Pharonnida :: :: University of Virginia Library

Whilst noise and tumult fills the Court, the sad
Orlinda to lament alone, retir'd,
Finds the brave Captain in deaths symptoms clad,
Whose perfect health her friendly care acquir'd.

II

The Scouts with an unwelcom emptiness
Of news return'd; the Princess secret flight
Yet well succeeds, but now in sad distress
Find a black morning to that dismal night.

VVhen Fear, like an unskilful Pilot in
A storm distracted, long in vain had been
Plac'd at the helm of Action, whilst those rude
Waves, rais'd by greater winds, the Multitude

Swell'd with uncertain councels, all met in
A thick and dangerous confluence, those within
The Castle by a hotter passion to
A high wrought fury startled, did undo
Those links of councel, which the other broke
With corrosives of fear, by the rude stroke
Of heedless Anger, whose uncivil strife
Had rob'd Revenge of justice, and each life
That here was in deaths inundation spilt,
Shed but to aggrevate a private guilt;
Had not the Prince, whose angers flame they fear'd
More then grim death, t'appease the storm appear'd.

Beat from the out-works of their hopes, all in
A busie tumult are imploy'd within
The Princess lodgings; but there only find
Their knowledge by her secret flight strook blind,
Stumbl'd on errors; No characters but what
The wasteful hand of death had scatter'd at
The Guard informs them; and even those seem left
The weak opposers of successful theft,
Dropt as their Foes victorious fate slue by,
To shew his fortune, and their loyalty.
Leaving which late warm tenements of breath,
Without once throwing up that bed of death,
Their grave-cloaths ore them, every active friend
Hasts toward her search, whilst suffering females spend

The hours (grown slow since burden'd by their fears)
In prayrs, whose doubts they numbred by their tears.

But amongst all of those that sacrific'd
Tears to her loss, sorrow had most disguis'd
Lovely Orlinda, the fair sister to
The vext Messenian, who with Love that grew
From equal attributes of Honor, in
The parallels of Beauty plac'd had been
In this restraint of liberty so long
Her pleas'd Companion, that her grief too strong
For comfort grown, to mourn her absence she
Forsaking all her friends societie,
Whilst seeking of some shady grove is brought
To one whose vail, black as her darkest thought,
Appear'd so much a stranger to the light,
That solitude did thither soon invite
The pensive Lady, who, whilst entring, by
A deep groans sound diverted, turns her eye
Toward one, who near the utmost ebb of life
Disguis'd in's blood, was with the latest strife
Of death contending; at the dreadful view
Of which sad object she retreating to
Some of her maids, who fearing to intrude
Whilst she appear'd intending solitude,
A distance kept, made bold by number, now
Return to see if life did yet allow

A room for help, or if his soul were fled,
To let their care intomb the helpless dead.

Arriv'd so near, that through the rubrick vail
Of's blood they saw how life did yet prevail
O'er deaths convulsions, they behold one lie,
Whose wound's an object for their charity,
Soon drew them nearer in such trembling haste,
As if they fear'd those lavish springs would waste
Lifes stock too fast; where come, with linen soft
And white as were those hands that thither brought
That blessing, having gently wip'd away
His blood, his face discover'd did betray
Him to their knowledge; for the Ciprian Prince
All soon conclude him, whose desert e'er since
That Court she knew, had to Orlinda prov'd
A dear delight, yet she ne'er knew she lov'd,
Till her soft pitty, and his sad distress
Conspiring to betray that bashfulness
Whose blushes scorch'd that tender plant, did now
Even in their fortunes roughest storm allow
It leave to grow, safe, since yet passing by
No other name but noble charity.

