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
the Court might be More glorious made by such Attendants to Incite in them a strong desire to view Those royall Pastimes thus relates that story Whose fatall truth transfer'd the Morea's glory So often thither 'T was my honourd friends My fate ' mongst some that yet his Court attends Then to be neer my Prince when what now draws Him to these parts did prove at once the cause Of joy and grief Not far from hence remov'd The Vale of Ceres lies where his belov'd Pharonnida remains a Lady that Nature ordaind for man to wonder at She not being more the comfort of his age Then glory of her Sex but I engage My self to a more large discovery which Thus take in brief When Youth did first enrich Beauty with manly strength his happy Bed Was with her royall Mother blest who fed A flame of Vertue in her Soul that lent Light to a Beauty which being excellent In its own Sphear by that reflection shon So heavenly bright Perfections height of noon Dwelt only there Some years had circled in Times revolutions since they first had been Acquainted with those private pleasures that Attend a Nuptiall Bed ere she did at Lucina's Temple offer whose bar'd Gate Once open flow both their good Angels sate In councell for her safety hopes of a Boy To be Morea's Heir fill high with joy The ravisht Parents Subjects did no less In the loud voice of Triumph theirs express But when the active pleasures of their love Which fill'd her Womb had taught the Babe to move Within the mory Mount preceding pains Tell the fair Queen that the dissolving Chains Nature incos'd it in were grown so weak That the imprison'd Infant soon would break Those slender Cuards the gravest Ladies were Call'd to assist her whose industrious care Lend Nature all the helps of Art but in Despair of safety send their Prayers to win Relief from Heaven which swift Assistance lent T' unload the Burthen but those Cordials sent By Harbengers with whom the fair Queen fled To deck the silent dwellings of the dead And lodge in Sheets of Lead o're which were cast A Coverlet of the Springs Infants past From life like her even whilst Earths teeming Womb Promist the World and not a silent Tomb That beauteous Issue But those Nimphs which spun Her thread of life the slender twine begun Too fine to last long undenied by The pondrous burthen of Mortality Beneath whose waight she sinking now to death Th' unhappy Babe was by the Mothers breath No sooner welcom'd into life before She bids farewell of Power to do no more But whilst her Spirits with each word expires Thus to her Lord express her last desires Receive this Infant from thy dying Queen Name her Pharonnida at which word between His trembling Armes she sunk and had even then Breath'd forth her Soul if not recall'd agen By their loud Mournings from the Icy sleep Which like a chilling Frost did softly creep Through the cold Channels of her blood to bar The springs of life in which defensive War The hasty Summons sent by death alow Her giddy Eyes whose heavy leads did bow Toward everlasting slumber no more light Then what affords a dim Imperfect sight Such as the troubl'd Opticks being by Dying Convulsions wrested could let fly Thorough their sullied Chrystals to behold Her wofull Lord whilst she did thus unfold Her dying thoughts O hear O hear quoth she I do By all our mutuall Vows conjure thee to Let this sweet Babe all thou hast left of me Within thy Thoughts preserve my Memorie And since poor Infant she must lose her Mother To beg an entrance here oh let no other Have more Command o're her then what may bear An equall poise with thy paternall Care This this is all that I shall leave behind An earnest of our loves here thou mayst find Perhaps my Image to behold whilst I Resolving into dust imbrac'd do lye By crawling Worms Followers that Nature gave To attend Mortality whilst the tainted Grave Is ripening us for Judgment O my Lord Death were the smile of Fate would it afford Me time to see this Infants growth but oh I feel Lifes Cordage crackt and hence must go From time and flesh like a lost Feather fall From th' Wings of Vanity forsaking all The various business of the World to see What wondrous Change dwels in Eternitie This sayd she faintly bids farewell then darts An eager look on all but ere she parts Even whilst the breath with which in thin Aire slips Departing Spirits on her then cold Lips In clammy Dews did hang she of them takes Her last farewell whilst her pure Soul forsakes Its brittle Cab'net and those Orbs of light That swam in death sunk in eternall Night Thus di'd the Queen Pharonnida thus lost Ere knew her Mother when her Birth had cost A price so great that brought her Infancy In debt to Grief untill maturity Ripen'd her Age to pay it after long And vehement lamentation such whose strong Assaults had almost shook his Soul into A flight from th' Earth her Father doth renew His long lost Mirth at the delight he took In his Souls Darling whose each cheerfull look Crimson'd those Sables which even whilst he wore A flood of Woes his head had silver'd o're Had not this Comfort stopt them which beguiles Sorrow of some few hours those pretty smiles â—â—at drest her fair Cheeks like a gentle Thief â—â—ealing his heart through all the Guards of Grief 〈◊〉 But when that time 's expunging hand had more Defac'd those sable Characters he wore 〈◊〉 Sorrows Livery o're his Soul and she â—â—aving out-grown her tender Infancy â—â—id now her Thoughts compos'd of heavenly Seed 〈◊〉 guide her life no other Guardian need 〈◊〉 native Vertue for her calm retreat When burthend Corinth was with throngs repleat 〈◊〉 chose this seat whose venerable shade Waving what blind Antiquity had made â—or sacred held is not so sleighted buâ— Custome ancient as our Law hath shut â—ence as the hatefull marks of servitude â—ll that unbounded power did e're obtrude â—n suffering Subjects which this happy place â—its so serene a blessing to embrace â—s is this Lady whose illustrious Court Though now augmented by the full resort Of her great Fathers Train doth still appear This happy Kingdomes brightest Hemisphear A hundred noble Youths in Sparta bred Of Valour high as ere for Beauty bled â—ll loyall Lovers and that Love confin'd Within the Court are for her Guard assign'd â—ut what if oft in such an Orb of all That 's great or good may low as Censure fall â—he Court hath questioned is the cause that mov'd The Prince to give a Party so belov'd â—nto his hands that leads them being one Whose Birth excepted that being neer a Throne Those Vertues wants on whose Foundation wise Considerate Princes let their Favours rise Like the abortive Births of Vapors by Their Male Progenitors inforc'd to fly Above the Earth their proper Sphear
