Poems, and phancies written By the Thrice Noble, Illustrious, And Excellent Princess The Lady Marchioness of Newcastle [i.e. Margaret Cavendish]. The Second Impression, much Altered and Corrected |
 |
 | I. |
| II. |
The Purchase of Poets, or a Dialogue betwixt the Poets and Fame, and Homer's Marriage.
|
|
|
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
 | Poems, and phancies |  |
The Purchase of Poets, or a Dialogue betwixt the Poets and Fame, and Homer's Marriage.
A company of Poets strove to buy
Parnassus Hill, upon which Fame doth lye,
And Helicon, a VVell that runs below,
Of which all those that drink strait Poets grow:
But Money they had none, for they're all poor,
And Fancy which is Wit, is all their store.
Thinking which way this purchase they might make,
They all agreed they would some Counsel take;
Knowing that Fame was Owner to the Well,
And that she always on the Hill did dwell,
They did conclude to tell her their desire,
That they might know what price she did require.
Then up the Hill they got, a Jorney long,
Some had nimbler feet and a breath more strong,
Which made them get before by going fast,
But all did meet upon the Hill at last.
And when she heard them all, what they could say,
She ask'd them, where their Money was to pay?
They told her, Money they had none to give,
But they had Wit, by which they all did live;
And though they knew somtimes she bribes would take,
Yet Wit in Honours Court did Greatness make.
Said she, This Hill I'l neither sell nor give,
But they that have most Wit, shall with me live;
Then go you down, and get what friends you can,
That will be bound or plead for every man.
Then every Poet was twixt Hope and Doubt,
And envy strove to put each other out.
Parnassus Hill, upon which Fame doth lye,
67
Of which all those that drink strait Poets grow:
But Money they had none, for they're all poor,
And Fancy which is Wit, is all their store.
Thinking which way this purchase they might make,
They all agreed they would some Counsel take;
Knowing that Fame was Owner to the Well,
And that she always on the Hill did dwell,
They did conclude to tell her their desire,
That they might know what price she did require.
Then up the Hill they got, a Jorney long,
Some had nimbler feet and a breath more strong,
Which made them get before by going fast,
But all did meet upon the Hill at last.
And when she heard them all, what they could say,
She ask'd them, where their Money was to pay?
They told her, Money they had none to give,
But they had Wit, by which they all did live;
And though they knew somtimes she bribes would take,
Yet Wit in Honours Court did Greatness make.
Said she, This Hill I'l neither sell nor give,
But they that have most Wit, shall with me live;
Then go you down, and get what friends you can,
That will be bound or plead for every man.
Then every Poet was twixt Hope and Doubt,
And envy strove to put each other out.
Homer the first of Poets did begin,
For him was Greece and Troy bound; then came in
Virgil who brought Æneas, He all Rome;
For Horace all the Countrey-men did come:
For Juv'nal and Catull all Satyrs Joynd,
And in firm bonds they all themselves did bind;
Tibullus Venus and her Son did bring
For him, 'cause wanton verses he did Sing.
Pythagoras his Transmigration brings
For Ovid, sealing's bond with several things.
Lucan brought Pompey, th'Senate all in arms,
And Cæsar's Army with his hot alarms,
Who mustred all i'th' Parthian fields, their Hand
And Seal did freely set to Lucan's band.
Poets which Epitaphes o'th' dead had made,
Their Ghosts did rise, & would fair Fame perswade
To take their bonds, that they might live, though dead,
To after ages, when their names were read.
The Muses nine came at the barr to plead,
But partial were, according as th'were fee'd.
At last all Poets were cast out but three,
Who did dispute, wch should Fame's husband be;
Pythagoras for Ovid thought it meet
To speak, whose numbers Smooth and words were Sweet,
Ladies, said He, are for varieties,
And change as oft as he makes beasts, birds, trees;
As many several shapes and forms they take
Some Goddesses and some do devils make,
Then let fair Fame sweet Ovid's Lady be,
Since change doth please that sex, none's fit but he.
