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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| 4. | Canto the Fourth. |
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 | The works of Sr William Davenant |  |
102
Canto the Fourth.
The ARGUMENT.
At Oswald's Camp arrives wise Hermegild;Whose presence does a new diversion yield;
In Councel he reveals his secret Breast;
Would mingle Love with Empires interest:
From rash revenge, to peace the Camp invites,
Who Oswald's Fun'ral grace with Roman Rites.
1
In this distemper whilst the humors striveT' assemble, they again diverted are;
For tow'rds their Trenches Twenty Chariots drive,
Swiftly as Syrians when they charge in warre.
2
They Hermegild with Court attendants spy'd;Whose haste to Hubert does advice intend;
To warn him that just Fate can ne'r provide
For rash beginnings a succesful end.
3
But fate for Hermegild provided well;This Story else (which him the wise does call)
Would here his private ruine sadly tell,
I hastning to prevent the publick Fall.
4
His noble blood obscurely had been shed,His undistinguish'd Limbs scatter'd unknown,
As is the dust of Victors long since dead,
Which here and there, by every wind is blown.
5
Such was their rage when on Verona's way(With his rich Trayn) they saw from Court he came;
Till some did their impetuous fury stay;
And gave his life protection for his fame,
6
Told them his valor had been long allow'd;That much the Lombard's to his conduct ow;
And this preserv'd him, for the very Crowd
Felt honor here, and did to valor bow.
7
Vain Wrath! Deform'd, unquiet Child of Pride!Which in a few the People madness call;
But when by number they grew dignify'd,
What's rage in some is liberty in all.
103
8
Through dangers of this lawless liberty,He like Authentick pow'r does boldly pass;
And with a quiet and experienc'd eye,
Through Death's foul Vizard, does despise his face.
9
At Hubert's Tent he lights, where Hubert nowWith Gartha of this Torrent does advise;
Which he believes does at the highest flow,
And must like Tides, sink when it cannot rise.
10
When Hermegild he saw, he did disperseThose cares assembled in his looks, and strove
(Though to his Master, and the Court perverse)
To shew him all the civil signes of Love.
11
For him in stormy war he glorious knew;Nor in calm Councels was he less renown'd;
And held him now to Oswald's Faction true,
As by his love, the world's first Tenure, bound.
12
For he (though wasted in the ebb of blood,When Man's Meridian tow'rds his Evening turnes)
Makes against Nature's Law, Love's Charter good,
And as in raging Youth for Gartha burnes.
13
Who did his sute not only disapprove,Because the summer of his life was past;
And she fresh blown; but that even highest love
Growes tastless to Ambition's higher taste,
14
Yet now in such a great and single cause,With nice Ambition, nicer Love complies;
And she (since to revenge he usefull was)
Perswades his hope with Rhet'rique of her Eyes.
15
A closse division of the Tent they straitBy outward Guards secure from all resort;
Then Hermegild does thus the cause relate,
Which to the Camp dispatch'd him from the Court.
16
Important Prince! who justly dost succeedTo Oswalds hopes, and all my loyal aide;
Vertue as much in all thy wounds does bleed,
As love in me, since wounded by that Maide.
17
Long have I sayl'd through Times vexatious sea;And first set out with all that Youth is worth;
The Tropicks pass'd of bloods hot bravery,
With all the Sailes, gay Flags, and Streamers forth!
18
But as in hotter voyages, Ships mostWeare out their trim, yet then they chiefly gain
By inward stowage, what is outward lost;
So men, decays of youth, repaire in brain.
104
19
If I experience boast when youth decayes,Such vanity may Gartha's pity move,
Since so I seek your service by self praise,
Rather then seem unusefull where I love.
20
And never will I (though by Time supply'dWith such discretion as does Man improve)
To shew discretion, wiser Nature hide,
By seeming now asham'd to say I Love.
21
For love his pow'r has in gray Senates shown,Where he, as to green Courts, does freely come;
And though loud youth, his visits makes more known,
With graver Age he's privately at home.
