Aletheia’s Pearl | Amplified Edition

Fair Aletheia1
 (when I was a girl),
One Sunday, offered me an orient pearl2
;
But for it, I must part with all I had.
I of the bargain was extremely glad.
Then, being so directed from above,
She, smiling, asked me if I could her love.
I, seeing her so far transcend all other,
And more resplendent than her radiant mother3
,
Said, I with her would gladly live and die.
Celestial love the true love’s knot did tie;
Reciprocally promising ne’er to depart,
She took possession of my virgin heart.4
In earnest of her love she gave a kiss,
Saying she would lead me to eternal bliss;
So should I shun the paths of endless error,
And have an innocent soul still free from terror.
She bid me fear no trouble in my story,
For love would crown me with immortal glory.
Thus innocently I passed my youthful days,
Seeing more and more of her refulgent rays.
Thus being puffed up with prosperity,
The world in every star I thought to buy.
And oft I did my virgin guide intreat
To make my happiness on earth complete:
That Peace, that stately dame, she would invite
To dwell with us to consummate delight.
For then, I said, that Joy would follow after;
Get but the mother, and you have the daughter.5
That blest triumviry6
 might I once enjoy,
I should esteem this world a trifling toy.
My fair directress, smiling, then did say,
That those two jolly ladies would not stay
Long in a place, nor were they as they seemed,
As all that glisters is not gold esteemed.
There’s no true peace, nor joy, below the Sun,
Nor can we know it till this life is done.
Nay more, being at the Parcaes’7
 house of late,
Turning the volumes of the book of fate
To see what might advance th’Eternal’s glory,
She happed8
 to cast an eye on my sad story,
And by my destiny she saw my life,
At which she sighed: both, infant, maid, and wife
Would be involved and filled with inward trouble,
But yet as brittle as the tenderest bubble9
.
And looking further on from page to page,
She found I would live a tedious pilgrimage.10
But yet to comfort me in my sad story,
My troubles all would end in endless glory.
Therefore she did advise for my relief,
A modest matron to allay my grief.
One not so brave, but of as ample fame,
And noble birth (the daughter of the dame11
Who doth defend the faithful with her shield
And makes them still victorious in the field),
Patience her name, who said she would invite
Her sister Hope, to further my delight.
I said of those two damsels I had been told,
But yet I thought, till I grew sick or old,
Their sad and tedious stories would deject
My spritely soul. Them I did not affect.
Truth, sighing, said, not many days would go,
Ere I would wish for those I slighted so.
But all her counsel was to me in vain,
For I invited home that gallant train:
Peace in a purple mantle, wrought with gold,
Where groves, phanes12
, cities, you might there behold,
Which cast a luster to my wondering eye;
Joy, in an azure vesture like the sky,
Studded with gems, which dazzled so my sight,
That now (methought) my pearl was not so bright
As it was wont, but looked both dim and sad13
.
Thus of my guests I was extremely glad.
Peace sweetly smiled, Joy, giggling, laughed outright,
And thus in mirth we passed the time till night.
Then tired with laughing we went all to bed,
But by the morn my cheerful guests were fled,
And none but Sorrow left, tearing her hair,
And Fear who, trembling, asked for Despair.14
My blessed guide, seeing me in tears dissolved,
And with such woeful company involved,
Asked me if Patience I did yet desire.
I said, without her I should soon expire.
At last she came with slow and modest pace,
Wiping the tears from my pale blubbered15
 face.
She told me many a sad and dismal story,
Which ever ended in the sufferer’s glory16
.
These tears sure washed the films from off my sight,
For now I found my pearl was far more bright
Than all the gems I ever yet did view.
Behold the power of penitential dew.
I laid my pearl close to my trembling breast,
And on an anchor laid my head to rest,17
That Hope (in love to me) before had laid
Me to sustain. That fair and blessed maid,
Whom faire Aletheia brought to take my part,
To sway the factions in my troubled heart,
And gave them charge ever to hold in awe
Sorrow and Fear, and never to withdraw
Their best assistance to keep out Despair,
Who with her cursed associates would repair
Me to afflict, which would me much afright,
’Cause the black brood of Acheron and Night18
Would also come, who only were addicted
To add afflictions to the most afflicted.
Just as she spake, in came that horrid train,
Which caused a trembling throughout every vein
Of my sad heart; down fell I in a sound19
,
Till that brave damsel20
 raised me from the ground,
Who just then came triumphant from the field;
Then with her bright impenetrable shield,
She all those hellish monsters did oppose.
Thus was I safe delivered from my foes.
Then, leaving Hope and Patience by my side,
Commanding them both, with me to abide;
Counseling me to follow my fair guide,
Who would through all the trouble of my story,
Lead me at last to everlasting glory.
Thus have I lived a sad and weary life,
Thirteen a maid, and thirty-three a wife.21
All I found true my Aletheia did speak,
But yet (aye me) the bubble will not break22
.

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