life As soon as I heard of the event of the fight I went to visit him he no sooner cast his dim eyes upon me but his colour freshly revived in the pale cinders of his thin cheekes and the old vermilian tincture began to plead a new possession of his severall mansions but at length I saw the vermilian non-suited and him pale and dead though even in that condition lovely as if death had taken that shape to make me enamoured of him alive he surprised and suppressed envy with vertue and dead honours accompanied him to the grave Quis talia fando Explicet aut possit lachrimis aequare dolorem Ocursed be the hand that kill'd that kill'd him cursed be his heart that had the heart to doe it ô yee just gods let most direfull and haplesse happs happen to that hatefull wretch that made me wretched by his death ô kind death lend my cheekes his palenesse which boast more of these trickling drops of teares then the Pactolian sand hills doe of their most gorgious glistering pearles left there and forsaken by the â—bbing billowes of the bubling waters My teares shall raine upon his grave to make the gentle earth beare some Adonean or rather Antiomerean flowre which shall beare his name and memory She would have uttered more circumstancies of the Tragedy but she was forced to make their womb their tomb and to bury them before she brought them forth those other things which she intended should have had birth in her mouth dyed there for her words were washt away by her teares which came dropping downe like rayne in sun-shine and hang upon her cheekes and lips like drops upon cherries which the dropping tree bedeweth her swell'd eyes became her fortune and made her teares comely By this time they were come to the Court where Arbella Daughter to Romulus King of Cyprus for so was the prementioned Lady nominated brought him to the King whose Sister Capricia mentioned in the former part of this history was wife to Pompilius viceroy of Naples and Mother to Flaminius so that the King quickly so dispersed the rayes of his grace upon his Nephew Flaminius as he thought his court deficient without this pregnant proficient of State but let it be sufficient for the present that we have brought Flaminius to the court and into the Kings favour let us now returne to Clorinda disconsolate Clorinda whom we have too long forgotten In this time of Flaminius absence and consequently of her infelicity for how could she choose but languish in the absence of her best Physitian no carefull art or art of carefullnesse was imployd in her adorning her selfe she left all to neglected chance which yet could no more impair her perfections then a dye cast any way could loose its squarenesse Still her love did burne lik a vestall fire which with Flaminius memory richer then all spices dispersed fragrant odours round about her Love-fick soule and did refresh it when 't was in the dumpes and stuck fast in the quagmire of melancholy She was seldom out of the company of Delia whose presence would have diverted much griefe had it been curable by company yet she set as cheerefull a countenance upon it as the sadnesse of her heart would permit after he had been absent from her some considerable time not having oportunity personally to kisse her hands he sent this letter as his paper deputy to doe it for him Flaminius to Clorinda Sweet Princesse of my life Some three monthes since I left the artificiall sea of teares wept out of my dewy eyes for the discease of my defunct parents and lanched out into the naturall sea bound for thy armes that haven of happinesse that port of pleasure but I was unhappily diverted by a disasterous tempest which for twelve dayes tost me too and fro upon the inraged Ocean and then cast me upon the Isle of Cyprus a Land enobled for its celebrated excellencies here I am in favour with the King and in credit at the court but the thorne amongst these Roses is thy absence my greatest evill is the want of my most beloved good thy honoured selfe the life of my hopes and the hope of my life which I keep only for thy service nor can I loose it better then for thy love and if I should sorrow for the losse thereof it would be rather in respect of thee then my selfe and out of griefe I should have to see my end before I have testified the begining of my service to thee But my faire one I who live onely to dye for thee I who entertaine my selfe onely with Imaginations and live onely with hopes of thy love conjure thee by the radient lights of thy eyes the onely suns by whose rajes I am animated that thou dost not pine thy selfe whilst I remaine in this darknesse wherein I enwrap my selfe during thy absence for so thou mayâ—… cut off thy owne time but not abate but augment my troubles rather manifest a princely magnanimity of mind in conquering this griefe by the valour of thy patience and continue to love still Cyprus Madam Thy Immutable Uotary and constant Servitour Flaminius Clorinda having oft honoured this letter with most affectionate kisses dispatcht the messenger which was Florian with this answer Clorinda to Flaminius My Lord THough I know that out of your ingenuitie and candor you are noble enough to overvalue me so far as to love me without any merits that might induce you to it yet I were ungratefully sordid and sordidly ungratefull if I should not teach my pen which is guided by my heart to affirme that the least scruple of your love is not lost but highly