course we 're come to a low shed Whose happy honor ne'r disquieted With those domestick troubles that attend On larger roofs here in content did spend Fortunes scant gifts at his unhaunted gate Hearing us knock he stands not to debate With wealthy misers slow suspition but Swift as if 't were a sin to keep it shut Removes that slender Guard but when he there Unusual Strangers saw with such a care As onely spoke a conscious shame to be Surpris'd whilst unprovided poverty Straitned desire he starts yet entertains Us so that shew'd by an industrious pains He strove to welcom more Here being by Their goodness and our own necessity Tempted a while to rest we safely lay Far from persuing ills yet since the way To danger by suspition lies we still Fear being betray'd by those that meant no ill Since oft their busie whispers though they spring From love and wonder slow discoveries bring Being now removing since thy tender age Threatned to make the grave its second stage If thence conveigh'd by us whose fondest love Could to thy wants but fruitless pity prove T' inlarge thy commons though increase our fears To those indulgent rurals who for tears Had springs of milk to feed thee thou remain'st An infant tenant for thy own name ' gainst What since thou hast bin known by which when we Contracted had to the stenographie Some gold the last of all our wealth we leave To make their burthen light which they receive With thankfull joy amaz'd to see those bright Angels display their strange unwonted light In poverties cold region where they had Been pin'd for want if not by labor clad When age should make thee capable to tell Thy wonder how thy infancy had fell From honors pyramids a jewel which Did once the splendor of his Crown inrich About thy neck he hangs then breathing on Thy tender lips a parting kiss we 're gone Gone from our last delight to finde some place Dark as our clouded stars there to embrace Unenvi'd poverty in the cold bed Of sad despair till on his reverend head Once center to a crown grief makes him weare A silver frost by frequent storms of care Forc'd on that royal mount whose verdute fades Ere time by youths antagonist invades Not far through dark and unknown paths we had Wander'd within those forrests which unclad By big windes of their summers beauteous dress Naked and trembling stood ere fair success Smiling upon our miseries did bring Us to a chrystal stream from whose cold spring With busie and laborious care we saw A feeble Hermite stooping down to draw An earthen pot whose empty wants supply'd With liquid treasure soon had satisfy'd His thirsty hopes who now returning by A narrow path which did directing Ile Through th' unfrequented desart with the haste Of doubtfull Travellers in lands laid waste By conquering foes we follow till drawn near To him whom innocence secur'd from fear Disburth'ning of his staff he sits to rest What was with age and labor both opprest Our first salutes when we for blessings had Exchang'd with him being sat we there unclad All our deform'd misfortunes and unless A kingdoms loss disvellop'd our distress Which heard with pity that he safely might Be the directing Pharos by whose light We might be safely guided from the rocks Of the tempestuous world his tongue unlocks A cabinet of holy counsel which More then our vanish'd honor did enrich Our souls for whose eternal good was meant This cordial with the worlds best wealth Content Content which flies the busie throne to dwell With hungry Hermites in the noiseless cell More safe then age from the hot sins of youth Peaceful as faith free as untroubled truth Being by him directed hither we Long liv'd within this narrow Monast'rie Whose orders being too strict for those that ne're Had lost delight i th' prosecuting care Of unsuccessful action suited best With us whose griefs compar'd taught the distrest To sleight their own as guests that did intrude On reason in the want of fortitude That brave supporter which such comfort brings That none can know but persecuted Kings The purple-robe his births unquestion'd right For the course habit of a Carmelite Being now exchang'd and we retir'd from both Our fears and hopes like private Lovers loth When solve from the observant Spy to be Disturb'd by friends for want or greatness free Secure and calm we spent those happy days In nought ambitious but of what might raise Our thoughts towards heav'n with whom each hour acquaints In prayr more frequent then afflicted saints Our happy souls which here so long had bin Refining till that grand reward of sin Death did by age his common harbinger Proclaim 's approach and warn'd us to defer For the earths trivial business nought that might Concern eternity lest life and light Forsaking our dark mansions leave us to Darkness and death unfurnisht of a clew Which might conduct when time shall cease to be Through the meanders of eternitie Thy pious father ere the thefts of age Decaying strength should his stiff limbs engage In an uneasie rest to level all Accounts with heaven doth to remembrance call A vow which though in hot affliction made Whilst passions-short ephemera's did invade His troubled soul doth now when the disease Time had expung'd from solitary ease Call him again to an unwilling view o th' active world in a long journey to Forlorn Enna unto whose Temple he Had vow'd if fortune lent him libertie Till tir'd with the extreams of weary age The cheap devotion of a pilgrimage The End of the Fourth Canto PHARONNIDA The Fourth Book CANTO V. The Argument I. To the grave Author of this happy news The pleas'd Argalia with delight did hear Till whilst the fatal story he persues He brings his great soul near the gates of fear II. By letting him in full discovery know The dreadful danger that did then attend His royal Sire who to his sword must ow For safety ere his sad afflictions end FOrsaking now our solitary friends Whose prayrs upon each slow-pac'd step attends From danger by a dress so course exempt As wore religion to avoid contempt Through toils of many a tedious day at last We Enna reach where when his vows had past The danger of a forfeiture and we That debt discharg'd to heaven had libertie To look abroad with sorrow-laden eyes We view those ruines in whose ashes lies Sad objects of our former loss not then Rak'd up so deep but old observant men When youths were in procession led could tell Where towrs once stood and in what fights they fell Which to confirm some in an aged pride Shew wounds which then though they did wisely hide As signatures of loyal valor they Now unsuspected with delight display Hence when commanded by the wane of light We sought protection from approaching night In an adjacent Monastry where we The wandring objects of their charitie Although by all welcom'd with friendly zeal
his Sword are now By bounty made too much his own t' allow Even flight suspition room This being done That Valour though with Love 't were wingd might run On no rash Precipice assisted by That skilful Sea-man from some Ships that ly Neglected ' cause by time decayed he takes So much o th' Tackling as of that he makes Ladders of length sufficient to ascend The Castle Wals which having to defend Them nought but slave security is done With so much ease that what 's so wel begun They boldly second and first entering in A Tower which had by th' prudent Founder bin Built to command the Havens Mouth which lay Too low for th' Castle where when come all they Found to resist is one poor Centry bound In sleep which soon by death is made more sound To lodge the Prince in that safe place before His active valour yet attempted more The Gates secur'd that led to th' Castle he Protected by that Nights obscuritie By a conceald smal Salliport is to Its strength soon brought when now prepard to view More dreadful dangers in such habit clad As by the out-Guards easie Error had Soon as a Soldier gave him entrance come To th' Hall he is there being informd by some o th' drousie Guards where his pretended speed Might find Molarchus to perform a deed That future Ages if that Honours fire Lose not its light shal worthily admire His Valours hast within a room whose pride Of Art though great was far more glorifi'd By that bright Luster the Spectators saw Through Sorrows Clouds in fair Pharonnida He finds the impious Villain heightend in His late success to such rude acts of sin That servile baseness the low distance whence He us'd to look grew sawcy Impudence Inflam'd Argalia who at once beholds Objects to which the Sould inlarg'd unfolds Its passions in the various Characters Of Love and Anger now no more defers The exâ—cution of his rage but in So swift a death as if his hand had been Guided by Lightning to Molarchus sent His Lifes discharge which with astonishment Great as if by their evil Angels all Their sins had been displayed did wildly fall Upon his Followers whom ere hast could save Or strength resist Argalia's Sword had gave Such sudden deaths that whilst Amazements reignd Ere all he from the heedless tumult gaind That glorious Prize the royal Lady who In all assaults of fears not lost unto Her own clear Judgment as a blessing sent From Heaven whilst her base Foes Confusion lent That Action safety follows that brave Friend Whose Sword redeemd her till her Journeys end Through threatning dangers brought her to that place Where with such passion as kind Wives embrace Husbands returnd from bondage she is by Her Father welcom'd into liberty Thus rescu'd whilst exalted tumours sweld To such Confusion as from sense expeld Reasons safe Conduct whilst each Soldier leaves His former Charge fears pale disease receives This Paroxisme the Fleet which yet had in A doubtful Quest of their surpriz'd Prince bin Directed hither with the new-born day Their streamers round the Cittadel display Which seen by them that being deluded by The dead Molarchus to his treachery Had joynd their strength guilt the Original Of shame did to defend the plat-form Call Their bold endeavour but when fidning it Too strongly man'd for undermineing wit Or open strength to force dispairing to Be long secure prompted by fear they threw Themselves on Mercy which calm Grace among Heavens other blessings whilst it leads along The Prince toward Victory made his Conquest seen Such as came not to punish but redeem The end of the fourth Canto PHARONNIDA The first Book CANTO THE FIFTH The ARGUMENT IX The gratefull Prince to shew how much he lov'd This noble Youth whoe 's Merits just reward Too great for less Abilities had prov'd Makes him Commander of his Daughters Guard X. Where seated in the most benign Aspect Kind Love could grant to fair Pharonnida A sacred Vision doth her hopes detect Whose waking joyes his absence doth withdraw FReed from those dangers which this bold attempt Made justly feard whilst joy did yet exempt Those cares which when by time concocted shall His Kingdome to a general Mourning call Sparta's pleas'd Prince with all the Attributes Ere Gratitude learnd from Desert salutes That noble Youth which even when hope was spent Kind Heaven had made his safeties Instrument By acts of such heroick Vertue that Whilst all the less concernd are wondring at The grateful Prince in all the noble waies Of honour lasting as his life repaies By whose example the fair Princess taught To shadow Love her Souls most perfect draught In friendships Vail so free a welcome gave The worthy stranger that al prayer durst crave Though sacrific'd in Zeals most perfect fire Seemd now from Heaven dropt on his pleas'd desire Some daies spent here whilst Justice vainly sought That Treasons root whose base production brought Unto an unexpected Period in Molarchus death with him had buried bin To future knowledge all confessions though In torments they extracted were bestow Upon their knowledge being th' imperfect shade Of supposition which too weak t' invade Even those whose doubtful Loyalty lookt dim The prudent Prince burying mistrust with him Leaving the Island with 's triumphant Fleet On the Sicillian shoar prepars to meet That Joy in triumph which a blessing brought His loyal Subjects with their prayers had sought To cure those hot distemperatures which in His absence had the Courts Quotidian bin The Princess guard as being an honour due To noble Valour having left unto That worthy stranger whose victorious hand Declar'd a Soul created for command The Prince departs from his loud Daughters Court To joyful Corinth where though the resort Of such as by their service strove t' express An uncorrupted Loyalty made less That Mourning which the Kingdomes general Loss Claim'd from all hearts yet like a sable Cross Which amongst Trophy's noble Conquerors bear All did some signs o th' publick sorrrow wear But leaving these to rectifie that State This Feaver shook return to whom we late Left gently calm'd that happy pair which in Desire the shady Porch of Love begin That lasting progress which ere ended shall So oft their Fate to strong assistance call Some Months in happy free delights before Passion got strength enough to dictate more Then Reason could right fair they 'd spent in which Slumber of Fancy popular Love grown rich Soon becomes factious and engages all The powers of Nature to procure the fall Of the Souls lawful Soveraign either in Each Action of the others did begin To place an Adoration she doth see What ere he doth as shining Majesty Beneath a Cloud or Books where Heaven transfers Their Oracles in unknown Characters Like Gold yet unrefin'd or th' Adamant Wrapt up in earth he only seemd to want Knowledge of Worth Her Actions in his fight Appear like fires feign'd Element with light But not destruction
