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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE TWO FIRES by JOSEPH BEAUMONT

First Line: AND SURELY LORD THOU KNOWEST BEST
Last Line: FOR BURNE WE MUST IN ONE.
Subject(s): HELL;

AND surely @3Lord@1 Thou knowest best,
Who didst that Fornace make;
Though venturous damning Men contest,
And thy Decrees doe break.

O why should Wee ordeine that Fire
For Man, which Thou at first
For Devills kindle'st, & conspire
With them to be accurst!

Fire of another mixture Thou
For Man prepared hast,
More hot then that in Hell below,
And which as long may last:

Delitious Fire, whose fuell is
Thine owne all-sweetning Graces,
Flames of eternall Love & blisse
Of ravishing Imbraces.

And that we might be sure to be
Its Sacrifices, Thou
Thy Selfe didst kindly come & see
It kindled heer below.

Whence, when Thou wert returned, Thou
Thy potent Spirit didst give,
Which on our Hearts mightst breathe & blow
And keep ye Fire alive.

What couldst Thou more! If we reject
Our proper @3FLAMES@1, sure none
But that @3STRANGE FIRE@1 we can expect;
For burne we must in One.



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