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1The
cockatrice1
, as vulgarly2
received,2Is, against nature, by a
cock3
conceived,3Whose eggs a toad doth to perfection bring,
4Whence comes the
basilisk4
, the serpent’s king.5If this fierce animal doth first see you,
6Prepare, my friend, to bid this world
adieu5
.7But if you see him first, you are secure,
8If with this
crystal6
you yourself immure7
.9The visual beams which issue from his eyes
10
Reverberates8
his poison, so he dies.11So Perseus with his sister’s shining shield
12
Made proud Medusa and the Gorgons yield9
.13Sin is this curséd, killing cockatrice;
14If you discover its deceits, it dies,
15But if you don’t, nought but the splendent shield
16
Of faith10
will make this hellish monster yield.17Then with the Christian armor arm you,
18And all the powers of Hell shall never harm you.
19But, O, let me dispose my thoughts so well
20That I may crush this
embryon11
in the shell;21Yet if I do to sinful motions yield,
22Be Thou to me, dear God,
a sun and shield12
,23Then as enslaved to sin and death I lie,
24I’ll on the
brazen13
serpent cast mine eye:25
Who14
conquered Death and Hell on Calvary15
.