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 |  |
116
Canto the Sixth.
The ARGUMENT.
How Astragon to Heav'n his duty paysIn Pray'r, and Penitence, but most in Praise:
To these he sev'ral Temples dedicates;
And Ulfin their distinguish'd use relates.
Religion's Rites, seem here, in Reasons sway;
Though Reason must Religion's Laws obey.
1
The noble Youths (reclaim'd by what they saw)Would here unquiet war, as pride, forsake;
And study quiet Nature's pleasant Law;
Which Schools, through pride, by Art uneasie make
2
But now a sudden Shout their thoughts diverts!So cheerfull, general, and loud it was,
As pass'd through all their Ears, and fill'd their Hearts;
Which lik'd the joy, before they knew the cause.
3
This Ulfin, by his long Domestick skillDoes thus explain. The Wise I here observe,
Are wise tow'rds God; in whose great service still,
More then in that of Kings, themselves they serve.
4
He who this Building's Builder did create,Has an Apartment here Triangular;
Where Astragon, Three Fanes did dedicate,
To dayes of Praise, of Penitence, and Pray'r.
5
To these, from diff'rent motives, all proceed;For when discov'ries they on Nature gain,
They praise high Heavn which makes their work succeed,
But when it fails, in Penitence complain.
6
If after Praise, new blessings are not giv'n,Nor mourning Penitence can ills repair,
Like practis'd Beggers, they solicite Heav'n,
And will prevail by violence of Pray'r.
7
The Temple built for Pray'r, can neither boastThe Builder's curious Art, nor does declare,
By choice Materials he intended cost;
To shew, that nought should need to tempt to Pray'r.
117
8
No Bells are here! Unhing'd are all the Gates!Since craving in distress is naturall,
All lies so op'e that none for ent'rance waites;
And those whom Faith invites, can need no call.
9
The Great have by distinction here no name;For all so cover'd come, in grave disguise,
(To shew none come for decency or fame)
That all are strangers to each others Eyes.
10
But Penitence appears unnaturall;For we repent what Nature did perswade;
And we lamenting Man's continu'd fall,
Accuse what Nature necessary made.
11
Since the requir'd extream of PenitenceSeems so severe, this Temple was design'd,
Solemn and strange without, to catch the sense,
And dismal shew'd within, to awe the mind.
12
Of sad black Marble was the outward Frame,(A Mourning Monument to distant sight)
But by the largeness when you near it came,
It seem'd the Palace of Eternal Night.
13
Black beauty (which black Meroens had prais'dAbove their own) sadly adorn'd each part;
In Stone, from Nyle's hard Quarries, slowly rais'd,
And slowly'er polish'd by Numidian Art.
14
Hither a loud Bells tole, rather commands,Then seems t'invite the persecuted Eare;
A summons Nature hardly understands;
For few, and slow are those who enter here,
15
Within, a dismall Majesty they find!All gloomy, great, all silent does appear!
As Chaos was, ere th' Elements were design'd;
Man's evil fate seems hid and fashion'd here.
16
Here all the Ornament is rev'rend black;Here, the check'd Sun his universal Face
Stops bashfully, and will no entrance make;
As if he spy'd Night naked through the Glass.
17
Black Curtains hide the Glass; whilst from on highA winking Lamp, still threatens all the Room;
As if the lazy flame just now would die:
Such will the Sun's last light appear at Doom!
18
This Lamp was all, that here inform'd all Eyes;And by reflex, did on a Picture gain
Some few false Beames, that then from Sodome rise;
Where Pencils feigne the fire which Heav'n did rain.
118
19
This on another Tablet did reflect,Where twice was drawn the am'rous Magdaline;
Whilst beauty was her care, then her neglect;
And brightest through her Tears she seem'd to shine.
20
Near her, seem'd crucifi'd, that lucky Thief(In Heav'n's dark Lot'ry prosp'rous, more then wise)
Who groap'd at last, by chance, for Heav'n's relief,
And Throngs undoes with Hope, by one drawn Prise.
21
In many Figures by reflex were sent,Through this black Vault (instructive to the minde)
That early, and this tardy Penitent;
For with Obsidian stone 'twas chiefly lin'd,
22
The Seats were made of Ethiopian Wood,The polish'd Ebony, but thinly fill'd;
For none this place by nature understood;
And practise, when unpleasant, makes few skill'd.
