Echos from the Sixth Trumpet, Part 4
The DARK LANTHORN, Imprinted 1650.
THis is a Parabolical and Enigmatical Poem, containing, with ſome plain Precautions and Remembrances, many dark Predictions; and begins thus:
He, from whoſe perfect Light, all true Lights come,
Spake Parables; yea, ſpake nought elſe to ſome:
And Providence by many various wayes
Of Diſpenſation, to the world conveyes
The means of carrying on thoſe works which tend
To mans perfection at his latter end:
And, to the wonderful accompliſhment
Of what eternally is his intent,
Bringeth about oft times the ſelf-ſame things,
(Or ſuch like) toward their accompliſhings,
That prudent men might apprehend thereby
What he deſigns, and therewithal comply, &c.
And in the Seventh Page he proceeds thus;
I may perhaps be, among others, one
Who was deſign'd for ſervice to be done
In order thereunto (as I conceive
I am, and as (when I am gone) ſome will believe,
Though few ſo think now; for although I dreſs
The Mind and Matter of my Meſſages
In meaſur'd words (and trimmed with ſuch Fancies
As are allowed in Poetick Frencies,
To paſs for ſober Garbs) yet, now and then
I blunder out that which meer worldly men
Count madneſs; and what oft the beſt men too
Sometimes, do think becomes not me to do.
But I beſt know my warrant, and proceed
As I am mov'd (with little fear or heed,
What others judge) and that which makes me dare
What ſeemeth madneſs, helpeth to prepare
Such ſtrains, as other while produceth heeding
Of what had not elſe been thought worth the reading:
And, theſe my Ridlings now, are an Invention
Which partly were deſign'd with that intention;
And partly likewiſe to amuſe thoſe Readers
Who to my Principles are counter-pleaders.
When many think the Times afford me may
Enough to ſpeak of, I have nought to ſay.
When I to ought am called, I caſt by
My own Affairs, and to that Call apply
As I occaſion find; venting ſometimes
My thoughts in Proſe, and otherwhile in Rimes;
One while in ſharp and bitter ſtrains reproving;
Sometimes by Admonitions calm and loving;
Yea, Jiggs of recreation ſometimes fidling,
And now I'm fall'n into a fit of Ridling.
Riddle my Riddles then, you that have heard
Truths oft, and plainly ſpoke without regard,
(Except it were in malice to combine
Againſt their peace, who caſt their Pearls to ſwine)
Riddle them if you can; for in them lies
A Dark Character of our Deſtinies.
Thoſe things within theſe Problems couched are,
Which I once thought more plainly to declare;
But, from that purpoſe have now chang'd my mind,
That ſeeing you might ſee, yet ſtill be blind:
That you might read, and yet not underſtand
The works which GOD and Men have now in hand.
Till thoſe Events befall to you, which may
Produce thoſe good effects which you delay.
To which intent, that which I would unfold,
Shall Herogliphically now be told.
Page the 21, after many pre-occupations to confirm himſelf in proſecuting what he intended, he thus again proceeds.
But I will wheel about, and with the Rein
Turn Pegaſus into his path again:
Though he in his digreſſions (as we ſay
Of Beggars) never is beſide his way.
Once on a time (thus did old Tales begin
Ere I was born, or thought ſo to have been)
A fooliſh People, (overmuch at eaſe)
Their wantonneſs and vanity to pleaſe,
Among their May-games, brought home from the wood
Trees, which had elſe till now unheeded ſtood.
Of theſe they made, by hewings, knocks & ſmoothing,
That look like ſomething, which reſembled nothing.
And out of ſhapeleſs, knotty Loggs, did hew
Some Statues, not uncomely to the view.
Theſe, ere quite finiſht (with ſome jeers and mocks)
They ſet up higher over other Blocks.
Them ſo repolliſhing, and painting ſo,
That of what ſtuff they were, few men could know.
Beginning then their own work to admire,
They rais'd them higher, and a little higher,
Till Idols they became; with whom they grew
At firſt familiar, and did them beſtrew
With flow'rs and garlands; ſhortly after they
Bow'd humbly down before them ev'ry day.
Till cuſtom had their Judgment quite befool…d:
For, when they them inſhrined did behold,
Sparkling with Jewels, and with Gold array'd,
They of their own Creations grew afraid;
And, at the laſt (as at the laſt ſuch do,
Who after their own Fancies whoring go)
They much repenting their fond Superſtition,
Bewail'd the ſlavery of their condition;
With ſome appearances of an intent
To grow more wiſe, as well as penitent.
