 | Hiren |  |
TO THE HEROICKE HEROS, Henry Earle of Oxenford, Vicount Bulbeck, &c.
Sir , if my vnpolish't pen, that dedicates nowThe bashfull vtterance of a maiden Muse,
May gracefully arriue onely to you,
Which for her virgin sake, do not refuse,
Time, and more studious howers shall we vow,
To sing your vertues, which are now profuse.
Kings haue drunke water from a louing hand,
And truth's accepted, though we paint her poore.
The Poets say, the Gods that can command,
Haue feasted gladly on a poore mans store,
Whereby great Sir, we haue to vnderstand,
That humble Riuers adde to the sea shore.
Liue long and happy, and with gray haires crown'd,
Reade thy youths acts, which fame shall euer sound.
Your honors obseruant seruant, Wil. Barksted.
The faire Greeke.
1
Of Amuraths yong spleenfull sonne I sing,His sonne, who to the Strand of Hellespont,
And to the great Sea-cost his bounds did bring,
Whose Empire so the Grecians did confront,
That euen from Pindus, and Thomao Mont.
From darke Morea to Corinthian streights,
From Burgon to Hungaria's broken wing,
His Nauy fetch'd contributary freights.
2
Yong Mahomet, the wanton of her eie,Which teacheth wars, & taught his nonage daies
That gaue such hansell of his tyranny,
In those first battails, and apprentize sayes,
Which did so hotly dart their early rayes,
On Sigismond, or that wherein was tane,
Philip the noble Duke of Burgondy,
With him kept prisoner, ô farre better slaine!
3
Yong Mahomet to Greece the fatall scourge,Which thither death, and desolation brought,
Euen to the faire Constantinoples veirdge,
The Grecian Empires chaire, the which he sought
For which a huge digested army fought.
And at the last, distressed Constantine,
And of all Christians did the Citty purge,
O shame to Europes Peeres, and Kings diuine.
4
Let Italy take heed, the New-moone threats,To reare his hornes on Romes great Capitall,
And doth not Rome deserue such rough defeats,
That should be mother of compassion all?
And coünite the states, and principall
In league, and loue, which now for trifles iarre,
The Persian Sophy shames our Christian feats,
Who with the Souldan ioynes gainst Turkish war.
5
Had Constantine, that three times sacred Prince,Beene rescu'd then by power of Christendome,
Mathias neuer should haue cran'd defence,
Of Germanes, English, Spanish, France, and Rome,
Taxes of warre, to these climes had not come:
Nor yet the Turke with all his barbarous hoast,
Durst with the Catholikes such war commence,
Where now they haue heard their drums, & feard their hoast.
6
Who reads or heares the losse of that great townConstantinople, but doth wet his eyes?
Where litle babes frō windows were pusht down
Yong Ladies blotted with adulteries,
Old fathers scourg'd with all base villanies?
O mourne her ruine, and bewish the Turke,
eternall depriuation of his Crowne,
That durst for paganisme such outrage worke.
7
When Mahomet had man'd the wals, the towne surpriz'd,Great grew the slaughter, bloudy waxt the fight,
Like Troy, where all was fir'd, and all despis'd,
But what stood gracious in the victors sight.
Such was the wo of this great citty right:
Here lay a Saint throwne downe, & here a Nun,
Rude Sarazens which no high God agnis'd,
Made all alike our wofull course to run.
8
And in this deadly dealing of sterne death,And busie dole of euery Souldiers hand,
Where swords were dul'd with robbing men of breath
Whil'st rape with murder, stalk't about the land,
And vengeance did performe her own command,
and where 'twas counted sin to thinke amisse:
There no man thought it ill to do all scath,
O what doth warre respect of bale or blisse?
9
There stood an ancient Chappell next the Court,Where sacred Bishops said their morrow Masse.
And sung sweet Anthems with a loud report,
To that eternall God-head, whose sonne was,
Sequestred from the Trinity to passe,
Vnder the burthen of the holy Crosse,
For our redemption, whose death did retort,
The sting of Sathan, and restor'd our losse.
10
Hither was got of silly maides some few,Whom happily no Souldier yet had seas'd,
Tendring their spotlesse vows, in child-cold dew,
Of virgin teares, to haue the heauens appeas'd
But teares too late, must be too soone displeas'd,
And hither, like a Tyger from the chase,
Reeking in bloudy thoughts, and bloudy shew,
Came Amurath himselfe to sacke the place.
11
In Armour clad, of watchet steele, full grim,Fring'd round about the sides, with twisted gold,
Spotted with shining stars vnto the brim,
Which seem'd to burn the spheare which did thē hold:
His bright sword drawn, of temper good and old,
A full moone in a sable night he bore,
On painted shield, which much adorned him,
With this short Motto: Neuer glorious more.
12
And as a Diamond in the dark-dead night,Cannot but point at beames on euery side,
Or as the shine of Cassiopæa bright,
Which make the zodiacke, where it doth abide,
Farre more then other planets to be ey'd:
So did faire Hirens eyes encounter his,
And so her beames did terror strike his sight,
As at the first it made e'm vale amisse.
