Fruit and Product of his Labours past And in the Water views perhaps the Knife Uplifted to deprive him of his Life Then broken up alive his Entrails sees Torn out for Priests t' inspect the God's Decrees From whence O mortal Men this gust of Blood Have you deriv'd and interdicted Food Be taught by me this dire Delight to shun Warn'd by my Precepts by my Practice won And when you eat the well deserving Beast Think on the Lab'rer of your Field you feast Now since the God inspires me to proceed Be that whate'er inspiring Pow'r obey'd For I will sing of mighty Mysteries Of Truths conceal'd before from human Eyes Dark Oracles unveil and open all the Skies Pleas'd as I am to walk along the Sphere Of shining Stars and travel with the Year To leave the heavy Earth and scale the height Of Atlas who supports the heav'nly weight To look from upper Light and thence survey Mistaken Mortals wandring from the way And wanting Wisdom fearful for the state Of future Things and trembling at their Fate Those I would teach and by right Reason bring To think of Death as but an idle Thing Why thus affrighted at an empty Name A Dream of Darkness and fictitious Flame Vain Themes of Wit which but in Poems pass And Fables of a World that never was What feels the Body when the Soul expires By time corrupted or consum'd by Fires Nor dies the Spirit but new Life repeats In other Forms and only changes Seats Ev'n I who these mysterious Truths declare Was once Euphorbus in the Trojan War My Name and Lineage I remember well And how in Fight by Sparta's King I fell In Argive Juno's Fane I late beheld My Buckler hung on high and own'd my former Shield Then Death so call'd is but old Matter dress'd In some new Figure and a vary'd Vest Thus all Things are but alter'd nothing dies And here and there th' unbodied Spirit flies By Time or Force or Sickness dispossest And lodges where it lights in Man or Beast Or hunts without till ready Limbs it find And actuates those according to their kind From Tenement to Tenement is toss'd The Soul is still the same the Figure only lost And as the soften'd Wax new Seals receives This Face assumes and that Impression leaves Now call'd by one now by another Name The Form is only chang'd the Wax is still the same So Death so call'd can but the Form deface Th' immortal Soul flies out in empty space To seek her Fortune in some other Place Then let not Piety be put to flight To please the tast of Glutton-Appetite But suffer inmate Souls secure to dwell Lest from their Seats your Parents you expel With rabid Hunger feed upon your kind Or from a Beast dislodge a Brother's Mind And since like Tiphys parting from the Shore In ample Seas I sail and Depths untry'd before This let me further add that Nature knows No stedfast Station but or Ebbs or Flows Ever in motion she destroys her old And casts new Figures in another Mold Ev'n Times are in perpetual Flux and run Like Rivers from their Fountain rowling on For Time no more than Streams is at a stay The flying Hour is ever on her way And as the Fountain still supplies her store The Wave behind impels the Wave before Thus in successive Course the Minutes run And urge their Predecessor Minutes on Still moving ever new For former Things Are set aside like abdicated Kings And every moment alters what is done And innovates some Act till then unknown Darkness we see emerges into Light And shining Suns descend to Sable Night Ev'n Heav'n it self receives another die When weari'd Animals in Slumbers lie Of Midnight Ease Another when the gray Of Morn preludes the Splendor of the Day The disk of Phoebus when he climbs on high Appears at first but as a bloodshot Eye And when his Chariot downward drives to Bed His Ball is with the same Suffusion red But mounted high in his Meridian Race All bright he shines and with a better Face For there pure Particles of AEther flow Far from th' Infection of the World below Nor equal Light th' unequal Moon adorns Or in her wexing or her waning Horns For ev'ry Day she wanes her Face is less But gath'ring into Globe she fattens at increase Perceiv'st thou not the process of the Year How the four Seasons in four Forms appear Resembling human Life in ev'ry Shape they wear Spring first like Infancy shoots out her Head With milky Juice requiring to be fed Helpless tho' fresh and wanting to be led The green Stem grows in Stature and in Size But only feeds with hope the Farmer 's Eyes Then laughs the childish Year with Fluorets crown'd And lavishly perfumes the Fields around But no substantial Nourishment receives Infirm the Stalks unsolid are the Leaves Proceeding onward whence the Year began The Summer grows adult and ripens into Man This Season as in Men is most repleat With kindly Moisture and prolifick Heat Autumn succeeds a sober tepid Age Not froze with Fear nor boiling into Rage More than mature and tending to decay When our brown Locks repine to mix with odious Grey Last Winter creeps along with tardy pace Sour is his Front and furrow'd is his Face His Scalp if not dishonour'd quite of Hair The ragged Fleece is thin and thin is worse than bare Ev'n our own Bodies daily change receive Some part of what was theirs before they leave Nor are to Day what Yesterday they were Nor the whole same to Morrow will appear Time was when we were sow'd and just began From some few fruitful Drops the promise of a Man Then Nature's Hand fermented as it was Moulded to Shape the soft coagulated Mass And when the little Man was fully form'd The breathless Embryo with a Spirit warm'd But when the Mothers Throws begin to come The Creature pent within the narrow Room Breaks his blind Prison pushing to repair His stiffled Breath and draw the living Air Cast on the Margin of the World he lies A helpless Babe but by Instinct he cries He next essays to walk but downward press'd On four Feet imitates his Brother Beast By slow degrees he gathers from the Ground His Legs and to the rowling Chair is bound Then walks alone a Horseman now become He rides a Stick and travels round the Room In time he vaunts among his youthful Peers Strong-bon'd and strung with Nerves in pride of Years He runs with Mettle his first merry Stage Maintains the next abated of his Rage But manages his Strength and spares his Age. Heavy the third and stiff he sinks apace And tho' 't is down-hill all but creeps along the Race Now sapless on the verge of Death he stands Contemplating his former Feet and Hands And Milo-like his slacken'd Sinews sees And wither'd Arms once fit to cope with Hercules Unable now to shake much less to tear the Trees So Helen wept when her too faithful
out so clear That Men and Angels might rejoice to hear Ev'n wondring Philomel forgot to sing And learn'd from Her to welcome in the Spring The Tow'r of which before was mention made Within whose Keep the captive Knights were laid Built of a large Extent and strong withal Was one Partition of the Palace Wall The Garden was enclos'd within the Square Where young Emilia took the Morning-Air It happen'd Palamon the Pris'ner Knight Restless for Woe arose before the Light And with his Jaylor's leave desir'd to breathe An Air more wholesom than the Damps beneath This granted to the Tow'r he took his way Cheer'd with the Promise of a glorious Day Then cast a languishing Regard around And saw with hateful Eyes the Temples crown'd With golden Spires and all the Hostile Ground He sigh'd and turn'd his Eyes because he knew 'T was but a larger Jayl he had in view Then look'd below and from the Castles height Beheld a nearer and more pleasing Sight The Garden which before he had not seen In Springs new Livery clad of White and Green Fresh Flow'rs in wide Parterres and shady Walks between This view'd but not enjoy'd with Arms across He stood reflecting on his Country's Loss Himself an Object of the Publick Scorn And often wish'd he never had been born At last for so his Destiny requir'd With-walking giddy and with thinking tir'd He thro' a little Window cast his Sight Tho' thick of Bars that gave a scanty Light But ev'n that Glimmering serv'd him to descry Th' inevitable Charms of Emily Scarce had he seen but seiz'd with sudden Smart Stung to the Quick he felt it at his Heart Struck blind with overpowering Light he stood Then started back amaz'd and cry'd aloud Young Arcite heard and up he ran with haste To help his Friend and in his Arms embrac'd And ask'd him why he look'd so deadly wan And whence and how his change of Cheer began Or who had done th' Offence But if said he Your Grief alone is hard Captivity For Love of Heav'n with Patience undergo A cureless Ill since Fate will have it so So stood our Horoscope in Chains to lie And Saturn in the Dungeon of the Sky Or other baleful Aspect rul'd our Birth When all the friendly Stars were under Earth Whate'er betides by Destiny 't is done And better bear like Men than vainly seek to shun Nor of my Bonds said Palamon again Nor of unhappy Planets I complain But when my mortal Anguish caus'd my Cry That Moment I was hurt thro' either Eye Pierc'd with a Random-shaft I faint away And perish with insensible Decay A Glance of some new Goddess gave the Wound Whom like Acteon unaware I found Look how she walks along yon shady Space Not Juno moves with more Majestick Grace And all the Cyprian Queen is in her Face If thou art Venus for thy Charms confess That Face was form'd in Heav'n nor art thou less Disguis'd in Habit undisguis'd in Shape O help us Captives from our Chains to scape But if our Doom be past in Bonds to lie For Life and in a loathsom Dungeon die Then be thy Wrath appeas'd with our Disgrace And shew Compassion to the Theban Race Oppress'd by Tyrant Pow'r While yet he spoke Arcite on Emily had fix'd his Look The fatal Dart a ready Passage found And deep within his Heart infix'd the Wound So that if Palamon were wounded sore Arcite was hurt as much as he or more Then from his inmost Soul he sigh'd and said The Beauty I behold has struck me dead Unknowingly she strikes and kills by chance Poyson is in her Eyes and Death in ev'ry Glance O I must ask nor ask alone but move Her Mind to Mercy or must die for Love Thus Arcite And thus Palamon replies Eager his Tone and ardent were his Eyes Speak'st thou in earnest or in jesting Vein Jesting said Arcite suits but ill with Pain It suits far worse said Palamon again And bent his Brows with Men who Honour weigh Their Faith to break their Friendship to betray But worst with Thee of Noble Lineage born My Kinsman and in Arms my Brother sworn Have we not plighted each our holy Oath That one shou'd be the Common Good of both One Soul shou'd both inspire and neither prove His Fellows Hindrance in pursuit of Love To this before the Gods we gave our Hands And nothing but our