_), More imagines, as the title of his poem +implies, a Platonic universe, by which he really means neo-Platonic, +combined with a Democritean plurality of worlds. More filled space, not +with the infinite void of the Atomists, but with the Divine, ever active +immanence. More, in fact, in an early philosophic work, _An Antidote +against Atheisme_ (1652), and again in _Divine Dialogues_ (1668), +refutes Lucretius by asserting the usefulness of all created things in +God's Providence and the essential design in Nature. His reference in +_Democritus Platonissans_ (st. 20) is typical: "though I detest the +sect/ of Epicurus for their manners vile,/ Yet what is true I may not +well reject." In bringing together Democritus' theories and neo-Platonic +thought, More obviously has attempted reconciliation of two exclusive +world views, but with dubious success. + +While More stands firmly before a familiar tradition, his belief in an +infinity of worlds evidently has little immediate connection with any +predecessors. Even Bruno's work, or Thomas Digges,' which could have +occupied an important place, seems to have had little, if any, direct +influence on More. It was Descartes who stimulated his thought at the +most receptive moment: in 1642 to have denied a theory which in 1646 he +proclaimed with such force evidently argues in favor of a most powerful +attachment. More responded enthusiastically to what he deemed a +congenial metaphysical system; as a champion of Descartes, he was first +to make him known in England and first in England to praise the infinity +of worlds, yet Descartes' system could give to him little real solace. +More embraces God's plenitude and infinity of worlds, he rejoices in the +variety and grandeur of the universe, and he worships it as he might God +Himself; but Descartes was fundamentally uninterested in such +enthusiasms and found them even repellant--as well as unnecessary--to +his thought. For More the doctrine of infinity was a proper corollary of +Copernican astronomy and neo-Platonism (as well as Cabbalistic +mysticism) and therefore a necessity to his whole elaborate and eclectic +view of the world. + +In introducing Cartesian thought into England, More emphasized +particular physical doctrines mainly described in _The Principles of +Philosophy_; he shows little interest in the _Discourse on the Method of +Rightly Conducting the Reason_ (1637), or in the _Meditations_ (1641), +both of which were also available to him when he wrote _Democritus +Platonissans_. In the preface to his poem, he refers to Descartes whom +he seems to have read hopefully: surely "infinitude" is the same as the +Cartesian "indefinite." "_For what is his =mundus indefinite extensus=, +but =extensus infinite=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos=, but +=simpliciter finitus=_," for there can be no space "_unstuffd with +Atoms_." More thinks that Descartes seems "to mince it," that difficulty +lies in the interpretation of a word, not in an essential idea. He is +referring to Part II, xxi, of _The Principles_, but he quotes, with +tacit approval, from Part III, i and ii, in the motto to the poem. More +undoubtedly knows the specific discussion of 'infinity' in Part I, +xxvi-xxviii, where he must first have felt uneasy delight on reading +"that it is not needful to enter into disputes regarding the infinite, +but merely to hold all that in which we can find no limits as +indefinite, such as the extension of the world . . . ."[4] More asked +Descartes to clarify his language in their correspondence of 1648-49, +the last year of Descartes' life. + +_Democritus Platonissans_ is More's earliest statement about absolute +space and time; by introducing these themes into English philosophy, he +contributed significantly to the intellectual history of the seventeenth +century. Newton, indeed, was able to make use of More's forging efforts; +but of relative time or space and their measurement, which so much +concerned Newton, More had little to say. He was preoccupied with the +development of a theory which would show that immaterial substance, with +space and time as attributes, is as real and as absolute as the +Cartesian geometrical and spatial account of matter which he felt was +true but much in need of amplification. + +In his first letter to Descartes, of 11 December 1648, More wrote: +". . . this indefinite extension is either _simpliciter_ infinite, or +only in respect to us. If you understand extension to be infinite +_simpliciter_, why do you obscure your thought by too low and too modest +words? If it is infinite only in respect to us, extension, in reality, +will be finite; for our mind is the measure neither of the things nor of +truth. . . ." Unsatisfied by his first answer from Descartes (5 February +1649), he urges his point again (5 March): if extension can describe +matter, the same quality must apply to the immaterial and yet be only +one of many attributes of Spirit. In his second letter to More +(15 April), Descartes answers firmly: "It is repugnant to my concept to +attribute any limit to the world, and I have no other measure than my +perception for what I have to assert or to deny. I say, therefore, that +the world is indeterminate or indefinite, because I do not recognize in +it any limits. But I dare not call it infinite as I perceive that God is +greater than the world, not in respect to His extension, because, as I +have already said, I do not acknowledge in God any proper [extension], +but in respect to His perfection . . . . It is repugnant to my mind +. . . it implies a contradiction, that the world be finite or limited, +because I cannot but conceive a space outside the boundaries of the +world wherever I presuppose them." More plainly fails to understand the +basic dualism inherent in Cartesian philosophy and to sense the +irrelevance of his questions. While Descartes is really disposing of the +spiritual world in order to get on with his analysis of finite +experience, More is keenly attempting to reconcile neo-Platonism with +the lively claims of matter. His effort can be read as the brave attempt +to harmonize an older mode of thought with the urgency of the 'new +philosophy' which called the rest in doubt. More saw this conflict and +the implications of it with a kind of clarity that other men of his age +hardly possessed. But the way of Descartes, which at first seemed to him +so promising, certainly did not lead to the kind of harmony which he +sought. + +More's original enthusiasm for Descartes declined as he understood +better that the Cartesian world in practice excluded spirits and souls. +Because Descartes could find no necessary place even for God Himself, +More styled him, in _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_ (1671), the "Prince of +the Nullibists"; these men "readily acknowledge there are such things as +_Incorporeal Beings_ or _Spirits_, yet do very peremptorily contend, +that they are _no where_ in the whole World [;] . . . because they so +boldly affirm that a Spirit is _Nullibi_, that is to say, _no where_," +they deserve to be called _Nullibists_.[5] In contrast to these false +teachers, More describes absolute space by listing twenty epithets which +can be applied either to God or to pure extension, such as "Unum, +Simplex, Immobile . . . Incomprehensible "[6] There is, however, +a great difficulty here; for while Space and Spirit are eternal and +uncreated, they yet contain material substance which has been created by +God. If the material world possesses infinite extension, as More +generally believes, that would preclude any need of its having a +creator. In order to avoid this dilemma, which _Democritus Platonissans_ +ignores, More must at last separate matter and space, seeing the latter +as an attribute of God through which He is able to contain a finite +world limited in space as well as in time. In writing that "this +infinite space because of its infinity is distinct from matter,"[7] More +reveals the direction of his conclusion; the dichotomy it embodies is +Cartesianism in reverse. + +While More always labored to describe the ineffable, his earliest work, +the poetry, may have succeeded in this wish most of all. Although he +felt that his poetry was aiming toward truths which his "_later and +better concocted Prose_"[8] reached, the effort cost him the +suggestiveness of figurative speech. In urging himself on toward an ever +more consistent statement of belief, he lost much of his beginning +exuberance (best expressed in the brief "Philosopher's Devotion") and +the joy of intellectual discovery. In the search "_to find out Words +which will prove faithful witnesses of the peculiarities of my +Thoughts_," he staggers under the unsupportable burden of too many +words. In trying so desperately to clarify his thought, he rejected +poetic discourse as "slight"; only a language free of metaphor and +symbol could, he supposed, lead toward correctness. Indeed, More soon +renounced poetry; he apparently wrote no more after collecting it in +_Philosophical Poems_ (1647), when he gave up poetry for "more seeming +Substantial performances in solid _Prose_."[9] "Cupids Conflict," which +is "annexed" to _Democritus Platonissans_, is an interesting revelation +of the failure of poetry, as More felt it: he justifies his "rude rugged +uncouth style" by suggesting that sweet verses avoid telling important +truths; harshness and obscurity may at least remind one that there is a +significance beyond mere words. His lament is characteristic: "How ill +alas! with wisdome it accords/ To sell my living sense for liveless +words." + +In spite of these downcast complaints, More was quite capable of lively +and meaningful poetic ideas. One is the striking image of the cone which +occurs in _Democritus Platonissans_ (especially in stanzas 7-8, 66-67, +and 88) and becomes the most essential symbol to More's expression +of infinitude and extension. The figure first appears in +_Antipsychopannychia_ (II.9) where his purpose is to reconcile the world +Soul with Christian eschatology. In _Democritus Platonissans_, the cone +enables More to adapt the familiar Hermetic paradox: + + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib'd, whose Centre's each where set, + But the low Cusp's a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre's every where. (st. 8) + +Every point on the circumference, or base of the cone, relates to the +single point at the top. The world, More wants to say, has no limits, no +center, yet there are bounds in its not having any. More recognizes the +contradiction when he fancies "some strong arm'd Archer" at the wide +world's edge (st. 37). Where shall he send his shafts? Into "mere +vacuity"? But More hardly seems aware of the inappropriateness of the +cone: he uses a geometrical figure to locate space, time, and numberless +worlds within the universal sight of God, but matter is infinite, +"distinct/ And yet proceeding from the Deitie" (st. 68). Obviously, the +archer must forever be sending his arrows through an infinitely +expanding surface. Nevertheless, the cone has great value as a metaphor, +as a richly suggestive and fascinating conception. More, however, does +not want to speak metaphorically; he is attempting to disclose truths, +literal and plain, where pretty words and metaphors have no place. Even +as he is writing his most effective poetry, we are aware that More is +denying his poetic office; for he is pleading a reasoned case where the +words crack and strain, where poetic meaning gathers, only to be denied. + +But these objections momentarily disappear when More forgets himself +enough to let us feel his imagination and does not worry that we might +miss the proofs of his philosophy. _Democritus Platonissans_ concludes +with an apocalyptic vision wherein the poet imagines the reconciliation +of infinite worlds and time within God's immensity. He is also +attempting to harmonize _Psychathanasia_, where he rejected infinitude, +with its sequel, _Democritus Platonissans_, where he has everywhere been +declaring it; thus we should think of endless worlds as we should think +of Nature and the Phoenix, dying yet ever regenerative, sustained by a +"centrall power/ Of hid spermatick life" which sucks "sweet heavenly +juice" from above (st. 101). More closes his poem on a vision of harmony +and ceaseless energy, a most fit ending for one who dared to believe +that the new philosophy sustained the old, that all coherence had not +gone out of the world, but was always there, only waiting to be +discovered afresh in this latter age. + +The University of British Columbia + + + + +NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION + +[Footnote 1: The quotations from More's Latin autobiography occur in the +_Opera Omnia_ (London, 1675-79), portions of which Richard Ward +translated in _The Life of . . . Henry More_ (London, 1710). Cf. the +modern edition of this work, ed. M. F. Howard (London, 1911), pp. 61, +67-68, the text followed here. There is a recent reprint of the _Opera +Omnia_ in 3 volumes (Hildesheim, 1966) with an introduction by Serge +Hutin. The "Praefatio Generalissima" begins vol. II. 1. One passage in +it which Ward did not translate describes the genesis of _Democritus +Platonissans_. More writes that after finishing _Psychathanasia_, he +felt a change of heart: "Postea vero mutata sententia furore nescio quo +Poetico incitatus supra dictum Poema scripsi, ea potissimum innixus +ratione quod liquido constaret extensionem spacii dari infinitam, nec +majores absurditates pluresve contingere posse in Materia infinita, +infinitaque; Mundi duratione, quam in infinita Extensione spacii" +(p. ix).] + +[Footnote 2: Cf. Lee Haring's unpub. diss., "Henry More's +_Psychathanasia_ and _Democritus Platonissans_: A Critical Edition," +(Columbia Univ., 1961), pp. 33-57.] + +[Footnote 3: Marjorie Hope Nicolson's various articles and books which +in part deal with More are important to the discussion that follows, and +especially "The Early Stage of Cartesianism in England," SP, XXVI +(1929), 356-379; _Mountain Gloom and Mountain Glory_ (Ithaca, 1959), pp. +113-143, and _The Breaking of the Circle_ (New York, 1960), pp. +158-165.] + +[Footnote 4: Cf. _The Meditations and Selections from the Principles of +Rene Descartes_, trans. John Veitch (Chicago, 1908), p. 143. The +quotations from the letters which follow occur in Alexandre Koyre's very +helpful book, _From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe_ +(Baltimore, 1957), pp. 114, 122-123, but the complete and original texts +can be consulted in Descartes, _Correspondance avec Arnaud et Morus_, +ed. G. Lewis (Paris, 1953).] + +[Footnote 5: This passage occurs at the beginning of "The Easie, True, +and Genuine Notion, And consistent Explication Of the Nature of a +Spirit," a free translation of _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, I. 27-28, by +John Collins which he included in Joseph Glanvil's _Saducismus +Triumphatus_ (London, 1681). I quote from the text as given in +_Philosophical Writings of Henry More_, ed. F. I. MacKinnon (New York, +1925), p. 183.] + +[Footnote 6: Cf. _Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 8, trans. Mary Whiton +Calkins and included in John Tull Baker, _An Historical and Critical +Examination of English Space and Time Theories_ . . . (Bronxville, N.Y., +1930), p. 12. For the original, cf. _Opera Omnia_, II. 1, p. 167.] + +[Footnote 7: "_Infinitum_ igitur hoc _Extensum_ a Materia distinctum," +_Enchiridion Metaphysicum_, VIII. 9, in _Opera Omnia, loc. cit._ Quoted +by MacKinnon, p. 262.] + +[Footnote 8: This and the following reference appear in _An Explanation +of the grand Mystery of Godliness_ (London, 1660), "To the Reader," pp. +vi and v.] + +[Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52).] + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + + +The text of this edition is reproduced from a copy in the Henry E. +Huntington Library. + + + + + Democritus Platonissans, + + Or, + + _AN ESSAY_ + + Upon The + + INFINITY OF WORLDS + + Out Of + + PLATONICK PRINCIPLES. + + Hereunto is annexed + + CUPIDS CONFLICT + + together with + + THE PHILOSOPHERS DEVOTION: + + And a Particular Interpretation + appertaining to the three last books of the + _Song of the Soul_. + + + By _H. More_ Master of Arts, and Fellow of + Christs Colledge in Cambridge. + + + +Agathos en to pan tode ho sunistas, agathoi de oudeis peri oudenos + oudepote enginetai phthonos. Toutou d' ektos on panta hoti malista + eboulethe genesthai paraplesia hautoi.