pale liâ—s of mine once dare to own a smile nor this trembling heart to entertain a joy since the Heavens have dispossest me of such a joy whose presence made all my joys I and sorrows too to be joyful and at whose absence all my joys like shadows vanish but my sorrows increase Nothing but grief and care now he is gone shall And then being no longer able to speak she wept a floud of tears making her language to ebb Heavens forbid said Periander that the earth should contain such a one who durst imbrue his cursed hands in the bloud of so fair a Lady and rob the world of such an unparalleld beauty Accursed thaâ— hand that should act yea that tongue that should speak yea that breath that should whisper yea that heart that should think of spilling such innâ—cent bloud Rather Madam be pleased said he to lay your commands upon us and assure your self we will extend our utmost power to serve you And if we have not valour enough yet doubt not but the heavens will succeed the cause of one in all excellencies so resembling themselves Nay said Roxana it is not your valour I doubt of but contrarywise it is the heavens mercy that I despair of for can I think that they who have so frown'd upon me frown'd do I say rather conspired to make me miserable have any love or mercy reserved for me for whence can such extremity of cruelty proceed but from extremity of hatred do I not see how contrary to my hopes and desires they force me to live and deny so poor a request as death If a â—â—â—ilitude and consentaneity in properties will beget a sympathy in affections it is rather from the infernal powers then that I must hope for succor whom in all miseries I do so resemble But alas what need I thus speak it is neither your fortitude were it a composition of the very extracted spirits of all the ancient Heroes valour nor the Stars themselves nor all Pluto's black Legions should you all combine and unite your powers together were able to reduce a Soul once fled from its Terrestrial habitation And 〈◊〉 my Theon is dead And then she sighed and wept the tears trickling down in such swift streams as if they strove who should first leave the fair possession of her eyes or rather who should first kiss her Rosie cheeks Ah Theon said she and then she rent her hair and tarr her beautiful face as though they could serve for nothing now Theon was gone Periander and Pandion were so moved to compassion at this passionate sight that they could not refrain from holding her fair Arms and by force compell her to be merciful to her self Can you accuse the Heavens of cruelty said Periander and you thus cruel to your self How can you expect that they should gratifie your desires and you thus contradict its will be not thus displeased with what Heaven is pleased nor lavish of these Pearly drops Surely if no sublunary powers whatsoever can fetch your Theon from the shades below much less can your tears Perplex not then your pensive heart but appease this stormy discontent who knows what Heaven hath laid in store for you It was not for nothing that our steps were directed to this place therefore acquaint us with the story of your Fortune and we do protest that we will dedicate our selves wholly to your service Ah said Roxana â—latter me not with false deluding groundless hopes do you think said she with a bitter smile that the clashing of your Armor should you descend to Pluto's Court would tickle his ear with as much delight as Orpheus Harp and would have the like perswasive faculty as his melodious Charmes But however I cannot but with all thankfulness acknowledge your Civility in the tender of your service which I can no otherwise repay than in granting your will by relating my condition which truly is a poor requital but the refusall would be worse Periander and Pandion perswade Roxana page 52. This Theon is Son to Harpalus King of Thrace his Father being desirous to make him compleat in all things that were desirable sent him when he was a youth to travel both to inure him to hardships and difficulties thereby to instill into him those Vertues both Moral and Political which commonly thrive better then than in the Serenity of times amidst the delights wherewith all Princes Courts abound and also that he might learn the Manners Customs Poliâ—ies and State-Interests of Forein Kingdoms whereby he would be better instructed in the interest of his own and be inabled when the power came into his own hands to manage the affairs of State with greater advantage Vain it would be for me to enumerate the great adventures he atchieved in his travels since they were so great as that all the world not onely heard of but admired and envyed and therefore they may seem strange to you but I cannot think you are strangers to them Amongst other places it was his hap to come to my Fathers Court where he had not been long ere his incomparable Beauty unconquerable Valour and inimitable Excellencies so enravish't my affections that Theon was the Saint at whose shrine I offered up my daily Oblations Theon was my sole delight and the delight of my Soul when ever I was blest with his presence methought I felt my heart chained to his eyes and when he spake his lips seemed to dance to the sweet accents that came from his mouth with such pleasing grace as methought each motion seemed a Charm and each word a Spirit that inâ—hâ—alled my Soul and led me Captive at the triumphing Chariot of his conquering Beauty such Grace such Majesty such Perfection were united in him as the most curious quick-sighed Symmetrians were not able to discern the least disproportion in him much less mine which was wholly dedicated to his Perfections Neither was he wanting to repay me with mutual affections but as my contentment and happiness was placed in him so he ever thought himself unhappy without me and so had affection blinded his judgement as he was pleased to bestow large Encomiums on my Beauty commending me rather like a fond Lover than a Judicious Artist in Beauties Heraldry which had it as far transcended his expressions as his expressions did me I should not have merited his affections And that that was no small addition to my Felicity my Father Melampus was exceedingly delighted in his sweet Society and Witty pleasantness and brave deportment but most of all pleased with the affections we bare each other insomuch that in a short time by agreement of our Parents the day of our happy conjunction in marriage was appointed Oh that sweet disuniting union that makes one Heart of two and two Souls of one that Golden Key that unlocks the treasures of Chast inclosed delights 〈◊〉 great 〈◊〉 the Heavens only Tantaliz'd me withall envying its full enjoyment For thus it happened Theon and I walking together
they were put in an incapacity of giving due testimonies of their gratitude to him and that if their Fortunes might be raised equal to their desires it should be that they might be able to return requital equal to his deserts The Hermit answered that as his deserts were small in themselves so they would be less should he be so mercenary as to shew kindness in expectation of a requital but however if he had merited any thing that they had sufficiently repaid him by their sweet conversation Thus after some ceremonies past between them they left the Hermit who at parting could no longer retain his gravity nor refrain from weeping tears of joy and sorrow of sorrow to part with them all but especially Pandion whom he had so long entertained as his Pupil and instilled those excellent principles the effects whereof shall be made apparent in the sequel of the story but of joy through the conceived hopes of his future prosperous Fortune These three noble Consorts having travelled for some few days together came at length to a parting way which might properly be so called for it was the means of parting Athalus from the other two whom we shall also part from for a time and leaving him associate our selves to Pandion and Periander who amongst many other adventures they encountred withall in their journey this was one Travelling along one scorching day the Sun darted his rayes with such vehement violence as that they were forced to betake themselves to a neer adjoyning shady Grove for protection where the spreading boughs so embraced each other as if they had combined together to exclude the Suns proud beams from entring there where being invited by the pleasantness of the place and their own wearisomness to refresh themselves they lighted off their Horses and having pulled their bits out of their mouths turned them to feed upon the Grass which there grew in great plenty whilst themselves being overcome with the murmurings of the sweet bubling streams and the whilstlings of the quivering leaves were lulled asleep But long they had not yielded to sleeps pleasing charms when their ears were suddenly filled with a sudden shriek which pierced and rent the air with such a dividing shrilness as plainly appeared it came from a heart pierced rent and divided with sorrow and withall so small and clear as they knew it came from some Female Breast neither came it alone but was presently followed by a train of doleful groans which pursued it with hue and cry as a Thief for stealing her joyes from her They no sooner heard it but they arose and guided their steps by the mournful noise till they came to a place where they saw a beautiful Lady lying along upon the ground leaning upon her elbow Nature had painted her Face with more than ordinary Beauty so that Sorrow seemed to appear in the liveliest colour her Face Gestures Sighs and Tears and all made apparent that sorrow had tuned her heart to so high a Key that the strings were near cracking Loath they were to interrupt her and yet desirous to serve her At length they heard her fetch a groan and that seconded by a sigh and both ushered in these words Hard-hearted enemies could your tyrant minds invent no other way to vent your merciless cruelty but by being thus cruelly merciful to leave me behind to weep his obsequies what wrong did you ever receive from his guiltless hands as nothing could satisfie your boundless rage nor satiate your thirsty souls but his dearest bloud and if it was I that did the wrong why did you not sheath your Swords in this breast that my Death might expiate his and why do you not come and steep your sulphrous souls in my diffused bloud that so both they as well as their horrid actions their monstrous of-springs may be of a Crimson dye O ye celestial powers since 't was your pleasure to joyn our Hands and unite our Hearts by Hymens sacred and inviolable bands dislodge this Soul of mine and take it up into that heavenly Chorus whereof he is one that so out of the reach of dull-browd sorrow we may sing prolonged Anthems of Peace together and being no longer intangled with this Worlds turmoyles my Soul may be involved in that bottomless Abyss and boundless Ocean of immortal happiness Oh sweet Death come and welcome put a period to my Griefs and rid me of this dying life oh how the thoughts of thy approach revive me frustrate then not my hopes and expectations the way to kill me is to let me live Oh then augment not my griefs by adding new let me not ever languish here in perpetual anguish but come oh come and if my enemies have extracted the quintessence of all cruelty and swilled it up into their parboyl'd Souls that so there is none left for thee what then it is mercy not cruelty that I crave for what greater mercy can there be than to unloose a soul intangled and hamper'd with griefs and sorrows oh then unty this knot of dull mortality that pineons my soul and makes her flutter here below and let her fly to him who is my Life my Heart my Joyes and all that my highest desires can attain unto And if with killing him thou hast spent thy Arrows for sure his great soul would not surrender up her mansion on too easie terms here 's Shafts within my Heart shot both from Love and adverse Fortune enough to fill thy Quiver and let that remain full still Come then and draw thy Bow and give that wound that shall heal all other wounds And therewithall she gave a sigh as if Death had indeed made a divoâ—ce between her Soul and Body and her tender heart had bid adieu to this lower world and fled into the Empyreal Regions But proceeding Charon said she prepare thy Boat to waft me over the Stygian Lake and if thou fearest it is too shoul to transport such a Cargo of Woes and Griefs as I am filled withall here 's tears enough that flow in uncontroled Streams from Griefs Fountains to make it at its lowest Ebb over-flow the Banks and if that will not suffice open my Veins drain my Heart dry rather than let me tarry behind for what Joys can ever accrew to me now Theon in whom my Joys are plac't hath bid farwell And then she stopt giving a groan as if her Heart had been rest in sunder and folding her fair Arms as if she went about to imbrace death Pandion and Periander hearing this no longer able to contain discovered themselves to her and craving pardon for their intrusion begged to know the cause of her sorrow telling her they would spend their dearest bloud to purchase her desires Oh then said she my desire is to be with my dear Theon hand me to the Elizian Plains where he resides I desire not your death but my own for alas what comfort can I have to tarry here behind Never more shall these
