tâ—…anscended from her milder brest Passion was not exiled but represt Her voyce exceâ—…'d nay had you heard her voyce But warble 〈◊〉 you might haue had the choyce To 〈◊〉 her for some smooth-fac'd Cherubin Oâ—… elâ—…e some glorious Angel that had bin A trebble sharer in th' eternall ioyes Such was hâ—…r voyce such was her heauenly voyce Merry yet modâ—…st witty and yet wise Not apt to toy and yet not too too nice Quick but not â—…ash Courteous and yet not common Not too familiar and yet scorning no man In briâ—…fe who would relate her prayses well Must first bethinke himselfe what is t' excâ—…ll When these perfections hâ—…d enhaunc'd the name Of rare Parthenia nimble winged Fame Grew great with honour spreads her hasty wings Aduanc'd her Trumpet and away she springs And with her â—…ull mouth'd blast she doth proclaime 〈◊〉 glory of Partheniaes name Who now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parthenia what report Can find admittance in th' Arcadian Coâ—…rt But faire Partheniaes Euery solâ—…mne feast Must now be swcernâ—…d hoâ—…ourd and possâ—…st With high discourses of Partheniaes glory And euery mouth must bâ—…eathe Partheniaes story The Poâ—…t summons now his amorous quill And scornes aâ—…istance from the sacrâ—…d Hill The sweet lipâ—… Oratour takes in hand to raise His prouder stile to spâ—…ke Partheniacs praise The curious Painter wisâ—…ly doth displace Faire Venus sets Parthenia in her plâ—…ce The Pleader burnes his bookes disdaines the Law And fâ—…lls in louâ—… with whom his eyâ—…s ne'er saw Healths to the fâ—…ire Parthenia flâ—… about At euery bord whilst others moâ—…e 〈◊〉 Build Idols to her and adore the sâ—…me And Parrats learne to 〈◊〉 Partheniaes name Some trust to fâ—…me some secretly disprise Her worth some emulates and some enuies Some doubt some feare lest lauish same belye her And all that dare beleeue report admire Vpon the bordâ—…rs of the Arcadian Land Dwelt a Laconian Lord Of proud command Lord of much people youthfull and of fame More great then good Demagoras his name Of stature tall his body spare and meager Thicke shoulderd hollow cheek'd and visage eager His gâ—…shfull countenance swarthy long and thinne And downe each side of his reuerted chinâ—…e A locke of blacke neglected haire be friended With warts too vgly to be seene descended His rowling eyes were deeply suncke and hiew'd Like fire T is said they blisterd where they view'd Vpon his shoulders from his fruitfull crowne A rugged crop of Elfclocks dangled downe His hide all hairy garish his attire And his complexion meerely Earth and Fire Peruerse to all extenuating what Another did because he did it not Maligning all mens actions but his owne Not louing any and belou'd of none Reuengefull enuious desperately stout And in a word to paint him fully out That had the Monopolie to fulfill All vice the Hieroglyphick of all ill He view'd Partheniaes face As srom aboue Fireballs of lightning hurld by angry Ioue Confound the vnarm'd beholder at a blow And leaue him ruin'd in the place Euen so The peerelesse beauty of Partheniaes eyes At the first sight did conquer and surprise The slauish thoughts of this amazed louer Who voyd of strength to hide or to discouer The tyrannous scorching of his secret fires Prompted by passion with himselfe conspires Accurs'd Demagoras Into what a feâ—… Hath one looke strucke thy soule O neuer neuer To be recur'd If I had done amisse Hath heauen no easier plagues in store but this Promethius paines are not so sharpe as these Our sinnes yet labour'd both of one disease Our faults are equall Both stole fire from heauen Our faults alike why are our plagues vneuen Be iust O make not such vnequall ods Of equall sinnes Be iust or else no Gods Why send ye downe such Angels to the earth To mocke poore mortalls or of mortall birth If such a heauenlike Paragon may be Why doe ye not wound her as well as me But why doe I implore your aydes in 〈◊〉 That are the hiâ—…hest Agents in my pâ—…ine Poore wretcâ—… What hope of helpe can ye assure me When onely she that made the wound can cure me Diuine 〈◊〉 earths 〈◊〉 Iewell Would thou 〈◊〉 beene lesse glorious or lesse cruell Whâ—…n 〈◊〉 thine eyes did to these eyes appeare I read the 〈◊〉 of my ruine there My necessary ruinâ—… Heauen nor Hell Can salue my sores by helpe of Prayer or spell Gods are vniust and if with charmes 〈◊〉 haunt her Her eyes are counter charmes to enchant 〈◊〉 Why doe I thus exâ—…lcerate my disease By adding torments hope I to find ease Is not her cruelty enough alone But must I bring fresh torments of my owne Cheare vp Demagorâ—…s T is a wise mans part Not to lose all if his vnpractis'd art Serues not to gaine A Gamester may not choose His chance It is some conquest not to loose Looke to thy selfe Let no iniurious blast Of cold despaire chiâ—… thy greene wounds too fast For time to cure O hope for no remission Of paine till Cupid send thee a Physition She is a woman If a woman then My title 's good Women were made for men She is a woman though her heauenly brow Write Angell and may stoope although not now Women by lookes will not be