griefs as did exclude The comforts of his passive Fortitude Opprest the Prince when now an Army led By their pursuing Enemies ore-spread The circling fields and brings their fear within The reach of th' Eye heighten'd with hope to win That now by parl which ere the sad success Of Battel made their conquer'd numbers less He feard in fight the confidently bold Almanzor in a Scrowl that did unfold A Language whose unreverend stile affords Far more of anger then his Soldiers Swords Had ere stird fear within his Princes breast His fixt Intentious thus in brief exprest Great Sir NO airy tumour of untam'd desire Nurst my Ambition prompts me to aspire To any Action that may sore above My Birth or Loyalty it was the love I bore your verteous Daughter that first clad Me in defensive Armes which never had Been else unsheathd though 't had been to defend Me from Injustice should your Sword extend Its power to tyranny but failing in That first attempt ere streams of blood had bin Shed in addition to those drops my hand Had broke my Sword as guilty had this Land To whom I owe for the first Aire I breathd Not washt the stain in tears and since unsheathd It in the name of Justice to their good Which trembling on uncertain hopes hath stood Whilst fearing forrein Governours I have Added my love and satisfaction crave For both before a greater ill may fall To make our sufferings Epidemical By being slaves to some proud Tyrant that In politick Ambition reaches at A Kingdom by profest Affection and Marries your Daughter to command your Land This Scrowl spotted with Impudence receiv'd By the vext Prince whom passion had bereav'd Of politick Evasions he returns A swift defiance but his high rage burns Nought but his own scortcht breast the fainting fire Quencht by constraint wants Fuel to blaze higher Then flashy threatnings which since prov'd a folly Sink in the Ashes of Melancholy For which his ablest Councel could prepare No Cordial of advice they rather share With him in sorrow whose harsh burthen growes Not lighter by the company of those That now lend hearts to bear it only in This sullen Clouds obscurity this sin Of their Nativity the noble Soul Of the undaunted Princess did controul The harshest Lectures of her Stars and sate Unshaken in this Hyrocane of Fate Calming her Fathers hot adversity With Dews of comfort taught him how to be Prince of his Passions a Command more great Then his that trembles in a regal seat The Enemy that vainly had till now Toil'd forth their strength no more endeavours how By force to conquer some smal time they knew Would with the bloodless Sword of Famine do More then their Cannon could the meager Fen Already grew tyrannical his men Like walking Ghosts wait on their Prince and stand For shadows on their Plat-forms not a hand But was unnerv'd with want yet whilst each part Languisht tow'rd death each bosome held a heart Which though most large could never empty he Being doubly fil'd with grife and loyalty Amongst both which hope for a part puts in As the Supporter of what else had been A burthen insupportable and spoke This pleasing Language that the royal Oke Beneath whose Winter Fortune now they stood Pining for want the witherd under Wood That all his miseries dropt on yet they shall When ere his brighter Stars again do call His Fortune into light be comforted By his kind shadow which shall those that fled Him in this sad extream then leave to be Scortcht in the Rays of angry Majesty Reduc'd unto this pitied exigence Yet by his honour which could not dispense With ought that like suspition lookt detaind From what by parl might have their freedome gaind The loyal Sufferers to declare how far They fear declind those mourning weeds of War Whose fight a desperate valour doth betray Black En signs on their guarded Wals display When to augment their high resolves with what Their valour was to pity so fâ—ned at After with all those course though scarce Cates they By sparing first attempted to betray Time till relief with they 'd been fed till now There nought remaind that longer could allow Life further hopes of sustenance to do An Act so great all Ages to ensue Shall more admire then imitate within The Hall appears their Soveraign leading in His hand the Princess whose first view though drest In Robes as sad as sorrow ere exprest Was but the Frontiers of their grief to what When nearer seen whilst sorrow silenc'd at So sad on Object might for death be took Made solemn grief like grave Religion look Whilst all thus in sad expectation stand Of future Fate disdaining to command Those whom an equal sorrow seemd to make His fellow Sufferers the sad Prince thus spake His fixt resolves Brave Souls whose loyal love Opprest by my unhappy woes must prove Part of my grief since by my wretched Fate Forc'd with my own life to precipitate Yours into danger from whose reach since by No Crime until the love of Loyalty Become a sin you are cal'd guilty yet Seek some evasion 't is not you that sit Upon the Throne he aimes at nor doth here Arival in Pharonnida appear No 't is our lives our lives brave Subjects that His bold Ambition only reaches at By this pretense what to my Daughter love To 's Country's pity cal'd could he remove Those now but smal Obstructions soon would grow To 's pride united till it over flow All limets of a Subjects duty by Rebellious reach usurped tyranny Go then and let not my unhappiness Afflict you more i th' shadow of distress T wil like warm comforts swel my Soul to know That to his Favour you for safety ow. Did not those sacred Canons that include All vertue in a Christians Fortitude Obstruct our Passions progress we ere this In death had made the haughty Rebel miss The glory of his Conquest which since now Denâ—'d although unweildy age allow Not strength to sell my life at such a rate Honour aimes at yet shall the slow debate Even in my fall let the World know I died Scorning his pity as they hate his pride Here stopt the Prince when as if every breast One universal sorrow had possest Grief grown into more noble passion broke Th' attentive silence and thus swiftly spoke Their resolutionâ— On on and lead Us unto death no Critick eye shall read Fear through the Opticks of our Souls but give Command to act here 's not a heart durst live Without obedience camforted with this Rich Cordial from his sorrows dark Abyss Rais'd to resolves whose greatness equal'd all His former Glory by their fatal fall To darken the ensuing day the Prince Gives a Command to all his Train that since Their own free Votes elected death they now With Souls that no terrestial thought allow A residence ' gainst the next Morn prepare That wisht for freedome with himself to share All sadly sate
Argalia though it could not be Yet counted more then what his Merits might Claim as Desert but this smal beam of light Through the Prospective of suspition to Envies malignant Eye conveyd to do An Act informs the curst Amphibia that Makes Love lament for what she triumph'd at Since Vertue Heavens unspotted Character On the belov'd Argalia did transfer Merits of too sublime a height to be Shadowed with vice from that Flowers fragrancie She sucks her Venome and from what had built His Glory now intends to raise his Guilt For â—hough the Prince no Engines need to move His Passions Frame but just Desert his Love Her close endeavours are to heighten 't by Praises that make Affection jealousie Whose Venome having once possest his Soul It swiftly doth like fatal Charmes controul Reasons fair Dictates and although no fear From such wel-order'd Actions could appear To strengthen it Argalia's Merits caus'd Some sad and sullen doubts such as when pauf'd Awhile upon resolve their Cure must be Their Cause remov'd though in that Action he From his Breasts royal Mansion doth exclude The noblest Vertue generous Gratitude My worthless Fortune with will but prepare Our future happiness the time we spare From feeding on Ambrosia will encrease Our wealthy store when the white Wings of peace Shall bear us back with Victory there may Through the dark Chaeos of my Fate display Some beam of Honour though compar'd with thine That Element of living flames it shine Dim as the pale-fac'd Moon when she lets fall Through a dark Grove her beams thy Vertues shall Give an Alarum to my sluggish Soul When ere it drops thy Memory controul The weakness of my Passions When we strive i th' heat of glorious Battel I 'le revive My drooping Spirits with that harmony Thy Name includes thy Name whose memory Dear as those Reâ—icks a protecting Saint Sends humble Vot'ries mentions will acquaint My thoughts with all that 's good then calm again This Conflict of thy fears I shall remain Safe in the Hail of Death if guarded by Thy pious Prayers Fates Messengers that fly On wings invisible will lose the way Aim'd at my breast if thou vouchsafe to pray To Heaven for my protection But if we Nere meet again yet oh yet let me be Sometimes with pity thought on at which word His ore-charg'd Eyes no longer could afford A Room to entertain their Tears both wept As if they strove to quench that fire which kept Light in the Lamps of Life whose Fortunes are i th' House of Death whilst Mars the regal Star Some time in silent sorrow spent at length The fair Pharonnida recovers strength Though Sighs each Accent interrupted to Return this Answer Wilt oh wilt thou do Our infant Love such injury to leave It ere full grown When shall my Soul receive A comfortable smile to cherish it When thou art gone they 'r but dull Joyes that sit Enthron'd in fruitless wishes yet I could Part with a less expence of sorrow would Our rigid Fortune only be content With absence but a greater punishment Conspires against us danger must attend Each step thou treadst from hence and shall I spend Those hours in mirth each of whose minutes lay Wait for thy life when Fame proclaims the day Wherein your Battels joyn how will my fear With doubtful Pulses beat until I hear Whom Victory adorns Or shall I rest Here without trembling when lodg'd in thy breast My heart 's expos'd to every danger that Assails thy Valour and is wounded at Each stroke that lites on thee which absent I Prompted by fear to Myriads multiply But these are Fancies Wildfiâ—es we in vain Do spend unheard Orizons and complain To unrelenting Rocks this Night peect Scrol This Bill of our Divorcement doth inrole Our Names in sable Characters nought will Expunge till death obliterate our Ill. Oh do not dear Commandress of my Heart Argalia answers let our moist eyes part In such a Cloud as will for ever hide Hopes brightest Beams those Deities that guide The secret motions of our Fate will be More merciful then to twist Destiny In such black Threads should Death unravel all The feeble Cordage of our Lives we shall Spight of that Prince of Terrours in the high And glorious Palace of Eternity Being met again renew that Love which we On Earth were forc'd before Maturity Had ripen'd it to Leaves i th' numerous throng Of long departed Souls that stray among The Mirtles in Elizium I will find Thy Virgin Ghost and whilst the Rout inclin'd To sensual pleasures here refining are In purging Flames laugh at each envious Star Whose Aspects if ill cited at our Brith With poysonous Influence blasts the Joyes of Earth Oh wast not cries the Princess dear time in These shadows of Conceit the Hours begin To be ' mongst those inserted that have try'd The Actions of the World which must divide Us from our Joy the Sea through which we sail Works high with woe nor can our prayers prevail To calm its angry Brow the glorious Fraight Of my unwelcome Honours hangs a Waight Too ponderous on me for to steer the way Thy humbler Fortunes do else ere I 'de stay To mourn without thee I would rob my Eyes Of peaceful slumbers and in course disguise Whilst Love my Sex's weakness did controul Command my Body to attend my Soul My Soul my dear which hovering neer thee not Midnight alarums that appear begot By truth should startle 'twixt the clamorous Camp Lightned with Cannons and the peaceful Lamps That undisturb'd here wasts its Oile I know No difference but what doth from Passion flow Whose close Assaults do more afflict us far Then all the loud impetuous storms of War We must we must replies Argalia stand This Thunder bolt unmov'd since his Command Whose Will confirms our Law happy had we Great Princess been if in that low degree From whence my Infancy was rais'd I yet Had liv'd a toiling Rural then when fit For Himens pleasures uncontrol'd I 'de took Some homely Village Girl whose Friends could look After no Joynture for to equallize Her Portion but my love no jealous Eyes Had waited on our Meetings we had made All our Addresses free the friendly shade Cast from a spreading Oak as soon as she Had milkt her Cows had prov'd our Canopy Where our unpollisht Courtship had a Love As chast concluded as from th' amorous Dove Pearcht neer us we had learnt it when arriv'd Unto Loves Zenith we had undepriv'd By disagreeing Parents soon been led To Church by th' sprucest Swains our Marriage-bed Though poor and thin would have been neatly drest By rural Paranymphs clad in the best Wool their own Flocks afforded in a low And humble Shed on which we did bestow Nought but our labour to erect we might Have spent our lustie youth with more delight Then glorious Courts are guilty of And when Age had decayd our strength grown up to men Beheld our large course issue Our dayes ended
loud Alarums in The Castle Court and City rag'd all were Huddl'd into confusion some prepare To fly what others with an Ignorance As great though bolder to oppose advance Here had our Heaven-protected Lovers lost What such large summs of prayers and tears had cost Had not the torrent of the peoples throng When rushing towards the Castle by a strong Voyce danger been diverted to prevent A hungry flame which in the Cyprians Tent Began had spread its aire-dilated wings Over the City whose feard danger brings On them a worse distemperature then all Their last Nights Surfets whilst proud Turrets fall In their own Ashes the discordant Bells Ordaind to call for aide but ring their Knels That in a drunken fury half awake First their warm Beds and then their Lives forsake For to destruction here big pride had sweld Had not Nights errors been by day expeld With swift Cals frighted but more terrifi'd At their sad Cause Fear being his doubtful Guide The stout Epicote to Cleanders Court Repairs and there amongst a thick resort Of Subjects finds the Prince distracted by Those Epidemick Clamours that did fly From every part o th' City to appease Whose fury whilst he goes the sharp disease In flames feeds on her ruin'd beauty and Mounts on insulting wings which to withstand Th' amaz'd Inhabitants did stop its flight With the whole weight of Rivers till that light Which an Usurper on the sooty Throne Of darknesse sate vanisht or only shone From their dim Torches Rayes the Prince thus stayd In 's hasty Journey till the flames allayd Lent safety to the City by it gave The royal Fugitives the time to save Themselves by flight from those ensuing ills Whose clamorous Scouts rude sounds the stird aire fills Descended to the Gardens Postern Gate A place where silence yet unruffl'd sate A Night obscure and an unhaunted way Conspiring their Pursuers to betray To dark mistakes with silent Joy which had All Fears pale symptomes in Loves purple clad Close as that bold Attempter whose brave theft Was sacred fire the walks behind them left Argalia hasts unto the Castle Moat With his rich prize there a neglected Boat Half hid amongst the Willow Beds finds ouâ— In which Pharonnida that nought could doubt Whilst her successful Lover steerd past o're To meet the safety of a larger Shore The end of the third Book PHARONNIDA The Fourth Book CANTO I. The Argument I. Whilst noise and tumult fills the Court the sad Orlinda to lament alone retir'd Finds the brave Captain in deaths symptoms clad Whose perfect health her friendly care acquir'd II. The Scouts with an unwelcom emptiness Of news return'd the Princess secret flight Yet well succeeds but now in sad distress Find a black morning to that dismal night VVHen Fear like an unskilful Pilot in A storm distracted long in vain had been Plac'd at the helm of Action whilst those rude Waves rais'd by greater winds the Multitude Swell'd with uncertain councels all met in A thick and dangerous confluence those within The Castle by a hotter passion to A high wrought fury startled did undo Those links of councel which the other broke With corrosives of fear by the rude stroke Of heedless Anger whose uncivil strife Had robâ—d Revenge of justice and each life That here was in deaths inundation spilt Shed but to aggrevate a private guilt Had not the Prince whose angers flame they fear'd More then grim death t' appease the storm appear'd Beat from the out-works of their hopes all in A busie tumult are imploy'd within The Princess lodgings but there only find Their knowledge by her secret flight strook blind Stumbl'd on errors No characters but what The wasteful hand of death had scatter'd at The Guard informs them and even those seem left The weak opposers of successful theft Dropt as their Foes victorious fate slue by To shew his fortune and their loyalty Leaving which late warm tenements of breath Without once throwing up that bed of death Their grave-cloaths ore them every active friend Hasts toward her search whilst suffering females spend The hours grown slow since burden'd by their fears In prayrs whose doubts they numbred by their tears But amongst all of those that sacrific'd Tears to her loss sorrow had most disguis'd Lovely Orlinda the fair sister to The vext Messenian who with Love that grew From equal attributes of Honor in The parallels of Beauty plac'd had been In this restraint of liberty so long Her pleas'd Companion that her grief too strong For comfort grown to mourn her absence she Forsaking all her friends societie Whilst seeking of some shady grove is brought To one whose vail black as her darkest thought Appear'd so much a stranger to the light That solitude did thither soon invite The pensive Lady who whilst entring by A deep groans sound diverted turns her eye Toward one who near the utmost ebb of life Disguis'd in 's blood was with the latest strife Of death contending at the dreadful view Of which sad object she retreating to Some of her maids who fearing to intrude Whilst she appear'd intending solitude A distance kept made hold by number now Return to see if life did yet allow A room for help or if his soul were fled To let their care intomb the helpless dead Arriv'd so near that through the rubrick vail Of 's blood they saw how life did yet prevail O'er deaths convulsions they behold one lie Whose wound 's an object for their charity Soon drew them nearer in such trembling haste As if they fear'd those lavish springs would waste Lifes stock too fast where come with linen soft And white as were those hands that thither brought That blessing having gently wip'd away His blood his face discover'd did betray Him to their knowledge for the Ciprian Prince All soon conclude him whose desert e'er since That Court she knew had to Orlinda prov'd A dear delight yet she ne'er knew she lov'd Till her soft pitty and his sad distress Conspiring to betray that bashfulness Whose blushes scorch'd that tender plant did now Even in their fortunes roughest storm allow It leave to grow safe since yet passing by No other name but noble charity By all the nimblest stratagems which Art E'er learnt from nature striving to impart The best of mortal blessings health unto Her Royal patient prais'd Orlinda grew So high in his deserv'd esteem that though Posterity doth to his friendship ow For their most perfect copy knowing she Too much ador'd Pharonnida to be Her base betrayer when his healths advance Gave way for language every circumstance Declares which was in that so fatal night The sad preludiums to her secret flight By which when she whose love though full of fire Yet lay rak'd up in a remote desire Unstirr'd by hope with joy had learn'd that he More then what friendship parroniz'd was free From all affection to the Princess in Her eyes which until then had clouded bin Love with as
a more sad discov'ry They behold The brackish Main in funerall Pomp unfold The Trophies of her Cruelty Her Brow Uncurl'd with Waves was only spotted now With scatter'd Ruines here engag'd within The ruffl'd Sails some sad Souls that had been For life long strugling tir'd at length are forc'd To sink and die Yonder a Pair divorc'd From all the warm Society of flesh With cold stiff Arms embrace their Fate The fresh And tender Virgin in her Lovers sight The Sea-Gods ravish and th' Enthean light Of those bright Orbs her Eyes which could by nought But Seas be quencht t' eternall darkness brought Whilst pittying these a suddain noise whose strange Confusion did their Passions Object change Assaults their wonder which by this surprize Amaz'd perswades them to inform their Eyes With its obscure Originall when led By sounds that might in baser Souls have bred A swift aversion clashing Weapons they Might soon behold upon the Sands that lay Beneath the Rock a Troop of desp'rate men Unstartled with those dangers which even then Their ruin'd Ship and dropping Garments shewd Heaven freed them from what Mercy had bestowd Let their own anger loose which flaming in A fatall Combate had already bin In blood disfigur'd But when now so near Them drawn that every Object did appear In true distinction they with wonder rais'd To such a height as Poets would have prais'd Their Heroes in a noble Christian saw Whose Sword as if by the eternall Law Of Providence to punish Infidels Directed with each falling stroke expels A Turks black Soul Yet Valor being opprest By multitudes must have at length sought rest From Death had not brave Ariamnes by His Hunters followed brought him Victory Whilst the approaching danger did exclude Even hope the last support of Fortitude The desperate Turks that chose the Sea to be Their sad Redeemer of Captivity Though from that fear they fled to death had now Upon the Shoar left none life could allow But motion to though stopt by death such store All the Escap'd appeard but such as bore The fatall Story of destruction to Their distant Friends when now a serious view By Ariamnes and that noble Youth Whose Actions honourd as authentick truth Made all admire him of their pitty'd dead With sorrow took one worthy Soul unfled From life they found which by Argalia seen With joy recalls those Spirits that had been In busie Action lost but danger that Toward the Throne of life seem'd entring at Too many wounds denies him to enlarge The Sheam of Love as noble Vertues charge To him her follower Ariamnes by His goodness and their sad necessity Prompted to pity fearing slow delays As dangers fatall Harbinger conveys The wounded strangers to the place where he His Palace made the Throne of Charitie 'T was the short journey 'twixt the Day and Night The calm fresh Evening Times Hermaphrodite The Sun on Lights dilated Wings being fled To call the Western Villagers from Bed Ere at his Castle they arrive which stood Upon a Hill whose Basis freng'd with wood Shadowed the fragrant Meadows thorough which A spatious River striving to enrich The flow'ry Valleys with what ever might At home be profit or abroad delight With parted streams that pleasant Islands made It s gentle Current to the Sea conveyd In the composure of this happy place Wherein he lived as if fram'd to embrace So brave a Soul as now did animate It with its presence strength and beauty sate Combin'd in one 't was not so vastly large But fair convenience countervaild the charge Of Reparations all that modest Art Affords to soâ—â—r pleasures every part More for its Ornament but none were drest In Robes so rich but what alone exprest Their Masters providence and care to be A prop to falling Hospitality For he not Comet-like did blaze out in This Country Sphear what had extracted been From the Courts lazy Vapors but had stood There like a Star of the first Magnitude With a fixt constancy so long that now Grown old in Vertue he began to bow Beneath the weight of time and since the calm Of Age had left him nothing to embalm His Name but Vertue strives in that to be The glorious wonder of Posterity Each of his Actions being so truly good That like the Ground where hollowed Temples stood Although by age the Ruines ruin'd seem The people beare a reverent esteem Unto the place so they preserve his Name A yet unwasted Pyramid of Fame Rich were his publick Vertues but the price Of those was but the World to Paradice Compar'd with that rare Harmony that dwells Within his Walls each Servant there excells All but his Fellows in deseâ—t each knew First when then how his Lords Commands to do None more enjoyed then was enough none less All did of plenty tast none of excess Riot was here a stranger but far more Repining penury ne're from that doore The Poor-man went denied nor did the rich Ere surfet there 't was the blest Medium which Extracted from all compound Vertues we Make and then Christian Mediocrity Within the compass of his spatious Hall Stood no vain Pictures to obscure the Wall Which usefull Armes adornd and such as when His Prince requir'd assistance his own men Valiant and numerous mannag'd to defend That righteous Cause but never to attend A popular Faction whose corrupted Seed Hell did engender and Ambition feed His Judgment that like Lifes Attendant Sence To try each Objects various difference Fit Mediums chose which he made Vertue here Beholding though these wandring Stars appear Now in their greatest detriment the Rays Of perfect worth he to that Vertue payes Those Attributes of honour which unto Their Births though now in course disguise was due To Aphrons wounds successfull Art applies Prevailing Med'cines whilst Invention flies To the Aphelion of her Orb to seek Such modest Pleasures as might smooth the Cheek Of ruffl'd Passion which being found are spent To cure the sad Argalia's discontent Which long being lost to all delight at length Revives again his Friends recover'd strength They having now no Remora to stay Them here but what their gratitude did pay To his desires whose Courtesie had made Those bonds of Love with as much zeal obey'd As those which duty locks preparing are To take their leave even in whose civil War Whilst they contend with Courtesies as sent To rescue when his Eloquence was spent Brave Amminander with such hast as shewed His speed to some supream Injunction owed Such diligence a Messenger brings in A Packet which that noble Lord had been Too frequently acquainted with to fear Th' unseen Contents which open'd did appear A Mandate from his royall Master to Attend him ere the next dayes Beauties grew Deform'd with Age which honourd Message read To banish what Suspition might have bred In 's doubtfull Friends he the inclos'd contents With cheerfull hast unto their view presents Their fear thus cur'd by information he That his appearance in
least it appear In me like envy should I strive to clear This doubtful story here are those with that Cals forth Andremons Friends instructed at The dearest price which by discovering truth Will not alone rescue this noble Youth From falling ruine but least he retreat Into rebellion force before this fear A man whose power the people thought had bin To punish Vice not propagate a sin Having thus far past toward discovery here The grave Lord ceast and that truth might appear From its first fair Original to her Whose Vertue Heavens affected Messenger Commands Attention the more horrid part Of his relation leaves And here vain Art Took on and envy to behold how far Thy strickt Rules which our Youths Afflictions are Nature transcends in a Discourse which she With all the Flowers of Virgin modesty Not Weeds of Rhetorick strew'd to hear her miss Or put a blush for a Parenthesis In the relating that uncivil strife Which her sad Subject was so near the life Limâ—s lovely Vertue that that Copy whence Arâ— took those Graces she doth siâ—ce dispence To th' best of women fair Pharonnida Taâ—ght by that sympathy which first did draw Those lovely Transcripts of her selâ— although Varied as much as humble Flowers that grow Dispiers'd in shady Desarts are from thoâ—e That nice Art in enameld Gardens shews Yet like bright Planets which communicate To Earth their Influence from exalted state She now descends to cherish Vertue in Those lovely Nimphs whose Beauties though they 'd bin Yet in the Country clouded from Report Soon grow the praise or envy of the Court. Imboldned by that gracious favour shewn To these fair Nymphs to prosecute their own Most just Complaints Andremons wretched friends With prayers perceive that Mercy which descends O're all their sufferings on th' expanded Wings Of noble pitty whose fair hand first brings Argalia from the sable Scaffold to Meet those Rewards to his high Merits due Not only in what deaths dark progress staies But Life's best joy an universal praise Aquir'd from just desert Next she applies Her self to those poor burthend Souls whose Eyes Look even on Comforts through their tears the dead Andremons Mourners whose lâ—st Joy though fled For ever from those wintring Regions yet As much receiv'd as sorrow would permiâ— Souls so opprest the splendid Court they leave With thankful prayers And now cal'd to receive His sins reward Almanzor is whose shame It s black Attendant when by his haâ—ed Name He 'd oft been summond prompts him to deny That legal Call which being an Act too high For a depending power to patronizâ— To shun feard Justice publick doom he flies His Princes Mandates an affront that sent Him to 's desert perpetual banishment This Comet lost in clouds of Infamy The Court which had too long been burthend by His injur'd power with praises entertain Impartial Justice whilst to call again Those pleasures which had in this interval Of Law been lost the Prince convening all That shar'd those sufferings as the Center whence Joy spread it self to th' Courts circumference Crowns all their wishes which by that bright Star In Honours Sphear th' auspitious Princes are Exalted to their highest Orbs her Love Unto Argalia though it yet must move As an unnoted Constellation here Begins its Erae which that might appear Without suspition she disguises in The publick joy which ' mongst those that had bin His serious Mourners to participate That kind Epicote who first taught his Fate The way to Glory comes to whom he now Was on those Knees Merit had taught to bow With as much humble reverence as if all The Waights of Nature made those burthens fall A Sacrifice to Love fixt to implore Its constant Progress but he needs no more For confirmation since his Friend could move But the like joy where Nature taught to love Passions encounter which too high to last Into a calm of thankful prayers being past The Prince from the Calabrian seeks to know By what collateral streams he came to owe Such love unto a stranger one that stood Remov'd from him i th' Magnetisme of blood Whom thus the Lord resolves When blooming in The pride of Youth whose varied Sceans did win Time on the Morning of my dayes a while To tast the pleasures of a Summers Smile I left the Courts tumulteous noise and spent Some happy time blest with retir'd content In the calm Country where Arts curious hand As Center to a spatious Round of Land Had plac'd a Palace in whose lovely Dress The City might admire the Wilderness Yet though that ill Civility was in Her marble Circle Natures hand had bin As liberall to the neighbouring Fields and dect Each rural Nimph as gaudy til neglect Or slovenly Necessity had drawn Her Canvass Furroughs o're their Vails of Lawn Near this fair Seat fring'd with an ancient Wood A fertile Valley lay where scatter'd stood Some homely Cottages the happy Seats Of labouring Swains whose careful Toil compleats Their wishes in obtaining so much Wealth To conquer dire Necessiâ—y firm health Calm thoughts sound sleeps unstarted innocence Softn'd their Beds and when rouz'd up from thence Suppl'd their Limbs for Labour amongst these My lov'd Argalia for till Fate shall please His dim Stars to uncurtain and salute His better Fortune with each Attribute Due to a nobler Birth his Name must be Contracted unto that Stenography Life's Sceans began amongst his Fellows that There first drew breath being true Heirs to what Whilst all his Stars were retrograde and dim Unlucky Fortune but adopted him Whilst there residing I had oft beheld The active Boy whose Childhoods Bud exceld More ful blown Youths gleaning the scatterd Locâ—â— Of new-shorn Fields amongst the half-clad Flocks Of their unripe but healthful Issue by Which Labour tir'd sometimes I see them try The strength of their scarce twisted Limbs and run A short breathd Course whose swift contention done And he as in each other active â—port With Vict'ry crownd they make their next resort To th' Springs cheap Bounties but what did of all His first Attempts did give the powerful call Both to my Love and Wonder was what chanc'd From one rare Act the Morning had advanc'd Her tempting Beauties to assure success To these young Huntsmen who with Labour less Made by the pleasure of their Journey had The Forest reacht where with their Limbs unclad For the pursuit they follow Beasts that might Abroad be recreation and when Night Summond them home the welcomest supply Both to their own and Parents quality An angry Boar chaft with a Mornings chase And now near spent was come so neer the place Where though secur'd on the stupendious height Of a vast Rock they stood that now no flight Could promise safety that wild rage which sent Him from the Dogs his following Foes is spâ—nt In the pursuit of them which to my grief Had sufferd ere we could have lent relief Hâ—d not Argalia even when danger drew So near
