in this Pow'r Of Brittish Nobles and their Youth 's choice Flow'r That dare not hope to stand by Arms this Field But to our wishes must Bonduca yield Yet e'r her Eyes lament or Heart deplores The groans of dying Foes from our stern Pow'rs Unto the streightn'd Princes Truce let 's give If they without her love will yield to live Thus from the Consul is a Herauld sent To speak their high demands and fierce intent While yet Alvatrix does not think to prove The Consul Rival in Bonduca's love Or that he led his Roman Eagles now To conquer Brittains and remain his Foe But Loves ambition oft receives a Fate As well as those of Empire or of State This Herauld to the Queen and Princes come Speaks his bold Message from the Chief of Rome VVhich now the Queen with deep affliction hears Though less her life then love creates her fears And first does let the Princes boldly know That his great Master by Romes Gods does vow He 'll not the fortune of this day survive Should it Rome solely Brittish Empire give Who more than thirst of Rule makes Love his Cause Whose great Prerogative admits no Laws Though he the first of Romans yields to be That e'r broke Truce with noble Enemy For which of Heav'n and Rome does pardon crave And on these tearms if they yet Peace will have They and this Isle unconquer'd shall remain And for his triumph but the Queen will gain Nor by this Summons does he more demand Than what his pow'rful Legions can command When in this streight his Force and conduct must Send the Great Princes with their Pow'rs to dust Yet for the Queens fair sake vouchsafes to treat Before their Arms his dreadful onsets meet And Wars stern horrors her soft Soul affright Or she his Love would save should fall in fight But who can judge the high concern and flame Incens'd these Hero's when from Ennius came This bold demand so late their conquer'd Foe And no less treach'rously a Lover now Then is Alvatrix while the Queens bright beams Had kindled in their hearts Loves mighty flames Then to this Herauld Arthur's Son does speak Let not Romes Consul ever hope to make Us Brittish Princes so desertless live That he Bonduca Laws of Love shall give Or that they can a brave success despair Who with Truce-breaking Gauls and Romans war Nor would they lose the glory of this Fight To die or conquer in the Queens fair sight Whose heart unshaken their fierce Pow'rs withstood When London felt their flames stream'd with blood Yet slighted then Alvatrix rage and love And can she less 'gainst faithless Ennius prove More had this Prince express'd but Vortiger Whose Martial courage Fate her self did fear This Herauld bids withdraw in high disdain While Love and Empire thus at stake remain And next the Princes willing to deceive The Queens sad fears in this short respite give Her heart brave comforts while her weeping eyes Pay for their safeties Heav'n a sacrifice Then of these Forrest shades selects the view Of VVillows and Loves mournful Embleme Yew Neglecting Elmes embrac'd with am'rous Vines Which Nature for pleas'd Lovers objects twines And ev'n the Princes but kind Foes now calls Who thus surpriz'd withstand Romes Force and Gauls While with their safety she could these defie And their unconquer'd Virgin Lover die No less concern'd in this surprising hour The Princes had dispos'd their Martial Power VVith such wise conduct that the wing of Fate Did more her self than them precipitate And here the weapon'd Woodmen duely place Eager to make on Foes their nobler chace More joy'd to hear the trumpets Martial sounds Than all the Musick of their Horns and Hounds Then Roman Cornets Brittish Trumpets vye Whose vig'rous clamours seem to wound the skye VVhile Martial Odes the trusty Bowmen sing Compos'd by Brute their antient warlike King But e'r these Powers their fierce Incounters make Thus Ennius does unto Alvatrix speak Great Prince of Gaul if we this day o'rcome T will Brittish Empire yet restore to Rome And grace her Triumphs with Bouduca too VVhose love my heart conceal'd from thee till now While I Romes Consul blush to ownn slame That does with thine a Râ—vals wishes claim But as thou art Romes mighty Ally know I 'll to thy Love as glorious means allow This Battail won thy Sword and mine shall try Which for Bonduca's sake must yield to dye To whom Alvatrix had I Empire claim'd Of this Great Isle so long Romes Arms has fam'd Or did thy Rods and Axes envy'd see Born as thy Cons'lar State and Dignity I could not with such Fate surpriz'd have been As now to hear thou lov'st the Brittish Queen For whose enjoyment I