University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Argalvs and Parthenia

Written by Fra: Quarles

collapse section 
  
  
collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Haue ye beheld a Leaguer? In what sort
The deepe mouth'd Cannon playes vpon the Fort,
And how by peecemeales it doth batter downe
The yeelding walls of the besieged towne?
Euen so their swords (whose oft repeated blowes
Could finde no patience yet to interpose
A breathing respite) with redoubled strength
So hew'd their proofelesse armours, that at length
Their failing trust began to proue vnsound,
And peece by peece, they dropt vpon the ground,
Trusting their bodies to the bare defence
Of vertue, and vnarmed innocence.

143

Such deadly blowes were dealt, and such requited,
That Mars himselfe stood rauisht and affrighted
To see the cruell Combate: Euery blow
Did act two parts; both strucke and guarded too
At selfe-same instant. So incomparable
Their skilfull quicknesse was, that none was able
To say (although their watchfull eyes attended
The strokes) who made the blow, or who defended.
Long was it ere their equall skill and force
Of armes could show a better, or a worse.
Neither preuail'd as yet; yet both excell'd
In not preuailing. Neuer eye beheld
More equall ods: No wound as yet could show
A droppe of wasted blood, yet euery blow
Was full of death. When skilfull Gamesters play,
The Christmas box gaines often more then they.