+ Plat. + + _Pythagoras Terram Planetam quendam esse censuit qui circa solem + in centro mundi defixum converteretur, Pythagorans secuti sunt + Philolaus, Seleucus, Cleanthes, &c. imo PLATO jam senex, ut + narrat Theophrastus._ Libert. Fromond, de Orbe terrae immobili. + + + _CAMBRIDGE_ + + Printed by ROGER DANIEL, Printer to + the UNIVERSITIE. 1646. + + + + +To the Reader. + + +READER, + +_If thou standest not to the judgement of thine eye more then of thy +reason, this fragment may passe favourably, though in the neglectfull +disguise of a fragment; if the strangenesse of the argument prove no +hinderance. INFINITIE of WORLDS! A thing monstrous if assented to, and +to be startled at, especially by them, whose thoughts this one have +alwayes so engaged, that they can find no leisure to think of any thing +else. But I onely make a bare proposall to more acute judgements, of +what my sportfull fancie, with pleasure hath suggested: following my old +designe of furnishing mens minds with varietie of apprehensions +concerning the most weightie points of Philosophie, that they may not +seem rashly to have settled in the truth, though it be the truth: +a thing as ill beseeming Philosophers, as hastie prejudicative sentence +Politicall Judges. But if I had relinquishd here my wonted self, in +proving Dogmaticall, I should have found very noble Patronage for the +cause among the ancients, =Epicurus=, =Democritus=, =Lucretius=, =&c.= +Or if justice may reach the dead, do them the right, as to shew, that +though they be hooted at, by the Rout of the learned, as men of +monstrous conceits, they were either very wise or exceeding fortunate to +light on so probable and specious an opinion, in which notwithstanding +there is so much difficultie and seeming inconsistencie._ + +_Nay and that sublime and subtil Mechanick too, =DesChartes=, though he +seem to mince it must hold infinitude of worlds, or which is as harsh +one infinite one. For what is his =mundus indefinite extensus=, but +=extensus infinite=? Else it sounds onely =infinitus quoad nos= but +=simpliciter finitus=. But if any space be left out unstuffd with Atoms, +it will hazard the dissipation of the whole frame of Nature into +disjoynted dust. As may be proved by the Principles of his own +Philosophie. And that there is space whereever God is, or any actuall +and self-subsistent Being, seems to me no plainer then one of the ++koinai ennoiai+._ + +_For mine own part I must confesse these apprehensions do plainly oppose +what heretofore I have conceived; but I have sworn more faithfull +friendship with Truth then with myself. And therefore without all +remorse lay batterie against mine own edifice: not sparing to shew how +weak that is, that my self now deems not impregnably strong. I have at +the latter end of the last Canto of =Psychathanasia=, not without +triumph concluded, that the world hath not continued =ab aeterno=, from +this ground:_ + + Extension + That's infinite implies a contradiction. + +_And this is in answer to an objection against my last argument of the +souls Immortalitie, =viz.= divine goodnesse, which I there make the +measure of his providence. That ground limits the essence of the world +as well as its duration, and satisfies the curiositie of the Opposer, by +shewing the incompossibilitie in the Creature, not want of goodnesse in +the Creatour to have staid the framing of the Universe. But now roused +up by a new Philosophick furie, I answer that difficultie by taking away +the Hypothesis of either the world or time being finite: defending the +infinitude of both, which though I had done with a great deal of vigour +and life, and semblance of assent, it would have agreed well enough with +the free beat of Poesie, and might have passed for a pleasant flourish: +but the severitie of my own judgement, and sad Genius hath cast in many +correctives and coolers into the Canto it self; so that it cannot amount +to more then a discussion. And discussion is no prejudice but an honour +to the truth: for then and never but then is she Victorious. And what a +glorious Trophee shall the finite world erect when it hath vanquished +the Infinite; a Pygmee a Giant._ + +_For the better understanding of the connexion of this Appendix, with +the Poem of the souls Immortalitie; I have taken off the last stanza's +thereof, and added some few new ones to them for a more easie and +naturall leading to the present Canto. =Psychathan. lib. 3. Cant. 4.=_ + + _Stanz._ 33d. + + But thou who ere thou art that thus dost strive + With fierce assault my groundwork to subvert, + And boldly dost into Gods secrets dive, + Base fear my manly face note make m' avert. + In that odde question which thou first didst stert, + I'll plainly prove thine incapacitie, + And force thy feeble feet back to revert, + That cannot climb so high a mysterie, + I'le shew thee strange perplexed inconsistencie. + + 34 + + Why was this world from all infinitie + Not made? say'st thou: why? could it be so made + Say I. For well observe the sequencie: + If this Out-world continually hath wade + Through a long long-spun-time that never had + Beginning, then there as few circulings + Have been in the quick Moon as Saturn sad; + And still more plainly this clear truth to sing, + As many years as dayes or flitting houres have been. + + 35 + + For things that we conceive are infinite, + One th' other no'te surpasse in quantitie. + So I have prov'd with clear convincing light, + This world could never from infinitie + Been made. Certain deficiencie + Doth alwayes follow evolution: + Nought's infinite but tight eternitie + Close thrust into itself: extension + That's infinite implies a contradiction. + + 36 + + So then for ought we know this world was made + So soon as such a Nature could exist; + And though that it continue, never fade, + Yet never will it be that that long twist + Of time prove infinite, though ner'e desist + From running still. But we may safely say + Time past compar'd with this long future list + Doth show as if the world but yesterday + Were made, and in due time Gods glory out may ray. + + 37 + + Then this short night and ignorant dull ages + Will quite be swallowed in oblivion; + And though this hope by many surly Sages + Be now derided, yet they'll all be gone + In a short time, like Bats and Owls yflone + At dayes approch. This will hap certainly + At this worlds shining conflagration. + Fayes, Satyrs, Goblins the night merrily + May spend, but ruddy Sol shall make them all to flie. + + 38 + + The roaring Lions and drad beasts of prey + Rule in the dark with pitious crueltie; + But harmlesse Man is matter of the day, + Which doth his work in pure simplicitie. + God blesse his honest usefull industrie. + But pride and covetize, ambition, + Riot, revenge, self-love, hypocrisie, + Contempt of goodnesse, forc'd opinion; + These and such like do breed the worlds confusion. + + 39 + + But sooth to say though my triumphant Muse + Seemeth to vant as in got victorie, + And with puissant stroke the head to bruize + Of her stiff so, and daze his phantasie, + Captive his reason, dead each facultie: + Yet in her self so strong a force withstands + That of her self afraid, she'll not aby, + Nor keep the field. She'll fall by her own hand + As _Ajax_ once laid _Ajax_ dead upon the strand. + + 40 + + For thus her-self by her own self's oppos'd; + The Heavens the Earth the universall Frame + Of living Nature God so soon disclos'd + As He could do, or she receive the same. + All times delay since that must turn to blame, + And what cannot He do that can be done? + And what might let but by th' all-powerfull Name + Or Word of God, the Worlds Creation + More suddenly were made then mans swift thought can run? + + 41 + + Wherefore that Heavenly Power or is as young + As this Worlds date; or else some needlesse space + Of time was spent, before the Earth did clung + So close unto her-self and seas embrace + Her hollow breast, and if that time surpasse + A finite number then Infinitie + Of years before this Worlds Creation passe. + So that the durance of the Deitie + We must contract or strait his full Benignitie. + + 42 + + But for the cradle of the _Cretian Jove_, + And guardians of his vagient Infancie + What sober man but sagely will reprove? + Or drown the noise of the fond _Dactyli_ + By laughter loud? Dated Divinitie + Certes is but the dream of a drie brain: + God maim'd in goodnesse, inconsistencie; + Wherefore my troubled mind is now in pain + Of a new birth, which this one Canto'll not contain. + +_Now Reader, thou art arrived to the Canto it self, from which I have +kept thee off by too tedious Preface and Apologie, which is seldome made +without consciousnesse of some fault, which I professe I find not in my +self, unlesse this be it, that I am more tender of thy satisfaction then +mine own credit. As for that high sullen Poem, =Cupids Conflict=, I must +leave it to thy candour and favourable censure. The =Philosophers +Devotion= I cast in onely, that the latter pages should not be +unfurnished._ + + H. M. + + +_Nihil tamen frequentius inter Autores occurrit, quam ut omnia adeo ex +moduli fere sensuum suorum aestiment, ut ea quae insuper infinitis rerum +spatiis extare possunt, sive superbe sive imprudenter rejiciant; quin & +ea omnia in usum suum fabricata fuisse glorientur, perinde facientes ac +si pediculi humanum caput, aut pulices sinum muliebrem propter se solos +condita existimarent, eaque demum ex gradibus saltibusve suis +metirentur. =The Lord Herbert in his De Causis Errorum.=_ + + +_De generali totius hujus mundi aspectabilis constructione ut recte +Philosophemur duo sunt imprimis observanda: Unum ut attendentes ad +infinitam Dei potentiam & bonitatem ne vereamur nimis ampla & pulchra & +absoluta ejus opera imaginari: sed e contra caveamus, ne si quos forte +limites nobis non certo cognitos, in ipsis supponamus, non satis +magnifice de creatoris potentia sentire videamur._ + +_Alterum, ut etiam caveamus, ne nimis superbe de nobis ipsis sentiamus. +Quod fieret non modo, si quos limites nobis nulla cognitos ratione, nec +divina revelatione, mundo vellemus affingere, tanquam si vis nostra +cogitationis, ultra id quod a Deo revera factum est ferri posset; sed +etiam maxime, si res omnes propter nos solos, ab illo creatas esse +fingeremus. =Renatus DesCartes in his Princip. Philosoph. the third +part.=_ + + + + + THE ARGUMENT. + + _'Gainst boundlesse time th' objections made, + And wast infinity + Of worlds, are with new reasons weigh'd, + Mens judgements are left free._ + + + 1 + + Hence, hence unhallowed ears and hearts more hard + Then Winter clods fast froze with Northern wind. + But most of all, foul tongue I thee discard + That blamest all that thy dark strait'ned mind, + Can not conceive: But that no blame thou find; + What e're my pregnant Muse brings forth to light, + She'l not acknowledge to be of her kind, + Till Eagle-like she turn them to the sight + Of the eternall Word all deckt with glory bright. + + 2 + + Strange sights do straggle in my restlesse thoughts, + And lively forms with orient colours clad + Walk in my boundlesse mind, as men ybrought + Into some spacious room, who when they've had + A turn or two, go out, although unbad. + All these I see and know, but entertain + None to my friend but who's most sober sad; + Although the time my roof doth them contain + Their pretence doth possesse me till they out again. + + 3 + + And thus possest in silver trump I found + Their guise, their shape, their gesture and array. + But as in silver trumpet nought is found + When once the piercing sound is past away, + (Though while the mighty blast therein did stay, + Its tearing noise so terribly did shrill, + That it the heavens did shake, and earth dismay) + As empty I of what my flowing quill + In heedlesse hast elswhere, or here, may hap to spill. + + 4 + + For 'tis of force and not of a set will. + Ne dare my wary mind afford assent + To what is plac'd above all mortall skill. + But yet our various thoughts to represent + Each gentle wight will deem of good intent. + Wherefore with leave th' infinitie I'll sing + Of time, Of Space: or without leave; I'm brent + With eagre rage, my heart for joy doth spring, + And all my spirits move with pleasant trembeling. + + 5 + + An inward triumph doth my soul up-heave + And spread abroad through endlesse 'spersed aire. + My nimble mind this clammie clod doth leave, + And lightly stepping on from starre to starre + Swifter then lightning, passeth wide and farre, + Measuring th' unbounded Heavens and wastfull skie; + Ne ought she finds her passage to debarre, + For still the azure Orb as she draws nigh + Gives back, new starres appear, the worlds walls 'fore her flie. + + 6 + + For what can stand that is so badly staid? + Well may that fall whose ground-work is unsure. + And what hath wall'd the world but thoughts unweigh'd + In freer reason? That antiquate, secure, + And easie dull conceit of corporature; + Of matter; quantitie, and such like gear + Hath made this needlesse, thanklesse inclosure, + Which I in full disdain quite up will tear + And lay all ope, that as things are they may appear. + + 7 + + For other they appear from what they are + By reason that their Circulation + Cannot well represent entire from farre + Each portion of the _Cuspis_ of the Cone + (Whose nature is elsewhere more clearly shown) + I mean each globe, whether of glaring light + Or else opake, of which the earth is one. + If circulation could them well transmit + Numbers infinite of each would strike our 'stonishd sight; + + 8 + + All in just bignesse and right colours dight + But totall presence without all defect + 'Longs onely to that Trinitie by right, + _Ahad_, _AEon_, _Psyche_ with all graces deckt, + Whose nature well this riddle will detect; + A Circle whose circumference no where + Is circumscrib'd, whose Centre's each where set, + But the low Cusp's a figure circular, + Whose compasse is ybound, but centre's every where. + + 9 + + Wherefore who'll judge the limits of the world + By what appears unto our failing sight + Appeals to sense, reason down headlong hurld + Out of her throne by giddie vulgar might. + But here base senses dictates they will dight + With specious title of Philosophie, + And stiffly will contend their cause is right + From rotten rolls of school antiquitie, + Who constantly denie corporall Infinitie. + + 10 + + But who can prove their corporalitie + Since matter which thereto's essentiall + If rightly sifted 's but a phantasie. + And quantitie who's deem'd Originall + Is matter, must with matter likewise fall. + What ever is, is Life and Energie + From God, who is th' Originall of all; + Who being everywhere doth multiplie + His own broad shade that endlesse throughout all doth lie. + + 11 + + He from the last projection of light + Ycleep'd _Shamajim_, which is liquid fire + (It _AEther_ eke and centrall _Tasis_ hight) + Hath made each shining globe and