such dangers fought Unvallew'd whil'st in her o'rpriz'd I sought Nor shall the honour of my blood decline This glor'ous offer 'twixt thy Sword and mine If heav'n decrees we this dayes fate survive To enter Lists shall Loves sole conquest give Till when I 'll like a Prince ally'd to Rome Assist her Eagles Brittains to o'rcome Though as thy Rival will attempt to be The Queens Possessor first from victory Before these Pow'rs their dreadful fury joyn The Roman Augurs who success divine From various Birds the airs vast Regions fly Or victims with auspicious omens dye Declare how they with horror did behold An offer'd Heifers blood turn'd black and cold Her bleeding Entrails panting in their view And how in ominous Flocks the Ravens flew Besides they had Portentous Records took From Great Cumean Sybil's wondrous Book Who in Prophetick fury did declare Romans should fatally with Brittains warr When they their Legions in that place array In which Great Caesar's Hart late stood at Bay And by a Brittish Queen pursu'd should fall Hence they the Consul warn and Prince of Gaul But Love whose Power even Fate her self defies Bids the bold Consul slight these destinies Calling their Rites some Cowards pious care That Rome first taught from Birds and Beasts to fear Then gives the Battel signal whence darts fly Thick as when stormes descending cloud the sky While Brittish Arrows these out-wing in flight And level ranks of Legions as they light Whose Pow'rs more numerous spare these heaps dead And with enlarged wings make dreadful speed Circling the Brittish Force and Princes round Their warlike ranks and valour to confound But with a fury more enforc'd oppose The Mart'al Pow'rs the beaut'ous Queen inclose While as she sees a Brittain fall or bleed Wishes the Dart had pierc'd her in his stead And here Great Ennius with his Romans breaks Through num'rous Ranks till he a prospect takes Of her bright visage while her Eyes dart beams That to his love and valor adds more flames No less Alvatrix danger does despice Leading his Gauls to Mars a sacrifice Invoking him this dayes success to crown That from his Arms his love may have renown And here through fierce Daranders Troops they break As Lanes through Woods the
supplies By beaming softer Language from her eyes While each as Love does this Expression use Have equal hopes and fears which Prince she 'll chuse Who now could wish some other Princess were Her Rival made in virtue and more fair By Heaven to one of these devoted too That she may seem to neithers love untrue And thus perceiving these Heroick hearts Felt with her own Loves equal wounding darts Fears that his flames though gently fann'd may raise Excess of passions rage and fury blaze Then chides her heart that did admit Loves spies To keep discover'd watches in her eyes While she might inward burn and yet conceal The flames her love too rashly does reveal Who knows alass she must not both enjoy Yet cannot either by neglect destroy But hopeless fears a Lover to remain Of both these Princes and yet neither gain And now delay ev'n wisdoms cold despair Does beg of Heav'n to ease this mighty care Which though Times slow and silent feet it use Meets Lovers hearts oft with decrees they 'd chuse And as she had Loves high concern declin'd With thoughts of Empire seems to fill her mind Hnd how of Monarchs they most happy raign While all their Crowns one friendly Power maintain Next stately Pastimes in her Court prepares Thus to delude their anxious hopes and fears With those most fam'd diversions Brittains boast Were then their Courts magnificence and cost But these great Heroes who from Love did bear Too jealous eyes as deeply pierce her care Grieving with theirs her virtues did conspire To wound her Breast with a divided fire Disdaining thus in one despair to live Since death to both or either cure might give And what becomes their Souls and Greatness too Relief upon the Queens Extremes bestow And now some Nights had sad companions spent Weighing fit means to perfect this intent That to the Queen may accidental seem Or as Fate did this Act in kindness deem Yet hope that Heav'n from death will one reprieve Lest dying both the Queen should cease to live And Love a glorious Triumph loose in her That can't else one unto her heart prefer While they as if no stormy passions brought Their souls to shipwrack on these rocks of thought Like bravest Pilots unconcern'd appear And in their looks the calms of Summer wear Thus as they meet in presence of the Queen In strict Endearments and Embrace are seen