Then with the reed they gave to me before,

They ftrike my head, the rock from whence all ftore Of heav'nly bleffings iffue evermore.

Was ever grief like mine?

They bow their knees to me, and cry, Hail King! Whatever fcoffs or fcornfulness can bring,

I am the floor, the fink, where they it fling.`

Was ever grief, &c.

Yet fince man's fcepters are as frail as reeds,
And thorny all their crowns, bloody their weeds;
I, who am truth, turn into truth their deeds.

Was ever grief, &c.

The foldiers alfo fpit upon that face,

Which angels did defire to have the grace,
And prophets once to fee, but found no place.

Was ever grief, &c.

Thus trimmed forth, they bring me to the rout,
Who crucify him cry with one ftrong shout,
God holds his peace at man, and man cries out.
Was ever grief, &c.

They lead me in once more, and putting then
Mine own clothes on, they lead me out again;
Whom devils fly, thus he is tofs'd of men.

Was ever grief, &c.

And now, weary of fport, glad to engrofs
All spite in one, counting my life their lofs,
They carry me to my most bitter cross.

Was ever grief, &c.

My crofs I bear myself, until I faint:
Then Simon bears it for me by constraint,
The decreed burden of each mortal faint.

O all ye who pass by, behold and fee!

Was ever grief like mine?

Man ftole the fruit, but I must climb the tree;
The tree of life to all but only me.

Was ever grief, &c.

Lo, here I hang, charg'd with a world of fin,
The greater world o'th two: For that came in
By words; but this by forrow I must win.

Was ever grief, &c.

Such forrow, as if finful man did feel,
Or feel his part, he would not ceafe to kneel
Till all were melted, though he were all steel.

Was ever grief, &c.

But, O my God, my God! why leav'st thou me,
Thy Son, in whom thou doft delight to be?
My God, my

God

Was ever grief, &c.

Shame tears my foul, my body many a wound;
Sharp nails pierce this, bur fharper that confound;
Reproaches, which are free, while I am bound.

Was ever grief, &c.

Now heal thyfelf, Physician; now come down.
Alas! I did fo, when I left my Crown,
And Father's fmile for you, to feel his frown.

Was ever grief, &c.

In healing not myself, there doth confift
All that falvation which ye now resist;
Your fafety in my fickness doth fubsist.

Was ever grief like mine?

Betwixt two thieves I spend my utmost breath,
As he that for fome robbery suffereth.

Alas! what have I ftol'n from you? Death.

Was ever grief, &c.

A King my title is prefixt on high;
Yet by my fubjects I'm condemn'd to die
A fervile death in fervile company

Was ever grief, &c.

They gave me vinegar mingled with gall,
But more with malice: Yet when they did call,
With manna, angels food, I fed them all.

Was ever grief, &c.

They part my garments, and by lot difpofe
My coat, the type of love, which once cur'd those
Who fought for help, never malicious foes.

Was ever grief, &c.

Nay, after death, their spite shall further go:
For they will pierce my fide, I full well know;
That as fin came, fo Sacraments might flow.

Was ever grief, &c.

But now I die; now all is finished.
My wo, man's weal; and now I bow
my head.
Only let others fay, when I am dead,

с

Never was grief like mine.

OH

The Thanksgiving.

H King of grief! (a title ftrange, yet true,
To thee of all Kings only due.)

Oh King of wounds! how fhall I grieve for thee,
Who in all grief preventest me ?

Shall I weep blood? why thou haft wept such store,
That all thy body was one gore.
Shall I be fcourged, flouted, boxed, fold?
'Tis but to tell the tale is told.

My God, my God, why dost thou part from me?
Was fuch a grief as cannot be.
Shall I then fing, skipping thy doleful ftory,

And fide with thy triumphant glory? Shall thy ftrokes be my ftroking? thorns my flower? Thy rod my pofy?, crofs, my bower?

But how then fhall I imitate thee, and

Copy thy fair, tho' bloody hand ?

Surely I will revenge me on thy love,

And try who fhall victorious prove. If thou doft give me wealth, I will restore

All back unto thee by the poor. If thou doft give me honor, men fhall fee

The honor doth belong to thee.

I will not marry; or if fhe be mine,

She and her children fhall be thine.

My bofom-friend, if he blafpheme thy name,

I will tear thence his love and fame. One half of me being gone, the rest I give Unto fome chappel, die or live.

As for my Paffion-But of that anon,

When with the other I have done.

For thy Predeftination, I'll contrive,

That three years hence, if I furvive,

I'll build a fpittle, or mend common ways.

But mend my own without delays. Then I will use the works of thy creation,

As if I us'd them but for fashion. The world and I will quarrel; and the year.Shall not perceive that I am here.

My music shall find thee, and ev'ry string
Shall have his attribute to fing,

That altogether may accord in me,

And prove one God, one harmony. If thou shalt give me wit, it fhall appear,

If thou haft giv'n it me, 'tis here. Nay, I will read thy book, and never move,

Till I have found therein thy love; Thy art of love, which I'll turn back on thee, O my dear Saviour, Victory!

Then for my Paflion-I will do for that

IH

Alas! my God, I know not what.

The Reprisal.

Have confider'd it, and find

There is no dealing with thy mighty Paffion:
For though I die for thee, I am behind;
My fins deferve the condemnation.

O make me innocent, that I
May give a difentangled ftate and free;
And yet thy wounds ftill my attempts defy,
For by thy death I die for thee.