thus matched by a Youth inraged and ashamed that he should be so long in conquering one over whom though his valour should render him victorious yet he should not merit the title of a Victor summon'd together all his active powers and with united force gave such a blow on Pandion that all the protection he could receive from his well-managed Sword was to moderate the violence of the stroak which yet nevertheless lighted on the side of his Head with such a force that it dispossessed his memory of its bruised habitation and drove him some few paces from the place where he stood which Clausus perceiving resolved not to neglect such an opportunity but pursued him with redoubled blows and reunited power But Pandion as if his veins had been filled with Spirits as fast as they were emptied of Bloud mustring all his strength skill and courage together being to give a gallant Farewell like the last blaze of a dying light ran with such a vehement courage upon Clausus that he not aware but rashly prosecuting victorious Fortune the Sword run thorough his Heart or rather he ran his Heart upon it conqueâ—ing himself just when he was triumphing on the conquest of his enemy which when the Knights of the Castle pâ—rceived not regarding the Laws of Arms â—lew in â—o defend their Captain or rather themselves knowing that on the thrid of his Life hung all their Privileges which â—ut in two must needs fall to the ground which consideration made them fall inconsiderately on Pandion which Periandâ—r seeing enraged with contempt of their Dastardly baseness to set upon a wounded man gasping for Life and more to think that such cowards should be allotted him to be the Subjects of his valour and most of all to think that his friend and he should receive their Deaths from the hands of such miscreants Being near over-pressed with the multitude he rushed upon them with such a torrent of violence as drowned whomsoever he encountred withall in a lake of their own bloud though surrounded with them he could not avoid receiving some blows yet they served but to encrease his rage to the extremity so that with a mad violence or furious madness all the powers of his Soul and the Strength Dexterity and Activity of his Body transfer'd to the one arm he dislived some and disarmed others his valour being crushed between the two extremes necessity of preserving his Friends and his own Life and the difficulty of accomplishing it made it so swell within his breast with the madness of a terrible fury that to the destruction and admiration of his enemies he went beyond himself in his atchievements killing where he hit and hitting where he pleased separating some not only their Souls from their Bodies but their upper parts from their nether others that were aiming where to lodge their blow with the greatest advantage he deprived of blow and sight and all Whilst Pandion not able to assist his friend was forced to refresh his fainting body by resting himself upon the ground But they were soon assisted by the Knights imprisoned within the Castle who knowing that their Jaylors were imprisoned by Death and seeing Pandion bestrid by Periander and he beset with their enemies they unanimously assaulted them all agreeing in the means of their preservation their enemies destruction though all disagreeing in the end some fighting to preserve their own honour disdaining to be enslaved by such unworthy Villains others for their Ladies some out of Love to the Commonwealth to quit it from such a nest of Pestilent Fellows others out of hatred to their enemies so that in fine there grew a desperate combat as it must needs the Combatants growing desperate the Clausian Knights resolving rather to lose their lives by whole-sale on the point of the Sword than retail them out by the hand of Justice which they knew would befall them should they surrender grew fearless through fear so that Courage in the Valiant grew desperate and despair made the Coward couragious that at length the conflict grew so cruel that the very ground was overflown with a deluge of bloud and the earth that was wont to bury mens bodies mens bodies now buried the earth so that it seemed like Mars's sowing time the seeds of cruelty being implanted in each Breast and watered with Bloud but like Deaths reaping time such an Harvest of Bodies there lay in heaps serving as Bridges to transport over Rivers of Bloud that streamed in the pavement Hard it was to determine which way the ballance of victory would poize Fortune for a while carrying her self a Neuter till at length Periander being a too partial Umpire by the mediation of his valour decided the controversy sending such throngs of Souls of the Clausian Knights that were loth to answer for their unanswerable crimes before Melampus his Tribunal to receive their eternal doom that the small remainder yielded craving mercy which they found Then Periander receiving the Keys of the Gate gave the Captives that were the Keepers to the Keepers that were the Captives till Pandion whose right it was to command should otherwise order who appointed Sentinels on the wall and a watch for that night intending the next morning to march in triumph to King Melampus's Court. But no sooner had each man took his Station but their Ears were arrested with the crys of a Female voice which as well as they could understand demanded entrance the Gates being opened they all straight knew her to be Roxana their Kings Daughter who seeing the event of the Combat came with speed to the Castle to perform her last obsequies to Theon and to return thanks to Pandion and Periander for their hazardous adventure And being admitted into the Castle she was received with all respect and joy by all the Knights and Ladies there but especially by Pandion who blest her ears with the happy tidings that Theon was yet alive pointing where his Chamber was who would have said more but the transporting joy not only divorced all sorrow from her Heart but her Body from the place so that both his words and thoughts were prevented with her sudden â—light calling as she went Theon Theon her Tongue not being able any more to express her unexpressible passion but as soon as the eyes of Theon nay his Heart nay his Soul was ravished with the sight of Roxana as if her beauty had been some divine quintessential extract or some ray of that celestial fire that inspired life into Prometheus Image he felt a vigour infused into all his fainting limbs and the Darts of Beauty to triumph over the Darts of Death and her words to blow up the dying sparks of Life into a flame so that assembling all his powers together he cast himself into her Arms his Legs being unfaithful and feeble supporters of his Body But alas as their arms were linked each in other and their very Souls intwin'd by a sweet sympathy Theons Spirits that like the dying
the King of the Castles surprizal and then with greater hast spurred on by a despairing hope to inform my Daughter the Queen of his heart of his own delivery But the first object that saluted his eyes was to behold Helena in Trebonius arms Here a most Rhetorical Orator might have a fair field to emblazon with Eloquence the strange diversity of Passions that abounded in their hearts at the first encountering He whose mind before was distracted between despair and hope was now wholly distracted with despair In his face one might have read a combat between the Beams of Love and Beauty and Cloud of grief and hatred and all these stunned with a maze of amazement whilst she no less answered his affection with reciprocal interchanges of Passion at first she blushed as ashamed of her unfaithfulness and then looked pale with fear lest I should perceive her blushing but then she blushed again lest her paleness should be discovered so that there seemed a sweet contention between the Rose and the Lily which should have the possession of her face At length Pentheus like one returned from a â—rance flung away with such a frowning mourning disdainful pale countenance as if anger grief hatred and death it self had all begun to prey upon him and all strove which should have the greatest share Which poor Helena seeing no longer able to contain gave a sigh as if that breath had been her last after which the tears gushed out which trickled down her Cheeks like Pearls dissolved just as the blushing Rose watered with Heavenly dew when the soft Air gently breaths upon it those Crystall drops leave their perfumed dwelling and distill upon the ground so did her tears blown with sweet gales of gentle sighs leave the Crystalline mansions of her eyes and descend upon the floor which she strove against with so sweet a violence as added such a grace to her sorrow that instead of restraining it she constrained us to imitate her stormy eyes so that there were scarce any present who were not drawn into society of their tears But at length swinging out of her Husbands arms with a hateful look in a lovely countenance counting him the only object of her hatred and cause of all her misery she run to her chamber and there made this complaint to her self which I her Husband stealing after her over-heard Hard-hearted Father said she and well thou maist call me so could a little estate bribe your affection so as not to regard the miserable estate of your poor Daughter True it is I derived my being from you a blessing which I can never requite but alas the blessing of a being cannot countervail the misery of a miserable being which I have also derived from you for better never come into this miserable world than come into such a world of misery as I am now involved in so that my Heart Head Eyes and Tongue are too barren of Sighs Thoughts Tears and Words to express my unexpressible grief come all you fountains fill my head with Springs of Tears and all you Clouds dissolve in shoures and come and inhabit my eyes that so these thirsty Eyes which before quaffed in such draughts of Love may now be punished for their sweet intemperance and satiated with over-flowing streams of briny tears or rather that this sinking soul of mine might be swallowed up in a deluge of surging griefs Ah hateful Trebonius from thee flows all my misery oh that my eyes had been masked with an eternal night when first they beheld thy loathed face or that my marriage bed had been my grave and instead of my Epithalamum that they had warbled out my Epicaedium then might my touring soul whilst they were chanting forth their dolefull tones here below have bore a part among the Angelical Hierarchy and there unskreen those awful secrets which are only reserved for the eyes of purified souls where no woes dare crave for entrance but all joys injoyed in their full perfection Ah my dear Pentheus little thinkst thou what a faithful lover thy poor Helena is to thee and what a killing thought it is to me to think that my foolish but necessitated levity should occasion thee to harbour any hard thoughts of me the very thought is able to put me beyond all thinking Oh my sweet guardian Angel if any such be allotted to my protection which sure if there were all these miseries would not befall me I say if any such I have prepare thy wings haste quickly fly to my Pentheus and tell him that he is more dear to Helenaâ— than ever and that a forced marriage hath only changed her State not her and though another to her endless grief enjoyed her Body yet none her Heart which she hath kept intire for him and that her chast unstained soul hath not embraced a thought or desire that hath thought of or desired any other but him But why do I fondly bemoan my self to these senseless walls haste I will to him without whom to Live were worse than Death and with whom to Dye is better than Life And therewithall she ran out of the chamber and ran down stayres but her speed was stopt by an affrightful messenger that lookt like one arisen from the dead to bring news from those dark Regions and as one that regarded not or indeed knew neither what nor to whom he spake in a mournful tone belched out by parcels the death of Pentheus Helena whose former griefs had carried her to such an excessive raging that they had transported her beyond her self so that at first she minded not what the messenger spake but Trebonius and I who still followed her he jealous of her and I what would be the issue demanded of the man the manner of it He like one newly awak'd from a terrible dream who looks about to see whether his past thoughts were realities or only the productions of his fancy mustering up his sences and collecting his thoughts told us that passing by it was his fortune to come just as Pentheus was speaking his last words some of which as well as his confused memory could retain he said were these Oh Helena how willingly would I resign my life might my remembrance but lye intombed in thy sweet thoughts where thy dayly meditations of me would be better than embalming spices would Heaven grant me such a favour I should then count the divorce between my soul and body the sweetest marriage to the greatest happiness How soon would I build my Funeral Pile of woes and miseries and enkindle them with the flames of Love and therein consume my self to Ashes might those Ashes be kept as a relique of one of Loves Martyrs within the Urn of thy breast Well may I call thy Heart a glassy Urine seeing I have found it both brittle and transparent But ah what woman is not so she must have degenerated from her Feminine nature or have been some third sex had she been endued with a