bright and pure a flame as ere Did in the shades of modesty declare Passion breaks forth which happy signs by him Whose heart her eys even whilst they shone most dim With mutual flames had fir'd that loyal love Which fate in vain shall struggle to remove Begins with flames as innocently bright As the first rayes of new created light But stay rash Reader think not they 're led Through these smooth walks unto their nuptial bed But now behold that their misfortune prove Which thou hast wept for if thou e'er didst love A separation the suspition that Sparta's vext King when first distemper'd at His daughters loss did of this stranger Prince Justly conceive perswades him now that since Not found within the Cyprian Court that he Who had been vainly sought abroad might be Yet lodg'd at home which supposition bred So strict a search that though the silent dead Not silenter then her Attendants were Yet kind Orlinda whom a pious care Prompted to save what she did yet possess Whilst seeking with a Lovers tenderness How to secure him doth at length convay Her roving fancy to this hopeful way Not long before though now 't were silenc'd in Domestick ills Report had busied been In the relating of the sad distress Of a brave Lybian Prince whom heaven to bless With an eternal Crown in midst of all His Youths fresh glories by a powerful call Summons to serve her and that faith which he Had from the early dawn of infancie Suckt from the great Impostor of the East Though now by time Opinions strength increast Spight of a peoples prayers or fathers threats Wholly forsaking which revolt begets So much aversion pitty could invent Nought easier then perpetual banishment To punish what their faith mistaken in Its object terms a black Apostates sin Disguis'd in such a dress as pitty might Expect t' encounter so distrest a Wight As was that wandring Prince attended by No train but what becomes th'obscurity Of such a fortune to the Spartan Court Amindor comes where though the thick resort Of well known friends might justly make him fear Some treacherous eye knowledge could ne'r appear Through that black vail his happy art had took To make him like a sun-burnt Lybian look Yet what engag'd them more then safety in Prayers to heaven his person had not bin Not long the wonder of the Court before His fairer vertues which adorn'd him more Then th' other could disguise did justly prove The happy object of the Princes love Whose influence whilst it him to power did raise Taught by reflex the people how to praise That fair election till the Pyramed Rais'd to his fame had fixt its lofty head Above the clouds of fortune yet not this Fates fairest smile a Lovers best of bliss A free commerce which unsuspected might Though long and pleasant as the Summers light Be ne'r disturb'd with fair Orlinda gives Content such fulness that although he lives To all unknown but her alone in that Enjoy'd more then ambition e'er aim'd at And now from all the fruitless diligence Of inquisitions and the vain expence Of time return'd were every troop that had Trew forlorn hopes been Active in the sad Search of Pharonnida which ending in A just despair some that till then within The Castle walls had though as vainly sought Their sorrow forth before the griev'd Prince brought Brunorchus whom they in a small lodge where Secur'd by sollitude the houshold care Of locks and bolts were vain unsought they found In the soft bands of griefs best opiate bound Sleep who though thron'd within her ebbon seat From lusts hor field appears but his retreat When tir'd with action for besides him they Where 's poisons antidote Amphibia lay Block'd up in 's arms beheld the air with all Their voices stroke at length had rais'd a call That drown'd their sleeping thunder from the bed Brunorchus starting struggles to have fled The shamefull danger whilst Amphibia creeps Beneath her sheets protection but nought keeps Pursuing vengeance back there took and brought Before the Prince who startl'd at the thought Of such a complicated crime refers Their punishment to death 's dire Messengers The yet succesfull Lovers long e'er this Safely arriv'd at their first stage of bliss Florenza's low unenvied roof did there Since speed was now the fairest childe of care Stay only to exchange their horse and take With her a guide whose practick skill could make Their untrod paths familiar through a low Dark vail where shade-affecting weeds did grow Eternal strangers to the Sun did lie The narrow path frequented onely by The forest Tyrants when they bore their prey From open dangers of discovering day Past through this desart valey they were now Climing an easie hill where every bough Maintain'd a feather'd chorister to sing Soft Pahegyricks and the rude windes bring Into a murmuring slumber whilst the calm Morn on each leaf did hang her liquid balm With an intent before the next Suns birth To drop it in those wounds which the cleft earth Receiv'd from 's last days beams the hills ascent Wound up by action in a large extent Of leavie plains shews them the canopie Beneath whose shadow their large way did lie Which being lookt ore whilst thankful praise did pay Their debts to heaven they thence with a convay Of prayers those swift ambassadors did send A hopeful glance tow'rd their large journies end These short surveys past since the place assures A safe repose to cool the Calentures Of feverish action down a way that led From Pleasures throne unto her fragrant bed A rank of Laurels spreading to protect The flowry path which not unprun'd neglect Robb'd of delight they past the slow descent Soon brings them where her richest ornament Although with art unpleited Nature in A lovely Landshape wore that once had been Sacred to th' Islands fruitful Goddess here Whilst they behold the infants of the year i th' Springs unsullied livery clad the fair And large-limb'd trees preparing to repair Autums spent stock from out an humble hill A tributary fountain did distill The earths cold blood and murmuring convays It on a bed of peebles till it pays Her debts to th' neighboring river Near to it Full Chorusses of feather'd Hero's sit Amidst their willow-mansions to whose ease Their shrill notes call the sportive Driades Whilst by the brightest glories of that age This Royal robe worne in a hermitage Is seen with such a silent sad delight As smooths the furrows of an Anchorite Their solemn walk had brought them to a green Skirt of that mantle fairly spread between Two mossie rocks that near the chrystal slood Appendixes to larger mountains stood Near which they saw with mournful majesty A heap of solitary ruines lie Half-sepulchred in dust the bankrupt heir To prodigal Antiquity whose fair Composures did beneath times pride sunk low But dim vestigia's of their beauty shew Yet that it might unreverend gazers tell It once was sacred Ceres image
other Affairs and not to be understood but in their own Dialect I have done with all that in probability may prove my Readers And now a word to such whom I presume will be none for they are desir'd to do no more then the Epistle It being fit to serve them like Vagabonds let them enter no further then the Gate I mean all squint-ey'd Sectaries from the Spawn of Geneva to the black Brood of Amsterdam together with some Rascals of a lower Rank such as usurp the abus'd Title of Sons of Art and with an empty Impudence endeavour to pollute those Immaculate Virgins whilst the other with an exalted Villany sully the Celestiall Beauties of Divine Truth For the first of which the preposterous Genius of the Times hath so far favour'd them that now nothing is more vendible then the surreptitious off-springs of their immagin'd Wit Every Stationers Shop affording pregnant examples of it in big bulk'd Volumes of Physick Astrologie and the like By these indigent Vermine either to satisfie their clamorous Wants or inhance their esteem in the Vulgar Opinion basely prostituted to every illiterate Spectator whilst Truth and a guilty Conscience tels them nought is their own but the Hyperbolicall Titles which to discerning Eyes appear but the glorious out-sides to tainted Sepulchers in which their detected Villany shall be Abominated by more knowing Posterityâ— These cry down all things of this Nature for Subjects of Inutility not tending to the improvement of Science which in the most genuine Construction of it hath no Enemy from which her ruine is more formidable then from them But for my more dangerous Sceptick who yet is so much like the Fole of an Ass that he appears to the World with his Spleen in his Mouth I mean my pretended zealous Censurer from whom in mee it were an over-weaning boldness to expect Civility since though not for the Nature which he understands not yet for the Name which he hath only heard of he is so much an Enemy to the Muses that should the Seraphick Strains of Majestick David or the flaming Raptures of Elegiack Jeremiah appear to the World in their pristine and unpolluted Purity his Ignorance would extend to so vast an Error to censure them of Levity But as no man will esteem the Sun less Glorious for that the hated Owle avoids its sight so I presume none except their own deluded Followers will betray so palpable a dearth of Judgment as to bear the less estecm to Majestick Poetry for the illiterate scandal of flattering Ignorance Poesie if justly meriting to be invested in that glorious Title being of so attractive a Beauty that it doth rather like an Orphean Harmony draw that Emblem of a Beast the unpollisht Clown to a listning Civility then like Circe's Inchantments change the more happily Educated to a swinish and sordid Lethargie But her defence being a burthen which already stands firm on so many noble Supporters whose Monuments will remain till Time it self shall be lost in Eternity I need not add my weak Endeavours to illustrate a Beauty which the wiser world already admires Now though she want the Applause of some Attribute it not to the defect either of her Excellency or their Judgment but to that various Dress of Humours wherewith Nature hath Checquer'd the Universe Concluding with that Honour of ancient Thebes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pindarus in Olympiorum octavo W. C. PHARONNIDA