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
nothing but a dreame and dreames they say Expound themselues the cleane contrary way The Riddle 's read and now I vnderstand My dreames intents Some mariage is at hand For death interpreted is nothing else But mariage And the melancholly Bells Is mirth and musicke By the graue is read The ioyfullioy full ioyfull mariage bed I I t is plaine And now me thinks 't was I That my prophetick dreame foretold should dye If this be death Death exercise thy power And let Athleia dye within this houre Doe doe thy worst Athleia's faithfull breath Shall pray for nothing more then sudden death But stay Athleia the too forward day Begins to gild the East away away So hauing said The nimble fingerd Lasse Tooke the forg'd letter and the amorous glasse And to her early progresse she applies her D parts and toward Argalus she hies her But euery step she tooke her mind enforc'd New thoughts and with her selfe she thus discours'd How fraile's the nature of a womans will How crosse The thing that 's most forbidden still They more desire and least inclinde to doe What they are most of all perswaded too Had not alas my Lady bound these hands Athlâ—…ia ne're had struggled with her bands I must not tast it Had she not enioyn'd My lips from tasting it Athleia's mind Had neuer thought on 't now me thinkss I long Desires if once confinde become too strong For womans conquer'd reason to resist A womans reason 's measur'd by her list I long to tast yet was there nothing did Mooue my desires but that I was forbid With that she stayd her weary steps and hasted T'vntye the Glasse lift vp her arme and tasted That done and hauing now attain'd almost Her iourneyes end the little time she lost New speed regaines The nimble ground she traces With double hast and quicke redoubled paces All on a sudden she begins to faint Her bowells gripe her breath begins to taint Her blistred tongue growes hot her liuer glowes Her vaines doe boile her colour comes and goes She staggers falls and on the ground she lyes Swels like a bladder roares and bursts and dyes Thus from her ruine Argalus deriues His longer life and by her death he liues Liue Argalus and let the gods allot Such morning draughts to those that loue thee not Liue long and let the righteous powers aboue That haue preseru'd thee for Parthenia's loue Crowne all thy hopes and fortunes with euent Too sure for second treasons to preuent By this time did the lauish breath of Fame Giue language to her Trumpet and proclaime Athleias death the current of which newes Truths warrant had forbidden to abuse Deceiued eares which when the Lady heard Whose trecherous heart was greedily prepar'd To entertaine a murther she arose And with rude violence desperately throwes Hâ—…r trembling body on the naked floore But what she said and did I will deplore Not vtter but with forced silence smother Because she was the faire Parthenia's mother May it suffice that the extreames of shame And vnresisted sorrow ouercame Her disappointed malice lesse lamenting The treason then successe and more repenting Of what she fail'd to doe then what she did Her sullen soule dispaires her thoughts forbid What reason wants the power to perswade Her griefes bâ—…ing growne too deepe for her to wade She sinks and with a hollow sigh she cryed Welcome thou easer of all euills and dyed Now tongues begin to walke and euery eare Hath got the Saturyasis to heare This tragicke sceane The breath of Fame grows bold Feares no repulse and scornes to be controlld Whilst lowd report whose tender lips before Durst onely whisper now begins to roare The letter found in dead Athleias brest Bewray'd the plot and what before was guest Is now confirm'd and clear'd for all men knew Whose hand it was and whence the malice grew But haue we lost Parthenia In what Isle Of endlesse sorrow lurks she all this while Sweet Reader vrge me not to tell for feare Thy heart dissolue and melt into a teare Excuse my silence If my lines should speake Such marble hearts as could not melt would break No leaue her to her selfe It is not fit To write what being read you 'd wish vnwrit I leaue the taske to those that take delight To see poore Ladyes tortur'd in despight Of all remorse whose hearts are still at strife To pâ—…int a torment to the very life I leaue that taske to such as haue the powre To weepe and smile againe within an houre To those whose flinty hearts are more contentâ—…d To limme a griefe then pitty the tormented Let it suffice that had not heauen protected Her Argalus the ioy whereof corrected That 〈◊〉 griefe which passion recommended To her sad thoughts her story here had ended When Time the enemy of Fame had clos'd Her babling lips and gently had compos'd Partheniaes sorrowes raising from the ground Her body spent with griefe and almost drownd In her owne teares a long expected Sceane Of better fortune enters in to dreane His marish eyes Her stormy night of teares Being past a welcome day of ioy appeares The rocke's remou'd and loues wide Ocean now Giues roome enough lookes with a milder brow Reader forget thy sorrowes Let thine eare