Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PREPAPATORY MEDITATIONS, 1ST SERIES: 9, by EDWARD TAYLOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PREPAPATORY MEDITATIONS, 1ST SERIES: 9, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Did ever lord such noble house mentain
Last Line: With living bread to thy eternall prayse.
Subject(s): Puritans In Literature


Did Ever Lord such noble house mentain,
As my Lord doth? Or such a noble Table?
'T would breake the back of kings, nay, Monarchs brain
To do it. Pish, the Worlds Estate's not able.
I'le bet a boast with any that this Bread
I eate excells what ever Caesar had.

Take earth's Brightst Darlings, in whose mouths all flakes
Of Lushous Sweets she hath do croude their Head,
Their Spiced Cups, sweet Meats, and Sugar Cakes
Are but dry Sawdust to this Living Bread.
I'le pawn my part in Christ, this Dainti'st Meate,
Is Gall, and Wormwood unto what I eate.

The Boasting Spagyrist (Insipid Phlegm,
Whose Words out strut the Sky) vaunts he hath rife
The Water, Tincture, Lozenge, Gold, and Gem,
Of Life itselfe. But here's the Bread of Life.
I'le lay my Life, his Aurum Vitae Red
Is to my Bread of Life, worse than DEAD HEAD.

The Dainti'st Dish of Earthly Cookery
Is but to fat the body up in print.
This Bread of Life doth feed the Soule, whereby
Its made the Temple of Jehovah in't.
I'le Venture Heav'n upon't that Low or High
That eate this Living Bread shall never dy.

This Bread of Life, so excellent, I see
The Holy Angells doubtless would, if they
Were prone unto base Envie, Envie't mee.
But oh! come, tast how sweet it is. I say,
I'le Wage my Soule and all therein uplaid,
This is the sweetest Bread that e're God made.

What wonder's here, that Bread of Life should come
To feed Dead Dust? Dry Dust eate Living Bread?
Yet Wonder more by far may all, and some
That my Dull Heart's so dumpish when thus fed.
Lord Pardon this, and feed mee all my dayes,
With Living Bread to thy Eternall Prayse.





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