The first Book CANTO THE FIRST The ARGUMENT I. From Seas wild fury and the wilder rage Of faithless Turks two noble strangers freed Let Curtesie their gratefull Souls engage To such a Debt as doth obstruct their speed II. Where they to fill those Sceans unactive rest Would tedious make in fair description saw How Spata's Prince for his Queens loss opprest Found all those Ills cur'd in Pharonnida THE Earth which lately lay like Nutures Tomb Marbl'd in Frosts had from her pregnant Womb Display'd the fragrant Spring when courted by A calm fresh Morning ere Heavens brightest Ey Adorn'd the East a Spartan Lord whom Fame Taught from Desert made glorious by the Name Of Aminander with a noble train Whose active Youth did sloath-like sin disdain Attended had worn out the Morning in Chase of a stately Stag which having bin Forc'd from the Forests safe protection to Discovering Plain his clamourous Foes had drew Up to a steep Cliffs lofty top where he As if grown proud so sacrific'd to be To mans delight ' mongst the puâ—suing cry Who make the Valleys eccho Victory Sinks weeping whilst exalted shouts did tell The distant Heaâ—ds their ancient Leader fell The half-tir'd Hunters their swift Game stopt here By death like noble Conquerors appear To give that Foe which now resistless lies With their shrill Horns his Fun'rall Obsequies Which whilst performing their diverted sight Turns to behold a far more fatall fight That since fam'd Gulf where the brave Austrian made The Turkish Crescents an eternall shade Beneath dishonour seeks Lepanto lay So neer that from their lofty station they A Ship upon whose Streamers there were fixt The Christian Badge saw in fierce Battell mixt With a prevailing Turkish Squadron that With shouts assault what now lay onely at That feeble Guard which under the pretence Of injuring others seeks its own defence Clear was the day and calm the Sea so long Till now the Turks whose numbers grew too strong For all that could no other help afford But humane strength within their view did board The wretched Christians to whose sufferings they Can lend no comfort but what Pray'rs convey To helpfull Heaven by whose attentive Ear Both heard and pittyed Mercy did appear In this swift change A hollow Wind proclaims Approaching storms the black Clouds burst in flames Imprison'd Thunder roars and in a shoure Dark as the Night dull sweaty Vapors poure Themselves on th' earth t' enrich whom Nature vents Th' etherial Fabricks useless excrements Whose flatuous pride as if it did disdain Such base descents rowling the liquid plain Into transparent Mountains hurls them at The brow of Heaven whose Lamps by Vapors that Their influence rais'd are crampt whilst the sick day Was languishing to such a Night as lay O're the first Matter when Confusion dwelt In the vast Chaos ere the rude Mass felt Heavens segregating breath But long this fierce Conflict indures not ere the Sun-beams pierce The scatterd Clouds which whilst wild Winds pursue Through sullied Aire in reaking Vapors flew In this Encounter of the storm before Its sable Vail let them discover more Then contain'd horror a loud dreadfull shriek Piercing the thick Aire at their Ears did seek For trembling entrance being transported by Uncertain drifts rent Sails and Tackling fly Amongst the towring Cliffs a sure presage That adverse Winds did in that storm engage Some Vessell which did from her Cordage part With such sad pangs as from the dying Heart Convulsions tear the Fibers But the day Recov'ring her lost Rain made clearer way For
arm'd like the fair Sun When through a chrystal Aqueduct he'th run His piercing Beams until grown temperate by That cooling Medium through humility Shun her Majestick worth in eithers Eyes The other seemd to wear such a disguise As Poets cloathd their wandring Gods in when In forms disguiz'd they here converst with men But long this conflict of their Passions ere Resisted lasts not when disdaind to bear Those leaden Fetters the great Princess tries To quench that fire i th' Embrio ere it rise To unresisted blazes but in vain What her tears smoother are by sighs again Blown into flames such as since not to be By ought extinguisht her sweet modesty Strives to conceal nor did them more betray Then by such Fugitives as stole away Through her fair Eyes those Salliports of Love From her besieged heart now like to prove Had not her Honour cal'd the Act unjust So feeble to betray her Souls best trust Her flames being not such as each vulgar breast Feels in the fires of Fancy when opprest With gloomy discontents her bright stars sate Inthron'd so high that like the Bays of Fate It stopt the Current of the stream and to The Sea of Honour Loves fresh Rivers drew Thus whilst the royal Eaglet doth i th' high Sublimer Region of bright Majesty Upon Affections Wings still hover yet Loath to descend on th' humble earth doth sit Her worthy Lover like that amorous Vine When crawling o're the Weeds it strives to twine Embraces with the Elm he stands whilst she Desires to bend but like that love-sick Tree By greatness is deni'd he that nere knew A swelling tumour of conceit nor flew Upon the waxen Wings of vain Ambition A thought above his own obscure Condition Thinks that the Princess by her large respect Conferd on him but kindly doth reflect Her Fathers beams and with a reverend zeal Sees those descending Rays that did reveal Loves Embassies transported on the quick Wings of that heart-o're-coming Rhetorick Instructing that the weakness of his Eye Dazl'd with beams of shining Majesty Might for too boldly gazing on a sight So full of glory be depriv'd of light Stifling his Fancy till it turnd the Aire That fand his heart to flames which pale dispaire Chil'd into Iâ—e soon as he went about With them to breath a storm of passions out But vain are all these fears his Eagle sight Is born to gaze upon no lesser Light Then that from whence all other beauties in The same sphear borrow theirs he else had bin Degenerate from that royal Airce whence He first did spring although he fell from thence Unfledg'd the growing Pinnions of his Fame Wanting the purple tincture of his Name And Titles both unknown yet shall be fly On his own Merits strength a pitch as high Though not so boldly claimd and such as shall Inhance the blessing when the dull mists fall From truths benighted Eyes whispering in His Souls pleas'd Ear her passion did begin Whilst all the Constellations of her Fate Fixt in the Zenith of bright honour sate Whilst his deprest by adverse Fortune in Their Nader lay even to his hopes unseen Whilst thus Enthean fire did lye conceald With different Curtains least by being reveald Cross Fate which could not quench it should to death Scorch all their hopes burnd in the angry breath Of her incensed Father whilst the fair Pharonnida was striving to repair The wakeful ruines of the day within Her Bed whose Down of late by Love had been Converted into Thorns she having payed The restless tribute of her sorrow stayed To breath a while in broken slumbers such As with short blasts cool feverish brains but much More was in hers a strong Prophetick dream Divering by Enigmaes Natures stream Long hovering through the Portals of her mind On vain phantastick Wings at length did find The glimerings of obstructed reason by A brighter beam of pure divinity Led into supernatural light whose Rayes As much transcended reasons as the dayes Dull mortal fires faith apprehends to be Beneath the glimerings of divinity Her unimprisond Soul disrob'd of all Terrestial thoughts like its Original In Heaven pure and Immaculate a fit Companion did for those bright Angels sit Which the Gods made their Messengers to bear This sacred truth seeming transported where Fixt in the flaming Center of the world The heart o th' Mycrocosme 'bout which is hurld The spangl'd Curtains of the Sky within Whose boundless Orbs the circling Planets spin Those threads of time upon whose strength rely The pondrous Burthens of mortality An Adamantine World she sees more pure More glorious far then this fram'd to endure The shock of Dooms-daies Darts in which remains The better Angels of what earth contains Plac'd there to govern all our Acts and be A Medium 'twixt us and Eternity Hence Nature from a Laberinth half above Half underneath that sympathetick Love Which warms the World to Generation sends On unseen Atomes each small star attends Here for his Message which receiv'd is by Their influence to the Astral Faculty That lurks on earth communicated hence Informing Forma sends Intelligence To the material principles of earth Her upper Garments Natures second birth Upon each side of this large Frame a Gate Of different use was plac'd at one there sate A sprightly youth whose Angels form delights Eyes dim'd with age whose blandishments invights Infants i th' Womb to court their wo and be By his false shape tempted to misery Millions of thousands swarm about him though Diseases do each minute strive to throw Them from his presence since being tempted by His flattering form all court it though they ly On beds of thorns to look on 't saving some More wretched Male-contents that hither come With Souls so sullen that whilst time invights Them to his Joys they shun those smooth delights This the Worlds Favourite had a younger Brother Of different hue each more unlike the other Then opposite Aspects Antipathy Within their breasts though they were forc'd to be Almost inseparable dwelt this Fiend A passage guarded which at th' other end o th' spatious Structure stood betwixt each Gate Was plac'd a Laberinth in whose Angles sate The vanities of Life attempting to Stay deaths pale Harbengers but that black Cleâ— Times dusty Girdle Fates Arithmetick Griefs slow pac'd Snail Joyes more then Eagle quick That Chain whose Links compos'd of hours and daies Thither at length spight of delay conveys The slow pac'd steps of time there alwaies stood Near him one of the triple Sisterhood Who with deformity in love did send Him troops of Servants hourly to attend Upon his harsh Commands which he from all Society of flesh without the Wall Down a dark Hill conveyd at whose foot stood An ugly Lâ—ke black as that horrid flood Gods made by men did feare Myriads of Boats On the dark surface of the water floats Containing Passengers whose different hue Tell them that from the Wals do trembling view Their course that there 's
