Pharonnida :: :: University of Virginia Library

From Seas wild fury, and the wilder rage
Of faithless Turks, two noble strangers freed,
Let Curtesie their gratefull Souls engage
To such a Debt as doth obstruct their speed.

II

Where they to fill those Sceans unactive rest,
Would tedious make in fair description saw,
How Spata's Prince for his Queens loss opprest,
Found all those Ills cur'd in Pharonnida.

The Earth which lately lay like Natures Tomb,
Marbl'd in Frosts, had from her pregnant Womb
Display'd the fragrant Spring, when courted by
A calm fresh Morning, ere Heavens brightest Ey
Adorn'd the East, a Spartan Lord, whom Fame,
Taught from Desert, made glorious by the Name

Of Aminander, with a noble train,
(Whose active Youth did sloath-like sin disdain)
Attended, had worn out the Morning in
Chase of a stately Stag, which having bin
Forc'd from the Forests safe protection, to
Discovering Plain, his clamourous Foes had drew
Up to a steep Cliffs lofty top, where he
As if grown proud, so sacrific'd to be
To mans delight, 'mongst the pursuing cry,
(Who make the Valleys eccho Victory)
Sinks weeping, whilst exalted shouts did tell
The distant Heards, their ancient Leader fell.

The half-tir'd Hunters, their swift Game stopt here
By death, like noble Conquerors appear,
To give that Foe, which now resistless lies
With their shrill Horns his Fun'rall Obsequies;
Which whilst performing their diverted sight,
Turns to behold a far more fatall fight:
That since fam'd Gulf, where the brave Austrian made
The Turkish Crescents an eternall shade,
Beneath dishonour seeks, Lepanto lay
So neer, that from their lofty station they
A Ship upon whose Streamers there were fixt
The Christian Badge saw in fierce Battell mixt,
With a prevailing Turkish Squadron that
With shouts assault, what now lay onely at
That feeble Guard, which under the pretence
Of injuring others, seeks its own defence.

Clear was the day, and calm the Sea so long
Till now the Turks, whose numbers grew too strong,
For all that could no other help afford,
But humane strength, within their view did board

The wretched Christians, to whose sufferings they
Can lend no comfort, but what Pray'rs convey
To helpfull Heaven, by whose attentive Ear,
Both heard and pittyed, Mercy did appear
In this swift change: A hollow Wind proclaims
Approaching storms, the black Clouds burst in flames,
Imprison'd Thunder roars, and in a shoure,
Dark as the Night, dull sweaty Vapors poure
Themselves on th' earth, t' enrich whom Nature vents
Th' etherial Fabricks useless excrements;
Whose flatuous pride, as if it did disdain
Such base descents, rowling the liquid plain
Into transparent Mountains, hurls them at
The brow of Heaven, whose Lamps by Vapors that
Their influence rais'd, are crampt, whilst the sick day
Was languishing to such a Night as lay
O're the first Matter, when Confusion dwelt
In the vast Chaos, ere the rude Mass felt
Heavens segregating breath; But long this fierce
Conflict indures not, ere the Sun-beams pierce
The scatterd Clouds, which whilst wild Winds pursue
Through sullied Aire in reaking Vapors flew.

In this Encounter of the storm before
Its sable Vail let them discover more,
Then contain'd horror, a loud dreadfull shriek,
Piercing the thick Aire, at their Ears did seek
For trembling entrance, being transported by
Uncertain drifts, rent Sails and Tackling fly
Amongst the towring Cliffs, a sure presage
That adverse Winds did in that storm engage
Some Vessell; which did from her Cordage part,
With such sad pangs, as from the dying Heart

Convulsions tear the Fibers. But the day
Recov'ring her lost Rain, made clearer way
For a more sad discov'ry. They behold
The brackish Main in funerall Pomp unfold
The Trophies of her Cruelty: Her Brow
Uncurl'd with Waves, was only spotted now
With scatter'd Ruines, here engag'd within
The ruffl'd Sails, some sad Souls that had been
For life long strugling tir'd, at length are forc'd
To sink and die; Yonder a Pair divorc'd
From all the warm Society of flesh,
With cold stiff Arms embrace their Fate; The fresh
And tender Virgin in her Lovers sight,
The Sea-Gods ravish, and th' Enthean light
Of those bright Orbs, her Eyes, which could by nought
But Seas be quencht, t' eternall darkness brought.

Whilst pittying these, a suddain noise, whose strange
Confusion did their Passions Object change,
Assaults their wonder, which by this surprize
Amaz'd, perswades them to inform their Eyes
With its obscure Originall, when led
By sounds that might in baser Souls have bred
A swift aversion: clashing Weapons they
Might soon behold upon the Sands, that lay
Beneath the Rock, a Troop of desp'rate men,
Unstartled with those dangers, which even then
Their ruin'd Ship, and dropping Garments shewd
Heaven freed them from, what Mercy had bestowd:
Let their own anger loose, which flaming in
A fatall Combate, had already bin
In blood disfigur'd: But when now so near
Them drawn, that every Object did appear

In true distinction, they with wonder rais'd
To such a height, as Poets would have prais'd
Their Heroes in, a noble Christian saw
Whose Sword (as if by the eternall Law
Of Providence, to punish Infidels,
Directed) with each falling stroke expels
A Turks black Soul; Yet Valor being opprest
By multitudes, must have at length sought rest
From Death, had not brave Ariamnes, by
His Hunters followed, brought him Victory:
Whilst the approaching danger did exclude
Even hope, the last support of Fortitude.

The desperate Turks that chose the Sea to be
Their sad Redeemer of Captivity:
Though from that fear they fled to death, had now
Upon the Shoar left none, life could allow
But motion to, though stopt by death such store,
All the Escap'd appeard, but such as bore
The fatall Story of destruction to
Their distant Friends; when now a serious view
By Ariamnes, and that noble Youth,
Whose Actions (honourd as authentick truth)
Made all admire him, of their pitty'd dead
With sorrow took, one worthy Soul unfled
From life they found, which by Argalia seen,
With joy recalls those Spirits that had been
In busie Action lost, but danger that
Toward the Throne of life seem'd entring at
Too many wounds, denies him to enlarge
The Sheam of Love, as noble Vertues charge
To him (her follower) Ariamnes by
His goodness, and their sad necessity,

Prompted to pity, fearing slow delays
As dangers fatall Harbinger, conveys
The wounded strangers to the place, where he
His Palace made the Throne of Charitie.

'Twas the short journey 'twixt the Day and Night,
The calm fresh Evening, Times Hermaphrodite.
The Sun on Lights dilated Wings being fled,
To call the Western Villagers from Bed:
Ere at his Castle they arrive, which stood
Upon a Hill, whose Basis freng'd with wood,
Shadowed the fragrant Meadows, thorough which
A spatious River, striving to enrich
The flow'ry Valleys, with what ever might
At home be profit, or abroad delight,
With parted streams that pleasant Islands made,
Its gentle Current to the Sea conveyd.

In the composure of this happy place
Wherein he lived, as if fram'd to embrace
So brave a Soul, as now did animate
It with its presence, strength, and beauty sate
Combin'd in one, 'twas not so vastly large,
But fair convenience countervaild the charge
Of Reparations, all that modest Art
Affords to sober pleasures every part,
More for its Ornament, but none were drest
In Robes so rich, but what alone exprest
Their Masters providence and care to be,
A prop to falling Hospitality;
For he not Comet-like did blaze out in
This Country Sphear, what had extracted been
From the Courts lazy Vapors, but had stood
There like a Star of the first Magnitude,

With a fixt constancy so long, that now
Grown old in Vertue he began to bow
Beneath the weight of time, and since the calm
Of Age had left him nothing to embalm
His Name but Vertue, strives in that to be
The glorious wonder of Posterity;
Each of his Actions being so truly good,
That like the Ground where hollowed Temples stood,
Although by age the Ruines ruin'd seem,
The people beare a reverent esteem
Unto the place; so they preserve his Name,
A yet unwasted Pyramid of Fame.

Rich were his publick Vertues, but the price
Of those was but the World to Paradice,
Compar'd with that rare Harmony that dwells
Within his Walls, each Servant there excells
All but his Fellows in desert, each knew,
First when, then how his Lords Commands to do;
None more enjoyed, then was enough, none less,
All did of plenty tast, none of excess;
Riot was here a stranger, but far more
Repining penury, ne're from that doore,
The Poor-man went denied, nor did the rich
Ere surfet there, 'twas the blest Medium, which,
Extracted from all compound Vertues we
Make, and then Christian Mediocrity,
Within the compass of his spatious Hall,
Stood no vain Pictures to obscure the Wall,
Which usefull Armes adornd, and such as when
His Prince requir'd assistance, his own men
Valiant, and numerous, mannag'd to defend
That righteous Cause, but never to attend

A popular Faction, whose corrupted Seed
Hell did engender, and Ambition feed.

His Judgment that like Lifes Attendant, Sence,
To try each Objects various difference,
Fit Mediums chose (which he made Vertue) here
Beholding (though these wandring Stars appear
Now in their greatest detriment) the Rays
Of perfect worth, he to that Vertue payes
Those Attributes of honour, which unto
Their Births (though now in course disguise) was due:
To Aphrons wounds successfull Art applies,
Prevailing Med'cines, whilst Invention flies
To the Aphelion of her Orb to seek
Such modest Pleasures as might smooth the Cheek
Of ruffl'd Passion, which being found are spent,
To cure the sad Argalia's discontent:
Which long being lost to all delight, at length
Revives again his Friends recover'd strength.

They having now no Remora to stay
Them here but what their gratitude did pay
To his desires, whose Courtesie had made
Those bonds of Love, with as much zeal obey'd,
As those which duty locks, preparing are
To take their leave, even in whose civil War
Whilst they contend with Courtesies, as sent
To rescue when his Eloquence was spent.
Brave Amminander, with such hast as shewed
His speed to some supream Injunction owed
Such diligence, a Messenger brings in
A Packet, which that noble Lord had been
Too frequently acquainted with to fear
Th' unseen Contents which open'd did appear,

A Mandate from his royall Master to
Attend him ere the next dayes Beauties grew
Deform'd with Age, which honourd Message read
To banish what Suspition might have bred
In's doubtfull Friends, he the inclos'd contents,
With cheerfull hast unto their view presents.

Their fear thus cur'd by information, he
That his appearance in the Court might be
More glorious made by such Attendants to
Incite in them a strong desire to view
Those royall Pastimes, thus relates that story,
Whose fatall truth transfer'd the Morea's glory
So often thither. 'Twas my honourd friends
My fate ('mongst some, that yet his Court attends)
Then to be neer my Prince, when what now draws
Him to these parts did prove at once the cause
Of joy and grief. Not far from hence remov'd,
The Vale of Ceres lies, where his belov'd
Pharonnida remains, a Lady that,
Nature ordaind for man to wonder at;
She not being more the comfort of his age,
Then glory of her Sex: but I engage
My self to a more large discovery, which,
Thus take in brief, When Youth did first enrich
Beauty with manly strength, his happy Bed
Was with her royall Mother blest, who fed
A flame of Vertue in her Soul, that lent
Light to a Beauty, which being excellent,
In its own Sphear, by that reflection shon,
So heavenly bright, Perfections height of noon
Dwelt only there; Some years had circled in
Times revolutions, since they first had been

Acquainted with those private pleasures that
Attend a Nuptiall Bed, ere she did at
Lucina's Temple offer, whose bar'd Gate,
Once open flow, both their good Angels sate
In councell for her safety, hopes of a Boy,
To be Morea's Heir, fill high with joy
The ravisht Parents, Subjects did no less,
In the loud voice of Triumph theirs express.