22
Scarce Greece, or greater Rome a Victor showes,Whom more Victorious Love did not subdue;
Then blame not me who am so weak to those;
Whil'st Gartha all exceeds, that ere they knew.
23
Hope (Love's first food) I ne'r till now did know;Which Love, as yet but temp'rately devours;
And claimes not love for love, since Gartha so
For Autumn Leaves, should barter Summer Flowers.
24
I dare not vainly wish her to be kinde,Till for her love, my Arts and Pow'r bestow
The Crown on thee, adorn'd with Rhodalind;
Which yet for Gartha is a price too low.
25
This said, he paws'd; and now the hectick heateOf Oswald's blood, doubled their Pulses pace;
Which high, as if they would be heard, did beate,
And hot Ambition shin'd in eithers face.
26
For Hermegild they knew could much outdoeHis words, and did possess great Aribert,
Not in the Courts cheap Glass of outward showe,
But by a study'd Tenure of the heart.
27
Whilst this try'd truth does make their wishes sure,Hubert on Gartha looks, with suing Eyes
For Hermegild; whose love she will endure,
And made Ambition yield what Youth denies.
28
Yet in this bargain of her self, she knowesNot how to treat; but all her chief desires,
Bids Hubert, as the Twins of his, dispose
To glory and revenge; and then retires.
29
But with such blushes Hermegild she leaves,As the unclouded Evening's Face adorn;
Nor much he for her parting glory grieves,
Since such an Evening bodes a happy Morn.
105
30
Now Hermegild by vowes does Hubert binde,(Vowes by their fate in Lombard Story known)
He Gartha makes the price of Rhodalind,
And Aribert his Tenant to the Crown.
31
He bids him now the Armies rage allay;By rage (said he) only they Masters are
Of those they chuse, when temp'rate, to obay:
Against themselves th'impatient chiefly warre.
32
We are the Peoples Pilots, they our winds;To change by Nature prone; but Art Laveers,
And rules them till they rise with Stormy Mindes;
Then Art with danger against Nature Steers.
33
Where calms have first amus'd, Storms most prevail;Close first with Calms the Courts suspitious Eyes;
That whilst with all their trim, they sleeping sail,
A sudden Gust may wrack them by surprise.
34
Your Army will (though high in all esteemThat ever rev'renc'd Age to Action gave)
But a small Party to Verona seem;
Which yearly to such Numbers yields a Grave.
35
Nor is our vaste Metropolis, like thoseTame Towns, which peace has soft'ned into fears;
But Death deform'd in all his Dangers knows;
Dangers, which he like frightful Vizards wears.
36
From many Camps, who forraign winters felt,Verona has her conqu'ring Dwellers ta'ne;
In War's great Trade, with richest Nations delt;
And did their Gold and Fame with Iron gain.
37
Yet to the mighty Aribert it bowes;A King out-doing all the Lombard Line!
Whose Court (in Iron clad) by coursness showes
A growing pow'r, which fades when Courts grow fine.
38
Scorn not the Youthful Camp at Bergamo;For they are Victors, though in years but young;
The War does them, they it by action know,
And have obedient Minds, in Bodies strong.
39
Be slow, and stay for aides, which haste forsakes!For though Occasion still does Sloth out-goe,
The rash, who run from help, she ne'r o'er-takes,
Whose haste thinks Time, the Post of Nature, slow.
40
This is a cause which our Ambition fills;A cause, in which our strength we should not waste,
In vain like Giants, who did heave at Hills;
'Tis too unwildly for the force of haste.
106
41
A cause for graver Minds that learned areIn mistick Man; a cause which we must gain
By surer methods then depend on Warre;
And respite valor, to imploy the Brain.
42
In the King's Scale your merits are too light;Who with the Duke, weighs his own partial heart;
Make then the gift of Empire publick right,
And get in Rhodalind the Peoples part.
43
But this rough Tide, the meeting Multitude,If we oppose, we make our voyage long;
Yet when we with it row, it is subdu'd;
And we are wise, when Men in vain are strong.
44
Then to the People sue, but hide your force;For they believe the strong are still unjust;
Never to armed Sutors yield remorse;
And where they see the pow'r, the right distrust.
