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To the grave Author of this happy news
The pleas'd Argalia with delight did hear,
Till (whilst the fatal story he persues)
He brings his great soul near the gates of fear,

II

By letting him in full discovery know
The dreadful danger that did then attend
His royal Sire, who to his sword must ow
For safety, ere his sad afflictions end.

Forsaking now our solitary friends,
Whose prayrs upon each slow-pac'd step attends
From danger by a dress so course exempt
As wore religion to avoid contempt,
Through toils of many a tedious day, at last
We Enna reach, where when his vows had past

The danger of a forfeiture, and we
(That debt discharg'd to heaven) had libertie
To look abroad, with sorrow-laden eyes
We view those ruines in whose ashes lies
Sad objects of our former loss, not then
Rak'd up so deep, but old observant men
When youths were in procession led, could tell
Where towrs once stood, and in what fights they fell;
Which to confirm, some in an aged pride
Shew wounds, which then though they did wisely hide
As signatures of loyal valor, they
Now unsuspected with delight display.

Hence when commanded by the wane of light
We sought protection from approaching night
In an adjacent Monastry, where we
(The wandring objects of their charitie)
Although by all welcom'd with friendly zeal,
Found only one whose outside did reveal
So much of an internal worth that might
To active talk our clouded souls invight
From griefs obscure retreats; his grave aspect
(Though reverend age dwelt with unprun'd neglect)
Seem'd drest with such a sacred solitude,
As ruin'd Temples in their dust include.

My royal Master, as some power divine,
Had by instinct taught great souls how to twine
Though 'mongst the weeds of poverty, with this
Blest man consorting, whilst their apt souls miss

In all their long discourse no tittle set
For mans direction in heavens alphabet;
Whilst controverted points, those rocks on which
Weak faiths are shipwrackt, did jems inrich
Their art-assisted zeal, a sudden noise
Clamorous and loud, in the soft womb destroys
That sacred infant; the concordant bells
Proclaim a joy, which larger triumph tells
To be of such a publick birth, that they
(In quiet cells) for what they late did pray
In tears (the souls oreflowing language) now
(Being by examples common rule taught how
They vary passions) and in manly praise
Their silent prayers to Halleluiahs raise.

By swift report inform'd that this days mirth
From the proclaiming of their Prince took birth
These private mourners for the publick faults
Of busie nations, by the hot assaults
Of triumph startled from their gravitie,
Prepare for joy; all but grave Sophron, he
Then with the pilgrim Prince, who both were sate
Like sad Physitians when the doubtful state
Oth' Patients theatens death, the serious eye
Of Sophron as a threatning prodigie
Viewing that flattering smile of fate, which they
Of shallower souls prais'd as approaching day.

When both (their souls from active words retir'd)
A while had silent sate, the Prince desir'd

To know the cause why in that triumph he
Of all that Covent found the time to be
With thoughtful cares alone, whom Sophron gave
This satisfaction: Worthy Sir, I have
In the few hours of our acquaintance found
In you such worth, 'twould question for unsound
My judgment, if unwilling to impart
A secret, though the darling of my heart.

Know then, this hapless Province, which of late
Faction hath harrast, a wise Prince whom fate
Depriv'd us of, once rul'd; but so long since,
That age hath learn'd from time how to convince
The hot enormities of youth, since we
With such a Ruler lost our libertie.
For though at first, as he alone had bin
Our evil Genius, whose abode brought in
All those attendant plagues, our fortune seemed
To calm her brow, and captive hope redeemed
In the destruction of our foes, which by
A hot infection were enforc'd to fly
From conquest near obtain'd: yet we, to shew
That only 'twas our vices did orethrow
The merits of his weaker vertues, when
Successful battails had reduc'd agen
Our panting Land from all external ill,
Domestick quarrels threatned then to kill
What forein powers assail'd in vain, and made
Danger surprise, which trembled to invade.