fell From a thrones splendor did neglected lie Sunk with her temple to deformitie Dark gloomy groves which holy altars shade With solitude such as religion made Full of an awful reverence and drew The ravisht soul from the worlds wandring view Circled the sacred valley into one Of which our Royal Lovers were alone Retir'd in private sollitude to pay Sleeps forfeitures whilst the bright bloomy day Sweats the hidroptick earth but joy denies That sullen ghest an entrance in their eies Their eyes which now like wandring Plannets met After a race of cross aspects and set Within a firmament of beauty thence On Loves cold Region dropt their influence Warm'd by whose vigor springs of pleasures had Watring their cheeks those fields in roses clad Fear that till now had made them languish in A dang'rous hectick or at best had bin But cas'd with intervals which did include Ambiguous hopes in times vicissitude Ceas'd to usurp yet though the throne expell'd A large command in Reasons Empire held Leading those parties which wise counsel sent Close ambuscado'd dangers to prevent Nor could the conduct fail assail'd by ought Within the circuit of extended thought Deliberation the souls wary Scout Being still imploy'd to lead fresh parties out ' Gainst the known enemies of hope But here Black Troops of danger undiscern'd of fear Assaults unralli'd fortitude whilst she Slept ' mongst the rose-beds of securitie Exalted far above the gross mistakes Of vulgar love cloth'd in such thoughts as shakes Ripe souls from out their husks of earth to be Pick'd up by Angels joys Stenographie In their embraces met not with less strength Of love though yet not to be wrought at length Then that which meets in nuptial folds when they Reap Heavens first blessing in their bloods allay Met their full seas of passion yet both calm As vertues brow their blood but warm'd like balm To pour in sorrows wounds not boild into A scum of lust The worlds first man did wo The blushing offâ—pring of his side the fiâ—st Unpractickt Virgin with as great a thirst Of blood as theirs when in the safe defence Of Paradice each act was innocence Here whilst thâ—ir sweet imployment was discourse Taught in the School of Vertue to divorce Those maiden brides their twisted eye-beams sleep Which flies the open gates of care did creep In at their cristal windows to remove The lamp of joy fill'd with the oil of love The Princess spirits fled from the distress Of action into calm for getfulness Having the Curtains drawn Argalia's head Softly reposing on her lap that bed Of precious odors there receives a while A rest for sweetness such as Saints beguile Time in in their still dormitories till Heavens summons shall their hopes on earth fulfill Remov'd from them feeding his horses in A well-fleâ—â—'d meddow which that age had seen Till then ne'er loose its Sommer robe before Russet with age he put it off and wore A glittering tissue furr'd with snow did lie Their careful guide secure till frighted by A dreadful noise of horse whose rushing wakes Him to behold what seen with terror shakes Off sleeps declining weights in such a strange Amaze as forts surpris'd the skar'd guards change Their swords for Fetters flying he looks back On the steel fronâ—ed troop till at his back Approaching danger gathering in a cloud Of death overwhelms him frighting with its loud Exalted clamors from their then clos'd eyes Loves altars sleeps intended sacrifice Shook from their slumber with the first salutes Of light to meet their ruin thick recruits Of brave resolves into Argalia's brest Had swiftly summon'd but the Princess rest Exchang'd for wilde amazement in which sad Restraint of spirits life with beauty had Fled to the silent Region if not by Her Royal friend supported who the high Pitch of exalted anger whilst he draws His sword to vindicate their righteous cause Descends to comfort her thinking those troops Her Fathers Messengers his brave soul stoops Not to request a favor but although Their multitude in hopes account outgrow Life more then those diseases which attend On ages cold extream he dares defend Love though by vigor of supream commands Depriv'd of favor's mercinary Bands Prompted by power that soveraign antidote ' Gainst Natures poyson baseness and by roate Not Arts fair Rules taught Lessons of defence These dregs of men not having more pretence Then what from Riot was extorted in Unwieldy throngs the conquest strive to win From single valor not the powerfull pray'r Of her whose voice had purified the ayr To a seraphick excellence the sweet Heav'n lov'd Pharonnida could come to meet Pitty in this rude wilderness her words Losing their form in the wild air affords Their busie souls no heedfull leasure but With wilder passions the soul's portals shut That sober friend to happy sollitude Silence which long those blest shades did include By rude noise banisht from her solemn Throne Did in a deep and hollow eccho grone Whilst the brave Champion whose own worth did bring Assistance yet had in a bloody ring Strew'd death's pale triumphs and in safety stands The dangerous business of so many hands All which had in the grave joyn'd palms if by One stroke that index unto victory His sword had not with sudden breaking prov'd Traitor to th' strength by whose command it mov'd Rob'd of this safe defence Valors brave flame In vain is spent that Piramis of fame Built by his hand o'er Loves fair temple now Even in the view of 's Saint is forc't to bow Beneath an earthquake his commanding soule In this sharp conflict striving to controle Nature rebellious to her power le ts flye In vain the piercing lightning of the eye Whose dark leads drooping in a death like close Forbids high fury thundring on his soes He falls and from each purple salliport Of wounds tir'd spirits in a thick resort Flie the approach in which wild trance His eyes did their declining lights advance Above their gloom of darkness to convay The last faint beam of natures falling day To his distrest Pharonnida but she In clouds of sorrow lost was gone to be Close mourner for his rigid fare beneathe A pale sowns shady vale and could not breathe One sigh to welcom those sick guests nor lend A beam to light them to their journies end Which being depriv'd of in deaths dark disguise Forgetful shadows did obscure his eyes Branded with an ignoble victory His base oppressors staying not to try Where fire remains in lifes dark lamp forsake Their bleeding shame and only with them take The trembling Ladies whose amazement yet Griefs floodgates shuts in a distracting fit Of wilder passions circled in which cloud She 's hurried thence and ere that damp aloud Light through her souls prospectives had past ore Much of the Desart and arriv'd before A barren Rocks proud front which being too steep For the laborious traveller a deep Dark vault did pierce whose dismal black descent Safe passage to a
