So sweetest vi'lets trail on lowly ground;
So richest pearls lie clos'd in vilest shells :

So lowest dales we let at highest rates;

So creeping strawberries yield daintiest cates.
The Highest highly loves the low, the lofty hates.
XVII.

Upon his shield was drawn that shepherd lad,
Who with a sling threw down faint Israel's fears;
And in his hand his spoils and trophies glad,

The monster's sword and head, he bravely bears:
Plain in his lovely face you might behold

A blushing meekness met with courage bold :
'Little, not little worth,' was fairly wrote in gold.
XVIII.

With him his kinsman both in birth and name,

Obedience, taught by many bitter show'rs
In humble bonds his passions proud to tame,
And low submit unto the higher pow'rs:

But yet no servile yoke his forehead brands
For tied in such a holy service bands,

In this Obedience rules, and serving thus commands.
XIX.

By them went Fido*, marshal of the field:

Weak was his mother when she gave him day;

And he at first a sick and weakly child,

As e'er with tears welcom'd the sunny ray:

Yet when more years afford more growth and might,
A champion stout he was, and puissant knight,

As ever came in field, or shone in armour bright,

XX.

So may we see a little lionet,

When newly whelpt, a weak and tender thing,

Faith,

Despis'd by ev'ry beast; but waxen great,

When fuller times, full strength and courage bring; The beasts all crouching low, their king adore,

And dare not see what they contemn'd before: The trembling forest quakes at his affrighted roar. XXI.

Mountains he flings in seas with mighty hand;

Stops and turns back the Sun's impetuous course; Nature breaks nature's laws at his command;

No force of Hell or Heav'n withstands his force:
Events to come yet many ages hence,

He present makes, by wondrous prescience;
Proving the senses blind, by being blind to sense.
XXII.

His sky- like arms, dy'd all in blue and white,
And set with golden stars that flamed wide;
His shield invisible to mortal sight,

Yet he upon it easily descried

The lively semblance of his dying Lord,

Whose bleeding side with wicked steel was gor❜d; Which to his fainting spirits new courage would afford. XXIII.

Strange was the force of that enchanted shield,
Which highest pow'rs to it from Heav'n impart :
For who could bear it well, and rightly wield,

It sav'd from sword, and spear, and poison'd dart :
Well might he slip, but yet not wholly fall:
No final loss his courage might appal;

Growing more sound by wound, and rising by his fall.
XXIV.

So some have feign'd that Tellus' giant son,

Drew many new-born lives from his dead mother;

Another rose as soon as one was done,

And twenty lost, yet still remain'd another :

For when he fell, and kiss'd the barren heath,

His parent straight inspir'd successive breath; And though herself was dead, yet ransom'd him from death. XXV.

With him his nurse, went careful Acoe* ;

Whose hands first from his mother's womb did take him, And ever since have foster'd tenderly :

She never might, she never would forsake him ;

And he her lov'd again with mutual band :

For by her needful help he oft did stand,

When else he soon would fail and fall in the foe men's hand. XXVI.

With both, sweet Meditation ever pac'd,

His nurse's daughter, and his foster-sister;

Dear as his soul, he in his soul her plac'd,

And oft embrac'd, and oft by stealth he kiss'd her:
For she had taught him by her silent talk

To tread the safe; and dang'rous ways to balk ;
And brought his God with him, him with his God to walk.
XXVII.

Behind him Penitence did sadly go,

Whose cloudy dropping eyes were ever raining;
Her swelling tears, which, e'en in ebbing flow,
Furrow her cheeks, the sinful puddles draining:
Much seem'd she in her pensive thought molested,
And much the mocking world her soul infested;
More she the hateful world, and most herself detested.
XXVIII.

She was the object of lewd men's disgrace,

That squint-ey'd wrie-mouth'd scoff of carnal hearts;

* Hearing.
T

Yet smiling Heav'n delights to kiss her face,

And with his blood God bathes her painful smarts: Affliction's iron flail her soul had thrash'd';

Sharp circumcision's knife her heart had slash'd, Yet was it angel's wine that in her eyes was mash'd. XXIX.

With her a troop of mournful grooms abiding,
Help with their sullen blacks their mistress' woe;
Amendment still (but his own faults), chiding;
And Penance arm'd with smarting whips did
Then sad Remorse came sighing all the way;
Last Satisfaction, giving all away:

go:

Much surely did he owe, much more he would repay.
XXX.

Next went Elpinus*, clad in sky-like blue;

And through his arms few stars did seem to peep, Which there the workman's hand so finely drew, That rock'd in clouds they softly seem to sleep : His rugged shield was like a rocky mould,

On which an anchor bit with surest hold: ' I hold by being held,' was written round in gold. XXXI.

Nothing so cheerful was his thoughtful face,

As was his brother Fido's -fear seem'd dwell
Close by his heart; his colour chang'd apace,
And went, and came, that sure all was not well
Therefore a comely maid did oft sustain

His fainting steps, and fleeting life maintain ;
Pollicitat, she lights, which ne'er could lie or feign.
XXXII.

Next to Elpinus march'd his brother Love;

Not that Great Love which cloth'd his Godhead bright

With rags of flesh, and now again above

Hath dress'd his flesh in Heav'n's eternal light:
Much less the brat of that false Cyprian dame,
Begot by froth, and fire, in bed of shame,
And now burns idle hearts swelt'ring in lustful flame,
XXXIII.

But this from Heav'n brings his immortal race,

And nurs'd by Gratitude whose careful arms Long held, and hold him still in kind embrace : But train'd to daily wars, and fierce alarms,

1

He grew to wondrous strength, and beauty rare : Next that God Love, from whom his offsprings are, No match in Earth, or Heav'n may with this Love compare,

His page, who from his side might never move,

Remembrance, on him waits; in books reciting

The famous passion of that highest Love,

His burning zeal to greater flame exciting :

Deep would he sigh, and seem empassion'd sore, And oft with tears his backward heart deplore, That loving all he could, he lov'd that Love no more. XXXV.

Yet sure he truly lov'd, and honour'd dear

That glorious Name; which when, or where he spy'd Wrong'd, or in hellish speech blasphem'd did hear, Boldly the rash blasphemer he defied,

And forc'd him eat the words he foully spake

But if for Him, he grief or death did take,
That grief he counted joy, and death, life for his sake.
XXXVI.

His glitt'ring arms, dress'd all with fiery hearts

Seem'd burn in chaste desire and heav'nly flame :