their Diff'rence to decide The Pow'r that ministers to God's Decrees And executes on Earth what Heav'n foresees Call'd Providence or Chance or fatal Sway Comes with resistless Force and finds or makes her Way Nor Kings nor Nations nor united Pow'r One Moment can retard th' appointed Hour And some one Day some wondrous Chance appears Which happen'd not in Centuries of Years For sure whate'er we Mortals hate or love Or hope or fear depends on Pow'rs above They move our Appetites to Good or Ill And by Foresight necessitate the Will In Theseus this appears whose youthful Joy Was Beasts of Chase in Forests to destroy This gentle Knight inspir'd by jolly May Forsook his easie Couch at early Day And to the Wood and Wilds pursu'd his Way Beside him rode Hippolita the Queen And Emily attir'd in lively Green With Horns and Hounds and all the tuneful Cry To hunt a Royal Hart within the Covert nigh And as he follow'd Mars before so now He serves the Goddess of the Silver Bow The Way that Theseus took was to the Wood Where the two Knights in cruel Battel stood The Laund on which they fought th' appointed Place In which th' uncoupl'd Hounds began the Chace Thither forth-right he rode to rowse the Prey That shaded by the Fern in Harbour lay And thence dislodg'd was wont to leave the Wood For open Fields and cross the Crystal Flood Approach'd and looking underneath the Sun He saw proud Arcite and fierce Palamon In mortal Battel doubling Blow on Blow Like Lightning flam'd their Fauchions to and fro And shot a dreadful Gleam so strong they strook There seem'd less Force requir'd to fell an Oak He gaz'd with Wonder on their equal Might Look'd eager on but knew not either Knight Resolv'd to learn he spurr'd his fiery Steed With goring Rowels to provoke his Speed The Minute ended that began the Race So soon he was betwixt 'em on the Place And with his Sword unsheath'd on pain of Life Commands both Combatants to cease their Strife Then with imperious Tone pursues his Threat What are you Why in Arms together met How dares your Pride presume against my Laws As in a listed Field to fight your Cause Unask'd the Royal Grant no Marshal by As Knightly Rites require nor Judge to try Then Palamon with scarce recover'd Breath Thus hasty spoke We both deserve the Death And both wou'd die for look the World around A Pair so wretched is not to be found Our Life 's a Load encumber'd with the Charge We long to set th' imprison'd Soul at large Now as thou art a Sovereign Judge decree The rightful Doom of Death to him and me Let neither find thy Grace for Grace is Cruelty Me first O kill me first and cure my Woe Then sheath the Sword of Justice on my Foe Or kill him first for when his Name is heard He foremost will receive his due Reward Arcite of Thebes is he thy mortal Foe On whom thy Grace did Liberty bestow But first contracted that if ever found By Day or Night upon th' Athenian Ground His Head should pay the Forfeit See return'd The perjur'd Knight his Oath and Honour scorn'd For this is he who with a borrow'd Name And profer'd Service to thy Palace came Now call'd Philostratus retain'd by thee A Traytor trusted and in high Degree Aspiring to the Bed of beauteous Emily My Part remains From Thebes my Birth I own And call my self th' unhappy Palamon Think me not like that Man since no Disgrace Can force me to renounce the Honour of my Race Know me for what I am I broke thy Chain Nor promis'd I thy Pris'ner to remain The Love of Liberty with Life is giv'n And Life it self th' inferiour Gift of Heaven Thus without Crime I fled but farther know I with this Arcite am thy mortal Foe Then give me Death since I thy Life pursue For Safeguard of thy self Death is my Due More would'st thou know I love bright Emily And for her Sake and in her Sight will die But kill my Rival too for he no less Deserves and I thy righteous Doom will bless Assur'd that what I lose he never shall possess To this reply'd the stern Athenian Prince And sow'rly smild In owning your Offence You judge your self and I but keep Record In place of Law while you pronounce the Word Take your Desert the Death you have decreed I seal your Doom and ratifie the Deed. By Mars the Patron of my Arms you die He said dumb Sorrow seiz'd the Standers by The Queen above the rest by Nature Good The Pattern form'd of perfect Womanhood For tender Pity wept When she began Through the bright Quire th' infectious Vertue ran All dropp'd their Tears ev'n the contended Maid And thus among themselves they softly said What Eyes can suffer this unworthy Sight Two Youths of Royal Blood renown'd in Fight The Mastership of Heav'n in Face and Mind And Lovers far beyond their faithless Kind See their wide streaming Wounds they neither came From Pride of Empire nor desire of Fame Kings fight for Kingdoms Madmen for Applause But love for Love alone that crowns the Lover's Cause This Thought which ever bribes the beauteous Kind Such Pity wrought in ev'ry Ladies Mind They left their Steeds and prostrate on the Place From the fierce King implor'd th' Offenders Grace He paus'd a while stood silent in his Mood For yet his Rage was boiling in his Blood But soon his tender Mind th' Impression felt As softest Metals are not slow to melt And Pity soonest runs in gentle Minds Then reasons with himself and first he finds His Passion cast a Mist before his Sense And either made or magnifi'd th' Offence Offence of what to whom Who judg'd the Cause The Pris'ner freed himself by Natures Laws Born free he sought his Right The Man he freed Was perjur'd but his Love excus'd the Deed Thus pond'ring he look'd under with his Eyes And saw the Womens Tears and heard their Cries Which mov'd Compassion more He shook his Head And softly sighing to himself he said Curse on th' unpard'ning Prince whom Tears can draw To no Remorse who rules by Lions Law And deaf to Pray'rs by no Submission bow'd Rends all alike the Penitent and Proud At this with Look serene he rais'd his Head Reason resum'd her Place and Passion fled Then thus aloud he spoke The Pow'r of Love In Earth and Seas and Air and Heav'n above Rules unresisted with an awful Nod By daily Miracles declar'd a God He blinds the Wise gives Eye-sight to the Blind And moulds and stamps anew the Lover's Mind Behold that Arcite and this Palamon Freed from my Fetters and in Safety gone What hinder'd either in their Native Soil At ease to reap the Harvest of their Toil But Love their Lord did otherwise ordain And brought 'em in then own despite again To suffer Death deserv'd for well they know 'T is in my Pow'r and I their deadly Foe The Proverb
his Pillow rais'd he thus begun No Language can express the smallest part Of what I feel and suffer in my Heart For you whom best I love and value most But to your Service I bequeath my Ghost Which from this mortal Body when unty'd Unseen unheard shall hover at your Side Nor fright you waking nor your Sleep offend But wait officious and your Steps attend How I have lov'd excuse my faltring Tongue My Spirits feeble and my Pains are strong This I may say I only grieve to die Because I lose my charming Emily To die when Heav'n had put you in my Pow'r Fate could not chuse a more malicious Hour What greater Curse cou'd envious Fortune give Than just to die when I began to live Vain Men how vanishing a Bliss we crave Now warm in Love now with'ring in the Grave Never O never more to see the Sun Still dark in a damp Vault and still alone This Fate is common but I lose my Breath Near Bliss and yet not bless'd before my Death Farewell but take me dying in your Arms 'T is all I can enjoy of all your Charms This Hand I cannot but in Death resign Ah could I live But while I live 't is mine I feel my End approach and thus embrac'd Am pleas'd to die but hear me speak my last Ah! my sweet Foe for you and you alone I broke my Faith with injur'd Palamon But Love the Sense of Right and Wrong confounds Strong Love and proud Ambition have no Bounds And much I doubt shou'd Heav'n my Life prolong I shou'd return to justifie my Wrong For while my former Flames remain within Repentance is but want of Pow'r to sin With mortal Hatred I pursu'd his Life Nor he nor you were guilty of the Strife Nor I but as I lov'd Yet all combin'd Your Beauty and my Impotence of Mind And his concurrent Flame that blew my Fire For still our Kindred Souls had one Desire He had a Moments Right in point of Time Had I seen first then his had been the Crime Fate made it mine and justified his Right Nor holds this Earth a more deserving Knight For Vertue Valour and for Noble Blood Truth Honour all that is compriz'd in Good So help me Heav'n in all the World is none So worthy to be lov'd as Palamon He loves you too with such a holy Fire As will not cannot but with Life expire Our vow'd Affections both have often try'd Nor any Love but yours cou'd ours divide Then by my Loves inviolable Band By my long Suff'ring and my short Command If e'er you plight your Vows when I am gone Have pity on the faithful Palamon This was his last for Death came on amain And exercis'd below his Iron Reign Then upward to the Seat of Life he goes Sense fled before him what he touch'd he froze Yet cou'd he not his closing Eyes withdraw Though less and less of Emily he saw So speechless for a little space he lay Then grasp'd the Hand he held and sigh'd his Soul away But whither went his Soul let such relate Who search the Secrets of the future State Divines can say but what themselves believe Strong Proofs they have but not demonstrative For were all plain then all Sides must agree And Faith it self be lost in Certainty To live uprightly then is sure the best To save our selves and not to damn the rest The Soul of Arcite went where Heathens go Who better live than we though less they know In Palamon a manly Grief appears Silent he wept asham'd to shew his Tears Emilia shriek'd but once and then oppress'd With Sorrow sunk upon her Lovers Breast Till Theseus in his Arms convey'd with Care Far from so sad a Sight the swooning Fair. 'T were loss of Time her Sorrow to relate Ill bears the Sex a youthful Lover's Fate When just approaching to the Nuptial State But like a low-hung Cloud it rains so fast That all at once it falls and cannot last The Face of Things is chang'd and Athens now That laugh'd so late becomes the Scene of Woe Matrons and Maids both Sexes ev'ry State With Tears lament the Knight's untimely Fate Not greater Grief in falling Troy was seen For Hector's Death but Hector was not then Old Men with Dust deform'd their hoary Hair The Women beat their Breasts their Cheeks they tear Why would'st thou go with one Consent they cry When thou hadst Gold enough and Emily Theseus himself who shou'd have cheer'd the Grief Of others wanted now the same Relief Old Egeus only could revive his Son Who various Changes of the World had known And strange Vicissitudes of Humane Fate Still alt'ring never in a steady State Good after Ill and after Pain Delight Alternate like the Scenes of Day and Night Since ev'ry Man who lives is born to die And none can boast sincere Felicity With equal Mind what happens let us bear Nor joy nor grieve too much for Things beyond our Care Like Pilgrims to th' appointed Place we tend The World 's an Inn and Death the Journeys End Ev'n Kings but play and when their Part is done Some other worse or better mount the Throne With Words like these the Crowd was satisfi'd And so they would have been had Theseus dy'd But he their King was lab'ring in his Mind A fitting Place for Fun'ral Pomps to find Which were in Honour of the Dead design'd And after long Debate at last he found As Love it self had mark'd the Spot of Ground That Grove for ever green that conscious Lawnd Where he with Palamon fought Hand to Hand That where he fed his amorous Desires With soft Complaints and felt his hottest Fires There other Flames might waste his Earthly Part And burn his Limbs where Love had burn'd his Heart This once resolv'd the Peasants were enjoin'd Sere Wood and Firs and dodder'd Oaks to find With sounding Axes to the Grove they go Fell split and lay the Fewel on a Row Vulcanian Food A Bier is next prepar'd On which the lifeless Body should be rear'd Cover'd with Cloth of Gold on which was laid The Corps of Arcite in like Robes array'd White Gloves were on his Hands and on his Head A Wreath of Laurel mix'd with Myrtle spread A Sword keen-edg'd within his Right he held The warlike Emblem of the conquer'd Field Bare was his manly Visage on the Bier Menac'd his Count'nance ev'n in Death severe Then to the Palace-Hall they bore the Knight To lie in solemn State a Publick Sight Groans Cries and Howlings fill the crowded Place And unaffected Sorrow sat on ev'ry Face Sad Palamon above the rest appears In Sable Garments dew'd with gushing Tears His Aubourn Locks on either Shoulder flow'd Which to the Fun'ral of his Friend he vow'd But Emily as Chief was next his Side A Virgin-Widow and a Mourning Bride And that the Princely Obsequies might be Perform'd according to his high Degree The Steed that bore him living to the Fight Was trapp'd with polish'd
