University of Virginia Library

The Argument.

Composing time did now begin to slack
The rain of mirth; exalted Joy shrunk back
From Pleasures summer-solstice, and gave way
For more domestick passions to obay
An Oeconomick government, which brought
Loose fancy on the wings of serious thought
Back to her sober home, in that to find
Those several burthens that were left behind
In the carier of mirth, amongst which number
Pharonnida that had let sorrow slumber
In the high room of joy, awakes again
That clamorous elf, which she must entertain
At Beauties cost: Yet in this dark retreat
From Pleasures throne to Sorrows dismal seat
She finds a sweet Companion, one that had
By fatal love oppos'd, with loss unclad
Delight of all his summer-robes, to dress
Her trembling soul in sables of distress.

The sad Silvandra (for surviving fame
Hath on record so character'd her name)
Being sister to return'd Ismander, in
This flourish of triumphant joy had bin
So much eclips'd with grief, that oft her tears
Dim'd Beauties rays, whilst through them she appears
A fit Companion for the Princess to
Twist those discourses with, whose mourning clue
Led through the labyrinth of their lives. They oft
In shades as secret as their closest thought
With pensive paces meeting, sit and tell
Stories so sad, that nought could parallel
But Love, and Loss, a theam they both had bin
By rigid power made hapless Students in.

One eye-bright morning tempting them to take
The start of time, soon as the Lark did wake,
Summons them from the Palace to the side
Of a small Wood, whose bushy crest the pride
Of all the flowry plains, they chose to be
'Gainst the invading sun their canopie.
Repos'd beneath a full-grown tree that spread
His trembling arms to shade their fragrant bed,
They now are sate, where for a while they view
The distant vale, whilst contemplation grew
Pregnant with wonder, whose next prosp'rous birth
Had been delight, had they not sent their mirth
In sad exchange, whilst tears did usher in
Silvandra's fate, who, weeping, did begin
With such a look as did command belief,
The late-past story of a present grief.

In yonder fields (with that directs her eye
To a black Fen, whose heavy earth did lie
Low in a dark and dirty vale) is plac'd
Amarus Castle, which though now defac'd
More by the owners covetous neglect
Then times rough strokes, that strength which did protect
Once its inhabitants, being now but made
Use of when want doth with weak prayers invade
The gates, being thought sufficient if they keep
The poor at bay, or whilst his stiff hindes sleep
Their laboring beasts secure. But I alas
Blush to discover that this Miser was
Father to my dead Vanlore, and to her
Whose living vertues kind heaven did confer
As blessings on my brother; but the sun
Ne'r saw two sweeter streams of vertue run
From such a bitter fountain. This accurst
And wretched man, so hated, that he durst
Scarce look abroad, fearing oppression would
Be paid with vengeance, if he ever should
Fall into th' hand's of those whose faces he
Grownd with extortion, till the injury
Fear cloath'd like justice, ventring once to view
A Mannor whose intemperate Lord out-grew
In debts the compass of a Bond, besides
His common guard of Clowns, fellows whose hides
Serv'd for defensive armor, he commands
His sons attendance, who since from his hands
Rack'd Tenants hop'd for ease, he thought that they
Would for that hope with reverent duty pay.
But vain mistakes betray opinion to
A fatal precipice, which they might view
I'th objects of each glance; one side affords
Large plains, whose flock's, the wealth of several lords
By him contracted, but the spoils appears
Of beggar'd Orphans, pickl'd in their tears;
Farms for whose loss poor widows wept, and fields
Which being confin'd to strict inclosure, yields
To his cram'd chests the starving poor mans food,
For private ends robbing their publick good,
With guilt inclos'd those wayes which now had brought
Him by some cottages who honors bought
Poor livelihoods at a laborious rate
From his rack'd lands, for which pursuing hate
Now follows him in curses; for in that
They yet take vengeance, till arriving at
The thicker peopl'd Villages, where more bold
By number made, the fire of hate takes hold
On clamarous women, whose vext husbands thirst
I'th' fever of revenge, to these when first
They kindled had the flame, swiftly succeeds
More active men, such, as resolv'd their deeds
(Spight of restrictive law) should set them free
From the oppressor of their liberty.

