But he that hides a dark foul, and foul thoughts,
Benighted walks under the mid-day Sun;
Himself is his own dungeon.
2. Bro. 'Tis most true,
That mufing meditation most affects
The penfive fecrecy of defart Cell,
Far from the chearful haunt of men and herds,
And fits as fafe as in a Senat House,
For who would rob a Hermit of his Weeds,
His few Books, or his Beads, or Maple Dish,
Or do his gray Hairs any violence?
But Beauty, like the fair Hefperian Tree
Laden with blooming Gold, had need the guard
Of Dragon-watch with uninchanted eye,
To fave her bloffoms, and defend her fruit
From the rafh hand of bold Incontinence.
You may as well spread out the unfun'd heaps
Of Mifers Treasure by an Out-law's den,
And tell me it is safe, as bid me hope
Danger will wink on Opportunity,
And let a single helpless Maiden pass
Uninjur'd in this wilde furrounding waft.
Of night, or loneliness it wreaks me not,
Q
I fear the dread events that dog them both,
Left fome ill-greeting touch attempt the person
Of our unowned Sifter.
Eld. Bro. I do not, Brother,
Inferr, as if I thought my Sifter's ftate
Secure without all doubt, or controversie:
Yet where an equal poife of hope and fear
Does arbitrate th' Event, my Nature is
That I encline to hope, rather than fear,
And gladly banish fquint fufpicion.
My Sifter is not fo defenceless left
As you imagine, fhe has a hidden strength
Which you remember not.
2. Bro. What hidden strength,
Unless the strength of Heav'n, if you mean that?
Eld.Bro. I mean that too, but yet a hidden strength,
Which if Heav'n gave it, may be term'd her own:
'Tis chastity, my Brother, chastity:
She that has that, is clad in compleat fteel,
And like a quiver'd Nymph with Arrows keen
May trace huge Forrests, and unharbour'd Heaths,
Infamous Hills, and fandy perilous wildes,
Where through the facred rays of Chastity,
No favage fierce Bandite, or Mountaneer
Will dare to foyl her Virgin purity,
Yea there, where very defolation dwells
By grots, and caverns fhag'd with horrid fhades,
She may pass on with unblench'd majesty,
Be it not done in pride, or in presumption.
Some fay no evil thing that walks by night,
In fog, or fire, by lake, or moorish fen,
Blew meager Hag, or ftubborn unlaid Ghost,
That breaks his magick chains at Curfue time,
No Goblin, or fwart Faiery of the mine,
Hath hurtful power o'er true Virginity.
Do ye believe me yet, or shall I call
Antiquity from the old Schools of Greece
To teftifie the arms of Chastity?
Hence had the huntress Dian her dread bow,
Fair filver-shafted Queen for ever chaste, Berm
Wherewith fhe tam'd the brinded Lioness:
And spotted mountain Pard, but fet at noughti
The frivolous bolt of Cupid, gods and menbolt
Fear'd her sternfrown, and she wasQueen o'th Woods. What was that fnaky-headed Gordan fhield fo
Wherewith the freez'd her foes to congeal'd stone?
But rigged looks of chaste aufterity,
And noble grace that dafh'd brute violence
With fudden adoration, and blank aw.
So dear to Heav'n is Saintly Chastity,
That when a Soul is found fincerely so,
A thousand liveried Angels lacky her,
Driving far off each thing of fin and guilt,
And in clear dream, and folemn vision,
Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear,
Till oft converfe with Heav'nly habitants
Begin to cast a beam on th' outward shape,
The unpolluted Temple of the mind,
And turns it by degrees to the Soul's effence,
Till all be made immortal: but when Luft,
By unchafte looks, loofe geftures, and foul talk,
But most by leud and lavish act of fin,
Lets in defilement to the inward parts,
The Soul grows clotted by contagion,
Imbodies, and imbrutes, till fhe quit lofe
The divine property of her first being.
Such are those thick and gloomy shadows damp
Oft feen in Charnel Vaults, and Sepulchers,
Lingring, and fitting by a new made grave,
As loath to leave the Body that it lov'd,
And linkt it felf by carnal fenfuality
To a degenerate and degraded state.
2. Bro. How charming is divine Philofophy! Not harsh, and crabbed, as dull Fools fuppofe, But musical as is Apollo's Lute,
And a perpetual feast of Nectar'd fweets,
Where no crude furfeit reigns. Eld.Bro.Lift,lift,I hear Some far off hallow break the filent Air.
2. Bro. Methought fo too, what should it be? Eld. Bro. For certain
Either fome one like us night-founder'd here,
Or elfe fome Neighbour Wood-man, or, at worst,
Some roaving Robber calling to his fellows.
2.Bro.Heav'n keep my Sifter. Agen,agen,and near;
Beft draw, and stand upon our guard.
If he be friendly he comes well, if not,
Defence is a good cause, and Heav'n be for us.
The attendant Spirit, habited like a Shepherd.
That hallow I should know, what are you? speak;
Come not too near, you fall on Iron stake else.)
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