Sacra Nemesis, the Levites Scourge
Author | : Daniel Featley |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 0 |
Release | : 1644 |
ISBN-10 | : OCLC:1197761542 |
ISBN-13 | : |
Rating | : 4/5 (42 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: The frontispiece to this tract represents a candle burning in a candlestick, upon the foot of which is "Sacra Nemesis". A crown encircles the candle, five flies are buzzing about its flame; a female, armed with a flapper, is endeavouring to drive them from it; an eagle stoops at them from above, on the right; a spider has spread a web to catch them on the left; a scourge of serpents lies at the foot of the candlestick. Opposite to the frontispiece are the following verses: "Eagle, whoe'r thou art; it is a prize / Not worth thy wing; shall eagles stoop at flies? / True; they have blown thy prey; but, in thy stead / The vulgar fly-flap might have struck them dead / But they have sported with the flame of Kings! / That very flame would soon have burnt their wings / If not; Arachne, in her watchfull seat / As sure as Greg'ries hand, had done the feat / But 'tis too late, some honour it will be / Above their merits, to be crush't by thee". The text refers to "Britannicus" ("Mercurius Britannicus" the newspaper), with a censure of diurnals and scouts, i.e. "The Parliament Scout" another newspaper; Dr. Featley, author of "The Dipper dippt" and rector of Lambeth and Acton, to the sequestration of which livings this book refers.