vnderstood Vntill their hearts aduise with flesh and blood She is a woman There 's no reason why But she perchance may burne as well as I. Moue then Demagoras let Parthenia know The strength of her owne beauty in thy woe Feare not what thou ador'st begin to moue Chriscrosse sore-runs the Alphabet of loue T is halfe perfected what is once begun She is a woman and she must be wonne Like as a Swaine whose hands haue made a vow And swâ—…rne allegeance to the peacefull plough Prest out for seruice in the 〈◊〉 campe At first vnentred finds a liuelesse dampe Beleagring euery ioynt as often swounds As ere he viewes his sword or thinks of wounds At length not finding any meanes for flying Switcht and spurd on with despâ—…rate feare of dying He hewes he hackes and in the midst he goes And freshly deales about his frantick blowes Euen so Demagoras whose vnbred fashion Had neuer yet subscrib'd to loues sweet passion Being call'd a Combitant to Cupids field Trembles and secretly resolues to yeeld The day without a parly till at length Fiercely transported by th'vntuâ—…'d strength Of his owne passion he himselfe assures That 〈◊〉 tormeâ—…ts must haue desp'rate câ—…res And thus to the diuine Partheniaes eares Applies his speech deuoâ—…d of doubts and fâ—…ares Fairest of creatures If my ruder tongue To right it selfe should dâ—…e your patience wrong And lawlesse passion make it too too free O blame your heauenly beautie and not me It was those eyes those precious eyes that first Enforc'd my tongue to speake or heart to burst From those deare eyes I first receiu'd that wound Which seekes for cure and cannot be made sound But by the hand that strucke To you alone I sue for helpe that else must hope for none
Yet Fame and honour hath selected one From that illustrious crew and him alone Haue recommended to my carefull quill Forbidding that his honour shoâ—…ld lye still Among the rest whom fortune and his spirit That day had crowned with a victors merit His name was Argalus In Cyprus borne And if what is not ours may adorne Our proper fortunes his blood royall springs From th' ancient stocke of the great Cyprian Kings His outside had enough to satisfie The expectation of a curious eye Nature was too too prodigall of her beauty To make him halfe so faire whom Fame and duty He ought to Honour calâ—…'d so often forth T' approue the exc'lence of his manly worth His minde was richly furnisht with the treasure Of morall knowledge in so liberall measure Not to be proud So valiant and so strong Of noble courage not to dare a wrong Friendly to all men inward but with few Fast to his old friends and vnapt for new Lord of his word and master of his passion Serious in buisnesse choyce in recreation Not too mistrustfull and yet wisely wary Hard to resolue and then as hard to vary And to conclude the world could hardly finde So rare a body with so rare a minde Thrice had the bright surueyour of the heauen Diuided out the dayes and nights by euen And equall houres since this child of fame Inuited by the glory of her name First view'd Partheniaes face whose mutuall eye Shot equall flames and with the secret tie Of vndisclos'd affection ioyn'd together Their yeelding hearts their loues vnknown to either Both dearly lou'd the more they stroue to hide Their loue affection they the more descride It lyes beyond the power of art to smother Affection where one vertue finds another One was their thoughts and their desires one And yet both lou'd vnknowne beloued vnknowne One was the Dart that at the selfe same time Was sent that wounded her that wounded him Both hop'd both fear'd alike both ioy'd both grieu'd Yet where they both could helpe was none relieu'd Two lou'd and two beloued were yet none But two in all and yet that all but one By this time had their barren lippes betraid Their timorous silence now they had displaid Loues sanguine colours whilst the winged Child Sate in a tree and clapt his hands and smil'd To see the combat of two wounded friends He strikes and wounds himselfe while she defends That would be wounded for hâ—…r paine proceeds And flowes from his and from his wound she bleeds She playes at him and ayming at his breast Pierc'd her owne heart and when his hand addrest The blow to her faire bosome there it found His owne deare heart and gaue that heart the wound At length both conquer'd and yet both did yeeld Both lost the day and yet both wan the field And as the warfare of their tongues did cease Their lips gaue earnest of a ioyfull peace But ô the hideous chances that attend A louers progresse to his iournies end How many desp'rate rubs and dangers waite Each minute on his miserable state His hopes doe build what straight his feares destroy Sometimes he surfeits with excesse of ioy Sometimes despairing ere to find reliefe He roares beneath the tyranny of griefe And when loues current runnes with greatest force Some obuious mischiefe still disturbes the course For loe no sooner the discouerd flame Of these new parted louers did proclaime Loues sacred Iubilé but the Virgins Mother The posture of whose visage did discouer Some serious