opprest These were my ensignes and I found it best To mixe disdains with favours this your songs Have made already passe through many tongues When I beheld the teares swimme in thine eye I said Without my help I feare he 'll dye Then gave some modest aid when you were bold I said he must be curb'd now pale and cold Now warme and fresh now sad now full of joy I kept thee safe not without much annoy Glad t' have thus finisht 't were enough reward Could I believ 't thus trembling as affeard Not with dry eyes I said she made reply Doe you distrust for what end should I ly A little blushing then went on If to My partiall eye the world esteemed you I held me quiet being throughly blest In that true-love knot lockt within my brest The faire report if it be truth I heare Thy praises have acquir'd me farre and neare I much esteem and never more did crave But moderation in thy love to have That onely wanted whiles with signes of woe You would perswade what I did throughly know To open view you did your heart expose My coldnesse hence hence your distemper rose In other things we did like friends agree Joyn'd by a Love from all base passions free My heart was burnt with almost equal fire At least when once I knew thy strong desire But mine I hid whiles yours was open laid When you were hoarce with having often praid For pittie I was silent shame and feare Were cause my great Love did but smal appeare Griefe is of no lesse weight because conceal'd Nor more when by impatience 't is reveal'd Deceit doth not increase nor yet impaire A truth But say Was not my Love then cleare When I receiv'd the lines you sent before Your face and song My Love dares say no more My heart was stil with thee though I restrain'd My lookes and you as having vvrong complain'd Because I gave the most part and vvithdrevv The least yet was not that vvith-held from you A thousand and a thousand times mine eye Was turn'd with pittie on thy misery And ever had continued stil the same But that I fear'd a danger in thy flame And not to leave you in suspence I le shovv What I beleeve you vvil be glad to know In all the rest I found a pleasing fate Onely for one cause I dislik'd my state My place of birth did to my thoughts appeare Too meane and I stil grieve t vvas not more neare Thy flovvry seat yet doe I vvel approve Of any Countrey where I had thy Love Besides the heart in vvhich I place most trust If me thou hadst not known 't is like it must Have elsewhere lov'd so had I got lesse fame You do mistake my Love had been the same Where ever you had liv'd my Starres did raise Me to so high a flame I said much praise And honour have attended me she said How e're it be but I too long have staid Thy joy makes thee forget the wings of time Aurora now brings day the Sun doth climbe Above the Ocean from her golden bed At last about to part and leave me sad She said If you have ought besides make haste And end your speach before the time be past All my past suff'rings your kinde words make light I answered But I grieve without your sight And wish to know if I am like to be Long here or if I soon may follow thee She going thus replide I do beleeve That without me on earth you long must live The End of the Triumph of Death ANNOTATIONS UPON THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH BEst sunne 2. line Meaning Lauretta who dyed in the middest of her age being but 33. yeares old Titania 4. line Aurora the morning called Titania from Titan the Sunne who lodgeth with her True dreames 5. line The morning dreames are held true because the fancie is then most free from vapours A Ladie 6. line Lauretta crowned because she was now a Saint Other crownes did move 7. line Other crowned Saints that came along with her belike hee thought they must dote on her as hee did Doe you live c. 18. line The Italian Commentary makes a long and needlesse discourse to defend the congruitie of this place as if all did not know that those who dreame they see a dead person appeare as if alive doe ordinarily make such a doubt in their sleepe When I receiv'd 129. line Hee had one time as hee used sent her some of his verses and coming himselfe just as they were presented to her shee received them in his presence Italian Commentary My Love dares say no more 130. line She sung a song beginning thus for an undirect excuse of her reservation Flowrie seat 145. line Florence Of any countrey c. 146. line The sense here seemed cleare to mee that Lauretta being well descended but borne in Cabriers an obscure village shee was onely displeased with that particular yet the honour of his love was recompence enough for that misfortune and any place good enough where shee had that honour and if shee had beene borne neare Florence where hee had his birth shee might have beene unknowne to him who had left it his parents being chased from thence by a contrary faction and if hee had not seen her it is like hee might have loved another so should shee have missed that honour to which Petrarch answers That where ever she had beene borne hee must needs have loved her by the influence of his Starres but when I looke on the Italian Commentary I finde hee takes the meaning quite other wayes which I have