The Famous History of Guy Earle of Warwicke By Samvel Rowlands |
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| I. |
| II. | CANTO II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| IX. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
 | The Famous History of Guy Earle of Warwicke |  |
CANTO II.
Guy in strange passions for his Love,
great torments doth endure:
Till Phælice sees a Vision, and
Doth yield her Patient cure.
great torments doth endure:
Till Phælice sees a Vision, and
Doth yield her Patient cure.
With tired thoughts remains this woful wight,
Distracted in his melancholy mind,
Partaking nothing that contains delight,
All things are harsh, distastful, out of kind:
Phælice denies him Love; whose sound of breath,
Is like the Judge that dooms a man to death:
Like to Orestes in his frantick fits,
He tare the golden tresses from his head;
Or mad Orlando quite depriv'd of wits,
From whom the use of sense and reason fled;
So fares it with this Love-tormented man,
Whose raging thoughts into disorders ran.
Society he shuns, and keeps alone,
Accusing Destiny, and cursing Beauty;
He hates himself, and is a friend to none,
Beyond the limits of all love and duty.
Venus (quoth he) how are thy Laws forgot,
Thus to afflict him that offends thee not?
What is the cause I am rejected thus?
Who interrupts my love to Beauties mirror?
I'le drag him hence to roaring Erebus,
There to be plunged in eternal terror.
I'le to Jove's Court, and there with shouts and cries;
Make such a clamour as shall rent the skies.
Shall I be cozen'd as Orpheus was?
Assist me Theseus to revenge this wrong.
Where's Radamant, that Justice cannot pass;
Euridice is sold even for a song:
Fiends, Furies, Goblins, Hidra's, for a fall,
I am prepar'd to manage with you all.
I'le mount upon the back of Pegasus,
And in bright Phœbus flames my self will wrap:
Then will I tumble windy Eolus
To sleep in Thetis watery crystal lap:
From thence I'le post unto the Torrid Zone,
To find which way fair Phælice Love is gone:
Jason had luck to win the golden fleece;
I like the skin, but for the horns I care not;
Fair Hellen was a waggish Wench of Greece:
Bold Mars will venture, bashful Venus cares not.
Trust a fair face! Not I, let him that lift;
What Hercules without a Club in's fist?
Thus for a time his Senses were deprived,
Being left by love as blind as Cupid's eyes;
Till Reason to perfections state revived,
And extream passions cease to Tyrannize:
For in a Vision Phælice did descry
The power of Love, and yields her heart to Guy:
By Morphæus possest of quiet sleep,
In dead of night, when Visions do appear,
The heart-tormentor, he that pierceh deep,
And maketh Lovers buy their bargain dear,
Sends from his bow a shaft with golden head,
And wounded Phælice in her Maiden-bed.
Before her he presents a Martial wight,
Clad all in Armour for Encounters fit;
And says, Sweet Virgin, love this man of might,
Give him the heart, for he doth merit it;
For valour, courage, comely shape and limb,
The world hath not a Champion like to him.
Great honour (Lady) thou shalt gain thereby,
T'adorn thy noble and renowned birth;
He shall aspire unto such Majesty.
His Name shall be a terror on the Earth.
He shall become a Champion unto Kings,
And by the Sword perform admired things.
Be not ambitious that thou art high-born;
Be not disdainful of a mean Estate;
Be not defiled with the brand of scorn;
Be not too proud that thou art Beauties mate:
For 'tis in vain to strive against my bow;
If I say, Love, it must and shall be so.
Fix not thy thoughts vainly on worldly wealth,
(Coyn should not be foundation unto Love)
Corrupted hearts it draws away by stealth;
These Money-matches cannot happy prove:
For as the goods of Fortune do decay,
So love, which they beget, consumes away.
I know how Pluto's golden Treasure sways,
By devillish and accursed false illusion:
I know how Womens humours now a-days,
Run after Riches to their own confusion;
I see the pleasant with most abject life,
With Gold enough can buy a dainty Wife.
But Phælice, if thou knew'st as much as I,
How base the Gods esteem of such abuses,
When Beauty sells, and Riches comes to buy,
Which are not made for one another's uses;
Thou wouldest scorn that Maidens should be sold
As Cattel are, for Silver and for Gold.
Love must be simple, harmless, pure and plain,
And take original from true affection;
It must reciprocal return again,
Or else it doth discover imperfection;
Love's inward thoughts concur in outward deeds,
Such as from loyalty and truth proceeds;
Thy Lover comes not for advancement to thee;
In that thy Father is a worthy Earl;
It is not Dowry that can cause him woo thee;
Hadst thou the Arabian Gold, or Indian Pearl.
But as great Jupiter to Leda came
For a sweet Face, his purpose is the same.
Therefore sweet Virgin use him kindly well,
Make much of Guy, embrace him for thine own;
Afford him Love room in thy heart to dwell;
Let him no longer live in pensive moan:
But the next time thou dost behold his face,
Give him encouragement, with kind embrace:
And with that word (imbrace) he shot, and hit
The very Center of her tender heart;
Feeling the wound, she starts, awak'd with it,
Being taught thereby to pity Lovers smart,
For Cupid drew his Arrow to the head,
Because he would be sure she should be sped.
