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 |  |
170
Canto the Fourth.
The ARGUMENT.
The King to Gondibert is grown so kinde,That he prevents the bounteous Rhodalind
In giving of her love; and Gondibert
Laments his Breast holds but a single heart;
Which Birtha grieves her beauty did subdue,
Since he undoes the world in being true.
1
Full grows the Presence now, as when all knowSome stranger Prince must be receiv'd with state;
When Courts shew those, who come to see the Show;
And all gay Subjects like Domesticks waite.
2
Nor Ulfinore nor Goltho absent were;Whose hopes expect what list'ning Birtha (hid
In the adjoyning Closet) fears to heare,
And beggs kinde Heav'n in pitty would forbid.
3
The King (who never time nor Pow'r mis-spentIn Subjects bashfulness, whiling great deeds
Like Coward Councels, who too late consent)
Thus to his secret will aloud proceeds.
4
If to thy Fame (brave Youth) I could add wings,Or make her Trumpet louder by my voice,
I would (as an example drawn for Kings)
Proclaim the cause, why thou art now my choice.
5
But this were to supect the world asleep,Or all our Lombards with their envy blinde,
Or that the Hunns somuch for bondage weep,
As their drown'd Eies cannot thy Trophies finde.
6
When this is heard, none dare of what I givePresume their equal merit might have shar'd;
And to say more, might make thy Foes believe,
Thy dang'rous worth is grown above reward.
7
Reward even of a Crown, and such a Crown,As by Heav'n's Model ancient Victors wore;
When they, as by their Coyn, by Laws were known;
For Laws but made more currant Victors pow'r.
171
8
A Crown soon taught, by whom Pow'r first was given;When Victors (of Dominion cautious made
By hearing of that old revolt in Heav'n)
Kept Pow'r too high for Subjects to invade.
9
A Crown, which ends by Armies their debate,Who question height of Pow'r; who by the Law
(Till plain obedience they make intricate)
Would not the People, but their Rulers aw.
10
To Pow'r adoption makes thy Title good;Preferring worth, as birth give Princes place;
And Vertue's claim exceeds the right of Blood,
As Souls extraction does the Bodies Race.
11
Yet for thy Bloods long walk through Princes veins,Thou maist with any Lombard measure time;
Though he his hidden house in Illium feigns;
And not step short, when Hubert's self would climbe.
12
And Hubert is of highest Victors breed;Whose worth I shall for distant Empire chuse;
If he will learn, that you by Fate precede,
And what he never had, he cannot lose.
13
His valor shall the Gothick conquest keep;And would to Heav'n that all your mighty mindes
As soon were pleas'd, as Infants are with sleep,
And you had Musick common as the windes.
14
That all the Year your Seasons were like Spring;All joy'd as Birds, and all as Lovers kinde;
That ev'ry famous Fighter were a King,
And each like you could have a Rhodalind.
15
For she is yours, as your adoption free;And in that gift my remnant Life I give;
But 'tis to you, brave Youth! Who now are she;
And she that Heav'n where secondly I live.
16
And richer then that Crown (which shall be thine,When Life's long Progress I am gone with Fame)
Take all her love; which scarce forbears to shine
And own thee, through her Virgin-Curtain, shame.
17
Thus spake the King; and Rhodalind rppear'dThrough publish'd Love, with so much bashfulness,
As young Kings shew, when by surprise o're-heard
Moaning to Fav'rite Eares a deep distress.
18
For Love is a distress, and would be hidLike Monarchs griefs, by which they bashful grow;
And in that shame beholders they forbid;
Since those blush most, who must their blushes show.
172
19
And Gondibert with dying Eies did grieveAt her vail'd love (a wound he cannot heal)
As great Mindes mourn, who cannot then relieve
The vertuous, when through shame they want conceal.
20
And now cold Birtha's rosy looks decay;Who in fear's Frost had like her beauty dy'd,
But that Attendant Hope perswades her stay
A while, to hear her Duke; who thus reply'd.
21
Victorious King! Abroad your Subjects areLike Legats safe; at home like Altars free!
Even by your fame they conquer as by warre;
And by your Laws safe from each other be.
22
A King you are o're Subjects, so as wiseAnd noble Husbands seem o're Loyal Wives;
Who claim not, yet confess their liberties,
And brag to strangers of their happy lives.
23
To Foes a winter storm; whilst your Friends bowLike Summer Trees, beneath your bountys load;
To me (next-him whom your great self, with low
And cheerful duty serves) a giving God.