surrounded partly with lofty mountains whose high towring tops seemed to scale the Clouds as ambitious both to behold and embrace these rare delights and partly with little hills of meaner ascent whereon there blew the most pure refined gusts of clarified Air. Many Palaces here were for the nobles and Knights of Thessalia but in the centre of all stood the Kings a most magnificent structure the Walls of Porphiry rough-cast with shining Carbuncles and other precious stones cast in devises Scutcheons and Emblems inclosed with a Quadrangle-platform of Jasper made level with battlements At each corner a sumptuous convent wherein was a stately Temple dedicated to Venus Diana and Pallas signifying the three chief feminine Excellencies Chastity Wisdom and Beauty Within were Magazines of Arms Wardrobes rich edifices for the Kings Attendants besides many Groves of Cypress and Cedar goodly Gardens and Fountains encompassed with Ballisters of Copper and fair Arches supported with Brazen Pillars Danpion and Periander that they might the better view these glistering buildings and the other ravishing delights that the place did abound withall went up a little hill on whose brow they beheld in the bottom a pleasant Vale with a more pleasant Garden In the midst of which there was a Bath surrounded with a Wall of Jet and over head to defend it from the Suns peircing rays an Arched Roof supported by Statues standing upon gilded Columnes each Statue holding in her hand a silver Rod on which hung Curtaines of white Damask fringed with green Silk and Gold one of which being drawn Pandion espied a most lovely Lady resting her soft Limbs in a Chair of Jet made at the Basis of a Pillar Combing her golden Tresses newly come out of the Bath so that the Silver drops as it were grown ponderous with over-burdening grief that there nature should compell them to leave the possession of so much perfection fell in Tears from her Snow-white Limbs Each part was enshrined in so much excellency that Pandion felt his heart arrested with strange passions so that he could not restrain his eyes from surveying her rapting features and the more he gazed the more he desired to gaze and the more admirable she seemed Her eyes like two Lucent Stars shining with such a transporting influence as Pandion grew an Astrologian and his eyes Star-gazers fixedly observing the motions of these two wandring Planets whose every Beam darted a living death Her arched brows where sat a mild sweet Majesty seemed like two bows of love strung with his heart strings Her eye-lids like Ivory covers to two Cabinets filled with Diamonds at their opening a thousand sparkling Gemms would shine with a radiant fulgor and at their closing as many would be eclipsed Each cheek seemed a Rosie Paradise intermixed with Lilies Her lips like shreds of Vermilion Sattin inclosed two polisht rows of Ivory teeth from whence such sweet persuming fumes steamed forth as the very Air when she drew her breath seemed to press with delight into her delicate mouth Her nose chin and neck were of so pure a whiteness as the Lilies lookt pale with grief to see themselves so far excelled Her breasts were like two Ivory Caskes of Nectar from whence leads a milky way to Cupids Palace Her lovely hair which the wanton wind sportively tossed to and fro one while from her that it might the more freely kiss her Snowy skin then twist it in intricate Curles and then divide it now take a Tress and fan her face and then a golden thread and dally with her eye so that it seemed to weave a Net to entangle Pandions heart whiles her Lily hand endeavoured to repress those lascivious exorbitancies with a silver Combe so that Pandion was in doubt which was the more happy her hair to be methodized by so sweet a hand or her hand to handle such excellent hair so sweet both by Art and Nature as would make one wish for Mars his fortune to be ensnared in a Vulcans Net were it made of such Heavenly Wire Her leggs like two Columnes of Alabaster or Atlasses which supported this little world of Excellency Pandion whose sight was resisted by nothing but his avaritious eyes had full freedom to fill their Pearly Coffers with those sweet treasures had the flames of affection so augmented with admiration and delight that loath to trust the brittle treasury of his eyes he locked them in his heart And having his Wit refined by love and he inspired with a Poetick fury he to himself lest Periander should hear in mournful Aires warbled forth this Song What strange untrained passions do controle And domineer within my troubled Soul What means this crowd of thoughts within my breast Hath some strange antick fury dispossest Me of my Reason Oh 't is Love I see That of my mind usurps the Soveraignty And hath depos'd my Will Oh traitrous Eyes You are the inlets of my miseries You are th'incendiaries of this Civil War Within my breast answer to Reasons Bar My heart 's two Crystall Forts how durst y' unclose Your Ivory doors to admit such throngs of Woes Ah t is her Conquering Beauty that 's the Key That hath unlockt my Heart unveil'd my Eye That th' one cannot but look the other love And both admire what Deity above Mindless of us poor lovers here doth give To rapting Beauty such prerogative A skin where Rose and Lily do intwine Themselves in lovely mixtures and combine To make a box where sweets compacted lye Perfections quintessence is heav'n's Alchimy Divine Elixar that turns all to Gold Her hands do touch or her fair Eys behold This heav'nly extract stampt with sweet divine And heart-attracting features is a Coyn Might pass among the Gods what is 't they prize But she excells the lustre of her eyes Exceeds the Stars should she her fair hand lay On water streight 't would turn Ambrosia Not all the Goddesses can spin so rare So fine so soft a thred as is her hair Oh how my heart 's intangled in each Curl Whilst my eyes envy the rude wind should hurl Such golden treasure and have free access To her for whom I pine without redress In fine each part is fine rare and divine A mine of worth oh would her worth were mine Well then my Eyes since thus you 'd bribed be My heart too render to my enemy And suffer Cupid in a golden showre Of beauty to descend into the Tower And ravish there my Heart without controle This is your mulct to quench my burning Soul You are amerc'd by Loves all-conquering power Tributes of tears to pay each day and hour But having concluded he look'd about to see if Periander perceived his Passions but as he turned his head aside he saw a Gentleman on horsback a pretty distance off beckning with his hand to come to him They rid up to him and as they approached neer he met them with this salutation Sir said he pardon my abrupt interruption of your pleasing meditations and
more agreeable Musick in the harmony of his applause Neither was the King a less admirer of him but vehemently desired his abode with him telling that his great worth had made him ambitious of having such a Phoenix to adorn his Court. Danpion replyed that his Court already abounded with persons of such incomparable worth that he should be no other ornament to it than as a spot in the face of the Sun or as blackness is the foyl of beauty and he presumed that it was the lustre of their merits that had dazled him and obtruded an erroneous estimation of him which otherwise his over-peircing judgement would not entertain And since your Majesty is pleased said he to term me a Phoenix although it s not my happiness to merit it by any thing else yet it shall by this that my fortunes life and honor shall be ready to be sacrificed when the rays of your commands shall enkindle and I should account such an immolation as the greatest felicity the heavens could bestow it being the onely way to consecrate me to an eternity of honor among posterity Acts of Loyalty to ones Prince being as embalming spices to the names of faithful subjects Oh that it were my fortune to expire in such a nest of spices inflamed by your Royal Mandates Let this command answered the King to remain with me be for an exploration of your obedience which you so highly profess Let me be stigmatized with an eternal brand of infamy said Pandion if ever I let a command drop from your mouth in vain Thus with these and some other expressions was Pandions abode there concluded and he was led among them to the Palace And thus did Danpion play this first Act of that real enterlude whose Scenes as they had been hitherto generally mourntul Fortune dressing her self in Tragick attire so they continued for during the space of several Months that he remained in the Court he never could have opportunity either to reveal himself to Amphigenia the Mistris of his heart the main reason of his continuance there nor to meet with his friend Periander at the place appointed and agreed betwixt them Some few groundless hopes he flattered himself withall was his only support which daily encreased as his favour with the King increased which was also every day more and more so that in conclusion within a short time his graceful deportments unconquerable valour acute wit and all beyond his years and that which added grace to all his delicate beauty were all as so many letters of admission into the Kings heart so that nothing of moment was done in Court or Kingdom without Danpions consent and advice All Offices and favors were distributed and dispensed by him no affairs of consequence in the State but he had an influence upon and inspection into A great solecism in Policy for so great a Politician as Hiarbas was to commit for by these favors did he weave a webb to intangle himself to his utter ruine Princes had need beware whom they imbrace in the bosoms of their affections much more whom they entertain in their Cabinet Counsels For as the eye being the most tender part of the body will therefore least endure any injurious usage and we are most careful to preserve it being the directrix of the whole body so a Princes understanding being the eye of a Kingdom which ought to be of a Lynceous Sagacity and acuteness in the discerning of Counsels and Counsellors and be able to peirce not only into the wisdom of their advice but integrity of their very thoughts and purposes therefore most perillous to have it corrupted by the poysonings of unfaithful Counsel which like false Mediums represent the state of things in another posture than as they are in themselves and by that means their Government is under-min'd their honor eclipsed and a gap made for all innovations This Hiarbas considered not his judgement being blinded by his affection but let all things be swayed by Danpion who notwithstanding was little satisfied with all whilst he was barred all means of obtaining her whom he preferred before all And one Evening as he walked out to feed his love-starved heart with