University of Virginia Library

The ARGUMENT.

This last Retreat, which seemd but to defer
Danger by being Honours Sepulcher,
Attaind in hast, there calming all the strife
Of various Passion, since her Fathers Life,
Payd all the tears she owd his losses, he
His verteous Daughter found, prepar'd to be
No sad addition to his sorrow by,
The faults of female Imbecillity,
Untimely tears; but with a confidence
High as ere taught brave Valour to dispense
With sad disasters, arm'd to entertain
The worst of Ills, to ease the Wounded's pain,
Or stop their blood, those hands which once she thought
Should have to Victors Triumphs Garlands brought,
Are now imployd, yet that her Acts may be
The best examples to posterity;
Her present ill, she with such strength withstood,
Its power was lost in hopes of future good.

Precipitated from a Throne to be
Subjected by a Subjects tyranny:
To want their pity, who of late did know
No peace, but what his Influence did bestow,
With sad presaging fears, to think his fair,
His verteous Daughter, his rich Kingdomes Heir;
Like to be ravisht from his bafl'd power,
A Trophy to a rebel Conqueror,
With such afflicting griefs as did exclude,
The comforts of his passive Fortitude,
Opprest the Prince, when now an Army led,
By their pursuing Enemies ore-spread
The circling fields, and brings their fear within
The reach of th' Eye; heighten'd with hope to win
That now by parl, which ere the sad success
Of Battel made their conquer'd numbers less,
He feard in fight; the confidently bold
Almanzor in a Scrowl that did unfold
A Language, whole unreverend stile affords
Far more of anger then his Soldiers Swords,
Had ere stird fear within his Princes breast,
His fixt Intentious thus in brief exprest;

This Scrowl, spotted with Impudence, receiv'd
By the vext Prince, whom passion had bereav'd
Of politick Evasions, he returns
A swift defiance, but his high rage burns
Nought but his own scortcht breast, the fainting fire,
Quencht by constraint, wants Fuel to blaze higher,
Then flashy threatnings, which since prov'd a folly,
Sink in the Ashes of Melancholy;
For which his ablest Councel could prepare,
No Cordial of advice, they rather share
With him in sorrow, whose harsh burthen growes
Not lighter by the company of those,
That now lend hearts to bear it, only in
This sullen Clouds obscurity, this sin
Of their Nativity, the noble Soul,
Of the undaunted Princess did controul,
The harshest Lectures of her Stars, and sate,
Unshaken in this Hyrocane of Fate;
Calming her Fathers hot adversity
With Dews of comfort, taught him how to be
Prince of his Passions, a Command more great,
Then his that trembles in a regal seat.

The Enemy that vainly had till now,
Toil'd forth their strength, no more endeavours how
By force to conquer, some smal time they knew,
Would with the bloodless Sword of Famine do,
More then their Cannon could, the meager Fen
Already grew tyrannical, his men,
Like walking Ghosts, wait on their Prince and stand
For shadows on their Plat-forms, not a hand,
But was unnerv'd with want, yet whilst each part
Languisht tow'rd death, each bosome held a heart,
Which though most large, could never empty be,
Being doubly fil'd with grife and loyalty:
Amongst both which, hope for a part puts in,
As the Supporter, of what else had been
A burthen insupportable, and spoke
This pleasing Language, that the royal Oke
Beneath whose Winter Fortune now they stood,
Pining for want, the witherd under Wood,
That all his miseries dropt on, yet they shall
When ere his brighter Stars again do call
His Fortune into light, be comforted
By his kind shadow; which shall those that fled
Him in this sad extream, then leave to be
Scortcht in the Rays of angry Majesty.

Reduc'd unto this pitied exigence,
Yet by his honour, which could not dispense
With ought that like suspition lookt, detaind,
From what by parl might have their freedome gaind,
The loyal Sufferers, to declare bow far
They fear declind, those mourning weeds of War,
Whose fight a desperate valour doth betray,
Black Ensigns on their guarded Wals display,
When to augment their high resolves, with what
Their valour was to pity softned at,
After, with all those course, though scarce Cates, they
By sparing, first attempted to betray
Time till relief with, they'd been fed till now
There nought remaind, that longer could allow
Life further hopes of sustenance, to do
An Act so great, all Ages to ensue,
Shall more admire then imitate; within
The Hall, appears their Soveraign, leading in
His hand the Princess, whose first view, though drest
In Robes as sad as sorrow ere exprest,
Was but the Frontiers of their grief, to what
When nearer seen, whilst sorrow silenc'd at
So sad on Object, might for death be took,
Made solemn grief, like grave Religion look.