Death can break the Bands This binds thee then to farther my Design As I am bound by Vow to farther thine Nor canst nor dar'st thou Traytor on the Plain Appeach my Honour or thy own maintain Since thou art of my Council and the Friend Whose Faith I trust and on whose Care depend And would'st thou court my Ladies Love which I Much rather than release would chuse to die But thou false Arcite never shalt obtain Thy bad Pretence I told thee first my Pain For first my Love began e'er thine was born Thou as my Council and my Brother sworn Art bound t' assist my Eldership of Right Or justly to be deem'd a perjur'd Knight Thus Palamon But Arcite with disdain In haughty Language thus reply'd again Forsworn thy self The Traytor 's odious Name I first return and then disprove thy Claim If Love be Passion and that Passion nurst With strong Desires I lov'd the Lady first Canst thou pretend Desire whom Zeal inflam'd To worship and a Pow'r Coelestial nam'd Thine was Devotion to the Blest above I saw the Woman and desir'd her Love First own'd my Passion and to thee commend Th'important Secret as my chosen Friend Suppose which yet I grant not thy Desire A Moment elder than my Rival Fire Can Chance of seeing first thy Title prove And know'st thou not no Law is made for Love Law is to Things which to free Choice relate Love is not in our Choice but in our Fate Laws are but positive Loves Pow'r we see Is Natures Sanction and her first Decree Each Day we break the Bond of Humane Laws For Love and vindicate the Common Cause Laws for Defence of Civil Rights are plac'd Love throws the Fences down and makes a general Waste Maids Widows Wives without distinction fall The sweeping Deluge Love comes on and covers all If then the Laws of Friendship I transgress I keep the Greater while I break the Less And both are mad alike since neither can possess Both hopeless to be ransom'd never more To see the Sun but as he passes o'er Like Esop's Hounds contending for the Bone Each pleaded Right and wou'd be Lord alone The fruitless Fight continu'd all the Day A Cur came by and snatch'd the Prize away As Courtiers therefore justle for a Grant And when they break their Friendship plead their Want So thou if Fortune will thy Suit advance Love on nor envy me my equal Chance For I must love and am resolv'd to try My Fate or failing in th' Adventure die Great was their Strife which hourly was renew'd Till each with
their Diff'rence to decide The Pow'r that ministers to God's Decrees And executes on Earth what Heav'n foresees Call'd Providence or Chance or fatal Sway Comes with resistless Force and finds or makes her Way Nor Kings nor Nations nor united Pow'r One Moment can retard th' appointed Hour And some one Day some wondrous Chance appears Which happen'd not in Centuries of Years For sure whate'er we Mortals hate or love Or hope or fear depends on Pow'rs above They move our Appetites to Good or Ill And by Foresight necessitate the Will In Theseus this appears whose youthful Joy Was Beasts of Chase in Forests to destroy This gentle Knight inspir'd by jolly May Forsook his easie Couch at early Day And to the Wood and Wilds pursu'd his Way Beside him rode Hippolita the Queen And Emily attir'd in lively Green With Horns and Hounds and all the tuneful Cry To hunt a Royal Hart within the Covert nigh And as he follow'd Mars before so now He serves the Goddess of the Silver Bow The Way that Theseus took was to the Wood Where the two Knights in cruel Battel stood The Laund on which they fought th' appointed Place In which th' uncoupl'd Hounds began the Chace Thither forth-right he rode to rowse the Prey That shaded by the Fern in Harbour lay And thence dislodg'd was wont to leave the Wood For open Fields and cross the Crystal Flood Approach'd and looking underneath the Sun He saw proud Arcite and fierce Palamon In mortal Battel doubling Blow on Blow Like Lightning flam'd their Fauchions to and fro And shot a dreadful Gleam so strong they strook There seem'd less Force requir'd to fell an Oak He gaz'd with Wonder on their equal Might Look'd eager on but knew not either Knight Resolv'd to learn he spurr'd his fiery Steed With goring Rowels to provoke his Speed The Minute ended that began the Race So soon he was betwixt 'em on the Place And with his Sword unsheath'd on pain of Life Commands both Combatants to cease their Strife Then with imperious Tone pursues his Threat What are you Why in Arms together met How dares your Pride presume against my Laws As in a listed Field to fight your Cause Unask'd the Royal Grant no Marshal by As Knightly Rites require nor Judge to try Then Palamon with scarce recover'd Breath Thus hasty spoke We both deserve the Death And both wou'd die for look the World around A Pair so wretched is not to be found Our Life 's a Load encumber'd with the Charge We long to set th' imprison'd Soul at large Now as thou art a Sovereign Judge decree The rightful Doom of Death to him and me Let neither find thy Grace for Grace is Cruelty Me first O kill me first and cure my Woe Then sheath the Sword of Justice on my Foe Or kill him first for when his Name is heard He foremost will receive his due Reward Arcite of Thebes is he thy mortal Foe On whom thy Grace did Liberty bestow But first contracted that if ever found By Day or Night upon th' Athenian Ground His Head should pay the Forfeit See return'd The perjur'd Knight his Oath and Honour scorn'd For this is he who with a borrow'd Name And profer'd Service to thy Palace came Now call'd Philostratus retain'd by thee A Traytor trusted and in high Degree Aspiring to the Bed of beauteous Emily My Part remains From Thebes my Birth I own And call my self th' unhappy Palamon Think me not like that Man since no Disgrace Can force me to renounce the Honour of my Race Know me for what I am I broke thy Chain Nor promis'd I thy Pris'ner to remain The Love of Liberty with Life is giv'n And Life it self th' inferiour Gift of Heaven Thus without Crime I fled but farther know I with this Arcite am thy mortal Foe Then give me Death since I thy Life pursue For Safeguard of thy self Death is my Due More would'st thou know I love bright Emily And for her Sake and in her Sight will die But kill my Rival too for he no less Deserves and I thy righteous Doom will bless Assur'd that what I lose he never shall possess To this reply'd the stern Athenian Prince And sow'rly smild In owning your Offence You judge your self and I but keep Record In place of Law while you pronounce the Word Take your Desert the Death you have decreed I seal your Doom and ratifie the Deed. By Mars the Patron of my Arms you die He said dumb Sorrow seiz'd the Standers by The Queen above the rest by Nature Good The Pattern form'd of perfect Womanhood For tender Pity wept When she began Through the bright Quire th' infectious Vertue ran All dropp'd their Tears ev'n the contended Maid And thus among themselves they softly said What Eyes can suffer this unworthy Sight Two Youths of Royal Blood renown'd in Fight The Mastership of Heav'n in Face and Mind And Lovers far beyond their faithless Kind See their wide streaming Wounds they neither came From Pride of Empire nor desire of Fame Kings fight for Kingdoms Madmen for Applause But love for Love alone that crowns the Lover's Cause This Thought which ever bribes the beauteous Kind Such Pity wrought in ev'ry Ladies Mind They left their Steeds and prostrate on the Place From the fierce King implor'd th' Offenders Grace He paus'd a while stood silent in his Mood For yet his Rage was boiling in his Blood But soon his tender Mind th' Impression felt As softest Metals are not slow to melt And Pity soonest runs in gentle Minds Then reasons with himself and first he finds His Passion cast a Mist before his Sense And either made or magnifi'd th' Offence Offence of what to whom Who judg'd the Cause The Pris'ner freed himself by Natures Laws Born free he sought his Right The Man he freed Was perjur'd but his Love excus'd the Deed Thus pond'ring he look'd under with his Eyes And saw the Womens Tears and heard their Cries Which mov'd Compassion more He shook his Head And softly sighing to himself he said Curse on th' unpard'ning Prince whom Tears can draw To no Remorse who rules by Lions Law And deaf to Pray'rs by no Submission bow'd Rends all alike the Penitent and Proud At this with Look serene he rais'd his Head Reason resum'd her Place and Passion fled Then thus aloud he spoke The Pow'r of Love In Earth and Seas and Air and Heav'n above Rules unresisted with an awful Nod By daily Miracles declar'd a God He blinds the Wise gives Eye-sight to the Blind And moulds and stamps anew the Lover's Mind Behold that Arcite and this Palamon Freed from my Fetters and in Safety gone What hinder'd either in their Native Soil At ease to reap the Harvest of their Toil But Love their Lord did otherwise ordain And brought 'em in then own despite again To suffer Death deserv'd for well they know 'T is in my Pow'r and I their deadly Foe The Proverb
banded o'er His Hands a Bow his Back a Quiver bore Supply'd with Arrows bright and keen a deadly Store But in the Dome of mighty Mars the Red With diff'rent Figures all the Sides were spread This Temple less in Form with equal Grace Was imitative of the first in Thrace For that cold Region was the lov'd Abode And Sov'reign Mansion of the Warriour-God The Landscape was a Forest wide and bare Where neither Beast nor Humane Kind repair The Fowl that scent afar the Borders fly And shun the bitter Blast and wheel about the Sky A Cake of Scurf lies baking on the Ground And prickly Stubs instead of Trees are found Or Woods with Knots and Knares deform'd and old Headless the most and hideous to behold A ratling Tempest through the Branches went That stripp'd 'em bare and one sole way they bent Heav'n froze above severe the Clouds congeal And through the Crystal Vault appear'd the standing Hail Such was the Face without a Mountain stood Threatning from high and overlook'd the Wood Beneath the lowring Brow and on a Bent The Temple stood of Mars Armipotent The Frame of burnish'd Steel that cast a Glare From far and seem'd to thaw the freezing Air. A streight long Entry to the Temple led Blind with high Walls and Horrour over Head Thence issu'd such a Blast and hollow Rore As threaten'd from the Hinge to heave the Door In through that Door a Northern Light there shone 'T was all it had for Windows there were none The Gate was Adamant Eternal Frame Which hew'd by Mars himself from Indian Quarries came The Labour of a God and all along Tough Iron Plates were clench'd to make it strong A Tun about was ev'ry Pillar there A polish'd Mirrour shone not half so clear There saw I how the secret Fellon wrought And Treason