Take off this chain,

Neither Rome nor Spain

Can refift my strong invasion.

Boldly I preach, &c.

Of the beaft's ten horns (God bless us!)

I have knock'd off three already;

If they let me alone

I'll leave him none:

But they fay I am too heady.

Boldly I preach, &c.

25

When I fack'd the feven-hill'd city,

૩૦

I met the great red dragon;

I kept him aloof

With the armour of proof,

Though here I have never a rag on.
Boldly I preach, &c.

I made her flink,

And fpill the drink

In her cup of abomination.

Boldly I preach, &c.

I have feen two in a vifion

With a flying book* between them.

I have been in defpair

Five times in a year,

And been cur'd by reading Greenham †.
Boldly I preach, &c.

I obferv'd in Perkin's tables

The black line of damnation;

Thofe crooked veins

So ftuck in my brains,
That I fear'd my reprobation.

Boldly I preach, &c.

45

50

Alluding to fome vifionary expofition of Zech. ch. v. ver. 1; or, if the date of this fang would permit, one might fuppofe it aimed at one Coppe, a ftrange enthufiaft, whefe life may be feen 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 whofe title is, "The Fiery Flying Roll's Wings clipt,” ‹&c.

+ See Greenham's Works, fol. 1605, particularly the track_intitled, "Afweet Comfort for an afflicted Confcience."

See Perkins's Works, fol. 1616, Vol. I. p. 11; where is a large balf-fheet folded, containing, "A furrey, or table, declaring the order of the causes of falvation and damnation, &c." the pedigree of damnation being diftinguished by a broad black zig-zag line.

But told him to his face,

That he favour'd fuperftition.

Boldly I preach, hate a cross, hate a furplice,

Mitres, copes, and rochets :

Come hear me pray nine times a day,

And fill your heads with crotchets.

*Abp. Laud.

66

XIX. THE

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 ghofts, make hafte,

And bring hither all your train;

See how the pale moon does wafte,

And just now is in the wane.

Come, you night-hags, with all your charms, 5

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 :

10

I'll go, I'll wed the night-mare,

And kiss her, and kiss her again :

But

But if she prove peevish and proud,
Then, a pife on her love! let her go;
I'll feek me a winding shroud,

And down to the fhades below.

A lunacy fad I endure,

Since reafon departs away;
I call to thofe hags for a cure
As knowing not what I say.
The beauty, whom I do adore,

Now flights me with fcorn and disdain;

I never fhall fee her more:

Ah! how fhall I bear my pain!

I ramble, and range about

To find out my charming faint; While the at my grief does flout,

And fmiles at my loud complaint. Diftraction I see is my doom,

Of this I am now too fure;

A rival is got in my room,

While torments I do endure.

Strange fancies do fill my head,
While wandering in despair,,

I am to the defarts lead,

Expecting to find her there.

Methinks