13
O that faire beauty in distresse should fall,For so did she, the wonder of the east,
At least, if it be wondrous faire at all,
That staines the morning, in her purple nest,
With guilt-downe curled Tresses, rosy drest,
Reflecting in a comet wise, admire,
To euery eye whom vertue might appall.
And Syren loue, inchant with amorous fire.
14
A thousand Bashawes, and a thousand more,Of Janizaries, crying to the spoile,
Come rushing in with him at euery dore,
That had not Loue giuen Barbarisme the foile,
The faire had beene dishonored in this while.
But ô when beauty strikes vpon the heart:
What musicke then to euery sence is bore,
All thought resigning them, to beare a part.
15
For as amongst the rest, she kneel'd sad weeping,In tender passion by an altars side,
And to a blessed Saint begins her creeping,
He stood loue-wounded, what should her betide,
Whilst she saw him turnd round, & well nie died.
Let darknes shroud quoth she, my soule in night,
Before my honor be in Mahounds keeping,
Prisoner to enuy, lust, and all vnright.
16
O, if thou beest a Souldier, lend thy sword,To ope the bosomes, where yet neuer lay,
Ignoble Souldier, nor imperious Lord,
Of all whom war hath grip'd into her sway,
Onely remaine we few, let not this day,
Begin with vs, who neuer did offend,
Or else do all of vs one death afford,
If not, kill me, who ne'r was Pagans friend.
17
But now (said Mahomet) thou shall be mine,Thine eies haue power to such a great mans hart,
If then they worke on me to make me thine,
Say thou art wrong'd? dishonor doth impart
No loue, where he may force: but mine thou art,
And shalt be only in thine own free choice,
What makes me speake, makes me speak thus diuine
Else could I threat thee with a conquerors voyce.
18
What you may do (said she) I do not know,But know you this, there is a thousand waies,
To finde out night before my shamelesse brow,
Shall meet that day in guilt of such misrayes.
Oh how vniust art thou? the pagan sayes,
To him which sues for a respecting eye,
And no ignoble action doth allow,
But honor, and thy faires to gratifie.
19
The effect of both is one (said she) both spils,And layes my shame o're mastred at thy feet,
But greatnesse (said he) doth outface all ills,
And maiesty (make sowre apparance sweete,
Where other powers thē greatnes doth cut meet?
It doth indeed, said she, but we adore,
More thē a great Earth-monarch whō death kils,
Mortall soules, thinke on th' immortall more,
20
Alas faire Christian Saint (said Mahomet)So yong, and full of gray hair'd purity,
These are but shifts of Friers, tales farre fet.
Dearest, I'le teach thee my diuinity,
Our Mecha's is not hung with Imagery,
To tell vs of a virgin-bearing-sonne,
Our adoration to the Moone is set,
That pardons all that in the darke is done.
21
O blinde religion, when I learne, said she)To hallow it, my body tombe my soule,
And when I leaue the mid-day-sunne for thee,
Blush Moone, the regent of the nether roule.
What I hold deerest, that my life controule,
And what I prize more precious then imagery,
Heauens, grant the same my bane and ruine be,
And where I liue, wish all my Tragedy.
22
A dreadfull curse replide the Saracen,But I will teach thee how to cousen it,
An oath in loue may be vnsworne againe,
Ioue markes not louers oathes euery whit,
Thou wilt repent beside, when riper wit
Shall make thee know the magicke of thine eies,
How faire thou art, and how esteem'd of men,
Tis no religion that is too precise.
23
Nor is this all, though this might woo a Greeke,To wantonize with princely Mahomet,
Much more by loues inuention could I speake,
By which the coldest temper might be heate:
But I must hence, a fitter time I'le set,
To conquer thee, Bashawes these spare or spill,
Saue Mustapha this maid, since her we like,
Conduct vnto our Tent, now warre he will.
24
She like Cassandra thral'd and innocent,Wrang her white hands, & tore her golden haire,
Hal'd by the Eunuchs to the Pagans: Tent,
Speechlesse, and spotlesse, vnpittied, not vnfaire,
Whiles he to make all sure, did repaire,
To euery Souldier throughout the field,
And gaue in charge matters of consequence,
As a good generall, and a Souldier should.
25
Then sent he forth Polidamus to bid,The Drums & Trumpets sound that daies retreit,
For in his soule their ratling noyse he chid:
For startling Cupid, whose soft bosome streight,
Had lodg'd him, & grew proud of such a freight.
Beside the sword and fire had swept the streetes,
And all did in the victors hands abide,
Night likewise came, fit time for Loues stolne-sweets.
26
Thus tumbling in conceits, he stumbled home,In the darke couerture of shady night,
Cal'd for a torch, the which his chamber groome,
With more then speedy haste did present light:
To bed he went, as heauy in his spright,
As loue, that's full of anguish makes the minde:
Faine would he sleepe away this martirdome, O
But loues eyes open, when all else are blinde.
27
What do you talke of sleepe? talke of the Greeke,For being laid, he now grew almost mad,
What is she not as faire (quoth he) to like,
As Phedria, whom in Corinth once I had?
With that he knock't his Eunuchs vp, and bad,
One aske the Grecian maide, what was her name,
What she made there, & whom she came to see,
And to what end into his Tent she came?