lab'ring in the Traytor 's Thought And Midwife Time the ripen'd Plot to Murder brought There the Red Anger dar'd the Pallid Fear Next stood Hypocrisie with holy Lear Soft smiling and demurely looking down But hid the Dagger underneath the Gown Th' assassinating Wife the Houshold Fiend And far the blackest there the Traytor-Friend On t' other Side there stood Destruction bare Unpunish'd Rapine and a Waste of War Contest with sharpen'd Knives in Cloysters drawn And all with Blood bespread the holy Lawn Loud Menaces were heard and foul Disgrace And bawling Infamy in Language base Till Sense was lost in Sound and Silence fled the Place The Slayer of Himself yet saw I there The Gore congeal'd was clotter'd in his Hair With Eyes half clos'd and gaping Mouth he lay And grim as when he breath'd his sullen Soul away In midst of all the Dome Misfortune sat And gloomy Discontent and fell Debate And Madness laughing in his ireful Mood And arm'd Complaint on Theft and Cries of Blood There was the murder'd Corps in Covert laid And Violent Death in thousand Shapes display'd The City to the Soldier 's Rage resign'd Successless Wars and Poverty behind Ships burnt in Fight or forc'd on Rocky Shores And the rash Hunter strangled by the Boars The new-born Babe by Nurses overlaid And the Cook caught within the raging Fire he made All Ills of Mars his Nature Flame and Steel The gasping Charioteer beneath the Wheel Of his own Car the ruin'd House that falls And intercepts her Lord betwixt the Walls The whole Division that to Mars pertains All Trades of Death that deal in Steel for Gains Were there The Butcher Armourer and Smith Who forges sharpen'd Fauchions or the Scythe The scarlet Conquest on a Tow'r was plac'd With Shouts and Soldiers Acclamations grac'd A pointed Sword hung threatning o'er his Head Sustain'd but by a slender Twine of Thred There saw I Mars his Ides the Capitol The Seer in vain foretelling Caesar's Fall The last Triumvirs and the Wars they move And Antony who lost the World for Love These and a thousand more the Fane adorn Their Fates were painted e'er the Men were born All copied from the Heav'ns and ruling Force Of the Red Star in his revolving Course The Form of Mars high on a Chariot stood All sheath'd in Arms and gruffly look'd the God Two Geomantick Figures were display'd Above his Head a * Rubeus Puella Warriour and a Maid One when Direct and one when Retrograde Tir'd with Deformities of Death I haste To the third Temple of Diana chaste A Sylvan Scene with various Greens was drawn Shades on the Sides and on the midst a Lawn The Silver Cynthia with her Nymphs around Pursu'd the flying Deer the Woods with Horns resound Calistho there stood manifest of Shame And turn'd a Bear the Northern Star became Her Son was next and by peculiar Grace In the cold Circle held the second Place The Stag Acteon in the Stream had spy'd The naked Huntress and for seeing dy'd His Hounds unknowing of his Change pursue The Chace and their mistaken Master slew Peneian Daphne too was there to see Apollo's Love before and now his Tree Th' adjoining Fane th' assembl'd Greeks express'd And hunting of the Caledonian Beast Oenides Valour and his envy'd Prize The fatal Pow'r of Atalanta's Eyes Diana's Vengeance on the Victor shown The Murdress Mother and consuming Son The Volscian Queen extended on the Plain The Treason punish'd and the Traytor slain The rest were various Huntings well design'd And Salvage Beasts destroy'd of ev'ry Kind The graceful Goddess was array'd in Green About her Feet were little Beagles seen That watch'd with upward Eyes the Motions of their Queen Her Legs were Buskin'd and the Left before In act to shoot a Silver Bow she bore And at her Back a painted Quiver wore She trod a wexing Moon that soon wou'd wane And drinking borrow'd Light be fill'd again With down-cast Eyes as seeming to survey The dark Dominions her alternate Sway. Before her stood a Woman in her Throws And call'd Lucina's Aid her Burden to disclose All these the Painter drew with such Command That Nature snatch'd the Pencil from his Hand Asham'd and angry that his Art could feign And mend the Tortures of a Mothers Pain Theseus beheld the Fanes of ev'ry God And thought his mighty Cost was well bestow'd So Princes now their Poets should regard But few can write and fewer can reward The Theater thus rais'd the Lists enclos'd And all with vast Magnificence dispos'd We leave the Monarch pleas'd and haste to bring The Knights to combate and their Arms to sing The End of the Second Book PALAMON AND ARCITE OR The Knight's Tale. BOOK III. THE Day approach'd when Fortune shou'd decide Th' important Enterprize and give the Bride For now the Rivals round the World had fought And each his Number well appointed brought The Nations far and near contend in Choice And send the Flow'r of War by Publick Voice That after or before were never known Such Chiefs as each an Army seem'd alone Beside the Champions all of high Degree Who Knighthood lov'd and Deeds of
but by Sighs and offer'd vain Relief At length her Stock of Tears already shed She wip'd her Eyes she rais'd her drooping Head And thus pursu'd O ever faithful Heart I have perform'd the Ceremonial Part The Decencies of Grief It rests behind That as our Bodies were our Souls be join'd To thy whate'er abode my Shade convey And as an elder Ghost direct the way She said and bad the Vial to be brought Where she before had brew'd the deadly Draught First pouring out the med'cinable Bane The Heart her Tears had rins'd she bath'd again Then down her Throat the Death securely throws And quaffs a long Oblivion of her Woes This done she mounts the Genial Bed and there Her Body first compos'd with honest Care Attends the welcom Rest Her Hands yet hold Close to her Heart the Monumental Gold Nor farther Word she spoke but clos'd her Sight And quiet sought the Govert of the Night The Damsels who the while in Silence mourn'd Not knowing nor suspecting Death suborn'd Yet as their Duty was to Tancred sent Who conscious of th' Occasion fear'd th' Event Alarm'd and with presaging Heart he came And drew the Curtains and expos'd the Dame To loathsom Light then with a late Relief Made vain Efforts to mitigate her Grief She what she could excluding Day her Eyes Kept firmly seal'd and sternly thus replies Tancred restrain thy Tears unsought by me And Sorrow unavailing now to thee Did ever Man before afflict his Mind To see th' Effect of what himself design'd Yet if thou hast remaining in thy Heart Some Sense of Love some unextinguish'd Part Of former Kindness largely once profess'd Let me by that adjure thy harden'd Breast Not to deny thy Daughters last Request The secret Love which I so long enjoy'd And still conceal'd to gratifie thy Pride Thou hast disjoin'd but with my dying Breath Seek not I beg thee to disjoin our Death Where-e'er his Corps by thy Command is laid Thither let mine in publick be convey'd Expos'd in open View and Side by Side Acknowledg'd as a Bridegroom and a Bride The Prince's Anguish hinder'd his Reply And she who felt her Fate approaching nigh Seiz'd the cold Heart and heaving to her Breast Here precious Pledge she said securely rest These Accents were her last the creeping Death Benum'd her Senses first then stopp'd her Breath Thus she for Disobedience justly dy'd The Sire was justly punish'd for his Pride The Youth least guilty suffer'd for th' Offence Of Duty violated to his Prince Who late repenting of his cruel Deed One common Sepulcher for both decreed Intomb'd the wretched Pair in Royal State And on their Monument inscrib'd their Fate BAUCIS AND PHILEMON Out of the Eighth Book OF OVID'S Metamorphoses BAUCIS AND PHILEMON Out of the Eighth Book of OVID's METAMORPHOSES The Author pursuing the Deeds of Theseus relates how He with his Friend Perithous were invited by Achelous the River-God to stay with him till his Waters were abated Achelous entertains them with a Relation of his own Love to Perimele who was chang'd into an Island by Neptune at his Request Perithous being an Atheist derides the Legend and denies the Power of the Gods to work that Miracle Lelex another Companion of Theseus to constrm the Story of Achelous relates another Metamorphosis of Baucis and Philemon into Trees of which he was partly an Eye-witness THus Achelous ends His Audience hear With admiration and admiring fear The Pow'rs of Heav'n except Ixion's Son Who laugh'd at all the Gods believ'd in none He shook his impious Head and thus replies These Legends are no more than pious Lies You attribute too much to Heavenly Sway To think they give us Forms and take away The rest of better Minds their Sense declar'd Against this Doctrine and with Horrour heard Then Lelex rose an old experienc'd Man And thus with sober Gravity began Heav'ns Pow'r is Infinite Earth Air and Sea The Manufacture Mass the making Pow'r obey By Proof to clear your Doubt In Phrygian Ground Two neighb'ring Trees with Walls encompass'd round Stand on a mod'rate Rise with wonder shown One a hard Oak a softer Linden one I saw the Place and them by Pittheus sent To Phrygian Realms my Grandsire's Government Not far from thence is seen a Lake the Haunt Of Coots and of the fishing Cormorant Here Jove with Hermes came but in Disguise Of mortal Men conceal'd their Deities One laid aside his Thunder one his Rod And many toilsom Steps together trod For Harbour at a thousand Doors they knock'd Not one of all the thousand but was lock'd At last an hospitable House they found A homely Shed the Roof not far from Ground Was thatch'd with Reeds and Straw together bound There Baucis and Philemon liv'd and there Had liv'd long marry'd and a happy Pair Now old in Love though little was their Store Inur'd to Want their Poverty they bore Nor aim'd at Wealth professing to be poor For Master or for Servant here to call Was all alike where only Two were All. Command was none where equal Love was paid Or rather both commanded both obey'd From lofty Roofs the Gods repuls'd before Now stooping enter'd through the little Door The Man their hearty Welcome first express'd A common Settle drew for either Guest Inviting each his weary Limbs to rest But e'er they sat officious Baucis lays Two Cushions stuff'd with Straw the Seat to raise Course but the best she had then rakes the Load Of Ashes from the Hearth and spreads abroad The living Coals and lest they shou'd expire With Leaves and Barks she feeds her Infant-fire It smoaks and then with trembling Breath she blows Till in a chearful Blaze the Flames arose With Brush-wood and with Chips she strengthens these And adds at last the Boughs of rotten Trees The Fire thus form'd she sets the Kettle on Like burnish'd Gold the little Seether shone Next took the Coleworts which her Husband got From his own Ground a small well-water'd Spot She stripp'd the Stalks of all their Leaves the best She cull'd and then with handy-care she dress'd High o'er the Hearth a Chine of Bacon hung Good old Philemon seiz'd it with a Prong And from the sooty Rafter drew it down Then cut a Slice but scarce enough for one Yet a large Portion of a little Store Which for their Sakes alone he wish'd were more This in the Pot he plung'd without delay To tame the Flesh and drain the Salt away The Time between before the Fire they sat And shorten'd the Delay by pleasing Chat. A Beam there was on which a Beechen Pail Hung by the Handle on a driven Nail This fill'd with Water gently warm'd they set Before their Guests in this they bath'd their Feet And after with clean Towels dry'd their Sweat This done the Host produc'd the genial Bed Sallow the Feet the Borders and the Sted Which with no costly Coverlet they spread But course old Garments yet such Robes as these They laid alone at