But when the active pleasures of their love
Which fill'd her Womb, had taught the Babe to move
Within the mory Mount, preceding pains,
Tell the fair Queen, that the dissolving Chains,
Nature incos'd it in, were grown so weak,
That the imprison'd Infant soon would break
Those slender Guards, the gravest Ladies were
Call'd to assist her, whose industrious care,
Lend Nature all the helps of Art, but in
Despair of safety send their Prayers to win
Relief from Heaven, which swift Assistance lent,
T' unload the Burthen, but those Cordials sent,
By Harbengers, with whom the fair Queen fled,
To deck the silent dwellings of the dead,
And lodge in Sheets of Lead, o're which were cast
A Coverlet of the Springs Infants past
From life like her, even whilst Earths teeming Womb,
Promist the World, and not a silent Tomb,
That beauteous Issue; But those Nimphs which spun
Her thread of life the slender twine begun,
Too fine to last long, undenied by
The pondrous burthen of Mortality;
Beneath whose waight, she sinking now to death,
Th' unhappy Babe was by the Mothers breath

No sooner welcom'd into life before
She bids farewell, of Power to do no more,
But whilst her Spirits with each word expires,
Thus to her Lord express her last desires.

Receive this Infant from thy dying Queen,
Name her Pharonnida, at which word between
His trembling Armes she sunk, and had even then
Breath'd forth her Soul, if not recall'd agen,
By their loud Mournings from the Icy sleep,
Which like a chilling Frost did softly creep,
Through the cold Channels of her blood to bar
The springs of life, in which defensive War,
The hasty Summons sent by death alow,
Her giddy Eyes, whose heavy leads did bow
Toward everlasting slumber, no more light,
Then what affords a dim Imperfect sight;
Such as the troubl'd Opticks being by,
Dying Convulsions wrested, could let fly,
Thorough their sullied Chrystals to behold,
Her wofull Lord, whilst she did thus unfold
Her dying thoughts; O hear, O hear (quoth she) I do,
By all our mutuall Vows conjure thee to
Let this sweet Babe, all thou hast left of me,
Within thy Thoughts preserve my Memorie.
And since (poor Infant) she must lose her Mother,
To beg an entrance here, oh let no other
Have more Command o're her then what may bear
An equall poise with thy paternall Care.

This, this is all that I shall leave behind,
An earnest of our loves, here thou mayst find,
Perhaps my Image to behold, whilst I
Resolving into dust imbrac'd do lye,

By crawling Worms. Followers that Nature gave
To attend Mortality, whilst the tainted Grave
Is ripening us for Judgment: O my Lord,
Death were the smile of Fate, would it afford
Me time to see this Infants growth, but oh,
I feel Lifes Cordage crackt, and hence must go
From time and flesh, like a lost Feather fall
From th' Wings of Vanity, forsaking all
The various business of the World, to see
What wondrous Change dwels in Eternitie.

This sayd, she faintly bids farewell, then darts
An eager look on all, but ere she parts,
Even whilst the breath, with which in thin Aire slips
Departing Spirits, on her then cold Lips
In clammy Dews did hang, she of them takes
Her last farewell, whilst her pure Soul forsakes
Its brittle Cab'net, and those Orbs of light,
That swam in death, sunk in eternall Night.

Thus di'd the Queen, Pharonnida thus lost,
Ere knew her Mother, when her Birth had cost,
A price so great, that brought her Infancy
In debt to Grief, untill maturity
Ripen'd her Age to pay it, after long
And vehement lamentation, such whose strong
Assaults had almost shook his Soul into
A flight from th' Earth, her Father doth renew
His long lost Mirth, at the delight he took,
In his Souls Darling; whose each cheerfull look,
Crimson'd those Sables, which even whilst he wore
A flood of Woes his head had silver'd o're:
Had not this Comfort stopt them, which beguiles
Sorrow of some few hours, those pretty smiles,

That drest her fair Cheeks like a gentle Thief,
Stealing his heart through all the Guards of Grief.

But when that time's expunging hand had more
Defac'd those sable Characters he wore
For Sorrows Livery o're his Soul, and she
Having out-grown her tender Infancy,
Did now (her Thoughts compos'd of heavenly Seed)
To guide her life no other Guardian need,
But native Vertue, for her calm retreat,
When burthend Corinth was with throngs repleat:
He chose this seat, whose venerable shade,
Waving what blind Antiquity had made,
For sacred held, is not so sleighted, but
A Custome ancient, as our Law, hath shut
Hence (as the hatefull marks of servitude)
All that unbounded power did e're obtrude
On suffering Subjects, which, this happy place
Fits so serene a blessing to embrace,
As is this Lady, whose illustrious Court,
Though now augmented by the full resort,
Of her great Fathers Train, doth still appear
This happy Kingdomes brightest Hemispheare.

A hundred noble Youths in Sparta bred,
Of Valour high, as ere for Beauty bled,
All loyall Lovers, and that Love confin'd
Within the Court are for her Guard assign'd.
But what (if oft in such an Orb of all
That's great, or good, may low as Censure fall)
The Court hath questioned, is the cause that mov'd
The Prince to give a Party so belov'd
Into his hands that leads them, being one
Whose Birth excepted, that being neer a Throne,

Those Vertues wants on whose Foundation wise
Considerate Princes let their Favours rise.
Like the abortive Births of Vapors by
Their Male Progenitors inforc'd to fly
Above the Earth their proper Sphear, and there
Lurk in imperfect Forms, his Breast doth bear
Some Seeds of Goodness, which the Soil too hot,
With rank Ambition, doth in ripening rot.
Yet, though from those that praise humilitie,
He merits not, a dreaded power which he
Far more applauds, rais'd on the Wings of's own
Experienc'd Valour, hath so long been known
His Foes pale terrour, that 'tis fear'd he bends
That Engine to the ruine of his friends,
Whose equall Merits claim as much of Fame,
As e're was due to proud Almanzors Name.

Yet what may raise more strong desires to see,
Her Court then Valors wisht societie,
Is one unusuall Custome, which the love
Of her kind Father hath so far above
All past Examples rais'd, that for the time
He here resides, no Cause, although a Crime,
Which death attends, but is by her alone
Both heard and judg'd, he seeming to unthrone
His active power, whilst Justice doth invest
His beauteous Daughter, which to the opprest,
Whose hopes even shrunk into despair, hath in
That harsh extream their safe Asilum bin:
So that even those that fear'd the 'vent could now
Mix their desires, the Custome would allow
Her Reign a longer date. But that I may
Illustrate this by a more full survay

Of her excelling Vertues, no pretence,
Of harsh imployment shall command you hence,
Till you have been Spectators of that Court,
Whose Glories are too spatious for Report.

The noble Youths beholding such a flame,
Of Vertue shewn them through the Glass of Fame,
First gaze with wonder on it, which ascends
Into desire, a Rivolet which ends,
Not till its swelling streams had drawn them through
All weak excuses, and engag'd them to
Attend on Ariamnes; when to show
How much mans vain Intentions fall below
Mysterious Fate, even in the height of all
Their full Resolves, her Countermands thus call
Back their Intentions, by a Summons that
Th' uncertain World hath often trembled at.

The late recoverd Aphron, whether by
Too swift a Cure, Lifes springs being rais'd too high,
Flowd to a dangerous Plethora, or where
Some Cause occult the Humours did prepare
For that malignant Ill, did, whilst he lay
In tedious expectation of the day,
Shook with a shievering numness, first complain,
Through all his Limbs of a diffusive pain:
Which searching each to find the fittest part,
For its Contagion, on the labouring heart
Fixes at length, which being with grief opprest,
By the extended Artries to the rest
Oth' body sends its flames, the poysond blood
Through every Vein streams in a burning flood.
His Liver broyls, and his scortch'd stomach turns
The Chile to Cinders; in each cold Cell burns

The humid Brains. A violent Earthquake shakes
The crackling Nerves, Sleeps balmy Dew forsakes
The shrivel'd Obticks; in which trembling fits,
'Mongst tortur'd Sences troubled Reason sits
So long opprest with Passion, till at length,
Her feeble Mansion, batter'd by the strength
Of a Disease, she leaves to entertain
The wild Chymera's of a sickly Brain.

And, what must yet to's Friends Affliction add,
More weights of grief, their courteous hast which had
Stayed to the latest step of time, must now
Comply with those Commanders, which could allow
No more delays, and leave Argalia to
Be the sole Mourner for his Friend, which drew
As far as humane Art could guess so neer
His end, that life did only now appear
In thick, short sobs, those frequent summons that
Souls oft forsake their ruin'd Mansions at.

The end of the first Canto.

CANTO THE SECOND.

The Argument.

III

Whilst here Argalia in a calm Retreat,
Allays the sorrow felt for's sickly Friend,
Two blooming Virgins neer him take their Seat,
Whose harmless Mirth soon finds a hapless end.

IV

The fairest seiz'd on, and near ruin'd by
Impeteous Lust, had not Andremon's speed
Protected her, till from his fall drawn nigh
The same sad Fate the brave Argalia freed.

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.

The end of the second Canto.

CANTO THE THIRD.

The Argument.

V

The brave Argalia, who design'd to raise
Through all approaching ills his weighty Fate,
In smooth Compliance that harsh Guard obeys
Who tow'rd his death did prosecute their hate:

VI

To death, which here unluckily had staind,
Maugre his friends, the ill directed Sword
Of Justice, had not secret love obtaind
More mercy then the strict Laws dare afford.

Low in a fruitful Pasture, where his Flocks
Cloud with their breath those Plains, whose leavy lock:
Could hardly shadow them, though Meadows need
No shearing, where in untold Droves did feed

His bellowing Heards, of which enough did come,
Each day to's Yoak to serve a Hecatombe;
Lay old Andremons Country Farm, in which
(Happy til now) being made by Fortune rich,
And Goodness honest, from domestick strife,
Stil calm and free, the upper Robes of Life;
Til witherd he had worn, to ease whose sad
And sullen Cares, less bounteous Nature had
Lent him no numerous Issue, all he'd won
By prayer confin'd unto this murtherd Son:
The blasted Blossome of whose tender age,
When blooming first, taught Hope how to presage
Those future Vertues, which interpreted
By Action had such fruitful Branches spread,
That all indulgent Parents wisht to be
Immortalizd in blest Posterity,
Had seen in him, whose innocently good,
Stil let his Heart by's Tongue be understood,
In such a sacred Dialect, that all
Which verg'd within deliberate thought did fall,
Towards Heaven was grac'd, and in descent did prove
To's Parents Duty, and to's Neigbours Love.