For many years tost by th'uncertain wind
Of wild ambition, we had sail'd to find
Out the Lucadian rocks of Peace; but in
A vain pursuit; for we so long had bin
A headless multitude, the factious Peers
Oppressing th'injur'd Commons, till our fears
Became our fate, few having so much left
Unsequestred, as might incite to theft
Even those whom want makes desperate, all being spent
On those that turn to th' worst of punishment
What wore protections name, Vilains that we
Inforc'd maintain'd to christen Tyrannie
Ith' injur'd name of Justice, such as kept
Litigious Councels, for whose Votes we wept,
From punishment so long, till grown above
The blinded peoples envy, or their love.

But lately these prodigious fires that led
Us through the night of Anarchy, being fled
At the approach of one, who since hath stood
Fixt like a Star of the first magnitude,
Diffusive power, which then was only shewn
In Factions dress, being now Rebellion grown,
By the uniting of those attoms in
One haughty Peer, ambitious Zarrobrin,
Whose pride (that spur of valor) when 't had set
Him in the front of Honors alphabet,
The sole Commander of those forces whence
Our peace distill'd, and in as large a sense

As Subjects durst (whilst loyal) hope to have,
Adorn their tombs, the highest titles gave
Of a depending honor, to repay
Their easie faiths that levell'd had the way
Unto his greatness, that Command he made
The steps by which he strugl'd to invade
A Throne, and in their heedless Votes include
Unnoted figures of their servitude.

When with attempts frequent as fruitless, I
With others, whose firm love to loyaltie
Time had not yet expung'd, had oft in vain
Oppos'd our power, which found too weak to gain
Our Countries freedom, we, as useless, did
Retire to mourn for what the fates forbid
To have redrest: since when, his pride being grown
The peoples burthen whilst he urg'd his own
Ambitious ends, he hath, to fix their love
On principles whose structure should not move,
Unless it their allegiance shook, brought forth
Their Prince, whose fathers unforgotten worth
Did soon command their full consent, and he
For treason fear'd, made lov'd for loyaltie.

But since that 'mongst observant judgments this
So sudden change might stand in doubt to miss
A fair construction, to confirm't he brings
An old Confessor of their absent Kings,
The reverend Halophantes, one whose youth
Made humane arts submit to sacred truth

So much, that now arriv'd to graver age
He (like authentick Authors) did engage
The peoples easie faith into a glad
Belief, that when his youths afflictions had
Unthron'd their Prince, he in that fatal night,
Wisely contracting his imagin'd flight
(As rodes unto destruction) leaving all
Frequented paths, did in nights silence call
At's unfrequented Cell, where entertain'd
With all the zeal that subjects which have gain'd
From gracious Soveraigns, study to express
A vertue in, which thrives by the distress
Of an afflicted patron's, he betrayes
Enquiring Scouts, till some expunging dayes
Make them forsake their inquisition in
Despair to finde: which vacancy did win
Time to bestow his infant burthen where
Some secret friends did with indulgent care
Raise him from undiscerning childhood to
Be such as now expos'd unto their view.

Thy father, who with doubtful thoughts had heard
This story, till confirm'd in what he fear'd,
Starts into so much passion as betrayes
Him through the thick mask of those tedious dayes
Time had in thirty annual journeys stept
To Sophron, who, when he a while had wept,
A short encomion to good fortune, in
Such prostrate lowliness as seem'd for sin

To censure guiltless ignorance, he meets
His Princes full discovery, whom he greets
With all the zeal, such whose uncourtly arts
Make tongues the true interpreters of hearts,
Do those wise Princes whom they know to stare
At aguish flattery, as if indesert
Usher'd it in:—Those that know how to rate
Their worth, prize it by vertue, not by fate.

