The works of Sr William Davenant ... Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed, and Those which he design'd for the Press: Now published Out of the Authors Originall Copies |
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| 2. | Canto the Second. |
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 | The works of Sr William Davenant |  |
39
Canto the Second.
The ARGUMENT.
The hunting which did yearly celebrateThe Lombards glory, and the Vandales Fate.
The Hunters prais'd; how true to love they are,
How calm in Peace, and Tempest-like in warre.
The Stagg is by the num'rous Chace subdu'd,
And strait his Hunters are as hard pursu'd.
1
Small are the seeds Fate does unheeded sowOf slight beginnings to important ends;
Whilst wonder (which does best our rev'rence show
To Heav'n) all Reasons sight in gazing spends.
2
For from a Dayes brief pleasure did proceed(A day grown black in Lombard Histories)
Such lasting griefs as thou shalt weep to read,
Though even thine own sad love had drain'd thine Eyes.
3
In a fair Forrest neer Verona's Plain,Fresh as if Nature's Youth chose there a shade,
The Duke with many Lovers in his Train,
(Loyal, and young) a solemn hunting made.
4
Much was his Train enlarg'd by their resortWho much his Grandsire lov'd, and hither came
To celebrate this Day with annual sport,
On which by battel here he earn'd his Fame.
5
And many of these noble Hunters boreCommand amongst the Youth at Bergamo;
Whose Fathers gather'd here the wreaths they wore,
When in this Forrest they interr'd the Foe.
6
Count Hurgonil, a Youth of high descent,Was listed here, and in the story great;
He follow'd Honor, when tow'rd's Death it went;
Fierce in a charge but temp'rate in retreat.
7
His wondrous beauty which the world approv'dHe blushing hid, and now no more would own
(Since he the Duke's unequal'd Sister lov'd)
Then an old wreath when newly overthrown.
40
8
And she, Orna the shy! Did seem in lifeSo bashful too to have her beauty shown,
As I may doubt her shade with Fame at strife,
That in these vicious times would make it known
9
Not less in publick voice was Arnold here;He that on Tuscan Tombs his Trophys rais'd;
And now love's pow'r so willingly did bear,
That even his arbitrary raign he prais'd.
10
Laura, the Duke's fair Neice inthrall'd his heart;Who was in Court the publick morning Glass
Where those who would reduce Nature to art,
Practis'd by dress the conquests of the Face.
11
And here was Hugo whom Duke GondibertFor stout and stedfast kindness did approve;
Of stature small, but was all over heart,
And though unhappy all that heart was love.
12
In gentile sonnets he for Laura pin'd,Soft as the murmures of a weeping spring;
Which ruthless she did as those murmures mind:
So ere their death sick Swans unheeded sing.
13
Yet whilst she Arnold favour'd, he so griev'dAs loyall Subjects quietly bemone
Their Yoke, but raise no warr to be reliev'd,
Nor through the envy'd Fav'rite wound the Throne.
14
Young Goltho next these Rivals we may name,Whose manhood dawn'd early as Summer light;
As sure and soon did his fair day proclaime,
And was no less the joy of publick sight.
15
If Love's just pow'r he did not early see,Some small excuse we may his error give;
Since few (though learn'd) know yet blest Love to be
That secret vitall heat by which we live:
16
But such it is; and though we may be thoughtTo have in Childhood life, ere Love we know,
Yet life is useless till by reason taught,
And Love and Reason up together grow.
17
Nor more, the Old shew they out-live their Love,If when their Love's decay'd, some signes they give
Of life, because we see them pain'd and move,
Then Snakes, long cut, by torment shew they live.
18
If we call living, Life, when Love is gone,We then to Souls (Gods coyne) vain rev'rence pay;
Since Reason (which is Love, and his best known
And currant Image) Age has worne away.
41
19
And I that Love and Reason thus unite,May, if I old Philosophers controule,
Confirme the new by some new Poets light;
Who finding Love, thinks he has found the Soule.
