The Vision , Written in a dangerous fit of Sickness . DIssolv'd in Sleep neer a complaining Stream , My Fancy strove with an important Dream . Me-thought I was with Violence born away Through a dark Vault , whose Cavern did convey To Death's sad Courts ; the brazen Gates I past , Which on my entrance were again made fast . The dismal Cell with horrour I survey'd , For dead mens Bones in Piles were round me laid , And Skulls of largest size the Pavement made . The Sun to this dark Mansion darts no Ray , But glim'ring Lamps make an imperfect Day : By their faint Light I searcht the Cave around , And in each Nook amazing Objects found . In a long Row stood Glasses stor'd with Sand , Which of some Mortals years the Tale contain'd : His or Her Name the bloody Letters spell'd , The Number of whose years the Hour-glass held . Grim Fate stood by to watch the hindmost Grain , And cut the slender Thread of Life in Twain ; Then down the Tablet dropt t'a stream below , Suppos'd from the Lethaean Lake to flow : A while it floated 'till born Under-ground , 'Twas in th' Abyss of deep Oblivion drown'd . Whilst into Fate's Arcanas thus I pry'd , My own Name on a Tablet I descry'd . But oh the Pangs and Agonies that rent My panting Breast to find my Glass neer spent ! The Tragick Scene begins ( Forgive me Fate That thy occult Proceedings I Relate . ) Strait was I summond to receive my Doom , For Death with horrid Grace approacht the Room Array'd majestick in a mourning Robe , A Dart his Scepter , and a Skull his Globe . He sat , th' Attendants on his Person stood , All arm'd for Slaughter , and distain'd with Blood . Diseases next were plac't a numerous Train , Producing each a Bed-roll of his slain . No sooner were my scatter'd Thoughts restor'd , But I with mental Pray'rs Heav'ns Aid implor'd ; Then thus with hollow Voice the Tyrant spoke — In vain fond Youth Heav'ns succour you invoke , Stand to the Bar , and hear th'Inditement read ; For ere Thou dy'st Thou art allow'd to Plead : Thy Charge is deep , but for thy self Reply , Oh I am Guilty and deserve to Dye ! My years in Vanity's pursuit I spent , Too oft Transgrest , too rarely did Repent ; Some Vices ( Heav'n Assisting ) I supprest , And lasting War proclaim'd with all the Rest ; But oft i'th' Combat I shrunk back and fled , By Passions oft surpriz'd and Captive led . But are this Courts Proceedings so severe , That Youth can Challenge no Indulgence Here ? Had Fate my Life to Manlier years promov'd , Perhaps my Skill and Courage had improv'd : Mortal thy Doom already is decreed , ( The Iudge reply'd ) and Sentence must proceed ! This Court's Records with Instances abound Of Younger Brows than Thine with Lawrel crown'd , Approach ye Ministers of Fate , and bear Th'Offender Hence to th'Region of Despair , In Liquid Flames of Sulphur let him roul , In sharpest Agonies of a Hell-wreckt Soul : Thus let him howl Eternity Away , Refresht with no short Glimps of Heav'nly Day . Confusion now my Tortur'd Bosom fill'd ; Cold Sweat adown my Lifeless joynts distill'd . A Guard of Daemons at the Tyrant's call With hideous Yellings rusht into the Hall Monstrous of Shape , of Size , Prodigious Tall . In this Distress behold a Heav'nly Ray , Around me did his chearful Light display . The Lamps grew pale and shrunk into their Case , The frighted Daemons Vanisht from the Place ; The haughty Tyrant's Self confus'd appear'd ; Mongst the dead Bones a rattling Noise was heard , As Summon'd to the Universal Doom , They justled with each other in their Tomb . Not daring yet to hope Relief I spy'd My Guardian-Angel smiling by my side ; A silent joy through all my Vitals ran , Whilst Thus in Charming Language He began . Rejoyce my charge , for from Heav'ns Court I come With gracious Orders to Revoke thy Doom . Thy Sun is set , thy Life-glass almost run , Thy Virtue's Race imperfectly begun . But Heav'n in Pitty to thy sickly Pace , Has Lincenc'd me or to contract the space , Or on my Wing thy lingring Spirit convey To Blissful Mansions of Eternal Day . To Heav'n and Him my Humblest Thanks I paid , And beg'd to be to those glad Seats convey'd ; But first admit the Lot of all Man-kind And Leave ( said He ) that Load of Earth behind , Pris'ners Absolv'd , less gladly quit their Chain Than I this Flesh that did my Spirit detain . But when my Soul her naked Self Survey'd , Leaprous and soul by Sin's Contagion made , She Blusht and sought to cover her Disgrace , Retreating back into her Fleshy case . The Guardian-Spirit her sond Attempr with-stood , And streight with Hyssop dipt in Sacred Blood , Baptiz'd Her ; and behold , whilst I enquir'd Th'Intent o'th' Ceremony , I grew inspir'd With mental joys , and now descry'd no more Those Blemishes that stain'd my Soul before : Thought of New Worlds my Mind had so ingrost , That all Remembrance of the Old it Lost : That Body too ( which once I fondly thought Cou'd never be from my Remembrance wrought ) Had now quite scapt my Mem'ry , till I spy'd The pale and Lifeless Engine by my side . Bless me ( said I ) what ghastly thing lies there ? Was this the Mansion where so many a year , I lingred 'twixt successive Hope and Fear ? Was this the Thing I took such Care t'improve , Taught it to Cringe , and in just measures move ? The thing that lately did in Business sweat , That talkt so much of being Rich and Great ! That sought with Verse to make its Love renown'd , And hop't ere long to see its Passion Crown'd ; Behold where the designing Machine lies , Prey to those Insects it did once Despise . Suppose that Body now lay cover'd ore In Persumes brought from Ormus Spicie Shore ; What courteous Female wou'd vouchsafe the Grace To Curl those Locks , or Kiss that ghastly Face ? Why is the Corpse so long detain'd from Ground , Tis more than Time those Hands and Feet were bound ; Close the dull Eyes , support the falling Chin , With grassie Turfs suppress the swelling Skin : Go , let the Fun'ral Peal be Rung aloud , In Winding-Sheets th'offensive Carkass shrow'd And in some Nook the Useless Lumber crow'd . Insulting Thus I spake , and more had said , But was by my Assistant Angel stay'd ; My Charge , said he , ( these gloomy shades with-drawn ) Behold of Everlasting Day the Dawn : At th'Entrance to th'Elysian Land ( a Grace Confer'd on Souls when first they arrive the Place ) The Blissful Throng are met to welcome Thee To their fair World of Immortality . He said , and strait his Threatning Wand up-heav'd , The Neighb'ring Walls obey'd the Stroke and cleav'd ; Such was the Blow giv'n by the Hebrew Guide , When forcing his Foot-passage through the Tide , The Waters there Congeal'd and stood in Walls , The Building here like breaking Water falls . But now the parting Stones brought Heav'n in View , When ( Fatal Chance ! ) my rapt'rous Dream withdrew The grateful slumber from my Temples fell , Round me I view'd the Grove , and thought it Hell ; Aloud I call'd my Guide ! Obligingly The Ecchoing Rocks kept up th'expiring cry , But the false Vision fled without Reply .