Mountains top the Army marching low Within the Vale their several Squadrons shew This silent time which by command was set Asido to pay Confessions needful debt To oft offended Heaven whose aide though gave Ere askt yet since our duty is to crave Expects our prayers the Armies from their still Devotion rais'd declare what Spirits fill Their breast by such an universal joy As to get Young and not the Old destroy Each had by beauteous Paranymphs been led Not to rough War but a soft Nuptial Bed That fatal hour by time which though it last Till fixt Stars have a perfect Circle past We still think short to Action brought which now So near approacht it could no more allow The Generals to consult although there need Nought to augment when Valours flame doth feed High on the hopes of Victory the rage Of eager Armies ere their Troops engage Their several Leaders all that Art did use By which loud Wars rough Rhetorick doth infuse Into those bodies on whose strength consists Their safety Souls whose brave Resolves might twist Them into Chains of Valour which no force Then death less powerful ever should divorce The Prince as more depending on the just Cause that had drawn his Sword which to distrust Looks like a Crime soonest commits the day To Fates Arbitrement no more delay Comforts the â—ainting Coward a sad sound Of Cannon gave the Signal and had drownd The murmuring Drum in silence Earth did groan In trembling Ecchoes on her sanguine Tâ—rone High mounted Horrour sits wild Rage doth fill Each breast with Fury whose fierce flames distill Life through th' Alimbecks of their Râ—ins that Cloud Of dust which when they first did move a shrowd Of darkness vaild them in allayd with blood Fell to the Earth whose Clefts a crimson flood Fil'd to the brim and when it could contain No more let forth those purple streams to stain The blushing fields which being made slâ—ppery by Th' unnatural shower there lets them sink and dy Whose empty veins rent in this fatal strife Here dropt the treasure of exhausted Life In sad exchange of wounds whilst the last breath Even flying forth to give another death Supports the fainting Spirits all were now Sadly imploy'd arm'd danger could allow In this loud storm of Action none to stand Idle Spectators but each busie hand Labours in deaths great work his life to sell At rates so dear that Foe by which he fell To boast his gain survives not but now in This mart of death blind Fortune doth begin To shew her self Antagonist unto Less powerful Justice In the common view Of reason which by the external shape Of Actions only judges no escape From their desert Captivity was left The Rebels Armie but th' unmanly theft Of secret flight to some protected by Their Fellows loss when in a rage as high As if it had attempted to out-roar The Battels thunder a rude Tempest bore From Southern Climates on th' exalted wings Of new-rais'd winds a change so fatal brings To th' royal Army that from Vict'ries near Succesful pride unto extreams which fear Did nere suggest it brought them back to view Their glorious hopes thus sadly over-threw A strong reserve rais'd by his friends to be Almanzors rescue if that Victorie Seem'd to assist the juster part was now Brought neer the River which endeavouring how To ford they there unwillingly had been Detaind till strength had prov'd but useless in The Princess Conquest if the swelling flood VVhose added streams too strong to be withstood Had not in that impeteous torrent tore That Bridge which past the royal Army o're Whose severd Boats borne down the River made So sad a change that whilst their Foes invade Their Rear on them the late lamented loss Forbid the others when dispers'd to cross Their Waves by dangers which in each breast bred Terrors as great as those from whence they fled The valiant Army like Lifes Cittadel The heart when nought but poysonous Vapours swel Every adjacent part long strugling in Deaths sharp Convulsions out of hopes to win Ought there but what buyes the uncertain breath Of future Fame at the high price of death At length not conquerd but o're burthend by A flood of power in Nights obscurity When dreadful shadows had the field o're-spread As Darkness were a Herse-cloath for the dead That this daies losses might not grow too great For reparation by a hard retreat Attempt to save such of their strengths as since Inforc'd to fly might safely guard the Prince From dangers which could but his Foes have viewd Their motions all had unto death purfu'd In this distress from that vast Sea of blood The field where late his Army marshald stood The wretched Prince retires but with a train So smal they seemd like those that did remain After a Deluge where the Rivers course Stopt with dead bodies run with smallest force He venters o're the flood whose guilty Waves Blushes in blood some few whom Fortune saves T' attend on his a like succesful by That bold adventure whilst the Prince doth fly To guard Alcithius by his Mandates are Since the disasters of this fatal War Forc'd him to seek for more assistance sent To the Epicâ—te striving to prevent Those wild reports that on the quick belief Of female fear might be impos'd by grief He hasts to bear the sad Report to her Whose sorrows lost to see the Messenger The end of the second Canto PHARONNIDA The second Book CANTO THE THIRD The ARGUMENT V. Through the dark terrours of a dreadfull Night The Prince to 's Daughter comes with flying speed From dangers great as those he fear'd in flight Is by Argalia's forward Valour freed VI. Who having with succesfull Fortune gave His Master freedome their joyn'd strength pursue Their flying Foes unto an uncâ—uth Cave In whose vast Womb Fates dark decrees they view THis last Retreat which seemd but to defer Danger by being Honours Sepulcher Attaind in hast there calming all the strife Of various Passion since her Fathers Life Payd all the tears she owd his losses he His verteous Daughter found prepar'd to be No sad addition to his sorrow by The faults of female Imbecillity Untimely tears but with a confidence High as ere taught brave Valour to dispense With sad disasters arm'd to entertain The worst of Ills to ease the Wounded's pain Or stop their blood those hands which once she thought Should have to Victors Triumphs Garlands brought Are now imployd yet that her Acts may be The best examples to posterity Her present ill she with such strength withstood Its power was lost in hopes of future good Precipitated from a Throne to be Subjected by a Subjects tyranny To want their pity who of late did know No peace but what his Influence did bestow With sad presaging fears to think his fair His verteous Daughter his rich Kingdomes Heir Like to be ravisht from his bafl'd power A Trophy to a rebel Conqueror With such afflicting
dwel High as his Hopes and that a Parallel To hers appearing eithers Merits had A Climax to preferment and thus clad Vertue in Honours Robes which equal Fate Gave his Affection Language to relate What their Disparity kept dumb nor did Those Motions find acceptance such as hid Them for presumption rather 't was a Frost Of Virgin Ice then fire of pride that crost His Masculine Desires her Eyes unfold So much of Passion as by them she told Who had most interest in her Heart which she From all brave Rivals his resolves shall be ' Mongst those Mazara one whose noble blood Enrich'd the Gems of Vertue though they stood In Honours Altitude was chief nor could A nobler Choice were her Affections rul'd By Worth commend her Judgment his fresh youth Being Crownd with Vertues which might raise a truth Above Hyperboles his Nature mild As was the Gaulless Dove yet not the wild And furious Lion when provok'd could have More daring Valour an untimely Grave Whilst it i th' Embrio was to every Vice But unto Vertue a fair Paradice Whose weedless Banks no pining Winter knew Till Death the Iufluence of warm Life withdrew That sympathy of meeting Vertues which Did both their Souls with equal worth enrich 'Twixt him and brave Euriolus had ty'd A League not to be broke could Love divide His Blessings amongst Friends But that of all Our Passions brooks no Rival fear may call Friends to partake of Palsies Anger strives To fire each neighbouring Bosome Envie thrives By being transplanted but a Lovers pure Flames though converted to a Calenture Unwillingly with the least flame will part Although to thaw anothers frozen heart Few ' mongst th' observant Wits o th' Court yet knew Though it with twisted Eye-beams strengthend grew At every interview and often dropt Some Tears to water it whose Love 't was stopt Mazara's Sute Euriolus to her Whose melting pity only could confer A Cure unlocks the Secrets whilst the other More confident to win nere strives to smoother A Passion so legitimate but by All actual Complements declares how high He priz'd her Vertues but this Worthies Fate Fixt him in Loves intemperate Zone too late â—he pining Fruit was sown the Spring so far Being spent its dayes were grown Canicular Schortching all hopes but what made able were By fruitful Tears Loves April Showers to bear Neglects untimely Frosts which oft have lost In bloomy Springs the unhappy Lovers cost When this accomplisht Youth whose Tongue and Pen With Negatives more firm and frequent then Curst Usurers give impoverisht Clients oft Had been repuls'd truth for discovery brought This Accident within the royal Court Of bright Pharonnida a full Resort Of valiant Knights were met conven'd to try Whose Valour Fortune meant to glorifie Of which selected number there was one Who though a stranger Vertue soon made known To all ' cause fear'd of most his valour had Before the first triumphant day unclad The silver-vested Hemisphear been oft Cloathd in the Ornaments of Honour brought On Fames fair wings from the opposing part Uncresting them to crown his high desert But now when this new Constellation neer Its Zenith drew in Honours Hemisphear Cald thither by deciding Lots the brave Euriolus appears whom Victory gave In the first shock success and plac'd his Name In the Meridian Altitude of Fame Where though the valiant stranger prove no Foe So fortunately valiant do ore-throw the structure of his Fate yet his close Stars Now sinks a Mine to which those open Wars But easie dangers were Mazara in His Crest a Scarff that formerly had been Known for Florenza's seeing jealous Love Converted into Rage his Passions move Above the sphear of Reason and what late Was but a gentle blaze by alterd Fate Fires to a Comet whose malignant beams Foretold sad Ills attending Loves extreams Loth to betray his Passions in so great A breach of Friendship to a close Retreat Mazara summons forward Rage yet in The strangers Name whose Fortune might have been The Parent of a private Qâ—arrel sends To call Euriolus who now attends Nought but triumphant mirth unguaâ—ded by Applauding Friends in secret Fight to try What power did him from threatning danger guard When publick Fame was Victories Reward This fatal Scroll receiv'd by him that thought It real truth since Passion might have sought In him the same delay a swift consent Returns his Answer but the Message went So far from its directed Road that ere It reacht Mazara's loose Neglect did bear It to Carina's Ear a Lady that In silent tears her heart had offerd at His Vertues Shrine yet with such secret zeal Her Eyes forbid their Cupids to reveal That Language of her heart she knew that in Florenza's Sea of Merits hers had been Shipwrackt and lost yet with a Soul as far From envying her as hating him this War Of factious Passions she maintains and since Reason now wanted Language to convince Those head-strong Rebels she resolves to be Though ruin'd ruld by their Democracy The Information her officious Maide Had from Mazara's careless Page betrayd Assures Carina the preceding Night Such Horse and Armour as the stranger Knight Euriolus had conquer'd in had been By his most cautious diligence within A not far distant Wood in whose black shade He meant his Fury should his Foe invade Lodg'd by his Master which discoverd truth Frighting her tears from the swift chase of Youth And Beauty into froward Age to meet Sorrow in private shades withdraws the sweet But sad Carina who resolves to spend Her sighs unnoted by her dearest Friend This in Florenza who fore-saw that nought But Passions more then common could have wrought So swift a change works high who that she might Dis-plume these Ravens ere the Babes of Light Smile in their weeping Mothers Face prepares To see Carina who with wakeful cares Her sad Companions by her friend surpriz'd No longer in their Ebbon Vail disguiz'd Her thoughts pure candor but with looks that did Seem to implore Assistance whilst they chid Her own indulgent Nature shews her how Preposterous Love made her to Passions bow Whose fruit since none of her first Planters came From forward man could be but female shame This with its fatal Authour known to free Her Friend from shame her self from cruelty Unto Mazara whose firm Love attends Her least Commands incenst Florenza sends Whose zeal transported Soul no sooner hears That welcome sound but though presaging fears Prompt him to stay least haughty honour fall Ruin'd by Fame be le ts her Standards fall Before commanding Love and goes to wait On 's honourd Mistress but this sly deceit Of hope no Cordial proves unto the sad Carina's grief the long experience had Of his Affection to Florenza tells Her doubtful Soul those even Parallels Could not by all her Friends perswasions be Wrested into the least obliquity Which sad mistrust did Love precipitate On pathes whose danger frights protecting Fate Assur'd the Combates hour drew on and
might when at maturity afford Length to the Scepter from 's victorious Sword From this young Prince Heavens hopeful Blossom they Pleal'd but not satisfi'd their Souls convey On those wing'd Messengers their Eyes unto Manly Argalia finding there a new And various form of worth on 's Brow did sit Reserv'd discretion reconcil'd to Wit Serious and grave his carriage yet a Face Where Loves fair Shrine did Wisdoms Temple grace His scars those broad Seals which protecting sate His future safety sign'd in on him sate Not to deform but until Age remain Like Mâ—ids of Honour plac'd in Beauties Train True worth dwelt in the other but in this Brave Heroes breast had her Metropolis The Cyprians safety and Sardinia's brave Redemption were the past ports which Fame gave Unto his travelling prayse which fled in haste Through th' ears short stages in each breast had plac't A Love of 's worth which wise men softly prayse Whilst the loud throng to acclamations raise Not long these true-born Sons of honour in Palerino's Court remaine ere what had been The cause which had the youthfull Cyprian drew Froms Fathers Court white fame presents unto Busie Inquirers Which design from all Those swift but weak recruits good wishes call Except from some it most concern'd mongst which Cleander staggers unresolv'd the rich And powerfull Kingdome which affinity With Cyprus promis'd was a prize to be Valued before Epirus wealth who though Of late victorious yet could never grow Up to that glorious height This thought the most Of all the ere obstructed love had crost Zoranza's hopes had not his wishes been Though covetoâ—â—ly vast confin'd within The others merits amongst which the chief Opposes first it self and the relief Whispers in 's soul that had been thence brought by Him when his state wept bloud for liberty This in the Scale of Justice seem'd as large As Loves dimensions till a second charge Of thoughts proclaim the Cyprians power to doe The same if in necessity sought to Which blames becoming gratitude as in Relation to servility a sinne In the great souls of Princes who can be If they remain in debt for curtesie But Captives in the throne too oft the cause Why meritorious Subjects meet the Lawes Harsh Rigour for Reward when their Deserts Many and great o're fill their Princes hearts Before Cleanders Gravity had layd This â—empest of his Passions Fame betrayd Their Cause to the Epicote Prince who hears The Cyprians welcome which his various fears But briefly comment on before without More slow delays then what were spent about The swiftest preparations he intends To visit fair Pharonnida and ends His Journey ere a thought unwing'd with Love Could lead him forth of 's Court which hast did prove His Passions stronger then the strength of age Appeard to promise what it might presage To see at once two royal strangers in Their glorious Court which both imployd had bin About one amorous Errand strangely did Affect the Citizens whose fears forbid The publick Stage in private whispers tels What danger lay betwixt those parallels Yet in the opposition of those Scars That shine in Passions sphear Loves civil Wars Had no field Army all his power did rest Within the private Garrisons o th' breast Which though besieg'd by sly suspition made No verball Sallies but prepare t' invade Beauties bright Province yet each only had A single Visit given unto the sad Sweet Object of their hopes and thence receiv'd A Welcome such as neither had bereav'd The others hopes both rather finding cause Of cold despair Cleander pleads the Laws Of Nature and free choice to wave his own Engagements to Zoranza which had blown Loves sickly flame with the tempestuous breath Of anger forth had not those thoughts to death i th' Bud been doom'd whilst thus his Passions slept In Loves soft Armes the noble Cyprian kept A distance 'twixt his hopes and wishes by The stayd Epicots interest both rely On their own Merits and Loves doubtful sate Makes subject to the Monarchy of Fate But whilst this busie Combate of the heart On equal tearms it fought time bent to part The royal Champions through the obscure Ports Of dark disguize into Loves field resorts A third brave Combatant whose Merit had Though not i th' Armour of great Titles clad By parly wonne that Maiden Fort which they Although they scal'd on golden Mountains lay Before in vain Argalia though within Ghirenza's Court had yet a stranger bin More then in Fame and big Report to her Whos 's best of thoughts wore his Souls Character And yet although a Virgins bashful grace Conceald her own for to behold that Face So much in debt to th' peoples Prayses to Her window oft the royal Maid had drew Where whilst his eyes did wast their Beams in vain To pierce those stubborn Walls that did contain Rich Loves unvalued-Treasure she beholds His brave Deportment which since strange unfolds New Volumes of unprinted joy which she Sorrow affording so much liberty Oft with delight looks o're beholding in 't Argalia's Vertues in a different print But his wise Fare even when his prayer grew weak In Faith did through hopes cold Antartick break In a long Summers day his noble friend The Princely Cyprian did so largely spend His stâ—ck of eloâ—uence in 's praise when he Last saw divine Pharonnida that she Although from no remoter cause then springs From Vertues publike love tells him he brings His next best welcome with his Friend which proud To be observant in when time allow'd A visit he performs Now to the Court Beauties dull Cloyster which no throng'd resort Of Clients fill they 'r come the surly Guard Those wakefull Dragons did without reward Let in that danger in disguise which had Met death i' th entrance if in that unclad The way that clest the scowling Rock being by A thousand steps ascended they i' th high Clifts finde the Royal Eâ—glet trying that Bright eye of her fair soul discretion at The fiery beams of anger which were shot From her Majestick Father Being got Once more to breath his Soul upon that hand Where Loves first Vows seal'd with his Lips did stand Knowledge inflaming passions Feaver like Unpractic'd Saints which miracles do strike Into a Reverend zeal he trembling takes That holy Relique which a cold fear shakes In that warm touch Her eyes fair splendor shoâ—e Like bright Stars in heavens trepidation Shook with the general motion though betwixt The Sphears of Love and Wonder they stood fixt In their own Orbs and their united beams Center'd on him yet like dead friends which dreams Imperfectly present his Lovely form As Marriners when Land is through a storm With doubtfull joy desery'd she sees but yet Knowledge had met with no prospective fit To guide her through the dark disguize unto The Rode of truth his Valour was in new Habiliments of honour cloath'd and scars Made her Love's heaven adornd with unknown Stars But whilest her Recollecting spirits were All
own stories Live the debt I ow to promise but extends unto The fortune of our royal Lovers who Though both concernd in this have actions far More full of Fate approaching that bright Star Which gave Argalia Victory here scarce shews Its spangl'd Records unto which he ows Far more sublime protection yet it lends Vigour to that bright Planet which attends His future fortune and discovers all His Astracismes in rising Cosmicall Followd with Acclamations such as made The troops of envy tremble to invade His conquering Fame he leaves the Field and by Cleander with Rewards of Victory First honourd in the publick view is brought From thence to meet delitious mirth in soft Retir'd Delights which in a spatious flood From Princes breasts to tenifie the blood Of the blunt Soldier hasts whose dull souls sweld With aiery pleasures had from thought expeld All sullen Cares and leveld paths unto Designs which did to their neglect ensue The black-browd Night to Court the drousie World Had put her starry Mantle on and hurld Into the Sea their spatious breasted Mother Her dark Attendants silent sleep did smoother Exalted Clamours and in private meets The busie Whisperer sporting 'twixt his sheets Vaild in which shady calm Argalia by The noble Cyprian only in his high Attempt assisted now prepares to free The great Preserver of his liberty Come to the Bridge that to secure the sleep o th carelesse Guard which slender watch did keep Finding it drawn the depth and ugly look o th' heavy stream had from the Cyprian took All hopes of passage till that doubt did end In greater fear the danger of his Friend Who with a Courage high as if in that He 'd centerd all the world did tremble at In his precedent Victories had cast Himself to th' mercy of the stream and past In safety o're though Nets enough were spread On her dark Face to make his Deaths cold bed Giving his Spirits leave to fortifie His heart with breath he then ascends the high Opposing Clifts which in an ugly pride Threatend beneath her ruin'd Scales to hide That rising flame of honour being come To th' other side a Centry but struck dumb With sleeps prevailing Retorick he finds Upon whose Keys he seizes and then binds His sluggish Limbs ere full awake convays Him to a place whence no loud cry betrayes The sounds of danger to his Fellows that Reveld in louder mirth unstartl'd at The Rivers depth the wondring Cyprian now Crost the united Bridge and being taught how By immitation to slight danger goes With his brave Friend toward their careless Foes Not far they were advanc'd before they hear Approaching steps a Soldier was drawn neer Which to relieve the other came but shar'd In his misfortune ere he had prepard To make resistance which attempt succeeds So equal to their wishes that there neâ—ds No more to strengthen Faith by the command o th' Wilâ— best Leader Reason both did stand A while to view their danger through a way Narrow and dark their dreadful passage lay The rugged Rock upon each side so steep That should they 've miss't no trembling hold could keep Them from the grasp of death to add to this More forms of horrour from the dark Abysse Which under-min'd the Rocks rough sides they hear A hollow murmure the black Towers appear Flanckt with destruction every part did hold Peculiar terrour but the whole unfold Through the black Glasse of Night a Face like that Which Chaos wore ere time was wakend at The first great Fiat or could ought appear More dark and dreadful know 't was emblem'd here Safe past through the first steps of danger they Now to the main Guard come whom they betray By a soft knock of all conceived 't had bin The Voyce their Centry cal'd for entrance in Their Errand undisputed Postern Gates Are open thrown at which the royal Mates Both rushing in strangely amaze them but Now being enterd 't was too late to shut The danger forth nor could Confusion lend Their trembling Nerves a strength fit to defend By opposition in base flight lay all Their hopes of life which some attempting fall On the dark road of death but few escape To shew their fellows dangers dredful shape Whilst here like powerful winds that dissipate Infectious damps in unobstructed state Their valour Reign'd to tell them that the way Which led unto the Princesse freedome lay Yet through more slippery pathes of blood with hast Wild as their Rage Burmorchâ—â— Brother 's plac't That Guards Commanders enter loose neglect Which drew them thence since cause of that effect They now redeem with speed Riot had not Un-nerv'd their Limbs although their blood grew hot With large intemperate Draughts the Feaver yet i th' Spirits only dwelt till this rude fit On the stretcht heart layes hold in flames which had Scortcht Valours Wings if not in Judgment clad Here though their numbers equal were yet in A larger Volume danger had not bin Often before presented to the view Of the brave Champions as if she had drew With doubtful Art Lines in the Scheam of Fate For them and their proud Foes pale Vertue sate Trembling for fear her power should not defend Her Followers ' gainst that strength which did attend Those big-bon'd Villains strokes beneath whose force The Cyprian Prince had felt a sad divorce Of Natures Wedlock if when sinking in The Icy sleep deaths wide Gorge had not been Stopt by a stroke from fierce Argalia sent To aide him when in his defence he 'd spent His stock of strength freed by which happy blow From Janus Guard since now his Friend lay low Neer Deaths dark Vally he contracts his power To quench the others Lamp of Life a shower Of wounds le ts fall on 's Enemy which now Clog'd his Souls upper Garments and allow His Eyes dim Opticks no more use of light Then what directs him in a staggering flight Yet in the darknesse of approaching death In Mischiefs Sables that small stock of breath That yet remains to Clothe he suddenly Gives fire unto a Cannon that was by Wise care ordaind to give intelligence When big with danger fear could not dispence With times delayes the Princess that within Her Closet had that fatal Evening bin Retir'd and sad whilst strong wing'd prayer acquaints Her flaming zeal with Heavens whole Quite of Saints Thus startl'd by the treacherous thunder all Hâ—r yet unnumberd stock of Beads lets fall ' Mongst those that prayer had ranckt and did implore In one great shrick deliverance to her door Hasts to behold the danger of those Friends On whose success Loves fortresse hope depends Where being come her eyes first progresse met Her prayers Reward even whilst his Sword was wet With blood the balm of Victory but long The Extasies of Fancy though more strong Then sacred Raptures last not all was now Too full of noise and tumult to allow A Room for Passions flow disputes within The Schools of Action
Hypocrisie by paths untrod to reach The Apex of his hopes What not the fear Of ills whilst her own interest did appear The onely sharer could perform he now Presumes affection to her Friend would bow With low submission if by that she might Aid his dim Stars with a reserve of light With frequent visits which on sins dark Text Wrought a fair gloss Almanzor oft had vext The calmer passions of the Princess in To rufled anger but when all could win No entrance on her favor fury tries A harsher corrosive stern power denies Her even of those poor narrow comforts which Her souls dark region that was onely rich In sorrows sables could possess Withdrew Were all those slippery Parasites that knew To her no pity but what did reflect The rayes o' th Tyrants favor whose neglect Taught them the Lesson of disdain whilst she Her practic'd soul trained in humility Pensive as an unpractic'd Convert in A Bath of tears she shadow'd lies within The unfrequented room a curtain bed Her close retreat till Lights fair Angel fled The swarthy Region But whilst here she lies Like a dark lanthorn that in black disguise Circles imprisoned Light Grief from the sullen world conceal'd to turn The troubled stream as if the silent urn Of some dead friend to private sorrow had Summon'd her thither enter'd was a sad And sober Matron in her hands she bore A light whose feeble rayes could scarce restore The sick successor of the day unto A cheerfull smile Sad Pilgrims that renew Acquaintance with their better Angels by Harsh penitence have of humility Less in their looks then she her habit shew'd Like costly ruins that for fashion ow'd To elder pride in whose reversion she Appear'd the noble choice of charitie This shadow of religious vertue drawn Near her disordered bed a sickly dawn Of light breaks through the Princess clouded eyes To meet the welcom object the disguise Of sorrow which at first appearance sate Fixt on her brow a partner of her fate Making her seem nor was the fancy crush'd I' th infancy of faith fair truth first blush'd For verbal crimes near to the bed reposed Where the sad Lady lay she thus disclosed Her cause of entrance Cease fair stranger to Monopolize a sorrow which not you Here share alone pitty instructed by Experience in the rules of misery Hath brought me from complaining of my own To comfort thine this Castle once hath known Me for its Mistriss though it now behold Me in the dress of poverty grown old Despis'd and poor the scorn of those that were Nurs'd into life by my indulgent care This in her tears o'erflowing language spoke Perswades the pensive Princess to revoke Deprav'd opinions doom confessing she Wedded not grief to singularitie But comfort in the julip of her words Was scarce dissolv'd e're a reply affords Conceiv'd requital striving to prevent The oft more forward thanks Rise to content Fair soul she cries be but so wise to let Sick passion die with just neglect I 'll set Thy dropt Stars in their orbs again I have Forc'd by command a late attendance gave Unto a wounded stranger that remains Within this Castle in the heavy chains Of cruel bondage from whose weight unless Your Love redeem him dark forgetfulness Will draw the curtains of the grave about His dull mortality and the sick doubt Of hope resolve in death this evening I Ore heard his heavy doom from which to fly He hath no refuge but your mercy which Strip'd of light passion must be cloth'd in rich But graver robes of reason when it sits In counsel how to reconcile the fits Of feverish love when being most propense To passions heat a frost of abstinence Benums it to a Lethargy In brief 'T is he whose prosperous tyranny the chief Command within this castle gave that in His swift destruction doth attempt to win Free passage to enjoying you then prove He friend to him that begs you to change love For now more usefull pity and so save A life that must no longer live to crave If now deny'd This Ring with that presents A jewel that when loves first elements The harmony of faith united she Gave to confirm her vows he sends to be A note that he denies what e'er was made Authentick when your mixt vows did invade Unwilling Heaven which in your sufferance shews We may intend but wiser powers dispose Pharonnida whose fears confirm'd did need No more to wound a fancy that did bleed At all the springs of passion being by The fatal Present taught whose liberty Her Loves exchange must purchase with a sad Reverse o' th eye beholding it unclad Her sorrow thus And did oh did this come By thy commands Argalia no by some Unworthy hand thou' rt rob'd of it I know Thou sooner wouldst be tempted to let go Reliques of thy protecting Saint Oh cease What e'er you are to wrong him the calm peace He wears t' encounter death in cannot be Scatter'd by any storm of fear would he That hath affronted death in every shape Of horror tamely yield unto the rape Of 's Virgin honor and not stand the shock Of a base Tyrants anger but I mock My hopes with vain fantasms 't is the love He bears to me carries his fear above The orb of his own noble temper to An unknown world of passions in whose new Regions ambitious grown it scorns to fall Back to its Center Reason whither all The lines of action until now did bend From 's souls circumference yet know his end If doom'd unto this cursed place shall tell The bloody Tyrant that my passing bell Tolls in his dying groans and will e're long Ring out in death if sorrow when grown strong As fate can raise the strokes of grief above The strength of nature which if not yet love Will finde a passage where our souls shall rest In an eternal union whilst opprest With horror he by whose command he dies Falls to th' infernal pow'rs a Sacrifice If that your pitty were no ficton to Betray my feeble passions and undo The knots of resolution tell my Friend I live but to die his and will attend Him with my pray'rs those verbal angels till His soul 's on th' wing then follow him and fill Those blanks our Fate left in the lines of life Up with eternal bliss where no harsh strife Of a dissenting Parent shall destroy The blooming springs of our conjugal joy Vext by this brave display of fortitude To sullen anger with a haste more rude Then bold intrusions lusts slie advocate Forsakes her seat and though affronts too late Came to create a blush yet passion had Her cheeks in red revenges livery clad Her eyes like Saturn's in the house of death Heavy with ills to come her tainted breath Scatt'ring infectious murmurs with a look Oblique and deadly the curs'd Hag forsook That ebbon cabinet of grief and hastes To tell Almanzor how his passion wastes More spirits in perswasions hectique