24
Since this is you, and Rhodalind (the LightBy which her Sex fled Vertue finde) is yours;
Your Diamond, which tests of jealous sight,
The stroke, and fire, and Oisel's juice endures;
25
Since she so precious is, I shall appearAll counterfeit, of Art's disguises made;
And never dare approach her Lustre neer;
Who scarce can hold my vallew in the shade.
26
Forgive me that I am not what I seem;But falsly have dissembled an excess
Of all such vertues as you most esteem;
But now grow good but as I ils confess.
27
Far in Ambition's Feaver am I gone!Like raging Flame aspiring is my Love;
Like Flame destructive too, and like the Sun
Does round the world tow'rds change of Objects move.
28
Nor is this now through vertuous shame confess'd;But Rhodalind does force my conjur'd feare,
As Men whom evil spirits have possess'd,
Tell all when saintly Votaries appeare,
29
When she will grace the Bridal Dignitie,It will be soon to all young Monarchs known;
Who then by posting through the World will trie
Who first can at her Feet present his Crown.
173
30
Then will Verona seem the Inn of Kings;And Rhodalind shall at her Palace Gate
Smile, when great Love these Royal Sutors brings;
Who for that smile would as for Empire waite.
31
Amongst this ruling Race she choyce may takeFor warmth of Valor, coolness of the minde,
Eies that in Empire's drowsie Calms can wake,
In storms look out, in darkness dangers find.
32
A Prince who more inlarges pow'r then lands;Whose greatness is not what his Map contains;
But thinks that his, where he at full commands;
Not where his Coyn does pass, but pow'r remains.
33
Who knows that Pow'r can never be too highWhen by the Good possest; for 'tis in them
The swelling Nyle; from which though People fly,
They prosper most by rising of the stream.
34
Thus (Princess) you should chuse; and you will finde;Even he, since Men are Wolves must civilize
(As light does tame some Beasts of savage kinde)
Himself yet more, by dwelling in your Eies.
35
Such was the Duke's reply; whih did produceThoughts of a diverse shape through sev'ral Eares:
His jealous Rivals mourn at his excuse;
But Astragon it cures of all his feares:
36
Birtha his praise of Rhodalind bewayles;And now her hope a weak Physitian seems,
For Hope, the common Comforter, prevailes
Like common Med'cines, slowly in extreams.
37
The King (secure in offer'd Empire) takesThis forc'd excuse, as troubled bashfulness,
And a disguise which sodain passion makes,
To hide more joy then prudence should express.
38
And Rhodalind (who never lov'd before,Nor could suspect his love was giv'n away)
Thought not the treasure of his Breast so poore,
But that it might his debts of honor pay.
39
To hasten the rewards of his desert,The King does to Verona him command;
And kindness so impos'd, not all his Art
Can now instruct his duty to withstand.
40
Yet whilst the King does now his time disposeIn seeing wonders, in this Palace shown,
He would a parting kindness pay to those
Who of their wounds are yet not perfect grown.
174
41
And by this fair pretence, whilst on the KingLord Astragon through all the House attends,
Young Orgo does the Duke to Birtha bring;
Who thus her sorrows to his bosome sends.
42
Why should my Storm your Life's calm voyage vex?Destroying wholly vertue's Race in one;
So by the first of my unlucky Sex,
All in a single ruine were undone.
43
Make Heav'nly Rhodalind your Bride! Whilst IYour once lov'd Maid, excuse you, since I know
That vertuous Men forsake so willingly
Long cherish'd life, because to Heav'n they go.
44
Let me her servant be! A Dignity,Which if your pity in my fall procures;
I still shall vallew the advancement high,
Not as the Crown is hers, but she is yours.
45
E're this high sorrow up to dying grew,The Duke the Casket op'ned, and from thence
(Form'd like a Heart) a cheerful Emrauld drew;
Cheerful, as if the lively stone had sence.
46
The Thirti'th Carract it had doubled Twice;Not tak'n from the Attick Silver Mine,
Nor from the Brass, though such (of nobler price)
Did on the Necks of Parthian Ladies shine:
47
Nor yet of those which make the Ethiop proud;Nor taken from those Rocks where Bactrians climbe;
But from the Scythian, and without a Cloud;
Not sick at fire, nor languishing with time.
48
Then thus he spake! This (Birtha) from my MaleProgenitors, was to the loyal she
On whose kinde Heart they did in love prevail,
The Nuptial Pledge, and this I give to thee!