28
When he was gone, somewhat the fury staid,And beat more temperate in his liuer-vaine,
Onely he could not choose but praise the maid,
Whose eies frō his such womanish drops did strain
Did not thy face (sigh'd he) such faires containe,
It could not be, my heart thou couldst distract,
But all abstracts of rarities are laid,
In thy faire cheekes so feelingly compact.
29
Thus made, what maiest thou not command,In mighty Amuraths wide Empery?
My tributary loue, and not my land,
Shall pay it homage to thy proud bent eye,
And they who most abhorre idolatry,
Shall tender Catholicke conceites to thee,
O arme not honor still for to withstand,
And make a foyle of loue, which dwels in me.
30
By this time was the Carpet-page return'd,And told the prince the Greeke was Hiren hight,
But so she wept, & sigh'd, & grieu'd, & mourn'd,
As I could get no more (said he to night,
And weeps (said Amurath) my loue so bright.
Hence villaine, borrow wings, flie like the winde,
Her beauteous cheeks with hot tears wilbe burnd
Fetch her to me: ô loue too deafe, too blinde!
31
Then crossing both his armes athwart his breast,And sinking downe, he fet a soule taught grone,
And sigh'd, and beat his heart, since loue possest,
And dwelt in it which was before his owne.
How bitter is sweet loue, that loues alone,
And is not sympathis'd, like to a man?
Rich & full cram'd, with euerything that's best,
Yet lyes bed-sicke, whom nothing pleasure can.
32
Sometimes he would inuoke sweet Poets dead,In their own shapes, to court the maid with words
But then he fear'd least they her maidenhead
Shold win frō him: thē somtimes arms & swords,
His old heroike thoughts, new roome affoords,
And to the field he would: but then loue speakes,
And tels him Hiren comes vnto his bed,
VVhich dasheth all, and all intendments breakes.
33
And lo indeed, the purple hangings drawne,In came faire Hiren in her night attire,
In a silke mantle, and a smocke of lawne,
Her haire at length, the beams of sweete desire)
Her breasts all naked, ô inchanting fire!
And siluer buskins on her feet she wore,
Though all the floore with Carpet-worke was strawn
Yet were such feet too good to tread that floore.
34
Now Mahomet bethinke thee what is best,Said she, compell me I will speake thy shame,
And tell thy hatefull fact, at euery feast,
Singers in balads shall betime thy name,
And for dishonoring me spot thy faire fame:
But if—: No more chast maid said Mahomet:
Though in thy grant consists all ioy and rest,
I will not force thee, till thou giue me it.
35
But say I languish, faint, and grow forlorne,Fall sicke, and mourne: nay pine away for thee,
Wouldst then for euer hold me yet in scorne?
Forbid my hopes, the comfort that should be
In hopes in doating hopes which tire on me:
O be not as some women be, for fashion,
Like sun-shine daies in clouds of raine stil borne,
The more you'l loue, the more shal grow my passion.
36
And then he clasp'd her frosty hand in his,An orient pearle betwixt two mother shels,
And scal'd thereon a hearty burning kisse,
Kisses in loue, force more then charmes or spels,
And in sweet language, hopes desires foretels,
Ah louely Greeke, what heart hast thou (quoth he)
What art thou made of? fire dissolueth yce,
Tygers relent, yet thoul't not pitty me.
37
Dwel'st thou on forme? I can confirme thee than,Sibilla liues to tell she did repent.
Let Latmus speake what it of Delia can,
And it will eccho her loue-languishment.
Chaste eyes somtimes reflect kind blandishment:
Beside, thy soueraigne will thy subiect be,
Once a great king, now a despised man,
A vassall, and a slaue to Loue and thee.
38
Why dost thou weep? tis I shold drown mine eiesAnd burst my heart with languor, and dispaire,
I whom thy vnrelenting thoughts despise,
I who can woo thee by no sute, nor prayer,
Yet doating mad for thee, ô cruell faire,
I sweare by this diuine white daizy-hand,
The loue I beare thee, in my heart it lies,
Whose searching fire, no reason can withstand.
39
Wilt thou be mine? here shalt thou liue with me,Free'd from oppression, and the Souldiers lust,
Who if thou passe my Tent, will seize on thee,
And they are rude, and what they will thou must.
O do not to the common Kestrels trust,
They are not as the Eagles noble kinde,
But rough, and daring in all villany:
Honor with me, with them scarce safety finde.
40
Honor and safety, both in true loue is,And Mahomet is zealous, ô loue him:
With him ioy euery thing that tasts of blisse,
Pompe, honor, pleasure, shews, and pastimes trim,
Care dwels not where he dwels, nor sorrow grim
Onely till now, that he for Hiren mournes:
A Greeke whom he would bring to paradice,
He ner'e took thought, but now he sighs & burns.
41
Wilt thou be his, on thee shall waite and tend,A traine of Nymphs, and Pages by thy side,
With faunes, horse, coach, & musicke which shall lend
The spheares new notes in their harmonies pride,
When thou wilt walke, and publikly be ey'd,
To bring thee in thy hie way, cloath'd with flowers
Shall sent like Tempe when the graces send,
To meet each other in those fragrant bowers.
42
At home shall comick Masques, & night disportsConduct thee to thy pillow, and thy sheetes,
And all those reuels which soft loue consorts,
Shall entertaine thee with their sweetest sweets.