With Arguments which to assist he made
Reasons firm power, Passions light scouts invade,
He had so oft th' unwilling Prince assail'd,
That importunity at length prevail'd
On his resolves, from peacefull povertie
His ages refuge hurrying him to be
Once more an Agent unto fortune in
Uncertain toils, whose trouble to begin,
Leaving his Prince to so much rest as those
Whose serious souls are busied to compose
Unravell'd thoughts into a method; now
Sophron forsakes him to discover how
His fellow Peers of that lost party stand
Dispos'd for action, if a Kings command
Should give it life; all which he findes to be
So full of yet untainted loyaltie,
That in a swift convention they prepare
By joyning judgements to divide their care.

From distant places, with such secret haste,
As did declare a flaming zeal, though plac'd

In cautions shadow, owe considerate Peers,
Such whose light youth th' experienc'd weight of yeers
Had long since ballast with discretion, met
To see their Prince, and to discharge the debt
Of full obedience, each had with him brought
His states surviving hope, snatch'd from the soft
Hands of lamenting mothers, that to those,
If fit for arms, they safely might dispose
The excution of those Councils which
Their sober age with judgement did inrich.

In Sophron's Palace, which being far remov'd
From the streets talking throngs, was most aprov'd
For needfull privacy; these loyal Lords
Whose faithfull hearts th' infallible records
The heedless vulgar (whose neglective sin
Had lost the copies of allegiance in
This inter regnum) trust to, being met
To shun delayes, (mans late repented debt)
The Prince with speed appears, whom no disguise
Of youths betrayer, Time, could from their eyes
Long undiscover'd keep, through the rough vail
Of Age, or what more powerfull did prevail
On Beauties ruines, they did soon descry
The unquench'd embers of a Majesty
Too bright for time to hide, with curtains less
Dark then that mansion of forgetfulness,
The Grave, which mans first folly taught to be
The obscure passage to eternitie.

That their example might be precept to
Unknowing youth, with all the reverence due
To awefull Princes on their thrones, the old
Experienc'd Courtiers kneel; by which grown bold
In their belief, those of unriper age
Upon their judgements did their faith engage
So far, that they in solemn vows unite
Their yet concordant thoughts, which ere the flight
Of time should leave the day behind, desire
To live in action: But this rising fire
Of loyal rage, which in their breasts did burn,
The thankfull Prince thus gently strives to turn
Into a milder passion, such as might
Not scorch with anger, but with judgement light.

How much is't both my wonder and my joy,
That we whom treason studied to destroy,
With near as much of miracle, as in
The last of dayes, lost bodies that have bin
Scatter'd amongst the elements, shall be
Conven'd i'th' Court of immortality.

Depress'd with fortune and disguis'd with age,
(Sad arguments, brave subjects, to engage
Your loyal valor) I had gone from all
My mortal hopes, had not this secret call
Of heaven, which doth with unknown method curb
Our wilde intention, brought me to disturb
Your peacefull age, whose abler youth had in
Defending me expos'd to ruine bin.

I had no more my conscience (now at rest)
With Widows curses, Orphans tears opprest;
No more in fighting fields, those busie marts,
Where honor doth for fame with death change harts,
Beheld the sad success of Battails, where
Proud victors make youths conquest ages care,
But hid from all, a crowns false glories, spent
Like beauteous flowers, which vainly waste the scent
Of odors in unhanted desarts, all
My time conceal'd till wither'd age should fall
From that short stem of nature, life, to be
Lost in the dust of deaths obscuritie.

When in the pride of youth my stars withdrew
Their influence first, I then had stood with you
Those thunderbolts of fate, and bravely died,
Contemning fortune, had that feverish pride
Of valor not been quench'd in hope to save
My infant son from an untimely grave.
But he, when from domestick ills convey'd
In safety, being by treacherous fate betray'd
Either by death, or ignorance, from what
His stars, when kindl'd first, where pointed at,
Either lives not, or else conceal'd within
Some course disguise, whose poverty hath been
So long his dull companion, till he's grown
Not less to us, then to himself unknown.