the sweet repast of his fancy he heard a voice deliver it self in such ravishing Airs as might have compared with the Spheres dancing harmony and drawing neer the more to enrich and refine his thoughts with those heart-pleasing strains with the distance interrupted he saw a Lady playing on a Lute with accents so sweet and soft as if each note had been a cloze of Angels Musick the Air with such sweet vibrations danced after her fingers as if the wind of it self had breathed Musical Tones and drawing near he heard her sing this Song The Song Phaebus lend me thy fulgent rays To pencill out my joy Free from annoy None else can to the life express My heart-transporting happiness Gild with thy Beams my happy days Expell each interposing Cloud That seeks to mask thy face and shrowd Thy golden locks and dim my joy Free from annoy On lively pieces Artists cast A pleasing darkning shade On what th 'ave made Umbriferous stroakes of black despair My infant joys soon would impair And them compell t' expire their last Should Fortune seek out of her hate In striving to delineat My bliss to cast despairs dark shade On what she ' as made You rowling Spheres lend me your tones To warble out my joy Free from annoy A Lutes sweet note-producing womb Is far more fit to be a tombe To interr the joys of mournful ones For her best straines are sweet and sad And makes the hearer sad and glad According discords but my joy Hath no annoy You Quire above lend me your Lays To twist a heavenly verse Joys to rehearse My wit 's too barren to express My words-transcending happiness Unless you it refine and raise Draw wits Elixar from the Nine Patrons of Poesie so that mine Heightned with that may in a verse My joys rehearse Sure Love 's no Vertue for it moves Its heart-inflaming beames Sill in extremes If deep despair racking annoy But if sure hope ther 's rapting joy He loveth not that meanly loves Rather 't is Vertues quintessence The spirits of their excellence Thesauriz'd in its Hive of beams Still in extremes Lovers have Poles to which they tend But if in love th' excell No parallel Or if they have these Parallels kiss And Poles do meet which makes the bliss In Lovers hearts which hath no end Then hence all cumbrous grief be gone Here 's room for nought but joy alone Our hearts do meet our Loves excell All parallel Having ended her Song there arose a Knight that had lain undiscovered on the ground and taking the Lady by the hand thus proffered to salute her Come my divided Soul said he my sweetest half let me fix on thy Rosie Lips the seal of my constant affection and let our kisses be as the endorsements of that delight
which by mutual vows and stipulations written in our hearts with a Pen pluckt out of Cupids Wing we have obliged our selves to bless each other Danpion calling to mind he had heard that voice and therefore presumed he might not he unacquainted with the person drawing neer to see who it should be he preceived it to be his friend Periander whereat not a little rejoyced he demanded of him if that was not the Lady Florinda which honored him with her affections for said he my dubious thoughts collect so much from that Song which her Syren voice lately warbled out Periander acknowledged she was Then Danpion turning to Florinda thus accosted her Madam said he accept of this rude salute as an oblation to your Beauty where the glory of all perfection is enshrined and which makes me esteem Perianders felicity above expression and such that were he not Periander I could freely indulge my thoughts to envy him but my heart is wholly devoted to his happiness and mine 's involved in his After mutual gratulations that past between them Danpion requested Florinda to honor him with the relation of the manner of her escape from Acastus King of Coninth and how she fortuned to meet with Periander which she consented unto and thus declared The fates said she who expose not their decrees to vulgar view though for a time they seemed to thwart my desires and bury my hopes in the grave of despair yet they intending in conclusion as the event manifests to crown me with my long-wished-for joy to bring about their resolutions thus ordered it It happened that Novellus the Kings Nancius that brought me that sad citation to the Court no sooner saw me but he fell into his Masters distemper and grew fondly amorous and carried me to the Palace but put me in the custody of Octavia a Lady as great an admirer of him as he was of me and told the King that the present state of my body required purification ere I was fit for his Royal embraces which Octavia no less watchful than Argus nor jealous than Juno readily confirmed of all which I was ignorant but amazed at my imprisonment and what should be the reason of my invitation to the Court untill at length privately inquiring of Abra Octavias Woman she fully informed me of my condition I perceiving by Novellus faint sighs and mind-disclosing countenance his passionate affection resolved to make a vertue of necessity and by his means to make a way for escape and therefore cast frequent favourable glances â—t him and sometimes let fall ambiguous expressions to encourage him in his affection and the more to provoke Octavia's jealousie who nor able to suppress those ardent flames that run thorough all her veins presently suggested to the Queen the whole matter who no sooner heard it but her heart was arrested with the Tyrant pangs of Jealousie in as great a measure as Octavia so that between them both they thus plotted my destruction either to convey me privatly put of the Kingdom or to send me to Deaths cold confines with a poysonous drop secretly infused into my cup and then by commixing some dangerous drug with my Physick bereave me of my life and them of their jealous fears But my courteous stars whose benign rays were as so many Bucklets to protect me from the insolence of these two Furies would not permit this horrid contrivement to take effect For one morning when Octavia had resolved to attempt her intended murther Novellus as he was wont came to visit me but Octavia knowing how contrary to her bloudy design Novellus presence was refused him admittance into my chamber pretending my indisposition of body rendred me unfit for any society for the present Novellus the more desirous of entrance pressed so rudely that with the strugling Octavia spilt the venemous draught which she had prepared for me which my Dog presently licked up and fell into a languishing distemper that in few days killed him I perceiving this not daring to trust my self with one so barbarously perfidious resolved to go to the King and impetrate a releasment from my imprisonment or if it was denyed me to effect my freedom by a plot which I then contrived Accordingly choosing a convenient opportunity when the King was solitary and none to interrupt or observe me I went into his presence and fell on my knees and thus addrest my self to him Royal Sir said I summoned by your Majesties Command I thought it my duty to attend your pleasure but some in the court I presume unknown to your Highness have not only restrained me from the performance of my duty but from all liberty so that my humble sute to your Highness now is to supplicate a freedom from such restraint and I cannot but hope your Majesty will not remain inexorable if you retain your 〈◊〉 clemency Before I could have ended my speech the King arose and with a smiling countenance took me by the hand and made me arise Come said he my hearts sweet Jaylor let me ingraft thee on my heart with these embraces and let us mingle our united souls with mutual kisses this is my pleasure and the pleasure I command Oh Sir said I will you thus contaminate your unstained honour with so foul a bluâ— you whom the world hath honoured for a Prince that could govern your most exorbitant passions as well as your kingdoms and by that means fabricked a kingdom of honour in each noble breast who pay you the constant tribute of assiduous Prayers for your long life and whose perpetually admiring thoughts are your subjects will you now expose your glorious name to the blasts of vulgar opprobry for the obtaining of a little bessial pleasure By that time I had said this there came in one of the Nobles who seeing the King to frown upon him for this interruption of his privacy suddenly retired and lest us to our selves The Kings lascivious 〈◊〉 were not all extinguished with what I said but he continued his endeavors to obtain his lustful desires but in a more gentle manner than before using nothing but inticements and perswasions untill in the concâ—usion I seemingly consented to meet him the next day in the private walks where none were admitted without special license whither the King was wont to resort for his private meditations but with this proviso that the Queen should be conveyed the next morning some distance from the palace lest her jealous vigilancy should deprive us of our happiness The King was as ready to consent to that as my self so that with a countenance bewraying much affection and how ill I brooked so long protraction I parted from him and hasted to Abra whom I made the constant depository of all my secrets and bid her go to the Queen and with a great deal of pretended zeal to her honour inform her of the plighted vows between the King and me and of every circumstance of our agreement and advise her to attire her self
better notice of because she was all the cook they had And indeed she was an exquisite piece and so youl 'd say if you had seen her and so Anus her mother Moschus her suter and Bion her well-wisher said and I should think the verdict of such curious persons might be something regarded but you 'l object that their judgements were byassed with interest and affection so may be yourn is for ought I know But then to convince you further I 'le describe her To begin with the crown of her Head kind Nature the better to discover the pure whiteness of the skin that covered her thick Scull had lovingly unthatched her crown and peel'd away all the unnecessary haiâ— thereabouts and lest her a dainty soft ridge of moss that fringed her head round like a garland so that if you had seen her you would have certainly thought she had a night cap on thrumnd with furs This hair was something short lest it should hide her comly spatious Ears spatious they were that so they might hear the biggest sounds distinctly which was the reason that she often gave why she had the sense of hearing so admirable and could distinguish of sounds so acutely for she would stand without doors and if the Dog threw down the tonges in the kitchen or the Sow overset the Milk pan in the Dairy she would tell you exactly what it was fell down and never go into the house at all to know and therefore she would often wisely admire how it was possible for little ears to hear great sounds for said she how should great sounds get in at little ears but I think that Objection might be answered by your Naturalists that make it their business to pry into Natures abstruse and abscondite secrets and therefore to their wisdoms I leave the discussion of it and proceed in my description Her head was triangular that being as Moschus would often say the best and most commodious shape for said he for you must note he was book learned a head of a rotund figure cannot possibly be so commodious to lodge the three Organs of the Soul the common sense phantasie and the memory nor contain so much wit as a three square noddle for a Globical head quoth he learnedly confusedly jumbles all the three together which is the reason that many are so troubled with the Vertigo in their brain it is because they are round heads their conceits endlesly running in a circle of fancy having neither rational beginning nor ending But now a tripple corner'd noddle hath three convenient cavities where the three things aforesaid may lye distinctly and severally undisturbed like Hares on their Forms or Foxes in their holes untill they are started and unkennel'd by the barkings of Reason And further said he I 'me sure its plain it cannot contain so much wit for a Globe cannot fill a triangle much less can that that is contained in it fill it For quoth he this is an undeniable rule that body that can contain both the thing containing and the thing contained can much more contain the thing contained that can be contained in thing containing But prethee Moschus be not thus tedious in thy prolix comments upon thy Daphinsses strange perfections but let me proceed Her purple forehead that colour betokening Majesty