The works of Sr William Davenant ... Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed, and Those which he design'd for the Press: Now published Out of the Authors Originall Copies |
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 | The works of Sr William Davenant |  |
Canto the First.
The ARGUMENT.
Old Aribert's great race, and greater mindIs sung, with the renown of Rhodalind.
Prince Oswald is compar'd to Gondibert,
And justly each distinguish'd by desert:
Whose Armies are in Fam's fair Field drawn forth,
To shew by discipline their Leaders worth.
1
Of all the Lombards, by their Trophies known,Who sought Fame soon, and had her favor long,
King Aribert best seem'd to fill the Throne;
And bred most bus'ness for Heroick Song.
2
From early Childhoods promising estate,Up to performing Manhood, till he grew
To fayling Age, he Agent was to Fate,
And did to Nations Peace or War renew.
3
War was his study'd Art; war, which the badCondemn, because even then it does them awe,
When with their number lin'd, and purple clad,
And to the good more needful is then Law.
4
To conquer Tumult, Nature's sudain force,War, Arts delib'rate strength, was first devis'd;
Cruel to those whose rage has no remorse,
Least civil pow'r should be by Throngs surpris'd.
5
The feeble Law rescues but doubtfullyFrom the Oppressors single Arme our right;
Till to its pow'r the wise war's help apply;
Which soberly does Man's loose rage unite.
6
Yet since on all War never needful was,Wise Aribert did keep the People sure
By Laws from little dangers; for the Laws
Them from themselves, and not from pow'r secure.
32
7
Else Conquerors, by making Laws, o'recomeTheir own gain'd pow'r, and leave mens fury free;
Who growing deaf to pow'r, the Laws grow dumb;
Since none can plead where all may Judges bee.
8
Prais'd was this King for war, the Laws broad shield;And for acknowledg'd Laws, the art of Peace;
Happy in all which Heav'n to Kings does yield,
But a successor when his cares shall cease.
9
For no male Pledge, to give a lasting name,Sprung from his bed, yet Heaven to him allow'd
One of the gentler sex, whose Story Fame
Has made my Song, to make the Lombards proud.
10
Recorded Rhodalind! whose high renownWho miss in Books, not luckily have read;
Or vex'd by living beauties of their own
Have shunn'd the wise Records of Lovers dead.
11
Her Fathers prosp'rous Palace was the SphearWhere she to all with Heav'nly order mov'd;
Made rigid vertue so benigne appear
That 'twas without Religion's help belov'd.
12
Her looks like Empire shew'd, great above pride;Since pride ill counterfeits excessive height;
But Nature publish'd what she fain would hide;
Who for her deeds, not beauty, lov'd the light.
13
To make her lowly mindes appearance less,She us'd some outward greatness for disguise;
Esteem'd as pride the Cloyst'ral lowliness,
And thought them proud who even the proud despise.
14
Her Father (in the winter of his age)Was like that stormy season froward grown.
Whom so her youthful presence did asswage,
That he her sweetness tasted as his own.
15
The pow'r that with his stooping age declin'd,In her transplanted, by remove increas'd;
Which doubly back in homage she resign'd;
Till pow'rs decay, the Thrones worst sickness, ceas'd.
16
Oppressors big with pride, when she appear'dBlushed, and believ'd their greatness counterfeit;
The lowly thought they them in vain had fear'd;
Found vertue harmless, and nought else so great,
17
Her minde (scarce to her feeble sex a kinn)Did as her birth, her right to Empire show;
Seem'd careless outward when imploy'd within;
Her speech, like lovers watch'd, was kind and low.
33
18
She shew'd that her soft sex containes strong mindes,Such as evap'rates through the courser Male,
As through course stone Elixer passage findes,
Which scarce through finer Christal can exhale.
19
Her beauty (not her own but Nature's pride)Should I describe; from ev'ry Lovers eye
All Beauties this original must hide,
Or like scorn'd Copies be themselves laid by;
20
Be by their Poets shunn'd, whom beauty feeds;Who beauty like hyr'd witnesses protect,
Officiously averring more then needs,
And make us so the needful truth suspect.
21
And since fond Lovers (who disciples beeTo Poets) think in their own loves they find
More beauty then yet Time did ever see,
Time's Curtain I will draw o're Rhodalind.
22
Least shewing her, each sees how much he errs,Doubt since their own have less, that they have none;
Believe their Poets perjur'd Flatterers,
And then all Modern Maids would be undone.
23
In Pity thus, her beauty's just renownI wave for publick Peace, and will declare
To whom the King design'd her with his Crown;
Which is his last and most unquiet care.
24
If in allyance he does greatness prise,His Minde grown Weary, need not travail farre;
If greatness be compos'd of Victories,
He has at home many that Victors are.
25
Many whom blest success did often graceIn Fields, where they have seeds of Empire sown;
And hope to make, since born of princely race,
Even her (the harvest of those toyls) their own.
