A Hymne
TO THE
ARK IN NEWGATE,
An Tali Studeam CALAMO? Persius
---------Quantum nummorum servat in ARCA,
Tantum Habet & FIDEI. Lillys Grammer.
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OF a sullen Dumb Devil I mean to relate,
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That with Brazen-head was lately heard prate,
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Against the late Law (the best walls of the State.)
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Pray remember the Ark.
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Now because this Ark is a pretty fine thing,
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A Labyrinth lacking a directory string
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Call'd a clue, Melpomene shall you in bring,
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To this most notable Ark.
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For since the Parson with such storie plaies,
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And cozens the Sisters with those holy Layes,
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The sacred nine sisters in zeal we must raise,
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Pray, etc.
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Beloved 'tis thus, i'th Latine tongue (whence
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The Hebrew's made out with pregnant sit sense,
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And saves Smec's schollars book learned expence,)
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Pray, etc.
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It holds forth and implies a spacious chest,
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Or hugy Coffer, which you like best:
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This Explication; the uses now rest.
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Pray, etc.
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In this bright Idol was lately enshrin'd,
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But alas this troubles the vext Levites mind,
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It hath chose other Altars, He never divin'd.
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Pray, etc.
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The growing despair of increasing his Sums,
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(Twenty pieces a time for comforting Crums,)
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And no guift beyond the conveyance of Thums.
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Pray, etc.
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Made the Mammonist think to revenge on the times,
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His late disappointment with recenter crimes,
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Complexion'd to the American climes.
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Pray, etc.
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When Old Isaac and Pym were Elders and Saints,
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And the publique Faith without the constraints
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Of reason was swallow'd, nor was troubled with Faints.
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Pray, etc.
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When Antiquity yielded it's sacreder Gold,
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And Vessels of Silver to the godly Houshold,
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And consecrate bags to the same use were told.
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Pray, etc.
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When instead of abundance of milk and of Honey,
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It showr'd down the White and eke yellow Money,
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When Guildhall was Canaan, and Calamy Bonny,
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Pray, etc.
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Then the Ark was safe; for Bell and the Dragon,
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Treason and piety jointlie did wag on,
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And stood together like Baal and Dagon.
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Pray, etc.
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No Common Hall, but his preachment or speech,
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With a tedious three Hours measure of each,
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That did the groans of three Kingdomes out-reach.
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Pray, etc.
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A Thousand rich Caudles he gulg'd to the Cause,
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Molten gold would scarce have injur'd his Jawes,
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And this made him Kick and Wince against Laws.
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Pray, etc.
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But he hath the luck still, whoever fares worse,
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His disobedience crams his full purse,
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Like the Fox he is sure to thrive by the curse.
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Pray, etc.
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Never was Evil so rewarded as this,
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He was hired and payed for doing amisse,
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And then his Imprisonment most profit is.
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Pray, etc.
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And this a quaint party-Poet per pale,
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To the wretched disgrace of Iter Boreale,
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In chequer'd sense and a strange Medlie Tale.
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Descants upon the Ark.
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The Gout and a Bishop by Wild simile,
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Are here coupled together (both Tyrant like be)
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By head, and by ears, as by foot, and by knee.
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Pray, etc.
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Wild-fire and sober Combustion's in's Pate,
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Here Squib, there misehievous Mortar shell Fate,
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Jeers at a Rabby and damns the whole State.
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Pray, etc.
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So that this same Ark is Pandoras curst Box,
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Fil'd with Gout and with Itch and Scotch Plague & Pox
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To be cur'd by none but Bedlams rare Locks.
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Pray remember the Ark.
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