prized and returned to you in like measure beleive it Sir I am more torne and pursued by feares of and for you then Actaeon was by his doggs I see not but through your eyes I live not but by your love which is in eternall characters ingraven upon the Amethist of my heart and though the starrs condemne us to this seperation yet your name and representation shall be alwayes the dearest jewells of the life of Your Clorinda England Having delivered this letter to Flaminius let us looke upon Arbella who made her heart rasam tabulam a white paper longing to have Flaminius writ his love upon it to this end she studied with great art to tie all those graces together wherewith she accustomed to have her admirable beauty accompanied for the glory she apprehended in captiving such a courage made her desire to seem faire she would be seldome out of his company hoping that if he were not taken with the inevitable strookes of her face he should be constrained to yeild by her charming speech and because she would move every stone and leave no means unatempted when she knew Flaminius who was much delighted with the airey whistlings and inarticulate sufurrations of vegitables to be walking in a tufted grove adjoyning to the City thether she repaired and placing
Mars smiled on one of them he feared the amphibologicall successe of to morrow for Cela qu'un jour nous donè un autre jour nous l'oste what one day gives us another takes away from us so that a man can make himselfe sure of nothing without the power of his action that is not wholly in his hands for Multa cadunt inter poculum labra Chance is a Dicer its vaine to put more confidence in this life then in one wind at Sea but 't is wisdome to have tackling readie for all vicissitudes of Fortune The Mulberry tree as Herbalists observe is long in begetting and keeping its buds but the cold season being past it shootes them all in one night and Fortune which sometimes is long in dandling her favourites the edge of her lubricious affection being abated she diverts from them her benignitie and converts it to their miserie But we will omit the rest of his complaints desiring rather to relate matter then words Flaminius arose intending to direct his wearie steps to the Regall Citie Nicosia almost n the heart of the Island in the territorie of Lapathia the way was pleasurable and the earth clad in her best apparell which made the Island appeare to be the field of Ceres the garden of Bacchus the prime pastorage of Pan and the richest beautie of Silvian the Wheat over-topt his head the Vines over-lookt the Trees the rank grasse justled with his knees and the high-sprong Woods did threaten to invade the Clouds He had not travailed farre before he was set upon by a pack of Robbeâ—… a rout of crazed fortunes whose crackt estates did gape to be soldered up by any wealthy bootie but valour respects not numbers wherefore Flaminius who esteemed few swords in a just defence able to resist many unjust assailers commanded his trusty Squires Florian Doristo who had rather sacrifice their lives at their Masters feet then seek by flying a dishonourable safetie to assist him who like an enraged Lyon sent some arme-lesse others leg-lesse more headlesse but many life-lesse to take up their comfortlesse Lodgings under the black mantle of endlesse night Florian lent such a terrible blow to one of their Chiefetaines who with open mouth threatned his destruction as slicing off both his tongue and chaps before he had ended his babling gave a period to his oration Doristo struck at another in the same posture and made his soule in a streame of clottered bloud to sayle out at his mouth Those that survived of this Rabble seeing themselves over-matcht every way and frustrated of hopes to resist any way desisted and Flaminius persisted on in his journey but before he could reach the Citie Nicosia it did advesperate and the silent night with her pitchie Chariot had coursed over the face of the element and he was forced to take the earth for his pillow the wide fields being to him in stead of a Chamber and the windie skies being a roofe to his blasted Lodging and having the cold and humid vapours of Nocturna to accompanie the unwisht-for Bed of his repose but as soone as he espyed the beautious Aurora had with Vermillion blushing cheekes forsaken the Saffron Couch of her age-wearied Lover he continued his travaile through a most pleasant Valley on the right hand stood a ridge of mountaines whereof one surmounted the rest and had mounted upon his top a Pyramid of Brasse on the left hand was the Sea bordered with continued hills beset with varietie of fruits the Champaine betweene was full of flowrie hillocks not much over-topping their ranker valleyes which were with Groves of Olive and Orange trees dispersedly adorned At the end of this Paradise he entred into a solitarie desart whose ornaments were uncouth Rocks some eaten with age others blasted with lightning others bruised with thunder no comfortable beame of pleasure shined here no chearefull Sunne or Moone illuminated this palace of death with gladsome rayes it was filled with deepe ditches and soundlesse piâ—s which were inhabited by hoarse Frogs and croaking Toads it was paved with bloud-drawing Thornes about the middle of this wildernesse was a melancholy Cave the black Domicill of the daughters of death Flaminius passing by it heard comming from it these lamentations