University of Virginia Library

The Argument.

That sad, slow hour, which Art even thought his last,
With the sharp Feav'rs Paroxisme past
Sick Aphron's Spirits to a cool reareat,
Beneath a slumber (Lifes remotest seat)
Was gently stoln, which did so long endure,
Till in that opiate quencht, the Callenture
Decayed forsakes him, leaving nought behind,
But such faint symptomes, as from time might find
An easie Cure, which though no perfect end
Is lent to th' care of his indulgent Friend,
Yet gives him so much liberty, that now
Fear dares without his friendships breach allow
Sometime to leave him slumbring, whilst that he
Contemplates Natures fresh variety.

The full blown beauties of the Spring were not
By Summer Sun-burnt yet, though Phœbus shot
His Rays from Cancer, when prepard t' expand
Imprisond thoughts, from Objects near at hand,
To ey-shot Rovers, freed Argalia takes
A Noon-tide walk, through a fair glade that makes
Her aged Ornaments their stubborn head,
Fold into verdant Curtains, which she spread
In cooling shadows o're the bottoms, where
A chrystal stream unfetterd by the care
Of nicer Art, in her own Channel played,
With the embracing Banks, untill betrayed,
Into a neighbouring Lake, whose spatious Womb,
Lookt at that distance like a chrystal Tomb;
Fram'd to inter the Nayades. Not far
From hence an Oak, whose limbs defensive War,
'Gainst all the Winds, a hundred Winters knew,
Stoutly maintaind, on a smal rising grew,
Under whose shadow whilst Argalia lies,
This Object tempts his Soul into his Eyes.

A pair of Virgins fairer then the Spring,
Fresher then Dews, that ere the glad Birds sing.
The Mornings Carrols drop, with such a pace,
As in each act shewd an unstudied grace,
Crossing the Neighbouring Plain, were, now so near
Argalia drew, that what did first appear
But the neglected Object of his Ey,
More strictly viewd, cals Fansie to comply,
With so much love, that though no wilder fire
Ere scortcht his breast, he here learnt to admire
Loves first of symptomes. To a shady seat,
Near that which he had made his cool retreat;
Being come beneath a spreading Hawthorn they,
Seating themselves, the sliding hours betray,
From their short lives by such discourse as might
Have made even time (if young) lament his flight.

Retir'd Argalia, at the sight of these,
Though no obsceaner vanity did please
His Eyes, then Anch'rites are possest with, when
Numbring their Beads, or from a sacred Pen
Distilling Heavens blest Oracles, yet he
Wondring to find such sweet Civility
Mixt with that places rudeness, long beholds
That lovely pair, whose every act unfolds
Such linkt affections, as wise nature weaves
In dearest Sisters, but their form bereaves
That thought ere featherd with belief, although
To admiration, beauty did bestow
Her gifts on both, she had those darlings drest,
In various colours, what could be exprest
By Objects fair, as new created light,
By Roseall mixtures, with immaculate white,
By Eyes that emblemd Heavens pure Azure, in
The youngest Nymph, Florenza, there was seen;
To which she adds Behaviour far more free,
Although restraind to strictest modesty,
Then the more sad Carina, who, if there
Were different years in that else equal Paire,
Something the Elder seemd, her beauty such,
As Jove-lov'd Leda's was not prais'd so much,
For Rose or Lillies residence, though they
Did both dwel there, as to behold the day
Lose its Antipathy to Night, such clear
And conquering Beams so full of light t' appear
Thorough her Eyes, shewd like a Diamond set,
To mend its Lustre in a foil of Jet.