Yea, to blaſpheme their new-made Gods they ſpar'd not,
And would have-pull'd them down again, but dar'd not.
For, by their flat'ring Attributes long given,
They had advanc't them to a Sphere (or Heaven)
Where uncontroul'd, a Power they exerciſ…d
According to their Will; and them deſpis'd
Whoſe hands had made them, and whoſe breath had blown them
Too high for their Ambitiouſneſs to own them.
Their Incantations by degrees had brought
Strange Spirits into what their hands had wrought,
Alluring, and enabling them unto
Thoſe actings which their Makers might undo.
Yet ſtill theſe Block-heads perſever'd, and will
To make ſuch Idols, and adore them ſtill,
Till both they and their Puppets are deſtroy'd,
Unleſs the GOD of Gods make juſt fears void:
For, moſt men being of a ſlaviſh mind,
Are ſo much unto ſlaviſhneſs enclin'd,
That to fulfil their ſlaviſh luſt they'l fawn
Upon a Dog, and lay their ſouls to pawn.
Riddle this Riddle, if you can, and tell
What People this may be, and where they dwell,
Which I believing you with eaſe may do,
Will add this following Parable thereto.
There was a time when ſilly Bees could ſpeak,
(A People of much induſtry, though weak)
Among themſelves, theſe lately made great moans,
As being much oppreſſed by their Drones,
Who (having made incurſions among thoſe
That had an uncontroulable diſpoſe
In their Republike) did in various wiſe,
Encroachments make on their Proprieties,
And greedily unto themſelves derive
The fatneſs and the ſweetneſs of the Hive.
Complaints in private no redreſs obtaining,
Encreaſe to open and avow'd complaining;
Which finding like ſucceſſes, they begun
To buz, as when a ſwarming time comes on:
Then to ſhut up their Cells, to ſhake their wings,
To leave their wonted work, and ſhew their ſtings.
At firſt the Drones were frighted much thereat,
But (being not ſo wiſe as they were fat)
Neglected ſtill the courſe which might prevent
The miſchiefs then appearing imminent.
Which when I ſaw, I would no longer ſtay,
But ſaid, God help them, and ſo came away.
This Parable, if rightly moraliz'd,
Affords a meaning not to be deſpis'd.
And ſo doth what next follows. As I went
On Pilgrimage unto the Parliament,
I there attending ſaw ſome of the Cocks
(Which kept our Hens and Capons from the Fox)
With broken wings, with backs without a Feather,
To hide their naked bodies from the weather.
With plumeleſs tailes, with ſcarred necks & breaſts,
VVith empty bellies, with their combs and creſts
Quite worn away, and ſcraping with their feet
On Dunghils for their food, and in the ſtreet,
So deſpicably, that it could appear
By nothing (ſave their ſpurres) what once they were:
And Popinjayes and Parrots clad and fed
With what the valour of theſe purchaſed;
Theſe trim'd up in their Feathers, ſtrutting by
Did caſt upon them a diſdainful eye,
Which heeding, I ſuppoſe (I tell you true)
To be no good Preſage. Pray what think you?
News, if you look for, I but little know
Save ſuch as this next Parable doth ſhow,
A fair Ship now lies floating on the Flouds,
Well fraught with Paſſ…ngers, well fill'd with goods,
Lab'ring to fix an Anchor on the ſtrand
Of her wiſht Harbour, which lies near at hand.
By many ſtorms much tackling ſhe hath ſpent,
Her Maſts are ſhatter'd, and her Sailes are rent:
Her Ammunition, and her ſtores are waſted,
Her bread and beaverage is evil taſted,
Her Keel ſprings leaks, through her uncawked ſeams,
Her Knees are weakned, broken are her beams,
Her Pump is crack't, no Cable ſound hath ſhe,
And Anchor's have been ſlipt, till none there be.
Her Helm hangs looſe; her Card hath great defects,
Her Compaſs likewiſe often interdicts,
And ev'ry where ſhe crazineſs doth feel
From Prow to Stern, from Top-maſt to the Keal.
In this condition to and fro ſhe drives,
And on the Waves with much ado ſhe lives:
For, now of late again, the Sea grows high,
A ſtiff gale blows, and ſhe expos'd doth lye
To many hazards cloſe without a Barr
Betwixt two Fore-lands which in kenning are.