This hopeful Youth, their Ages chief support,
Whose absence though by's own desires made short;
Their Love thought tedious, having now expir'd
His usual hours, the aged Couple tir'd
With expectation, to anticipate
His slow appearance to their Mansions Gate;
Where softly walk'd, where cooly shadowed by
An Elm, which planted at his Birth did vie
Age with his Lord, whilst their desires pursue
Its first design, they with some pleasure view

Their busie Servants, whose industrious pain
Sweats out Diseases in pursuit of gain.
All which, although the chiefest pleasure that
Their thoughts contain, whose best are busied at
The Mart oth' World, such small diversion lent
The aged pair, that his kind Mother spent,
With a too long protracted hope had let
Even that expire, had not his Father set
Props to that weakness, and that mutuall fear,
Which fil'd their breasts, let his sound Judgment clear
By the proposing Accidents that might
Untouchd detaine their Darling from their sight.

But many Minutes had not left their seals,
On the Records of Time, ere truth reveals
Her horrid secrets. A confused noise
First strikes their Ears, which suddenly destroys
Its own imperfect Embrioes, to transfer
Its Object to that nearer Messenger
Oth' Soul, the Eyes whose beamy Scouts convey
A trembling fear into their Souls, whilst they
That bore their murtherd Son, arriv'd to tel
Their doleful Message, which so fierce storm fel
Not long in those remoter drops, before
Sweld to a Deluge, the swift Torrent bore
The bays of Reason down, and in one flood
Drownd all their hopes, when purpl'd in his blood
Yet pale with death, untimely Death, she saw
Her hopeful Son, grief violates the Law
Of slower Nature, and his Mothers tears
In death congeals to Marble, her swoln fears,
Grown for her Sex a burthen far too great
Had only left death for her dark retreat.

Although from griefs so violent effects,
Reason conjoynd with manly strength protects
His wretched Father, at that stroke his Limbs
Slack their unweildy Nerves, faint sorrow dims
His Eyes more then his Age, his hands bereft
His hoary head of all that time had left
Unpluckt before, nor had th' expecting Grave,
Gap'd longer for him, if they then had gave
His passion freedome, his own guilty hand
Had broke the Glass, and shook that little Sand
That yet remaind, into thin Aire, that so
Unclog'd with earth, his tortur'd Ghost might go
Beyond that Orb of Attomes that attend
Mortality, and at that Iournies end,
Meet theirs soon, as swift Destiny inrouls
Those new-come Guests within the sphear of Souls.
By these sad symptomes of infectious grief,
Those best of friends that came for the relief
Of sorrows Captives, being by that surprizd
They hop'd to conquer, sadly sympathizd
With him in wo, till th' epedemick Ill,
Stifling each Voice, drest sorrow in a still
And dismal silence, in which sad aspect,
None needing Robes, or Cypress to detect
A Funeral March, each dolefully attends
To deaths dark Mansion, their lamented friends,
Where having now the earthy Curtain drawn
O're their cold Bed, till Doomsdaies fatal dawn,
Rally their dust they, leave them, and retire
To sorrow, which can ne're hope to expire
In just revenge, since kept by fear in aw
Where power offends, the poor scarce hope for Law,

By sad example to confirm this truth,
From innocent and early hopes of youth;
Led tow'rd destruction, let's return to see
That noble stranger, whose captivity,
Like an unlucky Accident depends
On this sad subject. By the angry friends
Of those accus'd, which in that fatal strife,
To death resign'd the Charter of their lift,
He's brought unto the Princes Pallace, where
That age, whose Customes knew not how to bear
Such Sails, as these have fil'd with pride, was plac'd
The seat of Justice, whose stern Sword defac'd
Not pleasures smoothest Front, since now twas by
Her fair hand guided, whose commanding eye,
If armd with Anger, seemd more dreadful then
The harshest Law ere made by wrathful men.

Here strictly guarded, til th' important Crime
Which urg'd her to anticipate the time,
By Custome known, had cal'd her forth to that
Unwilling Office: stil unstartled at
The frowns of danger, did Argalia lie
An injur'd Captive, til commanded by
The stern Reformers of offended Law,
He hasts to th' Bar, where come, though death nere saw
A Brow more calm, or Breast more confident,
To meet his Darts: yet since the innocent
Are staind with guilt, when in contempt of Fate,
They silent fal, he means to meet their hate,
With all that each Beholder could expect,
From dying Valor, when 't had to protect
An envied stranger left no more defence,
But what their hate obscures, his Innocence,

The clamorous friends of Aphron, backt by those
Which knew his death the only mean to close
Almanzors bleeding honour, to the fair
And pitiful Pharonnida repair,
With cries of Vengeance, whose unwelcome sound
She by her Fathers strickt command was bound
To hear, since that those rivolets of Law,
Which from the Sea of regal power did draw
Their several streams, all flowd to her, and in
That chrystal Fountain pure as they had bin
From Heaven dispens'd, ere just Astrea fled
The Earth remaind, yet such aversion bred
In her soft soul, that to these Causes where
The Law sought blood, slowly as those that bear
The weight of Guilt, she came, whose dark Text she
Stil Comments on with noble Charitie.

High mounted on an Ebbon Throne, in which,
Th' imbellisht Silver shewd so sadly rich,
As if its varied form strove to delight
Those solemn souls, which Deaths pale fear did fright;
In Tyrian Purple clad, the Princess sate,
Between two sterner Ministers of Fate,
Impartial Judges, whose distinguisht tasks
Their varied habits to the view unmasks,
One, in whose looks, as pity strove to draw
Compassion in the Tablets of the Law,
Some softness dwelt in a magestick Vest
Of state-like red was cloathd, the other drest
In dismall black, whose terrible Aspect,
Declard his Office, serv'd but to detect
Her slow consent, if when the first forsook
The Cause, the Law so far as death did look.

Silence proclaimd, a harsh Command cals forth
Th' undaunted Prisoner, whose excelling wroth,
In this low ebb of Fortune did appear,
Such as we fancy, Vertues that come near
The excellence of Angels; fear had not
Rifl'd one drop of blood, nor rage begot
More colour in his Cheeks, his soul in state,
Thron'd in the Medium, constant Vertue sate
Not sleighting with the impious Atheists, that
Loud storm of danger, but safe anchord at
Religious hope, being firmly confident,
Heaven would relieve, whom Earth knew innocent.

All thus prepard, he hears his wrongfull Charge,
(Envie disguizing injur'd Truth) at large,
Before the people, in such Language read,
As checkt their hopes, in whom his worth had bred
Some seeds of pity, and to those whose hate
Pursu'd him to this Precipice of Fate,
(Dead Aphrons friends) such an advantage gave,
That Providence appeard too weak to save,
One so assaulted; yet, though now deprest,
Even in opinion, which oft proves the best
Support to those, whose publick Vertues we
Adore, before their private guilt we see.
His noble Soul stil wings it self above
Passions dark Fogs, and like that prosperous Dove,
The Worlds first Pilot, for discovery sent,
When all the floods that bound the Firmament,
Ore-whelmd the Earth, Conscience calm joys t' encrease,
Returns fraight with the Olive Branch of Peace.

Thus fortifi'd from all, that tyrant fear
E're awed the Guilty with, he doth appear,

The Courts just wonder in the brave defence
Of what, though power, armd with the strong pretence
Of right opposd, so prevalent had been,
T' have cleard him, if, when neer triumphing in
Victorious truth to cloud that glorious Sun,
Some faithless Swains, by large Rewards being won
To spot their souls, had not corrupted by
His Foes been brought, falsly to justifie,
Their Accusations, which beheld by him
Whose knowledge now did hopes clear Opticks dim;
He ceas'd to plead, justly despairing then,
That Innocence 'mongst Mortals rested, when
Banisht her owne Abode; so thinks it vain
To let truths naked Armes strive to maintain
The Field 'gainst his more powerful Foes; not all
His Vertues now protect him, he must fall
A guiltless Sacrifice, to expiate
No other Crime, but their invenomd hate.

An ominous silence, such as oft precedes
The fatal sentence, whilst th' Accuser reades
His Charge, possest the pitying Court, in which
Presaging Calm, Pharonnida too rich
In mercy (Heavens supream Prerogative)
To stifle tears did with her passion strive
So long, til what at first assaulted in
Sorrows black Armor had so often bin
For pity cherisht, that at length her eyes
Found there those Spirits that did sympathize
With those that warmd her blood, and unseen move
That Engine of the World, mysterious Love,
The way that Fate predestinated, when
Twas first infus'd ith' Embrio, it being then

That which espousd the active forme unto
Matter, and from that passive being drew,
Divine Ideas, which subsisting in
Harmonious Natures highest sphear, do win
In the perfection of our Age, a more
Expansive power, and Natures common store
Stil to preserve, unites Affections by
The mingled Attomes of the serious eye.

Whilst Natures Priest, the cause of each effect,
Miscal'd Disease Indeavous to detect
Its unacquainted operations in
The beauteous Princess, whose free soul had bin
Yet guarded in her Virgin Ice, and now
A stranger is, to what she doth allow
Such easie entrance, by those Rays that fall
From eithers eyes, to make reciprocal
Their yeilding passions, brave Argalia felt
(Even in the grasp of death) his Functions melt
To flames, which on his heart an on-set make,
For sadness such as weaker Mortals take
Eternal farewels in, yet in this high
Tyde of his blood, in a soft calm to die;
His yielding Spirits, now prepare to meet
Death, cloathd in thoughts, white as his winding sheet.

That fatal doom, which unto Heaven affords
The sole Appeal, one of th' assisting Lords
Had now pronouncd, whose horrid thunder could
Not strike his Laureld Brow, that Voice which would
Have putrified, a timerous Soul he hears
With calm attention, no disorderd fears
Ruffl'd his Fancy, nor domestick War
Rag'd in his breast, his ev'ry look so far

From vulgar passions, that, unless amazd
At Beauties Majesty he sometimes gazd
Wildly on that, as Emblems of more great
Glories then earth afforded, from the seat
Of resolution, his fixt soul had not
Been stird to passion, which had now begot
Wonder, not fear within him. No harsh frown
Contracts his Brow, nor did his thoughts pull down
One fainting spirit, wrapt in smootherd groans,
To clog his heart. From her most eminent Thrones
Of Sense, the Eyes, the lightning of his Soul
Flew with such vigour, forth it did controul
All weaker passions, and at once include,
With Roman Valour, Christian Fortitude.

Pharonnida, from whom the rigid Law
Extorts his Fate, being now inforc'd to draw
The longest Line she ere could hope to move
Over his Face, that beauteous sphear of Love,
Unto its great'st obliquity, she leaves
Him in his winter solstice, and bereaves
Loves Hemisphear of light, not heat, yet oft
Retreating wisht those Stars Fate plac'd aloft
In the first Magnitude of Honour might
Prove retrograde, so their contracted light
Might unto him part of their Influence
In Life bestow, Passion would fain dispence
So far with Reason, to recall again
The sentence she had past, but hop'd in vain,
Those false suggestions moves, his Jaylers are
Th' undaunted Prisoner hurrying from the Bar;
His fair Judge rising, the corrupted Court
Upon removing, all the ruder sort

Of Hearers rushing out, when through the throng,
Kind Ariamnes (being detaind so long
By strict Imployment comes) at whose request,
The Court their Seats resuming, he adrest
Himself to th' Princess, in a Language that
Whilst all Argalias Foes were storming at,
Even on her Justice so prevails, that he
Repriev'd, til all, hope could produce to free
Her Loves new care might be examind by
His active Friend, who now being seated nigh
Pharonnida, whilst all attentive sate;
The strangers story doth at large relate.