then If power had quench'd ambitions fever when 'T was first inflam'd with hope whose cordials prove Oft slow as opiates in the heat of love This with a heat that spoild digestion by The angry Tyrant heard rage did unty The curles of passion whose soft trammels had Crisp'd smooth hypocrisie from which unclad Disvellop'd nature shews her unfil'd dress Rough as an angry friend by no distress Of beauty to be calm'd since slie deceit Vertue had now unmask'd no candid bait Conceals his thoughts which soon in publick shews From what black Sea those mists of passion rose Dayes sepulchre the ebbon arched night Was rais'd above the battlements of light The frenzy'd worlds allaying opiate sleep Oretaking action did in silence steep The various fruits of labor and from thence Recovers what pays for her times expence In which slow calm whilst half the drowsie earth Lay in the shade of nature to give birth Unto the burthen of sick fancy fear Groans deep as deaths alarms through her ear Fly toward the throne of Reason to inform The pensive Princess that the last great storm Of fate was now descending beyond which Her eyes orewhelm'd in sorrow must inrich Their orbs with love no more but in the dawn Of Life behold her Friends destruction drawn Since threatn'd danger sad assurance gives In those deep groans he now but dying lives More swiftly to destroy the falling leaves Of blasted hope with horror she receives By a convey of wearied light that stroke Through rusty grates intelligence which shoke The strength of fortitude there was a room Deep and obscure where in a heavy gloom The unstirr'd air in such a darkness dwelt As mask'd Egyptians from Heavens vengeance felt Till by the strugling rayes of a faint lamp Forc'd to retreat and the quicksilver damp Shed on the sweaty walls which hid within That glitt'ring vail worn figures that had been The hieroglyphick epitaphs of those Which charity did to the earth dispose In friendships last of Legacies except What is to cure loose fames diseases kept Here ' mongst the ruines of mortality In blood difigur'd she beholds one lie Who though disguis'd in death's approach appears By 's habit that confirmer of her fears Her gentle Love alone and helpless in The grasp of death striving in vain to win The field from that grim Tyrant who had now Embalm'd him in his blood and did allow Him no more spirits but what in that strife Serv'd to groan out the Epilogue of life And then depart natures cold stage to be Suck'd up from time into eternitie When thus the ever lasting silence had Lock'd up his voice and death's rude hand unclad His hovering soul whose elemental dress Is left to dust and dark forgetfulness When natures lamps being snuft to death he lay A night-piec'd draught of once well-modell'd clay With such a silent pace as witches use To tread ore graves when their black arts abuse Their cold inhabitants his murtherers were Entred the vault from the stain'd floor to bear The cold stiff coarse which having softly laid In 's doom-days bed unto the royal Maid Whose beauty in this agony defac'd Griefs emblem sate with eager speed they haste Either a guilty shame or fear to be Converted by her forms divinity Made them chuse darkness for protection in Whose hideous shade she of her self unseen Is hurried thence unto that dreadfull place Where he intomb'd lay whom she must imbrace In death's dark lodgings and e'er life was fled Remain a sad Companion of the dead Confining beauty in youth's glorious bloom To the black prison of a dismal tomb Where fast inclos'd Earth's fairest blossom must Unnaturally be planted in the dust Where life 's bright Star Heav'ns glorious influence Her soul in labor with the slow suspence Of lingring torments must expecting lie Till famine Natures ligatures untie And can oh can we ever hope to save Her that 's in life a Tenant to the Grave Can ought redeem one that already lies Within the Bed of Death whose hot lust fries In the enjoyment of all beauties that The aged World e'er had to wonder at To feed whose riot the well temper'd blood That sanguine youth's smooth cheek mixt with a flood Of harsh distemperatures o'erflows and brings Some to their lodgings on the flaming wings Of speedy feavers whilst the others creep On slow consumptions millions from the steep And dangerous precipice of war Some in A stream of their own humors that have bin Swell'd to a dropsie being even prest to death By their own weight whilst others part with breath From bodies worn so thin they seem'd to be Grown near the souls invisibilitie But whither strayes our fancy have we left The wofull Lady in a tomb bereft Of all society and shall I let My wandring pen forsake her such a debt Would banckrupt pity Th' undistinguish'd day Whose new-born light did but e'en then display Its dewy wings when first she was confin'd To the dark tomb was now grown almost blind With age when thus through fates black curtin broke Unlook'd for light that darkness which did choake All passages by which the thin air held Commerce with neigboring rooms being now expel'd By the dim tapers glimmering beams let fall Part of the rayes through an old ruin'd wall That fenc'd an ugly dungeon where the night Dwelt safe as in the Center by the fight Of which unlook'd for guest some prisoners who Had there been stay'd even till despairing to Be ere releas'd in eager fury tries To force their way where their directing eyes Led by the light should guide them come at length Where with times burden tir'd the buildings strength Losing its first firm union was divorc'd With gaping clefts an easie strength inforc'd Those feeble guards but come into the room Where ore the living Ladies sable tomb Hung the directing light they there in vain For further passage seeking were again To the black dungeon horrors dismal seat In sad despair making their slow retreat Now neer departing a deep dolefull groan Revers'd their eyes amazement almost grown To stupefaction stays them whilst they hear New sighs confirm their wonder not their fear Till thus Euriolus whose bold look spoke The braver soul the dismal silence broke What ere thou art that hoverest here within This gloomy shadow speak what wrong hath bin Thy troubl'd Ghost's tormenter art thou fled From wo to stir the dust o' th' peacefull dead Or com'st from sacred shadows to lament Some friends dead coarse which this dark Tenement Hath lodg'd in dust The trembling Lady hearing A humane voice again and now not fearing Th' approaches of a greater danger cries What ere you are fear moâ—ks your faith here lies A wofull wretch intâ—mb'd alive that nere Must look on light again my spirit were Blest if resolv'd to air but here it must A sad companion in the silent dust To Loath'd corruption be until the pale Approaching Fiend harsh famine shall exhale In dews of blood
bin A stranger to the sad events of this So dismal night he by relation is Inform'd of each particular which he Seeming to hear in griefs extremity From silent sorrow which appear'd to wait On still attention his prepar'd deceit Disguis'd in rage appears a rage which in Its active flight to finde what hearts had bin Defil'd with thoughts of such foul crimes did seem So full of zeal its actions did redeem The lost report of loyalty in those His former crimes made his most constant foes By guarded gates and watchfull parties that Surround the walls till th' people frighted at Their fury shrink from publick throngs they now Assur'd of safety whilst enquiring how Hell hatch'd these monsters whose original Whilst searching they by the consent of all His best Physitians whose experienc'd skill From outward signs knew what internal ill Death struck the Prince inform'd the cause could be From nought but such a subtil enemy As poyson which when every accident They had examin'd all conclude was sent Mixt with that cordial whose conceal'd receit Unknown to art their envy term'd the bait To tempt the easie Princes faith into That net which death allur'd by treason drew With power from this imbrac'd suspition sprung Almanzor who not envies spotted tongue Durst call prophane though rudely forcing those Weak gates which need no greater strength t' oppose Unclean intruders then the reverence they Inforc'd by zeal did with Religion pay Unto that places sanctity which he Contemning ere the wrong'd societie Expecting such injurious visits in Rude fury entring those whose power had bin Imploy'd by noble pity to attend The suffring Princess in such haste did send Them to her close and dark abodes that now Their doubts confirm'st they 're only studying how To shun that danger which informing fear Falsly perswades towards them alone drew near Which dark suspition ere unclouded by Seising on him whose innocence durst fly To no retreat the Royal fugitives Back to the vault where first they enter'd drives Now at the great'st antipathie to Day The silent earth opprest with Midnight lay Vested in clouds black as they had been sent To be the whole worlds mourning monument When through the Caves damp womb conducted by A doubtful light that scarce inform'd the eye To find out those unhaunted paths they in A faint assurance with soft pace begin To sally forth where unsuspected they Are seis'd by guards that in close ambush lay Which ere amazement could give action leave To seek for safety did their hopes deceive By close restraint aw'd by whose power they 're to Almanzor brought who from that object drew Such joy as fills usurpers when they see Wrong'd Princes strugling with captivitie From hence in such disdainful silence led As taught their fear from just suspition bred To tremble at some unknown ill about That sober time when Lights small lamps go out At the approach of Days bright glories brought Back to the Court they there not long had sought Their sorrows sad original before A Court conven'd of such whose power had bore Whilst Gods own choice a Monastry had lent Their dictates law the weight of government They hither call'd by summons that did sound Like bold rebellion in sad omen found More then they fear'd A mourning train of Lords Plac'd round a black tribunal that affords To the spectators penetrated eye A dismal horror cloath'd in majestie Like hierogliphicks pointing to that fate Which must ensue all yet in silence sate A dreadful silence such as unto weak Beholders seem'd to threaten when they speak Death and destruction dictates when they saw Their Princess enter'd as if rigid Law To loyal duty let the scepter fall In an obedient reverence rais'd they all Lowly salute her but that complement To bribe their pity fear in vain had spent When all resuming now their seats command The Royal captives whose just cause did stand On no defence but unknown truth to be Summon'd to th' bar where that they first might see What rigor on the royal blood was shewn From no unjust conspiracie had grown A sable curtain from their herses drawn Betrays her eyes then in the sickly dawn Of grief grown dim unto that horrid place Where they met death drawn in her fathers face By whom now turn'd into well-model'd clay Fitted for 's tomb the slain Epirot lay At this as if some over-venturous look For temperate rays destructive fire had took In at her souls receiving portals all Lifes functions ceas'd sorrow at once le ts fall The burthen of so many griefs which in A death-like slumber had forgotten bin Till humane thoughts obliterated by The wishâ— conversions of eternity Opprest no more had not inâ—urious haste Before this conflict could those spirits waste Which had to shun passions external strife Fled to the primum mobile of life Recall'd with them her sorrows to attend Their nimblest motions which too fast did spend Her strength to suffer weakness to obay The Courts intentions of a longer stay From ruffl'd passions which her soul opprest By the soft hand of recollecting rest Strok'd to a calm which setl'd reason in Her troubled throne by those that first had bin Her guards the Princess that fair pattern whence Men drew the height of humane excellence Is now return'd to let her proud foes see That the bright rays of magnanimitie Though envy like th' ungrateful moon do strive To hide that sun except what 's relative Ne'r knows eclipse the darkness taking birth From what 's below whilst that remov'd from earth Her clear unclouded conscience ever stays Amongst bright vertues universal rays The mourning Court those ministers of fate In expectation of their prisoners sate They now appear in those disguises which They first were took being habits though not rich Enough to gild their rare perfections yet Such as did seem by sorrow made to fit Their present sufferings both the men cloth'd in Monastick robes black as their threds had bin Spun from Peruvian wooll the women clad Like mournful Votaries shew'd so sweetly sad As if their vertues which injurious fate Did yet conceal striving t' anticipate The flights of time had to th' external sence Shew'd these as emblems of their innocence But love nor pity though they both did here Within their Judges sternest looks appeare Durst plead for favor their indictments read So guilty sound that those whose hearts even bled Disdain'd their eyes should weep since justice did In such foul crimes mercy as sin forbid Yet more to clear what circumstance had made Level with reason from th' approaching shade Of death redeem'd that Lord whose wounds had bin But slumbers to recover safety in When the Messenian murdred was did now Declare as far as reason could allow The eyes to judge those habits which they then Did wear the same which cloath'd the murth'rers when His Prince was slain which open proof appears So full of guilt it stops her friends kinde fears Ere rais'd to hope
and in appearance shews A guilt which all but pitty overgrows The vext Epirots who for comfort saw Revenge appearing in the form of Law Retir'd to feed their spleen with hope until Th' extent of Justice should their vengeance fill When now by accusations that denide Access to pity for a Paracide The Princess question'd whose too-weak defence Being but the unseen guards of innocence Submits to censure yet to shew that all Those scatter'd pearls which from her eyes did fall Dropt not t' attempt their charity but shew That no injurious storm could overslow Her world of Reason which exalted stood Above the surface of the spacious stood Her tears for grief not guilt being shed whilst in The robes of magnaminity not sin Grown impudent her brave resolv'd soul sate Unshaken in this Hyrocane of sate To meet her calm which like religion drest Doth all become but female vertues best The rough Amindor whose discolour'd face Anger did more then native beauty grace Since justly rais'd disdaining thus to be By a Plebian base captivity Forc'd to submit his innocence unto Their doubtfull test had from his anger drew A ruine swifter then their hate intends Had not his rage whilst it toward danger bends Been taught by her example to exclude Vain passions with a Princely fortitude Whose usefull aid like those good works which we For comforts call in deaths necessity Brought all their better Angels to defend Them from those terrors which did death attend In busie whispers which discover'd by Their doubtfull looks the thoughts variety Long in sad silence sate the Court until Those noiseless streams of fancy which did fill Each several brest united by consent Want onely now a tongue so impudent As durst condemn their Soveraign which being in Theumantius found a Lord whose youth had been By favor nurs'd till power 's wild beast grown rude Repays his Fost'rer with ingratitude This bold bad man Loves most unhappy choice From flatteries Treble now exalts his voice Without the mean of an excuse into The Laws loud Base and what those fear'd to doe That had been favour'd less that black decâ—ee Pronounc'd which discords all the harmonie Of subject fear and soveraign love by what Succeeding ages justly trembl'd at Whilst innocent but have of late been grown So bad to shew such monsters of their own This sentence past which knew no more allay Of mercy then what lets their judgments stay From following life to deaths obscure retreat Till twenty nights had made their days compleat The Court breaks up yet ere from publick vâ—ew To close restraint the Royal captives drew Grant them this favor from their rigid laws That if there durst to vindicate their cause In that contracted span of time appear Any whose forward valor durst indear The peoples love and prayers so much to be Their Champion that his victory should free Them from that dooms strict rigor to oppose Which brave Attempter they Almanzor chose Since high command that honor did afford To him alone to weild the answering sword Now near departing whilst the Cyprian in A brave disdain which for submissive sin Looks on an answer as his haste would show An anger that did scorn to stoop so low To strike with threats stands silent whilst that she Whose temper heaven had made too calm to be By rage transported with a soul unmov'd By stormy passions thus their sin reprov'd Should I my Lords here with a female haste Discharge my passions 't were perhaps to waste My prayers or threats whilst one you would not fear Nor th' other pity But when heaven shall clear This curtain'd truth wrapt in whose cloudy night Unjustly you from my unquestion'd right By birth obedience into faction stray Then though too late untimely sorrow may Strive by repentance to expunge these stains Cast on your honor These exhausted vains Fixt eyes pale cheeks deaths dismal trophies in This royal face I now could not have seen With a less sorrow then had serv'd to call Me to attend him had not the rude fall Of your unjustice like those dangerous cures Perform'd by tutning into Calentures Dull Lethargies upon my heart laid hold In such a flame of passion as the cold Approach of death wants power to quench until You add that crime to this preceding ill Yet though no fear can prompt my scorn to crave A subjects mercy for my self to save This Noble Stranger whose just acts being crost By misconstruction have their titles lost I shall become your suppliant lest there be A sin contracted by his serving me And onely in such noble wayes as might Unveil themselves to th' suns Meridian light Sure he unjustly suffers which may cause You want more swords to vindicate your Laws Then his you late elected to make good Your votes ere scarce cleans'd of that loyal blood He in rebellion shed but I am now Too near my fatal period to allow Disturbing passion any place within My peacefull soul what ere his crimes have been In publick war or private treason may Kinde Heaven when with th' injustice of this day Those shall be strictly question'd to prevent Their doom conceal them in the large extent Of mercies wings which there may prove so kinde To you though here I can no justice finde This spoken in a garb that did detect A sorrow which was ripened to neglect She silent stands whilst through the thick resort Of throng'd Spectators toward the rising Court Orlinda comes with such a haste as shew'd That service she by Love's allegiance ow'd Love which had sorrows sable wings out-fled To mourn the living not lament the dead Come where her fears now near lost object she Within the shadow of the Grave might see By sentence shut neglecting death that lay In ambush there her reason to betray To hate when by the false informing Law Her Friend she as her brother's murtherer saw In actions such as Scythian Tyrants feel Some softness from she that ne'r us'd to kneel Too ought but heaven a lowly suppliant falls Before the Court from whose stern brests she calls So much of sorrow as perhaps had strook Them all with horror if a sudden look Obliquely on her murther'd brother cast Had not ere Love assaulted with her last And powerfull'st pray'rs whilst hot with action in A cool retreat of spirits silenc'd bin She fainting faln as an addition to Their former grief is from the throng withdrew Into the free untainted air where by Assisting Friends which gently did apply Their needfull aid heat which was then grown slack In Natures work antipathy calls back To beauties frontiers where like bashfull light It in a blush meets the Spectators sight But such a one as ere full blown is by Her Friends disasters forc'd again to fly Beneath those clouds of grief whose swelling pride Spread by report did now not onely hide The Court or City but to bear a part Of that sad load summons each Subjects heart Whilst now the Prisoners ere
my Virgin-freedome ere I will Consent to that which being performd will kill My honour to preserve my life and turn Th' unworthy beauty which now makes you burn In these unhallowed flames into a Cell Which none but th' black Inhabitants of Hell Will ere possess Those private thoughts which give If we continue verteous whilst we live On Earth our Souls commerce with Angels shall Be turnd to Furies if we yield to fall Beneath our Vices thus O then take heed Do not defile a Temple such a deed Will when in labour with your latest breath With horror Curtain the black Bed of death Though Prayers in vain strove to divert that Crime He prosecutes yet to protract the time She more had sayed had not all Language been Lost in a storm of 's Lust which raging in His fury gives a fresh assault unto Weak Innocence for Mercy now to sue To hope seems vain robustious strength did baâ— The use of Language which defensive War Continuing till the breathless Maid was wrought Almost beneath resistance just Heaven brought This unexpected Aide A lovely Swain Whose large Possessions in the neighbouring Plain Had stil'd him rich that powerful which t' improve To that fair stock his vertue added love Which to flattery since it lost its eyes The world but seldome sees without disguise This sprightly Youth led by the parallels Of Birth and Fortune what ere else excels Those fading blessings to Florenza in His Youths fresh April had devoted been With so much zeal that what that heedless age But dallied with like Customes which engage Themselves to habits ere its growth he knew Love equal with his active manhood grew Which noble Plant though in the torrid Zone Of her disdain 't had nere distemper known Yet oft those sad vicissitudes doth find For which none truly lov'd that nere had pin'd Which pleasing passion though his judgment knew How to divert ere reason it out-grew It often from important action brought Him to those shades where Contemplation sought Calm sollitude in whose soft raptures Love Refining Fancy lifts his thoughts above Those joyes which when by trial brought to th' test Proves thoughts bright Heaven dul Eâ—rth when once possest Whilst seated here his eyes did celebrate As to those shade Florenza oft had sate Beneath kind looks to ravish that delight The tir'd Caâ—ina in her breathless flight Come neer the place assaults his wonder in That dreadful sound which tels him what had bin Her cause of fear which doleful stories end Arriv'd to th' danger of his dearest Friend Leaves him no time for language ere wingd by Anger and Love his hast strives to out-fly His eager thoughts Being now arriv'd so near Unto the place that his informing Ear Thither directs his steps with such a hast As nimble souls when they are first uncâ—s'd From bodies slie he thither speeds and now Being come where he beheld with horror how His better Angel injur'd was disputes Neither with fear nor policy they 'r Mutes When Anger 's thunder roars but swiftly draws His Faulchion and the justice of his Cause Argues with eager stroaks but spent in vain ' Gainst that unequal strength which did maintain The more unlawful all his power could do Is but to shew the effects of Love unto Her he ador'd few stroaks being spent before His feeble Arme of power to do no more Faints with the loss oâ— blood and letting fall Th' ill-manag'd VVeapon for his death doth call By the contempt of mercy so to prove A Sacrifice slain to Florenza's Love The cursed steel by the robustious hand Of fierce Almanzor guided now did stand Fixt in his breast whilst with a purple flood His life soiâ—s forth i th' Channel of his blood This Remora remov'd the impious deed No sooner was performd but ere the speed Florenza made though to her eager flight Fear added wings conveyd her from his sight His rude hand on her seises Now in vain She lavisht Prayers the groans in which her slain Friend breaths his soul forth with her shrieks did fill The ambient Aire struck lately with the still Voice of harmonious Musick But the Eare Of penetrated Heaven not long could heare Prayers breath'd from so much innocence yet send Them back deni'd white Mercy did attend Her swift deliv'ry when obstructing fear Through Reason let no Ray of hope appear Startl'd Argalia who was courted by Her pleasing Voices milder Harmony Into restrictive slumbers wakend at Their Alter'd Tone hast to discover what Had causd that change and soon the place attains Where in th' exhausted treasuce of his Vains Andremon wallows and Florenza lies Bath'd in her tears ready to sacrifice Her Life with her Virginity which sight Provok't a hast such as his presence might Protect the trembling Virgin which perceiv'd By curst Almanzor made to be bereav'd o th' Spoils of such a wicked Victory As Lust had then near conquerd fiercely he Assails the noble stranger who detesting An Act so full of Villany and resting On the firm justâ—ce of his Cause had made His guiltless Sword as ready to invade As was the others that had surfeited In blood before Here equal Valour bred In both a doubtfull hope Almanzors Lust Had fierd his Courage which Argalias just Attempts did strive to quench The thirsty steel Had drunk some blood from both ere Fortunes Wheel Turnd to the righteous Cause that Vigor which Through rivolets of Veins spread the salt Itch 〈◊〉 feaverish Lust before was turnd into 〈◊〉 flame of anger â— whilst his hands did do What Rage doth dictate Fury doth assist With flaming Paroxismes and each Nerve twist Into a double strength yet not that flood Which in this ebullition of his blood Did through the Channels boyl till they run o're With flaming spirits could depress that store Of manly worth which in Argalias breast Did with a quiet even Valor rest Moving as in its naturall Orb unstraind 〈◊〉 any violent motion nor yet chaind By lazy damps of faint mistrust but in Dangers extream still confident to win A noble Victory or i th' loss of breath Iâ— his Fate frownd to find an honourd death Fil'd with these brave Resolves until the heat Of their warm Fury had Alarmes beat 〈◊〉 th' neighbouring fields they fought which tumult by Such of Almanzors Followers as were nigh The Grove repos'd with an astonishment That rouzd them heard they hasten to prevent The sad effects that might this Cause ensue â—re more of danger then their fear they knew Arriv'd even with that fatal Minute he Who against Justice strove for Victory With such faint stroaks that their descent did give â—ought but assurance that his Foe must live 〈◊〉 happy Conquerour they usurp the power 〈◊〉 Heaven revenge and in a dreadfull shower 〈◊〉 danger with their Furies torrent strive 〈◊〉 orewhelm the Victor but the foremost drive Their own destruction on and fall beneath His conquering Sword ere he takes time to breath Those spirits which when
neer with Action tiâ—'d Valor breaâ—hd fresh fast as the spent expir'd Here rash Araspes and bold Leovine Two whose descent i th' nearst collateral Line Unto Almanzors stood beholding how His strength decâ—yd must unto Conquest bow In spight of Valor to revenge his fate VVith so much hast attempt as if too late They l come to rescue and would now to shun T is just reproof by rashness strive to run To death before him finding from that Sword Their Lifes discharge which did to him afford Only those wounds whose fears must live to be The badges of eternal Infamy But here ore-whelmd by an nnequal strength The noble Victor soon to th' utmost length Had lifes smal thread extended if not in The dawn of hope some troops whose charge had bin VVhilst th' active Gentry did attend the Court To free the Country from the feard Resort Of wild Bandeets these being directed by Such frighted Rurals as imployment nigh The Grove had led arriving at that time VVhen his slain Foes made the mistaken Crime Appear Argalias soon by power allay That fatal storm which done a full survay Of them that death freed from distress being took Them through whose wounds life had not yet forsook Her Throne they view ' mongst whom through the disguise Oâ—'s blood Almanzor whose high power they prise More then discover'd Innocence being found As Justice had by close decree been bound T' espouse his quarrels whilst his friends convay Him safely thence those ponderous Crimes they lay Unto Agalias Charge whose just defence Pleads but in vain for injur'd innocence Now neer departing whilst his helpfull friends Bore off Almanzor where he long attends The cure of 's wounds though they less torment bred Then to behold how his lost honour bled The sad Florenza comes to take her last Leave of her lost Andremon ere she past That sad stage ore to his cold clammy Lips Joyning her balmy Twins she from them sips So much of deaths oppressing Dews that by That touch reviv'd his soul though wing'd to flie Her ruin'd seat takes time enough to breath These sad notes forth farewell my Dear beneath The ponderous burthen of mortality My fainting spirits sink Oh mayst thou be Blest in a happier Love all that I crave Is that my now departing soul may have Thy Virgin prayers for her Companions through Those gloomy Vaults which she must pass unto Eternall shades had Fate assign'd my stay Till we'd together gone the horrid way Had then been made delightfull but I must Depart without thee and convert to dust VVhilst thou art flesh and blood I in a cold Dark Uâ—ne must lie whilst a warm Groom doth hold Thee in thy Nuptial bed yet there I shall If fled souls know what doth on earth befall Mourn for thy loss and to eternity Wander alone the various World shall be Refin'd in flames time shall afford no place For Vanity ere I again embrace Society with flesh which ere that must Change to a thousand forms her varied dust What we shall be or whither we shall go When gone from hence wheth'r unto flames below Or joyes above or whether in death we may Know our departed friends or tell which way They went before us these oh these are things That pauze our Divinity Scepterd Kings And Subjects die alike nor can we tell Which doth enjoy or which in torments dwell Oh sad sad ignorance Heaven guide me right Or I shall wander in eternal Night To whose dark shades my dim eyes sink apace Farewel Florenza when both time and place My separated Soul hath left to be A stranger maskt in Immortality Think on thy murtherd friend we now must part Eternaly the Cordage of my heart That last sigh broke with that the breath that long Had hoverd in his Breast flew with a strong Groan from that mortal Mansion which beheld By such of 's friends whom Courtesie compel'd To that sad Charge the bloodless body they With sad slow steps to 's Fathers home convey The end of the second Canto PHARONNIDA The first Book CANTO THE THIRD The ARGUMENT V. The brave Argalia who dâ—sign'd to raise Through all approaching ills his weighty Fate In smooth Compliance that harsh Guard obeys Who tow'rd his death did prosecute their hate VI. To death which here unluckily had staind Maugre his friends the ill directed Sword Of Justice had not secret love obtaind More mercy then the strict Laws dare afford LOw in a fruitful Pasture where his Flocks Cloud with their breath those Plains whose leavy lock Could hardly shadow them though Meadows need No shearing where in untold Droves did feed His bellowing Heards of which enough did come Each day to 's Yoak to serve a Hecatombe Lay old Andâ—enâ—ons Country Farm in which Happy til now being made by Fortune rich And Goodness honest from domestick strife Stil calm and free the upper Robes of Life Til witherd he had worn to ease whose sad And sullen Cares less bounteous Nature had Lent him no numerous Issue all he 'd won By prayer confin'd unto this murtherd Son The blasted Blossome of whose tender age When blooming first taught Hope how to presage Those future Vertues which interpreted By Action had such fruitful Branches spread That all indulgent Parents wisht to be Immortalizd in blest Posterity Had seen in him whose innocently good Stil let his Heart by 's Tongue be understood In such a sacred Dialect that all Which verg'd within deliberate thought did fall Towards Heaven was grac'd and in descent did prove To 's Parents Duty and to 's Neighbours Love This hopeful Youth their Ages chief support Whose absence though by 's own desires made short Their Love thought tedious having now expir'd His usual hours the aged Couple tir'd With expectation to anticipate His slow appearance to their Mansions Gaâ—e Where softly walk'd where cooly shadowed by An Elm which planted at his Birth did vie Age with his Lord whilst their desires pursue Its first design they with some pleasure view Their busie Servants whose industrious pain Sweats out Diseases in pursuit of gain All which although the chiefest pleasure that Their thoughts contain whose best are busied at The Mart o th' World such small diversion lent The aged pair that his kind Mother spent With a too long protracted hope had let Even that expire had not his Father set Props to that weakness and that mutuall fear Which fil'd their breasts let his sound Judgment clear By the proposing Accidents that might Untouchd detaine their Darling from their sight But many Minutes had not left their seals On the Records of Time ere truth reveals Her horrid secrets A confused noise First strikes their Ears which suddenly destroys Its own imperfect Embrioes to transfer Its Object to that nearer Messenger o th' Soul the Eyes whose beamy Scouts convey A trembling fear into their Souls whilst they That bore their murtherd Son arriv'd to tel Their doleful Mâ—ssage which so fierce storm fel
Not long in those remoter drops before Sweld to a Deluge the swift Torrent bore The bays of Reason down and in one flood Drownd all their hopes when purpl'd in his blood Yet pale with death untimely Death she saw Her hopeful Son grief violates the Law Of slower Nature and his Mothers tears In death congeals to Marble her swoln fears Grown for her Sex a burthen far too great Had only left death for her dark retreat Although from griefs so violent effects Reason conjoynd with manly strength protects His wretched Father at that stroke his Limbs Sâ—ack their unweildy Nerves faint sorrow dims His Eyes more then his Age his hands bereft His hoary head of all that time had left Unpluckt before nor had th' expecting Grave Gap'd longer for him if they then had gave His passion freedome his own guilty hand Had broke the Glass and shook that little Sand That yet remaind into thin Aire that so Unclog'd with earth his tortur'd Ghost might go Beyond that Oâ—b of Attomes that attend Mortality and at that Iournies end Meet theirs soon as swift Destiny inrouls Those newâ— come Guests within the sphear of Souls By these sad symptomes of infectious grief Those best of friends that came for the relief Of sorrows Captives being by that surprizd They hop'd to conquer sadly sympathizd With him in wo till th' epedemick Ill Stifling each Voice drest sorrow in a still And dismal silence in which sad aspect None needing Robes or Cypress to detect A Funeral March each dolefully attends To deaths dark Mansion their lamented friends Where having now the earthy Curtain drawn O're their cold Bed till Doomsdaies fatal dawn Rally their dust they leave them and retire To sorrow which can ne're hope to expire In just revenge since kept by fear in awâ— Where power offends the poor scarce hope for Law By sad example to confirm this truth From innocent and early hopes of youth Led tow'rd destruction let 's return to see That noble stranger whose captivity Like an unlucky Accident depends On this sad subject By the angry friends Of those accus'd which in that fatal strife To death resign'd the Charter of their life He 's brought unto the Princes Pallace where That age whose Customes knew not how to bear Such Sails as these have fil'd with pride was plac'd The seat of Justice whose stern Sword defac'd Not pleasures smoothest Front since now t was by Her fair hand guided whose commanding eye If armd with Anger seemd more dreadful then The harshest Law ere made by wrathful men Here strictly guarded til th' important Crime Which urg'd her to anticipate the time By Custome known had cal'd her forth to that Unwilling Office stil unstartled at The frowns of danger did Argalia lie An injur'd Captive til commanded by The stern Reformers of offended Law He hasts to th' Bar where come though death nere saw A Brow more calm or Breast more confident To meet his Darts yet since the innocent Are staind with guilt when in contempt of Fate They silent fal he means to meet their hate With all that each Beholder could expect From dying Valor when 't had to protect An envied stranger left no more defence But what their hate obscures his Innocence The clamorous friends of Aphron backt by those Which knew his death the only mean to close Almanzors bleeding honour to the fair And pitiful Pharonnida repair With cries of Vengeancâ— whose unwelcomâ— sound She by her Fathers strickt command was bound To hear since that those rivolets of Law Which from the Sea of regal power did draw Their several streams all flowd to her and in That chrystal Fountain pure as they had bin From Heaven dispens'd ere just Astrea fled The Earth remaind yet such aversion bred In her soft soul that to these Causes where The Law sought blood slowly as those that bear The weight of Guilt she came whose dark Text she Stil Comments on with noble Charitie High mounted on an Ebbon Throne in which Th' imbellisht Silver shewd so sadly rich As if its varied form strove to delight Those solemn souls which Deaths pale fear did fright In Tyrian Purple clad the Princess sate Between two sterner Ministers of Faâ—e Impartial Judges whose distinguisht tasks Their varied habits to the view unmasks One in whose looks as pity strove to draw Compassion in the Tableâ—s of the Law Some softness dwelt in a magestick Vest Of state-like red was cloathd the other drest In dismall black whose terrible Aspect Declard his Office serv'd but to detect Her slow consent if when the first forsook The Cause the Law so far as death did look Silence proclaimd a harsh Command cals forth Th' undaunted Prisoner whose excelling wroth In this low ebb of Fortune did appear Such as we fancy Vertues that come near The excellence of Angels fear had not Rifl'd one drop of blood nor rage begot More colour in his Cheeks his soul in state Thron'd in the Medium constant Vertue sate Not sleighting with the impious Atheists that Loud storm of danger but safe anchord at Religious hope being firmly confident Heaven would relieve whom Earth knew innocent All thus prepard he hears his wrongfull Charge Envie disguizing injur'd Truth at large Before the people in such Language read As checkt their hopes in whom his worth had bred Some seeds of pity and to those whose hate Pursu'd him to this Precipice of Fate Dead Aphrons friends such an advantage gave That Providence appeard too weak to save One so assaulted yet though now deprest Even in opinion which oft proves the best Support to those whose publick Vertues we Adore before their private guilt we see His noble Soul stil wings it self above Passions dark Fogs and like that prosperous Dove The Worlds first Pilot for discovery sent When all the floods that bound the Firmament Ore-whelmd the Earth Conscience calm joys t' encrease Returns fraight with the Olive Branch of Peace Thus fortifi'd from all that tyrant fear E'reawed the Guilty with he doth appear The Courts just wonder in the brave defence Of what though power armd with the strong pretence Of right opposd so prevalent had been T' have cleard him if when neer triumphing in Victorious truth to cloud that glorious Sun Some faithless Swains by large Rewards being won To spot their souls had not corrupted by His Foes been brought falsly to justifie Their Accusations which beheld by him Whose knowledge now did hopes clear Opticks dim He ceas'd to plead justly despairing then That Innocence ' mongst Mortals rested when Banisht her owne Abode so thinks it vain To let truths naked Armes strive to maintain The Field ' gainst his more powerful Foes not all His Vertues now protect him he must fall A guiltless Sacrifice to expiate No other Crime but their invenomd hate An ominous silence such as oft precedes The fatal sentence whilst th' Accuser reades His Charge possest the pitying Court in which Preâ—aging Calm Pharonnida