Welcome the tydings thou so longst to heare A louers diet 's sweet commixt with sower His hell and heauen oft-time diuides an houre Now Argalus can finde a faire accesse To his Parthenia now feares nothing lesse Then eares and eyes and now Partheniaes heart Can giue her tongue the freedome to impart His louder welcome whilst her greedy eye Can looke her fill and feare no stander by She 's not Parthenia he not present with her And he not Argalus if not together Their cheeks are fill'd with smiles their tongues with chat Now this they make their subiect and now that One while they laugh and laughing wrangle too And iarre as iealous louers vse to doe And then a kisse must make them friends againe Faith one's too little Louers must haue twaine Two brings in ten ten multiplyes to twenty That to a hundred then because the plenty Growes troublesome to count and does incumber Their lips their lips gaue â—…isses without number Their thoughts run backe to former times they told Of all loues passages they had of old ARGALVS AND PARTHENIA The Second Booke SAyle gentle Pinace Now the heauens are cleare The winds blow faire Behold the harbour's neere Trydented Neptune hath forgot to frowne The rocks are past The storme is ouerblowne Vp wetherbeaten voyagers and rouze yee Forsake your loathed Cabbiâ—…s vp and louze ye Vpon the open decks and smell the land Cheare vp the welcome shoare is nigh at hand Sayle gentle Pinace with a prosperous gale To th' Isle of peace Sâ—…ile gentle Pinace saile Fortune conduct thee Let thy keele diuide The siluer streames that thou mast safely slide Into the bosome of thy quiet Key And quite thee fairely of th'iniurious Sea Great
ARGALVS and PARTHENIA The Argument of ye History Written by Fra Quarles Lusit Anacreon London Printed for Iohn Marriott in S Dunston's Church-yard fleet street 1629. Tho Cecill sculp The minde of the Frontspiece Reader behinde this silken Frontspiece lyes The Argument of our Booke which to your eyes Our Muse for serious causes and best knowne Vnto her selfe commands should be vnshowne And therefore to that end she hath thought fit To draw this Curtaine t'wixt your eye and it TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HENRY LORD RICH OF KENSINGTON EARLE OF HOLLAND CAPTAINE OF HIS M aties GVARD AND GENTLEMAN OF THE BED-CHAMBER CHANCELLOR OF THE VNIVERSITIE OF CAMBRIDGE KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER ONE OF HIS MAIESTIES MOST HONORABLE PRIVIE COVNSEL AND GREAT EXAMPLE OF TRVE HONOVR AND CHIVALRY FRA QVARLES PRESENTS AND DEDICATES HIS ARG ALVS AND PARTHENIA To the Reader Reader I Present thee here with a history of Argalus and Parthenia the fruits of broken houres I was a Sience taken out of the Oâ—…chard of Sir Philip Sydney of pretious memory which I haue lately 〈◊〉 vpon a Crab-stocke in mine owne It hath brought â—…orth many leaues and promises pleasing fruiâ—… if mâ—…leuolent eyes blast it not in the bud This Booke differs from my former as a Courtier from a Churchman But if any thinke it vnâ—… for one to play both parts I haue presidents for it And lâ—…t such know that I haue taken but one play-day in sixe Howeuer I should beshrew that hand that binds them all together to make one Volume In this Dâ—…scourse I haue not affectâ—…d to set thy vâ—…derstanding on the Rack by the tyranny of strong lines which as they fabulously report of China dishes are mâ—…de for the third Generation to make vse of and are the meere itch of wit vnder the colour oâ—… which many haue ventured trustiâ—…g to the Oeâ—…ipean conceit of their ingenious Reader to write non-sense and felloniously father the creaâ—…ed expositions of other men not vnlike some painters who first make the picture then from the opinion of better iudgements conclude whom it resembles These lines â—…re strong enough for my purpose If not for thine yet reade them and your vnderstandings may bee magnified by their weaknesse Reader thou sh lâ—… in the progresse of this Story meet with a 〈◊〉 Sâ—…licisme which is this Demagoras his so fâ—…ule a deed â—…ted vpon the faire Parthenia is fully expâ—…st and yet the reuenge thereof pâ—…st ouer in silence wherein as I conceiue I haue not dealt vniustly When Prometheus stole fire from heauen to animate and quicken his artificiall bodies the seuerer Gods for punishment of so high a Sacriledge strucke him not dâ—…ad with a sudden Thunderbolt but to be more deeply auenged lâ—…t him liue to be tormented with Vulters continually gâ—…awing on his Liuor The sâ—…me kind of torture had Ixion so had Sisyphus so had Tantalus Did then Demagoras fault equall if not exceed theirs and should his punishment be lâ—…sse Hâ—…d my pen deliuered him dead into your hands what could ye hâ—…ue had more His accursed memory had soone roâ—…ted with his bâ—…ser name and there had beene an end of him In which respect I haue suffered him to liue that he might stand like a lack-a-Lent or a Shrouing Cocke for eueâ—…y one to spend a Cudgell at to the woâ—…lds end Ladies for in yoâ—…r 〈◊〉 lâ—…ps I know this booke will choose to lye which being farre fetched if the Stationer be wise will be most fit for you