matter harb'ring in her brest Enters the roome Halfe angry halfe in iest Shee thus began My dearest child this night When as the silent darknesse did inuite Mine eyes to slumber sundry thoughts possest My troubled minde and robb'd me of my rest I slept not till the early bugle horne Of Chauntiâ—…lere had summon'd in the Morne T' attend the Light and nurse the new-borne Day At last when Morpheus with his leaden key Had lockt my senses and enlarg'd the power Of my heauen guided fancy for an houre I slumbred and before my slumbring eyes One and the selfesame dreame presented thrice I wak'd and being frighted at the vision Perceiu'd the Gods had made an appâ—…ition My dreame was this Me thought I saw thee sitting Drest like a princely Bride with robes befitting The state of Maiesty thy Nymph-like haire Loosely dissheuel'd and thy browes did beare A Cypresse wreath and thrice three months expir'd Thy pregnant wombe grew heauy and required Lucina's aid with that me thought I saw A teame of harnest Peacocks fiercely draw A siery Chariot from the flitting sky Wherein there sate the glorious Maiesty Of great Saturnia on whose traine attended An hoast of Goddesses Iuno descended From out the flaming Chariot and blest Thy painfull wombe Thy paines a while encreast At length she laid her gentle palmes vpon Thy fruitfull flanke and there was borne a son She made thee mother of a smiling boy And after blest thee with a mothers ioy She kist the Babe whose fortune she foresold For on his head she set a Crowne of Gold Forthwith as if the heauens had clouen in sunder Me thoughts I heard the horrid noise of thunder The raine pour'd downe and yet the skie was cleare And euery drop that lighted did appeare As orient pearle mixt with refined gold VVbereat the goddesse turn'd and said Behold Great Iâ—…ue hath sent a gift goe forth and tak 't Thus hauing spoke she vanisht and I wak't I wak'â—… and waking trembled for I knew They were no idle passages that grew From my distemperd thoughts t was not a vaine Delusion rouing from a troubled braine It was a vision and the gods forespake Parthenia's fortune Gods cannot mistake I lik'd the dreame wherein the gods foretold Thy ioyfull mariage and the shower of gold Betokened wealth The Infants golden Crowne Ensuing honour Iuno's comming downe A safe deliuerance and the smiling Boy Summ'd vp the totall of a mothers ioy But what the wreath of Cypresse that was set Vpon thy nuptiall browes presag'd as yet The gods keepe from me if that secret doc Portend an euill heauen keepe it from thee too Aduise Parthenia Seeke not to withstand The plot wherein the Gods vouchsafe a hand Submit thy will to theirs what they enioyâ—…e Must be nor lyes it in my power or thine To contradict Endeauor to fulfill What else must come to passe against thy will Now by the filâ—…all all duty thou dost beare The gods and me or if ought else more deare Can force obedience as thou hop'st to speed At the gods hands in greatest time of need By heauen by hell by all the powers aboue I here coniure Parthenia to remoue All sond conceits that labour to disioyne What heauen hath knit Demâ—…goras's heart and 〈◊〉 The gods are faithfull and their wisedomes know What 's better for vs mortalls then we doe Doubt not my child the gods cannot deceiue What heauen does offer feare not to receiue With thankfull hands Passe
and yet we sleepe secure My Lord bethinke no other Set your rest Vpon these Câ—…rds The surest way is best Leaue me to manage our successfull plot And if these studious browes contriue it not Too sure for art of Mâ—…gicke to preuent Ne're trust a womans wit wâ—…en fully bent To take reuenge Begone my Lord repose The trust in me Onely be wise be close That night when as the vniuersall shâ—…de Of the vnspangled heauen and earth had made An vâ—…ter darknesse darknesse apt to further The horrid enterprise of rapes and mâ—…her She she that now lacks nothing to procuâ—…e A full reuenge she calls Athleia to her Partheniaes handmaid whom shâ—… thus â—…espake Athleia dare thy priuate thoughts partake With mine Canst thou be secret Has thy heart A locke that none can pick by theevish art Or brake by force Tell me Canst thou digest A secret trusted to thy faithfull brest Madam said shâ—… Lâ—…t me bee neuer true To my owne thoughts if euer false to you Speake what you please Athleia shall conceale Torments may make me roare but ne're reâ—…eale Replyde the Lady then Athleia knows How much how much my deare affection owes Partheniaes heart whose welfare is the crowne Of all my ioyes which now is ouerthrowne And deeply buried in forgotten dust If thou betray the secret of my trust It lyeth in thy power to remoue Approaching euills Parthenia is in loue Her wasted spirits languish in her brest And nought but look'd for death can giue her rest T is Argalus she loues who with disdaine Requites her loue not louing her againe He sleights her teares The more that he neglects The more entirely she poore soule affects She groanes beneath the burden of despaire And with her sighes she cloyes the idle ayre Thou art acquainted with her