Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, "BETHLEHEMS BEAUTY, LONDONS CHARITY, AND THE CITIES GLORY", by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

"BETHLEHEMS BEAUTY, LONDONS CHARITY, AND THE CITIES GLORY", by                    
First Line: Story no more shall antient fabricks boast
Last Line: "free citizens o' th' new jerusalem, / to raign with him was born in bethlehem"
Subject(s): Charity;hospitals;london Fire (1666); Philanthropy;great Fire Of 1666


Story no more shall Antient Fabricks boast,
The mould'ring Pyramids on Egypts coast;
Sol's vast Colossus, or those mighty Things
Which with Mortality upbraided Kings:
All these could but vain Ostentation yield,
Whilst we for Use and Charity do Build.
When LONDON did in Funeral Ashes lie
But Ten years since, The Grief of every Eye,
VVhere Desolation Triumph'd in each Street,
Trampling our Stately'st Structures under Feet.
VVho durst Predict, or hope so soon to see
Her thus Rebuilt, with greater Majestie?
Houses! whose height and strength seem to Conspire,
To o'retop Thunder, and defiance Fire;
The Sun beholds not a more Brave Exchange,
Nor spacious Streets that in like order Range;
VVhose lofty Fronts harmoniously Advance,
As if (like Thebs) their Building were a Dance:
Her Publick Halls as Pallaces appear,
And out-vie Princes Courts sometimes for Chear:
Her Sacred Temples in a Decent State,
Teach us with Awe and Reverence to wait
There on our Glorious Maker, at once free
From profane Filth, and gawdy Pageantree;
Nor doubt I, Aged Pauls! Thy Reverend Pile
To see Restor'd, The Glory of our Isle,
And for Rare Works, as well as Faith, become
Superior far to Peters Fane at Rome.
But to speak these Glories, needs an abler Muse,
Ours only dares a Suburb Wonder chuse:
BEDLAM! That shall a lasting Witness be
Of this great Cities generous Piety:
Magnificent Foundation! such as shows
The greatness of their Souls by whom it Rose;
So Brave, so Neat, so Sweet it does appear,
Makes one Half-Madd to be a Lodger there;
And those poor Souls, whose Crazed Brains advance
Their Roving Fancies to th' Extravagance
Of being Princes, needs must think it True,
VVhen they shall such a Towering Pallace View.
Since, Strangers that Survey the Galleries,
Find the Vast Length wearies their Travelling eyes;
And some cry out, "If such a Place befits
"Madmen, Henceforth who'le Study to be Wits?
A hundred Rooms in curious order stand
Each with its Bed and Furniture at hand.
Th' Approaching Air, in every gentle Breeze,
Is Fan'd and Winnow'd through the neighbouring Trees,
And comes so Pure, the Spirits to Refine,
As if th' wise Governours had a Designe
That should alone, without Physick Restore
Those whom Gross Vapours discompos'd before;
But this Conceit is sisted by their Care,
The best of Arts Assistance to prepare,
VVhat e're Galenick or Hermetick Skill
Offers in Natures Aid, is ready still.
Convenient Diet's liberally bestow'd,
And all meet Helps from time to time Allow'd:
Though many here their Reason do Regain,
Yet none has ever Reason to Complain.
Here that mischeivous Hagg, black Melancholly,
Mother of Discontent, and Nurse of Folly
Circe's Transforming Magick strangely Apes,
And changes Men into a Thousand shapes,
Some Raving Wild, and some like Statues fixt,
Democritus with Heraclitus mixt.
One Fancies still his Cruel Mistress by,
T'other upbraids her Friends Inconstancy,
He, Weaves Straw-Bracelets, which he calls her Hair,
And She, o' th' Wall writes Letters to her Dear,
Th' only True Lovers now adays are here.
One still makes Almanacks, and those as True,
I dare engage, as most that Print them, do.
Another Rails at Rome, with as much Sense
As some abroad for Conventicle Pence.
Thus do fond Love, wild Zeal, fierce jealousie,
Immod'rate Studies, pinching Poverty,
All Clubb to People this sad Colony.
VVhat Objects then more claim our Charity,
Than these that know not their own Misery;
And where such poor Distracted Souls are fed,
How fitly is it call'd, The House of Bread.
Thrice Noble Patriots, you have made it so,
Immortal Thanks we to your Bounty owe,
VVhose Liberal Hands and Contributions raise
This Mighty Work, which the next Age must praise,
Ours only can Admire; may Heaven bless
Your Brave Designs with suitable Success.
May every Wretch comes here his Sense obtain,
To pay your Costs with Grateful Pray'rs again,
That when full Ripe with Honour, and with Years,
Your happy Dissolution day appears[,]
Perfuming Earth with your Exemplar Fames,
Th' Eternal Book may Register your Names,
Free Citizens o' th' New Jerusalem,
To Raign with Him was Born in Bethlehem.





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