His son (the noble Vanlore) to appease
The dangerous fury of this rash disease,
Spends all his stock of Rhetorick, but in
Fruitless attempts. His rustick guard had bin
At the first onset scatter'd, and were now
Posting for safety, whilst his son, taught how
By frequent injuries to entertain
Angers unusual guests, shews it in vain,
Though brave attempts of valor, by whose high
Unhappy flame, whilst circling foes did die
Unworthy hecatombs for him, at length
Engag'd him had beyond the power of strength,
Though back'd by fortune to redeem; which when
Beheld by those whose characters of men
In rage was lost, they wildly persecute
Revenge, till life, natures harmonious fruit,
Was blasted to untimely death. And here
Her fatal story in its full carier,
The memory of him, who di'd to be
The peoples curse, and crime of destinie
Grief did obstruct, whilst liquid passion feeds
Her chrystal springs, which stopt, she thus proceeds.

His brave defender now retreating to
The rode of death, whilst he did vainly sue
For undeserv'd remorse, Amarus lies
Their furies object, in whose wild disguise
Whilst giddy clouds of dark amazement dwell,
Ore his dim eyes th' exalted tumult fell
In a black storm of danger, in whose shade
They drag him thence, that fury being made
Wise by delays, might study torments great
As was their rage; but in their wild retreat
They thus are stopt: A wandring Knight that near
The place approach'd, directed by his ear
How to inform his eye, arrives to see
The wretched trophies of this victory,
A dying son, whose latest beams of light
Through deaths dim opticks bids the world goodnight,
With looks that did so black a sorrow lim
He frown'd on earth, though heaven did smile on him,
Hurri'd from thence by unrelenting hate,
A living father of more wofull fate.

Pity (that brave allay of manly heat)
Perswades the noble stranger to intreat
A parle with rage, which being deny'd he then
Attempts to force; and since their ablest men
Were wounded in the former conflict, soon
Successfull proves, like mists i'th pride of noon
Being hudl'd into hurtless clouds they flye
Before his fury, till from reach o'th eye
Shrunk to the woods protection, where whilst each
With such a fear as sanguine guilt did teach
The worlds first murtherer, seeks for safety, he
Retreating leaves the scatter'd herd to be
Their own afflictors, and hastes thence to finde
Him to whom fortune prov'd so strangely kinde
In his approach, as by his sword to be
When hope lost anchor, blest with liberty.

Come to the place where old Amarus lay
With fear so startl'd, that he durst betray
Life through no motion, yet he's follow'd by
That train of Cowards, which though they did fly
The danger, when they saw their foes pursu'd
On the reward, (the victory) intrude,
Whose easie spoils (those invitations to
A Cowards daring) such a distance drew
Them from their homes, that they with labor were
Recall'd from rifling enemies to beare
Their feeble Masters off, Amarus living
As weak with fear as Vanlore was with dying.

Before the black obstructions of the night
Did interpose, they were arriv'd i'th sight
O'th Castles ruin'd walls, a place whose hew,
Uncouth and wild, banish'd delight into
Uncomly profit, and at distance gives
A sad assurance that its honor lives
By men so hated, and by heaven unblest,
As he enjoy'd not what he there possest.