45
Assault their pity as their weakest part;Which the first Plaintiff never failes to move;
They search but in the face to finde the heart;
And grief in Princes, more then triumph love.
46
And to prepare their pity, Gartha nowShould in her sorrows height with me return;
For since their Eyes at all distresses flow,
How will they at afflicted beauty mourn.
47
Much such a pledge of Peace will with the King(Urg'd by my int'rest here) my pow'r improve;
And much my power will to your int'rest bring,
If from the watchful Court you hide my Love.
48
If Gartha deignes to love, our love must growUnseen, like Mandrakes wedded under ground;
That I (still seeming unconcern'd) may know
The King's new depths, which length of trust may sound!
49
Thus Hermegild his study'd thoughts declar'd;Whilst Hubert (who believ'd, discover'd love
A solid Pledge for hidden faith) prepar'd
To stay the Camp, so furious to remove.
50
And now their rage (by correspondence spred)Borgio allays, that else like sparks of fire
(Which drops at first might drowne) by matter fed,
At last to quench the flame may seas require.
51
As with the Sun they rose in wrath, their wrathSo with his heat increas'd; but now he hastes
Down Heav'ns steep Hill, to his Atlantick Bath;
Where he refreshes till his Feaver wastes.
107
52
With his (by Borgio's help) their heat declin'd;So soon lov'd Eloquence does Throngs subdue;
The common Mistress to each private Minde;
Painted and dress'd to all, to no Man true.
53
To Court his Gartha, Hermegild attends:And with old Lovers vaine poetick Eyes,
Markes how her beauty, when the Sun descends,
His pitty'd Evening poverty supplies.
54
The Army now to Neighb'ring Brescia bear,With dismal pomp, the slain: In hallow'd ground
They Paradine, and Dargonet interr;
And Vasco much in painful war renoun'd.
55
To Oswald (whose illustrious Roman mindeShin'd out in life, though now in dying hid)
Hubert these Roman fun'ral rites assign'd;
Which yet the World's last law had not forbid.
56
Thrice is his Body clean by bathing made;And when with Victor's Oyle anointed or'e,
'Tis in the Pallace Gate devoutly layd'e,
Clad in that Vest which he in Battel wore.
57
Whilst seven succeeding Suns pass sadly by,The Palace seems all hid in Cypress Boughs;
From ancient Lore, of Man's mortality
The Type, for where 'tis lopp'd it never grows.
58
The publick fun'ral voice, till these expire,Cryes out; here Greatness, tir'd with honor, rests!
Come see what Bodies are, when Souls retire;
And visit death, ere you become his Guests!
59
Now on a Purple Bed the Corps they raise;Whilst Trumpets summon all the common Quire
In tune to mourn him, and disperse his praise;
And then move slowly tow'rds the Fun'ral fire!
60
They beare before him Spoiles they gain'd in warre;And his great Ancestors in Sculpture wrought;
And now arrive, where Hubert does declare
How oft and well, he for the Lombards fought.
61
Here, in an Altar's form, a Pile is madeOf Unctious Firr, and Sleepers fatal Ewe;
On which the Body is by Mourners laid,
Who their sweet Gummes (their last kind Tribute threw.)
62
Hubert his Arme, westward, aversly stretch'd;Whilst to the hopefull East his Eyes were turn'd;
And with a hallow'd Torch the Pyle he reach'd;
Which seen, they all with utmost clamor mourn'd.
108
63
Whilst the full Flame aspires, Oswald (they cry)Farewell! we follow swiftly as the Houres!
For-with Times's wings, tow'rds Death, even Cripples flie!
This said, the hungry Flame its food devoures.
64
Now Priests with Wine the Ashes quench, and hideThe Rev'renc'd Reliques in a Marble Urne.
The old dismissive Ilicet is cry'd
By the Town voice, and all to Feasts returne.
65
Thus Urnes may Bodies shew; but the fled MindeThe Learn'd seek vainly; for whose quest we pay,
With such success as cousen'd Shepheards finde,
Who seek to Wizards when their Cattel stray.
| The works of Sr William Davenant | |