And as Love slept in Cradles of her eyes Mention no accent his soft rest surprise While she did both their passions weight endure To Heav'n and Time remits her hearts high cure Though love when hope as sparing diet needs Scarce cools the Fever but his flame more feeds And thus with gracious Eloquence does speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Princes since my Court you make A Scene where you wore happy victors Bayes Must flourish should Time feel the age of dayes Who now to give his Calends glory calls For warlike Arthurs high Memorials Who fell the last of Brittains Royal Line And with our Foes did fifty Battels joyn For which Fames Trump does an Attendant wait This said In great magnificence and state To Fortitudes admired Fane repair His dust intomb'd with Princes great in warr And where for wonder their vast Spears were plac'd Bold Picts pursu'd or hardy Romans chac'd With Bowes no other might like theirs e'r drew And Armour that Men now would Dwarfish show While Choristers in stately measures sing The Martial Glory of each mighty King With Arthur's Deeds scarce Stories this day blaze That by Times Guilt lose wonders of his Praise Which done to Honor Fortitudes high Name With these brave Relicks Heroes past did Fame In solemne state Devote unto this Fane Their Mighty Spears had fierce Alvatrix slain And warlike Ennius which in Shrines they place That from the Queens Gift Precious Gems did Grace And next to spacious Fields a Progress lead VVere kept devoted to these Glories dead In which they use of Armes and Pastimes held Brittains so far all Nations else excell'd Where they behold how some for Garlands run Swift as Time made them Footmen to the Sun With nimble Wrestlers that most useful show How strengths rough force to skil should conduct owe. And here the Bowmen shoot with dext'rous aimes Whence Ages past this Isle such Prowess claimes Whose force in Guns black use though now laid by Gave Deaths where their fierce Thunders useless fly Some next the Race on Brittish Coursers take More swift than those Epyrus Glories speak Or such the Barbes neat kind at this Day Fame Or the Arabick generous Horse can claime Of these the Victors Browes with Palmes are spread Pleas'd with the Glory to be Conqu'rors led And lest Fames Trump should not their Praises bear Exulting Neigh shrill Joyes find wings of Ayre And thus for wonder some on backs of Steeds They here enforce unto their utmost speeds Pierce Marks with Arrows or as Chariots glide Their swift Carreers as happy Shafts do guide To whom the Queen does Silver Quivers give And that the use of Bowes more fam'd might live Invites the Princes with her self to try Which Shaft of theirs with happy'st Aime shall fly And thus a Jewel from her Breast she takes For their Bright Marke at which her Arrow makes Such dext'rous wing as it the Ring of Gold Pierces this object to their aimes did hold Which done these mighty Heroes Shafts take Flight Dubious which to the Gemm most near does light But Albianus's did chance to rest Nearest the Queens Loves measure judgeth best Which the Great Vortiger resenteth so As Love with theirs had bent his Partial Bow Scarcely concealing those resolves of Fate Their Hearts in this high Cause decreed so late But Fate that had occasion duely chose Gives to his Flames an outward seem'd repose And as the Queen a grievous Part must bear Makes her spectator of Loves danger here Who with a longing Glory to behold The stately Tournments Brittains held of old Gladly the Princes with their Chiefs does see Renowning thus Great Arthur's Memory While in a Marble Throne her Person 's plac'd That with his Mighty Warlike Figure 's grac'd Beneath whom these in costly Arms sit round Tables like those in Arthur's Court were found When his bold Knights and Heroes Triumphs made For Conquests or such stately Pastimes had Or else in Honor of Fam'd George held Feasts To entertain such valiant Brittains Guests And hence in shining Armes the Princes rise To lead the way to these Solemnities While after they had strict Embracings past The Queen nor any thought were meant their last Albianus does to Vortiger convey This fatal Whisper If both fall this day 'T is but Loves Justice or if one survive May then Loves Mercy him Bonduca give At which great Vortigers stout heart does melt That Wars deep wounds had unconcern'd still felt And now his Eyes permits to shed some Tears Wishing his Death may end this Princes Cares Thus Mounted with their Chiefs and Brittish Knights Select