Whilst all thus in sad expectation stand,
Of future Fate, disdaining to command,
Those whom an equal sorrow seemd to make
His fellow Sufferers, the sad Prince thus spake
His fixt resolves, Brave Souls, whose loyal love,
Opprest by my unhappy woes must prove
Part of my grief, since by my wretched Fate,
Forc'd with my own life to precipitate
Yours into danger, from whose reach, since by
No Crime, until the love of Loyalty
Become a sin, you are cal'd guilty, yet
Seek some evasion, 'tis not you that sit
Upon the Throne he aimes at, nor doth here
Arival in Pharonnida appear.
No, 'tis our lives, our lives brave Subjects that
His bold Ambition only reaches at,
By this pretense, what to my Daughter, love
To's Country's, pity cal'd, could he remove
Those (now but smal Obstructions) soon would grow
To's pride united, till it over flow,
All limets of a Subjects duty, by
Rebellious reach, usurped tyranny.

Go then, and let not my unhappiness
Afflict you more, ith' shadow of distress;
Twil like warm comforts swel my Soul to know
That to his Favour you for safety ow.
Did not those sacred Canons that include,
All vertue in a Christians Fortitude,
Obstruct our Passions progress, we, ere this,
In death had made the haughty Rebel miss
The glory of his Conquest, which since now
Deni'd, although unweildy age allow
Not strength to sell my life at such a rate
Honour aimes at, yet shall the slow debate,
Even in my fall, let the World know I died,
Scorning his pity, as they hate his pride.

Here stopt the Prince, when, as if every breast,
One universal sorrow had possest,
Grief (grown into more noble passion) broke
Th' attentive silence, and thus swiftly spoke
Their resolutions, On, on, and lead
Us unto death, no Critick eye shall read
Fear through the Opticks of our Souls, but give
Command to act, here's not a heart durst live
Without obedience; camforted with this
Rich Cordial, from his sorrows dark Abyss
Rais'd to resolves, whose greatness equal'd all
His former Glory, by their fatal fall;
To darken the ensuing day, the Prince
Gives a Command to all his Train, that since
Their own free Votes elected death, they now
With Souls that no terrestial thought allow,
A residence, 'gainst the next Morn prepare,
That wisht for freedome, with himself to share.

All sadly sate, expecting but that light,
Whose near approach must to eternal Night,
Their last Conductor be, a sudden, still,
And doleful silence, such as oft doth fill
The Room where sick men slumber, when their Friends
Stand weeping by, to Contemplation bends
Their busie thoughts; within each troubl'd breast,
Being to leave the Mansion she'd possest
So long, yet with so short a warning, all
Her Faculties the frighted Soul did call,
Forth of the Bosome of those Causes, in
Whose form they'd fetterd to their Crasis been,
To joyn those powers (yet strong in living breath)
For her assistance in the grasp of death.

The whispering Trumpet having cal'd them by
Such sharp Notes, as, when powerful Foes are nigh
Retreating Parties use, all swiftly rise
From bended Knees, and the last Sacrifice,
They ere expect to pay to Heaven, untill
Their Souls last gasp the vocal Orgains fill.
Concluded was the last sad interview,
The Prince was marcht, Pharonnida with-drew.
And now, all from the open'd Ports were in
A swift March sallying, had their speed not been
Thus swiftlier stopt; those scatterd horse that fled
The Battel to th' Epirotes Court had sped
So well in their Embassage, that the Prince
Whom the least negligence might now convince
Of want of love, proud of so fair a chance;
To shew's Affection, swiftly doth advance
With a vast Army tow'rd them, but the fear,
Prevailing danger, ere their strength come near,
To their necessitated Friends, might force
Them to unworthy Articles, some horse
Selected are, whose swifter speed might, (by
A desperate charge broke through their Foes) supply
Their fainting friends; the much desir'd Command
Of these few men, committed to the hand
Of brave Argalia (nere more blest then now
In serving the fair Princess) did allow
His Sword so fair a field to write the story,
Of Honour in, that his unblasted Glory,
Beyond this day shall live, out-live the reach
Of long-armd Envy, and those weake Souls teach,
That fear the frowns of Fate, in spight of all,
Heroick Vertue sits too high to fall.