couched in a Medley both for Verses and Tunes 1 When Phaeton fell from Sols bright Throne And fail'd in 's enterprise How did his sisters him bemoane And fill the ayre with cryes 2 Proud Pelops Wife bold Niobâ— Her off-spring being slaine Gainst stormes approach O how doth she In Marble still complaine 3 What sorrow Orpheus did sustaine When through th' infernall shade Thou thy Euridice to obtaine With Musick passage made 4 What madnesse did corrode thy brest wofull Androâ—ache When Hector being laid to râ—st Thy lucklesse eyes did see 5. Astianax flung from a Tower The hope of Troy and thee O cursed act of a curst houre what sorrow might this be 6. What griefe Jocasta haddest thou To see Eteocles Ingaged by a fatall vow To â—lay Polynices 7. Sad Dedalus how small 's thy ease That saw thy daring Boy Baptize the vast Icarion Seas And leave thee void of joy 8. What should I speak how Progne griev'd For her Spouse spouse breach tell Should I how sad Anthony liv'd After Acteon fell 9. All this black Troop of dismall weeâ— enumerated here Are pleasures if compar'd with those which horally I beare 10. Had I more tongues my griefe to tell Then Romans loath to yeeld In one Rome-wasting Battell fell In lucklesse Canna's Field 11. Yet should I want an Idiome Or dialect to say My griefe in an idoneous tone My tongue ah welladay 12. The Tongues of Muses are too faint In Helicon that keep T' expresse the cause of my complaint Come Muses with me weep 13. But why should I perplex the Nine with my griefe when t is known They finde enough Ah without mine To relament their owne 14. The ancient Helicon they 've left Since their Antiomers Was of his wisht for life bereft They 've made one of my teares 15. I oft and oft did them invoke But none of them reply'd Their Harmony alas is broke Since their Maecenas dy'd 16. Come and approach and attend to my cryes you Hags and Hobgoblins Register up and keep a catalogue of my teares These archt walkes of midnight Grâ—ves will I never abandon And Silvans shadowes And shades that Clarida loves Where silver buskin'd triping Nymphs were never affrighted By harsh blows of the rude Axe from their hallowed haunt 17. Here Death keepeth his Court Here pitchy horror inhabits This is griefes free-hold Here will I chuse to abide Come and aproach dapper Elves Satyrs rough and cloven-heel'd Fawnes Not trickt and frounc't up As in the fresh flowry May But civill suted Kerchift in Winter attire Draw neer I le teach you how To weepe teares in parts 18. Sol retrograde with your fire breathing steeds And shut my eyes up in eternall night My soule have
prodigally streamed out at his deep wounds to the all receiving earth Then Flaminius contemning advantages over an almost vanquished Antagonist lighted also and now these Champions entertained one another with fresh courage till Flaminius let fall such a fortunate blow upon the unfortunate strange Knight as parted his ill-tempered shield and despising the weake and inconsiderable oppugnation of his already broken armour it made a great breach into his heart-side as if it would cut a passage for his unlawfull love to issue out at and sent his whole body to strike the earth falling since he could offend his Antagonist no better standing Flaminius after he perceived his pale enemie had acted his lives Epilogue accompanied the Lady to her Castle which stood in the same Forrest and in the journey he desired her to beguile the times hast and abbreviate the waies length with the relation of her precedent fortunes To this request of his the Lady shaped this Reply Royall Sir your commandment doth not only give me will but power to obey you such influence hath your excellencie I will lay the foundation of this subsequent sermocination with any one name which is Iulia eldest daughter to signior le Aroine and his wife Isabella who both during the time of my minoritie having performed the message for which they were sent into the world returned againe to their Maker First my indulgent Father being too old to live his decayed nature was conquered by triumphant death and uselesse Physicke did yeeld to his manifold diseases then my widdowed Genetrix striving to survive without him and liking not expir'd also After this I with my Orphan Sister Andronica retir'd to our Castle towards which we now equitate where we reape as much delectation in the rurall solentary groves and hewts of our owne as the rest of the French Ladies doe in the populous streets of stately Paris she that hath no looking-glasse to dresse her head by will use a boule of water she that wanteth a sleeke-stone to repumicate her linnen will take a pibble The Countrey-girle girdeth her selfe as strait in the waste with a course caddis as the Madame of the Court with a silke riband and we were as well content in our Rustick immorigerous roomes as others in the magnificent structures of our Royall Soveraigne But to proceed there arrived at my Castle Phylispis a valiant and heroicall Knight one out of the number of those whom renowned Fame will ever celebrate his errand was to prostrate his love-sicke-heart at my feet in the highest degree of lowest duty and the purity of the verity is he had taken a full possession of the Fort before he did aske for the keyes the match was concluded and agreed on before the capitulations were treated on my ravished eyes did no sooner behold him then my amorous heart did fancie him for he resembled