By all the nimblest stratagems which Art
E'er learnt from nature, striving to impart
The best of mortal blessings, health, unto
Her Royal patient, prais'd Orlinda grew

So high in his deserv'd esteem, that though
Posterity doth to his friendship ow
For their most perfect copy, knowing she
Too much ador'd Pharonnida to be
Her base betrayer, when his healths advance
Gave way for language, every circumstance
Declares which was in that so fatal night,
The sad preludiums to her secret flight;
By which when she whose love (though full of fire)
Yet lay rak'd up in a remote desire,
Unstirr'd by hope, with joy had learn'd that he
More then what friendship patroniz'd, was free
From all affection to the Princess, in
Her eyes, which until then had clouded bin.
Love with as bright and pure a flame as ere,
Did in the shades of modesty declare;
Passion, breaks forth, which happy signs by him
Whose heart, her eys, even whilst they shone most dim
With mutual flames had fir'd, that loyal love
Which fate in vain shall struggle to remove,
Begins with flames as innocently bright
As the first rayes of new created light.

But stay rash Reader, think not they're led
Through these smooth walks unto their nuptial bed;
But now, behold, that their misfortune prove,
Which thou hast wept for, if thou e'er didst love

A separation, the suspition that
Sparta's vext King, when first distemper'd at
His daughters loss, did of this stranger Prince
Justly conceive, perswades him now that since
Not found within the Cyprian Court, that he
Who had been vainly sought abroad might be
Yet lodg'd at home, which supposition bred
So strict a search, that though the silent dead
Not silenter then her Attendants were,
Yet kind Orlinda whom a pious care
Prompted to save what she did yet possess,
Whilst seeking with a Lovers tenderness
How to secure him, doth at length convay
Her roving fancy to this hopeful way.

Not long before, though now 'twere silenc'd in
Domestick ills, Report had busied been
In the relating of the sad distress
Of a brave Lybian Prince, whom heaven to bless
With an eternal Crown, in midst of all
His Youths fresh glories, by a powerful call
Summons to serve her, and that faith which he
Had from the early dawn of infancie
Suckt from the great Impostor of the East,
Though now by time Opinions strength increast,
Spight of a peoples prayers or fathers threats
Wholly forsaking; which revolt begets

So much aversion, pitty could invent
Nought easier then perpetual banishment
To punish what their faith, mistaken in
Its object, terms a black Apostates sin.

Disguis'd in such a dress, as pitty might
Expect t'encounter so distrest a Wight
As was that wandring Prince, attended by
No train but what becomes th' obscurity
Of such a fortune, to the Spartan Court
Amindor comes, where though the thick resort
Of well known friends might justly make him fear
Some treacherous eye; knowledge could ne'r appear
Through that black vail his happy art had took
To make him like a sun-burnt Lybian look.

Yet what engag'd them more then safety in
Prayers to heaven, his person had not bin
Not long the wonder of the Court, before
His fairer vertues which adorn'd him more
Then th' other could disguise, did justly prove
The happy object of the Princes love,
Whose influence whilst it him to power did raise
Taught by reflex the people how to praise
That fair election, till the Pyramed
Rais'd to his fame, had fixt its lofty head
Above the clouds of fortune, yet not this
Fates fairest smile, a Lovers best of bliss,

A free commerce, which unsuspected might,
Though long and pleasant as the Summers light,
Be ne'r disturb'd, with fair Orlinda gives
Content such fulness, that although he lives
To all unknown but her alone, in that
Enjoy'd more then ambition e'er aim'd at.

And now from all the fruitless diligence
Of inquisitions, and the vain expence
Of time, return'd were every troop that had
Trew forlorn hopes been, Active in the sad
Search of Pharonnida, which ending in
A just despair, some that till then within
The Castle walls had (though as vainly) sought,
Their sorrow forth, before the griev'd Prince brought
Brunorchus, whom they in a small lodge, where
Secur'd by sollitude, the houshold care
Of locks and bolts were vain unsought, they found
In the soft bands of griefs, best opiate bound,
Sleep, who though thron'd within her ebbon seat
From lusts hot field appears, but his retreat
When tir'd with action; for besides him they
Where's poisons antidote, Amphibia lay
Block'd up in's arms, beheld the air with all
Their voices stroke at length, had rais'd a call
That drown'd their sleeping thunder, from the bed
Brunorchus starting struggles to have fled

The shamefull danger, whilst Amphibia creeps
Beneath her sheets protection, but nought keeps
Pursuing vengeance back, there took, and brought
Before the Prince, who startl'd at the thought
Of such a complicated crime, refers
Their punishment to death's dire Messengers.

