Yet Fame and honour hath selected one From that illustrious crew and him alone Haue recommended to my carefull quill Forbidding that his honour shoâ—…ld lye still Among the rest whom fortune and his spirit That day had crowned with a victors merit His name was Argalus In Cyprus borne And if what is not ours may adorne Our proper fortunes his blood royall springs From th' ancient stocke of the great Cyprian Kings His outside had enough to satisfie The expectation of a curious eye Nature was too too prodigall of her beauty To make him halfe so faire whom Fame and duty He ought to Honour calâ—…'d so often forth T' approue the exc'lence of his manly worth His minde was richly furnisht with the treasure Of morall knowledge in so liberall measure Not to be proud So valiant and so strong Of noble courage not to dare a wrong Friendly to all men inward but with few Fast to his old friends and vnapt for new Lord of his word and master of his passion Serious in buisnesse choyce in recreation Not too mistrustfull and yet wisely wary Hard to resolue and then as hard to vary And to conclude the world could hardly finde So rare a body with so rare a minde Thrice had the bright surueyour of the heauen Diuided out the dayes and nights by euen And equall houres since this child of fame Inuited by the glory of her name First view'd Partheniaes face whose mutuall eye Shot equall flames and with the secret tie Of vndisclos'd affection ioyn'd together Their yeelding hearts their loues vnknown to either Both dearly lou'd the more they stroue to hide Their loue affection they the more descride It lyes beyond the power of art to smother Affection where one vertue finds another One was their thoughts and their desires one And yet both lou'd vnknowne beloued vnknowne One was the Dart that at the selfe same time Was sent that wounded her that wounded him Both hop'd both fear'd alike both ioy'd both grieu'd Yet where they both could helpe was none relieu'd Two lou'd and two beloued were yet none But two in all and yet that all but one By this time had their barren lippes betraid Their timorous silence now they had displaid Loues sanguine colours whilst the winged Child Sate in a tree and clapt his hands and smil'd To see the combat of two wounded friends He strikes and wounds himselfe while she defends That would be wounded for hâ—…r paine proceeds And flowes from his and from his wound she bleeds She playes at him and ayming at his breast Pierc'd her owne heart and when his hand addrest The blow to her faire bosome there it found His owne deare heart and gaue that heart the wound At length both conquer'd and yet both did yeeld Both lost the day and yet both wan the field And as the warfare of their tongues did cease Their lips gaue earnest of a ioyfull peace But ô the hideous chances that attend A louers progresse to his iournies end How many desp'rate rubs and dangers waite Each minute on his miserable state His hopes doe build what straight his feares destroy Sometimes he surfeits with excesse of ioy Sometimes despairing ere to find reliefe He roares beneath the tyranny of griefe And when loues current runnes with greatest force Some obuious mischiefe still disturbes the course For loe no sooner the discouerd flame Of these new parted louers did proclaime Loues sacred Iubilé but the Virgins Mother The posture of whose visage did discouer Some serious matter harb'ring in her brest Enters the roome Halfe angry halfe in iest Shee thus began My dearest child this night When as the silent darknesse did inuite Mine eyes to slumber sundry thoughts possest My troubled minde and robb'd me of my rest I slept not till the early bugle horne Of Chauntiâ—…lere had summon'd in the Morne T' attend the Light and nurse the new-borne Day At last when Morpheus with his leaden key Had lockt my senses and enlarg'd the power Of my heauen guided fancy for an houre I slumbred and before my slumbring eyes One and the selfesame dreame presented thrice I wak'd and being frighted at the vision Perceiu'd the Gods had made an appâ—…ition My dreame was this Me thought I saw thee sitting Drest like a princely Bride with robes befitting The state of Maiesty thy Nymph-like haire Loosely dissheuel'd and thy browes did beare A Cypresse wreath and thrice three months expir'd Thy pregnant wombe grew heauy and required Lucina's aid with that me thought I saw A teame of harnest Peacocks fiercely draw A siery Chariot from the flitting sky Wherein there sate the glorious Maiesty Of great Saturnia on whose traine attended An hoast of Goddesses Iuno descended From out the flaming Chariot and blest Thy painfull wombe Thy paines a while encreast At length she laid her gentle palmes vpon Thy fruitfull flanke and there was borne a son She made thee mother of a smiling boy And after blest thee with a mothers ioy She kist the Babe whose fortune she foresold For on his head she set a Crowne of Gold Forthwith as if the heauens had clouen in sunder Me thoughts I heard the horrid noise of thunder The raine pour'd downe and yet the skie was cleare And euery drop that lighted did appeare As orient pearle mixt with refined gold VVbereat the goddesse turn'd and said Behold Great Iâ—…ue hath sent a gift goe forth and tak 't Thus hauing spoke she vanisht and I wak't I wak'â—… and waking trembled for I knew They were no idle passages that grew From my distemperd thoughts t was not a vaine Delusion rouing from a troubled braine It was a vision and the gods forespake Parthenia's fortune Gods cannot mistake I lik'd the dreame wherein the gods foretold Thy ioyfull mariage and the shower of gold Betokened wealth The Infants golden Crowne Ensuing honour Iuno's comming downe A safe deliuerance and the smiling Boy Summ'd vp the totall of a mothers ioy But what the wreath of Cypresse that was set Vpon thy nuptiall browes presag'd as yet The gods keepe from me if that secret doc Portend an euill heauen keepe it from thee too Aduise Parthenia Seeke not to withstand The plot wherein the Gods vouchsafe a hand Submit thy will to theirs what they enioyâ—…e Must be nor lyes it in my power or thine To contradict Endeauor to fulfill What else must come to passe against thy will Now by the filâ—…all all duty thou dost beare The gods and me or if ought else more deare Can force obedience as thou hop'st to speed At the gods hands in greatest time of need By heauen by hell by all the powers aboue I here coniure Parthenia to remoue All sond conceits that labour to disioyne What heauen hath knit Demâ—…goras's heart and 〈◊〉 The gods are faithfull and their wisedomes know What 's better for vs mortalls then we doe Doubt not my child the gods cannot deceiue What heauen does offer feare not to receiue With thankfull hands Passe