Cinyras my Father been What hinder'd Myrrha's Hopes to be his Queen But the Perverseness of my Fate is such That he 's not mine because he 's mine too much Our Kindred-Blood debars a better Tie He might be nearer were he not so nigh Eyes and their Ojects never must unite Some Distance is requir'd to help the Sight Fain wou'd I travel to some Foreign Shore Never to see my Native Country more So might I to my self my self restore So might my Mind these impious Thoughts remove And ceasing to behold might cease to love But stay I must to seed my famish'd Sight To talk to kiss and more if more I might More impious Maid What more canst thou design To make a monstrous Mixture in thy Line And break all Statutes Humane and Divine Canst thou be call'd to save thy wretched Life Thy Mother's Rival and thy Father's Wife Confound so many sacred Names in one Thy Brother's Mother Sister to thy Son And fear'st thou not to see th' Infernal Bands Their Heads with Snakes with Torches arm'd their Hands Full at thy Face th' avenging Brands to bear And shake the Serpents from their hissing Hair But thou in time th' increasing Ill controul Nor first debauch the Body by the Soul Secure the sacred Quiet of thy Mind And keep the Sanctions Nature has design'd Suppose I shou'd attempt th' Attempt were vain No Thoughts like mine his sinless Soul profane Observant of the Right and O that he Cou'd cure my Madness or be mad like me Thus she But Cinyras who daily sees A Crowd of Noble Suitors at his Knees Among so many knew not whom to chuse Irresolute to grant or to refuse But having told their Names enquir'd of her Who pleas'd her best and whom she would prefer The blushing Maid stood silent with Surprize And on her Father fix'd her ardent Eyes And looking sigh'd and as she sigh'd began Round Tears to shed that scalded as they ran The tender Sire who saw her blush and cry Ascrib'd it all to Maiden-modesty And dry'd the falling Drops and yet more kind He stroak'd her Cheeks and holy Kisses join'd She felt a secret Venom fire her Blood And found more Pleasure than a Daughter shou'd And ask'd again what Lover of the Crew She lik'd the best she answer'd One like you Mistaking what she meant her pious Will He prais'd and bad her so continue still The Word of Pious heard she blush'd with shame Of secret Guilt and cou'd not bear the Name 'T was now the mid of Night when Slumbers close Our Eyes and sooth our Cares with soft Repose But no Repose cou'd wretched Myrrha find Her Body rouling as she rould her Mind Mad with Desire she ruminates her Sin And wishes all her Wishes o'er again Now she despairs and now resolves to try Wou'd not and wou'd again she knows not why Stops and returns makes and retracts the Vow Fain wou'd begin but understands not how As when a Pine is hew'd upon the Plains And the last mortal Stroke alone remains Lab'ring in Pangs of Death and threatning all This way and that she nods considring where to fall So Myrrha's Mind impell'd on either Side Takes ev'ry Bent but cannot long abide Irresolute on which she shou'd relie At last unfix'd in all is only fix'd to die On that sad Thought she rests resolv'd on Death She rises and prepares to choak her Breath Then while about the Beam her Zone she ties Dear Cinyras farewell she softly cries For thee I die and only wish to be Not hated when thou know'st I die for thee Pardon the Crime in pity to the Cause This said about her Neck the Noose she draws The Nurse who lay without her faithful Guard Though not the Words the Murmurs overheard And Sighs and hollow Sounds Surpriz'd with Fright She starts and leaves her Bed and springs a Light Unlocks the Door and entring out of Breath The Dying saw and Instruments of Death She shrieks she cuts the Zone with trembling haste And in her Arms her fainting Charge embrac'd Next for she now had leisure for her Tears She weeping ask'd in these her blooming Years What unforeseen Misfortune caus'd her Care To loath her Life and languish in Despair The Maid with down-cast Eyes and mute with Grief For Death unfinish'd and ill-tim'd Relief Stood sullen to her Suit The Beldame press'd The more to know and bar'd her wither'd Breast Adjur'd her by the kindly Food shew drew From those dry Founts her secret Ill to shew Sad Myrrha sigh'd and turn'd her Eyes aside The Nurse still urg'd and wou'd not be deny'd Nor only promis'd Secresie but pray'd She might have leave to give her offer'd Aid Good-will she said my want of Strength supplies And Diligence shall give what Age denies If strong Desires thy Mind to Fury move With Charms and Med'cines I can cure thy Love If envious Eyes their hurtful Rays have cast More pow'rful Verse shall free thee from the Blast If Heav'n offended sends thee this Disease Offended Heav'n with Pray'rs we can appease What then remains that can these Cares procure Thy House is flourishing thy Fortune sure Thy careful Mother yet in Health survives And to thy Comfort thy kind Father lives The Virgin started at her Father's Name And sigh'd profoundly conscious of the Shame Nor yet the Nurse her impious Love divin'd But yet surmis'd that Love disturb'd her Mind Thus thinking she pursu'd her Point and laid And lull'd within her Lap the mourning Maid Then softly sooth'd her thus I guess your Grief You love my Child your Love shall find Relief My long experienc'd Age shall be your Guide Relie on that and lay Distrust aside No Breath of Air shall on the Secret blow Nor shall what most you fear your Father know Struck once again as with a Thunder-clap The guilty Virgin bounded from her Lap And threw her Body prostrate on the Bed And to conctal her Blushes hid her Head There silent lay and warn'd her with her Hand To go But she receiv'd not the Command Remaining still importunate to know Then Myrrha thus Or ask no more or go I prethee go or staying spare my Shame What thou wou'dst hear is impious ev'n to name At this on high the Beldame holds her Hands And trembling both with Age and Terrour stands Adjures and falling at her Feet intreats Sooths her with Blandishments and frights with Threats To tell the Crime intended or disclose What Part of it she knew if she no farther knows And last if conscious to her Counsel made Confirms anew the Promise of her Aid Now Myrrha rais'd her Head but soon oppress'd With Shame reclin'd it on her Nurses Breast Bath'd it with Tears and strove to have confess'd Twice she began and stopp'd again she try'd The falt'ring Tongue its Office still deny'd At last her Veil before her Face she spread And drew a long preluding Sigh and said O happy Mother in thy Marriage-bed Then groan'd and ceas'd the good Old
will assist and Jove assert my Right But thou of all the Kings his Care below Art least at my Command and most my Foe Debates Dissentions Uproars are thy Joy Provok'd without Offence and practis'd to destroy Strength is of Brutes and not thy Boast alone At least 't is lent from Heav'n and not thy own Fly then ill-manner'd to thy Native Land And there thy Ant-born Myrmidons command But mark this Menace since I must resign My black-ey'd Maid to please the Pow'rs divine A well-rigg'd Vessel in the Port attends Man'd at my Charge commanded by my Friends The Ship shall wast her to her wish'd Abode Full fraught with holy Bribes to the far-shooting God This thus dispatch'd I owe my self the Care My Fame and injur'd Honour to repair From thy own Tent proud Man in thy despight This Hand shall ravish thy pretended Right Briseis shall be mine and thou shalt see What odds of awful Pow'r I have on thee That others at thy cost may learn the diff'rence of degree At this th' Impatient Hero sowrly smil'd His Heart impetuous in his Bosom boil'd And justled by two Tides of equal sway Stood for a while suspended in his way Betwixt his Reason and his Rage untam'd One whisper'd soft and one aloud reclaim'd That only counsell'd to the safer side This to the Sword his ready Hand apply'd Unpunish'd to support th' Affrong was hard Nor easy was th' Attempt to force the Guard But soon the thirst of Vengeance fir'd his Blood Half shone his Faulchion and half sheath'd it stood In that nice moment Pallas from above Commission'd by th' Imperial Wife of Jove Descended swift the white arm'd Queen was loath The Fight shou'd follow for she favour'd both Just as in Act he stood in Clouds inshrin'd Her Hand she fasten'd on his Hair behind Then backward by his yellow Curls she drew To him and him alone confess'd in view Tam'd by superiour Force he turn'd his Eyes Aghast at first and stupid with Surprize But by her sparkling Eyes and ardent Look The Virgin-Warrior known he thus bespoke Com'st thou Celestial to behold my Wrongs Then view the Vengeance which to Crimes belongs Thus He. The blue-ey'd Goddess thus rejoin'd I come to calm thy turbulence of Mind If Reason will resume her soveraign Sway And sent by Juno her Commands obey Equal she loves you both and I protect Then give thy Guardian Gods their due respect And cease Contention be thy Words severe Sharp as he merits But the Sword forbear An Hour unhop'd already wings her way When he his dire Affront shall dearly pay When the proud King shall sue with trebble Gain To quit thy Loss and conquer thy Disdain But thou secure of my unfailing Word Compose thy swelling Soul and sheath the Sword The Youth thus answer'd mild Auspicious Maid Heav'ns will be mine and your Commands obey'd The Gods are just and when subduing Sense We serve their Pow'rs provide the Recompence He said with surly Faith believ'd her Word And in the Sheath reluctant plung'd the Sword Her Message done she mounts the bless'd Abodes And mix'd among the Senate of the Gods At her departure his Disdain return'd The Fire she fan'd with greater Fury burn'd Rumbling within till