no age of man to be Exempted from that powerful tyrany A Tyde which nere shall know reflux beyond The baleful stream unto a gloomy strond Circl'd with black obscurity conveys Each passenger where their torn Chain of daies Is in Eternity peâ—ckt up between These different Gates the Princess having seen Lifes various Sceans wrought to a method by Disposing Angels on a Rock more high Then Natures common surface she beholds The Mansion house of Fate which thus unfolds Its sacred Mysteries A trine within A quadrate plac'd both those incompast in A perfect Circle was its form but what Its matter was for us to wonder at Is undiscoverd left a Tower there stands At every Angle where times fatal hands Th' impartial Parâ—ae dwel i th' first she sees Clothe the kindest of the Destinies From immaterial Essences to cull The seeds of life and of them frame the Wooll For Lachesiâ— to spin about her flie Myriades of Souls that yet want flesh to lie Warmd with their Functions in whose strength bestows That power by which man ripe for misery grows Her next of Objects was that glorious Tower Where that swift fingerd Nymph that spares no houre From mortals service draws the various threds Of life in several lengths to weary beds Of age extending some whilst others in Their Infancy are broke some blackt in sin Others the Favourites of Heaven from whence Their Origen candid with Innocence Some purpl'd in afflictions others dy'd In sanguine pleasures some in glittering pride Spun to adorn the Earth whilst others wear Rags of Deformity but knots of care No thread was wholly freed from Next to this Fair glorious Tower was plac'd that black Abbyss Of dreadful Atropos the bale ful seat Of death and horrour in each room replear With lazy damps loud groans and the sad sight Of pale grim Ghosts those Terrours of the Night To this the last stage that the winding Clew Of life can lead mortality unto Fear was the dreadful Porter which let in All Guests sent thither by destructive sin As its firm Basis on all these depends A lofty Piramid to which each sends Some Gift from Natures treasury to Fames Uncertain hand the hollow room with Names And empty sounds was only fil'd of those For whom the Destinies daind to compose Their fairest threads as if but born to die Here all Ephem'raes of report did flie On feeble Wings till being like to fall Some faintly stick upon the slimy Wall Till the observant Antiquary rents Them thence to live in paper Monuments In whose Records they are preserv'd to be The various censures of posterity i th' upper Room as Favourites to Fate There only Poets rich in Fancy sate In that beneath Historians whose Records Do Theams unto those pregnant Wits afford Yet both preparing everlasting Bayes To crown their glorious dust whose happy dayes Were here spent well beneath these cover'd o're With dim oblivions shadows Myriads more Till Dooms-day shall the gaudy World undress Lay huddl'd up in dark forgetfulness All which as Objects not of worth to cast A fixt Eye on the Princess Genius past In heedless hast untill obstructed by Visions that thus fixt her Souls wandring Ey A Light as great as if that Dooms-daies flame Were for a Lamp hung in the Court of Fame Directs her where on a bright Throne there sate Sicillia's better Genius her proud state Courted by all Earths greatest Monarchs by Three valiant Knights supported was whose high Merits disdaining a Reward less great With equal hopes aim'd at the royal Seat Which since all could not gain betwixt her three Fair Daughters both her Crown and Dignity Is equally bestow'd by giving one To each of them when the divided Throne Had on each Angle fixt a Diadem Her Vision thus proceeds the royal Stem That bore her Fathers Crown to view first brings Its golden Fruit a glorious Race of Kings Led by the Founder of their Fame their Rear Brought by her Father up next those that bear Epirus honourd Armes the royal train Concluding in Zoranza this linkt Chain Drawn to an end the Princes that had swayed Argalia's Scepter fill the Scean till stayed By the Epirots Sword their conquerd Crown From aged Gelons hoaty head dropt down At fierce Zoranza's feet this she beholds With admiration whilst hid truth unfolds It self in plainer objects the distrest Actolian Prince again appears but drest In a poor Pilgrims Weed in 's hand he leads A lovely Boy in whose sweet look she reads Soft pitties Lectures but whilst gazing on This Act till lost in admiration By sudden Fate he seemd transformd to what She last beheld him only offering at Loves Shrine his heart to her Idea there Joy had bereav'd her slumbers had not fear Clouded the glorious Dream a dreadful mist Black as the steams of Hell seeming to twist Its ugly vapours into shades more thick Then Night ingendring Damps had with a quick But horrid darkness vail'd the Room t' augment Whose terrour a Clouds sulphry bosome rent With dreadful thunder-claps darting a bright But fearful blaze through th' artificial Night Lent her so much use of her Eyes to see Argalia groveling in his blood which she Had scarce beheld ere the malignant flame Vanisht again she shrieks and on his Name Doth passionatly call but here 's no sound Startles her Ear but hollow groans which drownd Her Soul in a cold sweat of fears which ended A second blaze lends her its light attended With Objects whose wild horrour did present Her Fathers Ghost then seeming to lament Her injur'd Honour in his Company Thd slain Laconians Spirit which let free From the dark Prison of the cold Grave where In rusty Chains he lay was come to bear Her to that sad Abode but as she now Appeard to sink a golden Cloud did bow From Heavens fair Arch in which Argalia seemd Clad in bright Armour fitting who redeemd Her from approaching danger which being done The darkness vanisht and a glorious Sun Of welcome Light displayd its beams by which A Throne the first resembling but more rich In its united Glory to the eye Presents its luster where in Majesty The Angels that attend their better Fate Pâ—ac'd her and brave Argalia in which state The un-bard portals of her Soul let fly The golden slumber whose dear memory Shall live within her noble thoughts until Treading o're all obstructions Fate fulfil These dark predictions whose obscurity Must often first her Souls afflictions be When now the Mornings dews that cool allay Which cures the Feavers of th' intemperate day Were rarifi'd to Aire the Princess to Improve her joy in private thoughts withdrew From burthensome society within A silent Groves cool shadows what had been Her Midnights joy to recollect in which Delightful task whilst Memory did enrich The robes of Fancy to divert the stream Of thoughts intentive only on her Dream Argalia enters with a speed that shewed He unto some supream Commander owed That diligence but when arriv'd
Argalia though it could not be Yet counted more then what his Merits might Claim as Desert but this smal beam of light Through the Prospective of suspition to Envies malignant Eye conveyd to do An Act informs the curst Amphibia that Makes Love lament for what she triumph'd at Since Vertue Heavens unspotted Character On the belov'd Argalia did transfer Merits of too sublime a height to be Shadowed with vice from that Flowers fragrancie She sucks her Venome and from what had built His Glory now intends to raise his Guilt For â—hough the Prince no Engines need to move His Passions Frame but just Desert his Love Her close endeavours are to heighten 't by Praises that make Affection jealousie Whose Venome having once possest his Soul It swiftly doth like fatal Charmes controul Reasons fair Dictates and although no fear From such wel-order'd Actions could appear To strengthen it Argalia's Merits caus'd Some sad and sullen doubts such as when pauf'd Awhile upon resolve their Cure must be Their Cause remov'd though in that Action he From his Breasts royal Mansion doth exclude The noblest Vertue generous Gratitude My worthless Fortune with will but prepare Our future happiness the time we spare From feeding on Ambrosia will encrease Our wealthy store when the white Wings of peace Shall bear us back with Victory there may Through the dark Chaeos of my Fate display Some beam of Honour though compar'd with thine That Element of living flames it shine Dim as the pale-fac'd Moon when she lets fall Through a dark Grove her beams thy Vertues shall Give an Alarum to my sluggish Soul When ere it drops thy Memory controul The weakness of my Passions When we strive i th' heat of glorious Battel I 'le revive My drooping Spirits with that harmony Thy Name includes thy Name whose memory Dear as those Reâ—icks a protecting Saint Sends humble Vot'ries mentions will acquaint My thoughts with all that 's good then calm again This Conflict of thy fears I shall remain Safe in the Hail of Death if guarded by Thy pious Prayers Fates Messengers that fly On wings invisible will lose the way Aim'd at my breast if thou vouchsafe to pray To Heaven for my protection But if we Nere meet again yet oh yet let me be Sometimes with pity thought on at which word His ore-charg'd Eyes no longer could afford A Room to entertain their Tears both wept As if they strove to quench that fire which kept Light in the Lamps of Life whose Fortunes are i th' House of Death whilst Mars the regal Star Some time in silent sorrow spent at length The fair Pharonnida recovers strength Though Sighs each Accent interrupted to Return this Answer Wilt oh wilt thou do Our infant Love such injury to leave It ere full grown When shall my Soul receive A comfortable smile to cherish it When thou art gone they 'r but dull Joyes that sit Enthron'd in fruitless wishes yet I could Part with a less expence of sorrow would Our rigid Fortune only be content With absence but a greater punishment Conspires against us danger must attend Each step thou treadst from hence and shall I spend Those hours in mirth each of whose minutes lay Wait for thy life when Fame proclaims the day Wherein your Battels joyn how will my fear With doubtful Pulses beat until I hear Whom Victory adorns Or shall I rest Here without trembling when lodg'd in thy breast My heart 's expos'd to every danger that Assails thy Valour and is wounded at Each stroke that lites on thee which absent I Prompted by fear to Myriads multiply But these are Fancies Wildfiâ—es we in vain Do spend unheard Orizons and complain To unrelenting Rocks this Night peect Scrol This Bill of our Divorcement doth inrole Our Names in sable Characters nought will Expunge till death obliterate our Ill. Oh do not dear Commandress of my Heart Argalia answers let our moist eyes part In such a Cloud as will for ever hide Hopes brightest Beams those Deities that guide The secret motions of our Fate will be More merciful then to twist Destiny In such black Threads should Death unravel all The feeble Cordage of our Lives we shall Spight of that Prince of Terrours in the high And glorious Palace of Eternity Being met again renew that Love which we On Earth were forc'd before Maturity Had ripen'd it to Leaves i th' numerous throng Of long departed Souls that stray among The Mirtles in Elizium I will find Thy Virgin Ghost and whilst the Rout inclin'd To sensual pleasures here refining are In purging Flames laugh at each envious Star Whose Aspects if ill cited at our Brith With poysonous Influence blasts the Joyes of Earth Oh wast not cries the Princess dear time in These shadows of Conceit the Hours begin To be ' mongst those inserted that have try'd The Actions of the World which must divide Us from our Joy the Sea through which we sail Works high with woe nor can our prayers prevail To calm its angry Brow the glorious Fraight Of my unwelcome Honours hangs a Waight Too ponderous on me for to steer the way Thy humbler Fortunes do else ere I 'de stay To mourn without thee I would rob my Eyes Of peaceful slumbers and in course disguise Whilst Love my Sex's weakness did controul Command my Body to attend my Soul My Soul my dear which hovering neer thee not Midnight alarums that appear begot By truth should startle 'twixt the clamorous Camp Lightned with Cannons and the peaceful Lamps That undisturb'd here wasts its Oile I know No difference but what doth from Passion flow Whose close Assaults do more afflict us far Then all the loud impetuous storms of War We must we must replies Argalia stand This Thunder bolt unmov'd since his Command Whose Will confirms our Law happy had we Great Princess been if in that low degree From whence my Infancy was rais'd I yet Had liv'd a toiling Rural then when fit For Himens pleasures uncontrol'd I 'de took Some homely Village Girl whose Friends could look After no Joynture for to equallize Her Portion but my love no jealous Eyes Had waited on our Meetings we had made All our Addresses free the friendly shade Cast from a spreading Oak as soon as she Had milkt her Cows had prov'd our Canopy Where our unpollisht Courtship had a Love As chast concluded as from th' amorous Dove Pearcht neer us we had learnt it when arriv'd Unto Loves Zenith we had undepriv'd By disagreeing Parents soon been led To Church by th' sprucest Swains our Marriage-bed Though poor and thin would have been neatly drest By rural Paranymphs clad in the best Wool their own Flocks afforded in a low And humble Shed on which we did bestow Nought but our labour to erect we might Have spent our lustie youth with more delight Then glorious Courts are guilty of And when Age had decayd our strength grown up to men Beheld our large course issue Our dayes ended