Pleas'd at this full relation, nere as much
As griev'd to see those Jewels plac'd in such
A course cheap Mettal, which could never hold
The least proportion with her regal Gold.
Pharonnida had now remov'd, if not
Thus once more stayed, the Rumor first begot,
From this sad truth, had with the common hast,
Of Ill arriv'd, where his Disease had plac'd
Aphron, whose Ears assaulted now with words
Of more infection then that Plague affords
Room for the stronger Passion: though offended,
To leave a hold it had, at first intended
To keep til ruin'd, the imprisond blood,
And spirits are unfetterd, by that flood
To wash usurping grief from off that part
Where most she reign'd, but they drawn near the heart,
And finding Enemies too strong to be,
Incounter'd mix in their society;
Which thus supplyed with Auxiliaries in
Contempt of weakness, when he long had been

Languishing underneath a tedious Load
Of sickness, sends him from his safe Aboad;
'Mongst dangers which in deaths black shape attend
His bold design, to seek his honourd Friend.

Come on the spur of passion to the Court,
A flux of Spirits from all parts resort,
To prompt his anger, which abruptly broke
Forth in this Language. Do not Sirs, provoke
A forrein power thus far (I speak to you,
That have condemnd this stranger) as to do
An Act so opposite to all the Law,
Of Nations, here within your Realm to draw
Blood that's so neer allied unto the best
Of an adjacent State. If this request
Of mine, too full of insolence appear,
We are Spirits nobly born, and near
Enough to hav't, whatever Crime's the Cause
Of this harsh sentence, tri'd by our own Laws.

This bold Opposer of stern Justice, here
Pausing to see what Clouds there did appear
In that fair Heaven, whose influence only now
Could light to's friends declining Stars allow,
To free the troubl'd Court, which struggl'd in
A strange Delemma had commanded bin,
To a more large discovery, if not by
His pitying Friend, discharg'd in a reply,
Doubting how far irregular boldness had
Provok'd just wrath, Argalia thus unclad
Amazements dark disguise. To you that aw
This Court (with that kneels to Pharonnida)
I now for Mercy flee, that scorn to run
From my own doom, so I might have begun

The doubtful task alone, but here to leave
My Friend from whom your Justice did receive
This bold Afront in danger, is a Crime
That not approaching death, which all my time
Too little for repentance cals, can be
A just excuse for, let me then set free
His person with your doubts, and joynd to those
What both their varied stories may compose.

For what this noble Lord, whose goodness we,
First found in needful hospitality,
From him hath differd him, impute it not
To eithers error, both Reports begot
From such mistakes, as Nature made to be
The careful Issues of Necessity;
That fatal difference, whose Vestigia stood
Where we Epiciæ left fresh fil'd with blood;
By league so lately with Calabria made,
Being compos'd, that Fame did not invade
Our Ears with the report, til we had been
By a disguise secur'd, which shaded in
Whilst fearing danger we nere thought to leave,
Til safe at home; Thus what did first deceive
Kind Aminander you have heard, and now
Without the stein of boasting must allow
Me leave to tel you, that we there have Friends,
On whom the burthen of a State depends,

When to the Court just wonder, thus far he,
With such unshaken confidence as we
Pray on th' expanded wings of Faith, displayed
His Souls integrity, the Royal Maid,
Whom a repented destiny had made
His pitying Judge, endeavouring to evade

That dooms harsh rigour, grants him a reprieve,
Till thrice the Sun returning to relieve
Nights drooping Sentinels had circl'd in
So many days, in which short time to win
The fair advantage of discovering truth,
Old Aminander, active as fresh Youth
In all Attempts of Charity, to know,
From what black Spring those troubled streams did flow:
Hasts toward Andremons, whilst Pharonnida
Active as he, toward all, whence she might draw
A consequence of hope, layes speedy hold
On this design, Commission'd to unfold
Their Masters Love toward her, there long had been
Embassadours from the Epicore in
Her Fathers Court, whose Message though it might
Wear Loves pure Robes, yet in her Reasons light,
Seems so much staind with pollicy, that all
Those blessings which the wise foresaw to fall,
As Influence from that Conjunction, she
Opposes as her stars malignity.

Proud of this new Command, with such a hast,
As those that fear more slow delays may wast
Their pretious time, th' Ambassadours attain
The Princess Court, where come, though hope in vain,
Only expect a speedy Audience, they
That frustrated, are soon taught to betray
More powerful passions; the first glance oth' eye
They on the Prisoners cast, kind sympathy,
Proclaim'd Love gave no leave for time to rust
Their Memories, both the old Lords durst trust
Eyes dim'd with tears, whilst their embraces give
A sad assurance there did only live

Their last and best of Comforts, which beheld,
By those from whom kind pity had expeld
All thoughts of the vindictive Law, they strive
By all the power of Rhetorick to drive
Those sad storms over, which good Office done,
They each inform the Prince, which was the Son
Of Nature, which Adoption, withall tel how
By their perswasions mov'd, they did allow
Them time to travel, which Disasters had
So long protracted, for some years with sad
And doubtfull hopes, they had in vain expected
Their wisht return, but that their stars directed
Their course so ill, as now near home to be
Ore-taken with so sad a destiny;
Since such a sorrow could be cur'd by none,
They sadly crave the time to mourn alone.

The end of the third Canto.

CANTO THE FOURTH.

The ARGUMENT.

VII

At length the Vail from the deluded Law
With active Care by Aminander took,
The startl'd Court in their own error saw
How lovely truth did in Argalia look.

VIII

The story of our Youth discover'd, he
His Merits yet in higher pitch to raise
Morea's Prince doth from a danger free,
Which unto death his noblest Lords betray.

That last sad Night, the rigid Law did give
The late repriev'd Argalia leave to live;
Was now wrapt in her own obscurity,
Stoln from the Stage of Time, when light got free

From his Nocturnall Prison summons all
Almanzors Friends, to see the long'd for fall
Oth' envied stranger, whose last hour was now
So neer arriv'd, faint hope could not allow
So much of comfort to his powerfulst friend,
As told her fears, she longer might suspend
His fatall doom. Mournful Attendants on
That serene Sufferer, all his friends are gon
Unto the sable Scaffold that's ordain'd
By the decree of Justice to be stain'd
With guiltless blood, all sunk in grief, but she
Whom by inevitable destiny,
Doom'd him to death, most deep. Dul sorrow raigns
In her triumphant, sad and alone remains
She in a Room, whose Windows prospect led
Her Eye to th' Scaffold, whither from the Bed
Where sorrow first had cast her, she did oft
Repair to see him, but her passions soft
Temper soon melting into Tears, denies
Her Soul a passage through o're-flowing Eyes.
Often she would in vain expostulate
With those (two subtile) Sophisters that Sate
Cloath'd in the Robes of Fancy, but they still
Ore-threw her weaker Arguments, and fill
Her Breast with Love and Wonder, passion gave
Such fierce Assaults, no Virgin Vow could save
Her Hearts surrender, she must love, and loose
In one sad hour, thus grief doth oft infuse
Those bitter Pills, where hidden poyson dwell,
In the smooth pleasures of sweet Oximel.

Argalias friends that did this minute use,
As if the last of mortal enterviews

Had now reverst their eyes, expecting nought
But that stroaks fall, whose fatall speed had brought
Him to eternal rest; when by a loud
And busie tumult, as if death grown proud
Expected triumphs, to divert their sight,
They from the Scaffolds lofty station might
Within the reach of an exalted Voice,
Behold a Troop, who as the Leaders choice
Confin'd to straight necessity, had there
Inrold all Commers, if of strength to bear
Offensive Armes, did first appear to be
Some tumult drest in the variety
Of suddain rage, for here come headlong in
A heard of Clowns, armd as they then had been
From labour cal'd, near them (wel orderd rite)
(As greatness strove no longer to divide
Societies, (some Youths, brave as they had
Been in the spoils of conquerd Nations clad.

This sudden Object, first obstructing all
Their Courts proceedings, prompts their doubts to call
Their absent Prince, who being too wise for fears
Uncertain fixions, with such speed appears,
As checks the tumult, when, to tel them who
Had from their homes the frighted people drew,
Ith' Van of a wel-orderd Troop rides forth
Lov'd Aminander, whose unquestiond worth,
That strong Attractive of the peoples love,
Exspung'd suspition; whilst his Troops did move
With a commanded slowness to inform,
Th' expecting Prince, from whence this suddain storm
Contracted Clouds, he to his view presents
Andremons Friends, whose looks the sad contents

Of sorrow, with a silent Oratory,
Begs pity; whilst, he thus relates their story.

That we (great Prince) we, whom a loyal fear
To strict obedience prompts, dare thus appear
Before your sacred Person, were a sin
Mercy would blush to own, had we not been
Forc'd to offensive Armes, by such a Cause
As tore the Scepter, regulated Laws,
Forth of your royal hand, to vindicate
This suffering stranger, whom a subtle hate,
Not solemn Law, pursu'd. I here have brought
Such Witnesses as have their knowledge bought,
At the expence of all their joy, whom I
Found so confin'd, as if their misery
Were in their houses sepulcherd, a sad
And general sorrow in one Dress had clad
So many, that their only sight did prove
Lost Vertue caus'd such universal love

To free this noble Youth, whose Valour lent
A late protection to this Innocent,
But injur'd, Maid, they (unconstraind) had here
Implor'd your Aide, had not too just a fear
Caus'd from some Troops, raisd by a wrong'd pretence
Of your Commands checkt their intelligence,
With such illegal violence, that I
Had shar'd their sufferings, if not rescu'd by
These following Friends, whose rude Conjunction shews
It was no studied plot did first compose
So loose a body; but, least it appear
In me like envy, should I strive to clear
This doubtful story, here are those (with that)
Cals forth Andremons Friends, instructed at

The dearest price, which by discovering truth,
Will not alone rescue this noble Youth,
From falling ruine; but least he retreat
Into rebellion, force before this seat,
A man whose power, the people thought had bin
To punish Vice, not propagate a sin.

Having thus far past toward discovery, here
The grave Lord ceast, and that truth might appear,
From its first fair Original, to her
(Whose Vertue Heavens affected Messenger)
Commands Attention, the more horrid part
Of his relation leaves: And here vain Art
Took on, and envy, to behold how far
Thy strickt Rules (which our Youths Afflictions are)
Nature transcends, in a Discourse which she,
With all the Flowers of Virgin modesty,
Not Weeds of Rhetorick strew'd; to hear her miss,
Or put a blush for a Parenthesis,
In the relating that uncivil strife,
Which her sad Subject was, so near the life,
Limbs lovely Vertue, that that Copy whence,
Art took those Graces, she doth since dispence
To th' best of women, fair Pharonnida,
Taught by that sympathy, which first did draw
Those lovely Transcripts of her self, although
Varied as much as humble Flowers that grow,
Dispiers'd in shady Desarts, are from those
That nice Art in enameld Gardens shews,
Yet like bright Planets, which communicate
To Earth their Influence, from exalted state,
She now descends, to cherish Vertue in
Those lovely Nimphs, whose Beauties though they'd bin

Yet in the Country clouded from Report,
Soon grow the praise, or envy of the Court.

