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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| 3. | Canto the Third. |
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 | The works of Sr William Davenant |  |
163
Canto the Third.
The ARGUMENT.
The Poet takes the Wise aside, to proveEven them concern'd in all he writes of Love.
The dutious Orgo from the Court returns
With joys, at which again fair Birtha mourns.
The Duke with open Armes does entertain
Those Guests whom he receives with secret pain.
1
Thou, who some Ages hence these Roles dost read(Kept as Records by Lovers of Love's pow'r)
Thou who dost live, when I have long been dead,
And feed'st from Earth, when Earth does me devowr:
2
Who liv'st, perhaps, amidst some Cities joys,Where they would fall asleep with Lazy peace,
But that their triumphs make so great a noise,
And their loud Bells cannot for nuptials cease:
3
Thou, who perhaps, proudly thy bloomy BrideLead'st to some Temple, where I wither'd lie;
Proudly, as if she Age's Frosts defy'd;
And that thy springing self could never die:
4
Thou, to whom then the cheerful Quire will sing,Whilst hallow'd Lamps, and Tapers brave the Sun
As a Lay-Light; and Bells in triumph ring,
As when from sallies the Besiegers run.
5
That when the Priest has ended, if thine EiesCan but a little space her Eies forbear,
To shew her where my Marble Coffin lies;
Her Virgin Garlands she will offer there:
6
Confess, that reading me she learnt to love;That all the good behaviour of her heart,
Even tow'rds thy self, my doctrine did improve;
Where Love by Nature is forwarn'd of Art,
7
She will confess, that to her Maiden stateThis Story shew'd such Patterns of great Life,
As though she then could those but imitate,
They an Example make her now a Wife.
164
8
And thy life's fire could she awhile outlive(Which were, though lawful, neither kinde nor good)
Then, even her sorrows would examples give;
And shine to others through dark widowhood.
9
And she will boast, how spite of Cynick Age,Of bus'ness, which does Pow'r uncivil make,
Of ruder Cells, where they Love's Fire asswage
By study'ng Death, and fear for Vertue take:
10
And spite of Courts (where loving now is madeAn Art, as dying is in Cells) my Laws
Did teach her how by Nature to perswade,
And hold by vertue whom her beauty draws.
11
Thus when by knowing me, thou know'st to whomLove owes his Eies, who has too long been blinde;
Then in the Temple leave my Bodies Tomb,
To seek this Book, the Mon'ment of my Minde.
12
Where thou mai'st read; who with impatient EiesFor Orgo on the guilded Tarras stay;
Which high, and golden shews, and open lies,
As the Morne's Window when she lets out Day.
13
Whose height Two rising Forrests over-looks;And on Pine-tops the Eiesight downward casts;
Where distant Rivers seem bestrided Brooks,
Churches but Anchor'd Ships, their Steeples, Masts.
14
Hence, by his little Regian Courser brought,Orgo they spie, with diligence indu'd,
As if he would o'ertake forerunning Thought;
And he by many swiftly seem'd pursu'd.
15
But his light speed left those awhile behinde;Whilst with rais'd Dust, their swiftness hid theway
Yet Birtha will, too soon, by Orgo finde
What she by distance lost in this survay.
16
Orgo a precious Casket did presentTo his dear Lord, of Podian Saphyr wrought;
For which, unknown to Birtha, he was sent;
And a more precious Pledg was in it brought.
17
Then thus proclaim'd his joy! Long may I live!Sent still with blessings from the Hea'nly Powers;
And may their bountys shew what they can give;
And full as fast as long expected Showres!
18
Behold the King, with such a shining TraineAs dazles sight, yet can inform the Blind;
But there the Rich, and Beautious shine in vaine,
Unless they distance keep from Rhodalind.
165
19
Methinks, they through the Middle Region come;Their Chariots hid in Clouds of Dust below,
And o're their Heads, their Coursers scatter'd Fome
Does seem to cover them like falling Snow.