Come to the front o'th house, whose dirt forbid
A cleanly entrance, he sees pavements hid
With heaps of rubbish, times slow hand let fall
From the neglected ruines of the wall,
Green Arbors, pleasant Groves, all which were now
Swiftly dismantling to make way for th' plow;
Onely his Barns, preservers of that store
Detain'd with curses from the pining poore,
Their upper garments of warm thatch did weare
So thick to keep them dry, whilst thin and bare
E'en his own lodging stood; the Hall first built
To have that wealth, which he in sparing spilt,
Spent there in hospitality, nere by
More heat warm'd then a candle gave, did lie
Moulded with lazy damps, the wall oregrown
With moss and weeds, unhaunted, and alone
The empty tables stood, for never Guess
Come there, except thin Bankrupts whom distress
Spurr'd on with sharp necessity to crave
Forbearing moneths, which he, when brib'd forgave.
Hence (by a rude domestick led) he goes
To veiw the cellar, where like distant foes
Or buildings in a new Plantation stand
The distant Barrels, yet from all command
But his own keys exempted. To bestow
A welcom on him, which he ne'r did shew
To man before; led by a rusty slave,
Whose iron limbs ratling in leather gave
Alarums to the half-starv'd Rats; he here
Is by Amarus visited, whose feare
That place should too much suffer, soon from thence
Sounds a retreat to supper, where th'expence
Became a Usurers purse: yet what was by
Sparing defective, neatness did supply:
A vertue where repining penurie
Prepares, unusual; but he soon did see
Whence it proceeds, the sad sweet Ammida
Whom shame and grief attempted to withdraw
From publick view, was by her fathers call
To crown that entertainment brought, whose all
Was else so bad, it the first visit might
Repented make, not to the next invite.

Here, with afflicted patience, he had spent
Some few, but tedious days, whose slow extent
Behind his wishes flagg'd, ere he had seen
Vanlore interr'd, whose obsequies had been
In secret huddl'd up, but then prepares
To take his leave, when adverse fate that shares
Double with mans intentions, in the tart
Of's full resolves opposing, claims her part
By harsh command, a dangerous Fever that
Threatned destruction ere arriving at
Its distant crisis, and on flaming wings
Posts through the blood, whose mass infected brings
Deaths banners near the Fort of life, which in
Acute distempers it attempts to win
From Natures guards, had not the hot assault
By youth sustain'd made deaths black army halt
Whilst marching to the grave, the swift disease
Like a proud foe repulst, forc'd to give ease
By slow retreats; yet of those cruel wars
Left long remaining bloodless characters.

But ere the weak Euriolus (for he
This hapless stranger was) again could be
By strength supported, base Amarus, who
Could think no more then priceless thanks was due
For all his dangerous pains, more beastly rude
Then untam'd Indians, basely did exclude
That noble guest; which being with sorrow seen
By Ammida, whose prayers and tears had been
His helpless advocates, she gives in charge
To her Ismander, that till time enlarge
Her then restrain'd desires, he entertain
Her desolate and wandring friend: Nor vain
Were these commands, his entertainment being
Such as observant Love thought best agreeing
To her desires. But here not long he stayed
Ere Fortune, prompted by his wit, obeyed
That artfull Mistris, and reward obtains
By fine imposture for firm vertues pains.

The gout (that common curse of slothfull wealth)
With frequent pain had long impair'd the health
Of old Amarus, who, though else to all
Griping as that, for ease was liberal.
From practic'd physick, to the patients curse,
Poor pratling women, or impostors worse
Slie Mountebanks, whose empty impudence
Do frequent murthers under healths pretence,
He all had tried, yet found he must endure
What though some eas'd, none perfectly could cure.

Oft had his judgement, purse, and patience bin
Abus'd by cheats, yet still defective in
The choice of men: which error known unto
My brother and Euriolus, they drew
Their platform thus: Euriolus clad in
An antick dress, which shew'd as he had bin
Physitian to the great Mogol, first by
Ismander prais'd at distance, doth apply
Himself unto Amarus, where t' inhance
The price of's art, he first applauds the chance
That had from distant Regions thither brought
Him to eclipse their glory, who had sought
For't in his cure before, then seconds that
With larger promises; which tickled at
Amarus vies with his, threatning to break
His iron chests, and make those idols speak
His gratitude, though lock'd with conscience they
To his own clamorous wants had silent lay.