Abdalmuralis the grandfather of Mahumet who was so amiable that women were enamoured of him yet my modest tongue did a long time hold him in wavering suspence neither suffering his feare to fall into despaire not his hope to hasten to assurance though once to prove the reality of his unalterable affection I charged him with whole vollyes of flatte denialls though any man that had beene trained up in Cupids discipline might easily perceive I shot nothing but powder to try his animosity not bullets to batter downe his breast-workes of hope already reared To these hee framed this satisfactory reply Madame the poore Fisherman that was warned hee should not fish would notwithstanding at his door make nets And the old Vintner of Venice that was prohibited from selling Wine did stil hang out an inviting Ivie-bush and so will I die in faith to you if I may not live in favour of you My malevolent and inauspicious starres may impeach my injoyment of you but if they should implore the assistance of Erynnis and call into their ayd the three Acheronticall Haggs Alecto Megera and Tysophone they should never force me from your love which is radicated so profoundly in my heart that hee which plucks it out pulls up at once that and my soule together Your gifts inspir'd by bounteous nature and your vertues acquir'd by liberall education have stampt for you such an indelible impression of love affection in my estimation as no distance of place length of time or traverse of chance shall be able to race out or impaire till death and sad despaire make a sponge of my bleeding heart to wipe it out For all this I still made his condition like a taper almost burnt out sometimes all obscured in blacke darke dispaire and now and then a flash or two an Ignis fatuus of comfort but of so short continuance 't was as soon extinguished as perceived till at length my kinder heart being willing to yeeld I was content not to perswade it to hold out any longer against the sweet blowes of love but I promised him marriage which is shortly to be consummated Soone after him came this knight who is by your valour Ad Charontem sine naulo missus and he also pretended a desire to match my matchlesse beauty with matchlesse affection him I denyed as fervently as I did the other faintly And now this Tripolis for so he was nominated whom you have vanquished did attempt to atchive that Tarquin-like by force of armes which he could not effect by perswasion and argument this made him devise all meanes and waite for all occasions to surprise me It fortuned though late yet at last there was a match concluded on between Arcates sonne and heire to the ancient Duke of Orleans and Claritia my Mothers sisters daughter to solemnization of these nuptialls I with my damsels tooke our way and now earths black babling daughter spred the pinions of swift wings advanced her shtill trumpet and fill'd the inquiring eares of Tripolis with the relation of our journey of which being certified he diligently awaited for my returne and had assuredly made me his captive had not you been my rescuer to whom I am indebted for my liberty the joy of life which I hold now the second time of you Thus sir have you bound me to you in an energeticall chaine of gratitude To attempt a requitall would extreamely extenuate your transcendent courtesie and derogate from the worth of your high favour but for the other office of gratitude retention if you had a window into my memory you might espie there safely stored up and conservated to preserve it from mouldring away in oblivion By this time the setting Sunne with loose rayes was posting to his Westerne home waiting onely to light Flaminius and Julia to the Castle which was a place as strongly fortified as rarely edified it was erected of speckled free stone adorned with marble shining pillars and statues of the predâ—cessors of Signior le Artine it was invironed with large walks both greene and gravelly with spreading trees on either side bowred on the
top so that in Summer time the scorching Sunne could not offend any with intemperate heat there were such delicate shaddowes and in the Winter the chilly and sharpe windes found no passe the trees were so high and thick round about these ran silver streames whose sweet murmur as they gently tumbled over their beds of pebble stone did much adorne the pleasant solitarinesse of the place Opposite to the front of this strong structure was a large parke which for cheerefull risings of the ground for groves and rowsings for the Deere and for chrystall Rivolets of cleere water might compare with any In the Hall cost and invention strove for mastery so many Stories did so successively succeed one another that the most curious spectators eye though his admiration might dwell in each peece could find no cause of stay untill hee had overlook'd them all here he did recreate his active fancy with this varietie of pleasing objects Here might he perceive the ruddy bloud drawne out of Daphne's tender leggs by the enjurious thornes as she over-hastily fled from persuing Phaebus and her dishevell'd haire seemed to play with the warme breath of her following lover There might he behold sorowfull Venus bemoaning the violent death of her boreslaine minion Adonis and striving to wash away the clottered blood from his worried carkesse with her pearly teares which dropt from her tender eyes like a continued chaine of pearle â—gushing