Imboldned by that gracious favour shewn
To these fair Nymphs, to prosecute their own
Most just Complaints, Andremons wretched friends,
With prayers perceive that Mercy which descends
O're all their sufferings, on th' expanded Wings
Of noble pitty, whose fair hand first brings
Argalia from the sable Scaffold, to
Meet those Rewards to his high Merits due,
Not only in what deaths dark progress staies,
But Life's best joy, an universal praise
Aquir'd from just desert: Next she applies
Her self to those poor burthend Souls, whose Eyes
Look (even on Comforts) through their tears, the dead
Andremons Mourners, whose lost Joy though fled
For ever from those wintring Regions, yet
As much receiv'd as sorrow would permit,
Souls so opprest, the splendid Court they leave,
With thankful prayers; And now, cal'd to receive
His sins reward Almanzor is, whose shame
Its black Attendant, when by his hated Name
He'd oft been summond, prompts him to deny
That legal Call, which being an Act too high
For a depending power to patronize,
To shun feard Justice publick doom, he flies
His Princes Mandates, an affront that sent
Him to's desert, perpetual banishment.

This Comet lost in clouds of Infamy,
The Court which had too long been burthend by
His injur'd power, with praises entertain
Impartial Justice, whilst to call again

Those pleasures which had in this interval
Of Law been lost, the Prince convening all,
That shar'd those sufferings, as the Center whence
Joy spread it self, to th' Courts circumference,
Crowns all their wishes, which by that bright Star
In Honours Sphear, th' auspitious Princes are
Exalted to their highest Orbs; her Love
Unto Argalia, though it yet must move,
As an unnoted Constellation, here
Begins its Eræ, which that might appear
Without suspition, she disguises in
The publick joy, which 'mongst those that had bin
His serious Mourners to participate
That kind Epicote, who first taught his Fate,
The way to Glory comes, to whom he now
Was on those Knees Merit had taught to bow,
With as much humble reverence, as if all
The Waights of Nature made those burthens fall
A Sacrifice to Love, fixt to implore
Its constant Progress, but he needs no more
For confirmation, since his Friend could move
But the like joy, where Nature taught to love.

Passions encounter, which too high to last,
Into a calm of thankful prayers being past
The Prince from the Calabrian seeks to know
By what collateral streams he came to owe
Such love unto a stranger, one that stood
Remov'd from him ith' Magnetisme of blood;
Whom thus the Lord resolves, When blooming in
The pride of Youth, whose varied Sceans did win
Time on the Morning of my dayes, a while
To tast the pleasures of a Summers Smile,

I left the Courts tumulteous noise, and spent
Some happy time, blest with retir'd content,
In the calm Country, where Arts curious hand,
As Center to a spatious Round of Land,
Had plac'd a Palace, in whose lovely Dress,
The City might admire the Wilderness,

Yet though that ill Civility was in
Her marble Circle; Natures hand had bin
As liberall to the neighbouring Fields, and dect
Each rural Nimph as gaudy, til neglect,
Or slovenly Necessity had drawn
Her Canvass Furroughs o're their Vails of Lawn:

Near this fair Seat, fring'd with an ancient Wood,
A fertile Valley lay, where scatter'd stood
Some homely Cottages, the happy Seats
Of labouring Swains, whose careful Toil compleats
Their wishes in obtaining so much Wealth,
To conquer dire Necessity; firm health,
Calm thoughts, sound sleeps, unstarted innocence,
Softn'd their Beds, and when rouz'd up from thence,
Suppl'd their Limbs for Labour; amongst these,
My lov'd Argalia, for till Fate shall please,
His dim Stars to uncurtain, and salute
His better Fortune, with each Attribute,
Due to a nobler Birth, his Name must be
Contracted unto that Stenography,
Life's Sceans began, amongst his Fellows that
There first drew breath, being true Heirs to what
Whilst all his Stars were retrograde, and dim,
Unlucky Fortune, but adopted him;

Whilst there residing, I had oft beheld
The active Boy, whose Childhoods Bud exceld

More ful blown Youths, gleaning the scatterd Locks
Of new-shorn Fields, amongst the half-clad Flocks,
Of their unripe, but healthful Issue, by
Which Labour tir'd, sometimes I see them try
The strength of their scarce twisted Limbs, and run
A short breathd Course, whose swift contention done,
And he (as in each other active sport)
With Vict'ry crownd, they make their next resort
To th' Springs cheap Bounties; but, what did of all
His first Attempts, did give the powerful call,
Both to my Love and Wonder was, what chanc'd
From one rare Act: the Morning had advanc'd
Her tempting Beauties to assure success
To these young Huntsmen, who with Labour less
Made by the pleasure of their Journey had
The Forest reacht, where with their Limbs unclad
For the pursuit, they follow Beasts that might
Abroad be recreation, and when Night
Summond them home, the welcomest supply
Both to their own, and Parents quality.

An angry Boar, chast with a Mornings chase,
And now near spent, was come so neer the place,
Where (though secur'd) on the stupendious height
Of a vast Rock they stood, that now no flight
Could promise safety, that wild rage which sent
Him from the Dogs, his following Foes, is spent
In the pursuit of them, which (to my grief,
Had sufferd ere we could have lent relief,
Had not Argalia, even when danger drew
So near as death, turnd on the Beast, and threw
His happy Javelin, whose wel guided aime,
Although success it knew not how to claime,

From strength, yet is so much assisted by
Fortune, that what before had scornd to dy,
By all our power, when contending in
Nice Art, the honour of that day to win
To him alone, fals by that feeble stroke,
From all his speed; which seen, he, to provoke
His hastier death, seconds those wounds, which in
Their safety are, by those with terrour seen,
That had escapt the danger, and even by
Us that pursu'd with such amaze, that I
Who had before observ'd those Rays of worth,
Obscur'd in clouds, here let my love break forth
In useful Action, such, as from that low
Condition brought him, where I might bestow
On him what Art requir'd, to perfect that
Rare piece of Nature, which we wonderd at,

From those whom I ('mongst others) thought to be
Such whose Affection, the proximity
Of Nature claimd, with a regret that shewd,
Their poverty unwillingly bestowd
So lov'd a Jewel, had procur'd the Youth,
His Foster Father, loath to wave a truth,
That in the progress of his Fate might be
Of high account, discovers unto me
The worlds mistake concerning him, and thus
Relate his story, He was brought to us,
(Quoth the good man) some ten years since, by two
VVho (could men be discoverd to the view
Of knowledge by their Habits) seemd but such
As Fortunes narrow hand had gave not much
More then Necessity requires to be,
Injoyd of every man, whom Life makes free

Of Natures City; though their bounty shewed,
To our dim judgments, that they only owed
Mischance for those course Habits, which disguiz'd,
What once the World at higher rates had priz'd,

Ith' worst extream of time, about the birth
Oth' fluggish Morning, when the crusted earth
Was tinsel'd o're with Frost, and each Sprig clad
With Winters Wool, I whom cross Fortune had
Destin'd to early Labours, being abroad,
Met two benighted men, far from the Road,
Wandring alone, no skilful Guide their way
Directing in that Infancy of day;
But the faint beams of glimmering Candles, that
Shon from our lovely Cottage-Windows, at
Which Marks they steerd their Course; one of them bore
This Boy, an Infant then, which knew no more
Then Natures untrod pathes. These having spi'd
Me through the Mornings Mists, glad of a Guide,
Though to a place, whose superficial view,
Lent smal hopes of relief, went with me to
Mine own poor home, where with such course cheap Fare,
As must content us, that but eat to bear
The burthens of a Life refresht, they take
A short repose, then being to forsake
Their new-found Hoast, desire with us to leave
The Child, til time should some few daies bereave
Of the Habiliments of Light. We stood
Not long to parl, but willing to do good
To strangers so distrest, were never by
Our poverty once tempted to deny.

My wife (being then a Nurse) upon her takes
The pretty Charge, and with our own Son makes

Him Fellow-commoner at the ful Brest,
And Partner of the Cradles quiet rest.
Now to depart, one that did seem to have
The nearst relation to the Infant, gave
Him first this Jewel (at which word they shewed
One which upon Argalia was bestowed
By those that left him) then that we might be
Not straightned by our former poverty;
Leave us some Gold, by which we since have bin
Enabl'd to maintain him, though not in
That Equipage, which we presume unto
His birth (although to us unknown) is due.
This done, with Eyes that lost their light in Tears,
They take their leaves, since when, those daies to years
Are grown, in which we did again expect
They should return; but whether be neglect
Or else impossibility detain
Them from his sight, our care hath sought in vain.

Having thus plainly heard as much as Fate
Had yet of him discoverd, I, that late
Desir'd him for his own, now for the sake
Of's Friends (what ere they were) resolv'd to take
Him from that barren rudeness, and transplant
So choice a Slip, where he might know no want
Of Education; with some labour, I
Having obtaind him, til virility,
Rendred him fit for nobler Action, stayed
Him alwaies with me, when, my Love obayed
His Reason, and, then in the quest of what
Confin'd Domesticks do but stumble at
Exotick knowledge, with this noble Youth,
To whom his Love grew linckt, like spotless truth,

To perfect Vertue, sent him to pursue
His wisht design, from whence this interview,
First took its fatal Rise, and here the Lord
That a more ful discov'ry might afford
Them yet more wonder, shews the Jewel to
Sparta's pleas'd Prince, at whoes most serious view,
The skilfulst Lapidaries judging it,
Both for its worth and beauty only fit
To sparkle in the glorious Cabinet
Of some great Queen, such value on it set,
That all conclude the honour on't must be,
Some falling Star ith' Night of Royaltie,
From Honours sphear, the Glories of a Crown,
To vaunt (the center of our Fears) dropt down.

And now the Court, whose brightest splendor in
These fatal Changes, long eclips'd had been,
Resumes its luster, wich to elevate,
With all the pleasures of a prosperous state,
For that contracted span of time design'd,
For th' Princes stay, Fancies are wrackt to find
New forms of Mirth, such, whose Invention might
Inform the Ear, whilst they the Eye delight.
All which, whilst to the less concernd they lent
A flux of joy, yet lost their first intent,
To please the Princess, who from mirth did move
Excentrical, since first iuflam'd with Love,
Which did soon from Fancies Embrion grow,
A large limbd Tyrant, when prepard to go,
She sees Argalia, who engag'd t' attend
Th' Embassadors, here soon had put an end
To what, even from, those unto Love unkind,
Must now force tears ere it a period find.

