These injuries I suffer Through antichrist's perswasion: Take off this chain, Neither Rome nor Spain Can resist my strong invasion. Of the beast's ten horns (God bless us!) I'll leave him none: But they say I am too heady. When I sack'd the seven-hill'd city, I met the great red dragon; I kept him aloof With the armour of proof, Though here I have never a rag on. With a fiery sword and target, There fought I with this monster: But the sons of pride My zeal deride, And all my deeds misconster. Boldly I preach, &c. I un-hors'd the Whore of Babel, With the lance of Inspiration; I made her stink, And spill the drink In her cup of abomination. Boldly I preach, &c. 85 40 I have seen two in a vision With a flying book1 between them. And been cur'd by reading Greenham.2 I observ'd in Perkin's tables3 So stuck in my brains, In the holy tongue of Canaan That I bled beyond all measure. I appear'd before the archbishop,* I gave him no grace, But told him to his face, That he favour'd superstition. 1 Alluding to some visionary exposition of Zech. ch. v. ver. 1; or, if the date of this song would permit, one might suppose it aimed at one Coppe, a strange enthusiast, whose life may be seen in Wood's Athen. Vol. II. p. 501. He was author of a book, intitled, The Fiery Flying Roll:' and afterwards published a Recantation, part of whose title is, 'The Fiery Flying Roll's Wings clipt,' &c. See Greenham's Works, fol. 1605, particularly the tract intitled, 'A sweet Comfort for an afflicted Conscience.'-3 See Perkins's Works, fol. 1616, Vol. I. p. 11; where is a large half sheet folded, containing, 'A survey, or table, declaring the order of the causes of salvation and damnation, &c.' the pedigree of damnation being distinguished by a broad black zig-zag line.— Abp. Laud. 4 Boldly I preach, hate a cross, hate a surplice, 65 Mitres, copes, and rochets: Come hear me pray nine times a day, And fill your heads with crotchets. XIX. THE LUNATIC LOVER, MAD SONG THE THIRD, -is given from an old printed copy in the British Museum, compared with another in the Pepys collection; both in black letter. GRIM king of the ghosts, make haste, And bring hither all your train; See how the pale moon doth waste, Come, you night-hags, with all your charms, And revelling witches away, And hug me close in your arms; To you my respects I'll pay. I'll court you, and think you fair, Since love does distract my brain: I'll And kiss her, and kiss her again: Then, a pise on her love! let her go; I'll seek me a winding shroud, And down to the shades below. A lunacy sad I endure, Since reason departs away; As knowing not what I say. 5 The beauty, whom I do adore, Now slights me with scorn and disdain; I never shall see her more: Ah! how shall I bear my pain? I ramble, and range about To find out my charming saint; While she at my grief does flout, And smiles at my loud complaint. Distraction I see is my doom, Of this I am now too sure; A rival is got in my room, While torments I do endure. Strange fancies do fill my head, And labour to reach the sky. When thus I have raved awhile, And bitterly do complain. I dream that my charming fair Whose tresses of golden hair Are on the fair pillow bespread. Grim king of the ghosts, be true, To the Elysian shades I post In hopes to be freed from care, 55 60 XX. THE LADY DISTRACTED WITH LOVE, MAD SONG THE FOURTH, -was originally sung in one of Tom D'urfey's comedies of Don Quixote acted in 1694 and 1696; and probably composed by himself. In the several stanzas, the author represents his pretty Mad-woman as 1. sullenly mad: 2. mirthfully mad: 3. melancholy mad: 4. fantastically mad: and 5. stark mad. Both this, and Num. XXII. are printed from D'urfey's Pills to purge Melancholy,' 1719, vol. I. FROM rosie bowers, where sleeps the god of love, 5 |