Nor doth their dress of Nature differ more
In colour, then the Habits which they wore;
Though fashiond both alike, Floronza's green,
As the fresh Spring when her first Buds are seen,
To cloath the naked Boughs: Carinas white
As Innocence, before she takes a flight,
In thought from cold Virginity. Their Hair
Wreath'd in contracting Curls, beneath a fair
But often parting Vail, attempts to hide
The naked Ivory of their Necks, that pride
Of Beauties Frontispiece. On their heads sate
Lovely, as if unto a Throne of State;
From their first Earth advanc'd, two flowry Wreaths,
From whose choice mixture in close Concord breaths
The fragrant Odour of the Fields, plac'd by
Them in such order, as Antiquity
Mysterious held: Being sate, to pass away
Th' unactive heat of the exalted day,
They either tell old harmles Tales, or read
Some story where forsaken Lovers plead
Unpittied Causes, then betwixt a smile
And Tear bewail Passion should ere beguile
Poor Reason so, at length, as if they meant
To charm him who far from each ill intent
So near them lay, melting the various throng
Of their Discourse, into a well-tun'd Song;
Whose swift division moulds the Aire into
Such Notes, as did the Sphears first tunes out-do.

Argalia in this Lab'rinth of delight,
To Action lost, had drawn the vail of Night,
In quiet slumbers, o're his heavy Eyes,
Lockt in whose Armes, whilst he securely lyes
Least the mistakes of vain Mortality,
The brittle Glass of Earth should take to be
Perfections lasting Addamant, this sad
Chance did unravel all their mirth; There had
Some of the Princes noblest Followers, in
That Mornings nonage led by Pleasure been,
Far from their Sphear, the Court, and now to shun
Th' unhealthy Beams of the reflected Sun,
Whilst it its shortest shadows made, were to
The cool protection of the Woods withdrew:
In which retreat, as if conducted by
Their evil Genius (all his Company
An awfull distance keeping) none but proud
Almanzor in those guilty Groves, which shrowd
The hapless Virgins enters, who so near
Him sitting, that, soon his informing Eare
Thither directs his Eye, unto his view
Ere scarce thought obvious swiftly they withdrew
But with untimely hast, his Soul that nurst
Continuall flames within it, at the first
Sight kindles them, ere he discovers more,
Then difference in the Sex, such untried ore,
Hot, heedless lust, when made by practice bold,
Ith' flame of passion venters on for Gold.

But when drawn nearer to the place he saw
Such beauties whose magnetick form might draw
Souls steeld with Vertue, custome having made
His impious Rhetorick ready to invade,
He towards them haste, with such a pace as might
Excuse their judgments, though, in open flight,
They strove to shun him, but in vain, so near
Them now he's drawn, that the effects of fear
Obscuring reason, as if safety lay
In seperation, each a several way
From danger flies, but since both could not be,
By that secure, whilst her blest stars do free
The glad Carina, from his reach the other
He swiftly seizes on; hot kisses smother
Her out-cries in the Embrio, and to death
Near crusht Virginity, ere from lost breath
She could a stock of strength enough recover,
To spend in prayers; the tempting of a Lover,
Mixt with the force of an Adult'rer, did
At once assail, and with joynd powers forbid
All hopes of safety; onely, whilst dispair
Lookt big in apprehension, whilst the Aire
Breath'd nought but threatnings, promising him to pay
For't in her answers, she doth lust betray
Of some few minutes, which with all the power
Of prayer she seeks to lengthen, sheds a shower
Of tears, to quench those flames, but sooner might
Hels sooty Lamp extinguisht be, the sight
Of such a fair, but pitiful aspect,
When Lust assails, wants power to protect.

By this hot parly, whilst she strove to shun
His loathd embraces, the throngd Spirits run
To fortifie her Heart, but vainly seek
For entrance there, being back into her Cheek
Sent in disdainful blushes; now she did
Intreat Civility, then sharply chid
His blushless impudence; but he whose skil
In Rhetorick was pregnant to all ill,
Though barren else, summons up all the choice
Of Eloquence, that might produce a Voice
To win fair Vertues Fortress, though her chast
Soul armd against those battering Engines past
That Conflict without danger, when inrag'd,
By being denied, with passion that presag'd
A dangerous Cons'quence, his fierce eyes fixt
On hers, that melting with pale terror mixt
Floods with their former flames, her souls sad doubt
He thus resolves. Unworthy Whore, that out
Of hate to Vertue dost deny me what
Thou freely grantst to every rude Swain that
But courts thee in a Dance. Think not these tears
Shall make me wave a pleasure, that appears
Worth the receiving. Can your sordid Earth
Be honourd more then in the noble Birth
Of such a Son as, wouldst thou yield to love,
Might call thee Mother, and hereafter prove,
The glory of your Family, from Jove,
The noblest Mortals heretofore that strove
To fetch their Pedigree, thought it no stain,
So to be illegitimate, as vain
Is this in thee, there being as great an Ods
'Twixit you and ur, as betwixt us and Gods?