priuate teares And you so oft exchanging tongues and eares Must know too much for one poore heart t' endure But desperate's the wound admits no Cure It lies in thee to helpe Athleia say Wilt thou assist me if I find the way Madam my forced ignorance shall be Sufficient earnest of my secresie Your lips haue vtter'd nothing that is new To Athleias eares Alas it is too true Long long ere this your seruant had reueal'd The same to you bad not my lips biâ—… seal'd But if my best endeauors may extend To bring my Mistresse sorrowes to an end Let all the enraged Dâ—…ties aâ—…ot To me worse torment if I doe it not My life 's too poore to hazard for her ease Madam I le doâ—… Command me what you please So said The treacherous Lady steps aside Inâ—…o her serious closeâ—… and applide Her hasty and perfidious hands to frame This foâ—…ged letter in Partheniaes name Constant Parthenia to her faithfull Argalus ALthough the malice of a mother Does yet enforce my tongue to smother What my desire is should flame yet Parthenia is the same Although my fire be hid a while T is but fire slak'd with oyle Before seuen Suns shall rise and fall It shall burne and blaze withall What I send thee drinke with speed Else let my Argalus take heed Vnlesse thy prouidence withstand there is treason ne're at hand Drinke as thou lou'st me and it shall secure thee From future dangers or from past recure thee This done and seal'd she op'd her priâ—…te doore Call'd in Athleia and said For euery sore The gods prouide a salue Force must preuaile Where sighes and teares and deepe entreaties faile Forthwith from out her Cabinet she tooke A little glasse and said Athleia looke Within these slender walls these glazed lists Partheâ—…aes happinesse and life consists It is Nepenthe which the factious gods Doe vse to drinke when ere they be at ods Whose secret vertue so infus'd by loue Does turne deep hatred into dearest loue It makes the proudest louer whine and baule And such to dote as neuer lou'd at all Here take this glasse and recommend the same To Aâ—…galus in his Pâ—…theniaes name And to his hand to his owne hand commit This letter Betweene Aâ—…galus and it Let no eye come Be sure thy speeâ—… preuent The rising Sun and so heauens crowne th' euent By this the feather'd Bellman of the night Sent forth his midnight summons to inuiâ—…e All eyes to slâ—…mber when they both addrest Their thoughtfull minds to take a doubtfull rest O heauens and you O you celestiall powers That neuer slumber but imploy all houres In mans prorection still preseruing keeping Our soules from obuious dangers waking sleeping O can your all-descerning eyes behold Such impious actions prosper vncontroll'd O can your hearts your tender hearts endure To see your seruant that now sleepes secure Vnarm'd vnwarn'd and hauing no defence But your protection and his innocence Betray'd and murther'd drawing at one breath His owne prepar'd destruction his owne death And will ye 〈◊〉 He that is the crowne Of prized vertue honour and renowne The flowre of Arts the Cyprian liuing story Arcadias Girland and great Graeces glory The earths new wonder and the worlds example Must dye betraid Treason and death must trample Vpon his life and in the dust must lye As much admit'd perfection as can dye No Argalus the coward hand of death Durst ne're assault thee if not vnderneath The Maske of loue Thou art aboue the reach Of open wrongs Mans force could ne're make breach Into thy life no Death could ne're vncase Thy soule had she appeared face to face Dreame Argalus and let thy thoughts be troubled With murthers treasons Let thy dreams be doubled And what thy frighted fancy shall perceiue Be wisely superstitious and beleeue O that my lines could wake thee now and seuer Those eyelids that ere long must sleepe for euer Wake now or neuer Argalus and withstand Thy danger Wake the murtheresse is at hand Parthenia oh Parthenia who shall weepe Thy world of teares Canst thou O canst thou sleep Will thy dull Genius giue thee leaue to slumber Does nothing trouble thee no dreame incumber Thy frighted thoughts and Argalus so neere His latest houre Not one dreaming teare Sleepe on and when thy flattring slumber's past Perchance thine eyes will learne to weepe as fast His death is plotted And this morning light Must send him downe into eternall night Nay what is worse then worst His dying breath Will censure thee as Agent in his death By this the broadfac'd Quirister of night Surceas'd her screeching note and tooke her flight To the next neighbring Ivy Brids and beasts Forsake the warme protection of their nests And nightly 〈◊〉 whilst darknesse did display Her sable curtaines to let in the day When sad Athleia's dreame had vnbenighted Her slumbring eies her busie thoughts were frighted She rose and trembled and being halfe distraught With her prophetick feares she thus bethought What ayle the Gods thus to disturbe my rest And make such earthquakes in my troubled brest Nothing but death and murthers Graues and Bells Frighting my fancy with their hourely knells T was