vnregarded ruine lyes With deaths vntimely image in her eyes She she whom hopeful thoughts had newly crownd With promis'd ioyes lyes groueling on the ground Her weary hand sustaine her drooping head Too soft a pillow for so hard a bed Her eyes swolne vp as loath to see the light That would discouer so forlorne a sight The flaxen wealth of her neglected haires Stick'â—… fast to her pale cheelâ—…s with dried teares And at first blush she seemes as if it were Some curious statue on a Sepulchre Sometimes her brinie lips would whisper thus My Argalus my dearest Argalus And then they clos'd againe as if the one Had kist the other for that seruice done In naming Argalus sometimes opprest With a deepe sigh she gaue her panting brest A sudden stroke and after that another Crying Hard fortune O hard hearted mother And sicke with her owne thoughts her passion stroue Betwixt the two extreames of griefe and loue The more she grieu'd the more her loue abounded The more she lou'd the more her heart was wounded With desperate griefe at length the tyrannous force Of loue and griefe sent forth this selfe dâ—…scourse How art thou chang'd Parthenia how hath passion Put all thy thoughts and senses out of fashion Exil'd thy little iudgement and betray'd thee To thine owne selfe How nothing hath it made thee How is thy weather beaten soule opprest With stormes and tempests blowne from the Northeast Of cold despaire which long ere this had found Eternall rest had bin orewhelm'd and drown'd In the deepe gulfe of all my miseries Had I not pumpt this water from mine eyes My Argalus ô where ô where art thou Thou little think'st thy poore Parthenia now Is tortur'd for thy sake alas deare heart Thou know'st not the insufferable smart I vndergoe for thee Thou dost not keepe A Register of those sad teares I weepe No no thou dost not Well well from henceforth Fortune doe not spare To doe the worst thy Agent Mischiefe dare Deuise new torments or repeat the old Vntill thou burst or I complaine Be bold As bitter I disdaine thy rage thy power Who 's leuell'd with the earth can fall no lower Doe spit thy venome forth and temper all Thy studied actions with the spirit of gall Thy practis'd malice can no euill deuise Too hard for Argalus to exercise His loue shall sweeten death and make a torture My sportfull pastime to make houres shorter His loue shall fill my heart and leaâ—…e no roome Wherein your rage may practise martyrdoome But ere that word could vshâ—…r out another The tender Viâ—…gins marble hearted mother Enters the Chamber with a chang'd aspect Beholds Partheniâ—… with a new respect Salutes her child and hauing clos'd the doore Her helpfull arme remoues her from the â—…loore Whereon she lay and being set together In gentle termes she thus did commune with her Peruerse Partheniâ—… Is thy heart so sworne To Aâ—…galus his loue that it must sâ—…orne Demagoras Are your soules conioyn'd so close That my entâ—…eaty may not enterpose If so what helpe yet let a mothers care Be not conteâ—…n'd that bids her child beware The sickle that 's too early cannot reape A fruitfull Haruest Looke before you leape Adiourne your thoughts and make a wise delay You cannot measure vertue in a day Vertues appeare but vices baulke the light T is hard to read a vice at the first sight False are those ioyes that are not mixt with doubt Fire easely kindled will not easely out Diuide that loue which thou bestowst on one Twixt two try both then take the best or none Consult with time for time bewrayes discouers The faith the loue the constancy of louers Acts done in hast by leasure are repented And things soone past are oft too late lamented With thaâ—… Parthenia rising from her place And bowing with incomparable grace Mâ—…de â—…his reply Madam each seuerall day Since first you gaue this body being may Write a large volume of your tender care Whose hourely goodnesse if it should compare With my deserts alas the world would show Too great a summe for one poore heart to owe I must confesse my heart is not so sworne To Argalus his merit as to scorne Dâ—…magoras nor yet so loosely tyed That I can slip the knot and so diuide Entire affection which must not be seuer'd Nor euer can be but in vaine endeuour'd My heart is one and by one power guided One is no number cannot be diuided And Cupids learned schoolemen haue resolu'd That loue diuided is but loue dissolu'd But yet what plighted faith and honour may Not now vndoe your counsell shall delay Madam Partheniaes hand is not so greedy To reape her corne before her corne he ready Her vnaduised sickle shall not thrust Into her hopefull Harâ—…est ere needs must To yours Pâ—…rthenia shall submit her skill Whose season shall be season'd by your will Her time of haruest shall admit no measure But onely what 's proportion'd by your pleasure Sâ—… ended she But till that darknesse got The mastry of the light they parted not The mother pleads for the Laconian Lord The daughter whose impatience had abhort'd His very name had not her mother spok't Sâ—…e plâ—…ads her vow which cannot be reuokt Yâ—…t stâ—…ll the mother pleads and does omit No way vntryed that a hard hearted wit Knowes to deuise perswades allures entreats Mingles his words with smiles with tears w th threats Commands coniâ—…es tries one way tryes another Does thâ—…tmost that a marble brested mother Can doe and yet the more she did apply The morâ—… she taught Parthenia to deny The more she did assâ—…ult the more contend The more she taught the virgin to defend At last despairing for her words did finde More ease to moue a mountaine then her minde She spâ—…ke no more but from her chaire she started And spit these words Goe peeuish Girle and parted Away she flings and finding no successe In her lost words her fury did addresse Her raging thoughts to a new studied plot Actions must now enforce what words could not Treason is in her thoughts Her furious breath Can whisper now no language vnder death Poore Argalus must dye and his remoue Must make the passage to Demagoras loue And till that barre be broken or put by No hope to speed Poore Argalus must dye Demagoras is call'd to counsell now Consults consents and after mutuall vow Râ—…soluing on the act they both conspire Which way to execute their close desiâ—…e Dâ—…awing his keene Seeletto from his side Madam said he This medicine well applide To Argâ—…lus his boâ—…ome will giue rest To him and me the sudden way is best My Lord 〈◊〉 she your trembling hand may misse The marke and then your selfe in danger is Of outcry or perchance his owne resistance Attempts are dangerous at so small a distance A drugg's the better weapon which does breathe Deaths secret errand carries sudden death Clos'd vp in sweetnesse Come a drugge strikes sure And works our ends