thus it found a vent Dastard and Drunkard Mean and Insolent Tongue-valiant Hero Vaunter of thy Might In Threats the foremost but the lag in Fight When did'st thou thrust amid the mingled Preace Content to bid the War aloof in Peace Arms are the Trade of each Plebeyan Soul 'T is Death to fight but Kingly to controul Lord-like at ease with arbitrary Pow'r To peel the Chiefs the People to devour These Traitor are thy Tallents safer far Than to contend in Fields and Toils of War Nor coud'st thou thus have dar'd the common Hate Were not their Souls as abject as their State But by this Scepter solemnly I swear Which never more green Leaf or growing Branch shall bear Torn from the Tree and giv'n by Jove to those Who Laws dispence and mighty Wrongs oppose That when the Grecians want my wonted Aid No Gift shall bribe it and no Pray'r persuade When Hector comes the Homicide to wield His conquering Arms with Corps to strow the Field Then shalt thou mourn thy Pride and late confess My Wrong repented when 't is past redress He said And with Disdain in open view Against the Ground his golden Scepter threw Then sate with boiling Rage Altrides burn'd And Foam betwixt his gnashing Grinders churn'd But from his Seat the Pylian Prince arose With Reas'ning mild their Madness to compose Words sweet as Hony from his Mouth distill'd Two Centuries already he fulfill'd And now began the third unbroken yet Once fam'd for Courage still in Council great What worse he said can Argos undergo What can more gratify the Phrygian Foe Than these distemper'd Heats If both the Lights Of Greece their private Int'rest disunites Believe a Friend with thrice your Years increas'd And let these youthful Passions be repress'd I flourish'd long before your Birth and then Liv'd equal with a Race of braver Men Than these dim Eyes shall e'er behold agen Ceneus and Dryas and excelling them Great Theseus and the force of greater Polypheme With these I went a Brother of the War Their Dangers to divide their Fame to share Nor idle stood with unassisting Hands When salvage Beasts and Men's more salvage Bands Their virtuous Toil subdu'd Yet those I sway'd With pow'rful Speech I spoke and they obey'd If such as those my Councils cou'd reclaim Think not young Warriors your diminish'd Name Shall lose of Lustre by subjecting Rage To the cool Dictates of experienc'd Age. Thou King of Men stretch not thy sovereign Sway Beyond the Bounds free Subjects can obey But let Pelides in his Prize rejoice Atchiev'd in Arms allow'd by publick Voice Nor Thou brave Champion with his Pow'r contend Before whose Throne ev'n Kings their lower'd Scepters bend The Head of Action He and Thou the Hand Matchless thy Force but mightier his Command Thou first O King release the rights of Sway Pow'r self-restrain'd the People best obey Sanctions of Law from Thee derive their Source Command thy Self whom no Commands can force The Son of Thetis Rampire of our Host Is worth our Care to keep nor shall my Pray'rs be lost Thus Nestor said and ceas'd Atrides broke His Silence next but ponder'd e'er he spoke Wise are thy Words and glad I would obey But this proud Man affects Imperial Sway. Controlling Kings and trampling on our State His Will is Law and what he wills is Fate The Gods have giv'n him Strength But whence the Style Of lawless Pow'r assum'd or Licence to revile Achilles cut him short and thus reply'd My Worth allow'd in Words is in effect deny'd For who but a Poltron possess'd with Fear Such haughty Insolence can tamely bear Command thy Slaves My freeborn soul disdains A Tyrant's Curb and restiff breaks the Reins Take this along that no Dispute
think it was to give consent But struggling with his own Desires he went With large Expence and with a pompous Train Provided as to visit France or Spain Or for some distant Voyage o'er the Main But Love had clipp'd his Wings and cut him short Confin'd within the purlieus of his Court Three Miles he went nor farther could retreat His Travels ended at his Country-Seat To Chassis pleasing Plains he took his way There pitch'd his Tents and there resolv'd to stay The Spring was in the Prime the neighb'ring Grove Supply'd with Birds the Choristers of Love Musick unbought that minister'd Delight To Morning-walks and lull'd his Cares by Night There he discharg'd his Friends but not th' Expence Of frequent Treats and proud Magnificence He liv'd as Kings retire though more at large From publick Business yet with equal Charge With House and Heart still open to receive As well content as Love would give him leave He would have liv'd more free but many a Guest Who could forsake the Friend pursu'd the Feast It happ'd one Morning as his Fancy led Before his usual Hour he left his Bed To walk within a lonely Lawn that stood On ev'ry side surrounded by the Wood Alone he walk'd to please his pensive Mind And sought the deepest Solitude to find 'T was in a Grove of spreading Pines he stray'd The Winds within the quiv'ring Branches plaid And Dancing-Trees a mournful Musick made The Place it self was suiting to his Care Uncouth and Salvage as the cruel Fair. He wander'd on unknowing where he went Lost in the Wood and all on Love intent The Day already half his Race had run And summon'd him to due Repast at Noon But Love could feel no Hunger but his own While list'ning to the murm'ring Leaves he stood More than a Mile immers'd within the Wood At once the Wind was laid the whisp'ring sound Was dumb a rising Earthquake rock'd the Ground With deeper Brown the Grove was overspred A suddain Horror seiz'd his giddy Head And his Ears tinckled and his Colour fled Nature was in alarm some Danger nigh Seem'd threaten'd though unseen to mortal Eye Unus'd to fear he summon'd all his Soul And stood collected in himself and whole Not long For soon a Whirlwind rose around And from afar he heard a screaming sound As of a Dame distress'd who cry'd for Aid And fill'd with loud Laments the secret Shade A Thicket close beside the Grove there stood With Breers and Brambles choak'd and dwarfish Wood From thence the Noise Which now approaching near With more distinguish'd Notes invades his Ear He rais'd his Head and saw a beauteous Maid With Hair dishevell'd issuing through the Shade Stripp'd of her Cloaths and e'en those Parts reveal'd Which modest Nature keeps from Sight conceal'd Her Face her Hands her naked Limbs were torn With passing through the Brakes and prickly Thorn Two Mastiffs gaunt and grim her Flight pursu'd And oft their fasten'd Fangs in Blood embru'd Oft they came up and pinch'd her tender Side Mercy O Mercy Heav'n she ran and cry'd When Heav'n was nam'd they loos'd their Hold again Then sprung she forth they follow'd her amain Not far behind a Knight of swarthy Face High on a Coal-black Steed pursu'd the Chace With flashing Flames his ardent Eyes were fill'd And in his Hands a naked Sword he held He chear'd the Dogs to follow her who fled And vow'd Revenge on her devoted Head As Theodore was born of noble Kind The brutal Action rowz'd his manly Mind Mov'd with unworthy Usage of the Maid He though unarm'd resolv'd to give her Aid A Saplin Pine he wrench'd from out the Ground The readiest Weapon that his Fury found Thus furnish'd for Offence he cross'd the way Betwixt the graceless Villain and his Prey The Knight came thund'ring on but from afar Thus in imperious Tone forbad the War Cease Theodore to proffer vain Relief Nor stop the vengeance of so just a Grief But give me leave to seize my destin'd Prey And let eternal Justice take the way I but revenge my Fate disdain'd betray'd And suff'ring Death for this ungrateful Maid He say'd at once dismounting from the Steed For now the Hell-hounds with superiour Speed Had reach'd the Dame and fast'ning on her Side The Ground with issuing Streams of Purple dy'd Stood Theodore surpriz'd in deadly Fright With chatt'ring Teeth and bristling Hair upright Yet arm'd with inborn Worth What e'er said he Thou art who know'st me better than I thee Or prove thy rightful Cause or be defy'd The Spectre fiercely staring thus reply'd Know Theodore thy Ancestry I claim And Guido Cavalcanti was my Name One common Sire our Fathers did beget My Name and Story some remember yet Thee then a Boy within my Arms I laid When for my Sins I lov'd this haughty Maid Not less ador'd in Life nor serv'd by Me Than proud Honoria now is lov'd by Thee What did I not her stubborn Heart to gain But all my Vows were answer'd with Disdain She scorn'd my Sorrows and despis'd my Pain Long time I dragg'd my Days in fruitless Care Then loathing Life and plung'd in deep Despair To finish my unhappy Life I fell On this sharp Sword and now am damn'd in Hell Short was her Joy for soon th' insulting Maid By Heav'n's Decree in the cold Grave was laid And as in unrepenting Sin she dy'd Doom'd to the same bad Place is punish'd for her Pride Because she deem'd I well deserv'd to die And made a Merit of her Cruelty There then we met both try'd and both were cast And this irrevocable Sentence pass'd That she whom I so long pursu'd in vain Should suffer from my Hands a lingring Pain Renew'd to Life that she might daily die I daily doom'd to follow she to fly No more a Lover but a mortal Foe I seek her Life for Love is none below As often as my Dogs with better speed Arrest her Flight is she to Death decreed Then with this fatal Sword on which I dy'd I pierce her open'd Back or tender Side And tear that harden'd Heart from out her Breast Which with her Entrails makes my hungry Hounds a Feast Nor lies she long but as her Fates ordain Springs up to Life and fresh to second Pain Is sav'd to Day to Morrow to be slain This vers'd in Death th' infernal Knight relates And then for Proof fulfill'd their common Fates Her Heart and Bowels through her Back he drew And fed the Hounds that help'd him to pursue Stern'd look'd the Fiend as frustrate of his Will Not half suffic'd and greedy yet to kill And now the Soul expiring through the Wound Had left the Body breathless on the Ground When thus the grisly Spectre spoke again Behold the Fruit of ill-rewarded Pain As many Months as I sustain'd her Hate So many Years is she condemn'd by Fate To daily Death and ev'ry several Place Conscious of her Disdain and my Disgrace Must witness her just Punishment and be A Scene of