expressed as neare his sence as I can thus Thy flowry seat for though I well approve Of that faire countrey where I had thy love Yet might that heart in which I trusted stray To other beauties and be turned away By this defect so had I got lesse fame c. As if shee had said her greatest misfortune was feare or jealousie that hee disliking the place in which shee lived though she thought it sweete enough might change his affection and bee drawne to love some other Let him that reads or compares take the sence hee approveth most FINIS Advertisement to the Reader THe first title page should have told thee that all the three Triumphes were translated out of the Italian a circumstance I considered not then since it is thought necessary to say so much I wil now say more I never saw them nor any part of them in any other language but Italian except the poore words in which I have cloathed them If they afford thee either profit or delight I shall the more willingly bestow some of my few leasure hours on turning the other three Triumphs of Fame Time and Divinitie or Heaven Farewell Errata Page 19. line 13. reade amasedly p. 22. r. Massinissa was p. 3â— l. 8. r. mixed for mingled p. 33. r. blowes for wounds p. 35. l. 15. del. now p. 54. l. 5 r. provincial Poets p. 65. l. 22. r. Linternum p. 70. is figured false in the 17. l. of it read know for knew and in the 22. l. r. thy foul for my soul WHen first my light did shine you lik'd me well Now that is gone you hate my loathsome smell You with prolongers made me live and art Preserv'd my light but now Time acts his part Triumphant Time shews now my glasse is run And all must end that ever was begun Envy hath playd its part and I do go To Coffin as I do all must do so Time breaths a shrewd and life-bereaving blast Yet upward flyes my light where it shall last I 'me glad to part from body which I lov'd So deer that many wayes and arts I prov'd This mudwall to maintain and body save But yet in spight of me 't will go to grave This is my comfort Body that thy tombe Which is thy grave shall be thy mothers womb To bring thee once again unto the light And life which death shall never know or night Then be content though you and I depart Yet Soul and Body still shall have one heart And upward flyes my soul where it shall dwell Beyond the reach of Envy Death or Hell
hath beene chosen to dedicate that Temple or Altar to Venus which hath power to curbe unreasonable passions for the chastest women did worship Venus for that end belike as the Indians worship the Devil Thuscan youth 163. line A beautifull yong man who pittying the miseries of those women that doted on him and wearied with their importunities marred his owne face My guide 164. line His old Thuscan friend who described The Triumph of Love to him ere he was one of the traine doth now describe The Triumph of Chastitie Hippolito and Joseph 169. line Hippolito rejected the unlawfull Love of his stepmother and Joseph the solicitation of his masters wife THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH Written by PETRARCH AND TRANSLATED Out of Italian BY Mris ANNA HUME EDINBVRGH Printed by Evan Tyler Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie 1644. THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH CHAP. I. The Argument Lauretta meeting cruell Death Mildely resignes her noble Breath THe glorious Maid whose soule to Heaven is gone And left the rest cold earth she who was growne A pillar of true vallour and had gain'd Much honour by her victory and chain'd That God which doth the world with terrour binde Using no armour but her owne chaste minde A faire aspect coy thoughts and words well weigh'd Sweet modestie to these gave friendly aid It was a miracle on earth to see The bow and arrowes of the Deitie And all his armour broke who erst had slain Such numbers and so many captive tain The faire Dame from the noble fight withdrew With her choise company they were but few And made a little troup true vertu's rare Yet each of them did by her selfe appeare A theame for Poems and might well incite The best Historian they bore a white Unspotted Ermine in a field of green About whose neck a Topas chain was seen Set in pure gold their heavenly words and gate Exprest them blest were borne for such a fate Bright stars they seem'd she did a Sun appeare Who darkned not the rest but made more cleare Their splendour honour in brave minds is found This troup with Violets and Roses crown'd Chearfully marcht when lo I might espie Another ensigne dreadfull to mine eye A Ladie cloth'd in blacke whose sterne looks were With horrour fill'd and did like hell appeare Advanc't and said You who are proud to be So fair and young yet have no eyes to see Hovv neare you are your end behold I am She vvhom they fierce and blinde and cruell name Who meet untimely deaths t vvas I did make Greece subject and the Romane Empire shake My piercing svvord sack't Troy hovv many rude And barbarous people are by me subdu'd Many ambitious vaine and amarous thought My unvvisht presence hath to nothing brought Novv am I come to you vvhiles yet your state Is happy ere you feel a harder fate On these you have no povver she then replide Who had