Some common medicines, which the people prize
'Cause from their knowledg vail'd in slight disguise,
Apply'd to's pain, and those assisted by
Opinion, whose best antidotes supply
The weak defects of art, he soon attains
So much of health, that now his greatest pains
Had been th' ingag'd reward, had he not bin
By future hopes kept from ingratefull sin
So far, that in performing action he
Exceeds his passions prodigalitie,
Large promises, with such performance, that
Whilst his deluders smile, and wonder at,
Thus speaks its dark orginal; To shew
Euriolus how fortune did out-grow
Desert in his estate, he was one day
From th' Castle walls taking a pleas'd survay,
Of spacious fields, whose soils made fertile by
Luxurious art, in rich variety
Still youthfull nature cloath'd, which whilst he views
An old suspition thus his tongue renews.

How blest, my worthy friend, how blest had I
Been in my youths laborious industry
T' have seen a son possest of this! but now
A daughters match, a stranger must endow
With what I've toil'd to get, and what is more
My torment, one that being betroth'd before
My sons decease, wants an estate to make
Her marriage blest; but knew I how to shake
This Swagg'rer off, there lives not far from hence
One that to match her to were worth th' expence
Of my estate, his name is Dargonel,
A wary Lad, who though his land do swell
Each day with new additions, yet still lives
Sparing and close, takes heed to whom he gives
Or whom he lends, except on mortgage, by
Whose strength it may securely multiply.

This worthy Gentleman, with wise foresight
Beholding what an object of delight
Our link'd estates would be, hath since I lost
My heir, been in's intention onely crost
By this Ismander, whom, though I confess
A braver man, yet since a fortune less,
Ne'r must have my consent; onely since by
Her contract I have lost the liberty
Of second choice, unless I vainly draw
My self in danger o'th ore-busie Law,
I want some sound advice that might inform
Me how to rid him, yet not stand a storm
Broke from his rage, although my daughter love
Him more then health, I shall command above
Her feeble passions, if you dare impart
So much of aid from your almighty art
As to remove this remora; and here
He stopp'd, yet lets a silent guilt appear
In looks that shew'd what else the theam affords
He'd have conceiv'd, as being too foul for words.
Which seen by him whose active wit grew strong
In friendships cause, as loath to torture long
His expectations, thus their stream he stayes
With what at once both comforts and betrayes.

Raise up your spirits, my blest Patron, to
Sublime content, Heav'n sent me to renew
Your souls harmonious peace; that dreadfull toy
Of conscience wisely wav'd, you may enjoy
Uninterrupted hopes: yet since we must
Be still most wary where we're most unjust,
Lets not be rash; swift things are oft unsure,
Whilst moles through death's dark angles creep secure.

Then since it's full of danger to remove
Betroth'd Ismander, whilst his publick love
By your consent rais'd to assurance, may
A granted interest claim; first let us stay
His fury, and the peoples censures by
A nuptial knot, whose links we will unty
Ere the first night confirms the hallow'd band,
By wayes so secret, that death's skilfull hand
Shall work unknown to fate, and render you
To the deluded worlds more publick view
A real mourner, whilst your curtain'd thought
Triumphs to be from strict engagements brought.

Besides the vailing of our dark designe
Like vertue thus, this plot will sink a Mine
Whose wealthy womb in ample jointure will
Bring much of dead Ismanders state to fill
The vast desire of wealth. This being done,
I with prevailing philters will outrun
Sorrows black Bark, which whilst it lies at drift,
I'll so renew her mirth, no sigh shall lift
Its heavy sails, which in a calm neglect
Shall lie forgot; whilst what's not now respect
To Dargonel, shall soon grow up to be
Like Natures undiscovered sympathie,
A love so swift, so secret, all shall pause
At its effects, whilst they admire the cause.