If ſhe to Seaward forth again ſhould stand,
There Pirates threaten her; if then to Land
She makes, the Rocks lye ſcatter'd here and there,
In which as great or greater dangers are.
And which is worſe, they who ſhould be her guide,
Are falſe, and mutinouſly qualified.
Some ignorant, ſome treacherous, and ſome
Ambitious how poſſeſſors to become
Of what belongs to others. Some of thoſe
Who have this Publike Ship at their diſpoſe,
Have in delayes their time and ſtores miſpent,
For private ends, and for accompliſhment▪
Of worſe Deſigns, and in this great diſtreſs,
(Partly through fear, in part through guiltineſs)
So much amus'd, and ſo amazed are
That, they are at a loſs what courſe to ſtear
Both to ſecure themſelves, and their Deſign,
Without which, to no courſe they will încline, &c.
But maugre all theſe hazards, ſhe at laſt
In her wiſht Harbour ſhall an Anchor caſt,
And take in both good Pilots and Recruits,
When her Fate ſeems to promiſe no ſuch fruits.
You therefore, who conceive your Intereſt
To be concern'd, by what is here expreſt,
Praiſe GOD alone, when ſafe this Ship ſhall be,
For to ſecure her there is none but He,
And, let not any to whom this relates,
Slight what the Parable inſinuates,
Which next enſueth: For, it hath ſome uſe
That much to their advantage may conduce:
A home-br…d Lyon (of a hair unknown,
In Africa) by being overgrown,
And dreadful to his Keepers, ſhall thereby
Awake the rage of ſmother'd Jealouſie,
And loſe his Tayle; except between his paws
He couch his head, and hide his teeth and claws,
Or elſe grow Rampant; what will follow then?
Ask thoſe you credit, they are cunning men;
Of me you ask in vain; for 'tis my Fate
Seldom to be believ'd, till 'tis too late,
This was interpreted as a Relative to Oliver Cromwel, then Lord General of the Army, whoſe Arms was a White Lyon. It follows thus:
—They who have took delight
In deeds of darkneſs, will put out the light
By which the footſteps of their Foes are known,
And, whereby they might ſee to guide their own.
Inſtead thereof, they raiſe and follow ſhall
An Ignis fatuus, which will hazard all;
And Providence to each man ſhall diſpoſe
That which for his chief happineſs he choſe.
The Dogs unto their vomit ſhall retire:
The Swine, who love to wallow in the mire,
Themſelves with their beloved filth ſhall fill;
And they who are unclean, ſhall be ſo ſtill.
The wilful Adders who do ſtop their ears,
And will not heed the Charmer whom he hears,
Shall feel a voice within them, which will ſhake them
Out of their dumps, & from their deafneſs wake them
When 'tis too late (it may be) to prevent
The dint of their forewarned detriment.
The Leaches ſhall by Salt a vomit take,
Or elſe continue ſucking till they break.
The Bubbles, who in emptineſs do find
Moſt pleaſure, ſhall be puffed up with wind,
Till blown up into nothing, there appear
No ſigns that in the world ſuch Bladders were.
The Sons of Earth, who with the GODS make war,
Shall heap up Hills on Hills, till cruſht they are
By their own handy-works. The Shrubs now grown
More lofty than the Cedars, they broke down;
Among their thorns and leaves a fire do hide,
Which on a ſudden will conſume their pride.
The Grubbs and Maggots (but ere while ſo ſmall,
So poor and weak, that they could hardly crawle)
Have got bulk, ſtrength, new forms, aſpiring wings,
Yea, dreadful teeth, and horns, and claws, and ſtings;
But, by a ſtorm, whereof they have no dread,
They ſhall conſume as faſt as they were bred.
Out of the putrified barbed Steed,
Shall generated be a numerous breed
Of noiſome Hornets, which abroad will flye,
Much miſchief acting, and next Winter dye.
The blaſted Orange, and the crooked Vine,
With other Plants on either ſide of Rhine,
Shall twiſt together, that beneath their ſhade,
A ſhelter for the Thiſtle may be made,
Till they perceive what Plagues are in purſuit
Of that ejected Plant, Branch, Root and Fruit:
Then will they wiſer grow, leſt they become
Expoſed juſtly to the ſelf-ſame doom.
Mean while the Tawny Olive ſhall aſſay
His Roots into theſe Valleys to convey.
From whence it was removed, and effect
Thereby what very few do now ſuſpect,
Except the Willow and the Oak foreſee
What for their mutual weal ſhould acted be,
Whereby they fruſtrate may a grand Deſign
Which is on foot, both States to undermine;
And they who thereunto firſt Movers are,
Shall of that Bleſſing reap the greateſt ſhare.