more vvorth then all the vvorld beside And little over me but there is one Who vvill be deeply griev'd vvhen I am gone His happinesse doth on my life depend I shall finde freedome in a peacefull end As one vvho glancing vvith a sudden eye Some unexpected object doth espie Then lookes again and doth his ovvne haste blame So in a doubting pause this cruell dame A little staid and said The rest I call To minde and knovv I have o'recome them all Then with lesse fierce aspect she said Thou guide Of this faire crew hast not my strength assaid Let her advise who may command prevent Decrepit age 't is but a punishment From me this honour thou alone shalt have Without or feare or paine to finde thy grave As he shall please who dwelleth in the Heaven And rules on earth such portion must be given To me as others from thy hand receive She answered then a farre we might perceave Millions of dead heapt on th' adjacent plain No verse nor prose may comprehend the slain Did on deaths Triumph wait from India From Spain and from Morocco from Cathai And all the skirts of th' earth they gathred were Who had most happy liv'd attended there Popes Emperours nor Kings no ensignes wore Of their past height but naked shew'd and poore Where be their riches where their precious jems Their Miters Scepters Roabs and Diadems O miserable men whose hopes arise From worldly joyes yet be there few so wise As in those trifling follies not to trust And if they be deceiv'd in end 't is just Ah more then blinde what gain you by your toyle You must returne once to your mothers soyle And after times your names shall hardly know Nor any profit from your labour grow All those strange countreyes by your warlick stroke Submitted to a tributary yoke The fuell erst of your ambitious fire What helpe they now the vast and bad desire Of wealth and power at a bloody rate Is wicked better bread and water eat With peace a woodden dish doth seldome hold A poysoned draught glasse is more safe then gold But for this Theame a larger time will aske I must betake me to my former taske The fatall houre of her short life drew neare That doubtfull passage which the world doth feare Another company who had not beene Freed from their earthy burden there were seene To try if prayers could appease the wrath Or stay th' inexorable hand of death That beauteous croude conveen'd to see the end Which all must taste each neighbour every friend Stood by when grim death with her hand tooke hold And pull'd away one onely haire of gold Thus from the world this fairest flower is tane To make her shine more bright not out of spleen How many moaning plaints what store of cries Were uttered there when fate shut those faire eyes For which so oft I sung whose beautie burn'd My tortur'd heart so long whiles others mourn'd She pleas'd and quiet did the fruit enjoy Of her blest life farewell without annoy True Saint on earth said they so might she be Esteem'd but nothing bates deaths crueltie What shall become of others since so pure A body did such heats and colds endure And chang'd so often in so little space Ah worldly hopes how blinde you be how base If since I bathe the ground with flowing teares For that milde soule who sees it witnesse bears And thou who read'st maist judge she fetter'd me The sixt of April and did set me free On the same day and moneth O! how the way Of fortune is unsure none hates the day Of slavery or of death so much as I Abhorre the time which wrought my liberty And my too-lasting life it had been just My greater age had first been turn'd to dust And paid to time and to the world the debt I ow'd then earth had kept her glorious state Now at what rate I should the sorrow prise I know not nor have Art that can suffise The sad affliction to relate in verse Of these faire Dames that wept about her herse Courtesie
Vertue Beautie all are lost What shall become of us none else can boast Such high perfection no more we shall Heare her wise words nor the Angelicall Sweet musick of her voyce whiles thus they cride The parting spirit doth it selfe divide With every vertue from the noble brest As some grave Hermite seeks a lonely rest The Heav'ns were cleare and all the ambient Aire Without a threatning Cloud no adversaire Durst once appeare or her calme minde affright Death singly did her selfe conclude the fight After when feare and the extreamest plaint Were ceast th' attentive eyes of all were bent On that faire face and by despaire became Secure she who was spent not like a flame By force extinguisht but as lights decay And undiscerned waste themselves away Thus went the soule in peace so lamps are spent As the oyle fails which gave them nourishment In summe her countenance you still might know The same it was not pale but white as snow Which on the tops of hills in gentle fleakes Fals in a calme or as a man that takes Desired rest as if her lovely sight Were clos'd with sweetest sleep after the spright Was gone If this be that fooles call to die Death seem'd in her exceeding faire to be The end of the first Chapter ANNOTATIONS UPON THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH NOble fight line 13. Her fight with Cupid See above in the Triumph of Chastitie