Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A SHORT AND SERIOUS NARRATIVE OF LONDONS FATAL FIRE, by SAMUEL WISEMAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A SHORT AND SERIOUS NARRATIVE OF LONDONS FATAL FIRE, by                    
First Line: When the black chamberlain of gloomy night
Last Line: In humble manner now their scornful feet.
Subject(s): London Fire (1666); Great Fire Of 1666


Saturday Night.

When the Black Chamberlain of gloomy Night,
(Dull Morpheus) to slumbering did invite
The drowsie Mortals of the Worlds wide Inn,
And bound each Soul up in a leaden Chain;
When Silence did her sable Curtains close,
To shut each Eye up in a sweet repose,
And every Bird under her tender wing
Had gave its harmless head a Covering,
And that the harnest Beasts that toyl all day,
(From thraldom freed) all down in quiet lay;
When all was whist, and still, and calm, and free,
And CINTHEA bright smil'd with serenitie,
Forth the dark Caverns of the dismal Earth,
A boisterous bellowing Wind rous'd and sprung forth,
And to disturb this quiet Silence came,
And with its shuffling feet spurn'd up a flame
From some few glowing Sparks, and made them be
Apt Actors for a purpos'd Tragedy.
The waken'd Flames augmented more and more,
Which churlish BOREAS buffets till they roar,
And with imperious Breath Commission gave,
That every new-born Spark should be his slave,
And lent them power to enact his Will,
And his tyrannick Precepts to fulfill;
And 'cause their Execution swift might be,
He gave them Wings to add Celerity,
Made every glimmering spark a curling Flame,
Whose powerful Force no power could quell, or tame.
And now the doleful, dreadful, hideous Note
Of FIRE, is screem'd out with a deep-strain'd throat;
Horror, and fear, and sad distracted Cryes,
Chide Sloth away, and bids the Sluggard rise;
Most direful Exclamations are let fly
From every Tongue, Tears stand in every Eye.

Sunday Morning.

Doubtful Constructions of far greater Harms,
Dis-peopl'd Churches, made men take up Arms,
And in confusion all together go,
In opposition of an unknown Foe.
Now from the Temple every one doth fly,
And run from Prayer (Heavens Artillery,)
For to encounter a suspected Foe
When that (alas) 'twas Heav'n had bent his Bow,
And Brow against us. O 'twas GOD alone
(That we ran from) to whom we should have flown.
PHOEBUS foresaw our Woes, and them bewail'd,
And sigh'd so long till he our Springs exhail'd.
Griev'd Heaven, sad Earth to see our angry GOD
Threat'ning poor LONDON with his flaming Rod,
Express'd a weighty sorrow, whilst that we
Imbrac'd our Sins, slighted our Misery.
Flames lash the Rich man from his wealthy Store,
And bid the ruin'd Young man work for more.
[ -- That Angry Majesty who in the Year
'(665.) by Death did clear
So many Thousands by the PESTILENCE,
And from their HABITATIONS sent them hence,
In (66.) a Woe as great did make,
And did the HOUSES from the DWELLERS take.]
The furious Fire rides on with full Career,
And no Repulse will its Force feel or fear,
Flings down strong Structures both of Stone and Wood,
And proudly scorns to have its Power withstood.
Th' undainted Courage of the crack'ling Flames
Slighting the weaker Current of the THAMES,
And whilst insulting at her Banks it stands,
In execution of the Winds Commands,
The Dreadful Shoar, the pleasant Streams doth make
To each Beholder, like a Flaming Lake.
Th' amazed Tydes do swiftly glide away,
And the sad News to NEPTUNE'S Court convey;
Of which, when once the Aged SIRE hears,
He sends them back replenish'd with his tears.
Her Neighboring Floods (alas) now useless are,
She onely serves on her tame Back to bear
Such Goods that frighted with the horrid shape
Of the most Dreadful Fire, did thither scape.

Sunday Night.

