Poems (1686) — St. John Baptist and Herodias

_St.

_ John Baptist _Painted by her self in the Wilderness, with Angels appearing to him, and with a Lamb by him_.

The Sun's my Fire, when it does shine, The hollow Spring's my Cave of Wine, The Rocks and Woods afford me Meat;

This Lamb and I on one Dish eat: The neighbouring Herds my Garments send, My Pallet the kind Earth doth lend: Excess and Grandure I decline, M'Associates onely are Divine.

HERODIAS _Daughter presenting to her Mother St. _ JOHN_'s Head in a Charger, also Painted by her self_.

Behold, dear Mother, who was late our Fear, Disarm'd and Harmless, I present you here;

The Tongue ty'd up, that made all _Jury_ quake, And which so often did our Greatness shake;

No Terror sits upon his Awful Brow, Where Fierceness reign'd, there Calmness triumphs now;

As Lovers use, he gazes on my Face, With Eyes that languish, as they sued for Grace;

Wholly subdu'd by my Victorious Charms, See how his Head reposes in my Arms.

Come, joyn then with me in my just Transport, Who thus have brought the Hermite to the Court.