That time expir'd, ordaind to terminate
Her Fathers stay, and so that splendid state,
That yet adornd the Princess Court, to shew,
How much he did for's Frontiers safety ow,
Unto those moving Cittadels, a Fleet
His Mandates cals each Squadron for to meet
Within Lepanto, in whose harborous Lay,
Those Ships that were ordaind for a Convay
To the Calabrians Messengers, who now
With all that Love, or Honour could allow
To noble strangers, being attended by
The brightest Glorys of two Courts, draw nigh
A royal Fleet, whose glittering streamers lent
Dul Waves the beauties of a Firmament:
Amongst which numbers, one, too stately far
For rough Encounters of defacing War,
VVhose gilded Masts their crimson Sails had spread
In silken Flakes, advanc'd her stately head,
High as where Clouds condense, where a Light stands,
Took for a Comet by far distant Lands,
For Cabbins where th' imprisond Passenger
VVants Aire to breath, she's stor'd with Rooms that were
So fair without, and yet so large within,
A Persian Sophy might have reveld in
Their spatious bulks. To this Molarchus, he
VVhom greatness joynd to known Ability,
Had made Sicillia's Admiral, invights
The Royal Train, where with what ere delights,
(Although Invention all her stock had spent)
Could be upon that liquid Element,
Prepard their welcome, whilst at every Bowl
A Health inters, the ful-mouthd Cannons trowl

A Peal of Thunder, which in white Waves drownd
The softer Trumpets do their Dirges sound.

Now in the ful Carier of Mirth, whilst all
Their thoughts in Perpendiculars did fall
From Honours Zenith; none incurvated
With common Cares, Parents that might have bred
A sly suspition, whilst neglective Mirth
Keeps all within from their deep bed of Earth:
Molarchus hoist his Anchors, whilst that all
The rest lay stil, expecting when his call
Commands their Service, but when they beheld,
His spread Sails with a nimble Gale were sweld:
An opprest Slave, which lay at rest before,
Was with stretcht Limbs tugging his Finny ore;
Conceiving it but done, to shew the Prince
That Gallies swiftness, let that thought convince
Fears weak suggestions, and invited by
Their tempting Mirth, stil safe at Anchor ly.

But now, when they not only saw the Night
Draw sadly on, but what did more afright
Their loyal Souls, the distant Vessel by
Doubling a Cape loft to the sharpest Ey,
For hateful treason, taxing their mistake,
With Anchors cut, and Sails spread wide they make
The lasht Waves roar, whilst those inclos'd within
The Gally, by her unknown speed had bin
Far more deceived, being so far conveyed,
Ere care arrives to tel them they'r betrayed
Through Mirths neglective Guards, who now in hast
With anger rais'd, in vain those flames did waft
In wild Attempts, to force a passage to
The open Decks, whither, before withdrew

Molarchus was, who now prepar'd to give
That treason birth, whose hated Name must live
In bloody Lines of Infamy, before
They could expect it, opening wide the door
That led them forth, the noble Captives fly
To seek revenge, but being encounterd by
An Armed Crew, so fierce a fight begin,
That Nights black Mantle nere vvas lin'd vvithin,
With ought more horrid; in which bloody Fray,
The subtle Traytor valiant to betray,
Though Abject else unnoted, seising on
Th' unguarded Princess from their rage is gone,
Through Nights black Mask, with that rich Prize into
A Boat that plac'd, for that design was drew
Near to the Gally, whose best Wealth being now
Thus made their own, no more they study how
To save the rest, all which for death design'd,
The conquer'd Rebels soon their safety find,
From other Boats, but first, that all but she,
Oth' royal train secur'd by death might be,
So large a Leak in the brave Vessel make,
That thence her Womb soon too much waight did take
For her vast bulk to weild, which sinking now,
No safety to her royal Guests allow.

The Ship thus lost, and now no Throne but Waves,
Left the Sicilian Prince, just Heaven thus saves
His sacred Person, amongst those that sought
For timely safety, nimble strength had brought
Argalia, and his following Friend so near,
One of the Boats, in which (secur'd from fear)
The Rebels saild, that now they both had took
A Hold so sure, that though their Foes forsook

Their Oars to hinder't, spite of all their force,
Argalia enters, which a sad divorce
From Life, as he by strength attempts to rise,
From falling wounds, unhappily denies
The valiant Aphron, who by death betrayd
From time, and strength, had now left none to ayd
His Friend, but those attending Vertues, that
Ne're more then now, for th' world to wonder at,
Brave Trophies built; with such a suddain rage,
As all his Foes did to defence engage,
Those bolder Souls that durst resist, he had
From their disorderd Robes of flesh unclad,
VVhich horrid sight froc'd the more feareful to
Such swift submission, that ere fear out-grew
His hope, assisted by that strength which bought
Their Lives reprieve, their Oars reverst had brought
Him back to th' place, in which the guilty flood,
VVas staind with fair Sicillias noblest blood.

Assisted by those silver streams of Light,
The ful fac'd Moon shot through the swarthy Night,
On the smooth Sea, he first his course directs,
Toward one, whose Robes studded with Jems, reflects
Those feeble Rays, like new faln Stars, he there
Finds Sparta's Prince, then sinking from the sphear
Of mortall greatness in the boundless deep,
To calm Lifes cares in an eternall sleep,
From unexpected death, the Graves most grim
And ghastly Tyrant, having rescued him
With as much speed, as griefs distractions joynd
To Nights confusion, could give leave to find
More Friends before that all were swallowd by
The Sea he hasts, when being by chance brought nigh

Dead Aphrons Father, to be Partner in
Their carer, who as they only sav'd had bin
To mourn the rest, he from the rude Sea saves
Him, to be drownd in sorrows sable Waves.

Now in the Quest of that deserving Lord,
Whose goodness did to's Infancy afford,
Lifes best of Comforts, Education, he
To bawk that needless diligence might see,
At one large draught the wide Waves swallow all,
Who vainly did till that sad minute call
To Heaven for help, which dismal sight beheld
By those that sav'd by accident, expeld
Their own just fears, for them to entertain,
As just a grief, their needful time in vain
They spend, no longer in their search, but though
Unweildy grief, yet made their motion slow,
Hast from that horrid place, where each must leave
Such valued friends; numbers that did receive
Their blood descended to Nobility,
From th' royal Spring, here the griev'd Prince might see
Interd ith' Ocean the Epirote Lord,
His late found Son, whom Love could scarce afford
A minutes absence; nor's Argalia less
Ingag'd to grief to leave, whom the distress
Of's Youth reliev'd, but what from each of these
Borrowed some streams of sorrow to apease,
A grief which since so many Floods hath cost,
The noble Aminander here was lost.

Rowed with such speed, as their desire joynd to
That fear which from the conquerd Rebels drew
A swift obedience, being conducted by
A friendly Light, their Boat is now drawn nigh

A rocky Island, in whose Harbour they
Found where the Boat that had out-sayld them lay,
Drawn neer the shoar, but all the Passengers
Being gone, the sight of that alone confers
No other comfort, then t' inform them that
The ravisht Princess had been landed at
That Port, which by their Saylers they are told
Belongs unto a Castle, kept to hold
That Island, though but one unnoted Town,
To th' scarce known Laws of the Sicillian Crown.

This heard by th' Prince, who formerly had known
That Castles strength being vext (although his own)
That now 'twas such, leaving the Vessel they
Protected by Nights heaviest shades, convey
Themselves into a neighbouring Cottage, where
The Prince, who now externally did bear
No forms of greatness, left to his repose,
Argalia whilst Nights shadows yet did close
Discovering Eyes, hast back to th' Harbour, whence
To give the royal Fleet Intelligence,
Oth' Kings distress, he sends forth all but One,
Whose stoutness had best made his Valour known,
Of those which conquerd by his Sword, are now
By bounty made too much his own, t' allow
Even slight suspition room; This being done,
That Valour though with Love 'twere wingd, might run
On no rash Precipice, assisted by
That skilful Sea-man, from some Ships that ly
Neglected, 'cause by time decayed, he takes
So much oth' Tackling, as of that he makes
Ladders of length, sufficient to ascend
The Castle Wals, which having to defend

Them nought but slave security, is done
With so much ease, that what's so wel begun,
They boldly second, and first entering in
A Tower, which had by th' prudent Founder bin
Built to command the Havens Mouth, which lay
Too low for th' Castle, where when come, all they
Found to resist, is one poor Centry bound,
In sleep, which soon by death is made more sound.

To lodge the Prince in that safe place, before
His active valour yet attempted more:
The Gates secur'd that led to th' Castle, he
Protected by that Nights obscuritie,
By a conceald smal Salliport is to
Its strength soon brought; when now prepard to view
More dreadful dangers, in such habit clad,
As by the out-Guards easie Error had
Soon as a Soldier gave him entrance, come
To th' Hall he is, there being informd by some,
Oth' drousie Guards, where his pretended speed
Might find Molarchus, to perform a deed,
That future Ages, if that Honours fire
Lose not its light, shal worthily admire
His Valours hast; within a room whose pride,
Of Art (though great) was far more glorifi'd,
By that bright Luster, the Spectators saw
Through Sorrows Clouds in fair Pharonnida,
He finds the impious Villain heightend in
His late success, to such rude acts of sin,
That servile baseness, the low distance whence
He us'd to look, grew sawcy Impudence.

Inflam'd Argalia, who at once beholds
Objects to which the Sould inlarg'd, unfolds

Its passions in the various Characters
Of Love and Anger, now no more defers
The execution of his rage, but in
So swift a death, as if his hand had been
Guided by Lightning, to Molarchus sent
His Lifes discharge, which with astonishment,
Great, as if by their evil Angels, all
Their sins had been displayed, did wildly fall
Upon his Followers, whom ere hast could save,
Or strength resist, Argalia's Sword had gave
Such sudden deaths, that whilst Amazements reignd,
Ere all he from the heedless tumult gaind,
That glorious Prize, the royal Lady, who
In all assaults of fears, not lost unto
Her own clear Judgment, as a blessing sent
From Heaven, whilst her base Foes Confusion lent
That Action safety, follows that brave Friend,
Whose Sword redeemd her, till her Journeys end
Through threatning dangers, brought her to that place,
Where with such passion, as kind Wives embrace
Husbands returnd from bondage, she is by
Her Father welcom'd into liberty.

Thus rescu'd, whilst exalted tumours sweld
To such Confusion, as from sense expeld
Reasons safe Conduct, whilst each Soldier leaves
His former Charge, fears pale disease receives
This Paroxisme; the Fleet, which yet had in
A doubtful Quest of their surpriz'd Prince bin
Directed hither with the new-born day,
Their streamers round the Cittadel display,
Which seen by them, that being deluded by
The dead Molarchus, to his treachery,

Had joynd their strength, guilt, the Original
Of shame, did to defend the plat-form Call
Their bold endeavour, but, when fidning it
Too strongly man'd for undermineing wit,
Or open strength to force, dispairing to
Be long secure, prompted by fear they threw
Themselves on Mercy, which calm Grace among
Heavens other blessings, whilst it leads along,
The Prince toward Victory made his Conquest seen,
Such as came not to punish, but redeem.

The end of the fourth Canto.

CANTO THE FIFTH.

The Argument.

IX

The gratefull Prince, to shew how much he lov'd
This noble Youth, whoes Merits just reward,
Too great for less Abilities had prov'd,
Makes him Commander of his Daughters Guard.