but by Sighs and offer'd vain Relief At length her Stock of Tears already shed She wip'd her Eyes she rais'd her drooping Head And thus pursu'd O ever faithful Heart I have perform'd the Ceremonial Part The Decencies of Grief It rests behind That as our Bodies were our Souls be join'd To thy whate'er abode my Shade convey And as an elder Ghost direct the way She said and bad the Vial to be brought Where she before had brew'd the deadly Draught First pouring out the med'cinable Bane The Heart her Tears had rins'd she bath'd again Then down her Throat the Death securely throws And quaffs a long Oblivion of her Woes This done she mounts the Genial Bed and there Her Body first compos'd with honest Care Attends the welcom Rest Her Hands yet hold Close to her Heart the Monumental Gold Nor farther Word she spoke but clos'd her Sight And quiet sought the Govert of the Night The Damsels who the while in Silence mourn'd Not knowing nor suspecting Death suborn'd Yet as their Duty was to Tancred sent Who conscious of th' Occasion fear'd th' Event Alarm'd and with presaging Heart he came And drew the Curtains and expos'd the Dame To loathsom Light then with a late Relief Made vain Efforts to mitigate her Grief She what she could excluding Day her Eyes Kept firmly seal'd and sternly thus replies Tancred restrain thy Tears unsought by me And Sorrow unavailing now to thee Did ever Man before afflict his Mind To see th' Effect of what himself design'd Yet if thou hast remaining in thy Heart Some Sense of Love some unextinguish'd Part Of former Kindness largely once profess'd Let me by that adjure thy harden'd Breast Not to deny thy Daughters last Request The secret Love which I so long enjoy'd And still conceal'd to gratifie thy Pride Thou hast disjoin'd but with my dying Breath Seek not I beg thee to disjoin our Death Where-e'er his Corps by thy Command is laid Thither let mine in publick be convey'd Expos'd in open View and Side by Side Acknowledg'd as a Bridegroom and a Bride The Prince's Anguish hinder'd his Reply And she who felt her Fate approaching nigh Seiz'd the cold Heart and heaving to her Breast Here precious Pledge she said securely rest These Accents were her last the creeping Death Benum'd her Senses first then stopp'd her Breath Thus she for Disobedience justly dy'd The Sire was justly punish'd for his Pride The Youth least guilty suffer'd for th' Offence Of Duty violated to his Prince Who late repenting of his cruel Deed One common Sepulcher for both decreed Intomb'd the wretched Pair in Royal State And on their Monument inscrib'd their Fate BAUCIS AND PHILEMON Out of the Eighth Book OF OVID'S Metamorphoses BAUCIS AND PHILEMON Out of the Eighth Book of OVID's METAMORPHOSES The Author pursuing the Deeds of Theseus relates how He with his Friend Perithous were invited by Achelous the River-God to stay with him till his Waters were abated Achelous entertains them with a Relation of his own Love to Perimele who was chang'd into an Island by Neptune at his Request Perithous being an Atheist derides the Legend and denies the Power of the Gods to work that Miracle Lelex another Companion of Theseus to constrm the Story of Achelous relates another Metamorphosis of Baucis and Philemon into Trees of which he was partly an Eye-witness THus Achelous ends His Audience hear With admiration and admiring fear The Pow'rs of Heav'n except Ixion's Son Who laugh'd at all the Gods believ'd in none He shook his impious Head and thus replies These Legends are no more than pious Lies You attribute too much to Heavenly Sway To think they give us Forms and take away The rest of better Minds their Sense declar'd Against this Doctrine and with Horrour heard Then Lelex rose an old experienc'd Man And thus with sober Gravity began Heav'ns Pow'r is Infinite Earth Air and Sea The Manufacture Mass the making Pow'r obey By Proof to clear your Doubt In Phrygian Ground Two neighb'ring Trees with Walls encompass'd round Stand on a mod'rate Rise with wonder shown One a hard Oak a softer Linden one I saw the Place and them by Pittheus sent To Phrygian Realms my Grandsire's Government Not far from thence is seen a Lake the Haunt Of Coots and of the fishing Cormorant Here Jove with Hermes came but in Disguise Of mortal Men conceal'd their Deities One laid aside his Thunder one his Rod And many toilsom Steps together trod For Harbour at a thousand Doors they knock'd Not one of all the thousand but was lock'd At last an hospitable House they found A homely Shed the Roof not far from Ground Was thatch'd with Reeds and Straw together bound There Baucis and Philemon liv'd and there Had liv'd long marry'd and a happy Pair Now old in Love though little was their Store Inur'd to Want their Poverty they bore Nor aim'd at Wealth professing to be poor For Master or for Servant here to call Was all alike where only Two were All. Command was none where equal Love was paid Or rather both commanded both obey'd From lofty Roofs the Gods repuls'd before Now stooping enter'd through the little Door The Man their hearty Welcome first express'd A common Settle drew for either Guest Inviting each his weary Limbs to rest But e'er they sat officious Baucis lays Two Cushions stuff'd with Straw the Seat to raise Course but the best she had then rakes the Load Of Ashes from the Hearth and spreads abroad The living Coals and lest they shou'd expire With Leaves and Barks she feeds her Infant-fire It smoaks and then with trembling Breath she blows Till in a chearful Blaze the Flames arose With Brush-wood and with Chips she strengthens these And adds at last the Boughs of rotten Trees The Fire thus form'd she sets the Kettle on Like burnish'd Gold the little Seether shone Next took the Coleworts which her Husband got From his own Ground a small well-water'd Spot She stripp'd the Stalks of all their Leaves the best She cull'd and then with handy-care she dress'd High o'er the Hearth a Chine of Bacon hung Good old Philemon seiz'd it with a Prong And from the sooty Rafter drew it down Then cut a Slice but scarce enough for one Yet a large Portion of a little Store Which for their Sakes alone he wish'd were more This in the Pot he plung'd without delay To tame the Flesh and drain the Salt away The Time between before the Fire they sat And shorten'd the Delay by pleasing Chat. A Beam there was on which a Beechen Pail Hung by the Handle on a driven Nail This fill'd with Water gently warm'd they set Before their Guests in this they bath'd their Feet And after with clean Towels dry'd their Sweat This done the Host produc'd the genial Bed Sallow the Feet the Borders and the Sted Which with no costly Coverlet they spread But course old Garments yet such Robes as these They laid alone at
Your Approach they crowded to the Port And scarcely Landed You create a Court As Ormond's Harbinger to You they run For Venus is the Promise of the Sun The Waste of Civil Wars their Towns destroy'd Pales unhonour'd Ceres unemploy'd Were all forgot and one Triumphant Day Wip d all the Tears of three Campaigns away Blood Rapines Massacres were cheaply bought So mighty Recompence Your Beauty brought As when the Dove returning bore the Mark Of Earth restor'd to the long-lab'ring Ark The Relicks of Mankind secure of Rest Op'd ev'ry Window to receive the Guest And the fair Bearer of the Message bless'd So when You came with loud repeated Cries The Nation took an Omen from your Eyes And God advanc'd his Rainbow in the Skies To sign inviolable Peace restor'd The Saints with solemn Shouts proclaim'd the new accord When at Your second Coming You appear For I foretell that Millenary Year The sharpen'd Share shall vex the Soil no more But Earth unbidden shall produce her Store The Land shall laugh the circling Ocean smile And Heav'ns Indulgence bless the Holy Isle Heav'n from all Ages has reserv'd for You That happy Clyme which Venom never knew Or if it had been there Your Eyes alone Have Pow'r to chase all Poyson but their own Now in this Interval which Fate has cast Betwixt Your Future Glories and Your Past This Pause of Pow'r 't is Irelands Hour to mourn While England celebrates Your safe Return By which You seem the Seasons to command And bring our Summers back to their forsaken Land The Vanquish'd Isle our Leisure must attend Till the Fair Blessing we vouchsafe to send Nor can we spare You long though often we may lend The Dove was twice employ'd abroad before The World was dry'd and she return'd no more Nor dare we trust so soft a Messenger New from her Sickness to that Northern Air Rest here a while Your Lustre to restore That they may fee You as You shone before For yet th' Eclipse not wholly past You wade Thro' some Remains and Dimness of a Shade A Subject in his Prince may claim a Right Nor suffer him with Strength impair'd to fight Till Force returns his Ardour we restrain And curb his Warlike Wish to cross the Main Now past the Danger let the Learn'd begin Th' Enquiry where Disease could enter in How those malignant Atoms forc'd their Way What in the faultless Frame they found to make their Prey Where ev'ry Element was weigh'd so well That Heav'n alone who mix'd the Mass could tell Which of the Four Ingredients could rebel And where imprison'd in so sweet a Cage A Soul might well be pleas'd to pass an Age. And yet the fine Materials made it weak Porcelain by being Pure is apt to break Ev'n to Your Breast the Sickness durst aspire And forc'd from that fair Temple to retire Profanely set the Holy Place on Fire In vain Your Lord like young Vespasian mourn'd When the fierce Flames the Sanctuary burn'd And I prepar'd to pay in Verses rude A most detested Act of Gratitude Ev'n this had been Your Elegy which now Is offer'd for Your Health the Table of my Vow Your Angel sure our Morley's Mind inspir'd To find the Remedy Your Ill requir'd As once the Macedon by Jove's Decree Was taught to dream an Herb for Ptolomee Or Heav'n which had such Over-cost bestow'd As scarce it could afford to Flesh and Blood So lik'd the Frame he would not work anew To save the Charges of another You. Or by his middle Science did he steer And saw some great contingent Good appear Well worth a Miracle to keep You here And for that End preserv'd the precious Mould Which all the future Ormonds was to hold And meditated in his better Mind An Heir from You who may redeem the failing Kind Bless'd be the Pow'r which has at once restor'd The Hopes of lost Succession to Your Lord Joy to the first and last of each Degree Vertue to Courts and what I long'd to see To You the Graces and the Muse to me O Daughter of the Rose whose Cheeks unite The diff'ring Titles of the Red and White Who Heav'ns alternate Beauty well display The Blush of Morning and the Milky Way Whose Face is Paradise but fenc'd from Sin For God in either Eye has plac'd a Cherubin All is Your Lord 's alone ev'n absent He Employs the Care of Chast Penelope For him You waste in Tears Your Widow'd Hours For him Your curious Needle paints rhe Flow'rs Such Works of Old Imperial Dames were taught Such for Ascanius fair Elisa wrought The soft Recesses of Your Hours improve The Three fair Pledges of Your Happy Love All other Parts of Pious Duty done You owe Your Ormond nothing but a Son To fill in future Times his Father's Place And wear the Garter of his Mother's Race PALAMON AND ARCITE OR The Knight's Tale FROM CHAUCER In Three Books PALAMON AND ARCITE OR The Knight's Tale. In Three Books BOOK 1. IN Days of old there liv'd of mighty Fame A valiant Prince and Theseus was his Name A Chief who more in Feats of Arms excell'd The Rising nor the Setting Sun beheld Of Athens he was Lord much Land he won And added Foreign Countrys to his Crown In Scythia with the Warriour Queen he strove Whom first by Force he conquer'd then by Love He brought in Triumph back the beauteous Dame With whom her Sister fair Emilia came With Honour to his Home let Theseus ride With Love to Friend and Fortune for his Guide And his victorious Army at his Side I pass their warlike Pomp their proud Array Their Shouts their Songs their Welcome on the Way But were it not too long I would recite The Feats of Amazons the fatal Fight Betwixt the hardy Queen and Heroe Knight The Town besieg'd and how much Blood it cost The Female Army and th' Athenian Host The Spousals of Hippolita the Queen What Tilts and Turneys at the Feast were seen The Storm at their Return the Ladies Fear But these and other Things I must forbear The Field is spacious I design to sow With Oxen far unfit to draw the Plow The Remnant of my Tale is of a length To tire your Patience and to waste my Strength And trivial Accidents shall be forborn That others may have time to take their Turn As was at first enjoin'd us by mine Host That he whose Tale is best and pleases most Should win his Supper at our common Cost And therefore where I left I will pursue This ancient Story whether false or true In hope it may be mended with a new The Prince I mention'd full of high Renown In this Array drew near th' Athenian Town When in his Pomp and utmost of his Pride Marching he chanc'd to cast his Eye aside And saw a Quire of mourning Dames who lay By Two and Two across the common Way At his Approach they rais'd a rueful Cry And beat their Breasts and held their Hands on high