the most approv'd in these brave Rites Such as great Arthur in his Life did Fame For Glorious Tournments and Wars daring Flame Of whom Albianus does Darander take With stout Androgeus Lists did famous make And bold Clarinus expert as the rest With twenty Knights on each side skill'd the best To whom great Vortiger his Chiefs does add Corynus Troylus Torringer all glad Their Launces with their Martial Prince to weild Whom Foes could ne'r resist when Fought in Field Who for their Judges fam'd Martianus chuse With brave Favonius could to wonder use Their Armes in Turn'ments and from Rome had won Trophies their Valours highly did Renown And from the Queen had Garlands to bestow With Silver Shields must happy Victors show That here most dext'rously their Launces guide And best command their furious Steeds bold Pride From whom the Signal Given on Coursers meet Might challenge Windes to match their speedy Feet While from their Hoofes the Ground does seem to shake As it did now an Earthquakes Ague take And in these Glorious Pastimes here to show How much their Prowess against Foes could doe Their mighty Launces though tough Limbs of Oake Are with their onsets into shivers broke Rebounding from their Armed Breasts so high As if they did from Battering Engins fly Which these upon their Steeds unmov'd abide Might level Towers Assaults of War defy'd While these great Princes that submitted here Their Lives and Loves to Fates regardless care Had slightest Armours with design put on Their Launces Pierce and in their Bodies run From whence blood issues out with so much haste As now their lives must but few minutes last That even their souls were taking wing to sly To Deaths Pale seates frail Natures Ignomy And thus fall from their Steeds imbru'd in Gore While all here Present doe from Heaven Implore Their hopeless Lives which how shall Brittains mourn Or Gaules and Romanes hence despair returne But more than all the beauteous Queen opprest With griefe and Love each storming now her Breast A while wants Power to lift to Heaven her eyes Or speak with Tears her tender hearts surprize Then calls for help from such best skill'd in Cure But finds their Arts cannot her Fears secure And even Heaven blames that Love allow'd such charmes Should be no Medicine to heal their harmes Yet as Loves Cordials layes her lips to theirs Mingling of kisses with the Balme of Tears While such deep simpathy her heart does feel As thence her tender life begins to steal Whose Rose and Lilly Cheeks now turn to pale That even her beauties shine but through deaths vaile Her Pulse scarce beating Natures utmost strife While Virgin-Palmes her Temples Chafe for life A midst whose Armes she 's in a Chariot laid And gently towards her Court is thus convey'd Next whom the Princes are in Litters borne This glorious Presence sad Attendants mourn Invoking Heaven with Teares and loudest Griefe To yield their Lives in these extreames Reliefe Yet more then their deep Cures the Queens despair That in her breast the wounds of Love did bear In this distress some Sages present move They should Merlinus skill before all prove Who had such wondrous Cures for Brittains wrought By Remedies no Art save his e'r taught To whom all yield and make Merlinus know What high concernes require his Presence now While Queen and Princes mournfully they bear To Beds of ease scarce breathing lifes last ayre The End of the Fifth Canto The Sixth Canto BEfore these Tydings to Merlinus speed His swifter Science knew the fatal need Of Queen and Princes who in Natures Book For all events did most Assiduous look Nor could her Causes and Effects create The World a Providence or Mankind Fate But as her aptest Schollar him had taught Which other Mortals as vain Empericks sought Who no less weighs her humble ease and power In every tender Hearb and smiling Flower Then in those prouder Blessings she conveys From Sun or Stars stupend'ous course and Rayes And now Merlinus at the Court appears The Queen and Princes dangers fill'd with cares Who but in his deep skill their hope repose Since Fate their lives so dreadful did oppose Where he beholds the beauteous Ladies Mourn As if to Statues Niob like they 'd turne Or that the Queens soft life so farr were fled His Art must now recall her from the Dead While with their Prayers and Blessings he arrives Unto her Presence viewing how life strives For weak Possession in that beaut'ous frame Death as his fairest Captive hopes to claim Next feels her Pulse with all his subtle Art But finds its strength retyr'd to ayde the Heart Which as Loves Region has a right to