23
Yet these, whom Heav'n's misterious choice fetch'd in,Quickly attain Devotion's utmost scope;
For having softly mourn'd away their sin,
They grow so certain, as to need no Hope.
24
At a low Door they enter, but departThrough a large Gate, and to fair Fields proceed;
Where Astragon makes Nature last by Art,
And such long Summers shews, as ask no seed.
25
Whilst Ulfin this black Temple thus exprestTo these kind Youths, whom equal soul endeers;
(Goltho, and Ulfinore, in friendship blest)
A second gen'ral shout salutes their Eares.
26
To the glad House of Praise this shout does call!To Pray'r (said he) no Summons us invites,
Because distress does thither summon all;
As the loud tole to Penitence excites.
27
But since, dull Men, to gratitude are slow;And joy'd consent of Hearts is high Heav'ns choice;
To this of Praise, shouts summon us to goe;
Of Hearts assembled, the unfeigned Voice.
28
And since, wise Astragon, with due applause,Kinde Heav'n, for his success, on Nature payes;
This day, Victorious Art, has giv'n him cause,
Much to augment Heav'n's lov'd reward of praise.
29
For this effectuall day his Art reveal'd,What has so oft Made Nature's spies to pine,
The Loadstones mistick use, so long conceal'd
In close allyance with the courser Mine.
119
30
And this, in sleepy Vision, he was bidTo Register in Characters unknown;
Which Heav'n will have from Navigators hid,
Till Saturne's walk be Twenty Circuits grown.
31
For as Religion (in the warm East bred)And Arts (which next to it most needfull were)
From Vices sprung from their corruption, fled;
And thence vouchsaf'd a cold Plantation here;
32
So when they here again corrupted be,(For Man can even his Antidotes infect)
Heav'n's reserv'd World they in the West shall see;
To which this stone's hid vertue will direct.
33
Religion then (whose Age this World upbraids,As scorn'd deformitie) will thither steer;
Serv'd at fit distance by the Arts, her Maids;
Which grow too bold, when they attend too neer.
34
And some, whom Traffick thither tempts, shall thenceIn her exchange (though they did grudge her shrines,
And poorly banish'd her to save expence)
Bring home the Idol, Gold, from new found Mines.
35
Till then, sad Pilots must be often lost,Whilst from the Ocean's dreaded Face they shrink;
And seeking safety near the cous'ning Coast,
With windes surpriz'd, by Rocky ambush sink.
36
Or if success rewards, what they endure,The World's chief Jewel, Time, they then ingage
And forfeit (trusting long the Cynosure)
To bring home nought but wretched Gold, and Age.
37
Yet when this plague of ignorance shall end,(Dire ignorance, with which God plagues us most;
Whilst we not feeling it, him most offend)
Then lower'd Sayles no more shall tide the Coast.
38
They with new Tops to Formasts and the Main,And Misens new, shall the Ocean's Breast invade;
Stretch new Sayles out, as Armes to entertain
Those windes, of which their Fathers were afraid.
39
Then (sure of either Pole) they will with pride,In ev'ry storm, salute this constant Stone!
And scorn that Star, which ev'ry Cloud could hide;
The Seamen's spark! which soon, as seen, is gone!
40
'Tis sung, the Ocean shall his Bonds untie,And Earth in half a Globe be pent no more;
Typhis shall saile, till Thule he descry,
But a domestick step to distant Shore!
120
41
This Astragon had read; and what the GreekOld Cretias, in Egyptian Books had found;
By which, his travail'd soul, new Worlds did seek,
And div'd to find the old Atlantis droun'd.
42
Grave Ulfin thus discours'd; and now he bringsThe Youths to view the Temple built for Praise;
Where Olive, for th' Olimpian Victor Springs;
Mirtle, for Love's; and for War's triumph, Bayes.
43
These, as rewards of Praise, about it grew;For lib'rall praise, from an abundant Minde,
Does even the Conqueror of Fate subdue;
Since Heav'n's good King is Captive to the Kinde.