mortal Hate his Rival view'd Now Friends no more nor walking Hand in Hand But when they met they made a surly Stand And glar'd like angry Lions as they pass'd And wish'd that ev'ry Look might be their last It chanc'd at length Perithous came t' attend This worthy Theseus his familiar Friend Their Love in early Infancy began And rose as Childhood ripen'd into Man Companions of the War and lov'd so well That when one dy'd as ancient Stories tell His Fellow to redeem him went to Hell But to pursue my Tale to welcome home His Warlike Brother is Perithous come Arcite of Thebes was known in Arms long since And honour'd by this young Thessalian Prince Theseus to gratifie his Friend and Guest Who made our Arcite's Freedom his Request Restor'd to Liberty the Captive Knight But on these hard Conditions I recite That if hereafter Arcite shou'd be found Within the Compass of Athenian Ground By Day or Night or on whate'er Pretence His Head shou'd pay the Forfeit of th' Offence To this Perithous for his Friend agreed And on his Promise was the Pris'ner freed Unpleas'd and pensive hence he takes his way At his own Peril for his Life must pay Who now but Arcite mourns his bitter Fate Finds his dear Purchase and repents too late What have I gain'd he said in Prison pent If I but change my Bonds for Banishment And banish'd from her Sight I suffer more In Freedom than I felt in Bonds before Forc'd from her Presence and condemn'd to live Unwelcom Freedom and unthank'd Reprieve Heav'n is not but where Emily abides And where she 's absent all is Hell besides Next to my Day of Birth was that accurst Which bound my Friendship to Perithous first Had I not known that Prince I still had been In Bondage and had still Emilia seen For tho' I never can her Grace deserve 'T is Recompence enough to see and serve O Palamon my Kinsman and my Friend How much more happy Fates thy Love attend Thine is th' Adventure thine the Victory Well has thy Fortune turn'd the Dice for thee Thou on that Angels Face maist feed thy Eyes In Prison no but blissful Paradise Thou daily seest that Sun of Beauty shine And lov'st at least in Loves extreamest Line I mourn in Absence Loves Eternal Night And who can tell but since thou hast her Sight And art a comely young and valiant Knight Fortune a various Pow'r may cease to frown And by some Ways unknown thy Wishes crown But I the most forlorn of Humane Kind Nor Help can hope nor Remedy can find But doom'd to drag my loathsom Life in Care For my Reward must end it in Despair Fire Water Air and Earth and Force of Fates That governs all and Heav'n that all creates Nor Art nor Natures Hand can ease my Grief Nothing but Death the Wretches last Relief Then farewel Youth and all the Joys that dwell With Youth and Life and Life it self farewell But why alas do mortal Men in vain Of Fortune Fate or Providence complain God gives us what he knows our Wants require And better Things than those which we desire Some pray for Riches Riches they obtain But watch'd by Robbers for their Wealth are slain Some pray from Prison to be freed and come When guilty of their Vows to fall at home Murder'd by those they trusted with their Life A favour'd Servant or a Bosom Wife Such dear-bought Blessings happen ev'ry Day Because we know not for what Things to pray Like drunken Sots about the Streets we roam Well knows the Sot he has a certain Home Yet knows not how to find th' uncertain Place And blunders on and staggers ev'ry Pace Thus all seek Happiness but few can find For far the greater Part of Men are blind This is my Case who thought our utmost Good Was in one Word of Freedom understood The fatal Blessing came From Prison free I starve abroad and lose the Sight of Emily Thus Arcite but if Arcite thus deplore His Suff'rings Palamon yet suffers more For when he knew his Rival freed and gone He swells with Wrath he makes outrageous Moan He frets he fumes he stares he stamps the Ground The hollow Tow'r with Clamours rings around With briny Tears he bath'd his fetter'd Feet And dropp'd all o'er with Agony of Sweat Alas he cry'd I Wretch in Prison pine Too happy Rival while the Fruit is thine Thou liv'st at large thou draw'st thy Native Air Pleas'd with thy Freedom proud of my Despair Thou may'st since thou hast Youth and Courage join'd A sweet Behaviour and a solid Mind Assemble ours and all the Theban Race To vindicate on Athens thy Disgrace And after by some Treaty made possess Fair Emily the Pledge of lasting Peace So thine shall be the beauteous Prize while I Must languish in Despair in Prison die Thus all th' Advantage of the Strife is thine Thy Portion double Joys and double Sorrows mine The Rage of Jealousie then fir'd his Soul And his Face kindl'd like a burning Coal Now cold Despair succeeding in her stead To livid Paleness turns the glowing Red. His Blood scarce Liquid creeps within his Veins Like Water which the freezing Wind constrains Then thus he said Eternal Deities Who rule the World with absolute Decrees And write whatever Time shall bring to pass With Pens of Adamant on Plates of Brass What is the Race of Humane Kind your Care Beyond what all his Fellow-Creatures are He with the rest is liable to Pain And like the Sheep his Brother-Beast is slain Cold Hunger Prisons Ills without a Cure All these he must and guiltless oft endure Or does your Justice Pow'r or Prescience fail When the Good suffer and the Bad prevail What worse to wretched Vertue could befall If Fate or giddy Fortune govern'd all Nay worse than other Beasts is our Estate Them to pursue their Pleasures you create We bound by harder Laws must curb our Will And your Commands not our Desires fulfil Then when the Creature is unjustly slain Yet after Death at least he feels no Pain But Man in Life surcharg'd with Woe before Not freed when dead is doom'd to suffer more A Serpent shoots his Sting at unaware An ambush'd Thief forelays a Traveller The Man lies murder'd while the Thief and Snake One gains the Thickets and one thrids the Brake This let Divines decide but well I know Just or unjust I have my Share of Woe Through Saturn seated in a luckless Place And Juno's Wrath that persecutes my Race Or Mars and Venus in a Quartil move My Pangs of Jealousie for Arcite's Love Let Palamon oppress'd in Bondage mourn While to his exil'd Rival we return By this the Sun declining from his Height The Day had shortned to prolong the Night The lengthen'd Night gave length of Misery Both to the Captive Lover and the Free For Palamon in endless Prison mourns And Arcite forfeits Life if he returns The Banish'd never hopes his Love to see Nor hopes
own'd deny'd th' Offence Then with dry Eyes and with an open Look She met his Glance mid-way and thus undaunted spoke Tancred I neither am dispos'd to make Request for Life nor offer'd Life to take Much less deny the Deed but least of all Beneath pretended Justice weakly fall My Words to sacred Truth shall be confin'd My Deeds shall shew the Greatness of my Mind That I have lov'd I own that still I love I call to Witness all the Pow'rs above Yet more I own To Guiscard's Love I give The small remaining Time I have to live And if beyond this Life Desire can be Not Fate it self shall set my Passion free This first avow'd nor Folly warp'd my Mind Nor the frail Texture of the Female Kind Betray'd my Vertue For too well I knew What Honour was and Honour had his Due Before the Holy Priest my Vows were ty'd So came I not a Strumpet but a Bride This for my Fame and for the Publick Voice Yet more his Merits justifi'd my Choice Which had they not the first Election thine That Bond dissolv'd the next is freely mine Or grant I em'd which yet I must deny Had Parents pow'r ev'n second Vows to tie Thy little Care to mend my Widow'd Nights Has forc'd me to recourse of Marriage-Rites To fill an empty Side and follow known Delights What have I done in this deserving Blame State-Laws may alter Nature's are the same Those are usurp'd on helpless-Woman-kind Made without our Consent and wanting Pow'r to bind Thou Tancred better should'st have understood That as thy Father gave thee Flesh and Blood So gav'st thou me Not from the Quarry hew'd But of a softer Mould with Sense endu'd Ev'n softer than thy own of suppler Kind More exquisite of Taste and more than Man refin'd Nor need'st thou by thy Daughter to be told Though now thy spritely Blood with Age be cold Thou hast been young and canst remember still That when thou hadst the Pow'r thou hadst the Will And from the past Experience of thy Fires Canst tell with what a Tide our strong Desires Come rushing on in Youth and what their Rage requires And grant thy Youth was exercis'd in Arms When Love no leisure found for softer Charms My tender Age in Luxury was train'd With idle Ease and Pageants entertain'd My Hours my own my Pleasures unrestrain'd So bred no wonder if I took the Bent That seem'd ev'n warranted by thy Consent For when the Father is too fondly kind Such Seed he sows such Harvest shall he find Blame then thy self as Reason's Law requires Since Nature gave and thou soment'st my Fires If still those Apperites continue strong Thou maist consider I am yet but young Consider too that having been a Wife I must have tasted of a better Life And am not to be blam'd if I renew By lawful Means the Joys which then I knew Where was the Crime if Pleasure I procur'd Young and a Woman and to Bliss inur'd That was my Case and this is my Defence I pleas'd my self I shunn'd Incontinence And urg'd by strong Desires indulg'd my Sense Left to my self I must avow I strove From publick Shame to screen my secret Love And well acquainted with thy Native Pride Endeavour'd what I could not help to hide For which a Womans Wit an casre Way supply'd How this so well contriv'd so closely laid Was known to thee or by what Chance betray'd Is not my Care To please thy Pride alone I could have wish'd it had been still unknown Nor took I Guiscard by blind Fancy led Or hasty Choice as many Women wed But with delib'rate Care and ripen'd Thought At leisure first design'd before I wrought On him I rested after long Debate And not without consid'ring fix'd my Fate His Flame was equal though by mine inspir'd For so the Diff'rence of our Birth requir'd Had he been born like me like me his Love Had first begun what mine was forc'd to move But thus beginning thus we persevere Our Passions yet continue what they were Nor length of Trial makes our Joys the less sincere At this my Choice though not by thine allow'd Thy Judgment herding with the common Crowd Thou tak'st unjust Offence and led by them Dost less the Merit than the Man esteem Too sharply Tancred by thy Pride betray'd Hast thou against the Laws of Kind inveigh'd For all th' Offence is in Opinion plac'd Which deems high Birth by lowly Choice debas'd This Thought alone with Fury fires thy Breast For Holy Marriage justifies the rest That I have sunk the Glories of the State And mix'd my Blood with a Plebeian Mate In which I wonder thou shouldst oversee Superiour Causes or impute to me The Fault of Fortune or the Fates Decree Or call it Heav'ns Imperial Pow'r alone Which moves on Springs of Justice though unknown Yet this we see though order'd for the best The Bad exalted and the Good oppress'd Permitted Laurels grace the Lawless Brow Th' Unworthy rais'd the Worthy cast below But leaving that Search we the secret Springs And backward trace the Principles of Things There shall we find that when the World began One common Mass compos'd the Mould of Man One Paste of Flesh on all Degrees bestow'd And kneaded up alike with moistning Blood The same Almighty Pow'r inspir'd the Frame With kindl'd Life and form'd the Souls the same The Faculties of Intellect and Will Dispens'd with equal Hand dispos'd with equal Skill Like Liberty indulg'd with Choice of Good or Ill Thus born alike from Vertue first began The Diff'rence that distinguish'd Man from Man He claim'd no Title from Descent of Blood But that which made him Noble made him Good Warm'd with more Particles of Heav'nly Flame He wing'd his upward Flight and soar'd to Fame The rest remain'd below a Tribe without a Name This Law though Custom now diverts the Course As Natures Institute is yet in force Uncancell'd tho disus'd And he whose Mind Is Vertuous is alone of Noble Kind Though poor in Fortune of Celestial Race And he commits the Crime who calls him Base Now lay the Line and measure all thy Court By inward Vertue not external Port And find whom justly to prefer above The Man on whom my Judgment plac'd my Love So shalt thou see his Parts and Person shine And thus compar'd the rest a base degen'rate Line Nor took I when I first survey'd thy Court His Valour or his Vertues on Report But trusted what I ought to trust alone Relying on thy Eyes and not my own Thy Praise and Thine was then the Publick Voice First recommended Guiscard to my Choice Directed thus by thee I look'd and found A Man I thought deserving to be crown'd First by my Father pointed to my Sight Nor less conspicuous by his Native Light His Mind his Meen the Features of his Face Excelling all the rest of Humane Race These were thy Thoughts and thou could'st judge aright Till Int'rest made a Jaundice in thy Sight Or