course we 're come to a low shed Whose happy honor ne'r disquieted With those domestick troubles that attend On larger roofs here in content did spend Fortunes scant gifts at his unhaunted gate Hearing us knock he stands not to debate With wealthy misers slow suspition but Swift as if 't were a sin to keep it shut Removes that slender Guard but when he there Unusual Strangers saw with such a care As onely spoke a conscious shame to be Surpris'd whilst unprovided poverty Straitned desire he starts yet entertains Us so that shew'd by an industrious pains He strove to welcom more Here being by Their goodness and our own necessity Tempted a while to rest we safely lay Far from persuing ills yet since the way To danger by suspition lies we still Fear being betray'd by those that meant no ill Since oft their busie whispers though they spring From love and wonder slow discoveries bring Being now removing since thy tender age Threatned to make the grave its second stage If thence conveigh'd by us whose fondest love Could to thy wants but fruitless pity prove T' inlarge thy commons though increase our fears To those indulgent rurals who for tears Had springs of milk to feed thee thou remain'st An infant tenant for thy own name ' gainst What since thou hast bin known by which when we Contracted had to the stenographie Some gold the last of all our wealth we leave To make their burthen light which they receive With thankfull joy amaz'd to see those bright Angels display their strange unwonted light In poverties cold region where they had Been pin'd for want if not by labor clad When age should make thee capable to tell Thy wonder how thy infancy had fell From honors pyramids a jewel which Did once the splendor of his Crown inrich About thy neck he hangs then breathing on Thy tender lips a parting kiss we 're gone Gone from our last delight to finde some place Dark as our clouded stars there to embrace Unenvi'd poverty in the cold bed Of sad despair till on his reverend head Once center to a crown grief makes him weare A silver frost by frequent storms of care Forc'd on that royal mount whose verdute fades Ere time by youths antagonist invades Not far through dark and unknown paths we had Wander'd within those forrests which unclad By big windes of their summers beauteous dress Naked and trembling stood ere fair success Smiling upon our miseries did bring Us to a chrystal stream from whose cold spring With busie and laborious care we saw A feeble Hermite stooping down to draw An earthen pot whose empty wants supply'd With liquid treasure soon had satisfy'd His thirsty hopes who now returning by A narrow path which did directing Ile Through th' unfrequented desart with the haste Of doubtfull Travellers in lands laid waste By conquering foes we follow till drawn near To him whom innocence secur'd from fear Disburth'ning of his staff he sits to rest What was with age and labor both opprest Our first salutes when we for blessings had Exchang'd with him being sat we there unclad All our deform'd misfortunes and unless A kingdoms loss disvellop'd our distress Which heard with pity that he safely might Be the directing Pharos by whose light We might be safely guided from the rocks Of the tempestuous world his tongue unlocks A cabinet of holy counsel which More then our vanish'd honor did enrich Our souls for whose eternal good was meant This cordial with the worlds best wealth Content Content which flies the busie throne to dwell With hungry Hermites in the noiseless cell More safe then age from the hot sins of youth Peaceful as faith free as untroubled truth Being by him directed hither we Long liv'd within this narrow Monast'rie Whose orders being too strict for those that ne're Had lost delight i th' prosecuting care Of unsuccessful action suited best With us whose griefs compar'd taught the distrest To sleight their own as guests that did intrude On reason in the want of fortitude That brave supporter which such comfort brings That none can know but persecuted Kings The purple-robe his births unquestion'd right For the course habit of a Carmelite Being now exchang'd and we retir'd from both Our fears and hopes like private Lovers loth When solve from the observant Spy to be Disturb'd by friends for want or greatness free Secure and calm we spent those happy days In nought ambitious but of what might raise Our thoughts towards heav'n with whom each hour acquaints In prayr more frequent then afflicted saints Our happy souls which here so long had bin Refining till that grand reward of sin Death did by age his common harbinger Proclaim 's approach and warn'd us to defer For the earths trivial business nought that might Concern eternity lest life and light Forsaking our dark mansions leave us to Darkness and death unfurnisht of a clew Which might conduct when time shall cease to be Through the meanders of eternitie Thy pious father ere the thefts of age Decaying strength should his stiff limbs engage In an uneasie rest to level all Accounts with heaven doth to remembrance call A vow which though in hot affliction made Whilst passions-short ephemera's did invade His troubled soul doth now when the disease Time had expung'd from solitary ease Call him again to an unwilling view o th' active world in a long journey to Forlorn Enna unto whose Temple he Had vow'd if fortune lent him libertie Till tir'd with the extreams of weary age The cheap devotion of a pilgrimage The End of the Fourth Canto PHARONNIDA The Fourth Book CANTO V. The Argument I. To the grave Author of this happy news The pleas'd Argalia with delight did hear Till whilst the fatal story he persues He brings his great soul near the gates of fear II. By letting him in full discovery know The dreadful danger that did then attend His royal Sire who to his sword must ow For safety ere his sad afflictions end FOrsaking now our solitary friends Whose prayrs upon each slow-pac'd step attends From danger by a dress so course exempt As wore religion to avoid contempt Through toils of many a tedious day at last We Enna reach where when his vows had past The danger of a forfeiture and we That debt discharg'd to heaven had libertie To look abroad with sorrow-laden eyes We view those ruines in whose ashes lies Sad objects of our former loss not then Rak'd up so deep but old observant men When youths were in procession led could tell Where towrs once stood and in what fights they fell Which to confirm some in an aged pride Shew wounds which then though they did wisely hide As signatures of loyal valor they Now unsuspected with delight display Hence when commanded by the wane of light We sought protection from approaching night In an adjacent Monastry where we The wandring objects of their charitie Although by all welcom'd with friendly zeal
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