see how soone my Argalus had forgot His dead Parthenia but my blessed eare Hath heard what few or none must hope to heare Now farewell sorrow and let old despaire Goe seeke new brests let mischiefe neuer dare Attempt our hearts let Argalus inioy His true Parthenia let Parthenia's ioy Reuiue in him let each be blest in eyther And blest be heauen that brought vs both together With that the well-nigâ—… broken hearted louer Rauisht with ouer ioy did thus discouer His long pent words And doe these eyes once more Behold what their extreame despaire gaue o're To hope for Doe these wretched eyes attaine The happinesse to see this face againe And is there so much happinesse yet left For a broke heart a heart that was bereft Of power t' enioy what heauen had powâ—…r to giue Breathes my Pâ—…rthenia Does Partheniâ—… liue Who euer saw the Septentrionall stone By hidden power a power as yeâ—… vnknowne To our confinde and darkned reason draw The neighb'ring steele which by the mutuall law Of natures secret working striues as much To be attracted till they ioyne and touch Euen so these greedy Louers meet and charmes Each other strongly in each others armes Euen so they meet and with vnbounded measure Os true content and time beguiling pleasure Enioy each other with a world of kisses Sealing the patent of true worldly blisses Where for a while I leaue them to receiue What pleasures new met louers vse to haue Readers forbeare and let no wanton eye Abuse our Sceane Let not the stander by Corrupt our lines or make an obsceane glosse Vpon our sober Text and mixe his drosse With our refined gold extracting sower From sweet and poyson from so faire a flower Correct your wandring thoughts and doe not feare To thinke the best Here is no Tarquine here No lustfull no insatiate Messaline Who thought it gaine sufficient to resigne An age of honour for a night of pleasure Whose strength t' endure lust was the iust measure Of her adust desire Yee need not feare Our priuate Louers who esteeme lesse deare Their liues then honours daring not to doe But what vnsham'd the Sun may pry into If any itching eares desire to know What seret conf'rence past betwixt these two To them my Muse thus answers When your case Shall proue the like she wils you to embrace True honour as these nâ—…ble louers did And you shall know Till then you are forbid To enquire further Onely this she pleases To let you vnderstand that loues diseasâ—…s Being throughly cured by their meeting they Hâ—…ue once againe 〈◊〉 a Mariage day Which that it might succeed with fairer fortune Readers she moues your pleasures to importune The better gods that they would please t'appay Their griefes with ioy and smile vpon that Day The end of the second Booke ARGALVS AND PARTHENIA The third Booke VVHen sturdy Marches stormes are ouerblowne And Aprill gentle show'rs are slidden downe To close the windchapt earth succeeding May Enters her month whose earely breaking day Calls Ladies from their hasty beds to view Sweet Maias pride and the discolour'd hiew Of dewy-brested Flora in her bower Where euery hand hath leaue to picke the flowre Her fancy likes wherewith to be possest Vntill it fade and wither in her brest Now smooth-fac'd Neptune with his gladder smiles Visits the bankes of his beloued Isles Eolus calls in the winds and bids them hold Their full-mouth'd blasts that breathles are controlld Each one â—…tyres and shrinks into his seat And seagreene Triton sounds a shrill retreat And thus at length our Pinace is past o're The barre and rides before the Maiden-Towre Vp now in earnest voyagers and stand yee On your faint legs Oâ—…r long boat straight shal land ye Forget your trauels now and lead your eyes From your past dangers to your present prize You traffick'd not for toyes The gods haue set No other price to things of price but sweat Cheare vp call home your hearts and be aduis'd Goods eas'ly purchas'd are as eas'ly priz'd You traffick'd not for trifles and your trauell Was not to compasse the almightie grauell Of th' Indian Mines to ballace your estates T was not for blasts of Honour whose poore dates Depend on regall smiles and haue no measures But Monarchs wils expiring with their pleasures T was not to conquer Kingdomes or obtaine The dangerous title of a Soueraigne These are poore things It is but false discretion To toyle where hopes are sweeter then possession No we are bound vpon more braue aduentures True Honour Vertue beauty are the Centers To which we point whereto our thoughts doe tend And heauen hath brought our voyage to an end Haile noble Argalus now the Cock boate stands Secure step forth and reach thy widened hands And take thy fairest Bride into thine armes Strike vp braue spirit Cupids fresh alarmes Vpon her melting lips Take Toll before Thou set her dainty foot vpon the shore So let her slide vpon thy gentle brest And feele the ground then lead her to her rest Goe Imps of honour let the morning Sun Gild your delights and spend his beames vpon Your marriage triumphs let his westerne light Decline apace and make a early Night Goâ—… Turtles goe let trebble ioyes betide The faithfull Bridegroome and his fairest