from Bed I sprung And dressing by the Moon in loose Array Pass'd out in open Air preventing Day And sought a goodly Grove as Fancy led my way Strait as a Line in beauteous Order stood Of Oaks unshorn a venerable Wood Fresh was the Grass beneath and ev'ry Tree At distance planted in a due degree Their branching Arms in Air with equal space Stretch'd to their Neighbours with a long Embrace And the new Leaves on ev'ry Bough were seen Some ruddy-colour'd some of lighter green The painted Birds Companions of the Spring Hopping from Spray to Spray were heard to sing Both Eyes and Ears receiv'd a like Delight Enchanting Musick and a charming Sight On Philomel I fix'd my whole Desire And list'n'd for the Queen of all the Quire Fain would I hear her heav'nly Voice to sing And wanted yet an Omen to the Spring Attending long in vain I took the way Which through a Path but scarcely printed lay In narrow Mazes oft it seem'd to meet And look'd as lightly press'd by Fairy Feet Wandring I walk'd alone for still methought To some strange End so strange a Path was wrought At last it led me where an Arbour stood The sacred Receptacle of the Wood This Place unmark'd though oft I walk'd the Green In all my Progress I had never seen And seiz'd at once with Wonder and Delight Gaz'd all arround me new to the transporting Sight 'T was bench'd with Turf and goodly to be seen The thick young Grass arose in fresher Green The Mound was newly made no Sight cou'd pass Betwixt the nice Partitions of the Grass The well-united Sods so closely lay And all arround the Shades defended it from Day For Sycamours with Eglantine were spread A Hedge about the Sides a Covering over Head And so the fragrant Brier was wove between The Sycamour and Flow'rs were mix'd with Green That Nature seem'd to vary the Delight And satisfy'd at once the Smell and Sight The Master Work-man of the Bow'r was known Through Fairy-Lands and built for Oberon Who twining Leaves with such Proportion drew They rose by Measure and by Rule they grew No mortal Tongue can half the Beauty tell For none but Hands divine could work so well Both Roof and Sides were like a Parlour made A soft Recess and a cool Summer shade The Hedge was set so thick no Foreign Eye The Persons plac'd within it could espy But all that pass'd without with Ease was seen As if nor Fence nor Tree was plac'd between 'T was border'd with a Field and some was plain With Grass and some was sow'd with rising Grain That now the Dew with Spangles deck'd the Ground A sweeter spot of Earth was never found I look'd and look'd and still with new Delight Such Joy my Soul such Pleasures fill'd my Sight And the fresh Eglantine exhal'd a Breath Whose Odours were of Pow'r to raise from Death Nor sullen Discontent nor anxious Care Ev'n tho' brought thither could inhabit there But thence they fled as from their mortal Foe For this sweet Place cou'd only Pleasure know Thus as I mus'd I cast aside my Eye And saw a Medlar-Tree was planted nigh The spreading Branches made a goodly Show And full of opening Blooms was ev'ry Bough A Goldfinch there I saw with gawdy Pride Of painted Plumes that hopp'd from side to side Still pecking as she pass'd and still she drew The Sweets from ev'ry Flow'r and suck'd the Dew Suffic'd at length she warbled in her Throat And tun'd her Voice to many a merry Note But indistinct and neither Sweet nor Clear Yet such as sooth'd my Soul and pleas'd my Ear. Her short Performance was no sooner try'd When she I sought the Nightingale reply'd So sweet so shrill so variously she sung That the Grove eccho'd and the Valleys rung And I so ravish'd with her heav'nly Note I stood intranc'd and had no room for Thought But all o'er-pou'r'd with Extasy of Bliss Was in a pleasing Dream of Paradice At length I wak'd and looking round the Bow'r Search'd ev'ry Tree and pry'd on ev'ry Flow'r If any where by chance I might espy The rural Poet of the Melody For still methought she sung not far away At last I found her on a Lawrel Spray Close by my Side she sate and fair in Sight Full in a Line against her opposite Where stood with Eglantine the Lawrel twin'd And both their native Sweets were well conjoin'd On the green Bank I sat and listen'd long Sitting was more convenient for the Song Nor till her Lay was ended could I move But wish'd to dwell for ever in the Grove Only methought the time too swiftly pass'd And ev'ry Note I fear'd wou'd be the last My Sight and Smell and Hearing were employ'd And all three Senses in full Gust enjoy'd And what alone did all the rest surpass The sweet Possession of the Fairy Place Single and conscious to my Self alone Of Pleasures to th' excluded World unknown Pleasures which no where else were to be found And all Elysium in a spot of Ground Thus while I sat intent to see and hear And drew Perfumes of more than vital Air All suddenly I heard th' approaching sound Of vocal Musick on th' enchanted Ground An Host of Saints it seem'd so full the Quire As if the Bless'd above did all conspire To join their Voices and neglect the Lyre At length there issu'd from the Grove behind A fair Assembly of the Female Kind A Train less fair as ancient Fathers tell Seduc'd the Sons of Heaven to rebel I pass their Forms and ev'ry charming Grace Less than an Angel wou'd their Worth debase But their Attire like Liveries of a kind All rich and rare is fresh within my Mind In Velvet white as Snow the Troop was gown'd The Seams with sparkling Emeralds set around Their Hoods and Sleeves the same And purfled o'er With Diamonds Pearls and all the shining store Of Eastern Pomp Their long descending Train With Rubies edg'd and Saphires swept the Plain High on their Heads with Jewels richly set Each Lady wore a radiant Coronet Beneath the Circles all the Quire was grac'd With Chaplets green on their fair Foreheads plac'd Of Lawrel some of Woodbine many more And Wreaths of Agnus castus others bore These last who with those Virgin Crowns were dress'd Appear'd in higher Honour than the rest They danc'd around but in the midst was seen A Lady of a more majestique Mien By Stature and by Beauty mark'd their Sovereign Queen She in the midst began with sober Grace Her Servants Eyes were fix'd upon her Face And as she mov'd or turn'd her Motions view'd Her Measures kept and Step by Step pursu'd Methought she trod the Ground with greater Grace With more of Godhead shining in her Face And as in Beauty she surpass'd the Quire So nobler than the rest was her Attire A Crown of ruddy Gold inclos'd her Brow Plain without Pomp and Rich without a Show A Branch of Agnus castus in her Hand She
the bloomy Gridelin The Borders of their Petticoats below Were guarded thick with Rubies on a-row And ev'ry Damsel wore upon her Head Of Flow'rs a Garland blended White and Red. Attir'd in Mantles all the Knights were seen That gratify'd the View with chearful Green Their Chaplets of their Ladies Colours were Compos'd of White and Red to shade their shining Hair Before the merry Troop the Minstrels play'd All in their Master's Liveries were array'd And clad in Green and on their Temples wore The Chaplets White and Red their Ladies bore Their Instruments were various in their kind Some for the Bow and some for breathing Wind The Sawtry Pipe and Hautbois noisy band And the soft Lute trembling beneath the touching Hand A Tuft of Dasies on a flow'ry Lay They saw and thitherward they bent their way To this both Knights and Dames their Homage made And due Obeisance to the Daisy paid And then the Band of Flutes began to play To which a Lady sung a Virelay And still at ev'ry close she wou'd repeat The Burden of the Song The Daisy is so sweet The Daisy is so sweet when she begun The Troop of Knights and Dames continu'd on The Concert and the Voice so charm'd my Ear And sooth'd my Soul that it was Heav'n to hear But soon their Pleasure pass'd At Noon of Day The Sun with sultry Beams began to play Not Syrius shoots a fiercer Flame from high When with his pois'nous Breath he blasts the Sky Then droop'd the fading Flow'rs their Beauty fled And clos'd their sickly Eyes and hung the Head And rivell'd up with Heat lay dying in their Bed The Ladies gasp'd and scarcely could respire The Breath they drew no longer Air but Fire The fainty Knights were scorch'd and knew not where To run for Shelter for no Shade was near And after this the gath'ring Clouds amain Pour'd down a Storm of rattling Hail and Rain And Lightning flash'd betwixt The Field and Flow'rs Burnt up before were bury'd in the Show'rs The Ladies and the Knights no Shelter nigh Bare to the Weather and the wintry Sky Were dropping wet disconsolate and wan And through their thin Array receiv'd the Rain While those in White protected by the Tree Saw pass the vain Assault and stood from Danger free But as Compassion mov'd their gentle Minds When ceas'd the Storm and silent were the Winds Displeas'd at what not suff'ring they had seen They went to chear the Faction of the Green The Queen in white Array before her Band Saluting took her Rival by the Hand So did the Knights and Dames with courtly Grace And with Behaviour sweet their Foes embrace Then thus the Queen with Lawrel on her Brow Fair Sister I have suffer'd in your Woe Nor shall be wanting ought within my Pow'r For your Relief in my refreshing Bow'r That other answer'd with a lowly Look And soon the gracious Invitation took For ill at ease both she and all her Train The scorching Sun had born and beating Rain Like Courtesy was us'd by all in White Each Dame a Dame receiv'd and ev'ry Knight a Knight The Lawrel-Champions with their Swords invade The neighb'ring Forests where the Justs were made And Serewood from the rotten Hedges took And Seeds of Latent-Fire from Flints provoke A chearful Blaze arose and by the Fire They warm'd their frozen Feet and dry'd their wet Attire Refresh'd with Heat the Ladies sought around For virtuous Herbs which gather'd from the Ground They squeez'd the Juice and cooling Ointment made Which on their Sun-burnt Cheeks and their chapt Skins they Then sought green Salads which they bad 'em eat laid A Soveraign Remedy for inward Heat The Lady of the Leaf ordain'd a Feast And made the Lady of the Flow'r her Guest When lo a Bow'r ascended on the Plain With suddain Seats adorn'd and large for either Train This Bow'r was near my pleasant Arbour plac'd That I could hear and see whatever pass'd The Ladies sat with each a Knight between Distinguish'd by their Colours White and Green The vanquish'd Party with the Victors join'd Nor wanted sweet Discourse the Banquet of the Mind Mean time the Minstrels play'd on either side Vain of their Art and for the Mast'ry vy'd The sweet Contention lasted for an Hour And reach'd my secret Arbour from the Bow'r The Sun was set and Vesper to supply His absent Beams had lighted up the Sky When Philomel officious all the Day To sing the Service of th' ensuing May Fled from her Lawrel Shade and wing'd her Flight Directly to the Queen array'd in White And hopping sate familiar on her Hand A new Musitian and increas'd the Band. The Goldfinch who to shun the scalding Heat Had chang'd the Medlar for a safer Seat And hid in Bushes scap'd the bitter Show'r Now perch'd