44
Dark are all Thrones, to what this Temple seem'd;Whose Marble veines out-shin'd Heav'n's various Bow;
And would (eclipsing all proud Rome esteem'd)
To Northern Eyes, like Eastern Mornings, show.
45
From Paros Isle, was brought the Milkie white;From Sparta, came the Green, which cheers the view;
From Araby, the blushing Onychite,
And from the Misnian Hills, the deeper Blew.
46
The Arched Front did on vaste Pillars fall;Where all harmonious Instruments they spie
Drawn out in Bosse; which from the Astrigall
To the flat Frise, in apt resemblance lie.
47
Toss'd Cymballs (which the sullen Jewes admir'd)Were figur'd here, with all of ancient choice
That joy did ere invent, or breath inspir'd,
Or flying Fingers touch'd into a voice.
48
In Statute o're the Gate, God's Fav'rite-King(The Author of Celestial praise) did stand;
His Quire (that did his sonnets set and Sing)
In Niches rang'd, attended either Hand.
49
From these, old Greeks sweet Musick did improve;The Solemn Dorian did in Temples charm,
The softer Lydian sooth'd to Bridal Love,
And warlike Phrygian did to Battel warm!
50
They enter now, and with glad rev'rence sawGlory, too solid great to taste of pride;
So sacred pleasant, as preserves an awe;
Though jealous Priests, it neither praise nor hide,
51
Tapers and Lamps are not admitted here;Those, but with shaddowes, give false beauty grace;
And this victorious glory can appear
Unvayl'd before the Sun's Meridian Face:
121
52
Whose Eastern lustre rashly enters now;Where it his own mean Infancy displays;
Where it does Man's chief obligation show,
In what does most adorn the House of Praise;
53
The great Creation by bold Pencils drawn;Where a feign'd Curtain does our Eyes forbid,
Till the Sun's Parent, Light, first seems to dawn
From quiet Chaos, which that Curtain hid.
54
Then this all-rev'renc'd Sun (God's hasty SparkStruck out of Chaos, when he first struck Light)
Flies to the Sphears, where first he found all dark,
And kindled there th' unkindled Lamps of Night.
55
Then Motion, Nature's great Preservative,Tun'd order in this World, Life's restless Inn;
Gave Tydes to Seas, and caus'd stretch'd Plants to live;
Else Plants but seeds, and Seas but Lakes had bin.
56
But this Fourth Fiat, warming what was made,(For light ne'r warm'd, till it did motion get)
The Picture fills the World with woody shade;
To shew how Nature thrives by Motion's heat.
57
Then to those Woods the next quick Fiat bringsThe Feather'd kinde, where merrily they fed,
As if their Hearts were lighter then their Wings;
For yet no Cage was fram'd, nor Net was spred.
58
The same Fifth voice does Seas and Rivers Store;Then into Rivers Brooks the Painter powres,
And Rivers into Seas; which (rich before)
Return their gifts, to both, exhal'd in Show'rs.
59
This voice (whose swift dispatch in all it wrought,Seems to denote the Speaker was in haste,
As if more worlds were framing in his thought)
Adds to this world one Fiat, as the last.
60
Then strait an universal Herd appears;First gazing on each other in the shade;
Wondring with levell'd Eyes, and lifted Eares,
Then play, whilst yet their Tyrant is unmade.
61
And Man, the Painter now presents to view;Haughty without, and busie still within;
Whom, when his Furr'd and Horned Subjects knew,
Their sport is ended, and their fears begin.
62
But here (to cure this Tyrant's sullenness)The Painter has a new false Curtain drawn,
Where, Beauty's hid Creation to express;
From thence, harmless as light, he makes it dawn,
122
63
From thence breaks lov'ly forth, the World's first Maid;Her Breast, Love's Cradle, where Love quiet lies;
Nought yet had seen so foule, to grow afraid,
Nor gay, to make it cry with longing Eyes.
64
And thence, from stupid sleep, her Monarch steals;She wonders, till so vain his wonder growes,
That it his feeble sov'raignty reveales;
Her beauty then, his Manhood does depose.
65
Deep into shades the Painter leads them now;To hide their future deeds; then stormes does raise
O're Heav'n's smooth face, because their life does grow
Too black a story for the House of Praise.