20
From Goltho, to whom love yet tasteless seem'd,We to ripe Tybalt are by order led;
Tybalt, who Love and Valor both esteem'd,
And he alike from eithers wounds had bled.
21
Publique his valor was, but not his love,One fill'd the world, the other he contain'd;
Yet quietly alike in both did move,
Of that ne'r boasted, nor of this complain'd.
22
With these (whose special names Verse shall preserve)Many to this recorded hunting came;
Whose worth authentick mention did deserve,
But from Time's deluge few are sav'd by Fame.
23
Now like a Giant Lover rose the SunFrom th'Ocean Queen, fine in his fires and great;
Seem'd all the Morne for shew, for strength at Noone;
As if last Night she had not quench'd his heate!
24
And the Sun's Servants who his rising waite,His Pensioners (for so all Lovers are,
And all maintain'd by him at a high rate
With daily fire) now for the Chace prepare.
25
All were like Hunters clad in cheerfull green,Young Natures Livery, and each at strife
Who most adorn'd in favours should be seen,
Wrought kindly by the Lady of his life.
26
These Martiall Favours on their Wasts they weare,On which (for now they Conquest celebrate)
In an imbroider'd History appeare
Like life, the vanquish'd in their feares and fate.
27
And on these Belts (wrought with their Ladys care)Hung Semyters of Akons trusty steele;
Goodly to see, and he who durst compare
Those Ladies Eies, might soon their temper feele.
28
Cheer'd as the Woods (where new wak'd Quires they meet)Are all; and now dispose their choice Relays
Of Horse and Hounds, each like each other fleet;
Which best when with themselves compar'd we praise;
29
To them old Forrest Spys, the HarborersVVith hast approach, wet as still weeping Night,
Or Deer that mourn their growth of head with tears,
VVhen the defenceless weight does hinder flight.
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30
And Doggs, such whose cold secrecy was mentBy Nature for surprise, on these attend;
Wise temp'rate Lime-Hounds that proclaim no scent;
Nor Harb'ring will their Mouths in boasting spend.
31
Yet vainlier farr then Traytors boast their prise(On which their vehemence vast rates does lay,
Since in that worth their treasons credit lies)
These Harb'rers praise that which they now betray:
32
Boast they have lodg'd a Stagg, that all the RaceOut-runs of Croton Horse, or Regian Hounds;
A Stagg made long, since Royall in the Chace,
If Kings can honor give by giving wounds.
33
For Aribert had pierc't him at a Bay,Yet scap'd he by the vigour of his Head;
And many a Summer since has wonn the day,
And often left his Regian Foll'wers dead:
34
His spacious Beame (that even the Rights out-grew)From Antlar to his Troch had all allow'd
By which his age the aged Wood-men knew;
Who more then he were of that beauty proud.
35
Now each Relay a sev'ral Station findes,Ere the triumphant Train the Copps surrounds;
Relayes of Horse, long breath'd as winter windes,
And their deep Cannon Mouth'd experienc'd Hounds.)
36
The Huntsmen (busily concern'd in showAs if the world were by this Beast undone,
And they against him hir'd as Nature's Foe)
In haste uncouple, and their Hounds outrun.
37
Now winde they a Recheat, the rous'd Dear's knell;And through the Forrest all the Beasts are aw'd;
Alarm'd by Eccho, Nature's Sentinel,
Which shews that Murd'rous Man is come abroad.
38
Tyranique Man! Thy subjects Enemy!And more through wantonness then need or hate;
From whom the winged to their Coverts flie;
And to their Dennes even those that lay in waite.
39
So this (the most successfull of his kinde,Whose Foreheads force oft his Opposers prest,
Whose swiftness left Persuers shafts behinde)
Is now of all the Forrest most distrest!