Bride Lâ—…t your ownâ—… veâ—…tues light you to your rest Tomorrow come we to your nâ—…ptiall feast By this the curld pate VVaggoner of heauen Hâ—… 〈◊〉 his diurnall course and drinen Hi panâ—…ing Sâ—…eds adowne the Wâ—…sterne hill When siluâ—…r Cynthia rising to fulfill Heâ—…n gâ—…tly course le ts fall an euening teare To see her broâ—…her leaâ—…e the Hemisphere Wâ—…ich by the ayre disperâ—…d is early found And call'd a pearlly dew vpon the ground Still was the night no language did molest The waking ear All mortals were at resâ—… No 〈◊〉 of wind had power to prouoke The Aspine leaâ—…e or quell the aspiring smoake Sweet was the ayre and clearâ—… no Sâ—…arre was hiâ—… No enuâ—…ous cloud was stirring to forbid The 〈◊〉 Astronomer to gaze and looke Into the secrets of his spangled booke Whilst round about in each resounding groue As if the 〈◊〉 of night had stroue 〈◊〉 the warbling Philomele compares And 〈◊〉 by turnâ—…s her Polyphonian ayres And now the horn-mouth'd Belman of the night Had seâ—…t his midnight summons to inuite Nights 〈◊〉 rebuls from their secret holds To 〈◊〉 and visite the securer folds Whilst drouzie Morpheus with his leaden keyes Locks vp the Shepherds eye-lids and betrayes The scâ—…ttered flocks which lye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Expecting fire when the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By â—…his the pâ—…lefac'd Empresse of the night Hâ—…d 〈◊〉 vp her borrowed light And to the lower world she now retites Attended with her traine of lesser 〈◊〉 And early Hesper shoots his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To vsher Titan from his purple bed The gray ey'd lanitor does now begin To ope his Easterne portals and let in The new borne Day who hauing lately huâ—…ld The shades of night into the lower
failing must decline Poore Argalus growes 〈◊〉 and must giue o're To strike his feeble arme can strike no more And natures 〈◊〉 ' d Bayly now destraines His blood for that small debt that yet remaines 〈◊〉 His arme that cannot vse the poynt Now 〈◊〉 vpon the pomell euery ioynt Disclaimes their idle sinews and his eye Begins to double euery obiect by Nothing appeares the same it was the ground And all thereon does seeme to daunce the round His legs grow faint and thinking to sit downe He mist his Chaire and 〈◊〉 into a swoune With that Amphialus and Parthenia ran Ran in with hast Amphialus 〈◊〉 To loose his Helmet whil'st her busie palme Chaf'd his cold Temples and distilling Balme Into his wounds her hasty fingers tore Her linnen sleeues and Partlet that she wore No wipe the teare mixt blood away and wrap His wounds withall vpon her panting lappe She laide his liuelesse head and wanting bands To binde the bloody cloathes her nimble hands As if it were ordained for that end And therefore made so long did freely rend Her dainty haire by handfuls from her head But as she wrapt the wounds her eyes would shed And wet the rags so much that she was faine 〈◊〉 sighs and sobs to drie it vp againe Thus halfe distracted with her griefes and feares These words she enter mingles with her teares Distrest Parthenia Into what estate Hath fortune and the direfull hand of Fate Driuen thy perplexed soule O thou O thou That wert the president of all ioyes but now Now turn'd th' example of all misery For torments worse then death to practise by How lesse then nothing art thou and how more Then miserable Thou that wert before All Ladies of the earth for happinesse But very now ah me now nothing lesse O angry heauens what hath Parthenia done To be thus plagu'd or why not plagu'd alone If guilty what shall poore Parthenia doe To whom shall she complaine alas or who Shall giue reliefe nay who can giue reliefe To her that hopes for succour from her griefe O death Must we be parted then for euer And neuer meet againe what neuer neuer Or shall Parthenia now be so vnkinde Te leaue her Argalus and stay behind No no my dearest Argalus make roome There 's roome enough in heauen I come I come Who euer saw a dying coale of fire Lurke in warme embers till some breath inspire A forc'd reuiuall how obscure it lies And being blowne glimmers a while and dies So Argalus to whom Parthenia's breath Giuing new life a life in spite of death Recall'd him from his death-resembling traunce Who from his panting Pillow did aduance His feeble head and looking vp he made Hard shift to sorce a language and thus said My deare Parthenia Now my glasse is runne The Tapours tell me that the Play is done My dayes are summ'd Death seizes on my heart Alas the time is come and we must part Yet by my better hopes grimme death does bring No griefe to Argalus no other sting But this that I must leaue thee euen before My gratefull actions can crosse the score Of thy deare merits But since it pleases him whose wisedome still Disposes all things by his better will Depend vpon his goodnesse and relye Vpon his pleasure not inquiring why And trust that one day we shall meet and then Enioy each other ne're to part agen Meane while liue happy Let Parthenia make No doubt but bessed Argalus shall partake In all her ioyes