Spider.
I am a Spider, yet I can possess
The Palace of a King, where Happiness
So much abounds. Nor when I do go thither,
Do they ask what, or whence I come, or whether
I make my hasty Travels, no not they;
They let me pass, and I go on my way.
I seize the Palace, do with hands take hold
Of Doors, of locks, or bolts; yea I am bold.
When in, to Clamber up unto the Throne,
And to possess it, as if 'twere mine own.
⟨p. 24⟩Nor is there any Law forbidding me
Here to abide, or in this Palace be.
Yea, if I please I do the highest Stories
Ascend, there sit, and so behold the Glories
My self is compassed with, as if I were
One of the chiefest Courtiers that be there.
Here Lords and Ladies do come round about me,
With grave Demeanour: Nor do any slout me,
For this my brave Adventure, no not they;
They come, they go, but leave me there to stay.
Now, my Reproacher, I do by all this
Show how thou mayest possess thy self of Bliss:
Thou art worse than a Spider, but take hold
On Christ the Door, thou shalt not be controlled.
By him do thou the Heavenly Palace enter.
None chide thee will for this thy brave Adventure.
Approach thou then unto the very Throne,
There speak thy mind, fear not, the Day's thine own.
Nor Saint nor Angel will thee stop or stay;
But rather tumble blocks out of thy way.
My Venom stops not me▪ let not thy Vice
Stop thee; possess thy self of Paradise.
Go on, I say, although thou be a Sinner,
Learn to be bold in Faith of me a Spinner.
This is the way the Glories to possess,
And to enjoy what no man can express.
Sometimes I find the Palace door up locked;
And so my entrance thither as up blocked.
But am I daunted? No. I here and there
Do feel, and search; so, if I any where,
⟨p. 25⟩At any chink or crevice find my way,
I crowd, I press for passage, make no stay;
And so, tho difficultly, I attain
The Palace, yea the Throne where Princes reign.
I crowd sometimes, as if I'd burst in sunder;
And art thou crushed with striving do not wonder.
Some scarce get in, and yet indeed they enter;
Knock, for they nothing have that nothing venture.
Nor will the King himself throw dirt on thee,
As thou hast cast Reproaches upon me.
He will not hate thee, O thou foul Backslider!
As thou didst me, because I am a Spider.
Now, to conclude; since I such Doctrine bring,
Slight me no more, call me not ugly thing.
God wisdom hath unto the Piss-ant given,
And Spiders may teach men the way to Heaven.
Spider.
I am a Spider, yet I can possess
The Palace of a King, where Happiness
So much abounds. Nor when I do go thither,
Do they ask what, or whence I come, or whether
I make my hasty Travels, no not they;
They let me pass, and I go on my way.
I seize the Palace, do with hands take hold
Of Doors, of locks, or bolts; yea I am bold.
When in, to Clamber up unto the Throne,
And to possess it, as if 'twere mine own.
⟨p. 24⟩Nor is there any Law forbidding me
Here to abide, or in this Palace be.
Yea, if I please I do the highest Stories
Ascend, there sit, and so behold the Glories
My self is compast with, as if I were
One of the chiefest Courtiers that be there.
Here Lords and Ladies do come round about me,
With grave Demeanor: Nor do any slout me,
For this my brave Adventure, no not they;
They come, they go, but leave me there to stay.
Now, my Reproacher, I do by all this
Shew how thou may'st possess thy self of Bliss:
Thou art worse than a Spider, but take hold
On Christ the Door, thou shalt not be controul'd.
By him do thou the Heavenly Palace enter.
None chide thee will for this thy brave Adventure.
Approach thou then unto the very Throne,
There speak thy mind, fear not, the Day's thine own.
Nor Saint nor Angel will thee stop or stay;
But rather tumble blocks out of thy way.
My Venom stops not me▪ let not thy Vice
Stop thee; possess thy self of Paradice.
Go on, I say, although thou be a Sinner,
Learn to be bold in Faith of me a Spinner.
This is the way the Glories to possess,
And to enjoy what no man can express.
Sometimes I find the Palace door up lock't;
And so my entrance thither as up blockt.
But am I daunted? No. I here and there
Do feel, and search; so, if I any where,
⟨p. 25⟩At any chink or crevise find my way,
I croud, I press for passage, make no stay;
And so, tho difficultly, I attain
The Palace, yea the Throne where Princes reign.
I croud sometimes, as if I'd burst in sunder;
And art thou crush't with striving do not wonder.
Some scarce get in, and yet indeed they enter;
Knock, for they nothing have that nothing venture.
Nor will the King himself throw dirt on thee,
As thou hast cast Reproaches upon me.
He will not hate thee, O thou foul Backslider!
As thou didst me, because I am a Spider.
Now, to conclude; since I such Doctrine bring,
Slight me no more, call me not ugly thing.
God wisdom hath unto the Piss-ant given,
And Spiders may teach men the way to Heaven.