his Keepers charge as to Suffer more torments then the rest should do And lodg'd him in that Castle to affright And soften his great Soul with fear the light Which lent its beams unto the dismal place In which he lay without presents the face Of horrour smeard in blood a Scaffold built To he the Stage of Murther blusht with guilt Of Christian blood by several torments let From the imprisoning Veins this Object set To startle his Resolves if good and make His future joyes more welcome could not shake The Heaven-built Pillers of his Soul that stood Steady though in the slippery pathes of blood The gloomy Night now sate enthron'd in dead And silent shadows Midnight Curtains spread The Earth in black for what the falling day Had blusht in fire whilst the brave Prisoner lay Circl'd in darknesse yet in those shades spends The hours with Angels whose assistance lends Strength to the wings of Faith which mounted on The Rock of hope was hovering to be gone Tow'rds her eternal Fountain from whose source Celestial Love enjoynd her lower course Whilst in this holy Extasie his knees Descent did mount his heart to him that sees His thoughts disvellop'd whilst dull shades opprest The drousie Hemisphear whilst all did rest Save those whose actions blusht at day-light or Such wretched Souls whose sullen cares abhor Truce with â—efâ—eshing slumbers he beholds A glimering light whose neer approach unfoâ—ds The Leaves of darknesse whilst his wonder gâ—ows Big with Amazement the dim Tapour shews What hand conveyd it thither he might see False Manto enterd who prepard to be A Bawd unto her lustful Mistâ—esse caâ—ne Not with perswasive Rhetorick t' inflame A heart congeald with deaths approach but thaw Him from the frozen Rocks of rigid Law With brighter Constellations that did move In sphears where every Star was fir'd with love The Siren yet to shew that she had left Some modesty unrifl'd by the theft Of mercenary basenesse sadly wept Her Errands Prologue but guilt was not kept Within the Curtain long she only sate A Mourner for the sicknesse of his Fate Until esteemd for pitiful and then Prescribâ—s this Remedy Most blest of men Compose thy wonder and let only joy Dwel in thy Soul my coming 's to destroy Not nurse thy trembling Fears be but so wise To follow thy swift Fate and thou mayst rise Above the reach of danger in thy Armes Circle that power whose radient brightnesse charms Fierce Ammurat's anger when his Crescents shine In a full Oâ—b of Forces what was thine Ere made a Prisoner though the doubtful state Of the best Christian Monarch will abate Its splendor when that Daughter of the Night Thy feeble Star shines in a Heaven of Light If Life or Liberty then bare a shape Worthy thy Courting swear not to escape By the attempts of strength and I will free The Iron bonds of thy Captivity A solemn Oath by that great power he serv'd Took and believ'd his hopes no longer sterv'd In expectation from that swarthy seat Of sad Despair his narrow Jayl repleat With lazy Damps she leads him to a Room In whose Delights Joyes Summer seemd to bloom There left him to the brisk Society Of costly Bathes and corsick Wines whose high And sprightly temper from cool Sherbets found A calm ally here his harsh thoughts unwound Themselves in pleasure as not fearing Fate So much but that he dares to recreate His Spirits by unweildy Action tir'd With all that Lust into no Crime had fir'd By Mutes those silent Ministers of sin His sullied Garments were remov'd and in Their place such various Habits layd as pride Would cloath her Favourites with she means to hide From those Deformities which Accident On Natures Issue striving to prevent Forms eaven progresse casts when she would twine That active Male with matter feminine Unruffl'd here by the rash Wearer rests Fair Persian Mantles rich Sclavonian Vests The gawdy Thuscan or transmuted shape Of the phantastick French the British Ape The grave and constant Spaniard all might here Find Garments such as Princes would appear To grace their honourd Nuptials in or tell Strangers how much their Treasure doth excell Though on this swift variety of Fate He looks with wonder yet his brave Soul sate Too safe within her guards of Reason to Be shook with Passion that there 's some bing new And strange approaching after such a storm This gentle Calm assures him but the form Of pleasure softens not that which the other And worse extream not with fears damps could smother He flies not with the rugged Separatist Pleasures smooth Walks nor doth enjoying twist Those threds of Gold to Fetters he dares tast All mirth but what Religions stock would wast His Limbs from Wounds but late recoverd now Refresht with liquid Odours did allow Their suppl'd Nerves no soâ—ter rest but in Such Robes as wore their Ornament within Vaild o're their beauty Linnen smooth and soft As Phoenix Down and whiter then what 's brought From furthest China he puts on and then What habit Custome made familiar when Cloathd in his own makes choyce of for to be Most hoâ—ourd of that rich variety In an Italian Garb â—o th' Dubblet clad Manto Lusts swift and waâ—chfull Spy that had With an efficious care attended on That motion entring hasts him to be gone To â—'rd more sublim'd delights which though a just And holy doubt proclaim the road of Lust Knowing his better Angel did attend Upon each step he ventures to descend The dreadful Precipiece so far untill The burniâ—g Vale was seen then mounts the Hill Of Heaven-bred Fortitude from whence disdain Floods of contempt on those dark fires did rain â—is guilty Conduct now had brought him neer Ihonusa's Room the glaring Lights appear Through the Windows chrystal Wals the strong Perfumes of balmy Incense mixt among The wandring Attomes of the Aire did fly Sights nimble Scouts yet wer made captive by A slower sence as if but to reveal What breathd within those Fugitives did steal Thorough their unseen Salliports which now Were uselesse grown the open doors allow A free accesse into the Room where come Such reall Forms he saw as would strike dumb Their Alcharons Tales of Paradice the fair And sparkling Jems i th' gilded Roof impair Their Fapours fires yet both themselves confesse Weak to those flames Ihonusa's eyes possesse With such a joy as bodies that do long For Souls shall meet them in the Doomsdayes throng She that rul'd Princes though not Passions sate Waiting her Lover on a Throne whose state Epitomiz'd the Empires Wealth her Robe With costly pride had rob'd the checquerd Globe Of its most fair and orient Jewels to Inhance its value captive Princes who Had lost their Crowns might here those Jems have seen That did adorn them yet she trusts not in These Auxiliary strengths her confidence In her own Beauty rests which no defence Of Chastity ere yet withstood and now She scorns to fear it when her power
death arrest Him for his murtherer by which change opprest More then before with fear he who now thought On nought but death to a tribunal brought Ere ask'd confesses that foul crime for which He this just doom receives since to inrich What had before wealths surfeit took this sin Was chiefly acted his estate faln in To th' hands of justice by the judge should be From hence dispos'd of then from death to free His life already forfeited except Murther'd Ismander whom he thought had slept In 's winding sheet his hopeless Advocate Should there appear in which unhappy state The wretch now ready to depart beholds This glorious change Ismander first unfolds Himself and her who bound by natures laws Implores his pardon ere they plead his cause Which done the Judge that his lost wealth might be No cause of grief unmasking lets him see Euriolus by whom from th' worst of sin To liberal vertue he 'd deluded bin The End of the Third Canto PHARONNIDA The Fourth Book CANTO IV. The Argument I. Whilest we a while the pensive Lady â—eave Here a close Mourner for her rigid fate Let 's from the dark records of time receive The manner how Argalia wav'd the hate II. Of his malignant stars which when they seem To threaten most through that dark cloud did lead Him to a knowledge of such dear esteem He his high birth did there distinctly read FReed from the noise o' th' busie world within A deep dark vale whose silent shade had bin Religions vail when blasted by the beams Of Persecution far from the extreams Of solitude or sweary labor were Some few blest men whose choice made Heaven their care Sequestred from the throngs of men to finde Those better joyes calms of a peacefull minde Yet though on this pacifick sea their main Design was Heaven that voyage did not restrain Knowledge of humane arts which as they past They safely view'd though there no anchor cast Their better temper'd judgments counting that But hoodwink'd zeal which blindly catches at The great Creators sacred will without Knowing those works that will was spent about Which being the climax to true judgement we Behold stoop'd down to visibilitie In lowliest creatures natures stock being nought But God in 's image to our senses brought In the fair evening of that fatal day By whose meridian light Love did betray Ingag'd Argalia near to death was one Of these heav'ns happy Pensioners alone Walking amongst the gloomy Groves to view What soveraign vertues there in secret grew Confin'd to humble plants whose signatures Whilst by observing he his art secures From vain experiments Argalia's Page Crossing a neighboring path did disingage His serious eye from natures busie task To see the wandring Boy who was to ask The way for more his youths unprompted fear Expects not there to the blest man drawn near But when with such a weeping innocence As Saints confess those sins which the expence Of tears exacted he had sadly told What harsh fate in restrictive wounds laid hold Of 's worthy Master pity prompted by Religious love helps the poor Boy to dry His tears with hopes of comfort whilst he goes To see what sad Catastrophe did close Those bloody scenes which the unequal fight Foretold before fear prompted him to flight Noâ— far they 'd past ere they the place had found Where groveling in a stream of blood the ground His purple-bed the wearied Prince they see Strugling with death from whose dark monarchie Pale troops assail his cheeks whilst his dim eies Like a spent lamp which ere its weak flame dies In giddy blazes glares as if his soul Were at those casements flying out did roll Swifter then thought their bloodshot orbs his hands Did with deaths agues tremble cold dew stands Upon his clammy lips the springs of blood Having breath'd forth the spirits clotted stood On that majestick brow whose dreadful frown Had to deaths scepter laid its terror down The holy man upon the brink o' th' grave Finding such forms of worth attempts to save His life from dropping in by all his best Reserves of art selecting from the rest Of his choise store an herb whose soveraign power No flux of blood though falling in a shower Of death could force which gently bruis'd and to His wound apply'd taught nature to renew Her late neglected functions and through short Recruits of breath made able to support His blood-enfeebled body till they reach The Monastry where nobler art did teach Their simple medicines to submit to those Which skill from their mixt vertues did compose Life which the unexpected gift of fate Rather then art appear'd in this debate Of death prevailing in short time had gain'd So much of strength that weakness now remain'd The only slothful Râ—mora that in His bed detain'd him where being often seen By those whom art alike had qualifi'd For his relief as one of them appli'd His morning-medicines to a spacious wound Fixt on his breast he that rare jewel found Which in his undiscerning infancie There hung by 's father fortune had kept free From all her various accidents to shew How much his birth did to her favor owe. Shook with such silent joy as he had been In calm devotion by an Angel seen The good old man his wonder rarifi'd Into amazement stands he had descri'd What if no force had robb'd him of it since 'T was first bestow'd none but his true born Prince Could wear since art wise Natures fruitful ape Ne'r but in that had birth which bore that shape Assur'd by which with unstirr'd confidence He asks Argalia where he knew from whence When nature first did so much wealth impart To earth that jewel took those forms of art But being answer'd that his infancie When first it was conferr'd on him might be Th' excuse of 's ignorance that voice alone Confirms his aged friend who having known As much of fortune as in fates dark shade His understanding legible had made From weak Argalia to require him leads Knowledge where he his lifes first copy reads Drest in this language 'T was unhappy Prince For such this story must salute you since Told to confirm 't a truth my destinie When youth and strength rendred me fit to be My dearest Countries servant plac'd within Mantinea's glorious Court where having been Made capable by sacred Orders I Attain'd the height of Priestly dignity Being unto him whose awful power did sway That crown in dear esteem but Honors day Which gilded then the Courtly sphere sunk down I lost my Mitre in the fall o' th' Crown Sad is the doleful tale yet since that in Its progress you may find where did begin Your lifes first stage thus take it When the Court Stifl'd with throngs of men whose thick resort Plenty and peace call'd thither being grown Sickly with ease view'd as a thing unknown Dangers stern brow which even in smiling fates Proves a Quotidian unto wiser States Whilst pride grew big and envy bigger