Now TITAN weary of this grievous Sight,
Resign'd to CINTHEA the Charge o'th' Night,
Took wings and flutter'd (frighted) to the WEST,
And charg'd that heavy Mortals should not rest.
At every drooping Brow, pale Fear doth stand
To keep out Slumber, Sleep to counter-mand:
In every Ear continual Dangers rattle,
Their Souls from self-security to startle;
A pensive Grief doth every heart array,
And Sighs call back the new departed day,
Spending the lingering hours of that Night
In restless groans. Viewing the dreadful Light
Belch forth new Blazes still, which AETNA like,
In every Soul doth deep amazement strike,
While some stand shivering in the street to see,
(But not prevent) approaching Misery:
Others at distance from the fearful Fire,
Of every hasty Passenger enquire
Of its sad fatal Progress: Others lye
Securely snorting in stupidity,
While some more careful to preserve their Wares,
Employ their indefatigable Cares,
And load the crackling Carriage with their store,
While others more necessitous and poor,
Not able for to bribe the churlish Slave
With such large Praemiums as now he'd have,
Burthen their own weak Backs, and sadly tire
Their faint and founder'd Limbs, to save the hire
Of an expensive Carr; which was a Rate
That did exceed (alas) some mens Estate!
This makes the thrifty Husband sweat to lugg
His Bed, and Boulster, Coverlet, and Rugg:
Now all turn Porters, poor, and wealthy men,
Slow Age, strong Youth, and little Childeren,
Each one the talent of his Strength imployes,
On every Back a ponderous Burthen lyes.
The AGED MAN, whose feeble Limbs to bear
His weaker Body scarcely able were,
(Without the help of his assisting Crutch,)
Necessity did lend him power such,
With ease to bear that which before he strove
With greatest pains to life, and could not move.
Now many wanting both a Purse and Pow'r
To their Assistance, let the Flames devour
That of which through their industry and care,
Themselves (not long since) happy Masters were.
Those that were Rich, and potent in Estate,
Within one Night this Fire did ruinate;
And other some by avaritious stealth,
In this Calamity have gain'd them wealth.
Thus was the first sad Night spun out in woe,
Carts all night long went rumbling to and fro,
And every throbbing heart with grief and care,
In expectation of the Morning were.

Munday Morning.

Now the Bright Traveller that never ceast,
But in a sweat came climbing up the East,
Lear'd through the Curtains of the drowsie Morn,
Fearing another PHOEBUS had been born;
Or else that JOVE some way displeas'd had sent
A new made Light to rule this Continent,
Blush'd red with fear, and at the first did seem
To curb the Reins of his curvetting Team,
But finding out what 'twas, he made no stay,
But shook his head, lash'd on, and rid away.
The spreading Flames now conquer all they meet,
And walk in Triumph through the frighted streets,
And finding in their fury such success,
Outragious grew, and become merciless,
CHURCHES & CHAPPELS, and brave HALLS pull down
And throw their towering Turrets to the ground,
And that which had withstood the hand of AGE,
Was spoil'd and ruin'd by its rave'nous rage:
Brave Edifices, and of comely state,
This cruel Fire doth delapidate,
Clambers the lofty Churches' stately walls,
And leaves them not till all to ruine falls.
And our distress in this the greater was,
In that just Heaven had made our hands (alas)
The active Instruments for to tear down
Our own beloved Mansions to the ground,
This we pursu'd with eager forwardness,
And still our best endeavours lack'd success,
Our care, our toyle, our labour never ceas'd,
(Nor did the fire) but furiously increas'd,
Until by 'ts piercing heat and powerful flashes,
What ere it touch'd, mouldred away to Ashes.
For now the fierce unbridl'd Flames presage
That we shall know the extent of their rage,
Begets a universal Conflagration,
Greater than ever any Generation
As yet ere knew, or heard of: Now it beats
A broad path way into the spacious streets,
Roves up to CORNHIL where with force they range,
Until they overthrow the ROYAL-CHANGE,
That stately Fabrick, and its STATUES rare,
Spoil'd and consum'd reduc'd to Ashes are,
But honouring Reverend GRESHAM'S Effigy,
Leaves him untoucht, and gently passeth by.

Munday Night.