And as the warlike God with Venus meetes,
And dallies with her in the Paphian groue,
Shall Mahomet in bed shew thee such sports,
As none shall haue, but she which is his loue.
43
Againe: No more againe (saies she) great king,I know you can do much, and all this to,
But tell me when we loose so deere a thing,
Shame can we take pride in, in publike shew:
Think you the adulterate owle, then wold not so?
No, no, nor state, nor honor can repure,
Dishonor'd sheet's, nor lend the owle daies wing
Ignoble shame a King cannot recure.
44
Now say mine eies & cheeks are faire, what then?Why so are yours, yet do I dote on you?
Beauty is blacke, defam'd by wicked men,
And yet must euery beauty make men sue?
Too good is worse then bad, you seeme too true
Too easie, passionate, loue-sicke, and kinde,
Then blame not me, that cannot so soone ren
Your course: the fault is in your forward minde.
85
But say great prince, I had a wanton eye,Would you adde Syrius to the sommer sunne?
And whurle hote flaming fire where tow doth lie
By which combustion all might be vndone?
For loke how mightier greater Kings do run
Amisse, the fault is more pernicious,
And opens more to shame and obloquy,
Then what we erre in, or is done by vs.
46
A Monarch, and a mighty ConquerourTo doate, proues euery woman is his better,
But I'le be true to thee (said he: (One houre
(Said she;) but what for truth, when it is fitter
We keepe our own, then haue a doubtful debter.
But I will sweare, said he: So Iason did,
Replide faire Hiren, yet who faithlesse more,
or more inconstant to his sworne loues bed?
47
Too many mirrors haue we to behold,Of mens inconstancy, and womens shame.
How many margent notes can we vnfold,
Mourning for virgins that haue bene too blame?
And shall I then run headlong to the flame?
I blush, but it is you should be ashamed,
For know, if that you neuer haue beene told,
“Vertue may be inforc'd, but not defamed.
48
Faire louely Prince, let warre your triumphs be,Go forward in the glittering course you run,
The kingly Eagle strikes through Atomie,
Those little moates that barre him from the Sun,
Then let not both of vs be here vndone,
You of your Conquest, I of Chastitie.
And pardon my rude speech, for lo you see,
I plead for life, and who's not loath to dye?
49
Death of my fame, which oft proues mortal deathWitnesse the Prince-forc'd chaste Lucretia,
Ere I like her be rap'd, ô reaue my breath,
And gainst thy nature, take a yeelding pray,
That will embrace death, before thee this day.
If thou loue me, shew it in killing me,
Thy sword had neuer yet a chaster sheath,
Nor thou, nor Mahound a worse enemy.
50
He heard nor this, nor ought of what she said,For all his senses now were turn'd to eyes,
And with such fired gaze he view'd this maid,
That sure I thinke not Hermes mysteries,
Nor all his Caducean nouelties,
That flow from him like a slye winding streame,
(To which the Gods gladly their eares haue laid)
Could once haue mou'd him from this waking dreame.
51
But sighes he sends out on this embassie,Liegers that dye ere they returne againe,
Poore substitutes to coape with chastity.
She knew the pleading of their Liege was vaine,
And all his teares like to a Mel-dew raine,
That falles vpon the floures, to defloure.
Yet, for twas tedious, she did aske him why,
Each sigh was o're him such a conquerour.
52
By heauen he swore, and made his Eunuch start,I sigh to coole Loues fire, then kist her hand:
For know, thou wonder of the Easterne part,
He need not counterfeite that can command:
But by thy middle, Cupids coniuring wand,
I am all loue, and faire beleeue my vow,
Sprung from a Souldier, now a louers heart,
He sweares to loue, that neuer lou'd till now.
53
Not halfe so faire was Hellen, thy pre'cessor,On whom the firy brand of Troy did dote,
For whom so many riuall kings to succour,
Made many a mountaine pine on Symois floate,
Whilst fame to this day, tels it with wide throat.
Hector fell wounded in that warlike stir,
Peleus did faint, Aiax that lusty warriour,
Then blame not me, that loue one far 'boue her.
54
Nature deuis'd her owne despaire in thee,Thine eye not to be match'd, but by the other,
Doth beare the influence of my destiny.
And where they stray, my soule must wander thither
Beauty of beauty, mother of Loues mother.
All parts he praises, coming to her lip,
Currall beneath the waues, vermilion dye,
And being so neere, he wold not ouerslip.
55
Now tyres the famish'd Eagle on his pray,Incorporating his rude lips in hers,
Sucking her balmey breath soft as he may:
Which did more vigor, through his brest disperse,
Such kisses louers vse at first conuerse.
All parts were to that center drawne I wis,
Close as the dew-wormes at the breake of day,
That his soule shew'd, as t'were a melting kisse.
56
Till breathles now, he breath'd into her loue,Who scorn'd to take possession by degrees,
No law with her strange passion, will he proue,
But hauing interest, scorn'd one inch to leese,
Cupid, sheele set thee free withouten fees.
But though his wings she well nie set on fire,
And burn'd the shaft, that first her brest did moue,
Yet Cupid would be Lord of her desire.
57
Tis sayd, Aurora blushes euery morne,For feare that Titan should her fault espy,
And blushes so did Hirens cheekes adorne,
Fearing least Mahomet perceiu'd her eye.