too rich In mercy Heavens supream Prerogative To stifle tears did with her passion strive So long til what at first assaulted in Sorrows black Armor had so often bin For pity cherisht that at length her eyes Found there those Spirits that did sympathize With those that warmd her blood and unseen move That Engine of the World mysterious Love The way that Fate predestinated when T was first infus'd i th' Embrio it being then That which espousd the active forme unto Matter and from that passive being drew Divine Ideas which subsisting in Harmonious Natures highest sphear do win In the perfection of our Age a more Expansive power and Natures common store Stil to preserve unites Affections by The mingled Attomes of the serious eye Whilst Natures Priest the cause of each effect Miscal'd Disease indeavouâ— to detect Its unacquainted operations in The beauteous Princess whose free soul had bin Yet guarded in her Virgin Ice and now A stranger is to what she doth allow Such easie entrance by those Rays that fall From eithers eyes to make reciprocal Their yeilding passions brave Argalia felt Even in the grasp of death his Functions melt To flames which on his heart an on-set make For sadness such as weaker Mortals take Eternal farewels in yet in this high Tyde of his blood in a soft calm to die His yielding Spirits now prepare to meet Death cloathd in thoughts white as his winding sheet That fatal doom which unto Heaven affords The sole Appeal one of th' assisting Lords Had now pronouncd whose horrid thunder could Not strike his Laureld Brow that Voice which would Have putrified a timerous Soul he hears With calm attention no disorderd fears Ruffl'd his Fancy nor domestick War Rag'd in his breast his â—v'ry look so far From vulgar passions that unless amazd At Beauties Majesty he sometimes gazd Wildly on that as Emblems of more great Glories then earth afforded from the seat Of resolution his fixt soul had not Been stird to passion which had now begot Wonder not fear within him No harsh frown Contracts his Brow nor did his thoughts pull down One fainting spirit wrapt in smootherd groans To clog his heart From her most eminent Thrones Of Sense the Eyes the lightning of his Soul Flew with such vigour forth it did controul All weaker passions and at once include With Roman Valour Christian Fortitude Pharonnida from whom the rigid Law Extorts his Fate being now inforc'd to draw The longest Line she ere could hope to move Over his Face that beauteous sphear of Love Unto its great'st obliquity she leaves Him in his winter solstice and bereaves Loves Hemisphear of light not hear yet oft Retreating wisht those Stars Fare plac'd aloft In the first Magnitude of Honour might Prove retrograde so their contracted light Might unto him part of their Influence In Life bestow Passion would fain dispence So far with Reason to recall again The sentence she had past but hop'd in vain Those false suggestions moves his Jaylers are Th' undaunted Prisoner hurrying from the Bar His fair Judge rising the corrupted Court Upon removing all the ruder sort Of Hearers rushing out when through the throng Kind Ariamnes being detaind so long By strict Imployment comes at whose request The Court their Seats resuming he adrest Himself to th' Princess in a Language that Whilst all Argalias Foes were storming at Even on her Justice so prevails that he Repriev'd til all hope could produce to free Her Loves new care might be examind by His active Friend who now being seated nigh Pharonnide whilst all attentive sate The strangers story doth at large relate Pleas'd at this full relation nere as much As griev'd to see those Jewels plac'd in such A course cheap Mettal which could never hold The least proportion with her regal Gold Pharonnida had now remov'd if not Thus once more stayed the Rumor first begoâ— From this sad truth had with the common hast Of Ill arriv'd where his Disease had plac'd Aphron whose Ears assaulted now with words Of more infection then that Plague affords Room for the stâ—onger Passion though offended To leave a hold it had at first intended To keep til ruin'd the imprisond blood And spirits are unfetterd by that flood To wash usurping grief from off that part Where most she reign'd but they drawn near the heart And finding Enemies too strong to be Incounter'd mix in their society Which thus supplyed with Auxiliaries in Contempt of weakness when he long had been Languishing underneath a tedious Load Of sickness sends him from his safe Aboad ' Mongst dangers which in deaths black shape attend His bold design to seek his honourd Friend Come on the spur of passion to the Court A flux of Spirits from all parts resort To prompt his anger which abruptly broke Forth in this Language Do not Sirs provoke A forrein power thus far I speak to you That have condemnd this stranger as to do An Act so opposite to all the Law Of Nations here within your Realm to draw Blood that 's so neer allied unto the best Of an adjacent State If this request Of mine too full of insolence appear We are Spirits nobly born and near Enough to hav 't whatever Crime 's the Cause Of this harsh sentence tri'd by our own Laws This bold Opposer of stern Justice here Pausing to see what Clouds there did appear In that fair Heaven whose influence only now Could light to 's friends declining Stars allow To free the troubl'd Court which struggl'd iâ— A strange Delemma had commanded bin To a more large discovery if not by His pitying Friend discharg'd in a reply Doubting how far inregular boldness had Provok'd just wrath Argalia thus unclad Amezements dark disguise To you that aâ— This Court with that kneels to Pharonnida I now for Mercy flee that scorn to run From my own doom so I might have begun The doubtful task alone but here to leave My Friend from whom your Justice did receive This bold Afront in danger is a Crime That not approaching death which all my time Too little for repentance cals can be A just excuse for let me then set free His person with your doubts and joynd to those What both their varied stories may compose For what this noble Lord whose goodness we First found in needful hospitality From him hath differd him impute it not To eithers error both Reports begot From such mistakes as Nature made to be The careful Issues of Necessity That fatal difference whose Vestigia stood Where we Epiciae left fresh fil'd with blood By league so lately with Calabria made Being compos'd that Fame did not invade Our Ears with the report til we had been By a disguise secur'd which shaded in Whilst fearing danger we nere thought to leave Til safe at home Thus what did first deceive Kind Aminander you have heard and now Without the stein of boasting must allow Me leave to tel you that we there have Friends On
delights Although Invention all her stock had spent Could be upon that liquid Element Prepard their welcome whilst at every Bowl A Health inters the ful-mouthd Cannons trowl A Peal of Thunder which in white Waves drownd The softer Trumpets do their Dirges sound Now in the ful Carier of Mirth whilst all Their thoughts in Perpendiculars did fall From Honours Zenith none incurvated With common Cares Parents that might have bred A sly suspition whilst neglective Mirth Keeps all within from their deep bed of Earth Molarchus hoist his Anchors whilst that all The rest lay stil expecting when his call Commands their Service but when they beheld His spread Sails with a nimble Gale were sweld An opprest Slave which lay at rest before Was with stretcht Limbs tugging his Finny ore Conceiving it but done to shew the Prince That Gallies swiftness let that thought convince Fears weak suggestions and invited by Their tempting Mirth stil safe at Anchor ly But now when they not only saw the Night Draw sadly on but what did more afright Their loyal Souls the distant Vessel by Doubling a Cape loft to the sharpest Ey For hateful treason taxing their mistake With Anchors cut and Sails spread wide they make The lasht Waves roar whilst those inclos'd within The Gally by her unkown speed had bin Far more deceived being so far conveyed Ere care arrives to tel them they 'r betrayed Through Mirths neglective Guards who now in hast With anger rais'd in vain those flames did wast In wild Attempts to force a passage to The open Decks whither before withdrew Molarchus was who now prepar'd to give That treason birth whose hated Name must live In bloody Lines of Infamy before They could expect it opening wide the door That led them forth the noble Captives fly To seek revenge but being encounterd by An Armed Crew so fierce a fight begin That Nights black Mantle nere vvas lin'd vvithin With ought more horrid in which bloody Fray The subtle Traytor valiant to betray Though Abject else unnoted seising on Th' unguarded Princess from their rage is gone Through Nights black Mask with that rich Prize into A Boat that plac'd for that design was drew Near to the Gally whose best Wealth being now Thus made their own no more they study how To save the rest all which for death design'd The conquer'd Rebels soon their safety find From other Boats but first that all but she o th' royal train secur'd by death might be So large a Leak in the brave Vessel make That thence her Womb soon too much waight did take For her vast bulk to weild which sinking now No safety to her royal Guests allow The Ship thus lost and now no Throne but Waves Left the Sicilian Prince just Heaven thus saves His sacred Person amongst those that sought For timely safety nimble strength had brought Argalia and his following Friend so near One of the Boats in which secur'd from fear The Rebels saild that now they both had took A Hold so sure that though their Foes forsook Their Oars to hinder't spite of all their force Argalia enters which a sad divorce From Life as he by strength attempts to rise From falling wounds unhappily denies The valiant Aphron who by death betrayd From time and strength had now left none to ayd His Friend but those attending Vertues that Ne're more then now for th' world to wonder at Brave Trophies built with such a suddain rage As all his Foes did to defence engage Those bolder Souls that durst resist he had From their disorderd Robes of flesh unclad VVhich horrid sight froc'd the more feareful to Such swift submission that ere fear out-grew His hope assisted by that strength which bought Their Lives reprieve their Oars reverst had brought Him back to th' place in which the guilty flood VVas staind with fair Sicillias noblest blood Assisted by those silver streams of Light The ful fac'd Moon shot through the swarthy Night On the smooth Sea he first his course directs Toward one whose Robes studded with Jems reflects Those feeble Rays like new faln Stars he there Finds Sparta's Prince then sinking from the sphear Of mortall greatness in the boundless deep To calm Lifes cares in an eternall sleep From unexpected death the Graves most grim And ghastly Tyrant having rescued him With as much spâ—ed as griefs distractions joynd To Nights confusion could give leave to find More Friends before that all were swallowd by The Sea he hasts when being by chance brought nigh Dead Aphrons Father to be Partner in Their carer who as they only sav'd had bin To mourn the rest he from the rude Sea saves Him to be drownd in sorrows sable Waves Now in the Quest of that deserving Lord Whose goodness did to 's Infancy afford Lifes best of Comforts Education he To bawk that needless diligence might see At one large draught the wide Waves swallow all Who vainly did till that sad minute call To Heaven for help which dismal sight beheld By those that sav'd by accident expeld Their own just fears for them to entertain As just a grief their needful time in vain They spend no longer in their search but though Unweildy grief yet made their motion slow Hast from that horrid place where eache must leave Such valued friends numbers that did receive Their blood descended to Nobility From th' royal Spring here the griev'd Prince might seâ— Interd i th' Ocean the Epirote Lord His late found Son whom Love could scarce afford A minutes absence nor 's Argalia less Ingag'd to grief to leave whom the distress Of 's Youth reliev'd but what from each of these Borrowed some streams of sorrow to apease A grief which since so many Floods hath cost The noble Aminander here was lost Rowed with such speed as their desire joynd to That fear which from the conquerd Rebels drew A swift obedience being conducted by A friendly Light their Boat is now drawn nigh A rocky Island in whose Harbour they Found where the Boat that had out-sayld them lay Drawn neer the shoar but all the Passengers Being gone the sight of that alone confers No other comfort then t' inform them that The ravisht Princess had been landed at That Port which by their Saylers they are told Belongs unto a Castle kept to hold That Island though but one unnoted Town To th' scarce known Laws of the Sicillian Crown This heard by th' Prince who formerly had known That Castles strength being vext although his own That now 't was such leaving the Vessel they Protected by Nights heaviest shades convey Themselves into a neighbouring Cottage where The Prince who now externally did bear No forms of greatness lest to his repose Argalia whilst Nights shadows yet did close Discovering Eyes hast back to th' Harbour whence To give the royal Fleet Intelligence o th' Kings distress he sends forth all but One Whose stoutness had best made his Valour known Of those which conquerd by
so near As to behold stopt with a reverend fear Least this intrusion on her Privacies Might ruffle Passion which now floating lies In a calm stream of thoughts he staies till she By her Commâ—nds gave fresh activity To his desires then with a lowly grace Yet such to which Prides haughty Sons gave place For Native sweetness he on 's knee presents A Packet from her Father whose Contents If Love can groan beneath a greater Curse Then Desperation made her sufferings worse Then fear could represent them 't was exprest In Language that not wholly did request Nor yet command consent only declare His royal Will and the paternal Care He bore his Kingdomes safety which could be By nought confirm'd more then Afinity With the Laconian Prince whose big fame stood Exalted in a spatious Sea of blood On Honours highest Pyramid his hand Had made the triple headed spot of Land One of her stately Promontories bow Beneath his Sword and with his Scepter now He at the other reaches which if Love But gently smile on 's new-born hopes and prove Propitious as the God of War his Fate Câ—imbs equal with his wishes but too late That slow-pac'd Soldier bent his Forces to Storm that fair Virgin Cittadell which knew Ere his pretences could a Parlee call Beneath what force that royal Fort must fall Inclos'd within this rough Lords Leâ—ters â—he Receiv'd his Picture which inform'd her be Wanted dissimulation that worst part Oâ— Courtship â—o put Complements of Art On his Effigies his stern Brow far more Glorying i th' Scars then in the Crown he wore His active Youth made him Retainer to The Court of Mars something too long to sue For entrance into Love's like Mornings clad In griesl'd Frosts ere plump-cheek'd Autume had Shâ—rn the Glebs golden Locks some silver hairs Mixt with his black appeard his Age dispairs Not of a hopeful Heir nor could his Youth Promise much more the venerable truth Of glorious Victories that stuck his Name For Ornament i th' Frontispiece of Fame Together with his Native greatness were His Orators to plead for Love but where Youth Beauty Valor and a Soul as brave Though not known great as his before had gave Loves pleasing wounds Fortunes neglected gain In fresh assaults but spends her strength in vain With as much ease as Souls when ripen'd by A wel-spent life hast to eternity She had sustaind this harsh encounter though Backt with her Fathers threats did it not shew More dreadful yet in a command which must Call her Argalia from his glorious trust Her Guardian to a separation in An Embassie to him whose hopes had been Her new created fears which sentence read By the wise Lady though her passions bred A sudden tumult yet her reason staies The Torrent till Argalia who obaies The strictest limits of observance to Her he adornd being reverently withdrew Inlarg'd her sorrow in so loud a tone That ere he 's through the winding Laberynth gone So far but that he could distinctly hear Her sad Complaints they thus assault his Ear Unhappy Soul born only to infuse Pearls of delight with Vinegar and lose Content for Honour it 's a sin to be Born high that robs me of my liberty Or is 't the curse of greatness to behold Vertue through such false Opticks as unfold No splendor less from equal Orbs they shine What Heaven made free ambitious men confine In regular degrees poor Love must dwel Within no Climate but what 's parallel Unto our honourd births the envied Fare Of Princes oft these burthens find from state When lowly Swains knowing no Parents voice A Negative make a free happy choice And here she sigh'd then with some drops diâ—tild From Loves most soveraign Elixar fil'd The chrystal Fountains of her eyes which ere Dropt down she thus recals again but nere Ne're my Argalia shall these fears destroy My hopes of thee Heaven let me but enjoy So much of all those blessings which their Birth Can take from frail Mortality and Earth Contracting all her Curses cannot make A storm of danger loud enough to shake Me to a trembling Penitence a Curse To make the horrour of my sufferings worse Sent in a Fathers Name like Vangeance fell From angry Heaven upon my head may dwell In an eternal stain my honourd Name With pale disgrace may languish busie Fame My Reputation spot Affection be Term'd uncommanded Lust sharp poverty That Weed which kils the gentle Flower of Love As the result of all these Ills may prove My greatest misery unless to find My self unpitied yet not so unkind Would I esteem this mercenary Band As those far more malignant powers that stand Arm'd with diswasions to obstruct the way Fancy directs but let those Souls obay Their harsh Commands that stand in fear to shead Repentant tears I am resolv'd to tread These doubtful pathes through all the shades of fear That now benights them Love with pity hear Thy Suppliants Prayers and when my clouded Eyes Shall cease to weep in Smiles I 'le sacrifice To thee such Offerings that the utmost date Of deaths rough hands shall never violate Whilst our fair Virgin-sufferer was in This Agony Argalia that had been Attentive as an envied Tyrant to Suspected Counsels from her Language drew So much that that pure essence which informs His knowledge shall in all the future storms Of Fate protect him from a fear that did Far more then death afflict whilst Love lay hid In Honours upper Region now whilst she Calmly withdraws to let her Comforts be Hopes of 's return his latest view forsook His Souls best comfort who hath now betook Her self to private thoughts where with what rest Love can admit I leave her and him blest In a most prosperous Voyage but happier far In being directed by so bright a Star The end of the first Book PHARONNIDA The second Book CANTO THE FIRST The ARGUMENT I. Still wakefull guilt Almanzors Rebel sin Taking advantage of unguarded mirth Which now without mistrust did revell in The Princess Court gives thence new Treason birth II. By treachery seiz'd and through Nights shades conveyed She had for ever in this storm been lost Had not its rage by such rude hands been stayed That safety neer as much as danger cost THese Hell-ingendred Embrioes which had long Lay hid within Almanzors breast grown strong Now for delivery strives Clandestine plots Ripen'd with Age and Lust dissolve the knots Wherein his fear had fetterd them and fly Beyond the Circle of his Loyalty Since his deserts made him a stranger to His Princess Court he 'd liv'd like those that do Fly that pursuing Vengeance which attends A Rebels Acts seen only to such Friends Whose blemmisht Honour suffering in his fall Assist his rising though they venter all By that unlawful Act on pathes that may Precipitate to ruine the dark way Had long been sought for Consultations did Whisper Rebellion in soft Aires forbid To live in louder Language until like Inevitable thunder
it could strike As swift as secret and as sure as those Heavens anger huâ—ls through all that durst oppose In all the progress of that dark design Whose unseen Engines strove to undermine That power which since Heaven doth in Kings infuse None but unhallowed Rebels durst abuse Time Treasons secret Midwife did produce No birth like this such Friends as often use Had taught him their Souls Characters he makes Sharers of 's guilt but whilst he troubl'd takes A care to fit each smaller Wheel unto This fatal Engine those black powers that do Assist such dark designs a moving spirit Supplies it with although Almanzors merit Purchast few friends yet had his tempting Gold Corrupted some ' mongst which it surest hold Upon Amphibia took a Lady who Before Florenza's sweeter vertues drew Her Favour to a better Object swayed The Princess choice Affections she betrayed By glittering Charms perswades her thoughts no deed For guilt is branded whose attempts may feed Ambitions malice and at one blow give Envie and Avarice a hope to live Pleas'd with their ruine whose fair merits dwell High in those thoughts from whence she justly fell To rack revenge unto as large extent As hate could wish what Hell could nere invent Without assistance of a female Wit Mans first Betrayer all that seemd but fit From Treasons close embrace to propagate Revenge she lights him what though close as Fate When parling with the Destinies is by Her Counsel acted swift as stories fly From vulgar Tongues her treachery makes known To the bold Rebbel whose intentions grown Hence ripe for Action when his secret guilt A strong retreat had for rebellion built By laying the foundation on 't in those Whom since by want or envy made the Foes To th' publick peace are soon perswaded by Their Princess fall to cure that malady This plat-form layd some whose wise valour he By practice knew adornd with secresie Amongst the number of his guilty friends Selected in its first attempt attends Treasons dark walks which now more secret by Nights dismal shadows made had brought them nigh The Princess Palace through the Hemisphears Dark Curtain now the big bulkt roof appears And dapl'd Windows shewd their severall light Like rich Enamel in the Jet of Night All rockt in sweet security they found By Fate false smiles triumphant mirth had crownd The glorious Train whose height of joy could tast No poyson of suspition each embrac'd His free delights yet feard no Snake should lye Lurking within those Flowers amidst which high Divine flames of enthean joy to her That level'd had their way a Messenger Makes known their neer approach for which before She had prepar'd and vaild the Pavement o're In thin but candid Innocence accurst By all that ere knew Vertue oh how durst Thy Envie turn these commick Sceans into So red a Tragedy as must ensue Thy guilts Stenography which thus writes Fate In Characters of blood but now too late 'T is to repent when punishment wrought fair Shews thy foul Crimes thou only mayst despair Leaving this Fiend to hatch her Vipers here Le ts breath awhile although in full carier Stay on the brow o th' precipice to view The Couâ—ts full joyes which being arriv'd unto Their Zenith seemd to Fate-discerning Eyes Like Garlands were before a Sacrifice The Cornu Copiae from the Tables now Remov'd by full fed Rurals did allow Time for discourse as much as modest mirth Durst stretch her wings crownd Cups gave lusty birth To active sports The hearts warm bounties flame From lofty Piles and in their pride became The luster of the Roof to glorifie Which yet imperfect Festival the eye That lent to this large body light divine Pharonnida at whose adored Shrine These Sacrifices offerd were appears Within the Hall and with her presence clears Each supercillious brow if hopes to see What 's now enjoy'd suffer'd such there to be The Princess on her honourd Throne repos'd A Fancy tempting Musick first unclos'd The winding Portals of the Soul which done Four Swains whose time directed knowledge won Attention with Credulity by turn Sicillia's Annals sung and from the Urn Of now almost forgotten truth did raise Their Fame those branches of eternal Baies Which sober mirth Preparatives unto More active sports continuing whilst the new Modell of Treason was disguizing in A Mask ordaind to candie o're their sin To gild those Pills of poyson with delight And strew with Roses deadly Aconite Was now drawn neer an end when from without A murmuring noise of several sounds about The Palace Gates was heard which suddenly Dissolving to an antick harmony Proclaims their entrance whose first solemn sight In dreadful shapes mixt terrour with delight In the black front of that slow March appears A Train whose difference both in Sex and years Had spoke confusion if agreement in Their Acclamation had no Prologue been A Dance where method in disorder lay Where each seemd out though all their rules obay Was first in different measures trod which done Twelve arm'd Viragoes whose strange habit won More admiration then their beauty led As many captive Satyrs in the head o th' Amazonian troop a Matron by To younger Nymphs supported till come nigh Pharonnida's bright Throne presents the rest Her Issue who externally exprest So many fair soul'd Vertues born to be Protectors of their Mother Chastity Who wants their help although supported by Her weaker daughters Fear and Modesty Those obscean vices whose rude hands betray Natures deformities forc'd to obay Their brave opposing Vertues did appear i th' captive Satyrs who being now brought near A dreadful Musick 's heard without whose sound Did gentler Aires in their first births confound VVhich being a signall to that act of blood That soon ensues whilst all expecting stood Some happier change the false viragoes drew Their Swords and with a speedy fury slew The struggling Knights who thus disguiz'd had bin VVith the more horrour to be murtherd in Their royal Mistress sight whose shrieks did tell VVhat trembling Guests within her breast did dwell Sudden and cruel was the Act yet stands Not Treason here but whilst their purpl'd hands Yet wreakt in blood their guilty Souls to stain VVith blacket sins her weak Defenders slain Rush toward the trembling Princess who now lies Betrayed by the Souls Janitors her Eyes To Passions insupportable which grown A burthen to her Spirits all were flown To th' Porch of death for rest if Souls new fled From tainted bodies that have surfeited On studied sins could be discernd when they Unarmd with penitence are hurld away By long armd Fiends less pale less horrid would Their guilty looks appear confusion could Not live in livelier emblem each appears To flie the danger but about him bears Its pale effects so passengers forsake A sinking Ship such strong Convulsions shake Surprized Forts so Doomsdays Trumpet shall Startle the unprepared world when all Her Attomes in their then worn Robes shall be Ravisht in flames to meet
expecting but that light Whose near approach must to eternal Night Their last Conductor be a sudden still And doleful silence such as oft doth fill The Room where sick men slumber when their Friends Stand weeping by to Contemplation bends Their busie thoughts within each troubl'd breast Being to leave the Mansion she 'd possest So long yet with so short a warning all Her Faculties the frighted Soul did call Forth of the Bosome of those Causes in Whose form they 'd fetterd to their Crasis been To joyn those powers yet strong in living breath For her assistance in the grasp of death The whispering Trumpet having cal'd them by Such sharp Notes as when powerful Foes are nigh Retreating Parties use all swiftly rise From bended Knees and the last Sacrifice They ere expect to pay to Heaven untill Their Souls last gasp the vocal Orgains fill Concluded was the last sad interview The Prince was marcht Pharonnida with-drew And now all from the open'd Ports were in A swift March sallying had their speed not been Thus swiftlier stopt those scatterd horse that fled The Battel to th' Epirotes Court had sped So well in their Embassage that the Prince Whom the least negligence might now convince Of want of love proud of so fair a chance To shew's Affection swiftly doth advance With a vast Army tow'rd them but the fear Prevailing danger ere their strength come near To their necessitated Friends might force Them to unworthy Articles some horse Selected are whose swifter speed might by A desperate charge broke through their Foes supply Their fainting friends the much desir'd Command Of these few men committed to the â—and Of brave Argalia nere more blest then now In serving the fair Princess did allow His Sword so fair a field to write the story Of Honour in that his unblasted Glory Beyoâ—d this day shall live out-live the reach Of long-armd Envy and those weake Souls teach That fear the frowns of Fate in spight of all Heroick Vertue sits too high to fall With the dayes close they take their March and ere The silver Morning on her brow did bear The burnisht guilt o th' Suns warm Rayes arrive In view o th' place when Fortune that did strive To crown their hopes had wrapt the earth in thick And heavy mists the sluggish Morning sick Of Midnight surfeiâ—s from her dewy bed Pale and discolourd Rose This Curtain spread To vail their plot in they assault their Foes Which when surpriz'd could not themselves dispose Fit for resistance but whilst some did flie From the distracting danger others die To their neglect a Sacrifice the swift Alarm like a rude winds circling drift Hurries confusion through the field and shook The trembling Soldier some unclad forsook Their half-fir'd Cabbens deaths large gripe did take Whole troops that Destiny ordaind to wake No more till Dooms-day and in 's march prevents Th' unition of unrallied Regiments This frighted Language of Confusion heard By those o th' Castle which were now prepard For their last desperate Sally switly draws Them to assist their friends and though the cause Being yet unknown was only thought to be Some private Jar grown to a Mutiny Or else the noise the Enemy had made When all their force was drawing to invade Them in their works howe're they stand not to Consult with reason but as striving who Shall first encounter death each severall hand Sought for his own from those that did withstand His rage-directed strength their Cannon in A Funeral Peal went off whose steam had been Their Covert to the Camp where finding such A wild confusion they assisted much The fortune of the day which now was grown Indubitable they might call their own A glorious Conquest the thick sulphry cloud Whose dismal shade did that destruction shroud Rent with those thunder-claps dissolv'd into A shower of blood what she vouchsaft to do Fortune lends light to shew them having left Their Camp whilst darkness did protect a Theft That only stole dishonour which they were Now in an open flight inforc'd to bear They see Almanzors broken troops ore-spread The neighbouring fields those clouds of men that fled Being pursu'd by Companies so smal That they appeard but like those drops that fall After a storm Yet as the labouring Hart Long struggles for that life which doth depart From the less noble Members to lend aid To her in deaths pale Conflict having stayd Some of his best Commanders hoping by Their valour to recal the rest with high Undaunted force Almanzor doth oppose His Enemies pursuit till like t' inclose Him in disdaining the reproachful end He must expect no longer stands t' attend The glimering light of hope the field he leaves To conquering Argalia but deceives Him of himself the prize most sought for which When lost beyond recovery he grown rich In shining honour that like Sun-beams plac'd Within a field of gules by being defac'd Had beautifi'd his Armour that dark mist Which did at first such contradictions twist That he both curst and blest it one cause did Aide his design the other cause it hid His Heaven of Beauty in their dewy Bed Had left the blushing Roses and was fled Upon the Wings of th' wind With wonder now Discoverd colours taught each party how To know their Friends The royal Standard in The Princes party had disvellopt been By that fair signal to discover who Was present there but ere Argalia to That place arriv'd Pharonnida who had Whilst desperation all her beauties clad In the pale Robes of fear heard all the loud Shock of the Conflict but until the Cloud Remov'd his fatal Curtain never knew How near the hour of her delivery drew That being dissolv'd through those which grief had rais'd In her fair Eyes did see and seeing praised Just Heaven which sent it each of those that Fought for her she commends but wonders at Although unknown the lightning valour she Saw in Argalia whilst with just rage he Unravels Natures workmanship a rent Which were a sin if not a punishment And from the slender web of life did send Forth Rebels Souls fast as each busie Fiend That wait their fals transport them fain she would Ere known conceit 't were he but how he should Come there and so attended did exceed Imagination Thus whilst her hopes feed On strange desires being come near unto The Coach wherein she sate prepard to do His Loves Oblations he that Face disarms Which when beheld by those attractive charms VVithin the center of her best desires Contracted all her hopes whose life expires Soon as they 'r crownd with wisht success too great A distance parts them yet she leaves her seat And flies to his Imbraces but conceald Her passion in his Merit being reveald To him alone whose better judgment knew That in those Spirit-breathing beams that flâ—w Through the fair Casements of her Eyes did move The secret Language of an ardent love This conflict of her passions which had been
