Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PINDARIC ODE: THE ECSTASY [EXTASIE], by ABRAHAM COWLEY


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PINDARIC ODE: THE ECSTASY [EXTASIE], by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I leave mortality, and things below
Last Line: And mount her self, like him, to 'eternity in fire.


1.

I Leave Mortality, and things below;
I have no time in Complements to waste,
Farewel to 'ye all in haste,
For I am call'd to go.
A Whirlwind bears up my dull Feet,
Th' officious Clouds beneath them meet,
And Lo! I mount, and Lo!
How small the biggest Parts of Earth's proud Tittle show.

2.

Where shall I find the noble British Land?
Lo! I at last a Northern Speck espy,
Which in the Sea does lye,
And seems a Grain o' th' Sand!
For this will any Sin, or Bleed?
Of Civil Wars is this the Meed?
And is it this, alas, which we
Oh Irony of Words! do call Great Britanie?

3.

I pass by th' arched Magazines, which hold
Th' eternal Stores of Frost, and Rain, and Snow;
Dry, and secure I go,
Nor shake with Fear, or Cold.
Without Affright or Wonder
I meet Clouds charg'd with Thunder,
And Lightnings in my way
Like harmless Lambent Fires about my Temples play.

4.

Now into 'a gentle Sea of rolling Flame
I'm plung'd, and still mount higher there,
As Flames mount up through Air.
So perfect, yet so tame,
So great, so pure, so bright a Fire
Was that unfortunate Desire,
My faithful Breast did cover,
Then, when I was of late a wretched Mortal Lover.

5.

Through several Orbs which one fair Planet bear,
Where I behold distinctly as I pass
The Hints of Galiloeo's Glass,
I touch at last the Spangled Sphere.
Here all th' extended Sky
Is but one Galaxy,
'Tis all so bright and gay,
And the joint Eyes of Night make up a perfect Day.

6.

Where am I now? Angels and God is here;
An unexhausted Ocean of Delight
Swallows my Senses quite,
And drowns all What, or How, or Where.
Not Paul, who first did thither pass,
And this great World's Columbus was,
The tyrannous Pleasure could express.
Oh 'tis too much for Man! but let it ne'er be less.

7.

The mighty 'Elijah mounted so on high,
That second Man, who leapt the Ditch where all
The rest of Mankind fall,
And went not downwards to the Sky.
With much of Pomp and Show
(As Conquering Kings in Triumph go)
Did he to Heav'n approach,
And wondrous was his Way, and wondrous was his Coach.

8.

'Twas gawdy all, and rich in every Part,
Of Essences of Gems, and Spirit of Gold
Was its substantial Mould;
Drawn forth by Chymique Angels' Art.
Here with Moon-beams 'twas silver'd bright,
There double-gilt with the Sun's Light,
And mystique Shapes cut round in it,
Figures that did transcend a Vulgar Angel's Wit.

9.

The Horses were of temper'd Lightning made,
Of all that in Heav'n's beauteous Pastures feed,
The noblest, sprightful'st Breed,
And flaming Mains their Necks array'd.
They all were shod with Diamond,
Not such as here are found,
But such light solid ones as shine
On the Transparent Rocks o' th' Heav'nly Chrystalline.

10.

Thus mounted the great Prophet to the Skies;
Astonish'd Men who oft had seen Stars fall,
Or that which so they call,
Wonder'd from hence to see one rise.
The soft Clouds melted him a Way,
The Snow and Frosts which in it lay
A while the sacred Footsteps bore,
The Wheels and Horses' Hoofs hizz'd as they past them o'er.

11.

He past by th' Moon and Planets, and did fright
All the Worlds there which at this Meteor gaz'd,
And their Astrologers amaz'd
With th' unexampled Sight.
But where he stopp'd will ne'er be known,
'Till Phoenix Nature aged grown
To 'a better Being do aspire,
And mount her self, like him, to 'Eternity in Fire.





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