The Purple Island, Poem 8 · Canto 2

The Purple Island · Poem 8 · Canto 2

p. 17CANT. II.

DEclining Phoebus, as he larger grows,

(Taxing proud folly) gentler waxeth still;

Never lesse fierce, then when he greatest shows;

When Thirsil on a gentle rising hill

(Where all his flock he round might feeding view)

Sits down, and circled with a lovely crue

Of Nymphs & shepherd-boyes, thus 'gan his song renew:

2

Now was this Isle pull'd from that horrid main,

Which bears the fearfull looks and name of death;

And setled new with bloud and dreadfull pain,

By him who twice had giv'n (once forfeit) breath:

A baser state then what was first assign'd;

Wherein (to curb the too aspiring minde)

The better things were lost, the worst were left behinde.

3

That glorious image of himself was raz'd;

Ah! scarce the place of that best part we finde:

And that bright Sun-like knowledge much defac'd,

OnelyOnly some twinkling starres remain behinde:

Then mortall made; yet as one fainting dies,

Two other in its place succeeding rise;

And drooping stock with branches fresh immortalize.

4

So that'lone bird in fruitfull Arabie,

When now her strength and waning life decaies,

Upon some airie rock, or mountain high,

In spiced bed (fir'd by neare Phoebus rayes)

Her self and all her crooked age consumes:

Straight from the ashes and those rich perfumes

A new-born Phoenix flies, & widow'd place resumes.

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It grounded lies upon a sure aaThe foundation of the body is the bones. Bones are a similar part of the body, most dry, or cold; made by the vertue generative, through heat of the thicker portion of seed, which is most earthy and Fat for the establishment and figure of the whole.foundation,

Compact, and hard; whose matter (cold and drie)

To marble turns in strongest congelation;

Fram'd of fat earth, which fires together tie:

Through all the Isle, and every part extent,

To give just form to every regiment;

Imparting to each part due strength and stablishment.

6

bbA cartilage, or gridle, is of a middle nature betwixt bones, and ligaments or sinews made of the Lime matter, and in the same manner as bones, for variety and safetie in motion.Whose looser ends are glu'd with brother earth,

Of nature like, and of a neare relation;

Of self-same parents both, at self-same birth;

ccSome of these (even as bones) sustain and uphold some partsThat oft it self stands for a good foundation:

ddBoth these are knit with ligaments: A ligament or sinew is of nature between grisles, and nerves, framed of a rough and clammy portion of the seed, for knitting & holding the bones together, & fitting them for motion.Both these a third doth soulder fast, and binde;

Softer then both, yet of the self-same kinde;

All instruments of motion, in one league combin'd.

7

Upon this base a eeUpon the bones as the foundation, is built the flesh. Flesh is a similar part of the body, soft, ruddy, made of bload indifferently dried, covered with the common membrane or skinne.curious work is rais'd,

Like undivided brick, entire and one;

Though soft, yet lasting, with just balance pais'd;

Distributed with due proportion:

And that the rougher frame might lurk unseen,

All fair is hung with coverings slight and thinne;

Which partly hide it all, yet all is partly seen:

8

As when a virgin her snow-circled breast

Displaying hides, and hiding sweet displaies;

The greater segments cover'd, and the rest

The vail transparent willingly betraies;

Thus takes and gives, thus lends and borrows light:

Lest eyes should surfet with too greedy sight,

Transparent lawns withhold, more to increase delight.

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ffThe whole body is as it were watered with great plenty of rivers veins▪ arteries, and nerves.Nor is there any part in all this land,

But is a little Isle: for thousand brooks

In azure chanels glide on silver sand;

Their serpent windings, and deceiving crooks

Circling about, and wat'ring all the plain,

Emptie themselves into th' all-drinking main;

And creeping forward slide, but never turn again.

10

Three diff'ring streams from fountains different,

Neither in nature nor in shape agreeing,

(Yet each with other friendly ever went)

Give to this Isle his fruitfulnesse and being:

ggA vein is a vessell long, round, hollow, rising from the liver, appointed to contein, conduct, and distribute the bloud, It hath but one tunicle, and that thinne; the colour of this bloud is purple.The first in single chanels skie-like blue,

With luke-warm waters di'd in porphyr hue,

Sprinkle this crimson Isle with purple-colour'd dew.

