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 |  |
70
Canto the Sixth.
The ARGUMENT.
The Victor is (when with his wounds subdu'd)By such deform'd and dismal Troops pursu'd,
That he thinks Death, then which they uglier seem,
No ill expedient to escape from them.
But Ulfin guides him to sage Astragon,
By the last Raies of the descending Sun.
1
Scarce on their Duke their fears kind fit was spent,When strait a thick arm'd Squadron clouds their sight;
Which cast so dark a shade, as if it ment
Without the Sun's slow leave, to bring in night.
2
This threatning Squadron did consist of Horse,And by old Ulfin they were bravely led,
Whose mind was sound, nor wants his Body force,
Though many Winters Snow had cool'd his Head.
3
The sad remainder who with Hubert went,Did miss his reach, when they to Brescia turn'd,
And now (as if his haste destruction ment)
He chac'd these who the Duke's spent valor mourn'd.
4
Whose posture being loose, their number few,His Scouts grow scornful as they forward come;
He makes his Squadron halt, and neer he drew;
Then asks aloud, what are you, and for whom?
5
The noble Goltho (whose great deeds to dayPrevented Manhood in his early youth)
Believ'd him Oswald's Friend, yet scorn'd the way
To shelter life, behind abandon'd Truth.
6
For he to Ulfin boldly thus reply'd;This second Ambush findes us here in vain;
We have no treasure left that we would hide,
Since Gondibert is reckon'd with the slain.
7
Duke Gondibert we vouch to be our Lord,To whose high vertue's Sov'raignty we bow;
Oswald sunk low, as death, beneath his Sword,
Though him superior Fate will vanquish now.
71
8
Scarce empty Eagles stooping to their Prey,Could be more swift then Ulfin to alight,
And come where Gondibert expiring lay;
Now pleasing those whom he did newly fright.
9
For scarce that rev'rence which a Monarch draws,Who seldome will be seen, though often sought';
Who spends his carefull age in making Laws,
To rule those lands for which in youth he fought;
10
Nor that respect which People pay those Kings,Whose peace makes rich, whom civil war made wise,
Can equall this which aged Ulfin brings
The gentle Duke, to whom he prostrate lies.
11
His Eyes (not us'd to tears) bathe every wound;Which he salutes as things he chiefly lov'd;
And when expence of spirits he had found,
To gain him air, his Mourners he remov'd.
12
Make way, said he, and give experience room;The Confident of age, though Youth's scorn'd guide;
My wounds, though past, out-number yours to come,
You can but hope the knowledge I have try'd.
13
His Hilts round Pommel he did then unskrew,And thence (which he from ancient Precept wore)
In a small Christall he a Cordial drew,
That weary life could to her walks restore.
14
This care (amazing all it does delight)His ruines, which so reverend appear,
With wonder not so much surprise their sight,
As a strange object now his Troops draw near.
15
In whom such death and want of limbs they finde,As each were lately call'd out of his Tombe,
And left some members hastily behinde;
Or came when born abortive from the Wombe.
16
Yet this defect of Legs, or Arms, or Hands,Did wondring valor not disturb; but please;
To see what divers weapons each commands
With arts hard shifts, till custome gave them ease.
17
But the uncomely absence of an Eye,And larger wants, which ev'ry visage mourn'd,
(Where black did over-vail, or ill supply)
Was that which wonder into horror turn'd.
18
And Ulfin might be thought (when the rude windLifting their Curtains, left their ruines bare)
A formal Antiquary, fondly kind
To Statues, which he now drew out to aire.
72
19
The Duke (whose absent knowledge was call'd backBy Cordials pow'r) his wonder did increase
So much, that he agen did knowledge lack,
Till thus old Ulfin made his wonder cease.
20
Auspicious Prince! recorded be this day,And sung by Priests of each ensuing age;
On which thou maist receive, and I may pay
Some debts of duty, as thy Grandsires Page.
21
That mighty Chief I serv'd in youth's first strength,Who our short Scepter meant to stretch so far,
Till Eastern Kings might grieve theirs wanted length,
Whose Maps scarce teach where all their Subjects are.
22
Full many stormy Winters we have seen,When mighty valor's heat was all our fire;
Else we in stupid Frosts had fetter'd been,
By which soft sinews are congeal'd to wire.
23
And many scorching Summers we have felt,Where Death relieves all whom the Sword invades;
And kindly thence (where we should toyling melt)
Leads us to rest beneath eternal shades.
24
For aid of action he obedience taught,And silent patience for afflictions cure;
He prais'd my courage when I boldly fought,
But said they conquer most, that most endure.
25
The toyls of diligence as much approv'dAs Valor's self, or th' Arts her practise gaines;
The care of Men, more then of glory lov'd;
Success rewarded, and successes paines.
26
To joyful Victors quenching water sent,Delightful wine to their lamenting slaves;
For Feasts have more brave lives then famine spent,
And Temp'rance more then Trench or Armor saves.