forth in such abundance as if her rubie blood had changed its naturall course and colour to run forth at the wide open sluces of her eyes She kist his pale lipps as if she would willingly have melted her sad heart to have restored them to fresh colour and breath into him another soule fit for her love Here might he espie Leander beating the swelling Helispontâ—ck waves with his weary limbs swimming to his expecting Hero whose painted torches seemed to burne as bright as those reall torches which by this time had inherited the set-Suns office There might hee discrie the rude mouthes of Acteons dogs fill'd with white foame greedy to dismember their brutified master and delacerate his limbes instead of the innocent beast he persued There griefe in the stead of gaine paine in the roome of pleasure seemed to bath its selfe in his sorrowfull eyes By this time our Spectators appetites began to solicite them in behalfe of their stomacks the colerick lookes knockt the trumpets sounded to supper and when the tables were with-drawne the Ladyes servants for the better entertainment of Flaminius being ambitious to exhibite all their forces to performe any thing that might conduce to his contentment presented him with this pastorall PROLOGVE Flambio APelles coveting to please your sight Prepos'd those various objects of delight To recreate your sent Her 's choyce perfumes Of unctious Narde and Aromatick fumes Our cost-neglecting cookes to please your tast Have drest choyce cates and veands of the best And to delight your tooth we all conspire To adde what 's corispond with that desire Lastly this pastorall our wits prepare Even as second course to feed your eare Expect no polish't linos no sublime straines But rurall Speech such as is vs'd 'mongst Swaines ACTUS 1. SCENA 1. Gripus Hegio VVHen gaudy Flora in her prime Observing it was Summer-time With fragrant flowers of each day Had made our mother Tellus gay The new borne plumed minstrills fills The siâ—iling heaven and ecchoing hills With chirping musick ev'ry grone Was made their quire Olympick Iove Commanded Aprels balmy shoures To refresh the March bred flowers And May perfection in each field To Aprels suckling babes to yield The spring pâ—â—â—umed this brood whose smâ— The Phenix nest might paralâ—ll Now did approach the festivall Of god Silvanus nuptiall To his groue haunting Clarida Then all the Faunâ—s keept holyday The nimble faries danc't and all The dieties agresticall Clâ—ius and kind Phisipile Vow'd loving Man and wife to be So Clodin did to Colatine So Serin to his Eglatine So Cloris did to Coridon And so delt sheapheards many a one At length imploring love to be So propitious vnto me To Mira the faire sheapheardesse In courteous wise I did addresse My hand my heart my cap my coyne With all the good I could conjoyne But she coy thing refus'd to prove What gentle Hymen is or loue As pevish Daphne fled away From the illustrator of the day Even so my sight coy Mira flies My sighes she slights my suit denies When glorious Sol hath turn'd his back And all the world is hung with black Sleepe natures soft-nurse flyes my eyes My mind 's ore-cast as are the skies I 'de rather fill a barne full then a bed More profit t is to have a crooked plough Still going then a tottering cradle rocke But more then that these I terme foolish men But foolish is the Amorists epâ—hite Ou peut a peine aymer ensemble estre sage One scarse can be both wife and love together That ere will trust their honour in a Barke Made of so â—â—ight weake bulrush as woman Apt every fleeting minute for to sincke it And how canâ—… thou expect fidelity In the disloyall sex call'd feminine Remember fiftie sisters Belus daughters Who all save one made of their husbands slaughters And both th' Atrides had their envied lives Endanger'd by the falsehood of their wives Euriphile false Hag her husband sould To Polinyces for a chaine of gould And Queene Euridice conspired How to deliver to grim visag'd death Her reâ—all Lord and husband to enthrone In his voyd roome her fancied Sonne in Law The fierce Medea did delacerate Absyrtus tender members to escape Her Fathers pursute if we may rely On the report of sage Antiquity Grip. Thou pleadst against thy selfe I le turn the point Of thy last daggar into thine owne breast Thou sayst Medea tore in twaine her brother Absyrtus t is confest ' tâ—as to discover Her ardent and firme setled desire To follow Jason ungratefull Jason Who after that left her and all her charmes To clap another Lady in his armes So have I seene a Horse-leach oft embrace Cleave to and hang upon some bloud-swoln face Till its owne turne be serv'd it holdeth fast Untill his panch be full then drop at last But to our taâ—ke Penelope liv'd chaste Though twice five years her royall Lord was gone Did not Aeneas flie and leave his sword To let out over-credulous Dido's bloud When as Hiero blam'd his wife 'cause she Never inform'd him of his stinking breath I thought quoth she that all mens breaths smelt so Arria when Petus was condem'd to dye First stab'd her selfe then giving him the steele This wound deare Petus grieves me not quoth she But that which thou must give thy self grieves me The Minians wives having obtained leave To say valete to their dying Lords Exchang'd their habits and expos'd themselves In their escaped Spouses roomes unto The penalty of the offended Law Dona the partner of her husbands woe With him