clumperd mire + Of dimmer Orbs. For Nature doth inspire + Spermatick life, but of a different kind. + Hence those congenit splendour doth attire + And lively heat, these darknesse dead doth bind, + And without borrowed rayes they be both cold and blind. + + 12 + + All these be knots of th' universall stole + Of sacred _Psyche_; which at first was fine, + Pure, thin, and pervious till hid powers did pull + Together in severall points and did encline + The nearer parts in one clod to combine. + Those centrall spirits that the parts did draw + The measure of each globe did then define, + Made things impenetrable here below, + Gave colour, figure, motion, and each usuall law. + + 13 + + And what is done in this Terrestriall starre + The same is done in every Orb beside. + Each flaming Circle that we see from farre + Is but a knot in _Psyches_ garment tide. + From that lax shadow cast throughout the wide + And endlesse world, that low'st projection + Of universall life each thing's deriv'd + What e're appeareth in corporeall fashion; + For body's but this spirit, fixt, grosse by conspissation. + + 14 + + And that which doth conspissate active is; + Wherefore not matter but some living sprite + Of nimble Nature which this lower mist + And immense field of Atoms doth excite, + And wake into such life as best doth fit + With his own self. As we change phantasies + The essence of our soul not chang'd a whit, + So do these Atoms change their energies + Themselves unchanged into new Centreities. + + 15 + + And as our soul's not superficially + Colourd by phantasms, nor doth them reflect + As doth a looking-glasse such imag'rie + As it to the beholder doth detect: + No more are these lightly or smear'd or deckt + With form or motion which in them we see, + But from their inmost Centre they project + Their vitall rayes, not merely passive be, + But by occasion wak'd rouze up themselves on high. + + 16 + + So that they're life, form, sprite, not matter pure, + For matter pure is a pure nullitie, + What nought can act is nothing, I am sure; + And if all act, that is they'll not denie + But all that is is form: so easily + By what is true, and by what they embrace + For truth, their feigned Corporalitie + Will vanish into smoke, but on I'll passe, + More fully we have sung this in another place. + + 17 + + Wherefore more boldly now to represent + The nature of the world, how first things were + How now they are: This endlesse large Extent + Of lowest life (which I styled whileere + The _Cuspis_ of the _Cone_ that's every where) + Was first all dark, till in this spacious Hall + Hideous through silent horrour torches clear + And lamping lights bright shining over all + Were set up in due distances proportionall. + + 18 + + Innumerable numbers of fair Lamps + Were rightly ranged in this hollow hole, + To warm the world and chace the shady damps + Of immense darknesse, rend her pitchie stole + Into short rags more dustie dimme then coal. + Which pieces then in severall were cast + (Abhorred reliques of that vesture foul) + Upon the Globes that round those torches trac'd, + Which still fast on them stick for all they run so fast. + + 19 + + Such an one is that which mortall men call Night, + A little shred of that unbounded shade. + And such a Globe is that which Earth is hight; + By witlesse Wizzards the sole centre made + Of all the world, and on strong pillars staid. + And such a lamp or light is this our Sun, + Whose firie beams the scortched Earth invade. + But infinite such as he, in heaven won, + And more then infinite Earths about those Suns do run; + + 20 + + And to speak out: though I detest the sect + Of _Epicurus_ for their manners vile, + Yet what is true I may not well reject. + Truth's incorruptible, ne can the style + Of vitious pen her sacred worth defile. + If we no more of truth should deign t' embrace + Then what unworthy mouths did never soyl, + No truths at all mongst men would finden place + But make them speedie wings and back to Heaven apace. + + 21 + + I will not say our world is infinite, + But that infinitie of worlds ther be. + The Centre of our world's the lively light + Of the warm sunne, the visible Deitie + Of this externall Temple. _Mercurie_ + Next plac'd and warm'd more throughly by his rayes, + Right nimbly 'bout his golden head doth flie: + Then _Venus_ nothing slow about him strayes, + And next our _Earth_ though seeming sad full spritely playes. + + 22 + + And after her _Mars_ rangeth in a round + With firie locks and angry flaming eye, + And next to him mild _Jupiter_ is found, + But Saturn cold wons in our utmost skie. + The skirts of his large Kingdome surely lie + Near to the confines of some other worlds + Whose Centres are the fixed starres on high, + 'Bout which as their own proper Suns are hurld + _Joves_, _Earths_ and _Saturns_; round on their own axes twurld. + + 23 + + Little or nothing are those starres to us + Which in the azure Evening gay appear + (I mean for influence) but judicious + Nature and carefull Providence her dear + And matchlesse work did so contrive whileere, + That th' Hearts or Centres in the wide world pight + Should such a distance each to other bear, + That the dull Planets with collated light + By neighbour suns might cheared be in dampish night. + + 24 + + And as the Planets in our world (of which + The sun's the heart and kernell) do receive + Their nightly light from suns that do enrich + Their sable mantle with bright gemmes, and give + A goodly splendour, and sad men relieve + With their fair twinkling rayes, so our worlds sunne + Becomes a starre elsewhere, and doth derive + Joynt light with others, cheareth all that won + In those dim duskish Orbs round other suns that run. + + 25 + + This is the parergon of each noble fire + Of neighbour worlds to be the nightly starre, + But their main work is vitall heat t' inspire + Into the frigid spheres that 'bout them fare, + Which of themselves quite dead and barren are. + But by the wakening warmth of kindly dayes, + And the sweet dewie nights they well declare + Their seminall virtue in due courses raise + Long hidden shapes and life, to their great Makers praise. + + 26 + + These with their suns I severall worlds do call, + Whereof the number I deem infinite: + Else infinite darknesse were in this great Hall + Of th' endlesse Universe; For nothing finite + Could put that immense shadow unto flight. + But if that infinite Suns we shall admit, + Then infinite worlds follow in reason right. + For every Sun with Planets must be fit, + And have some mark for his farre-shining shafts to hit. + + 27 + + But if he shine all solitarie, alone, + What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + Of his existence? wherefore every one + Hath a due number of dim Orbs that wend + Around their centrall fire. But wrath will rend + This strange composure back'd with reason stout + And rasher tongues right speedily will spend + Their forward censure, that my wits run out + On wool-gathering, through infinite spaces all about. + + 28 + + What sober man will dare once to avouch + An infinite number of dispersed starres? + This one absurdity will make him crouch + And eat his words; Division nought impairs + The former whole, nor he augments that spares. + Strike every tenth out, that which doth remain, + An equall number with the former shares, + And let the tenth alone, th' whole nought doth gain, + For infinite to infinite is ever the same. + + 29 + + The tenth is infinite as the other nine, + Or else, nor they, nor all the ten entire + Are infinite. Thus one infinite doth adjoyn + Others unto it and still riseth higher. + And if those single lights hither aspire, + This strange prodigious inconsistencie + Groweth still stranger, if each fixed fire + (I mean each starre) prove Sunnes, and Planets flie + About their flaming heads amid the thronged skie. + + 30 + + For whatsoever that their number be + Whether by seavens, or eighths, or fives, or nines, + They round each fixed lamp; Infinity + Will be redoubled thus by many times. + Besides each greater Planet th' attendance finds + Of lesser. Our _Earths_ handmaid is the Moon, + Which to her darkned side right duly shines, + And _Jove_ hath foure, as hath been said aboven, + And _Saturn_ more then foure if the plain truth were known. + + 31 + + And if these globes be regions of life + And severall kinds of plants therein do grow, + Grasse, flowers, hearbs, trees, which the impartiall knife + Of all consuming Time still down doth mow, + And new again doth in succession show: + Which also 's done in flies, birds, men and beasts; + Adde sand, pearls, pebbles, that the ground do strow + Leaves, quills, hairs, thorns, blooms, you may think the rest + Their kinds by mortall penne can not well be exprest: + + 32 + + And if their kinds no man may reckon well, + The summe of successive particulars + No mind conceive nor tongue can ever tell. + And yet this mist of numbers (as appears) + Belongs to one of these opacous sphears. + Suppose this _Earth_; what then will all those Rounds + Produce? No _Atlas_ such a load upbears. + In this huge endlesse heap o'rewhelmed, drownd, + Choak'd, stifled, lo! I lie, breathlesse, even quite confound. + + 33 + + Yet give me space a while but to respire, + And I my self shal fairly well out-wind; + Keep this position true, unhurt, entire, + That you no greater difficulty find + In this new old opinion here defin'd + Of infinite worlds, then one world doth imply. + For if we do with steddy patience mind + All is resolv'd int' one absurdity, + The grant of something greater then infinitie. + + 34 + + That God is infinite all men confesse, + And that the Creature is some realty + Besides Gods self, though infinitely lesse. + Joyn now the world unto the Deity. + What? is there added no more entitie + By this conjunction, then there was before? + Is the broad breasted earth? the spacious skie + Spangled with silver light, and burning Ore? + And the wide bellowing seas, whose boyling billows roar, + + 35 + + Are all these nothing? But you will reply; + As is the question so we ought restrain + Our answer unto Corporeity. + But that the phantasie of the body's vain + I did before unto you maken plain. + But that no man depart unsatisfi'd + A while this Universe here will we feigne + _Corporeall_, till we have gainly tride. + If ought that's bodily may infinite abide. + + 36 + + What makes a body saving quantity? + What quantitie unlesse extension? + Extension if 't admit infinity + Bodies admit boundlesse dimension. + That some extension forward on doth run + Withouten limits, endlesse, infinite + Is plane from Space, that ever paceth on + Unstop'd, unstaid, till it have filled quite + That immense infinite Orb where God himself doth sit. + + 37 + + But yet more sensibly this truth to show + If space be ended set upon that end + Some strong arm'd Archer with his Parthian bow, + That from that place with speedy force may send + His fleeter shafts, and so still forward wend. + Where? When shall he want room his strength to trie? + But here perversly subtill you'l contend + Nothing can move in mere vacuity, + And space is nought, so not extended properly. + + 38 + + To solve these knots I must call down from high + Some heavenly help, feather with angels wing + The sluggish arrow. If it will not flie, + Sent out from bow stiff-bent with even string, + Let angels on their backs it thither bring + Where your free mind appointed had before, + And then hold on, till in your travelling + You be well wearied, finding ever more + Free passage for their flight, and what they flying bore. + + 39 + + Now to that shift that sayes Vacuity + Is nought, and therefore not at all extent + We answer thus: There is a distancy + In empty space, though we be well content + To balk that question (for we never meant + Such needlesse niceties) whether that it be + A reall being; yet that there's parts distent + One from another, no mans phantasie + Can e're reject if well he weigh't and warily. + + 40 + + For now conceive the aire and azure skie + All swept away from Saturn to the Sunne, + Which each is to be wrought by him on high. + Then in this place let all the Planets runne + (As erst they did before this feat was done) + If not by nature, yet by divine power, + Ne one hairs breadth their former circuits shun + And still for fuller proof, th' Astronomer + Observe their hights as in the empty heavens they scoure. + + 41 + + Will then their Parallaxes prove all one + Or none, or different still as before? + If so, their distances by mortall men + Must be acknowledg'd such as were of yore, + Measur'd by leagues, miles, stades, nor lesse nor more + From circuit unto circuit shall be found + Then was before the sweeping of the floor. + That distance therefore hath most certain ground + In emptinesse we may conclude with reason sound. + + 42 + + If distance now so certainly attend + All emptinesse (as also mensuration + Attendeth distance) distance without end + Is wide disperst above imagination + (For emptinesse is void of limitation) + And this unbounded voidnesse doth admit + The least and greatest measures application; + The number thus of the greatest that doth fit + This infinite void space is likewise infinite. + + 43 + + But what so e're that infinite number be, + A lesser number will a number give + So farre exceeding in infinity + That number as this measure we conceive + To fall short of the other. But I'll leave + This present way and a new course will trie + Which at the same mark doth as fully drive + And with a great deal more facility. + Look on this endlesse Space as one whole quantity. + + 44 + + Which in your mind int' equall parts divide, + Tens, hundreds, thousands or what pleaseth best. + Each part denominate doth still abide + An infinite portion, else nor all the rest + Makes one infinitude. + For if one thousandth part may be defin'd + By finite measures eas'ly well exprest, + A myriad suppose of miles assign'd + Then to a thousand myriads is the whole confin'd. + + 45 + + Wherefore this wide and wast Vacuity, + Which endlesse is outstretched thorough all, + And lies even equall with the Deity, + Nor is a thing meerly imaginall, + (For it doth farre mens phantasies forestall + Nothing beholden to our devicefull thought) + This inf'nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + And has as great perplexities ybrought + As if this empty space with bodies were yfraught. + + 46 + + Nor have we yet the face once to denie + But that it is although we mind it not; + For all once minded such perplexity + It doth create to puzzled reason, that + She sayes and unsayes, do's she knows not what. + Why then should we the worlds infinity + Misdoubt, because when as we contemplate + Its nature, such strange inconsistency + And unexpected sequels, we therein descry? + + 47 + + Who dare gainsay but God is every where + Unbounded, measurelesse, all infinite; + Yet the same difficulties meet us here + Which erst us met and did so sore affright + With their strange vizards. This will follow right + Where ever we admit infinity + Every denominated part proves streight + A portion infinite, which if it be, + One infinite will into myriads multiply. + + 48 + + But with new argument to draw more near + Our purpos'd end. If God's omnipotent + And this omnipotent God be every where, + Where e're he is then can he eas'ly vent + His mighty virtue thorough all extent. + What then shall hinder but a roscid aire + With gentle heat each where be 'sperst and sprent. + Unlesse omnipotent power we will empair, + And say that empty space his working can debarre. + + 49 + + Where now this one supposed world is pight + Was not that space at first all vain and void? + Nor ought said; no, when he said, _Let 't be light_. + Was