194
COWLEY'S POEMS.
[B. I.
A general joy at this glad news appear'd, 65
For David all men lov'd, and Saul they fear'd.
Angels and men did peace and David love,
But Hell did neither him nor that approve;
From man's agreement fierce alarms they take,
And quiet here, does there new business make. 70
Beneath the silent chambers of the earth,
Where the sun's fruitful beams give metals birth
Where he the growth of fatal gold-does see,
Gold, which above more influence has than he;
Beneath the dens where unfletcht tempests lie, 75
And infant winds their tender voices try;
Beneath the mighty ocean's wealthy caves;
Beneath th' eternal fountain of all waves,
Where their vast court the mother-waters keep,
And, undisturb'd by moons, in silence sleep; 80
There is a place, deep, wondrous deep, below.
Which genuine Night and Horror does o'erflow;
No bound controls th' unwearied space, but hell,
Endless as those dire pains that in it dwell.
Here no dear glimpse of the sun's lovely face 85
Strikes through the solid darkness of the place;
No dawning morn does her kind reds display;
One slight weak beam would here be thought the day:
No gentle stars with their fair gems of light
Offend the tyrannous and unquestion'd night. 90
Here Lucifer, the mighty captive, reigns;
Proud 'midst his woes, and tyrant in his chains;
Once general of a gilded host of sprites.
Like Hesper, leading forth the spangled nights;
For David all men lov'd, and Saul they fear'd.
Angels and men did peace and David love,
But Hell did neither him nor that approve;
From man's agreement fierce alarms they take,
And quiet here, does there new business make. 70
Beneath the silent chambers of the earth,
Where the sun's fruitful beams give metals birth
Where he the growth of fatal gold-does see,
Gold, which above more influence has than he;
Beneath the dens where unfletcht tempests lie, 75
And infant winds their tender voices try;
Beneath the mighty ocean's wealthy caves;
Beneath th' eternal fountain of all waves,
Where their vast court the mother-waters keep,
And, undisturb'd by moons, in silence sleep; 80
There is a place, deep, wondrous deep, below.
Which genuine Night and Horror does o'erflow;
No bound controls th' unwearied space, but hell,
Endless as those dire pains that in it dwell.
Here no dear glimpse of the sun's lovely face 85
Strikes through the solid darkness of the place;
No dawning morn does her kind reds display;
One slight weak beam would here be thought the day:
No gentle stars with their fair gems of light
Offend the tyrannous and unquestion'd night. 90
Here Lucifer, the mighty captive, reigns;
Proud 'midst his woes, and tyrant in his chains;
Once general of a gilded host of sprites.
Like Hesper, leading forth the spangled nights;
