Hiren OR The faire Greeke By William Barksted one of the seruants of his Maiesties REVELS OVID. non paruas animo dat gloria vires Et fecunda facit pectora laudis amor LONDON Printed for Roger Barnes and are to be sold at his shop in Chancery lane ouer against the Rolles 1611. TO THE HEROICKE HEros HENRY Earle of Oxenford Vicount Bulbeck c. SIr if my vnpolish't pen that dedicates now The bashfull vtterance of a maiden Muse May gracefully arriue onely to you Which for her virgin sake do not refuse Time and more studious howers shall we vow To sing your vertues which are now profuse Kings haue drunke water from a louing hand And truth 's accepted though we paint her poore The Poets say the Gods that can command Haue feasted gladly on a poore mans store Whereby great Sir we haue to vnderstand That humble Riuers adde to the sea shore Liue long and happy and with gray haires crown'd Reade thy youths acts which fame shall euer sound Your honors obseruant seruant WIL. BARKSTED The faire Greeke 1 OF Amuraths yong spleenfull sonne I sing His sonne who to the Strand of Hellespont And to the great Sea-cost his bounds did bring Whose Empire so the Grecians did confront That euen from â—indus and Thomao Mont From darke Morea to Corinthian streights From Burgon to Hungaria's broken wing His Nauy fetch'd contributary freights 2 Yong Mahomet the wanton of her eie Which teacheth wars taught his nonage daies That gaue such hansell of his tyranny In those first battails and apprentize sayes Which did so hotly dart their early rayes On Sigismond or that wherein was tane Philip the noble Duke of Burgondy With him kept prisoner ô farre better slaine 3 Yong Mahomet to Greece the fatall scourge Which thither death and desolation brought Euen to the faire Constantinoples veirdge The Grecian Empires chaire the which he sought For which a huge digested army fought And at the last distressed Constantine And of all Christians did the Citty purge O shame to Europes Peeres and Kings diuine 4 Let Italy take heed the New-moone threats To reare his hornes on Romes great Capitall And doth not Rome deserue such rough defeats That should be mother of compassion all And coünite the states and principall In league and loue which now for trifles iarre The Persian Sophy shames our Christian feats Who with the Souldan ioynes gainst Turkish war 5 Had Constantine that three times sacred Prince Beene rescu'd then by power of Christendome Mathias neuer should haue crau'd defence Of Germanes English Spanish France and Rome Taxes of warre to these climes had not come Nor yet the Turke with all his barbarous hoast Durst with the Catholikes such war commence Where now they haue heard their drums feard their hoast 6 Who reads or heares the losse of that great town Constantinople but doth wet his eyes Where litle babes froÌ„ windows were pusht down Yong Ladies blotted with adulteries Old fathers scourg'd with all base villanies O mourne her ruine and bewish the Turke eternall depriuation of his Crowne That durst for paganisme such outrage worke 7 When Mahomet had man'd the wals the towne surpriz'd Great grew the slaughter bloudy waxt the fight Like Troy where all was fir'd and all despis'd But what stood gracious in the victors sight Such was the wo of this great citty right Here lay a Saint throwne downe here a Nun Rude Sarazens which no high God agnis'd Made all alike our wofull course to run 8 And in this deadly dealing of sterne death And busie dole of euery Souldiers hand Where swords were dul'd with robbing men of breath Whil'st rape with murder stalk't about the land And vengeance did performe her own command and where 't was counted sin to thinke amisse There no man thought it till to do all scath O what doth warre respect of bale or blisse 9 There stood an ancient Chappel next the Court Where sacred Bishops said their morrow Masse And sung sweet Anthems with a loud report To that eternall God-head whose sonne was Sequestred from the Trinity to passe Vnder the burthen of the holy Crosse For our redemption whose death did retort The sting of Sathan and restor'd our losse 10 Hither was got of silly maides some few Whom happily no Souldier yet had seas'd Tendring their spotlesse vows in child-cold dew Of virgin teares to haue the heauens appeas'd But teares too late must be too soone displeas'd And hither like a Tyger from the chase Reeking in bloudy thoughts and bloudy shew Came Amurath himselfe to sacke the place 11 In Armour clad of watchet steele full grim Fring'd round about the sides with twisted gold Spotted with shining stars vnto the brim Which seem'd to burn the spheare which did theÌ„ hold His bright sword drawn of temper good and old A full moone in a sable night he bore On painted shield which much adorned him With this short Motto Neuer glorious more 12 And as a Diamond in the dark-dead night Cannot but point at beames on euery side Or as the shine of Cassiopae a bright Which make the zodiacke where it doth abide Farre more then other planets to be ey'd So did faire Hirens eyes encounter his And so her beames did terror strike his sight As at the first it made