this one space better then all beside, + And more obedient to what God decreed? + Or would not all that endlesse emptinesse + Gladly embrac'd (if he had ever tride) + His just command? and what might come to passe + Implies no contradictious inconsistentnesse. + + 50 + + Wherefore this precious sweet Ethereall dew + For ought we know God each where did distill, + And thorough all that hollow voidnesse threw + And the wide gaping drought therewith did fill, + His endlesse overflowing goodnesse spill + In every place; which streight he did contrive + Int' infinite severall worlds, as his best skill + Did him direct and creatures could receive + For matter infinite needs infinite worlds must give. + + 51 + + The Centre of each severall world's a sunne + With shining beams and kindly warming heat, + About whose radiant crown the Planets runne, + Like reeling moths around a candle light, + These all together, one world I conceit. + And that even infinite such worlds there be, + That inexhausted Good that God is bight + A full sufficient reason is to me, + Who simple Goodnesse make the highest Deity. + + 52 + + Als make himself the key of all his works + And eke the measure of his providence; + The piercing eye of truth to whom nought lurks + But lies wide ope unbar'd of all pretense. + But frozen hearts! away! flie farre from hence, + Unlesse you'l thaw at this celestiall fire + And melt into one minde and holy sense + With Him that doth all heavenly hearts inspire, + So may you with my soul in one assent conspire. + + 53 + + But what's within, uneath is to convey + To narrow vessels that are full afore. + And yet this truth as wisely as I may + I will insinuate, from senses store + Borrowing a little aid. Tell me therefore + When you behold with your admiring eyes + Heavens Canopie all to bespangled o're + With sprinkled starres, what can you well devize + Which causen may such carelesse order in the skies? + + 54 + + A peck of peasen rudely poured out + On plaister flore, from hasty heedlesse hond + Which lie all carelesse scattered about, + To sight do in as seemly order stond, + As those fair glistering lights in heaven are found. + If onely for this world they were intended, + Nature would have adorn'd this azure round + With better art, and easily have mended + This harsh disord'red order, and more beauty lended. + + 55 + + But though these lights do seem so rudely thrown + And scattered throughout the spacious skie, + Yet each most seemly sits in his own Throne + In distance due and comely Majesty; + And round their lordly seats their servants hie + Keeping a well-proportionated space + One from another, doing chearfully + Their dayly task. No blemmish may deface + The worlds in severall deckt with all art and grace. + + 56 + + But the appearance of the nightly starres + Is but the by-work of each neighbour sun; + Wherefore lesse marvell if it lightly shares + Of neater Art; and what proportion + Were fittest for to distance one from one + (Each world I mean from other) is not clear. + Wherefore it must remain as yet unknown + Why such perplexed distances appear + Mongst the dispersed lights in Heaven thrown here & there. + + 57 + + Again, that eminent similitude + Betwixt the starres and Phoebus fixed light, + They being both with steddinesse indu'd, + No whit removing whence they first were pight, + No serious man will count a reason slight + To prove them both, both fixed suns and starres + And Centres all of severall worlds by right, + For right it is that none a sun debarre + Of Planets which his just and due retinue are. + + 58 + + If starres be merely starres not centrall lights + Why swell they into so huge bignesses? + For many (as Astronomers do write) + Our sun in bignesse many times surpasse. + If both their number and their bulks were lesse + Yet lower placed, light and influence + Would flow as powerfully, and the bosome presse + Of the impregned Earth, that fruit from hence + As fully would arise, and lordly affluence. + + 59 + + Wherefore these fixed Fires mainly attend + Their proper charge in their own Universe, + And onely by the by of court'sie lend + Light to our world, as our world doth reverse + His thankfull rayes so farre as he can pierce + Back unto other worlds. But farre aboven + Further then furthest thought of man can traverse, + Still are new worlds aboven and still aboven. + In the endlesse hollow Heaven, and each world hath his sun. + + 60 + + An hint of this we have in winter-nights, + When reason may see clearer then our eye, + Small subtil starres appear unto our sights + As thick as pin-dust scattered in the skie. + Here we accuse our seeing facultie + Of weaknesse, and our sense of foul deceit, + We do accuse and yet we know not why. + But the plain truth is, from a vaster hight + The numerous upper worlds amaze our dazzled sight. + + 61 + + Now sith so farre as sense can ever trie + We find new worlds, that still new worlds there be, + And round about in infinite numbers lie, + Further then reach of mans weak phantasie + (Without suspition of temeritie) + We may conclude; as well as men conclude + That there is aire farre 'bove the mountains high, + Or that th' Earth a sad substance doth include + Even to the Centre with like qualities indu'd. + + 62 + + For who did ever the Earths Centre pierce, + And felt or sand or gravell with his spade + At such a depth? what Histories rehearse + That ever wight did dare for to invade + Her bowels but one mile in dampish shade? + Yet I'll be bold to say that few or none + But deem this globe even to the bottome made + Of solid earth, and that her nature's one + Throughout, though plain experience hath it never shown. + + 63 + + But sith sad earth so farre as they have gone + They still descrie, eas'ly they do inferre + Without all check of reason, were they down + Never so deep, like substance would appear, + Ne dream of any hollow horrour there. + My mind with like uncurb'd facilitie + Concludes from what by sight is seen so clear + That ther's no barren wast vacuitie + Above the worlds we see, but still new worlds there lie, + + 64 + + And still and still even to infinitie. + Which point since I so fitly have propos'd, + Abating well the inconsistencie + Of harsh infinitude therein supposd + And prov'd by reasons never to be loos'd + That infinite space and infinite worlds there be; + This load laid down, I'm freely now dispos'd + Awhile to sing of times infinitie, + May infinite Time afford me but his smallest fee. + + 65 + + For smallest fee of time will serve my turn + This part for to dispatch, sith endlesse space + (Whose perplext nature well mans brains might turn, + And weary wits disorder and misplace) + I have already passed: for like case + Is in them both. He that can well untie + The knots that in those infinite worlds found place, + May easily answer each perplexitie + Of these worlds infinite matters endlesse durancie. + + 66 + + The _Cuspis_ and the _Basis_ of the _Cone_ + Were both at once dispersed every where; + But the pure _Basis_ that is God alone: + Else would remotest sights as bigge appear + Unto our eyes as if we stood them near. + And if an Harper harped in the Moon, + His silver sound would touch our tickled eare: + Or if one hollowed from highest Heaven aboven, + In sweet still Evening-tide, his voice would hither roam. + + 67 + + This all would be if the _Cuspe_ of the _Cone_ + Were very God. Wherefore I rightly 't deem + Onely a Creaturall projection, + Which flowing yet from God hath ever been, + Fill'd the vast empty space with its large streem. + But yet it is not totall every where + As was even now by reason rightly seen: + Wherefore not God, whose nature doth appear + Entirely omnipresent, weigh'd with judgement clear, + + 68 + + A reall infinite matter, distinct + And yet proceeding from the Deitie + Although with different form as then untinct + Has ever been from all Eternitie. + Now what delay can we suppose to be, + Since matter alway was at hand prepar'd + Before the filling of the boundlesse skie + With framed Worlds; for nought at all debar'd, + Nor was His strength ungrown, nor was His strength empair'd. + + 69 + + How long would God be forming of a flie? + Or the small wandring moats that play i' th' sun? + Least moment well will serve none can denie, + His _Fiat_ spoke and streight the thing is done. + And cannot He make all the World as soon? + For in each Atom of the matter wide + The totall Deitie doth entirely won, + His infinite presence doth therein reside, + And in this presence infinite powers do ever abide. + + 70 + + Wherefore at once from all eternitie + The infinite number of these Worlds He made, + And will conserve to all infinitie, + And still drive on their ever-moving trade, + And steddy hold what ever must be staid; + Ne must one mite be minish'd of the summe, + Ne must the smallest atom ever fade, + But still remain though it may change its room; + This truth abideth strong from everlasting doom. + + 71 + + Ne fear I what hard sequel after-wit + Will draw upon me; that the number's one + Of years, moneths, dayes, houres, and of minutes fleet + Which from eternitie have still run on. + I plainly did confesse awhile agone + That be it what it will that's infinite + More infinites will follow thereupon, + But that all infinites do justly fit + And equall be, my reason did not yet admit. + + 72 + + But as my emboldened mind, I know not how, + In empty Space and pregnant Deitie + Endlesse infinitude dares to allow, + Though it begets the like perplexitie: + So now my soul drunk with Divinitie, + And born away above her usuall bounds + With confidence concludes infinitie + Of Time of Worlds, of firie flaming Rounds; + Which sight in sober mood my spirits quite confounds. + + 73 + + And now I do awhile but interspire + A torrent of objections 'gainst me beat, + My boldnesse to represse and strength to tire. + But I will wipe them off like summer sweat, + And make their streams streight back again retreat. + If that these worlds, say they, were ever made + From infinite time, how comes 't to passe that yet + Art is not perfected, nor metalls fade, + Nor mines of grimie coal low-hid in griesly shade. + + 74 + + But the remembrance of the ancient Floud + With ease will wash such arguments away. + Wherefore with greater might I am withstood. + The strongest stroke wherewith they can assay + To vanquish me is this; The Date or Day + Of the created World, which all admit; + Nor may my modest Muse this truth gainsay + In holy Oracles so plainly writ. + Wherefore the Worlds continuance is not infinite. + + 75 + + Now lend me, _Origen_! a little wit + This sturdy stroke right fairly to avoid, + Lest that my rasher rymes, while they ill fit + With _Moses_ pen, men justly may deride + And well accuse of ignorance or pride. + But thou, O holy Sage! with piercing sight + Who readst those sacred rolls, and hast well tride + With searching eye thereto what fitteth right + Thy self of former Worlds right learnedly dost write: + + 76 + + To weet that long ago these Earths have been + Peopled with men and beasts before this Earth, + And after this shall others be again + And other beasts and other humane birth. + Which once admit, no strength that reason bear'th + Of this worlds Date and Adams efformation, + Another Adam once received breath + And still another in endlesse repedation, + And this must perish once by finall conflagration. + + 77 + + Witnesse ye Heavens if what I say's not true, + Ye flaming Comets wandering on high, + And new fixt starres found in that Circle blue, + The one espide in glittering _Cassiopie_, + The other near to _Ophiuchus_ thigh. + Both bigger then the biggest starres that are, + And yet as farre remov'd from mortall eye + As are the furthest, so those Arts declare + Unto whose reaching sight Heavens mysteries lie bare. + + 78 + + Wherefore these new-seen lights were greater once + By many thousand times then this our sphear + Wherein we live, 'twixt good and evil chance. + Which to my musing mind doth strange appear + If those large bodies then first shaped were. + For should so goodly things so soon decay? + Neither did last the full space of two year. + Wherefore I cannot deem that their first day + Of being, when to us they sent out shining ray. + + 79 + + But that they were created both of old, + And each in his due time did fair display + Themselves in radiant locks more bright then gold, + Or silver sheen purg'd from all drossie clay. + But how they could themselves in this array + Expose to humane sight, who did before + Lie hid, is that which well amazen may + The wisest man and puzzle evermore: + Yet my unwearied thoughts this search could not give o're. + + 80 + + Which when I'd exercis'd in long pursuit + To finden out what might the best agree + With warie reason, at last I did conclude + That there's no better probabilitie + Can be produc'd of that strange prodigie, + But that some mighty Planet that doth run + About some fixed starre in _Cassiopie_ + As _Saturn_ paceth round about our Sun, + Unusuall light and bignesse by strange fate had wonne. + + 81 + + Which I conceive no gainer way is done + Then by the siezing of devouring fire + On that dark Orb, which 'fore but dimly shone + With borrowed light, not lightened entire, + But halfed like the Moon. + And while the busie flame did sieze throughout, + And search the bowels of the lowest mire + Of that _Saturnian_ Earth; a mist broke out, + And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. + + 82 + + Which being gilded with the piercing rayes + Of its own sun and every neighbour starre, + It soon appear'd with shining silver blaze, + And then gan first be seen of men from farre. + Besides that firie flame that was so narre + The Planets self, which greedily did eat + The wastning mold, did contribute a share + Unto this brightnesse; and what I conceit + Of this starre doth with that of _Ophiuchus_ sit. + + 83 + + And like I would adventure to pronounce + Of all the Comets that above the Moon, + Amidst the higher Planets rudely dance + In course perplex, but that from this rash doom + I'm bett off by their beards and tails farre strown + Along the skie, pointing still opposite + Unto the sun, however they may roam; + Wherefore a cluster of small starres unite + These meteors some do deem, perhaps with judgement right. + + 84 + + And that these tayls are streams of the suns light + Breaking through their near bodies as through clouds. + Besides the Optick glasse has shown to sight + The dissolution of these starrie crouds. + Which thing if 't once be granted and allow'd, + I think without all contradiction + They may conclude these Meteors are routs + Of wandring starres, which though they one by one + Cannot be seen, yet joyn'd, cause this strange vision. + + 85 + + And yet methinks, in my devicefull mind + Some reasons that may happily represse + These arguments it's not uneath to find. + For how can the suns rayes that be transmisse + Through these loose knots in Comets, well expresse + Their beards or curld tayls utmost incurvation? + Beside, the conflux and congeries + Of lesser lights a double augmentation + Implies, and 'twixt them both a lessening coarctation. + + 86 + + For when as once these starres are come so nigh + As to seem one, the Comet must appear + In biggest show, because more loose they lie + Somewhat spread out, but as they draw more near + The compasse of his head away must wear, + Till he be brought to his least magnitude; + And then they passing crosse, he doth repair + Himself, and still from his last losse renew'd + Grows till he reach the measure which we first had view'd. + + 87 + + And then farre distanc'd they bid quite adiew, + Each holding on in solitude his way. + Ne any footsteps in the empty