Vines with various colours grac'd Their spreding branches whose proud brows being crownd With stately Walks did from that ample round The wel-pleas'd Eye to every place convay That in the Islands humble level lay To guard her Court a hundred Gentlemen Such as had glorifi'd their Valour when Tryed in her Fathers Wars attended which Commanded by Argalia did enrich His Merit with such fair reward that all His better Stars should they a Synod call Those fires conven'd nere with more glorious Light Could cloath his hopes his Fortunes dim-ey'd Night Inflam'd to Noon and the faiâ— Princess blest By the same power for though his Fate invest His noble Soul within the obscure Mask Of an unknown descent his Fame shall ask In time to come a Chronicle and be The Glory of that royal Family From whence he sprung but ere he must attain The top of Fortunes Wheel that Iron Chain By whose linkt strength it turns too oft will grate Him with most hot Afflictions his wise Fate Digs deep with Miseries before it layes The ground-fork of his Fame which then shall raise On the firm Basis of Authentick story To him eternal Pyramids of Glory Thou that art skil'd in Loves Polemmicks here Wish they may rest awhile and though drawn neer A sadder Fate if piâ—y sayes to rath 'T is to let sorrow sad the Scean wee 'l bath Our Pen awhile in Nectar though we then Steep it in Gall again the Spring did when The Princess first did with her presence grace This house of pleasure with soft Armes embrace The Earth his lovely Mistress clad in all The painted Robes the Mornings Dew let fallâ— Upon her Virgin Bosome the soft breath Of Zephirus sung calm Anthems at the death Of Palsie-shaken Winter whose large Grave The Earth whilst they in fruitful tears did leave Their pious grief turnd into smiles they throw Over the Herse a Vail of Flowers the low And pregnant Valleys sweld with fruit whilst Heaven Smil'd on each blessing its faire hand had given Be-calmd on this paciffick Sea of pleasure No boisterous Wave appearing the rich treasure Of Love being ballast with Content did fear No threatning storm so safe a Harbour neer As th' Object whence it sprung such royal sports As take their birth from the triumphant Courts Of happy Princes did contract the day To pitied beauty time steals away On downy feet whose loss since it bereaves Them of no more then what new birth receives From the next teeming day by none is thought Worth the lamenting sometimes rockt in the soft Armes of the calmest pleasures they behold A sprightly Comedy the sins unfold Of more corrupted times then in its high Cothurnal Sceans a lofty Tragedy Erects their 〈◊〉 and doth at once invite To variouâ— Passions Soâ—â—ow and Delight Time Motions aâ—ed 〈◊〉 includes Not more in all the 〈…〉 Then their oft changing 〈…〉 When the Suns lofty pride 〈…〉 The Earths imbroiderd Robes 〈…〉 And palsie hand did those fresh 〈…〉 Up in her hoary Plush each Seasâ—◠〈…〉 Delights of 'ts own such a beguil'd 〈…〉 It s stock of hours unwasted on in chast Though private sports here happy Lovers 〈◊〉 Fancie's fresh Youth whose first attempts did proâ—â— Too innocent for th' Sophistry of Love There scornful beauty or the envious eye Of jealous Rivals nere afflicts all by An equal and a noble height so blest Pride none had rais'd nor poverty deprest The end of the fourth Canto PHARONNIDA The second Book CANTO THE FIFTH The ARGUMENT IX Whilst serene Joy sate smiling in her Court As shadows to illustrate Vertue by Phantastick Love becomes the Princess sport Whose harsher Dictates she ere long must try X. For now Suspition Vertues secret Foe Fir'd with Argalia's just deserved Fame Makes her great Father think each Minute slow Till separation had allayd the Flame LEst that her Court which seems compos'd of all That 's great or good th'ore-weaning world should caâ— Perfections height a word which whilst on Earth Vain as delight only from Name takes birth In this the largest and most glorious sphear Ere Greatness mov'd in some few Stars appear To Vertue retrograde th' informing Spirit Love by whose motion on the Pole of Merit This bright Orb turnd even ' mongst these Heroes finds A pair of Followers whose imperfect minds Transgrest his Dictates and though no offence So full of guilt as foul Incontinence Durst here approach by waies less known unto What Love intends those various Figures drew Whose Aspects nere more neer Conjunction move Then Eyes the slight Astronomy of Love That new Platonnick Malady the way By which imperfect Eunuchs do betray Natures Diseases to contempt whilst by Such slight repast they strive to satisfie Loves full desires which pines or else must crave More then thin Souls in seperation have Being lately by some sick Phantasticks brought But neer the Court within it long had sought For residence till entertaind by two Whose meeting Souls no more distinction knew Then Sex a difference which whilst here it grows Toward Heaven it to Corporeal Organs ows But since that these so uncouth Actors here But as Intruders on the Scean appear Ere in their story we ingulph too far Let 's first behold them in their Character If ere thy sober Reason did submit To suppling Mirth that wanton Child of wit Beholding A Fantastick drest in all His vain delights what 's Annalogical To our Acretius then conceive thou 'st seen Though if compar'd those short to him had been As Transcripts are to Coppies to compleat A Humorist here Folly had close a seat ' Mongst more then vulgar knowledge and might pass The same account an Academick Ass Makes of his Fathers four year Charge when he Frights Villagers with shreds of Sophistry ' Mongst forrein parts of which like Coriate Hee 'd run through some he had acquir'd to prate By priviledge and as if every Nation Contributed is in each several fashion Which like their Tongues all so imperfect find That both disguiz'd his body and his mind Though self conceit vain Youths fantastick Crime Made him steal singly from the Front of time i th' Medium which but seldome proves the seat For Lust's wild-fire or Zeals reflected heat He amarous grows and doubting to prevail For all his Wings caught Pegasus by th' Tail And being before with Cupidi Engines fit'd From his Posteriors doubly was inspiâ—'d She that at first this sympathetick flame Inspir'd him with the Court knew by the Name Of Philanta to whom all would impair Their skill that gave that Epithet of fair Except Acretius since her beauty fit For praises was where parallel'd by wit Yet now although times sad discovery tels Her Autumes furrows were no parallels In Beauties sphear those youthful forms being grown So obsolete scarce the Vestigia's shown A Native pride and strange phantastick dress More admiration then ere comeliness Could do acquires She formerly had been A great Admirer of Romances in Whose Garb she now goes
that Mazara's love-sick Soul was offering at Florenza's Shrine and by that willing stay Might be inforc'd some Minutes to delay The time in which his readier Opposite Expected him she being resolv'd to write Affection in her blood with Loves wild hast Makes toward the Lists there finds his Armour plac'd Within the dark shade of an ancient Wood In whose black breast that place of horrour stood Where they appoint to meet like those of Fate Obscure and dark by Beasts and Birds that hate The Light alone frequented but love had Dis-plum'd fears Haggars being resolv'd she clad Beauties fair Pearl where smooth delights did dwell i th' rough-cast Mould of that Ciclopian shell But that no Armes nor bounding Steeds affright Where Loves fair hand hath Valours pasport wright Here we should pause and pity her that now Fancy beholds whilst she is learning how To manage stubborn steel within her sleek And pollisht hand through devious pathes to seek For doubtful dangers such whose horrid shape On mans best judgment might commit a Rape Her swift Conductor Love ere this had brought Her to the place where Passion had not sought Long for the Object of her hate ere she Her valiant Brother that was come to be His Fames Protector sees but so disguiz'd In 's Armes that both with envy unadviz'd By knowledge an unthought of guilt prepare In blood to meet their foaming Horses were Now freed from the commanding Rain and in Their full Carier but Love in vain to win The Field from Valour strives her eager hast But argues such an envy as did wast It self in weak Attempts which to the length Of power extended fals beneath the strength Of her Victorious Foe whose Fortune had In Robes of Joy what he must weep for clad Conquer'd Carina now dismounted lay Struggling for life whose Fortress to betray Toward Natures Tyrant Death her blood transports False Spirits through their purple Salliports Her Brother with an Anger that was grown Into disdain his Fury should be shewn On such resistless Subjects ere he knows How much of grief his Soul to sorrow owes For this unhappy Act froms finisht course Was now returning not by strength to force The harsh Commands of Tyrant Victors but By calm advice a bloodless end to put To that ill-manag'd Quarrel but before He there arrives to make his sorrows more When truth unvails their dark design a Knight With hast as speedy as the secret flight Oâ— wrath when wing'd from angry Heaven he saw Bolted into the Lists who soon did draw Too neer in sober Language to dispute Their fatal Quarrel both with Rage grown mute Disdaining conference found no place for words Amidst the mortal Language of their Swords Which the first shock past o're and Lances broke In hast took place and at each furious stroke Unbay'd the Fountains of their blood to stain With purple guilt the Flower-enamel'd Plain Whilst each did thus with silent Rage imploy An Art directed Fury to destroy The others strength the bordering shadows weep In trickling Dews and with sad murmures keep Time with the hollow and ill boding Note Sent from a fatal Ravens stretcht-out Throat Which from an old Oaks witherd top did sing A baleful Dirg but these sad Omens bring No terror to their busie thoughts which were Too much imployd in Action to take care For any danger more remote then what With the next stroke might fall perceiving that Their Horses faint they both dismount and do On equal terms the Fight on foot renew Till a Cessation from the want of breath Not Valour was enâ—orc'd the Vail which death Contracted from those steams his wreaking blood Breathd forth its Spirits in already stood Over Mazara's Eyes which clouded seâ—s Not that approach of Night his trembling Knees Sâ—agger beneath their fainting Load which in To th' Grave had dropt had not their fury bin When its last heat was with Lifes flame neer spent From further Rage restraind by accident Some of the lost Carina's frighted Friends Fearing those Ills which desperate Love attends Spending that Morning in the fruitless Quest Of her had been and now their hopes distrest With vain inquiries to communicate Their Grief returning were which secret Fate To interpose through dark Meanders brought Neglect to find what care in vain had sought Whilst yet no more then brave humanity Prompts them to part a Quarrel that might be Defil'd with blood which if not shead in Wars With Murther stains what it doth guild with Scars They toward them hast even in that critical And dangerous Minute when Mazara's fall With Vict'ries Laurels to adorn his Crest His valiant Friend had rob'd of future rest Had not this blest relief of Innocence The one from death the other from expence Of tears restraind before Revenge had found So much of Guilt as might his Conscience wound His high wrought Rage stopt by too many hands To vent its heat Euriolus now stands Shook with the Feaver of his anger till Those Friends which saw Mazara grown so ill With wounds to gasp for breath by giving way For aire they to the Victors view betray His best of Friends at which afflicting sight Cursing the cause of that unhappy fight His Sword as guilty thrown aside he hasts To his Relief in which kind act none wasts Their friendly help Life as but stoln from pain Behind the Vail of death appears again On Natures Frontiers whose returning flame Though scarce of strength to warm lookt red with shame When he so many wel-known Friends beheld Sad Witnesses how much his passion sweld Above the Banks where Reason should have stayd When to that meeting it his Friend betrayd Their Vails of steel remov'd each now beholds What shame and wonder in firm Contracts folds Amaz'd stands brave Euriolus to see None but his Friend his honourd Friend should be The Parent of that Quarel shame confounds Mazara more and from internal wounds Though like the red Seas Springs his other bled Perhaps less danger but more torment bred Both now by his unforc'd confession knew Whose equal'd honourd Beauty 't was that drew Them to this fatal Combate whose event Him neer the Grave on Loves vain Errant sent Friendship renewd in strickt Embraces they Are now arriv'd where weak Carina lay So faint with Loves Phlebotomy that she Maskt in forgetful slumbers could not see Approaching shame which when discoverd sticks Lifes fair Carnations on her death-like Cheeks Hasting to see what over-forward Rage That unknown strangers weakness did engage In that unhappy Quarrel they beheld At the first glance an Object that expeld Into the shades of Sorrows Wilderness All temperate thoughts his Sisters sad distress Wrought by his Arme whose strength betrayd her neer The Grave did to Euriolus appear Dreadful as if some treacherous friend had shown Those flames in which his scorâ—cht Companions grone Nor did Mazara though but prompted by Pity that tender Child of sympathy With less relenting sorrow live to see Loves bloody
Trophies though unknown to be By his victorious Beauty reard to save From the cold grasp of an unâ—imely Grave So ripe a Virgin whilst her Brother stands Unnerv'd with grief amongst the helpful hands Of other Friends are his imployd till by Their useful aide fled Life returns to try Once more the Actions of the world before It shot the Gulf of Death but on the shore Of active Nature was no sooner set But that together with the Light she met Her far more welcome Lover whom whilst she Beholds with trembling Heaven resolv'd to free A suffering Captive turns his pity to So much of Passion as ere long Love grew On the same Stem whose Flowers to propagate She in these words uncurtains mystick Fate For bear your aide brave Sir and let me dy Ere live the Author of a Pâ—odigy That future times shall curse yet pardon me Dear Brother Heaven will nere impute to thee The guilt of blood t was my unhappy Love Which rais'd this Storm which if my prayers may prove In death successful let me crave of you Dear Sir to whom I long have born a true But indiscreet affection that from hence For poor Carina's sake for this expence Of tears and blood you would preserve those dear Respects of Friendship that did once appear Confirmd betwixt you and although my Fate Unto the worst of Ills precipitate My Fame and Life oh let my name not be Offensive to your Ear this this for me Is all you shall perform which spoke she 'd let Her hovering Soul forth to have paid the Debt Of Nature to the Grave had not shee bin By some assisting Friends whilst dropping in Scayd at the last step and brought back to meet The Bridal Pair no single winding Sheet This doubtful Combate ended they are to The Court conveyd where Fame upon this new Text Commenting in various Characters Transcribes her sence some this bold Act of hers Term un-becoming Passion others brave Heroick love but what most comfort gave To cur'd Carina was that this lost blood Had prov'd Loves Balm and in a purple flood Washt from her heart Grief 's sable stains for now Merit had taught her dear Mazara how To prize her verteous Love and for its sake Its Cabinet her hearts best Temple make Thus Passions troubl'd Sea had settl'd in A smooth and gentle calm had there not been Unhappily to blast their sweet content Not long before an Act for th' banishment Of all such Courtiers made as should withont A Licence from the Councel fight about What ever private Quarrel but not this Mazara or his new choice frights their bliss Stood on more firm foundations then the Courts Uncertain Favours were whose glorious sports Although he left it was not to retire To sullen cares what Honour could require A state which cal'd him her unquestiond Lord Without depending favours did afford But whilst we leave this noble Lover by This Mandate freed from what before did tye Unto a troublesome Attendance we From brave Euriolus are forc'd to be With sorrow parted since the generall love His Vertue had obtaind wants strength to move The ponderous doom ere his impoverisht heart Grown poor in streams could from Lifes springs impart Warm blood enough for his pale Cheeks to drink A Health to Beauty he 's enforc'd to think Of that sad theam of parting on whose sense His griev'd Soul dictates sighs yet could dispense Even with its harshest rigour were there but Any acception in it that might put Out parting with Florenza that though he Were shrunk into his former poverty Calling the rugged frowns of Fate would bear A Brow unclouded with Ambitions care But he must go not all the Rhetorick Of tempting Love could plead against the quick Approach of time whose speedy motion now Only some slippery Minutes did allow Their parting tears in whose exalted flood Had Reason not with future hopes withstood The rising stream Loves Summer Fruits had been Ore-whelmd with grief for ever buried in A delluge of Despair but that whilst she With such sad looks as wintring Scithians see The Sun hasts toward the Artick Pole beholds His slow departure glimmering hope unfolds Twylight which now foretels their frozen fear Day may return to Loves cold Hemisphear The end of the first Canto PHARONNIDA The third Book CANTO THE SECOND The ARGUMENT III. The Princess by unluckie Accident Having Loves secret Embassies betrayd To her great Father by that Action spent That stock of hope which promis'd future Ayd IV. His rage being to such rash extreams inflam'd That he whose Mandates none durst disobey As if his power were of such Acts asham'd Shrinks from it self and poorly doth betray IF angry Aid the Enemy to Love Tels thy grave pride thy Judgment is above What with contempt although it injure truth Thy spleen miscals the vanity of youth If harsh imployment gross society That feast of Brutes make thee an Enemy To love the Souls Commercive Language then Remove thy Eye whilst my unenvied Pen That long to Passion hath a Servant been Confines the fair Pharonnida's within These paper limits frozen still she lies Beneath opposing Passions her bright Eyes Those Stars whose best of influence scarce had power To thaw what grief congeald into a shower Of heart dis-burthening tears their influence spend In sorrows polar Circles and could lend No light to beauties World i th' vigorous reign Of this pale Tyrant whilst she did remain Unlighten'd with a beam of comfort in A Bower being sate that formerly had been Her seat when she heard the unhappy news Of parting with Argalia whilst she views She blames the guiltless shadows who to ask Pardon in trembling murmures did unmask Their naked Limbs and scatterd at her Feet The fragrant Vail in 's death-bed sate the sweet But pining Rose each Grass its heavy head Laden with tears did hang whilst her Eyes shead A pattern to instruct them hence whilst she Looks thorough on a way conceiv'd to be The same her Loâ—d marcht with his Army when He left Girenza with a hast more then A common Traveler she sees one post Towards her Court whose Visage had not lost Its room within her Memory he 's known Argalia's Page and now each minute grown A burthen to her thoughts that did deâ—er A neerer interview the Messenger Arrives and to her eager view presents His Masters Letters whose inclos'd Contents Are now the Object her expecting Soul Courts with desire nor doth she long controle Their forward hast A Diamond being by The Messenger returnd whose worth might vie Price with an Indian Fleet when it sails slow With 's glittering burthen though each word ore-flow With joy whilst her inquisitive discourse Was on this pleasing theam time did enforce The Pages swift departure who with all Affected Epithites that Love can call To gild Invention when it would expresse Things more sublime then mortal happinesse Is gone to carry his expecting Lord What pleasure could when ratified afford Whilst
sound striking their Ears did change The ominous Dirges of the Night into A various noise of humane Voyces who Durst in that secret place approach 't was now Too late to think on the Rocks spatious brow Was clouded ore with men whose glittering Armes Threatend destruction ere their swift alarms Could summon sleeps infeebled aid whilst they Forsake their Prisoner who becomes a Prey To the Invaders seeking safety in Their flight they fall before him that had been Ordaind to speedier ruine entring at The open Salliport they give by that Rash Act directions to the Foe that mixt Promiscuously with them and now had fixt Their Standards on the Gates The Castle in Feaverish alarms sweating did begin To case her fiery stomach by the breath O' th full-mouth'd Cannon Ministers of death In this hot labour busily distills Extracted spirits noyse and tumult fills The frighted City whose fir'd turrets lent A dismal light But the Assaylants spent Their bloud in vain the Souldiers that had been At the first trembling fit distracted in Confusions giddy maze had rallied now Their scattered spirits and were seeking how To purge dishonours stains in the bright fire Of rage contracted valour To retire Unto their Ships in safety now is all Th' Invaders hope for but so many fall In that attempt it leave no triumphs due To Fortunes temple By this winding clew Of various fate Argalia only findes That stroke of death deceived no hand unbindes His corded arms but that which meant to lay Bondage as hard so corrasives doe stay A Gangrene fed by springs of poysonous blood When reaching at the heart as these withstood The catarracts of death With tyrants more Indomitable then the sea that bore Their black Fleet leave our Hero to untie This knotty riddle of his fate whilst by The ignis fatuus of a fancie led With slow pac'd feet through other paths we tread The tumults of the City silenc'd in A peacefull calme what the effects had bin Of those loud clamours whilst all seek to know Argalia's losse makes giddy wonder grow Into suspition that this Act might be Some stratagem o th' Guvernour to free Himself from a Successor but those fly Darts of mistrust were rendred hurtless by His Princes Mandates whose invenom'd hate That spurious birth had made legitâ—mate Yet swift Revenge affâ—onis his Treason in Its full carier his Master having bin By him informd of a surprizal where All sounds but death affrighted could not bear The burthen of his Fears and yet not sink Deeper in sin ere the poor wretch could think On ought but undeserv'd Rewards he by A brace of Mutes being strangl'd from the high But empty Cloudes of Expectation drops To let the World know what vain shadow props Those blood-erâ—cted Pyramids that stand On secret Muâ—thers black and rotten Sand. When thus the Sâ—â—acusian had secur'd His future Fame Passion that still endur'd A strong distemperature slept not untill The story of their crosse Design did fill Palermo's Princes Ear Argalia's losse Was now the Ball that babling Fame did tosse Thorough the Court upon whose airy Wing Reaching the Island it too soon did bring The heavy Nâ—ws disguiz'd in Robes more sad Then truth to her whose stock of Vertues had Been venter'd on that Sea of Merit in Such forms of Griefe as Princes that have been Hurld from the splendent Glories of a Throne Into a Dungeon her great Soul did grone Beneath the Weights of grief the doleful Tale Had thunder-strook all joy her Spir'â—s exhale Their vigour forth in sighs and faintly let That gâ—orious Fabrick unto which they 'r set Supporters fail to th' Earth yet sorrow stayes Not in this frigid Zone rude gâ—ief betrays Her Passions to her Fathers jealous Ear Who fearing least Argalia's Stars might clear Their smoaky Orbâ— and once more take a flight From deaths cold house by a translated Lâ—gâ—t To sâ—parate from sorrow and again In Fortunes house Lord of th' Ascendant Raigâ—â— He doubts that Islands safety and from thence Removes her with what speedy diligence Fear could provoke suspition to her Train Shook with that suddain change desire in vain The Islands pleasure ere they know how much Their Fates must differ as it oft in such Unlookt for changes happens each man vents His own Opinion some did discontents Of the young Princess others that the season Of th' year was cause but though none know his reason All must obey his Will The pleasan Isle Whose Walks fair Gardens Prospâ—cts did beguile Time of so many happy hours must now A solitary Wildernesse whose brow Winâ—er had bound in folds of Ice be left To wail their absence whilst each Tree bereft Of Leaves did like to Virgin Mourners stand Cloathd in white Vails of glittering Icelets and Shook with the breath of those sharp windes that brought The hoarie Fish The pensive birds had sought Out Springs that were unbar'd with ice and there Grew hoarse with cold The crusted earth did wear A rugged armour Every bank unclad With flowers conceal'd the juicie roots that had Adorned their Summers dresse The Meadowes green And fragrant Mantle withering lay between The griz'ie mountains naked armes All growes Into a swift decay as if it owes That tribute unto her departure by Whose presence 't was adorned Seated did lie Within the circuit of Ghirenza's wall Though stretch'd t' imbrace a Castle which they call The Princes tower a place whose strength had stood Unshook with danger when that violent flood Of warre rag'd in the Land hither were brought Such if of Noble bloud whose greatnesse sought From treacherous plots extension yet although To those a prison here he did bestow His best of treasure briefly it had been Unto the Spartan Kings a Magazeen Since first they rul'd that Kingdome and when ere A war drew near them their industrious care Made it their place of residence the hill 'T was built upon with 's rockie feet did fill A spatious Iftmos at its depth a Lake Supply'd by 'th neighbouring sea let in to make The Fort the more impregnable with slow But a deep current running did bestow A dreadfull prospect on the bended brow O' th hill which cover'd with no earth did bow Its torn clifts o're the heavy stream The way That led to it was o're a bridge which they That guard it did each night draw up from whence A steep ascent whose natural defence Assisted by all helps of art had made The fatal place so dangerous to invade Each step a death presented Here when he Had plac'd his daughter whose securitie Rocks walls nor rivers warranted without A trusty guard of Souldiers hem'd about The walls lesse hard then they Those Gentlemen That on her happier Court attended when Argalia did command them as too milde Were now discharg'd their office on a wilde Band of those Mountain Souldiers who had in His last great war most fam'd for valour bin Being confer'd and these lest they should be Forc'd by commands into
Sail and Ore Chac'd them to ruine Glorious Victory Thus to the Christian party being by A stranger purchac'd with such high applause As those that rescue a declining cause From the approach of ruine welcom'd he Is now receiv'd into th' societie Of the brave Christian order But they not Long joy'd in victory ere the Turk to blot The stayns of being conquer'd out had made A mighty Army ready to invade The valiant Rhodians where Argalia shewes So brave a spirit their whole Army owes His valour for example The Turks had ought Made desperate onslaughts on the Isle but brought Nought back but wounds and infamy but now Wearyed with toyle they are resolv'd to bow Their stâ—bborn resolutions with the strength Of not to be resisted want the length o th' Chronca ' disease extended had To some few moneths since to oppresse the sad But constant Islanders the Army lay Circling their Confines Whilest this tedious stay From battail rusts the Soldiers valour in His tainted Cabben there had often bin With all variety of Fortune fought Brave single Combats whose successe had brought Honours unwither'd Lawrels on the brow Of either party but the ballance now Forc'd by the hand of a brave Turk inclin'd Wholly to them thrice had his valour shin'd In victories refulgent rayes thrice heard The shouts of Conquest thrice on 's Lance appear'd The heads of noble Rhodians which had strook A general sorrow ' mongst the Knights all look Who next the Lists should enter each desires The task were his but honour now requires A spirit more then vulgar or she dies The next attempt their valours sacrifice To prop whose ruines chosen by the free Consent of all Argalia comes to be Their happy champion Truce proclaym'd untill The combat ends th'expecting people fill The spatious battlements the Turks forsake Their Tents of whom the City Ladies â—ake A dreadfull view till a more noble sight Diverts their looks each part behold their Knight With various wishes whilest in bloud and sweat They toyl for Victory the Conflicts heat Rag'd in their veins which honour more inflam'd Then burning Calentures could doe both blam'd The feeble influence of their Stars that gave No speedier conquest each neglects to save Himself to seek advantage to offend His eager Foe The dreadfull combats end Nought but their losse of bloud proclaims their spirits In that Reflux of heat and life inherit Valours unconqueer'd throne but now so long The Turks proud Champion had induâ—'d the strong Assaults of the stout Christian till his strength Cool'd on the ground with 's bloud he fell at length Beneath his conquering Sword The barbarous crew O' th Villains that did at a distance view Their Champions fall all bands of truce forgot Running to succour him begin a hot And desperate combate with those Knights that stand To aid Argalia by whose conquering hand Whole squadrons of them fall but here he spent His mighty Spirit in vain their Cannons rent His scattered Troops who for protection flie To 'th City Gates but closely followed by Their Foes did there for sad oblations fall To dying liberty their batter'd wall Groan'd with the wondrous weight of Lead and in Its ruines hides her battlements within The bloudy streets the Turkish Crescents are Displayd whilst all the miseries of warre Rag'd in Their Pallaces The common sort Of people make the barbarous Souldier sport In dieing whilst those that survive them crave Their fate in vain here cruelty did save And mercy only kill since death set free Those happier Souls from dire captivity At length the unrestrained Souldier tires Although not satisfies his foul desires With Rapts and Murder when amongst those pore Distressed Captives that from thence they bore Argalia lies in Chains ordain'd to die A sacrifice unto the cruelty Of the fierce Bashaw whose lovd favourite in The Combate late he slew yet had not bin In that so much unhappy had not he That honour'd then his Sword with victorie Half-brother to Janusa been a bright But cruel Lady whose refin'd delight Her slave though husband Ammurat durst not Ruffle with discontent wherefore to cool that hot Contention of her bloud which be â—oresaw That heavy newâ—s would from her anger draw To quench with the brave Christians death he sent Him living to her that her anger spent In flaming torments might not settle in The dregs of discontent Staying to win Some Rhodian Castles all the Prisoners were Sent with a guard into Sardinia there To meet their wretched thraldome from the rest Argalia sever'd soon hopes to be blest With speedy death though waited on by all The hell-instructed torments that could fall Within inventions reach But hee 's not yet Arriv'd to 's period his unmovd stars sit Thus in their Orbs secured It was the use O' th Turkâ—sh pride which triumphs in th' abuse Of suffering Christians once before they take The ornaments of nature off to make Their prisoners publike to the view that all Might mock their miseries this sight did call Janusa to her Paâ—lace window where Whilst she beholds them love resolv'd to bear Her ruine on her treacherous eye-beams till Her heart infected grew their Orbs did fill As the most pleasing object with the sight Of him whose Sword opend a way for th' flight Of her lov'd Brothers soul At the first view Passion had strook her dumb but when it grew Into desire she speedily did send To have his name which known hate did deâ—end Her heart besieg'd with love she sighs and strait Commands him to a dungeon but loves bait Cannot be so cast up though to deface His Image in her soule she strives the place For 's execution she commands to be Gainst the next day prepared but rest and she Grow enemies about it if she steal A slumber from her thoughts that doth reveal Her passions in a dream sometimes she thought She saw her Brothers pale grim Ghost that brought His grizlie wounds to shew her smeerd in bloud Standing before her fight and by that floud Those red streams wept imploring vengeance then Inraged she cries Oh let him die but when Her sleep imprison'd fancie wandring in The shades of darkned Reason did begin To draw Argalia's image on her soul Loves Soveraign power did suddenly controul The strength of those abortive Embrio's sprung From smotherd anger The glad birds had sung A Lullaby to night the Lark was fled On drooping wings up from his dewy bed To fan them in the Rising Sun-beams ere Whose early raigne Janusa that could bear No longer lockt within her breast so great An army of rebellious passionâ— beat From Reasons conquerd Fortresse did unfold Her thoughts to Manto a stout Wench whose bold Wit joynd with zeal to serve her had endeard Her to her best Affections having cleard All doubts with hopeful promises her made By whose close wildes this plot must be convayd To secret action of her councel makes Two Evnuch Panders by whose help she takes Argalia from