That born to Folly they prefum'd to know And could not see the Serpent in the Grass But I my self presume and let it pass Silence in times of Suff'ring is the best 'T is dang'rous to disturb a Hornet's Nest. In other Authors you may find enough But all they say of Dames in idle Stuff Legends of lying Wits together bound The Wife of Bath would throw 'em to the Ground These are the Words of Chanticleer not mine I honour Dames and think their Sex divine Now to continue what my Tale begun Lay Madam Partlet basking in the Sun Breast-high in Sand Her Sisters in a row Enjoy'd the Beams above the Warmth below The Cock that of his Flesh was ever free Sung merrier than the Mermaid in the Sea And so befel that as he cast his Eye Among the Colworts on a Butterfly He saw false Reynard where he lay full low I need not swear he had no list to Crow But cry'd Cock Cock and gave a suddain start As sore dismaid and frighted at his Heart For Birds and Beasts inform'd by Nature know Kinds opposite to theirs and fly their Foe So Chanticleer who never saw a Fox Yet shun'd him as a Sailor shuns the Rocks But the false Loon who cou'd not work his Will By open Force employ'd his flatt'ring Skill I hope my Lord said he I not offend Are you afraid of me that am your Friend I were a Beast indeed to do you wrong I who have lov'd and honour'd you so long Stay gentle Sir nor take a false Alarm For on my Soul I never meant you harm I come no Spy nor as a Traytor press To learn the Secrets of your soft Recess Far be from Reynard to prophane a Thought But by the sweetness of your Voice was brought For as I bid my Beads by chance I heard The Song as of an Angel in the Yard A Song that wou'd have charm'd th' infernal Gods And banish'd Horror from the dark Abodes Had Orphans sung it in the neather Sphere So much the Hymn had pleas'd the Tyrant's Ear The Wife had been detain'd to keep the Husband there My Lord your Sire familiarly I knew A Peer deserving such a Son as you He with your Lady-Mother whom Heav'n rest Has often grac'd my House and been my Guest To view his living Features does me good For I am your poor Neighbour in the Wood And in my Cottage shou'd be proud to see The worthy Heir of my Friend's Family But since I speak of Singing let me say As with an upright Heart I safely may That save your self there breaths not on the Ground One like your Father for a Silver sound So sweetly wou'd he wake the Winter-day That Matrons to the Church mistook their way And thought they heard the merry Organ play And he to raise his Voice with artful Care What will not Beaux attempt to please the Fair On Tiptoe stood to sing with greater Strength And stretch'd his comely Neck at all the length And while he pain'd his Voice to pierce the Skies As Saints in Raptures use would shut his Eyes That the sound striving through the narrow Throat His winking might avail to mend the Note By this in Song he never had his Peer From sweet Cecilia down to Chanticleer Not Maro's Muse who sung the mighty Man Nor Pindar's heav'nly Lyre nor Horace when a Swan Your Ancestors proceed from Race divine From Brennus and Belinus is your Line Who gave to sov'raign Rome such loud Alarms That ev'n the Priests were not excus'd from Arms. Besides a famous Monk of modern times Has left of Cocks recorded in his Rhimes That of a Parish-Priest the Son and Heir When Sons of Priests were from the Proverb clear Affronted once a Cock of noble Kind And either lam'd his Legs or struck him blind For which the Clerk his Father was disgrac'd And in his Benefice another plac'd Now sing my Lord if not for love of me Yet for the sake of sweet Saint Charity Make Hills and Dales and Earth and Heav'n rejoice And emulate your Father's Angel-voice The Cock was pleas'd to hear him speak so fair And proud beside as solar People are Nor cou'd the Treason from the Truth descry So was he ravish'd with this Flattery So much the more as from a little Elf He had a high Opinion of himself Though sickly slender and not large of Limb Concluding all the World was made for him Ye Princes rais'd by Poets to the Gods And Alexander'd 〈◊〉 lying Odes Believe not ev'ry flatt'ring Knave 's report There 's many a Reynard lurking in the Court And he shall be receiv'd with more regard And list'ned to than modest Truth is heard This Chanticleer of whom the Story sings Stood high upon his 〈◊〉 and clap'd his Wings Then stretch'd his Neck and wink'd with both his Eyes Ambitious as he sought th' Olympick Prize But while he pain'd himself to raise his Note False Reynard rush'd and caught him by the Throat Then on his Back he laid the precious Load And sought his wonted shelter of the Wood Swiftly he made his way the Mischief done Of all unheeded and pursu'd by none Alas what stay is there in human State Or who can shun inevitable Fate 〈◊〉 The Doom was written the Decree was past E'er the Foundations of the World were cast In Aries though the Sun exalted stood His Patron-Planet to procure his good Yet Saturn was his mortal Foe and he In Libra rais'd oppos'd the same Degree The Rays both good and bad of equal Pow'r Each thwarting other made a mingled Hour On Friday-morn he dreamt this direful Dream Cross to the worthy Native in his Scheme Ah blissful Venus Goddess of Delight How cou'd'st thou suffer thy devoted Knight On thy own Day to fall by Foe oppress'd The wight of all the World who serv'd thee best Who true to Love was all for Recreation And minded not the Work of Propagation Gaufride who could'st so well in Rhime complain The Death of Richard with an Arrow slain Why had not I thy Muse or thou my Heart To sing this heavy Dirge with equal Art That I like thee on Friday might complain For on that Day was Ceur de Lion slain Not louder Cries when Ilium was in Flames Were sent to Heav'n by woful Trojan Dames When Pyrrhus toss'd on high his burnish'd Blade And offer'd Priam to his Father's Shade Than for the Cock the widow'd Poultry made Fair Partlet first when he was born from sight With soveraign Shrieks bewail'd her Captive Knight Far lowder than the Carthaginian Wife When Asdrubal her Husband lost his Life When she beheld the smouldring Flames ascend And all the Punick Glories at an end Willing into the Fires she plung'd her Head With greater Ease than others seek their Bed Not more aghast the Matrons of Renown When Tyrant Nero burn'd th' Imperial Town Shriek'd for the downfal in a doleful Cry For which their guiltless Lords were doom'd to die Now to my Story I return
again The trembling Widow and her Daughters twain This woful cackling Cry with Horror heard Of those distracted Damsels in the Yard And starting up beheld the heavy Sight How Reynard to the Forest took his Flight And cross his Back as in triumphant Scorn The Hope and Pillar of the House was born The Fox the wicked Fox was all the Cry Out from his House ran ev'ry Neighbour nigh The Vicar first and after him the Crew With Forks and Staves the Fellon to pursue Ran Coll our Dog and Talbot with the Band And Malkin with her Distaff in her Hand Ran Cow and Calf and Family of Hogs In Panique Horror of pursuing Dogs With many a deadly Grunt and doleful Squeak Poor Swine as if their pretty Hearts would break The Shouts of Men the Women in dismay With Shrieks augment the Terror of the Day The Ducks that heard the Proclamation cry'd And fear'd a Persecution might betide Full twenty Mile from Town their Voyage take Obscure in Rushes of the liquid Lake The Geese fly o'er the Barn the Bees in Arms Drive headlong from their Waxen Cells in Swarms Jack Straw at London-stone with all his Rout Struck not the City with so loud a Shout Not when with English Hate they did pursue A French Man or an unbelieving Jew Not when the Welkin rung with one and all And Echoes bounded back from Fox's Hall Earth seem'd to sink beneath and Heav'n above to fall With Might and Main they chas'd the murd'rous Fox With brazen Trumpets and inflated Box To kindle Mars with military Sounds Nor wanted Horns t' inspire sagacious Hounds But see how Fortune can confound the Wise And when they least expect it turn the Dice The Captive Cock who scarce cou'd draw his Breath And lay within the very Jaws of Death Yet in this Agony his Fancy wrought And Fear supply'd him with this happy Thought Yours is the Prize victorious Prince said he The Vicar my defeat and all the Village see Enjoy your friendly Fortune while you may And bid the Churls that envy you the Prey Call back their mungril Curs and cease their Cry See Fools the shelter of the Wood is nigh And Chanticleer in your despight shall die He shall be pluck'd and eaten to the Bone 'T is well advis'd in Faith it shall be done This Reynard said but as the Word he spoke The Pris'ner with a Spring from Prison broke Then stretch'd his feather'd Fans with all his might And to the neighb'ring Maple wing'd his flight Whom when the Traytor safe on Tree beheld He curs'd the Gods with Shame and Sorrow fill'd Shame for his Folly Sorrow out of time For Plotting an unprofitable Crime Yet mast'ring both th' Artificer of Lies Renews th' Assault and his last Batt'ry tries Though I said he did ne'er in Thought offend How justly may my Lord suspect his Friend Th' appearance is against me I confess Who seemingly have put you in Distress You if your Goodness does not plead my Cause May think I broke all hospitable Laws To bear you from your Palace-yard by Might And put your noble Person in a Fright This since you take it ill I must repent Though Heav'n can witness with no bad intent I practis'd it to make you taste your Cheer With double Pleasure first prepar'd by fear So loyal Subjects often seize their Prince Forc'd for his Good to seeming Violence Yet mean his sacred Person not the least Offence Descend so help me Jove as you shall find That Reynard comes of no dissembling Kind Nay quoth the Cock but I beshrew us both If I believe a Saint upon his Oath An honest Man may take a Knave 's Advice But Idiots only will be couzen'd twice Once warn'd is well bewar'd No flatt'ring Lies Shall sooth me more to sing with winking Eyes And open Mouth for fear of catching Flies Who Blindfold walks upon a Rivers brim When he should see has he deserv'd to swim Better Sir Cock let all Contention cease Come down said Reynard let us treat of Peace A Peace with all my Soul said Chanticleer But with your Favour I will treat it here And least the Truce with Treason should be mixt 'T is my concern to have the Tree betwixt The MORAL In this plain Fable you th' Effect may see Of Negligence and fond Credulity And learn besides of Flatt'rers to beware Then most pernicious when they speak too fair The Cock and Fox the Fool and Knave imply The Truth is moral though the Tale a Lie Who spoke in Parables I dare not say But sure he knew it was a pleasing way Sound Sense by plain Example to convey And in a Heathen Author we may find That Pleasure with Instruction should be join'd So take the Corn and leave the Chaff behind THEODORE AND HONORIA FROM BOCCACE THEODORE AND HONORIA OF all the Cities in Romanian Lands The chief and most renown'd Ravenna stands Adorn'd in ancient Times with Arms and Arts And rich Inhabitants with generous Hearts But Theodore the Brave above the rest With Gifts of Fortune and of Nature bless'd The foremost Place for Wealth and Honour held And all in Feats of Chivalry excell'd This noble Youth to Madness lov'd a Dame Of high Degree Honoria was her Name Fair as the Fairest but of haughty Mind And fiercer than became so soft a kind Proud of her Birth for equal she had none The rest she scorn'd but hated him alone His Gifts his constant Courtship nothing gain'd For she the more he lov'd the more disdain'd He liv'd with all the Pomp he cou'd devise At Tilts and Turnaments obtain'd the Prize But found no favour in his Ladies Eyes Relentless as a Rock the lofty Maid Turn'd all to Poyson that he did or said Nor Pray'rs nor Tears nor offer'd Vows could move The Work went backward and the more he strove T' advance his Sute the farther from her Love Weary'd at length and wanting Remedy He doubted oft and oft resolv'd to die But Pride stood ready to prevent the Blow For who would die to gratify a Foe His generous Mind disdain'd so mean a Fate That pass'd his next Endeavour was to Hate But vainer that Relief than all the rest The less he hop'd with more Desire possess'd Love stood the Siege and would not yield his Breast Change was the next but change deceiv'd his Care He sought a Fairer but found none so Fair. He would have worn her out by slow degrees As Men by Fasting starve th' untam'd Disease But present Love requir'd a present Ease Looking he feeds alone his famish'd Eyes Feeds lingring Death but looking not he dies Yet still he chose the longest way to Fate Wasting at once his Life and his Estate His Friends beheld and pity'd him in vain For what Advice can ease a Lover's Pain Absence the best Expedient they could find Might save the Fortune if not cure the Mind This Means they long propos'd but little gain'd Yet after much pursuit at length obtain'd Hard you may