was streaked with lovely wrinkles which black with atomes of dirt that as it were in love with her beauty had transplanted themselves from their native habitations to dwell in those amiable furrows so that they looked like shadowy stroaks that Nature made the better to set off the 〈◊〉 of her beauty or rathâ—r like curious folds where Nature wrapped her perfections lest they should dazzle spectators Eyes Eye-brows she had none lest she should srown and fright her poor Lovers her Eyes were dainty Matches at which Cupid enkindled the Torches of Affection and set them on fire for her Lovers hearts Matches did I say They were not Matches for the one was as big again as the other Her right Eye being of a Hazel brown stood peeping out of its Den like a Mouse catched in a Trap for so her Lovers thought that that be sure was ensnared in Loves Trap and enticed with the Bait of Affection but her left Eye being of a goggle size to revenge her sisters quarrel stood staring out ready to â—ly in their faces for having such base thoughts of the right And indeed Dame Nature had herein shewed abundance of wisdom for she had placed a third part of her left Eye out of her head leâ—t her right eye modestly hiding it self should creep into her head and placed her right eye farr into her head lest her left Eye should staâ—â— quite out of her head Her vertuous Nose was like the letter Y Pythagoras Hieroglyphick of vertue whence a rare quiâ—tessential distillation continually dropped which leâ—t it should be lost her nether lip stood pouâ—ing out to catch it Her Cheeks were of a Pease-porridge-tawny the Sun being in love with her rare beauty as the Moon was with Endymion had often all to be kisst her what had I like to have said but if I had I think you would have believed me if you had seen her complexion I say he often smacked her countenance and left the print of his lips behind Indeed a dainty crop of hair she had upon her upper lip which some said was made for an eye-brow because she being singular in her other parts was therein to have been a miracle and had her eyes placed under her nose that she might the better see the way to her mouth But Moschus whose judgement I chiefly follow replyed That the comely latitude of her mouth made it an easie mark for her fingers and then had they been placed there a constant Flux of Rheum from her nose had interrupted their sight But as for that curious hay-mow on her lip for so I may properly term it by reason of pretty mops and mews she used to make would provoke any one to spue out a laughter and because once in twenty five hours she used to mow it but if that term will not please then that thorn-hedge on her lip was but to fence round the dike her mouth to keep her nose from trespassing on her chin But Moschus said they were the prickles that grew about the Roses of her lips Her teeth as if afraid they should eat one another were ranked in their open order to give the freer passage to her words Rankt do I say I that they were like the dregs of putrefaction or the corrupted funk that steams from the purging Carkass of a gut-â—ed Cannibal Her neck warpt awry that made her head stand on one side as if she had a mind to a kiss But as for her other parts I leave the description of them to those that are better acquainted as Moschus Bion c. fearing lest in going about to convince my Reader of an uncharitable error I my self commit an error
feel her heart tumble up and down in her and she could not but skeu at Troilus and wish that he was her Husband when his lips opened to speak she imagined they smack'd together as if they were kissing of her and if he chanced to look awry she thought presently it was an amorous look at her and she would make many occasions to pass by and then she would look more demurely than ordinary and skrue her face into a posture that a bit of looking glass flatteringly made her believe was handsom and dip down many dainty dops as though somebody had struck her in the hams Arethusa she was taken with Thestylus and she was not so confident as her sister but would stand behind the pantry door and peep through the key hole at him and oh she wished that she could entice him a milking with her and she resolved if ever he came a wooing to her that she would pluck up a good heart and say Yes at first word for by that ugly word No she had lost many a well favoured suter that would have had her otherwise But hey the joy there was when their Father came and told them that these young men were come to be their Husbands and bid them be kind to them that is a very unnecessary command thought they Phyllis she felt her heart wamble and pant and keep such a stir in her that she could not rest in a place but must needs hop up and down the house and was ready to go to Troilus and tell him she consented before she knew whether he would have her or no. Arethusa was so netled that she flung to and fro as if she had a gad sly in her tail and both of them were so over joy'd that neither of them knew what they did And thus were the poor wenches senses almost rackt out of course between the extremes of Joy and Love Many days Troilus and Thestylus here continued to their far better contentment than at Battuses Phyllis and Arethusa being very observant wooing them by their officious carriage and Thyrsis shewing all manner of kindness according to his rustical generosity hoping to win them in the end daily telling them how many teems of Oxen he would give Phyllis and how many flocks of Sheep he would give Arethusa and what Meadows and Pasturage he would bestow upon them and thus continually tyâ—ing their ears with such kind of discourse untill at length the nine days were expired but yet no news that Battus was come home for Thyrsis would fain have continued them aâ— his house till he had enticed them to have married his Daughters and therefore concealed Battuses coming as long as he was able Troisus and the Sheaphard page 169. Phyllis with face fairer than any new washed Lamb with eyes black as Berry and lips as red as Coral this Phyllis I no sooner saw her but as if her look had bewitched me I could not for my life restrain my eyes from stragling after her but I must be looking at her though to my cost I found that every look methought conveyed a piece of my heart to her til at length she monopoliz'd it all to her self so that I minded nothing but thinking of her and neglecting my Sheep would walk all alone and talk of her ne're caring what a murrain became of my flock for now I my self was become one of Cupids flock and Phyllis eyes were the sheephooks wherewith he caught me her mouth the Tar-box and her comforting words the Tar wherewith he kept me from pining away with the Love-rot the pond where he daily washt my fleece was made of tears for indeed when I was by my self I could do nothing but whine as oft as I thought of Phyllis and as he daily washed me so he daily fleeced me that I was become ' een nothing but skin and bone that I looked just like a Skillet as Doctors call a man after they have picked his bones so that when I came amongst the rest of my companions they amazed got about me like Birds about an Owl and made jests of me some said I lookt as I had got the Murrain and would rub Tar over my face others said my bones lookt like a set of keiles and would toss their bowles at me and indeed I did look most piteously for I have often seen my face in a Spring but for all that I in the end obtained Phyllis's love and was to have been married to her just as you came to the house but assoon as you came the case was altered Phyllis looks coy forsooth as though I were not good enough for an husband for her and she lookt for another-gates husband than I and the like Whereupon dy ' see I enquired after you who and what you were and whether you came to marry Phyllis or not and amongst my neighbors at length I heard that you came to steal away Thyrsisses daughters privately and no body know of it but the old man who had consented and brought you to his house for that purpose and the young Maids be sure you would not long stay for their good will for they were so much taken with you it passed that none of we durst speak to them the Gentlewomen were grown so proud whereupon dy ' see I was so provoked that I should be so disdained and my Fathers eldest Son and all that I resolved to try a touch with you for I would have you to know that though you now were too hard for me yet I could make my party good with e're a young man of my inches in these parts let him be who he will And then the fellow began to puff and look bigger than ordnary and with that swelling made an end of his story But by this time they had gotten to Battusses house where as their fellows had told them they found him at home so that having dismissed them they applyed themselves to Battus and requested him to conduct them out of this Forest and they would recompense him for his labor Battus willingly consented and so they went on their journey when by that time the Worlds great Luminary had hid himself behind the mountains and was descending to take his rest on Thetisses watry couch they came to the place where they first met where having first gratified Battus for his pains the two friends Danpion and Periander now no more Troilus and Thestylus agreed upon time and place where again they might have recourse to inform each other of the affairs of State and of the state of affairs in both parties and so they parted Periander betaking himself to Pandions Castle and Danpion to the Kings Court whither by that time the torches of the night were enkindled in the heavens he arrived But scarce had he alighted off his horse ere winged Fame had carried tidings of it to the ears of most and by reason of his eminency it was not long before it was known to all so that the
which those excellencies before drowned in sorrow now swimming in her countenance sufficiently testified so that Polienus who before beheld her only with compassion now looks upon her with admiration for she seemed to him not composed of the common principles but of some heavenly materials even refined to an immateriality fit to captivate an immaterial soul so that at length he never viewed her but he saw some sweetness some grace some delicacy that gradually converted his admiration into affection and by an imperceptible ascension gave love the soveraignty over his heart and now Glycera and none but Glycera grew the object of his thoughts the subject of his discourse and the joy of his heart Long did Polienus cover his affection with the veil of silence but love though its chiefest residence is in the heart yet it will oft peep forth at the Casements of the eyes and like the Bee though its dwelling is in the Hive of the heart yet it must come forth to feed it self with the heavenly sweets imparadized in those flowers that grow in the Garden of Beauty so Polienus though he endeavoured to conceal his griefs yet his eyes would disclose what his heart inclosed for if ever he was in her presence her beauties attracted both his eyes and heart and the radiant beams that glanc'd from hers would seem to strike upon his heart strings and compose such a soft entrancing melody as he thought he felt his very Soul charmed into a love extasie Polienus thus observing daily how love did degree it self into his heart and a crowd of inevitable inconveniences issuing thereupon thronging into his understanding he strove to suppress all insurrections of that passion that thus endeavoured to depose his will and make his Reason do homage to it what he could For you must know this Polienus was one of prime quality having both a great wit and a greater fortune so that what the former could devise the latter could accomplish his person also not being meanly beautiful yet his beauty consisting in a mean between a masculine comeliness and a feminine sweetness and one who as he was never a hater so neither ever any great admirer of the female sex but looked on them as piles of well complexioned dust that like Sodoms Apples with the least touch of Times finger would moulder to nothing or as Natures painted Gallipots where you may meet as oft with poison as with a potion where he saw Vertue enshrined in the Temple of Beauty there he could even adore and counted such as Angels invested in refined flesh but where he saw Vertue lye bleeding in a Rosie cheek and Lillyed beauty to serve only for Chastities winding sheet those he counted as Devils clothed in an Angels form and born to tempt men to recede from vertue and sent to be plagues