did bow Unto a Slave condemnd that nere could look To see the sight but whilst some torment took The use of Eyes away whilst he draws neer By her command no lesse it did appear Her wonder to behold his dauntlesse Spirit Then his what Vertue to applaud as Merit Plac'd in a Seat neer her bright Throne to stir His settl'd thoughts she thus begins From her Your Sword hath so much injur'd as to shed Blood so neer kin to mine that it was fed By the same milky Fountains and within One Womb warmd into life is such a sin I could not pardon did not Love commit A Rape upon my Mercy all the wit Of man in vain Inventions had been lost Ere thou redeemd which now although it cost The price of all my Honours I will do Be but so full of gratitude as to Repay my care with love Why dost thou thus Sâ—t dumb to my discourse it lies in us To raise or ruine thee and make my way Thorough their bloods that our Imbraces stay This on the spur of Passion spoke she strains His hand in hers where feeling the big Veins Beat with intemperate heat conceiving it The strokes of Lust to aggravate the Fit Into a Paroxisme of Guilt she shews More then with modesty how much she ows To Nâ—tures Treasare for that ill spent stock Of Beauty she enjoyd her Eyes unlock Two Cabinets of sparkling Diamonds which The even foils of Ebbon brows enrich With a more Orient brightness on her Cheek The Roses conquering the pale Lilly seek To counterfeit a Blush but vanquisht shame Submits to Love in whose insulting flame The modest Virgin a sad Martyr dies And at Fames wounds bled Passions Sacrifice Natures embost work her soft swelling breasts Those Bals of living Ivory unprest Even with the Weight of Tiffany displayes Whitenesse that sham'd the Swans the blood that straiâ—s In Azare Channels over them did shew By their sweld stâ—eams how high the Tyde did flow Wherein her Pâ—ssions saild the milky way Loves fragrant Valley that betwixt them lay Was moist with balmy Dew extracted by The busie Spirits that did hovering fly Thorough her boyling blood whose raging flame Had scortcht to death the April Flowers of shame To charm those sullen Spirits that within The dark Cells of his Conscience might have bin Yet by Religion hid that Gift divine The Souls Composure Musick did refine The lazy Aire whose pollisht Harmony Whiâ—st dancing in reboubled Ecchoes by A wanton Song was answerd whose each part Invites the Hearing to betray the Heart Having with all these choice Flowers strewd the way That leads to Lust to shun the slow delay Of his approach her sickly Passions hast To die in action Come she cries we wast The pretious Minutes now thou knowst for what Thou' rt sent for hither which if active at Thou only liv'st in my esteem and then O Impudence which from the worst of men Might force a Blush she swiftly hasts to tread Within Lusts Tropicks her polluted Bed And here black sinner thou whose bloods disease Of kin to Hels wants numbers to appease Its flaming Callenture blusht to behold A Virgin Vertue spotless leaves unfold In youthful Volume whilst thy ripe years spent In lust hath lost thy Ages Ornament In this as hot and fierce a Charge of Vice As since he lost the field in Paradice Man ever felt the brave Argalia sits With Vertue coold in Passions feaverish Fits Yet at Lifes Garrisons his Pulses beat In hot Alarums till to a soft Retreat Cal'd by that fair Commandresse spight of all Beauties prevailing Rhetorick though he fall Ruin'd beneath her anger he by this Unwelcome Language her expected bliss Converts to rage And must my freedome then At such a rare be purchast rather when My life expires in Torments let my Name Forgotten die then live in black-mouth'd Fame A sâ—rvant to thy Lust go tempt thy own Daâ—'d Infidels to sin that nere had known The way to Vertue not this cobweb Vail Of beauty which thou wearst but as a Jayl To a Soul pale with guilt can cover o're Thy Minds deformities a tainted Whore Conscience proclaim thee will when thou shalt sit Shook with this spotted Feavers trembling Fit Rent from these gilded Pleasures send me to A Dungeon dark as Hell where shadows do Reign in eternal silence Let these rich And costly Robes the gawdy Trappings which Thou meanst to cloath my sin in be exchang'd For sordid Rags when thy fierce spleen hath rang'd Through all invented torments â—hoose the worst To punish my denial less accurst I so shall perish then if by consent I 'de taught thy guilty thoughts how to augment Their sins in action and by giving ease To thy bloods Feaver took its loathd disease To have the spring-tyde of her pleasures sweld By Lusts salt waters thus by force expeld Back to Confusions troubl'd Sea had made Such troops of Passion ready to invade An ill desended Conscience that her look Like a cast Felons out of hopes of th' book Was sad with silent guilt the Room she leaves To her Contemner who not long receives The benefit of rest she that had been The Prologue unto this obstructed sin With six aâ—m'd Slaves was enterd thence to force Him to his dismal Jayl but the Divorce Of life from those which first approacht joynd to The others flight had put her to renew That scatterd strength had not that sacred tye His solemn Oath from Laurâ—ld Victory Snatcht the fair wreath and though brave Valour strives To reach at Freedome through a thousand Lives At her Command more tamely made him yield Then conquerd Virgins in the Bridal Field CANTO THE FOURTH The ARGUMENT Anger improv'd by Lusts enormous Flamâ— Fires vext Jhonusa with such sadâ—ex reams Of Rage that her swcet Sexes native shame Is scortcht to death in those prodigious beams Which wilst they to her angry Lord betray Her Honours loss such tumulis in him breed That both their deaths must serve for an allay Whose sudden fall our Christian Champion freed OUr noble Captive to fair Vertues Throne In safety past though through Lusts burning Zone Finds in his Dungeons lazy damps a rest More sweet though with the heavy waights opprest Of Iron bondage then if they had bin Loves amorouâ— wreaths Jonusa's Armes within Whose Ivory Circles he had slept but shee Her grief compos'd of all malignity Lusts flames unquencht converts to whilst they burn Black thoughts within her breast that beauteous Urn Of Lusts corruption sometimes anger flies Above the sphâ—ar of Reason and there dyes With tears extinguisht she breaths Curses in Her Souls pale Agony such as had bin More deadly then infectious damps if not Strangl'd i th' Embrio dead before their hot Poyson could work upon her fancie more Then spleenfull thoughts which were recal'd before Ripen'd for execution Now she steeps Her down in tears a floud of sorrow weeps Of power if penitent to expiate Youths vigorous sins but all her mourning
with fear Passions disparity In such extreams as Natures Laws require 'Twixt Earths cold Center and th' aires circling fire Dwelt in their troubl'd breasts his wild eyes stood Like Comets when attracting storms of blood Shook with portentuous sadnesse whilst hers sate Like the dull earth when trembling at the Fate Of those ensuing ills heavy and fixt Within their Orbs. Passions thus strangely mixt No various Feaver ere created in The phrenzi'd Brain when sleeps sweet calm had bin From her soft Throne depos'd this Lightning past Thunder succeeds as burning Mountains cast Out horrid noise after their flame and smoak So having paus'd his dreadful Voyce thus broke The dismal silence Thou prodigious Whore The curse of my Nativity that more Afflicts me then eternal wrath can do Spirits condemnd some Fiends instruct me to Heighten revenge to thy desert but so I should do more then Mortals may and throw Thy spotted Soul to flames yet I will give Its passe-port hence for think not to out-live This hour this fatal hour ordaind to see More then an Age before of Tragedy She that fell from a Firmament of pride To Fortunes lowest Region and there di'd A sad example to ensuing times That Honours Altitude supports not Crimes When in their stretcht Extentions reaching to Justice which can through reverst Opticks view Giants though Pigmy sins do oft appear Like the dim Moon more great because more neer Sins that till fear their guilt did aggravate Wore Vertues Frontispiece since now too late To hope for life in their own monstrous form Encounter Reasons Guards till the big storm Of various pâ—ssions all were settled in Dregs of despair when â—earing tears should winne The victory of anger Ammurat drawes His Simmeâ—er which had in blood writ Lawes For conquerd Provinces and with a swift And cruel rage ere penitence could lift Her burthen'd soul in a repentant thought Tow'rds heaven sheathes the cold steel in her soft And snowy breast with a loud gâ—oan she falls Upon the blouâ—y floore half breathlesse calls For his untimely pity but perceâ—ving The fleeting spirits with her bloud were leaving Her heart unguarded she imployes that breath Which yet remain'd not to bewayle her death But beg his life that caus'd it on her knees Sâ—rugling to rise but now calm'd Ammurat frees Her from dâ—sturbing death in 's last great work And thus declares some vertue in a Turk I have brave Christian by perusing thee In this great act of honour learnt to be Too late thy slow-pac'd follower this â—ing with that Gives him his Signet shall when question'd at The Castle guards thy safety be and now I see her bloods low water doth allow Me only time to lanch my souls black Bark Into deaths rubick Sea for to the dark And silent Region though we here were by Passion divorc'd Fortune shall not deny Our souls to sail together From thy eyes Remove deaths load and see what sacrifice My Love is offering with that word a stroak Pierces his breast whose speedy pains invoak Deaths Opiates to appease them be sinks down By 's dying Wife who ere the cold floud drown Life in the deluge of her wounds once more Betrayes her eyes to 'th light and though they bore The weight of death upon their Leads did keep Them so long open till the icie sleep Began to seize on him and then she cries Oh see just heaven see see my Ammurat dies To wander with me in the unknown shade Of Immortality but I have made The wounds that murther'd both his hand that gave Mine did but gently let me bloud to save An everlasting Feaver Pardon me My dear my dying Lord Eternity Shall see my soul washt white in tears but Oh I now feel times dear want they will not nowe Fast as my stream of bloud Christian farewell When ere thou do'st our tragick story tell Do not extenuate my crimes but let Them in their own black characteâ—s be set Near Ammurats bright vertues that read by Th' unpractic'd Lover which posterity Whilst wanton windes play with our dust shall raise On beauties throne the good may justice prayse By his example and the bad by mine From Viceâ—s Throne be scar'd to Vertues Shrine And here the speed deaths messengers did make To hurry forth their souls did faintly shake Her words into imperfect accents this She cries is our last enterview a kisse Then joyns their bloudlesse Lips Each close the eyes O' th other whilst the parting spirit flies Mounted on both their breaths the latest gasp They ere must draw Whilst with stiffe arms they clasp Each others neck Argalia through a cloud Of liquid sorrow did behold the proud Triumphs of death in their untimely fate He sees great Ammurat for a Robe of State Groveling in blood the fair Ihonusa lie Purpl'd in death like pollisht Ivory Dipt in Vermillion the bright Chrystals that Her Soul in conquering flames lookt thorough at Both quencht and coold in death but time did lend His tears scarce passage till a drop could end Its Journey o're his Checks before a Page Whose cruelty had far out-grown his Age Enters in hast and with an anger that Though indiscreet at wrongs seemd kindl'd at In wounds did on the Bassas body vent A spleen that deaths discharge could not content This seen Argalia to whom all must be Offence that injures fair humanity Stops the vain Torrent and a neerer way To just revenge directs the angry Boy Who by unfolded truth now lets him know His Rage to that uncivil height did grow Not from a childish spleen but wrongs that he A Christian sufferd in Captivity Assur'd by this confession that he might Be useful more then in a secret flight Argalia bids him in his Bassas Name A Mandate write for some of worthiest Fame ' Mongst all the Christian Citizens and those To send the Guard for ere the Morning rose On the black ruines of the Night this done Before that time the Victory had won Of opportunity their Warders slain Each Christian Captive from his rusty Chain His bold band frees and by their happy aide The Gates being first secur'd with ease dismayd The drousie Garrison from whom they found But weak resistance some soft fleep had bound To Beds of ease intemperate Riot kept Others more vainly waking here one slept Between a Mistresse Armes and there another Stole to a private Cattamit did smoother Delight in whispers in which loose Garb found Ere time rowls up what slow neglect unwound Even in securities soft Lap surpriz'd They met grim death in Pleasures â—hape disguiz'd All now being slain but feeble Eunuchs and Poor trembling Maids the new but valiant Band Of late freed Captives Crown the Wals from whence They saw the Soldiers wicked dilligence In finding those which the false Mandate had Design'd for Ruine general as sad The Cities sorrows were a desolate And silent horror unregarded sate i th' empty streets which action had not fil'd Yet with employment but when day did
the purple moisture that Fed life's fresh springs but now shall tremble at My dolefull story 't is enough that fate Hath for this tomb exchang'd a throne of state To active pity stirr'd the valiant friends Attempt her rescue but their labor ends In fruitless toyles the ponderous marble lies With too much weight to let the weak supplies Of humane strength remov't which whilst they tride To weary sweats kinde fortune lends this guide To their mask'd vertue the informing ear Proclaims approaching steps which usher'd fear Into Ismander's brest but his brave friend The bold Euriolus resolv'd to end By death or victory their bondage goes Near to the gate where soon were entred those Which in Pharonnida's restraint had bin The active engines of that hateful sin With them that Hag whose curst invention had Revenge in such an uncouth dressing clad Whilst her Ismander seis'd and with a charm Of nimble strength commands the active arm Of fierce Euriolus directed by Victorious valor purchac'd liberty By strokes whose weight to dark destruction sunk His worthless foes and sent their pale souls drunk With innocent blood stagg'ring from earth to be Maskt in the desarts of eternitie This being beheld by her whose hopes of life With them departed she concludes the strife Of inquisition by directing to An engine which but toucht would soon undo That knot which puzzl'd all their strength and give The captive Princess hopes again to live Within the reach of light whose beams whilst she Unfolds her eyes those dazl'd stars to see Dark misty wonder in a cloud orespread His faith that rais'd her from that gloomy bed Amaz'd Euriolus whose zeal-guided eyes Soon knows the Princess through griefs dark disguise Could his inflam'd devotion into one Great blast of praises be made up t 'had gone Toward heavenly bowers on the expanded wings Of his exalted joy nor are the springs Of life less rais'd with wonder in the brest Of 's royal Mistress whose free soul exprest As much of joy as in her clouded fate With reason at the helm of action sate Here had they maskt in mutual wonder stay'd T'unriddle fate had not wise Fear obey'd Reasons grave dictates and with eager speed Urge their departure for whose guide they need No more but her directions who then lay Taught by the fear of vengeance to obay Their just demands by whom inform'd of all That might within the Castles circuit fall With weights of danger and taught how to free Confin'd Florenza to meet libertie They march in triumph leaving none to take Possession there but her whose guilt would make The torment just though there constrain'd to dwell Till death prepar'd her for a larger hell Whilst sleeps guards doubled by intemprance raign'd Within the walls with happy speed they gain'd The Castles utmost ward and furnisht there With such choise horses as provided were For th'Outlaws next days scouts A glad adieu Of their loath'd jail they take Ismander knew Each obscure way that in their secret flight Might safety promise so that sullen night Could not obstruct their passage though through ways So full of dark meanders not the days Light could assist a stranger ere the dawn O' th' wakeful morn had spread her vails of lawn Ore the fair Virgins of the Spring there past That silvan labyrinth and with that had cast Their greatest terror off and taught their eyes The welcom joys of liberty to prize And now the spangled squadrons of the night Encountring beams had lost the field to light The morning proud in beauty grown whilst they With chearful speed past on the levell'd way By solitude secure of all unseen Save early Laborers that resided in Dispers'd poor cottages by whom they 'r view'd With humble reverence such as did delude Sharp-ey'd suspition they are now drawn near Ismanders palace whose fair towers appear Above the groves whose green enamel lent The neighboring hills their prospects ornament A River whose unwearied bounty brings The hourly tribute of a thousand Springs From several fragrant vallies here as grown So rich she now strove to preserve her own Streams from the all-devouring Sea did glide Betwixt two hills which nature did divide To entertain the smiling Nymph till to An entrance where her silver-eye did view A wealthy vale she come a vale in which All fruitful pleasures did content enrich Where all so much deserv'd the name of best Eâ—ch took a part seem'd to excell the rest Rounded with spacious meads here scatter'd stood Fair Country-farms whose happy neighborhood Though not so near as justling Palaces Which trouble Cities yet had more to please By a community of goodness in That separation Natures hand had been To all too liberal to let any want The treasures of a free inhabitant Each in his own unrack'd inheritance Where born expir'd not striving to advance Their levell'd fortunes to a loftier pitch Then what first stil'd them honest after rich Sober and sweet their lives in all things blest Which harmless Nature living unopprest With surfeits did require Their own Flocks bred Their homespun garments and on that they fed Which from their Fields or Dairies plenteous store Had fresh supplies what fortune lent them more Then an indifferent mean was sent to be The harbingers of hospitalitie Fair Virgins in their youths fresh April drest Courted by amorous Swains were unopprest By dark suspition Ages sullen spies Whose spleen would have the envious counted wise Love was religious here and for to aw Their wilder passions conscience was their law More to compleat this rural happiness They were protected from the harsh distress Of long-wing'd power by the blest neighborhood Of brave Ismander whose known greatness stood Not to eclipse their humble states although It shadowed them when injur'd power did grow To persecution by which means he prov'd Not fear'd for greatness but for goodness lov'd Which gentle passion his unhappy loss Had sowr'd to grief and made their joy their cross But now their antidote approaches he From heavy bondage is return'd to be Their joyful wonder at his Palace gate Being now arriv'd his Palace that of late With 's absence dimm'd in her most beauteous age Stood more neglected then a Hermitage Or sacred buildings when the sinful times To persecution aggravate their crimes But being enter'd sadder objects took Those outside wonders off each servants look Spoke him a sullen mourner grave and sad Their sober carriage in no liveries clad But doleful sable all their acts like those Of weeping wives when they to th' grave dispose Their youthful husbands yet all these were but Imperfect shadows of a sorrow put In distant landskip when to trial brought Near his fair Ammida's whose grief had sought As dark a region for her sad retreat As desperate grief ere made pale sorrows seat In sacred temples the neglected lamp So wastes its oil when Heresies do cramp Religions beams with such a heavy look Monarchs depos'd behold themselves forsook By those that flatter'd
distant crisis and on flaming wings Posts through the blood whose mass infected brings Deaths banners near the Fort of life which in Acute distempers it attempts to win From Natures guards had not the hot assault By youth sustain'd made deaths black army halt Whilst marching to the grave the swift disease Like a proud foe repulst forc'd to give ease By slow retreats yet of those cruel wars Left long remaining bloodless characters But ere the weak Euriolus for he This hapless stranger was again could be By strength supported base Amarus who Could think no more then priceless thanks was due For all his dangerous pains more beastly rude Then untam'd Indians basely did exclude That noble guest which being with sorrow seen By Ammida whose prayers and tears had been His helpless advocates she gives in charge To her Ismander that till time enlarge Her then restrain'd desires he entertain Her desolate and wandring friend Nor vain Were these commands his entertainment being Such as observant Love thought best agreeing To her desires But here not long he stayed Ere Fortune prompted by his wit obeyed That artfull Mistris and reward obtains By fine imposture for firm vertues pains The gout that common curse of slothfull wealth With frequent pain had long impair'd the health Of old Amarus who though else to all Griping as that for ease was liberal From practic'd physick to the patients curse Poor pratling women or impostors worse Slie Mountebanks whose empty impudence Do frequent murthers under healths pretence He all had tried yet found he must endure What though some eas'd none perfectly could cure Oft had his judgement purse and patience bin Abus'd by cheats yet still defective in The choice of men which error known unto My brother and Euriolus they drew Their platform thus Euriolus clad in An antick dress which shew'd as he had bin Physitian to the great Mogol first by Ismander prais'd at distance doth apply Himself unto Amarus where t'â—inhance The price of 's art he first applauds the chance That had from distant Regions thither brought Him to eclipse their glory who had sought For 't in his cure before then seconds that With larger promises which tickled at Amarus vies with his threatning to break His iron chests and make those idols speak His gratitude though lock'd with conscience they To his own clamorous wants had silent lay Some common medicines which the people prize ' Cause from their knowledg vail'd in slight disguise Apply'd to 's pain and those assisted by Opinion whose best antidotes supply The weak defects of art he soon attains So much of health that now his greatest pains Had been th' ingag'd reward had he not bin By future hopes kept from ingratefull sin So far that in performing action he Exceeds his passions prodigalitie Large promises with such performance that Whilst his deluders smile and wonder at Thus speaks its dark orginal To shew Euriolus how fortune did out-grow Desert in his estate he was one day From th' Castle walls taking a pleas'd survay Of spacious fields whose soils made fertile by Luxurious art in rich variety Still youthfull nature cloath'd which whilst he views An old suspition thus his tongue renews How blest my worthy friend how blest had I Been in my youths laborious industry T' have seen a son possest of this but now A daughters match a stranger must endow With what I 've toil'd to get and what is more My torment one that being betroth'd before My sons decease wants an estate to make Her marriage blest but knew I how to shake This Swagg'rer off there lives not far from hence One that to match her to were worth th' expence Of my estate his name is Dargonel A wary Lad who though his land do swell Each day with new additions yet still lives Sparing and close takes heed to whom he gives Or whom he lends except on mortgage by Whose strength it may securely multiply This worthy Gentleman with wise foresight Beholding what an object of delight Our link'd estates would be hath since I lost My heir been in 's intention onely crost By this Ismander whom though I confess A braver man yet since a fortune less Ne'r must have my consent onely since by Her contract I have lost the liberty Of second choice unless I vainly draw My self in danger o' th ore-busie Law I want some sound advice that might inform Me how to rid him yet not stand a storm Broke from his rage although my daughter love Him more then health I shall command above Her feeble passions if you dare impart So much of aid from your almighty art As to remove this remora and here He stopp'd yet lets a silent guilt appear In looks that shew'd what else the theam affords He 'd have conceiv'd as being too foul for words Which seen by him whose active wit grâ—w strong In friendships cause as loath to torture long His expectations thus their stream he stayes With what at once both comforts and betrayes Raise up your spirits my blest Patron to Sublime content Heav'n sent me to renew Your souls harmonious peace that dreadfull toy Of conscience wisely wav'd you may enjoy Uninterrupted hopes yet since we must Be still most wary where we 're most unjust Le ts not be rash swift things are oft unsure Whilst moles through death's dark angles creep secure Then since it 's full of danger to remove Betroth'd Ismander whilst his publick love By your consent rais'd to assurance may A granted interest claim first let us stay His fury and the peoples censures by A nuptial knot whose links we will unty Ere the first night confirms the hallow'd band By wayes so secret that death 's skilfull hand Shall work unknown to fate and render you To the deluded worlds more publick view A real mourner whilst your curtain'd thought Triumphs to be from strict engagements brought Besides the vailing of our dark designe Like vertue thus this plot will sink a Mine Whose wealthy womb in ample jointure will Bring much of dead Ismanders state to fill The vast desire of wealth This being done I with prevailing philters will outrun Sorrows black Bark which whilst it lies at drift I 'll so renew her mirth no sigh shall lift Its heavy sails which in a calm neglect Shall lie forgot whilst what 's not now respect To Dargonel shall soon grow up to be Like Natures undiscovered sympathie A love so swift so secret all shall pause At its effects whilst they admire the cause This by Amarus with belief which grew Into applause heard ouâ— he doth renew With large additions what h 'had promis'd in His first attempts Then hasting to begin The tragick scene which must in triumph be Usher'd to light his known deformitie Of wretched baseness for a while he lays Aside and by a liberal mirth betrays Approaching joy which since incited by His wishes soon lifts Hymens torches high As their exalted hopes The happy Pair
Dear to indulgent heaven with Omens fair As were their youthful Paranimphs had bin I' th' hallowed Temple taught without a sin To taste the fruits of Paradice and now The time when tedious custom did allow A wisht retirement come preparing are To beautifie their beds whence that bright star Whose evenings blush did please the gazers eyes Eclips'd in sorrow is ordain'd to rise But such whose superficial vail opprest Only her friends whose knowledge were not blest With the design which to our proscript Lovers Euriolus with timely zeal discovers The morning opens and the wakened Bride By light and friends surpris'd attempts to hide Her bashful beauty till their hands withdrew The curtains which betraid unto their view Ismander cold and stiff which horrid sight Met where they look'd for objects of delight At first a silent sad amazement spread Through all the room till Fears pale army fled In sad assurance Sorrows next hot charge Began in shrieks whose terror did enlarge Infectious grief till like an ugly cloud That cramps the beauties of the day grown proud In her black empire Hymens tapors she Changes to funeral brands and from that tree That shadows graves puls branches which being wet In tears are where Loves mirtles flourisht set Their nuptial himns thus turn'd to dirges all In sad exchange let cloudy sable fall Ore pleasures purple-robes whilst from that bed Whence Love opprest seem'd to their sorrow fled To death for refuge sadly they attend To th' last of homes his tomb their sleeping friend Who there with all the hallowed rights that do Betray surviving friendship left unto Darkness and dust they thence with sober pace Return whilst shrowded near that dismal place Euriolus conceals himself that so When sleep whose soft excess is natures fo Hath spent her stupefactive opiates he Might ready to his friends assistance be And now that minute come which to comply With Arts sure rules gives Nature leave t' unty Sleeps powerful ligatures his Pulses beat The Floods revelly from whose dark retreat The spirits thronging in their active flight His friend h'encounters with the early light By whose assistance whilst the quiet earth Yet slept in nights black arms before the birth O' th' morn whose busie childhood might betray Their close design Ismander takes his way Toward a distant friends whose house he knew To be as secret as his love was true There whilst conceal'd even from suspition he In safety rests Euriolus to free Her fears fair Captive Ammida hastes back To old Amarus who too rash to slack Sorrows black cordage by degrees that might Weaken mistrust le ts mirth taken open flight Into suspected action whilst he gives To Dargonel who now his Darling lives So free a welcom that he in 't might read If love could not for swift succession plead Power should command yet waves the exercise Of either till his Empericks skill he tries Who now return'd ere Dargonel that lay Slow to attempt since certain to betray Had more then fac'd at distance he pretends To close attempts of art whose wisht for ends Ere their expecting faith had time to fear In acts which rais'd their wonder did appear Love which by judgment rul'd had made desert In her first choice the Climax to her heart By which it slowly mov'd now as if swaid â—y heedless passion seems to have betraid At one rash glance her heart which now begins To break through Passions bashful cherubins Spreading without a modest blush the light Of morning-beauty ore that hideous night Of all those dull deformities that dwell Like earths black damps ore cloudy Dargonel Who being become an Antique in the Mask Of playful Love grows proud and scorns to ask Advice from sober thought but lets conceit Perswade him how his worth had spread that bait Which slie Amarus who presum'd to know From whence that torrent of her Love did flow With a just doubt suspecting strives to make His thoughts secure ere Reason did oretake Passions inforc'd carier Nor did his plot Want an indulgent hope like dreams forgot In the delights of day his daughter shook Off Griefs black dress and in a chearful look Promis'd approaching love no more disguis'd Then serv'd to shew strict vertue how she pris'd Her only in applause whose harmonie Still to preserve she is resolv'd to be If secret silence might with action dwell Swift as his wish espous'd to Dargonel More joy'd then fetter'd Captives in the year Of Jubile Amarus did appear Proud with delight in whose warm shine when 's haste Had with officious diligence imbrac'd Euriolus he waving all delays To Dargonel the welcom news conveys Who soon prepar'd for what so long had bin His hopes delight to meet those joys within The sacred temple hastes The place they chose For Hymen's Court lest treacherous eyes disclose The Brides just blushes was a Chappel where Devotion when but a domestick care Was by his houshold practis'd for the time 'T was ere the morn blusht to detect a crime All thus prepar'd the Priest conducting they With sober pace which gently might convey Diseas'd Amarus in his chair they to The Chappel haste which now come near as through Th' ancient room they pass a sad deep groan Assaults their ears which whilst with wonder grown Into disease they entertain appears A sad confirmer of their doubtfull fears Ismander whom but late before they had Follow'd to th' grave his lively beauty clad I' th' upper garments of pale death which sight The train avoiding by their speedy flight Except the willing Bride behinde leave none But lame Amarus who his chair orethrown By his affrighted bearers there must lie Expos'd to fear which when attempts to flie Through often strugling prov'd his labor vain He groveling lies unseen to entertain Thus far successfull blest Ismander thence Conveys his lovely Bride whilst the expence Of time being all laid out on fear by none He was observ'd Amarus long alone Lying tormented with his passions ere His frighted servants durst return to beare Their fainting Master of but being at length When greater numbers had confirm'd the strength Of fortitude grown bold entring again The room which yet fear told them did retain The scent of brimstone there they onely found Their trembling master tumbling on the ground Horror augmented by internal guilt Had in his conscience trepidations spilt Both pray'rs and tears which since heav'ns law they crost For humane passions in dispair were lost Obscur'd in whose black mists not daring to Unclose his eyes fearing again the view Of that affrighting aparition he Is hurried from that dreadfull place to be Their mirth whom he for fiends mistaking cries For mercy to scarce trusting of his eyes When they unfolded had discover'd none But such whom long he 'd for domesticks known Yet to torment him more before these fears Wholy forsake him in his room appears Some officers whose power made dreadfull by The dictates of supream authority As guilty of Ismander's