11

hhAn arterie is a vessel long, round, hollow, formed for conveyance of that more spritely bloud, which is elaborate in the heart. This bloud is frothy, yellowish, full of spirits, therefore compast with a double tunicle, that it might not exhale or sweat out by reason of the thinnesseThe next, though from the same springs first it rise,

Yet passing through another greater fountain,

Doth lose his former name and qualities:

Through many a dale it flows, and many a mountain;

More firie light, and needfull more then all;

And therefore fenced with a double wall,

All froths his yellow streams with many a sudding fall.

12

iiA nerve is a spermaticall part rising from the brain and the pith of the back-bone, the outside skinne, the inside full of pith, carrying the animall spirits for sense and motion and therefore doubly skinned as the brain: none of them single, but runne in couples.The last, in all things diff'ring from the other,

Fall from an hill, and close together go,

Embracing as they runne, each with his brother;

Guarded with double trenches sure they flow:

The coldest spring, yet nature best they have;

And like the lacteall stones which heaven pave,

Slide down to every part with their thick milky wave.

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kkThe veins convey nourishment from the liver, the arteries life and heat from the heart, the nerves sense and motion from the brain. The will commands, the nerve brings, and the part executes the mandate, all almost in an instant.These with a thousand streams through th' Island roving,

Bring tribute in; the first gives nourishment,

Next life, last sense and arbitrarie moving:

For when the Prince hath now his mandate sent,

The nimble poasts quick down the river runne,

And end their journey, though but now begunne;

But now the mandate came, & now the mandate's done.

14

llThe whole body may be parted into three regions: the lowest, or belly; the middle, or breast, the highest, or head. In the lowest the liver is sovereigne, whose regiment is the widest, but meanest. In the middle the heart reignes, most necessarie. The brain obtains the highest place, and is as the least in compasse, so the greatest in dignitie.The whole Isle, parted in three regiments,

By three Metropolies is joyntly sway'd;

Ord'ring in peace and warre their governments

With loving concord, and with mutuall aid:

The lowest hath the worst, but largest See;

The middle lesse, of greater dignitie:

The highest least, but holds the greatest soveraigntie.

15

Deep in a vale doth that first province lie,

With many a citie grac't, and fairly town'd;

And for a fence from forrain enmitie,

mmThe parts of the lower region are either the contained, or containing: the containing either common or proper: the common are the skinne, the fleshie pannicle, and the far: the proper are the muscles of the belly-peece, or the inner rimme of the belly.With five strong-builded walls encompast round;

Which my rude pencil will in limming stain;

A work more curious, then which poets feigne

Neptune and Phoebus built, and pulled down again.

16

nnThe skinne is a membrane of all the rest the most large, and thick, formed of the mixture of seed and bloud; the covering, and ornament of parts that are under it: the temper moderate, the proper organ of outward touching (say Physicians.)The first of these is that round spreading fence,

Which like a sea girts th' Isle in every part;

Of fairest building, quick and nimble sense,

Of common matter fram'd with speciall art;

Of middle temper, outwardest of all,

To warn of every chance that may befall:

The same a fence, and spie; a watchman, and a wall.

p. 2117

ooThe native colour of the skinne is white but (as Hippocrates) changed into the same colour which is brought by the humour predominant. Where melancholie abounds, it is swarthy; where flegme, it is white, and pale; where choler reignes, it is red, and firy; but in sanguine of a rosie colourHis native beautie is a lilie white,

Which still some other colour'd stream infecteth;

Least like it self, with divers stainings dight,

The inward disposition detecteth:

If white, it argues wet; if purple, fire;

If black, a heavie cheer, and fixt desire;

Youthfull and blithe, if suited in a rosie tire.

18

ppThe skinne is covered with the cuticle, or flourishing of the skinne, it is the mean of touching▪ without which we feel, but with pain. It polisheth the skinne, which many times is changed, and (as it is with snakes) put off, and a new, and more amiable brought in.It cover'd stands with silken flourishing,

Which as it oft decaies, renews again,

The others sense and beautie perfecting;

Which els would feel, but with unusuall pain:

Whose pleasing sweetnesse, and resplendent shine,

Softning the wanton touch, and wandring ey'n,

Doth oft the Prince himself with witch'ries undermine.