be seene by none Lookes red for shame and blushes to discouer Th' incestuous pleasures of the heauen borne louer So look'd Parthenia when the sudden eye Of her vnwelcome mother did dâ—…scry Her secret passion The mothers smile Brought forth the daughters blush and leuell coyle They smil'd and blush one smile begate another The daughter blusht because the icalous mother Smil'd on her and the silent mother smilde To see the conscious blushing of her childe At length growne great with words she did awake Her forced silence and she thus bespake Blush not my fairest daughter T is no shame To pitty louers or lament that flame Which worth and beauty kindles in the brest T is charity to succour the distrest The disposition of a generous heart Makes euery griese her owne at least beares part What marble ah what adamantine care Ere heard the flames of Troy without a teare Much more the scorching of a louers fire Whose desprate fewell is his owne desire May boldly challenge euery gentle heart To be 〈◊〉 in his secret smart Why dost thou blush why did those pearly teares Slide downe Feare not this Arbour hath no cares Here 's none but we speake then It is no shame To shed a teare thy mother did the same Say hath the winged wanton with his dart Sent ere a message to thy wounded heart Speake in the name of Hymen I coniure thee If so I haue a 〈◊〉 shall recure thee I feare I feare the yong La 〈◊〉 Lord Hath lately left some indigested word In thy cold stomack which for want of Art I doubt I doubt lyes heauy at thy heart If that be all reueâ—…ling brings reliefe Silence in loue but multiplies a griefe Hid sorrow's desperate not to be endur'd Which being but disclos'd is easly cur'd Perchance thou 〈◊〉 Demagoras and wouldst smother Thy close 〈◊〉 from thy angry mother And reapâ—… the daâ—…nty fruits of loue vnseene I did the like or thou hadst neuer beene Stolne goods are sweetest If it be thy minde To loue in secret I will be as blinde As he that wounded thee or if thou dare Acquaint thy mother then a mothers care Shall be redoubled till thy thoughts acquire The sweet fruition of thy choice desire Thou lou'st Dâ—…magoras If thy lips deny Thy conscious heart must giue thy lips the lye And if thy liking countermand my will Thy punishment shall be to loue him still Then loue him still and let his hopes inherit The crowne belonging to so faire a merit His thoughts are noble and his fame appeares To speake at least an age aboue his yeares The blood of his increasing honour springs From the high stock of the Arcadian Kings The gods haue blest him with a liberall hand Enricht him with the prime of all the land Honour and wealth attend his gates and what Can he command that he possesses not All which and more if mothers can diuine The fortune of thy beauty hath made thine He is thy Captiue and thy conquering eyes Haue tooke him prisner hee submits and lies At thy deare mercie hoping ne re to be Ransom'd from death by any price but thee Wrong not thy selfe in being too too nice And what perchance may not be proferd twise Accept at first It is a foolish minde To be too coy Occasion 's bald behind T is not the common worke of euery day T' afford such offers Take them while you may Times alter youth and beauty are but blasts Vse then thy time whil'st youth and beauty lasts For if that loath'd and infamous reproach Of a stale maide but offer to incroach Vpon opinion th' art in estimation Like garments kept till they be out of fashion Thy worth thy wit thy vertues all must stand Like goods at outcries priz'd at second hand Resolue thee then t' enlarge thy Virgin life With th' onourable freedome of a wife And let the fruits of that blest marriage be A liuing pledge betwixt my Child and me So said The faire Parthenia in whose heare Her owne affections yet had got the start Of her obedience makes a sudden pause Striues with her thoughts obiects the binding lawes Of filiall duty to her best affection Sometimes submits vnto her owne election Sometimes vnto her mothers thus diuided In her distracted sancy sometimes guided By one desire and sometimes by another She thus replide to her attentiue mother Madam Thinke not Parthenia vnder a pretence Of silence studies disobedience Or by the crafty slownesse of reply Borrowes a quick aduantage to deny It lyes not in your power to command Beyond my will vnto your tender hand I here surrender vp that little All You gaue me freely to dispose withall The gods forbid Parthenia should resist What you command command you what you list But pardon me the young Laconian Lord Hath made assault but neuer yet could board This heart of mine I wept I wept indeed But my misconsterd streames did ne're proceed From Cupids spring This blubber'd book makes known Whose griefes I wept I wept not for mine owne My lowly thoughts durst neuer yet a spire The least degree towards the proud desire Of so great honour to be call'd his wife For whom ambitious Queenes haue bin at strife He su'd for loue and strongly did importune My heart more pleased with a meaner fortune My brest was marble and my heart forgot All pitty for indeed I lou'd him not But Madam you to whose more wise directions I bend the stoutest of my rash affâ—…ctions You haue commanded and your will shall be The square to my vneauen desires and me I 'le practise duty and my deeds shall show it I 'le practise loue though Cupid neuer know it Whâ—…n great Basilius he whose princâ—…ly hand Nourisht long peace in the Arcadian land With triumph brought to his renowned Court His new espoused Queene was great resort Of forraine States and Princes to behold The truth that vnbeleeu'd report had told Of faire Gynecias worth Thither repair'd The Cyprian Nobles richly all 〈◊〉 In warlike furniture and well addrest With solemne Iousts to glorifie the feast Of mariage royall lately past betweene Th' Arcadian King and his thrice noble Queene The faire Gynecia in whose face and brest Nature and curious Art had done their best To summe that rare perfection which in briefe Transcends the power of a strong beliefe Her Syer was the Cyprian King whose fame Receiu'd more honour from her honour'd name Then if he had with his victorious hand Vnsceptred halfe the Princes in the land To tell the glory of this royall Feast The Bridegroomes state and how the Bride was drest The princely seruice and the rare delights The seuerall names and worth of Lords and Knights Their quaint Impresa's their deuisefull showes Their martiall sports their oft redoubled blowes The courage of this Lord or that proud horse Who ran who got the better who the worse Is not my taske nor lyes it in my way To make relation of it Heraulds may