Hours And Nature's ready Pencil paints the Flow'rs When thy short Reign is past the Fev'rish Sun The sultry Tropick fears and moves more slowly on So may thy tender Blossoms fear no Blite Nor Goats with venom'd Teeth thy Tendrils bite As thou shalt guide my wandring Feet to find The fragrant Greens I seek my Brows to bind His Vows address'd within the Grove he stray'd Till Fate or Fortune near the Place convey'd His Steps where secret Palamon was laid Full little thought of him the gentle Knight Who flying Death had there conceal'd his Flight In Brakes and Brambles hid and shunning Mortal Sight And less he knew him for his hated Foe But fear'd him as a Man he did not know But as it has been said of ancient Years That Fields are full of Eyes and Woods have Ears For this the Wise are ever on their Guard For Unforeseen they say is unprepar'd Uncautious Arcite thought himself alone And less than all suspected Palamon Who listning heard him while he search'd the Grove And loudly sung his Roundelay of Love But on the sudden stopp'd and silent stood As Lovers often muse and change their Mood Now high as Heav'n and then as low as Hell Now up now down as Buckets in a Well For Venus like her Day will change her Cheer And seldom shall we see a Friday clear Thus Arcite having sung with alter'd Hue Sunk on the Ground and from his Bosom drew A desp'rate Sigh accusing Heav'n and Fate And angry Juno's unrelenting Hate Curs'd be the Day when first I did appear Let it be blotted from the Calendar Lest it pollute the Month and poison all the Year Still will the jealous Queen pursue our Race Cadmus is dead the Theban City was Yet ceases not her Hate For all who come From Cadmus are involv'd in Cadmus Doom I suffer for my Blood Unjust Decree That punishes another's Crime on me In mean Estate I serve my mortal Foe The Man who caus'd my Countrys Overthrow This is not all for Juno to my shame Has forc'd me to forsake my former Name Arcite I was Philostratus I am That Side of Heav'n is all my Enemy Mars ruin'd Thebes his Mother ruin'd me Of all the Royal Race remains but one Beside my self th' unhappy Palamon Whom Theseus holds in Bonds and will not free Without a Crime except his Kin to me Yet these and all the rest I cou'd endure But Love 's a Malady without a Cure Fierce Love has pierc'd me with his fiery Dart He fries within and hisses at my Heart Your Eyes fair Emily my Fate pursue I suffer for the rest I die for you Of such a Goddess no Time leaves Record Who burn'd the Temple where she was ador'd And let it burn I never will complain Pleas'd with my Suff'rings if you knew my Pain At this a sickly Qualm his Heart assail'd His Ears ring inward and his Senses fail'd No Word miss'd Palamon of all he spoke But soon to deadly Pale he chang'd his Look He trembl'd ev'ry Limb and felt a Smart As if cold Steel had glided through his Heart Nor longer staid but starting from his Place Discover'd stood and shew'd his hostile Face False Traytor Arcite Traytor to thy Blood Bound by thy sacred Oath to seek my Good Now art thou found forsworn for Emily And dar'st attempt her Love for whom I die So hast thou cheated Theseus with a Wile Against thy Vow returning to beguile Under a borrow'd Name As false to me So false thou art to him who set thee free But rest assur'd that either thou shalt die Or else renounce thy Claim in Emily For though unarm'd I am and freed by Chance Am here without my Sword or pointed Lance Hope not base Man unquestion'd hence to go For I am Palamon thy mortal Foe Arcite who heard his Tale and knew the Man His Sword unsheath'd and fiercely thus began Now by the Gods who govern Heav'n above Wert thou not weak with Hunger mad with Love That Word had been thy last or in this Grove This Hand should force thee to renounce thy Love The Surety which I gave thee I defie Fool not to know that Love endures no Tie And Jove but laughs at Lovers Perjury Know I will serve the Fair in thy despight But since thou art my Kinsman and a Knight Here have my Faith to morrow in this Grove Our Arms shall plead the Titles of our Love And Heav'n so help my Right as I alone Will come and keep the Cause and Quarrel both unknown With Arms of Proof both for my self and thee Chuse thou the best and leave the worst to me And that at better ease thou maist abide Bedding and Clothes I will this Night provide And needful Sustenance that thou maist be A Conquest better won and worthy me His Promise Palamon accepts but pray'd To keep it better than the first he made Thus fair they parted till the Morrows Dawn For each had laid his plighted Faith to pawn Oh Love Thou sternly dost thy Pow'r maintain And wilt not bear a Rival in thy Reign Tyrants and thou all Fellowship disdain This was in Arcite prov'd and Palamon Both in Despair yet each would love alone Arcite return'd and as in Honour ty'd His Foe with Bedding and with Food supply'd Then e'er the Day two Suits of Armour sought Which born before him on his Steed he brought Both were of shining Steel and wrought so pure As might the Strokes of two such Arms endure Now at the Time and in th' appointed Place The Challenger and Challeng'd Face to Face Approach each other from afar they knew And from afar their Hatred chang'd their Hue. So stands the Thracian Heardsman with his Spear Full in the Gap and hopes the hunted Bear And hears him rustling in the Wood and sees His Course at Distance by the bending Trees And thinks Here comes my mortal Enemy And either he must fall in Fight or I This while he thinks he lifts aloft his Dart A gen'rous Chilness seizes ev'ry Part The Veins pour back the Blood and fortifie the Heart Thus pale they meet their Eyes with Fury burn None greets for none the Greeting will return But in dumb Surliness each arm'd with Care His Foe profest as Brother of the War Then both no Moment lost at once advance Against each other arm'd with Sword and Lance They lash they foin they pass they strive to bore Their Corslets and the thinnest Parts explore Thus two long Hours in equal Arms they stood And wounded wound till both were bath'd in Blood And not a Foot of Ground had either got As if the World depended on the Spot Fell Arcite like an angry Tyger far'd And like a Lion Palamon appear'd Or as two Boars whom Love to Battel draws With rising Bristles and with froathy Jaws Their adverse Breasts with Tusks oblique they wound With Grunts and Groans the Forest rings around So fought the Knights and fighting must abide Till Fate an Umpire sends
Manner and the Means prepare Possession more than Conquest is my Care Mars is the Warriour's God in him it lies On whom he favours to confer the Prize With smiling Aspect you serenely move In your fifth Orb and rule the Realm of Love The Fates but only spin the courser Clue The finest of the Wooll is left for you Spare me but one small Portion of the Twine And let the Sisters cut below your Line The rest among the Rubbish may they sweep Or add it to the Yarn of some old Miser's Heap But if you this ambitious Pray'r deny A Wish I grant beyond Mortality Then let me sink beneath proud Arcite's Arms And I once dead let him possess her Charms Thus ended he then with Observance due The sacred Incence on her Altar threw The curling Smoke mounts heavy from the Fires At length it catches Flame and in a Blaze expires At once the gracious Goddess gave the Sign Her Statue shook and trembl'd all the Shrine Pleas'd Palamon the tardy Omen took For since the Flames pursu'd the trailing Smoke He knew his Boon was granted but the Day To distance driv'n and Joy adjourn'd with long Delay Now Morn with Rosie Light had streak'd the Sky Up rose the Sun and up rose Emily Address'd her early Steps to Cynthia's Fane In State attended by her Maiden Train Who bore the Vests that Holy Rites require Incence and od'rous Gums and cover'd Fire The plenteous Horns with pleasant Mead they crown Nor wanted ought besides in honour of the Moon Now while the Temple smoak'd with hallow'd Steam They wash the Virgin in a living Stream The secret Ceremonies I conceal Uncouth perhaps unlawful to reveal But such they were as Pagan Use requir'd Perform'd by Women when the Men retir'd Whose Eyes profane their chast mysterious Rites Might turn to Scandal or obscene Delights Well-meaners think no Harm but for the rest Things Sacred they pervert and Silence is the best Her shining Hair uncomb'd was loosly spread A Crown of Mastless Oak adorn'd her Head When to the Shrine approach'd the spotless Maid Had kindling Fires on either Altar laid The Rites were such as were observ'd of old By Statius in his Theban Story told Then kneeling with her Hands across her Breast Thus lowly she preferr'd her chast Request O Goddess Haunter of the Woodland Green To whom both Heav'n and Earth and Seas are seen Queen of the nether Skies where half the Year Thy Silver Beams descend and light the gloomy Sphere Goddess of Maids and conscious of our Hearts So keep me from the Vengeance of thy Darts Which Niobe's devoted Issue felt When hissing through the Skies the feather'd Deaths were dealt As I desire to live a Virgin-life Nor know the Name of Mother or of Wife Thy Votress from my tender Years I am And love like thee the Woods and Sylvan Game Like Death thou know'st I Ioath the Nuptial State And Man the Tyrant of our Sex I hate A lowly Servant but a lofty Mate Where Love is Duty on the Female Side On theirs meer sensual Gust and sought with surly Pride Now by thy triple Shape as thou art seen In Heav'n Earth Hell and ev'ry where a Queen Grant this my first Desire let Discord cease And make betwixt the Rivals lasting Peace Quench their hot Fire or far from me remove The Flame and turn it on some other Love Or if my frowning Stars have so decreed That one must be rejected one succeed Make him my Lord within whose faithful Breast Is fix'd my Image and who loves me best But oh ev'n that avert I chuse it not But take it as the least unhappy Lot A Maid I am and of thy Virgin-Train Oh let me still that spotless Name retain Frequent the Forests thy chast Will obey And only make the Beasts of Chace my Prey The Flames ascend on either Altar clear While thus the blameless Maid address'd her Pray'r When lo the burning Fire that shone so bright Flew off all sudden with extinguish'd Light And left one Altar dark a little space Which turn'd self-kindl'd and renew'd the Blaze That other Victour-Flame a Moment stood Then fell and lifeless left th' extinguish'd Wood For ever lost th' irrevocable Light Forsook the blackning Coals and sunk to Night At either End it whistled as it flew And as the Brands were green so dropp'd the Dew Infected as it fell with Sweat of Sanguin Hue. The Maid from that ill Omen turn'd her Eyes And with loud Shrieks and Clamours rent the Skies Nor knew what signifi'd the boding Sign But found the Pow'rs displeas'd and fear'd the Wrath Divine Then shook the Sacred Shrine and sudden Light Sprung through the vaulted Roof and made the Temple bright The Pow'r behold the Pow'r in Glory shone By her bent Bow and her keen Arrows known The rest a Huntress issuing from the Wood Reclining on her Cornel Spear she stood Then gracious thus began Dismiss thy Fear And Heav'ns unchang'd Decrees attentive hear More pow'rful Gods have torn thee from my Side Unwilling to resign and doom'd a Bride The two contending Knights are weigh'd above One Mars protects and one the Queen of Love But which the Man is in the Thund'rer's Breast This he pronounc'd 't is he who loves thee best The Fire that once extinct reviv'd again Foreshews the Love allotted to remain Farewell she said and vanish'd from the Place The Sheaf of Arrows shook and rattl'd in the Case Agast at this the Royal Virgin stood Disclam'd and now no more a Sister of the Wood But to the parting Goddess thus she pray'd Propitious still be present to my Aid Nor quite abandon your once favour'd Maid Then sighing she return'd but smil'd betwixt With Hopes and Fears and Joys with Sorrows mixt The next returning Planetary Hour Of Mars who shar'd the Heptarchy of Pow'r His Steps bold Arcite to the Temple bent T' adore with Pagan Rites the Pow'r Armipotent Then prostrate low before his Altar lay And rais'd his manly Voice and thus began to pray Strong God of Arms whose Iron Scepter sways The freezing North and Hyperborean Seas And Scythian Colds and Thracia's Wintry Coast Where stand thy ' Steeds and thou art honour'd most There most but ev'ry where thy Pow'r is known The Fortune of the Fight is all thy own Terrour is thine and wild Amazement flung From out thy Chariot withers ev'n the Strong And Disarray and shameful Rout ensue And Force is added to the fainting Crew Acknowledg'd as thou art accept my Pray'r If ought I have atchiev'd deserve thy Care If to my utmost Pow'r with Sword and Shield I dar'd the Death unknowing how to yield And falling in my Rank still kept the Field Then let my Arms prevail by thee sustain'd That Emily by Conquest may be gain'd Have pity on my Pains nor those unknown To Mars which when a Lover were his own Venus the Publick Care of all above Thy stubborn Heart has softned into Love Now by her Blandishments