Louers are blind, and what could he espy.
No, twas the hidden vertue of that kisse,
That her chast lips were nere vs'd to beforne,
That did vnframe her, and confirme her his.
58
Louers beleeue, lips are inchanted baites,After fifteene, who kisses a faire maide,
Had need to haue friends trusty of the fates,
For by my muse (I sweare) I am a afraid,
Hee's Iourney-man already in Loues trade.
A kisse is porter to the caue of loue,
Well fee, and you may enter all the gates:
“Women were made to take what they reproue.
59
A kisse is the first Tutor and instinct,The guider to the Paphian shrine and bowers.
They who before ne're entred loues precinct,
Kissing shall finde it, and his sundry powers.
O how it moues this continent of aires,
And makes our pulse more strong & hye to beat,
Making vs know when lips are sweetly linck't,
That to those Kickshawes 'longs more dainty meate.
60
And so indeed bewitched Hiren knowes,The pressure of his lips was not in vaine,
Seldome proue women friends vnto their foes,
But when with ouer kindnesse they are tane,
So weake professors do swalow their owne bane:
Shew them the axe they'l suffer martyrdome,
But if promotion to them you propose,
And flattery, then to the lure they come.
61
Thus Mahomet blinds her with Cupids vaile,And this new conuertite building on hope,
Loue makes folks hardy, alas the flesh is fraile,
Dispences now a little with the Pope:
And frō restrictions giues her heart more scope.
O Liberty, Author of heresie.
Why with such violent wing dost thou assaile,
To hurry vertue to impiety.
62
No pardon will she now implore of Rome,Her selfe she pardons twenty times an houre,
Nor yet an heretike her selfe doth doome,
Since she hath Mahomet within her power.
O loue too sweet, in the digestion sower!
Yet was he made, as nature had agreed,
To match them both together from her wombe,
And be a ioyfull grandam in their seed.
63
A face Nature intended for a maister peece,And louely as the maide (though a blacke pearle)
Painters and women say, an Eben fleece,
Doth well beseeme the shoulders of an Earle:
Blacke snares they were, that did entrap this girle
Each haire like to a subtile serpent taught her,
Of the forbidden fruit to taste a peece,
Whil'st Eue is stain'd againe here in her daughter.
64
His eyes were stuck like Comets in his head,As if they came to treate of nouelties,
And bring the world and beautie into dread:
That he must conquer chastest chastities.
O who such tempting graces could despise,
All voluntarie sinnes soules may refraine,
But Natures selfe that of the flesh is bred,
Such power she hath, that vice she will retaine.
65
Let me, faire Greeke, a little plead for thee,Like a vaine Orator, more for applause,
And swolne commends, of those are standers by,
Then profits sake, or goodnesse of the cause.
If men that vpon holy vowes do pawse,
Haue broke, alas, what shall I say of these,
The last thing thought on by the Deitie,
Natures step-children, rather her disease.
66
Maide, why commit you wilfull periurie?To you I speake that vowe a single life,
I must confesse y'are mistresse of beauty:
Which beautie with your oaths is still at strife.
Then know of me, thou, widow, maide or wife,
She that is faire and vowes still chast to stand,
Shall find an opposite to constancie,
Fooles Oracles last not, are writ in sand.
The end of the first Tome.
TO THE PERFECTION OF Perfection, and wisedome of Womanhood, the intelligent, and worthily admired, Elizabeth Countesse of Darby, wife to the thrice-noble William Earle of Darby.
VVhen as the skilfull Statuaries make,The image of some great & worthy one,
They still, as they intend his forme to take,
Forecast the Basis he shall rest vpon,
Whose firme infixe thunders nor winds can shake,
Nor Time, that Nature deads to liue alone.
So (worthiest Lady) may I proudly vaunt,
(Being neuer guilty of that crime before)
That to this Laye, which I so rudely chaunt,
Your diuine selfe, which Dian doth adore,
As her maids her, I haue select to daunt
Enuy: as violent as these nam'd before.
Gorgon and Hydra (all but death) destroy.
Your honors from youth oblig'd, Wil. Barksted.
The second Tome.
67
Long did this beautious martyr keep her faith,Thinking that Mahomet was full of error:
Treading that high cœlestiall milkie path,
Virginity, that did produce hels terror,
Yet knowing loue in Princes turnes to wrath,
She meanes to catch his fancies with her cunning:
But so resistlesse is this Princes feruor,
Though he imprison loue, still feares his cunning.
68
For like a Castle seated on a rocke,Besieg'd by thousands danger each way spread,
That had withstood the battery of warres shock:
The liuing making bulwarkes of the dead.
So did this Virgins thoughts to her hart flock,
Wiuing her danger, when her powers were lost:
Hyrena will yeeld vp her maiden head,
A gift to make Ioue proud, or silence bost.
69
He gently woes her with the misers God,The Indians ignorance, and vertues slaue,
Bright flaming gold, for where that ha's abode,
All doores flies open to the wish we craue.
Gold is mans mercy, and his makers rod,
She loues the King for honor and for riches,
He makes her eyes his heauen, her lap his graue,
A womans face oft Maiesties bewitches.