Now did the Worlds bright Lamp (the SUN) expire,
And every STAR did to its Orb retire,
Whilst from the Fires foul stomack doth arise
Dark smoaky Vapours to the troubled Skies,
And sometimes from its yawning throat are sent
Bright Blazes to affright the Element:
Its ravenous Jaws feed on, and chop down store
Of slaughter'd Buildings, and roar out for more,
When as its greedy teeth had gnawn off all
About a Carcass, down it lets it fall;
And thus with base unsatiate appetite
In riotous spoils feasts on all day and night.
And now comes prancing to the POULTERY,
Commanding there a Goal-delivery,
That every pining Prisoner forthwith might,
His wish'd for Liberty enjoy that Night,
And so the strong built Walls its force did enter,
(Which to oppose 'tis bootless to adventure)
Thus in voracious manner crowding on,
With Blazes that anticipate the SUN.

Tuesday Morning.

Though Mellancholly Night had now flung by
Her spangl'd Mantle, yet the heavy Eye
Of every watchful Mortal doth retain
A cloudy Sorrow, swol'n big with rain;
Tempestuous Sighs arise from every breast,
And GRIEF'S sharp Iron-whip admits no rest.
And now the cruel Flames that did despise
All other streams, slight those fall from our Eyes.
O now the blazing and prodigious Fire,
Without remorse or pity, doth conspire
To lay our CITY desolate and waste,
And in regardless manner onwards past.
Through stately CHEAP, on both sides of the way,
And in such haste, as though it could not stay.
The shouting Wind pursues the Victory,
The Fire's displaying Flames his Ensigns be
Whilst blub-cheek'd BOREAS doth his Trumpet sound,
The affrighted Walls do totter and sink down,
To EOLUS rude conduct there are lent,
Of bright fac'd Souldiers a whole Regiment,
Whose flexive head his blustering voyce obey,
And in their march out-shine the Mid-Noon day;
And thus they bend their fierce course to'ards the West,
With flaming Feather in each glittering Crest.
The dreadful Blaze appearing unto some,
T' assimulate th' approaching DAY OF DOOME,
When all the World consum'd with Fire shall be,
And TIME give place unto ETERNITY:
Th' innumerous Sparks (that fall like feathered Snow)
Like Heaven rejected STARS do seem to shew,
And the huge crowding Mountains of thick Smoke
Like Heavens expanded Clouds appear to look.
And now it Roars, Cracks, Rends, Murmurs, and Raves,
Burying in ruines Sepulchers and Graves,
And with a perverse envious mind is bent
Not to leave standing one fair Monument,
And to the lofty Bells of CORNHIL, BOW,
That rung in pleasant Peals to us below,
And chanted Chiming Musick to each ear,
These Flames their strong ATLEAN Armes did Reer,
And soon as they on them their hot Palms lay,
Sink down with heat, and (like Lead) melt away.
At length a horrid, general Blaze appears,
With eager course onwards to'ards PAULS it steers.
And there it rally'd all its Force and Pow'r,
And with extended Jaws gap'd to devour
At once that stately TEMPLE, which did stand
So firmly propt by FAITHS supporting Hand;
To whose Tuition many Tradesmen chose
To trust unvalu'd Wares, and did 'em lose;
Their fond Belief accounted it to be
Beneath the reach of Fires malignity,
When they before had seen its Force to rave
From highest Loft, down to the lowest Cave.
Now to this brave CATHEDRAL coming near,
Her Vail it rends, doth her Immurements tear,
Staggers, and sinks within its hot Embraces:
And this thus vanquish'd, on in terror traces
To LUD'S strong Gate, and making there no stay,
Beat down the Prison Walls and went away,
Commanding in his march, that every where
At its approach, all PRISONERS be set clear.
Thus in a Body terrible and wide
Half a Miles breadth and more, from Waters side,
It bussel'd up to FLEET-STREET; coming there,
Each one now helpless grown, quite hopeless are:
For that the Fire ere WEDNESDAY Sun did shine,
Or CHURCHES brave had ruin'd Eighty Nine.
The Fire affrighted SUBURBS now expects
Their look'd for Desolation, to be next
Mantled in Flames; for which they now prepare,
And of their Houses grown regardless are:
Now FEAR and DANGER do with trembling arms
Conduct distracted People from the Harms
The forked Flames do threat: By Barge and Boat,
And some by Horse and Wain do lodge remote
Their Goods for safety, while that some bereft
Of House by Fires cruelty, are left
In Desolation and Adversity,
And in the Fields are forc'd all night to lye,
And there contentedly take for a Bed
The Earth; Heaven for a Coverlett.