others Arms embrac'd Rush to the conscious Bed a mutual Freight And heedless press it with their wonted Weight The sudden Bound awak'd the sleeping Sire And shew'd a Sight no Parent can desire His opening Eyes at once with odious View The Love discover'd and the Lover knew He would have cry'd but hoping that he dreamt Amazement ty'd his Tongue and stopp'd th' Attempt Th' ensuing Moment all the Truth declar'd But now he stood collected and prepar'd For Malice and Revenge had put him on his Guard So like a Lion that unheeded lay Dissembling Sleep and watchful to betray With inward Rage he meditates his Prey The thoughtless Pair indulging their Desires Alternate kindl'd and then quench'd their Fires Nor thinking in the Shades of Death they play'd Full of themselves themselves alone survey'd And too secure were by themselves betray'd Long time dissolv'd in Pleasure thus they lay Till Nature could no more suffice their Play Then rose the Youth and through the Cave again Return'd the Princess mingl'd with her Train Resolv'd his unripe Vengeance to defer The Royal Spy when now the Coast was clear Sought not the Garden but retir'd unseen To brood in secret on his gather'd Spleen And methodize Revenge To Death he griev'd And but he saw the Crime had scarce believ'd Th' Appointment for th' ensuing Night he heard And therefore in the Cavern had prepar'd Two brawny Yeomen of his trusty Guard Scarce had unwary Guiscard set his Foot Within the farmost Entrance of the Grot When these in secret Ambush ready lay And rushing on the sudden seiz'd the Prey Encumber'd with his Frock without Defence An easie Prize they led the Pris'ner thence And as commanded brought before the Prince The gloomy Sire too sensible of Wrong To vent his Rage in Words restrain'd his Tongue And only said Thus Servants are preferr'd And trusted thus their Sov'reigns they reward Had I not seen had not these Eyes receiv'd Too clear a Proof I could not have believ'd He paus'd and choak'd the rest The Youth who saw His forfeit Life abandon'd to the Law The Judge th' Accuser and th' Offence to him Who had both Pow'r and Will t' avenge the Crime No vain Defence prepar'd but thus reply'd The Faults of Love by Love are justifi'd With unresisted Might the Monarch reigns He levels Mountains and he raises Plains And not regarding Diff'rence of Degree Abas'd your Daughter and exalted me This bold Return with seeming Patience heard The Pris'ner was remitted to the Guard The sullen Tyrant slept not all the Night But lonely walking by a winking Light Sobb'd wept and groan'd and beat his wither'd Breast But would not violate his Daughters Rest Who long expecting lay for Bliss prepar'd Listning for Noise and griev'd that none she heard Oft rose and oft in vain employ'd the Key And oft accus'd her Lover of Delay And pass'd the tedious Hours in anxious Thoughts away The Morrow came and at his usual Hour Old Tancred visited his Daughters Bow'r Her Cheek for such his Custom was he kiss'd Then bless'd her kneeling and her Maids dismiss'd The Royal Dignity thus far maintain'd Now left in private he no longer feign'd But all at once his Grief and Rage appear'd And Floods of Tears ran trickling down his Beard O Sigismonda he began to say Thrice he began and thrice was forc'd to stay Till Words with often trying found their Way I thought O Sigismonda But how blind Are Parents Eyes their Childrens Faults to find Thy Vertue Birth and Breeding were above A mean Desire and vulgar Sense of Love Nor less than Sight and Hearing could convince So fond a Father and so just a Prince Of such an unforeseen and unbeliev'd Offence Then what indignant Sorrow must I have To see thee lie subjected to my Slave A Man so smelling of the Peoples Lee The Court receiv'd him first for Charity And since with no Degree of Honour grac'd But only suffer'd where he first was plac'd A grov'ling Infect still and so design'd By Natures Hand nor born of Noble Kind A Thing by neither Man nor Woman priz'd And scarcely known enough to be despis'd To what has Heav'n reserv'd my Age Ah! why Should Man when Nature calls not chuse to die Rather than stretch the Span of Life to find Such Ills as Fate has wisely cast behind For those to feel whom fond Desire to live Makes covetous of more than Life can give Each has his Share of Good and when 't is gone The Guest though hungry cannot rise too soon But I expecting more in my own wrong Protracting Life have liv'd a Day too long If Yesterday cou'd be recall'd again Ev'n now would I conclude my happy Reign But 't is too late my glorious Race is run And a dark Cloud o'ertakes my setting Sun Hadst thou not lov'd or loving sav'd the Shame If not the Sin by some Illustrious Name This little Comfort had reliev'd my Mind 'T was frailty not unusual to thy Kind But thy low Fall beneath thy Royal Blood Shews downward Appetite to mix with Mud Thus not the least Excuse is left for thee Nor the least Refuge for unhappy me For him I have resolv'd whom by Surprize I took and scarce can call it in Disguise For such was his Attire as with Intent Of Nature suited to his mean Descent The harder Question yet remains behind What Pains a Parent and a Prince can find To punish an Offence of this degenerate Kind As I have lov'd and yet I love thee more Than ever Father lov'd a Child before So that Indulgence draws me to forgive Nature that gave thee Life would have thee live But as a Publick Parent of the State My Justice and thy Crime requires thy Fate Fain would I chuse a middle Course to steer Nature 's too kind and Justice too severe Speak for us both and to the Balance bring On either side the Father and the King Heav'n knows my Heart is bent to favour thee Make it but scanty weight and leave the rest to me Here stopping with a Sigh he pour'd a Flood Of Tears to make his last Expression good She who had heard him speak nor saw alone The secret Conduct of her Love was known But he was taken who her Soul possess'd Felt all the Pangs of Sorrow in her Breast And little wanted but a Womans Heart With Cries and Tears had testifi'd her Smart But in-born Worth that Fortune can controul New strung and stiffer bent her softer Soul The Heroine assum'd the Womans Place Confirm'd her Mind and fortifi'd her Face Why should she beg or what cou'd she pretend When her stern Father had condemn'd her Friend Her Life she might have had but her Despair Of saving his had put it past her Care Resolv'd on Fate she would not lose her Breath But rather than not die sollicit Death Fix'd on this Thought she not as Women use Her Fault by common Frailty would excuse But boldly justifi'd her Innocence And while the Fact was
Triumph and Revenge to me As in this Grove I took my last Farewel As on this very spot of Earth I fell As Friday saw me die so she my Prey Becomes ev'n here on this revolving Day Thus while he spoke the Virgin from the Ground Upstarted fresh already clos'd the Wound And unconcern'd for all she felt before Precipitates her Flight along the Shore The Hell-hounds as ungorg'd with Flesh and Blood Pursue their Prey and seek their wonted Food The Fiend remounts his Courser mends his Pace And all the Vision vanish'd from the Place Long stood the noble Youth oppress'd with Awe And stupid at the wond'rous Things he saw Surpassing common Faith transgressing Nature's Law He would have been asleep and wish'd to wake But Dreams he knew no long Impression make Though strong at first If Vision to what end But such as must his future State portend His Love the Damsel and himself the Fiend But yet reflecting that it could not be From Heav'n which cannot impious Acts decree Resolv'd within himself to shun the Snare Which Hell for his Distruction did prepare And as his better Genius should direct From an ill Cause to draw a good effect Inspir'd from Heav'n he homeward took his way Nor pall'd his new Design with long delay But of his Train a trusty Servant sent To call his Friends together at his Tent. They came and usual Salutations paid With Words premeditated thus he said What you have often counsell'd to remove My vain pursuit of unreguarded Love By Thrift my sinking Fortune to repair Tho' late yet is at last become my Care My Heart shall be my own my vast Expence Reduc'd to bounds by timely Providence This only I require invite for me Honoria with her Father's Family Her Friends and mine the Cause I shall display On Friday next for that 's th' appointed Day Well pleas'd were all his Friends the Task was light The Father Mother Daughter they invite Hardly the Dame was drawn to this repast But yet resolv'd because it was the last The Day was come the Guests invited came And with the rest th'inexorable Dame A Feast prepar'd with riotons Expence Much Cost more Care and most Magnificence The Place ordain'd was in that haunted Grove Where the revenging Ghost pursu'd his Love The Tables in a proud Pavilion spred With Flow'rs below and Tissue overhead The rest in rank Honoria chief in place Was artfully contriv'd to set her Face To front the Thicket and behold the Chace The Feast was serv'd the time so well forecast That just when the Dessert and Fruits were plac'd The Fiend's Alarm began the hollow sound Sung in the Leaves the Forest shook around Air blacken'd rowl'd the Thunder groan'd the Ground Nor long before the loud Laments arise Of one distress'd and Mastiffs mingled Cries And first the Dame came rushing through the Wood And next the famish'd Hounds that sought their Food And grip'd her Flanks and oft essay'd their Jaws in Blood Last came the Fellon on the Sable Steed Arm'd with his naked Sword and urg'd his Dogs to speed She ran and cry'd her Flight directly bent A Guest unbidden to the fatal Tent The Scene of Death and Place ordain'd for Punishment Loud was the Noise aghast was every Guest The Women shriek'd the Men forsook the Feast The Hounds at nearer distance hoarsly bay'd The Hunter clos'd pursu'd the visionary Maid She rent the Heav'n with loud Laments imploring Aid The Gallants to protect the Ladies right Their Fauchions brandish'd at the grisly Spright High on his Stirups he provok'd the Fight Then on the Crowd he cast a furious Look And wither'd all their Strength before he strook Back on your Lives let be said he my Prey And let my Vengeance take the destin'd way Vain are your Arms and vainer your Defence Against th' eternal Doom of Providence Mine is th' ungrateful Maid by Heav'n design'd Mercy she would hot give nor Mercy shall she find At this the former Tale again he told With thund'ring Tone and dreadful to behold Sunk were their Hearts with Horror of the Crime Nor needed to be warn'd a second time But bore each other back some knew the Face And all had heard the much lamented Case Of him who fell for Love and this the fatal Place And now th' infernal Minister advanc'd Seiz'd the due Victim and with Fury lanch'd Her Back and piercing through her inmost Heart Drew backward as before th' offending part The reeking Entrails next he tore away And to his meagre Mastiffs made a Prey The pale Assistants on each other star'd With gaping Mouths for issuing Words prepar'd The still born founds upon the Palate hung And dy'd imperfect on the faltring Tongue The Fright was general but the Female Band A helpless Train in more Confusion stand With Horror shuddring on a heap they run Sick at the sight of hateful Justice done For Conscience rung th' Alarm and made the Case their own So spread upon a Lake with upward Eye A plump of Fowl behold their Foe on high They close their trembling Troop and all attend On whom the sowsing Eagle will descend But most the proud Honoria fear'd th' event And thought to her alone the Vision sent Her Guilt presents to her distracted Mind Heav'ns Justice Theodore's revengeful Kind And the same Fate to the same Sin assign'd Already sees her self the Monster 's Prey And fecls her Heart and Entrails torn away 'T was a mute Scene of Sorrow mix'd with fear Still on the Table lay th' unfinish'd Cheer The Knight and hungry Mastiffs stood around The mangled Dame lay breathless on the Ground When on a suddain reinspired with Breath Again she rose again to suffer Death Nor stay'd the Hell-hounds nor the Hunter stay'd But follow'd as before the flying Maid Th' Avenger took from Earth th' avenging Sword And mounting light as Air his Sable Steed he spurr'd The Clouds dispell'd the Sky resum'd her Light And Nature stood recover'd of her Fright But Fear the last of Ills remain'd behind And Horror heavy sat on ev'ry Mind Nor Theodore incourag'd more his Feast But sternly look'd as hatching in his Breast Some deep Design which when Honoria view'd The fresh Impulse her former Fright renew'd She thought her self the trembling Dame who fled And him the grisly Ghost that spurr'd th' infernal Steed The more dismay'd for when the Guests withdrew Their courteous Host saluting all the Crew Regardless pass'd her o'er nor grac'd with kind adieu That Sting infix'd within her haughty Mind The downfal of her Empire she divin'd And her proud Heart with secret Sorrow pin'd Home as they went the sad Discourse renew'd Of the relentless Dame to Death pursu'd And of the Sight obscene so lately view'd None durst arraign the righteous Doom she bore Ev'n they who pity'd most yet blam'd her more The Parallel they needed not to name But in the Dead they damn'd the living Dame At ev'ry little Noise she look'd behind For still the