With the dayes close they take their March, and ere
The silver Morning on her brow did bear
The burnisht guilt oth' Suns warm Rayes, arrive
In view oth' place; when Fortune, that did strive
To crown their hopes, had wrapt the earth in thick
And heavy mists; the sluggish Morning sick
Of Midnight surfeits, from her dewy bed,
Pale, and discolourd Rose. This Curtain spread,
To vail their plot in, they assault their Foes,
Which when surpriz'd could not themselves dispose,
Fit for resistance, but whilst some did flie
From the distracting danger, others die
To their neglect a Sacrifice: the swift
Alarm, like a rude winds circling drift,
Hurries confusion through the field, and shook
The trembling Soldier: some unclad forsook
Their half-fir'd Cabbens; deaths large gripe did take
Whole troops that Destiny ordaind to wake
No more till Dooms-day, and in's march prevents
Th' unition of unrallied Regiments.

This frighted Language of Confusion heard,
By those oth' Castle, which were now prepard,
For their last desperate Sally, switly draws
Them to assist their friends, and though the cause,
(Being yet unknown) was only thought to be
Some private Jar grown to a Mutiny,
Or else the noise the Enemy had made,
When all their force was drawing to invade
Them in their works, howe're, they stand not to
Consult with reason, but as striving who
Shall first encounter death, each severall hand
Sought for his own from those that did withstand
His rage-directed strength; their Cannon in
A Funeral Peal went off, whose steam had been
Their Covert to the Camp, where finding such
A wild confusion, they assisted much
The fortune of the day, which now was grown
Indubitable, they might call their own
A glorious Conquest, the thick sulphry cloud,
Whose dismal shade did that destruction shroud,
Rent with those thunder-claps, dissolv'd into
A shower of blood, what she vouchsaft to do,
Fortune lends light to shew them; having left
Their Camp, whilst darkness did protect a Theft,
That only stole dishonour, which they were
Now in an open flight inforc'd to bear;
They see Almanzors broken troops ore-spread
The neighbouring fields: those clouds of men that fled,
Being pursu'd by Companies so smal,
That they appeard but like those drops that fall
After a storm. Yet as the labouring Hart
Long struggles for that life which doth depart
From the less noble Members, to lend aid
To her in deaths pale Conflict, having stayd
Some of his best Commanders, hoping by
Their valour to recal the rest, with high
Undaunted force, Almanzor doth oppose,
His Enemies pursuit, till like t'inclose
Him in, disdaining the reproachful end,
He must expect, no longer stands t' attend
The glimering light of hope: the field he leaves
To conquering Argalia, but deceives
Him of himself, the prize most sought for, which
When lost beyond recovery, he grown rich
In shining honour, that, like Sun-beams plac'd
Within a field of gules, by being defac'd,
Had beautifi'd his Armour; that dark mist,
Which did at first such contradictions twist,
That he both curst, and blest it, one cause did
Aide his design, the other cause it hid
His Heaven of Beauty, in their dewy Bed
Had left the blushing Roses, and was fled
Upon the Wings of th' wind. With wonder now
Discoverd colours taught each party how,
To know their Friends. The royal Standard in
The Princes party had disvellopt been,
By that fair signal to discover, who
Was present there: but ere Argalia to
That place arriv'd, Pharonnida, who had,
Whilst desperation all her beauties clad
In the pale Robes of fear, heard all the loud
Shock of the Conflict, but until the Cloud
Remov'd his fatal Curtain, never knew
How near the hour of her delivery drew;
That being dissolv'd, through those which grief had rais'd,
In her fair Eyes, did see, and seeing praised
Just Heaven which sent it; each of those that
Fought for her she commends, but wonders at,
Although unknown, the lightning valour she
Saw in Argalia, whilst with just rage he
Unravels Natures workmanship, a rent
Which were a sin, if not a punishment,
And from the slender web of life did send
Forth Rebels Souls, fast as each busie Fiend,
That wait their fals transport them, fain she would,
Ere known, conceit 'twere he, but how he should
Come there, and so attended did exceed
Imagination. Thus whilst her hopes feed
On strange desires, being come near unto
The Coach wherein she sate, prepard to do
His Loves Oblations, he that Face disarms,
Which when beheld, by those attractive charms,
VVithin the center of her best desires,
Contracted all her hopes, whose life expires,
Soon as they'r crownd with wisht success; too great
A distance parts them yet, she leaves her seat,
And flies to his Imbraces, but conceald
Her passion in his Merit, being reveald
To him alone, whose better judgment knew,
That in those Spirit-breathing beams that flew
Through the fair Casements of her Eyes, did move
The secret Language of an ardent love.