Then spoke Æneas on brave Virgil's side,
Declar'd he was the Glory and the Pride
Of all the Romans, who from him did spring,
And whose high praise he in his Verse did sing;
Then let him speed even for Venus sake,
Let him your Husband be, none other take.
Then wise Ulysses in a Rhet'rick stile
Began his speech, his tongue was smooth as oyl;
He bow'd his head, and thus to Fame did speak:
I Come to plead, although my Wit is weak,
But since my Cause is Just, and Truth my Guide,
The way is plain, I shall not err aside;
Homer his lofty strain to heav'n flyes high,
And brings the Gods down from the airy sky,
And makes them side in factions for mankind,
He's now for Troy, then Greece, as pleas'd his mind;
Then walks he down to the Infernals deep,
And wakes the Furies out of their dead sleep,
With Fancy's Candle seeks about all Hell,
Where every place and corner he knows well,
Opening the Gates where sleepy Dreams do lye,
VValking into th'Elysian Fields hard by;
Tells you how Lovers there their time imploy,
And how pure Souls in one another joy;
As Painters shadows make by mixing Colours,
So do the Souls mix of Platonick Lovers;
Shews how Heriock Spirits there do play,
Th'Olympick Games to pass the time away:
As how they run, leap, wrestle, swim and ride,
VVith many other Exercises beside.
VVhat Poet ever did before him tell
The Gods in Heav'n, and Devils names in Hell?
Their Mansions and their Pleasures he describes,
Their Powers and Autorities divides;
Their Chronologies, elder much than time,
And their Adulteries he puts in Rhime:
Besides, great Fame, thy Court he hath fill'd full
Of brave reports, which as an empty Skul
Else would appear, and not like Heaven's Throne,
Nor like the Firmament with Stars thick strown;
Makes Hell appear with a Majestick face,
Because there are so many in that place:
Fame never could so great a Queen have been,
If VVits Invention had not Arts brought in;
Your Court by Poets Fire is now made light,
Which quench'd, you'ld dwell as in perpetual Night;
It heats men's Spirits, and inflames their Blood,
And makes them seek for Actions great and good:
Then be you just, since you the Ballance hold,
Let not the Leaden weights weigh down the Gold;
It were Injustice, Fame, for you to make
A Servant low his Master's place to take;
Or you should Thieves, that pick the Purse, preferr
Before the Owner, when Condemn'd they were:
His are not Servant-lines, but what he leaves,
Each from him Steals, and so the World deceives;
If so, great Fame, 'twill be a Hainous fact
To worship you, if you from Right detract;
Then let the best of Poets find such Grace,
In your fair Eyes, to chuse him first in place;
Let all the rest come Offer at your shrine,
And shew your Self a Goddess that's Divine.
Then at your word, I'l Homer take, said Fame,
And if he prove not good, be you too blame.
Ulysses bow'd, and Homer kiss'd her Hands,
And they were joyn'd in Matrimonial bands;
And Mercury from all the Gods was sent,
To give her Joy, and wish her much Content.
And all the Poets were Invited round,
All that were Known, or in the World but found;
In measure and in time they Danc'd about,
Each in their turn the Muses nine took out;
In Numbers smooth did run their Nimble Feet,
Whilst Musick plaid, and Songs were sung most sweet:
At last the Bride and Bridegroom went to Bed,
And there did Homer get Fame's Maiden-head.
For him was Greece and Troy bound; then came in
Virgil who brought Æneas, He all Rome;
For Horace all the Countrey-men did come:
68
And in firm bonds they all themselves did bind;
Tibullus Venus and her Son did bring
For him, 'cause wanton verses he did Sing.
Pythagoras his Transmigration brings
For Ovid, sealing's bond with several things.
Lucan brought Pompey, th'Senate all in arms,
And Cæsar's Army with his hot alarms,
Who mustred all i'th' Parthian fields, their Hand
And Seal did freely set to Lucan's band.