40
The Heard deny him shelter, as if taughtTo know their safety is to yield him lost;
Which shews they want not the results of thought,
But speech, by which we ours for reason boast.
43
41
We blush to see our politicks in Beasts,Who many sav'd by this one Sacrifice;
And since through blood they follow interests,
Like us when cruel should be counted wise.
42
His Rivals that his fury us'd to fearFor his lov'd Female, now his faintness Shun;
But were his season hot, and she but neer,
(O mighty Love!) his Hunters were undone.
43
From thence, well blown, he comes to the Relay;Where Man's fam'd reason proves but Cowardise,
And only serves him meanly to betray;
Even for the flying, Man, in ambush lies.
44
But now, as his last remedy to live,(For ev'ry shift for life kind Nature makes,
Since life the utmost is which she can give)
Coole Adice from the swoln Bank he takes.
45
But this fresh Bath the Doggs will make him leave;Whom he sure nos'd as fasting Tygers found;
Their scent no North-east winde could e're deceave
Which drives the ayre, nor Flocks that foyl the Ground.
46
Swift here the Flyers and Persuers seeme;The frighted Fish swim from their Adice,
The Doggs pursue the Deer, he the fleet streme,
And that hasts too to th' Adriatick Sea.
47
Refresh'd thus in this fleeting Element,He up the stedfast Shore did boldly rise;
And soon escap'd their view, but not their scent;
That faithful Guide which even conducts their Eyes.
48
This frail relief was like short gales of breathWhich oft at Sea a long dead calme prepare;
Or like our Curtains drawn at point of death,
When all our Lungs are spent, to give us ayre,
49
For on the Shore the Hunters him attend;And whilst the Chace grew warm as is the day
(Which now from the hot Zenith does descend)
He is imbos'd, and weary'd to a Bay.
50
The Jewel, Life, he must surrender here;Which the world's Mistris, Nature, does not give,
But like drop'd Favours suffers us to weare,
Such as by which pleas'd Lovers think they live.
51
Yet life he so esteems, that he allowsIt all defence his force and rage can make;
And to the eager Dogs such fury shows
As their last blood some unreveng'd forsake.
44
52
But now the Monarch Murderer comes in,Destructive Man! whom Nature would not arme,
As when in madness mischief is foreseen
We leave it weaponless for fear of harme.
53
For she defenceless made him that he mightLess readily offend; but Art Armes all,
From single strife makes us in Numbers fight;
And by such art this Royall Stagg did fall.
54
He weeps till grief does even his Murd'rers pierce;Grief which so nobly through his anger strove,
That it deserv'd the dignity of verse,
And had it words as humanly would move.
55
Thrice from the ground his vanquish'd Head he rear'd,And with last looks his Forrest walks did view;
Where Sixty Summers he had rul'd the Heatd,
And where sharp Dittany now vainly grew:
56
Whose hoary Leaves no more his wounds shall heale;For with a Sigh (a blast of all his breath)
That viewless thing call'd Life, did from him steale;
And with their Bugle Hornes they winde his death.
57
Then with their annuall wanton sacrifice(Taught by old Custome, whose decrees are vain,
And we like hum'rous Antiquaries prise
Age though deform'd) they hasten to the Plain.
58
Thence homeward bend as westward as the Sun;Where Gondibert's Allys proud Feasts prepare,
That day to honor which his Grandsire won;
Though Feasts the Eves to Fun'ralls often are.
59
One from the Forrest now approach'd their sight,Who them did swiftly on the Spurr pursue;
One there still resident as Day and Night,
And known as th' eldest Oke which in it grew.
60
Who with his utmost breath, advancing cries(And such a vehemence no Art could feigne)
Away, happy the Man that fastest flies;
Flie famous Duke, flie with thy noble Traine!
61
The Duke reply'd, though with thy fears disguis'd,Thou do'st my Syres old Rangers Image beare,
And for thy kindness shalt not be despis'd;
Though Councels are but weak which come from fear.