With that she fetch'd a sigh, a grievous one,
And from her eyes a show'r of Tears did fall.
Where is (quoth she) the gentle Love-God gone,
Whose power I find is powerful over all?
Oh! call him back, my fault I do confess,
I have in Love been too too pitiless.
Sweet Boy, sollicite for me to thy Mother,
And at her Altars I will sacrifice,
From this day forth I will adore no other,
No Goddess shall be gracious in mine eyes,
But she that hath imperious rule and might,
To lead obdurate hearts to kind delight,
Compassion now hath worthy Conquest made
Of that strong Fort that did resistance make.
One shaft had been sufficient to perswade
A League for life, a Truce till death doth take,
Guy more than Life, doth Phælice love prefer,
Phælice affects Guy dear, as he doth her.
But unto him her love is yet unknown,
Though his be made apparent long before.
He understands not that she is his own,
He feels no salve appli'd unto his sore,
Till forc'd by passions, and constrain'd laments,
A second Suit he boldly thus presents.
Distracted in his melancholy mind,
Partaking nothing that contains delight,
All things are harsh, distastful, out of kind:
Phælice denies him Love; whose sound of breath,
Is like the Judge that dooms a man to death:
Like to Orestes in his frantick fits,
He tare the golden tresses from his head;
Or mad Orlando quite depriv'd of wits,
From whom the use of sense and reason fled;
Whose raging thoughts into disorders ran.
Society he shuns, and keeps alone,
Accusing Destiny, and cursing Beauty;
He hates himself, and is a friend to none,
Beyond the limits of all love and duty.
Venus (quoth he) how are thy Laws forgot,
Thus to afflict him that offends thee not?
What is the cause I am rejected thus?
Who interrupts my love to Beauties mirror?
I'le drag him hence to roaring Erebus,
There to be plunged in eternal terror.
I'le to Jove's Court, and there with shouts and cries;
Make such a clamour as shall rent the skies.
Shall I be cozen'd as Orpheus was?
Assist me Theseus to revenge this wrong.
Where's Radamant, that Justice cannot pass;
Euridice is sold even for a song:
Fiends, Furies, Goblins, Hidra's, for a fall,
I am prepar'd to manage with you all.
I'le mount upon the back of Pegasus,
And in bright Phœbus flames my self will wrap:
Then will I tumble windy Eolus
To sleep in Thetis watery crystal lap:
From thence I'le post unto the Torrid Zone,
To find which way fair Phælice Love is gone:
Jason had luck to win the golden fleece;
I like the skin, but for the horns I care not;
Fair Hellen was a waggish Wench of Greece:
Bold Mars will venture, bashful Venus cares not.
Trust a fair face! Not I, let him that lift;
What Hercules without a Club in's fist?
Thus for a time his Senses were deprived,
Being left by love as blind as Cupid's eyes;
Till Reason to perfections state revived,
And extream passions cease to Tyrannize:
For in a Vision Phælice did descry
The power of Love, and yields her heart to Guy:
In dead of night, when Visions do appear,
The heart-tormentor, he that pierceh deep,
And maketh Lovers buy their bargain dear,
And wounded Phælice in her Maiden-bed.
Before her he presents a Martial wight,
Clad all in Armour for Encounters fit;
And says, Sweet Virgin, love this man of might,
Give him the heart, for he doth merit it;
For valour, courage, comely shape and limb,
The world hath not a Champion like to him.
Great honour (Lady) thou shalt gain thereby,
T'adorn thy noble and renowned birth;
He shall aspire unto such Majesty.
His Name shall be a terror on the Earth.
He shall become a Champion unto Kings,
And by the Sword perform admired things.
Be not ambitious that thou art high-born;
Be not disdainful of a mean Estate;
Be not defiled with the brand of scorn;
Be not too proud that thou art Beauties mate:
For 'tis in vain to strive against my bow;
If I say, Love, it must and shall be so.
Fix not thy thoughts vainly on worldly wealth,
(Coyn should not be foundation unto Love)
Corrupted hearts it draws away by stealth;
These Money-matches cannot happy prove:
For as the goods of Fortune do decay,
So love, which they beget, consumes away.
I know how Pluto's golden Treasure sways,
By devillish and accursed false illusion:
I know how Womens humours now a-days,
Run after Riches to their own confusion;
I see the pleasant with most abject life,
With Gold enough can buy a dainty Wife.
But Phælice, if thou knew'st as much as I,
How base the Gods esteem of such abuses,
When Beauty sells, and Riches comes to buy,
Which are not made for one another's uses;
Thou wouldest scorn that Maidens should be sold
As Cattel are, for Silver and for Gold.
And take original from true affection;
It must reciprocal return again,
Or else it doth discover imperfection;
Love's inward thoughts concur in outward deeds,
Such as from loyalty and truth proceeds;
Thy Lover comes not for advancement to thee;
In that thy Father is a worthy Earl;
It is not Dowry that can cause him woo thee;
Hadst thou the Arabian Gold, or Indian Pearl.
