University of Virginia Library

CANTO IV.

The Argument.

Freed from the noise o'th' busie world, within
A deep dark vale, whose silent shade had bin
Religions vail, when blasted by the beams
Of Persecution, far from the extreams
Of solitude, or sweaty labor, were
Some few blest men whose choice made Heaven their care
Sequestred from the throngs of men to finde
Those better joyes, calms of a peacefull minde.
Yet though on this pacifick sea, their main
Design was Heaven, that voyage did not restrain
Knowledge of humane arts, which as they past
They safely view'd, though there no anchor cast;
Their better temper'd judgments counting that
But hoodwink'd zeal, which blindly catches at
The great Creators sacred will, without
Knowing those works that will was spent about,
Which being the climax to true judgement, we
Behold stoop'd down to visibilitie
In lowliest creatures, natures stock being nought
But God in's image to our senses brought.
In the fair evening of that fatal day,
By whose meridian light Love did betray
Ingag'd Argalia near to death, was one
Of these (heav'ns happy Pensioners) alone
Walking amongst the gloomy Groves to view
What soveraign vertues there in secret grew
Confin'd to humble plants; whose signatures
Whilst by observing, he his art secures
From vain experiments, Argalia's Page
Crossing a neighboring path, did disingage
His serious eye from natures busie task,
To see the wandring Boy, who was to ask
The way; for more his youths unprompted fear
Expects not there, to the blest man drawn near.
But when, with such a weeping innocence
As Saints confess those sins which the expence
Of tears exacted, he had sadly told
What harsh fate in restrictive wounds laid hold
Of's worthy Master, pity prompted by
Religious love, helps the poor Boy to dry
His tears with hopes of comfort, whilst he goes
To see what sad Catastrophe did close
Those bloody scenes which the unequal fight
Foretold, before fear prompted him to flight.
Not far they'd past ere they the place had found
Where groveling in a stream of blood, the ground
His purple-bed, the wearied Prince they see
Strugling with death, from whose dark monarchie
Pale troops assail his cheeks, whilst his dim eies
Like a spent lamp which ere its weak flame dies,
In giddy blazes glares, as if his soul
Were at those casements flying out, did roll
Swifter then thought their bloodshot orbs; his hands
Did with deaths agues tremble; cold dew stands
Upon his clammy lips; the springs of blood
(Having breath'd forth the spirits) clotted stood
On that majestick brow, whose dreadful frown
Had to deaths scepter laid its terror down.
The holy man upon the brink o'th' grave
Finding such forms of worth, attempts to save
His life from dropping in, by all his best
Reserves of art, selecting from the rest
Of his choise store, an herb whose soveraign power
No flux of blood, though falling in a shower
Of death could force, which gently bruis'd, and to
His wound apply'd, taught nature to renew
Her late neglected functions, and through short
Recruits of breath made able to support
His blood-enfeebled body, till they reach
The Monastry, where nobler art did teach
Their simple medicines to submit to those
Which skill from their mixt vertues did compose.
Life (which the unexpected gift of fate
Rather then art appear'd) in this debate
Of death prevailing, in short time had gain'd
So much of strength, that weakness now remain'd
The only slothful Remora that in
His bed detain'd him; where being often seen
By those whom art alike had qualifi'd
For his relief, as one of them appli'd
His morning-medicines to a spacious wound
Fixt on his breast, he that rare jewel found
Which in his undiscerning infancie
There hung by's father, fortune had kept free
From all her various accidents, to shew
How much his birth did to her favor owe.
