The Kingdom, where this High-born Prince did dwell,
All other Countries vastly doth excel,
Its Glory splendid is and infinite,
It cannot be beheld with fleshly sight.
Ten thousand Suns, ten thousand times more bright
Then ours is, could never give such light.
None ever there beheld a Cloud, nor shall;
Nor ever was there any Night at all.
No cold or heat did ever there displease,
No pain nor sorrow there, nor no disease.
⟨p. 10⟩No thirst nor hunger there do any know,
Nor any foes to seek their overthrow,
Disturb their peace, or them in the least annoy;
Nor is there any Devil to destroy.
And if one would that Kingdom search about,
There is no finding of one poor Man out.
No sooner any such do thither get,
But on their Heads a glorious Crown is set.
Congratulating Angels round them wait,
And clothe them all in long white Robes of State.
They live in boundless Bliss, with such content,
It raises Joy unto a Ravishment.
There's Rivers too of Pleasures, filled to the Brim,
In which the Prophets and Apostles swim.
There Beauty fadeth not, nor Strength decays;
No weary old Age, neither end of Days.
Impossible it is for them to dye,
Whose Souls have tasted Immortality.
All there is Love, and Sempiternal Joys,
Whose sweetness neither gluts, nor fullness cloys.
Friends always by; for absence is not known,
Their loss, or departure, none can bemoan.
Within the confines of this blissful Land
There doth a spacious foursquare City stand,
The noblest Structure 'tis that e'er was raised,
By men admired, or by Angels praised.
The Founder of it was a mighty King;
Yet without hands 'twas built, amazing thing!
As for th' Materials, which did it prepare
From a good Author this description hear:
⟨p. 11⟩The Luke-warm Blood of a dear Lamb being spilt,
To Rubies turned, whereof its parts were built;
And what dropped down in a kind gellied Gore,
" Became rich Sapphire, and did pave her Floor.
" The Brighter flames that from his Eyeballs rayed,
" Grew Chrysolites, whereof her walls were made,
" The Milder glances sparkled on the ground,
" And grounsild every Door with Diamond:
" But dying, darted upwards, and did fix
" A Battlement of purest Sardonyx.
" Its Streets with Burnished Gold are paved round,
" Stars lye like Pebbles scattered on the ground.
" Pearl mixed with Onyx, and the Jasper Stone,
" The Citizens do always tread upon.
The Kingdom, where this Hi•h-born Prince did dwell,
All other Countries vastly doth excel,
Its Glory splendid is and infinite,
It cannot be beheld with fleshly sight.
Ten thousand Suns, ten thousand times more bright
Then ours is, could never give such light.
None ever there beheld a Cloud, nor shall;
Nor ever was there any Night at all.
No cold or heat did ever there displease,
No pain nor sorrow there, nor no disease.
⟨p. 10⟩No thirst nor hunger there do any know,
Nor any foes to seek their overthrow,
Disturb their peace, or them i'th least annoy;
Nor is there any Devil to destroy.
And if one would that Kingdom searth about,
There is no finding of one poor Man out.
No sooner any such do thither get,
But on their Heads a glorious Crown is set.
Congratulating Angels round them wait,
And cloath them all in long white Robes of State.
They live in boundless Bliss, with such content,
It raises Joy unto a Ravishment.
There's Rivers too of Pleasures, fil'd to'th Brim,
In which the Prophets and Apostles swim.
There Beauty fadeth not, nor Strength decayes;
No weary old Age, neither end of Dayes.
Impossible it is for them to dye,
Whose Souls have tasted Immortality.
All there is Love, and Sempiternal Joys,
Whose sweetness neither gluts, nor fullness cloys.
Friends always by; for absence is not known,
Their loss, or departure, none can bemoan.
Within the confines of this blissfull Land
There doth a spacious foursquare City stand,
The noblest Structure 'tis that e're was rais'd,
By men admired, or by Angels prais'd.
The Founder of it was a mighty King;
Yet without hands t'was built, amazing thing!
As for th' Marterials, which did it prepare
From a good Author this description hear:
⟨p. 11⟩The Luke-warm Blood of a dear Lamb being spilt,
To Rubies turn'd, whereof its parts were built;
And what dropt down in a kind gellied Gore,
" Became rich Saphire, and did pave her Floor.
" The Brighter flames that from his Eyebals ray'd,
" Grew Chrysolites, whereof her walls were made,
" The Milder glances sparkled on the ground,
" And grounsild every Door with Diamond:
" But dying, darted upwards, and did fix
" A Battlement of purest Sardonix.
" Its Streets with Burnisht Gold are paved round,
" Stars lye like Pebbles scattered on the ground.
" Pearl mixt with Onyx, and the Jasper Stone,
" The Citizens do alwayes tread upon.