27
Valor his Mistriss, Caution was his Friend;Both to their diff'rent seasons he appli'd;
The first he lov'd, on th' other did depend;
The first made worth uneasie by her pride.
28
He to submiss devotion more was giv'nAfter a battel gain'd, then ere 'twas fought;
As if it nobler were to thank high Heav'n
For favours past, then bow for bounty sought.
29
And thus through smarting heat, and aking cold,Till Heav'ns perpetual Traveller, had more
Then Thirty journeys through the Zodiack told,
I serv'd thy Grandsire, whom I now adore.
73
30
For Heav'n in his too ripe and weary age,Call'd him where peacefully he rules a Star;
Free'd from low Ele'ments continu'd rage,
Which last like Monarchs pow'r by needful war.
31
Strait thy lamented Father did succeedTo his high place, by Aribert's consent,
Our Ensignes through remoter Lands to lead:
Him too I follow'd till he upward went.
32
Till that black day on which the Hunns may boastTheir own defeate, and we our conquest hide;
For though we gain'd, and they the battel lost,
Yet then thy brave victorious Father dy'd.
33
And I am stay'd unwillingly behind;Not caught with wealth, Life's most intangling snare;
Though both my Masters were in giving kinde,
As joyful Victors after Battel are.
34
Whilst thus this aged Leader does expressHis and their Story whom this bounty feeds,
His Hands the Duke's worst order'd wounds undress
And gently binde; then strait he thus proceeds.
35
West from those Hills till you Cremona reach,With an unmingled right I gather rent;
By their great Gift who did such precepts teach
In giving, as their wealth is ne'r misspent.
36
For as their plenteous pity fills my thought,So their example was not read in vain;
A Thousand, who for them in battel fought,
And now distress'd with Maimes, I entertain:
37
Not giving like to those, whose gifts though scantPain them as if they gave with gowty hand;
Such vex themselves, and ease not others want;
But we alike enjoy, a like command.
38
Most spaciously we dwell, where we possessAll sinless pleasures Nature did ordain;
And who that all may have, yet will have less,
Wiser then Nature, thinks her kindness vain.
39
A sad resolve, which is a wise-mans vow,From Citties noise, and Courts unpitty'd care
Did so divorce me, it would scarce allow
I ere should take one League of distant ayre.
40
But that Alarms from each adjacent partWhich borders my abode, disturb'd my rest,
With dreadful newes that gracious Gondibert
By Oswald's Faction was in fight opprest.
74
41
Then it had given your wonder cause to last,To see the vex'd mistakes this summons wrought
In all my Maim'd Domesticks, by their haste;
For some tie on the Limbs which others sought.
42
Just such mistakes audatious Ethnicks sayWill happen, where the Righteous busie are,
Through glad and earnest hast in the last day;
Whilst others slowly to their doom prepare.
43
And this had Anger, anger noise had bred,And Noise, the Enemy of useful Thought,
Had them to more mistakes then blindness led,
But that our awfull Camps had silence taught.
44
Silence did mem'ry, Mem'ry order make;Order to each did his mist wood restore;
For some, who once were stedfast Foot, mistake,
And snatch those limbs which only Horsemen wore.
45
Like swift Pursuers on Arabian Horse,These with their needfull Instruments of hold
(Which give their strange adapted weapons force)
I mounted strait; Five Hundred fully told.
46
These from the Lombards highly have deserv'd,In Conquests where thy Father did command;
Whom they for Science and affection serv'd;
And lost their Limbs to gain our Scepter Land.
47
Which yet are noble though unsightly signes,That each in active courage much abounds;
And many a widow'd Mother now repines,
They cannot shew the Men who gave those wounds.
48
For dearly did the Hunns for honor pay.When they deform'd them in a fatall fight;
Since though they strongly struggled for the day,
Yet all they got, was everlasting Night.
49
And Oswald's Friends, were they not timely gone(Though all the Faction in one Army were)
Should mourn this act against their Gen'ral's son;
Who was to Soldiers more then Triumph dear.
50
For these to Conquest us'd, Retreats dislike;Thy beauty want, to others Beauty's cost;
VVith envious rage still at the Face they strike;
And punish Youth, for what in youth they lost.
51
Thus, though the Duke's amazement be remov'd,It now returns, gladly on him to gaze,
VVho feeds those Fighters whom his Father lov'd;
A gratitude would Vertue's self amaze.
75
52
Thou art, said he (then melted whilst he spake)So ripe in what high Heav'n does dearly love,
That Heav'ns remorse for Earth we should mistake,
To think it will forbear thee long above.
53
As if thy sent for Soul already wereUpon her Wings, so much I give thee gon;
And wish thee left in some successor here,
That might receive the kindness thou hast shown.