Sad is the doleful tale; yet since that in
Its progress you may find where did begin
Your lifes first stage, thus take it. When the Court
Stifl'd with throngs of men, whose thick resort
Plenty and peace call'd thither, being grown
Sickly with ease, view'd as a thing unknown,
Dangers stern brow, which even in smiling fates
Proves a Quotidian unto wiser States;
Whilst pride grew big, and envy bigger, we
Sleeping i'th' bed of soft securitie,
Were with alarums wakened; Faction had,
To shew neglects deformities, unclad
That gawdy monster, whose first dress had bin
The night-peec'd works of their unriper sin,
And those that in contracted fortunes dwelt,
Calmly in favors shadow, having felt
The glorious burthen of their honor grown
Too large for all that fortune call'd their own,
Like fishes which the lesser frie devour,
Pride having join'd oppression to their power,
Prey'd on the subject, till their load outgrew
Their loyalty, and forc'd even those that knew
Once only to obey, in sullen rage
To mutter threats, whose horror did presage
That blood must in domestick jars be spilt,
To cure their envy, and the peoples guilt.
These seeds of discord which began to rise
To active growth, by th' honorable Spies
Of other Princes seen, had soon betraid
Our States obscure disease, and call'd to aid
Ambitious subjects, forein powers, whose strength,
First but as physick us'd, was grown at length
Our worst disease, which whilst we hop'd for cure,
Turn'd our slow Hectique to a Calenture.
A Syracusian army, that had bin
Against our strength often victorious in
A haughty Rebels quarrel, being by
Success taught how to ravish victory
Without his aid, which only useful prov'd
When treason first for novelty was lov'd:
Seising on all that in's pretended cause
Had stoop'd to conquest, what th' infeebled laws
In vain attempted, soon perform, and give
The traitor death, from what made treason live.
This done, whilst their victorious ensigns were
Fann'd by fames breath, they their bold standards bear
Near to our last of hopes, an army which
Like oft try'd Oare, disasters made more rich
In loyal valor then vast numbers, and
By shaking fixt those roots on which did stand
Their well-elected principles, which here
(Opprest with number) only did appeare
In bravely dying, when their righteous cause
Condemn'd by fates inevitable laws,
Let its religion, vertue, valor, all
That heaven calls just, beneath rebellion fall.
Near to the end of this black day, when none
Was left that durst protect his injur'd throne,
VVhen loyal valor having lost the day
Bleeding within the bed of honor lay:
Thy wounded father, when his acts had shewn
As high a spirit as did ever groan
Beneath misfortune, is inforc'd to leave
The fields wild fury, and some rest receive
In faithful Enna, where his springs of blood
VVere hardly stopt, before a harsher flood
Assails his eyes: Thy royal mother, then
More blooming then earths ful-blown beauties when
VVarm'd in the Ides of May, her fruitful womb
Pregnant with thee, to an untimely tomb,
Her fainting spirits in that horrid fright
Losing the paths of life, from time, from light,
And grief steals down; yet ere she had discharg'd
Her debts to death, protecting heaven enlarg'd
Thy narrow lodging, and that life which she
Lost in thy fatal birth, bestow'd on thee;
On thee, in whom those joys thy father priz'd
More then lov'd empire, are epitomiz'd.
And now as if the arms of adverse fate
Had all conspir'd our ills to aggravate
Above the strength of patience, we are by
Victorious foes, before our fear could flie
To a remoter refuge, clos'd within
Unhappy Enna, which before they win
(Though storm'd with fierce assaults) the restless sun
His annual progress through the heavens had run;
But then, tir'd with disasters which attend
A slow-pac'd siege, unable to defend
Their numbers from resistless famine, they
With an unwilling loyaltie obey
The next harsh summons, and so prostrate lie
To th' rage, or mercy of their enemie.
But ere the Cities fortune was unto
This last black stage arriv'd, safely withdrew
To th' Castles strength thy father was, where he
(Though far from safety) finds the time to be
Inform'd by sober councel how to steer
Through this black storm, love, loyalty, and fear
Had often varied judgments, but at last
Into this form their full resolves were cast.
