Pharonnida :: :: University of Virginia Library

Still wakefull guilt, Almanzors Rebel sin,
Taking advantage of unguarded mirth,
Which now without mistrust did revell in,
The Princess Court gives thence new Treason birth.

II

By treachery seiz'd, and through Nights shades conveyed
She had for ever in this storm been lost,
Had not its rage by such rude hands been stayed,
That safety neer as much as danger cost.

These Hell-ingendred Embrioes, which had long
Lay hid within Almanzors breast, grown strong;
Now for delivery strives; Clandestine plots,
Ripen'd with Age and Lust, dissolve the knots,

Wherein his fear had fetterd them, and fly
Beyond the Circle of his Loyalty.
Since his deserts made him a stranger to
His Princess Court, he'd liv'd like those that do
Fly that pursuing Vengeance, which attends
A Rebels Acts, seen only to such Friends,
Whose blemmisht Honour, suffering in his fall,
Assist his rising, though they venter all
By that unlawful Act, on pathes that may
Precipitate to ruine; the dark way
Had long been sought for, Consultations did
Whisper Rebellion in soft Aires, forbid
To live in louder Language, until like
Inevitable thunder it could strike,
As swift, as secret, and as sure as those,
Heavens anger hurls through all that durst oppose.

In all the progress of that dark design,
Whose unseen Engines strove to undermine
That power (which since Heaven doth in Kings infuse)
None but unhallowed Rebels durst abuse
Time (Treasons secret Midwife) did produce
No birth like this; such Friends as often use
Had taught him their Souls Characters he makes
Sharers of's guilt; but whilst he (troubl'd) takes
A care to fit each smaller Wheel unto
This fatal Engine, those black powers that do
Assist such dark designs, a moving spirit,
Supplies it with, although Almanzors merit
Purchast few friends, yet had his tempting Gold
Corrupted some, 'mongst which it surest hold
Upon Amphibia took, a Lady who
Before Florenza's sweeter vertues drew

Her Favour to a better Object, swayed,
The Princess choice Affections she betrayed
By glittering Charms, perswades her thoughts no deed
For guilt is branded, whose attempts may feed
Ambitions malice, and at one blow give
Envie and Avarice a hope to live
Pleas'd with their ruine, whose fair merits dwell
High in those thoughts, from whence she justly fell.

To rack revenge unto as large extent,
As hate could wish, what Hell could nere invent,
Without assistance of a female Wit,
Mans first Betrayer, all that seemd but fit
From Treasons close embrace to propagate
Revenge she lights him, what (though close as Fate,
When parling with the Destinies) is by
Her Counsel acted, swift as stories fly
From vulgar Tongues, her treachery makes known
To the bold Rebbel, whose intentions grown
Hence ripe for Action, when his secret guilt
A strong retreat had for rebellion built,
By laying the foundation on't, in those
Whom since by want, or envy made the Foes
To th' publick peace, are soon perswaded by
Their Princess fall, to cure that malady.

This plat-form layd, some whose wise valour he
By practice knew, adornd with secresie,
Amongst the number of his guilty friends,
Selected in its first attempt, attends
Treasons dark walks, which now more secret by
Nights dismal shadows made, had brought them nigh
The Princess Palace, through the Hemisphears
Dark Curtain, now the big bulkt roof appears,

And dapl'd Windows shewd their severall light,
Like rich Enamel in the Jet of Night;
All rockt in sweet security they found,
By Fate false smiles, triumphant mirth had crownd
The glorious Train, whose height of joy could tast,
No poyson of suspition, each embrac'd
His free delights, yet feard, no Snake should lye
Lurking within those Flowers: amidst which high
Divine flames of enthean joy, to her
That level'd had their way, a Messenger
Makes known their neer approach, for which before
She had prepar'd, and vaild the Pavement o're
In thin, but candid Innocence; accurst
By all that ere knew Vertue: oh, how durst
Thy Envie turn these commick Sceans into
So red a Tragedy as must ensue,
Thy guilts Stenography, which thus writes Fate
In Characters of blood: but now too late
'Tis to repent, when punishment wrought fair,
Shews thy foul Crimes, thou only mayst despair.