26
And of those Victors Two are chiefly fam'd,To whom the rest their proudest hopes resigne;
Though young, were in their Fathers batails nam'd,
And both are of the Lombards Royal Line.
27
Oswald the great, and greater Gondibert!Both from succesfull conqu'ring Fathers sprung;
Whom both examples made of Warr's high art,
And farr out-wrought their patterns being young.
28
Yet for full fame (as Trine Fame's Judge reports)Much to Duke Gondibert Prince Oswald yields;
Was less in mighty misteries of Courts,
In peaceful Cities, and in fighting Fields.
34
29
In Court Prince Oswald costly was and gay,Finer then near vain Kings their Fav'rites are;
Outshin'd bright Fav'rites on their Nuptial day;
Yet were his Eyes dark with ambitious care.
30
Duke Gondibert was still more gravely clad,But yet his looks familiar were and clear;
As if with ill to others never sad,
Nor tow'rds himself could others practice fear.
31
The Prince, could Porpoise-like in Tempests play,And in Court storms on shipwrack'd Greatness feed;
Not frighted with their fate when cast away,
But to their glorious hazards durst succeed.
32
The Duke would lasting calmes to Courts assure,As pleasant Gardens we defend from windes;
For he who bus'ness would from Storms procure,
Soon his affairs above his mannage findes.
33
Oswald in Throngs the abject People soughtWith humble looks; who still too late will know
They are Ambition's Quarry, and soon caught
When the aspiring Eagle stoops so low.
34
The Duke did these by steady Vertue gain;Which they in action more then precept tast;
Deeds shew the Good, and those who goodness feign
By such even through their vizards are out-fac't.
35
Oswald in war was worthily renown'd;Though gay in Courts, coursly in Camps could live;
Judg'd danger soon, and first was in it found;
Could toyl to gain what he with ease did give.
36
Yet toyls and dangers through. ambition lov'd;Which does in war the name of Vertue own;
But quits that name when from the war remov'd,
As Rivers theirs when from their Channels gon.
37
The Duke (as restless as his fame in warre)With martial toyl could Oswald weary make;
And calmly do what he with rage did dare,
And give so much as he might deign to take.
38
Him as their Founder Cities did adore;The Court he knew to steer in storms of State;
In Fields a Battle lost he could restore,
And after force the Victors to their Fate.
39
In Camps now chiefly liv'd, where he did aimeAt graver glory then Ambition breeds;
Designes that yet this story must not name,
Which with our Lombard Authors pace proceds.
35
40
The King adopts this Duke in secret thoughtTo wed the Nations wealth, his onely child,
Whom Oswald as reward of merit sought,
With Hope, Ambition's common Baite, beguild.
41
This as his souls chief secret was unknowne,Least Oswald that his proudest Army led
Should force possession ere his hopes were gone,
Who could not rest but in the royal bed.
42
The Duke discern'd not that the King design'dTo chuse him Heir of all his victories;
Nor guess'd that for his love fair Rhodalind
Made sleep of late a stranger to her Eies.
43
Yet sadly it is sung that she in shadesMildly as mourning Doves love's sorrows felt;
Whilst in her secret tears her freshness fades
As Roses silently in Lymbecks melt.
44
But who could know her love, whose jealous shameDeny'd her Eyes the knowledge of her glass;
Who blushing thought Nature her self too blame
By whom Men guess of Maids more then the face.
45
Yet judge not that this Duke (though from his sightWith Maids first fears she did her passion hide)
Did need lov's flame for his directing light,
But rather wants Ambition for his Guide.
46
Love's fire he carry'd, but no more in viewThen vital heat which kept his heart still warm;
This Maids in Oswald as love's Beacon knew;
The publick flame to bid them flye from harm.
47
Yet since this Duke could love, we may admireWhy love ne'r rais'd his thoughts to Rodalind;
But those forget that earthly flames aspire,
Whilst Heav'nly beames, which purer are, descend.
48
As yet to none could he peculiar prove,But like an universal Influence
(For such and so sufficient was his love)
To all the Sex he did his heart dispence.
49
But Oswald never knew love's ancient Laws,The awe that Beauty does in lovers breed,
Those short breath'd fears and paleness it does cause
When in a doubtful Brow their doom they read.
50
Not Rhodalind (whom then all Men as oneDid celebrate, as with confed'rate Eyes)
Could he effect but shining in her Throne;
Blindly a Throne did more then beauty prise.
36
51
He by his Sister did his hopes prefer;A beauteous pleader who victorious was
O're Rhodalind, and could subdue her Ear
In all requests but this unpleasant cause.
52
Gartha, whose bolder beauty was in strengthAnd fulness plac'd, but such as all must like;
Her spreading stature talness was, not length,
And whilst sharpe beauties peirce, hers seem'd to strike.