other Affairs and not to be understood but in their own Dialect I have done with all that in probability may prove my Readers And now a word to such whom I presume will be none for they are desir'd to do no more then the Epistle It being fit to serve them like Vagabonds let them enter no further then the Gate I mean all squint-ey'd Sectaries from the Spawn of Geneva to the black Brood of Amsterdam together with some Rascals of a lower Rank such as usurp the abus'd Title of Sons of Art and with an empty Impudence endeavour to pollute those Immaculate Virgins whilst the other with an exalted Villany sully the Celestiall Beauties of Divine Truth For the first of which the preposterous Genius of the Times hath so far favour'd them that now nothing is more vendible then the surreptitious off-springs of their immagin'd Wit Every Stationers Shop affording pregnant examples of it in big bulk'd Volumes of Physick Astrologie and the like By these indigent Vermine either to satisfie their clamorous Wants or inhance their esteem in the Vulgar Opinion basely prostituted to every illiterate Spectator whilst Truth and a guilty Conscience tels them nought is their own but the Hyperbolicall Titles which to discerning Eyes appear but the glorious out-sides to tainted Sepulchers in which their detected Villany shall be Abominated by more knowing Posterityâ— These cry down all things of this Nature for Subjects of Inutility not tending to the improvement of Science which in the most genuine Construction of it hath no Enemy from which her ruine is more formidable then from them But for my more dangerous Sceptick who yet is so much like the Fole of an Ass that he appears to the World with his Spleen in his Mouth I mean my pretended zealous Censurer from whom in mee it were an over-weaning boldness to expect Civility since though not for the Nature which he understands not yet for the Name which he hath only heard of he is so much an Enemy to the Muses that should the Seraphick Strains of Majestick David or the flaming Raptures of Elegiack Jeremiah appear to the World in their pristine and unpolluted Purity his Ignorance would extend to so vast an Error to censure them of Levity But as no man will esteem the Sun less Glorious for that the hated Owle avoids its sight so I presume none except their own deluded Followers will betray so palpable a dearth of Judgment as to bear the less estecm to Majestick Poetry for the illiterate scandal of flattering Ignorance Poesie if justly meriting to be invested in that glorious Title being of so attractive a Beauty that it doth rather like an Orphean Harmony draw that Emblem of a Beast the unpollisht Clown to a listning Civility then like Circe's Inchantments change the more happily Educated to a swinish and sordid Lethargie But her defence being a burthen which already stands firm on so many noble Supporters whose Monuments will remain till Time it self shall be lost in Eternity I need not add my weak Endeavours to illustrate a Beauty which the wiser world already admires Now though she want the Applause of some Attribute it not to the defect either of her Excellency or their Judgment but to that various Dress of Humours wherewith Nature hath Checquer'd the Universe Concluding with that Honour of ancient Thebes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pindarus in Olympiorum octavo W. C. PHARONNIDA The first Book CANTO THE FIRST The ARGUMENT I. From Seas wild fury and the wilder rage Of faithless Turks two noble strangers freed Let Curtesie their gratefull Souls engage To such a Debt as doth obstruct their speed II. Where they to fill those Sceans unactive rest Would tedious make in fair description saw How Spata's Prince for his Queens loss opprest Found all those Ills cur'd in Pharonnida THE Earth which lately lay like Nutures Tomb Marbl'd in Frosts had from her pregnant Womb Display'd the fragrant Spring when courted by A calm fresh Morning ere Heavens brightest Ey Adorn'd the East a Spartan Lord whom Fame Taught from Desert made glorious by the Name Of Aminander with a noble train Whose active Youth did sloath-like sin disdain Attended had worn out the Morning in Chase of a stately Stag which having bin Forc'd from the Forests safe protection to Discovering Plain his clamourous Foes had drew Up to a steep Cliffs lofty top where he As if grown proud so sacrific'd to be To mans delight ' mongst the puâ—suing cry Who make the Valleys eccho Victory Sinks weeping whilst exalted shouts did tell The distant Heaâ—ds their ancient Leader fell The half-tir'd Hunters their swift Game stopt here By death like noble Conquerors appear To give that Foe which now resistless lies With their shrill Horns his Fun'rall Obsequies Which whilst performing their diverted sight Turns to behold a far more fatall fight That since fam'd Gulf where the brave Austrian made The Turkish Crescents an eternall shade Beneath dishonour seeks Lepanto lay So neer that from their lofty station they A Ship upon whose Streamers there were fixt The Christian Badge saw in fierce Battell mixt With a prevailing Turkish Squadron that With shouts assault what now lay onely at That feeble Guard which under the pretence Of injuring others seeks its own defence Clear was the day and calm the Sea so long Till now the Turks whose numbers grew too strong For all that could no other help afford But humane strength within their view did board The wretched Christians to whose sufferings they Can lend no comfort but what Pray'rs convey To helpfull Heaven by whose attentive Ear Both heard and pittyed Mercy did appear In this swift change A hollow Wind proclaims Approaching storms the black Clouds burst in flames Imprison'd Thunder roars and in a shoure Dark as the Night dull sweaty Vapors poure Themselves on th' earth t' enrich whom Nature vents Th' etherial Fabricks useless excrements Whose flatuous pride as if it did disdain Such base descents rowling the liquid plain Into transparent Mountains hurls them at The brow of Heaven whose Lamps by Vapors that Their influence rais'd are crampt whilst the sick day Was languishing to such a Night as lay O're the first Matter when Confusion dwelt In the vast Chaos ere the rude Mass felt Heavens segregating breath But long this fierce Conflict indures not ere the Sun-beams pierce The scatterd Clouds which whilst wild Winds pursue Through sullied Aire in reaking Vapors flew In this Encounter of the storm before Its sable Vail let them discover more Then contain'd horror a loud dreadfull shriek Piercing the thick Aire at their Ears did seek For trembling entrance being transported by Uncertain drifts rent Sails and Tackling fly Amongst the towring Cliffs a sure presage That adverse Winds did in that storm engage Some Vessell which did from her Cordage part With such sad pangs as from the dying Heart Convulsions tear the Fibers But the day Recov'ring her lost Rain made clearer way For
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