19

qqThe fat cometh from the airy portion of the bloud; which when it flows to the membranes, by their weak heat (which Physicians account, & call cold) grows thick, and close.The second rampier of a softer matter,

Cast up by th' purple rivers overflowing:

Whose airy wave, and swelling waters, fatter

For want of heat congeal'd, and thicker growing,

rrThe fat increaseth inward heat by keeping it from outward parts, and defends the parts subject to it from bruises.The wandring heat (which quiet ne're subsisteth)

Sends back again to what confine it listeth;

And outward enemies by yeelding most resisteth.

20

ssThe fleshie panniele is a membrane very thick, sinewy, woven in with little veins.The third more inward, firmer then the best,

May seem at first but thinly built, and slight;

But yet of more defence then all the rest;

Of thick and stubborn substance, strongly dight.

These three (three common fences) round impile

This regiment, and all the other Isle;

And saving inward friends, their outward foes beguile.

p. 2221

Beside these three, ttThe proper parts infolding this lower region are two, the first the muscles of the belly-peece, which are eight foure side-long, two right, and two crosse.two more appropriate guards

With constant watch compasse this government:

The first eight companies in severall wards,

(To each his station in this regiment)

On each side foure, continuall watch observe,

And under one great Captain joyntly serve;

Two fore-right stand, two crosse, and foure obliquely swerve.

22

uuPeritonaeum (which we call the rimme of the belly) is a thinne membrane taking his name from compassing the bowels: round, but longer: every where double, yet so thinne, that it may seem but single. It hath many holes, that the veins, arteries, and other needfull vessels might have passage both in, & out.The other fram'd of common matter, all

This lower region girts with strong defence;

More long then round, with double-builded wall,

Though single often seems to slighter sense;

With many gates, whose strangest properties

Protect this coast from all conspiracies;

Admitting welcome friends, excluding enemies.

23

**The double tunicle of the rimme is plainly parted into a large space, that with a double wall it might fence the bladder, where the vessels of the navil are contained. These are foure: first, the norse; which is a vein nourishing the infant in the wombe: 2, two arteries in which the infant breaths: the fourth, the Outachos, a pipe whereby (while the childe is in the wombe) the urine is carried into the Allantoid, or rather Amnion▪ which is a membrane receiving the sweat and urine.Between this fences double-walled sides,

Foure slender brooks run creeping o're the lea;

The first is call'd the Nurse, and rising slides

From this low regions Metropolie:

Two from th' Heart-citie bend their silent pace;

The last from Urine-lake with waters base

In th' Allantoid sea empties his flowing race.

24

xxThe passages carrying the urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Some action that in the passage stands a curious lid, or cover.Down in a vale, where these two parted walls

Differ from each with wide distending space,

Into a lake the Urine-river falls,

Which at the Nephros hill beginnes his race:

Crooking his banks he often runs astray,

Left his ill streams might backward finde a way:

Thereto, some say, was built a curious framed bay.

p. 2325

yyThe bladder endeth in a neck of Hesh, and is garded with a muscle which is called Sphincter: which holds in the urine lest it flow away without our permission. If this be loosened, or cold, the urine goes away from us of it self without any feeling.The Urine-lake drinking his colour'd brook,

By little swells, and fills his stretching sides:

But when the stream the brink 'gins over-look,

A sturdy groom empties the swelling tides;

Sphincter some call; who if he loosed be,

Or stiffe with cold, out flows the senselesse sea,

And rushing unawares covers the drowned lea.

26

zzHence the urine is conveyed through the ordinary passages and cast out.From thence with blinder passage, (flying name)

These noysome streams a secret pipe conveys;

Which though we tearm the hidden parts of shame,

Yet for the skill deserve no lesser praise

Then they, to which we honour'd names impart.

Oh powerfull Wisdome, with what wondrous art

Mad'st thou the best, who thus hast fram'd the vilest part!

27

aaBeside the bladder there are six speciall parts contained in this lower region: the liver, stomack, with the guts; the gall, the splene, or milt; the kidneys, and parts for generation.Six goodly Cities, built with suburbs round,

Do fair adorn this lower region:

bbThe stomack (or Koilia) is the first in order though not in dignitie.The first Koilia; whose extreamest bound

On this side border'd by the Splenion,

On that by soveraigne Hepars large commands:

The merry Diazome above it stands,

To both these joyn'd in league & never failing bands.