20
This Birtha heard, and she on Orgo castA piteous look (for she no anger knew)
But griev'd he knows not, that he brings too fast
Such joys, as fain she faster would eschew.
21
So Gondibert this Gust of glory tookAs Men whose Sayls are full, more weather take;
And she so gaz'd on him, as Sea-men look
On long sought shore, when Tempests drive them back.
22
But now these Glorys more apparent be;And justly all their observation claim'd;
Great, as in greatest Courts less Princes see,
When entertain'd to be eclips'd, and sham'd.
23
West from Verona's Road, through pleasant MeadsTheir Chariots cross; and to the Palace steer;
And Aribert this winged triumph leads;
Which like the Planets Progress did appear.
24
So shin'd they, and so noisless seem'd their speed;Like Spartans, touching but the silken Reynes,
Was all the conduct which their Coursers need;
And proudly to sit still, was all their pains.
25
With Aribert sat royal Rhodalind;Calm Orna by the Count; by Hermegild
(Silver'd with time) the Golden Gartha shin'd;
And Tybalt's Eies were full by Laura fill'd.
26
The lesser Beauties, numberless as Stars,Shew'd sickly and far off, to this Noon-day;
And lagg'd like Baggage Treasure in the Wars;
Or only seem'd, another milkie way.
27
The Duke perceiv'd, the King design'd to makeThis visit more familiar by surprise;
And with Court art, he would no notice take
Of that, which Kings are willing to disguise.
28
But as in heedless sleep, the House shall seemNew wak'd with this Alarm; and Ulfin strait
(Whose fame was precious in the Courts esteem)
Must, as with casual sight, their entrance wait.
29
To Astragon he doubles all his Vows;To Birtha, through his Eies, his Heart reveal'd;
And by some civil jealousies he shows
Her beauty from the Court must be conceal'd.
166
30
Prays her, from Envy's danger to retire;The Palace war; which there can never cease
Till Beauty's force in age or death expire:
A War disguis'd in civil shapes of Peace,
31
Still he the precious Pledg kept from her view;Who guess'd not by the Casket his intent;
And was so willing not to fear him true,
That she did fear to question what it ment.
32
Now hasts she to be hid; and being gon,Her Lover thinks the Planet of the day
So leaves the mourning World to give the Moon
(Whose Train is mark'd but for their number) way.
33
And entring in her Closet (which took lightFull in the Palace Front) she findes her Maids
Gather'd to see this gay unusual sight;
Which Commet-like, their wondring Eies invades.
34
Where Thula would by climbing highest be,Though ancient grown, and was in stature short;
Yet did protest, she came not there to see,
But to be hid from dangers of the Court.
35
Their curious longing Birtha durst not blame(Boldness, which but to seeing did aspire)
Since she her self, provok'd with Courts great Fame,
Would fain a little see what all admire.
36
Then through the Casement ventur'd so much FaceAs Kings depos'd, shew when through grates they peep,
To see Deposers to their Crowning passe;
But strait shrink back, and at the triumph weep.
37
Soon so her Eies did too much glory finde;For ev'n the first she saw was all; for she
No more would view since that was Rhodalind;
And so much beauty could none others be.
38
Which with her Vertue weigh'd (no less renown'd)Afflicts her that such worth must fatal prove;
And be in tears of the Possessor drown'd,
Or she depose her Lover by her Love.
39
But Thula (wildly earnest in the viewOf such gay sights as she did ne'r behold)
Mark'd not when Birtha her sad Eies withdrew;
But dreamt the World was turn'd again to Gold.
40
Each Lady most, till more appear'd, ador'd;Then with rude liking prais'd them all alowd;
Yet thought them foul and course to ev'ry Lord;
And civilly to ev'ry Page she bow'd
167
41
The objects past, out-sigh'd even those that woo;And strait her Mistris at the Window mist;
Then finding her in grief, out-sigh'd her too;
And her fair Hands with parting passion kist:
42
Did with a Servants usual art professThat all she saw, was to her beauty black;
Confess'd their Maids well bred, and knew to dress,
But said those Courts are poor which painting lack.