what she sucks remits she still requires Inlets for Air and Outlets for her Fires When tortur'd with convulsive Fits she shakes That motion choaks the vent till other vent she makes Or when the Winds in hollow Caves are clos'd And subtil Spirits find that way oppos'd They toss up Flints in Air the Flints that hide The Seeds of Fire thus toss'd in Air collide Kindling the Sulphur till the Fewel spent The Cave is cool'd and the fierce Winds relent Or whether Sulphur catching Fire feeds on Its unctuous Parts till all the Matter gone The Flames no more ascend for Earth supplies The Fat that feeds them and when Earth denies That Food by length of Time consum'd the Fire Famish'd for want of Fewel must expire A Race of Men there are as Fame has told Who shiv'ring suffer Hyperborean Cold Till nine times bathing in Minerva's Lake Soft Feathers to defend their naked Sides they take 'T is said the Scythian Wives believe who will Transform themselves to Birds by Magick Skill Smear'd over with an Oil of wond'rous Might That adds new Pinions to their airy Flight But this by sure Experiment we know That living Creatures from Corruption grow Hide in a hallow Pit a slaughter'd Steer Bees from his putrid Bowels will appear Who like their Parents haunt the Fields and bring Their Hony-Harvest home and hope another Spring The Warlike-Steed is multiply'd we find To Wasps and Hornets of the Warrior Kind Cut from a Crab his crooked Claws and hide The rest in Earth a Scorpion thence will glide And shoot his Sting his Tail in Circles toss'd Refers the Limbs his backward Father lost And Worms that stretch on Leaves their filmy Loom Crawl from their Bags and Butterflies become Ev'n Slime begets the Frog's loquacious Race Short of their Feet at first in little space With Arms and Legs endu'd long leaps they take Rais'd on their hinder part and swim the Lake And Waves repel For Nature gives their Kind To that intent a length of Legs behind The Cubs of Bears a living lump appear When whelp'd and no determin'd Figure wear Their Mother licks 'em into Shape and gives As much of Form as she her self receives The Grubs from their sexangular abode Crawl out unfinish'd like the Maggot's Brood Trunks without Limbs till time at leisure brings The Thighs they wanted and their tardy Wings The Bird who draws the Carr of Juno vain Of her crown'd Head and of her Starry Train And he that bears th' Artillery of Jove The strong-pounc'd Eagle and the billing Dove And all the feather'd Kind who cou'd suppose But that from sight the surest Sense he knows They from th'included Yolk not ambient White arose There are who think the Marrow of a Man Which in the Spine while he was living ran When dead the Pith corrupted will become A Snake and hiss within the hollow Tomb. All these receive their Birth from other Things But from himself the Phoenix only springs Self-born begotten by the Parent Flame In which he burn'd another and the same Who not by Corn or Herbs his Life sustains But the sweet Essence of Amomum drains And watches the rich Gums Arabia bears While yet in tender Dew they drop their Tears He his five Cent'ries of Life fulfill'd His Nest on Oaken Boughs begins to build Or trembling tops of Palm and first he draws The Plan with his broad Bill and crooked Claws Nature's Artificers on this the Pile Is form'd and rises round then with the Spoil Of Casia Cynamon and Stems of Nard For softness strew'd beneath his Fun'ral Bed is rear'd Fun'ral and Bridal both and all around The Borders with corruptless Myrrh are crown'd On this incumbent till aetherial Flame First catches then consumes the costly Frame Consumes him too as on the Pile he lies He liv'd on Odours and in Odours dies An Infant Phoenix from the former springs His Father's Heir and from his tender Wings Shakes off his Parent Dust his Method he pursues And the same Lease of Life on the same Terms renews When grown to Manhood he begins his reign And with stiff Pinions can his Flight sustain He lightens of its Load the Tree that bore His Father's Royal Sepulcher before And his own Cradle This with pious Care Plac'd on his Back he cuts the buxome Air Seeks the Sun's City and his sacred Church And decently lays down his Burden in the Porch A Wonder more amazing wou'd we find Th' Hyaena shows it of a double kind Varying the Sexes in alternate Years In one begets and in another bears The thin Camelion fed with Air receives The colour of the Thing to which he cleaves India when conquer'd on the conqu'ring God For planted Vines the sharp-ey'd Lynx bestow'd Whose Urine shed before it touches Earth Congeals in Air and gives to Gems their Birth So Coral soft and white in Oceans Bed Comes harden'd up in Air and glows with Red. All changing Species should my Song recite Before I ceas'd wou'd change the Day to Night Nations and Empires flourish and decay By turns command and in their turns obey Time softens hardy People Time again Hardens to War a soft unwarlike Train Thus Troy for ten long Years her Foes withstood And daily bleeding bore th' expence of Blood Now for thick Streets it shows an empty space Or only fill'd with Tombs of her own perish'd Race Her self becomes the Sepulcher of what she was Mycene Sparta Thebes of mighty Fame Are vanish'd out of Substance into Name And Dardan Rome that just begins to rise On Tiber's Banks in time shall mate the Skies Widening her Bounds and working on her way Ev'n now she meditates Imperial Sway Yet this is change but she by changing thrives Like Moons new-born and in her Cradle strives To fill her Infant-Horns an Hour shall come When the round World shall be contain'd in Rome For thus old Saws foretel and Helenus Anchises drooping Son enliven'd thus When Ilium now was in a sinking State And he was doubtful of his future Fate O Goddess born with thy hard Fortune strive Troy never can be lost and thou alive Thy Passage thou shalt free through Fire and Sword And Troy in Foreign Lands shall be restor'd In happier Fields a rising Town I see Greater than what e'er was or is or e'er shall be And Heav'n yet owes the World a Race deriv'd from Thee Sages and Chiefs of other Lineage born The City shall extend extended shall adorn But from Julus he must draw his Breath By whom thy Rome shall rule the conquer'd Earth Whom Heav'n will lend Mankind on Earth to reign And late require the precious Pledge again This Helenus to great AEneas told Which I retain e'er since in other Mould My Soul was cloath'd and now rejoice to view My Country Walls rebuilt and Troy reviv'd anew Rais'd by the fall Decreed by Loss to Gain Enslav'd but to be free and conquer'd but to reign 'T is time my hard mouth'd Coursers to controul Apt to
run Riot and transgress the Goal And therefore I conclude whatever lies In Earth or flits in Air or fills the Skies All suffer change and we that are of Soul And Body mix'd are Members of the whole Then when our Sires or Grandsires shall forsake The Forms of Men and brutal Figures take Thus hous'd securely let their Spirits rest Nor violate thy Father in the Beast Thy Friend thy Brother any of thy Kin If none of these yet there 's a Man within O spare to make a Thyestaean Meal T' inclose his Body and his Soul expel Ill Customs by degrees to Habits rise Ill Habits soon become exalted Vice What more advance can Mortals make in Sin So near Perfection who with Blood begin Deaf to the Calf that lies beneath the Knife Looks up and from her Butcher begs her Life Deaf to the harmless Kid that e'er he dies All Methods to procure thy Mercy tries And imitates in vain thy Children's Cries Where will he stop who feeds with Houshold Bread Then eats the Poultry which before he fed Let plough thy Steers that when they lose their Breath To Nature not to thee they may impute their Death Let Goats for Food their loaded Udders lend And Sheep from Winter-cold thy Sides defend But neither Sprindges Nets nor Snares employ And be no more Ingenious to destroy Free as in Air let Birds on Earth remain Nor let insidious Glue their Wings constrain Nor opening Hounds the trembling Stag affright Nor purple Feathers intercept his Flight Nor Hooks conceal'd in Baits for Fish prepare Nor Lines to heave 'em twinkling up in Air. Take not away the Life you cannot give For all Things have an equal right to live Kill noxious Creatures where 't is Sin to save This only just Prerogative we have But nourish Life with vegetable Food And shun the sacrilegious tast of Blood These Precepts by the Samian Sage were taught Which Godlike Numa to the Sabines brought And thence transferr'd to Rome by Gift his own A willing People and an offer'd Throne O happy Monarch sent by Heav'n to bless A Salvage Nation with soft Arts of Peace To teach Religion Rapine to restrain Give Laws to Lust and Sacrifice ordain Himself a Saint a Goddess was his Bride And all the Muses o'er his Acts preside THE CHARACTER OF A Good Parson Imitated from CHAUCER And Inlarg'd A Parish-Priest was of the Pilgrim-Train An Awful Reverend and Religious Man His Eyes diffus'd a venerable Grace And Charity it self was in his Face Rich was his Soul though his Attire was poor As God had cloath'd his own Embassador For such on Earth his bless'd Redeemer bore Of Sixty Years he seem'd and well might last To Sixty more but that he liv'd too fast Refin'd himself to Soul to curb the Sense And made almost a Sin of Abstinence Yet had his Aspect nothing of severe But such a Face as promis'd him sincere Nothing reserv'd or sullen was to see But sweet Regards and pleasing Sanctity Mild was his Accent and his Action free With Eloquence innate his Tongue was arm'd Tho' harsh the Precept yet the Preacher charm'd For letting down the golden Chain from high He drew his Audience upward to the Sky And oft with holy Hymns he charm'd their Ears A Musick more melodious than the Spheres For David left him when he went to rest His Lyre and after him he sung the best He bore his great Commission in his Look But sweetly temper'd Awe and soften'd all he spoke He preach'd the Joys of Heav'n and Pains of Hell And warn'd the Sinner with becoming Zeal But on Eternal Mercy lov'd to dwell He taught the Gospel rather than the Law And forc'd himself to drive but lov'd to draw For Fear but freezes Minds but Love like Heat Exhales the Soul sublime to seek her Native Seat To Threats the stubborn Sinner oft is hard Wrap'd in his Crimes against the Storm prepar'd But when the milder Beams of Mercy play He melts and throws his cumb'rous Cloak away Lightnings and Thunder Heav'ns Artillery As Harbingers before th' Almighty fly Those but proclaim his Stile and disappear The stiller Sound succeeds and God is there The Tythes his Parish freely paid he took But never Su'd or Curs'd with Bell and Book With Patience bearing wrong but off ring none Since every Man is free to lose his own The Country-Churles according to their Kind Who grudge their Dues and love to be behind The less he sought his Off'rings pinch'd the more And prais'd a Priest contented to be Poor Yet of his little he had some to spare To feed the Famish'd and to cloath the Bare For Mortify'd he was to that degree A poorer than himself he wou'd not see True Priests he said and Preachers of the Word Were only Stewards of their Soveraign Lord Nothing was theirs but all the publick Store Intrusted Riches to relieve the Poor Who shou'd they steal for want of his Relief He judg'd himself Accomplice with the Thief Wide was his Parish not contracted close In Streets but here and there a straggling House Yet still he was at Hand without Request To serve the Sick to succour the Distress'd Tempting on Foot alone without affright The Dangers of a dark tempestuous Night All this the good old Man perform'd alone Nor spar'd his Pains for Curate he had none Nor durst he trust another with his Care Nor rode himself to Pauls the publick Fair To chaffer for Preferment with his Gold Where Bishopricks and sine Cures are fold But duly watch'd his Flock by Night and Day And from the prowling Wolf redeem'd the Prey And hungry sent the wily Fox away The Proud he tam'd the Penitent he chear'd Nor to rebuke the rich Offender fear'd His Preaching much but more his Practice wrought A living Sermon of the Truths he taught For this by Rules severe his Life he squar'd That all might see the Doctrin which they heard For Priests he said are Patterns for the rest The Gold of Heav'n who bear the God Impress'd But when the precious Coin is kept unclean The Soveraign's Image is no longer seen If they be foul on whom the People trust Well may the baser Brass contract a Rust. The Prelate for his Holy Life he priz'd The worldly Pomp of Prelacy despis'd His Saviour came not with a gawdy Show Nor was his Kingdom of the World below Patience in Want and Poverty of Mind These Marks of Church and Churchmen he design'd And living taught and dying left behind The Crown he wore was of the pointed Thorn In Purple he was Crucify'd not born They who contend for Place and high Degree Are not his Sons but those of Zebadee Not but he knew the Signs of Earthly Pow'r Might well become St. Peter's Successor The Holy Father holds a double Reign The Prince may keep his Pomp the Fisher must be plain Such was the Saint who shone with every Grace Reflecting Moses-like his Maker's Face God saw his Image lively was express'd