This by Amarus, with belief which grew
Into applause, heard out, he doth renew
With large additions what h'had promis'd in
His first attempts: Then hasting to begin
The tragick scene which must in triumph be
Usher'd to light, his known deformitie
Of wretched baseness for a while he lays
Aside, and by a liberal mirth betrays
Approaching joy, which since incited by
His wishes, soon lifts Hymens torches high
As their exalted hopes. The happy Pair
Dear to indulgent heaven, with Omens fair
As were their youthful Paranimphs, had bin
I'th' hallowed Temple taught without a sin
To taste the fruits of Paradice; and now
The time when tedious custom did allow
A wisht retirement, come, preparing are
To beautifie their beds, whence that bright star
Whose evenings blush did please the gazers eyes,
Eclips'd in sorrow is ordain'd to rise.
But such whose superficial vail opprest
Only her friends, whose knowledge were not blest
With the design which to our proscript Lovers
Euriolus with timely zeal discovers.

The morning opens, and the wakened Bride
By light and friends surpris'd, attempts to hide
Her bashful beauty, till their hands withdrew
The curtains, which betraid unto their view
Ismander cold and stiff: which horrid sight
Met where they look'd for objects of delight,
At first a silent sad amazement spread
Through all the room, till Fears pale army fled
In sad assurance, Sorrows next hot charge
Began in shrieks, whose terror did enlarge
Infectious grief, till like an ugly cloud
That cramps the beauties of the day, grown proud
In her black empire, Hymens tapors she
Changes to funeral brands, and from that tree
That shadows graves, puls branches, which being wet
In tears, are where Loves mirtles flourisht set.

Their nuptial himns thus turn'd to dirges, all
In sad exchange let cloudy sable fall
Ore pleasures purple-robes, whilst from that bed
Whence Love opprest, seem'd to their sorrow fled
To death for refuge, sadly they attend
To th' last of homes, his tomb, their sleeping friend,
Who there with all the hallowed rights that do
Betray surviving friendship, left unto
Darkness and dust, they thence with sober pace
Return, whilst shrowded near that dismal place
Euriolus conceals himself, that so
When sleep, whose soft excess is natures fo,
Hath spent her stupefactive opiates, he
Might ready to his friends assistance be.

And now that minute come, which to comply
With Arts sure rules, gives Nature leave t'unty
Sleeps powerful ligatures, his Pulses beat
The Bloods revelly, from whose dark retreat
The spirits thronging in their active flight,
His friend h'encounters with the early light;
By whose assistance whilst the quiet earth
Yet slept in nights black arms, before the birth
O'th' morn, whose busie childhood might betray
Their close design, Ismander takes his way
Toward a distant friends, whose house he knew
To be as secret as his love was true.

There whilst conceal'd even from suspition, he
In safety rests, Euriolus, to free
Her fears fair Captive, Ammida, hastes back
To old Amarus, who too rash to slack
Sorrows black cordage by degrees that might
Weaken mistrust, lets mirth taken open flight
Into suspected action, whilst he gives
To Dargonel, who now his Darling lives,
So free a welcom, that he in't might read
If love could not for swift succession plead,
Power should command; yet waves the exercise
Of either, till his Empericks skill he tries:
Who now return'd, ere Dargonel that lay
Slow to attempt, since certain to betray,
Had more then fac'd at distance, he pretends
To close attempts of art, whose wisht for ends
Ere their expecting faith had time to fear,
In acts which rais'd their wonder did appear.

Love, which by judgment rul'd, had made desert
In her first choice the Climax to her heart,
By which it slowly mov'd, now; as if swaid
By heedless passion, seems to have betraid
At one rash glance her heart, which now begins
To break through Passions bashful cherubins,
Spreading without a modest blush the light
Of morning-beauty ore that hideous night
Of all those dull deformities that dwell
Like earths black damps ore cloudy Dargonel;
Who being become an Antique in the Mask
Of playful Love, grows proud, and scorns to ask
Advice from sober thought, but lets conceit
Perswade him how his worth had spread that bait
Which slie Amarus who presum'd to know
From whence that torrent of her Love did flow,
With a just doubt suspecting, strives to make
His thoughts secure, ere Reason did oretake
Passions inforc'd carier; Nor did his plot
Want an indulgent hope, like dreams, forgot
In the delights of day, his daughter shook
Off Griefs black dress, and in a chearful look
Promis'd approaching love, no more disguis'd
Then serv'd to shew strict vertue how she pris'd
Her only in applause, whose harmonie
Still to preserve, she is resolv'd to be,
If secret silence might with action dwell,
Swift as his wish espous'd to Dargonel.