e'm vale amisse 13 O that faire beauty in distresse should fall For so did she the wonder of the east At least if it be wondrous faire at all That staines the morning in her purple nest With guilt-downe cursed Tresses rosy drest Reflecting in a comet wise admire To euery eye whom vertue might appall And Syren loue inchant with amorous fire 14 A thousand Bashawes and a thousand more Of Ianizaries crying to the spoile Come rushing in with him at euery dore That had not Loue giuen Barbarisme the foile The faire had beene dishonored in this while But ò when beauty strikes vpon the heart What musicke then to euery sence is bore All thought resigning them to beare a part 15 For as amongst the rest she kneel'd sad weeping In tender passion by an altars side And to a blessed Saint begins her creeping He stood loue-wounded what should her betide Whilst she saw him turned round well nie died Let darknes shroud quoth she my soule in night Before my honor be in Mahounds keeping Prisoner to enuy lust and all vnright 16 O if thou beest a Souldier lend thy sword To ope the bosomes where yet neuer lay Ignoble Souldier nor imperious Lord Of all whom war hath grip'd into her sway Onely remaine we few let not this day Begin with vs who neuer did offend Or else do all of vs one death afford If not kill me who ne'r was Pagans friend 17 But now said Mahomet thou shall be mine Thine eies haue power to such a great mans hart If then they worke on me to make me thine Say thou art wrong'd dishonor doth impart No loue where he may force but mine thou
force more then charmes or spels And in sweet language hopes desires foretels Ah louely Greeke what heart hast thou quoth he What art thou made of fire dissolueth yee Tygers relent yet thou l't not pitty me 37 Dwel'st thou on forme I can confirme thee than Sibilla liues to tell she did repent Let Latmus speake what it of Delia can And it will eccho her loue-languishment Chaste eyes sometimes reflect kind blandishment Beside thy soueraigne will thy subiect be Once a great king now a despised man A vassall and a slaue to Loue and thee 38 Why dost thou weep t is I shold drown mine eies And burst my heart with languor and dispaire I whom thy vnrelenting thoughts despise I who can woo thee by no sute nor prayer Yet doating mad for thee ô cruell faire I sweare by this diuine white daizy-hand The loue I beare thee in my heart it lies Whose searching fire no reason can withstand 39 Wilt thou be mine here shalt thou liue with me Free'd from oppression and the Souldiers lust Who if thou passe my Tent will seize on thee And they are rude and what they will thou must O do not to the common Kestrels trust They are not as the Eagles noble kinde But rough and daring in all villany Honor with me with them scarce safety finde 40 Honor and safety both in true loue is And Mahomet is zealous ô loue him With him ioy euery thing that tasts of blisse Pompe honor pleasure shews and pastimes trim Care dwels not where he dwels nor sorrow grim Onely till now that he for Hiren mournes A Greeke whom he would bring to paradice He ner'e took thought but now he sighs burns 41 Wilt thou be his on thee shall waite and tend A traine of Nymphs and Pages by thy side With â—aunes horse coach musicke which shall lend The spheares new notes in their harmonies pride When thou wilt walke and publikly be ey'd To bring thee in thy hie way cloath'd with flowers Shall sent like Tempe when the graces send To meet each other in those fragrant bowers 42 At home shall comick Masques night disports Conduct thee to thy pillow and thy sheetes And all those reuels which soft loue consorts Shall entertaine thee with their sweetest sweets And as the warlike God with Venus meetes And dallies with her in the Paphian groue Shall Mahomet in bed shew thee such sports As none shall haue but she which is his loue 43 Againe No more againe saies she great king I know you can do much and all this to But tell me when we loose so deere a thing Shame can we take pride in in publike shew Think you the adulterate owle then wold not so No no nor state nor honor can repure Dishonor'd sheet's nor lend the owle daies wing Ignoble shame a King cannot recure 44 Now say mine eies cheeks are faire what then Why so are yours yet do I dote on you Beauty is blacke defam'd by wicked men And yet must euery beauty make men sue Too good is worse then bad you seeme too true Too easie passionate loue-sicke and kinde Then blame not me that cannot so soone ren Your course the fault is in your forward minde 85 But say great prince I had a wanton eye Would you adde Syrius to the sommer sunne And whurle hote flaming fire where tow doth lie By which combustion all might be vndone For loke how mightier greater Kings do run Amisse the fault is more pernicious And opens more to shame and obloquy Then what we erre in or is done by vs. 46 A Monarch and a mighty Conquerour To doate proues euery woman is his better But I 'le be true to thee said he One houre Said she but what for truth when it is fitter We keepe our own then haue a doubtful debter But I will sweare said he So Iason did Replide faire Hiren yet