on earth which shall encrease His ioyes in heauen and soules eternall Peace Loue well the deare remembrance of thy true And faithfull Argalus let no thought renew My last disgrace thinke not the hand of Fate Made me vnworthy though vnfortunate And as he spake that word his lips did vent A sigh whose vio'lence hâ—…d well nigh rent His heart in twaine and when a paâ—…ting kisse Hâ—…d giuen him earnest of appoaching blisse He snatch his sword into his hand and cryed O death thou art the Conquerour and dyed With that Parthenia whose liuelihood was founded Vpon his life bow'd downe her head and swounded But griefe that like a Lyon loues to play Before it kils gaue death a longer day Else had Parthenia dy'd since death depriued Him of his life in whose deare life she liued But ah Parthenia's sorrow was too deepe Too too vnruly to be lull'd asleepe By ought but Death She startles from her swound And nimbly rising from the loathed ground Kneeles downe and layes her trembling hand vpon His lukewarme lips but finding his breath gone Griefe playes the Tyrant fierce distruction driues her She knowes not where vnbounded 〈◊〉 depriucs her Of sense and language here and there she goes Not knowing what to doe nor what she does Somtimes her faire misguided hand would teare Her beautious face sometimes her bountious haire As if their vse could stand her in no stead Since her beloued Argalus was dead But now Amphialus that all this space Stood like an Idol fastned to his place Where with a world of teares he did bemoane The deed that his vnlucky hands had done Well knowing that his words would aggrauate Not ease the miserie of her woefull state Spake not but caus'd her women that came with her To vrge her to the Ferrie where together With her dead Argalus she ' embrackt from whom She would not part no sooner was she come To t'other shore but all the funerall state Of militarie discipline did waite Vpon the Corps whil'st troopes of trickling eyes Fore-ran the well perform'd solemnities The Martiall Trumpet breath'd her dolefull sound Whil'st others traild their Ensignes on the ground Thus was the most lamented Corpes conuaid Vpon a Chariot lin'd and ouerlaid With Sables to his house a house then night More black no more the Palace of Delight Where now we leaue him to receiue the Crowne Prepar'd for vertue and deseru'd renowne Where now we leaue him to be full possest Of endlesse peace and euerlasting Rest. But who shall comfort poore Parthenia now What Oratory can preuaile or how Can counsell chuse but blush to vndergoe So vaine taske and be contemned too May Counsell mooue a heart whose best 〈◊〉 Consists in desperate yeelding to a griefe O what aduice can rellish in her eares That weepes and takes a pleasure in her teares Readers forbeare sorrowes that are lamented Are but exulcerated but augmented Forbeare attempt where there is no preuayling A desperate griefe growes stronger by bewaying Leaue her to time and fortune let your eyes No longer prye into her miseries True mourners loue to be beheld of none Who truly grieues desire to grieue alone But now our bloodhound Muse must draw and track Amphialus and bring the Murtherer backe To a new Combate Where if fortune please To crowne our Tragick Sceane and to appease The crying blood of Argalus with blood Our better rellisht story making good Your hopefull expectations shall besriend The teares of our Parthenia and end
not so sleightly ouer The deare affection of so true a louer Pitty his flames relieue his tortur'd brest That findes abroad no ioy at home no rest But like a wounded Hart before the hounds That flies with Cupids Iauelin in his wounds Stir vp thy rak't vp embers of desire The gods will bring in fewell and blow the fire Be gentle let thy cordiall smiles reuiue His wasted spirits that onely cares to liue To doe thee honour It was Cupids will The dart he sent should onely wound not kill Yeeld then aâ—…d let th'engaged gods powre downe Their promis'd blessings on thy head and crowne Thy youth with ioyes and maist thou after be As blest in thine as I am blest in thee So said The faire Parthenia to whose heart Her fixt desires had taught th'â—…m willing Art Of disobedience calls her iudgement in And of two euills determines it a sin More veniall by a resolute deniall To proue vn 〈◊〉 then be dâ—…sloyall To him whose heart a sacred vow had tyed So fast to hers and weeping thus replyâ—…d Madam The angry gods haue late conspir'd to show The Vtmost their enraged hands could doc And hauing laid aside all mercy stretch Their power to make one miserable wretch Whose curst and tortur'd soule must onely be The subiect of their wrath and I am she Hard is the case my deare desires must faile My vowes must cracke my plighted faith be fraile Or else affection must be so exil'd A mothers heart that she renounce her child And as she spâ—…ke that word a flowing tide Of teares gusht out whose violence deny'd Tn'intended passagâ—… of her doubling tongue She stopt a â—…hile Then on the floore shâ—… flung Her prostrate body whilst her hands did teare Not knâ—…owing what they did her