70
When news is brought him that his foes are come,He catches straite this maiden in his armes,
Calling for musicke that is now his drumme:
Ile keepe thee safe (quoth he) for other harmes,
Tho spoke in thunder they to me are dumbe.
To counsell now they call him with low duty,
But her Idea so his sences charmes,
He drownes all speech in praising of her beauty.
71
One tels him that the Christians are in field.You do not marke her beauty, he replies.
Two mightie Cities to their power doth yeeld:
Note but the lustre sparkling from her eyes.
Your subiects hearts, against your life are steeld:
Her tongue is musick, that strikes wonder dumbe.
Your people struck with warre by millions dyes:
If she but frowne then I shall ouercome.
72
Shall I feare this worlds losse enioying heauen,Or thinke of danger when an Angel guards me?
Can greater glory to my life be giuen,
Then her maiesticke beauty that rewards me?
Nay is not he of happinesse bereau'd,
That neuer saw her face nor heard her voyce,
And those that win our loue, or most regards me,
Confesse that we are godlike in our choice.
73
He left his Ianisaries in a trance,And to her priuate chamber straite enioyes,
His bloud within his azure veines doth dance:
“In loue th' effects are seene before the cause:
For nectar'd kisses and a smile by chance,
Are but loue branches, though they grow vp first,
And Cupid thus confines vs in his lawes,
To tast the fountaine ere we quench our thirst.
74
Night like a Princes pallace full of light,Illumin'd all the earth with golden starres,
Here Art crost Nature, making day of night:
And Mahomet prepares him for loues warres.
A banquet is ordain'd to feed delight,
Of his Imperiall bountie with expences:
A heauen on earth he presently prepares,
To rauish in one hower all her sences.
75
Her eyes could glance no way but saw a iewell,As rich as Cleopatra gaue her loue.
Pictures haue power to warme ice with loues fewell.
The gentle treading of the Turtle-doue,
The Camels lust that in his heate is cruell:
And Iupiter transformed from a man,
When with his breast the siluer streame did moue,
And rauish Læda like a snowy Swan.
76
The table furnisht, to delight the taste,With food aboue Ambrosia diuine,
Such as would helpe consumptions that did wast:
The life bloud, or the marrow, Greekish wine,
So high one draught would make Dian vnchast.
Nectar is water to this banquets drinke,
Here Æsculapius did his art resigne,
And pleasure drown'd with standing on the brink.
77
To please her hearing Eunuches sang as shrill,As if that nature had dismembred them,
All birds that ecchoes musicke through the bill,
Sang ioy to her in an vndittied antheme:
An artificiall heauen stands open still,
Filling the roofe with a sweet vnknowne noyse,
Downe fals a clowd like a rich diadem,
And showes a hundred naked singing boyes.
78
The sence of smelling with all rare deuises,That rich Arabia or the world can yeeld,
The dew of Roses and choise Indian spices,
The purest of the garden and the field.
The earth to part with these rare gifts now nises,
And vowes no more her nature so profuse,
Shall let her sweets be from her breast distild,
To feed their vanitie with her abuse.
79
Then in a rich imbroidred bed of downe,Pluck't from the cōstant Turtles fethered breast,
Vpon her head he set imperiall crowne,
And to her goes: Now is his soule at rest.
This night he counts the end of his renowne,
The sence of feeling, she feeles by his power,
And like a subiect yeelds to his request,
Whilest Mahomet a virgin doth deflower.
80
Now feares this flower deflowr'd his loue will waine,Wishing the lustfull act had bin vndoon,
The pleasure cannot counteruaile the paine,
For still she thinkes with torment ioy is woon,
His loue growes full, she gets it now with gaine:
He like a ring of gold insets his iewell,
But fearing of his force she should disdaine,
Till sighes and kisses did inflame Loues fewell.
81
Then like the God of Warre, caught in a net,He twin'd his Venus, danger was not nigh,
And as a Diamond compar'd with Iet,,
So show'd her sparkling eye against his eye.
The sunne-gaz'd Eagle now this done doth get,
And gently gripes her, hurting not his pray,
She founds with pleasure, second sweets are high
And wishes Phœbus blinde all night, no day.
82
The red-cheek't morning opens now her gate,And busie day breathes life into the world,
The heauens great coachman mounted is in state,
And darknesse from the aire to hell is hurld.
Now pleasures king by day light sees his mate,
Whil'st she lay blushing like the damaske rose,
His ietty haire she with her fingers curld,
He hug'd her fast, least he his ioyes should lose.
83
Her fight begot in him a new desire,For that is restlesse alwaies in extreames,
Nought but sacrety can quench loues fire.
Now throgh the christal casemēt Phœbus beames
Dazled those twinckling starres that did aspire,
To gaze vpon his brightnesse being a louer.
Tasting her petulans in waking dreames,
To hide her from the sunne, he doth her couer.
84
Then sweet breath'd musicke, like the chime of spheares,Did rauish pleasure, till this paire did rise:
More wonder then that sound was to men eares
Was her rare beauty to the gazers eyes.
Ioy was so violent, the rockes it teares,
The noise and triumphs beates vpon the aire,
And like ambition pierceth through the skies,
That Ioue loo'kt downe on her that was so rare.