62
Were Dangers here, great as thy love can shape;(And love with fear can danger multiply)
Yet when by flight, thou bidst us meanly scape,
Bid Trees take wings, and rooted Forests flie.
45
63
Then said the Ranger, you are bravely lost,(And like high anger his complexion rose)
As little know I fear, as how to boast;
But shall attend you through your many Foes.
64
See where in ambush mighty Oswald lay;And see, from yonder Lawne he moves apace,
VVith Launces arm'd to intercept thy way,
Now thy sure Steeds are weary'd with the Chace.
65
His purple Banners you may there behold,Which (proudly spred) the fatall Raven beare;
And full five hundred I by Ranke have told,
Who in their guilded Helmes his Colours weare.
66
The Duke this falling storme does now discern;Bids little Hugo fly! but'tis to view
The Foe, and timely their first count'nance learne,
Whilst firme he in a square his Hunters drew.
67
And Hugo soon (light as his Coursers Heeles)Was in their Faces troublesome as winde;
And like to it (so wingedly He wheeles)
No one could catch, what all with trouble finde:
68
But ev'ry where the Leaders and the LedHe temp'rately observ'd, with a slow sight;
Judg'd by their looks how hopes and feares were fed,
And by their order their success in fight.
69
Their Number ('mounting to the Rangers guesse)In Three Divisions ev'nly was dispos'd;
And that their Enemies might judge it lesse,
It seem'd one Grosse with all the Spaces clos'd.
70
The Vann fierce Oswald led, where ParadineAnd Manly Dargonet (both of his blood)
Outshin'd the Noone, and their Mindes stock within
Promis'd to make that outward glory good.
71
The next, bold, but unlucky Hubert led;Brother to Oswald, and no less ally'd
To the ambitions which his Soul did wed;
Lowly without, but lin'd with Costly pride.
72
Most to himself his valor fatall was,Whose glorys oft to others dreadfull were;
So Comets (though suppos'd Destruction's cause)
But waste themselves to make their Gazers feare.
73
And though his valor seldom did succeed,His speech was such as could in Storms perswade;
Sweet as the Hopes on which starv'd Lovers feed,
Breath'd in the whispers of a yielding Maide.
46
74
The Bloody Borgio did conduct the Rere;VVhom sullen Vasco heedfully attends;
To all but to themselves they cruel were,
And to themselves chiefly by mischief Friends.
75
Warr, the worlds Art, Nature to them became;In Camps begot, born, and in anger bred;
The living vex'd till Death, and then their Fame;
Because even Fame some life is to the Dead.
76
Cities (wise States-men's Folds for civil sheep)They sack'd, as painful Sheerers of the wise;
For they like careful VVolves would lose their sleep,
VVhen others prosp'rous toyls might be their prise.
77
Hugo amongst these Troops spy'd many moreWho had, as brave Destroyers, got renown;
And many forward wounds in boast they wore;
Which if not well reveng'd, had ne'r been shown.
78
Such the bold Leaders of these Launceers were,Which of the Brescian Vet'rans did consist;
Whose practis'd age might charge of Armies bear,
And claim some ranck in Fame's eternal List.
79
Back to his Duke the dext'rous Hugo flies;What he observ'd he cheerfully declares;
VVith noble pride did what he lik'd despise;
For wounds he threatned whil'st he prais'd their skarrs.
80
Lord Arnold cry'd, vain is the Bugle Horn,VVhere Trumpets Men to Manly work invite!
That distant summons seems to say in skorn,
VVe Hunters may be hunted hard ere night.
81
Those Beasts are hunted hard that hard can fly,Reply'd aloud the noble Hurgonil;
But we not us'd to flight, know best to die;
And those who know to die, know how to kill.
82
Victors through number never gain'd applause;If they exceed our compt in Armes and Men,
It is not just to think that odds, because
One Lover equals any other Ten.
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