University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Argalvs and Parthenia

Written by Fra: Quarles

collapse section 
  
  
collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  


113

With that, a horrid cracke of dreadfull thunder
Possest each fainting heart, with feare and wonder:
The rafters of the holy Temple shooke,
As if accursed Archimagoes booke
(That cursed Legion) had beene newly read:
The ground did tremble, and a mist ore-spread
The darkned Altar.
At length, deepe silence did possesse and fill
The spatious Temple, all was whist and still;
When, from the clouded Altar, brake the sound
Of heauenly Musicke; such, as would confound
With death, or rauishment the earth bred eare,
Had not the Goddesse giuen it strength, to beare
So strong a rapture. As the Musicke ended,
The Mist on sudden vanisht, and ascended
From whence it came. The Altar did appeare,
And ashes lying, where the Turtles were:
Neere which, great Hymen stood, not seene before:
His purple Mantle was embroidred o're
With Crownes of Thorne; mongst which, you might behold
Some, here and there (but very few) of gold;
Vpon each little space, that did diuide
The seuerall Crownes, a Gordian knot was tied:
And, turning to the Priest, he thus began;