To cool hot action, and to bathe in rest
More peaceful places, darkness dispossest
The days soveraignity, to usher whom
Into her sable throne, a clouds full womb
Congeal'd by frigid air, as if that then
The elements had warr'd as well as men,
In a white vail came hovering down to hide
The Coral pavements, but forbid by th' pride
Oth' Conquerors triumphs, and expell'd from thence
As that which too much emblem'd innocence,
Since that the City no safe harbor yields,
It takes its lodging in the neighboring fields,
Which mantled in those spotless robes invite
The Prince through them to take his secret flight.
In sad distress leaving his Nobles to
Swallow such harsh conditions as the view
Of danger candi'd ore, from treacherous eyes
Obscur'd in a Plebeians poor disguise
His glorious train shrunk to desertless I,
The sad companion of his misery;
He now departing, thee his infant son
Heir to his crown and cares, ordain'd to run
This dangerous hazard of thy life before
Time taught thee how thy fortune to deplore.
When ventring on this precipice of fate,
We slowly sallied forth, 'twas cold and late,
The drowsie guard asleep, the Centries hid
Close in their huds did shivering stand, and chid
The whistling winds with chatring teeth, when now
A leave as solemn as haste would allow,
Of all our friends, our mourning friends, being took,
We like the earth vail'd all in white forsook
Our salliport, whilst slowly marching ore
The new faln snow, thee in his arms he bore.
Whilst this imposture made the scar'd guards when
They saw us move, then make a stand agen,
Either to think that dallying winds had plaid
With flakes of snow, or that their sight betraid
Their fancy into errors, we were past
The reach of danger, and in triumph cast
Off with our fears, what had us safety lent
When strength refus'd to save the innocent.
The eager lover hugs himself not in
Such roseal beds of joy, when what hath bin
His sickly wishes is possest, as we
Through watchfull foes arriv'd to libertie
Imbrace the welcom blessing; first we stear
Our course tow'rds Siracuse, whose confines near
The mountain stood, upon whose cloudy brow
Poor Enna did beneath her ruins bow.
The Stars cloath'd in the pride of light, had sent
Their sharp beams from the spangled firmament,
To silver ore the Earth, which being embost
With hills, seem'd now enamel'd ore with frost,
The keen winds whistle in the justling trees,
And cloath'd their naked limbs in hoary frees.
When having pac'd some miles of crusted earth,
Whose labor warm'd our blood, before the birth
O' th' sluggish morning from his bed had drawn
The early Villager, the sober dawn
Lending our eyes the slow salutes of light,
We are encountred with the welcom sight
Of some poor scatter'd Cottages that stood
In the dark shadow of a spacious wood
That fring'd an humble valley, toward those,
Whilst the still morn knew nought to discompose
Her sleepy infancy, we went, and now
Being come so near we might discover how
The unstir'd smoke stream'd from the Cottage tops,
A glim'ring light from a low window stops
Our further course, we're come to a low shed,
Whose happy honor (ne'r disquieted
With those domestick troubles that attend
On larger roofs) here in content did spend
Fortunes scant gifts, at his unhaunted gate
Hearing us knock, he stands not to debate
With wealthy misers slow suspition, but
Swift, as if 'twere a sin to keep it shut,
Removes that slender Guard; but when he there
Unusual Strangers saw, with such a care
As onely spoke a conscious shame to be
Surpris'd, whilst unprovided poverty
Straitned desire, he starts, yet entertains
Us so, that shew'd by an industrious pains
He strove to welcom more. Here being by
Their goodness, and our own necessity
Tempted a while to rest, we safely lay
Far from persuing ills, yet since the way
To danger by suspition lies, we still,
Fear being betray'd by those that meant no ill,
Since oft their busie whispers, though they spring
From love, and wonder, slow discoveries bring.
Being now removing, since thy tender age
Threatned to make the grave its second stage
If thence conveigh'd by us whose fondest love
Could to thy wants but fruitless pity prove
T' inlarge thy commons, though increase our fears
To those indulgent rurals, who for tears
Had springs of milk to feed thee, thou remain'st
An infant tenant, for thy own name 'gainst
What since thou hast bin known by, which when we
Contracted had to the stenographie,
Some gold, the last of all our wealth we leave
To make their burthen light, which they receive
With thankfull joy, amaz'd to see those bright
Angels display their strange unwonted light
In poverties cold region, where they had
Been pin'd for want, if not by labor clad.