who faithlesse more or more inconstant to his sworne loues bed 47 Too many mirrors haue we to behold Of mens inconstancy and womens shame How many margent notes can we vnfold Mourning for virgins that haue bene too blame And shall I then run headlong to the flame I blush but it is you should be ashamed For know if that you neuer haue beene told Vertue may be inforc'd but not defamed 48 Faire louely Prince let warre your triumphs be Go forward in the glittering course you run The kingly Eagle strikes through Atomie Those little moates that barre him from the Sun Then let not both of vs be here vndone You of your Conquest I of Chastitie And pardon my rude speech for lo you see I plead for life and who 's not loath to dye 49 Death of my fame which oft proues mortal death Witnesse the Prince-forc'd chaste Lucretia Ere I like her be rap'd ô reaue my breath And gainst thy nature take a yeelding pray That will embrace death before thee this day If thou loue me shew it in killing me Thy sword had neuer yet a chaster sheath Nor thou nor Mahound a worse enemy 50 He heard nor this nor ought of what she said For all his senses now were turn'd to eyes And with such fired gaze he view'd this maid That sure I thinke not Hermes mysteries Nor all his Caducean nouelties That flow from him like a slye winding streame To which the Gods gladly their eares haue laid Could once haue mou'd him from this waking dreame 51 But sighes he sends out on this embassie Liegers that dye ere they returne againe Poore substitutes to coape with chastity She knew the pleading of their Liege was vaine And all his teares like to a Mel-dew raine That falles vpon the floures to defloure Yet for t was tedious she did aske him why Each sigh was o're him such a conquerour 52 By heauen he swore and made his Eunuch start I sigh to coole Loues fire then kist her hand For know thou wonder of the Easterne part He need not counterfeite that can command But by thy middle Cupids coniuring wand I am all loue and faire beleeue my vow Sprung from a Souldier now a louers heart He sweares to loue that neuer lou'd till now 53 Not halfe so faire was Hellen thy pre'cessor On whom the firy brand of Troy did dote For whom so many riuall kings to succour Made many a mountaine pine on Symois floate Whilst fame to this day tels it with wide throat Hector fell wounded in that warlike stir Peleus did faint Aiax that lusty warriour Then blame not me that loue one far ' boue her 54 Nature deuis'd her owne despaire in thee Thine eye not to be match'd but by the other Doth beare the influence of my destiny And where they stray my soule must wander thither Beauty of beauty mother of Loues mother All parts he praises coming to her lip Currall beneath the waues vermilion dye And being so neere he wold not ouerslip 55 Now tyres the famish'd Eagle on his pray Incorporating his rude lips
losse enioying heauen Or thinke of danger when an Angel guards me Can greater glory to my life be giuen Then her maiesticke beauty that rewards me Nay is not he of happinesse bereau'd That neuer saw her face nor heard her voyce And those that win our loue or most regards me Confesse that we are godlike in our choice 73 He left his Ianisaries in a trance And to her priuate chamber straite enioyes His bloud within his azure veines doth dance In loue th' effects are seene before the cause For nectar'd kisses and a smile by chance Are but loue branches though they grow vp first And Cupid thus confines vs in his lawes To tast the fountaine ere we quench our thirst 74 Night like a Princes pallace full of light Illumin'd all the earth with golden starres Here Art crost Nature making day of night And Mahomet prepares him for loues warres A banquet is ordain'd to feed delight Of his Imperiall bountie with expences A heauen on earth he presently prepares To rauish in one hower all her sences 75 Her eyes could glance no way but saw a iewell As rich as Cleopatra gaue her loue Pictures haue power to warme ice with loues fewell The gentle treading of the Turtle-doue The Camels lust that in his heate is cruell And Iupiter transformed from a man When with his breast the siluer streame did moue And rauish Leda like a snowy Swan 76 The table furnisht to delight the taste With food aboue Ambrosia diuine Such as would helpe consumptions that did wast The life bloud or the marrow Greekish wine So high one draught would make Dian vnchast Nectar is water to this banquets drinke Here Aesculapius did his art resigne And pleasure drown'd with standing on the brink 77 To please her hearing Eunuches sang as shrill As if that nature had dismembred them All birds that ecchoes musicke through the bill Sang ioy to her in an vndittied antheme An artificiall heauen stands open still Filling the roofe with a sweet vnknowne noyse Downe fals a clowd like a rich diadem And showes a hundred naked singing boyes 78 The sence of smelling with all rare deuises That rich Arabia or the world can yeeld The dew of Roses and choise Indian spices The purest of the garden and the field The earth to part with these rare gifts now nises And vowes no more her nature so