to the minds of men and preserved for eternal pestilence to the world This Polienus had been beloved by Amorosia daughter to Loritus King of Cyprus a Lady whose accomplishments might well have challenged a reciprocal affection having a delicate wit treasured in the Ivory Cabinet of a beautiful body and as she had powerful passions in a great mind so her mind had great power over her passions so that long she could conceal her love sealing it under the impression of her memory but you know love is such a strong passion that you may as well think to squeez down the Sun-beams and hinder their reflection as to suppress the flames of love but in despight of all opposition yea the more for opposition they will rebound from the heart to the eyes and are legible there to any that are not unacquainted with the Characters of affections and besides in women that passion is ever most visible their Ivory faireness is but as white paper where they pourtray the picture of their minds which their tongues are loth to betray their thin skins being as transparent Crystal through which the beams of love wil shine therefore the most Chast in that respect have not the gift of continence but though they may think to Cloyster up Love as a Recluse in the chast Nunneries of their hearts yet alas upon the least allurements of their beloveds beauty they will suffer all such vain resolves to be ravished from them and their eyes and tongues to be wedded to a heart-inflaming eye so it was with Amorosia in his absence his praises was all the entertainment of her discourse in his presence her eyes must move with his as if the beams that came from his had chained hers and as oft as she spake she must accent her sentences with sighs by those fumes plainly discovering the fire in her heart which though Polienus observed yet he would not be observed to have observed it but rather penned down his observations in the leiger of his memory But Amorosia's affection that had thus long been imprisoned in her heart would no longer endure restraint but must either come forth or break the prison so that no longer able to endure the unsupportable tyranny of her passion she goes to Polienus and with as much eloquence as a mind wracked between the extremitiâ—s of two violent passions Love and Fear and distracted with the contrary thoughts of pondering how to speak and whether to speak at all could frame deciphering first in her sweet countenance the prologue of her discourse she displays the storehouse of her desires and withall craves of him to poize them in the ballances of honor and not to let this condescension of hers exhale any mists of uncharitable thoughts that might obscure her Vertue Polienus observing in what costly robes both her speech and countenance was apparelled the former clad in the refined Goâ—d of eloquence even dazled his mind with admiration but in the latter such a Majesty clothed in purple sat inthroned as seemed rather to dazle than delight so that he could not but wonder though he could not love or rather he wondred why he could not love but though her perswasive speeches and speaking looks could not dart affection into him yet they even tranâ—fixt his heart with compassion which procured from him only a short reply wishing that heaven would crown him with so much happiness as to raise his merits to that height that deservedly he might be seated in the throne of her heart but till then he craved pardon if he rejected her sute and begged of her rather to accuse his fortunes than him that did thus incapacitate him to satisfie so great a debt as the high honor she had done him did oblige him to But however since he could not retaliate her affection nor retribute her unparallel'd favours yet he would accept them with a desire to compensate when his benign Stars should bless him with a possibility With this answer she went home endeavoring to cast as charitable a gloss upon it as expressions of so deep a sable dye would bear so easie it is to circumvent a soul
that beholds all things through the refracted medium of affection which will represent things streight though in themselves never so oblique Thus she remained for a long time great with child with expectation of some not only verbal but real testimonies of Polienus's affection and longed for that time that should Midwive some such happy production But Polienus whose heart was not conâ—ederate with his tongue meant her no such felicity as appeared by those exquisite methods he used to avoid and answer her importunities Amorosia observing no fruit of her endeavâ—râ— and her hopes to wane but despair growing to the full began to wax pale and wan and pine away and those beauties that had hitherto retained their lustre though weather-beatâ—n with the stormy frowns of misfortune as if they had been immarcessible now began to fade with his cold replies like a fair flower nipt with the morning Frost thus did her love feed upon her beauty as if Cupid were turned Cannibal and would devour his mother for want of other repast Concealed affection is like a Wolf in a womans Breast if no other refection be provided be sure it feeds on that The similitudes indeed are homely but apt and â—ignificative to express the nature of imprisoned passion Loritus her Father observing her withered beauty on a day strictly charged her to tell him what was the worm that bit the root of so sweet a flower and withall promised that the one half of his Kingdom should freely be given to purchase her content with that she gave him a full relation of her unsucceeding affection Loritus hearing this sends with speed for Polienus and smoothing the rough furrows of his countenance being a little moved when he first heard how his Daughter was rejected he endeavors with soft and mild perswasions to allure his consent to his own felicity but when he saw all to be in vain he conjures him by all the terrifying words and enraged mind could indite and Majesty utter to give him his final answer which was only this that Nature had engaged him to perpetual Chastity These words were as fire put under the Cauldron of his boyling blood so that he swears by Jâ—ve that if ever he heard that he sinned against the Obligâ—tion in what ever remote corner of the wide Universe â—e lurked his Revenge like Lightning should find him out and hurl him to destruction And believe me said he Kings swords reach from Pole to Pole and run parallel with all Climates Polienus hearing this fearing he should be entrapt with the delicate Baits of beauty that Court did abound in he sequestred himself wholly from their society and built him a stately Castle where now Glycera found him But I have too much digressed with this long relation yet it is only to shew what Squadrons of misfortunes attended his affection so that he durst not harbour a thought that would counsel him to harbour his Passion but strove to drive away his new guest with bad entertainment but then Love began so to play the Tyrant that nothing would satisfie him but the constant Tribute of sighs and groans neither could such windy meat satiate his hungry desire but he must now and then feed upon the dainties of Glycera's beauty so that at last Polienus was forced to unlock the Cabinet of his thoughts and discover what a Jewel he there treasured up no other than Glycera's Picture lively engraven on a rich Tablet gilded with affection and inclosed in a wounded-Wounded-Heart Glycera beholding Polienus so accomplished and remembring how her body was abused thought if e're she consented to him it might be a means to obscure that shame which otherwise would obscure her Honour therefore began to embrace his motion Polienusâ—eeing â—eeing her thus to stoop to his lure resolved to squeeze the quintessence of benefit out of this opportunity and to give such a thrust to the falling-stone of her Passion that it should never rest till it came to the Centre of Felicity So that to be brief the day was appointed when Hymen's Bonds should consummate their joyes Thus long did heaven give intermission to Glycera's sorrows but alas many times ther 's a reserve of misery that puts to â—light all our happiness when we think we have routed the main Battel and begin to erect Trophies of joyes and to lead Captive all our former sad Accidents at the Chariot of our triumphing fortune so it was with Glycera joy began to triumph in her Eyes and her heart bid Adieu to all discontent and the sudden delight she took in those rich Excellencies wherewith Nature had endued Polienus elevated her mind to so high a pitch of contentment that she almost thought some heavenly Apparition had imparadized her thoughts in a golden representation of Elizium but these towring joyes did but lead her to a precipice of misery that so her fall might be the greater for before the marriage-day the King had intelligence of it The multitude may be well compared to a Forest that Ecchoes all things spoke or done to their Kings ears Loritus hearing this resolved that his revenge should be of an equal Latitude with his threatning and though Amorosia upon her knees entreated for his Pardon yet he shook her off and told her That the heavens themselves though more powerful yet are not more just and resolute to execute their Decrees than he was And accordingly he sends a Party of Horse in the night who being let into the Castle by some Loyal Persons but treacherous servants to Polienus they surprized both him and Glycera in theis beds who little dreamt of such a sad interception of their happiness or that their new-coyn'd joyes should thus prove Dross and not pass current Thus doth a black shadow of misery attend a Sun-shine of prosperity Thus doth Hope as a Prospective-glass present to our dim-eâ—'d souls some great looming joy but in the end it proves nothing but a vanishing Cloud or a Rock to ship-wrack our hopes and contents upon Thus many times when we think to be conducted by the glimmering glories of this World through a night of sorrows to some Haven where our deluded thoughts perswade us Bliss resides they indeed prove but an ignis fatuus that lights us through the invious Paths and Mists of airy delusions to a precipice of misery where they leave us So it was with Polienus and Glycera Hope the bright Harbinger of the dawning day of Comfort had risen upon them and the Morning had distilled her Dew upon their blooming joyes but ah The one was no sooner risen than set and the other no sooner fallen than frozen by the cold blasts of Despair that nipt their springing happiness in the Bud for that night they were conveyed to Gortyna a Town of great resort in Cyprus being the Centre of it and stands near the River Lethaeus The next morning Polienus was adjudged to be thrown off a high Rock but whether or no executed the Knight could not resolve