Trembling Florenza, on her bended knees
Thus answers him; That dreadfull power that sees
All our disvellop'd thoughts, my witness be
You wrong my Innocence: I yet am free
From every thought of Lust. I do confess
Th' unfathomd distance 'twixt our Births, but less
That will not make my sin, it may my shame
The more, when my contaminated Name
Shall in those ugly Characters be shown,
To the Worlds publick view, that now is known
By th' blush of honesty, whose stile, though pore,
Exceeds the Titles of a glorious Whore;
Attended whilst Youth doth unwitherd last,
With envied greatness, but frail beauty past
Into a swift decay, assaulted by
Rotteness within, and black mouth'd Callumny,
Without, cast off, blushing for guilt, the scorn
Of all my Sex. My Mother would unborn
Wish her degenerate Issue, my Father curse
The hour he got me. As Infection worse
Then mortall Plagues, each Virgin that hath nought
To glory in, but what she with her brought
Into the World, an unstaind Soul, would fly
The Aire I breath; cast Whores being Company
For none but Devils, when corrupted vice
A Wilderness makes Beauties Paradice.

To this much ill, dim eyed Mortality
A prospect lends; but what, oh what should be
When we must summ up all our time in one
Eternall day, since to our thoughts unknown,
Is only feard. But if our hallowed Laws
Are more then Fables, th' everlasting Cause
'Twill of our torment be. If all this breath
Formd into Prayers, no entrance finds, my death
Shall buy my Virgin-freedome, ere I will
Consent to that, which being performd will kill
My honour to preserve my life, and turn
Th' unworthy beauty which now makes you burn
In these unhallowed flames into a Cell,
Which none but th' black Inhabitants of Hell
Will ere possess. Those private thoughts which give
If we continue verteous, whilst we live
On Earth, our Souls commerce with Angels, shall
Be turnd to Furies, if we yield to fall
Beneath our Vices thus, O then take heed
Do not defile a Temple, such a deed
Will, when in labour with your latest breath,
With horror Curtain the black Bed of death.

Though Prayers in vain strove to divert that Crime,
He prosecutes, yet to protract the time,
She more had sayed, had not all Language been
Lost in a storm of's Lust, which raging in
His fury gives a fresh assault unto
Weak Innocence, for Mercy now to sue
To hope seems vain, robustious strength did bar
The use of Language, which defensive War
Continuing till the breathless Maid was wrought
Almost beneath resistance, just Heaven brought
This unexpected Aide. A lovely Swain
Whose large Possessions in the neighbouring Plain,
Had stil'd him rich, that powerful, which t' improve,
To that fair stock his vertue, added love,
Which to flattery, since it lost its eyes,
The world but seldome sees without disguise.

This sprightly Youth led by the parallels
Of Birth, and Fortune, what ere else excels
Those fading blessings, to Florenza in
His Youths fresh April, had devoted been
With so much zeal, that what that heedless age
But dallied with, like Customes which engage
Themselves to habits, ere its growth he knew,
Love equal with his active manhood grew,
Which noble Plant though in the torrid Zone
Of her disdain, 't had nere distemper known,
Yet oft those sad vicissitudes doth find,
For which none truly lov'd, that nere had pin'd,
Which pleasing passion, though his judgment knew
How to divert, ere reason it out-grew,
It often from important action brought
Him to those shades, where Contemplation sought
Calm sollitude, in whose soft raptures, Love
Refining Fancy, lifts his thoughts above
Those joyes, which when by trial brought to th' test,
Proves thoughts bright Heaven, dul Earth when once possest.