43
Thy praise (said Birtha) poyson'd is with spite;May blisters cease on thy uncivil Tongue,
Which strives so wickedly to do me right,
By doing Rhodalind and Orna wrong.
44
False Fame, thy Mistris, tutor'd thee amiss;Who teaches School in streets, where Crowds resort;
Fame, false, as that their beauty painted is;
The common Country slander on the Court.
45
With this rebuke, Thula takes gravely leave;Pretends she'll better judge ere they be gon;
At least see more, though they her sight deceive;
Whilst Birtha findes, wilde Fear feeds best alone.
46
Ulfin receives, and through Art's Palace guidesThe King; who owns him with familiar grace;
Though Twice seven Years from first observance hides
Those Marks of valor which adorn'd his Face.
47
Then Astragon with hasty homage bows:And says, when thus his beams he does dispence
In lowly visits, like the Sun he shows
Kings made for universal influence.
48
Him with renown the King for Science pays,And Vertue; which Gods likest Pictures bee;
Drawn by the Soul, whose onely hire is praise;
And from such Salary not Heav'n is free.
49
Then kindly he inquires for Gondibert;When, and how far his wounds in danger were?
And does the cautious progress of his Art
Alike with wonder and with pleasure heare.
50
Now Gondibert advanc'd, but with delay;As fetter'd by his love for he would fain
Dissembled weakness might procure his stay,
Here where his Soul does as in Heav'n remain.
51
Him, Creature like, the King did boldly useWith publick love; to have it understood
That Kings, like God, may chuse whom they will chuse;
And what they make, judge with their own Eies good.
168
52
This grace the Duke at bashful distance takes;And Rhodalind so much concern'd is grown,
That his surprisal she her troubles makes;
Blushing, as if his blushes were her own.
53
Now the bright Train with Astragon ascend;Whilst Hermegild, with Gartha moves behinde;
Whom much this gracious visit did offend;
But thus he practis'd to appease her minde.
54
Judge not you strangely in this visit showe;As well in Courts think wise disembling new;
Nor think the kindness strange, though to your Foe,
Till all in Courts where they are kinde are true.
55
Why should your closer mourning more be worn?Poor Priests invented Blacks for lesser cost;
Kings for their Syres in Regal Purple mourn;
Which shews what they have got, not what they lost.
56
Though rough the way to Empire be, and steep,You look that I should level it so plain,
As Babes might walk it barefoot in their sleep;
But Pow'r is the reward of patient pain!
57
This high Hill Pow'r, whose Bowels are of Gold,Shews neer to greedy and unpractis'd sight;
But many grow in travail to it old,
And have mistook the distance by the height.
58
If those old Travailers may thither beYour trusted Guides, they will your haste reform;
And give you fears of Voyages by Sea;
Which are not often made without a storm.
59
Yet short our Course shall prove, our passage faire,If in the Steerage you will quiet stand,
And not make storms of ev'ry breath of Aire;
But think the Helm, safe in the Pilots hand.
60
You like some fatal King (who all Men hearsYet trusts intirely none) your trust mistake,
As too much weight for one: One Pillar bears
Weight that would make a Thousand Shoulders ake.
61
Your Brothers storm I to a calm have turn'd;Who lets this guilded sacrifice proceed
To Hymen's Altar, by the King adorn'd,
As Priests give Victims Gerlonds ere they bleed.
62
Hubert to triumph would not move so faste;Yet you (though but a kinde Spectator) mean
To give his triumph Laws, and make more haste
To see it pass, then he does to be seen.
169
63
With patience lay this Tempest of your heart!For you, ere long, this Angels form shall turn
To fatal Man's; and for that shape of Art,
Some may, as I for yours of Nature, mourn.
64
Thus by her Love-sick Statesman she was taught;And smil'd, with joy of wearing Manly shape;
Then smil'd, that such a smile his Heart had caught;
Whose Nets Camps break not through, nor Senates scape.
| The works of Sr William Davenant | |