I 'll not suffer an Innocents blood to rust that Sword of justice that hath hitherto been kept bright to the dazling of admiring Beholders Amorosia hearing this forbore any further supplications till her father freed from his passionate Feaver might be able to relish her counsel which being not long after she goeth to him and informs him of her state and lays before him all the probabilities of her innocency a mind discreet and charitable could suppose together with the inconveniences might ensue a rash execution of a Forein Lady allyed as she heard to the blood Royal of Thessalia and courted by Prince Pâ—â—dion and withall gave him such a description of her that at last divorced the former resolutions from his mind and wrought in him such a compassion for Glycera's adversity that he commanded she should be honorably attended and entertained but yet imprisoned for the space of about a year and half within which time if Pandion sent not some Knight that by encountring with and overcoming some Knight of Cyprus should release her that then she should endure the penalty of the Law but in the mean time he would dispatch a messenger unto him to give him intelligence of her condition and his determination The messenger that he sent was the Knight that I spake of before and the person elected to atchieve this enterprise is my self No sooner had he spoke these words than a shrill noise peirced their ears with such an acuteness as if it had fled before to make way for a groan that presently succeeded it which they hearing imagining they came from some distressed Lady ran with speed to help her and just as they turned round they espied Florinda under a Tree hard by the place where they had sate and discoursed fallen upon the ground in a swound Periander seeing this chafes her tender limbs and recovers her out of her deadly trance who when she perceived her self restored to her self she falls a weeping and sighing ah said she can my Periander find in his heart to leave me I can and will leave thee with all my heart said Periander I mean all my heart with thee but to find in my heart to leave thee I cannot since I can find nothing there but thee Oh but Periander shall not go said she Periander will not go said he for hee 'l leave his soul with thee his better part And will you then be gone said Florinda weeping what shall become of me the while think you Live in as much repose said Periander as a vertuous mind rewarded by heaven with earthly joys can extract from its own internal felicity Can true Lovers part then with so much ease said she I had hoped and then the tears distilled down her Cheeks in such abundance as interrupted her speech yet fain she would have spoke but her striving to speak made her speech the more difficult so that grief made so large a Parenthesis as if it would have put a period to her life in the midst of her sentence but proceeding I had hoped said she Periander had thought I had loved him too dearly ever to take any repose in his absence But though he can part from me and exchange a spotless affection for a little blood-stained honor though he can insatiably carowse my tears yet I could not see a tear drop from his eyes but 't would corrode my soul nor can I part from him and retain my self for affection hath so glewed him to my heart as the least separation would rend it in pieces But he discoursing to her how much it did import his honor and of what evil consequence to Danpions affairs his negligence in that respect would be she hung on his neck and kissed his cheeks and all the while bathed her kisses and his cheeks in tears Oh said she do not do not go if we must part now we must part for ever But with that as if every letter in the word Ever had been a thunderbolt shot from the sulphurous clouds of love mixt with sorrow in her heart her senses were on a sudden overwhelmed with extremity and she falls down into a swoun Periander seeing this was forc't to take an abrupt leave of Danpion whose dear affection each to other would else have compelled them to be more copious in their parting ceremonies and takes Florinda in his arms and carries her to a house neer adjoyning where we leave them Danpion being thus unhappily deprived of his friends and with them of his hopes of ever attaining either his Love or his Kingdom began most passionately to lament his condition For Periander that had so far befriended him on Pandions side and Florinda by whose means he had accomplished many projects in Hiarba's Court and who had defended him so often from Hiarbas and Amphigenia's displeasure were now both gone so that he seemed at once to have lost both his sword and buckler and left alone to manage his designs and bear the brunt of all In this condition he returned to his Chamber and there gave vent to his sorrows and in the midst of all his sadness he sets down this resolution with himself that since all his hopes were fled with Periander and Florinda he would quench that Vestal fire of chast love that flamed in his heart which could only be kindled at the beams of Amphigenia's beauty and with the smoke of that extinguished flame smother his grief and deface that image of sorrow deciphered in his de-dejected countenance and streight apply himself to Hiarbas will and comply with his humors by that means not onely to enter into but to interr himself alive during his dying life in his affection But humane determinations are but as glistering Bubbles where some bright reflections may please the fancy for a while but soon vanish into Air with the least blast of a divine decree every beam of a Planet comes laden with transformations which though it cannot have immediate commerce with the immaterial soul yet it will bribe the Organs and by that means unhinge the doors of resolution that exclude inconstancy from the mind So Danpion however for a time he flattered his sorrows with the thoughts of blotting out the Characters of love with black oblivion yet at length he found love to be of such a strange invincible unresistable force that the more he endeavoured to conquer its rebellions the more it rebelled and conquered his endeavors so that in despight of his reason he was led captive by his passion Flashes of beauty may dazle beholders eyes but where they light to purpose they melt the steeliest hearts and make them receive impressions of love which cannot soon be obliterated which Danpions experience could confirm for the more he endeavoured to extinguish the flames of affection with the cold blasts of despair the more ardent they grew and the less tolerable so that at length with constant pining not onely the colour but the figure of his face began to be
thing that had the shape of comfort and make the Walls echo his groans with a sad dolefulness and the Marble drops to reflect his visage and therein the Portraiture of sorrow True grief delights in solitudes if it may be said to have any delight and he mourns with a witness that mourns without a witness But now to leave him in his lamentations and return to Amphigenia who with the fright she took at her surprizal fell into such a dangerous distemper as threatned little less than her sudden dissolution every moment the fatal Thief would steal some portion of her Rosy-excellence or rather the Graces enshrined in her beautious Face by a mysterious transition passed into my soul to make her fit to inhabit among the Celestial dwellers which when her Father saw he grew so enraged with Danpion as he resolved not to be partial but gave strict command to his Keeper that night to put out his eyes as others before had suffered for an offence of the like kind though without those high aggravations that attended his and moreover to keep him Prisoner until they saw whether Amphigenia would recover or not if not he should be sacrificed on her Tomb and her Epitaph should be written in his Ashes and engraven with the point of a Sword on his Skull but if the contrary he should have his freedom The Jailor to execute the Kings commands in the depth and dead of all the night softly steals up to Danpion's chamber whom care and sorrow and a strange noise of confused thoughts would not permit to sleep so that he was only laid down on his bed a little wax Taper burning by him and was reading the sad story of Hero and Leander's love and was so moved with its woful conclusion as that he could not but shed some drops on the Book and by drowning their names with Tears make them act over again their own Tragedy The Keeper perceiving a dim light in his Chamber which gave him to see his hopes to take him asleep were vanished rushes in violently with a naked Sword in his hand and with all the terror a deformed countenance expressing more horror in a gastly look than could be otherwise contained in a Volume could frame he delivers the message and commands him to submit with patience as he expected to meet with better usage Danpion hearing this unexpected tidings fixed his eye undauntedly upon him whose Majesty might have struck an awful terror into the most ruthless Villains heart and enraged more with the churlishness of his speech than with the terribleness of his message he with a resolute fury leaps upon the Jaylor and on the sudden writhes the sword out of his hand and redeems himself giving him blowes for his Ransom Extremity is Vertues Opportunity which never appears clad with greater lustre than when stript naked by Fortune Danpion having released himself runs to a near adjoyning Wood where he spends that night in sighing forth his woes somtimes raving at the Kings merciless tyranny somtimes cursing Bascanius's treachery somtimes lamenting Amphigenia's cruelty His Mind floating in a tempestuous Sea of thoughts would be wrecked somtimes upon Rocks of insuperable difficulties somtimes overwhelmed in a Gulf of despair Then his Tongue the servant of his Mind to give some little ease would vent some streams out of the over-flowings of his thoughts Words are airy successors to our intestate comforts Flitting Shadows and vanishing Pictures of our mindes or our mindes transformed into Air and that formed into Words invisible transcripts of our thoughts writ upon Air and copyed out by our Tongues poor breathing Orators of our woes whose Rhetorick will for a while hush them to silence who give ease though they give no succour So Danpion with the wind of his words would a little disperse the Clouds of grief in his mind Somtimes he would inveigh against Envy calling it the putrid Blain of a corrupt mind or the very Imposthume of all vitious humours which bursting with its own venom sends forth an infectious gore called Slaunder Slaunder that base canker of Renown filthy vapour of an ulcerous mind whose steam obscures Vertues bright Ray vile demolisher of the Temple of Honour and the accursed spawn of a hellish mind But then his Hate to Envy would bring to his mind the contrary opposite a Love to Vertue and both these would be as alarms to awaken the thoughts of Amphigenia the Object of the first and the Subject of the latter And then he would condemn his too too adventurous eyes for their presumptuous beholding of that miracle of beauty but more his remembrance for retaining that Soul-captivating Species her Idea but most of all his Heart for surrendring up its Cittadel to the tyranny of love And then he would call out Ah! Why did I love Alas alas Why did I love Thus to be made a slave to Beauty but how could I chuse but love love nay adore so Divine a Form Rather why do I remember since it is remembrance that is the life of my grief and that that renews my woes but how can I chuse but remember such a heavenly shape in whom all unparalleld Excellencies meet like parallels in their proper Centre whose every beam glanced from her eyes writ a compleat story in my mind of Beauties Perfection and Loves Prerogative But ah Why did I then give liberty to my eyes to see that model of Divine perfections since the eyes are the Crystal doors of the mind at which all Objects enter that enthrall the affections but alas who could but gaze and gaze himself to admiration and admire himself into an Extasie to behold one in whose Eye lay the diapazon of beauties visible harmony which with their motions like the Spheres would strike Entrancing Raptures into all chast hearts and where thousands of Stars lay couched under a sable Veil resembling nights Canopy whose rapting influence would compel all eyes to see all thoughts to remember and all hearts to love and adore Thus his thoughts flying from one opposite to another would still centre on Amphigenia like the Eagles that flying from East to VVest met in Delphos and thus he consumed the night untill about the dawning of the morn that impartially partial hour which whilest it seems to stand as a Neuter between night and day and to take to neither doth indeed incline to both when remembring that though his escape had freed him from present misery yet not from future ruine he therefore resolved to flee to Cyprus after his friend Periander and assist him in the releasment of Glycera and then return with him to Thessalia and by his means ingratiate himself with Pandion and he feared not but to procure a considerable Party that should revolt from Hiarbas upon the least knowledge of his intentions As he was thus walking and pondering there suddenly came upon him about five Horsmen who by force he having no weapon to defend himself carried him about the space