Tuesday Night.

Now with the Sun the rambling Flames would rest,
And coming to St. DUNSTANS IN THE WEST,
Their twinkling eyes grown dimb with too much light,
Could scarcely see to bid the Day, Good Night.
TITAN departed from our Hemisphere,
The greater Flames all slept, save here and there
Some Guardian Blazes lurk to call the rest,
'Gainst such as should their slumbering infest.

Wednesday Morning.

The Morning wakes, and with the Morn the Fire,
Whose whispering voice seems softly to enquire
For its lost Friend the Wind, who stole away
By Night i' th' dark, not to be found next day.
The hungry Paunch of this voracious Flame
(Saving a morsel for its Breakfast) came
With reunited Vigour to assail
The sweating TEMPLE, and for to unvail
The Leaden Tecture that o'respread her Head,
Its fierce Assault rais'd Cryes might wake the Dead.
People grown desperate, and madly bold,
Resolve Resistance, though the uncontroul'd
Audacious threatning Flames forbid th' intent
Of such as would its o're-grown Force prevent.
Engines prevail not, Buckets do no good,
Its thirsty Mouth can guzzle up a Flood,
And still its parched panting Tongue out cryes
With greedy haste, for larger quick Supplyes.
Now here admire the goodness of our KING,
Whose tender Heart bore SUBJECTS suffering!
The active Prudence, and industrious Cares,
Th' uncessant Labors, and the fervent Pray'rs
Of those two Royal Brothers CHARLS and JAMES,
At last effected Conquest 'bove the Flames!
The worthy Tears that trickle from the Eye
Of his afflicted Sacred MAJESTY
Prevail'd with Heaven, whose fierce avenging Arm
MERCY with-holds; Strong Invocations charm
His ireful Indignation, Intreaties urge
Appeased Heaven to fling by his Scourge.
The FIRE findes opposition, is content
To be deprest, and so no farther went.

Wednesday Night.

While in the Field harborless People lye,
Watching their Goods by Night, a sudden Cry
Of ARMS, salutes the Ear of every one:
Which way to go, or whither for to run
They know not, now each one doth apprehend
A certain Death; the sudden Fear doth lend
To some MERCURIAN Feet, and to some
A Resolution for to dye at home.
But all appeas'd, each one to rest betakes him,

Thursday Morning.

And now can lye until AURORA wakes him,
Who with a smiling Aspect joys to see
So much Abatement of our Misery.
And SOL advancing of his curled Head,
From th' ruddy Pillow of AURORA'S Bed,
Vow'd he nere did (since the ALMIGHTY said,
Let there be LIGHT, and so himself was made;
Nor since his first Days Journey to the WEST,
Or Great JEHOV AH took his SEVENTH Days rest)
Behold so soon so great a Devastation
In any AGE, or COUNTREY, TOWN, or NATION;
As in THREE FATAL DAYES to ruinate,
To spoil, consume, destroy, depopulate!
A Place so Famous, so Renown'd for Glory,
That 'twas the Mirror both of AGE and STORY!

LONDONS LAMENTATION TO HER REGARDLESS PASSENGERS

Why do you slight me thus, and pass me by,
Spurn my neglected, dusty Misery?
You that have laid me in the fatal Urn
Of SIN, and seen me there to ashes burn:
You that with crimson Crimes, like Cables great,
Pull'd Vengeance on me, and my happy state
Have made thus wretched, can you pass me by,
And yet not at my Ruines wet your eye?
If still thus unlamented be my Case,
The Wind it self shall hurl my Dust i' th' Face
Of him that doth not with a dropping eye
Sprinkle my Ashes when he passeth by.
Then let some deep-fought Sigh pump up a tear,
And help from dust my down-cast Head to rear:
All my Demolishments, and ruin'd Glory,
My batter'd Immurations faln before you.
My prostrate Structures on their faces lye,
Yet every heedless Passenger walks by
Regardless of my Moans, although I meet
In humble manner now their scornful feet.





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