Blew + Is to be found of that farre-shining ray. + Which processe sith no man did yet bewray, + It seems unlikely that the Comets be + Synods of starres that in wide Heaven stray. + Their smallnesse eke and numerositie + Encreaseth doubt and lessens probabilitie. + + 88 + + A cluster of them makes not half a Moon, + What should such tennis-balls do in the skie? + And few 'll not figure out the fashion + Of those round firie meteors on high. + Ne ought their beards much move us, that do lie + Ever cast forward from the Morning sunne, + Nor back cast tayls turn'd to our Evening-eye, + That fair appear when as the day is done. + This matter may lie hid in the starres shadowed Cone. + + 89 + + For in these Planets conflagration, + Although the smoke mount up exactly round, + Yet by the suns irradiation + Made thin and subtil no where else its found + By sight, save in the dim and duskish bound + Of the projected Pyramid opake, + Opake with darknesse, smoke and mists unsound. + Yet gilded like a foggie cloud doth make + Reflection of fair light that doth our senses take. + + 90 + + This is the reason of that constant site + Of Comets tayls and beards: And that their show's + Not pure Pyramidall, nor their ends seem streight + But bow'd like brooms, is from the winds that blow, + I mean Ethereall winds, such as below + Men finden under th' Equinoctiall line. + Their widend beards this aire so broad doth strow + Incurvate, and or more or lesse decline: + If not, let sharper wits more subtly here divine. + + 91 + + But that experiment of the Optick glasse + The greatest argument of all I deem, + Ne can I well encounter nor let passe + So strong a reason if I may esteem + The feat withouten fallacie to been, + Nor judge these little sparks and subtile lights + Some auncient fixed starres though now first seen, + That near the ruin'd Comets place were pight, + On which that Optic instrument by chance did light. + + 92 + + Nor finally an uncouth after-sport + Of th' immense vapours that the searching fire + Had boyled out, which now themselves consort + In severall parts and closely do conspire, + Clumper'd in balls of clouds and globes entire + Of crudled smoke and heavy clunging mists; + Which when they've staid awhile at last expire; + But while they stay any may see that lists + So be that Optick Art his naturall sight assists. + + 93 + + If none of these wayes I may well decline + The urging weight of this hard argument, + Worst is but parting stakes and thus define: + Some Comets be but single Planets brent, + Others a synod joyn'd in due consent: + And that no new found Meteors they are: + Ne further may my wary mind assent + From one single experience solitaire, + Till all-discovering Time shall further truth declare. + + 94 + + But for the new fixt starres there's no pretence, + Nor beard nor tail to take occasion by, + To bring in that unluckie inference + Which weaken might this new built mysterie. + Certes in raging fire they both did frie. + A signe whereof you rightly may aread + Their colours changeable varietie + First clear and white, then yellow, after red, + Then blewly pale, then duller still, till perfect dead. + + 95 + + And as the order of these colours went, + So still decreas'd that Cassiopean starre, + Till at the length to sight it was quite spent: + Which observations strong reasons are, + Consuming fire its body did empare + And turn to ashes. And the like will be + In all the darksome Planets wide and farre. + Ne can our Earth from this state standen free + A Planet as the rest, and Planets fate must trie. + + 96 + + Ne let the tender heart too harshly deem + Of this rude sentence: for what rigour more + Is in consuming fire then drowning stream + Of Noahs floud which all creaturs choak'd of yore, + Saving those few that were kept safe in store + In that well builded ship? All else beside + Men, birds, and beasts, the lion, buck, and bore + Dogs, kine, sheep, horses all that did abide + Upon the spacious earth, perish'd in waters wide. + + 97 + + Nor let the slow and misbelieving wight + Doubt how the fire on the hard earth may seize; + No more then how those waters erst did light + Upon the sinfull world. For as the seas + Boyling with swelling waves aloft did rise, + And met with mighty showers and pouring rain + From Heavens spouts; so the broad flashing skies + Thickned with brimstone and clouds of fiery bain + Shall meet with raging Etna's and Vesuvius flame. + + 98 + + The burning bowels of this wasting ball + Shall gullup up great flakes of rolling fire, + And belch out pitchie flames, till over all + Having long rag'd, Vulcan himself shall tire + And (th' earth an ashheap made) shall then expire: + Here Nature laid asleep in her own Urn + With gentle rest right easly will respire, + Till to her pristine task she do return + As fresh as Phenix young under th' Arabian Morn. + + 99 + + O happy they that then the first are born, + While yet the world is in her vernall pride: + For old corruption quite away is worn + As metall pure so is her mold well tride. + Sweet dews, cool-breathing airs, and spaces wide + Of precious spicery wafted with soft wind: + Fair comely bodies goodly beautifi'd + Snow-limb'd, rose-cheek'd, ruby-lip'd, pearl-ted, star eyn'd + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin'd. + + 100 + + For all the while her purged ashes rest + These rellicks dry suck in the heavenly dew, + And roscid Manna rains upon her breast, + And fills with sacred milk sweet fresh and new, + Where all take life and doth the world renew; + And then renew'd with pleasure be yfed. + A green soft mantle doth her bosome strew + With fragrant herbs and flowers embellished, + Where without fault or shame all living creatures bed. + + 101 + + Ne ought we doubt how Nature may recover + In her own ashes long time buried, + For nought can ever consume that centrall power + Of hid spermatick life, which lies not dead + In that rude heap, but safely covered; + And doth by secret force suck from above + Sweet heavenly juice, and therewith nourished + Till her just bulk, she doth her life emprove, + Made mother of much children that about her move. + + 102 + + Witnesse that uncouth bird of Arabie + Which out of her own ruines doth revive + With all th' exploits of skillfull Chymistrie, + Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. + Let universall Nature witnesse give + That what I sing 's no feigned forgerie. + A needlesse task new fables to contrive, + But what I sing is seemly verity + Well suting with right reason and Philosophie. + + 103 + + But the fit time of this mutation + No man can finden out with all his pains. + For the small sphears of humane reason run + Too swift within his narrow compast brains. + But that vast Orb of Providence contains + A wider period; turneth still and slow. + Yet at the last his aimed end he gains. + And sure at last a fire will overflow + The aged Earth, and all must into ashes go. + + 104 + + Then all the stately works and monuments + Built on this bottome shall to ruine fall. + And all those goodly statues shall be brent + Which were erect to the memoriall + Of Kings Kaesars, ne may better 'fall + The boastfull works of brave Poetick pride + That promise life and fame perpetuall; + Ne better fate may these poor lines abide. + Betide what will to what may live no lenger tide! + + 105 + + This is the course that never-dying Nature + Might ever hold from all Eternitie, + Renuing still the faint decayed creature + Which would grow stark and drie as aged tree, + Unlesse by wise preventing Destinie + She were at certain periods of years + Reduced back unto her Infancie, + Which well fram'd argument (as plain appears) + My ship from those hard rocks and shelves right safely stears. + + 106 + + Lo! now my faithfull muse hath represented + Both frames of Providence to open view, + And hath each point in orient colours painted + Not to deceive the sight with seeming shew + But earnest to give either part their due; + Now urging th' uncouth strange perplexitie + Of infinite worlds and Time, then of a new + Softening that harsher inconsistencie + To fit the immense goodnesse of the Deity. + + 107 + + And here by curious men 't may be expected + That I this knot with judgement grave decide, + And then proceed to what else was objected. + But, ah! What mortall wit may dare t' areed + Heavens counsels in eternall horrour hid? + And Cynthius pulls me by my tender ear + Such signes I must observe with wary heed: + Wherefore my restlesse Muse at length forbear. + Thy silver sounded Lute hang up in silence here. + + + FINIS. + + + + + Cupids Conflict. + + + _Mela._ _Cleanthes._ + + _Cl._ _Mela_ my dear! why been thy looks so sad + As if thy gentle heart were sunk with care? + Impart thy case; for be it good or bad + Friendship in either will bear equall share. + _Mel._ Not so; _Cleanthes_, for if bad it be + My self must bleed afresh by wounding thee. + + But what it is, my slow, uncertain wit + Cannot well judge. But thou shalt sentence give + How manfully of late my self I quit, + When with that lordly lad by chance I strive: + _Cl._ Of friendship _Mela_! let's that story hear. + _Mel._ Sit down _Cleanthes_ then, and lend thine ear. + + Upon a day as best did please my mind + Walking abroad amidst the verdant field + Scattering my carefull thoughts i' th' wanton wind + The pleasure of my path so farre had till'd + My feeble feet that without timely rest + Uneath it were to reach my wonted nest. + + In secret shade farre moved from mortals sight + In lowly dale my wandring limbs I laid + On the cool grasse where Natures pregnant wit + A goodly bower of thickest trees had made. + Amongst the leaves the chearfull birds did fare + And sweetly carrol'd to the echoing air. + + Hard at my feet ran down a crystall spring + Which did the cumbrous pebbles hoarsly chide + For standing in the way. Though murmuring + The broken stream his course did rightly guide + And strongly pressing forward with disdain + The grassie flore divided into twain. + + The place a while did feed my foolish eye + As being new, and eke mine idle ear + Did listen oft to that wild harmonie + And oft my curious phansie would compare + How well agreed the Brooks low muttering Base, + With the birds trebbles pearch'd on higher place. + + But senses objects soon do glut the soul, + Or rather weary with their emptinesse; + So I, all heedlesse how the waters roll + And mindlesse of the mirth the birds expresse, + Into my self 'gin softly to retire + After hid heavenly pleasures to enquire. + + While I this enterprize do entertain; + Lo! on the other side in thickest bushes + A mighty noise! with that a naked swain + With blew and purple wings streight rudely rushes. + He leaps down light upon the flowry green, + Like sight before mine eyes had never seen. + + At's snowy back the boy a quiver wore + Right fairly wrought and gilded all with gold. + A silver bow in his left hand he bore, + And in his right a ready shaft did hold. + Thus armed stood he and betwixt us tway + The labouring brook did break his toilsome way. + + The wanton lad whose sport is others pain + Did charge his bended bow with deadly dart, + And drawing to the head with might and main, + With fell intent he aim'd to hit my heart. + But ever as he shot his arrows still + In their mid course dropt down into the rill. + + Of wondrous virtues that in waters been + Is needlesse to rehearse, all books do ring + Of those strange rarities. But ne're was seen + Such virtue as resided in this spring. + The novelty did make me much admire + But stirr'd the hasty youth to ragefull ire. + + As heedlesse fowls that take their per'lous flight + Over that bane of birds, _Averno lake_, + Do drop down dead: so dead his shafts did light + Amid this stream, which presently did slake + Their fiery points, and all their feathers wet + Which made the youngster Godling inly fret. + + Thus lustfull Love (this was that love I ween) + Was wholly changed to consuming ire. + And eath it was, sith they're so near a kin + They be both born of one rebellious sire. + But he supprest his wrath and by and by + For feathered darts, he winged words let flie: + + Vain man! said he, and would thou wer'st not vain + That hid'st thy self in solitary shade + And spil'st thy precious youth in sad disdain + Hating this lifes delight! Hath god thee made + Part of this world, and wilt not thou partake + Of this worlds pleasure for its makers sake? + + Unthankfull wretch! Gods gifts thus to reject + And maken nought of Natures goodly dower + That milders still away through thy neglect + And dying fades like unregarded flower. + This life is good, what's good thou must improve, + The highest improvement of this life is love. + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + Or Stygian vow, or thrice accursed charm + Should in this place free passage thus denie + Unto my shafts as messengers of harm! + Had I but once transfixt thy froward breast, + How would'st thou then----I staid not for the rest; + + But thus half angry to the boy replide: + How would'st thou then my soul of sense bereave! + I blinded, thee more blind should choose my guide! + How would'st thou then my muddied mind deceive + With fading shows, that in my errour vile, + Base lust; I love should tearm, vice, virtue stile. + + How should my wicked rymes then idolize + Thy wretched power, and with impious wit + Impute thy base born passions to the skies + And my souls sicknesse count an heavenly fit, + My weaknesse strength, my wisdome to be caught + My bane my blisse, mine ease to be o'rewraught. + + How often through my fondly feigning mind + And frantick phansie, in my Mistris eye + Should I a thousand fluttering Cupids find + Bathing their busie wings? How oft espie + Under the shadow of her eye-brows fair + Ten thousand Graces sit all naked bare? + + Thus haunted should I be with such feat fiends: + A pretty madnesse were my portion due. + Foolish my self I would not hear my friends. + Should deem the true for false, the false for true. + My way all dark more slippery then ice + My attendents, anger, pride, and jealousies. + + Unthankfull then to God I should neglect + All the whole world for one poor sorry wight, + Whose pestilent eye into my heart project + Would burn like poysonous Comet in my spright. + Aye me! how dismall then would prove that day + Whose onely light sprang from so fatall ray. + + Who seeks for pleasure in this mortall life + By diving deep into the body base + Shall loose true pleasure: But who gainly strive + Their sinking soul above this bulk to place + Enlarg'd delight they certainly shall find + Unbounded joyes to fill their boundlesse mind. + + When I my self from mine own self do quit + And each thing else; then an all-spreaden love + To the vast Universe my soul doth sit + Makes me half equall to all-seeing Jove. + My mighty wings high stretch'd then clapping light + I brush the starres and make them shine more bright. + + Then all the works of God with close embrace + I dearly hug in my enlarged arms + All the hid paths of heavenly Love I trace + And boldly listen to his secret charms. + Then clearly view I where true light doth rise, + And where eternall Night low-pressed lies. + + Thus lose I not by leaving small delight + But gain more joy, while I my self suspend + From this and that; for then with all unite + I all enjoy, and love that love commends. + That all is more then loves the partiall soul + Whose petty loves th' impartiall fates controll. + + Ah son! said he, (and laughed very loud) + That trickst thy tongue with uncouth strange disguize, + Extolling highly that with speeches proud + To mortall men that humane state denies, + And rashly blaming what thou never knew + Let men experienc'd speak, if they'll