Leaving this Fiend to hatch her Vipers here,
Lets breath awhile, although in full carier,
Stay on the brow oth' precipice to view
The Courts full joyes, which being arriv'd unto
Their Zenith seemd to Fate-discerning Eyes,
Like Garlands were before a Sacrifice,
The Cornu Copiæ from the Tables now,
Remov'd by full fed Rurals, did allow
Time for discourse, as much as modest mirth
Durst stretch her wings; crownd Cups gave lusty birth
To active sports. The hearts warm bounties flame
From lofty Piles, and in their pride became

The luster of the Roof; to glorifie
Which yet imperfect Festival, the eye
That lent to this large body light divine,
Pharonnida, at whose adored Shrine,
These Sacrifices offerd were, appears
Within the Hall, and with her presence clears
Each supercillious brow, if hopes to see
What's now enjoy'd, suffer'd such there to be.

The Princess on her honourd Throne repos'd,
A Fancy tempting, Musick first unclos'd
The winding Portals of the Soul, which done,
Four Swains, whose time directed knowledge won
Attention with Credulity, by turn
Sicillia's Annals sung, and from the Urn
Of now almost forgotten truth did raise
Their Fame (those branches of eternal Baies.)
Which sober mirth, Preparatives unto
More active sports continuing, whilst the new
Modell of Treason was disguizing in
A Mask ordaind to candie o're their sin,
To gild those Pills of poyson with delight,
And strew with Roses, deadly Aconite,
Was now drawn neer an end, when from without
A murmuring noise of several sounds about
The Palace Gates was heard, which suddenly,
Dissolving to an antick harmony,
Proclaims their entrance, whose first solemn sight,
In dreadful shapes mixt terrour with delight.

In the black front of that slow Maroh appears,
A Train, whose difference both in Sex and years,
Had spoke confusion, if agreement in
Their Acclamation had no Prologue been.

A Dance where method in disorder lay,
Where each seemd out, though all their rules obay,
Was first in different measures trod, which done
Twelve arm'd Viragoes, whose strange habit won
More admiration then their beauty led,
As many captive Satyrs, in the head
Oth' Amazonian troop, a Matron by,
To younger Nymphs supported, till come nigh
Pharonnida's bright Throne, presents the rest
Her Issue, who externally exprest,
So many fair soul'd Vertues, born to be
Protectors of their Mother Chastity,
Who wants their help, although supported by
Her weaker daughters Fear, and Modesty.

Those obscean vices, whose rude hands betray
Natures deformities forc'd to obay,
Their brave opposing Vertues did appear
Ith' captive Satyrs, who, being now brought near
A dreadful Musick's heard without, whose sound
Did gentler Aires in their first births confound;
VVhich being a signall to that act of blood,
That soon ensues, whilst all expecting stood,
Some happier change, the false viragoes drew
Their Swords, and with a speedy fury slew
The struggling Knights, who thus disguiz'd had bin,
VVith the more horrour to be murtherd in
Their royal Mistress sight, whose shrieks did tell,
VVhat trembling Guests within her breast did dwell.

Sudden and cruel was the Act, yet stands
Not Treason here, but whilst their purpl'd hands
Yet wreakt in blood, their guilty Souls to stain,
VVith blacker sins (her weak Defenders slain)

Rush toward the trembling Princess, who now lies
Betrayed by the Souls Janitors, her Eyes
To Passions insupportable, which grown
A burthen to her Spirits, all were flown
To th' Porch of death for rest: if Souls new fled
From tainted bodies that have surfeited,
On studied sins, could be discernd when they
Unarmd with penitence, are hurld away,
By long armd Fiends, less pale, less horrid would
Their guilty looks appear, confusion could
Not live in livelier emblem, each appears
To flie the danger, but about him bears
Its pale effects: so passengers forsake
A sinking Ship, such strong Convulsions shake
Surprized Forts, so Doomsdays Trumpet shall
Startle the unprepared world, when all
Her Attomes in their then worn Robes shall be
Ravisht in flames to meet eternity.