The yet succesfull Lovers long e'er this
Safely arriv'd at their first stage of bliss,
Florenza's low unenvied roof, did there
Since speed was now the fairest childe of care,
Stay only to exchange their horse, and take
With her a guide whose practick skill could make
Their untrod paths familiar, through a low
Dark vail where shade-affecting weeds did grow
Eternal strangers to the Sun, did lie
The narrow path, frequented onely by
The forest Tyrants when they bore their prey
From open dangers of discovering day.

Past through this desart valey, they were now
Climing an easie hill, where every bough
Maintain'd a feather'd chorister to sing
Soft Panegyricks, and the rude windes bring
Into a murmuring slumber, whilst the calm
Morn on each leaf did hang her liquid balm,
With an intent before the next Suns birth
To drop it in those wounds which the cleft earth

Receiv'd from's last days beams, the hills ascent
Wound up by action, in a large extent
Of leavie plains, shews them the canopie
Beneath whose shadow their large way did lie:
Which being lookt ore, whilst thankful praise did pay
Their debts to heaven, they thence with a convay
Of prayers (those swift ambassadors) did send
A hopeful glance tow'rd their large journies end.

These short surveys past, since the place assures
A safe repose to cool the Calentures
Of feverish action, down a way that led
From Pleasures throne unto her fragrant bed
A rank of Laurels, spreading to protect
The flowry path, which not unprun'd neglect
Robb'd of delight, they past, the slow descent
Soon brings them where her richest ornament
(Although with art unpleited) Nature in
A lovely Landshape wore, that once had been
Sacred to th'Islands fruitful Goddess; here
Whilst they behold the infants of the year
Ith' Springs unsullied livery clad, the fair
And large-limb'd trees, preparing to repair
Autums spent stock, from out an humble hill
A tributary fountain did distill
The earths cold blood, and murmuring convays
It on a bed of peebles, till it pays

Her debts to th' neighboring river. Near to it
Full Chorusses of feather'd Hero's sit
Amidst their willow-mansions, to whose ease
Their shrill notes call the sportive Driades.

Whilst by the brightest glories of that age
This Royal robe worne in a hermitage
Is seen with such a silent sad delight
As smooths the furrows of an Anchorite;
Their solemn walk had brought them to a green
Skirt of that mantle fairly spread between
Two mossie rocks, that near the chrystal stood
Appendixes to larger mountains stood:
Near which they saw, with mournful majesty,
A heap of solitary ruines lie
Half-sepulchred in dust, the bankrupt heir
To prodigal Antiquity, whose fair
Composures did (beneath times pride sunk low)
But dim vestigia's of their beauty shew.

Yet that it might unreverend gazers tell
It once was sacred Ceres image fell
From a thrones splendor did neglected lie
Sunk with her temple to deformitie,
Dark, gloomy groves, which holy altars shade
With solitude, such as religion made
Full of an awful reverence, and drew
The ravisht soul from the worlds wandring view,

Circled the sacred valley, into one
Of which our Royal Lovers were alone
Retir'd in private sollitude to pay
Sleeps forfeitures, whilst the bright bloomy day
Swears the hidroptick earth, but joy denies
That sullen ghest an entrance in their eies.
Their eyes, which now like wandring Plannets met
After a race of cross aspects, and set
Within a firmament of beauty, thence
On Loves cold Region dropt their influence;
Warm'd by whose vigor, springs of pleasures had,
Watring their cheeks, those fields in roses clad.