death arrest Him for his murtherer by which change opprest More then before with fear he who now thought On nought but death to a tribunal brought Ere ask'd confesses that foul crime for which He this just doom receives since to inrich What had before wealths surfeit took this sin Was chiefly acted his estate faln in To th' hands of justice by the judge should be From hence dispos'd of then from death to free His life already forfeited except Murther'd Ismander whom he thought had slept In 's winding sheet his hopeless Advocate Should there appear in which unhappy state The wretch now ready to depart beholds This glorious change Ismander first unfolds Himself and her who bound by natures laws Implores his pardon ere they plead his cause Which done the Judge that his lost wealth might be No cause of grief unmasking lets him see Euriolus by whom from th' worst of sin To liberal vertue he 'd deluded bin The End of the Third Canto PHARONNIDA The Fourth Book CANTO IV. The Argument I. Whilest we a while the pensive Lady â—eave Here a close Mourner for her rigid fate Let 's from the dark records of time receive The manner how Argalia wav'd the hate II. Of his malignant stars which when they seem To threaten most through that dark cloud did lead Him to a knowledge of such dear esteem He his high birth did there distinctly read FReed from the noise o' th' busie world within A deep dark vale whose silent shade had bin Religions vail when blasted by the beams Of Persecution far from the extreams Of solitude or sweary labor were Some few blest men whose choice made Heaven their care Sequestred from the throngs of men to finde Those better joyes calms of a peacefull minde Yet though on this pacifick sea their main Design was Heaven that voyage did not restrain Knowledge of humane arts which as they past They safely view'd though there no anchor cast Their better temper'd judgments counting that But hoodwink'd zeal which blindly catches at The great Creators sacred will without Knowing those works that will was spent about Which being the climax to true judgement we Behold stoop'd down to visibilitie In lowliest creatures natures stock being nought But God in 's image to our senses brought In the fair evening of that fatal day By whose meridian light Love did betray Ingag'd Argalia near to death was one Of these heav'ns happy Pensioners alone Walking amongst the gloomy Groves to view What soveraign vertues there in secret grew Confin'd to humble plants whose signatures Whilst by observing he his art secures From vain experiments Argalia's Page Crossing a neighboring path did disingage His serious eye from natures busie task To see the wandring Boy who was to ask The way for more his youths unprompted fear Expects not there to the blest man drawn near But when with such a weeping innocence As Saints confess those sins which the expence Of tears exacted he had sadly told What harsh fate in restrictive wounds laid hold Of 's worthy Master pity prompted by Religious love helps the poor Boy to dry His tears with hopes of comfort whilst he goes To see what sad Catastrophe did close Those bloody scenes which the unequal fight Foretold before fear prompted him to flight Noâ— far they 'd past ere they the place had found Where groveling in a stream of blood the ground His purple-bed the wearied Prince they see Strugling with death from whose dark monarchie Pale troops assail his cheeks whilst his dim eies Like a spent lamp which ere its weak flame dies In giddy blazes glares as if his soul Were at those casements flying out did roll Swifter then thought their bloodshot orbs his hands Did with deaths agues tremble cold dew stands Upon his clammy lips the springs of blood Having breath'd forth the spirits clotted stood On that majestick brow whose dreadful frown Had to deaths scepter laid its terror down The holy man upon the brink o' th' grave Finding such forms of worth attempts to save His life from dropping in by all his best Reserves of art selecting from the rest Of his choise store an herb whose soveraign power No flux of blood though falling in a shower Of death could force which gently bruis'd and to His wound apply'd taught nature to renew Her late neglected functions and through short Recruits of breath made able to support His blood-enfeebled body till they reach The Monastry where nobler art did teach Their simple medicines to submit to those Which skill from their mixt vertues did compose Life which the unexpected gift of fate Rather then art appear'd in this debate Of death prevailing in short time had gain'd So much of strength that weakness now remain'd The only slothful Râ—mora that in His bed detain'd him where being often seen By those whom art alike had qualifi'd For his relief as one of them appli'd His morning-medicines to a spacious wound Fixt on his breast he that rare jewel found Which in his undiscerning infancie There hung by 's father fortune had kept free From all her various accidents to shew How much his birth did to her favor owe. Shook with such silent joy as he had been In calm devotion by an Angel seen The good old man his wonder rarifi'd Into amazement stands he had descri'd What if no force had robb'd him of it since 'T was first bestow'd none but his true born Prince Could wear since art wise Natures fruitful ape Ne'r but in that had birth which bore that shape Assur'd by which with unstirr'd confidence He asks Argalia where he knew from whence When nature first did so much wealth impart To earth that jewel took those forms of art But being answer'd that his infancie When first it was conferr'd on him might be Th' excuse of 's ignorance that voice alone Confirms his aged friend who having known As much of fortune as in fates dark shade His understanding legible had made From weak Argalia to require him leads Knowledge where he his lifes first copy reads Drest in this language 'T was unhappy Prince For such this story must salute you since Told to confirm 't a truth my destinie When youth and strength rendred me fit to be My dearest Countries servant plac'd within Mantinea's glorious Court where having been Made capable by sacred Orders I Attain'd the height of Priestly dignity Being unto him whose awful power did sway That crown in dear esteem but Honors day Which gilded then the Courtly sphere sunk down I lost my Mitre in the fall o' th' Crown Sad is the doleful tale yet since that in Its progress you may find where did begin Your lifes first stage thus take it When the Court Stifl'd with throngs of men whose thick resort Plenty and peace call'd thither being grown Sickly with ease view'd as a thing unknown Dangers stern brow which even in smiling fates Proves a Quotidian unto wiser States Whilst pride grew big and envy bigger
Found only one whose outside did reveal So much of an internal worth that might To active talk our clouded souls invight From griefs obscure retreats his grave aspect Though reverend age dwelt with unprun'd neglect Seem'd drest with such a sacred solitude As ruin'd Temples in their dust include My royal Master as some power divine Had by instinct taught great souls how to twine Though ' mongst the weeds of poverty with this Blest man consorting whilst their apt souls miss In all their long discourse no tittle set For mans direction in heavens alphabet Whilst controverted points those rocks on which Weak faiths are shipwrackt did jems inrich Their art-assisted zeal a sudden noise Clamorous and loud in the soft womb destroys That sacred infant the concordant bells Proclaim a joy which larger triumph tells To be of such a publick birth that they In quiet cells for what they late did pray In tears the souls oreflowing language now Being by examples common rule taught how They vary passions and in manly praise Their silent prayers to Halleluiahs raise By swift report inform'd that this days mirth From the proclaiming of their Prince took birth These private mourners for the publick faults Of busie nations by the hot assaults Of triumph startled from their gravitie Prepare for joy all but grave Sophron he Then with the pilgrim Prince who both were sate Like sad Physitians when the doubtful state o th' Patients theatens death the serious eye Of Sophron as a threatning prodigie Viewing that flattering smile of fate which they Of shallower souls prais'd as approaching day When both their souls from active words retir'd A while had silent sate the Prince desir'd To know the cause why in that triumh he Of all that Covent found the time to be With thoughtful cares alone whom Sophron gave This satisfaction Worthy Sir I have In the few hours of our acquaintance found In you such worth 't would question for unsound My judgment if unwilling to impart A secret though the darling of my heart Know then this hapless Province which of late Faction hath harrast a wise Prince whom fate Depriv'd us of once rul'd but so long since That age hath learn'd from time how to convince The hot enormities of youth since we With such a Ruler lost our libertie For though at first as he alone had bin Our evil Geniâ—â— whose abode brought in All those attendant plagues our fortune seemed To calm her brow and captive hope redeemed In the destruction of our foes which by A hot infection were enforc'd to fly From conquest near obtain'd yet we to shew That only 't was our vices did orethrow The merits of his weaker vertues when Successful battails had reduc'd agen Our panting Land from all external ill Domestick quarrels threatned then to kill What forein powers assail'd in vain and made Danger surprise which trembled to invade For many years tost by th' uncertain wind Of wild ambition we had sail'd to find Out the Lucadian rocks of Peace but in A vain pursuit for we so long had bin A headless multitude the factious Peers Oppressing th'injur'd Commons till our fears Became our fate few having so much left Unsequestred as might incite to theft Even those whom want makes desperate all being spent On those that turn to thâ— worst of punishment What wore protections name Vilains that we Inforc'd maintain'd to christen Tyrannie i th' injur'd name of Justice such as kept Litigious Councels for whose Votes we wept From punishment so long till grown above The blinded peoples envy or their love But lately these prodigious fires that led Us through the night of Anarchy being fled At the approach of one who since hath stood Fixt like a Star of the first magnitude Diffusive power which then was only shewn In Factions dress being now Rebellion grown By the uniting of those attoms in One haughty Peer ambitious Zarrobrin Whose pride that spur of valor when 't had set Him in the front of Honers alphabet The sole Commander of those forces whence Our peace distill'd and in as large a sense As Subjects durst whilst loyal hope to have Adorn their tombs the highest titles gave Of a depending honor to repay Their easie faiths that levell'd had the way Unto his greatness that Command he made The steps by which he strugl'd to invade A Throne and in their heedless Votes include Unnoted figures of their servitude When with attempts frequent as fruitless I With others whose firm love to loyaltie Time had not yet expung'd had oft in vain Oppos'd our power which found too weak to gain Our Countries freedom we as useless did Retire to mourn for what the fates forbid To have redrest since when his pride being grown The peoples burthen whilst he urg'd his own Ambitious ends he hath to fix their love On principles whose structure should not move Unless it their allegiance shook brought forth Their Prince whose fathers unforgotten worth Did soon command their full consent and he For treason fear'd made lov'd for loyaltie But since that ' mongst observant judgments this So sudden change might stand in doubt to miss A fair construction to confirm 't he brings An old Confessor of their absent Kings The reverend Halophantes one whose youth Made humane arts submit to sacred truth So much that now arriv'd to graver age He like authentick Authors did engage The peopleâ— easie faith into a glad Belief that when his youths afflictions had Unthron'd their Prince he in that fatal night Wisely contracting his imagin'd flight As rodes unto destruction leaving all Frequented paths did in nights silence call At 's unfrequented Cell where entertain'd With all the zeal that subjects which have gain'd From gracious Soveraigns study to express A vertue in which thrives by the distress Of an afflicted patron's he betrayes Enquiring Scouts till some expunging dayes Make them forsake their inquisition in Despair to finde which vacancy did win Time to bestow his infant burthen where Some secret friends did with indulgent care Raise him from undiscerning childhood to Be such as now expos'd unto their view Thy father who with doubtful thoughts had heard This story till confirm'd in what he fear'd Starts into so much passion as betrayes Him through the thick mask of those tedious dayes Time had in thirty annual journeys stept To Sophron who when he a while had wept A short encomion to good fortune in Such prostrate lowliness as seem'd for sin To censure guiltless ignorance he meets His Princes full discovery whom he greets With all the zeal such whose uncourtly arts Make tongues the true interpreters of hearts Do those wise Princes whom they know to start At aguish flattery as if indesert Usher'd it in Those that know how to rate Their worth prize it by vertue not by fate With Arguments which to assist he made Reasons firm power Passions light scours invade He had so oft th' unwilling Prince assail'd That importunity at length
their whispering Oaks unclad The Prince his mercy willing to prevent Approaching danger by a Herald sent To Zarrobâ—in commands him to lay down His arms and as he owed unto his Crown A Subjects due allegiance to appear Before a moneth was added to that year Within his Court which now since action gave Life to that body whose firm strength did save His life by treason levell'd at was in His moving Camp But this too weak to win The doubtful Rebel since his lawful right Swords must dispute the Prince prepares to fight Proud Zarrobrin who had by late success Taught Siracuse how to avoid distress By seeking peace like a black storm that flies On Southern winds which in a tumult rise From neighboring seas was on his march But come Sonear the Prince that now he had by some Of 's spreading Scouts made full discovery where His Army lay whose scarce discovered Rear Such distance from their well-arm'd Van appear'd That such whose judgments were with numbers feard Making no further inquisition fled By swift report their pale disease to spread Disturbing clouds which rather seem'd to rise From guilt then fear spread darkness ore the eyes O' th' Rebels who although by custom made To death familiar wish their killing trade In peace concluded and with murmures nigh Grown to the boldness of a mutinie Question their own frail judgments which so oft Had life expos'd to dangers that had brought No more reward then what preserv'd them still The slaves unto a proud Commanders will To stop this swift infection which begun In lowly huts to lofty tents had run Slie Zarobrin who to preserve th' esteem Of honor lest lib'rality might seem The child of fear with secret speed prevents What he appears to slight their discontents As if attending though attended by Their young Mock-Prince whose landskip royaltie Shew'd only fair when view'd at distance he Passing with slow observant pace to see Each squadrons order he confirms their love With donatives such as were far above Their hopes if Victors then to shew that in That pride of bounty h 'had not strove to win Assistance by unworthy bribes he leads Them far from danger since his judgment reads In long experience that authentick story Whose lines hath taught the nearest way to glory That soft delays like treacherous streams which by Submitting lets the rash intruder try Their dangerous depth to an unwilling stay His fierce persuers would ere long betray Whose force since of th' untutor'd multitude By want made desperate and by custom rude Would soon waste their unweildy strength whilst they Whom discipline had taught how to obey By pay made nimble and by order sure Would wars delays with easier wants endure This sound advice meeting with sad success From the persuing Army whose distress From tedious marches being too clamorous grown For 's friends estates to quiet soon was shewn In actions such which though necessitie Inforc'd on vertue made their presence be To th' inconsiderate vulgar whose loose glance For vertue take vice gloss'd with circumstance Such an oppression that comparing those Which fled with mildness they behold as foes Only their ruder followers whom they curse Not that their cause but company was worse When thus their wanâ—s had brought disorder in And that neglect whose looser garb had bin At first so shie that what was hardly known From business then was now to custom grown This large limb'd body since united by No cement but the love to loyalty Loses those baser parts such as to please Unworthy ends turn'd duty to disease Retaining onely those whose valor sought No more reward then what with blood they bought But here to shew that slumbring justice may Opprest with power faint in the busie day Of doubtfull battel when their valor had So many souls from robes of fresh unclad Of his brave friends that the forsaken Prince Whose sad success taught knowledge to convince The Arguments of hope unguarded left Unto persuing foes was soon bereft Of all that in this cloud of fortune might By opposition or unworthy flight But promise fafety and when death denide Him her last dark retreat to raise the pride Of an insulting foe is forc'd to see The scorn of greatness in captivity Yet with more terror to limb sorrow in His mighty soul such friends as had not bin By death discharg'd in fatal battel now Suffer'd so much as made even fear alow Her palest sons to seek in future wars Brave victory got by ages honor scars Or braver death that antidote of shame Whose stage none pass upon the rode of Fame Those that far'd best being murther'd others sent With life to more afflicting banishment When thus by him whose sacred order made The truth authentick from his fortunes shade Argalia was redeem'd the Prelate to Confirm his story from his bosom drew The jewel which having by wayes unknown To him that wore it open'd there was shewn By wit contracted into art as rare As his that durst make silver sphears compare With heavens light motion an Effigies which His royal Sire whilst beauty did enrich His youth appear'd in such epitomy As spacious fields are represented by Rare opticks on opposing walls where sight Is conzen'd with imperfect forms of light When with such joy as Scythians that grow proud Of day behold light gild an eastern cloud Argalia long had view'd that picture in Whose face he saw forms that said his had been Drawn by that pattern with such thanks as best The silent eloquence of looks exprest The night grown ancient ere their stories end With solemn joy leaves his informing friend The End of the Fourth Book PHARONNIDA The Fift Book CANTO I. The Argument I. Tier'd with afflictions in a safe retreat From th' active world Pharonnida is now Making a sacred monastry her seat Where near approaching the confirming vow II. A rude assault makes her a Prisoner to Almanzors power to expiate whose sin The subtil Traytor swiftly leads her to The Court where she had long a stranger bin HEre harsh imployments the unsavory weeds Of barren wants had over-run the seeds Of fancy with domestick cares and in Those winter storms shipwrack'd what ere had bin My youths imperfect off-spring had not I For love of this neglected poverty That meager fiend whose rustic tallons stick Contempt on all that are inforc'd to seek Like me a poor subsistance ' mongst the low Shrubs of imployment whilst blest wits that grow Good fortunes favorits like proud Ceders stand Scorning the stroke of every feeble hand Whose vain attempts though they should martyr sense Would be repulst with big-bulk'd confidence Yet blush not gentle Muse thou oft hast had Followers by fortunes hand as meanly clad And such as when time had worn envy forth Succeeding ages honor'd for their worth Then though not by these rare examples fier'd To vain presumption with a soul untir'd As his whose fancies short Ephemeraes know No life but what doth from his liquor
hate Of angry heaven the powerful Advocate Besides these bold attempts of Art that stood To fright the wicked or to prompt the good Something more great more sacred then could by Art be exprest without the help o th' eye Reacht at the center of the soul from whence To heaven our rais'd desires circumference Striking the lines of Contemplation she Wrapt from the earth is in an extasie Holy and high through faith's clear optick shown Those joys which to departed saints are known Before those pray'rs which zeal had tedious made With their last troops did conquer'd heav'n invade The day was on the glitt'ring wings of light Fled to the western world and swarthy night In her black Empire thron'd from silver shrines The kindl'd lamps through all the temple shines With dapl'd rayes that did to th' eye present The beauties of the larger firmament In which still calm when all their rites were now So near perform'd that the confirming vow Alone remain'd a sudden noise of rude And clamorous sound did through the ear intrude On their affrighted fancies in so high A voice that all their sacred harmony In this confusion lost appear'd so small As if that whisper'd which was made to call Although the awfull majesty that here Religion held the weak effects of fear With faith expel'd yet when that nearer to Their slender gates the murmuring tumult drew The Abbess sends not to secure but see Who durst attempt what heaven from all kept free By strictest law save those unhallow'd hands That follow curses whilst they flie commands But they being entred ere the timerous Scout Could notice give fear which first sprung from doubt Being into wilde confusion grown from all Set forms affrights them whilst at once they call For heavens protecting mercy to behold That place where peacefull Saints us'd to unfold Heavens Oracles possest with villains that Did ne'r know ought but want to tremble at Which look'd like those that with proud Angels fell And to storm heaven were sent in arms from hell Converts that Scean where nothing did appear But calm devotion to distracting fear Amaz'd with horror each sad votress stands Whilst sacred relicks drop from trembling hands Here one whose heart with fears convulsions faint Flies to the shrine of her protecting saint By her another stands whose spirits spent In Passion looks pale as her monument One shrieks another prayes a third had crost Her self so much ill Angels might have lost The way to hurt her if not taught to do'r Cause she to th' sign too much did attribute The royal Stranger by her fear persu'd To th' altar fled had with mixt passion view'd This dreadfull troop whilst from the temple gate They past the seat where trembling virgins sate Free from uncivil wrongs as if that they That entred had been men prepar'd to pray Not come to ravish from which sight her fear Picks flowers of hope but such as they drawn near From fancies soft lap in a Hirocane Of passion drop'd her pray'rs and tears in vaine As words in winds or showers in Seas when they Prepare for ruin the obstructed way To pitty which her stock of pray'rs had cost In the dark shade of sudden horror lost Seis'd on by two o' th' sacrilegious train Whose black disguise had made the eye in vain Seek to inform the soul she and the poor Florenza whilst their helpless friends deplore With silent tears so sad a loss are drew From the clasp'd Altar in th' offended view Of their protecting saints from whose shrines in A dismal omen dropt what ere had bin With hopes of merit plac'd Black sulphry damps With swift convulsions quench'd the sacred lamps The fabrick shakes and as if griev'd they stood To circle guilt the walls sweat tears of blood Shrieks such as if those fainted souls that there Trod heaven's strait paths in their just quarrel were Rose from their silent dormitories to Deter their foes through all the temple flew But here in vain destroying angels shook The sword of vengeance whilst his bold crimes struck ' Gainst heaven in high contempt with impious haste Snatch'd from the altar whilst their friends did waste Unheard Orizons for their safety they Unto the Fabrick's utmost gate convey Their beauteous prizes where with silence stood Their dreadful guard which like a neighb'ring wood When vapors tip the naked boughs in light With unsheath'd swords through the black mists of night A sparkling terror strook with such a speed As scarce gave time to fear what would succeed To such preceding vilanies within Her Coach imprison'd the sad Princess in A march for swiftness such as busie war Hastes to meet death in but for silence far More still then funerals is by that black troop With such exchange as falling stars do stoop To nights black region from the Monastrie Hurri'd in haste by whom or whither she Yet knows no more then souls departing when Or where to meet in robes of flesh agen The day salutes her and uncurtain'd light Welcoms her through the confines of the night But lends no comfort every object that It shewed her being such as if frighted at The Prince of day griev'd h 'ad no longer slept To shun shrunk back beneath a cloud and wept When the unfolded curtains gave her eyes Leave to look forth a troop whose close disguise Were stubborn arms she only saw and they So silent nought but motion did betray The faculties of life by whom being led In such a sad march as their honor'd dead Close mourners follow she some flow-pac'd days ' Mongst strangers passing through stranger ways At both amaz'd at length unfathom'd by Her deepest thought within the reach o th' eye Her known Ghirenza views but with a look From whence cold passion all the blood had took And in her face that frozen sea of fear Left nought but storms of wonder to appear Conven'd within the spacious Judgment-hall Of Reason she ere this had summon'd all Her weaker passions to th' impartial Bar Of Moral Vertue where they sentenc'd are Only to an untroubled silence in Which serious act whilst she had busied bin She is unnoted ere the fall of day Brought by her convoy to a Lodge that lay Off from the rode a place when seen she knew Ere his rebellion had belong'd unto Her worst of foes Almanzor which begins At first a doubt whose growing force soon wins The field of faith and tells her timorous thought Her fathers troops would ne'r have thither brought Her if design'd to suffer since that he Knew those more fit for close captivitie But long her reason lies not fetter'd in These cross Dilemma's the slow night had been With tedious hours past ore whilst she by none But Mutes no less unheard then their unknown Is only waited on by whom when day To action call'd she veil'd is led the way To the attending Convoy who had now Varied the Scene Almanzor studying how To court compassion in his Prince dares
not At the first view ere merit had begot A calm remission of rebellious sin Affront an anger which had justice bin In his confusion his arms he now behind As that which might too soon have call'd to mind His former crimes he leaves and for them took To gain the aspect of a pitying look A Hermites homely weed his willing train By that fair gloss their liberties to gain Rode arm'd but so what for offence they bore Was in submission to lay down before The throne of injur'd power to cure whose fear Their armed heads on halter'd necks appear Near to the rear of these the Princess in A mourning Litter close as she had bin In a night-march unto her tomb is through The Cities wandring tumults led unto The royal palace at whose gates all stay Save bold Almanzor whom the Guards obey For his appearing sanctity so much That he unquestion'd enters and thought such As his grave habit promis'd soon obtain'd The Princes sight where with a gesture fain'd To all the shapes of true devotion he By a successfull fiction comes to be Esteem'd the true converter of those wilde Bandits which being by their own crimes exil'd In spight of law had liv'd to punish those Which did the rules of punishment compose These being pardon'd as he 'd took from thence Encouragement veil'd under the pretence Of a religious pity he begins In language whose emolient smoothness wins An easie conquest on belief to frame A sad Petition which although in name It had disguis'd Pharonnida did finde So much of pity as the Prince inclin'd To lend his aid for the relief of her Whose vertue found so fair a character In his description it might make unblest That power which left so much of worth distrest Though too much tir'd with private cares to shew In publick throngs how much his love did owe To suffering vertue yet since told that she Was too much mask'd in clouds of grief to be The object of the censuring Court he to The Litter goes whose sable veil withdrew With wonder that did scarce belief admit Shadow'd in grief he sees his daughter sit His long lost daughter whom unsought to be Thus strangely found to such an extasie Of joy exalts him that his spirits by Those swift pulsations had been all let fly With thanks towards heav'n had not the royal Maid With showers of penitential tears allaid Those hotter passions and revok'd him to Support her griefs whose burthen had out-grew The powers of life but that there did appear Kinde natures love to cure weak natures fear In this encounter of their passions both With sorrow silent stood words being loath T' intrude upon their busie thoughts till they In moist compassion melted had away His angers fever and her frozen â—ears In Natures balm soft loves extracted tears Like a sad Patient whose forgotten strength Decay'd by cronick ills hath made the length Of life his burthen when near death meets there Unhop'd for health so from continual care The souls slow hectick elevated by This cordial joy the slothfull Lethargy Of age or sorrow findes an easier cure Then the unsafe extream a Calenture Nor are these comforts long constrain'd to rest Within the confines of his own swell'd brest Ere it s dismantl'd rayes did in a flight Swift as the motions of unbodied light Disperse its Epidemick vertues through The joyfull Court which now arriv'd unto Its former splendor heavens expected praise Doth on the wings of candid mercy raise Which spreading in a joyful Jubile To all offenders tells Almanzor he Might safely now unmask which done ere yet Discover'd at the well-pleas'd Princess feet Humbl'd with guilt he kneels who at the sight As much amaz'd as so sublime a flight Of joy admitted stands attentive to What did in these submissive words ensue Behold great Sir for now I dare be seen An object for your mercy that had been Too dreadful for discovery had not this Preceding joy told me no Crime could miss The rode of mercy though like mine a sin The suffering Nation is invellop'd in Sunk in the ocean of my guilt I h'd gone A desperate Rebel waited on by none But Outlaws to a grave obscure had not Relenting heaven thus taught me how to blot Out some of sins black characters ere I Beheld the beams of injur'd Majestie This in his passions relaxation spoke Perswades the Princes justice to revoke Its former rigor By the helpful hand Of mercy rais'd Almanzor soon did stand Not only pardon'd but secur'd by all His former honors from a future fall Making that fortune which did now appear Their pities object through the glass of fear With envy look'd on but in vain he stood Confirm'd in Loves Meridian altitude The length of life from Honors western shade Except in new Rebellion retrograde Which plotting leave him till the winding clew Of fancy shall conduct your knowledge to Those uncouth vaults and mounting the next story See Vertue climbing to the throne of glory The End of the First Canto PHARONNIDA The Fifth Book CANTO II. The Argument I. Leaving Pharonnida to entertain The varieus passions of her Father we Must now return to see Argalia gain That power by which he sets his Father free II. From the command of haughty Rebels who By justice sent to a deserved death Argalia takes the Crown his merits due And the old Prince in peace resigns his breath REturn'd to see what all the dark records Of the old Spartan History affords i th' progress of Argalia's fate I found The chain'd Historian here so strictly bound To follow truth although at dangers cost No silent night nor sâ—â—cky battail lost The doubtfull rode which often did appear Through floods of faction fill'd with storms of fear Obscure and dark to the belief of that Less guilty age though then to tremble at Romes bold ambition and those prodigies Of earth their Tyrants to inform their eies Left mourning monuments of ill but none Like what they now attempt a sin unknown To old Aspirers which should have been sent Some Ages forward for a president To these with whom compar'd their crimes had bin Though past to act but weak essayes of sin With such a speed as the supplies of air Fearing a vacuum hasten to repair The ruptures of the earth at our last view We left reviv'd Argalia posting to Aetolia's distant confines where arriv'd He found their Army whose atempts had thriv'd Since he Epirus had forsook so far Advanc'd that now the varied scene of war Transferr'd to faithless Ardena was there Fixt in a siege whose slow approaches were The doubts of both the city pines for fear Remote supplies might fail which drawn so near The circling Army knows that either they Must flie from conquest near obtain'd or stay To meet a danger which by judgement scan'd Their strength appears unable to withstand Whilst thus their pensive leaders busied are In cross dilemma's as by publick war He meant to meet revenge