Poets which Epitaphes o'th' dead had made,
Their Ghosts did rise, & would fair Fame perswade
To take their bonds, that they might live, though dead,
To after ages, when their names were read.
The Muses nine came at the barr to plead,
But partial were, according as th'were fee'd.
At last all Poets were cast out but three,
Who did dispute, wch should Fame's husband be;
Pythagoras for Ovid thought it meet
To speak, whose numbers Smooth and words were Sweet,
Ladies, said He, are for varieties,
And change as oft as he makes beasts, birds, trees;
As many several shapes and forms they take
Some Goddesses and some do devils make,
Then let fair Fame sweet Ovid's Lady be,
Since change doth please that sex, none's fit but he.
Then spoke Æneas on brave Virgil's side,
Declar'd he was the Glory and the Pride
Of all the Romans, who from him did spring,
And whose high praise he in his Verse did sing;
Then let him speed even for Venus sake,
Let him your Husband be, none other take.
69
Began his speech, his tongue was smooth as oyl;
He bow'd his head, and thus to Fame did speak:
I Come to plead, although my Wit is weak,
But since my Cause is Just, and Truth my Guide,
The way is plain, I shall not err aside;
Homer his lofty strain to heav'n flyes high,
And brings the Gods down from the airy sky,
And makes them side in factions for mankind,
He's now for Troy, then Greece, as pleas'd his mind;
Then walks he down to the Infernals deep,
And wakes the Furies out of their dead sleep,
With Fancy's Candle seeks about all Hell,
Where every place and corner he knows well,
Opening the Gates where sleepy Dreams do lye,
VValking into th'Elysian Fields hard by;
Tells you how Lovers there their time imploy,
And how pure Souls in one another joy;
As Painters shadows make by mixing Colours,
So do the Souls mix of Platonick Lovers;
Shews how Heriock Spirits there do play,
Th'Olympick Games to pass the time away:
As how they run, leap, wrestle, swim and ride,
VVith many other Exercises beside.
VVhat Poet ever did before him tell
The Gods in Heav'n, and Devils names in Hell?
Their Mansions and their Pleasures he describes,
Their Powers and Autorities divides;
Their Chronologies, elder much than time,
And their Adulteries he puts in Rhime:
Besides, great Fame, thy Court he hath fill'd full
Of brave reports, which as an empty Skul
70
Nor like the Firmament with Stars thick strown;
Makes Hell appear with a Majestick face,
Because there are so many in that place:
Fame never could so great a Queen have been,
If VVits Invention had not Arts brought in;
Your Court by Poets Fire is now made light,
Which quench'd, you'ld dwell as in perpetual Night;
It heats men's Spirits, and inflames their Blood,
And makes them seek for Actions great and good:
Then be you just, since you the Ballance hold,
Let not the Leaden weights weigh down the Gold;
It were Injustice, Fame, for you to make
A Servant low his Master's place to take;
Or you should Thieves, that pick the Purse, preferr
Before the Owner, when Condemn'd they were:
His are not Servant-lines, but what he leaves,
Each from him Steals, and so the World deceives;
If so, great Fame, 'twill be a Hainous fact
To worship you, if you from Right detract;
Then let the best of Poets find such Grace,
In your fair Eyes, to chuse him first in place;
Let all the rest come Offer at your shrine,
And shew your Self a Goddess that's Divine.
Then at your word, I'l Homer take, said Fame,
And if he prove not good, be you too blame.
Ulysses bow'd, and Homer kiss'd her Hands,
And they were joyn'd in Matrimonial bands;
And Mercury from all the Gods was sent,
To give her Joy, and wish her much Content.
71
All that were Known, or in the World but found;
In measure and in time they Danc'd about,
Each in their turn the Muses nine took out;
In Numbers smooth did run their Nimble Feet,
Whilst Musick plaid, and Songs were sung most sweet:
At last the Bride and Bridegroom went to Bed,
And there did Homer get Fame's Maiden-head.
| Poems, and phancies | |