upon the Lady of the Flow'r And either Songster holding out their Throats And folding up their Wings renew'd their Notes As if all Day preluding to the Fight They only had rehears'd to sing by Night The Banquet ended and the Battle done They danc'd by Star-light and the friendly Moon And when they were to part the Laureat Queen Supply'd with Steeds the Lady of the Green Her and her Train conducting on the way The Moon to follow and avoid the Day This when I saw inquisitive to know The secret Moral of the Mystique Show I started from my Shade in hopes to find Some Nymph to satisfy my longing Mind And as my fair Adventure fell I found A Lady all in White with Lawrel crown'd Who clos'd the Rear and softly pac'd along Repeating to her self the former Song With due respect my Body I inclin'd As to some Being of Superiour Kind And made my Court according to the Day Wishing her Queen and Her a happy May. Great Thanks my Daughter with a gracious Bow She said and I who much desir'd to know Of whence she was yet fearful how to break My Mind adventur'd humbly thus to speak Madam Might I presume and not offend So may the Stars and shining Moon attend Your Nightly Sports as you vouchsafe to tell What Nymphs they were who mortal Forms excel And what the Knights who fought in listed Fields so well To this the Dame reply'd Fair Daughter know That what you saw was all a Fairy Show And all those airy Shapes you now behold Were humane Bodies once and cloath'd with earthly Mold Our Souls not yet prepar'd for upper Light Till Doomsday wander in the Shades of Night This only Holiday of all the Year We priviledg'd in Sun-shine may appear With Songs and Dance we celebrate the Day And with due Honours usher in the May. At other Times we reign by Night alone And posting through the Skies pursue the Moon But when the Morn arises none are found For cruel Demogorgon walks the round And if he finds a Fairy lag in Light He drives the Wretch before and lashes into Night All Courteous are by Kind and ever proud With friendly Offices to help the
run Riot and transgress the Goal And therefore I conclude whatever lies In Earth or flits in Air or fills the Skies All suffer change and we that are of Soul And Body mix'd are Members of the whole Then when our Sires or Grandsires shall forsake The Forms of Men and brutal Figures take Thus hous'd securely let their Spirits rest Nor violate thy Father in the Beast Thy Friend thy Brother any of thy Kin If none of these yet there 's a Man within O spare to make a Thyestaean Meal T' inclose his Body and his Soul expel Ill Customs by degrees to Habits rise Ill Habits soon become exalted Vice What more advance can Mortals make in Sin So near Perfection who with Blood begin Deaf to the Calf that lies beneath the Knife Looks up and from her Butcher begs her Life Deaf to the harmless Kid that e'er he dies All Methods to procure thy Mercy tries And imitates in vain thy Children's Cries Where will he stop who feeds with Houshold Bread Then eats the Poultry which before he fed Let plough thy Steers that when they lose their Breath To Nature not to thee they may impute their Death Let Goats for Food their loaded Udders lend And Sheep from Winter-cold thy Sides defend But neither Sprindges Nets nor Snares employ And be no more Ingenious to destroy Free as in Air let Birds on Earth remain Nor let insidious Glue their Wings constrain Nor opening Hounds the trembling Stag affright Nor purple Feathers intercept his Flight Nor Hooks conceal'd in Baits for Fish prepare Nor Lines to heave 'em twinkling up in Air. Take not away the Life you cannot give For all Things have an equal right to live Kill noxious Creatures where 't is Sin to save This only just Prerogative we have But nourish Life with vegetable Food And shun the sacrilegious tast of Blood These Precepts by the Samian Sage were taught Which Godlike Numa to the Sabines brought And thence transferr'd to Rome by Gift his own A willing People and an offer'd Throne O happy Monarch sent by Heav'n to bless A Salvage Nation with soft Arts of Peace To teach Religion Rapine to restrain Give Laws to Lust and Sacrifice ordain Himself a Saint a Goddess was his Bride And all the Muses o'er his Acts preside THE CHARACTER OF A Good Parson Imitated from CHAUCER And Inlarg'd A Parish-Priest was of the Pilgrim-Train An Awful Reverend and Religious Man His Eyes diffus'd a venerable Grace And Charity it self was in his Face Rich was his Soul though his Attire was poor As God had cloath'd his own Embassador For such on Earth his bless'd Redeemer bore Of Sixty Years he seem'd and well might last To Sixty more but that he liv'd too fast Refin'd himself to Soul to curb the Sense And made almost a Sin of Abstinence Yet had his Aspect nothing of severe But such a Face as promis'd him sincere Nothing reserv'd or sullen was to see But sweet Regards and pleasing Sanctity Mild was his Accent and his Action free With Eloquence innate his Tongue was arm'd Tho' harsh the Precept yet the Preacher charm'd For letting down the golden Chain from high He drew his Audience upward to the Sky And oft with holy Hymns he charm'd their Ears A Musick more melodious than the Spheres For David left him when he went to rest His Lyre and after him he sung the best He bore his great Commission in his Look But sweetly temper'd Awe and soften'd all he spoke He preach'd the Joys of Heav'n and Pains of Hell And warn'd the Sinner with becoming Zeal But on Eternal Mercy lov'd to dwell He taught the Gospel rather than the Law And forc'd himself to drive but lov'd to draw For Fear but freezes Minds but Love like Heat Exhales the Soul sublime to seek her Native Seat To Threats the stubborn Sinner oft is hard Wrap'd in his Crimes against the Storm prepar'd But when the milder Beams of Mercy play He melts and throws his cumb'rous Cloak away Lightnings and Thunder Heav'ns Artillery As Harbingers before th' Almighty fly Those but proclaim his Stile and disappear The stiller Sound succeeds and God is there The Tythes his Parish freely paid he took But never Su'd or Curs'd with Bell and Book With Patience bearing wrong but off ring none Since every Man is free to lose his own The Country-Churles according to their Kind Who grudge their Dues and love to be behind The less he sought his Off'rings pinch'd the more And prais'd a Priest contented to be Poor Yet of his little he had some to spare To feed the Famish'd and to cloath the Bare For Mortify'd he was to that degree A poorer than himself he wou'd not see True Priests he said and Preachers of the Word Were only Stewards of their Soveraign Lord Nothing was theirs but all the publick Store Intrusted Riches to relieve the Poor Who shou'd they steal for want of his Relief He judg'd himself Accomplice with the Thief Wide was his Parish not contracted close In Streets but here and there a straggling House Yet still he was at Hand without Request To serve the Sick to succour the Distress'd Tempting on Foot alone without affright The Dangers of a dark tempestuous Night All this the good old Man perform'd alone Nor spar'd his Pains for Curate he had none Nor durst he trust another with his Care Nor rode himself to Pauls the publick Fair To chaffer for Preferment with his Gold Where Bishopricks and sine Cures are fold But duly watch'd his Flock by Night and Day And from the prowling Wolf redeem'd the Prey And hungry sent the wily Fox away The Proud he tam'd the Penitent he chear'd Nor to rebuke the rich Offender fear'd His Preaching much but more his Practice wrought A living Sermon of the Truths he taught For this by Rules severe his Life he squar'd That all might see the Doctrin which they heard For Priests he said are Patterns for the rest The Gold of Heav'n who bear the God Impress'd But when the precious Coin is kept unclean The Soveraign's Image is no longer seen If they be foul on whom the People trust Well may the baser Brass contract a Rust. The Prelate for his Holy Life he priz'd The worldly Pomp of Prelacy despis'd His Saviour came not with a gawdy Show Nor was his Kingdom of the World below Patience in Want and Poverty of Mind These Marks of Church and Churchmen he design'd And living taught and dying left behind The Crown he wore was of the pointed Thorn In Purple he was Crucify'd not born They who contend for Place and high Degree Are not his Sons but those of Zebadee Not but he knew the Signs of Earthly Pow'r Might well become St. Peter's Successor The Holy Father holds a double Reign The Prince may keep his Pomp the Fisher must be plain Such was the Saint who shone with every Grace Reflecting Moses-like his Maker's Face God saw his Image lively was express'd
And his own Work as in Creation bless'd The Tempter saw him too with envious Eye And as on Job demanded leave to try He took the time when Richard was depos'd And High and Low with happy Harry clos'd This Prince tho' great in Arms the Priest withstood Near tho' he was yet not the next of Blood Had Richard unconstrain'd resign'd the Throne A King can give no more than is his own The Title stood entail'd had Richard had a Son Conquest an odious Name was laid afide Where all submitted none the Battle try'd The senseless Plea of Right by Providence Was by a flatt'ring Priest invented since And lasts no longer than the present sway But justifies the next who comes in play The People's Right remains let those who dare Dispute their Pow'r when they the Judges are He join'd not in their Choice because he knew Worse might and often did from Change ensue Much to himself he thought but little spoke And Undepriv'd his Benefice forsook Now through the Land his Cure of Souls he stretch'd And like a Primitive Apostle preach'd Still Chearful ever Constant to his Call By many follow'd Lov'd by most Admir'd by All. With what he beg'd his Brethren he reliev'd And gave the Charities himself receiv'd Gave while he Taught and Edify'd the more Because he shew'd by Proof 't was easy to be Poor He went not with the Crowd to see a Shrine But fed us by the way with Food divine In deference to his Virtues I forbear To shew you what the rest in Orders were This Brillant is so Spotless and so Bright He needs no Foyl But shines by his own proper Light THE MONUMENT OF A Fair Maiden Lady Who dy'd at Bath and is there Interr'd BElow this Marble Monument is laid All that Heav'n wants of this Celestial Maid Preserve O sacred Tomb thy Trust consign'd The Mold was made on purpose for the Mind And she wou'd lose if at the latter Day One Atom cou'd be mix'd of other Clay Such were the Features of her heav'nly Face Her Limbs were form'd with such harmonious Grace So faultless was the Frame as if the Whole Had been an Emanation of the Soul Which her own inward Symmetry