my suit is that you would be pleased to giue the faire Parthenia your noble â—…ntertainment She hath crost the Seas â—…or your acquaintance and is come to liue and dye with you to whose gentle hands I recommend her and kisse them FR QV. Dublin this 4. of March 1628. ARGALVS AND PARTHENIA The first Booke WIthin the limits of th' Arcadian land Whose gratefull bounty hath inricht the hand Of many a Shepherd swaine whose rurall Art Vntaught to gloze or with a double heart To vow dissembled loue did build to Fame Eternall Trophies of a pastorall name That sweet Arcadia which in antique dayes Was wont to warble out her well-tun'd layes To all the world and with her oaten Reede Did sing her loue whilst her proud flocks did feed Arcadia whose deserts did claime to be As great a sharer in the Daphnean tree As his whose louder Aenead proudly sings Heroick conquests of victorious Kings There if th'exuberance of a word may swell So high that Angels may be said to dwell There dwelt that Virgin that Arcadian glory Whose rare composure did abstract the story Of true perfection modellizing forth The â—…eight of beauty and admired worth Hâ—…r name Parthenia whose vnnam'd descent Can serue but as a needlesse complement To gild pâ—…rfection She shall boast alone What bounteous Art and Nature makes her owne Her Mother was a Lady whom deepe age More fi l'd with honour then diseases sâ—…ge A modest Matron strict reseru'd austere Spâ—…ring in spâ—…ch buâ—… liberall of her eare Fiâ—…rce to her foâ—…s and violent where she l kes Wedded to what her owne opinion strikes Frâ—…quent quent in almes and charitable deeds Of mighty spirit constant to her beads Wisely suspitious but what need we other Then this she was the rare Parthenia's mother That rare Parthenia in whose heauenly eye Sits maiden-mildnesse mixt with Maiesty Whose secret power hath a double skill By frownes or smiles to make aliue or kill Her cheeks are like two bancks of fairest flowers Inricht with sweetnesse from the twilight showers Whereon those iarres which were so often bred Composed were betwixt the white and red Her haire raught downe beneath her yuory knees As if that Nature to so rare a piece Hâ—…d meant a shadow labouring to show Aâ—…d boast the vtmost that her hand could doe Like smâ—…llest flaxe appeaâ—…'d her Nymph like haire But only flâ—…xe was not so small so faire H r lips like Rubies and you 'd thinke within In stead of teeth that orient Pearles had bin The whitenâ—…sse of her dainty nâ—…ck you know If euer you behold the new-salne Snow Her Swan-like brests were like two little Spheares Wherein each a zure line in view appeares Which were they obuious but to euery eye All liberall Arts would turne Astronomie Her slâ—…nder wast her lilly hands her armes I dare not 〈◊〉 to view because all charmes Forbidden are My bashfull Muse descends No lower sleppe Heâ—…e her Commission ends And by another vertue doth enioyne My pen to treate perfection more diuine The chast Diana and her Virgin-crew Was but a Type of one that should ensue In after ages which we find exprest And here fulfill'd in chasts Parthenia's brest True vertue was the obiect of her will She could no ill because she knew no ill Her thoughts were noble and her words not lauish Yet free but wisely waigh'd more apt to rauish Then to entice lesse beautify'd with art Then naturall sweetn sse In her gentle heart Iudgement
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
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
nâ—…ppe this earely quarrell in the bud VVho fearing vprores with a friendly cup Of blest 〈◊〉 tooke the quarrell vp And for th' offence committed did proclame This sentence in offended Iuno's name Morpheus from hence is banisht for this night And not to approch before the morning light Mars is exilde for euer as a guest Adiudg'd vnfitting for a mariage feast Cupid is doom'd to rome and roâ—… about To the worlds end and both his eyes put out Venus is 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 night And not vnlesse by stealth to see the light Her chiefest ioy to be buâ—… pleasing folly Pâ—…rm'd w th madnes dog'd with melancholly And there the Musicke did inuite their paces To measure time and by exchange of places To lead the curious beholders eye A willing captiue to variety Thus with the sweet vicissitude of mirth They spent the time as if that heauen and earth Had studied to please man in such a measure That Art could not doe more â—…augment their pleasure And so they vanisht Now Ceres euening bounty reinuites Her noble guests to her renew'd delights And frolicke Bacchus to refresh their soules With a full hand presents his swelling Bowles Wine came vnwish'd like water from a sourse And delicates were mingled with discourse What Art could doe to make a welcome guest Was liberally presented at that feast It was no sooner ended but appeares An old gray pilgrime deeply strucke iâ—… yeares In tatterd garments In his wrinkled hand An houreglasse lâ—…bouring with her latest sand Beneath his arme a buffen knapsacke hung Stuft full of writings in an vnknowne tongue Chronologies outdated Almanacks And