When age should make thee capable to tell
Thy wonder how thy infancy had fell
From honors pyramids, a jewel which
Did once the splendor of his Crown inrich
About thy neck he hangs, then breathing on
Thy tender lips a parting kiss, we're gone,
Gone from our last delight to finde some place
Dark as our clouded stars, there to embrace
Unenvi'd poverty, in the cold bed
Of sad despair, till on his reverend head,
Once center to a crown, grief makes him weare
A silver frost by frequent storms of care
Forc'd on that royal mount, whose verdure fades
Ere time, by youths antagonist invades.
Not far, through dark and unknown paths we had
Wander'd within those forrests, which unclad
By big windes of their summers beauteous dress
Naked, and trembling stood, ere fair success
Smiling upon our miseries did bring
Us to a chrystal stream, from whose cold spring,
With busie and laborious care, we saw
A feeble Hermite stooping down to draw
An earthen pot, whose empty wants supply'd
With liquid treasure, soon had satisfy'd
His thirsty hopes; who now returning by
A narrow path, which did directing lie
Through th' unfrequented desart, with the haste
Of doubtfull Travellers, in lands laid waste
By conquering foes, we follow till drawn near
To him whom innocence secur'd from fear,
Disburth'ning of his staff, he sits to rest
What was with age and labor both opprest.
Our first salutes, when we for blessings had
Exchang'd with him, being sat, we there unclad
All our deform'd misfortunes, and unless
A kingdoms loss disvellop'd our distress.
Which heard with pity, that he safely might
Be the directing Pharos by whose light
We might be safely guided from the rocks
Of the tempestuous world, his tongue unlocks
A cabinet of holy counsel, which
More then our vanish'd honor did enrich
Our souls (for whose eternal good was meant
This cordial) with the worlds best wealth, Content,
Content, which flies the busie throne, to dwell
With hungry Hermites in the noiseless cell.
More safe then age from the hot sins of youth,
Peaceful as faith, free as untroubled truth,
Being by him directed hither, we
Long liv'd within this narrow Monast'rie,
Whose orders being too strict for those that ne're
Had lost delight ith' prosecuting care
Of unsuccessful action, suited best
With us, whose griefs compar'd taught the distrest
To sleight their own, as guests that did intrude
On reason, in the want of fortitude,
That brave supporter, which such comfort brings,
That none can know but persecuted Kings.
The purple-robe, his births unquestion'd right,
For the course habit of a Carmelite
Being now exchang'd, and we retir'd from both
Our fears and hopes, like private Lovers loth
When solve from the observant Spy, to be
Disturb'd by friends, for want, or greatness, free
Secure and calm, we spent those happy days
In nought ambitious, but of what might raise
Our thoughts towards heav'n, with whom each hour acquaints
In prayr more frequent then afflicted saints
Our happy souls, which here so long had bin
Refining, till that grand reward of sin,
Death, did by age (his common harbinger)
Proclaim's approach, and warn'd us to defer
For the earths trivial business) nought that might
Concern eternity, lest life and light
Forsaking our dark mansions leave us to
Darkness and death, unfurnisht of a clew
Which might conduct (when time shall cease to be)
Through the meanders of eternitie.
Thy pious father, ere the thefts of age
Decaying strength, should his stiff limbs engage
In an uneasie rest, to level all
Accounts with heaven, doth to remembrance call
A vow, which though in hot affliction made
Whilst passions short ephemera's did invade
His troubled soul, doth now, when the disease
Time had expung'd, from solitary ease
Call him again to an unwilling view
Oth' active world, in a long journey to
Forlorn Enna, unto whose Temple he
Had vow'd, if fortune lent him libertie,
Till tir'd with the extreams of weary age,
The cheap devotion of a pilgrimage.