28

ccKoilia, or the stomack is long & round, like a bag-pipe, made to receive and concoct the meat, and to perfect the Chyle or white juice, which riseth from thee meat concocted.The form (as when with breath our bag-pipes rise,

And swell) round-wise, and long, yet long-wise more;

Fram'd to the most capacious figures guise:

For 'tis the Islands garner; here its store

Lies treasur'd up, which well prepar'd it sends

By secret path that to th' Arch-citie bends;

Which making it more fit, to all the Isle dispends.

p. 2429

Farre hence at foot of rocky Cephals hills

This Cities ddGustus, the taste, is the caterer, or steward to the stomack, which hath his place in Cephal, that is, the head.Steward dwells in vaulted stone;

And twice a day Koilia's store-house fills

With certain rent, and due provision:

Aloft he fitly dwells in arched cave;

Which to describe I better time shall have,

When that fair mount I sing, & his white curdy wave.

30

At that caves mouth eeIn either chap are sixteen teeth; foure cutters, two dog-teeth, or breakers, ten grinders.twice sixteen Porters stand,

Receivers of the customarie rent;

Of each side foure, (the formost of the band)

Whose office to divide what in is sent:

Straight other foure break it in peices small;

And at each hand twice five, which grinding all,

Fit it for convoy, and this cities Arsenall.

31

From thence a ffThe tongue with great agilitie delivers up the meat (well chewed) to the instruments of swallowing: eight muscles serving to this purpose which instantly send the meat through the Oesophagus or meat-pipe into the stomack.Groom with wondrous volubilitie

Delivers all unto neare officers,

Of nature like himself, and like agilitie;

At each side foure, that are the governours

To see the vict'als shipt at fittest tide;

Which straight from thence with prosp'rous chanel slide,

And in Koilia's port with nimble oars glide.

32

The ggThe upper mouth of the stomack hath little veins, or strings circular, to shut in the meat, and keep it from returning.haven, fram'd with wondrous sense and art,

Opens it self to all that entrance seek;

Yet if ought back would turn, and thence depart,

With thousand wrinkles shuts the ready creek:

But when the rent is slack, it rages rife,

And mutines in it self with civil strife:

Thereto a hhVas breve, or the short vessel, which sending in a melancholy humour, sharpens the appetite.little groom egges it with sharpest knife.

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iiIn the bottome of the stomack (which is placed in the midst of the belly) is concoction perfected.Below dwells in this Cities market-place

The Islands common Cook, Concoction;

Common to all; therefore in middle space

Is quarter'd fit in just proportion,

Whence never from his labour he retires;

No rest he asks, or better change requires:

Both night and day he works, ne're sleeps, nor sleep desires.

34

kkThe concoction of meats in the stomack is perfected, as by an innate propertie, and speciall vertue, so also by the outward heat of parts adjoyning. For it is on every side compassed with hotter parts, which as fire to a caldron helps to seethe, and concoct; and the hot steams within it do not a little further digestion.That heat, which in his furnace ever fumeth,

Is nothing like to our hot parching fire;

Which all consuming, self at length consumeth;

But moistning flames a gentle heat inspire,

Which sure some in-born neighbour to him lendeth;

And oft the bord'ring coast fit fuell sendeth,

And oft the rising fume, which down again descendeth.

35

Like to a pot, where under hovering

Divided flames, the iron sides entwining,

Above is stopt with close-laid covering,

Exhaling fumes to narrow straits confining;

So doubling heat, his dutie doubly speedeth:

Such is the fire Concoctions vessel needeth,

Who daily all the Isle with fit provision feedeth.

36

There many a groom the busie Cook attends

In under offices, and severall place:

This gathers up the scumme, and thence it sends

To be cast out; another liquours base,

Another garbage, which the kitchin cloyes,

And divers filth, whose sent the place annoyes,

By divers secret waies in under-sinks convoyes.

p. 2637

llThe lower orifice, or mouth of the stomack, is not placed at the very bottome, but at the side, and is called the (Janitor or) Porter, as sending out the food new concocted through the entrails, which are knotty, and full of windings, left the meat too suddenly passing through the body should make it too subject to appetite and greedinesse.Therefore a second Port is sidelong fram'd,

To let out what unsavorie there remains:

There sits a needfull groom, the Porter nam'd,

Which soon the full-grown kitchin cleanly drains

By divers pipes, with hundred turnings giring;

Lest that the food too speedily retiring,

Should whet the appetite, still cloy'd, & still desiring.