his Sword are now By bounty made too much his own t' allow Even flight suspition room This being done That Valour though with Love 't were wingd might run On no rash Precipice assisted by That skilful Sea-man from some Ships that ly Neglected ' cause by time decayed he takes So much o th' Tackling as of that he makes Ladders of length sufficient to ascend The Castle Wals which having to defend Them nought but slave security is done With so much ease that what 's so wel begun They boldly second and first entering in A Tower which had by th' prudent Founder bin Built to command the Havens Mouth which lay Too low for th' Castle where when come all they Found to resist is one poor Centry bound In sleep which soon by death is made more sound To lodge the Prince in that safe place before His active valour yet attempted more The Gates secur'd that led to th' Castle he Protected by that Nights obscuritie By a conceald smal Salliport is to Its strength soon brought when now prepard to view More dreadful dangers in such habit clad As by the out-Guards easie Error had Soon as a Soldier gave him entrance come To th' Hall he is there being informd by some o th' drousie Guards where his pretended speed Might find Molarchus to perform a deed That future Ages if that Honours fire Lose not its light shal worthily admire His Valours hast within a room whose pride Of Art though great was far more glorifi'd By that bright Luster the Spectators saw Through Sorrows Clouds in fair Pharonnida He finds the impious Villain heightend in His late success to such rude acts of sin That servile baseness the low distance whence He us'd to look grew sawcy Impudence Inflam'd Argalia who at once beholds Objects to which the Sould inlarg'd unfolds Its passions in the various Characters Of Love and Anger now no more defers The exâ—cution of his rage but in So swift a death as if his hand had been Guided by Lightning to Molarchus sent His Lifes discharge which with astonishment Great as if by their evil Angels all Their sins had been displayed did wildly fall Upon his Followers whom ere hast could save Or strength resist Argalia's Sword had gave Such sudden deaths that whilst Amazements reignd Ere all he from the heedless tumult gaind That glorious Prize the royal Lady who In all assaults of fears not lost unto Her own clear Judgment as a blessing sent From Heaven whilst her base Foes Confusion lent That Action safety follows that brave Friend Whose Sword redeemd her till her Journeys end Through threatning dangers brought her to that place Where with such passion as kind Wives embrace Husbands returnd from bondage she is by Her Father welcom'd into liberty Thus rescu'd whilst exalted tumours sweld To such Confusion as from sense expeld Reasons safe Conduct whilst each Soldier leaves His former Charge fears pale disease receives This Paroxisme the Fleet which yet had in A doubtful Quest of their surpriz'd Prince bin Directed hither with the new-born day Their streamers round the Cittadel display Which seen by them that being deluded by The dead Molarchus to his treachery Had joynd their strength guilt the Original Of shame did to defend the plat-form Call Their bold endeavour but when fidning it Too strongly man'd for undermineing wit Or open strength to force dispairing to Be long secure prompted by fear they threw Themselves on Mercy which calm Grace among Heavens other blessings whilst it leads along The Prince toward Victory made his Conquest seen Such as came not to punish but redeem The end of the fourth Canto PHARONNIDA The first Book CANTO THE FIFTH The ARGUMENT IX The gratefull Prince to shew how much he lov'd This noble Youth whoe 's Merits just reward Too great for less Abilities had prov'd Makes him Commander of his Daughters Guard X. Where seated in the most benign Aspect Kind Love could grant to fair Pharonnida A sacred Vision doth her hopes detect Whose waking joyes his absence doth withdraw FReed from those dangers which this bold attempt Made justly feard whilst joy did yet exempt Those cares which when by time concocted shall His Kingdome to a general Mourning call Sparta's pleas'd Prince with all the Attributes Ere Gratitude learnd from Desert salutes That noble Youth which even when hope was spent Kind Heaven had made his safeties Instrument By acts of such heroick Vertue that Whilst all the less concernd are wondring at The grateful Prince in all the noble waies Of honour lasting as his life repaies By whose example the fair Princess taught To shadow Love her Souls most perfect draught In friendships Vail so free a welcome gave The worthy stranger that al prayer durst crave Though sacrific'd in Zeals most perfect fire Seemd now from Heaven dropt on his pleas'd desire Some daies spent here whilst Justice vainly sought That Treasons root whose base production brought Unto an unexpected Period in Molarchus death with him had buried bin To future knowledge all confessions though In torments they extracted were bestow Upon their knowledge being th' imperfect shade Of supposition which too weak t' invade Even those whose doubtful Loyalty lookt dim The prudent Prince burying mistrust with him Leaving the Island with 's triumphant Fleet On the Sicillian shoar prepars to meet That Joy in triumph which a blessing brought His loyal Subjects with their prayers had sought To cure those hot distemperatures which in His absence had the Courts Quotidian bin The Princess guard as being an honour due To noble Valour having left unto That worthy stranger whose victorious hand Declar'd a Soul created for command The Prince departs from his loud Daughters Court To joyful Corinth where though the resort Of such as by their service strove t' express An uncorrupted Loyalty made less That Mourning which the Kingdomes general Loss Claim'd from all hearts yet like a sable Cross Which amongst Trophy's noble Conquerors bear All did some signs o th' publick sorrrow wear But leaving these to rectifie that State This Feaver shook return to whom we late Left gently calm'd that happy pair which in Desire the shady Porch of Love begin That lasting progress which ere ended shall So oft their Fate to strong assistance call Some Months in happy free delights before Passion got strength enough to dictate more Then Reason could right fair they 'd spent in which Slumber of Fancy popular Love grown rich Soon becomes factious and engages all The powers of Nature to procure the fall Of the Souls lawful Soveraign either in Each Action of the others did begin To place an Adoration she doth see What ere he doth as shining Majesty Beneath a Cloud or Books where Heaven transfers Their Oracles in unknown Characters Like Gold yet unrefin'd or th' Adamant Wrapt up in earth he only seemd to want Knowledge of Worth Her Actions in his fight Appear like fires feign'd Element with light But not destruction