54
Old Ulfin now (but meltingly as he)T'inrich him, gives the Jewell of his sight;
For strait, with Fatherly authority,
He bids his son, young Ulfinor, alight!
55
Take him (said he) whose duty I release;In whom all Heav'ns rewards included are,
For all my Justice in corrupted peace,
And for my mercy in revengefull warr.
56
The fruit Heav'n sent me by my loyall wife,In age the gloomy Eve of endless night;
Which eas'd in me the pain of latter life,
And frustates death, by fresh succession's sight.
57
The Duke with passion did this Youth embrace;Then lucky Goltho he call'd forth in view;
Who was this day in Fortune's special grace,
For though no blood he lost, yet much he drew.
58
Him he with Ulfinor does strait unite;Bids neither strive the other to precede,
Unless when danger doth them both invite,
But be, even in nice Rivalship agreed.
59
Bids both their Breasts be eithers open book,Where nought is writ too hard for sudden Eyes;
But thought's plain Text grows easie by a look:
Study breeds doubts, where reading should suffice.
60
But these to joyn, Nature no Councel needs;Whom Sympathy, her secret Priest, does wed;
Much fam'd will be their loves, and Martial Deeds;
Which fill all Books that are of Lombards read.
61
With gracious Eyes, and Body lowly bent,The Duke his Fathers rev'rend Troops salutes;
To Bergamo he holds his first intent;
Which to oppose, old Ulfin thus disputes.
62
Thou seest (my Prince) the faint decayes of Light;How hastily the Sun's hot Steeds begin
To mend their pace, as if their longing sight
Had newly spy'd their usuall Western Inn.
76
63
Too farr is pleasant Bergamo from hence,Since day has reach'd so neer his journeys end;
Dayes strength and yours are at their last expence;
Do not whilst both are wasting, both misspend.
64
You and your wounded must with Nature strive,Till all (whose few houres sway to day excells
Their elder Foes long reign in Camps) arrive
Where Astragon the wise and wealthy dwells.
65
Rich is that Lord, and rich in Learnings wealth;Art flies his test, he all Art's test endures;
Our Cities send their sick to him for health,
Our Camps the wounded for their certain cures.
66
Though cautious Nature, check'd by Destiny,Has many secrets she would ne'r impart;
This fam'd Philosopher is Nature's Spie,
And hireless gives th' intelligence to Art.
67
The Duke with vertue (antiquated now)Did rev'rence Councel, and to Age did bend;
His first Course altars, and does this allow;
Then Ulfin as their Guide they all attend.
68
Soon they the Pallace reach'd of Astragon;Which had its beauty hid by envious Night;
Whose Cypress Curtain drawn before the Sun
Seem'd to performe the Obsequies of light.
69
Yet lights last Rayes were not intirely spent;For they discern'd their passage through a Gate,
Whose height and space shew'd ancient ornament;
And Ancients there in careful Office sate.
70
Who by their Weights and Measures did recordSuch num'rous Burthens as were thither brought
From distant Regions, to their learned Lord;
On which his Chymicks and Distillers wrought.
71
But now their common business they refrain,When they observe a quiet sullenness
And bloody marks in such a civil Train;
Which shew'd at once their worth and their distress.
72
The voice of Ulfin they with gladness knew,VVhom to this house long neighbourhood indeer'd;
Approaching Torches perfected their view,
And taught the way till Astragon appear'd.
73
VVho soon did Ulfin cheerfully imbrace;The visits cause by whispers he receiv'd;
VVhich first he hop'd was meant him as a grace,
But being known with manly silence griev'd.
77
74
And then with gestures full of grave respect,The Duke he to his own Apartment led;
To each distinct retirements did direct,
And all the wounded he ordain'd to Bed.
75
Then thin digestive food he did provide,More to enable fleeting strength to stay;
To wounds well search'd he cleansing wines apply'd,
And so prepar'd his rip'ning Balsoms way.
76
Balm of the Warriour's herbe, Hypericon!To Warriour's as in use, in form decreed;
For through the leaves transparent wounds are shown;
And rudely touch'd, the Golden Flower does bleed.
77
For sleep they juice of pale Nymphæa took,Which grows (to shew that it for sleep is good)
Near sleep's abode in the soft murm'ring Brook:
This cools, the yellow Flower restraines the Blood:
78
And now the weary World's great Med'cin, Sleep,This learned Host dispenc'd to ev'ry Guest;
Which shuts those wounds where injur'd Lovers weep,
And flies Oppressors to relieve th' Opprest.
79
It loves the Cotage, and from Court abstains,It stills the Sea-man though the storm be high;
Frees the griev'd Captive in his closest Chaines,
Stops wants loud Mouth, and blinds the treach'rous Spie!
80
Kind Sleep, Nights welcome Officer, does ceaseAll whom this House containes till day return;
And me, Grief's Chronicler, does gently ease,
Who have behind so great a task to mourn.
| The works of Sr William Davenant | |