38

So Erisicthon once fir'd (as men say)

With hungry rage, fed never, ever feeding;

Ten thousand dishes serv'd in every day,

Yet in ten thousand, thousand dishes needing,

In vain his daughter hundred shapes assum'd:

A whole camps meat he in his gorge inhum'd;

And all consum'd, his hunger yet was unconsum'd.

39

Such would the state of this whole Island be,

If those pipes windings (passage quick delaying)

Should not refrain too much edacitie,

With longer stay fierce appetite allaying.

mmIt is approved that the entrails dried, and blown, are seven times longer then the body: they are all one entire body, yet their differing substance hath distinguished them into the thinne, & thick: the thinne have the more noble office.These pipes are seven-fold longer then the Isle,

Yet all are folded in a little pile,

Whereof three noble are, and thinne; three thick, & vile.

40

nnThe first is straight without any winding, that the chyle might not return; and most narrow, that it might not finde too hasty a passage. It takes in a little passage from the gall, which there purges his choler, to provoke the entrails (when they are slow) to cast out the excrements. This is called Duodenum (or twelve finger) from his length.The first is narrow'st, and down-right doth look,

Lest that his charge discharg'd might back retire;

And by the way takes in a bitter brook,

That when the chanel's stopt with stifeling mire,

Through th' idle pipe with piercing waters soking,

His tender sides with sharpest stream provoking,

Thrusts out the muddy parts, & rids the miry choking.

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ooThe second is called the lank or hungry gut, as being more emptie then the rest: for the liver being neare it sucks out his juice, or cream: it is known from the rest by the red colour.The second lean and lank, still pill'd, and harri'd

By mighty bord'rers oft his barns invading:

Away his food and new-inn'd store is carri'd;

Therefore an angry colour, never fading,

Purples his cheek: ppThe third called Ilion (or winding) from his many folds and turnings, is of all the longest.the third for length exceeds,

And down his stream in hundred turnings leads:

These three most noble are, adorn'd with silken threads.

42

qqThe first of the baser is called blinde: at whose end is an appendant, where if any of the thinner chyle do chance to escape, it is stopt, and by the veins of the midriffe suckt out.The formost of the base half blinde appeares;

And where his broad way in an Isthmos ends,

There he examines all his passengers,

And those who ought not scape, he backward sends:

rrThe second is Colon (or the tormenter) because of the winde there staying, & vexing the body.The second Aeols court, where tempests raging

Shut close within a cave the windes encaging,

With earthquakes shakes the Island, thunders sad presaging.

43

ssThe last called Rectum, or straight, hath no windings, short, larger toward the end; that the excrement may more easily be ejected, and retained also upon occasion.The last down-right falls to port Esquiline,

More strait above, beneath still broader growing;

Soon as the gate opes by the Kings assigne,

Empties it self, farre thence the filth out-throwing:

This gate endow'd with many properties,

Yet for his office sight and naming flies;

Therefore between two hills, in darkest valley lies.

44

ttThe thinne entrails serve for the carrying, & through-concocting of the chyle: the thicker for the gathering, and containing the excrements.To that Arch-citie of this government

The three first pipes the ready feast convoy:

The other three, in baser office spent,

Fling out the dregs, which else the kitchin cloy.

uuThey are all sprinkled with numberlesse little veins, that no part of the chyle might escape till all be brought to the liver.In every one the Hepar keeps his spies;

Who if ought good with evil blended lies,

Thence bring it back again to Hepars treasuries.

p. 2845

Two severall covers fence these twice three pipes:

xxEpiploon (or Overswimmer) descends below the navill; and ascends above the highest entrails, of skinny substance all interlaced with fat.The first from over-swimming takes his name,

Like cobweb-lawn woven with hundred stripes:

yyThe Mesenterium (or midst amongst the entrails, whence it takes the name) ties and knits the entrails together: it hath a double tunicle.The second, strength'ned with a double frame,

From forein enmitie the pipes maintains:

zzPancreas (or All flesh, for so it seems) is laid as a pillow under the stomack; and sustains the veins that are dispread from the gate-vein.Close by the Pancreas stands, who ne're complains;

Though prest by all his neighbours, he their state sustains.

46

Next Hepar, chief of all these lower parts,

One of the three, yet of the three the least.

But see, the Sunne, like to undaunted hearts,

Enlarges in his fall his ample breast:

Now hie we home; the pearled dew ere long

Will wet the mothers, and their tender young:

To morrow with the day we may renew our song.