arm'd like the fair Sun When through a chrystal Aqueduct he'th run His piercing Beams until grown temperate by That cooling Medium through humility Shun her Majestick worth in eithers Eyes The other seemd to wear such a disguise As Poets cloathd their wandring Gods in when In forms disguiz'd they here converst with men But long this conflict of their Passions ere Resisted lasts not when disdaind to bear Those leaden Fetters the great Princess tries To quench that fire i th' Embrio ere it rise To unresisted blazes but in vain What her tears smoother are by sighs again Blown into flames such as since not to be By ought extinguisht her sweet modesty Strives to conceal nor did them more betray Then by such Fugitives as stole away Through her fair Eyes those Salliports of Love From her besieged heart now like to prove Had not her Honour cal'd the Act unjust So feeble to betray her Souls best trust Her flames being not such as each vulgar breast Feels in the fires of Fancy when opprest With gloomy discontents her bright stars sate Inthron'd so high that like the Bays of Fate It stopt the Current of the stream and to The Sea of Honour Loves fresh Rivers drew Thus whilst the royal Eaglet doth i th' high Sublimer Region of bright Majesty Upon Affections Wings still hover yet Loath to descend on th' humble earth doth sit Her worthy Lover like that amorous Vine When crawling o're the Weeds it strives to twine Embraces with the Elm he stands whilst she Desires to bend but like that love-sick Tree By greatness is deni'd he that nere knew A swelling tumour of conceit nor flew Upon the waxen Wings of vain Ambition A thought above his own obscure Condition Thinks that the Princess by her large respect Conferd on him but kindly doth reflect Her Fathers beams and with a reverend zeal Sees those descending Rays that did reveal Loves Embassies transported on the quick Wings of that heart-o're-coming Rhetorick Instructing that the weakness of his Eye Dazl'd with beams of shining Majesty Might for too boldly gazing on a sight So full of glory be depriv'd of light Stifling his Fancy till it turnd the Aire That fand his heart to flames which pale dispaire Chil'd into Iâ—e soon as he went about With them to breath a storm of passions out But vain are all these fears his Eagle sight Is born to gaze upon no lesser Light Then that from whence all other beauties in The same sphear borrow theirs he else had bin Degenerate from that royal Airce whence He first did spring although he fell from thence Unfledg'd the growing Pinnions of his Fame Wanting the purple tincture of his Name And Titles both unknown yet shall be fly On his own Merits strength a pitch as high Though not so boldly claimd and such as shall Inhance the blessing when the dull mists fall From truths benighted Eyes whispering in His Souls pleas'd Ear her passion did begin Whilst all the Constellations of her Fate Fixt in the Zenith of bright honour sate Whilst his deprest by adverse Fortune in Their Nader lay even to his hopes unseen Whilst thus Enthean fire did lye conceald With different Curtains least by being reveald Cross Fate which could not quench it should to death Scorch all their hopes burnd in the angry breath Of her incensed Father whilst the fair Pharonnida was striving to repair The wakeful ruines of the day within Her Bed whose Down of late by Love had been Converted into Thorns she having payed The restless tribute of her sorrow stayed To breath a while in broken slumbers such As with short blasts cool feverish brains but much More was in hers a strong Prophetick dream Divering by Enigmaes Natures stream Long hovering through the Portals of her mind On vain phantastick Wings at length did find The glimerings of obstructed reason by A brighter beam of pure divinity Led into supernatural light whose Rayes As much transcended reasons as the dayes Dull mortal fires faith apprehends to be Beneath the glimerings of divinity Her unimprisond Soul disrob'd of all Terrestial thoughts like its Original In Heaven pure and Immaculate a fit Companion did for those bright Angels sit Which the Gods made their Messengers to bear This sacred truth seeming transported where Fixt in the flaming Center of the world The heart o th' Mycrocosme 'bout which is hurld The spangl'd Curtains of the Sky within Whose boundless Orbs the circling Planets spin Those threads of time upon whose strength rely The pondrous Burthens of mortality An Adamantine World she sees more pure More glorious far then this fram'd to endure The shock of Dooms-daies Darts in which remains The better Angels of what earth contains Plac'd there to govern all our Acts and be A Medium 'twixt us and Eternity Hence Nature from a Laberinth half above Half underneath that sympathetick Love Which warms the World to Generation sends On unseen Atomes each small star attends Here for his Message which receiv'd is by Their influence to the Astral Faculty That lurks on earth communicated hence Informing Forma sends Intelligence To the material principles of earth Her upper Garments Natures second birth Upon each side of this large Frame a Gate Of different use was plac'd at one there sate A sprightly youth whose Angels form delights Eyes dim'd with age whose blandishments invights Infants i th' Womb to court their wo and be By his false shape tempted to misery Millions of thousands swarm about him though Diseases do each minute strive to throw Them from his presence since being tempted by His flattering form all court it though they ly On beds of thorns to look on 't saving some More wretched Male-contents that hither come With Souls so sullen that whilst time invights Them to his Joys they shun those smooth delights This the Worlds Favourite had a younger Brother Of different hue each more unlike the other Then opposite Aspects Antipathy Within their breasts though they were forc'd to be Almost inseparable dwelt this Fiend A passage guarded which at th' other end o th' spatious Structure stood betwixt each Gate Was plac'd a Laberinth in whose Angles sate The vanities of Life attempting to Stay deaths pale Harbengers but that black Cleâ— Times dusty Girdle Fates Arithmetick Griefs slow pac'd Snail Joyes more then Eagle quick That Chain whose Links compos'd of hours and daies Thither at length spight of delay conveys The slow pac'd steps of time there alwaies stood Near him one of the triple Sisterhood Who with deformity in love did send Him troops of Servants hourly to attend Upon his harsh Commands which he from all Society of flesh without the Wall Down a dark Hill conveyd at whose foot stood An ugly Lâ—ke black as that horrid flood Gods made by men did feare Myriads of Boats On the dark surface of the water floats Containing Passengers whose different hue Tell them that from the Wals do trembling view Their course that there 's