it had perfection In her it ioy'd although but ill befriended By Fate in her begun in her it ended If I had lou'd if I had onely lou'd Parthenia's beautie I had soone beene mou'd To moderate my sorrowes and to place That loue on you that haue Parthenia's face But 't was Parthenia's selfe I lou'd and loue VVhich as no time hath power to remoue From my sixt heart so nothing can diminish No fortune can dissolue no death can finish With mingled frownes and smiles she thus replide Hâ—…lfe in a rage And must I be denide Are those the noble fauours I expected To finde disgrade and goe away reiected Most noble Lady if my words said he Suit not your expectation let them be Imputed to the miserie of my state Which makes my lips to speake they know not what Mistake not him that onely studies how VVith most aduantage still to honour you Alas what ioyes I euer did receiue From fortune's buried in Parthenia's graue VVith whom ere long nor are my hopes in vaine I hope to meet and neuer part againe So said with more then Eagle winged hast She flew into his bosome and embrac'd And her clos'd armes his sorrow-wasted wast Surcharg'd with ioy she wept not hauing power To speake Haue you beheld an Aprill shower Send downe her hasty bubbles and then stops Then storms afresh through whose transparent drops The vnobscurâ—…d lampâ—… of heauen conuaies The brighâ—…er glory oâ—…'s refulgent rayes Euen so within her blushing checks resided A mixt aâ—…pect 'twixt smiles and teares diuided So euen diuided no man could say whether She wept or 〈◊〉 she smil'd and wept together She held him fast and like a fainting louer Whose passion now had license to discouer Some words Since then thy heart is not for me Take take thy owne Parthenia said she Cheare vp my Argalus these words of mine Ate thy Parthenia's as Parthenia's thine Beleeue it Loue these are no false alarmes Thou hast thine owne Parthenia in thine armes Like as a man whose hourely wants implore Each meales reliefe trudging from doore to doore That heares no dialect from churlish lippes But newes of Beadles and their torâ—…uring whips Takes vp perchance some vnexpected treasure New lost departs and ioyfull beyond measure Iâ—… so transported that he scarce beleeuâ—…s So greaâ—… a truth and what his eye perceiues Not daring trust but feares it is some vision Or 〈◊〉 dreâ—…me deseruing but derision So Argalusâ—…mazed â—…mazed at the newes Fâ—…ine woâ—…ld beleeue but daâ—…ing not abuse His easie saith too soone for feare his heart Should sâ—…rfeit on concâ—…it he did impart The truth vnto his fancie by degrees VVhere stopp'd by passion falling on his knees He thus began O â—…ou eternall powers That haue the guidance of these soules of ours Who by your iust prerogatiâ—…e can doe What is a sin for man to diue into Whose vndiscouer'd actions are too high For thought too deepe for man â—…'enquier why Delude not these mine eyes with the false show Of such a ioy as I must neuer know But in a dreame Or if a dreame it be O let me neuer wake againe to see My selfe deceiu'd that am ordain'd t' enioy A reall griefe and but a dreaming ioy Much more he spake to this â—…ffect which ended He blest himselfe and with a sigh vnbended His aking knees and rising from the ground Hâ—… câ—…st his rolling eyes about and found Tâ—…e roome auoyded and himsâ—…lfe alone The doore halfe clos'd and his Parthenia gone His new distemper'd passion grew extreame I knew I knew said he 't was but a dreame A minutes ioy a flash a flattering bubble Blowne by the fancy full of pleasing trouble Which waking breakes and empties into ayre And breathes into my soule a fresh despaire I knew 't was nothing but a golden dreame Which waking makes my wants the more extreame I knew 't was nothing but a dreaming ioy A blisse which waking I should ne're enioy My deare Parthâ—…nia tell me where O where Art thou that so 〈◊〉 ' st mine â—…ye mine eare O that my wak'ned fancy had the might To represent vnto my reall sight What my deceiued eyes beheld that I Might surfeit with excesse of ioy â—…nd die With that the faire Parthenia whose desire Was all this while by fire to draw out firâ—… And by a well aduised course to smother The sâ—…ry of one passion with another Stept in and said Then Argalus take thou Thy true Parthenia Thou dream'st not now Behold this Ring whose Motto does impart The constancy of our diuided heart Behold these eyes that for thy sake haue vented A world of teares vnpittied vnlamented Behold the face that had of late the power To curse all beauty yet it selfe secure Witnesse that Tapour whose prophetick snuffe VVas outed and reâ—…iued with one puffe And that my words may whet thy dull beliefâ—… 'T was I that roard beneath the scourge of griefe VVhen thou did'st curse the Darknesse for concealing My face and then the Tâ—…pour â—…or revealing So â—…oule a face 'T was I that ouercome VVith violent despaire stood deafe and dumbe To all thy vrg'd perswasions It was I That in thy absence did resolue to die A wandring pilgrime trusting to be led By fortune to my death and therefore fled But see the powers aboue can worke their ends In spight of mortals and what man intends The heauens dispose and order the euent For when my thoughts were desperately bent To mine owne ruine I was led by fate Through dangers now too tedious to relate To faire Queene Hellens court not knowing whither My vnaduised steps were guided Thither My Genius brought me where vnknowne to any I mournd in silence though obseru'd by many Relieu'd by none At length they did acquaint The faire Queene Hâ—…llen with my strange complaint Whose noble heart did truly sympathize With mine partaking in my miseries Who fill'd with pitty strongly did importune The wofull cause of my disastrous fortune And neuer rested till she did inforce These lips t' acquaint her with the whole discourse VVhich done her gratious pleasure did command Her owne Physitian to whose skilfull hand She left my foule disease who in the space Of twice ten dayes restor'd me to this face The cure perfected straight she sent about Without my knowledge to enquier out That party for whose sake I was contented T' endure such griefe with patience vnrepented Hoping since by her meanes and help of Art My face was cur'd euen so to cure my heart But when the welcome messenger return'd Thy place of boad ô how my spirits burnd To kâ—…sse her hands and so to leaue the Court But she whose fauours did transcend report As much as they exceeded my desert Detain'd me for a while as loath to part VVith her poore handmaid till at last perpending A louers haste and freely apprehending So iust a cause of speed she soone befriended My best desiers and sent me thus attended VVhere vnder a false maske I laid this plot To