speak true. + + Had I once lanc'd thy froward flinty heart + And cruddled bloud had thawn with living fire + And prickt thy drousie sprite with gentle smart + How wouldst thou wake to kindly sweet desire, + Thy soul fill'd up with overflowing pleasures + Would dew thy lips with hony-dropping measures. + + Then wouldst thou caroll loud and sweetly sing + In honour of my sacred Deity + That all the woods and hollow hills would ring + Reechoing thy heavenly harmonie. + And eke the hardy rocks with full rebounds + Would faithfully return thy silver sounds. + + Next unto me would be thy Mistresse fair, + Whom thou might setten out with goodly skill + Her peerlesse beauty and her virtues rare, + That all would wonder at thy gracefull quill. + And lastly in us both thy self shouldst raise + And crown thy temples with immortall bayes. + + But now thy riddles all men do neglect, + Thy rugged lines of all do lie forlorn. + Unwelcome rymes that rudely do detect + The Readers ignorance. Men holden scorn + To be so often non-plusd or to spell, + And on one stanza a whole age to dwell. + + Besides this harsh and hard obscuritie + Of the hid sense, thy words are barbarous + And strangely new, and yet too frequently + Return, as usuall plain and obvious, + So that the show of the new thick-set patch + Marres all the old with which it ill doth match. + + But if thy haughty mind, forsooth, would deign + To stoop so low to hearken to my lore, + Then wouldst thou with trim lovers not disdeign + To adorn the outside, set the best before. + Nor rub nor wrinkle would thy verses spoil + Thy rymes should run as glib and smooth as oyl. + + If that be all, said I, thy reasons slight + Can never move my well establishd mind. + Full well I wote alwayes the present sprite, + Or life that doth possesse the soul, doth blind, + Shutting the windows 'gainst broad open day + Lest fairer sights its uglinesse bewray. + + The soul then loves that disposition best + Because no better comes unto her view. + The drunkard drunkennesse, the sluggard rest, + Th' Ambitious honour and obeisance due. + So all the rest do love their vices base + 'Cause virtues beauty comes not into place. + + And looser love 'gainst Chastitie divine + Would shut the door that he might sit alone. + Then wholly should my mind to him incline: + And woxen strait, (since larger love was gone) + That paultrie sprite of low contracting lust + Would fit my soul as if 't were made for 't just. + + Then should I with my fellow bird or brute + So strangely metamorphis'd, either ney + Or bellow loud: or if 't may better sute + Chirp out my joy pearch'd upon higher spray. + My passions fond with impudence rehearse, + Immortalize my madnesse in a verse. + + This is the summe of thy deceiving boast + That I vain ludenesse highly should admire, + When I the sense of better things have lost + And chang'd my heavenly heat for hellish fire, + Passion is blind, but virtues piercing eye + Approching danger can from farre espie. + + And what thou dost Pedantickly object + Concerning my rude rugged uncouth style, + As childish toy I manfully neglect, + And at thy hidden snares do inly smile. + How ill alas! with wisdome it accords + To sell my living sense for livelesse words. + + My thought 's the fittest measure of my tongue, + Wherefore I'll use what's most significant, + And rather then my inward meaning wrong + Or my full-shining notion trimly scant, + I'll conjure up old words out of their grave, + Or call fresh forrein force in if need crave. + + And these attending on my moving mind + Shall duly usher in the fitting sense. + As oft as meet occasion I find. + Unusuall words oft used give lesse offence; + Nor will the old contexture dim or marre, + For often us'd they're next to old, thred-bare. + + And if the old seem in too rustie hew, + Then frequent rubbing makes them shine like gold, + And glister all with colour gayly new. + Wherefore to use them both we will be bold. + Thus lists me fondly with fond folk to toy, + And answer fools with equall foolerie. + + The meaner mind works with more nicetie, + As spiders wont to weave their idle web, + But braver spirits do all things gallantly + Of lesser failings nought at all affred: + So Natures carelesse pencill dipt in light + With sprinkled starres hath spattered the Night. + + And if my notions clear though rudely thrown + And loosely scattered in my poesie, + May lend men light till the dead Night be gone, + And Morning fresh with roses strew the skie: + It is enough, I meant no trimmer frame + Or by nice needle-work to seek a name. + + Vain man! that seekest name mongst earthly men + Devoid of God and all good virtuous lere; + Who groping in the dark do nothing ken + But mad; with griping care their souls do tear, + Or burst with hatred or with envie pine + Or burn with rage or melt out at their eyne. + + Thrice happy he whose name is writ above, + And doeth good though gaining infamie; + Requiteth evil turns with hearty love, + And recks not what befalls him outwardly: + Whose worth is in himself, and onely blisse + In his pure conscience that doth nought amisse. + + Who placeth pleasure in his purged soul + And virtuous life his treasure doth esteem; + Who can his passions master and controll, + And that true lordly manlinesse doth deem, + Who from this world himself hath clearly quit + Counts nought his own but what lives in his sprite. + + So when his sprite from this vain world shall flit + It bears all with it whatsoever was dear + Unto it self, passing in easie fit, + As kindly ripen'd corn comes out of th' eare. + Thus mindlesse of what idle men will say + He takes his own and stilly goes his way. + + But the retinue of proud Lucifer, + Those blustering Poets that flie after fame + And deck themselves like the bright Morning-starre. + Alas! it is but all a crackling flame. + For death will strip them of that glorious plume + That airie blisse will vanish into fume. + + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + Return, or listen from the bowed skie + To heare how well their learned lines do take? + Or if they could; is Heavens felicitie + So small as by mans praise to be encreas'd, + Hells pain no greater then hence to be eas'd? + + Therefore once dead in vain shall I transmit + My shadow to gazing Posteritie; + Cast farre behind me I shall never see't, + On Heavens fair Sunne having fast fixt mine eye. + Nor while I live, heed I what man doth praise + Or underprize mine unaffected layes. + + What moves thee then, said he, to take the pains + And spenden time if thou contemn'st the fruit? + Sweet fruit of fame, that fills the Poets brains + With high conceit and feeds his fainting wit. + How pleasant 'tis in honour here to live + And dead, thy name for ever to survive! + + Or is thy abject mind so basely bent + As of thy Muse to maken Merchandize? + (And well I wote this is no strange intent.) + The hopefull glimps of gold from chattering Pies, + From Daws and Crows, and Parots oft hath wrung + An unexpected Pegaseian song. + + Foul shame on him, quoth I, that shamefull thought + Doth entertain within his dunghill breast, + Both God and Nature hath my spirits wrought + To better temper and of old hath blest + My loftie soul with more divine aspires + Then to be touchd with such vile low desires. + + I hate and highly scorn that Kestrell kind + Of bastard scholars that subordinate + The precious choice induements of the mind + To wealth or worldly good. Adulterate + And cursed brood! Your wit and will are born + Of th' earth and circling thither do return. + + Profit and honour be those measures scant + Of your slight studies and endeavours vain, + And when you once have got what you did want + You leave your learning to enjoy your gain. + Your brains grow low, your bellies swell up high, + Foul sluggish fat ditts up your dulled eye. + + Thus what the earth did breed, to th' earth is gone, + Like fading hearb or feebly drooping flower, + By feet of men and beast quite trodden down, + The muck-sprung learning cannot long endure. + Back she returns lost in her filthy source, + Drown'd, chok'd or slocken by her cruell nurse. + + True virtue to her self's the best reward, + Rich with her own and full of lively spirit, + Nothing cast down for want of due regard. + Or 'cause rude men acknowledge not her merit. + She knows her worth and stock from whence she sprung, + Spreads fair without the warmth of earthly dung, + + Dew'd with the drops of Heaven shall flourish long; + As long as day and night do share the skie, + And though that day and night should fail yet strong + And steddie, fixed on Eternitie + Shall bloom for ever. So the foul shall speed + That loveth virtue for no worldly meed. + + Though sooth to sayn, the worldly meed is due + To her more then to all the world beside. + Men ought do homage with affections true + And offer gifts for God doth there reside. + The wise and virtuous soul is his own seat + To such what's given God himself doth get. + + But earthly minds whose sight's seal'd up with mud + Discern not this flesh-clouded Deity, + Ne do acknowledge any other good + Then what their mole-warp hands can feel and trie + By groping touch; thus (worth of them unseen) + Of nothing worthy that true worth they ween. + + Wherefore the prudent Law-givers of old + Even in all Nations, with right sage foresight + Discovering from farre how clums and cold + The vulgar wight would be to yield what's right + To virtuous learning, did by law designe + Great wealth and honour to that worth divine. + + But nought's by law to Poesie due said he, + Ne doth the solemn Statesmans head take care + Of those that such impertinent pieces be + Of common-weals. Thou'd better then to spare + Thy uselesse vein. Or tell else, what may move + Thy busie use such fruitlesse pains to prove. + + No pains but pleasure to do the dictates dear + Of inward living nature. What doth move + The Nightingall to sing so sweet and clear + The Thrush, or Lark that mounting high above + Chants her shrill notes to heedlesse ears of corn + Heavily hanging in the dewy morn. + + When life can speak, it can not well withhold + T' expresse its own impressions and hid life. + Or joy or grief that smoothered lie untold + Do vex the heart and wring with restlesse strife. + Then are my labours no true pains but ease + My souls unrest they gently do appease. + + Besides, that is not fruitlesse that no gains + Brings to my self. I others profit deem + Mine own: and if at these my heavenly flames + Others receiven light, right well I ween + My time's not lost. Art thou now satisfide + Said I: to which the scoffing boy replide. + + Great hope indeed thy rymes should men enlight, + That be with clouds and darknesse all o'recast, + Harsh style and harder sense void of delight + The Readers wearied eye in vain do wast. + And when men win thy meaning with much pain, + Thy uncouth sense they coldly entertain. + + For wotst thou not that all the world is dead + Unto that Genius that moves in thy vein + Of poetrie! But like by like is fed. + Sing of my Trophees in triumphant strein, + Then correspondent life, thy powerfull verse + Shall strongly strike and with quick passion pierce. + + The tender frie of lads and lasses young + With thirstie eare thee compassing about, + Thy Nectar-dropping Muse, thy sugar'd song + Will swallow down with eagre hearty draught; + Relishing truly what thy rymes convey, + And highly praising thy soul-smiting lay. + + The mincing maid her mind will then bewray, + Her heart-bloud flaming up into her face, + Grave matrons will wex wanton and betray + Their unresolv'dnesse in their wonted grace; + Young boyes and girls would feel a forward spring, + And former youth to eld thou back wouldst bring. + + All Sexes, Ages, Orders, Occupations + Would listen to thee with attentive ear, + And eas'ly moved with thy sweet perswasions, + Thy pipe would follow with full merry chear. + While thou thy lively voice didst loud advance + Their tickled bloud for joy would inly dance. + + But now, alas! poore solitarie man! + In lonesome desert thou dost wander wide + To seek and serve thy disappearing Pan, + Whom no man living in the world hath eyde: + For Pan is dead but I am still alive, + And live in men who honour to me give: + + They honour also those that honour me + With sacred songs. But thou now singst to trees + To rocks to Hills, to Caves that senselesse be + And mindlesse quite of thy hid mysteries, + In the void aire thy idle voice is spread, + Thy Muse is musick to the deaf or dead. + + Now out alas! said I, and wele-away + The tale thou tellest I confesse too true. + Fond man so doteth on this living clay + His carcase dear, and doth its joyes pursue, + That of his precious soul he takes no keep + Heavens love and reasons light lie fast asleep. + + This bodies life vain shadow of the soul + With full desire they closely do embrace, + In fleshly mud like swine they wallow and roll, + The loftiest mind is proud but of the face + Or outward person; if men but adore + That walking sepulchre, cares for no more. + + This is the measure of mans industry + To wexen some body and getten grace + To 's outward presence; though true majestie + Crown'd with that heavenly light and lively rayes + Of holy wesdome and Seraphick love, + From his deformed soul he farre remove. + + Slight knowledge and lesse virtue serves his turn + For this designe. If he hath trod the ring + Of pedling arts; in usuall pack-horse form + Keeping the rode; O! then 't's a learned thing. + If any chanc'd to write or speak what he + Conceives not 't were a foul discourtesie. + + To cleanse the soul from sinne, and still diffide + Whether our reasons eye be clear enough + To intromit true light, that fain would glide + Into purg'd hearts, this way 's too harsh and rough: + Therefore the clearest truths may well seem dark + When sloathfull men have eyes so dimme and stark. + + These be our times. But if my minds presage + Bear any moment, they can ne're last long, + A three branch'd Flame will soon sweep clean the stage + Of this old dirty drosse and all wex young. + My words into this frozen air I throw + Will then grow vocall at that generall thaw. + + Nay, now thou 'rt perfect mad, said he, with scorn, + And full of foul derision quit the place. + The skie did rattle with his wings ytorn + Like to rent silk. But I in the mean space + Sent after him this message by the wind + Be 't so I 'm mad, yet sure I am thou 'rt blind. + + By this the out-stretch'd shadows of the trees + Pointed me home-ward, and with one consent + Foretold the dayes descent. So straight I rise + Gathering my limbs from off the green pavement + Behind me leaving then the slooping Light. + _Cl._ And now let's up, _Vesper_ brings on the Night. + + +_FINIS._ + +[Illustration] + + + + + _A Particular Interpretation appertaining to + the three last books of the Platonick + Song of the Soul._ + + +A + +_Atom-lives._ The same that Centrall lives. Both the terms denotate the +indivisibility of the inmost essence it self; the pure essentiall form I +mean, of plant, beast or man, yea of angels themselves, good or bad. + + _Apogee_, } + _Autokineticall_, } + _Ananke_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Acronycall_, } + _Alethea-land_, } + +_Animadversall. That lively inward animadversall._ It is the soul it +self, for I cannot conceive the body doth animadvert; when as objects +plainly exposed to the sight are not discovered till the soul takes +notice of them. + + +B + +_Body._ The ancient Philosophers have defined it, +To trichei diastaton +met' antitupias+. _Sext. Emperic. Pyrrhon. Hypotyp. lib. 3. cap. 5._ +Near to this is that description, _Psychathan_, Cant. 2. Stanz. 