be The last surrender'd to Deaths Victory Then takes a Cordial made of purest Gold No man before did Potable behold With Dewes infus'd the Diamond Rocks distil And Pearles rich Soul extracted by his skill To these an Essence adds more precious too Chymists th' Elixar call but since none show That would this work in costly Limbecks breed And coldly live their Arts vain Fires to feed While of this Liquor whose least drop might be Valu'd above all Indian-Treasury Through the Queens Lips conveys a gentle draught Whence Life even fled away is back soon brought And now her Pulse begins lifes March to beate While Death's pale Flags her Rosie Cheeks defeat And next does open Windowes of her Eyes That seem like Stars new kindled in the skies Merlinus joy'd his Cordial thus succeeds To th' wounded Princes next his Person speeds Griev'd that he could not all at once supply And weeps to see in what extreames they lie Then takes a Balme of this Elixar made Which to their griefs with tender hand convey'd Their drooping hearts to wonder does restore And shows their wounds must not have Mortal power Nor had the Sun two dayes bright Circles shin'd But their great Lives their Pristine vigours find Which more to Joy the Queen as speedy mends And all but Loves soft wounds from his Cure ends Whence common Artists that make life endure A tedious Diet and loath'd Physicks Cure Wonder'd Disease so soon surpriz'd should be By his sublimer skill and remedy And now that rumor swiftly might convey Through Brittain Joyes for this most happy day The Princes visit the most beaut'ous Queen Who for their sakes had thus afflicted been And at her feet with tears now prostate lie Imploring pardon they design'd to dye Since she their lives esteem'd at that high price As to resign her own Deaths Sacrifice Grieving that Love should so much oblige Fate And from her wounds their sins recriminate Who for Loves sake chose death themselves to give That she more happy by their falls might live To whom with gracious words she thus replyes Belov'd of Men and Joy of Brittish Eyes Who ne'r like this shall Register an hour Though their bright Records mention Roman Power Defeated by your Prowess and Gaul brought To rue that time when you
and every one the best Thus who this Courts high virtues would define Must judge all equal in their Glories shine Though as great Lamps for Lights best order plac'd Each has its lustre by another grac'd Hence Subjects oft on Princes fix their eyes Less for obedience than discoveries As bold observers on Heav'ns Frame do pry More to note spots than splendors of the Sky Who though but humane must not frailties own Lest Vice should claim a Patron in the Throne How hard is 't then for Mortals here to raign And Subjects neither Vice or Power complain But if my Muse to Fame can credit give The Brittish Courts and Princes then did live Renown'd in Graces best of Monarchs speak That Subjects from their Rule might pattern take While temp'rat thoughts their minds high vigors sway As Passions find in them their just allay Liberal as Royal dignifi'd should be â—et spare their People by frugality To whom they Justice in pure streams preserve That no corruptions ministerials swerve Oft Champions to the rich oppressors might While Law protects all here by equal right This to the People must respective be Who dearly love a just Propriety And envy Greatness chiefly for its sake Lest thence oppression priviledge should take Though nobly born are next their Persons plac'd Like Gems that in their Crowns are worn and grac'd By whom they favours to the rest dispence As Stars convey Heav'ns glor'ous influence Such envious vulgars scarce repining sway Since 't is but antient Honour they obey While new-rais'd Blood they seldom will allow A Rev'rence mixt with a propitious Brow Next these the Gen'rous due reception have Before their merit 's forc'd reward to crave Who to this grace by well-known virtues rise Which make their Courts the Patterns of the wise To Letter'd men exup'rant grace they give Since from their works the Fame of Kings must live Nor did each worthy Science then deplore It rais'd great Artists and maintain'd them poor No Parasites tongue durst poyson virtue here Whose antidote did in their beams appear Which sov'raign spells these Serpents drive away Though for their charms Kings oft too dearly pay And now while all these Magnitudes thus meer Love does design his Empire to compleat Who such Heroick hearts selects to be The mighty Regions of his Monarchy And in the Queens soft breast had kindled