All this being weigh'd in reasons scale, is there
Ought in't can tempt decrepid age to bear

Such glorious burthens, which if fortunate
In the obtaining of, in natures date
Can have no long account, ere I again
What I had got with danger, kept with pain,
Summon'd by death the graves black monarch, must
With sorrow lose: yet since that heaven so just,
And you so loyal I have found, that it
Might argue fear, if I unmov'd should sit
At all your just desires, I here i'th' sight
Of heaven declare, together with my right,
To prosecute your Liberties as far
As Justice dares to patronize a war.

This with a magnanimity that shew'd
His youths brave spirits were not all bestow'd
On the accounts of age, had to so high
A pitch of zeal inflam'd their loyalty,
That in contempt of slow-pack'd counsels they
Did like rash youth, whose wit wants times allay,
Haste to unripe engagements, such as found
The issue weak, whose parents are unsound.

All to those towns where neighborhood had made
Them lov'd for vertue, or for power obey'd;
Whilst each with his peculiar guard attends
His honor'd Prince, imploy their active friends,
Who having with collecting trumpets made
Important errands ready to invade
The peoples censure, for a theme to fame
Their long lost Princes safe return proclaim;

Which, though at first, a subject it appear'd
Onely for faith, when circumstance had clear'd
Th' eye of Reason, from each nobler minde
Th' embraces of a welcom truth did finde.

In publick throngs, whilst every forward friend
Spoke his resolves, his sullen foes did spend
Their doubts in private whispers, by exchange
Of which they found hate had no farther range
Then close intelligence, whose utmost bounds
Ere they obtain, the usefull trumpet sounds
No distant summons, but close marches to
His loyal friends, whom now their foes might view
In troops, which if fate favor their intents,
Ere long must swell to big-bulk'd Regiments:

Through Country towns, and Cities prouder streets
The murmuring drum in busie marches meets
Such forward valor, husbandmen did fear
The earth would languish the succeeding years
For want of Laborers; nor could business stop
The streightned Prentice, who, the slighted shop
Left to his angry Master, who must be
Forc'd to abridge his seven years tyranny,
Changes the baser utensils of trade
For burnisht arms, and by example made
More valiant, scorns those shadows which they fear'd
More then rough war, whilst 'mongst the cities herd.

To Regiments, from scattering bands being grown,
From that to Armys, whose big looks made known

Those bold designs, which Justice fear'd to own,
Though hers, till plac'd in Powers imperial throne,
They now toward action haste; which to begin,
Whilst Castles are secur'd, and Towns girt in
With armed lines, whose Pallizado's had
Whole Forrests of their whispering Oaks unclad.
The Prince, his mercy willing to prevent
Approaching danger, by a Herald sent
To Zarrobrin, commands him to lay down
His arms, and as he owed unto his Crown
A Subjects due allegiance, to appear
Before a moneth was added to that year,
Within his Court, which now, since action gave
Life to that body whose firm strength did save
His life (by treason levell'd at) was in
His moving Camp. But this too weak to win
The doubtful Rebel, since his lawful right
Swords must dispute, the Prince prepares to fight.

Proud Zarrobrin, who had by late success
Taught Siracuse how to avoid distress
By seeking peace, like a black storm that flies
On Southern winds, which in a tumult rise
From neighboring seas, was on his march: But come
So near the Prince, that now he had by some
Of's spreading Scouts made full discovery where
His Army lay; whose scarce discovered Rear
Such distance from their well-arm'd Van appear'd,
That such whose judgments were with numbers feard

Making no further inquisition, fled
By swift report their pale disease to spread.

Disturbing clouds which rather seem'd to rise
From guilt then fear spread darkness ore the eyes
O'th' Rebels, who, although by custom made
To death familiar, wish their killing trade
In peace concluded, and with murmures nigh
Grown to the boldness of a mutinie,
Question their own frail judgments, which so oft
Had life expos'd to dangers, that had brought
No more reward then what preserv'd them still
The slaves unto a proud Commanders will.