prevail'd On his resolves from peacefull povertie His ages refuge hurrying him to be Once more an Agent unto fortune in Uncertain toils whose trouble to begin Leaving his Prince to so much rest as those Whose serious souls are busied to compose Unravell'd thoughts into a method now Sophron forsakes him to discover how His fellow Peers of that lost party stand Dispos'd for action if a Kings command Should give it life all which hâ— findes to be So full of yet untainted loyaltie That in a swift convention they prepare By joyning judgements to divide their care From distant places with such secret haste As did declare a flaming zeal though plac'd In cautions shadow owe considerate Peers Such whose light youth th' experienc'd weight of yeers Had long since ballast with discretion met To see their Prince and to discharge the debt Of full obedience each had with him brought His states surviving hope snatch'd from the soft Hands of lamenting mothers that to those If fit for arms they safely might dispose The excution of those Councils which Their sober age with judgement did inrich In Sophron's Palace which being far remov'd From the streets talking throngs was most aprov'd For needfull privacy these loyal Lords Whose faithfull hearts th' infallible records The heedless vulgar whose neglective sin Had lost the copies of allegiance in This inter regnum trust to being met To shun delayes mans late repented debt The Prince with speed appears whom no disguise Of youths betrayer Time could from their eyes Long undiscover'd keep through the rough vail Of Age or what more powerfull did prevail On Beauties ruines they did soon descry The unquench'd embers of a Majesty Too bright for time to hide with curtains less Dark then that mansion of forgetfulness The Grave which mans first folly taught to be The obscure passage to eternitie That their example might be precept to Unknowing youth with all the reverence due To awefull Princes on their thrones the old Experienc'd Courtiers kneel by which grown bold In their belief those of unriper age Upon their judgements did their faith engage So far that they in solemn vows unite Their yet concordant thoughts which ere the flight Of time should leave the day behind desire To live in action But this rising fire Of loyal rage which in their breasts did burn The thankfull Prince thus gently strives to turn Into a milder passion such as might Not scorch with anger but with judgement light How much is't both my wonder and my joy That we whom treason studied to destroy With near as much of miracle as in The last of dayes lost bodies that have bin Scatter'd amongst the elements shall be Conven'd i' th' Court of immortality Depress'd with fortune and disguis'd with age Sad arguments brave subjects to engage Your loyal valor I had gone from all My mortal hopes had not this secret call Of heaven which doth with unknown method curb Our wilde intention brought me to disturb Your peacefull age whose abler youth had in Defending me expos'd to ruine bin I had no more my conscience now at rest With Widows curses Orphans tears opprest No more in fighting fields those busie marts Where honor doth for fame with death change harts Beheld the sad success of Battails where Proud victors make youths conquest ages care But hid from all a crowns false glories spent Like beauteous flowers which vainly waste the scent Of odors in unhanted desarts all My time conceal'd till wither'd age should fall From that short stem of nature life to be Lost in the dust of deaths obscuritie When in the pride of youth my stars withdrew Their influence first I then had stood with you Those thunderbolts of fate and bravely died Contemning fortune had that feverish pride Of valor not been quench'd in hope to save My infant son from an untimely grave But he when from domestick ills convey'd In safety being by treacherous fate betray'd Either by death or ignorance from what His stars when kindl'd first where pointed at Either lives not or else conceal'd within Some course disguise whose poverty hath been So long his dull companion till he 's grown Not less to us then to himself unknown All this being weigh'd in reasons scale is there Ought in 't can tempt decrepid age to bear Such glorious burthens which if fortunate In the obtaining of in natures date Can have no long account ere I again What I had got with danger kept with pain Summon'd by death the graves black monarch must With sorrow lose yet since that heaven so just And you so loyal I have found that it Might argue fear if I unmov'd should sit At all your just desires I here i' th' sight Of heaven declare together with my right To prosecute your Liberties as far As Justice dares to patronize a war This with a magnanimity that shew'd His youths brave spirits were not all bestow'd On the accounts of age had to so high A pitch of zeal inflam'd their loyalty That in contempt of slow-pack'd counsels they Did like rash youth whose wit wants times allay Haste to unripe engagements such as â—ound The issue weak whose parents are unsound All to those towns where neighborhood had made Them lov'd for vertue or for power obey'd Whilst each with his peculiar guarâ— attends His honor'd Prince imploy their active friends Who having with collecting trumpets made Important errands ready to Invade The peoples censure for a theme to fame Their long lost Princes safe returu proclaim Which though at first a subject it appear'd Onely for faith when circumstance had clear'd Th' eye of Reason from each nobler minde Th' embraces of a welcom truth did finde In publick throngs whilst every forward friend Spoke his resolves his sullen foes did spend Their doubts in private whispers by exchange Of which they found hate had no farther range Then close intelligence whose utmost bounds Ere they obtain the usefull trumpet sounds No distant summons but close marches to His loyal friends whom now their foes might view In troops which if fate favor their intents Ere long must swell to big-bulk'd Regiments Through Country towns and Cities prouder streets The murmuring drum in busie marches meets Such forward valor husbandmen did fear The earth would languish the succeeding years For want of Laborers nor could business stop The streightned Prentice who the slighted shop Left to his angry Master who must be Forc'd to abridge his seven years tyranny Changes the baser utensils of trade For burnisht arms and by example made More valiant scorns those shadows which they fear'd More then rough war whilst ' mongst the cities herd To Regiments from scattering bands being grown From that to Armys whose big looks made known Those bold designs which Justice fear'd to own Though hers till plac'd in Powers imperial throne They now toward action haste which to begin Whilst Castles are secur'd and Towns girt in With armed lines whose Pallizado's had Whole Forrests of
their whispering Oaks unclad The Prince his mercy willing to prevent Approaching danger by a Herald sent To Zarrobâ—in commands him to lay down His arms and as he owed unto his Crown A Subjects due allegiance to appear Before a moneth was added to that year Within his Court which now since action gave Life to that body whose firm strength did save His life by treason levell'd at was in His moving Camp But this too weak to win The doubtful Rebel since his lawful right Swords must dispute the Prince prepares to fight Proud Zarrobrin who had by late success Taught Siracuse how to avoid distress By seeking peace like a black storm that flies On Southern winds which in a tumult rise From neighboring seas was on his march But come Sonear the Prince that now he had by some Of 's spreading Scouts made full discovery where His Army lay whose scarce discovered Rear Such distance from their well-arm'd Van appear'd That such whose judgments were with numbers feard Making no further inquisition fled By swift report their pale disease to spread Disturbing clouds which rather seem'd to rise From guilt then fear spread darkness ore the eyes O' th' Rebels who although by custom made To death familiar wish their killing trade In peace concluded and with murmures nigh Grown to the boldness of a mutinie Question their own frail judgments which so oft Had life expos'd to dangers that had brought No more reward then what preserv'd them still The slaves unto a proud Commanders will To stop this swift infection which begun In lowly huts to lofty tents had run Slie Zarobrin who to preserve th' esteem Of honor lest lib'rality might seem The child of fear with secret speed prevents What he appears to slight their discontents As if attending though attended by Their young Mock-Prince whose landskip royaltie Shew'd only fair when view'd at distance he Passing with slow observant pace to see Each squadrons order he confirms their love With donatives such as were far above Their hopes if Victors then to shew that in That pride of bounty h 'had not strove to win Assistance by unworthy bribes he leads Them far from danger since his judgment reads In long experience that authentick story Whose lines hath taught the nearest way to glory That soft delays like treacherous streams which by Submitting lets the rash intruder try Their dangerous depth to an unwilling stay His fierce persuers would ere long betray Whose force since of th' untutor'd multitude By want made desperate and by custom rude Would soon waste their unweildy strength whilst they Whom discipline had taught how to obey By pay made nimble and by order sure Would wars delays with easier wants endure This sound advice meeting with sad success From the persuing Army whose distress From tedious marches being too clamorous grown For 's friends estates to quiet soon was shewn In actions such which though necessitie Inforc'd on vertue made their presence be To th' inconsiderate vulgar whose loose glance For vertue take vice gloss'd with circumstance Such an oppression that comparing those Which fled with mildness they behold as foes Only their ruder followers whom they curse Not that their cause but company was worse When thus their wanâ—s had brought disorder in And that neglect whose looser garb had bin At first so shie that what was hardly known From business then was now to custom grown This large limb'd body