for his trayterous adhering to his Enemy but the reason of it he said was partly through fear being terrified with the loss of all that nature and affection could entitle Precious upon the least intimation of discovery and partly for gain being bribed with liberal gifts and great honors above what he knew how to manage being made Commander of the Castle where Pandion chiefly had his residence all which he the more freely accepted because he then dispaired of ever blessing his eyes with the sight of his Highness supposing he had been torn in peices with some of that brutish Nation whom he used for his sport to persecute This said they fell into discourse about Danpions condition whether there was any hopes or means for escape the Forester having first informed him how that Hiarbas was come with an Army to redeem his Daughter then whether it was possible to procure admission to Amphigenia and whether Pandion intended any injury or dishonor to her and whether by force or stratagem she might be releaâ—ed but as they were thus discoursing some souldiers with a haste too slow for their minds though too fast for their leggs came stumbling into the room and called away the Forester their Captain Long had they not been separated ere Danpion heard a noise that sounded like a rude consort of many ill-agreeing voices which seemed to keep time to the Martial Musick of clashing of swords and justling of Armor amongst which he heard from a neighboring Chamber such shrieks as seemed to teach the Air in an unperfect manner the prefect language of misery which by reason of its disordered convoy the Air being variously divided with a strange confusion of noises came not to his ears so distinctly as to give him information of the Authoâ— yet by a strange symyathy it seemed to wound his soul His mind in travail with multitudes of conceptions would fain have been eased of its tortures with the knowledge of Amphigenia's condition which he endeavored by a near access to the Chamber where all those doleful births were generated but ah not to a freedom fâ—om but an augmentation of his sorrow for he plainly too plainly knew it be the voice of Amphigenia With that as if every shriek had been a Dart not from sorrow but from death not from an ordinary death but from a soul-torturing death from a death made deadly with torments having his senses stupified and his reason confounded not with a sorrow rather a desperate madness he ran about exclaiming against Heaven Hell Earth Men Devils Heaven for permitting her to be abused Earth for being the Theatre of such an accursed Tragedy Men for the Actors the Devils for the Inspiâ—ers Then he would cry out Oh! Celadon why didst thou reserve me for this these are torments would make an Atlas grown should a thousand Lyons Den within my breast they would not tear me like one groan of Amphigenia's Oh! cursed walls that hinder all my attempts And cruel Heaven that denyes me the common cure of misery a way to dye which every slave can command one dying groan would summ up all my miseries T is true as a Prince I ought to reserve my self for better fortunes and not to abandon my self though all the world forsake me yet as a Lover of Amphigenia I ought not to hope for joy whilst she remains a Captive to her enemies and the contrary passion These and the like words did Danpion utter and thus did he sacrifize himself to an unexpressible passion who in all things else shewed himself commander of an undaunted mind But now to leave him and return to Pandion who perceiving that Hiarbas was resolute in his purposes and wise in his resolutions and strong to execute what his wisdom had resolved upon thought it more wisdom to Treat with him peaceably than to referr his cause to the Arbitration of War whose partial decision he feared especially considering the unjustness of his cause had made him an Out-law to Heaven from whom he could challenge no protection and therefore he again sends an Envoy with certain Proposals to the King The sum of which was this That if the King regarded either his own or his Daughters safety or honor he should retreat with his men otherwise he must not hope for any other entertainment for himself or her than what a mortal enemy would bestow on the most hateful person And to let them see that his performance should be of an equal extent with his threatnings before the messenger could deliver his errant receive an answer and return Pandion had caused a Scaffold to be erected whereon presently appeared a most excellent Lady lead between two executioners whom both by her Garments and the Majesty that apparrelled her deportments Hiarbas knew to be his Daughter for there seemed in her as well as he could perceive at such a distance the same delicate loveliness lovely excellency Majestick sweetness as were the ingredients of so divine a composition as Amphigenia's Beauty and if the same perfections then sure the same person since none could boast of an equality with her in whom appeared all the excellencies not wherewith Nature had but wherewith she could beautifie a body A lamentable sight it was to see the Diamond of the World set in an endless Ring of miseries to see her act her own Tragedy whose countenance seemed the Theatre of Love and Beauty to see her to whom all hearts do homage to bow to an injurious fortune And that that did extort pity from the cruellest heart was the manner of her gestures wherewith she seemed to Antedate her misery and make misery it self more miserable at least more lamentable for her eyes were fixt on Heaven as if she meant to dart her Soul thither and prevent her enemies cruelty her tongue not profuse of words her sorrow seeming to feed it self with inward contemplation yet those few wherein she embodied her thoughts were guarded with such a captivating force as would have compelled a Tyrants heart to pitty her sorrow but they were no sooner Midwived by her tongue than swadled up in Air and so bequeathed to Heaven that few ears could boast themselves to be the Nurseries of such Divine off-springs of a Heavenly Soul Her hands were clasped and folded each in other and seemed to take their last embracements her arms not extended at their length but something bowing seemed to embrace sorrow not as an unjust effect of humane malice but as a just result of a Divine decree In fine in all her gestures there was such a Majestick humility conquering submission unconquered Piety solid devotion as made a lively and beautiful representation of what a great mind could do depressed under the lowest fortune But though the beholders yea the actors were so acted by pity as to pour forth their sense of her condition in tears and as it were by a repentance to wash way the crime before Commission yet at length as if the necessity of
no longer able to conceal himself from nor from himself him that was the author of these sad lamentations which he thought could suit with none as with him accounting as it is the property of all men his own condition most lamentable discovered to himself and himself to an ancient man apparelled in a Gown of gray resembling a Pilgrims weed lying along in a darksom Cave the darksomness whereof made it resemble a Vaulâ— or Grave as his paleness made him resemble a Ghost so that he lay as if he had been entombed alive Periander at first stood still having his thoughts distracted between pity and amazement and gazed upon him but then returning to himself he requested the Pilgrim for so he seemed to be to inform him of the cause of his mournful complaints telling him that he had a sufficient share of sorrow and therefore knew how to bear a part in that doleful Consort and that he had found by experience that when he had a partner in grief it eased him of half his misery two being able to support that burthen that one will sink under And that if it lay in his power no way else to avail him yet he could sympathize with him True answered the Pilgrim but you your self say you have a sufficient share already and therefore I need make no addition and alas the story of my fortunes would make an Adamantine heart relent and move pity in a Soul that had for ever exiled all mercy from it The relation answered Periander may add to my griefs not to my misery and detract from them as much as their relating may give ease to you which will be some though small because one grief concealed more grievous is than ten imparted Since you are thus desirous replyed the Pilgrim of a thing so undesirable I shall consent Know then that my name is Geryon by birth a Nobleman of this Realm I had a Daughter and then the tears stood in his eyes as doubtful whether they should leave their Aged Mansions or continue there her name was Helena her Parts and Beauty made her both desireable and desired by many principal Noblemen in the Court Many suters she had among the rest there came a young Gentleman named Pentheus a man as I must needs say of incomparable worth though as I then thought too undeserving for my Daughter but now I both see and rue my pride and then the tears gushed forth but proceeding the wealth and honor of the rest so eclipsed his merits and dazled the eyes of my judgement that I thought him fitter for her menial servant than a servant in affection But I disliked him not so much as my Daughter liked him or rather I disliked him the more because she liked him not out of want but excess of over-vehement affection to her But my hate to him could not quench her love to him but rather encreased it which for a while was interrupted upon this occasion Often had I forbad him coming to my house threatning little less than Death charging my Daughter also upon penalty of my utter displeasure not to entertain him in her Arms or in her heart but as the latter was impossible for her to effect so the former was attended with little less difficulty being as unwilling to do the one as unable to do the other so that they continuâ—d still their stollen meetings which was not so private but it came to my ear so that perceiving they little minded my threatnings I minded little to threaten but laid an Ambushment to entrap them one Evening who passing along as they were toying and discoursing and using their wonted Dalliances my servants started up and apprehended them her they brought home and him they carried into a Wood that was some miles distant from thence with intentions to kill him but they were set upon by the Knights of Clausus Castle and some killed others wounded and many carried prisoners to the Castle among which he was one Those few that remained and escaped fled in hast to acquaint me with the event of the action which did then exceedingly delight and content me such was my wicked folly that I never considered what would be the event of such a wicked event the eyes of my affection and judgement being blinded with the dazling of that happiness I flattered my self withall which I thought nothing then could impede when such an obstacle and impediment was removed away but ah there was a greater obstruction my wickedness that I minded not to remove which is that that now more afflicts me than all the misery and misfortune that is inflicted upon me such is the adversity that attends wicked prosperity and succeeds prosperous successes in wickednesses they do but harden the actor in his enormous courses and by that means fit him for inevitable ruine whilst he taken with the appearing sweetness of such transient happiness regards not to repress those exorbitances which in the end depress him with misery Pentheus being gone nothing now remained but to match my Daughter to the most deserving of her noble â—uters amongst whom was one Trebonius a young Nobleman of great estate and power As his affections were most vehemently bent towards my Daughter so were mine towards him esteeming him in my over-partial judgement as far to excell Pentheus in worth and excellency as he did exceed him in riches though that worth to my grief I found chiefly consisted in worthless wealth and honor To him was I determinately resolved to marry my Daughter and to that end used what arguments and perswasions I was able to prevail upon her affections but as they were not in my power to command so neither could she compell them to obey which I perceiving was forced to use my paternal authority by which at length with many arguments and threatnings I got her consent not because she was pleased in her choice but because her choice was to please me so that in fine marryed they were to my great joy and contentment But alas what constancy is there in humane estates for when we are surrounded with the greatest prosperity then many times are we also invironed with the greatest disasters good nor evil never abiding in one posture so it was with me Little did I preconceive what a part Fortune or rather misfortune had to act in this Tragi-comedy But whatever I conceived that monstruous birth that Fortune was then conceiving made me a monster of misery which was Midwived by this occasion Of late two strange Knights by their valour killed the Captain Clausus took the Castle and redeemed the prisoners all which I suppose you cannot be ignorant of for it s not only the discourse but the admiration both of Court and Kingdom amongst which he was one that was released from that Captivity but ah to be insnared in a greater Captivity both of affection and misery For no sooner was the Castle won but with all speed possible he ran first to inform