dainty haire Sometimes she struck the ground somtimes her brest Began some words and then wept out the rest At last her liuelesse hands did by degrees Raise her cast body on her feeble knees And humbly rearing her sad eyes vpon Her mothers frowning visage thus went on Vpon these knees these knees that ne're were bent To you in vaine that neuer did present Their vnrewarded duty neuer rose Without a mothers blessing vpon those Vpon those naked knees I recommend To your deare thoughts those termâ—…nis that attend Your poore Parthenia whose vnknowne distresse Craues rather death then language to expresse What shall I doe Dâ—…magoras and Death Sound both alike to these sad eares that breath That names the one does nominate the other No no I cannot loue him my deare mother Command Parthenia now to vndergoe What death you please and these quick hands shall show The seale of my obedience in my heart The gods themselues that haue a secret art To force affection cannot violate The lawes of Nature stop the course of Fate Can earth forget her burthen and ascend Or can th' aspiring flames be taught to tend To th' earth If fire descend and earth aspire Earth were no longer earth nor fire fire Euen so by nature 't is all one to me To loue Demagoras and not to be No no the heauens can doe no act that 's greater Then hauing made so to preserue their creature And thinke you that the righteous Gods would fill me With such false ioyes as if enioy'd would kill me I know that they are mercifull what they Command they giue a power to obey The ioyfull vision that your slumbring eyes Of late beheld did promise and comprise A fayrer fortune then the heauens can share To poore Partheniaes merit whom despaire Hath swasâ—…ow'd Your prophetick dreame discride A royalâ—… mariage pointed out the Bride Her safe Deliuer â—…ce and her smiling sonne Honouâ—… and 〈◊〉 and after all was done Thâ—…re wants a Bridegroome him the heauens haue seald Within my brest by me to be reueal'd VVhich if your patience shall vouchsafe to heare My lips shall recommend vnto your eare When as Basilius may whose royall hand Long sway the scepter of th' Arcadian land From Cyprus brought his more then princely Bride The faire Gynecia whom as Greece deny'd An equall so the world acknowledg'd none As her superiòur in perfection Vpon this Ladies royall traine and state Agreat concourse of Nobles did awaite And Cyprian Princes with their princely port To see her crowned in th' Arcadion Court Illustrious Princes were they but as farre As midnight Phebe outshines the twinckling Starre So far amongst this rout of Princes one Surpast the rest in honour and renowne VVhose perfect vertue findes more admiration In the Arcadian Court then imitation In th'exc'lence of his outward parts and feature The world conceiues the curious hand of Nature Outwent it selfe which being richly fraught And furnisht with transcendent worth is thought To be the chosen fortresse for protection Of all the Arts and storehouse of perfectionâ—… The Cyprus stock did ne're till now â—…ring forth So rare a Branch whose vnderualued worth Brings greater glory to th' Arcadian Land Then can the dull Arcadians vnderstand His name is Argalus He Madam was that Cypresse wreath that crown'd My nuptiall brows And now the Bridegroom 's found Cloath'd in the mystry of that Cypresse wreath VVhich since the better gods haue pleas'd to breathe Into my soule O may I cease to be If ought but death part Argalus and me Yet does my safe obedience not withstand VVhat you desire or what the gods command For what the gods command is your desire Parthenia should obey and not respire Against their sacred counsels or withstand The plot wherein they haue vouchsaf'd a hand VVe must submit our wils what they enâ—…oyne Must be nor lies it in your power or mine To crosse we must endeauour to fulfill VVhat else must come to passe against our will My vowes are past and second heauens decree Nothing shall part my Argâ—…s and me So said Th' impatient mothers kindled eye Halfe closed with a murtherous frowne let flie A scorching fireball from whence was shed Some drops of choller sternly shakes her head With trembling hands vnlocks the doore and flees Leauing Parthenia on her aking knees And as she fled her fury thus began To open And is Argalus the man But there she stopt when striuing to expresse What rage had prompted could doe nothing lesse All you whose deare affections haue beene tost In Cupids blanket and vniuftly crost By wilfull Parents whose extreame command Haue made you groan beneath their tyrannous hand That take a furious pleasure to diuorse Your soulâ—…s from your best thoughts nay what is worse Then torture force your fancies to respect And dearely loue whom most you dis affect Draw neare and comfort the distressed heart Of poore Parthenia let your eyes impart One droppe at least And whosoe're thou be That read'st these lines may thy desiers see The like successe if reading thou foâ—…beare To wet this very paper with a teare Behold poore Lady how an houres time Hath pluck't her faded roses from their prime And like an