or they of me So that I haue my lady in mine armes For though so be that Mars is god of Armes Your vertue is so great in heauen aboue That if you liste I shall well haue my loue Thy temple shall I worship euer 〈◊〉 And on thine aulter where I ride or go I woll done sacrifice and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And if'ye woll not so my lady swere Than pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haue lost my life Though 〈◊〉 winne her to wife This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and ende of my pray ere Yeue me my lady thou 〈◊〉 lady deere What the orison was done of Palamon His sacrifice 〈◊〉 did and that anon Full pitously with all circumstaunces All tell I nat as now his obseruaunces But at the last the statue of Venus shoke And made a signe whereby that he toke That his prayer 〈◊〉 was that day For though the signe shewed a delay Yet wist he well that graunted was his bone And with glad hert he went him home full sone Began to Venus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vp rose the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And vnto the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Her maidens the which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Full redily with 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 they had The encense the clothes and the 〈◊〉 all That to the sacrifice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The hornes full of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gise There lacked naught to 〈◊〉 her sacrifice Smoking the temple full of clothes fayre This Emelye with herte debonayre Her body wishe with 〈◊〉 of a well But how she did right I dare not tell But it be any thing in generall And yet it were a game to here it all To him that meaneth wel it were no charge But it is good a man be at his large Her bright heare was unkempt and vntressed all A crowne of a grene oke 〈◊〉 Vpon her hed set ful sayre and mete Two fyres on the aulter gan she bete And did her things as men may 〈◊〉 In Stace of Thebes and these bokes olde Whan kendled was the 〈◊〉 with pitous chere Vnto Diane she spake as ye may here O chaste goddesse of the woddes grene To whom both heuen and yearth and see is sene Quene of the reigne of Pluto derke and low Goddesse of maidens that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath know Full many a yere and woste what I desire As kepe me fro the vengeance of thine yre That Acteon abought cruelly Chaste Goddesse well woste thou that I Desyre to ben a mayde all my life Ne neuer woll I be loue ne wife I am thou woste well of thy company A mayde and loue hunting and venery And for to walken in the woddes wilde And not for to ben a wife and ben with childe Nought will I know company of man Now helpe me lady sith you may and can For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee And Palamon that hath such a loue to me And eke Arcite that loueth me so sore This grace I pray thee withouten more And send loue and peace betwixt hem two And fro me turne away her hertes so That all her hot loue and her desire And all her busy turment and all her fire Be queint or turned in another place And if so be thou wolte not do me that grace Or if so be my destiny be shapen so That I shall nedes haue one of hem two As sende me him that most desireth me Beholde goddesse of clene chastite The bitter teares that on my chekes fall Syn thou art a mayde and keper of vs all My maidenhede thou kepe and wel conserue And while I liue a maiden woll I thee serue The fyres brenne upon the auter clere While Emelye was thus in her prayere But sodenly she sawe a thing queynte For right anon one of the fyres queynte And quicked again and after that anon That other fyre was queynte and all agon And as it queynte it made a whistling As done these wete brondes in her brenning And at the brondes ende out ran anone As it were bloddy droppes many a one For which so sore agaste was Emelye That she was well nye madde and gan to crye For she ne wiste what it signified But onely for the feare thus she cried And wept that it was pite for to here And therewithal Diane gan to appere With bow in honde right as an hunteresse And said doughter stint thine heuinesse Among the goddes hie it is affirmed And by eterne word written and confirmed Thou shalt ben wedded to one of tho That haue for thee so moch care and wo But vnto which of hem I may not tell Farewell for I may no lenger dwell The fires which on mine auter brenne Shall declaren er that thou gon henne This auenture of loue as in this case And with that word the arrows in the case Of the goddesse clatteren fast and ring And forth she went and made vaneshing For which this Emely astonied was And said what mounteth this alas I put me vnder thy protection Diane and under thy disposicion And home she goeth the next way This is the effect there is no more to say The next house of Mars following this Arcite unto the temple walked is Of fiers Mars to done his sacrifice With all the might of his paynem wise With piteous hert and hie devocion Right thus to Mars he said his orison O stronge God that in the reignes cold Of Trace honoured art and lord yhold And hast in euery reigne and euery lond Of armes all the bridle in thine hond And hem fortunest as the list deuise Accept of me my pitous sacrifice If so be my thought may deserue And that my might be worthy for to serue Thy godhead that I may bene one of thine Than pray I thee that thou rue on my pine For thilke paine and thilke hot fire In which thou brentest why 〈◊〉 for desire What thou vsedest the faire beaute Of faire yong fresh Venus fre And haddest her in thine armes at thy will Although thou ones on a time misfill What Vulcanus had caught thee in his laas And found thee ligging by his wife alas For thilke sorrowe that was in thine herte Haue ruthe as well on my pains smerte I am yong and vnconning as thou wost And as I trow with loue offended most That euer was any liues creature For she that doth me al this wo endure Ne retcheth neuer where I sinke or flete And well I wote or she me mercy hete I mote with strength win her in this place And well I wote without helpe or grace Of thee ne may my strength not auaile Than help me lord to morrow in my battaile For thilke fire that whilom brent thee As well as the fire now brenneth me And do that I to morrow haue the victorie Mine be the trauell and thine be the glorie Thy souereign temple wol I most honouren Of any place and alway most labouren In thy pleasaunce and in thy crafts strong And in thy temple I woll my banner hong And all the armes of my companie And
we rede That was Kenelphus sonne the noble king Of Mereturike how Kenelm mette a thing A little er he were murdred on a day His murder in this vision he say His norice him expouned it euery dele His sweuen and badde him kepe him wele Fro trayson but he was but seuen yere olde And therefore little tale he thereof tolde Of any dreme so holy was his herte By God I had rather than my sherte That ye haue herde his legend as haue I. Dame Pertelot I say to you truely Macrobius that writeth the auision In Afrike of the worthy Scipion Affirmeth dremes and saith that they been Warning of things that we after seen And ferthermore I pray you loketh well In the olde Testament of Daniel If he helde dremes for vanitie Rede eke of Joseph and there shal ye se Wonders ben somtime but I say nat all Warning of things that after shall fall Lo of Egypt the king that hight Pharao His baker and his butteler also Wheder they felt none effect indremes Who so woll seke actes in sundrie remes May rede of dremes a wonder thing Lo Cresus which was of Lide king Mette he not that he sat vpon a tree Which signified he should honged bee Lo Andromeda that was Hector's Wife That day that Hector should lese his life She dremed in the same night beforne How the life of Hector should belorne If that day he went vnto battaile She warned him but it might not auaile He went for to fight neuerthelesse But he was slaine anone of Achilles But that tale is to long to tell And eke it is nigh day I may nat dwell Shortly I say as for conclusion That I shall haue of this auision Aduersite and I say farthermore That I ne tell of laxatiues no store For they ben venemous I were it wele I hem defie I loue hem neuer a dele But let vs speke of mirthe and stinte all this Madame Pertelot so haue I blis Of one thing God hath me sent large grace For when I see the beautie of your face Ye ben so scarlet reed about your eyen It maketh al my drede for to dien For also siker as In principio Mulier est hominis confusio Madame the sentence of this latin is Woman is mannes ioye and his blis For when I fele on night your soft side Albeit that I may not on you ride For that our parche is made so narowe alas I am so full of ioye and of solas That I defie both sweuen and dreme And with that word he flewe doun fro the beme For it was day and eke the hennes all And with a chuck he gan hem for to call For he had found a corne lay in the yerde Royall he was and no more aferde He feddred Pertelot twentie time And tradde her eke as oft er it was prime He loketh as it were a grimme lioun And on his toes he romed vp and doun Him deened not to set his fete to the ground He chucked whan he had a corne yfound And to him than ran his wiues all As royal as a prince in his hall Leaue I this Chaunteclere in this pasture And after woll I tell of his aduenture When the moneth in which the world began That hight March that God first made man Was complete and passed were also Sith March began twenty daies and two Befill that Chaunteclere in all his pride His seuen wiues walking him beside Cast vp his eyen to the bright sunne That in the signe of Taurus was yrunne Fourty degrees and one and somwhat more He knew by kinde and by none other lore That it was prime and crew with a blissful steuen The sunne he saide is clombe vp to the heuen Fourty degrees and one and somwhat more ywis Madame Pertelot my worldes blisse Herken how these blisful birdes sing And see the fresh floures how they gan spring Full is mine hert of reuel and solas But sodainly him fell a sorowful caas For euer the latter ende of ioy is wo God wote worldly ioye is soone ago And if a rethore coud faire endite He in a chronicle might safely write As for a soueraine notabilitie Nowe euery wise man herken to me This story is al so true I vndertake As is the booke of Launcelot du lake That women holden in full great reuerence Now woll I turne ayen to my sentence A col fox ful of sleight and iniquitie That in the groue had wonned yeres three By high imagination aforne caste The same night through the hedge braste Into the yerde there Chaunteclere the faire Was wont and eke his wiues to repaire And in a bedde of wortes still he lay Til it was passed vndren of the day Waiting his time on Chaunteclere to fall As gladly done these homicides all That in a waite lie to murdre men O false murdrer rucking in thy den O new Scariot and new Gauilion O False dissimuler O greke Sinon That broughtest Troy vtterly to sorowe O Chaunteclere accursed be the morowe That thou in thy yerde flew from the bemes Thou were ful wel warned by thy dremes That ilke day was perillous to thee But what that God afore wote must nedes bee After the opinion of certain clerkes Witnesse of him that any clerke is That in schole is great altercation In this matter and great disputacion And hath ben of an hundred thousand men But I ne can nat boulte it to the bren As can the holy doctour saint Austin Or Boece or the bishop Bradwardin Whether that goddes worthy fore weting Straineth me nedely to do a thing Nedely clepe I simple necessite Or if the free choice be graunted me To do the same thing or do it nought Though God forewote it or it was wrought Or of his weting straineth neuer a dele But by necessitie condicionele I wol not haue to done of such mattere My tale is of a cocke as ye shall here That toke his counsaile of his wife with sorow To walk in the yerde vpon the morow That he had met the dreme as I you tolde Womens counsailes ben oft ful colde Womens counsaile brought vs first to wo And made Adam fro Paradise to go There as he was ful mery and well at ease But for I not whom I might displease If I counsaile of wemen should blame Passe ouer I said it in my game Redeth authors where they trete of such mattere And what they say of women ye mowe here These ben the cockes wordes ond not mine I can of women no harm deuine Faire in the sonde to bathe her merely Lieth Pertelot and all her susters by Ayenst the sunne and Chaunteclere so fre Song merier than the Marmaide in the se For Phisiologus saith vtterly How that they singen well and merely And so befell as he cast his eye Among the wortes on a butterflie He was ware of the foxe that laie full lowe Nothing than list him for to crowe But cried cocke cocke and vp he