To stop this swift infection, which begun
In lowly huts, to lofty tents had run,
Slie Zarobrin, who to preserve th' esteem
Of honor, lest lib'rality might seem
The child of fear, with secret speed prevents
What he appears to slight, their discontents.

As if attending, though attended by
Their young Mock-Prince, whose landskip royaltie
Shew'd only fair, when view'd at distance, he
Passing with slow observant pace to see
Each squadrons order, he confirms their love
With donatives, such as were far above
Their hopes if Victors; then, to shew that in
That pride of bounty h'had not strove to win
Assistance by unworthy bribes, he leads
Them far from danger, since his judgment reads

In long experience, that authentick story,
Whose lines hath taught the nearest way to glory;
That soft delays, like treacherous streams, which by
Submitting lets the rash intruder try
Their dangerous depth, to an unwilling stay
His fierce persuers would ere long betray;
Whose force since of th' untutor'd multitude
By want made desperate, and by custom rude
Would soon waste their unweildy strength, whilst they
Whom discipline had taught how to obey,
By pay made nimble, and by order sure,
Would wars delays with easier wants endure.

This sound advice meeting with sad success
From the persuing Army, whose distress
From tedious marches being too clamorous grown
For's friends estates to quiet, soon was shewn
In actions such, which though necessitie
Inforc'd on vertue, made their presence be
To th' inconsiderate vulgar, whose loose glance
For vertue take vice gloss'd with circumstance,
Such an oppression, that comparing those
Which fled with mildness, they behold as foes;
Only their ruder followers, whom they curse,
Not that their cause, but company was worse.

When thus their wants had brought disorder in,
And that neglect whose looser garb had bin
At first so shie, that what was hardly known
From business then, was now to custom grown.

100

This large limb'd body, since united by
No cement but the love to loyalty
Loses those baser parts, such as to please
Unworthy ends turn'd duty to disease,
Retaining onely those whose valor sought
No more reward then what with blood they bought.

But here, to shew that slumbring justice may
Opprest with power, faint in the busie day
Of doubtfull battel; when their valor had
So many souls from robes of fresh unclad
Of his brave friends, that the forsaken Prince
Whose sad success taught knowledge to convince
The Arguments of hope; unguarded left
Unto persuing foes was soon bereft
Of all that in this cloud of fortune might
By opposition or unworthy flight,
But promise safety, and when death denide
Him her last dark retreat to raise the pride
Of an insulting foe, is forc'd to see
The scorn of greatness in captivity.

Yet with more terror to limb sorrow in
His mighty soul, such friends as had not bin
By death discharg'd in fatal battel, now
Suffer'd so much as made even fear alow
Her palest sons, to seek in future wars
Brave victory got, by ages honor, scars,
Or braver death, that antidote of shame,
Whose stage none pass upon the rode of Fame,

101

Those that far'd best being murther'd, others sent
With life to more afflicting banishment.

When thus by him whose sacred order made
The truth authentick, from his fortunes shade
Argalia was redeem'd, the Prelate to
Confirm his story, from his bosom drew
The jewel, which having by wayes unknown
To him that wore it open'd, there was shewn
By wit contracted into art, as rare
As his that durst make silver sphears compare
With heavens light motion, an Effigies which
His royal Sire, whilst beauty did enrich
His youth, appear'd in such epitomy,
As spacious fields are represented by
Rare opticks on opposing walls, where sight
Is couzen'd with imperfect forms of light.

When with such joy as Scythians that grow proud
Of day, behold light gild an eastern cloud,
Argalia long had view'd that picture in
Whose face he saw forms that said his had been
Drawn by that pattern, with such thanks, as best
The silent eloquence of looks exprest,
The night grown ancient, ere their stories end,
With solemn joy, leaves his informing friend.

The End of the Fourth Book.