Then crowne my ioyes thou Antidote of despaire And be as mercifull as thou art faire Nature the bounty of whose liberall hand Made thee the iewell of the Arcadian land Intended in so rare a prize to boast Her masterpeece Hid Iewells are but lost shine then and rob not nature of her due But honour her as she hath honour'd you Let not the best of all her workes lye dead In the nice Casket of a Maydâ—…nhead What she would haue reueal'd O doe not smother Th' art made in vaine vnlesse thou make another Giue me thy heart and for that gift of thine Lest thou shouldst want a heart I le giue thee mine As richly fraught with loue and lasting duty As thou with vertue or thine eyes with beauty Why dost thou frowne why does that heauenly brow Not made for wrinkles show a wrinkle now Send forth thy brighter sun-shine and the while O lend me but the twilight of a smile Giue me one amorous glance why standst thou mute Disclose those ruby lips and grant my suite Speake loue or if thy doubtfull minde be bent To silence let that silence be consent Nor begge I loue of almes although in part My words may seeme tâ—…implead my owne desert Disdaine me not although my thoughts descend Below themselues t' enioy so faire a friend 〈◊〉 that haue oâ—…t with teares bin sought to sue And Queens haue bin his seruants that serues you The beauties of all Grâ—…ece haue bin at strife To winne the name of great Demagoras wife And bin despis'd not worthy to obtaine So high an honour What they sought in vaine I here present thee with as thine owne due It being an honour fit for none but you Speake then my loue and let thy lips make knowne That I am either thine or not mine owne Haue you beheld when fâ—…esh Auroras eye Sends forth her early beames and by and by Withdrawes the glory of her face and shrowds Her checkes behind a ruddy mâ—…ske of clouds Which who beleeue in Erra Pater say Presages winde and blustry stormes that day Such were Partheniaes lookes in whose faire face Roses and Lillies late had equall place But now twixt mayden bash fulnesse and spleene Roses appear'd and Lillies were not seene Sâ—…e paus'd a while till at the last she breakes Her long kept angry silence thus and speakes My Lord Had your strong Oratory but the Art To make me conscious of so great desert As you perswade I should be bound in duty To praise your Rhet'ricke as you prize my beauty Or if the frailty of my iudgement could Flatter my thoughts so grosly as to hold Your words for currant you might boldly dare Count me as soolish as you terme me faire If you vye Courtship fortune knowes that I Haue not so strong a Game to see the vye Alas my skill durst neuer vndertake To play the game where hearts be set at stake Needs must the losse be great when such haue bin Seldome obseru'd to saue themselues that win You craue my heart My Lord you craue withall Too great a mischiese My poore heart 's too small To fill the concaue of so great a brest Whose thoughts can scorne the amorous request Of loue sicke Queenes and can requite the vaine And factious suits of Ladies with disdaine Stoope not so low beneath your selfe great Lord To loue Parthenia Shall so poore a word Staine your faire lips whose merits doe proclaime A more transcendent fortune then that name Can giue Call downe Ioues winged Pursuiuant Aâ—…d giue his tongue the power to enchant Some easie Goddesse in your name and treat A mariage fitting so sublime so great A mind as yours and fill the fruitfull earth With Heroes sprung from so diuine a birth Partheniaes heart could neuer yet aspire So high Her homebred thoughts durst ne're desire So fond an honour matcht with so great pride To hope for that which Queenes haue beene denyde Be wise my Lord vouchsafe not to repeat S'vnfit a suit Be wise as you are great Aduance your noble thoughts hazard no more To wrack your fortunes on so fleet a shore That to the wiser world it may be knowne The lesse y' are mine the more you are your owne Like as a guilty prisner vpon whom Offended Iustice lately past her doome Stands trembling by and hopelesse to preuaile Bâ—…ules not for mercy but to the loath'd Iaile Dâ—…agges his sad yrons and from thence commends A hâ—…sty suite to his selected friends That by the vertue of a quicke Reprieâ—…e The wretch might haue some few daies more to liue Euen so Demagoras whose rewounded heart Had newly felt the vnexpected smart And secret burthen of a desp'rate doome Replies not takes no leaue but quits the roome And in his discontented mind reuolues Ten thousand thoughts and at the last resolues What course to runne relying on no other But the assistance of Partheniaes mother Forthwith his fierce misguided passion droue His wandring steps to the next neighboring groue A keene Steeletto in his trembling hand He rudely grip'd vpon his lips did stand A milke white froth his eyes like flames sometimes He curses heauen himselfe and then the times Railes at the proud Parthenia raues despaires And from his head rends off his tangled hayres Curs s the wombe that bare him bans the Fates And drunke with spleene he thus deliberates Why dyest thou not Demagoras when as death Lends thee a weapon Can the whining breath Of discontent and passion send reliefe To thy distraction or asswage thy griefe Why moou'st thou not the Gods Or rather why Do'st not contemne and scorne their power and dye But stay Of whom dost thou complaine A woman To whom fond man dost thou complaine A woman And shall a womans frownes haue power to grieue thee Or shall a womans wanton smile relieue thee Fye fie Demagoâ—…as shall a womans eye Preâ—…aile to make the stout Demagorâ—…s dye And leaue to after times an entred name 〈◊〉 Callender of fooles Rouze vp for shame Thy wasted spirits whet thy spleene and liue To be reueng'd She she that would not giue Admittance to thy proferd loue must drinke The potion of thy hate stirre then the sinke Of all thy passion where thou canst not gaine By fairer lauguage Tarquin-like constraine But hold thy band Demâ—…goras and aduise Art giues adâ—…antage oft where force denyes Suspend thy fury Make Partheniaâ—…s mother Thy meanes One Adamant will cut another Sweeten thy lips with amorous Oratorie Affect her tender heart with the sad story Of thy deare loue Extoll Parthâ—…niaes beauty But most of all vrge that deserued duty Thou ow'st her vertue and make that the ground Of thy first loue that gaue thy heart the wound Mingle thy words with sighes and it is meet If thou canst force a teare to let her see 't Against thy will Let thy false tongue forbeare No vowes and though thou beest forsworne yet sweare If ere thy barren lips shall chance to pause For want of words Parthenia