Fear, that till now had made them languish in
A dang'rous hectick, or at best had bin
But cas'd with intervals, which did include
Ambiguous hopes in times vicissitude,
Ceas'd to usurp, yet (though the throne expell'd)
A large command in Reasons Empire held
Leading those parties which wise counsel sent
Close ambuscado'd dangers to prevent;
Nor could the conduct fail, assail'd by ought
Within the circuit of extended thought.
Deliberation (the souls wary Scout)
Being still imploy'd to lead fresh parties out
'Gainst the known enemies of hope. But here
Black Troops of danger, undiscern'd of fear,

Assaults unralli'd fortitude, whilst she
Slept 'mongst the rose-beds of securitie.

Exalted far above the gross mistakes
Of vulgar love, cloth'd in such thoughts as shakes
Ripe souls from out their husks of earth, to be
Pick'd up by Angels, joys Stenographie
In their embraces met; not with less strength
Of love (though yet not to be wrought at length)
Then that which meets in nuptial folds when they
Reap Heavens first blessing, in their bloods allay
Met their full seas of passion, yet both calm
As vertues brow, their blood but warm'd like balm
To pour in sorrows wounds, not boild into
A scum of lust, The worlds first man did wo
The blushing offspring of his side, the first
Unpractickt Virgin, with as great a thirst
Of blood as theirs, when in the safe defence
Of Paradice each act was innocence.

Here whilst their sweet imployment was discourse
Taught in the School of Vertue, to divorce
Those maiden brides, their twisted eye-beams, sleep
Which flies the open gates of care, did creep
In at their cristal windows to remove
The lamp of joy, fill'd with the oil of love.
The Princess spirits fled from the distress
Of action into calm forgetfulness

Having the Curtains drawn, Argalia's head
Softly reposing on her lap (that bed)
Of precious odors, there receives a while
A rest, for sweetness such as Saints beguile
Time in, in their still dormitories till
Heavens summons shall their hopes on earth fulfill.

Remov'd from them, feeding his horses in
A well-fleec'd meddow which that age had seen
Till then ne'er loose its Sommer robe before,
Russet with age, he put it off, and wore
A glittering tissue furr'd with snow, did lie
Their careful guide, secure, till frighted by
A dreadful noise of horse, whose rushing wakes
Him to behold; what seen with terror shakes
Off sleeps declining weights, in such a strange
Amaze as (forts surpris'd) the skar'd guards, change
Their swords for Fetters, flying he looks back
On the steel fronted troop, till at his back
Approaching danger gathering in a cloud
Of death overwhelms him, frighting with its loud
Exalted clamors from their then clos'd eyes,
(Loves altars,) sleeps intended sacrifice.

Shook from their slumber with the first salutes
Of light to meet their ruin, thick recruits
Of brave resolves into Argalia's brest,
Had swiftly summon'd; but the Princess rest.

Exchang'd for wilde amazement, in which sad
Restraint of spirits, life with beauty had
Fled to the silent Region, if not by
Her Royal friend supported, who the high
Pitch of exalted anger, whilst he draws
His sword to vindicate their righteous cause,
Descends to comfort her, thinking those troops
Her Fathers Messengers, his brave soul stoops
Not to request a favor; but although
Their multitude, in hopes account outgrow
Life more then those diseases which attend
On ages cold extream, he dares defend
Love, though by vigor of supream commands
Depriv'd of favor's mercinary Bands.

Prompted by power that soveraign antidote
'Gainst Natures poyson, baseness and by roate)
Not Arts fair Rules, taught Lessons of defence:
These dregs of men, not having more pretence
Then what from Riot was extorted, in
Unwieldy throngs the conquest strive to win
From single valor, not the powerfull pray'r
Of her whose voice had purified the ayr
To a seraphick excellence, the sweet,
Heav'n lov'd Pharonnida could come to meet
Pitty in this rude wilderness, her words
Losing their form in the wild air affords

Their busie souls no heedfull leasure, but
With wilder passions the soul's portals shut.