85
Thus Mahomet both day and night doth spend,In obseruation of her eyes and pleasure,
Growing so iealous, least he should offend,
His soules perfection, natures vnspent treasure.
If she but speake to him, he low doth bend,
And such a seruitude he doth discouer.
Neglecting of himselfe in that grosse measure,
That Hiren clips her slaue, no Emperour.
86
Her chamber is her prison (O most willing)And there like house-doues they each other woo
At first shee'l shun him, after fall a billing,
And with imagination make him doo.
Thy eies quoth Mahomet, saues thousands killing
For all my force vpon thee shall be spent,
Thy warres directions I do best allow,
Thy Armes my Armour, and thy bed my Tent.
87
Who doth offend this paramour, straight dyes,As certainly, as if pronounc'd by fate,
Who doth with duty please her, needs must rise,
Her face directeth both his loue and hate.
The grosest flatterer is held most wise.
Now reignes swolne gluttony, red lust, and pride:
For when the heart's corrupted in a state,
Needs must the other parts be putrifide.
88
The cōmons like wolues, bark against the mooneAnd sweare they wil depose him from his throne:
The Nobles whisper, and intend, that soone.
Some one shal let their griefe to him be knowne,
To scape that office now is each mans boone,
Who speakes against her whets a fatall knife,
For he replyes, I loose but what's mine owne,
As sure as we haue life, you loose that life.
89
They stand amaz'd, by hearing their own fearesEach viewing other with a face extracted:
Some praying, cursing, other shedding teares,
To see a Louer by a Souldier acted.
Patience doth foole vs that so long forbeares,
To tell our Emperour hee's turn'd a monster,
And to such ease and vices so contracted.
The world, his birth, and titles doth mis-conster.
90
Then Mustapha, beloued of the Turke,Stood vp, and said, I hazard will my head,
Know Countrymen, Ile vndertake this worke,
And if I fall, lament me being dead.
No flattery within this breast shall lurke:
For that to Princes cares is now grown common
Whilest Mahomet to haue his pleasure fed,
Doth loose the worlds sway for a fickle woman.
91
Vnto her priuate chamber straight he goes,And findes his soueraigne sleeping on her lap,
On suddaine wakes him: Sir, here are your foes,
The sound amaz'd him like a thunder-clap:
Although you sleep, awak't are all our woes.
The franticke Emperour vpon him stares,
Relate in briefe the worst of our mishap,
Man cannot wrong vs, when a God not dares.
92
This danger Mæhomet, attends thy reigne,The Gods are angry with thy lustfull ease,
Thy priuate pleasure is the Empires paine,
To please your selfe you all the world displease:
The Sophy, German, and the King of Spaine,
Begirt thy safety with the ribbes of death.
Then worthy Prince, your wonted valour cease,
And take my counsel, though it cost my breath.
93
You are but the shadow of an Emperour,Not really effecting what you are,
A slothfull Epicure, a puling louer,
That now en'e trembles at the name of warre,
Obliuion all thy former acts do couer,
Most willing to remoue you I will dye,
The sunne of honour now is scarce a starre,
Vertue at first was sire to Maiesty.
94
The Emperour vpon his subiect stares,As if a Gorgons head he there had seene,
How comes it vassall, that thy proud tōgue dares,
Speake to remoue mee frō this heauenly queene?
The gods wold liue on earth, to haue their shares
In my Hirena: Sirra, you want nurture:
Thy life I will not touch now in my spleene,
But in cold bloud it shall depart with torture.
95
I feare not death, repli'd bold Mustapha,At your command I'le clime a steepy rocke,
Then headlong tumble downe into the sea,
Or willingly submit me to the blocke,
Disrobe my nature, and my body flea:
Yet in that tyranny I'le speake my minde,
And boldly like a Souldier stand deaths shocke,
Concluding, lust can strike the Eagle blinde.
96
His haughty words amaz'd this king of loue,Thou wert not wont to speake thus without duty.
Can her embraces so my soule remoue?
And must he be a coward dotes on beauty?
Such rarity of pleasure I do proue,
In her enioying, that my soule is fed,
With that variety, to speake her truly,
Each night she giues me a new maiden-head.
97
Yet shall my subiects know my power in this,That I can rule mine owne affection:
I pardon freely what thou speak'st amisse,
Knowing it sprung from loue, and thy subiection:
Your eies shall see me rob the earth of blisse,
A sight too sad, all heauen strike men with terror,
And in that act cast such reflexion.
That kings shall see thēselues in me their mirror.
98
Go, tell my Bashaes, and the noble bloud,I do inuite them to a royall dinner,
And there I'le shew them loue can be withstood:
Yet he that wrongs my Greeke is such a sinner,
He cannot cleanse himselfe, washt in Ioues flood.
Fortune this fate vpon my loue hath hurld,
The Monarkes of the earth in hope to win her,
Against her beauty would stake all the world.
99
Leaue vs: and be thou comforted my faire,I will aduance thee bou'e the stile of woman:
Let not my words bring thee vnto dispaire,
Thou shalt imbrace the Gods, for her's no man
Worthy to taste thy sweetes, they are so rare.
Drawn by the Phœnix thou through heauen shalt ride
And Saturn woūded by loues litle bowman
Shall get his sonne to haue thee stellifide.
