Phaenix Britannicus, or, London re-built in a panegyrick poem on that ancient metropolis, now Englands glory, and the vvorlds wonder / by J. Phillips.

Phaenix Britannicus : OR , LONDON RE-BUILT . TAke flight Immortal Fame , and use thy skill To wake the drowsie World , thy Trumpet fill With the loud breath of all the Winds , that they May the great News to all the Earth convey : Such News as all the world ne're heard before ; Which had the PREACHER known , he had known more . Had ye but seen fair LONDONS lofty Tow'rs , Almost as antient , as the Deludg'd Hours , Hid in a Cloud of Fire , that still prest on , By Heav'ns full Bellows to destruction blown , While the turmoyled Throng , as if the Flames Had chil'd their souls , stood all like men in dreams Till to prevent the Foes immediate Rack , They fall to work , and their own City sack ; Had ye then thought on Troy , or Corinths Fall , This had out-history'd , and silenc'd all . Carthage in smoke , a spark ; and Rome's great Heap Were Mole-hills , to the Ruins of our CHEAP . But here 's a Wonder makes Amazement start , To see the Temple of the Nations Heart In three Days ruin'd , and in three Days rear'd , As if Divinity had now appear'd , To act what once to scornful man it spoke . For what but Heav'n-born Zeal could then provoke That willingness , which did all Hearts inspire ? As if what Fire had wasted , should by Fire Again be rear'd , and the proud Element So fierce of late , were now grown penitent . The King himself is Prophet too , and Priest , Foretels it 's Grandeur , and the Labor blest . He bid the Kingdom's Body straight survey The General Havock , and for Help make way They soon contrive , and shew with high Applause That they could Cities build , as well as Laws . And sure a rare Example t' was to see , Among those Architects of high degree , Contending Art and a Judicious strife To give the City Form , as well as Life ; A Life establish'd on the Throne of Right . They saw how the mad Fires enraged might , Where it had plough'd up Houses and Estates , Had sow'd the Heaps with Seeds of new Debates ; Debates , that like the Teeth of Jason's Men , No sooner nipt , but they would spring agen . While Law-enriching Wrong in Ambush lay On doubtful Interests to make its prey . Leaving no stone unturn'd , that might advance Encroachment on the Poors Inheritance , While your weak Tenant fetter'd in a Lease , Is forc'd to Chancery , worse then the Disease ; But this our Prudent Overseers foresaw , And therefore to the The Judges sitting at Cliffords Inn. Magi of the Law They grant full Pow'r , t' was needless more to say To those they knew could never go astray . It seem'd a labour more than Hercules Could undertake , so many minds to please , But they that with an equal vigour stood To order private right , and publick good , To charm Samballat with their Equity , That Justice and Convenience soon agree : Those Clamours cease , and all are forward bent Rather to lose , than hinder good intent . As when the Sun has warm'd the lively Spring , The painful Bees , obedient to their King , Their Fragrant Cities labour to rebuild , Some fetch Materials from the distant Field While others plye their busie toyl at home , Till part by part , the lovely Pile become One finish'd Wonder to the curious Eye ; So now the People gaining fresh supply Of life and courage from their Soveraign's care , To raise the Structure of an Age prepare . For none but those that saw it , could have thought An Age could in an Age have so much wrought . The willing Woods their massie Timber send , The Fields and Quarries their own Bowels lend T' advance the Work , as if the teeming Earth Had now conceiv'd , to give the City Birth . And first observing Nature , they contrive To frame the Heart , where life is first alive , Gresham is now repay'd ; He bears the Name ; Set up again to own a Nobler Frame . It was a Task too hard for Mortall Flame To touch the Stone devoted to his Fame ; As if Tithonus weary of the long age he had begd of the Gods , was turn'd into a Grashopper . Gresham's Arms. Tithonus had bequeath'd the years He begg'd , unto his Golden Grashoppers . Nor let this Pile , surpassing his , seem strange , His was a Founded in Q. E's time . Female , This a Male Exchange . Which first the King , the Kingdoms Soul , begun , And finish'd , having onely laid one Stone . Next him the Duke another Column reares , Himself the Pillar of his Brother's Cares ; Nor would the Valiant Prince his labour spare , Follow ' by Albemarle , a Third-Rate Star ; He would not fail to lay one stone , that had The Nations Corner-stone to us convay'd : A Structure sure that never can grow old , When four such Atlasse's your weight uphold . Here Honoured Turner to himself did raise A lasting Record worthy of his Praise ; His awful presence would be always by His handy-work advancing with his eye , Untill he saw compleated in his Year , The Publick Trophie of his Publick Care . View the Majestick Front , The Royal Exchange . where fixed stand The Guardian Angels of our Sea and Land , A Dorick Miracle , till mounting farther , Ye spy a Wonder of Corinthian Order , Whose lovely Cornish the fair Burthen bears Where plays within the Musick of the Sphears , As if those Tunes had been the Builders Boon , To recreate the Busie hours of Noon : Above , Time with a Twofold Janus Face Orelooks the City in her Nuptial Grace , Reaching his Fore-top , unto all hands kind , Or else as if he now had Locks behind . Sec the Ascending Steps , that proudly born By their own weight , all underpropment scorn ; Stones in a League with such contrivance laid , As only for the Throne of Friendship made . Behold the Walkes , where Traffick , the Worlds Friend , Searches all Nookes , that unto Riches tend ; Where every language speaks , and Nations range , The World Epitomiz'd in an Exchange , While from the Vaults below the distant East , Pil'd up in ponderous heaps , by heaps opprest , Send forth their spicy Odors to repay The Freight , with Incense offer'd every day . From hence let strangers go , and view that Place Where Justice seated in Majestick Grace , Does right to all her Freemen distribute , Guild-hall . Without the trouble of expensive Suit ; Where the Grave Council of the City sit In splendid Pomp for such a Senate fit , Where they that Built , now study to preserve , Commanding Laws which they themselves observe There stands the Lofty Guild , both Hall and Court A Spacious Pile , without the vain support Of Pillars , only filling room uprear'd , Where Order sway'd by Order well prepar'd , Makes Forein eyes behold with silent awe Their Kingly Banquets , and their trains of Law : A Hall , that in one day more Plenty wastes , Than Spains Dominion in a twelve moneth tastes . And lest the way to Justice should be blind , A King-street . Kingly Street , and by a King design'd , Shews a wide passage to the Judgment-Seat , Adorn'd with Ample Structures , till it meet The Wealthy Thamesis , who every year There waits , upon his Silver Back to bear The Cities Pomp , confin'd to wait upon The Guardian of their large Dominion . Old Ludgate . Lud put on his Ashie Weeds and mourn'd To see his ancient Gate to Ashes turn'd : But soon he found his sorrow well repay'd , Finding himself more Gayly since array'd . And now resolves to watch his Gate alone , Since his own Watchmen were so sleepy grown . Fair Temple-Bar . Temple-Bar , looks up with so much State , More like an Arch of Triumph , than a Gate . A stately Portal that lets none pass by , Till it has parley'd with the Gazers eye ; Whence Admiration first begins to ride Through all the Splendour of the Cities Pride . Astraea pleas'd to see her Followers care To give her ruin'd Harbour new repair , The Inner Temple makes her choicest Court , More grac'd by Honour'd Bridgemans wide support . Near which appears the Pleasure of the Age , Nobler than Pompeys or Verona's Stage , Where can ye go amiss , but still ye find New Banquets for the greedy eye design'd ? In a more Royal State , not far from hence Bridewell admires her new Magnificence , Proudly forgets that she is still the Poors , And only listens after Emperours ; Thinking the former Tract renew'd again , Some other Charles the Fifth to entertain . The Hospital . Young Edwards Other Gift for pious Use Dofts his old skin , and gorgeous Youth renews , As if cold Charity by Fire reviv'd , Only in flames , like Salamanders liv'd ; Or else that men believ'd those swift Repairs So soon were hastened by the Orphans pray'rs . In the same place where formerly it stood , The Commons Doctors Commons . make their Ancient station good : Where Strangers , now , as well the Structure draws , As the advantage of their Native Laws . The The publick Halls . Publick Halls appear in every part , Built to encourage every useful Art ; Where Lacedemon-like the City meet , And keep their Publick Feasts in every street ; Where every Art becomes a Mystery , Sworn not to let rewards of Labour dye . Sweet Little Oxford , whose voluptuous site Did all the Nation in distress invite ; And lodging the vast Trains of Law and Court , Made Europe ring with general Report ; Confesses now her glory overcome , By her Metropolis , that here makes room To feast the World with such Magnificence , Where Benefactors are at no expence . One stands among the Croud , which he that sees , Beholds the truth of Blackwel●… hall . Jason's Golden Fleece , The Kingdoms Loadstone , whose Magnetick Force , Attracts the Treasure of the Universe ; Where they that see the heaps of Lemster Ore With all the vaster Spoils , and pretious Store Of smoother Plains , and far-extending Downs , Cloathing the Peasant , and enrobing Crowns : Finding the world deceiv'd , more truly hold Pan , and not Pluto , for the God of Gold . Nor can the toyling Workmans ruder Hurrey , Deafen the Ear to Learnings Oratory , Learning is still advanc'd , the prop of all , By those Gamaliels , to the Learn'd St. Paul , The Guild of Mercers , who with eager haste , Lest pityed youth their pretious time should waste , While their own Interests neglected stand , Build up their Old Gymnasium out of hand . Finish'd with so much beauty that it seems A Subject only for their Scholars Theams . Nor needs Devotion soft Petitions make , While every Parish strives to undertake Their several Temples swift Repair , before Exhorting whispers could their Aid implore . Saint Dunstan happy first , who first did feel The Comfort of a Noble Matrons zeal , That left a powerful Charm to chace away Those Gospel-Devils that in Ruins lay , Unwilling they should now those Tombs molest , Where She her self was gone to take her rest . No less Saint Mary Woolnoth The New Church in Lumbard-Street , owes to Thee Renowned VINER , Rich in Piety : That lives in happy ignorance , which is more , Thy Wealth on Earth , or thy Celestial Store : Two Stately Quires , where while the Organ plays , The Vocall Walls repeat the Founders Praise . If one fair Temple did so busie Fame , With the continual sound of Sions Name , Where can she find but from an Angels blast , Assistance loud and long enough to last The toylsome Praise of our Seraphick Glory , Where every Temple is a Sions Story ? So many , that she spares from her large store To several that in Forein Tongues adore , A Holy Babel Muster'd from abroad , Where Languages confus'd , now worship God . But for Thee , Pauls , thy greatness brings Thee low , Shame on ill Neighbours , and a Restless Foe , That keeps thy Soveraign from his quiet Peace , And still his pious thoughts for Thee suppress , Else would he dye for Thee , and raise thy Frame As high as is his own immortal Fame ; Yet still like some Commander slain , we see Thy greatness living in the want of Thee ; For Thou art only wanting , only Thou To make all Cities to our City bow . Nor need we wonder whence this Grandeur flows , While Thamesis so near his lustre shews , Who proud of his Imployment , every day Sends his smooth Torrent posting to the Sea , That still returns as often to unlade The Massie Burthens of enriching Trade ; Where now a Noble Key with open room , Welcomes the Seaman , and the Vessel home , And finding the faint stream sink from its weight , On her own shoulders takes the Pond'rous Freight , A Sumptuous Key , but yet more Sumptuous made By that Fair Pile , where Caesars Tribute paid , Supports the Strength that keeps his Kingdome safe , That tames the Lyon , breaks the Ragged Staffe . Makes the submissive Crescent beg for Truce , And from her Maintop crops the Flow'r deluce . The Tower which Noble Robinson makes good , Removes the wooden heaps that late withstood Her gay delight to view the new Repair , And while her Standard wantons in the air , Encourag'd by the Prospects influence , To outward succour and