Whilst seated here, his eyes did celebrate,
(As to those shades) Florenza oft had sate
Beneath kind looks, to ravish that delight,
The tir'd Carina in her breathless flight,
Come neer the place, assaults his wonder in
That dreadful sound, which tels him what had bin
Her cause of fear, which doleful stories end,
Arriv'd to th' danger of his dearest Friend,
Leaves him no time for language, ere wingd by
Anger, and Love, his hast strives to out-fly
His eager thoughts. Being now arriv'd so near
Unto the place, that his informing Ear,
Thither directs his steps, with such a hast,
As nimble souls when they are first uncas'd,
From bodies flie, he thither speeds, and now
Being come, where he beheld with horror how
His better Angel injur'd was, disputes
Neither with fear nor policy (they'r Mutes
When Angers thunder roars) but swiftly draws
His Faulchion, and the justice of his Cause,
Argues with eager stroaks, but spent in vain,
'Gainst that unequal strength, which did maintain
The more unlawful, all his power could do,
Is but to shew the effects of Love unto
Her he ador'd, few stroaks being spent before
His feeble Arme, of power to do no more,
Faints with the loss of blood, and letting fall
Th' ill-manag'd VVeapon, for his death doth call
By the contempt of mercy, so to prove
A Sacrifice, slain to Florenza's Love.

The cursed steel by the robustious hand
Of fierce Almanzor guided, now did stand
Fixt in his breast, whilst with a purple flood,
His life sails forth ith' Channel of his blood.
This Remora remov'd, the impious deed
No sooner was performd, but ere the speed
Florenza made (though to her eager flight,
Fear added wings) conveyd her from his sight:
His rude hand on her seises. Now in vain
She lavisht Prayers, the groans in which her slain
Friend breaths his soul forth, with her shrieks did fill
The ambient Aire, struck lately with the still
Voice of harmonious Musick; But the Eare
Of penetrated Heaven not long could heare
Prayers breath'd from so much innocence, yet send
Them back deni'd, white Mercy did attend
Her swift deliv'ry, when obstructing fear
Through Reason let no Ray of hope appear.

Startl'd Argalia, who was courted by
Her pleasing Voices milder Harmony,
Into restrictive slumbers, wakend at
Their Alter'd Tone, hast to discover what
Had causd that change, and soon the place attains.
Where in th' exhausted treasuce of his Vains
Andremon wallows, and Florenza lies,
Bath'd in her tears, ready to sacrifice
Her Life with her Virginity, which sight
Provok't a hast, such as his presence might
Protect the trembling Virgin, which perceiv'd,
By curst Almanzor made to be bereav'd
Oth' Spoils of such a wicked Victory,
As Lust had then near conquerd, fiercely he
Assails the noble stranger, who detesting,
An Act so full of Villany, and resting
On the firm just ce of his Cause, had made
His guiltless Sword as ready to invade,
As was the others that had surfeited,
In blood before. Here equal Valour bred
In both a doubtfull hope, Almanzors Lust
Had fierd his Courage, which Argalias just
Attempts did strive to quench. The thirsty steel
Had drunk some blood from both, ere Fortunes Wheel
Turnd to the righteous Cause; that Vigor which
Through rivolets of Veins spread the salt Itch
Of feaverish Lust before, was turnd into
A flame of anger ; whilst his hands did do,
What Rage doth dictate, Fury doth assist,
With flaming Paroxismes, and each Nerve twist,
Into a double strength: yet not that flood
Which in this ebullition of his blood
Did through the Channels boyl, till they run o're.
With flaming spirits, could depress that store
Of manly worth, which in Argalias breast
Did with a quiet even Valor rest;
Moving as in its naturall Orb, unstraind
By any violent motion, nor yet chaind
By lazy damps of faint mistrust, but in
Dangers extream, still confident to win
A noble Victory, or ith' loss of breath,
If his Fate frownd to find an honourd death.

Fil'd with these brave Resolves, until the heat
Of their warm Fury, had Alarmes beat.
To th' neighbouring fields they fought, which tumult by
Such of Almanzors Followers, as were nigh
The Grove repos'd, with an astonishment,
That rouzd them heard, they hasten to prevent,
The sad effects that might this Cause ensue.
Ere more of danger then their fear they knew;
Arriv'd even with that fatal Minute, he
Who against Justice strove for Victory,
With such faint stroaks, that their descent did give
Nought but assurance that his Foe must live,
A happy Conquerour, they usurp the power
Of Heaven (revenge) and in a dreadfull shower
Of danger with their Furies torrent strive,
T'orewhelm the Victor; but the foremost drive
Their own destruction on, and fall beneath
His conquering Sword, ere he takes time to breath
Those spirits which, when neer with Action tir'd,
Valor breathd fresh, fast as the spent expir'd.