Th' unguarded Princess being by all forsook,
But poor Florenza, both from thence are took,
VVhilst neither in that horrid Agony,
Beheld their danger, and transported by
Almanzor to his Coach, which near attended,
On his assur'd success, who now befriended
VVith the protecting darkness hasts away,
Swift as desire with the fair trembling prey.
Those few opposing friends, whose will was more,
Then power to relieve her, over bore
By the victorious Rebbels, did in vain
Attempt her rescue, which since fruitless, slain,
Her Martyrs fall, leaving their lives to be,
An evidence of dying Loyalty.

Success attends thus far, but Fortune now
Left off to smile on Villany, her brow
Contracted into frowns, she swiftly sent
This Countermand, her Followers having spent
Their own endeavours to no purpose raise,
In hast the neighbourig Villages, nor staies
The swift Alarm, till it had out-fled
The speed Almanzor made; rouz'd from his Bed,
And warm Embraces of his Wife, by those
Which had out-run the danger of their Foes:
The drousie Villager in trembling hast,
Snatches such Armes as former fear had plac'd,
Fit to defend, with which whilst Hornpies call
In tones more frantick then a bacchinal.
They stumble to their Rendesvouz, which none
But only by the louder cries had knowne.

This giddy multitude, which no command
Knew, but what rage did dictate, hovering stand,
Like big swoln Clouds drove by a doubtful wind,
Uncertain where to fall: one cries behind
The greatest danger lies; some like his choice,
And speedily retreat, untill a voice
More powerful though from the like judgment sprung,
Perswades them on again; some madly rung
The jarring Bels, as far from harmony,
As their Opinions: all which disagree,
About the place, whence the Alarum's come,
One cries the Princess Court, untill struck dumb,
By a more terrifying Fool that swears
The next Port is surpriz'd, tow'rd which he stares,
To see the Beacons blaze, but is from far,
Deceiv'd by th' light of an ascending star.

So many shapes bear their weak Fancies, that,
All would do something, but there's none knows what.

In this strange Medly of Confusion, they
That could command, want such as would obey,
To exercise their power; each thinks his own
Opinion best, so must perform't alone:
Or else remain, as hitherto they had,
Busie in doing nothing: in which mad
Fit of distracted fury, like to fight,
For want of Foes amongst themselves, the Night
(Grown grey with age) fore-shewd her death, when each
Thinking that now he'd done enough to teach,
An active Soldier vigilance in spending
A Night abroad, which they will call defending
Their Prince and Country from a danger, but
What twas they know not, swearing 't shall be put
In the next Chronicle, they disunite,
Their nere wel-joynted Forces, and a flight
Rather then march, to th' several Hamlets take,
From whence at first, being scarce half awake,
Not so much cloathd, their heedless hast had sent
Them, only noise and number to augment.

One troop of this disbanded Company,
Which, though but few, more then could wel agree
To march together, by mistake being cast
Into a narrow straight, met as they past
The Coach that bore the Princess, being by those
That stole her guarded, the mad Rowt t' oppose
Their farther passage, not because they thought
Them to be those their Ignorance had sought,
In their late meeting, the Antipathy
Twixt them and th' Gentry, is enough to be

That quarrels Parent, whose event shall make
Their Prince and Country blest in their mistake.

Startl'd from all his temperate joyes with this
Unlookt for Remora ith' Road of bliss,
Inrag'd Almanzor rows to ford the Flood
Oth' present danger, or with his own blood,
Augment the stream, with that he flies among,
Those that are nearest of the numerous throng,
Who, when they found what difference was between
Their Clubs (blunt as their Valors) and the keen
Edge of his Sword would have fell back, but are
Forc'd on by those behind, who being far
From danger, fear it not. Thus some are forc'd
To fight, till their unwilling Souls divorc'd
From their cold Lodgings made their peace; but here
Whilst he a Conqu'ror reigns, ingenious fear,
Taught them that durst no neerer come, to do
Most mischief at a distance, climb'd unto
The Rocks inequitable Clifts: from thence
They shower down stones that equally dispense,
Danger 'mongst Friends and Foes; had she not been
Defended by her Coach, their Princess in
This storm had perisht: or had fear of death
Unfixt her thoughts, she'd spent that pretious breath,
Now sacrificing in her prayers to be
From their wild rage deliverd safe, but she
(Opprest with Lethargies of sorrow) lends
No eare to this rude fight, on which depends,
So much of Fate, danger appears to ly,
Not more in the disease, then remedy.