X

Where seated in the most benign Aspect,
Kind Love could grant to fair Pharonnida,
A sacred Vision doth her hopes detect,
Whose waking joyes his absence doth withdraw.

Freed from those dangers, which this bold attempt
Made justly feard, whilst joy did yet exempt
Those cares, which when by time concocted shall,
His Kingdome to a general Mourning call,

Sparta's pleas'd Prince, with all the Attributes
Ere Gratitude learnd from Desert, salutes
That noble Youth, which even when hope was spent,
Kind Heaven had made his safeties Instrument,
By acts of such heroick Vertue, that
Whilst all the less concernd are wondring at
The grateful Prince, in all the noble waies
Of honour lasting, as his life repaies,
By whose example the fair Princess taught
To shadow Love (her Souls most perfect draught)
In friendships Vail, so free a welcome gave
The worthy stranger, that al, prayer durst crave,
Though sacrific'd in Zeals most perfect fire,
Seemd now from Heaven dropt on his pleas'd desire.

Some daies spent here, whilst Justice vainly sought,
That Treasons root, whose base production brought,
Unto an unexpected Period in
Molarchus death with him had buried bin,
To future knowledge, all confessions, though
In torments they extracted were, bestow
Upon their knowledge, being th' imperfect shade
Of supposition, which too weak t' invade
Even those, whose doubtful Loyalty lookt dim,
The prudent Prince, burying mistrust with him,
Leaving the Island, with's triumphant Fleet,
On the Sicillian shoar, prepars to meet
That Joy in triumph which a blessing brought,
His loyal Subjects with their prayers had sought,

To cure those hot distemperatures, which in
His absence had the Courts Quotidian bin,
The Princess guard (as being an honour due,
To noble Valour) having left unto

That worthy stranger, whose victorious hand
Declar'd a Soul created for command,
The Prince departs from his loud Daughters Court,
To joyful Corinth, where, though the resort
Of such as by their service strove t' express,
An uncorrupted Loyalty, made less,
That Mourning, which the Kingdomes general Loss,
Claim'd from all hearts, yet like a sable Cross,
Which amongst Trophy's noble Conquerors bear,
All did some signs oth' publick sorrow wear.

But leaving these to rectifie that State,
This Feaver shook, return, to whom we late
Left gently calm'd, that happy pair, which in
Desire (the shady Porch of Love) begin
That lasting progress, which ere ended shall,
So oft their Fate to strong assistance call.
Some Months in happy free delights, before
Passion got strength enough to dictate more,
Then Reason could, right fair they'd spent, in which
Slumber of Fancy, popular Love grown rich,
Soon becomes factious, and engages all
The powers of Nature to procure the fall,
Of the Souls lawful Soveraign; either in
Each Action of the others did begin
To place an Adoration, she doth see
What ere he doth, as shining Majesty
Beneath a Cloud, or Books, where Heaven transfers
Their Oracles in unknown Characters.

Like Gold yet unrefin'd, or th' Adamant,
Wrapt up in earth, he only seemd to want
Knowledge of Worth. Her Actions in his fight
Appear like fires feign'd Element, with light,

But not destruction arm'd; like the fair Sun,
When through a chrystal Aqueduct he'th run,
His piercing Beams, until grown temperate by
That cooling Medium, through humility,
Shun her Majestick worth; in eithers Eyes,
The other seemd to wear such a disguise
As Poets cloathd their wandring Gods in, when
In forms disguiz'd they here converst with men.

But long this conflict of their Passions ere
Resisted lasts not, when disdaind to bear
Those leaden Fetters, the great Princess tries
To quench that fire ith' Embrio, ere it rise
To unresisted blazes, but in vain,
What her tears smoother are by sighs again,
Blown into flames, such as, since not to be
By ought extinguisht, her sweet modesty
Strives to conceal, nor did them more betray,
Then by such Fugitives as stole away,
Through her fair Eyes, those Salliports of Love
From her besieged heart, now like to prove,
Had not her Honour cal'd the Act unjust,
So feeble to betray her Souls best trust,
Her flames being not such, as each vulgar breast,
Feels in the fires of Fancy, when opprest,
With gloomy discontents, her bright stars sate
Inthron'd so high, that like the Bays of Fate,
It stopt the Current of the stream, and to
The Sea of Honour, Loves fresh Rivers drew.

Thus whilst the royal Eaglet doth ith' high
Sublimer Region of bright Majesty,
Upon Affections Wings, still hover, yet,
Loath to descend, on th' humble earth doth sit,

Her worthy Lover, like that amorous Vine,
When crawling o're the Weeds, it strives to twine
Embraces with the Elm, he stands, whilst she
Desires to bend, but like that love-sick Tree,
By greatness is deni'd; he that nere knew,
A swelling tumour of conceit, nor flew
Upon the waxen Wings of vain Ambition,
A thought above his own obscure Condition,
Thinks that the Princess by her large respect,
Conferd on him, but kindly doth reflect
Her Fathers beams, and with a reverend zeal,
Sees those descending Rays that did reveal
Loves Embassies transported on the quick
Wings of that heart-o're-coming Rhetorick,
Instructing that the weakness of his Eye,
Dazl'd with beams of shining Majesty,
Might for too boldly gazing on a sight,
So full of glory, be depriv'd of light,
Stifling his Fancy, till it turnd the Aire,
That fand his heart to flames, which pale dispaire,
Chil'd into Ice soon; as he went about
With them to breath a storm of passions out.

But vain are all these fears, his Eagle sight,
Is born to gaze upon no lesser Light,
Then that from whence, all other beauties in
The same sphear borrow theirs, he else had bin,
Degenerate from that royal Airee, whence
He first did spring, although he fell from thence
Unfledg'd, the growing Pinnions of his Fame,
Wanting the purple tincture of his Name,
And Titles (both unknown) yet shall he fly,
On his own Merits strength, a pitch as high

Though not so boldly claimd, and such as shall
Inhance the blessing, when the dull mists fall
From truths benighted Eyes, whispering in
His Souls pleas'd Ear, her passion did begin,
Whilst all the Constellations of her Fate.
Fixt in the Zenith of bright honour sate,
Whilst his (deprest by adverse Fortune) in
Their Nader lay (even to his hopes) unseen.

Whilst thus Enthean fire did lye conceald,
With different Curtains, least by being reveald,
Cross Fate, which could not quench it, should to death
Scorch all their hopes, burnd in the angry breath
Of her incensed Father, whilst the fair
Pharonnida was striving to repair
The wakeful ruines of the day, within
Her Bed, whose Down of late by Love had been
Converted into Thorns, she having payed
The restless tribute of her sorrow, stayed
To breath a while in broken slumbers, such
As with short blasts cool feverish brains, but much
More was in hers, a strong Prophetick dream,
Diverting by Enigmaes Natures stream,
Long hovering through the Portals of her mind,
On vain phantastick Wings, at length did find
The glimerings of obstructed reason, by
A brighter beam of pure divinity,
Led into supernatural light, whose Rayes,
As much transcended reasons, as the dayes
Dull mortal fires, faith apprehends to be
Beneath the glimerings of divinity.

Her unimprisond Soul disrob'd of all
Terrestial thoughts, like its Original,

In Heaven pure, and Immaculate, a fit
Companion did for those bright Angels sit,
Which the Gods made their Messengers to bear
This sacred truth: seeming transported where,
Fixt in the flaming Center of the world,
The heart oth' Mycrocosme, 'bout which is hurld
The spangl'd Curtains of the Sky, within
Whose boundless Orbs, the circling Planets spin
Those threads of time, upon whose strength rely
The pondrous Burthens of mortality;
An Adamantine World she sees, more pure,
More glorious far then this, fram'd to endure
The shock of Dooms-daies Darts, in which remains
The better Angels of what earth contains,
Plac'd there to govern all our Acts, and be
A Medium 'twixt us and Eternity.

Hence Nature from a Laberinth, half above,
Half underneath, that sympathetick Love
Which warms the World, to Generation sends,
On unseen Atomes, each small star attends
Here for his Message, which receiv'd is by
Their influence to the Astral Faculty,
That lurks on earth communicated; hence
Informing Forma sends Intelligence,
To the material principles of earth,
Her upper Garments, Natures second birth.

Upon each side of this large Frame, a Gate
Of different use was plac'd, at one there sate
A sprightly youth, whose Angels form delights,
Eyes dim'd with age, whose blandishments invights
Infants ith' Womb to court their wo, and be
By his false shape tempted to misery.

Millions of thousands swarm about him, though
Diseases do each minute strive to throw
Them from his presence, since being tempted by
His flattering form, all court it, though they ly
On beds of thorns to look on't, saving some
More wretched Male-contents, that hither come,
With Souls so sullen, that whilst time invights
Them to his Joys, they shun those smooth delights.

This, the Worlds Favourite, had a younger Brother.
Of different hue, each more unlike the other,
Then opposite Aspects Antipathy
Within their breasts, though they were forc'd to be
Almost inseparable dwelt: this Fiend
A passage guarded, which at th' other end
Oth' spatious Structure stood, betwixt each Gate
Was plac'd a Laberinth, in whose Angles sate
The vanities of Life, attempting to
Stay deaths pale Harbengers, but that black Clew,
Times dusty Girdle, Fates Arithmetick,
Griefs slow pac'd Snail, Joyes more then Eagle quick,
That Chain whose Links compos'd of hours and daies,
Thither at length spight of delay conveys
The slow pac'd steps of time; there alwaies stood
Near him one of the triple Sisterhood,
Who with deformity in love, did send
Him troops of Servants, hourly to attend
Upon his harsh Commands, which he from all
Society of flesh, without the Wall,
Down a dark Hill conveyd, at whose foot stood
An ugly Lake, black as that horrid flood,
Gods made by men did feare, Myriads of Boats,
On the dark surface of the water floats,

Containing Passengers, whose different hue,
Tell them that from the Wals do trembling view
Their course, that there's no age of man to be
Exempted from that powerful tyrany.

A Tyde which nere shall know reflux, beyond
The baleful stream, unto a gloomy strond,
Circl'd with black obscurity, conveys
Each passenger, where their torn Chain of daies,
Is in Eternity peeckt up: between
These different Gates, the Princess having seen
Lifes various Sceans wrought to a method by
Disposing Angels, on a Rock more high
Then Natures common surface, she beholds
The Mansion house of Fate, which thus unfolds
Its sacred Mysteries, A trine within
A quadrate plac'd, both those incompast in
A perfect Circle was its form, but what
Its matter was, for us to wonder at,
Is undiscoverd left; a Tower there stands
At every Angle, where times fatal hands
Th' impartial Parcæ dwel, ith' first she sees
Clothe, the kindest of the Destinies,
From immaterial Essences to cull
The seeds of life, and of them frame the Wooll,
For Lachesis to spin, about her flie
Myriades of Souls, that yet want flesh to lie
Warmd with their Functions in, whose strength bestows
That power by which man ripe for misery grows.