This conflict of her passions, which had been
Fought betwixt fear and hope, was setled in
A silent joy, that from her noble breast
Struggl'd for passage, whilst Argalia blest
Above his hopes, in burning kisses seals
His service on her Virgin hand, that steals
From thence new flames into her heart, which ere
Fed with desire, even whilst she did prepare,
To entertain those welcome Guests, appears
The Prince, who now, thawd from the icy fears
Of desperation, was come there to give
Thanks to his unknown friends; but words did live
Within a place too baren to bestow
That fruitful zeal, whose plenty did ore-flow
His Eyes (those clouded Orators) which till
Disburthend did capacious passion fill.

This moist Gale o're, when now they had awhile
Melted in joy, cloathing it with a smile;
He thus unfolds his comfort. Blessed Fates
You have out-try'd my charity, he hates
All real Vertue, that confesses not
My care of thee, was but an unknown spot
To this large world of satisfaction; here
Kind sorrow stopt his voice again, when fear
Their Enemies might rally, and ith' bud
Blast all their blooming joyes, even whilst the blood
Wreak'd on his Sword, leaving their Eyes to pay
Pursuing prayers, Argalia posts away,
But finds his Foes disperst, excepting one
Stout Regiment, whose desperation grown
To valour, spight of all pursuers, made
Good their retreat; till forc'd at length to shade
Themselves from the pursuing danger, in
A deep dark Cave, whose spatious Womb had been
Their Receptacle, when unlawfull theft
Was their profession. In this place they'd left
Their dearest pledges, as most confident
Those dark Meanders would their loss prevent.

These stout Opposers being protected here,
(Before Argalia brought his Army neer)
Had fortifi'd the narrow pass, and now
Presume of safety, since none else knew how,
Without their leave to enter; Hem'd about,
With all the Castle Foot, his Horse sent out
To clear the field, the careful General sees,
Then every Quarter made secure, he frees
His own from all suspected danger, while
This busie Siege did better things beguile
Of some few steps of time, the Prince arrives,
To see the Leager, where each Captain strives
With entrance to be honourd, but in vain,
The subtile Engineer here racks his Brain:
The Mountains yeild not to their Cannon shock,
Nor mine could pierce the marble-breasted Rock.

Thus whilst they lay despairing ere to force,
A place so difficult, with some few Horse
Only attended, the vext Prince surrounds
The spatious Hill, whose uncouth fight confounds
His ablest Guides; making a stand to view
A Promontory, on whose brow there grew
A Grove of stately Cedars, from a dark
And hidden cleft, proud of so rich a Mark;
Some Muskets are discharg'd, which missing by
A desperate Sallie's seconded, to fly
The danger thorough such a dreadful way,
As now they were to pass, was not to stay,
But hasten ruine, though too weak, in fight
More safety lay, then an unworthy flight.