since united by No cement but the love to loyalty Loses those baser parts such as to please Unworthy ends turn'd duty to disease Retaining onely those whose valor sought No more reward then what with blood they bought But here to shew that slumbring justice may Opprest with power faint in the busie day Of doubtfull battel when their valor had So many souls from robes of fresh unclad Of his brave friends that the forsaken Prince Whose sad success taught knowledge to convince The Arguments of hope unguarded left Unto persuing foes was soon bereft Of all that in this cloud of fortune might By opposition or unworthy flight But promise fafety and when death denide Him her last dark retreat to raise the pride Of an insulting foe is forc'd to see The scorn of greatness in captivity Yet with more terror to limb sorrow in His mighty soul such friends as had not bin By death discharg'd in fatal battel now Suffer'd so much as made even fear alow Her palest sons to seek in future wars Brave victory got by ages honor scars Or braver death that antidote of shame Whose stage none pass upon the rode of Fame Those that far'd best being murther'd others sent With life to more afflicting banishment When thus by him whose sacred order made The truth authentick from his fortunes shade Argalia was redeem'd the Prelate to Confirm his story from his bosom drew The jewel which having by wayes unknown To him that wore it open'd there was shewn By wit contracted into art as rare As his that durst make silver sphears compare With heavens light motion an Effigies which His royal Sire whilst beauty did enrich His youth appear'd in such epitomy As spacious fields are represented by Rare opticks on opposing walls where sight Is conzen'd with imperfect forms of light When with such joy as Scythians that grow proud Of day behold light gild an eastern cloud Argalia long had view'd that picture in Whose face he saw forms that said his had been Drawn by that pattern with such thanks as best The silent eloquence of looks exprest The night grown ancient ere their stories end With solemn joy leaves his informing friend The End of the Fourth Book PHARONNIDA The Fift Book CANTO I. The Argument I. Tier'd with afflictions in a safe retreat From th' active world Pharonnida is now Making a sacred monastry her seat Where near approaching the confirming vow II. A rude assault makes her a Prisoner to Almanzors power to expiate whose sin The subtil Traytor swiftly leads her to The Court where she had long a stranger bin HEre harsh imployments the unsavory weeds Of barren wants had over-run the seeds Of fancy with domestick cares and in Those winter storms shipwrack'd what ere had bin My youths imperfect off-spring had not I For love of this neglected poverty That meager fiend whose rustic tallons stick Contempt on all that are inforc'd to seek Like me a poor subsistance ' mongst the low Shrubs of imployment whilst blest wits that grow Good fortunes favorits like proud Ceders stand Scorning the stroke of every feeble hand Whose vain attempts though they should martyr sense Would be repulst with big-bulk'd confidence Yet blush not gentle Muse thou oft hast had Followers by fortunes hand as meanly clad And such as when time had worn envy forth Succeeding ages honor'd for their worth Then though not by these rare examples fier'd To vain presumption with a soul untir'd As his whose fancies short Ephemeraes know No life but what doth from his liquor
hate Of angry heaven the powerful Advocate Besides these bold attempts of Art that stood To fright the wicked or to prompt the good Something more great more sacred then could by Art be exprest without the help o th' eye Reacht at the center of the soul from whence To heaven our rais'd desires circumference Striking the lines of Contemplation she Wrapt from the earth is in an extasie Holy and high through faith's clear optick shown Those joys which to departed saints are known Before those pray'rs which zeal had tedious made With their last troops did conquer'd heav'n invade The day was on the glitt'ring wings of light Fled to the western world and swarthy night In her black Empire thron'd from silver shrines The kindl'd lamps through all the temple shines With dapl'd rayes that did to th' eye present The beauties of the larger firmament In which still calm when all their rites were now So near perform'd that the confirming vow Alone remain'd a sudden noise of rude And clamorous sound did through the ear intrude On their affrighted fancies in so high A voice that all their sacred harmony In this confusion lost appear'd so small As if that whisper'd which was made to call Although the awfull majesty that here Religion held the weak effects of fear With faith expel'd yet when that nearer to Their slender gates the murmuring tumult drew The Abbess sends not to secure but see Who durst attempt what heaven from all kept free By strictest law save those unhallow'd hands That follow curses whilst they flie commands But they being entred ere the timerous Scout Could notice give fear which first sprung from doubt Being into wilde confusion grown from all Set forms affrights them whilst at once they call For heavens protecting mercy to behold That place where peacefull Saints us'd to unfold Heavens Oracles possest with villains that Did ne'r know ought but want to tremble at Which look'd like those that with proud Angels fell And to storm heaven were sent in arms from hell Converts that Scean where nothing did appear But calm devotion to distracting fear Amaz'd with horror each sad votress stands Whilst sacred relicks drop from trembling hands Here one whose heart with fears convulsions faint Flies to the shrine of her protecting saint By her another stands whose spirits spent In Passion looks pale as her monument One shrieks another prayes a third had crost Her self so much ill Angels might have lost The way to hurt her if not taught to do'r Cause she to th' sign too much did attribute The royal Stranger by her fear persu'd To th' altar fled had with mixt passion view'd This dreadfull troop whilst from the temple gate They past the seat where trembling virgins sate Free from uncivil wrongs as if that they That entred had been men prepar'd to pray Not come to ravish from which sight her fear Picks flowers of hope but such as they drawn near From fancies soft lap in a Hirocane Of passion drop'd her pray'rs and tears in vaine As words in winds or showers in Seas when they Prepare for ruin the obstructed way To pitty which her stock of pray'rs had cost In the dark shade of sudden horror lost Seis'd on by two o' th' sacrilegious train Whose black disguise had made the eye in vain Seek to inform the soul she and the poor Florenza whilst their helpless friends deplore With silent tears so sad a loss are drew From the clasp'd Altar in th' offended view Of their protecting saints from whose shrines in A dismal omen dropt what ere had bin With hopes of merit plac'd Black sulphry damps With swift convulsions quench'd the sacred lamps The fabrick shakes and as if griev'd they stood To circle guilt the walls sweat tears of blood Shrieks such as if those fainted souls that there Trod heaven's strait paths in their just quarrel were Rose from their silent dormitories to Deter their foes through all the temple flew But here in vain destroying angels shook The sword of vengeance whilst his bold crimes struck ' Gainst heaven in high contempt with impious haste Snatch'd from the altar whilst their friends did waste Unheard Orizons for their safety they Unto the Fabrick's utmost gate convey Their beauteous prizes where with silence stood Their dreadful guard which like a neighb'ring wood When vapors tip the naked boughs in light With unsheath'd swords through the black mists of night A sparkling terror strook with such a speed As scarce gave time to fear what would succeed To such preceding vilanies within Her Coach imprison'd the sad Princess in A march for swiftness such as busie war Hastes to meet death in but for silence far More still then funerals is by that black troop With such exchange as falling stars do stoop To nights black region from the Monastrie Hurri'd in haste by whom or whither she Yet knows no more then souls departing when Or where to meet in robes of flesh agen The day salutes her and uncurtain'd light Welcoms her through the confines of the night But lends no comfort every object that It shewed her being such as if frighted at The Prince of day griev'd h 'ad no longer slept To shun shrunk back beneath a cloud and wept When the unfolded curtains gave her eyes Leave to look forth a troop whose close disguise Were stubborn arms she only saw and they So silent nought but motion did betray The faculties of life by whom being led In such a sad march as their honor'd dead Close mourners follow she some flow-pac'd days ' Mongst strangers passing through stranger ways At both amaz'd at length unfathom'd by Her deepest thought within the reach o th' eye Her known Ghirenza views but with a look From whence cold passion all the blood had took And in her face that frozen sea of fear Left nought but storms of wonder to appear Conven'd within the spacious Judgment-hall Of Reason she ere this had summon'd all Her weaker passions to th' impartial Bar Of Moral Vertue where they sentenc'd are Only to an untroubled silence in Which serious act whilst she had busied bin She is unnoted ere the fall of day Brought by her convoy to a Lodge that lay Off from the rode a place when seen she knew Ere his rebellion had belong'd unto Her worst of foes Almanzor which begins At first a doubt whose growing force soon wins The field of faith and tells her timorous thought Her fathers troops would ne'r have thither brought Her if design'd to suffer since that he Knew those more fit for close captivitie But long her reason lies not fetter'd in These cross Dilemma's the slow night had been With tedious hours past ore whilst she by none But Mutes no less unheard then their unknown Is only waited on by whom when day To action call'd she veil'd is led the way To the attending Convoy who had now Varied the Scene Almanzor studying how To court compassion in his Prince dares