Patents that had long suruiu'd their waxe Vnto his shoulders Eagles wings were ioyn'd His head ill thatch'd before but bal'd behind And leaning on his crooked Sythe he made A little pause and after that he said Mortalls 'T is out My glasse is runne And with it the day is done Darke shadows haue expell'd the light And my glasse is turn'd for night The Queene of darkenesse bids me say Mirth is fitter for the day Vpon the day such ioyes attend With the day such ioyes must end Thinke not Darknesse goes about Like death to puffe your pleasures out No no shee le lend you new delights She hath pleasures for the nights When as her shadows shall benight yee She hath what shall still delight ye Aged Time shall make it knowne She hath dainties of her owne T is very late Away away Let day sports expire with Day For this time we adiourne your feast The Bridegroome faine would be at rest And if night pastimes shall displease yee Day will quickly come and ease yee With that a sweet vermillian tincture stayn'd The Brides faire cheekes The more that she restrayn'd Her blush the more her disobedient blood Did ouerflow as if a second flood Had meant to rise and for a little space To drowne that world of beauty in her face Sâ—…e blusht but knew not why And like the Moone Sâ—…e look'd most red vpon her going downe But see the smiling Ladiâ—…s doâ—… begin To ioyne their whispring heads as there had beene A plot of treason till at length vnspide They stole away the vnwilling-willing Bride Their busiâ—… hands disrob'd her and so led The timorous virgin to her Nuptiall bâ—…d By this the Nobles hauing recommended Their tongues to silence their discourse being ended They look'd about and thinking to haue done Their seruice to the Bride the Bâ—…ide was gone And now the Bridegroome vnto whom delay Seem'd worse then death could brook no longer stâ—…y Attended by his noble guests he enters That roome where th'enterchangeable Indenters Of dearest loue lay ready to be seal'd With mutuall pleasures not to be reueald His garments grow too tedious and their waight Not able to be borne doe ouer fraight His weary shoulders Atlas neuer stoopt Beneath a greater burthen and not droopt No helpe was wanting for he did receiue What sudden ayde he could expect or haue From speedy hands from hands that did not wast The time vnlesse perchance by ouer hast Meane while a dainty warbling brest not strong As sweet presents this Epithalamion song Man of warre march brauely on The field 's not easie to be wonne There 's no danger in that warre Where lips both swords and bucklers are Here 's no cold to chill thee A bed of downe's thy field Here 's no sword to kill thee Vnlesse thou please to yeeld Here is nothing will incumber Here will be no scars to number These are warres of Cupids making These be warres will keepe yee waking Till the earely breaking Day Call your forces hence away These are warres that make no spoyle Death shoots his shafts in vaine Though the souldier get a foyle He will rouze and fight againe These be warres that neuer cease But conclude a mutuall peace Let benigne and prosp'rous starres Breathe successe vpon these warres And when thrice three months be runne Be thou father of a sonne A son that may deriue from thee The honor of true merit And may to ages yet to be Conuay thy blood thy spirit Making the glory of his fame Perpetuate and crowne thy name And giue it life in spight of death When fame shal want both trump and breath Haue you beheld in a faire summers euen The golden-headed Charioter of heauen With what a speed his prouder reynes doe bend His panting horses to their iourneyes end How red he lookes with what a swift careire Her hurries to the lower Hemisphere And in a moment shootes his golden head Vpon the pillow of blushing Thetis bed Euen so the bridegroome whose defire had wings More swift then Time switcht on w th pleasure springs Into his nuptiall bed and looke how fast The stooping Faulkon clips and with what hast Her tallons seize vpon the timorous prey Euen so his armes impatient of delay His circling armes embrac'd his blushing Bride While she poore soule lay trembling by his side The Bridegroome now growes weary of his guests What mirth of late was pleafing now molests His tyred patience Too much sweet offends Sometime to be forsaken of our friends In Cupids moralls is obseru'd to be The fruits of friendship in the best degree And thus at last the Curtaines being clos'd They left them each in others armes repos'd And here my Muse bids draw our Curtaines too T is vnfit to see what priuate louers doe Reader let not thy thoughts grow ouer rancke But vaile thy vnderstanding with a Blancke Thinke not on what thou think'st and if thou canst Yet vnderstand not what thou vnderstandst Sow not thy fruitfull heart with so poore seeds Or if perchance vnsowne they spring like weeds Vse them like weeds thou knowst not how to kill Sleight them and let them thriue against thy will View them like euills which Art cannot preuent But see thou take no pleasure in their sent And one thing more When as the morrow light Shall bring the bash full Bride into thy sight