profuse Shall let her sweets be from her breast distild To feed their vanitie with her abuse 79 Then in a rich imbroidred bed of downe Pluck't from the cōstant Turtles fethered breast Vpon her head he set imperiall crowne And to her goes Now is his soule at rest This night he counts the end of his renowne The sence of feeling she feeles by his power And like a subiect yeelds to his request Whilest Mahomet a virgin doth deflower 80 Now feares this flower deflowr'd his loue will waine Wishing the lustfull act had bin vndoon The pleasure cannot counteruaile the paine For still she thinkes with torment joy is woon His loue growes full she gets it now with gaine He like a ring of gold insets his iewell But fearing of his force she should disdaine Till sighes and kisses did inflame Loues fewell 81 Then like the God of Warre caught in a net He twin'd his Venus danger was not nigh And as a Diamond compar'd with Iet So show'd her sparkling eye against his eye The sunne-gaz'd Eagle now this done doth get And gently gripes her hurting not his pray She sounds with pleasure second sweets are high And wishes Phoebus blinde all night no day 82 The red-cheek't morning opens now her gate And busie day breathes life into the world The heauens great coachman mounted is in state And darknesse from the aire to hell is hurld Now pleasures king by day light sees his mate Whil'st she lay blushing like the damaske rose His ietty haire she with her fingers curld He hug'd her fast least he his ioyes should lose 83 Her fight begot in him a new desire For that is restlesse alwaies in extreames Nought but saciety can quench loues fire Now throgh the christal casemēt Phoebus beames Dazled those twinckling starres that did aspire To gaze vpon his brightnesse being a louer Tasting her petulans in waking dreames To hide her from the sunne he doth her couer 84 Then sweet breath'd musicke like the chime of spheares Did rauish pleasure till this paire did rise More wonder then that sound was to men eares Was her rare beauty to the gazers eyes Ioy was so violent the rockes it teares The noise and triumphs beates vpon the aire And like ambition pierceth through the skies That Ioue loo'kt downe on her that was so rare 85 Thus Mahomet both day and night doth spend In obseruation of her eyes and pleasure Growing so iealous least he should offend His soules perfection natures vnspent treasure If she but speake to him he low doth bend And such a seruitude he doth discouer Neglecting of himselfe in that grosse measure That Hiren clips her slaue no Emperour 86 Her chamber is her prison O most willing And there like house-doues they each other woo At first shee 'l shun him after fall a billing And with imagination make him doo Thy eies quoth Mahomet saues thousands killing For all my force vpon thee shall be spent Thy warres directions I do best allow Thy Armes my Armour and thy bed my Tent. 87 Who doth offend this paramour straight dyes As certainly as if pronounc'd by fate Who doth with duty please her needs must rise Her face directeth both his loue and hate The grosest flatterer is held most wise Now reignes swolne gluttony red lust and pride For when the heart 's corrupted in a state Needs must the other parts be putrifide 88 The cōmons like wolues bark against the moone And sweare they wil depose him from his throne The Nobles whisper and intend that soone Some one shal let their griefe to him be knowne To scape that office now is each mans boone Who speakes against her whets a fatall knife For he replyes I loose but what 's mine owne As sure as we haue life you loose that life 89 They stand amaz'd by hearing their own feares Each viewing other with a face extracted Some praying cursing other shedding teares To see a Louer by a Souldier acted Patience doth foole vs that so long forbeares To tell our Emperour hee 's turn'd a monster And to such ease and vices so contracted The world his birth and titles doth mis-conster 90 Then Musstapha beloued of the Turke Stood vp and said I hazard will my head Know Countrymen I le vndertake this worke And if I fall lament me being dead No flattery within this breast shall lurke For that to Princes eares is now grown common Whilest Mahomet to haue his pleasure fed Doth loose the worlds sway for a fickle woman 91 Vnto her priuate chamber straight he goes And findes his soueraigne sleeping on her lap On suddaine wakes him