no age of man to be Exempted from that powerful tyrany A Tyde which nere shall know reflux beyond The baleful stream unto a gloomy strond Circl'd with black obscurity conveys Each passenger where their torn Chain of daies Is in Eternity peâ—ckt up between These different Gates the Princess having seen Lifes various Sceans wrought to a method by Disposing Angels on a Rock more high Then Natures common surface she beholds The Mansion house of Fate which thus unfolds Its sacred Mysteries A trine within A quadrate plac'd both those incompast in A perfect Circle was its form but what Its matter was for us to wonder at Is undiscoverd left a Tower there stands At every Angle where times fatal hands Th' impartial Parâ—ae dwel i th' first she sees Clothe the kindest of the Destinies From immaterial Essences to cull The seeds of life and of them frame the Wooll For Lachesiâ— to spin about her flie Myriades of Souls that yet want flesh to lie Warmd with their Functions in whose strength bestows That power by which man ripe for misery grows Her next of Objects was that glorious Tower Where that swift fingerd Nymph that spares no houre From mortals service draws the various threds Of life in several lengths to weary beds Of age extending some whilst others in Their Infancy are broke some blackt in sin Others the Favourites of Heaven from whence Their Origen candid with Innocence Some purpl'd in afflictions others dy'd In sanguine pleasures some in glittering pride Spun to adorn the Earth whilst others wear Rags of Deformity but knots of care No thread was wholly freed from Next to this Fair glorious Tower was plac'd that black Abbyss Of dreadful Atropos the bale ful seat Of death and horrour in each room replear With lazy damps loud groans and the sad sight Of pale grim Ghosts those Terrours of the Night To this the last stage that the winding Clew Of life can lead mortality unto Fear was the dreadful Porter which let in All Guests sent thither by destructive sin As its firm Basis on all these depends A lofty Piramid to which each sends Some Gift from Natures treasury to Fames Uncertain hand the hollow room with Names And empty sounds was only fil'd of those For whom the Destinies daind to compose Their fairest threads as if but born to die Here all Ephem'raes of report did flie On feeble Wings till being like to fall Some faintly stick upon the slimy Wall Till the observant Antiquary rents Them thence to live in paper Monuments In whose Records they are preserv'd to be The various censures of posterity i th' upper Room as Favourites to Fate There only Poets rich in Fancy sate In that beneath Historians whose Records Do Theams unto those pregnant Wits afford Yet both preparing everlasting Bayes To crown their glorious dust whose happy dayes Were here spent well beneath these cover'd o're With dim oblivions shadows Myriads more Till Dooms-day shall the gaudy World undress Lay huddl'd up in dark forgetfulness All which as Objects not of worth to cast A fixt Eye on the Princess Genius past In heedless hast untill obstructed by Visions that thus fixt her Souls wandring Ey A Light as great as if that Dooms-daies flame Were for a Lamp hung in the Court of Fame Directs her where on a bright Throne there sate Sicillia's better Genius her proud state Courted by all Earths greatest Monarchs by Three valiant Knights supported was whose high Merits disdaining a Reward less great With equal hopes aim'd at the royal Seat Which since all could not gain betwixt her three Fair Daughters both her Crown and Dignity Is equally bestow'd by giving one To each of them when the divided Throne Had on each Angle fixt a Diadem Her Vision thus proceeds the royal Stem That bore her Fathers Crown to view first brings Its golden Fruit a glorious Race of Kings Led by the Founder of their Fame their Rear Brought by her Father up next those that bear Epirus honourd Armes the royal train Concluding in Zoranza this linkt Chain Drawn to an end the Princes that had swayed Argalia's Scepter fill the Scean till stayed By the Epirots Sword their conquerd Crown From aged Gelons hoaty head dropt down At fierce Zoranza's feet this she beholds With admiration whilst hid truth unfolds It self in plainer objects the distrest Actolian Prince again appears but drest In a poor Pilgrims Weed in 's hand he leads A lovely Boy in whose sweet look she reads Soft pitties Lectures but whilst gazing on This Act till lost in admiration By sudden Fate he seemd transformd to what She last beheld him only offering at Loves Shrine his heart to her Idea there Joy had bereav'd her slumbers had not fear Clouded the glorious Dream a dreadful mist Black as the steams of Hell seeming to twist Its ugly vapours into shades more thick Then Night ingendring Damps had with a quick But horrid darkness vail'd the Room t' augment Whose terrour a Clouds sulphry bosome rent With dreadful thunder-claps darting a bright But fearful blaze through th' artificial Night Lent her so much use of her Eyes to see Argalia groveling in his blood which she Had scarce beheld ere the malignant flame Vanisht again she shrieks and on his Name Doth passionatly call but here 's no sound Startles her Ear but hollow groans which drownd Her Soul in a cold sweat of fears which ended A second blaze lends her its light attended With Objects whose wild horrour did present Her Fathers Ghost then seeming to lament Her injur'd Honour in his Company Thd slain Laconians Spirit which let free From the dark Prison of the cold Grave where In rusty Chains he lay was come to bear Her to that sad Abode but as she now Appeard to sink a golden Cloud did bow From Heavens fair Arch in which Argalia seemd Clad in bright Armour fitting who redeemd Her from approaching danger which being done The darkness vanisht and a glorious Sun Of welcome Light displayd its beams by which A Throne the first resembling but more rich In its united Glory to the eye Presents its luster where in Majesty The Angels that attend their better Fate Pâ—ac'd her and brave Argalia in which state The un-bard portals of her Soul let fly The golden slumber whose dear memory Shall live within her noble thoughts until Treading o're all obstructions Fate fulfil These dark predictions whose obscurity Must often first her Souls afflictions be When now the Mornings dews that cool allay Which cures the Feavers of th' intemperate day Were rarifi'd to Aire the Princess to Improve her joy in private thoughts withdrew From burthensome society within A silent Groves cool shadows what had been Her Midnights joy to recollect in which Delightful task whilst Memory did enrich The robes of Fancy to divert the stream Of thoughts intentive only on her Dream Argalia enters with a speed that shewed He unto some supream Commander owed That diligence but when arriv'd
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