12. lib. +2, _Matter extent in three dimensions._ But for that +antitupia+, simple +trinall distension doth not imply it, wherefore I declin'd it. But took +in _matter_ according to their conceit, that phansie _a Materia prima_, +I acknowledge none, and consequently no such _corpus naturale_ as our +Physiologist make the subject of that science. That +Trichei diastaton +antitupon+ is nothing but a fixt spirit, the conspissation or +coagulation of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone, which are indeed the +Centrall Tasis or inward essence of the sensible world. These be an +infinite number of vitall Atoms that may be wakened into diverse +tinctures, or energies, into fiery, watery, earthy, &c. And one divine +_Fiat_ can unloose them all into an universall mist, or turn them out of +that sweat into a drie and pure Etheriall temper. These be the last +projections of life from the soul of the world; and are act or form +though debil and indifferent, like that which they call the first +matter. But they are not meerly passive but meet their information half +way, as I may so speak: are radiant _ab intimo_ and awake into this or +the other operation, by the powerfull appulse of some superadvenient +form. That which change of Phantasmes is to the soul, that is alteration +of rayes to them. For their rayes are _ab intrinseco_, as the phantasmes +of the soul. These be the reall matter of which all supposed bodies are +compounded, and this matter (as I said) is form and life, so that all is +life and form what ever is in the world, as I have somewhere intimated +in _Antipsychopan_: But however I use the terme _body_ ordinarily in the +usuall and vulgar acception. And for that sense of the ancients, nearest +to which I have defined it in the place first above mentioned, that I +seem not to choose that same as most easie to proceed against in +disproving the corporeity of the soul, the arguments do as necessarily +conclude against such a naturall body as is ordinarily described in +Physiologie (as you may plainly discern if you list to observe) as also +against this body composed of the Cuspidall particles of the Cone. For +though they be Centrall lives, yet are they neither Plasticall, +Sensitive, or Rationall, so farre are they from proving to be the humane +soul whose nature is there discust. + + +C + +_Cone_: Is a solid figure made by the turning of a rectangular triangle, +about; one of the sides that include the right angle resting, which will +be then the Axis of the compleated Cone. But I take it sometimes for the +comprehension of all things, God himself not left out, whom I tearm the +_Basis_ of the _Cone_ or _Universe_. And because all from him descends, ++kath' hupostolen+, with abatement or contraction, I give the name of +_Cone_ to the Universe. And of Cone rather then Pyramid because of the +roundnesse of the figure, which the effluxes of all things imitate. + + _Chaos_, } + _Chronicall_, } See interpret. Gen. + _Clare_, } + +_Circulation_, The terme is taken from a toyish observation, _viz._ the +circling of water when a stone is cast into a standing pool. The motion +drives on circularly, the first rings are thickest, but the further they +go they grow the thinner, till they vanish into nothing. Such is the +diffusion of the species audible in the strucken aire, as also of the +visible species. In brief any thing is said to circulate that diffuseth +its image or species in a round. It might have been more significantly +called orbiculation; seeing this circumfusion makes not onely a circle, +but fills a sphere, which may be called the sphere of activity. Yet +Circulation more fitly sets out the diminution of activity, from those +ringes in the water which as they grow in compasse, abate in force and +thicknesse. But sometimes I use Circulate in an ordinary sense to turn +round, or return in a circle. + +_Centre_, _Centrall_, _Centrality_. When they are used out of their +ordinary sense, they signifie the depth or inmost being of any thing, +from whence its acts and energies flow forth. See _Atom-lives_. + +_Cuspis_ of the _Cone_. The multiplide Cuspis of the Cone is nothing +but the last projection of life from Psyche, which is #shamayim# a +liquid fire or fire and water, which are the corporeall or materiall +principles of all things, changed or disgregated (if they be centrally +distinguishable) and again mingled by the virtue of Physis or +Spermaticall life of the world; of these are the Sunne and all the +Planets, they being kned together, and fixt by the Centrall power of +each Planet and Sunne. The volatile Ether is also of the same, and all +the bodies of plants, beasts and men. These are they which we handle and +touch, a sufficient number compact together. For neither is the noise of +those little flies in a summer-evening audible severally: but a full +Quire of them strike the ear with a pretty kind of buzzing. Strong and +tumultuous pleasure and scorching pain reside in these, they being +essentiall and centrall, but sight and hearing are onely of the images +of these, See _Body_. + +_Eternitie._ Is the steddie comprehension of all things at once. See AEon +discribed in my Expos. upon Psychozoia. + +_Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. In my Interpret. Gen. +I expounded it Operation, Efflux, Activity. None of those words bear the +full sense of it. The examples there are fit, _viz._ the light of the +Sunne, the phantasms of the soul. We may collect the genuine sense of +the word by comparing severall places in the Philosopher. +Echei gar +hekaston ton onton energeian, he estin homoioma autou, hoste autou +ontos, kakeino einai, kai menontos phthanein eis to porrho, to men epi +pleon, to de eis elatton. Kai hai men astheneis kai amudrai, hai de kai +lanthanousai, ton d' eisi meizous kai eis to porrho.+ _For every being +hath its Energie, which is the image of it self, so that it existing +that Energie doth also exist, and standing still is projected forward +more or lesse. And some of those energies are weak and obscure, others +hid or undiscernable, othersome greater and of a larger projection._ +Plotin. Ennead. 4. lib. 5. cap. 7. And again, Ennead. 3. lib. 4. +Kai +menomen toi men noetoi anthropoi ano; toi de eschatoi autou, pepedemetha +toi kato, hoion aporrhoian ap' ekeinou didontes eis to kato, mallon de +energeian, ekeinou ouk elattoumenou.+ _And we remain above by the +Intellectuall man, but by the extreme part of him we are held below, as +it were yielding an efflux from him to that which is below, or rather an +energie he being not at all lessened._ This curiositie Antoninus also +observes, (lib. 8. Meditat.) in the nature of the sun-beams, where +although he admits of +chusis+, yet he doth not of +aporrhoia+ which is ++ekchusis+. +Ho helios katakechusthai dokei, kai pantei ge kechutai ou +men ekkechutai. he gar chusis autou tasis estin. aktines goun hai augai +autou apo tou ekteinesthai legontai.+ _The sunne_, saith he, _is +diffused, and his fusion is every where but without effusion_, &c. +I will onely adde one place more out of Plotinus. Ennead. 3. lib. 6. ++Hekastou de moriou he energeia he kata phusin zoe ouk existasa.+ _The +naturall energie of each power of the soul is life not parted from the +soul though gone out of the soul, =viz.= into act._ + +Comparing of all these places together, I cannot better explain this +Platonick term, _energie_, then by calling it the rayes of an essence, +or the beams of a vitall Centre. For essence is the Centre as it were of +that which is truly called Energie, and Energie the beams and rayes of +an essence. And as the _Radii_ of a circle leave not the centre by +touching the Circumference, no more doth that which is the pure Energie +of an essence, leave the essence by being called out into act, but is ++en-ergeia+ a working in the essence though it flow _out_ into act. So +that _Energie_ depends alwayes on essence, as _Lumen_ on _Lux_, or the +creature on God; Whom therefore Synesius in his Hymnes calls the Centre +of all things. + +_Entelecheia._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +F + +_Faith._ _Platonick faith in the first Good._ This faith is excellently +described in Proclus, where it is set above all ratiocination, nay, +Intellect it self. +Pros de au to agathon ou gnoseos eti kai sunergeias +dei tois sunaphthenai speudousin, all' hidruseos kai monimou katastaseos +kai eremias.+ _But to them that endeavour to be joyned with the first +Good, there is no need of knowledge or multifarious cooperation, but +settlednesse, steddinesse, and rest._ lib. 1. cap. 24. Theolog. Platon. +And in the next chapter; +Dei gar ou gnostikos oud' atelos to agathon +epizetein, all' epidontas heautous toi theioi photi kai musantas, houtos +enidruesthai tei agnostoi kai kruphioi ton onton henadi.+ _For we must +not seek after that absolute or first Good cognoscitively or +imperfectly, but giving our selves up to the divine light, and winking_ +(that is shutting our eyes of reason and understanding) _so to place our +selves steddily in that hidden Unitie of all things_. After he preferres +this faith before the clear and present assent to the +koinai ennoiai+, +yea and the +noera haplotes+, so that he will not that any intellectuall +operation should come in comparison with it. +Polueides gar haite kai +di' heterotetos chorizomene ton nooumenon, kai holos kinesis esti noera +peri to noeton. Dei de ten theian pistin henoeide kai eremon huparchein +en toi tes agathotetos hormoi teleios hidrutheisan.+ _For the operation +of the Intellect is multiform and by diversitie separate from her +objects, and is in a word, intellectuall motion about the object +intelligible. But the divine faith must be simple and uniform, quiet and +steddily resting in the haven of Goodnesse._ And at last he summarily +concludes, +Esti oun houtos hormos asphales ton onton hapanton.+ See +Procl. Theolog. Platonick. lib. 1. cap. 25. + + +H + +_Hyle._ See Interpret. Gen. + + +I + +_Intellect._ Sometimes it is to be interpreted _Soul_. Sometime the +intellectuall facultie of the soul. Sometimes Intellect is an absolute +essence shining into the soul: whose nature is this. A substance purely +immateriall, impeccable, actually omniform, or comprehending all things +at once, which the soul doth also being perfectly joyned with the +Intellect. +Echomen oun kai ta eide dichos, en men psuchei hoion men +aneiligmena kai hoion kechorismena, en de toi noi homou ta panta.+ Plot. +Ennead. 1. lib. 1. cap. 8. _Ideas_, or _Idees_. Sometimes they are forms +in the Intellectuall world. _viz._ in _AEon_, or _On_, other sometimes, +phantasmes or representations in the soul. _Innate Idees_ are the souls +nature it self, her uniform essence, able by her _Fire_ to produce this +or that phantasme into act. + + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + + +L + +_Logos._ See Interpret. Gen. + +_Life._ The vitall operation of any soul. Sometime it is the soul it +self, be it sensitive, vegetative, or rationall. + +_Lower man._ The lower man is our enquickned body, into which our soul +comes, it being fitly prepared for the receiving of such a guest. The +manner of the production of souls, or rather their non-production is +admirably well set down in Plotinus, See, _Ennead. 6. lib. 4. cap. 14, +15_. + + +M + +_Monad._ See Interpr. Gen. + +_Mundane._ _Mundane spirit_, Is that which is the spirit of the world or +Universe. I mean by it not an intellectuall spirit, but a fine, unfixt, +attenuate, subtill, ethereall substance, the immediate vehicle of +plasticall or sensitive life. + +_Memory._ _Mundane memory._ Is that memory that is seated in the +_Mundane_ spirit of man, by a strong impression, or inustion of any +phantasme, or outward sensible object, upon that spirit. But there is a +Memory more subtill and abstract in the soul it self, without the help +of this spirit, which she also carries away with her having left the +body. + +_Magicall._ That is, attractive, or commanding by force of sympathy with +the life of this naturall world. + +_Moment._ Sometimes signifies an instant, as indivisible, as +kinema+, +which in motion answers to an instant in time, or a point in a line, +_Aristot. Phys._ In this sense I use it, Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 2. +stanz. 16; _But in a moment sol doth ray._ But Cant. the 3. Stanz. 45. +v. 2. I understand, as also doth Lansbergius, by a _moment_ one second +of a minute. In Antipsych. Cant. 2. Stanz. the 20. v. 2. by a _moment_ I +understand a minute, or indefinitely any small time. + + +O + +_Orb._ _Orb Intellectuall_, is nothing else but AEon or the Intellectuall +world. The Orbs generall mentioned Psycathan. lib. 1. cant. 3. stanz. +23. v. 2. I understand by them but so many universall orders of beings, +if I may so terme them all; for _Hyle_ hath little or nothing of being. + +_Omniformity._ The omniformity of the soul is the having in her nature +all forms, latent at least, and power of awaking them into act, upon +occasion. + +_Out-world._ and _Out-Heaven._ The sensible world, the visible Heaven. + + +P + + _Perigee_, } + _Psychicall_, } + _Pareties_, } See Interpret. Gen. + _Parallax_, } + _Protopathy_. } + +_Parturient._ See, _Vaticinant_. + +_Phantasie._ _Lower phantasie_, is that which resides in the Mundane +spirit of a man, See _Memory_. + + +Q + +_Quantitative._ Forms _quantitative_, are such sensible energies as +arise from the complexion of many natures together, at whose discretion +they vanish. That's the seventh Orb of things, though broken and not +filling all as the other do. But if you take it for the whole sensible +world, it is entire, and is the same that _Tasis_ in Psycozoia. But the +centre of _Tasis_, viz. the multiplication of the reall _Cuspis_ of the +_Cone_ (for _Hyle_ that is set for the most contract point of the +_Cuspis_ is scarce to be reckoned among realities) that immense +diffusion of atoms, is to be referred to _Psyche_, as an internall +vegetative act, and so belongs to _Physis_ the lowest order of life. For +as that warmth that the sense doth afford the body, is not rationall, +sensitive, or imaginative, but vegetative; So this, #shamayim# _i.e._ +liquid fire, which _Psyche_ sends out, and is the outmost, last, and +lowest operation from her self, is also vegetative. + + +R + +_Rhomboides._ See Interpr. general. + +_Reason._ I understand by Reason, the deduction of one thing from +another, which I conceive proceeds from a kind of continuitie of +phantasmes: and is something like the moving of a cord at one end; the +parts next it rise with it. And by this concatenation of phantasmes I +conceive, that both brutes and men are moved in reasonable wayes and +methods in their ordinary externall actions. + +_Rayes._ The rayes of an essence is its energie. See _Energie_. + +_Reduplicative._ That is reduplicative, which is not onely in this +point, but also in another, having a kind of circumscribed ubiquitie, +_viz._ in its own sphear. And this is either by being in that sphear +omnipresent it self, as the soul is said to be in the body _tota in toto +& tota in qualibet parte_, or else at least by propagation of rayes, +which is the image of it self; and so are divers sensible objects +_Reduplicative_, as light, colours, sounds. And I make account either of +these wayes justly denominate any thing spirituall. Though the former is +most properly, at least more eminently spirituall. And whether any thing +be after that way spirituall saving the Divinitie, there is reason to +doubt. For what is entirely omnipresent in a sphear, whose diametre is +but three feet, I see not, why (that in the circumference being as fresh +and entire as that in the centre) it should stop there and not proceed +even _in infinitum_, if the circumference be still as fresh and entire +as the centre. But I define nothing. + + +S + +_Spermaticall._ It belongs properly to Plants, but is transferred also +to the Plasticall power in Animalls, I enlarge it to all magnetick power +whatsoever that doth immediately rule and actuate any body. For all +magnetick power is founded in _Physis_, and in reference to her, this +world is but one great Plant, (one +logos spermatikos+ giving it shape +and corporeall life) as in reference to _Psyche_, one happy and holy +Animall. + +_Spirit._ Sometimes it signifieth the soul, othersometime, the naturall +spirits in a mans body, which are _Vinculum animae & corporis_, and the +souls vehicle: Sometimes life. See _Reduplicative_. + +_Soul._ When I speak of mans Soul, I understand that which _Moses_ saith +was inspired into the body, (fitted out and made of earth) by God, +Genes. 