More joy'd then fetter'd Captives in the year
Of Jubile, Amarus did appear
Proud with delight, in whose warm shine when's haste
Had with officious diligence imbrac'd
Euriolus, he waving all delays,
To Dargonel the welcom news conveys;
Who soon prepar'd for what so long had bin
His hopes delight, to meet those joys within
The sacred temple hastes: The place they chose
For Hymen's Court, lest treacherous eyes disclose
The Brides just blushes, was a Chappel where
Devotion, when but a domestick care,
Was by his houshold practis'd; for the time
'Twas ere the morn blusht to detect a crime.

All thus prepar'd, the Priest conducting, they
With sober pace, which gently might convey
Diseas'd Amarus in his chair, they to
The Chappel haste, which now come near, as through
Th' ancient room they pass, a sad deep groan
Assaults their ears, which whilst with wonder grown
Into disease they entertain, appears
A sad confirmer of their doubtfull fears;
Ismander whom but late before they had
Follow'd to th' grave, his lively beauty clad
I'th' upper garments of pale death: which sight
The train avoiding by their speedy flight
Except the willing Bride, behinde leave none
But lame Amarus, who, his chair orethrown
By his affrighted bearers, there must lie
Expos'd to fear, which when attempts to flie,
Through often strugling prov'd his labor vain,
He groveling lies unseen to entertain.

Thus far successfull blest Ismander thence
Conveys his lovely Bride, whilst the expence
Of time being all laid out on fear, by none
He was observ'd; Amarus long alone
Lying tormented with his passions, ere
His frighted servants durst return to beare
Their fainting Master of; but being at length,
When greater numbers had confirm'd the strength
Of fortitude, grown bold, entring again
The room, which yet fear told them did retain
The scent of brimstone, there they onely found
Their trembling master, tumbling on the ground.

Horror, augmented by internal guilt
Had in his conscience trepidations spilt:
Both pray'rs and tears, which since heav'ns law they crost
For humane passions in dispair were lost;
Obscur'd in whose black mists, not daring to
Unclose his eyes, fearing again the view
Of that affrighting aparition, he
Is hurried from that dreadfull place, to be
Their mirth, whom he (for fiends mistaking) cries
For mercy to, scarce trusting of his eyes,
When they unfolded had, discover'd none
But such whom long he'd for domesticks known.

Yet to torment him more, before these fears
Wholy forsake him, in his room appears
Some officers, whose power made dreadfull by
The dictates of supream authority
As guilty of Ismander's death, arrest
Him for his murtherer, by which change opprest
More then before with fear, he, who now thought
On nought but death, to a tribunal brought,
Ere ask'd confesses that foul crime, for which
He this just doom receives; since to inrich
What had before wealths surfeit took, this sin
Was chiefly acted, his estate, faln in
To th' hands of justice, by the judge should be
From hence dispos'd of, then from death to free
His life, already forfeited, except
Murther'd Ismander, whom he thought had slept
In's winding sheet, his hopeless Advocate
Should there appear, in which unhappy state
The wretch, now ready to depart, beholds
This glorious change; Ismander first unfolds
Himself, and her, who bound by natures laws,
Implores his pardon ere they plead his cause,
Which done, the Judge, that his lost wealth might be
No cause of grief, unmasking, lets him see
Euriolus, by whom, from th' worst of sin
To liberal vertue he'd deluded bin.