But Valour, like the royal Eagle, by
A cloud of Crows ore-masterd, less to dy
With honour, had no refuge left, and that
Here each Plebeian gains; when frighted at
Th' unusual clamour, with such troops as were
Most fit for speed, Argalia was come there;
Arriv'd even with that minute which first saw
His Prince a Captive; Now the Rebbels draw
Back to their private Salliport, but are
Too speedily pursu'd to enter far,
Within their dark Meanders, ere ore-took,
By their inraged Foes, who had forsook
Their other stations, and to this alone,
Drew all their Forces, entring the unknown
And horrid Cave, whose troubled Womb till then,
Nere such a Cholick felt: Argalia's men,
(Following so brave a Leader) boldly tred
Through the Rocks rugged Entrails; those that fled
Though better skild in their obscure retreat,
No safety find; the Caves remotest seat
Was now the stage of death, together throng'd,
After their Swords had Lifes last step prolong'd;
There all the Villains in despair had di'd,
Had not the fear their Prince in such a tyde
Of blood might have been shipwrackt, whom to save,
A gen'ral Pardon to the rest is gave.

And now the dreadful Earthquake which had turnd
The Rock to Ætna, could its top have burnd,
With Subteranean fires, being ceas'd, the Prince
Desirous by his knowledge to convince,
Those word-deep wonders, which report had spread,
Of that strange Cave, commands some to be led
By an old Out-law, whose experience knew
The uncouth Vaults remotest Corners, to
Those seats of horrour, which performd, and word
Returnd again, the danger did afford,
Subject for nobler Spirits; forthwith he
(Attended by Argalia) goes to see
What had afrighted them; the dreadfull way,
Through which he past, being steep, and rugged lay,
Between two black and troubled streams, that through
The cleft Rock rowld with horrid noise, till to
An ugly Lake, whose heavy streams did ly
Unstird with aire they come, and there are by
That black Asphaltis swallowd; a strang sound
Of yelling Dragons, hissing Snakes confound
Each trembling Auditor, till comforted
By bold Argalia, ventring first to tread
On stones, which did like ruin'd Arches ly
Above the surface of the Lake, he's by
Their aid brought to an ancient Tower, that stood
Fixt in the center of the lazy flood;
Its Basis founded on a Rock, whose brow
With age disfigur'd into clefts, did now
With loud and speedy ruine threaten to
Crush all beneath it; round about it flew
On sooty wings such ominous Birds as hate
The cheerful day, Vipers, and Scorpions sate
Circl'd in darkness, till the cold damp breath
Of neer concreted Vapours, sing'd to death,
By th' numerous light of Torches, which did shine
Through the whole Mountains Convex, and refine
Aire with restraint corrupted, forcing way,
By conquering flames recals the banisht day.

Come now to a black Tower, which seemd to be
The Throne of some infernal Deity,
That his extended Lawes reaches unto
The brazen Gate, whose folded Leaves withdrew,
Assaults their eyes with such a flux of light,
That as the dim Attendants of the Night,
In bashful duty shun the Prince of Day,
So their lost Tapors unto this give way;
Whilst it with wonder, that belief out-grew,
Transports their sights to the amazing view
Of so much beauty, that the use of sense
Was lost in more then humane excellence.

A glorious Room, so elegantly faire,
In 'ts various structure, that the riotous Heir
Oth' eastern Crescent that might choose to be
The Theater of shining Majestie
They now behold, yet then its mighty strength,
Which had preserv'd such beauty from the length
Of Ages ire Tallons, there appear
More rare perfections, the large floor of clear
Transparant Emraulds, lent a luster to
The Oval Roof, whose scarce-seen ground was blew,
Studded with sparkling Gems, whose brightness lent
The beauties of the vaulted Firmament,
To all beneath their beams; the figur'd wals,
Imbost with rare and antick sculptry, cals
For th' next observance, though the serious eye,
The way to truth in secret mystery
He e having lost, lets the dark Text alone,
To view the beauties of a glorious Throne,
Which plac'd within the splendid Room, did stand
Beneath an Ivory Arch, o're which the hand
Of Art, in golden Hierogliphicks, had
The story of ensuing Fate unclad,
But vainly, since the Art defective times,
Strock nought but discords on those wel-tun'd Chimes.