Religions throte From a poor Pleader whose cheap conscience had Been sold for bribes long ere the purple clad So base a thing their calm-soul'd Soveraign hears Death's fatal doom which when pronounc'd appears His candor and their guilt the one exprest By a reception which declar'd his brest Unstir'd with passion th' other strugling in Their troubled looks which shew'd this monstrous sin That this damn'd plot did to rebellion bear Even frighted those that treasons midwives were Hence all their black designs encourag'd by The levell'd paths of prosperous vilany High mounted mischief stretch'd upon the wing Of powerfull ill persues the helpless King To the last stage of life a scaffold whence With tears cheap off-springs to his innocence Such of his pitying friends as durst disclose Their passions view him whilst insulting foes Exalted on the pyramids of pride By long-wing'd power with base contempt deride Their sorrow and his sufferings whom their hate Had followed near the period of his fate Which being now so near arriv'd that all With various passion did expect the fall Of the last fatal stroke kinde heaven to save A life so near the confines of the grave Transcends dull hope by so sublime a flight That dazl'd faith amaz'd with too much light Whilst extasies of wonder did destroy Unripe belief near lost the rode of joy Even with the juncture of that minute when The ax was falling from those throngs of men Sway'd by 's command Argalia with a speed That startl'd action mounts the stage and freed The trembling Prince from deaths pale fear which do ne To shew on what just grounds he had begun So brave so bold an action he seises all That knowledge or suspition dares to call The Tyrants friends the guilty Tyrant who Whilst he doth from his distant palace view This dreadful change with a disdain as high As are his crimes being apprehended by Argalia's nimble guards is forc'd to be Their sad Conductor to a destinie So full of horror that it hardly lies In 's foes to save him for a sacrifice From their wild rage who know no justice but What doth by death a stop to fury put From noisless pray'rs and bloodless looks being by The bold Attempters of his liberty Rais'd to behold his rescue heedless fear Hatcht by mistake from those that border'd near Had with such swiftness its infection spread That the more distant knowing not what bred The busie tumult in so wild a haste As vanquish'd troops which at the heels are chac'd Flie the persuing sword they madly run To meet those dangers which they strove to shun In which confusion none o' th' throng had bin Left to behold how justice triumph'd in Revenges throne had not a swift command By power enabl'd hasten'd to withstand That troubl'd torrent which the truth ourgrew Until their fears original they knew The onset past Argalia having first Secur'd the Tyrant for whose blood the thirst Of the vext people rag'd he mounted on That scaffold whence his father should have gone A royal martyr to the grave did there By a commanded silence first prepare The clamorous throng to hear the hidden cause Which made him slight their new-created laws Then in that mart of satisfaction which With knowledge doth the doubtful herd enrich The publick view he freely shews how far Through â—ortunes desarts the auspicious star Of heavens unfathom'd providence had led Him from the axe to save that sacred head Whose reverend snow his full discovery had In the first dress of youthful vigor clad Could constant nature sympathize with that Reviving joy his spirits panted at His sons relation seconded by all That suffering sharer in his pitied fall Mantinea's Bishop knew join'd to the sight Of that known jewel whose unwasted light Had serv'd alone to guide them satisfies The inquisition even of critick eyes With such a fulness of content that they Each from his Prince being lighten'd with a ray Of sprightly mirth endeavour'd to destroy Their former grief in hope of future joy Which to attain to those whose counsels had The land in blood and them in mourning clad Call'd forth by order to confession there Are scarce given time the foulness to declare Of their past crimes before the peoples hate That headstrong monster strove t' anticipate The sword of vengeance and in wild rage save The labor of an ignominious grave To every parcel of those rent limbs that When but beheld they lately trembl'd at Such being the fate of falling Tyrants when Conquering the fear conquer'd the scorn of men But here lest inconsiderate rage should send Their souls to darkness ere confession end Their tragick story hated Zarrobrin With that unhappy boy whose Crown had been Worne but to make him capable to die A sacrifice to injur'd libertie Rescued by order from the rout is to A publick trial brought where in the view Of all the injur'd multitude the old Audacious traitor did to th' light unfold His acts of darkness which discover'd him They gaz'd on whilst unquestion'd power did dim Discerning wits but a dull Meteor one By hot ambition mounted to a throne By an attractive policy which when Its influence fail'd back to that lazy Fen His fortunes Center hurling him again The onely Star in Honor's Orb would raign This slie Imposture seconded by that Rebellious guilt his actions offer'd at In all its bold attempts had kindl'd in The late supporters of unprosperous sin So high a rage that in wild fury they Their anger wanting what it should obey A sober judgement stands not to dispute With the slow Law but with their strength confute All tending to delay like torrents broke Through the imprisoning banks to get one stroke At heads so hated all rush in untill Their sever'd limbs want quantity to fill A room i' th' eyes receiving beams this done With blood and anger warm'd they wildly run To search out such whom consanguinitie Had rendred so unhappy as to be Allied to them all which with rage that stil'd Beasts mercifull and angry soldiers mild They to destruction chase whilst guiltless walls In which they dwelt in funeral blazes falls Where burns inviting treasure as they saw In the golds splendor an Anathema So full of horror as it seem'd to be A plague beyond unpitied Povertie Impetuous Rage like whirle windes unoppos'd Hush'd to a calm as hate had but unclos'd The anger-blinded eyes of Love the bold Flame like a fire forc'd from repulsive cold Breaks through the harsh extream of hate to shew How much their loyal duty did out-grow Those fruits of forc'd obedience which before They slowly to intruding Tyrants bore In which procession of their joy that he Might meet their hopes with a solemnitie Large as their love or his delight the Prince Taught by informing age how to convince Ambitions hasty Arguments calls forth His long lost son whose late discover'd worth Was grown the Ages wonder to support The ponderous Crown whilst he did tread the
hours of the succeeding night to find How in that factious troubl'd sea inclin'd The City stood whose shallow sons dare vent By nothing but their tongues that discontent Their hands might cure were not those useful parts Restrain'd from action by unmanly hearts Which being at once with grief and fear opprest Durst do no more but pity the distrest Which gentle passion since so general lends Some light of hope to her enquiring friends To usher in that dismal day whose light Design'd to lead into eternal night As much of beauty as did ere give place To death the morning shews her gloomy face Wrapt up in clouds whose heavy vapors had Hung heaven in black when to perform the sad And serious office of â—onfessors to Those royal sufferers whom harsh fates persue To deaths dark confines through their guard of foes Argalia and his grave assistant goes Where he whose love to neither did surmount His zeal to take the Cyprians last account Himself addrest whilst his kind passions lead Argalia from Pharonnida to read Her lifes last story made authentick by The near approach of her eternity Enter'd the room which to his startl'd â—ight Appear'd like sorrow sepulcher'd in night So dismal sad so silent that the cold Retreat of death the grave did ne'r unfold A heavier object by a sickly light Which was even then to th' artificial night That fill'd the room resigning'ts reign he saw Griefs fairest draught divine Pharonnida Amidst her tears faln like a full-blown flower Whose polisht leaves oreburthen'd with a shower Drops from their beauties in the pride of day ' To deck the earth so sadly pining lay The pensive Princess whom an extasie Oâ— passion led to practise how to die In such abstracted contemplations that Angels forsook their thrones to wonder at Wet with those tears in whose Elixar she Was bathing of the Lilies nurserie Her bloodless cheeks her trembling hand sustan'd A book which what heavens mercy hath ordain'd For a support to humane frailty in Storms of affliction lay which as she 'd bin Now so well in repentant lectures read That faith was on the wings of knowledge fled To meditation her unactive grief Lets softly fall whilst Time wise natures thief That all might look like sorrows swarthy night Is stealing forth of the neglected Light Whose sullen flame as it would sympathize With those quencht beams that once adorn'd her eys After a feeble blaze that spoke its strife But vain in silence weeps away its life Come to behold this beauteous monument Of mourning passion his great spirits spent On love and wonder the astonish'd Prince Here silent stands valor could not convince His wild amazement To behold her lie By rigid laws restrain'd from libertie To whom his soul was captive troubles all His reasons guards But when how she must fall From beauteous youth and vertuous life to be One of the graves obscure societie Must fall no Martyr whose lamented death Grows pities object but depart with breath ' Mongst ignominious clouds of guilt that must Stick an eternal odium on her dust That thought transports him from his temper to Passions in which he had forgot to do His Priestly office and in rage as high As ever yet inflam'd humanitie Sent him to actions whose attempt had bin The rode his valor must have perish'd in Had not her sorrows agony forsook The Princess by whose first unsteady look He being as far as his disguise gave leave Discover'd is invited to receive Those last confessions in whose freedom she Seeks by absolving comforts how to free Her soul of all which a religious fear Like spots on her white conscience made appear Having from her unburthen'd soul learnt how To ease his own the Priestly Prince had now As far as bold humanitie durst dive Into remission heavens prerogative Pronounc'd that pardon for whose seal there stood The sin-polluted worlds redeeming blood By which blest voice rais'd from what did appear Like sorrow till her faith had banish'd fear The Princess in such gentle calms of joy As souls that wear their bodies but to cloy Celestial â—lights can feel to entertain Her fatal doom with a resolv'd disdain Of death prepares whilst he whom heaven to her Had made their mercies happy Messenger Forsaking her repairs to him that had With the same hand the Cyprians thoughts unclad By whom inform'd how that in their defence His sword protected nought but innocence Arm'd with those blessings which so just a cause Proclaim'd his due he secretly withdraws To change those emblems of Religious peace Monastick robes for such as might increase Their joy and wonder whose contracted fear Despair'd to see a Combatant appear Although they knew his sword defended then The best of causes ' gainst the worst of men Whilst he prepares with near as much of speed As incorporeal substances that need But will for motion to defend her in Th' assaults of death that hour which long had bin The dreadfull expectation of those friends That pitied her arriv'd in sorrow ends Fears cold disease those Ministers of fate The props to all that 's illegitimate The Army to suppress the weak essayes Of love or pity guarded had the wayes By which illegal power conducted her From that dark room griefs curtain'd Theater To be beheld upon the publick stage The glory yet the scandal of the age Which two extreams met on the scaffold in A Princess suffering and a peoples sin Which now join'd to the dreadful pomp that cals His Subjects to attend the funerals Of her lov'd father whose lifes vertues won Tears for his death thus solemnly begun Remov'd no further from the City then An hours short walk though undertaken when Sol rag'd in Cancer might with ease convay Scorcht travellers a dismal temple lay In a dark vally where more antient times Had perpetrated those religious crimes Of humane offerings to those Idols that Their hands made for their hearts to tremble at Yet this since now made venerable by Those reverend reliques of antiquity The Spartan Princes monuments by those Of later times though alter'd faith is chose For their retreat when lifes extinguisht glory Sought rest beneath a silent dormitory Nor stood this fabrick all alone long since A Palace by some melancholy Prince Which hated light or lov'd the darkness built To please his humor or conceal his guilt So near it stood to distant eyes which sent Thither their beams it seem'd one monument Whose sable roof ' mongst Cypress shadows fills The deep dark basis of those barren hills With such a mournfull Majesty as strook A terror into each beholders look Awfull as if some Diety had made That gloomy vale to be the sacred shade Where he chose in enigma's to relate The dark decrees of mans uncertain fate Betwixt this temple and the City stood In squadrons thick as shews an ancient wood To distant sight the Army plac'd to be In this sad march their guilts securitie Whose glittering swords shon as