and yet we sleepe secure My Lord bethinke no other Set your rest Vpon these Câ—…rds The surest way is best Leaue me to manage our successfull plot And if these studious browes contriue it not Too sure for art of Mâ—…gicke to preuent Ne're trust a womans wit wâ—…en fully bent To take reuenge Begone my Lord repose The trust in me Onely be wise be close That night when as the vniuersall shâ—…de Of the vnspangled heauen and earth had made An vâ—…ter darknesse darknesse apt to further The horrid enterprise of rapes and mâ—…her She she that now lacks nothing to procuâ—…e A full reuenge she calls Athleia to her Partheniaes handmaid whom shâ—… thus â—…espake Athleia dare thy priuate thoughts partake With mine Canst thou be secret Has thy heart A locke that none can pick by theevish art Or brake by force Tell me Canst thou digest A secret trusted to thy faithfull brest Madam said shâ—… Lâ—…t me bee neuer true To my owne thoughts if euer false to you Speake what you please Athleia shall conceale Torments may make me roare but ne're reâ—…eale Replyde the Lady then Athleia knows How much how much my deare affection owes Partheniaes heart whose welfare is the crowne Of all my ioyes which now is ouerthrowne And deeply buried in forgotten dust If thou betray the secret of my trust It lyeth in thy power to remoue Approaching euills Parthenia is in loue Her wasted spirits languish in her brest And nought but look'd for death can giue her rest T is Argalus she loues who with disdaine Requites her loue not louing her againe He sleights her teares The more that he neglects The more entirely she poore soule affects She groanes beneath the burden of despaire And with her sighes she cloyes the idle ayre Thou art acquainted with her priuate teares And you so oft exchanging tongues and eares Must know too much for one poore heart t' endure But desperate's the wound admits no Cure It lies in thee to helpe Athleia say Wilt thou assist me if I find the way Madam my forced ignorance shall be Sufficient earnest of my secresie Your lips haue vtter'd nothing that is new To Athleias eares Alas it is too true Long long ere this your seruant had reueal'd The same to you bad not my lips biâ—… seal'd But if my best endeauors may extend To bring my Mistresse sorrowes to an end Let all the enraged Dâ—…ties aâ—…ot To me worse torment if I doe it not My life 's too poore to hazard for her ease Madam I le doâ—… Command me what you please So said The treacherous Lady steps aside Inâ—…o her serious closeâ—… and applide Her hasty and perfidious hands to frame This foâ—…ged letter in Partheniaes name Constant Parthenia to her faithfull Argalus ALthough the malice of a mother Does yet enforce my tongue to smother What my desire is should flame yet Parthenia is the same Although my fire be hid a while T is but fire slak'd with oyle Before seuen Suns shall rise and fall It shall burne and blaze withall What I send thee drinke with speed Else let my Argalus take heed Vnlesse thy prouidence withstand there is treason ne're at hand Drinke as thou lou'st me and it shall secure thee From future dangers or from past recure thee This done and seal'd she op'd her priâ—…te doore Call'd in Athleia and said For euery sore The gods prouide a salue Force must preuaile Where sighes and teares and deepe entreaties faile Forthwith from out her Cabinet she tooke A little glasse and said Athleia looke Within these slender walls these glazed lists Partheâ—…aes happinesse and life consists It is Nepenthe which the factious gods Doe vse to drinke when ere they be at ods Whose secret vertue so infus'd by loue Does turne deep hatred into dearest loue It makes the proudest louer whine and baule And such to dote as neuer lou'd at all Here take this glasse and recommend the same To Aâ—…galus in his Pâ—…theniaes name And to his hand to his owne hand commit This letter Betweene Aâ—…galus and it Let no eye come Be sure thy speeâ—… preuent The rising Sun and so heauens crowne th' euent By this the feather'd Bellman of the night Sent forth his midnight summons to inuiâ—…e All eyes to slâ—…mber when they both addrest Their thoughtfull minds to take a doubtfull rest O heauens and you O you celestiall powers That neuer slumber but imploy all houres In mans prorection still preseruing keeping Our soules from obuious dangers waking sleeping O can your all-descerning eyes behold Such impious actions prosper vncontroll'd O can your hearts your tender hearts endure To see your seruant that now sleepes secure Vnarm'd vnwarn'd and hauing no defence But your protection and his innocence Betray'd and murther'd drawing at one breath His owne prepar'd destruction his owne death And will ye 〈◊〉 He that is the crowne Of prized vertue honour and renowne The flowre of Arts the Cyprian liuing story Arcadias Girland and great Graeces glory The earths new wonder and the worlds example Must dye betraid Treason and death must trample Vpon his life and in the dust must lye As much admit'd perfection as can dye No Argalus the coward hand of death Durst ne're assault thee if not vnderneath The Maske of loue Thou art aboue the reach Of open wrongs Mans force could ne're make breach Into thy life no Death could ne're vncase Thy soule had she appeared face to face Dreame Argalus and let thy thoughts be troubled With murthers treasons Let thy dreams be doubled And what thy frighted fancy shall perceiue Be wisely superstitious and beleeue O that my lines could wake thee now and seuer Those eyelids that ere long must sleepe for euer Wake now or neuer Argalus and withstand Thy danger Wake the murtheresse is at hand Parthenia oh Parthenia who shall weepe Thy world of teares Canst thou O canst thou sleep Will thy dull Genius giue thee leaue to slumber Does nothing trouble thee no dreame incumber Thy frighted thoughts and Argalus so neere His latest houre Not one dreaming teare Sleepe on and when thy flattring slumber's past Perchance thine eyes will learne to weepe as fast His death is plotted And this morning light Must send him downe into eternall night Nay what is worse then worst His dying breath Will censure thee as Agent in his death By this the broadfac'd Quirister of night Surceas'd her screeching note and tooke her flight To the next neighbring Ivy Brids and beasts Forsake the warme protection of their nests And nightly 〈◊〉 whilst darknesse did display Her sable curtaines to let in the day When sad Athleia's dreame had vnbenighted Her slumbring eies her busie thoughts were frighted She rose and trembled and being halfe distraught With her prophetick feares she thus bethought What ayle the Gods thus to disturbe my rest And make such earthquakes in my troubled brest Nothing but death and murthers Graues and Bells Frighting my fancy with their hourely knells T was