49
Seven Centuries have pass'd, since it from BrideTo Bride did first succeed; and though tis known
From ancient lore, that Gemms much vertue hide,
And that the Emrauld is the Bridal Stone.
50
Though much renown'd because it chastness loves,And will when worn by the neglected wife,
Shew when her absent Lord disloyal proves,
By faintness, and a pale decay of life;
51
Though Emraulds serve as Spies to jealous Brides,Yet each compar'd to this does councel keep;
Like a false Stone, the Husbands falsh-hood hides,
Or seems born blinde, or feigns a dying sleep,
175
52
With this take Orgo, as a better Spy;Who may in all your kinder feares be sent
To watch at Court, if I deserve to die
By making this to fade, and you lament.
53
Had now an artfull Pencil Birtha drawn(With grief all dark, then strait with joy all light)
He must have fancy'd first, in early dawn,
A sudden break of beauty out of Night.
54
Or first he must have mark'd what paleness, Fear,Like nipping Frost, did to her visage bring;
Then think he sees, in a cold backward year,
A Rosy Morn begin a sudden Spring.
55
Her joys (too vaste to be contain'd in speech)Thus she a little spake! Why stoop you down,
My plighted Lord, to lowly Birtha's reach,
Since Rhodalind would lift you to a Crown?
56
Or why do I, when I this plight imbrace,Boldly aspire to take what you have given?
But that your vertue has with Angels place,
And 'tis a vertue to aspire to Heav'n.
57
And as tow'rds Heav'n all travail on their Knees;So I tow'rds you, though Love aspire, will move:
And were you crown'd, what could you better please
Then aw'd obedience led by bolder Love?
58
If I forget the depth from whence I rise,Far from your bosome banish'd be my heart;
Or claim a right by beauty to your Eyes;
Or proudly think, my chastity desert.
59
But thus ascending from your humble MaidTo be your plighted Bride, and then your Wife,
Will be a debt that shall be hourly paid,
Till Time my duty cancel with my life.
60
And fruitfully if Heav'n ere make me bringYour Image to the World, you then my pride
No more shall blame, then you can tax the Spring
For boasting of those Flowres she cannot hide.
61
Orgo, I so receive as I am taughtBy duty to esteem what ere you love;
And hope the joy he in this Jewel brought,
Will luckyer then his former triumphs prove.
62
For though but Twice he has approach'd my sight,He Twice made haste to drown me in my Tears:
But now I am above his Planets spite,
And as for sin beg pardon for my fears.
176
63
Thus spake she; and with fix'd continu'd sight,The Duke did all her bashful beauties view;
Then they with kisses seal'd their sacred plight;
Like Flowres still sweeter as they thicker grew.
64
Yet must these pleasures feel, though innocent,The sickness of extremes, and cannot last;
For Pow'r (Love's shun'd Impediment) has sent
To tell the Duke, his Monarch is in hast:
65
And calls him to that triumph which he fearsSo as a Saint forgiven (whose Breast does all
Heav'n's joys contain) wisely lov'd Pomp forbears;
Lest tempted Nature should from blessings fall.
66
He often takes his leave, with Love's delay;And bids her hope, he with the King shall finde,
By now appearing forward to obay,
A meanes to serve him less in Rhodalind.
67
She weeping to her Closet-window hies;Where she with teares does Rhodalind survey;
As dying Men, who grieve that they have Eyes,
When they through Curtains spy the rising day.
68
The King has now his curious sight suffis'dWith all lost Arts, in their revival view'd;
Which when restor'd, our pride thinks new devis'd:
Fashions of Mindes, call'd new when but renew'd!
69
The busie Court prepares to move, on whomTheir sad offended Eyes the Country caste;
Who never see enough where Monarchs come;
And nothing so uncivil seems as haste.
70
As Men move slow, who know they lose their way,Even so the Duke tow'rds Rhodalind does move;
Yet he does dutious fears, and wonder pay,
Which are the first, and dangerous signes of Love.
71
All his addresses much by Goltho wereAnd Ulfinore observ'd; who distant stand;
Not daring to approach his presence neer;
But shun his Eyes to scape from his command:
72
Least to Verona he should both require;For by remaining here, both hope to light
Their Hymen's Torches at his parting fire;
And not dispaire to kindle them to night.
73
The King his Golden Chariot now ascends;Which neer fair Rhodalind the Duke containes;
Though to excuse that grace he lowly bends;
But honor so refus'd, more honor gaines.