Her next of Objects was that glorious Tower,
Where that swift fingerd Nymph that spares no houre
From mortals service, draws the various threds
Of life in several lengths; to weary beds

Of age, extending some, whilst others in
Their Infancy are broke, some blackt in sin,
Others (the Favourites of Heaven) from whence
Their Origen, candid with Innocence:
Some purpl'd in afflictions, others dy'd
In sanguine pleasures; some in glittering pride,
Spun to adorn the Earth, whilst others wear
Rags of Deformity; but knots of care
No thread was wholly freed from. Next to this
Fair glorious Tower was plac'd that black Abbyss
Of dreadful Atropos, the baleful seat
Of death and horrour, in each room repleat,
With lazy damps, loud groans, and the sad sight
Of pale, grim Ghosts, those Terrours of the Night:
To this (the last stage) that the winding Clew
Of life can lead mortality unto;
Fear was the dreadful Porter, which let in
All Guests sent thither by destructive sin.

As its firm Basis, on all these depends
A lofty Piramid, to which each sends
Some Gift from Natures treasury to Fames
Uncertain hand, the hollow room with Names,
And empty sounds was only fil'd, of those,
For whom the Destinies daind to compose
Their fairest threads; as if but born to die,
Here all Ephem'raes of report did flie,
On feeble Wings, till being like to fall
Some faintly stick upon the slimy Wall,
Till the observant Antiquary rents,
Them thence to live in paper Monuments,
In whose Records they are preserv'd to be,
The various censures of posterity.

Ith' upper Room, as Favourites to Fate,
There only Poets (rich in Fancy) sate,
In that beneath, Historians, whose Records,
Do Theams unto those pregnant Wits afford;
Yet both preparing everlasting Bayes,
To crown their glorious dust, whose happy dayes
Were here spent well; beneath these cover'd o're
With dim oblivions shadows, Myriads more,
Till Dooms-day shall the gaudy World undress,
Lay huddl'd up in dark forgetfulness:
All which (as Objects not of worth to cast
A fixt Eye on) the Princess Genius past,
In heedless hast, untill obstructed by
Visions, that thus fixt her Souls wandring Ey.

A Light as great, as if that Dooms daies flame
Were for a Lamp hung in the Court of Fame:
Directs her, where on a bright Throne there sate
Sicillia's better Genius: her proud state,
(Courted by all Earths greatest Monarchs) by
Three valiant Knights supported was, whose high
Merits disdaining a Reward, less great,
With equal hopes aim'd at the royal Seat,
Which since all could not gain, betwixt her three
Fair Daughters both her Crown and Dignity
Is equally bestow'd, by giving one
To each of them; when the divided Throne,
Had on each Angle fixt a Diadem,
Her Vision thus proceeds; the royal Stem,
That bore her Fathers Crown, to view first brings
Its golden Fruit, a glorious Race of Kings,
Led by the Founder of their Fame, their Rear
Brought by her Father up: next those that bear,

Epirus honourd Armes, the royal train
Concluding in Zoranza: this linkt Chain
Drawn to an end, the Princes that had swayed
Argalia's Scepter, fill the Scean till stayed
By the Epirots Sword, their conquerd Crown,
From aged Gelons hoary head dropt down,
At fierce Zoranza's feet; this she beholds
With admiration, whilst hid truth unfolds
It self in plainer objects, the distrest
Actolian Prince again appears, but drest
In a poor Pilgrims Weed, in's hand he leads
A lovely Boy, in whose sweet look she reads
Soft pitties Lectures, but whilst gazing on
This Act till lost in admiration,
By sudden Fate he seemd transformd, to what
She last beheld him, only offering at
Loves Shrine his heart to her Idea; there
Joy had bereav'd her slumbers, had not fear
Clouded the glorious Dream, a dreadful mist,
Black as the steams of Hell, seeming to twist
Its ugly vapours, into shades more thick
Then Night ingendring Damps, had with a quick
But horrid darkness vail'd the Room, t' augment
Whose terrour a Clouds sulphry bosome rent,
With dreadful thunder-claps, darting a bright
But fearful blaze through th' artificial Night,
Lent her so much use of her Eyes to see
Argalia groveling in his blood, which she
Had scarce beheld, ere the malignant flame
Vanisht again she shrieks, and on his Name
Doth passionatly call, but here's no sound
Startles her Ear, but hollow groans, which drownd

Her Soul in a cold sweat of fears, which ended,
A second blaze lends her its light, attended
With Objects, whose wild horrour did present
Her Fathers Ghost then seeming to lament,
Her injur'd Honour, in his Company,
The slain Laconians Spirit, which let free
From the dark Prison of the cold Grave, where
In rusty Chains he lay, was come to bear
Her to that sad Abode; but as she now
Appeard to sink, a golden Cloud did bow
From Heavens fair Arch, in which Argalia seemd,
Clad in bright Armour sitting, who redeemd
Her from approaching danger, which being done,
The darkness vanisht, and a glorious Sun
Of welcome Light displayd its beams, by which
A Throne the first resembling, but more rich
In its united Glory to the eye,
Presents its luster, where in Majesty
The Angels that attend their better Fate,
Plac'd her, and brave Argalia, in which state
The un-bard portals of her Soul, let fly
The golden slumber, whose dear memory,
Shall live within her noble thoughts, until
Treading o're all obstructions, Fate fulfil
These dark predictions, whose obscurity,
Must often first her Souls afflictions be.

When now the Mornings dews, that cool allay,
Which cures the Feavers of th' intemperate day,
Were rarifi'd to Aire, the Princess to
Improve her joy in private thoughts, withdrew
From burthensome society within
A silent Groves cool shadows, what had been

Her Midnights joy to recollect, in which
Delightful task, whilst Memory did enrich
The robes of Fancy, to divert the stream
Of thoughts, intentive only on her Dream.
Argalia enters with a speed, that shewed
He unto some supream Commander owed
That diligence, but when arriv'd so near
As to behold, stopt with a reverend fear,
Least this intrusion on her Privacies,
Might ruffle Passion, which now floating lies
In a calm stream of thoughts, he staies, till she
By her Commands gave fresh activity
To his desires, then with a lowly grace,
Yet such, to which Prides haughty Sons gave place,
For Native sweetness, he on's knee presents
A Packet from her Father, whose Contents,
If Love can groan beneath a greater Curse,
Then Desperation, made her sufferings worse
Then fear could represent them, 'twas exprest
In Language that not wholly did request,
Nor yet command consent; only declare,
His royal Will, and the paternal Care
He bore his Kingdomes safety, which could be
By nought confirm'd, more then Afinity,
With the Laconian Prince, whose big fame stood
Exalted in a spatious Sea of blood,
On Honours highest Pyramid; his hand
Had made the triple headed spot of Land,
One of her stately Promontories bow,
Beneath his Sword, and with his Scepter now,
He at the other reaches, which, if Love
But gently smile on's new-born hopes, and prove

Propitious as the God of War, his Fate
Climbs equal with his wishes, but too late,
That slow-pac'd Soldier bent his Forces to
Storm that sair Virgin Cittadell, which knew
Ere his pretences could a Parlee call,
Beneath what force that royal Fort must fall.

Inclos'd within this rough Lords Letters she
Receiv'd his Picture, which inform'd her be
Wanted dissimulation (that worst part
Of Courtship (o put Complements of Art
On his Effigies; his stern Brow far more
Glorying ith' Scars, then in the Crown he wore:
His active Youth made him Retainer to
The Court of Mars, something too long to sue
For entrance into Love's, like Mornings clad
In griest'd Frosts, ere plump-cheek'd Autume had
Shorn the Glebs golden Locks, some silver hairs
Mixt with his black appeard; his Age dispairs
Not of a hopeful Heir, nor could his Youth
Promise much more, the venerable truth
Of glorious Victories, that stuck his Name
For Ornament ith' Frontispiece of Fame,
Together with his Native greatness were,
His Orators to plead for Love, but where
Youth, Beauty, Valor, and a Soul as brave,
Though not known great as his, before had gave
Loves pleasing wounds; Fortunes neglected gain,
In fresh assaults, but spends her strength in vain.

With as much ease as Souls, when ripen'd by
A wel-spent life, hast to eternity.
She had sustaind this harsh encounter, though
Backt with her Fathers threats, did it not shew

More dreadful yet, in a command which must
Call her Argalia, from his glorious trust,
Her Guardian to a separation in
An Embassie to him, whose hopes had been
Her new created fears, which sentence read
By the wise Lady, though her passions bred
A sudden tumult, yet her reason staies
The Torrent, till Argalia who obaies
The strictest limits of observance to
Her he adornd, being reverently withdrew,
Inlarg'd her sorrow in so loud a tone,
That ere he's through the winding Laberynth gone,
So far, but that he could distinctly hear
Her sad Complaints, they thus assault his Ear:

Unhappy Soul, born only to infuse
Pearls of delight with Vinegar, and lose
Content for Honour; it's a sin to be
Born high, that robs me of my liberty:
Or is't the curse of greatness to behold
Vertue through such false Opticks as unfold
No splendor less, from equal Orbs they shine?
What Heaven made free, ambitious men confine,
In regular degrees: poor Love must dwel
Within no Climate, but what's parallel,
Unto our honourd births; the envied Fate
Of Princes oft these burthens find from state;
When lowly Swains knowing no Parents voice,
A Negative, make a free happy choice.

And here she sigh'd, then with some drops distild,
From Loves most soveraign Elixar fil'd
The chrystal Fountains of her eyes, which ere
Dropt down, she thus recals again; but nere,

(Ne're my Argalia) shall these fears destroy
My hopes of thee, Heaven let me but enjoy
So much of all those blessings, which their Birth
Can take from frail Mortality, and Earth,
Contracting all her Curses cannot make
A storm of danger loud enough to shake
Me to a trembling Penitence, a Curse,
To make the horrour of my sufferings worse,
Sent in a Fathers Name, like Vangeance fell
From angry Heaven, upon my head may dwell,
In an eternal stain; my honourd Name
With pale disgrace may languish, busie Fame
My Reputation spot, Affection be
Term'd uncommanded Lust, sharp poverty,
That Weed which kils the gentle Flower of Love,
As the result of all these Ills may prove
My greatest misery, unless to find
My self unpitied, yet not so unkind,
Would I esteem this mercenary Band,
As those far more malignant powers that stand
Arm'd with diswasions to obstruct the way,
Fancy directs, but let those Souls obay
Their harsh Commands, that stand in fear to shead
Repentant tears: I am resolv'd to tread
These doubtful pathes, through all the shades of fear,
That now benights them. Love, with pity hear
Thy Suppliants Prayers, and when my clouded Eyes
Shall cease to weep, in Smiles I'le sacrifice
To thee such Offerings, that the utmost date
Of deaths rough hands shall never violate.

Whilst our fair Virgin-sufferer was in
This Agony, Argalia that had been

Attentive, as an envied Tyrant to
Suspected Counsels: from her Language drew
So much, that that pure essence which informs
His knowledge, shall in all the future storms
Of Fate protect him, from a fear that did
Far more then death afflict, whilst Love lay hid
In Honours upper Region, now whilst she
Calmly withdraws, to let her Comforts be
Hopes of 's return, his latest view forsook
His Souls best comfort, who hath now betook
Her self to private thoughts, where with what rest,
Love can admit, I leave her, and him blest
In a most prosperous Voyage, but happier far
In being directed by so bright a Star.

The end of the first Book.