if you are bent To act my Tragedy why doe you wrong Our patience so to make the play so long Your Sceanes are tedious Gainst the rules of Art You dwell too long too long vpon one part Be briefe and take aduantage of your odds One simple mayde against so many gods And not be conquer'd yet Conioyne your might And send her soule into eternall night That liues too long a day I le not resist Prouided you strike home strike where ye list Accursed be that Day wherein these eyes First saw the light Let desp'rate soules deuise A curse sufficient for it Let the Sun Ne're shine vpon it and what ere 's begun Vpon that fatall day let heauen forbid it Successe if not to ensnare the hand that did it Why was I borne Or being borne O why Did not my fonder nurses Lullaby Euen whilst my lips were hanging on her brest Sing her poore Babe to euerlasting rest O then my infant soule had neuer knowne This world of griefe beneath whose weight Igroane No no it had not He that dyes in 's prime Speeds a long businesse in a little time But Argalus whose more extreame desire Vnapt to yeeld like water-sprinkled fire Did blaze the more impatient of denyall Gaue thus an onset to a further tryall Life of my Soule By whom next heauen I breath Excepting whom I haue no friend but Death How can thy wishes ease my griefe or stand My miserie in stead when as thy hand And nothing but thy helping hand can giue me Reliefe and yet refuses to relieue me Strange kinde of Charity when being afflicted I finde best wishes yet am interdicted Of those best wishes and must be remou'd From loues enioyment why Because belou'd Alas alas How can thy wishes be A blessing to me if vnblest in thee Thy beauty 's gone thou saist why let it goe He loues but ill that loues but for a show Thy beauty is supply'd in my affection That neuer yet was slaue to a complexion Shall euery day wherein the earth does lacke The Suns reflex b'expell'd the Almanacke Or shall thy ouer-curious steps for beare A garden 'cause there be no Roses there Or shall the sunset of Parthenia's beauty Enforce my iâ—…dgement to neglect that duty The which my best aduis'd affection owes Her sacred vertue and my solemne vowes No no it lyes not in the power of Fate To make Parthenia too vnfortunate For Argalus to loue It is as easie for Parthenia's heart To proue lesse vertuous as for me to start From my firme faith The flame that honours breath Hath blowne nothing hath powre to quench but death Thou giu'st me leaue to chuse a fitter spouse And freedome to recall to quit those vowes I tooke VVho gaue thee license to dispense VVith such false tongues as offer violence To plighted faith Alas thou canst not free Thy selfe much lesse hast power to license me Vowes can admit no change They still perseuer Against all chance they binde they binde for euer A vow 's a holy thing no common breath The limits of a vow is heauen and death A vow that 's past is like a bird that 's flowne From out thy hand can be recall'd by none It dies not like a time beguiling Iâ—…st As soone as vented liues not in thy brest VVhen vtterd once but is a sacred word Straight enterd in the strict and close record Of heauen It is not like a Iuglers knot Or fast or loose as pleases vs or not since then thy vowes can finde no dispensation And may not be recall'd recall thy passion Performe performe what now it is too late T' vnwish againe too soone to violate Seeke not to quit what heauen denies to free Performe thy vowes to heauen thy vowes to me Thrice dearer then my soule she thus râ—…plide Mad my owne pamper'd fancy beene the guide To my affection I had condescended Ere this to your request which had befriended My best desiers too I lou'd not thee For my owne pleasure in that base degree As gluttons doe their diet who dispense With vnwash'd hands lest they should giue offence To their grip'd stomackes when a minutes stay Will make them curse occasion all the day I lou'd not so My first desires did spring From thy owne worth and as a sacred thing I alwaies view'd thee whom my zeale commands Me not prophane with these desiled hands T is true Performance is a debt we owe To Vowes and nothing's dearer then a Vow Yet when the gods doe rauish from our hand The meanes to keepe it ' â—…is a countermand He that hath vow'd to sacrifice each day At Iuno's Altar's bound and must obey But if being vnder vow the gods doe please To strike him with a leperous disease Or foule infection which is better now Prophane the Alâ—…ar or to breake the vow The case is mine where then the gods dispense We may be bold yet tender no offence Admit it were an euill 't is our beâ—…est Of necessary ills to choose the least The gods are good The strickt recognisance Of vowes is onely taken to aduance The good of man Now if that good proue ill We may refuse our vowes entire still I vow a mariage why because I doe Entirely affect that man my vowes are to But if some foule disease should interpose Betwixt our promis'd mariage and our vowes The strict performance of these vowes must proue I wrong and therefore loue not whom I loue Then vrge no more Let my deny all be A pledge sufficient twixt my loue and thee So ended slâ—…e 〈◊〉 vehement desire That câ—…n be quencht with No no more then fire With oyle and can submit to no condition Lends him new breath Loue makes a Rethoritian He speaks she answers He afresh replyes He stoutly sues As stoutly she denyes He begs in vaine and she denics in vainâ—… For she denies agaiâ—…e He begs againâ—… At last both weary â—…e his suite adiournes For louers dayes are good and bad by turnes He bids farewell As if the heart of either Gaue but one motion they both sigh'd together She bids farewel ' and yet she bids it so As if her farewell ended if he goe He bids farewel ' buâ—… so as if delay Had promis'd better farewells to his stay She bids farewell but holds his hand so fast As if that farewell should not be the last Both sigh'd both wept and both being heauy harted She bids farewell He bids farewell and parted So parted they Now Argalus is gone And now Parthenia's weeping all alone And like the widowed Turtle she bewailes The absence of her mate Passion preuailes Aboue her strength Now her poore heart can tell What 's heauen by wanting heauen and what is hell By her owne torments Sorrow now does play The Tyrants part Affection must obey And like a weathercocke her various minde Is chang'd and turn'd with euery blast of winde In desp'rate language she deplores her state She faine would wish but then she knowes not