Sir here are your foes The sound amaz'd him like a thunder-clap Although you sleep awak't are all our woes The franticke Emperour vpon him stares Relate in briefe the worst of our mishap Man cannot wrong vs when a God not dares 92 This danger Mehomet attends thy reigne The Gods are angry with thy lustfull ease Thy priuate pleasure is the Empires paine To please your selfe you all the world displease The Sophy German and the King of Spaine Begirt they safety with the ribbes of death Then worthy Prince your wonted valour cease And take my counsel though it cost my breath 93 You are but the shadow of an Emperour Not really effecting what you are A slothfull Epicure a puling louer That now en'e trembles at the name of warre Obliuion all thy former acts do couer Most willing to remoue you I will dye The sunne of honour now is scarce a starre Vertue at first was sire to Maiesty 94 The Emperour vpon his subiect stares As if a Gorgons head he there had seene How comes it vassall that thy proud tōgue dares Speake to remoue mee frō this heauenly queene The gods wold liue on earth to haue their shares In my Hirena Sirra you want nurture Thy life I will not touch now in my spleene But in cold bloud it shall depart with torture 95 I feare not death repli'd bold Mustapha At your command I 'le clime a steepy rocke Then headlong tumble downe into the sea Or willingly submit me to the blocke Disrobe my nature and my body flea Yet in that tyranny I 'le speake my minde And boldly like a Souldier stand deaths shocke Concluding lust can strike the Eagle blinde 96 His haughty words amaz'd this king of loue Thou wert not wont to speake thus without duty Can her embraces so my soule remoue And must he be a coward dotes on beauty Such rarity of pleasure I do proue In her enioying that my soule is fed With that variety to speake her truly Each night she giues me a new maiden-head 97 Yet shall my subiects know my power in this That I can rule mine owne affection I pardon freely what thou speak'st amisse Knowing it sprung from loue and thy subiection Your eies shall see me rob the earth of blisse A sight too sad all heauen strike men with terror And in that act cast such reflexion That kings shall see thēselues in me their mirror 98 Go tell my Bashaes and the noble bloud I do inuite them to a royall dinner And there I 'le shew them loue can be withstood Yet he that wrongs my Greeke is such a sinner He cannot cleanse himselfe washt in loues flood Fortune this fate vpon my loue hath hurld The Monarkes of the earth in hope to win her Against her beauty would stake all the world 99 Leaue vs and be thou comforted my faire I will aduance thee bou'e the stile of woman Let not my words bring thee vnto dispaire Thou shalt imbrace the Gods for her 's no man Worthy to taste thy sweetes they are so rare Drawn by the Phoenix thou through heauen shalt ride And Saturn woūded by loues litle bowman Shall get his sonne to haue thee stellifide 100 Go decke thy beauty with heauens ornament Shine Cinthia like with iewels in the night As she with starres stucke in heauens firmament But thine the greater will deface her light Making her yeeld to thee her gouernment On Saturnes top thy face shall gaine opinion Beyond cold Phoebe shining out so bright Thou shalt be courted by her loue Endimion 101 Let ioy possesse thy heart and be thou proud In sight of all the Turkish Emperours Peares Let not thy sunne of beauty in a cloud Be hid from those whose eies with deawy teares For want of thy pure heate in shades do shroud Their drooping forheads but thy beames exhales All misty vapours and the welkin cleares Like putrifying lightning or Ioues balles 100 Then hand in hand they passe out of the roome Her beauty like a blazing starre admired Well may I tearme it so it shew'd the doome Of her liues date that instant was expired Now to the presence chamber they are come Where all in reuerence kisse the humble earth Here nature tooke her own and death hath hir'd To giue that backe againe which she gaue birth 103 Now stands in the midst and thus begins Taking the faire Hirena by the hand Which of you here that such a creature wins Would part with her for honor loue or land The gods were enuious whē they made those sins Which are th crowns of this fraile worlds cōtent Nor can it with their humane reason stand To thinke our ioyes begets our punishment 104 View but her hand her lip her brow her eyes The smalnesse of her waste and comely stature And let your iudgement bou'e your hatred rise Thē you must needs cōfesse she excels in feature That you are onely fooles I truly wise Doe not her presence admiration strike And broken is her frame by angry nature For feare she wrongs herselfe and make the like 105 What man that hauing toild in hidden Art Spent all his youth and substance to the bone All bookes and knowledge in the deepest part To finde that Phoenix that gold-getting stone And hauing it to comfort his weake heart Shall he his seruants wife or friends to please With his owne eies go see that iewell throwne Into the bottomelesse and gaping seas 106 Or which of you can haue the fortitude to lop a limbe off or pull out an eye Or being in a heauenly seruitude To free your selues would with the damned lye Offorce with me you now must all conclude That mortall men are subiect to loues rod But heere you shall perceiue that onely I Am natures conquerour and a perfect God 107 Then with a smiling looke he came vnto her And kist her bad her pray and then he smil'd I must not in my constancy now erre Since by mine owne tongue I a God am sti'ld He drawes a fatall Turkish Simiter With it he parts her body from her head And though his tyranny did proue so vile She seem'd to mocke him smiling being dead 108 Vntill he tooke it in his bloudy power And then a crimson floud gusht out a pace The fauor chang'd frō smiling and