Whilst the oppos'd Almanzor now had neer
Hewd forth his way through all of them, appear

More company by their loud clamors drew,
Unto their timely aide; now danger grew,
Horrid and threatning, till the impeteous shower,
Wetting the Wings of the fierce Rebels power;
Clog all his hopes of flight, unless he leave,
His trembling prey behind him; to bereave
Him of his last of hopes, he sees his train
Begin to drop: with those that yet remain
He thinks it time, whilst undiscover'd, to
Secure himself, which difficult to do;
At length (though not unwounded) he alone
Breaks through their Forces, blest in being unknown:
Else had their batterd Weapons spar'd to shed
The blood of others, and had surfeited
On his, which adding knowledge to the fire
Of Rage, they had most reason to desire.

The unsuccesful Rebel thus secur'd,
By speedy flight, his train not long endur'd
The circling danger, which from each side sends,
Symptomes so deadly, all their strength defends
Not the rude torrent, nor their prayers could calm
Their Foes stern rage; sweet Mercies healing Balm
Is the extraction of brave Spirits, which
(By innate valor rarified) enrich
With that fair Jem, the triumphs of success,
Whilst Cowards make the Victors glory less,
Their highest flame of rage being but dull earth,
Fir'd into tyranny, the spurious birth
Of a precedent fear, whose baseness knows
No calm, but what from others danger grows.

And now the field, scourd by the beastly rage
Oth' savage Clowns, had left no Foe t' engage

100

A Life, nor could their policy perswade
Them to let one survive, till he had made
The Plot discoverd, with rude hast they crush
Their trembling Souls out, and all Weapons blush,
In part of th' blood, so many hands had gave
Them hurt less Wounds, that the expecting Grave,
Needs only take their Bones, for madly they
Had minc'd their flesh for th' Vultures easier prey.

This Vict'ry gaind, they hast to th' Coach, and thence
The unknown Princess take, no large expence
Of prayers, pourd from Florenza's fears could be,
So powerful to obtain Civility.
She tels them who their rage prophanes, and by
Their Princess Name conjures them, but the high
Exalted out-cries drown her voice, till one,
Who had the Rape of the sad Lady known,
When first performd, did with a louder voice
Proclaim her there, and having first made choice
Of a more civil Company t' oppose
Th' uncivil Clowns, rescues her, and then shews,
How neer their heedless rage had cast away
The glorious Prize of that victorious day.

From fainting slumbers raisd, the Princess now
Secure in their discovery, taught them how
To turn her Fury into Zeal, and show
By serving her, the Allegiance that they ow
Her royal Father. To the Palace come,
Rewarding all, she there commands that some
Stay for her Guard, but soon that Order grew
A troublesome obedience, none would to
His Cottage, whilst that any stayed within
The Palace Gates, but long they had not been

101

Thus burthensomly diligent, ere on
A new design, each struggles to be gone
From's former Charge; a Messenger is sought,
Who to the Court must post, but each one thought
Himself of most ability, so all
Or none must go, yet ere the difference fall
Into a neer approaching quarrel, he
Who rescu'd her, the Princess chose to be
Her Messenger. Euriolus (for so
The Youth was cald) disdaining to be slow,
Where such Commands gave Wings, with speed unto
The Court was come, but busie Fame out-flew
His eager hast, and ere's Arrival spread
Some scatterd fragments of the news, which bred
Suspition of that doubt full truth, from whence
His Message leads to doleful Confidence.

The end of the first Canto.