Here rash Araspes, and bold Leovine,
Two, whose descent ith' nearst collateral Line,
Unto Almanzors stood, beholding how
His strength decryd, must unto Conquest bow,
In spight of Valor, to revenge his fate,
VVith so much hast attempt, as if too late
Theyd come to rescue, and would now to shun
Tis just reproof, by rashness strive to run
To death before him, finding from that Sword
Their Lifes discharge, which did to him afford
Only those wounds, whose scars must live to be
The badges of eternal Infamy.

But here ore-whelmd by an unequal strength,
The noble Victor soon to th' utmost length,
Had lifes smal thread extended, if not in
The dawn of hope, some troops whose charge had bin,
VVhilst th' active Gentry did attend the Court,
To free the Country from the feard Resort
Of wild Bandeets, these being directed by
Such frighted Rurals, as imployment nigh
The Grove had led, arriving at that time,
VVhen his slain Foes made the mistaken Crime
Appear Argalias, soon by power allay
That fatal storm, which done, a full survay
Of them that death freed from distress being took,
Them through whose wounds life had not yet forsook,
Her Throne they view, 'mongst whom through the disguise
Of's blood Almanzor, whose high power they prise
More then discover'd Innocence, being found,
As Justice had by close decree been bound,
T' espouse his quarrels, whilst his friends convay
Him safely thence, those ponderous Crimes they lay
Unto Agalias Charge, whose just defence,
Pleads but in vain, for injur'd innocence.

Now neer departing, whilst his helpfull friends,
Bore off Almanzor, where he long attends
The cure of's wounds, though they less torment bred,
Then to behold how his lost honour bled;
The sad Florenza comes to take her last
Leave of her lost Andremon, ere she past
That sad stage ore, to his cold clammy Lips
Joyning her balmy Twins, she from them sips,
So much of deaths oppressing Dews, that by
That touch reviv'd his soul, though wing'd to flie
Her ruin'd seat, takes time enough to breath
These sad notes forth; farewell my Dear, beneath
The ponderous burthen of mortality,
My fainting spirits sink. Oh mayst thou be,
Blest in a happier Love; all that I crave,
Is that my now departing soul may have
Thy Virgin prayers for her Companions through
Those gloomy Vaults, which she must pass unto
Eternall shades; had Fate assign'd my stay,
Till we'd together gone, the horrid way
Had then been made delightfull, but I must
Depart without thee, and convert to dust,
VVhilst thou art flesh and blood; I in a cold
Dark Urne must lie, whilst a warm Groom doth hold
Thee in thy Nuptial bed, yet there I shall,
If fled souls know what doth on earth befall,
Mourn for thy loss, and to eternity
Wander alone; the various World shall be
Refin'd in flames, time shall afford no place
For Vanity, ere I again embrace
Society with flesh, which ere that must
Change to a thousand forms her varied dust.

What we shall be, or whither we shall go,
When gone from hence, wheth'r unto flames below,
Or joyes above, or whether in death we may
Know our departed friends, or tell which way
They went before us, these, oh these are things
That pauze our Divinity; Scepterd Kings,
And Subjects die alike, nor can we tell,
Which doth enjoy, or which in torments dwell.
Oh sad, sad ignorance, Heaven guide me right,
Or I shall wander in eternal Night;
To whose dark shades my dim eyes sink apace:
Farewel Florenza, when both time and place,
My separated Soul hath left to be
A stranger maskt in Immortality.
Think on thy murtherd friend, we now must part
Eternaly, the Cordage of my heart
That last sigh broke, with that the breath that long
Had hoverd in his Breast, flew with a strong
Groan from that mortal Mansion, which beheld
By such of's friends, whom Courtesie compel'd
To that sad Charge, the bloodless body they
With sad slow steps to's Fathers home convey.