what Resolues of this of that and then of neither She faine would â—…lee but then she knows not whither At length consulting with the heartlesse paire Of ill aduisers Sorrow and Despaire Resolues to take th' aduantage of that night To steale away and seeke for death by flight A Pilgrims weed her liuelesse limmes addrest From hand to foot A thong of leather blest Her wasted loynes Her feeble feet were shod With Sandalls In her hand a Pilgrims rod. When as th' illustrious Soueraigne of the Day Had now begun his Circuit to suruay His lower kingdome hauing newly lent The vpper world to Cynthiaes gouernment Forth went Parthenia and begins t' attend The progresse now which only Death can end Goe haplesse virgin Fortune be thy guide And thine owne vertues and what else beside That may be prosperous may thy merits find More happinesse then thy distressed mind Can hope Liue and to after ages proue The great example of true Faith and Loue Gone gone she is but whither she is gone The gods and fortune can resolue alone Pardon my Quill that is enforc'd to stray From a poore Lady in an vnknowne way To number forth her weary steps or tell Those obvious dangers that so oft befell Our poore Parthenia in her pilgrimage Or bring her miseries on the open stâ—…ge Her broken slumbers her distracted care Her hourely feares and srights her hungry fare Her daily peâ—…ils and her nightly scapes From rauenous beasts and from aâ—…tempted rapâ—…s Is not my taske who care not to incite My Râ—…aders pâ—…ssion to an appetite We leaue Parthenia now and our discourse Must cast an â—…ye and bend a settled course To Argalus When Argalus returniâ—…g To vâ—…sit his Parthenia the nâ—…xt morning Pâ—…rceiued she was fled not knowing whither He makes no stay Consults not with the weather Stayes not to thiâ—…ke but claps his hasty knees To his fleet Courser and away he flees His haste enquires no way he needs not feare To lose the roade that goes he knowes not where One wâ—…ile he pricks vpâ—… the fruitfull plaines And now he gently sâ—…ks his prouder reines And climbes the barren hills with fresh Câ—…reers He tryes the right hand way and then he verâ—…s His course vpon the left One while he likes This path when by and by his fancy strikes Vpon another tract Sometimes he rouâ—…s Among the Springs and solitary Groues Where on the tender barkes of sundry trees H'engraues Parthenia's name with his then flees To the wild Champian his proud Steâ—…d remoures The hopefull fallowes with his horned 〈◊〉 He baulkes no way rides ouer rocke and mountaine When led by fortune to Diana's Fountaite He straight dismounts his steed begins to quench His thirsty lippes and after that to drench His fainting limmes in that sweet streame wherein Parthenia's dainty fingers ofâ—… had bin The Fountaine was vpon a steepe descent Whose gliding current nature gaue a vent Through a firme rock which Art to make it known To after ages wall'd and roof'd with stone Aboue the Christall fountaines head was plac'd Diana's Image though of late defac'd Beneath a rocky Cysterne did retaine The water sâ—…ding through the Cocks of Cane Whose curious Current the worlds greater eye Ne're viewed but in his mid-day Mâ—…jestie It was that Fountaine where in elder times Poore Corydon compos'd his rurall rimes And left them closely hid for his vnkinde And marble hearted Phyllida to finde All rites perform'd he re-amounts his Steed Redeemes his losse of time with a new speed And with a fresh supply his strength renewes His progresse God knowes whither He pursues His vow'd aduenture brooking no delay And with a minde as doubtfull as the way He iournies on he left no course vnthought No traueller vnask'd no place vnsought To make a Iournall of each Circumstance His change of fortunes or each obuious chance Befell his tedious trauell to relate The braue attempt of this exploit or that His rare atchieuements and their faire successe His noble courage in extreame distresse His desp'rate dangers his deliuerance His high esteeme with men which did enhanse His meanest actions to the throne of Iâ—…ue And what he sufferd for Partheniaes loue Would make our volume endlesse apt to try The vtmost patience of a studious eye All which the bounty of a free conceit May sooner reach too then my pen relate But till bright Cynthiaes head had three times thrise Repayr'd her empty hornes and fill'd the eyes Of gazing mortalls with her globe of light This reâ—…lesse louer ceas'd not day and night To wander in a sollitarie Quest For her whose loue had taught him to digest The dregges of sorrow and to count all ioyes But follyes weigh'd with her at least but toyes It hapned now that twise six months had run Since wandring Argalus had first begun His toylesome progresse who in vaine had spent A yeare of houres and yet no euent When fortune brought him to a goodly Seat Wall'd round about with Hills yet not so great As pleasant and lesse curious to the fight Then strong yet yeelding euen as much delight As strength whose onely outside did declare The masters Iudgement and the builders care Arround the Castle nature had laid out The bounty of her treasure round about Well fenced meadowes fill'd with summers pride Promis'd prouision for the winter tide Neere which the neighb'ring hills well stockt and stor'd With milke white flocks did seuerally afford Their fruitfull blessings and deseru'd encrease To painfull husbandry the childe of peace It was Kalanders seat who was the brother Of lost Parthenia's late deceased mother He was a Gentleman whom vaine ambition Nere taught to vnderualue the condition Of priuate Gentry who preferr'd the loue Of his respected neighbours farre aboue The apish congies of th'vnconstant Court Ambitious of a good not great report Beloued of his Prince yet not depending Vpon his sauours so as to be tending Vpon his person and in briefe too strong Within himselfe for fortunes hand to wrong Thither came wandring Argalus and receiu'd As great content as one that was bereau'd Of all his ioyes could take or who would striue T' expresse a welcome to the life could giue His richly furnisht table more exprest A common bounty then a curious feast Whereaâ—… the choice of precious wines were profer'd In liberall sort not vrg'd but freely offer'd The carefull seruants did attend the roome No need to bid them either goe or come Each knew his place his office and could spy His masters pleasure in his masters eye But what can rellish pleasing to a taste That is distemper'd Can a sweet repast Please a sicke pallate no there 's no content Can enter Argalus whose soule is bent To tyre on his owne thoughts Kalanders loue That other times would rauish cannot moue That fixed heart which passion now incites T' abiure all pleasures and forsweare delights It fortun'd on a day that dinner ending Kalander and his noble guests intending T' exchange their pleasures in