her own defence , Calls Caesar now to got his pains rewarded , That built the Strength that such a City guarded . Rise Drowsie STOW , and once more overlook With thy old diligence , thy ancient Book ; Take to thy self Cornelius Hollands Quill , And like to him thy Numerous pages fill ; For though thy Task were hard before , it now Requires the trebled labour of thy Brow , To speak of Lanes like Streets , and Streets like Towns , Where Houses wear their Terrases like Crowns , Where Embassies may ride and feed their eyes With a long Scale of new Varieties , Where each Balcony'd Front , well read , appears A Story worthy of their Princes ears ; To tell of Palaces , where now we find A race of Cities to the City joyn'd . To tell of Markets , now like Piazza's made , Far from the Street to ampler space convay'd , So well contriv'd both for Supply and Place , That former trouble now becomes a grace , But when you name the Place , to tell the store That week by week , the single weeks devour , Is such an unexhausted Miracle , That all the World could never parallel . To tell how Little Fleet was cleans'd once more , To bring advantage to the Neighbouring shore , As if the City now her force did bend To make the scorned Stream her bosome friend , Who makes the publick Nusance , publick Good , Owing for beauty and plenty to the Flood . To tell how soon , as men had men been born , The City saw her Ancient Trade return , And then to tell of Hills that level made , Give easie passage to the course of Trade : To tell how every Publick house assumes The State of Palaces in lofty Rooms , As if , by hidden signs they did presage The War-like Triumphs of the present age . To tell the prodigies of Fine and Rent , Which Trade returns , as if not paid , but lent , While Coffee , Prophet-like , despis'd at home , Grows Rich abroad , and for a single Room , More like some great Seraglio , dares advance A Sum to set a Marquess up in France . Which straight flows back in Tides of single pence , These things become thy new Intelligence , And then eternal Monuments to raise Worthy the Builders and Contrivers Praise , Worthy the pains of those whose honour'd care Did private Time to Publick Duty spare . Such Records would thy new Edition swell Until it grew to Manly Miracle , Whose every Page would be a wondrous Story , Relating wonders of a Wonder 's Glory . Thus Cities , like to men , their periods have , From Youth to Age , from Age unto the Grave , Making their mortal progress , till at last The Common Bane of Countries layes'em waste : So London seem'd to fall , whose drooping Age Could not resist the Burning Feavers rage : But now , as if the Fiery Hurricane For Death himself had laid a subtile traine ; Death in the Cities fate now finds his own , And buried lyes in Resurrection . So former Favourites of the Deities Were straight reviv'd in Metamorphosis . Narcissus in a Flower his Life out-liv'd , And Daphne in a Lawrel Death deceiv'd . Thus rose the City from her Funeral Pile , The New born Phaenix of an Ancient Isle ; Or else like Enochs Change , that Death defeated , From one unto another life translated . If from the Cinders of one City , then Such charming beauty can grow up again , As she had only doff't her old Attire , To rise more splendid from the Bed of Fire : If the quaint Flames are now such Artists grown , To burn a City into such Renown ; As if they 'd courted Ruine with intent To make Her glorious in her Monument , While Fire is but the Chariot that convays To a New Life the soon-repair'd Decays . What Pomp is then for th' other World design'd , When it shall be by scorching flames refin'd ? 't is still but Fire , Gods Active Minister , That must that Work perform , and Seats prepare Of burnish'd Gold , and polish'd Jasper Stones , For the Bright Lamb , and all his Holy Ones . 't is Fire that must the Sun it self benight , And give his Room to more Refulgent Light , 't is That same Fire , that was the Cities Bane , To give it more Illustrious Life again , That must remove the Old Worlds Rubbish Frame , To set in place the New Jerusalem , Whose Glory is too bright for Mans display , And none so much as guess at , only they That in the Mirror of Proportion see LONDON RE-BUILT , the WORLD'S EPITOME . FINIS .