look't sower And senceles teares ran trickling downe her face As who should say I thought within this hower For me thou wouldst haue oppos'd heauen with strife That earthly being is like falling glasse To thee I lost virginity and life 109 Long stood he mute and gaz'd vpon her forme Till Mustapha came in to play his part His eies shot lightning like a horrid storme Thē with his fauchion runs him through the hart O could this diuell my soule so tranforme That I must eate that snake in him did lurke But this is hels instruction the blacke Art To giue our sins the means by which they work 110 O my Hirena Mahomet then cries Looke through the orbes see an Emperour sad Detaine her not you rulers in the skies But send her once more to make Monarkes glad My soule to thine like Tartars shaft now flies They held his arme or else he had done the deed This mighty Mahomet with loue growne mad Can nothing ease you but your heart must bleed 111 Where is that God-head due vnto your birth Descended from the Prophet Mahomet Recall your spirits to their former mirth And keep your colour constant like the Iet Now shew your fortitude be God on earth Marshall your men giue eare vnto your Drum And let your valour with the sunne being set With the resplendancy burne Christendome 112 Awake dull mate and leaue this trance Be perfect man as thou hast here thy being Not subiect vnto passion or chance But like thy selfe with Kingly thoughts agree Our siluer moone to heauen we will aduance And Christendome shall mourne for Hirens fall That heathen Princes our braue acts seeing Shall yeeld the world to vs we king of all 113 And for my loues vnkindly Tragedy A thousand Citties for her death shall mourne And as a relicke to posterity Our priests shall keep her ashes in their vrne And fame to future times with memory Shall sound ber glory and my loues effects For till this vniuersall Masse doth burne Her beauty rests the wonder of her sex 114 Now order my affaires for bloudy warre For heere I vow this loue shall be my last No more shall downy pleasure like a barre Stop my designes that now at honour gast Shoote prophet on my forhead a blessed starre A Tygers fiercenesse and my heart shall moue Because with Hiren all affections past I 'le pitty none for pitty be gets loue FINIS
in hers Sucking her balmey breath soft as he may Which did more vigor through his brest disperse Such kisses louers vse at first conuerse All parts were to that center drawne I wis Close as the dew-wormes at the breake of day That his soule shew'd as t' were a melting kisse 56 Till breathles now he breath'd into her loue Who scorn'd to take possession by degrees No law with her strange passion will he proue But hauing interest scorn'd one inch to leese Cupid shee le set thee free withouten fees But though his wings she well nie set on fire And burn'd the shaft that first her brest did moue Yet Cupid would be Lord of her desire 57 T is sayd Aurora blushes euery morne For feare that Titan should her fault espy And blushes so did Hirens cheekes adorne Fearing least Mahomet perceiu'd her eye Louers are blind and what could he espy No t was the hidden vertue of that kisse That her chast lips were nere vs'd to beforne That did vnframe her and confirme her his 58 Louers beleeue lips are inchanted baites After fifteene who kisses a faire maide Had need to haue friends trusty of the fates For by my muse I sweare I am a afraid Hee 's Iourney-man already in Loues trade A kisse is porter to the caue of loue Well see and you may enter all the gates Women were made to take what they reproue 59 A kisse is the first Tutor and instinct The guider to the Paphian shrine and bowers They who before ne're entred loues precinct Kissing shall finde it and his sundry powers O how it moues this continent of aires And makes our pulse more strong hye to beat Making vs know when lips are sweetly linck't That to those Kickshawes 'longs more dainty meate 60 And so indeed bewitched Hiren knowes The pressure of his lips was not in vaine Seldome proue women friends vnto their foes But when with ouer kindnesse they are tane So weake professors do swalow their owne bane Shew them the axe they 'l suffer martyrdome But if promotion to them you propose And flattery then to the lure they come 61 Thus Mahomet blinds her with Cupids vaile And this new conuertite building on hope Loue makes folks hardy alas the flesh is fraile Dispences now a little with the Pope And frō restrictions giues her heart more scope O Liberty Author of heresie Why with such violent wing dost thou assaile To hurry vertue to impiety 62 No pardon will she now implore of Rome Her selfe she pardons twenty times an houre Nor yet an heretike her selfe doth doome Since she hath Mahomet within her power O loue too sweet in the digestion sower Yet was he made as nature had agreed To match them both together from her wombe And be a ioyfull grandam in their seed 63 A face Nature intended for a maister peece And louely as the maide though a blacke pearle Painters and women say an Eben fleece Doth well beseeme the shoulders of an Earle Blacke snares they were that did