66
A noble painted Vision next appears;Where all Heav'n's Frowns in distant prospect waste;
And nought remains, but a short showre of Tears,
Shed, by its pity, for Revenges past.
67
The World's one ship, from th' old to a new World bound;Fraighted with Life (chief of uncertain Trades!)
After Five Moons at drift, lies now a ground;
Where her frail Stowage, she in haste unlades.
68
On Persian Caucasus the Eight descend;And seem their trivial beings to deplore;
Griev'd to begin this World in th' others end;
And to behold wrack'd Nations on the Shore,
69
Each humbled thus, his Beasts led from aboard,As fellow Passengers, and Heirs to breath;
Joynt Tennants to the World, he not their Lord;
Such likeness have we in the Glass of Death.
70
Yet this humility begets their joy;And taught, that Heav'n (which fully sin surveys)
Was partial where it did not quite destroy;
So made the whole World's Dirge their song of praise.
71
This first redemption to another led,Kinder in deeds, and nobler in effects;
That but a few did respit from the Dead,
This all the Dead, from second Death protects.
72
And know, lost Nature! this resemblance wasThy franke Redeemer, in Ascension shown;
When Hell he conquer'd in thy desp'rate cause;
Hell which before, Man's common Grave was grown.
73
By Pencills this was exquisitely wrought;Rounded in all the Curious would behold;
Where life Came out, and Met the Painters thought;
The Force was tender, though the strokes were bold.
123
74
The holy Mourners, who this Lord of lifeAscending saw, did seem with him to rise;
So well the Painter drew their passions strife,
To follow him with Bodies, as with Eyes.
75
This was the chief which in this Temple didBy Pencils Rhetrique, to praise perswade;
Yet to the living here, compar'd, seems hid;
Who shine all painted Glory into shade.
76
Lord Astragon a Purple Mantle wore,Where Natures story was in Colours wrought;
And though her ancient Text seem'd dark before,
'Tis in this pleasant Comment clearly taught.
77
Such various Flowry Wreaths th' Assembly weare,As shew'd them wisely proud of Nature's pride;
Which so adorn'd them, that the coursest here
Did seem a prosp'rous Bridegroom, or a Bride.
78
All shew'd as fresh, and faire, and innocent,As Virgins to their Lovers first survey;
Joy'd as the Spring, when March his sighs has spent,
And April's sweet rash Teares are dry'd by May.
79
And this confed'rate joy so swell'd each Breast,That joy would turn to pain without a vent;
Therefore their voices Heav'n's renown exprest;
Though Tongues ne'r reach, what Mindes so nobly meant.
80
Yet Musick here, shew'd all her Art's high worth;Whilst Virgin-Trebles, seem'd, with bashfull grace,
To call the bolder marry'd Tenor forth;
Whose Manly voice challeng'd the Giant Base.
81
To these the swift soft Instruments reply;Whisp'ring for help to those whom winds inspire;
Whose lowder Notes, to Neighb'ring Forrests flie,
And summon Nature's Voluntary Quire.
82
These Astragon, by secret skill had taught,To help, as if in artfull Consort bred;
Who sung, as if by chance on him they thought,
Whose care their careless merry Fathers Fed.
83
Hither, with borrow'd strength, Duke GondibertWas brought, which now his rip'ning wounds allow;
And high Heav'ns praise in musick of the heart,
He inward sings, to pay a victor's vow.
84
Praise, is devotion fit for mighty Minds!The diff'ring World's agreeing Sacrifice;
Where Heav'n divided Faiths united findes;
But Pray'r in various discord upward flies.
124
85
For Pray'r the Ocean is, where diverslieMen steer their Course, each to a sev'ral Coast;
Where all our int'rests so discordant be,
That half beg windes by which the rest are lost.
86
By Penitence, when we our selves forsake,'Tis but in wise design on pitious Heav'n;
In Praise we nobly give, what God may take,
And are without a Beggers blush forgiv'n.
87
Its utmost force, like Powder's, is unknown!And though weak Kings excess of Praise may fear,
Yet when tis here, like Powder, dang'rous grown,
Heav'n's Vault receives, what would the Palace tear.
| The works of Sr William Davenant | |