177
74
And now their Chariots (ready to take wing)Are even by weakest breath, a whisper stay'd;
And but such whisper as a Page does bring
To Laura's Woman from a Houshold Maid.
75
But this low voice did raise in Laura's EareAn Eccho, which from all redoubled soon;
Proclaiming such a Country beauty here,
As makes them look, like Ev'ning to her Noon.
76
And Laura (of her own high beauty proud,Yet not to others cruel) softly prays,
She may appear! but Gartha, bold, and loud,
With Eyes impatient as for conquest, stays.
77
Though Astragon now owns her, and excus'dHer presence as a Maid but rudely taught,
Infirm in health, and not to greatness us'd;
Yet Gartha still calls out, to have her brought!
78
But Rhodalind (in whose relenting BreastCompassion's self might fit at School, and learn)
Knew bashful Maids with publick view distrest;
And in their Glass, themselves with fear discern;
79
She stopt this Challenge which Court-Beauty madeTo Country shape; not knowing Nature's hand
Had Birtha dress'd, nor that her self obay'd
In vain, whom conqu'ring Birtha did command.
80
The Duke (whom vertuous kindness soon subdues)Though him his Bonds from Birtha highly please,
Yet seems to think, that lucky he, who sues
To wear this royal Mayd's, will walk at ease.
81
Of these a brief survey sad Birtha takes;And Orgo's help directs her Eye to all;
Shews her for whom grave Tybalt nightly wakes;
Then at whose feet wise Hermegild does fall.
82
And when calm Orna with the Count she saw,Hope (who though weak, a willing Painter is,
And busily does ev'ry Pattern draw)
By that example could not work amiss.
83
For soon she shap'd her Lord and her so kinde,So all of love; till Fancy wrought no more
When she perceiv'd him sit with Rhodalind;
But froward-Painter-like the Copy tore.
84
And now they move; and she thus robb'd, believes(Since with such haste they bear her wealth avvay)
That they at best, are but judicious Thieves,
And knovv the noble vallue of their Prey.
178
85
And then she thus complain'd! Why royal Maid!Injurious Greatness! Did you hither come
Where Pow'r's strong Nets of Wyre were never laid?
But childish Love took Cradle as at home.
86
Where can we safe our harmless blessings keep,Since glorious Courts our solitude invade?
Bells which ring out, when th'unconcern'd would sleep;
False lights to scare poor Birds in Country shade!
87
Or if our joys their own discov'ry make,Envy (whose Tongue first kills whom she devours)
Calls it our Pride; Envy, The poys'nous snake,
Whose breath blasts Maids, as innocent as Flowres!
88
Forgive me beautious Greatness, if I growDistemper'd with my fears, and rudely long
To be secure; or praise your beauty so
As to believe, that it may do me wrong!
89
And you my plighted Lord, forgive me too,If since your worth and my defects I find,
I fear what you in justice ought to do;
And praise your judgment when I doubt you kind.
90
Now sudden fear o'er all her beauty wroughtThe pale appearance of a killing Frost;
And careful Orgo, when she started, thought
She had her Pledg, the precious Emrauld, lost.
91
But that kinde Heart, as constant as her own,She did not miss; 'twas from a sudden sence,
Least in her Lover's heart some change was grown,
And it grew pale with that intelligence.
92
Soon from her bosome she this Emrauld took:If now (said she) my Lord my Heart deceaves,
This Stone will by dead paleness make me look
Pale as the Snowy skin of Lilly Leaves.
93
But such a cheerful green the Gemm did flingWhere she oppos'd the Rayes, as if she had
Been dy'de in the complexion of the Spring,
Or were by Nimphs of Brittain Valleys clad.
94
Soon she vvith earnest passion kist the Stone;Which ne'r till then had suffer'd an Eclipse;
But then the Rayes retir'd, as if it shone
In vain, so neer the Rubies of her Lips.
95
Yet thence remov'd, vvith publick glory shines!She Orgo blest, vvho had this Relique brought;
And kept it like those Reliques lock'd in shrines,
By vvhich the latest Miracles vvere vvrought.
179
96
For soon respect was up to rev'rence grown;Which fear to Superstition would sublime,
But that her Father took Fear's Ladder down;
Lose steps, by which distress to Heav'n would climbe.
97
He knew, when Fear shapes Heav'nly Pow'r so just,And terrible (parts of that shape drawn true)
It vailes Heav'n's beauty, Love; which when we trust,
Our courage honors him to whom we sue!
| The works of Sr William Davenant | |