2. which is not that impeccable spirit that cannot sinne; but the +very same that the Platonists call +psuche+, a middle essence betwixt +that which they call +nous+ (and we would in the Christian language call ++pneuma+) and the life of the body which is +eidolon psuches+, a kind of +an umbratil vitalitie, that the soul imparts to the bodie in the +enlivening of it: That and the body together, we Christians would call ++sarx+, and the suggestions of it, especially in its corrupt estate, ++phronema sarkos+. And that which God inspired into _Adam_ was no more +then +psuche+, the soul, not the spirit, though it be called #nishmat +chayim# _Spiraculum vitae_; is plain out of the text; because it made man +but become a living soul, #nefesh chai#. But you will say, he was a dead +soul before, and this was the spirit of life, yea the spirit of God, the +life of the soul that was breathed into him. + +But if #chai# implie such a life and spirit, you must acknowledge the +same to be also in the most stupid of all living creatures, even the +fishes (whose soul is but as salt to keep them from stinking, as Philo +speaks) for they are said to be #nishmat chayim# chap. 1. v. 20. 21. See +1 Cor. chap. 15, v. 45, 46. In brief therefore, that which in Platonisme +is +nous+, is in Scripture +pneuma+; what +sarx+ in one, +to therion+, +the brute or beast in the other, +psuche+ the same in both. + +_Self-reduplicative._ See _Reduplicative_. + + +T + +_Tricentreitie._ Centre is put for essence, so _Tricentreitie_ must +implie a trinitie of essence. See _Centre_, and _Energie_. + + +V + +_Vaticinant._ The soul is said to be in a _vaticinant_ or _parturient_ +condition, when she hath some kind of sense and hovering knowledge of a +thing, but yet cannot distinctly and fully, and commandingly represent +it to her self, cannot plainly apprehend, much lesse comprehend the +matter. The phrase is borrowed of Proclus, who describing the +incomprehensiblenese of God, and the desire of all things towards him, +speaks thus; +Agnoston gar on pothei ta onta to epheton touto kai +alepton, mete oun gnonai mete helein ho pothei, dunamena, peri auto +panta choreuei kai odinei men auto kai hoion apomanteuetai.+ _Theolog. +Platon. lib. 1. cap. 21._ See _Psychathan. lib. 3. cant. 3. stanz. 12. & +14._ + + + + +_The Philosophers Devotion._ + + + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + He the boundlesse Heavens has spread + All the vitall Orbs has kned; + He that on _Olympus_ high + Tends his flocks with watchfull eye, + And this eye has multiplide + Midst each flock for so reside. + Thus as round about they stray + Toucheth each with out-stretch'd ray, + Nimbly they hold on their way, + Shaping out their Night and Day. + Never slack they; none respires, + Dancing round their Centrall fires. + In due order as they move + Echo's sweet be gently drove + Thorough Heavens vast Hollownesse, + Which unto all corners presse: + Musick that the heart of _Jove_ + Moves to joy and sportfull love; + Fills the listning saylers eares + Riding on the wandering Sphears. + Neither Speech nor Language is + Where their voice is not transmisse. + God is Good, is Wise, is Strong, + Witnesse all the creature-throng, + Is confess'd by every Tongue. + All things back from whence they sprong, + As the thankfull Rivers pay + What they borrowed of the Sea. + Now my self I do resigne, + Take me whole I all am thine. + Save me, God! from Self-desire, + Deaths pit, dark Hells raging fire, + Envy, Hatred, Vengeance, Ire. + Let not Lust my soul bemire. + Quit from these thy praise I'll sing, + Loudly sweep the trembling string. + Bear a part, O Wisdomes sonnes! + Free'd from vain Relligions. + Lo! from farre I you salute, + Sweetly warbling on my Lute. + _Indie_, _Egypt_, _Arabie_, + _Asia_, _Greece_, and _Tartarie_, + _Carmel_-tracts, and _Lebanon_ + With the _Mountains_ of the _Moon_, + from whence muddie _Nile_ doth runne, + Or whereever else you won; + Breathing in one vitall aire, + One we are though distant farre. + Rise at once lett's sacrifice + Odours sweet perfume the skies. + See how Heavenly lightning fires + Hearts inflam'd with high aspires! + All the substance of our souls + Up in clouds of Incense rolls. + Leave we nothing to our selves + Save a voice, what need we els! + Or an hand to wear and tire + On the thankfull Lute or Lyre. + Sing aloud his praise rehearse + Who hath made the Universe. + + +_FINIS._ + + + + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + + WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK + MEMORIAL LIBRARY + UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES + + +PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT + +[Decoration] + + [Where available, Project Gutenberg e-text numbers are given in + brackets.] + + +1948-1949 + +16. Henry Nevil Payne, _The Fatal Jealousie_ (1673). [16916] + +18. Anonymous, "Of Genius," in _The Occasional Paper_, Vol. III, No. 10 +(1719), and Aaron Hill, Preface to The Creation (1720). [15870] + + +1949-1950 + +19. Susanna Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709). [16740] + +20. Lewis Theobald, _Preface to the Works of Shakespeare_ (1734). +[16346] + +22. Samuel Johnson, _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749), and two +_Rambler_ papers (1750). [13350] + +23. John Dryden, _His Majesties Declaration Defended_ (1681). [15074] + + +1950-1951 + +26. Charles Macklin, _The Man of the World_ (1792). [14463] + + +1951-1952 + +31. Thomas Gray, _An Elegy Wrote in a Country Churchyard_ (1751), and +_The Eton College Manuscript_. [15409] + + +1952-1953 + +41. Bernard Mandeville, _A Letter to Dion_ (1732). [29478] + + +1962-1963 + +98. _Select Hymns Taken Out of Mr. Herbert's Temple_ (1697). + + +1963-1964 + +104. Thomas D'Urfey, _Wonders in the Sun_; or, _The Kingdom of the +Birds_ (1706). + + +1964-1965 + +110. John Tutchin, _Selected Poems_ (1685-1700). [_In Preparation_] + +111. Anonymous, _Political Justice_ (1736). + +112. Robert Dodsley, _An Essay on Fable_ (1764). + +113. T. R., _An Essay Concerning Critical and Curious Learning_ (1698). + +114. _Two Poems Against Pope_: Leonard Welsted, _One Epistle to Mr. A. +Pope_ (1730), and Anonymous, _The Blatant Beast_ (1742). [21499] + + +1965-1966 + +115. Daniel Defoe and others, _Accounts of the Apparition of Mrs. Veal_. + +116. Charles Macklin, _The Covent Garden Theatre_ (1752). [_In +Preparation_] + +117. Sir Roger L'Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). [_In +Preparation_] + +118. Henry More, _Enthusiasmus Triumphatus_ (1662). + +119. Thomas Traherne, _Meditations on the Six Days of the Creation_ +(1717). + +120. Bernard Mandeville, _Aesop Dress'd or a Collection of Fables_ +(1704). [_In Preparation_] + + +1966-1967 + +122. James MacPherson, _Fragments of Ancient Poetry_ (1760). [8161] + +123. Edmond Malone, _Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to +Mr. Thomas Rowley_ (1782). [29116] + +124. Anonymous, _The Female Wits_ (1704). [_In Preparation_] + +125. Anonymous, _The Scribleriad_ (1742). Lord Hervey, _The Difference +Between Verbal and Practical Virtue_ (1742). [_In Preparation_] + +126. _Le Lutrin: an Heroick Poem, Written Originally in French by +Monsieur Boileau: Made English by N. O._ (1682). + + * * * * * + +Subsequent publications may be checked in the annual prospectus. + +Publications #1 through 90, of the first fifteen years of Augustan +Reprint Society, are available in bound units at $14.00 per unit of six +from: + + KRAUS REPRINT CORPORATION + 16 East 46th Street + New York, N.Y. 10017 + +Publications in print are available at the regular membership rate of +$5.00 yearly. Prices of single issues may be obtained upon request. + + + + + William Andrews Clark Memorial Library: + University of California, Los Angeles + + THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + _General Editors_: George Robert Guffey, University of California, + Los Angeles; Maximillian E. Novak, University of California, Los + Angeles; Robert Vosper, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library. + _Corresponding Secretary_: Mrs. Edna C. Davis, William Andrews Clark + Memorial Library. + + * * * * * + +The Society's purpose is to publish reprints (usually facsimile +reproductions) of rare seventeenth and eighteenth century works. All +income of the Society is devoted to defraying costs of publication and +mailing. + +Correspondence concerning memberships in the United States and Canada +should be addressed to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, 2520 +Cimarron St., Los Angeles, California. Correspondence concerning +editorial matters may be addressed to any of the general editors at the +same address. Manuscripts of introductions should conform to the +recommendations of the MLA _Style Sheet_. The membership fee is $5.00 a +year in the United States and Canada and 30/-- in Great Britain and +Europe. British and European prospective members should address B. H. +Blackwell, Broad Street, Oxford, England. Copies of back issues in print +may be obtained from the Corresponding Secretary. + + +PUBLICATIONS FOR 1967-1968 + +127-128. Charles Macklin, _A Will and No Will, or a Bone for the +Lawyers_ (1746). _The New Play Criticiz'd, or The Plague of Envy_ +(1747). Introduction by Jean B. Kern. [_In Preparation_] + +129. Lawrence Echard, Prefaces to _Terence's Comedies_ (1694) and +_Plautus's Comedies_ (1694). Introduction by John Barnard. [29684] + +130. Henry More, _Democritus Platonissans_ (1646). Introduction by P. G. +Stanwood. [_Present Text_] + +131. John Evelyn, _The History of ... Sabatai Sevi ... The Suppos'd +Messiah of the Jews_ (1669). Introduction by Christopher W. Grose. +[_In Preparation_] + +132. Walter Harte, _An Essay on Satire, Particularly on the Dunciad_ +(1730). Introduction by Thomas B. Gilmore. [29237] + + +ANNOUNCEMENTS: + +Next in the series of special publications by the Society will be a +volume including Elkanah Settle's _The Empress of Morocco_ (1673) with +five plates; _Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco_ (1674) +by John Dryden, John Crowne and Thomas Shadwell; _Notes and Observations +on the Empress of Morocco Revised_ (1674) by Elkanah Settle; and _The +Empress of Morocco. A Farce_ (1674) by Thomas Duffet, with an +Introduction by Maximillian E. Novak. Already published in this series +are reprints of John Ogilby's _The Fables of Aesop Paraphras'd in Verse_ +(1668), with an Introduction by Earl Miner and John Gay's _Fables_ +(1727, 1738), with an Introduction by Vinton A. Dearing. Publication is +assisted by funds from the Chancellor of the University of California, +Los Angeles. Price to members of the Society, $2.50 for the first copy +and $3.25 for additional copies. Price to non-members, $4.00. + + * * * * * + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +William Andrews Clark Memorial Library + +2520 CIMARRON STREET AT WEST ADAMS BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA +90018 + +Make check or money order payable to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF +CALIFORNIA. + + * * * * * + * * * * + +Errors and Inconsistencies (noted by transcriber) + +The author used a number of forms that were unusual or archaic even in +1646, and might be mistaken for typographical errors: + + ne (_conjunction_) + won (stay, dwell, like German _wohnen_) + eath (easy, light; also "uneath") + words in -en, especially verbs: + aboven, amazen, been (_infinitive_), causen, standen, withouten... + +Greek diacritics were consistently printed over the first vowel of an +initial diphthong. This has been silently regularized. + +Both occurrences of the name "DesCartes" or "DesChartes" are at line +break; the hyphen has been omitted conjecturally. In general, spellings +that appear more than once, such as "Psyc-" for "Psych-", were assumed +to be intentional. + +The word "invisible" means that the letter is absent but there is an +appropriately sized blank space. + + +Modern Introduction: + + Immobile . . . Incomprehensible "[6] + [_line-initial long space in the original, not explained in + the footnote_] + with its seque _Democritus Platonissans_ + [_l in "sequel" invisible at line-end_] + describes the genesis of + [_final s in "genesis" illegible at line-end_] + Footnote 9: _Ibid._, II. xi. 5 (p. 52). [II.xi. 5] + +To the Reader: + + in the neglectfull disguise of a fragment [of of] + or which is as harsh one infinite one. + [_. missing; text otherwise unchanged_] + defending the infinitude of both, [both.] + Unum ut attendentes ad infinitam Dei potentiam + [_first i in "infinitam" invisible_] + +Democritus Platonissans + + 7. Numbers infinite of each would strike our 'stonishd sight; + [_er in "Numbers" invisible_] + 25. This is the parergon of each noble fire [is is] + 27. What mark is left,? what aimed scope or end + [_punctuation as printed_] + 45. This inf'nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall + [_text cut off; "-all" conjectural_] + 47. With their strange vizards. This will follow right + [_text cut off; "-ht" conjectural_] + 55. Keeping a well-proportionated space [ptoportionated] + 81. And immense mounting smoke arose all round about. [mountiug] + 99. Snow-limb'd, rose-cheek'd, ruby-lip'd, pearl-ted, star eyn'd + Their parts each fair in fit proportion all conbin'd. + [_text unchanged: possible hyphen in "star eyn'd"_] + 102. Such as no vulgar wit can well believe. [vnlgar] + 103. A wider period; turneth still and slow. [tnrneth] + +Cupids Conflict + + Had I (but O that envious Destinie, + [_mismatched parenthesis in original; closing parenthesis may + belong after "harm!" in 4th line of stanza_] + Who can his passions master and controll, [aud] + For can their carefull ghosts from Limbo take + [_reading uncertain: may be "take" corrected by hand to "Lake"_] + +Particular Interpretation + + _Energie._ It is a peculiar Platonicall terme. [_Energie,_] + _Faith._ ... excellently described in Proclus, [roclus.] + +Esti oun houtos hormos asphales ton onton hapanton.+ + [+Eis oun ... ton honton+] + [_Original text could not be checked, but +Eis+ is grammatically + impossible._] + _Intellect._ [_Intellect.._] + _Idiopathy._ } See Interpret. Gen. + _Iao_ } + [_Printed as shown; may be damage or error for "Idea" or similar_] + _Omniformity._ [_Omniformity,_] + _Reduplicative._ ... as the centre. But I define nothing. + [_blank space at mid-line in original_] + _Soul._ ... And that which God inspired into _Adam_ [that that] + _Vaticinant._ ... Theolog. Platon. [Theolog Platon] + +Augustan Reprints + +Here as in e-texts 29237 and 29684 (from the same year), one or two +pages from the list of titles in print appear to be missing. The same +list should be present in any Augustan Reprint from a later year. + + [First page] UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES [. for,] + 117. Sir Roger L'Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). 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