53
Such goodly presence ancient Poets grace,Whose songs the worlds first manliness declare;
To Princes Beds teach carefulness of Race;
Which now store Courts, that us'd to store the warre.
54
Such was the Palace of her Minde, a PrinceWho proudly there, and still unquiet lives;
And sleep (domestick ev'ry where) from thence,
To make Ambition room, unwisely drives.
55
Of manly force was this her watchful mind,And fit in Empire to direct and sway;
If she the temper had of Rhodalind.
Who knew that Gold is currant with allay.
56
As Kings (oft slaves to others hopes and skill)Are urg'd to war to load their slaves with spoyles;
So Oswald was push'd up Ambition's hill,
And so some urg'd the Duke to martial toyles.
57
And these who for their own great cause so highWould lift their Lords Two prosp'rous Armies are,
Return'd from far to fruitful Lombardy,
And paid with rest, the best reward of warre.
58
The old neer Brescia lay, scarce warm'd with Tents;For though from danger safe, yet Armies then
Their posture kept 'gainst warring Elements,
And hardness learn'd against more warring Men.
59
Neer Bergamo encamp'd the younger were,Whom to the Franks distress the Duke had led;
The other Oswald's lucky Ensigns bear,
Which lately stood when proud Ovenna fled.
60
These that attend Duke Gondibert's renownWere Youth whom from his Fathers Campe he chose.
And them betimes transplanted to his own;
Where each the Planters care and judgment shows.
61
All hardy Youth, from valiant Fathers sprung;Whom perfect honor he so highly taught,
That th' Aged fetch'd examples from the young,
And hid the vain experience which they brought.
37
62
They danger met diverted less with fearsThen now the dead would be if here again,
After they know the price brave dying bears;
And by their sinless rest find life was vain.
63
Temp'rate in what does needy life preserve,As those whose Bodies wait upon their Mindes;
Chaste as those Mindes which not their Bodies serve;
Ready as Pilots wak'd with suddain Windes.
64
Speechless in diligence, as if they wereNightly to close surprise and Ambush bred;
Their wounds yet smarting merciful they are,
And soon from victory to pity led.
65
When a great Captive they in fight had ta'ne,(Whom in a Filial duty some fair Maid
Visits, and would by tears his freedom gain)
How soon his Victors were her Captives made?
66
For though the Duke taught rigid Discipline,He let them beauty thus at distance know;
As Priests discover some more Sacred Shrine,
Which none must touch, yet all may to it bow.
67
When thus as Sutors mourning Virgins passThrough their clean Camp, themselves in form they draw,
That they with Martial reverence may grace
Beauty, the Stranger, which they seldom saw.
68
They vayl'd their Ensignes as it by did move,Whilst inward (as from Native Conscience) all
Worshipp'd the Poets Darling Godhead, Love,
Which grave Philosophers did Nature call.
69
Nor there could Maids of Captives Syres dispaire,But made all Captives by their beauty free;
Beauty and Valor native Jewels are,
And as each others only price agree.
70
Such was the Duke's young Camp by Bergamo,But these near Brescia whom fierce Oswald led,
Their Science to his famous Father owe,
And have his Son (though now their Leader) bred.
71
This rev'rend Army was for age renown'd;Which long through frequent dangers follow'd Time;
Their many Trophies gain'd with many'a wound,
And Fame's last Hill, did with first vigour climbe.
72
But here the learned Lombard whom I traceMy forward Pen by slower Method stays;
Least I should them (less heeding time and place
Then common Poets) out of season praise.
38
73
Think onely then (couldst thou both Camps discern)That these would seem grave Authors of the war,
Met civilly to teach who e're will learn,
And those their young and civil Students are.
74
But painful vertue of the war ne'r paysIt self with consciousness of being good,
Though Cloyster'd vertue may believe even praise
A sallary which there should be withstood:
75
For many here (whose vertue's active heatConcurs not with cold vertue which does dwell,
In lasie Cells) are vertuous to be great,
And as in pains so would in pow'r excell.
76
And Oswald's Faction urg'd him to aspireThat by his height they higher might ascend;
The Dukes to glorious Thrones access desire,
But at more awful distance did attend.
77
The Royal Rhodalind is now the PrizeBy which these Camps would make their merit known;
And think their General's but their Deputies
Who must for them by Proxy wed the Crown.
78
From forreign Fields (with toyling conquest tyr'd,And groaning under spoiles) come home to rest;
There now they are with emulation fyr'd,
And for that pow'r they should obey, contest.
79
Ah how perverse and froward is Mankinde!Faction in Courts does us to rage excite;
The Rich in Cities we litigious find,
And in the Field th'Ambitious make us fight:
80
And fatally (as if even soules were madeOf warring Elements as Bodies are)
Our Reason our Religion does invade,
Till from the Schools to Camps it carry war.
| The works of Sr William Davenant | |