fire Purer than e'r Prometheus did inspire Though said to rifle Heav'ns Celestial Flame Whence life and love to humane Bodies came Yet as this Master-piece Love does compleat The Princes in her flames must Rivals meet Who like their great Originals design'd Copies as bright in her illustrious mind While they from her divided Graces know Her Souls high value in their virtues too As if Love glor'ous Anarchy must use E'r these Monarchs she 'l one Sov'raign chuse And these great Souls that no ambitious warr Could e'r make Foes though they did Empire share Of this Rich Isle such mighty Nations sought Whose Arms they had as dear Associates fought Yet Loves Dominion must possess alone To which Heav'n gives most absolute a Crown And though in hearts his Courts seem narrow spac'd Oft has his Thrones by Kings on Foot-stools grac'd The End of the Fourth Canto The Fifth Canto MYsterious Love the Souls sublimest Theame Whose first great Ethicks gave this divine name When in the Morning-being of Mankind Some gentle Blushes had his Thoughts refin'd And the more Bashful Female had deny'd The Claimes of Nature till more solely ty'd Wond'ring that to Perpetuate Mans Name She did forget to vaile Promiscuous shame Till when frail Mankind common Courtships knew And Females not less bold than Males might woo From Natures too large Charter that imply'd She gave a Sex in stead of one Faire Bride While Love that Blush'd in Lusts wide walkes to Range Appropriates Nature thus indulg'd to Change Teaching that Souls must in a Paire of Hearts Receive and Interchange his mighty Darts Hence Marriage Rites and Joyes were first assign'd And Man and Woman to one Bed confin'd Though Love 't is doubted took a hard task here To limit Passion Natures wanton Heir While but the Heards of Sence not charm'd by Eyes Or Breaths of Kisses Humane Hearts surprize Free as the Ayre that sports in Fields and Groves Beget their Issues and injoy their Loves Nor do they beauties soft Allurements know Or chuse a Female for her tender Hew Though deck'd with Furrs of Ermins Princes Grace Nor for the Rose and Lillies of the Face But with a Naked Sence delight their kind Not jealous when some other Male does find The same Injoyments for which Mankind prove Unhappy Flames and raging Acts of Love While Poets to exalt this mighty Theam Ador'd Love first in their soft Godheads Name Telling the world of wondrous charms and fires This Diety in Lovers Breasts inspires How he creats a sympathy in hearts Converting am'rous beams into his darts And as his Engins Lovers eyes convey The Babes of Love seem new begot to play From such like wonders Poets first did raise Temples and Altars to this Godheads praise And like some Superstitions boldly tell How many Martyrs of this fond Sect fell Yet as Belief in Superstitions Dress Seems more Heav'ns Mistress in that frail Excess Than Faith which too much like good Houswife goes And without Pomp the truth too simply shews Thus Poets Priests of Nature did devise A God and Muses for her Pageantries Judging her Robes were but too rudely worn Untill her Train was by these Handmaides born Whence they her sacred mysteries convey Abst acting souls from sence's dull allay Making the brightest glories of the mind From Gems the Muses wear Reflection find But Love the Queen of Passions chiefly fame Whose fires did first Parnassus Beacons flame To warn the world this Monarck conquers more Than all the Power of Arms in Battle wore And in this Brittish Court a Scene now lay'd That had the Muses nine times nine been made Poets must fruitlessly have spent their fire To blaze the Charms these Royal hearts inspire While Great Bonduca's breast does entertain Two glorious Monarchs undistinguish'd raign And as she strives to place an Empire there Albianus value Vortigers must share And though their beauteous forms all hearts surprise She gives her Soul Allegeance in her eyes That with such virtuous hommage on these look As Love hence Themes his best Platonick Book Yet fears she does commit a crime to be Divided thus in his sov'raignity Wishing her heart could separate this fire And there inthrone of these one love intire Sometimes she leaves the Glories of her Court And does with them to flowry shades resort Hoping some Rose in Pity there might steal The am'rous blushes her soft Cheeks reveal Then gently speaks of their past warrs and praise The Fuell that her hearts high flames does raise And thence makes Loves Heroick Theame her choice But soon with bashfull accents stayes their voice And now more powerfully her words