discourses are Distastefull grown but what to sudden war Incites his rage which humor though it needs No greater fire then what his envy feeds Besides those Court-Tarantula's whose breath Stings easie Princes till they dance to death At the delightfull sound of flattery there Were deeper wits such whom a subtile care Not servile fear taught how to aggravate His angers flame till their own eager hate Though burning with a mortal fury might Pass unobserv'd since near a greater light Amongst those few whose love did not depend So much on fortune but the name of friend Was still preserv'd the faithfull Cyprian Prince Durst onely strive by reason to convince Their wilder passions but each Argument With which affection strugl'd to prevent A swift destruction onely seem'd to prove His friendship more effectual then his love From which mistake such as did strive to please The angry Princes passionate disease With what might seed the sickly humors draw A consequence that proves Pharonnida A blessing which was to his merits due Who most oppos'd the bold aspirer to That throne of Beauty which before possest Whole Armies must dispute their interest The slighted Cyprian since their fear could trust None but confederates from their Councils thrust Those swift conclusions which before to stay Their violence had Reason's cool allay Hurry'd to action strict commands are sent From fierce Zoranza through each Regiment Which stoop'd their Ensignes to his power that by Such marches as they 'd follow victory They reach Aetolia ere its new-crown'd King Warn'd by report had liberty to bring Opposing strengths a task too hard to be Perform'd with ease in powers minoritie Nor fails this Council for their Army draws No sooner near but such as in the cause Of unsuccessful Rebels late had been Expos'd to danger seek for refuge in A fresh revolt and since their ulcerous guilt Was so malignant that even mercy spilt Its balm in vain their injur'd Prince forsake To strengthen his proud Enemies who make Those Poisons up in Cordials and compound Them with their Army which being thus grown sound Whereas it lately fainted durst provoke Unto the trial of another stroke His late victorious forces which though yet Faint with the blood lost in the last great fit Of Honors fever when the Crisis prov'd The cures prognostick had with ease remov'd The proud invaders had Morea bin As heretofore a hurtful Neuter in That war which now since double strengths oppose Brave fortitude like base oppression shews So long both parties with varietie Of fortune fought that fearing whose might be The sad success that old Cleander in Such speed as if his Crown engag'd had bin Raises an Army whose command since he Base flattery takes for brave fidelitie Waving those Peers to whose known faith he owes The most of trust in hoodwink'd hope bestowes On false Almanzor who by power advanc'd Near to those hopes at which Ambition glanc'd But like weak eyes upon the dazeling sun From that last â—atal sâ—age his plots begun Mischiefs dark course which ere concluded shall Crush the Epirot in Morea's fall In this the hot distemper of their state Aâ—indâ— whom the Destinies of late To double-die his Honors purple-thred Robb'd of a father most disquieted Their secret councels since they knew the love He bore Argalia propt with power might prove A sad obstruction to their plots if he Urg'd by distastes shook their confederacie Off to assist his friend which to oppose With slattery fleeting as the gourd that rose But to discover his just wrath that made The plant to cover when it could not shade They all attempt though he engage not in Their party yet his easie youth to win By honors moths by times betrayers soft And smooth delights those serpents which too oft Strangle Herculean vertues But they here In Ages April find a wit appear Of such full growth that by his judgment they Are undermin'd who studied to betray Being thus secur'd from forein fears they now Imploy that rage whose speed could scarce allow Advice from Councel to extirpate those New planted Laurels vict'rie did compose To crown Argalia But before they go To ravish Conquest from so cheap a Foe Whose valor by orewhelming power was barr'd From lying safe at a defensive guard Till old Cleander that their league might be Assur'd by bonds whose firm stabilitie Death only could divorce intends though she With such aversion as their destinie Wretches condemn'd would shun attempt to fly The storm of fate yet countmanded by His power the fair Pharonnida although He not to love but duty seem'd to owe For such a blessing should Zoranza's be Confirm'd by Hymen's high solemnitie This resolution whose self-ends must blame Her fathers love once registred by fame Submits to censure whilst Pharennida Laments her fate some prompted by the law Of love and nature are to entertain So much of freedom as they prove in vain Her advocates Others whose cautious fear Dares only pity in that dress appear Silent and sad only Almanzor in This State-distemper by that subtile sin Dissimulation so disguises all His black intentions that whilst truth did call Him Treasons agent its reflected light Appearance spoke him Vertues proselyte So much a Convert as if all those hot Crimes of his youth ambition had begot Discreeter age had either cool'd or by Repentance chang'd to zeal and loyalty Whilst thus i' th' Court the most judicious eyes Deluded were by factions false disguise By rumors heavy as the damps of death When they flie laden with the dying breath Of new-departed souls this fatal news Assaults the Princess which whilst reason views With sad resentments to support her in This storm of fate Amindor who had bin In all her griefs her best adviser now Enters to tell her fainting sorrows how They'd yet a refuge left from whom she might Reap hopes of safety The first welcom sight Of such a friend whose former actions had â—nhanc'd his worth encountring with her sad And serious thoughts so rarifies that cloud Of grief that ere dissolving tears allow'd A vocal utterance as intended words Something contain'd too doleful for records Both sigh'd both wept at length the Princess broke Silence and thus lier dismal passions spoke Dare you my Lord approach so near unto A factious grief in this black storm to view Distrest Pharonnida have either I Or my Argalia's slighted memorie Yet in Morea a remaining friend Whose vertue dares by its own strength contend Against this torrent of Court-factions Now Now Royal Sir that doom which will allow My soul no more refreshing slumbers by My father's past my father Sir whom I Must disobey with all the curses due To black rebellion or else prove untrue Those vows those oft repeated vows which in Our Loves full growth hath to Argalia bin Seal'd in the sight of heaven About to speak Her passions fuller sorrow here did break The sad theme off and to proclaim her fears Except th'oreflowing language of her tears
the peoples love To anger turn the active Guards remove To still the clamorous multitude who sway'd By various passions did whilst each obey'd Opinions dictates but in darkness rove At shadow'd truth whence now they boldly strove To pluck the vail from Declarations that Contain'd those falshoods which whilst wondring at They wept to force upon their faith are sent Through th' Lands each Town Armies Regiment By which Almanzor who attempted in This plot to joyn security with sin Doubting if ere this story reach his ear Argalia might their combatant appear Besides those stains which common fame did take For sins just debts sliely attempts to shake The heaven-erected fabrick of his love By closer engines such as seem'd to move On noble pity which with grief ingrost That faith which envy in disdain had lost Black rumor on the wings of rais'd report Flying in haste had soon attain'd the Court Of the amaz'd Aetolian Prince who hears The dreadfull story with such doubtfull fears As shook his noble soul but not into An easie faith each circumstance was true He knew Almanzor's vilany to be Of that extent so foul a progenie As all those horrid murthers might from thence Take easie birth but when the innocence Of 's vertuous Princess and his honor'd Friend The noble Cyprian Prince come to contend With oft confirm'd report that strikes a deep And solemn grief yet such as must not keep A firm possession in his soul until A further inquisition either kill His yet unfainting hopes or raise them to Joy by confirming those reports untrue The End of the Fourth Canto PHARONNIDA The Fifth Book CANTO V. The Argument I. Through royal blood to level that dark way Which Rebels pass unto the injur'd throne Pharonnida is now condemn'd to pay A debt for crimes that none durst call her own II. When near the last step brave Argalia who In close disguise truths secrets had betraid When most did doubt 't was now too late to sue To heaven for pity brings a timely aid IF on those vanisht Heroes that are fled Through the unknown dark Chasma's of the dead To rest in regions so remote from hence Twixt them and life there 's no intelligence When ere thou look'st through times dim optiques then Brave emulation of those braver men Rouses that ray of heav'n thy soul to be A sharer in their fames eternity Thou 'st then a genius fit to entertain A Muses flight which may be rais'd again To sing thy actions when there 's left no more Of thee but what by life whilst passing ore Natures short stage had either scatter'd bin By careless youth or firmly planted in Maturer age whose wasted talent spent Those were his Friends this is his monument Is all except some Muse thy life records That to thy worth th' unthankful world affords But if thy uninspired soul do beare A lower sail which flagging with the care Of humid pleasures ne'r is swell'd into Sublimer thoughts then such as onely view Earth for its object which ne'r yet did lend Her favorites more then what they here do spend T' improve her barren wants may none rehearse Thy name beneath the dignity of verse But trivial flatterers such as strive to gain Thy favor from Ephemera's of the brain Unsalted jests pleas'd at whose painted fire I leave fond thee in vapor to expire Whilst from thy living shadow I return To crown the dust in brave Argalia's urn From common fame that wild impostor he Had often heard what Love deny'd should be For truth admitted his Pharonnida Accus'd for sins which envy strove to draw Objects for heavens severest wrath and now Ere his considerate judgment would allow Report for real secret Messengers To Corinth sends who ill inform'd transfers His further trouble in confirming what Whilst others wept for he transported at So sad a change in her whose vertue had Inflam'd his thoughts by passion near unclad His soul of all his robes of â—lesh which now So loosely hung as if she practic'd how To strip her self should unexpected death To heavens hard course call forth the nimble breath Could earth here conquer or had it within The power of whatsoever is mortal bin T' have wrought disorders of amazement where The noble soul such true consent did beare With the harmonious Angels he in all His acts like them appears or ere his fall Perhaps like man that he could onely be Distinguish'd from some hollow'd hierarchie By being cloath'd in the specifick vail Of flesh and blood this grief might then prevail Over his perfect temper but he bears These weights as if unfelt on his soul wears The sable robes of sorrow whilst his cheek Is drest in scarleâ— smiles no frown his sleek And eaven front contract like to a slow And quiet stream his obscur'd thoughts did flow With greater depths then could be fathom'd by The beamy lines of a judicious eye Whilst those good Angels which fond men call wit Reform'd by age did all in Council sit To steer those thoughts by which he did attend Pharonnida's escape they to this end At length reduc'd his Councils that he must To succor her leave groveling in the dust His Kingdom which being by domestick strife Late wounded was but newly rubb'd to life Yet since that there to her redemption lay In all the progress of his thoughts no way Less full of danger such of 's Lords as he Honor'd for age and prais'd for loyalty Call'd to a secret Council he discovers His fixt resolves which they though now no Lovers With such consenting souls did hear that though They knew his danger might ev'n fear outgrow They to oppose that scourge of cowards brings His vows his sacred vows those scepter'd Kings Which justly rule the conscience that aw'd by Usurping fear submits to Tyranny Their first proposals whence their judgment sought To hide his absence to conclusion brought They thence proceed to level him a way Through that thick swarm of Enemies that lay Circling the walls where reason stayes a while In various censure ere 't could reconcile Their diff'ring judgments but at length in this As that which in this dangers dark abiss Seems to lend fear most of the helpfull light Of hope concludes that when succeeding night With strength of age was grown so gravely staid That dark designs fear'd not to be betraid By th' wanton twilight he in close disguise Whilst some of 's troops diverted by surprise His watchful foes might pass their guards which don Their care might be with 's surther march begun In dismal darkness that black throne of fear Nights silent Empress aw'd the Hemisphear When now Argalia's ready troops with slow And noiseless marches issued through their low Close Salliports are swiftly rallied by Such as had long taught valor how to dy For honors rescue Captains that had bin From youth's first bud till age was reverenc'd in Her honor'd scars such strict disciples to Wars hardest precepts that their fame out-grew
if drawn to light Dayes beauties to the palace of the night Toward which the prisoners yet detain'd within The City in this dreadfull pomp begin Their mournful march led by that doleful call By which loud war proclaims a funeral Those that had been the common guards unto The murther'd Princes to the peoples view Are first presented on an ebon spear Each bore a scuchion where there did appear The arms which once adorn'd those Princes shields Sadly display'd within their sable fields Next these some troops whose prosperous valor in Their Courts had steps unto preferment bin Come slowly on but slowlier follow'd are By elder Captains such whom busie war Whose victories had their youth in honor di'd As useless-now for Council laid aside I' th' rear of these the Officers of State Grave as they 'd been of Council unto Fate I' th' purple robes of royal Mourners clad With heavy pace conducted in a sad And dismal object two black Chariots drawn Like hideous night when it assaults the dawn In dreadfull shadows where to fright the day With sadder objects on black herses lay Th' Effigies of the murther'd Princes in Whose form those spots of treason that had bin Fates Agents to unravel Natures law In bloody marks the mourning people saw At which sad fight from silent sorrow they Advanc'd had let external grief betray Their love and loss if not diverted by Succeeding objects which assault the eye With what though living yet more terror bred Then what they found for the lamented dead In such a garb as sorrow strives to hide The hot efluviums of a sullen pride Almanzor next with slow portentous pace Follows the herses his discover'd face So subtilly di'd in sorrow as it had Strove to out-mourn the sable arms which clad His falser breast whose studi'd treason knew No such disguise as first to meet the view O' th' censuring people in a dress that shews Him by their States maturer Council chose ' Gainst who'ere durst maintain the pris'ners cause By 's valor for to vindicate their laws But now to lose these rivolets of tears In the vast Ocean of their grief appears Their last and most lamented object in The royal Captives whose sad fate had bin Not so disguis'd in attributes of guilt But that the love their former vertue built In every breast broke through their fear to show How much their duty did to sorrow ow. In that black train they had beheld before Though full of sadness wearied life past ore The stage of nature is their darkest text To comment on which since good men perplext With life's cares are finds less regreâ— then now To living sufferers justly they allow Friends though less near since death is but that rest They vainly seek that are in life distrest Being pitied more then those whose worst of Fate We have beheld destruction terminate That nought might in this scene of sorrow be Wanting to perfect griefs solemnitie The Kingdoms Marshal who supported in His hand a sword which glitring through a thin Wreath'd Cipers through the sad Spectators eye Strook such a terror as if shadow'd by Death's sooty vail conducting after goes Th' undaunted Cyprian with a look that showes A soul whose valor was of power to light Such high resolves as by their splendor might Make death look lovely on his upper hand Her sexes glory she whose vertues scann'd Her actions by heavens strictest rules the sweeâ— Pharonnida unmov'd prepares to meet The ministers of death her train being by Florenza who must in that Tragedy Act her last part sustain'd The garment which The beauteous Princess did that day inrich Was black but cut on white ore which the fair Neglected treasure of her flowing hair Hung loosely down upon her head she wore A wreath of Lillies almost shadow'd ore With purple Hyacinths on which the stains Of murther yet in bloody marks remains Over all this a melancholy cloud Of thick curl'd Cipers from the head did shroud Her to the feet through which those spots of white Appear'd like stars those comforts of the night When stole through scattred clouds in her right hand She held a watch whose next stage should have spand The minutes of her life her left did hold A branch of mirtle which as grown too old To live began to wither for defence O' th' falling leaves as death and innocence Had both conspir'd to save 't the bow was round In mistick wreaths of black and silver wound Near to the royal Prisoners many Peers Of either Kingdom men of th' gravest years And loyal'st hearts did with a dolefull pace Bring up the rear each melancholy place Through which they past being with those pensive flowers That wait on funerals strew'd The lofty towers Of checquer'd marble had their stately brows In sables bound their pinacles with boughs Of dismal Yew adorn'd as if their knell Should next be rung a solemn passing bell In every Church was toull'd whose dolefull sound Mixt with the drum trumpets dead march dround The peoples cries whose grief can ne'r be shown In 'ts native dress till loud and clamorous grown In this black pomp the mourning train had left The sable City which being now bereft Of all her sad and solemn guests did bear The emblem of an empty sepulchre So full of silence all her throng being gone With heavy pace to be attendants on Those funeral rights which ere perform'd must have More vertue for attendants to the grave Then ere they could again expect to see Whose hopes of life lay in minoritie Come to the desert vale which yet had kept A solitary loveliness that slept There in untroubl'd rest a levell'd green Chose for the Lists which nature lodg'd between Two barren hills upon whose bare front grew Though thinly scatter'd here a balefull Yew And there a dismal Cypress plac'd as they Had onely chose that station to display The peoples passions who with eyes fixt in Full orbs of tears ere this had sorrowing seen The pitied prisoners to those Scaffolds brought Where those lamented lives whose treason sought To ruine must be sacrific'd to please Ambitious man not angry heaven appease This curles their bloods which soon inflam'd had grown Had not the varied scene of sorrow shown The murther'd Princes who product as they Had been reserv'd as opiats to allay Their angers flame are both expos'd unto The satisfaction of the publick view Mounted on herses which on either side O' th' Temple gate with deaths most dismal pride On ebon pillars stood as rais'd to show What justce did to their destruction ow. Plac'd near to these their sorrows sad Records Almanzors tent to shew that it affords For red revenge a close reception stood Like a black rock from whence in clouds of blood The sanguine streamers through the thickned sky Did waving with unconstant motion fly In view of which though at the other end If any durst appear that could defend Their cause whom heaven alone knew innocent There to
receive him stood an empty Tent Whose outside as if fanci'd to deter His entrance there appear'd a Sepulcher Over whose gate her false Accusers had Transcrib'd those crimes which so unâ—ustly clad In purples sins those spotless â—ouls which seen In their bright vertues candid robes had been The hated wonders of those foes whose ends Now finde success i' th' pity of their friends Near this black tent on mourning scaffolds where Death did t' encounter innocence prepare His heaviest darts such as were headed by That more then mortal plague foul infamy The prisoners mounted at the other gate Almanzor like the messenger of Fate Fraught with revenge appears his dreadfull form More full of terror then a midnight storm To straitned Fleets appearing to the view O' th' multitude who whilst their prayers persue The prisoners safety on the flagging wings Of sickly hope his sure destruction brings Since from their knowledge more remote to cure Unto their hates impatient calenture Thrice had the trumpet sadly sounded bin And thrice a Herald's voice had summon'd in Some bold defendant but both yet so vain As if just Heaven neglected to maintain That righteous cause which sadly seen of all The sorrowfull but helpless people fall Since hopes of life was shrunk into despair To be assistant by their private prayer At deaths distracting conflict in a brief Effectual speech which answer'd to the chief Heads of 's indictment in those powerfull words Conceiv'd his last the Cyprian Prince affords Their sorrow yet a larger Theam which done Being first to die having with prayer begun That doubfull road he now a short leave takes Of all his mourning Friends then calmly shakes Off each terrestial thought and heightned by The speculations of eternity Above those damps which natures hand did weave Of humane fear submitting to receive The fatal stroke that Center to a crown But orb of wit his sacred head layes down Fled to the dark cell of their utmost fears With eyes whose lids were cemented in tears Each still Spectators thoughts did now repair To the last refuge of a silent prayer In which close parl from that deep Lethargy They are to joy and wonder waken'd by A trumpets voice which from the other gate Sounds a defiance 't was not yet so late In hopes dim twilight but they once more may In expectation of a glorious day Dare look abroad which done unto their view A Cyprian Herald being design'd unto That office they leading a stranger Knight Into the Lists behold whose welcom sight Was entertain'd with acclamations that Rais'd thunder for his foes to tremble at This valiant Hero whose brave gesture gave Life to that hope which told them heaven would save Such suffering vertue now drawn near unto The tent is taking a disdainful view Of that accurst inscription whilst all eyes Center'd on him see through his steel-disguise A goodlier shape though not so vastly great As that curst lump nature had made the seat Of 's enemies black soul The armor which He wore they knew not whether for more rich Or rare to prize the ground of it as he For those had mourn'd which now from infamie His sword sought to redeem was black but all Enamell'd ore with silver-hearts let fall From flaming clouds which hovering above Them look'd like incense fir'd by heavenly love ' Mongst these in every vacant place was found A deaths-head scatter'd some of which were crown'd With laurel others on their bare fronts wore A regal diadem in 's shield he bore In a Field argent on the dexter side A new-made Grave to which a Lamb deni'd Succor on earth to shun the swift persuit Of a fierce wolf was fled but ere one foot Was enter'd there from a red cloud that charg'd The field in chief a thunderbolt inlarg'd By heav'ns just wrath from 's sulphrie seat was sent So swiftly that what sav'd the innocent The guilty slew which now in 's blood doth lie A President for powerful tyrannie Those short surveys o' th' people hardly took Ere having now th'unuseful tent forsook The brave Defendant with a loud salute Had past the scaffold in the bold persuit Of glorious vict'rie whom his angry foe Whose valors flame ne'r an allay did know So cold as fear in that wild flame which rage Oppos'd had kindl'd hastens to engage Him with so high a storm of fury that Each falling stroke others did tremble at What they sustain'd Strength valor judgment all Which ere made Conquerors stand or conquer'd fall Here seem'd to meet As it t'outrun desire Each nimble stroke quick as ethereal fire When wing'd by motion fell yet with a heft So full of danger most behind them left Their bloody marks which in this fatal strife Seem'd like the open'd salliports of life Sadly expecting whom by fate would be This day chose favorite unto destinie The people in such silent extasies As if their souls only inform'd their eyes Sate to behold the combat when to give Their faith assurance justice yet did live Unchain'd by faction from a fatal blow Strook near his heart Almanzor faln so low From hopes of vict'rie they beheld that in His ruine what before their fear had bin Grew now their comfort when that speedy death Might not transport his soul ere his last breath Confest his guilt the noble Champion stays His just rais'd rage whilst his own tongue displays His thoughts black curtains by discovering all Those crimes beneath whose burthen he did fall Heavy as curses which from heaven are sent For th' peoples plague or Princes punishment In which short close of life to ease the grief Of late repentance that successful Thief Whose happiest hour his latest prov'd being took For president he in a calm forsock That world which whilst his plots did strive to build Ambition high he had with tempests fill'd The multitude whose universal voice Had taught even such though distant to rejoice As age or sickness had detain'd within The City-walls forc'd those that yet had bin Her foes converted by the general votes For joy to change their envies ill set notes To calm compliance in whose concord they With as much speed as duty did convey Her best of subjects to congratulate Her freedom hastes who in this smile of fate â—â—â—ilst all her friends strove to forget those fears Whose form they lately trembl'd at appears Shadow'd in grief on whose joy could reflect No beam of comfort the suppos'd neglect Of her Argalia whose victorious sword Did in her fears extremity afford Some hopes of comfort which t'opinion lost More sorrow then th' assaults of death had cost Had not whilst she did in dark passion stray His full discovery glorifi'd the day Amidst the peoples acclamations she Though from a scaffold now convey'd to be Rais'd to a Crown all that vain pomp beholds With eyes orecast in grief till he unfolds Her further comfort by discovering what Whilst each spectator was admiring at Becomes to her so much of joy that in This calm that courage which before had bin Unshook in tempests now begins to move And what scorn'd hate submits to powerful Love From whose fixt centre with as swift a flight And kind a welcom as the nimble light Salutes the morning pleasure now imparts Her powerful beams until those neighboring hearts That liv'd by hopes thin diet drew from hence Substantial lines to joys circumference Her innocence unvail'd by his success And both by that black foil of wickedness Almanzor's guilt more glorious made is now The only volume wonder could allow Those that before her worst of foes had bin Sadly to read repentant lectures in Which seen by her observant Peers that all Succeeding discords in that Tyrants fall Might find a tomb him being their Princess choice The Spartan Armies universal voice Salute their Chief which President affords A pattern to the wise Epirot Lords Who had a law age made authentick which Prohibited their diadem t' enrich A female brow on him whose title stood Nearest of all collateral streams of blood They wisely fix a choice which proves to be Their glory and their States securitie And now rais'd from that lowly posture in Which fear had left them the vast rout begin Their motion toward fair Ghieranza where The varied scene did such proportion bear With joy's exalted harmonie which in Their rescu'd Princess dwelt all that had bin Their sorrows dismal characters they now Obliterate and her late clouded brow Crown with delights The solemn bells whose sad Toll when they left your mourning City had Frighted the trembling hearer now are all Rung out for joy as if so loud a call Only becom'd a love which could not be Exprest until the full solemnitie Of their approaching nuptials did unite Their hearts or crowns not with more full delight Then what did near as great a blessing prove Discording subjects in your bonds of love Thus after all the wild varietie Through Fates dark labyrinths now arriv'd to be Crown'd with as much content as ere was known By any that death did enforce to own The frailties of mortality we leave Our celebrated Lovers to receive Those blessings which heaven on such Kings showers down Whose vertues add a lustre to the Crown FINIS Newberies second Fight
flow Whose wit grown wanton with canaries wealth Makes the chast Muse a pandress to a health Our royal Lovers story I 'll pursue Through times dark paths which now have led me to Behold Argaâ—ia by assisting art Advanc'd to health preparing to depart From his obscure abode to prosecute Designs which when success strikes terror mute With pleasing joy shall him the mirror prove Of forward valor glost with filial love But let us here with prosperous blessings leave A while the noble Hero and receive From times accounts the often varying story Of her whose love conducted him to glory Distrest Pharonnida whose sufferings grown Too great for all that vertue ere had known From humane precepts flies for refuge to Heavens narrowest paths where the directing clew Of Law to which the Earth for order owes Lost in zeals light a useless trouble growes Return'd were all the messengers which she Had at the first salutes of Libertie To seek Argalia sent But since none brought Her passions ease sick hope no longer sought Those flattering Emp'ricks but at Loves bright fires Kindling her zeal with sober pace retires From all expected honors to bestow What time her youth did yet to nature ow A solemn Recluse by a sacred vow Lockt up from action whilst she practis'd how By speculation safely to attain What busier Mortals doubtfully do gain Within the compass of the valley where Ismanders palace stood the pious care Of elder times had plac'd a Monastrie Whose fair possessors from life's tumults free In a calm voyage towards heaven their home there spent The quiet hours so sweetly innocent As if that place that happy place had bin Of all the earth alone exempt from sin Some sacred power ordaining when 't was given It for the next preparing school to heaven From whence those Vestals should when life expires Be for supplies advanc'd to heavenly quires Lost to the world in sorrows lab'rinths here Pharonnida now out of hope to cleer This tempest of her fate resolves to cast Her faiths firm anchor But before she past The dangerous straits of a restrictive vow She to such friends as judgment taught her how To prize imparts it ' mongst which few the fair Silvandra whom lost love had taught despair With sad Florenza both resolve to take The same strict habit and with her forsake The treacherous world But to disturb this clear Stream of devotion soon there did appear Disswading friends Ismander loth to lose So lov'd a guest whilst she 's of power to choose Together with the vertuous Amida Spend their most powerful arguments to draw Her from those cold thoughts that her vertue might Whilst unconceal'd lend weaker mortals light Long had this friendly conflict lasted ere Her conquer'd friends whom a religious care Frighted from robbing heaven of Saints withdrew To mourn her loss yet ere they left her to Her cloyster'd Cell Ismander to comply With aged custom calls such friends whom nigh Abode had made familiar to attend His Royal guest some hasty days they spend In solemn feasting where each friend although Cloath'd as when they at triumphs met did shew A silent sadness such as wretched Brides When the neglected nuptial robe but hides The cares of an obstructed love before Harsh parents wear The mirthless feast past ore The noble Virgins in procession by The mourning train unto the Monast'ry Slowly conducted are each led by two Full-breasted Maids whom Hymen to renew The worlds decaying stock his joys to prove By contracts summon'd to conjugal love These as they past like Paranymphs which led Young Beauties to espouse a Maidenhead With harmony whose eachâ—concording part Tickl'd the ear whilst it did strike the heart With mournful numbers rifling every brest Of their deep thoughts thus the sad sense exprest I. To secret walks to silent shades To places where no voice invades The air but what 's created by Their own retir'd society Slowly these blooming Nymphs we bring To wither out their fragrant spring For whose sweet odors Lovers pine Where beauty doth but vainly shine Cho. Where Natures wealth and Arts assisting cost Both in the beams of distant hope are lost 2. To Cloysters where cold damps destroy The busie thoughts of Bridal joy To Vows whose harsh events must be Vncoupl'd cold Virginitie To pensive prayers where heaven appears Through the pale cloud of private tears These captive Virgins we must leave Till freedom they from death receive Only in this remote conclusion blest Cho. This vale of tears leads to eternal rest 3. Then since that such a choice as theirs Which stiles them the undoubted heirs To heaven 't were sinful to repent Here may they live till beauty spent In a religious life prepare Them with their fellow-Saints to share Celestial joys for whose desire They freely from the world retire Cho. Go then and rest in blessed peace whilst we Deplore the loss of such societie Through all the slow delays of Love arriv'd To the unguarded gate friendship that thriv'd Not in Perswasions rhetorick withdraws Her forces to assist that juster cause Prayers for their future good with which whilst they Are taking leave th'unfolded gates give way For the blest Votries entrance whom to meet A hundred pair of Maids more chastely sweet Then slowers which grow untoucht in desarts were Led by their Abbess to whose pious care These being join'd with such a sad reverse Of eyes oreflowing as the sable herse Close mourners leave when they must see no more Their coffin'd dead their friends are from the dore With eager looks woes last since now denied A further view departs unsatisfied This last of duties which the dearest friend Ought to perform brought to successful end For here no custom with a dowries price At entrance paid nurst slothful avarice They 're softly led through a fair garden where Each walk was by the founders pious care For various fancies wanton imagrie To catch the heart and not to court the eye Adorn'd with sacred histories From hence To th' center of this fair circumference The fabrick come the roving eye confin'd Within the buildings to enlarge the mind In contemplation saw where happy Art Had on the figur'd walls the second part Of Sacred story drawn in lines that had The worlds Redeemer from his first being clad In robes of flesh presented to the view Through all his passion till it brought him to The Cross that highest seal of love where he A sinless offering died from sin to free The captiv'd world which knew no other price But that to pay the debts of Paradice Past through this place where bleeding passion strove Their melting pity to refine to love They 're now the Temple enter'd where to skreen Their thoughts yet nearer heaven whom they had seen i th' entrance scourg'd contemn'd crucifide They there beheld though veils of glory hide Some part of the amazing Majestie In his Ascension as when rais'd to be For them that hear his death freed from the