But as great Jupiter to Leda came
For a sweet Face, his purpose is the same.
Therefore sweet Virgin use him kindly well,
Make much of Guy, embrace him for thine own;
Afford him Love room in thy heart to dwell;
Let him no longer live in pensive moan:
But the next time thou dost behold his face,
Give him encouragement, with kind embrace:
And with that word (imbrace) he shot, and hit
The very Center of her tender heart;
Feeling the wound, she starts, awak'd with it,
Being taught thereby to pity Lovers smart,
For Cupid drew his Arrow to the head,
Because he would be sure she should be sped.
With that she fetch'd a sigh, a grievous one,
And from her eyes a show'r of Tears did fall.
Where is (quoth she) the gentle Love-God gone,
Whose power I find is powerful over all?
Oh! call him back, my fault I do confess,
I have in Love been too too pitiless.
Sweet Boy, sollicite for me to thy Mother,
And at her Altars I will sacrifice,
From this day forth I will adore no other,
No Goddess shall be gracious in mine eyes,
But she that hath imperious rule and might,
To lead obdurate hearts to kind delight,
Compassion now hath worthy Conquest made
Of that strong Fort that did resistance make.
A League for life, a Truce till death doth take,
Guy more than Life, doth Phælice love prefer,
Phælice affects Guy dear, as he doth her.
But unto him her love is yet unknown,
Though his be made apparent long before.
He understands not that she is his own,
He feels no salve appli'd unto his sore,
Till forc'd by passions, and constrain'd laments,
A second Suit he boldly thus presents.
Phelice, I was arraigned long ago,
And now I look for Judgement at thy hand:
I have been Prisoner in a Jayl of wo
So long, that speedy sentence I demand:
Oh speak unto me either life or death!
For I am tired with my vital breath.
If kindness dwell in that fair shape of thine,
Express it with (I love); if none there be,
Then say, I cannot unto love incline;
And so thou mak'st a quick dispatch with me:
Censure me sudden, either smile or frown,
I will not live thus for this Kingdom's Crown,
Phælice reply'd, 'Tis not at my dispose,
To fashion Love, without my Friends consent,
What, would you wish me to be one of those
That are to Parents disobedient?
Shall fond affections over-rule the will,
And do you good, to be accounted ill?
You know my Father's greatness in the Land,
And if he should (as there's no other like)
The love of one too mean for me, withstand,
How could we bear the stroke disgrace would strike?
Nothing but death would make my sorrow sweet,
And shame would wrap me in a Winding sheet.
Doubt not of Father in this case (quoth he)
For Warwick's Earl (the Honourable man)
Shall see such deeds of valour done by me,
To have dislike he neither will nor can.
Injoyn me what adventures thou think'st good,
That wounds and scars may let my body blood.
Why then (quoth she) Guy make thy Valour shine
Throughout the world, as glorious as the Sun;
My heart, my soul, my life, my love is thine:
What deeds of honour by thy hands are done:
Make thy self famous by a Martial life,
And then take Phælice for thy lawful wife.
I ask no more (said he) to gain thy love,
I shall esteem it bought at easie rate:
O that I were at work, my task to prove,
With Hercules, or some such churlish Mate.
Phælice farewell, this kiss thou gavest me,
Shall make a number kiss the ground for thee.
And now I look for Judgement at thy hand:
I have been Prisoner in a Jayl of wo
So long, that speedy sentence I demand:
Oh speak unto me either life or death!
For I am tired with my vital breath.
If kindness dwell in that fair shape of thine,
Express it with (I love); if none there be,
Then say, I cannot unto love incline;
And so thou mak'st a quick dispatch with me:
Censure me sudden, either smile or frown,
I will not live thus for this Kingdom's Crown,
Phælice reply'd, 'Tis not at my dispose,
To fashion Love, without my Friends consent,
What, would you wish me to be one of those
That are to Parents disobedient?
Shall fond affections over-rule the will,
And do you good, to be accounted ill?
You know my Father's greatness in the Land,
And if he should (as there's no other like)
The love of one too mean for me, withstand,
How could we bear the stroke disgrace would strike?
Nothing but death would make my sorrow sweet,
And shame would wrap me in a Winding sheet.
Doubt not of Father in this case (quoth he)
For Warwick's Earl (the Honourable man)
Shall see such deeds of valour done by me,
To have dislike he neither will nor can.
That wounds and scars may let my body blood.
Why then (quoth she) Guy make thy Valour shine
Throughout the world, as glorious as the Sun;
My heart, my soul, my life, my love is thine:
What deeds of honour by thy hands are done:
Make thy self famous by a Martial life,
And then take Phælice for thy lawful wife.
I ask no more (said he) to gain thy love,
I shall esteem it bought at easie rate:
O that I were at work, my task to prove,
With Hercules, or some such churlish Mate.
Phælice farewell, this kiss thou gavest me,
Shall make a number kiss the ground for thee.
| The Famous History of Guy Earle of Warwicke | |