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SILEX SCINTILLANS.

PART I.

SILEX SCINTILLANS.

REGENERATION.

I.

A WARD, and still in bonds, one day
I stole abroad:

It was high-spring, and all the way
Primrosed, and hung with shade;
Yet was it frost within;
The surly wind

Blasted my infant-buds, and sinne
Like clouds ecclipsed my mind.

II.

Storm'd thus; I straight perceiv'd my spring
Meere stage and show,

My walke a monstrous, mountain'd thing
Rough-cast with rocks and snow;
And as a pilgrim's eye,
Far from reliefe,

Measures the melancholy skye,

Then drops, and rains for griefe,

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So sigh'd I upwards still: at last,
"Twixt steps and falls,

I reach'd the pinacle, where plac'd
I found a paire of scales;

I took them up, and layd
In th' one late paines;

The other smoake and pleasures weigh'd,
But prov'd the heavier graines.

IV.

With that some cryed, "Away!" straight I
Obey'd, and led

Full east, a faire, fresh field could spy:
Some call'd it Jacob's Bed;

A virgin soile, which no
Rude feet ere trod;

Where, since he stept there, only go
Prophets and friends of God.

V.

Here I repos'd; but scarce well set
A grove descryed

Of stately height, whose branches met
And mixt on every side:

I entred, and once in,

Amaz'd to see't,

Found all was chang'd, and a new spring
Did all my senses greet.

VI.

The unthrift sunne shot vitall gold

A thousand peeces,

And heaven its azure did unfold,
Chequer'd with snowie fleeces.
The aire was all in spice,
And every bush

A garland wore: thus fed my eyes,
But all the eare lay hush.

VII.

Only a little fountain lent

Some use for eares,

And on the dumbe shades language spent,
The musick of her teares:

I drew her neere, and found
The cisterne full

Of divers stones, some bright and round,
Others ill-shap'd and dull.

VIII.

The first (pray, marke!) as quick as light
Danc'd through the floud;

But th' last, more heavy than the night,
Nail'd to the centre stood:

I wonder'd much, but, tyr'd

At last with thought,

My restless eye, that still desir'd,

As strange an object brought.

IX.

It was a banke of flowers, where I descried (Though 'twas mid-day)

Some fast asleepe, others broad-eyed,

And taking in the ray:

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