Obſerve this well; If you hereafter fee
(Which peradventure may permitted be)
The Red-Croſs from its former height decline,
And for a time the Half-Moon Northward ſhine
With an ill Influence upon the Seas,
Beyond the Pillars of great Hercules,
And not be retrograde, till it hath more
Effects that way, then ever heretofore;
Expect ſome conſequence will then enſue,
Which many who yet dream not of, will rue.
But loſſes are ſometimes a gainful prize;
By overſights men grow to be more wiſe;
And they who heed not now what doth concern
Their welfare, will perhaps more wiſdom learn,
When more Experience makes their Judgment ſtronger.
By ſuff'ring loſs and ſhame a little longer.
We on this ſide the Water are not yet
Confus'd enough, that order to beget
That muſt reform us; and ſhall here therefore
Purſue ſelf-intereſt yet more and more,
Till ſuch as are in Pow'r vouchſafe to hear
The Counſel of their ſlighted Ingineer.
The Old Robe with New Cloth will patched be,
Though Rents thereby ſtill wider made they ſee,
Till every Rag is quite worn out, and then
They with a whole Robe ſhall be cloth'd agen;
And they who own it, be ſecured more,
And much more dignifi'd then heretofore.
When they who would effect it, make their choices
As well by Lot Divine, as humane voices;
Whereto ſelf-ſeekers never will agree,
Till by ſome ſtreight it ſhall enforced be.
But when this comes to paſs, there will appear
A new Light ſhining in our Hemiſphear
That will diſperſe the Clouds and Fogs which make
So many croſs each other, and miſtake
The way to ſafety. Then, we ſhall perceive
Our Oppoſites deſire to interweave
Their Intereſt with ours, and if ſincere,
They ſhall, in what will be produced here
Partake; and both together then poſſeſs
Each other, and the world, in Chriſtian Peace,
Till he appeareth to aſcend the Throne,
Who muſt unite all Nations into one.
Then ſhall the glaring Comets which have ſeem'd
Fixt Stars, (and ſo by many are eſteem'd)
Ev'n they of greateſt magnitude, down from
Their heights be caſt, and more deſpis'd become
Then Gloworms, or thoſe rotten Chips that glare
In darkneſs, as if real lights they were:
Then every ſingle Perſon ſhall be brought
Unto his Teſt, and that which he hath wrought,
To trial comes; moreover they who now
By ſpoiles and by oppreſſion powerful grow,
Will then become the ſcorn of every one,
Whom they oppreſt, deſp…s'd and trampled on.
Then they who large Indulgencies contrive
For others, that themſelves they may forgive;
Who cunningly at faſt and looſe do play,
Who take to morrow, what they give to day;
And make their ſeeming favours means unto
Thoſe miſchiefs which their malice could not do;
Who, Spider-like, weave Cobwebs with pretence
To catch the Flyes alone, which give offence;
When none but harmleſs Bees their Engines take,
For Waſps and Hornets paſſage through them make.
They who do ſacrifice unto the dead,
That wherewithall the living ſhould be fed;
Who juſtifie the wicked in their way,
And unto death men innocent betray;
Theſe then, and all ſuch like, ſhall to their doom
With horror, fear, and with amazement come.
Page 33, it thus follows:
Then from the buried Oxe will forth ariſe
A ſwarm of thrifty Honey-making Flyes,
That ſhall with ſweetneſs and with plenty ſtore
Theſe Iſlands from the Midland to the ſhore,
And ſpread their Floating Hives on all the Seas,
'Twixt both the Tropicks, to th' Antipodes,
To make Preparatives for that which brings
Into one body all diſperſed things.
Some other things of no mean conſequence
I do foreſee approaching, not far hence;
But ſo obſcurely, that I cannot ſay
Without all doubtings, whereto tend they may;
For far beyond my apprehenſion lies
The Chain of thoſe remote Contingencies,
Which draw on future things, becauſe my Glaſs
Through which the notions of them are to paſs,
Is ſo defective, that they do perchance
Miſrepreſent them in ſome circumſtance.
Yet by the enlightnings which the Sacred Writ
On Sanctified Reaſon doth beget,
(If we well heed, conſider and compare
What things have been, with ſuch as preſent are
To GOD and Men relating) we of ſome
Things future, may aright inform'd become.