edited

(as edited by Geoffrey Keynes)

then She bore Pale desire, father of Curiosity, a Virgin ever young. And after, Leaden Sloth, from whom came Ignorance, who brought forth Wonder. These are the Gods which came from fear, for Gods like these nor male nor female are, but Single Pregnate, or, if they list, together mingling bring forth mighty pow'rs. She knew them not; yet they all war with Shame and strengthen her weak arm. [Now day arose, the golden Sun his mighty Race began, Refreshing the Cold earth with beaming Joy (del.) But Pride awoke, nor knew that Joy was born, and taking Pois'nous Seed from her own Bowels in the Monster Shame infus'd; forth Came Ambition, crawling like a toad. Pride Bears it in her Bosom, and the Gods all bow to it. So Great its Power that Pride, inspir'd by it, Prophetic saw the Kingdoms of the World & all their Glory, Giants of Mighty arm, before the flood, Cain's City. built with Murder. Then Babel mighty Rear'd him to the Skies, Babel with thousand tongues. Confusion it was call'd. and Given to Shame; this Pride observing inly Griev'd, but knew not that the rest was Giv'n to Shame as well as this. [words del.]

Then Nineva & Babylon & Costly tyre And ev'n Jerusalem was shewn, the holy City. Then Athens' learning, & the Pride of Greece; and, further from the Rising Sun, was Rome, seated on Seven hills, the mistress of the world, Emblem of Pride. She Saw the Arts their treasures Bring, and luxury his bounteous table spread: but now a cloud o'er casts and back to th'East. to Constantine's Great City, Empire fled, Ere long to bleed & die, A sacrifice done by a Priestly hand. So, once, the Sun his Chariot drew back to prolong a Good King's life. The Cloud o'er past & Rome now Shone again, Miter'd & Crown'd with triple crown. Then Pride was better Pleas'd. She Saw the World fall down in Adoration. [Nor could Refrain but Cry'd, "O this is the blest time when Pride shall hold the sway" (del.)] But now, full to the Setting Sun, a Sun arose out of the Sea; it rose, & shed Sweet Influence o'er the Earth. Pride feared for her City, but not long, for looking stedfastly, she saw that Pride Reign'd here. Now Direful Pains accost her, and Still pregnant, so Envy came, & Hate, twin progeny. Envy hath a serpent's head of fearful bulk, hissing with hundred tongues; her pois'nous breath breeds Satire foul contagion, from which none are free: o'er whelmd by ever During Thirst she swalloweth her own Poison, which consumes her nether Parts, from Whence a River Springs. Most Black & loathsom through the land it Runs, Rolling with furious Noise; but at the last it settles in a lake called Oblivion: 'tis at this River's fount where ev'ry mortal's Cup is Mix't. My Cup is fill'd with Envy's Rankest Draught [and Death is in the Pot (del.)]; a miracle, No less, can set me Right. Desire still pines but for one Cooling Drop, and 'tis Deny'd; while others in Contentment's downy Nest do sleep, it is the cursed thorn wounding my breast that makes me sing: however sweet 'tis Envy that Inspires my Song: prickt by the fame of others how I mourn, and my complaints are Sweeter than their Joys; but O, could I at Envy Shake my hands, my notes should Rise to meet the New born Day. Hate, Meager hag sets Envy on, Unable to Do ought herself, but Worn away a Bloodless Daemon. The Gods all Serve her at her will; so great her Power is, like fabled hecate, she doth bind them to her law. Far in a Direful Cave she lives unseen, Clos'd from the Eye of Day, to the hard Rock transfixt by fate, and here she works her witcheries, that when she Groans she shakes the Solid Ground. Now Envy she controlls with numming trance, & Melancholy, sprung from her dark womb. There is a Melancholy, O how lovely 'tis whose heaven is in the heavenly Mind, for she from heaven came, and where she goes heaven still doth follow her. She brings true Joy once fled, & Contemplation is her Daughter. Sweet Contemplation! [She teacheth knowledge how to know (del.)] She brings humility to man. "Take her," she says, "& wear her in thine heart, lord of thyself, thou then art lord of all." [humility, her Daughter (del.)] 'Tis Contemplation teacheth knowledge truly how to know, and Reinstates him on his throne, once lost; how lost, I'll tell. But stop the motley Song. I'll shew how Conscience Came from heaven. But O, who listens to his Voice. 'Twas Conscience who brought Melancholy down, Conscience was sent, a Guard to Reason, Reason once fairer than the light, till foul'd in Knowledge's dark Prison house. For knowledge drove sweet Innocence away, and Reason would have follow'd, but fate suffer'd not; then down came Conscience with his lovely band. The Eager Song Goes on, telling how Pride against her father Warr'd & Overcame. Down his white Beard the silver torrents Roll and swelling sighs burst forth, his Children all in arms appear to tear him from his throne. Black was the deed, most Black. Shame in a Mist sat Round his troubled head, & filld him with confusion. Fear as a torrent wild Roar'd Round his throne; the mighty pillars shake. Now all the Gods in black'ning Ranks appear, like a tempestuous thunder Cloud. Pride leads. them on. Now they surround the God and bind him fast. Pride bound him, then usurp'd o'er all the Gods. She Rode upon the swelling wind, and scatter'd all who durst t'oppose; but Shame opposing fierce and hovering over her in the darkning storm, She brought forth Rage. And Shame bore honour, & made league with Pride. Meanwhile Strife, Mighty Prince, was born. Envy in direful Pains him bore; then Envy brought forth Care. Care sitteth in the wrinkled brow. Strife, shapeless, sitteth under thrones of kings, like smould'ring fire, or in the Buzz of cities flies abroad. Care brought forth Covet, Eyeless & prone to th'Earth, and Strife brought forth Revenge. Hate, brooding in her Dismal den, grew Pregnant, & [brought forth (del.)] bore Scorn, & Slander. Scorn waits on Pride, but Slander flies around the World to do the Work of hate, her drudge & Elf: but Policy doth drudge for hate, as well as Slander, & oft makes use of her. Policy, Son of Shame. Indeed hate controlls all the Gods at will. Policy brought forth Guile & fraud; these Gods last nam'd live in the Smoke of Cities, on Dusky wing breathing forth Clamour & Destruction; alas, in Cities where's the man whose face is not a mask unto his heart? Pride made a Goddess fair, or Image rather, till knowledge animated it; 'twas Calld Self love. The Gods admiring loaded her with Gifts, as once Pandora. She 'mongst men was sent, and worser ills attended her by far. She was a Goddess Powerful & bore Conceit [& Emulation. Conceit] and Shame bore honour & made league with Pride & Policy doth dwell with her by whom she had Mistrust & Suspition; [by Shame she had a Son call'd Honour who bore Revenge (del.)] then [Self love (del.)] bore a Daughter called Emulation, who married honour; these follow her around the World. Go See the city friends, Join'd Hand in Hand. Go see the Natural tie of flesh & blood. Go See more strong the ties of marriage love—thou Scarce Shall find, but Self love Stands Between.