reveal'd And like a Picture shone in Glass Anneal'd Or like the Sun eclips'd with shaded Light Too piercing else to be sustain'd by Sight Each Thought was visible that rowl'd within As through a Crystal Case the figur'd Hours are seen And Heav'n did this transparent Veil provide Because she had no guilty Thought to hide All white a Virgin-Saint she sought the Skies For Marriage tho' it sullies not it dies High tho' her Wit yet Humble was her Mind As if she cou'd not or she wou'd not find How much her Worth transcended all her Kind Yet she had learn'd so much of Heav'n below That when arriv'd she scarce had more to know But only to refresh the former Hint And read her Maker in a fairer Print So Pious as she had no time to spare For human Thoughts but was confin'd to Pray'r Yet in such Charities she pass'd the Day 'T was wond'rous how she found an Hour to Pray A Soul so calm it knew not Ebbs or Flows Which Passion cou'd but curl not discompose A Female Softness with a manly Mind A Daughter duteous and a Sister kind In Sickness patient and in Death resign'd CYMON AND IPHIGENIA FROM BOCCACE CYMON AND IPHIGENIA FROM BOCCACE Poeta loquitur OLD as I am for Ladies Love unfit The Pow'r of Beauty I remember yet Which once inflam'd my Soul and still inspires my If Love be Folly the severe Divine Wit Has felt that Folly tho' he censures mine Pollutes the Pleasures of a chast Embrace Acts what I write and propagates in Grace With riotous Excess a Priestly Race Suppose him free and that I forge th' Offence He shew'd the way perverting first my Sense In Malice witty and with Venom fraught He makes me speak the Things I never thought Compute the Gains of his ungovern'd Zeal Ill sutes his Cloth the Praise of Railing well The World will think that what we loosly write Tho' now arraign'd he read with some delight Because he seems to chew the Cud again When his broad Comment makes the Text too plain And teaches more in one explaining Page Than all the double Meanings of the Stage What needs he Paraphrase on what we mean We were at worst but Wanton he 's Obscene I nor my Fellows nor my Self excuse But Love 's the Subject of the Comick Muse Nor can we write without it nor would you A Tale of only dry Instruction view Nor Love is always of a vicious Kind But oft to virtuous Acts inflames the Mind Awakes the sleepy Vigour of the Soul And brushing o'er adds Motion to the Pool Love studious how to please improves our Parts With polish'd Manners and adorns with Arts. Love first invented Verse and form'd the Rhime The Motion measur'd harmoniz'd the Chime To lib'ral Acts inlarg'd the narrow-Soul'd Soften'd the Fierce and made the Coward Bold The World when wast he Peopled with increase And warring Nations reconcil'd in Peace Ormond the first and all the Fair may find In this one Legend to their Fame design'd When Beauty fires the Blood how Love exalts the Mind IN that sweet Isle where Venus keeps her Court And ev'ry Grace and all the Loves resort Where either Sex is form'd of softer Earth And takes the bent of Pleasure from their Birth There liv'd a Cyprian Lord above the rest Wise Wealthy with a num'rous Issue blest But as no Gift of Fortune is sincere Was only wanting in a worthy Heir His eldest Born a goodly Youth to view Excell'd the rest in Shape and outward Shew Fair Tall his Limbs with due Proportion join'd But of a heavy dull degenerate Mind His Soul bely'd the Features of his Face Beauty was there but Beauty in disgrace A clownish Mien a Voice with rustick sound And stupid Eyes that ever lov'd the Ground He look'd like Nature's Error as the Mind And Body were not of a Piece design'd But made for two and by mistake in one were join'd The ruling Rod the Father's forming Care Were exercis'd in vain on Wit 's despair The more inform'd the less he understood And deeper sunk by flound'ring in the Mud. Now scorn'd of all and grown the publick Shame The People from Galesus chang'd his Name And Cymon call'd which signifies a Brute So well his Name did with his Nature sute His Father when he found his Labour lost And Care employ'd that answer'd not the Cost Chose an ungrateful Object to remove And loath'd to see what Nature made him love So to his Country-Farm the Fool confin'd Rude Work well suted with a rustick Mind Thus to the Wilds the sturdy Cymon went A Squire among the Swains and pleas'd with Banishment His Corn and Cattle were his only Care And his supreme Delight a Country-Fair It happen'd on a Summers Holiday That to the
widow that contraried that he said But said he was worthy han his life And with that word vp stert the old wife Which that the knight fond sitting on the grene Mercy qd she my soueraine lady quene Er that your court depart do me right I taught this answere vnto this knight For which he plight me his trouth there The first thing I would of him requere He wold it do if it lay in his might Before the court than pray I the sir knight Qd. she that thou me take vnto thy wife For well thou woost that I haue kept thy life If I say false say nay vpon thy say This knight answerd alas and welaway I wot right well that such was my behest For Goddes loue chese a new request Take all my good and let my body go Nay qd she than I shrewe vs both two For though that I be soule olde and pore I nolde for al the metall ne the ore That under yerth is graue or lithe aboue But if I thy wife were and thy loue My loue qd he nay my dampnacion Alas that any of my nacion Should ever so foule disparaged be But al for nought the ende is this that he Constrained was that nedes must he her wed And taketh this olde wife and goeth to bed Now wolden some men say perauenture That for my negligence I do no cure To tellen you the ioy and the array That at the feast was that ilke day To the which thing answere shortly I shall I say there was no ioy ne feest at all There nas but heuinesse and much sorowe For priuely he wedded her on a morowe And al day after hid him as an oule So wo was him his wife loked so foule Gret was the sorow the knizt had in his thouzt Whan he was with his wife a bedde ibrought He waloweth and turneth to and fro His olde wife lay smiling euermo And said O dere husbonde O benedicite Fareth euery knight thus as ye Is this the lawe of king Artours house Is euery knight of his loue so daungerouse I am your own loue and eke your wife I am she which that saued hath your life And certes yet did I neuer you vnright Why fare ye thus with me the first night Ye faren like a man that had loste his wit Fy what is my gilt for gods loue tell me it And it shal be amended if I may Amended qd this knight alas nay nay That woll not ben amended neuer mo Thou art so lothly and so olde also And therto comen of so lowe a kinde That litle wonder is thouz I walow and winde So would god qd he min her would brezt Is this qd she the cause of your vnrest Ye certainly qd he no wonder nis Now sir qd she I couth amend all this If that me list er it were daies three So wel ye might beare you vnto me But for ye speke of such gentilnesse As is discended out of olde richesse That therfore shullen ye be gentilmen Such errogaunce is not worthe an hen Lo who that is moste vertuous alway Preuy and aperte and most entendeth aye To do the gentil dedes that he can Take him for the greatest gentilman Christ wuld we claimed of him our gentilnesse Not of our elders for our old richesse For though they yeue vs all her heritage For which we claymen to ben of hie parage Yet may they not byqueth for nothing To none of vs her vertuous liuing That made hem gentilmen icalled be And bad vs followen hem in such degre Wel can the wise poete of Florence That hight Daunte speke in this sentence Lo in such maner rime is Daunte's tale Ful selde vp riseth by his braunches smale Prowesse of man for God of his goodnesse Wol that we claim of him our gentilnesse For of our elders may we nothing claime But temporal thing that men may hurt and maime Eke euery wight wot this as wel as I If gentilnes were planted naturally Vnto a certain linage doun the line Preuy and aperte than wold they neuer fine To done of gentilnesse the fair office They might don no vilany ne vice Take fire and beare it into the derkest hous Bitwixt this and the mount Caucasus And let men shitte the dores and go thenne Yet wol the fire as fayre lye and brenne As twentie thousand men might it beholde His office naturall ay wol it holde Vp peril of my life till that it dye Here may ye se well how that gentrye Is not annexed to possession Sithen folke don not lier operacion Alway as doth the fire lo in his kinde For God it wot men may ful often finde A lordes sonne done shame and vilany And he that wol haue prise of his gentry For he was born of a gentil house And had his elders noble and vertuouse And nil him selfe don no gentil dedes Ne folow his gentle auncetre that deed is He nis not gentil be he duke or erle Fye villaines sinful dedes maketh a cherle For gentilnesse nis but the renomie Of thine aunceters for her high bountie Which is a strong thing to thy persone The gentilnesse commeth fro God alone Than cometh our very gentilnesse of grace It was nothing biqueth vs with our place Thinketh how noble as saith Valerius Was thilke Tullius Hostilius That out of pouertie rose to hie noblesse Redeth Seneck and redeth eke Boece There shall ye seen expresse no drede is That he is gentile that doth gentile dedis And therefore dere husbond I thus conclude Al were it that mine aunceters were rude Yet may that hie god and so hope I Graunt me grace to liue vertously Than am I gentil whan I beginne To liue vertuously and leuen sinne And there as ye of pouertie me repreue The hie God on whom that we bileue In wilful pouerte chese to lede his life And certes euery man maide and wife May vnderstond Jesu heuen king Ne would not chese a viciouse liuing Glad pouerte is an honest thing certain This wol Seneck and other clerkes saine Who so would holde him paide of his pouert I holde him riche all had he not shert He that coueiteth is a full poore wight For he wold han that is not in his might But he that nought hath ne conceiteth to haue Is rich although ye hold him but a knaue Very pouerte is sinne properly Juuenal saith of pouert merily The poore man whan he goeth by the way Biforne theues he may sing and play Pouert is hatefull good and as I gesse A full great bringer out of businesse A great amender eke of sapience To him that taketh it in pacience Pouert is although it seme elenge Possession that no wight wol challenge Pouerte ful often whan a man is lowe Maketh his god and eke himselfe to knowe Pouert a spectacle is as thinketh me Through which one may his very frends se. And therefore sin that I you not greue Of my pouert no more me repreue Now sir