100
Go decke thy beauty with heauens ornament,Shine Cinthia like with iewels in the night,
As she with starres stucke in heauens firmament;
But thine, the greater will deface her light,
Making her yeeld to thee her gouernment.
On Saturnes top thy face shall gaine opinion,
Beyond cold Phœbe shining out so bright,
Thou shalt be courted by her loue Endimion.
101
Let ioy possesse thy heart, and be thou proud,In sight of all the Turkish Emperours Peares,
Let not thy sunne of beauty in a cloud,
Be hid from those, whose eies with deawy teares,
For want of thy pure heate in shades do shroud,
Their drooping forheads, but thy beames exhales
All misty vapours, and the welkin cleares,
Like putrifying lightning, or Ioues balles.
100
Then hand in hand they passe out of the roome,Her beauty like a blazing starre admired,
Well may I tearme it so, it shew'd the doome,
Of her liues date that instant was expired.
Now to the presence chamber they are come,
Where all in reuerence kisse the humble earth,
Here nature tooke her own, and death hath hir'd,
To giue that backe againe, which she gaue birth.
103
Now stands in the midst, and thus begins,(Taking the faire Hirena by the hand:)
Which of you here, that such a creature wins,
Would part with her, for honor, loue, or land?
The gods were enuious whē they made those sins
Which are th' crowns of this fraile worlds cōtent,
Nor can it with their humane reason stand,
To thinke our ioyes begets our punishment.
104
View but her hand, her lip, her brow, her eyes,The smalnesse of her waste, and comely stature,
And let your iudgement bou'e your hatred rise,
Thē you must needs cōfesse, she excels in feature.
That you are onely fooles, I truly wise,
Doe not her presence admiration strike,
And broken is her frame by angry nature,
For feare she wrongs herselfe, and make the like,
105
What man that hauing toild in hidden Art,Spent all his youth, and substance to the bone,
All bookes and knowledge in the deepest part,
To finde that Phœnix, that gold-getting stone,
And hauing it, to comfort his weake heart,
Shall he his seruants, wife, or friends to please,
With his owne eies go see that iewell throwne,
Into the bottomelesse and gaping seas.
106
Or which of you can haue the fortitude,to lop a limbe off, or pull out an eye,
Or being in a heauenly seruitude,
To free your selues would with the damned lye?
Of force with me you now must all conclude,
That mortall men are subiect to loues rod,
But heere you shall perceiue that onely I,
Am natures conquerour, and a perfect God.
107
Then with a smiling looke, he came vnto her,And kist her, bad her pray, and then he smil'd,
I must not in my constancy now erre;
Since by mine owne tongue I a God am sti'ld.
He drawes a fatall Turkish Simiter,
With it he parts her body from her head.
And though his tyranny did proue so vile,
She seem'd to mocke him smiling being dead.
108
Vntill he tooke it in his bloudy power,And then a crimson floud gusht out a pace,
The fauor chang'd frō smiling, and look't sower.
And senceles teares ran trickling downe her face,
As who should say, I thought within this hower,
For me thou wouldst haue oppos'd heauen with strife,
That earthly being is like falling glasse,
To thee I lost virginity and life.
109
Long stood he mute, and gaz'd vpon her forme,Till Mustapha came in to play his part,
His eies shot lightning like a horrid storme,
Thē with his fauchion runs him through the hart.
O could this diuell my soule so tranforme,
That I must eate that snake in him did lurke,
But this is hels instruction, the blacke Art.
To giue our sins the means by which they work.
110
O my Hirena, Mahomet then cries,Looke through the orbes, & see an Emperour sad
Detaine her not you rulers in the skies,
But send her once more, to make Monarkes glad.
My soule to thine like Tartars shaft now flies,
They held his arme, or else he had done the deed
This mighty Mahomet with loue growne mad,
Can nothing ease you, but your heart must bleed.
111
Where is that God-head due vnto your birth,Descended from the Prophet Mahomet,
Recall your spirits to their former mirth,
And keep your colour constant like the Iet.
Now shew your fortitude, be God on earth,
Marshall your men, giue eare vnto your Drum,
And let your valour with the sunne being set,
With the resplendancy burne Christendome.
112
Awake dull mate, and leaue this trance,Be perfect man, as thou hast here thy being,
Not subiect vnto passion or chance;
But like thy selfe, with Kingly thoughts agree,
Our siluer moone to heauen we will aduance,
And Christendome shall mourne for Hirens fall,
That heathen Princes our braue acts seeing,
Shall yeeld the world to vs, we king of all.
113
And for my loues vnkindly Tragedy,A thousand Citties for her death shall mourne,
And as a relicke to posterity,
Our priests shall keep her ashes in their vrne,
And fame to future times with memory,
Shall sound ber glory, and my loues effects,
For, till this vniuersall Masse doth burne,
Her beauty rests the wonder of her sex.
114
Now order my affaires for bloudy warre,For heere I vow this loue shall be my last,
No more shall downy pleasure, like a barre,
Stop my designes that now at honour gast,
Shoote prophet on my forhead a blessed starre,
A Tygers fiercenesse, and my heart shall moue,
Because with Hiren all affections past,
I'le pitty none, for pitty begets loue.
FINIS.
| Hiren | |