The History of Polindor and Flostella With Other Poems. By I. H. [i.e. John Harington] The third Edition, Revised and much Enlarged |
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 | The History of Polindor and Flostella |  |
That Six young Knights from pow'rful Thracian State,
Sent to present the Lord Polindor late
That Crown, as due from's royall Ancesters
(Driven from thence by Fate of bloody Wars)
Six Ladies too, from fruitfull Ciprus Land
Imploy'd, with Crown at fair Flostels command
(Whose Right it was, Persandras Heir disclos'd)
Their Barks through envious Furies, Storms oppos'd,
Bright Honour, Virtues Temple yet (at last)
Both Meeting gain'd; toyls, dangers overpast:
Where wondring found that All were Agents sent
To one Joyn'd Princely Pair (most strange event
As happy) now turn'd Fellow-servants prov'd:
Which Nuptialls being heard, transported, mov'd
Through th' fair example, those in Love united;
Espousing too: would shortly Attend; Recited.
When from those loftly'st Temples heav'nly Quire
Of Priests appear'd, Rose-crown'd; to th' sweetest Lyre
Sung forth choyce Epithalm, as one full Blessing
On this grand Bridall, Those to boot expressing.
Heav'n hath those to Hell confounded;
Lo, sweet'st-smiling Calm for Love,
All's with Gales of Joy surrounded:
Chirpers sing,
Lovers, Flow'rs make double Spring,
Hath produc'd six Pair of Lovers;
Honour, virtues Buds they are,
Each those Great ones Stamp discovers:
Thus, Divine
Influentiall Pair does shine.
All Delights
Crown your Daies, your dearest Nights,
Blessing sprung from Marryage-rites.
Here, Water-nymphs-(Founts from that Sea expressing)
With wavy-stained Robes, purl'd Tinsell-dressing
Danc'd stream-like forth; besprinkled round the Room
With choyce Sweet-waters, Fragrant thence become.
Third Scean and last Springs beauteous face assum'd,
Banks drest with lovely'st Flow'rs, with Trees beplum'd;
Bright Founts like Ropes of Pearl, those banks ore-straying,
Or Chrystall Chains, Gems; danc'd (as 'twere) a Maying:
Whilst chirping Birds, with various-tuned Noats,
Heard, Chant it from those Wilder Champaign Grots.
Ith' furthest end Delicious Arbour showing,
God Hymen's Bow'r, still Rosie-fresh, new blowing:
From whence their Masquers came, Six comely Payr;
Carnation Sattin Robes, with Wreaths most fair
(Flow'r-deck'd) like Lovers; Rich, bespangled trimming;
Danc'd gracefull up, their formost Couple seeming
Th' whole World for gallant Personage t'excell,
Rate onely Two, Polindor and Flostel:
The Duke Ortheris Face whilst changing oft
Looks, colour both; most various-passion'd Draught.
Their Dance perform'd, All Faces turn'd to th' side,
Where seated shone the Bridgroom and the Bride,
Low-bowing all; when strait their middle-payr
March slowly forth, and with Obaisance fair,
Presented, rang'd their Crown at eithers feet,
So back returning to their place: That sweet
Harmonious Quire (mean-while) of Priestly fashion,
Joyn'd, warbled round their Twofold Coronation.
Sent to present the Lord Polindor late
That Crown, as due from's royall Ancesters
(Driven from thence by Fate of bloody Wars)
132
Imploy'd, with Crown at fair Flostels command
(Whose Right it was, Persandras Heir disclos'd)
Their Barks through envious Furies, Storms oppos'd,
Bright Honour, Virtues Temple yet (at last)
Both Meeting gain'd; toyls, dangers overpast:
Where wondring found that All were Agents sent
To one Joyn'd Princely Pair (most strange event
As happy) now turn'd Fellow-servants prov'd:
Which Nuptialls being heard, transported, mov'd
Through th' fair example, those in Love united;
Espousing too: would shortly Attend; Recited.
When from those loftly'st Temples heav'nly Quire
Of Priests appear'd, Rose-crown'd; to th' sweetest Lyre
Sung forth choyce Epithalm, as one full Blessing
On this grand Bridall, Those to boot expressing.
The Song was thus.
1.
Storms and Furies vanish'd prove,Heav'n hath those to Hell confounded;
Lo, sweet'st-smiling Calm for Love,
All's with Gales of Joy surrounded:
Chirpers sing,
Lovers, Flow'rs make double Spring,
2.
One transcendent Sun-like PairHath produc'd six Pair of Lovers;
Honour, virtues Buds they are,
Each those Great ones Stamp discovers:
Thus, Divine
Influentiall Pair does shine.
Crown your Daies, your dearest Nights,
Blessing sprung from Marryage-rites.
133
With wavy-stained Robes, purl'd Tinsell-dressing
Danc'd stream-like forth; besprinkled round the Room
With choyce Sweet-waters, Fragrant thence become.
Third Scean and last Springs beauteous face assum'd,
Banks drest with lovely'st Flow'rs, with Trees beplum'd;
Bright Founts like Ropes of Pearl, those banks ore-straying,
Or Chrystall Chains, Gems; danc'd (as 'twere) a Maying:
Whilst chirping Birds, with various-tuned Noats,
Heard, Chant it from those Wilder Champaign Grots.
Ith' furthest end Delicious Arbour showing,
God Hymen's Bow'r, still Rosie-fresh, new blowing:
From whence their Masquers came, Six comely Payr;
Carnation Sattin Robes, with Wreaths most fair
(Flow'r-deck'd) like Lovers; Rich, bespangled trimming;
Danc'd gracefull up, their formost Couple seeming
Th' whole World for gallant Personage t'excell,
Rate onely Two, Polindor and Flostel:
The Duke Ortheris Face whilst changing oft
Looks, colour both; most various-passion'd Draught.
Their Dance perform'd, All Faces turn'd to th' side,
Where seated shone the Bridgroom and the Bride,
Low-bowing all; when strait their middle-payr
March slowly forth, and with Obaisance fair,
Presented, rang'd their Crown at eithers feet,
So back returning to their place: That sweet
Harmonious Quire (mean-while) of Priestly fashion,
Joyn'd, warbled round their Twofold Coronation.
| The History of Polindor and Flostella | |