That sober friend to happy sollitude,
Silence, which long those blest shades did include,
By rude noise banisht from her solemn Throne,
Did in a deep and hollow eccho grone;
Whilst the brave Champion, whose own worth did bring
Assistance, yet had in a bloody ring
Strew'd death's pale triumphs, and in safety stands
The dangerous business of so many hands,
All which had in the grave joyn'd palms, if by
One stroke that index unto victory,
His sword, had not with sudden breaking prov'd
Traitor to th' strength by whose command it mov'd.

Rob'd of this safe defence, Valors brave flame
In vain is spent, that Piramis of fame
Built by his hand o'er Loves fair temple, now
Even in the view of's Saint is forc't to bow
Beneath an earthquake, his commanding soule
In this sharp conflict, striving to controle
Nature, (rebellious to her power) lets flye
In vain the piercing lightning of the eye,
Whose dark leads drooping in a death like close,
Forbids high fury thundring on his foes.

He falls, and from each purple salliport
Of wounds, tir'd spirits, in a thick resort

Flie the approach; in which wild trance
His eyes did their declining lights advance
Above their gloom of darkness to convay
The last faint beam of natures falling day
To his distrest Pharonnida: but she
In clouds of sorrow lost, was gone to be
Close mourner for his rigid fate beneathe
A pale sowns shady vale, and could not breathe
One sigh to welcom those sick guests, nor lend
A beam to light them to their journies end;
Which being depriv'd of, in deaths dark disguise
Forgetful shadows did obscure his eyes.

Branded with an ignoble victory,
His base oppressors, staying not to try
Where fire remains in lifes dark lamp, forsake
Their bleeding shame, and only with them take
The trembling Ladies, whose amazement yet
Griefs floodgates shuts in a distracting fit
Of wilder passions, circled in which cloud
She's hurried thence; and ere that damp aloud
Light through her souls prospectives, had past ore
Much of the Desart, and arriv'd before
A barren Rocks proud front; which being too steep
For the laborious traveller, a deep
Dark vault did pierce, whose dismal black descent
Safe passage to a distant valley lent.

With slow ill-boding steps, this horrid way
Orecome, they meet the Beauties of the day
Within the pregnant vale, a place that shewed
Some art had prun'd what natures hand bestowed.
No earth-encumbring weeds, but wholsom plants
Such as relieve the winter of our wants,
Were here in comely order plac'd, each tree
Tir'd with his fruitful burden stoops to be
Eas'd by the lowliest hand; for want of which
Their feeble stems had dropt them to enrich
Their pregnant mother; this civilitie
Proclaiming more then art had meant to be
The dress of desarts, did at first appear
As if those useful blessings had for fear
That wasteful man should ravish them to feed
His luxury, fled thither; none that need
Such thrifty joys in the circumference
Oth' vally seeming to have residence.

All whose exalted pride did terminate
The levell'd eye, was a round hill that sate
As center to the golden vale, come near
To which, what did externally appear
A rock in ivy drest, being enter'd shewed
The beauties of a gorgeous palace, hewed
Out of the living stone, whose vaulted brest
Had by the union of each part exprest

The strength of Concord; The black Rock was all
Tinsell'd with windows, over which did fall
Thin Ivy-wreaths, like Cobweb-vails that shade
The salliports of Beauty, only made
To cool, not darken, and on those that sit
VVithin bestow a shady benefit.

They being drawn near, a sad old man that sate
Unwilling Porter, from the spacious gate
Withdrew the verdant curtain, she is now
Enter'd the Castle, where could fear allow
Her eyes that liberty she had survai'd,
Buildings, whose strength with beauty join'd, betrai'd
Times modern issues to contempt, and by
A lasting glory prais'd antiquity.
But Pleasure spreads her baits in vain, she sate
Beneath the frozen Artick of her fate,
Whilst he from whose aspect she only felt,
Delightful hear, in's winter-solstice dwelt.

More to depress her sinking spirits, she
Too soon finds cause to think that gravitie
She met ith' entrance, but the reverend shade
Of injur'd worth, which accident had made
Stoop to that bondage, vertue drooping in
His furrowed cheeks, as if depos'd, she'd bin
Thither confin'd within the walls, to let
Imperious vice her painted banners set.