there did please Her self with wilder pastimes on those Clifts Whose rugged â—eads the spatious Mountain lifts To an unfruitful height amongst a wild Indomitable herd of Goats the mild And fearful Cony with her busie feet Makes Warmth and Safety in one Angle meeâ— From this wild range the eye contracted in The Islands narrow bounds would think 't had been i th' world before but now were come to view An Angel-guarded Paradice till to A Pictures first rude Catagraph the Art Of an ingenious Pensil doth impart Each Complement of skil or as the Court To the rude Country as each Princely sport That brisks the blood of Kings to those which are The gross-Soul'd Peasants rude delight so far These Objects differ here wel-figur'd Nature Had put in form and to a goodly staâ—ure On whose large bulk more lasting Arts were spent Added the dress of choicest Ornament The stately Mount whose artificial Crown The Palace was to meet the Vale stole down On soft descents by labour forc'd into A fliding Serpentine whose winding Clew An easie but a slow descent did give Unto a purling stream whose Spring did live When from the Hils cool Womb broke forth within A Grotto whence before it did begin To take its weeping farewel into all The various Forms restrictive Art could call Her Elemental Instruments unto Obedience by it Courts th' admiring view Of pleas'd Spectators here exalted by Clear Aqueducts in showers it from those high Supporters fals now turnd into a thin Vapour in that Heavens painted Bow is seen Now it supplies the place of Aire and to A Quire of Birds gives breath which all seemd flew From thence for fear when the same Element With such a noise as Seas imprisond rent Including Rocks do roar which rude sound done As noble Conqu'rors who the Battel won From the loud thunders of impeteous War To the calm fields of peaceful Mercies are By manly pity led so Proâ—eus like Returnd from what did fear or wonder strike The liquid Nymph resuming her own shape Within a Marble square a clear escape Till from her winding stream the River takes Still fresh supplies from that fair Fountain makes Upon those Banks which guarded her descent Both for her Odour and her Ornament Lillies and fragrant Roses there were set To heighten whose perfume the Violet And maiden Primrose in their various dress Steal through that Moss whose humble lowliness Preserve their beauties whilst Aurora's rose And that ambitious Flower that will disclose The ful-blown beauties of her self to none Until the Sun mounts his Meridian Throne Like envied worth together with the view Of the Beholders being expos'd unto Each storms rough breath in that Vicissitude Finds that their pride their danger doth include When scortcht with heat or burâ—hend with a shower From blooming beauty sinks the fading Flower Though here defended by a Grove that twin'd 〈◊〉 Imbraces and with boughs combin'd Protects the 〈…〉 which it ne're leaves Till thence the Vale its flowry wealth receives Plac'd as the nobler Faculty to this Of vegitation like an Emphasis Amongst the flowers of Rhetorick did stand The gorgeous Palace where Arts curious hand Had to exceed example centerd in One exact Model what had scatterd been But as those Fragments which she now selects The glory of all former Architects Here did the beauties of those Temples shine Which Ephesuâ— or sacred Pallastine Once boasted in the Persian might from this Take Paterns for his fam'd Persâ—polis This which had that fair Carian Widow known Mausolea's Tomb had ne're a Proverb grown But been esteemd after her cost by her That did erect a homely Sepulcher Though to describe this Fabrick be as far Above my Art as imitations are Beneath its worth yet if thy Fancies eye Would at its out-side glance receive it by This cloudy Medium on a stately square Which powerful Art forc'd to a level where The Mountain highest rose compast about With a thick Grove whose leavy Vail let out Its beauties so 't is at a distance seen A silver Mount enameld o're with green The shining Palace stood whose outward form Though such as if built for perpetual storm Yet in that strength appeard but arm'd to be Beauties Protector whose varietie Though all met in an Artful gracefulness In every Square put on a several dress The sides whose large Balcones conveyd the Ey To th' Filds wild Prospects were supported by A thousand Pillars where in mixture shone The Parian white and red Corinthian stone Supporting Frames where in the like Art stood Smooth Ivory mixt with India's swarthy wood All which with Gold and purer Azure brought From Persian Artists in Mosaicks wrought The curious Eye into Meanders led Until diâ—erted by a sight that bred More real wonder the rich Front wherein By antick sculpture all that ere had been The various Acts of their preceding Kings So figur'd was no weighty Mettal brings Ought to inhaunce its worth Art did compose Each Emblem of such various Gems all chose Their several colours under a Saphir Sky Here cheerful Emeraulds chast Smaragdi ly A fresh green field in which the armed Knights Were all clad in heart-cheering Chrisolites With Rubies set which to adorn them twist Embraces with the temperate Amethyst For parts unarmd here the fresh Onix stood And Sardias stone appeard like new-drawn blood The Proteus like Achates here was made For Swords fair Hiâ—ts but for the glittering Blade Since all of rich and pretious Gems was thus Compos'd was shewn of flaming Piropus And least ought here that 's excellent should want The Ladies Eyes were shining Adamant These glorious Figures large as if that in Each common Quar these glittering Jems had been By sweaty Labourers dig'd united by Succesful Art unto the distant Ey Their mixt beams with such splendid Luster sent That Comets with whose fall the Firmament Seems all on fire amazes not the sight With such a full and sudden Flux of Light As Lines extended from their Center hence Unto the Islands clear circumference Four flowry Glades whose odoriferous dress Tempted the weary to forgetfulness Cutting the Mountain into Quadrants led Into the Valley Pleasures humbler Bed Where come if Natures stock can satisfie The Fancy at the Fountains of the Eye 'T was here performd in all that did include What active mirth or sacred sollitude Could happy call Groves never seen by th' Eye o th' Universe whose pleasing privacy Was more retir'd from treacherous light then those To hide from Heaven Earths first Offender chose When Contemplation the kind Mother to All thoughts that ere in sacred rapture flew Toward Celestial Bowers had here refin'd The yet imperfect Embrioes of the mind To recreate contracted Spirits by The Souls best Med'cine fresh variety An easie walk conducts them unto all That active Sports did ere convenient call All which like a fair Theater by th' Bank o th' River verg'd was guarded by a Rank Of ancient Elms whose lofty Trunks embrac'd By clasping
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
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
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