Upon the Throne, in such a glorious state,
As earths adored Favourites there sate,
The Image of a Monarch, vested in
The spoils of Natures Robes, whose price had been
A Diadems redemption, his large size,
Beyound this Pigmy Age, did equalize
Th' admir'd proportion of those mighty men,
Whose cast-up bones, grown modern wonders, when
Found out, are carefully preserv'd to tell
Posterity, how much these times are fell
From Natures youthful strength, if be not worse,
Our sins Stenography, the dwarffish Curse
Ordaind for large siz'd Luxury: before
The Throne a Lamp, whose fragrant Oyles had more
Perfum'd the Room, then all the balmy wealth
Of rich Arabia, stood: Light, Life, and Health,
Dwelt in its Odours, but what more contents,
The pleas'd Spectators, that fair hand presents
The rest to th' view: the Image to declare
Of whom th' Effigies was, on's Front did bear
A regal Crown, and in his hand sustaind,
A threatning Scepter, but what more explain'd
Antiquities mysterious dress was seen,
In a smal Tablet, which, as if't had been
Worth more observance, then what Fate exprest
In unknown Figures he did gently rest
His left hand on, as if endeavouring by
That Index to direct Posterity;
How in their wonders Altitude to praise
The deeper knowledge of those wiser dayes,
By reading in such Characters as Time
Learnd in her non-age (this) in antick Rhyme.

When striving to remove this Light,
To Princes Leaves involv'd in Night;
The time draws neer, that shall pull down
My old Morea's triple Crown,
Uniting on one royall Head,
What to disjoyn such discord bred,
But let the more remote take heed,
For there's a third ordaind to bleed;
For when I'me read, not understood,
Then shall Epiru's royall blood,
By waies no Mortall yet must know,
Within th' Artolian Channel flow.

This strange Inscription read, not only by
The Prince, but those whom wonder had drawn nigh
The sacred Room, their Fancies civil War,
Grows full of trouble, 'tis a Text so far
Beyond a Comment, that their Judgments in
Enigmaes maz'd, had long let motion been
In Epeleptick wonder lost, untill
(As that alone containd their dreaded ill)
The greater part with joynd consents advise,
To have the Lamp remov'd, since in it lies,
(If those Lines prove prophetick) the linkt Fate
Of all Ietian Princes, which debate,
Being carried in th' Affirmative, the rest
Drew back, whilst bold Argalia forward prest;
But's thus soon stayd, the stone on which he stept,
Next, was by Art so framd, that it had kept
Conceal'd an Engines chifest Spring, which by
The least waight toucht, in furious hast let fly
Unpractis'd wheels, and with such vigour strook,
The Scepter on the long liv'd Lamp, it shook
Its chrystal Wals to dust, not thunders strong
Exagitations, when it roars among
Heaps of congested Elements, a sound
More dreadful makes, but what did most confound
Weak trembling Souls, was the thick darkness that
Succeeds the dying flame, which wondring at,
Whilst all remain, Arts feeble aides supplie
The Lamps lost Vertue, with new Lights, but by
Cold Damps so darkned, that contracted Night
Scornd their weak flames, shewing that hallowd light
Containd more sacred Vertues; now as Fate,
Had only to that hour prolong'd the date
Of all within, a sudden change to dust,
The mighty body turns, consuming rust,
Had eat the brazen Imagry, and left
No sign of what till then, safe from the theft
Of time remaind, darkness had repossest
The sullen Cave, to an eternal rest;
In the rude Chaos of their ashes, all
Arts lively Figures in an instant fall.

Pleas'd with the sight of these strange Objects more,
Then with Wars dangers he was vext before;
The Prince with all his train of Conquerors now,
Is gone to teach th' expecting Army how
To share their wonder, but not far from thence,
Removes before confirmd Intelligence,
Acquaints him with th' Epirots March, who in
His swift advance, so fortunate had been,
That falling on such as the Mornings flight,
Flatterd with hope, they there met endless Night;
At unawares; but of these added numbers,
Was curst Almanzor none, yet Justice slumbers
Ith' prosecution of his unripe Fate,
Which must more horrid sins accumulate;
Before cut off, his clamorous guilt must call
For vengeance louder, and grow hectical
With Custome, til the Tables of his shame,
Into oblivion rot his loathed Name.