Choice Company 14. line The Ladies that had been vertuous before her time and now waited on her Triumph Lucrece Penelope c. They bore a white 18. line Their ensigne a white Ermine in a greene field with a chaine of Topasses set in pure gold the white Ermine was an Embleme of innocencie The Topasses of Chastity and the pure gold of tride Vertue On these 43. line Meaning the other Ladies that waited on her because they were all dead long before There is one 45. line Petrarch whom she thought would be more hurt by her death then her selfe in regard of his extreme affection Another Company 95. line The former Company who were dead could not bee sory for her death because she would be nearer them but another company of Ladies her friends and neighbours came to pray that death would let her stay longer amongst them One onely haire 102. line Alluding to the purple haire on the head of Nisus which his daughter stole because he could not die whiles he wore it as if Lauretta had had such another or as if every body had one See above in the Triumph of Love 2. Chap. 155. line No adversary 142. line No wicked spirit meaning that she was troubled with no apparitions at her death CHAP. II. The Argument The happy spirit doth descend To comfort her afflicted friend THat night which followed the too-sad decay Of my best Sunne whiles it was yet full day Whence I remain as blinde the Summer dew Slides through the Aire and faire Titonia now Bestowes true dreames when like the growing yeare A Ladie crown'd with orient jemmes drew nere With whom a thousand other Crownes did move And stretching forth that object of my love Her hand she spoke from whose sweet words did flow Joy to my soule and said Doe you not know Her who hath rais'd your thoughts above the strain Of the low vulgar as her love did gain Place in your heart then vvith a sober looke She set her selfe and me close by a brooke O're shadowed vvith a lavvrell and a beach Like one vvhose vveeping interrupts his speech Must I not knovv the soul maintains my breath But doe you live or are tane hence by death I answer'd Pray instruct I live said she And you are dead till you be joyn'd with me But time is short though vve desire it long Take my advice and curb your flovving tongue The day approacheth fast my sad reply Was this Ah say is it much pain to die You lately tri'd and knevv you 'l ne'r obtain True happinesse she said if you remaine In this so blinde and common errour knovv Death is the end of prison and darke vvoe To vvell-bred soules doth onely terrour prove To those that place on earthy drosse their love And even my death vvhich doth my soul annoy Could you conceive the least part of my joy Would make you happy having fixt her eye Whiles thus she spake devoutly on the skie Then clos'd her rosie lips and silent staid Sicknesse and Tyrants crueltie have made Death bitter I reply'd 'T is true said she The pains we feel before death bitter be And hellish torments worse but he whose minde Is staid by heavenly hopes shall truely finde Though weake and wearied this last step a short Sigh and no more as I drew neare the Port My body weake my soul did much rejoyce Yet heard the whispering of mourning voyce Alas for him who reckons every day A thousand yeares and stil in vain doth stay On earth and never more must see her face On Sea or Land and filleth every place With that one Theame and findeth no delight Of ought but her to thinke or speake or write My sight I that way turn'd from whence mine eare Receiv'd the sound and saw 't was she whose care Us'd to incite my Love and temper thine Her face and speech I knew oft her divine Wise councels healing cordials were to me With honest mirth and chearful gravitie When I with most felicitie was blest In my first prime and when thou lov'dst me best When thy praise fam'd me most even then my life Was little better then a bitter strife Compar'd with that sweet death which few obtain No banisht man call'd to his home again Is more joy'd then this passage pleased me But for the pitty that I had of thee I do adjure thee by that faithfull Love Thou knewst on earth but better know'st above Did ever Love said I beget in thee One thought to pitty my long misery Not wronging thy great minde the sweet disdain Sweet mildnesse of your looks in doubtfull pain Hath held my wishes long ere I had said The words a lightning smile such as oft paid And eas'd the sadnesse of my wounded heart I saw Then she replide Nothing could part My soule from thine nor shal but ' tdid behove With outward coldnesse to restrain thy love No other way would have preserv'd our fame A rod destroyes not a kinde mothers name I studied to conceale my Love such care And providence dwell not with hope and feare My countenance you saw but not my heart I turn'd and staid thy course with heedfull Art As one would tame a horse my cheeks have been Oft dy'd with fain'd wrath when my heart within Was a whole fire of Love yet reason still Kept her owne place and did command my will But when I found thee overcharg'd with woe I us'd my milder lookes preventing so Thy death and my reproach when I observ'd Thy passion grow too strong I then reserv'd My selfe as if with griefe or feare