entrap this girle Each haire like to a subtile serpent taught her Of the forbidden fruit to taste a peece Whil'st Eue is stain'd againe here in her daughter 64 His eyes were stuck like Comets in his head As if they came to treate of nouelties And bring the world and beautie into dread That he must conquer chastest chastities O who such tempting graces could despise All voluntarie sinnes soules may refraine But Natures selfe that of the flesh is bred Such power she hath that vice she will retaine 65 Let me faire Greeke a little plead for thee Like a vaine Orator more for applause And swolne commends of those are standers by Then profits sake or goodnesse of the cause If men that vpon holy vowes do pawse Haue broke alas what shall I say of these The last thing thought on by the Deitie Natures step-children rather her disease 66 Maide why commit you wilfull periurie To you I speake that vowe a single life I must confesse y' are mistresse of beauty Which beautie with your oaths is still at strife Then know of me thou widow maide or wife She that is faire and vowes still chast to stand Shall find an opposite to constancie Fooles Oracles last not are writ in sand The end of the first Tome TO THE PERFECTION OF Perfection and wisedome of Womanhood the intelligent and worthily admired ELIZABETH Countesse of Darby wife to the thrice-noble WILLIAM Earle of Darby VVHen as the skilfull Statuaries make The image of some great worthy one They still as they intend his forme to take Forecast the Basis he shall rest vpon Whose firme infixe thunders nor winds can shake Nor Time that Nature deads to liue alone So worthiest Lady may I proudly vaunt Being neuer guilty of that crime before That to this Laye which I so rudely chaunt Your diuine selfe which Dian doth adore As her maids her I haue select to daunt Enuy as violent as these nam'd before Vertue and beauty both with you enioy Gorgon and Hydra all but death destroy Your honors from youth oblig'd WIL. BARKSTED The second Tome 67 LOng did this beautious martyr keep her faith Thinking that Mahomet was full of error Treading that high coelestiall milkie path Virginity that did produce hels terror Yet knowing loue in Princes turnes to wrath She meanes to catch his fancies with her cunning But so resistlesse is this Princes feruor Though he imprison loue still feares his cunning 68 For like a Castle seated on a rocke Besieg'd by thousands danger each way spread That had withstood the battery of warres shock The liuing making bulwarkes of the dead So did this Virgins thoughts to her hart flock Wiuing her danger when her powers were lost Hyrena will yeeld vp her maiden head A gift to make loue proud or silence bost 69 He gently woes her with the misers God The Indians ignorance and vertues slaue Bright flaming gold for where that ha's abode All doores flies open to the wish we craue Gold is mans mercy and his makers rod She loues the King for honor and for riches He makes her eyes his heauen her lap his graue A womans face oft Maiesties bewitches 70 When news is brought him that his foes are come He catches straite this maiden in his armes Calling for musicke that is now his drumme I le keepe thee safe quoth he for other harmes Tho spoke in thunder they to me are dumbe To counsell now they call him with low duty But her Idea so his sences charmes He drownes all speech in praising of her beauty 71 One tels him that the Christians are in field You do not marke her beauty he replies Two mightie Cities to their power doth yeeld Note but the lustre sparkling from her eyes Your subiects hearts against your life are steeld Her tongue is musick that strikes wonder dumbe Your people struck with warre by millions dyes If she but frowne then I shall ouercome 72 Shall I feare this worlds
art And shalt be only in thine own free choice What makes me speake makes me speak thus diuine Else could I threat thee with a conquerors voyce 18 What you may do said she I do not know But know you this there is a thousand waies To finde out night before my shamelesse brow Shall meet that day in guilt of such misrayes Oh how vniust art thou the pagan sayes To him which sues for a respecting eye And no ignoble action doth allow But honor and thy faires to gratifie 19 The effect of both is one said she both spils And layes my shame o're mastred at thy feet But greatnesse said he doth outface all ills And maiesty make sowre apparance sweete Where other powers theÌ„ greatnes doth cut meet It doth indeed said she but we adore More theÌ„ a great Earth-monarch whoÌ„ death kils Mortall soules thinke on th' immortall more 20 Alas faire Christian Saint said Mahomet So yong and full of gray hair'd purity These are but shifts of Friers tales farre fet Dearest I 'le teach thee my diuinity Our Mecha's is not hung with Imagery To tell vs of a virgin-bearing-sonne Our adoration to the Moone is set That pardons all that in the darke is done 21 O blinde religion when I learne said she To hallow it my body tombe my soule And when I leaue the mid-day-sunne for thee Blush Moone the regent of the nether roule What I hold deerest that my life controule