A troop of wild Bandits, vilains whose guilt
Shun'd publick haunts, heavns privat blessings spilt
There in luxurious riot, which grown bold
By toleration, durst to th' light unfold
Vices deformedst issues; nought by th' name
Of sin being known, but sins betrayer, shame.
In such a loose intemperance as raigns
In conquer'd cities, when the soldiers pains
With spoils of peace is paid, they liv'd: 'mongst these
Some few unhappy women kept t'appease
Lusts tumults, she beheld, whose looks betraid
A sickly guilt, and made the Royal maid
Amidst her griefs cold symptoms blush to see
How pale they look'd with Lusts deformitie.

Whilst these are view'd, with such a change as that
Poor Village-drunkards are enforc'd to at
An Officers approach, when the night grows
Deep as their draughts, she sees them all compose
Their late wild looks; nor was this dress of fear
In vain put on, Almanzor did appear
Dreaded Almanzor, who on them had built
A power, which though by unsuccessful guilt
Banisht to th' desart, forc'd their wants to be
The helpless sufferers of his-tyrannie.

Past through the fear dispersed throng, he's to
The Princess come, where startled at the view

Of Majesty, shrinks back, unsteady haste
VVhich brought him there but to view Beauties plac'd
VVithin the reach of's lust, assaulted by
Objects that both to love and loyalty
Had prov'd him an apostate, to retreat
Within a blush attempts; but that's too great
A friend to bashful vertue in that face
Whose heart deposes her, to sprinkle grace.

Ruffled with this recoil of spirits, in
Such troubled haste as Novices begin
New conn'd orations, he himself applies
To th' injur'd Lady, whose brave spirit flies
Not what she fear'd, but with the brave defence
Of scorn opposes blushless impudence,
Crushing the embrio's of that language, in
Whose guilty accents he attempts to win
Opinions favor, and by that redeem
VVhat former guilt had lost in her esteem.

Contemn'd with such a look as Princes cast
On over-bold usurpers, he is past
The first encounter of her eye, and she
Turn'd in disdain to shew her great soul free
From low submission, by which fir'd into
A sullen anger, he resolves to mew
The Royal Eaglet, until freedom grow
A favor whose fair streams might overflow

Those barren fields of indesert, in which
His fortune pines, lest this fair prize inrich
The cursed soil, and on its surface place
The long abstracted beams of princely grace.

She to the narrow confires of a room
Restrain'd to let his rufl'd thoughts resume
Their calm composure (counsels throne) he goes
Aside, and on that doubtfull text bestows
The clearest comment of his judgement, yet
Falls short of truth, and must contented sit
To know her there, though not the accident
Which from her fathers glorious Court had sent
Her so ill guarded; but referring that
To times discovery, he transported at
What was a truth confirm'd, within the wide
Arms of his hope, grasps, what aspiring pride
Or lusts loose Rhet'rick, when youths rigrous fire
Beauty hath kindled, prompts him to desire.

Yet by two sev'ral paths to tread that way
His crime's dark roads, Lust and Ambition lay,
The poor Florenza, that long since had been
The trembling object of the baser sin,
To make his slie access to either free
From th' others thoughts, must from her Lady be
In this dark storm remov'd, he fearing less
That counsel aiding vertue in distress,

Though wanting strength the battel to maintain,
Might countermine the engine of his brain.

To this sad separation leaving them
Whom innocence had licenc'd to condemn
Fortunes harsh discipline, Almanzor goes
Fates dark enigma's, by the help of those
That took her to unvail, but 'twas a work
Too full of subtil mysterie, a Turk
Her brave Defender, by those garments which
Rash fear had onely rested to enrich
Nice inquisition seem'd, by which betray'd
To dark mistakes, his policy obey'd
Domestick counsels, and by subtil spies
Whose ears were more officious then their eyes,
Soon from the lovesick Ladies close complaints
His wiser knowledge with their cause acquaints.

The End of the First Canto.