And what I prize more precious then imagery Heauens grant the same my bane and ruine be And where I liue wish all my Tragedy 22 A dreadfull curse replide the Saracen But I will teach thee how to cousen it An oath in loue may be vnsworne againe Ioue markes not louers oathes euery whit Thou wilt repent beside when riper wit Shall make thee know the magicke of thine eies How faire thou art and how esteem'd of men T is no religion that is too precise 23 Nor is this all though this might woo a Greeke To wantonize with princely Mahomet Much more by loues inuention could I speake By which the coldest temper might be heate But I must hence a fitter time I 'le set To conquer thee Bashawes these spare or spill Saue Mustapha this maid since her we like Conduct vnto our Tent now warre he will 24 She like Cassandra thral'd and innocent Wrang her white hands tore her golden haire Hal'd by the Eunuchs to the Pagans Tent Speechlesse and spotlesse vnpittied not vnfaire Whiles he to make all sure did repaire To euery Souldier throughout the field And gaue in charge matters of consequence As a good generall and a Souldier should 25 Then sent he forth Polidamus to bid The Drums Trumpets sound that daies retreit For in his soule their ratling noyse he chid For startling Cupid whose soft bosome streight Had lodg'd him grew proud of such a freight Beside the sword and fire had swept the streetes And all did in the victors hands abide Night like wise came fit time for Loues stolne-sweets 26 Thus tumbling in conceits he stumbled home In the darke couerture of shady night Cal'd for a torch the which his chamber groome With more then speedy haste did present light To bed he went as heauy in his spright As loue that 's full of anguish makes the minde Faine would he sleepe away this martirdome But loues eyes open when all else are blinde 27 What do you talke of sleepe talke of the Greeke For being laid he now grew almost mad What is she not as faire quoth he to like As Phedria whom in Corinth once I had With that he knock't his Eunuchs vp and bad One aske the Grecian maide what was her name What she made there whom she came to see And to what end into his Tent she came 28 When he was gone somewhat the fury staid And beat more temperate in his liuer-vaine Onely he could not choose but praise the maid Whose eies froÌ„ his such womanish drops did strain Did not thy face sigh'd he such faires containe It could not be my heart thou couldst distract But all abstracts of rarities are laid In thy faire cheekes so feelingly compact 29 Thus made what maiest thou not command In mighty Amuraths wide Empery My tributary loue and not my land Shall pay it homage to thy proud bent eye And they who most abhorre idolatry Shall tender Catholicke conceites to thee O arme not honor still for to withstand And make a foyle of loue which dwels in me 30 By this time was the Carpet-page return'd And told the prince the Greeke was Hiren hight But so she wept sigh'd grieu'd mourn'd As I could get no more said he to night And weeps said Amurath my loue so bright Hence villaine borrow wings flie like the winde Her beauteous cheeks with hot tears wil be burnd Fetch her to me ô loue too deafe too blind 31 Then crossing both his armes athwart his breast And sinking downe he fet a soule taught grone And sigh'd and beat his heart since loue possest And dwelt in it which was before his owne How bitter is sweet loue that loues alone And is not sympathis'd like to a man Rich full cram'd with euery thing that 's best Yet lyes bed-sicke whom nothing pleasure can 32 Sometimes he would inuoke sweet Poets dead In their own shapes to court the maid with words But then he fear'd least they her maiden head Shold win froÌ„ him theÌ„ somtimes arms swords His old heroike thoughts new roome affords And to the field he would but then loue speakes And tels him Hiren comes vnto his bed VVhich dasheth all and all intendments breakes 33 And lo indeed the purple hangings drawne In came faire Hiren in her night attire In a silke mantle and a smocke of lawne Her haire at length the beams of sweete desire Her breasts all naked ô inchanting fire And siluer buskins on her feet she wore Though all the floore with Carpet-worke was strawn Yet were such feet too good to tread that floore 34 Now Mahomet bethinke thee what is best Said she compell me I will speake thy shame And tell thy hatefull fact at euery feast Singers in balads shall berime thy name And for dishonoring me spot thy faire fame But if No more chast maid said Mahomet Though in thy grant consists all ioy and rest I will not force thee till thou giue me it 35 But say I languish faint and grow forlorne Fall sicke and mourne nay pine away for thee Wouldst then for euer hold me yet in scorne Forbid my hopes the comfort that should be In hopes in doâ—ting hopes which tire on me O be not as some women be for fashion Like sun-shine daies in clouds of raine still borne The more you 'l loue the more shal grow my passion 36 And then he clasp'd her frosty hand in his An orient pearle betwixt two mother shels And scal'd thereon a hearty burning kisse Kisses in loue